HISTORY will be destroyed if Education Queensland goes ahead with plans to demolish two structures that have been part of Veresdale Scrub State School since 1899, say past pupils and members of the community.
Robert McDougall was a student at the school from 1966 to 1972, a time when the schoolhouse and its play shed comprised the school in its entirety.
He said he was made to start school earlier than the usual age because it was under threat of closure due to lack of students.
Mr McDougall’s interest in the school’s history is personal because his father was also a student and his children attended the school.
“An information session [by Education Queensland] about the proposed changes was held in August and it was there I discovered about 400 flyers had been distributed to homes in the school’s catchment area about it,” he said.
“There was nothing written on [the school’s] website and it seems the department was keeping public dissemination controlled and limited in order to minimise resistance to the proposals and thereby smoothing the path to a particular outcome.”
Despite their age and sentimental value within the Veresdale Scrub community, the buildings are not heritage listed.Cheryl Ardrey started at the school in 1957 and said while she was in  favour of new facilities, tearing down historical buildings wasn’t right nor necessary.
“The school is the backbone of our little rural area and we treasure that building,” she said.
“All we had was that school, a bit of a play shed and a big fig tree to sit under, many generations have sat under that tree.”
Traceyann Bridgen is not a past pupil, she is a mum whose children attend the school.
“The plan is to get rid of the old schoolhouse and replace it with an admin building,” she said.
Mrs Bridgen said there was enough land available on the school’s property to fit more buildings without needing to tear down structures of historical significance.
The former schoolroom is currently used as an administration building and was recently deemed not fit for purpose by Education Queensland.
“That building means a lot,” said Mrs Ardrey.
“When my children started there were only eight or 10 other students,” she said.
“They are now aged in their 50s. There have been times we’ve fought to keep it open and we don’t want to lose our only connection to the past.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said all community feedback would be taken into consideration before a final decision was made on the best course of action for the school.