Historical information

This newspaper article was produced at a time when newspapers were the main source of local information. The period before the explosion of mobile communication technology and the cost effectiveness of communication by "texting" and internet "social connections, eg. facebook and other social media networkings" The newspapers were the main links between and within large regions. The Hydro Courier was first printed in 1950 as a YMCA community service publication by Mr. Albert Clarke YMCA Officer and Mr. Alex McCullough a State Electricity Commission employee. This paper was one very important publication that provided relevant community information to all and was the major contributer to the "Valley" cohesive fibre and unity.

Significance

This article not only records the celebration (centenary) of the Tawonga School but also presents the history of the school and important events such as various relocations of classrooms and how the region was settled and developed from the 1870's onward. The yawonga school opened in 1880 on 8 acres of land. It consisted of one large wooden building (22 ft x 11 ft). It had two windows, one brick chimney, bare wooden floor and a shingle roof. This article also presents the time when Mount Beauty area was likened to an island and occasionally school children could not attend school because of a flooded Kiewa river. The article also covers the changes brought about by the increased employment opportunities from SEC Kiewa Works(1935), the Sawmill(1946), the Gold mine(1949) and the Tobacco Industry (largest growing area in Australia).

Physical description

This item is a one page (original) article of the centenary celebrations for Tawonga Primary School came from the Alpine Observer and incorporated the Hydro Courier. It covers the arrangements for the celebration of the 100 years of the school's existence. The printed layout is typical of the typeset in use in 1980's. There are seven distinctive type collumns separated by a printed line. Three photographs are published with one photograph of a demountable classromm ,circa 1980, and the other two of student class photos of 1899 and 1914. Teacher and student names are listed below each photograph. On the back of this page are "specials" for "Sam's Cut Price Stores", specifically the Myrtleford store. Of interest is the advertisement of "Cartons of Cigarettes at cut prices". The page was produced as part of a "run" with "telltale" holes at each corner for stabilising the page in the printing process.

Inscriptions & markings

"Centenary Celebrations For Tawonga Primary School" below this in an enclosed heading "ALPINE OBSERVER" underneath in smaller print "WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED" below this in larger print "THE HYDRO COURIER" and below this from left to right, "No. 719 (Vol. 3) THURSDAY, 23rd OCTOBER, 1980" next "in smaller print Recommended Price Single Copy, 20c "(cents)