Rodney Stevens
The hunt for the Yamba Public School time capsule buried 40-years-ago looks to have paid off with plans to unearth the missing relic this month.
To mark Yamba Public School’s YPS 100th anniversary in 1983, a time capsule was buried on the old school site to be opened in the year 2000, but when the old school was demolished to build the Yamba Bowling Club, the capsule was unearthed and held at the new school until a decision was made about what to do with it.
Former YPS student Marcus Greig and Yamba resident Christine Preston have led the investigation for the time capsule to finally see the light of day, 23-years late.
Mr Greig said from conversations with former YPS Principal, Geoff Gorman, they discovered the school’s time capsule was reburied in 1989 at William Ager Park, with another capsule from the Bicentennial Committee, which is to be opened in 2088.
“The time capsule belongs to the people so it would be great if it is found and finally reunited with the community,” Mr Greig said.
Mrs Preston said the time capsule contains memories and information from former YPS students including her late son and daughter who attended the school.
“I am representing my late son, my daughter and every other parent and their kids who were involved,” she said.
Mr Greig said the Port of Yamba Historical Society and council have given permission for the YPS time capsule to be carefully unearthed from William Ager Park, and the Bicentennial Committee time capsule will remain buried.
He said Cr Karen Toms sought permission from Clarence Valley Council to carefully dig up the William Ager Park Bicentennial site to see if the capsule is there.
Cr Toms advised the CV Independent she put a notice of motion to the August council meeting to have the $116.40 temporary licence fee for activity in William Ager Park waived so the capsule can be unearthed.
If the excavation fails to unearth the YPS time capsule at William Ager Park, Mr Greig said there is a site behind YPS where the time capsule may be located.
“If the time capsule is found it will be transported to a safe place for inspection, then put on display for all to see,” he said.
“I would like to see the capsule stored in a glass case at Yamba Public School in the library.”
Well known Yamba engineer Andrew Harris has kindly donated his time and effort for free to this extraordinary community event to unearth the time capsule.
The YPS time capsule is scheduled to be unearthed from William Ager Park, near Main Beach and Convent Beach, on Friday, August 25, from 10am.