As this was a special event it was decided to have a pooled lunch and everyone brought a plate of food to share.

People travelled from far and wide to attend and this year there were 34 new attendees.

A Shepparton man, Jimmy Turner, who had advertised in the Herald and the Melbourne Herald Sun early last year seeking former Year 6 classmates, came hoping to meet some of them.

Unfortunately they did not attend but he will be back in 2013 and hopes some of them may be there next year.

John and Marg Mitchell (nee Kay) of Roslyn in NSW were able to attend as part of their holidays.

Also attending for the first time were Rob and Wendy Gunn, former owners of the Foodland store in Naracoorte, Sue Martin (nee Talbot), Mary Edwards (nee McInnes) and Chrissie Yang (nee Edwards).

Also present were Neil Laxton and his sisters Helen Laxton and Anne Burgess, Lionel and Peg Borgus (nee Doolan), Tony and Jan King, Peter and Rosemary MacCullough, and Phil Rogers.

Other attendees included Sally Reynolds (nee Vickery), Jenny Moore (nee Belcher), Rosemary Charles (nee O’Leary), Mary Potter (nee Rutten), Michael and Mary Nelligan (nee Dew), Anne Gooding (nee Giddings), and Trevor and Marilyn McKenny.

Merv Lawrey was brought by his daughter, Trevor and Shirley Garwood came with their three grandchildren and Clive and Sharon Tucker brought Clive’s mother Dorothy, a very spritely 90-year-old.

Judy Bauer (nee Vincent) made and iced a 20th anniversary cake, which was cut by Carlene and Tom Farmer who were the original organisers of the annual picnic reunion.

Everyone enjoyed the shared lunch, which is what the group will do again next year.

Any past or present residents of Naracoorte are welcome to attend future reunions - please invite anyone you know.

Reunions are always held on the third Sunday in January: next year it will be on January 20.