In August 2004, Bridgetown High School celebrated its Golden Anniversary with a celebration weekend. For those of us who attended we had a great time (the older we get the better we were!). For those who didn’t, we missed you.

Following the success of the weekend, a group of ex-students, together with the school principal Stephen Bullied, have taken the initiative to form an ex-students/teachers alumni association (a first in Western Australia). We hope that the formation of this body will help assist future students and the school to be able to “Seek the Best”.

Should we be successful in our endeavours, we hope to be able to provide mentoring programmes, scholarships and other practical support to assist the students of the school to further develop their education. We would hope that you will support these objectives.

To formally launch the association we are planning a “Brunch on the Blackwood” on Sunday March 12th at 10.30am. Historic Bridgedale (Blechynden House) will be the venue for the brunch, which will cost $20.

We are hoping that Brunch on the Blackwood will become an annual event. It is also planned that each year we will especially target the students who have attended Bridgetown High School in the preceding 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 years. To this end we are encouraging former students who attended the school in 1996, 1986, 1976, 1966, and 1956 to start contacting each other to organize a reunion on the weekend of the Brunch on the Blackwood. Thus, people can have a party on Saturday night and wander down to a late breakfast at the Brunch on the Blackwood.

If you wish to attend Brunch on the Blackwood please notify Rosemary Ralston at the school on 9761 0100 or email me at yrrab@iinet.net.au by 3rd March. It is important that we have an accurate idea of numbers.

The membership fees for the Association will be:

Ordinary annual membership .................... $30

Corporate membership ............................... $50

Foundation Life Member ........................... $300

The Foundation Life Members will not only receive life membership, but also have their names listed on an honour board at the school and receive a unique life membership badge. A membership form is attached.

On the day prior to the breakfast (March 11th) there will be a formal opening by Dallas Chevis of the Golden Anniversary Gardens at the school. This event will start at 4.00pm and involve contributions from present students at the school, as well as the opportunity for you to tour the school and taste/buy some local wines which will be on display.

This letter has been sent to ex-students we have on our database. There are many, many more that we do not have contact details for. Please let others know of the details of this letter.

If you visit the school website at http://www.bridgetownhs.wa.edu.au and look under History you will find lists of all past students.

Looking forward to seeing you on the weekend of March 11th and 12th.

Kind regards

Barry MacKinnon - Chairman