A reunion this weekend involving 13 primary schools which were once open in the Manuherikia Valley has turned into a double celebration.
More than 400 people have registered for the anniversary and organising committee chairman Ross Naylor said one of the first "toasts" when the event opened last night was to celebrate the rain farmers welcomed on Thursday night.
The reunion is the culmination of almost two years of planning by a committee of eight people.
The occasion will celebrate primary schooling in the area and also marks the 75th anniversary of Omakau School, the only one of the 13 schools which remains open.
The other schools involved were St Bathans Public School, Blacks, Drybread-Thomsons, Lauder-Becks, Matakanui, Spottis Creek, Becks, Cambrian, Falls Dam, St Bathans Roman Catholic, Tinkers Roman Catholic and Lauder Railway.
A marquee in the Omakau domain is the venue for evening functions, which began last night and continue tonight.
This afternoon's activities will be based at the Omakau School.
A 158-page history of the 13 schools, compiled by Mr Naylor and Kate Bruce, of Alexandra, will be launched during the weekend.
It was a "substantial" record of education in the district, Mr Naylor said.
"The oldest school opened in 1866, at St Bathans, and the schools came into existence as a result of gold being discovered and later, when the railway line came in, and Falls Dam was built. With the decline in the rural sector over the years, the schools gradually closed."
The celebrations involve ex-pupils, ex-staff, friends of the schools and people who have links to the district.
People are travelling from all over New Zealand to attend, and six people have made the journey from Australia.
This afternoon the reunion cake will be cut by three ex-pupils of Spottis Creek School - Hec Clare, of Alexandra, Phyllis Nichol, of Mosgiel, and Nancy Williams, of Wanaka, all in their 90s.
A scarlet oak will be planted in the Omakau school grounds and a plaque unveiled.
A time capsule will also be buried.
A barbecue tomorrow will conclude the celebration.
