The school was again invited to participate at the bridge’s
75th anniversary celebrations in March this year.
Twenty-five children from Years 5 and 6 sang in the choir
alongside the children of Chatswood
Public school, who also
took part in the bridge’s opening ceremony.
They sang the national anthem and took part in the chorus of
‘Advance Australia Fair’ sung by Australian idol runner-up Jessica Mauboy.
“We did a lot of study on bridges prior to the ceremony and
the children found it very inspiring because the bridge is such an icon and
also a lesson in machinery and how things work,” says Year 5 and 6 teacher
Judith Wright. “The icing on the cake was that they sang in the ceremony. The
children were so happy and excited.”
The children traded the school’s red jerseys for t-shirts in
rainbow hues which were worn by the children’s choir on the day. They met
82-year-old Mary Fulton who crossed the bridge as a 9-year-old at the opening
ceremony.
Ms Wright who has been teaching at the school for 11 years
says she loves working at Darlington because
of the school’s diversity.
“Darlington is a very
accepting, loving, enthusiastic school,” she says. “Our school reflects the
essence of public education and it does that by the fact that it is totally
inclusive. It doesn’t matter what your academic level is, or economic
background.
Everyone here believes every child is entitled to the best
that can be offered.”
Source: South Sydney
Herald May 2007 http://www.southsydneyherald.com.au/