How many people can say they’ve received a kiss from Miss Australia?
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It’s a claim StGiles client Gerard Smith can back up with a photo after he met Eleanor Morton, the reigning Miss Australia at the time, in 1980.
He was eight and studying at the StGiles-run school, which was next door to the current Amy Road building at Newstead.
“It was a very nice day,” Mr Smith said.
The photo was added to a special scrapbook his family created for him to document his time at the school.
His scrapbook had an extensive collection of photos, notes and stories from his school days up until 1988, even going back to his nursery group days.
Mr Smith flicked through the pages, he pointed out an excursion down to Hobart to visit the tall ships, the day he milked a cow and a camping trip in the reserve behind the school.
He boarded during the week for three years before his family moved from Exeter to Kings Meadows.
Mr Smith said he was excited to return to StGiles for its 80th birthday reunion.
He asked for his former classmates, teachers, carers and volunteers to join him on the day, and go over old memories and photos.
The original school started back in 1939 to aid children’s recovery from polio and help them return to their lives.
A new school was opened in 1984 with seven new classrooms, a library, heated swimming pool, gymnasium and home arts kitchen.
That was the school Mr Smith said he remembered fondly. He studied with about 50 other students.
Mr Smith loved to learn, enjoying maths, English, arts and music, he said.
Art is a passion he has continued outside of school.
He has previously held an exhibition in a Launceston cafe to showcase his digital art.
The Department of Education made the decision to build the school next to StGiles more than 33 years ago where the old playground used to be, he said.
The Amy Road school has since been closed and moved a couple of years ago.
Mr Smith said he was confused why the school had closed and all the students needed to relocate to the new Ravenswood campus.
Seated in the StGiles lobby, he pushed his wheelchair backwards to look down the corridor.
At the end of the corridor, the locked grey door stood that previously linked StGiles with the school, a reminder of his earlier years.
Events will be held throughout the year to celebrate StGiles 80th birthday, including the reunion.
If you want to join Mr Smith at the reunion at 65 Amy Road on Friday, February 23 between noon and 2pm, RSVP by emailing society@stgiles.org.au or free calling 1300 278 445.