If you would like to keep in the know about WESS 150th Anniversary updates, please contact admin@westendss.eq.edu.au to be added to the newsletter.
Additionally if you would like to participate in the planning or have information that might be of significance to the history of WESS, please reach out to Judy Thompson at wess150th@gmail.com
Below is an excerpt from the latest WESS 150th Update newsletter:
At the September Memory Morning Tea, Special Guests bought a wide range of WESS Memorabilia to share including folders of correspondence regarding the West End Infants and West End School Year 3-7 Amalgamation of 1995.
The Information below was sourced from WESS 125th Anniversary Book – 1875-2000.
Following the formation of West End State School, in 1996, Sue Pickford designed the original artwork of our Sports Houses emblems following input and extensive research with the WESS AASPA (Aboriginal Student Support and Parent Awareness Program) Committee, which led to the renaming of the School Sports Houses as part of the school amalgamation process. The AASPA Committee researched several books in local language, including an unpublished draft and consulted with many local elders, including Mr Robert Anderson who all approved the WESS Sports House Names – Baruga (The Kangaroo Rat), Kurilpa (The Water Rat), Chullawong (The Mountain Magpie) and Dungar (The Pelican). Following this extensive consultation process, the school received an award from the ATSI (Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander) Gov’t Department for being inclusive and supportive of local Aboriginal Groups.