Living history on our own doorstep
Mrs Connie Thomson turned 100 years old this month and among her memorabilia was this story about her involvement with a local school, published in the Gosford and Peninsula Times February 18, 1986.
"Woy Woy resident, Mrs Connie Thomson of North Burge Road, has written a national song which will be entered in the 1988 bicentenary competition.
"The song, entitled Praise to Australia, will be performed by the Woy Woy Primary School choir backed by the South Woy Woy School Children's Brass Band.
"The schools plan to make a video with sound for their bicentennial entry.
"The song was first performed in public last December (1985) at the Woy Woy School speech day and will be presented by the 300 voice Peninsula School Choir at the Peninsula Schools' Music Festival in September (1986).
"Mrs Thomson first wrote the words as a poem in 1984 to recite at the Woy Woy Business and Professional Women's Club Australia Day breakfast.
"Last year (1985) she put the words to music and asked Woy Woy School if its choir might be interested in singing it.
"These are the words of the first two verses:
Let us all sing praise to Australia
Show our loyalty to Australia
Then the world will know
We love freedom so
That peace will reign in Australia.
As the years roll by in Australia
To maturity in Australia
We shall understand
How to use our land
And every hand
For Australia."
Cec Bucello, February 18