IT was 1942 when Merle Daly attended Maitland Public School, wearing her navy tunic with three box pleats, paired with a white blouse, silk black stockings and a felt hat perched on her head.
She rode the bus to school each day from Raymond Terrace, tittle-tattling with the girls from the Catholic school and the Cessnock girls who she described as "tough".
It was a different time of learning where her classes were filled with domestic duties and basic education.
"I can remember sewing, cooking and stuffing tomatoes," she said.
This year the school, formerly known as Maitland Girls High and most recently West Maitland Public School is celebrating 150 years, and Merle who is now 95, is its oldest living former student.
The Raworth resident was just 13 years-old when she left the school in 1945 to take a job at the telephone exchange.
"I left in the third year when a job came knocking on the door," she said.
The school opened in 1874 and was a high school for a period between January 1913 and December 1942. It went through several different iterations during this time.
Looking back on her time at the now primary school, Merle said she has nothing but fond memories.
"I just remember them as being happy times and doing a subject called domestic science," she said.
"I remember preparing food, doing art works, knitting and playing tunnel ball. We'd send the ball down between everyone's legs and the girl at the end would bring it to the front."
And when Merle was in school there was no canteen and she can remember her packed lunch involved a simple sandwich, a piece of fruit and home baked biscuits.
"A banana that turned brown and did we care? No!" she said.
"... and water straight from the tap."
Merle said English was her favourite subject.
"I was a pretty good speller," she said.
On Wednesday, October 23 she cut a cake with the youngest student at the anniversary celebrations, followed by a spring fair from 1pm-3pm at the school grounds.
"It's lovely. Pity I wasn't a good scholar, but I was well-behaved. Never got into trouble," she said.
The most special part of all of it is that Merle's great grandsons go to the school she went to and one is school captain. Her granddaughter Elissa Brown, is also a teacher librarian at the school.
"It is very special, a wonderful thing," she said.
Mrs Brown said working in a school that her grandmother went to was very meaningful.
"Knowing that my Nana has come here - we've shared many stories and memories in regards to the school - but this time being part of it has been super special because of that family history," she said.
