Milestones and Memories is the commemorative book for the Centenary of Public High School Education in Dubbo to be marked by four days of events from April 21.

The 152-page book captures in words and images the character of public secondary education in the city since 1917.

Dubbo High School, Dubbo South High School, Delroy High School, Dubbo College, Dubbo School of Distance Education and the Mian School are celebrated by editor Pam Bell and contributors.

A retired school principal living at Peak Hill, Mrs Bell worked throughout 2016 on the book with support from former teaching colleague Ian Large and centenary book committee convenor Nola Younghusband.

Mrs Bell, the female captain of Dubbo High School in 1957, was keen to produce a book that “recalled the milestones and as many memories as could fit into the allocated pages” of the schools and college.

“I hope it will encourage readers to remember their high school days and Dubbo College days and their days perhaps teaching at the school of distance education, all of those things,” she said.

“I wanted  to do a very positive book about how wonderful public secondary education has been for the Dubbo community and beyond.”

Milestones and Memories also includes the names of headmasters, captains and school dux along with snapshots of Australia across the decades.

Photographs, taking up 60 per cent of the book, are either a blast from the past or a salute to the present.

On the front cover of the book is an image of the the outdoor banquet held at the opening of Dubbo High School in 1917. Sitting in the crowd is its first headmaster, CH Chismas.

The back cover is an image taken by a drone of Dubbo College students in a 100 formation.

Mrs Bell said a common thread throughout the book was the Astley Cup and its mascot Oigle. 

The launch of the centenary celebrations at Western Plains Cultural Centre on April 21 from 6pm will feature the launch of the  book.

It can be ordered at www.123trix.com.au.