HAGLEY Farm School's 160th anniversary has sparked a search for memorabilia from schoolteacher's aide Jenny Walters.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The search has been fruitful, resulting in the uncovering of the original Hagley school bell.
Mrs Walters said the bell's first home was on a pole outside the town's Presbyterian Church — the initial site of Hagley school.
She said the bell "went missing" in the 1960s and was recently rediscovered at a garage sale.
"Hearsay is that it got stolen — a few people have theories on who stole it but there's no proof anywhere," Mrs Walters said.
"No one has come up and said 'I took it, here it is'.
"It's changed hands a few times. Every time it changed hands it's come with the story that it was the original school bell.
"We can only assume that we've got the right one."
She said there were also some theories about what drove its disappearance.
"It was very, very loud and because it was in the middle of the town it used to drive people nuts on Sundays when it was tolled," Mrs Walter said. "We've now put it in the foyer at school."
As well as establishing a collection of pictures from throughout the years, Mrs Walters is preparing to publish a book about the school.
"I've collated all the newspaper clippings from The Examiner and The Mercury and some from the mainland from 1855 through to 1964," Mrs Walters said. "It is a big job, let me tell you."
She said the school's history committee hoped to establish a history room to be open for pupils and visitors to the site.
"We're after as much memorabilia as we can get.
"We want to have a permanent fixture or a display at the school that we can open up later in the year when we publish the book."
Anyone with old uniforms, classroom lists, photos or information about Hagley's past is encouraged to contact Mrs Walters. For more information, or to forward items or details, call her on 0417166582 or email waltersjenny747@gmail.com.