The celebrations will coincide with the college open day on Friday, September 18 and include displays of student work, the college facilities and equipment as well as a student shearing competition and wool handling demonstrations.

Gates will open at 10am. The official opening will be at 11.15am by a speech by former principal and more recently, director general of education, Peter Browne.

The reunion will be at the Cunderdin Hotel from 3pm onwards.

Cunderdin Agricultural School as it was known opened in 1959. It was established on land surrounding the World War II Royal Australian Air Force aerodrome, three kilometres north of Cunderdin.

Converted buildings on the site were used to house students and staff and as classrooms and workshops.

It was the determination and support of the Cunderdin community that got the school going with donations of livestock and second hand machinery.

When a delay in renovation of the buildings threatened the school’s opening, farmers rallied to provide billets and transport to and from school for the students until the buildings were ready in second term.

Despite its humble beginnings its first graduates all went on to become successful farmers, business owners and professionals.

One even went on to become a veterinarian who worked for the Department of Agriculture for many years.

Since then the college has gone from strength to strength catering for up to 120 students with modern accommodation and facilities and state-of-the-art machinery and equipment.

It has also received recognition for the quality vocational education and training it provides.

Lunch will be provided. To help with catering, those planning to attend the open day and reunion should contact the college on 9635 1302 or by email at cunderdin.ac@det.wa.edu.au no later than September 11.