History revealed as Ongerup Primary School opens time capsule after two decades

It was a day of celebration at a small Great Southern primary school last weekend, as two decades of history was uncovered. The Ongerup Primary School time capsule, closed on August 30, 2002, was opened on August 14 at an event attended by staff and students past and present, along with MPs and other community members. Ongerup Primary School principal Mark Bruce said they were lucky to have good weather on the day. “It was a wonderful event met with great enthusiasm and curiosity,” he said. “Reflections from past staff and students were a highlight as family sealed packages were returned. “The time to reflect and connect with each other was highly valued, with attendees sharing stories and memories.” There was no damage to the contents of the time capsule during the 20 years it spent enclosed in a stone monument at the school. Some of the contents uncovered included surveys and small personal items from students, a letter from former Ongerup Primary School principal Stephen Murray and copies of the 2002 annual school report, newsletters, newspapers and magazines. “There was great interest in the reflections and memories, with some amusing stories and conversations about where and what the former students are doing now,” he said. One of the more interesting items recovered was a cassette tape that had been included as part of the original time capsule at the school 40 years ago. “The 1982 principal, Mr Burrows, was interviewed and was talking about technology,” Mr Bruce said. “He said at that stage they had one computer in the school and that he hoped eventually Ongerup would be able to have more within the school. “Mr Burrows also went on to say that maybe in the future we would have telephones with video screens. “That was in 1982 — now in 2022, principals have video screen telephones.” The letter left in the capsule by 2002 principal Stephen Murray, written using a Windows 98 computer, also spoke about the technology of the day. “He also made reference to the photo phones that he had seen on the news the night before,” Mr Bruce said. The school is preparing to keep the time capsule tradition going, with plans to close it for another 20 years from October.