100 YEARS OF EDUCATION AT WEETHALLE PUBLIC SCHOOL
Tuesday, 22 September 2026
Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke congratulated Weethalle Public School on 100 years of education in the community during its centenary event on Saturday September 19, 2026.
The celebration of this milestone was commemorated through a fantastic event hosted by the school with Ms Cooke joined by Bland Shire Council Mayor Lisa Minogue and NSW Department of Education Director of Educational Leadership for the West Wyalong Network Benn Wright.
“To appreciate the gravity of this occasion, we have to look back to where it all began,” Ms Cooke said.
“In 1921, this region saw a wave of soldier settler homestead farms. Shortly after, in 1922, the railway arrived. As homes were built and a community took root, there was a fundamental need to create a place to educate the developing town’s children.”
On August 1, 1926, a provisional school opened its doors in Weethalle.
“Those early days required grit and determination,” Ms Cooke said.
“The pioneers of Weethalle knew that to build a strong community, they needed to invest in their children. From those humble beginnings, this school grew hand in hand with the town.”
Ms Cooke said that though the buildings and technology have changed throughout the years, the beating heart of the school has remained the same.
“It is a place that champions respect, teamwork and lifelong curiosity,” Ms Cooke said.
“In a tight knit community, a school is so much more than a place of academic learning.
“It is where neighbours become friends, families support one another and where local identity is forged.”
As the school celebrated its past, students and staff also looked to the future, with Principal Jason Hurley and school leader Bree Jolly driving the way into the School’s next 100 years.
“The students at the school today are the living legacy of the last 100 years,” Ms Cooke said.
“The doctors, farmers, teachers, innovators and leaders of tomorrow are sitting in these classrooms and will go forward and continue to carry the values of Weethalle Public School with pride.”
