School history

Welcome to the School of the Air (SOTA) history page

Est 1956

The School of the Air officially opened on February 23, 1956, to provide education to geographically isolated children across remote areas of Western and North-Western New South Wales. Using the Broken Hill Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) radio network, SOTA delivered lessons via HF radio during specific times each day. In its inaugural year, 85 children from 44 different stations were enroled.

Phyllis Gibb founded SOTA and served as its principal in Broken Hill from 1956 to 1963. During this period, the school held its first Christmas party in 1956—a milestone event where students, teachers, and families came together for the first time. The Parents and Citizens’ Association (P&C) was established in 1957 with strong community support, growing to 93 members in its first year.

In 1957, the Nash boys from Netley Station wrote the school song to the tune of "Waltzing Matilda":

All the little children
Scattered through the outback,
Tune into School of the Air at the start.
And we sing as we listen to many tape recordings,
All joining in tho’ we’re many miles apart.

(Chorus)
Parted but united,
Parted but united,
Is our school motto,
And pride of our heart.
And we sing as we listen to many tape recordings,
All joining tho’ we’re many miles apart.

The Day children from Calindary Station created the War-Cry:
Who-ar, who-ar, yak, yak, yak,
We are the pupils from the great outback.
Dabba-dabba, dabba-dabba, dair, dair, dair,
Broken Hill, Broken Hill, School of the Air.

Also in 1957, the school magazine “Over to You” was published for the first time and has continued annually since then. The school badge, featuring the motto “Parted but United,” was designed by Bryan Nash.

In 1959, students voted in the school’s first captain election, resulting in Elizabeth Day from Calindary Station and Tony Nash from Netley Station becoming the first School of the Air captains.

We are proud to honour the history and achievements of our unique school community connecting children across the vast Australian outback.

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