Congratulations on your centenary! Mackay State High School will celebrate from 20 August to 26 August this year, 2012.
The principal, Steve Paulger, says, on the MSHS website, that the school, which opened on 1 January 1912, in what is now part of the TAFE complex, was one of the first state high schools opened in Queensland. The school moved to its present site, which has a frontage to the Milton Street cul de sac, in 1963. The school has 980 students.
This beautiful blue basketball court is a new addition to Mackay State High School.
All three of my children, Nick, Suzanne, and Amanda, attended Mackay State High School, as did my daughter-in-law, Denese, and my grandson, Kial. My grandson, Lee, is in his second year at the school.
In addition to the expected subjects which cater for students who are academically inclined, and also for those who plan to follow a particular vocation, Mackay State High School also has a strong music program and an agricultural program which provides those of us who live nearby, with the chance to see cattle close to our homes.
The Mackay flood in February 2008 sent about three feet of water raging through the school and in the process part of the front brick fence was demolished.
The school has a large oval which is also used outside school hours by community based groups and by individuals who run around like mad things. The basketball courts and tennis courts are also used constantly outside school hours, as is the school hall.
The tree, above, helps to provide shade for students waiting each morning for the buses which go on to Victoria Park State School, and to other schools in the district.
The school has a new purpose built computer building (which I manage not to see as a number of beautiful old trees were murdered in order for the ground to be cleared).