Our History
Our ‘Memorial’ Legacy
When Kadina Primary School and Kadina Memorial High School amalgamated the community was overwhelmingly in favour of retaining our historical links to the district’s former service men and women who served the Nation.
ANZAC Day, Vietnam Veteran’s Day and Remembrance Day are significant events on our annual school community calendar.
It is a time for us as a school to pause, reflect, pay tribute to those who served and make strong peaceful choices for the future.
We are proud to be a ‘Memorial’ school – one of few such schools in Australia.
How Kadina Memorial School inherited its name and heritage.
In April 1919 the Mayor of Kadina, Mr Paul Roach, and a committee of concerned citizens, held an appeal to raise money for a War Memorial to local men and women who served in World War I. At that time secondary education in the district was available at the Wallaroo Mines District High School. Even then however, the future of the Mines was in doubt and as the facilities and space for secondary education were limited at Wallaroo Mines, sections of both Kadina and Wallaroo communities began planning for a new high school in their towns.
Mr Roach and his committee pledged to the Government of South Australia the sum of one thousand pounds towards the building of a High School at Kadina, and the corporation and rate-payers agreed to grant a site of 8 acres of parklands near the already established Kadina Primary School. The Government accepted both offers, and plans were drawn up for the new Kadina High School to be known as the Kadina Memorial High School, as it was to be a memorial to ex-service men and women of World War I.
Armed service personnel from subsequent conflicts have also been acknowledged on the Memorial Wall.
The amalgamation committee decided to continue this tradition, with post 1972 overseas armed services commitments considered for inclusion on the wall. It’s a legacy the school community is keen to uphold for future generations.
Kadina Primary School 1879-2012
Kadina Primary School (KPS), located on the current KMS site at Doswell Terrace, was declared open on December 9, 1879 during the copper mining era.
A history book titled ‘If only the walls could talk’, compiled by former staff member Ruth Grosser and edited by Rosemary Cock, provides a comprehensive timeline of Kadina Primary School’s history.
Initially KPS was built to cater for 250 students, with 360 pupils enrolling in its first year in 1879. At the height of the mining boom it’s reported there were about 700 students at the school.
‘If only the walls could talk’ documents each decade at Kadina Primary School, until its final day on Friday December 14, 2012.
Copies of the history can be purchased by phoning the Front Office on 8821 0100.
‘If only the walls could talk’
Kadina Memorial High School 1924 – 2012
Thousands of students and staff from all walks of life have entered the school gates to attend Kadina Memorial High School (KMHS) since its inception in 1924. The School’s motto was ‘Opportunitas Semel – Dawn of Opportunity’ honouring the district’s servicemen and women from World War One. It was a symbolic phrase to encourage students to seek a fulfilling life.
Many scholars have gone on to further their studies and careers in the sciences, arts, sports and most importantly have become valuable members of the community.
As the district’s only high school it had a significant influence on the lives of many young people who travelled vast distances on school buses from outlying townships and farms to complete their secondary schooling.
A history book ‘Kadina Memorial High School 1924 -2012’ was officially launched in May 2014, with detailed references to the decades since it first began operating. Copies of the history book may still be available for purchase by contacting the Front Office on 8821 0100.
