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Yarra Glen Primary School

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22.01.2022 A huge thank you to Tess and Melisa - both past students of YGPS - for attending our Meet & Greet Question Time with the students. It was wonderful to hear how the school has changed and progressed over the years. Today, we have 2 more special guests joining us ... watch this space !!!

21.01.2022 Change of Date :)

21.01.2022 The Age, Melbourne, Saturday 5 January 1935. p.17 YARRA FLATS. BACK TO THE EARLY SEVENTIES [1870s] BY ‘W.N.’ (William Newman)... Yarra Flats, now known by the more euphonious name of Yarra Glen, was passing through a memorable sporting era, in a real Australian setting, during the seventies. It really began in the sixties. If the Yarra Flats Hotel (now ably presided over by Mr. Lithgow) could only speak, what wonderful tales of the early days it could unfold. This historical landmark was the rendezvous of the sporting fraternity in the district, including Lillydale and Healesville. It was also the stopping place of the old stage coach. Its stables are still standing at the rear of the building. The coaches from the city to the Flats passed through Heidelberg, Kangaroo Ground and Christmas Hills. At this period the Blacks' Spur had become passable for vehicular traffic, and soon the route from the city through Ringwood, Lillydale and Healesville was taken. The change over dealt a severe blow to the old place. Mr. Bath and his wife were extremely popular while in control of the old hostelry, which they took over in the late sixties from Mr. Tom Bell, who was the original owner and licensee. It was a fine sight on hunting days to see those participating in this favorite pastime assemble on tho old road in front of thei hotel. The ladies, sitting side-saddle, with just the toe of a boot peeping out from the stirrup. The huntsmen were garbed in orthodox fashion, carrying the inevitable hunting crop, usually with a fox head embossed on an ornamental ferrule at thc butt. Mr. Armstrong was tho master of the hounds, in tho early days they coursed with greyhounds after the bares. Later Mr. Armstrong owned a pack of hounds. .The hunt and other sporting dances were held in a spacious room attached to the south side of the hotel. To the strains of a fiddle or an accordian the grand old quadrilles and round dances were gracefully executed. Often dawn was breaking when they broke up. Soon after the death of Mr. Batt, Mr.Farrell became tho licensee. In later years, when his hotel, called TheBurgoyne (now This Grand), was built, he immediately took possession. Mr.Jack Irvine was in charge. They were ideal landlords, and helped considerably to popularise .the Flats. One must not forget Mr. Sam Smith,the jolly old proprietor of the Junction Hill, which was situated some distance out on the road to Christmas Hills. Burying Sam Smith" was tho popular excuse made by some of the old-timers to their wives if they dwelt too long at this old inn. Tho names of Mr. Thomas Armstrong and Mrs. Dinah Armstrong (formerly a Miss Bell) and respect fully remembered. They came to the district from Scotland in the fifties. On the death of his wife Mr. Armstrong subsequently married Miss Georgina Taylor, whose people lived at Watson's Creek. This union was blessed with a fine family. One of Mr. Armstrong's daughters is now tho wife of Mr. Lithgow, the present licensee of the hostelry. He owned a. large area of the inner flats and a good portion of the hillside adjoining. He named it YarraPark. It was utilised for raising sheep, dairying and grazing. He mostly bred pedigreed stock. The entrance to his old homestead burnt down some years ago was through a pretty avenue off the main road nearly opposite the hotel. It was a romantic structure an Australian squatter's home. He was the founder of the Yarra Flats Racing Club, and also owned the site on which they still race. For many years it was known as Armstrong's racecourse. He was a great and generous sportsman. Perhaps some day the club will call a race after him to perpetuate his memory. A wonderful change has come over the old course during the intervening years. It is now quite modern. At that time a bush-roofed structure served for a booth, and tents acted as stewards' and jockeys' quarters. But, with all its primitiveness, it is questionable whether they get as much genuine fun out of the sport to-day as they did then. In the old days they raced purely for the love of the sport, money prizes being very rare. A cup, usually donated by a wealthy patron, was presented to the owner of tho horse which won the main race, and saddles, or some useful equestrian equipment for the minor races. The hack races always caused great hilarity. The prizes for these events generally consisted of hunting crops, bridles, whips and spurs. The writer has in his possession a hunting crop won by Mr. W. Newman's (Cobb and Co.'s old driver) black mare Polly, on Boxing day, 1873. There was he loitering on the Journey in these .races.. It was go from start to finish. Mr. R. Woolcott, who had a large holding [View Hill] away to tho north of Mr. Armstrong's, raced some smart thoroughbreds on this course. Starlight won for him many trophies. Old -timers will remember this racer. Boxing day was always a gala time for this sport at the Flats, and right down tho years the club's fixture on that date holds its popularity. A grand old tradition. Mr. Connell was State school teacher at the Flats from tho mid-slxtles to well into tho seventies. His son, Mr. John Connell, is now the popular owner and licensee of the Railway Hotel. Elizabcth-strcot, Melbourne. He spent his young days at Yarra Flats. This gentle man was tho donor of tho John Connell Collection in the Public Library. The writer is indebted to him for some of the details. Mrs. Klernan's store at the Junction in the township will bring back memories. Also, will any reference to old Barney, a happy, rollicking chap, who loved horses, no matter whetherthey were dray or racer. Mr.Paul de Castclla's vineyard was one of tho sights of the district. The noble avenue of trees leading up to his home [Chateau Yering] and its pleasant surroundings was most picturesque. At grape-picking time it .was good to see the wine presses in action, and a visit to the cellars was always a "treat." Just over the bridge, to the left of the road, stood the famous old weeping willow tree, which grew on an old cemetery mound. It was grown from a cutting from the tree which overshadowed Napoleon's grave at St. Helena. It was a remarkable sight to see a slanting wooden memorial slab protruding from the centre of its trunk. The lower portion of it had become embedded during the tree's growth. A few more of the old pioneers' names come to mind : Messrs. Williamson, BellHubbard, Smedley, Herbert, J, and R. Lithgow. Kerr, Cameron, Keats, Cullis, Schofield, McPherson and Hargreaves. Nearly all of them have descendants at the Glen to-day. It would be interesting to know how many old timers are still on deck. The old spot (the writer's birthplace) has changed but little since those for-off days, it still retains its natural charm, preferring, it seems, to keep in unison with the beautiful Yarra its ol' man River by just rolling along. #

19.01.2022 Thank you all for the incredible response to the previous post. If you have commented that you are interested in attending our special assembly, we will ve contacting you shortly via PM with all of the details. Thank you again ... it's going to be awesome!

17.01.2022 For thousands of years The Wurundjeri People have employed Smoking Ceremonies to cleanse places and people of bad spirits to promote the wellbeing of our people as well as guests on Country. Contemporary smoking ceremonies may involve a Wurundjeri Elder and/ or a younger Wurundjeri community member carrying a portable tarnuk (wooden dish) containing coals and wet leaves around assembled guests. Alternatively, guests may gather around a dedicated smoking site. For full partic...ipation, those present will typically be invited to walk through the smoke for an individual cleansing. Ref: The Wurundjeri Tribe Council https://www.wurundjeri.com.au//cultural-practices/smoking/

09.01.2022 Details on Special Assembly coming soon!!!

09.01.2022 Schedule of Celebrations !!!

06.01.2022 URGENT!!! We need need to confirm numbers for the upcoming Assembly for Past Students. If you can attend, please reply to this post or PM us asap. WE WANT TO CELEBRATE WITH YOU ... HOPE YOU CAN BE THERE !!!!

02.01.2022 YGPS .... still going strong :)

01.01.2022 MEET AND GREET SPECIAL ASSEMBLY - PAST STUDENTS The first two special assemblies will be held on Friday, 8th June and Friday, 5th June @ 2:30pm. ... As 8th June will be a shorter assembly, we are only looking for 2 or 3 guests on this day. On 15th June, we would like 5 or 6 guests to attend. If you are interested in attending on either of these dates, please send me your contact email address so the commitee can formally invite you and send you all of the relevant details. More special assemblies will be arranged for next term. Dates tba. We hope to see you there :)