Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School celebrates 50 years since opening its doors

A South West school that blazed the trail for co-educational boarding schools in Australia has celebrated a huge milestone that has provoked feelings of pride from staff and students past and present. Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School on Tuesday celebrated 50 years since opening its doors to 73 students on February 8, 1972 under the leadership of inaugural head of school Dr Eric Speed. The origins of the school, which was the first co-educational boarding school in Australia that offered both primary and secondary education, can be traced to the late Bishop Ralph Gordon Hawkins’ establishment of a provisional school council in 1967 to pursue his vision of a cathedral school for the children of the Anglican Diocese. The school has since grown to boast more than 600 students within its campus in 2022 while the campus itself remains the same size it was when it first opened. BCGS head of school Matthew O’Brien said he felt “proud and privileged” to see the school celebrate 50 years since its establishment. “A school like ours exists to serve the people of this region and (it was) the vision of the founding people to be able to say we need a grammar-style school in the South West to stop so many students having to go away from their families and the region,” he said. “To see that vision played out in the successful school that we are today with a thriving enrolment and the beautiful facilities we have is exciting. “I’m very proud and privileged to be here leading the school for the start of the next 50 years.” Although restrictions on school gatherings threw a whole school service into a last-minute tailspin, current staff and students, as well as Anglican Bishop of Bunbury The Right Reverend Dr Ian Coutts were able to celebrate the day with cake while the school’s foundation staff and students, including Dr Speed, enjoyed a lunch at Dolphin Discovery Centre. At the age of 88, Dr Speed joked he was surprised he was still around to see the school celebrate 50 years but felt a sense of pride to see the school grow. “We started with about 73 students, six full-time staff and several part-time staff and since then there has been thousands of students and staff members come through the doors,” he said. “It’s a much-reduced celebratory event meeting with the foundation staff and a few foundation students instead of the service we were going to have, but still a celebration nonetheless.” Dr Coutts said he was excited to have been part of the special occasion with Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. “This was one of the first co-educational boarding schools in Australia and I have been associated with the school for the past three years, so it has been a joy to see the way in which the school seeks to educate and inspire and encourage young people from across the region,” he said. The school is set to have several events throughout the year commemorating the milestone including several class reunions, a black tie dinner and fundraiser and a whole school musical production that is set to feature cameo appearances by former students.