Valkyrie, what an intriguing name on the map of Central Queensland, of the locality, a property and school.
Predominantly cattle grazing country, Valkyrie is a rural locality, not a town, lightly populated, currently by approximately 122 people, over 2500 sq km, in north-western Central Queensland.
According to Google, Valkyrie comes from Norse mythology (as well, a Marvel Superheroine). Marvel fans and Viking followers possibly aware that a Valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who guide souls of the dead to the god Odin’s hall, Valhalla.
How did a small piece of Central Queensland get to be called after a Norse soul guide?
I wonder if the Archers, who in the 1850s had pastoral runs in the Peak Downs region, gave it the name, having lived in Norway before coming to Australia.
They being the first European settlers of Gracemere (originally named by them as Farris, after a Norwegian lake) in Central Queensland.
This year, on 22 June, Valkyrie State School, on the Fitzroy Development Road, about 300km from Rockhampton, celebrates its 50th anniversary.
The school’s beginnings were under the shade of the Coolibah trees, on the banks of Lake Plattaway (if only Banjo Patterson were alive to put this all to verse).
In 1974 a good number, of the then Valkyrie population, met there with a determination to better the educational opportunities for their children.
With this determination the seeds for Valkyrie State School were planted. Funny enough, not in its originally intended position, wet weather determined where the first school building was dropped off at, and then assembled.
The school, being the hub (only landmark) of the community, has, along with hosting working bees, weddings, and christenings, had some significant achievements and adversities over its 50 years, just like the surrounding land holders.
Drought being the big challenge, with the school, at times, running out of water (not enough to even flush a toilet), and having to send the students home early.
The school oval so dry and unforgiving that students were banned from playing on it, after one had broken his arm.
This was all highlighted in state media, ‘it would never happen at a Brisbane school’ being the common declaration.
No, it would most likely would not, but isolated schools must be resourceful, and the Valkyrie SS Parents and Citizens Association have certainly proved to be, particularly during the drought years.
Despite the state government strangely blocking the school from accepting charitable donations of bottled water (‘you got to buy it’), and no funding in the 2021 state budget to access alternative supplies of water, the P&C found an innovative way to create and store drinkable water.
In 2022, they had 15 hydropanels installed, panels that make drinkable water from sunshine and air (by capturing humidity).
The project was made possible with the support of Rural Aid, technology partner SOURCE Global, mining company Stanmore Resources, and the Central Queensland Mining Rehabilitation Group, along with passionate local backing.
Non-potable water is donated, now approved by the Department of Education, to the school by Pembroke Resources. But the oval still relies solely on rain for grass coverage.
Water, the lack of ready access to enough of it, still the ongoing challenge for Valkyrie SS (as is for many isolated schools).
Adversity can be viewed as an insurmountable, or series of, hurdle(s), OR one of life’s greatest teachers, building character, a stepping stone to greatness.
The school motto is ‘strive to achieve.’ Valkyrie SS, with currently 11 students, certainly lives by its motto.
Congratulations to those who had the vision for a school to be built, those who made that vision a reality and those who persist in their determination to make better the educational opportunities for their children.
Congratulations on 50 years. I am sure the 50-year book will be a great read, a story of determination, resourcefulness, and achievement.
A real Central Queensland story.
