Donna Brooks is a proud third-generation Sunshine resident.
Her grandfather moved into the suburb in 1915, running the grocery shop next to the old Bank of NSW in Hampshire Road.
Ms Brooks’ attended the same Sunshine Primary School as her father and was even taught by the same teacher, a Mrs Felstead.
Ms Brooks’s family built the row of concrete houses in Leith Avenue.
Such is the strength of her connection to the suburb, and her wish to document its history, that she’s helping collect old school uniforms and memorabilia for an exhibition about Sunshine’s oldest schools.
Along with other members of the Sunshine and District Historical Society, including Melchior Bajada, Ms Brooks is calling on residents to donate or let the society borrow their old school jumpers, broaches, newsletters and other memorabilia for the exhibition scheduled for September.
She said the society already had woollen jumpers from Sunshine West High School, Sunshine Technical School and Sunshine High School.
“Some schools we have nothing from at all, and many schools have since closed,” she said.
“From Our Ladies College, which is one of the oldest schools, we have nothing.”
Ms Brooks said they were hoping to receive items from Deer Park Primary School, the area’s first school, having been built in 1886.
The exhibition, Past and Present Schools of Sunshine, will be at the Hunt Club in Deer Park from September 23 until October 21.
To donate items, call the Sunshine and District Historical Society on 9249 4614.
