One of Armidale’s best known and oldest schools will proudly celebrate 130 years of operation this weekend.
A ball will be held this Saturday 24 May from 6pm to honour the school’s long-standing role in the community, and the people who helped make it the success story that it is today.
Opened in 1895 by Miss Florence Green, New England Girls’ School quickly became recognised as one of Australia’s premier boarding schools.
The school still prides itself on remaining committed to Miss Green’s vision of holistic student development, providing a nurturing environment that embraces each individual’s talents and backgrounds.
Current Principal, Liz van Genderen, said, “This is a major celebration for us as a school, we’re very much looking forward to marking this significant milestone with our alumni, staff and the broader community.”
Ms van Genderen says that they are expecting around 100 attendees to come, dressed in their finest for a night of “dining and dancing”.
The dress code is black tie and, with delicious catering provided by Little Cocos, and live music provided by popular local band Terra Firma, it’s bound to be a night to remember.
The evening will also mark the launch of a Legacy Fund set up in honour of previous principal Anna Abbott. Ms Abbott served as principal from 1990 to 2000 and is fondly remembered as being a true believer of the concept of “girls can do anything”.
Under her leadership the school became recognised as the largest girls’ boarding school in the Southern Hemisphere.
Ms Abbott passed in January this year and the school will also hold a memorial in her honour this Friday.
The Legacy Fund will be established to complete vital upgrades to the school’s dining hall, which will also be renamed after Ms Abbott.
The ball will be held on campus in NEGS’ multi-purpose centre and will showcase not only the school’s proud heritage but also their vision for a strong future to come.
More information about the ball and tickets are available on their website.
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