On June 1, Bundaberg North State High School celebrated its 50th anniversary with former students and staff sharing memories, viewing historical information and artefacts and reconnecting with friends from the past.
“It was a privilege to re-unite every Principal except one, on the day,” said Trish Sellers, Acting Business Manager.
“A highlight was the unveiling of the Time Capsule with the first put down in 1974. In its 25th year in August 1998 it was supplemented with items from that period including a copy of Coastline Newspaper in pristine condition, dated August 1998,” she said.
Trish said it will be placed back in the capsule along with this current 2024 edition (now called Bundy Local) to be retrieved in another 25 years' time.
What was making news in 1998?
Stories from that edition included Barbara Hickman recognised for her community work (especially Meals On Wheels) with a Queensland ESA Award “given to a woman who has unselfishly given of herself to a remarkable degree in a area of service that benefits others.” It had not been awarded to anyone in the Bundaberg region for many years.
Bill Royce from the Federal Health Minister's office dismissed the AVN's (Australian Vaccination Network) criticism and warnings of the measles, mumps and rubella vaccinations as “a nuisance factor”. AVN's brand manager Debbie Sloane said “every parent has the right to know all information available, bad as well as good”
Bargara Ambulance (later re-located to Cattermull Avenue Kalkie) featured with comprehensive information of its vital services from Officer In Charge, Brett Jeffrey.
“Demand is constant throughout the year, operating 24 hours a day and also offers a casualty room service,” he said. Situated in Tanner Street, it covered regions Burnett Heads to Elliott Heads, Hummock and Kalkie along with the whole Bargara community.
Bargara Ambulance also offered first-aid classes to the public, sporting organisations and other clubs plus “Introduction to First-Aid” courses to Bargara State School children.
Smaller items in the 1998 edition included items of interest from Alloway Country Club's 20th birthday, Bundy Quilters Exhibition, Dentist Don Hogarth's retirement after 46 years at Burnett Dental Centre, Lady Musgrave Cruises (reef and whale watch tours) opens a new office at the Bundaberg Port, Bundy Railway Society Museum Opening, Restaurant Review was on Christina's Restaurant; plus the humorous, at times bitingly cynical column “Coasting With The Ferret”
The 1998 Coastline will be included in the time capsule to be buried on the school grounds together with a copy of this edition of the Bundy Local and opened in 25 years which will be the year 2049.
Read the pages from the 25 years old Coastline Newspaper here on our website