On 28 June, 1965, 2 teachers and 25 students walked up the hill from Avalon PS and into a new school, which today is the Heart of the Hill.
On Saturday 28 June, 2025 - 60 years to the day - around 200 Students, all the Teachers and Staff members, parents and families past, present and future, retraced their steps in an Anniversary Walk.
Four original students were present from the first intake; Ross Montague, John Gray, David Watson and Di Page.
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Cutting the 60 Year Birthday cake; Ross Montague, John Gray, David Watson and Di Page
Afterwards a complimentary Birthday Afternoon Tea at Bilgola Plateau Public School was held. The School Museum was open, which had been created through the work of the BPPS P and C, and stories from the past, and the school's Vision for the future, were shared.
In marking the occasion, Cindy Gardiner, Principal of Bilgola Plateau Public School said:
“On this day, 60 years ago, the Director of Education advised the students and Mrs Rita Reid, who was their Principal, they could come up the hill and start their school. Mrs Reid walked them up the hill, like you have all just down now, and started Bilgola Plateau Public School. So well done everyone, you have just recreated history. “
“Mrs. Rita Reid was the Principal for 1 year – as the numbers started to swell it went from an Infants School to a Primary School.”
Principal Gardiner, who loves data, said that the school has had 12 thousand days on the hill and has educated over 3,600 students during the last 60 years, and those former students present at the event had each made 1, 400 trips up the hill to school during their time there. The school has been through 500 excursions, teachers currently serving through 120 reporting sessions and at least 60 Education Weeks, Book Weeks and Easter Hat Parades.
“So our beautiful school on the hill has a lot of history and a lot of memories and I’m so glad that everyone could join us today for this very special occasion.”
BPPS Principal Cindy Gardiner recalled that when she first came to Bilgola Plateau Public school in 2013 she was knew the school had a great reputation which she has worked to increase. Principal Gardiner stated that was also when she met a wonderful group of teachers who love the school as much as she and the school community does and noted that the whole staff were there for the Anniversary Walk to support this event, a tribute to BPPS and its community.
BPPS Principal Cindy Gardiner thanked Alice Pilcher and Corinne Smith, Committee Members for the 60 Year BPPS Celebrations as the Anniversary Walk was their brainchild, Susan Peacock for her work in curating the museum displays and Elani Miles for her work in putting together a presentation that was running on a screen in the museum.
Some photos from the stroll up the hill and the Anniversary Walk celebrations run this Issue, for the historic record.
There is more to come, including a BIG FETE in September for the whole community.
Right now the P & C is fundraising, telling us:
Bilgola gave us more than just school photos with questionable haircuts.
It gave us a view worth daydreaming over, lifelong mates, and the best start to a lifetime of learning. Now it’s our turn to give something back.
The Bilgola P&C is raising funds to make sure students get the facilities to match the greatness inside the classroom.
💛 Donations are 100% tax deductible.
👉 Donate here: www.givenow.com.au/bppsbuildingfund
Because great schools - like great memories - are worth investing in.
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No 60 Year BPPS Celebration would be complete without a delve into the history of the Bilgola Plateau Public Schools' beginnings.
This has been researched and written by Susan Peacock, who has an Archivist and working in Museums background and has been reading those 60 years of records, many of them still on paper - thank you Susan.
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Susan Peacock, explaining what's in the BPPS Museum
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All BPPS Teachers attended wearing their 60 Year Anniversary hoodies - they were supported by HEAPs of parents doing safety
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Di Page and David Watson, BPPS students who made the original walk on June 28 1965
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Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby, who dropped by to wish the walkers well, with BPPS Principal Cindy Gardiner
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On Saturday June 21 the Avalon Bulldogs hosted visiting team the Asquith Magpies on Hitchcock Park, Avalon, in Round 9 of the 2025 Northern Open Age Sunday Gold Comp.
The game was won by the Doggies, 34 to 14, which keeps them at the top of the ladder as the Season advances towards the final rounds before semis, finals and the Grand Final.
The Cromer Kingfishers, Narrabeen Sharks and Forestville Ferrets sit just behind them in the top 4, so no one is doing handstands and cartwheels just yet.
However, before the game, and after an all-day footy feature on Hitchcock of all age divisions and boys and girls teams, around one thousand people from babies to octogenarians gathered to honour a stalwart of their club – Brian Friend, known as ‘Friendly’ – for his 50 years of coaching Under 14’s to Under 6’s.
John Davis, President of the Club 2018 to 2020, MC for the evening, also paid tribute to Kurt Stevenson who was playing his 350th game. Kurt led the A Grade team out with his sons.
Pittwater MP Jacqui Scruby was on hand to present Brian Friend with a framed copy of the Community recognition statement tabled by her in the NSW Parliament, and took the opportunity to thank Friendly for his service as a volunteer over the several decades he has devoted to the Avalon Bulldogs.
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Kurt Stevenson - another Doggies legend.
Profile of the Week The Narrabeen Sharks Junior Rugby League Football Club A Grade Team for 2025
On 28 June, 1965, 2 teachers and 25 students walked up the hill from Avalon PS and into a new school, which today is the Heart of the Hill.
On Saturday 28 June, 2025 - 60 years to the day - around 200 Students, all the Teachers and Staff members, parents and families past, present and future, retraced their steps in an Anniversary Walk.
Four original students were present from the first intake; Ross Montague, John Gray, David Watson and Di Page.
No 60 Year BPPS Celebration would be complete without a delve into the history of the Bilgola Plateau Public Schools' beginnings.
This has been researched and written by Susan Peacock, who has an Archivist and working in Museums background and has been reading those 60 years of records, many of them still on paper - thank you Susan.
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Aquatics Young Whale Disentangled off Barrenjoey Underlines the Value of going Whale-Watching from our Headlands - Winter School Hols. Ideas
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Pictures Play Footy Time: June 2025 - at Lake Park, North Narrabeen + Hitchcock Park, North Avalon Beach Includes: Manly Brothers Vs. Guildford at Lake Park June 15 2025; Narrabeen Open (A Grade) Vs Avalon A Grade at Lake Park Narrabeen June 15 2025; Avalon Bulldogs U16 Girls Vs. Belrose + Avalon Bulldogs A Grade Vs Asquith at Hitchcock June 21 2025 and Friendly's 50 Year Coaching Littlies Celebration
DIY Ideas Winter School Holidays: Fun Projects You Can Do Around The Home - Something For Everyone
Park Bench Philosophers Ever-changing Universe Revealed in First Imagery From NSF–DOE Vera C. Rubin Observatory: Interactive Sonification; SkyView App; Citizen Scientist invite
Food Winter Warmers Leek And Potato Soup, Coq Au Vin + Apple, Date and Walnut Cake With Caramel Sauce
It's that time of year when you want something hot and substantial - 'rib sticking' food in other words. With food prices having increased an average of 25% over the past few months, choosing seasonal ingredients, that usually come at a better price, and items grown not too far from home to eliminate transporting goods add-on costs, this Issue a few of the dishes we've been making to feed a hungry family without breaking the budget.
On 28 June, 1965, 2 teachers and 25 students walked up the hill from Avalon PS and into a new school, which today is the Heart of the Hill.
On Saturday 28 June, 2025 - 60 years to the day - around 200 Students, all the Teachers and Staff members, parents and families past, present and future, retraced their steps in an Anniversary Walk.
Four original students were present from the first intake; Ross Montague, John Gray, David Watson and Di Page.
No 60 Year BPPS Celebration would be complete without a delve into the history of the Bilgola Plateau Public Schools' beginnings.
This has been researched and written by Susan Peacock, who has an Archivist and working in Museums background and has been reading those 60 years of records, many of them still on paper - thank you Susan.
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