Students in grade 6 at Greenmount State School will be interviewing past students, and writing their biographies as part of the school’s 125th Anniversary celebrations this year and members of one family, the Stenzels, have been attending Greenmount State School since the 1940s.

Alan Stenzel sat with his son and grandson in front of a class of Greenmount State School grade sixers and described how he and his brothers would sometimes share horses to get to school.

This story, many students were recording on their iPads.

A bit of a contrast for Alan and the students – iPads and horses at school seem like what you might hear from two different planets.

The students were using the iPads to make sure they got all the information they need for biographies they’ll be writing.

The biographies on past students, written by the current students are part of the school’s 125th Anniversary celebrations.

Plenty has changed at Greenmount State School since Alan’s time.

He told On Our Selection News that the classroom utilised for their talk to the students, used to be two classrooms.

It was also the only building in the school back then.

But over most of that time, there’s been a Stenzel at Greenmount.

There’s been only about 18 years in the school’s history when one of Alan’s immediate relatives or descendants hasn’t been in class.

His son Greg, and grandson Dustin were with him, talking about how the school has changed across each of their times enrolled.

Dustin’s son, and Alan’s great grandson, Alec is currently enrolled at the primary school.

Seeing his great grandson go to the same school he did, brought back memories for Alan.

“Pretty good, brings back memories.”

As for what he wishes for Alec, he hopes he gets everything that he can out of his time at Greenmount.

“I hope they do really well with their education and find a good job to keep Australia going,” he said.

Biographies resulting from the students’ interviews with past students will be published in a 125th Anniversary Celebration Book.

This article appeared in On Our Selection News, 14 May 2026.