Dear Principal, staff, students, and Leanyer School community,

As a past Principal of Leanyer School, I feel honoured to extend my heartfelt congratulations on the momentous occasion of celebrating 40 years of contribution to education. It brings me great joy to see how far our school has come since it was opened by the NT Chief Minister, the Hon. Paul Everingham, on September 15, 1983.

Reflecting upon my 20 years of Principalship from 1992 to January 2012, I am flooded with memories of the challenges we faced and the successes we achieved as a united school community. Together, we forged a unique bond that went beyond the physical buildings and facilities. Our shared history gave birth to various symbols, landmarks, and events that will forever hold a special place in my heart.

Allow me to share these cherished memories, each representing a milestone or significant aspect of our journey:

– Parker’s Patch

– Scally Slipway

– The Sturdy-Jones Tree

– Gather and Goss Garden (named by Danielle Spillet)

– Lisa Brett, the coin design, and the ‘Lisa Brett Shade’

– Karama bringing the Student Representative Council (SRC) to Leanyer

– Tamarind tree planting with students from Hall’s Creek School

– Roller slide and 60-second competitions

– Easter and the Golden EG

– Honour Boards

– The ‘Wall of Fame’

– The Bruyn Boundary

– Leanyer’s 10th, 20th, and 25th anniversaries

– The Memorial ‘brick way’ path, marking the school’s 25th Anniversary

On a more sombre note, we also remember:

– Nicholas Middis’s sad passing and the memorial to this fine young man

– Assistant Principal Sally Bruyn, with the school oval being named in her honour after her sad passing

Above all, I hold dear the moment in 1992 when we developed our then-school motto, “Together As One.” It symbolized our unity and contributed to the positive atmosphere that permeated our school.

As time moves forward and individuals come and go, an institution like Leanyer School continues to evolve and thrive in the present and future. I hope that everyone will appreciate the rich history of our school, value its significance in the current circumstances, and continue to strengthen and refine it as a critical educational institution.

Once again, I offer my warmest congratulations on the attainment of this significant milestone. Leanyer School is truly a testament to the dedication and hard work of its principal, staff, students, and the entire community.

With great admiration and fondness,

Henry Gray

Principal of yesteryear

I was not able to attend the anniversary.