Post primary education in Wodonga began in 1923 when the existing primary school, which opened in 1857, became the Wodonga Central School. It extended students for a further 2 years of secondary schooling. In 1938 the school was declared a higher elementary school with 90 students in the secondary classes. Following rapid growth after the Second World War, the High School was established as a separate school in 1954 with 249 students and the primary students were relocated to premises in Ariel Street. However it rapidly became evident that a new school building needed to be established to cater for growing enrolments and specialist facilities. After persistent pressure from the Advisory Council, Stage 1 of the new school was built and occupied by Form 1 and 2 students in 1960. The final stages were completed during term 3, 1962. The official opening of the new Wodonga High School was declared by The Hon. J. S. Bloomfield M.L.A., Minister for Education, on Friday 30th April 1965.This program marks the an important occasion in the development of secondary education in Wodonga.A pocket from a Wodonga High School blazer made of a wool blend fabric. It is embroidered with the school logo featuring an open book and a torch combined with the school motto. The motto "Labora ut Servias", translates as "Work to Serve”. The pocket is paired with a program for official opening of the new school in 1965.Around the edge of the circular yellow, white and gold logo "WODONGA HIGH SCHOOL / LABORA UT SERVIAS"wodonga high school, secondary education wodonga

Post primary education in Wodonga began in 1923 when the existing primary school, which opened in 1857, became the Wodonga Central School. It extended students for a further 2 years of secondary schooling. In 1938 the school was declared a higher elementary school with 90 students in the secondary classesThese items represent a school which operated in Wodonga from 1923 until 1938. It was an important stage in the pathway to establishing secondary education in Wodonga.3 Badges made of enamelled metal. The larger one is oval shaped above a scroll bearing an inscription. It has 3 maroon reeds in the centre. The other 2 are in the form of a metal scroll with gold lettering.Around Oval badge: WODONGA CENTRAL SCHOOL On Scroll below oval; FOR HONOR Above Oval: CAPTAIN On smaller badges: GRADE CAPTAINwodonga schools, wodonga central school, education wodonga

Wodonga township’s first school was conducted in a small rented wooden cottage from September 1857. It was called the Belvoir National School. The building of a new schoolhouse, No. 378, began in October the same year near the corner of High and South Streets. In 1872 it changed to No. 37 Wodonga. The name was changed to Wodonga State School in 1875. This name remained until which remained until 1938 when it became a Higher Elementary School. In 1951 the Victorian Education Department purchased 12 acres of land in Ariel Street for the purpose of re-siting the State School. At this stage there were 600 pupils attending the school of which 170 were in the secondary section. Initially the Infant department moved into pre-fabricated classroom on the new site and by 1954 the whole primary school had been transferred.. The building was used became the temporary home of the Wodonga High School and later the Wodonga Technical School until they moved to new premisesA black and white image of school building mounted on card.At bottom of image: "WODONGA STATE SCHOOL 1920"wodonga state school, education wodonga

This cup was awarded to Kenneth Darnton Watson when he was a boarder and competitive rower whilst completing his secondary education. Kenneth Darnton Watson was born at Bendigo on 24 May 1893 to George Darnton Watson and Adelaide Nora Holmes. He was educated at Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, being selected as School Captain in 1913 and a member of the Head of the River rowing team. After finishing school, he worked as a jackaroo on Wanganella Station and later at Mt. Widderin, Skipton, Victoria. When WW1 was declared, Kenneth enlisted and after initial training at Maribyrnong, Victoria he left Australia as 2nd Lieutenant with 7th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, to disembark at Plymouth on July 10, 1916. He took part in the Battles of Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood and Passchendaele Ridge in 1917. For his efforts in Passchendaele Ridge on 17th December he was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty." In 1918 he took part in the Battles of Villers-Bretonneux, Hamel and Amiens. He returned to Australia in November 1919 and was discharged on 20th January 1920. In 1922, Kenneth Darnton Watson came to Wodonga where he purchased de Kerilleau Homestead, consisting of 2,500 acres, from Mr George Gordon. The two storey brick homestead had been built by William Huon in 1870. On 30th May 1924, he married Phyllis Emily Lenore Austin and they had four children, Ian Darnton 1925, Robert Darnton 1926 Rosemary McPherson 1929 and Faith Holmes 1931. On the land Kenneth worked hard, building fences, cattle, sheep and horse yards, and farmed Corriedale sheep, Shorthorn cattle and horses. he was an innovative farmer, introducing modern methods of top dressing at de Kerilleau by means of an aircraft. He was also a dedicated community man. He was a member of both Albury and Wodonga Show Committees, Murray Valley Development League, No.1 Region, Graziers' Association of Southern Riverina, Albury Legacy Club, Wodonga RSL, and Wodonga Turf Club including terms as President on several of these organisations. Kenneth was also a Warden of St. Luke's Church of England, Wodonga. Kenneth served as Wodonga Shire President from 1929 to 1931, and was again elected to Council from 1943 to 1945. A most respected and valued member of the local community, Kenneth Darnton Watson died on the 4th of October 1951, aged 58. Lenore Watson lived at de Kerilleau until her death on 15th June 1984. Both are buried in Wodonga.These images are significant because they record the service of a prominent member of the Wodonga community.A silver mug awarded to K D Watson as a rowing trophy in April 1909. It features the shield of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School (M.C.E.G.S.), as well as his name and the event for which it was awarded.View 1: M.C.E.G.S. April 1909 Regatta View 2: Crest of MECEGS featuring motto "Ora et Labora" View 3: BOARDERS FOUR K. D. WATSON 3kenneth darnton watson, watson family wodonga, wodonga community members

The school was opened in 1857 and was known as School No. 378, Belvoir. In 1862 the Board of Education took control and called it Belvoir School No. 37, later known as No. 37 Wodonga. In 1938 it was made a Higher Elementary School and in 1954 it reached the status of a High School. The school's motto was "Labora ut Servias", which translates as "Work to Serve”Wodonga High School has a long history dating back to 1857. It has had several changes of name and provided a variety of levels of education as Wodonga itself grew and community needs changed. It developed from a primary school to become a Higher Elementary School and then a High School. It has since evolved further to become Wodonga Senior Secondary College.A circular metal ashtray with indentations for 4 cigarettes. The ashtray bears the symbol representing the school motto for Wodonga High School Around the edge of the circular yellow, red and gold logo "WODONGA HIGH SCHOOL / LABORA UT SERVIAS"education, wodonga high school, school souvenirs