City of Ryde Mayor Clr Trenton Brown presented St Charles Catholic Primary School with a plaque last week celebrating 165 years of education in the Ryde Local Government Area.
The Mayor was joined by Clr Roy Maggio – who presented the Notice of Motion recommending the plaque at the November 2023 Council Meeting – as well as Clr Bernard Purcell, City of Ryde CEO Wayne Rylands and Parish Priest Father Greg Morgan.
The plaque pays tribute to Charles Borromeo, a leading figure in the Catholic Church during the 16th Century who become known as the 'loving reformer'. He was canonised in 1610 and the school is embedded within the parish of St Charles Borromeo.
It joins a previous City of Ryde plaque which was presented to the school in 2008 marking its 150th anniversary.
Clr Brown said it was an honour to acknowledge and celebrate St Charles's rich educational history.
"In 1858, when St Charles began educating students there were no school uniforms, no computers, no airconditioned classrooms, and no canteen," he told guests, staff, and students at the unveiling ceremony.
"It would have been a very different school day back then, but I'm sure some things such as making good friends, learning to read and write, enjoying a good book, and playing at lunchtime would have been very similar.
"I hope that in 2058, whoever is mayor will be able to provide another plaque to your school marking 200 years of education."
