Yaapeet to celebrate milestone

The southern Mallee community of Yaapeet will celebrate a century of school-based education in the settlement with a reunion and celebration on October 13.

Back-to-school celebration activities will start at 10.30am for an 11am roll call at Yaapeet Primary School and continue with a barbecue lunch and afternoon of catching up and memorabilia.

The event will move to Yaapeet community centre at 5pm for a dinner.

A reprint of a 90-year book and a new book based on the past 10 years will be available for purchase.

Organisers expect a crowd of about 150, including former teacher Mark Klinkerman to attend.

Mr Klinkerman, an American, taught at the school from 1980 to 1982 and is travelling from St Louis for the occasion.

Yaapeet Primary School had 39 students in its first year. It now has 11.

In the past 30 years its enrolment has hovered between the high to low teens. In 1923 it had 52 students.

Present principal Sheryl Herben and her ex-principal husband Ian have spent 32 years at the school and have also been heavily involved with the sporting and social life of the Yaapeet community.

People keen to attend the evening dinner event must register by Friday.

People can email Claire White at whiteyaapeet@gmail.com or call 5083 8225 to register.