Former pupils reunite to remember Wentworth’s ‘Cabbage Primary School’
Former pupils of Wentworth Government Aided Indian School gathered in Phoenix to share memories of the school, its community and the forced removals that led to its closure
A small group of elders gathered at Greenbury Hall in Phoenix to celebrate the 60th reunion of the Wentworth Government Aided Indian School, commonly known as Cabbage Primary School. The school, established in the 1940s, served the children of indentured laborers and passenger Indians from the region. It started with a single block of classrooms and expanded over time before being dismantled due to the Group Areas Act.
The reunion brought together about fifty former pupils aged between 60 and 80 from various areas, reigniting nostalgia and friendships. Attendees shared memories of simple pleasures, such as enjoying cocoa and buttered bread, and activities like playing games and picking fruit. The school was integral to the community, fostering a sense of unity among families involved in fishing and vegetable sales.
Former pupils, now in their seventies, bonded over their shared experiences and decided to further their connections through a WhatsApp group, marking the beginning of more reunions and a collective effort to document their oral histories.
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