Andrew Bould reports...
With help from Steve Lazarus and Gerry Tomkins for his delivery of the freshly painted flag pole back to the school site, the Raymond Island School had a new flag flying full mast for Australia Day.
The flag pole and commemorative cairn were both part of the Bicentennial Celebrations in 1988 and to my knowledge, the flagpole has not been repainted since it was first erected. Steve Lazarus and I pulled the Oregon pole down a week before Australia Day and was in need of a complete stripping back and some holes and cracks filled before being repainted. The flagpole was taken back to the school site on Gerard Tomkin’s truck and erected complete with new fittings and a new flag.
Thank you to the support of Aussie Disposals, Bairnsdale and the Boat Shop, Paynesville for their support on the project.
The flag was flown at the School site on Australia Day and long time resident, Irene Bould (nee Haylock) was photographed beside the plaque that lists the family names of those who attended the Raymond Island School. Irene’s older Haylock siblings, sisters Edie and Dot and brothers Fred and Dan all attended the Island school. The school opened in 1902, closed in 1934 and the building sold and relocated to Devon Road, Paynesville in 1938. Attached are some images of the cairn being positioned and the first flag raising in 1988.
The flag was also flying at the Raymond Island Community Hall complemented by the new hall sign.
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| Steve Lazarus and Andrew Bould cleaning |
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| Irene Bould at the School plaque |
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| RI School |
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| Old School at Devon Road |
