By Vanessa, Country to Canberra teen blogger.
When I was younger, and before I became an intolerable teenager, my primary school was the centre of my world. It was where I got to escape my parents and delve into a universe where I could completely be myself. Jamberoo Public School was the place where I played ‘Saddle Club’ with my friends in the forest. Sadly, I never got to be my favourite character Stevie, but I did make an awesome horse. It was the place where I had my first crush. Unfortunately, Josh never recognised me, even though I put extra chocolates in his Christmas card that year. It was the place where I met my closest friends, who I’m still best mates with today. Whenever my friends and I reflect on our childhoods, ‘JPS’ is always a talking point. It seems like almost all of our precious memories were created in that magical place and we love to relive them – take for example, that time Jacob fainted in choir practice, that time Sophie’s mum dressed up as a zebra for ‘Book Week’ and that time *somebody* cracked a rotten egg during the end-of-year assembly.
I wouldn’t be the person I am today if Jamberoo Public School hadn’t been a part of my life. Each time I drive past and see the little sandstone library nostalgia immediately follows. When I finished my seven years there, I was comforted by the thought that it would continue to be a part of my little town and positively impact other local kids. Lately, however, I haven’t been comforted this comfort has been deteriorating. The number of students attending JPS has dropped to dangerously low levels. Less than one hundred children attend the school now, and just five of them are in Kindergarten. Unlike our closest capital city Sydney, Jamberoo residents don’t have a lot of schools to choose from, in fact, we only have one, and that
one small school makes an enormous difference. This tiny primary school is one of the big factors that attract many young families to the area, including mine in 2000. Without JPS and all of its facilities, all of Jamberoo would struggle, including sports clubs, local event organisers and businesses. It would be a domino effect. Importantly, the children bring a crucial vibrancy to Jamberoo, and without them, our entire community would transform – and not in a good way.
If Australia wants to keep its valuable country towns alive, it must counter this issue with initiatives that promote the school, promote country living, and encourage more bright and talented teachers to work rurally. The local school fosters our community’s future, and it plays a special role in my past. Ultimately, I want Jamberoo Public School to be the place where my children make their own precious primary school memories.