23 September 2003

Ultimo School Song

There’s a school we call our own,
ULTIMO, ULTIMO
It’s a home away from home,
ULTIMO, ULTIMO
Right in the City of Sydney we know,
Where a thousand different people,
Come and go,
It’s a great place to be,
So come along and see,
ULTIMO, ULTIMO, ULTIMO

Photo by Gerald Ganglbauer

 

Ultimo Public School’s Official Opening Speech
23 September 2003

Recognition of official guests.

I would like to acknowledge the traditional owners and custodians of the land where we are gathered, the Gadigal people, members of the Eora nation and the elders past and present.

Ultimo Public School has a long history in the Ultimo/Pyrmont area, with the original school being established back in 1858 when there were only 104 schools in the state of NSW.

In 1858 this area, which is so close to the Central Business District, was part of the busy industrial and maritime district of Sydney, then a population of approximately only 100,000.

The scene would have been one of horse drawn carts loaded with bales of wool, of the coming and going of steam and sailing ships and of the population in rows of small terrace houses side by side with factories blowing smoke.

In 2003, this area still has its maritime links but it has seen tremendous change and a huge growth in residential accommodation with the redevelopment of Darling Harbour and Pyrmont as well as Ultimo. The wool stores, maritime industries and Darling Harbour railway yards are all gone.

The scene is now of cars and trucks on busy roads, of hotels and tourists and with much of the population now living in high rise apartments.

In 1858, the original Ultimo Public School was built to house hundreds of students in one large room with a number of teachers drilling large groups of the 3Rs.

In the intervening years, and with changes to the school buildings, the number of families and children living in the area diminished and, at one stage, Ultimo Public had less than 100 students.

Now the school has an enrolment of 240 students from 31 different language backgrounds.

In 2003, the refurbished Ultimo Public has room for growth to 300 students and has very different facilities from the original school. It has landscaped terraces, a new library and administration area, assembly hall, canteen and covered outdoor learning area as well as 12 classrooms with wet areas and three special program rooms, all painted in a range of bright colours.

Of particular mention is the improved access to modern technology and computer networks, and the canteen and assembly facilities which are a terrific resource for both school and community use.

The history of this refurbishment is that over the last five years, the number of students at Ultimo Public grew quickly. Accommodation at the school was stretched to the limit.

A decision was taken to redevelop the school site following activity by the local community, school personnel, the NSW Department of Education and Training and a number of politicians.

During 2002, the whole school was relocated to demountable buildings in the grounds of Orange Grove School in Leichhardt. The students were bussed each day while the difficult job of redeveloping a school in a difficult, steeply terraced site was completed.

I understand that the Ultimo school community anxiously awaited the completion of the new school. Families could see the progress of the works each day as they brought their children to catch the bus. There was great anticipation when the community was advised that the school would be ready for the 2003 school year.

I also understand that the first day of school this year was a time of high excitement. The staff had been unpacking and preparing for the students in the last weeks of the summer holidays. The first families to have a tour of the school before lessons on the first day of school were truly impressed with the new facilities.

I’m told that all parents have had the opportunity to see the new school and are very happy with it. The whole community felt the wait during 2002 was well worth it.

Ultimo Public School has a unique place in Sydney’s history, being one of the very early schools and being so closely sited to Sydney’s Central Business District.

The school now also has unique and modern facilities. The existing school is significantly expanded on its compact, steeply terraced site, with a major technology upgrade.

I’m sure that students, staff and the school community have appreciated the changes to their school since they rejoined their neighbourhood at the beginning of the 2003 school year.

Thank you to all the people involved in the project: State and Federal Governments, NSW Department of Education and Training, NSW Department of Public Works, Brisland, the building contractor, and the Ultimo school community, parents and students.

I now declare the newly refurbished Ultimo Public School officially open.

Ashley Thompson

 

SCHOOL PROFILE: Ultimo Public School

ELECTORATE: PORT JACKSON CODE: 3305

ADDRESS: Quarry Street, ULTIMO NSW 2007
PHONE: 9660 2130
FAX: 9692 8823
PRINCIPAL’S MOBILE: 0417 489 508

DISTRICT: Port Jackson SUPERINTENDENT: Mr Jack Baseley

ADDRESS: Church Street, ST PETERS NSW 2044
PHONE: 9582 5800
FAX: 9582 5899

STAFFING AND ENROLMENT:

STAFF: 15.6
STUDENTS: 237

ETHNIC COMPOSITION: 65% of students from a LOTE background; majority Chinese. Large group of New Arrivals.

PRINCIPAL: Mr Ashley Thompson

ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL:
Stephanie Searle (AP)
Marc Surrest (AP)
Gai Longhurst (AP)

OTHER STAFF:
Bull, Wendy – Librarian
Chang, Lee – Community Language
Comino, Erin – Reading Recovery (Release from face-to-face)
Cox, Melissa – English as a Second Language
Dewstowi, Scott – Teachers Aide Special
Frangopoulos, Fiona – Kindergarten
Gundert, Diana – Year 4/5
Johns, Di – Kindergarten
Johnston, Angela – Year 1
Lee, Doreen – Administration Assistant
Lyons, Lavina – Year 5
Maher, Pam – Senior School Assistant
O’Regan, Vicki – Support Teacher (Learning Difficulties)
Richardson, Anne Marie – Teachers Aide Special
Rushton, Patricia – English as a Second Language
Wilson, Mark – Year 3
Woods, Christine – Teachers Aide Special

SUCCESSFUL PROGRAMS:

• Caught You Being Good Program (Student Welfare Incentive Program)
• Multicultural Education Program
• Visual Art Program
• Environmental Education Program
• Reading Recovery
• School Band
• School Choir
• Peer Support Program
• 14 Computer Labs in Primary
• 10 Computers for each pair of classrooms

COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION:

• Ultimo Scholarship Fund. Established by the local community in 1990
• Clean Up Australia
• Pyrmont/Ultimo Festival
• Links with Wentworth Park Trust – Senior Citizens Luncheon
• Links with Harris Centre – celebration of Chinese New Year etc.

SCHOOL COUNCIL: NO

SPECIAL FEATURES:

• Growing School (70% increase in 4 years)
• Very close to City amenities e.g. Powerhouse Museum, Darling Harbour
• Strong links with Chinese Community
• Only Government School in Sydney City Council Area
• Newly refurbished school. Excellent facilities

Bill Anthes

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© 2003 Gerald Ganglbauer, created 10 October 2003