History
In 2012, Warracknabeal Secondary College staff Wendy Hewitt, Jenny Taylor, Casey Phelan and Nicole Stewart, along with community member Graeme Massey, planned a staff reunion for all past teaching and ancillary staff members.
Over 150 past staff members, some from as far back as 1955, attended the weekend long celebrations, recounting and reminiscing their time spent at Warracknabeal Secondary College. The weekend culminated in an electronic and pictorial presentation of images recorded over teh history of the school, which evoked many more memories and good times past.
Timeline
1901
Warracknabeal College opened on February 26th, and closed in 1912 due to lack of students.
1912
A higher elementary component was added to the existing State School, Lyle Street.
1924
Warracknabeal High School began with 150 students and 7 staff.
1927
October 21st, the new Warracknabeal High School Mt Gambier limestone building completed and opened.
There were 185 students and 10 staff.
1950
The oval was developed.
1951
17 staff members.
In the past 7 years there were 3 headmasters and 8 secretaries.
1954
The Technical wing was built.
1957
336 students enrolled at the school.
1957
23 employees, 19 teachers.
1968
The Science block was completed and in use.
1969
The Assembly Hall opened on February 12th.
1971
Highest student enrolment at 584.
1974
The Humanities wing opened.
1978
The Technical Trade component was added.
1981
Driver Education track completed and opened by Peter Brock.
1983
New library opened by Barry Schache.
2012
250 students
29 teaching staff and 8 ancillary and support staff.
2017
Commencement of construction of a new education precinct on the primary school site.
2020
171 students
22 teaching staff and 8 support staff
Announcement of funding for the completion of the education precinct. It is anticipated that the College will relocate at the commencement of 2023.
2023
After many years of aniticpation, the Secondary College finally relocated to its new site at 5 Werrigar Street for Term 2. This marks a historical landmark in education in Warracknabeal, and even moreso, with the Secondary, Primary and Special Developmental School all being on the one site - Warracknabeal Education Precinct.
School Badge and Motto
"Potens ex humili"
Power through humility
Power through humility
In 1954, the high school badge was changed to the present one. Although this badge does not have the motto on it, the image still holds significance for the school and students.
Former teacher Max Wilkinson (1939-42, 1944-55) provided an explanation and interpretation of the school badge in the 1954 Harvest Magazine, an excerpt of which is included here:
“At first glance, the book flanked by two pines will remind us of the ‘School among the Pines’ …
The book is open. This we may take to mean that if l will go to it, and read and strive to understand, then l will find knowledge freely available to me. It is an invitation to me to do something when l accept the invitation to learn.
The pine I see about me is a straight tree. It bends before the storms, but it is not twisted into a contorted shape. I am reminded that in life we must all endure storms of adversity but, like the pine, l must strive to remain straight because it grows in clumps, each tree sheltering the next. Surely, then, must we stand firm in loyalty to our form, to our house, to our school, to our family, to our friends, to our Church, to our nation?
And the pine is a tall tree. No matter what may be my physical stature, l must aspire to intellectual greatness and to a great spiritual stature.
Look at the grace of the pine! Should not this urge me to cultivate within myself that true grace which prongs of a truly cultivated mind, and which stems from the rich tradition of the ages to which we are all heirs?
These figures are set upon a shield of green and gold, the colours of the school. The green reminds me of these wide plains so vividly green at sowing time and when the seed is springing into young growth, while the gold brings to mind the golden glory of the harvest which so surely follows the sowing: that harvest which is represented again by the ears of wheat below the main design of the badge. Let me remember that as l sow, so shall l reap, whether the seed be laziness or industrious energy, self-indulgence or self-discipline.
The shield itself l may consider as a shield of faith: faith in myself that l may become greater than l am now; faith in my country; that this nation will become truly great among nations; faith in God.
The design is set in a circle, and a circle has neither beginning nor ending. I may therefore take it to represent Eternity, the stage upon which all our parts are played. Let it not be forgotten that our words and actions carry on their influence, perhaps strongly, perhaps weakly, their influence never quite dying away. We may take pride in the influence of those who have formed part of this school and have in their lives carried its influence far and wide through this land and, indeed, through many parts of the world.
May we all stand unshaken in our determination that our influence will always be fully devoted to the welfare of our fellowmen.”
1954 to present