YOUNG Finn Loretan attends Wingham Brush Public School and is the fifth generation of his family to be educated in the historical building.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Both Finn's mother Samantha Loretan (nee Martin) and father, Troy Loretan attended the school, as did his grandmother, Sue Martin (nee Fotheringham), great grandmothers Noreida Fortheringham (nee Small) and Joyce Martin (nee Yarnold), great grandfather Bill Fotheringham and great, great grandfather William James Fotheringham who was born in 1886.
Time has changed a lot since William James was a young pupil but according to Sue Martin, it's the things that haven't changed that you notice the most.
Sue cites the canteen, weather sheds and classrooms as still being a walk back in time for her.
"The funny thing is you remember in proportion to how big you where," she laughs.
Sue said she remembered a staircase at the school as being "huge."
But on returning some years later things looked very different.
"I felt like I had to duck," said Sue of walking up the staircase.
Returning to her own school as a parent not only gave Sue a different perspective, but a different purpose. "I listened to the kids read. I loved that."
Now Sue returns as a grandparent, enjoying Easter parades and grandparents days.
"It gives you a real sense of deja vu," she said.
"I like watching the sports carnivals on the oval, I remember running on there myself."
Teachers obviously play a large part in any person's history at school. For Sue there was one particular teacher who Sue admits she has a "soft spot" for Vince Martin.
Vince also happens to be Sue's uncle but regardless of family connection, she considers him to have been an "excellent teacher."
"He could get any kid to learn their times tables in a fun way - that's something!"
Related articles