More than 100 community members gathered in the Aboriginal town of Fitzroy Crossing in WA's Kimberley region last week to farewell the old high school building which has shaped generations of local children.
Hosted by the Bunuba Dawangarri Aboriginal Corporation and chaired by Keith Andrews, the Wednesday evening event drew Elders, former students and families who came together to share stories and view old photographs before the building's planned demolition.
Among those who spoke were Elders Marmingee Hand, June Oscar, Cherie Smiler and Helen Malo, who reflected on their schooling and mission-era experiences.
A special phone appearance was made by Karen Masters, a former student and daughter of Pearl and Bruce Smoker, who helped establish the school in its early years.
The old high school site has fallen into disrepair over the past decade and was further damaged during the catastrophic floods that swept through Fitzroy Crossing in January,
2023.
It will be demolished in coming months with support from the Aboriginal Lands Trust.
The gathering became a moment to reflect on how far education in the Fitzroy Valley has come.
Western education in Fitzroy Crossing began in the 1940s at the United Aborigines Mission settlement, where local children were first taught in a small school run by missionaries.
Over time government involvement grew, and by the 1970s the town's education facilities had expanded to include secondary schooling for students from surrounding communities including Junjuwa, Mindi Radi and Kurnangki.
Fitzroy Crossing District High School later became a central hub for the valley, bringing together students from across the region.
The site, now set to be demolished, served for decades as both a teaching space and a gathering point for cultural and community events.
Though the building has deteriorated, the farewell event was marked by pride and remembrance rather than sadness.
Speakers honoured the resilience of past students who studied under difficult conditions, the teachers who lived and worked in the town, and the generations of Bunuba and other Aboriginal families who fought for better education on Country.
Mr Andrews said the farewell was about "closing a chapter with respect".
"That building holds the memories of our people's determination to learn, to teach and to keep culture strong alongside education," he said.
"It's not just an old school, it's part of who we are."
The demolition will make way for future development on the site, but for many in Fitzroy Crossing, the stories shared on Wednesday night ensured the school's legacy will continue to live on in the valley's collective memory.
