DDCS celebrates 75 years

IT has been 75 years since Darling Downs Christian School (DDCS) opened its doors to welcome its very first 17 students. Established in March, 1942, just days after the bombing of Pearl Harbour, the school was given a blue-print for holistic education by its founders, the South Queensland Conference of Seventh-day Adventists.

“DDCS was one of the first independent church community schools established in Toowoomba,” DDCS Principal Adrian Fitzpatrick said. “We have a strong belief in holistic education, coming out of our 75-year history, and we want to continue to grow and strengthen that.” This year’s anniversary celebrations began with the re-enactment of the arrival of the school’s very first teacher Miss Wanda Neibuhr - AKA head of secondary Debbie McKay in a 1940 Chevrolet.

Another highlight was a visit by one of the school’s oldest surviving students, Roland Knott, who attended the school in its opening year.

“We’re very proud of our school and the way we’ve been able to keep a close community feel even while it’s grown,” Mr Fitzpatrick said. Mr Fitzpatrick said there were plans to expand its secondary school with updated facilities in the near future. “We’ve got lots of room to grow here on our 35-acre property in Glenvale,” he said.

“We’re looking forward to an exciting future with our students.”