KWS Communities


Staff Member Mr Chris Hewitt Shows us a Link to the Past

The uniquely linked histories of Kinross Wolaroi School, Wolaroi College and PLC Orange have a new chapter added to them every week. Today, English and History teacher Mr Hewitt visited the Development Office in possession of a very rare item, a pair of Wolaroi College cufflinks from the late 1920s!

Mr Hewitt's wife's great uncle, Mr Jack (H.J.) Maltman, (pictured below, in the centre, holding the cane) attended the college from 1928 to 1931 and these cufflinks have been passed on through the family since then. Mr Hewitt will now wear these cufflinks with a great sense of pride as links between old and new continue to be forged. The old cufflinks are pictured below. Click on the photos to enlarge them.















Reid Walker, Class of 1959, Speaks to the KWS Assembly

Assembly on Tuesday, March 16th saw a special Ex-student on stage. Reid Walker, from the class of 1959 spoke passionately to the student body about his days at Wolaroi. He talked about life sleeping on the verandah of Wolaroi, about the friends he made during his time as a boarder, and how he cannot believe that the school has more than 1000 students now! Perhaps the most moving sentiment Reid shared with the students at assembly was his belief in the importance of staying in contact with your school friends. From the dozen or so students that graduated with Reid in 1959, he has maintained, or re-made contact with almost ALL of them, and the reality of a 50 year reunion of the Class of 59 is rapidly becoming a reality.

Reid proudly presented his school blazer to Principal Brian Kennelly, and Kinross Wolaroi will proudly frame and hang this important item of memorabilia very soon.

The students were totally absorbed by Reid's moving speech and the hearty round of applause he received at the conclusion of his speech, and on presentation of the blazer, signified the importance of maintaining links with Ex-Students.

Click here to see pictures of Reid's visit, and also pics from 1959






Sean finds his brick.


Sean Hubert, Head Boy Prefect at KWS in 2005, returned to school this week to have a look around the place. One thing he was particularly interested in seeing was his 'brick'. In 2005, the KWS Rugby club ran a fundraisinig program which saw around 200 people donate funds to have their name engraved on bricks in the path at the base of the new grandstand. This project was not completed until 2006, and until this week Sean had not yet seen his brick. He was very pleased to see that his brick had been placed next to one donated by his elder brother, Peter (Head Boy in 2003). Forever etched in the history of KWS!

Wolaroi Mansion Restoration

The Association in conjunction with the Kinross Wolaroi Foundation has initiated a restoration appeal for Wolaroi Mansion, which involves the removal of the timber infill on the verandah and replacement of the Victorian lace to take the building back to the way it looked in the 1880's.

Conservation architect, Christo Aitken, has produced a Conservation Management Plan for the building and the Association has contributed funds towards this document. Mr Aitken has also been appointed to detail the restoration of the verandah with a view to have contractors commence work in July 2009 if funds permit.

A number of ex-students have already contributed towards the Appeal but many more donations are needed to cover the anticipated costs which are expected to be in the vicinity of $250,000.

Donations towards the Appeal are tax deductable under the maintenance provision of the Foundation's Charter. Anyone donating $2,000 or more could become a member of the Foundation. If interested in contributing towards this Appeal. For more details phone the Development Office on (02)6392 0305. 

Recent Gifts to the School 

The Association has contributed to a number of projects in recent months with interest earned on invested life and ten year memberships enabling the Association to make a $6,000 donation towards the new Health Clinic, $6,000 towards the grand piano in the new Derek Pigot Auditorium and $7,500 towards the Conservation Management Plan for Wolaroi.

Class Reunions 

Class Reunions have been set for various times throughout 2009. The first of these will be the 20 and 30 Year Reunions for the classes of 1989 and 1979, held Saturday 28 February at the Orange Ex-Services Club. The 5 and 10 Year Reunions for the classes of 2004 and 1999 will be held Saturday 1 August at the Orange Ex-services club.The 50 year reunion for the Class of 1959 will be held at Turner's Vineyard Lodge from 6pm on Friday 25th September.

Please contact the Development Office at the School if you would like more information or have slipped under the radar and would like to attend: Locked Bag 4, ORANGE NSW 2800.
Phone (02) 6392 0305 or Email: Paul Tierney at ptierney@kws.nsw.edu.au .

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