{"id":561758,"date":"2026-08-07T12:00:28","date_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:00:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/561758\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T12:00:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T12:00:28","slug":"lane-cove-public-school-marks-150-years-with-message-from-nicole-kidman","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/561758\/","title":{"rendered":"Lane Cove Public School marks 150 years with message from Nicole Kidman"},"content":{"rendered":"

Lane Cove Public School on Sydney’s Lower North Shore has been celebrating its 150th anniversary, and among the former students invited to participate was Academy Award-winner Nicole Kidman.<\/p>\n

Birthday celebrations culminated in an open day on Friday during which former students and teachers were welcomed back to the school grounds to mark the occasion.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Hundreds gathered including former teachers and alumni. (Supplied: In the Cove, Jack Kelly)<\/p>\n

Kidman responded with a message from her location in Santorini, Greece.<\/p>\n

ABC News was on the ground to hear her congratulate the school on 150 years in a recording played out in the hall.<\/p>\n

“I wish I could be with you,” Kidman said.<\/p>\n

“I remember running around that playground.<\/p>\n

“I made friends that I’m still friends with now \u2026 and I’m so grateful that I went to such a great school.”<\/p>\n

Kidman had previously told Network 10 she was going to try to make it to the celebrations after being invited there by students who posted a video<\/a> encouraging her to turn up.<\/p>\n

“It’s the sweetest thing ever,” Kidman told Angela Bishop.<\/p>\n

Former teachers and alumni gather<\/p>\n

The event attracted hundreds of people including former teachers and alumni, among them Channel Nine presenter Peter Overton who was a school captain in 1977.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Lane Cove Public School alumnus Peter Overton was quizzed by current students. (Supplied: In the Cove, Jack Kelly)<\/p>\n

“You know when I first came here? 55 years ago,” Overton said.<\/p>\n

“I have so many happy memories of this school.”<\/p>\n

Overton reeled off the names of teachers he remembered, saying he was lucky to have attended the primary school.<\/p>\n

Overton told the audience his good friend Kidman wanted to be there.<\/p>\n

“Happy birthday from Nicole,” he said.<\/p>\n

Meredith Lucas, who was one of Kidman’s classmates, returned to the school for the celebrations.<\/p>\n

\"Year<\/p>\n

Nicole Kidman (front row, sixth from left) with fellow students including Meredith Lucas (first from left in front row). (Supplied: Lane Cove Public School)<\/p>\n

Ms Lucas attended Lane Cove Public School from 1973\u20131979, from kindergarten to year six, alongside Kidman.<\/p>\n

“It was a very close knit school and community and we sang in the choir together,” Ms Lucas said.<\/p>\n

“I applaud her for all her successes.<\/p>\n

“She’s a natural talent, she’s a hard worker, she came from a good family and a good community.<\/p>\n

“And I have watched her career from afar and I feel like she’s done amazingly well in a very tough environment, being film and media.”<\/p>\n

Lane Cove Public School principal Terry McKinnon said he was proud of current and former students, including Kidman.<\/p>\n

He said the birthday message she sent arrived just in time.<\/p>\n

“It came in very late today and we were very happy to play it,” Mr McKinnon said.<\/p>\n

“It’s great to hear from all our alumni, but particularly Nicole after we invited her to this event.<\/p>\n

“We’re extremely proud of her, as we are of all our alumni.”<\/p>\n

The school’s official birthday fell on January 14.<\/p>\n

It has been around since 1876 and prides itself on its creative arts and music programs.<\/p>\n