It may be 18 months away but the Five Forks community is already gearing up for a big celebration.
Planning has begun for an event at Queen's Birthday Weekend in 2012 marking 100 years of education in the rural community in the heart of North Otago farmland, inland from Oamaru.
Maruakoa School opened in 1912 and closed in 1918 when Five Forks School opened, while Fuchsia Creek School opened in 1927 and closed 20 years later.
Organising committee spokesman David Ruddenklau said it was a celebration of those who had had an involvement in the Five Forks community.
The school, which ended last year with a roll of 33 pupils, was vibrant, had excellent facilities and enjoyed a very supportive community.
''Because we haven't got a village, the focus has always been on the school,'' Mr Ruddenklau said.
While its future had been under threat during a review of education in North Otago in the 1990s, the determination of the community had ensured that it remained, he said.
The nearby former Five Forks Presbyterian Church was now well utilised by the local playgroup and provided a very important introduction to the school community.
While the format for the celebrations was yet to be finalised, there were already inquiries, both nationally and internationally.
It was agreed that as much history as possible needed to be preserved and a living-history video had been commissioned.
A booklet would also be produced and the committee was keen to hear from anyone with historic information.
It was hoped to recognise the sites of the Maruakoa and Fuchsia Creek schools with plaques.
From the school's point of view, the focus that year would be comparisons between the past and present, principal Cate Bole said.
