Assistant Principals' Report
Dear HPS Community,
Welcome to our newsletter item for this week.
Roses that make Flemington Racecourse green with envy!
A prominent feature of our grounds and gardens here at Heidelberg Primary School, are the stunning roses near our Cape St entry. We are often on morning or afternoon duty at Cape St and we can vouch for the fact that they are admired multiple times a day by students, staff, parents, carers and visitors, and the smell.....divine!!
We thought it may interest you to find out a little about their beginnings, please see below:
Our Dad and grandfather Peter Russell worked at Heidelberg PS for seven years and was responsible for facilities and grounds maintenance until 2016. Peter had a long connection with Heidelberg State School as it was originally known, and the Heidelberg community in general. His grandfather James Cannell Russell was the stationmaster at Heidelberg Railway Station in the early 1900’s, where he infamously lost his leg in a shunting accident. It didn’t hamper him – he lived to the ripe old age of 89. Peter’s father Herbert, and his aunties Dorothy and Thelma were students at Heidelberg State School in the pre-war period (1905 onwards). Peter didn’t attend HPS, he and his siblings attended Haig St PS in Heidelberg Heights. His future wife Carole Pearce and her brothers Robert, Gary and Michael all attended HPS, so the connection was strong.
In the early 1990’s Carole worked at HPS as the business manager, a position she held for 28 years. Carole and Peter’s grand kids Jack, Toby, Emma, Cara and Matty kept up the tradition and also completed their primary school years at HPS. They have fond memories of seeing their Nan and Pa around the school.
Peter loved the gardens at HPS – he worked closely with former Principal Janet Ringrose, and they were both keen to establish a beautiful garden at the front of the school and in front of the Caretakers Cottage, in keeping with the historical façade of the school’s entry at Cape Street. The standard roses and English box hedge seemed the natural fit. Peter’s favourite rose, the Just Joey, adorn the front garden beds adjacent to the front door.
Peter lovingly tended to the roses – pruning, trimming, fertilising regularly with blood & bone. He trimmed the hedges perfectly with string lines to keep the level, and using hand shears. The end result was always spectacular. Giant fragrant blooms greet our students, families and visitors every year in spring. It is not uncommon for passers-by to enquire about the roses, and to take photos. Nowadays our gardener David Oliver tends to the roses, and the compliments continue. Peter would be proud that he got these roses going all those years ago.
Peter and Carole’s garden at their home in Diamond Creek is similarly full of fragrant blooms, including the Just Joey. A vision of standard roses, climbers and ornamental trees. Sadly we lost Dad back in 2020. We miss him every day but feel his presence all the more when the HPS blooms come out in Spring.
Sam Thornton Business Manager
Jack Thornton Facilities
Australian Flag Retirement Ceremony
Earlier this term, we received a new Australian flag to replace the previous one which was faded and showing signs of wear. Upon replacing the flag, we wondered...what do we do with our old flag? This sent some of our flag monitors Hamish, April and Clara from Room 3 into research and curiosity mode! Referencing the Australian Government, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet website, they discovered there are processes and protocols to retire a flag including an official retirement ceremony. The ceremony occured on Monday, 28th October at 1pm. The Masters of Ceremonies were Clara, Hamish and April. The ceremony was attended by Duke, our wellbeing dog, Monique Rankin and Helen Thomas, Assistant Principals, flag monitors Archie, Felix and Josh and our school captains, Will, Ava and James. Naomi, Principla and Aanya, school captain were unfortunate apologies.
The retirement speech written and presented by April:
Hello, our names are April, Clara and Hamish and we are the flag bearers for the Australian Flag. You may have noticed the flag looking a little tattered and worn, so we have decided to retire the flag. It has done a great job as our flag but it needs to be de-commissioned and replaced with a newer flag. In order to give this flag a proper send off, we now ask for a minute of silence. As part of the ceremony we will cut the flag into 3 pieces; keeping the Union Jack, Southern Cross and the Federation Star intact. Thank you for your attendance.
Have a wonderful weekend and week ahead!
Helen Thomas & Monique Rankin
Assistant Principals
Heidelberg Primary School