Just over 40 years ago, they walked out of the school gates and into the rest of their lives.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Now, Junee High School's graduating class of 1973 are preparing to return to their former stomping ground for a three-day reunion.
Beginning this Saturday, and organised by former classmate Peter Hook, the gathering is expected to host 50 of the class's 100 students.
"The furthest they're coming is from Perth, but there's some from Queensland and all over NSW," Mr Hook said.
"A few of us have stayed local as well."
The last time the class have gathered like this was in 1986, just shy of two decades after they had begun their high school careers in 1968.
"Some of us haven't seen each other for more than 30 years, so it will be a good catch up," Mr Hook said.
Re-assembling his classmates in the organisation of the eventual event over the past two years provided an excuse to re-connect.
"We had a committee of 10 people working to get everything together. There's been a few re-acquaintances made during the organising over the last 18 months," Mr Hook said.
To conclude the re-union, on Sunday the class will plant a tree on the school grounds and present a cheque to the chosen cystic fibrosis charity.