School talent on show at centenary

Gympie State High School with a mine in the foreground.

Supplied

GYMPIE will make history again on the weekend of March 9-11 when it welcomes home many visitors with strong connections to Gympie State High School.

They are coming back to celebrate 100 years since the school opened its doors in 1912, and they include Ian Hanger, a descendant of the legendary principal Tom Hanger, who is guest speaker at the centenary reunion dinner on Saturday, March 10.

One of the organisers for the dinner, to be held at the Gympie Showgrounds Pavilion, is Spencer Slatter. He said dinner guests would be treated to a two-course meal with each receiving a commemorative glass.

Students of the high school's Country Music School of Excellence will provide entertainment, while an interview with some of the school's high achieving students will round off the evening.

Guests will also have the opportunity to bid for a unique commemorative centenary football jersey prepared for the occasion.

Those people wanting to know more about the variety of talented students who have graduated from Gympie High should book now for one of three performances of the centenary concert, co-ordinated by former dance and PE teacher Rita O'Neil.

The concert will be held on Friday, March 9, with matinee and evening shows on Saturday, March 10.

Ms O'Neil has gathered some performers to reprise songs from four of the school's musicals - Joseph (1982), Marvellous Musical Mayhem (1987), Jesus Christ Superstar (1990) and Cloudland (1998). Who can forget the joyous singing in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in 1982, which first brought Kerri Eaton's amazing voice to public notice.

Kerri will join other headline performers, including Eden Read, Matthew Fell, Linc Phelps, Nick Aitken, Jason Bray, Melanie Ricketts, Graham Ellis and Dan Atherton.

The concert also gives the current performers a chance to show off and tell people why the Gympie High is a school of musical excellence.

For a chance to catch up with old friends and teachers, be sure to visit Gympie High on Saturday, March 10, from 9am, for what is being billed as "celebration central" - the official celebration as well as registration of visitors and the opening of the new multi-purpose sporting arena, which includes two undercover courts and two outside areas.

Tickets for the concert and dinner are on sale now at Kitchn' Things in Mary St, online at www.100.gympieshs.com.au or from the school office on 54898333