In a jubilant celebration of history and community, Mossman State School commemorated its 125th birthday with a grand reunion and fete this past weekend.

Sonja Craven, coordinator of the centenary, expressed her gratitude for being part of such a milestone.

“From the original vision to the preparation, witnessing our events come to life has been an unforgettable experience,” she told Newsport. “This celebration holds significance not just for the school, but for the entire community.”

She continued by saying that one of the most heartwarming moments occurred when guests, brimming with excitement, reunited with old classmates.

“Seeing our guests arrive to meet old classmates at the front door was very special, some had not seen each other for many years.

“Stories of days gone by were shared by some of the eldest locals, recounting their childhoods in and around Mossman. It is hard to imagine how life and school life was once upon a time, compared to what we know now.”

Revealing the time capsule

Kicking off the festivities was an opening ceremony, marked by the resonating chimes of the school's massive bell - a cherished symbol with its own history within the district.

John Hartley, a respected member of the community, led the welcome to country, which included a soul-stirring smoking ceremony and a didgeridoo performance.

Ms Craven shared that Mr Hartley was honoured to be part of the festivities as he had a personal connection.

His grandfather participated in the school's 75th celebrations, and his mother, among the school's eldest graduates, was also a former student.

The festivities were marked by a myriad of activities, but the shining star of the event was the unveiling of a long-awaited time capsule.

“As the time capsule was opened, a letter from a former committee coordinator emerged, wishing us all the best for our celebrations and included some Panadol as it may have been required this weekend,” Ms Craven described.

“The capsule was full of memories, student work, letters from teachers, money, bottles of celebratory Port, film, centenary memorabilia and many newspaper stories. Everyone loved interacting with the contents buried 25 years ago.”