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Towamba Public School pupils and two teachers
- David Gilpin and Charles Smith. c. 1884/5 |
So where did you go to school?
LEO. I went to school at Burragate for four years
and about eighteen months at Bega high school.
All the high school taught me was a lot about
people. Because where we came from, Burragate
was a pretty close little community and everybody
knew everybody and was friendly but nobody
put shit on you. But take you out of Burragate
and put you in a bloody hostel in Bega and
then go to high school and have all these
teachers putting you down because you had
different clothes and we had a homegrown
haircut and so forth. They gave me a hard
time and I was only little too, and thank
Christ I was!
*** Excerpt from Leo Farrell's interview in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.
MOYNA. The school had a post and rail fence. Did
you know that? At the school, our building,
well there used to be a little privet bush,
so long, just out from the school next to
the school house and we also had a shadow
stick but that was taken out, our shadow
stick used to tell us the time.
So everyone would have tied their horses
up out the front?
MOYNA. No. There weren't that many. Gloria Clements
(this Gloria Clements is Clive Clements'
sister. Clive later married a lady with the
same christian name) from down at 'Model
Farm' she used to ride occasionally and the
horse yard had been built down at the bottom
of the school paddock near the river there.
But we'd put our horse in the church yard.
Unsaddle it and put it in the church yard.
And if it rained our saddle got wet. We had
pit toilets at the school too. We had an
open fire in the school room. I can remember
when they did up the bathroom in the school
house and then they put a pump on the tank
and we'd take turns in pumping that up into
the top tank.
Was it a hand pump?
MOYNA. Yes.
*** Excerpt from Moina Price's interview in 'The Forgotten Corner Interviews'.
The early Colony of New South Wales spread
from the central point of Port Jackson up
and down the eastern coast before going inland.
The Blue Mountains were not crossed until
1821 when the Western plains were opened
for settlement. By this time there were belts
of population extending from the harbours
of Moreton Bay, Port MacQuarie, Port Stephens,
Botany Bay, Twofold Bay and Port Phillip
Bay. Obviously these settlements closest
to Port Jackson developed most rapidly, but
Twofold Bay and the extensive area it served
was recognised as a Port for all southbound
vessels.
The facilities of the Bay meant that Whalers
and Fishermen were settling there and as
the surrounding land was brought large sheep
stations commenced operations. It was not
long before settlers realised the suitability
of the pasture for cattle grazing and so
the cheese industry developed.
Most of the land in this area was occupied
by squatters who took possession of large
tracts of land without official sanction.
There were of course grants of land trade
to recognised gentlemen such as the Imlay
brothers who controlled a large section of
land in what was then the Imlay shire.
Although gold discoveries on the South Coast
did not occur until the early 1879's, the
early rush did play a part in the early growth
of Wyndham. The early gold discoveries attracted
thousands of diggers who left their jobs,
their homes and their countries in anticipation
of making their fortunes. Few did, and many
were left without any means of income at
all. The young Legislative Assembly in an
attempt to retain these thousands passed
several Land Acts resulting in the "Selectors"
as they became known.
The unsettled areas around Panbula, were
soon selected and with the existing and relatively
accessible means of transport, settlement
grew rapidly. Men married and brought their
families to their selections and utilised
their strength and energy cultivating crops,
supervising livestock and giving little thought
to their children's educational means, until
they could be spared from domestic chores.
Meanwhile educational facilities in the Colony
had been increasing and improving. From 1833
until 1848 education had been provided by
the Churches with some Government assistance.
In the latter year, following an extensive
inquiry into education in the Colony, Governor
Fitzroy set up two education boards providing
dual administration. Briefly to cover non
sectarian schools on the one hand and Church
sponsored schools on the other.
*** Excerpt from 'A History of Wyndham Fourth Edition 2003'
Education had a slow rise on the priority
ladder in the early days of settlement in
the Towamba Valley. All hands were needed
to clear the land, build dwellings, sheds
and erect fences. Those settlers who built
up dairy herds, either needed to employ several
people (as all milking was done by hand)
or raise large families. The larger properties
did both. They employed married couples to
share-farm on their properties and these
couples generally had large families or employed
others to help.
Schooling off the property meant the loss
of a worker. However, as settlement progressed
and the number of children increased, education
was encouraged by members of the community.
Rough buildings on donated land, later by
Government Grant, and teachers who often
wondered why they agreed to come out to these
isolated areas, gradually improved the education
levels of the district children.
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'The Sydney Morning Herald'
23 July 1863
Schools.
Of the 178 schools reported as being in operation
in 1861, six were closed in 1862, from insufficient
attendance of pupils, mainly occasioned by
the migratory state of the population.
By a return hereto appended, it will be seen
that during the year 1862 we had 208 schools
in operation, attended in the aggregate by
13 392 children, showing an increase of 36
schools and 1992 children. The schools opened
in 1862 were as follows :-1, Ashfield; 2,
Adelong; 3, Botany Bay; 4, Bowra; 5, Bandon
Grove; 6, Bingera; 7, Campsie; 8, Croobyar;
9, Dobroyde; 10, Dingo Creek; 11, Deniliquin;
12, Five Islands; 13, Forbes; 14, Green Swamp;
15, Gunnedah; 16, Inverell; 17, Lismore;
18, Mundoonan; 19, Murrumburra; 20, Muswellbrook;
21, Morpeth; 22, Maitland; 23. Moorfields;
24, Nowra; 25, Oxley Island; 26, Petersham;
27, Peterboro; 28, Saumarez Creek 29, Summerland;
30, Towamba; 31, The Oaks; 32, Tomerong 38
Thurgoona; 31, Uralla; 33, Warogon Creek;
36, Wallsend.
'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
Friday 10 May 1872
School Opening.-The Towamba half time school was duly opened
on Thursday 25th April. C. Stiles Esq. in
the chair. Present were the revs. P. Slattery
and Fitzgerald who delivered addresses appropriate
to the occasion. A large number of children
and adults favoured us with their presence
and appeared to enjoy the sports till the
threatening aspect of the day foretold a
sudden downpour of rain, which fell early
in the afternoon. All who could, took shelter
in the temporary pavilion, and retired at
intervals to the commodious school room,
where dancing and other amusements were kept
up till Aurora had ushered in the morn. The
teacher in charge complains of the needlework.
No female assistant has yet been appointed.
'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
11 October 1882
Schools.-The attendance at Provisional Schools at
Towamba, Rocky Hall, and Lochiel has so increased
as to entitle a promotion to Public School
rank, and the advance will soon be made.
From Rocky Hall we hear of the resignation
of Miss Beck. At Towamba Mr. Colin Spalding
has been able to bring up the average attendance
to 21 for the last quarter; 30 names on roll.
This school building is one of the most primitive
in the district: slab walls and bark roof
with desks and seats to match. With the higher
rank about to be given, will come, in due
course, a more suitable schoolhouse and teacher's
residence. At present the teacher lodges
three miles from his work. About 48 children
reside in the locality, and of this number
there is said to be 40 who should attend
school. The residents whose children are
at Lochiel school are Messrs Hart, Burton,
Clarke, Hyde, P. Hyde, Cusack, Clancey, M'Kinniary,
Beveridge, Holmes, Power, and Shipway. For
the encouragement of teachers, and to draw
from the Education Department all due by
law to a neighbourhood's educational needs,
parents will do wisely by sending their children
as regularly as possible to school.
April 30, 1884
'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser'
TOWAMBA.
(From our own Correspondent.)
On Saturday, 19th instant, a fine steady
rain set in, which culminated in a flood,
keeping the residents to their own side of
the river. On Monday following the mailman
was unable to get across, and the mail was
carried by proxy by a person on the opposite
side. The river is still very high, and dangerous,
owing to quick sands, for persons unacquainted
with the proper crossings. Mr. Hite, our
storekeeper, has gone to Sydney, and intends,
with the aid of Messrs. Clarke and Garvan,
to hunt out, if possible, the particular
pigeon-hole in which those plans for a teacher's
residence have been quietly laid aside. The
school house itself in consequence of its
having been closed for so long a time is
sadly out of repair. Not long ago some of
the slabs fell inwards and some outwards,
leaving gaping openings in the walls. The
teacher, I am informed, wrote to the Inspector,
and was directed to furnish tenders for the
work, which would have had to go to Sydney
for approval. The teacher after consultation
with a few residents got the work done himself
in preference to writing to move the specially
bureaucratic office. There is much sickness
among the children owing to the damps and
draughts in the schoolhouse. Mr. Hite will
do us a favor if he will see to some needed
repairs being effected. Mr. Surveyor Ebsworth
has measured and laid out our new cemetery.
This will save a long journey to Eden when
a death occurs. With regard to the road from
Eden to this we seem to be hoping against
hope that we may someday have a decent road.
It will be part of Mr. Hite's work when in
Sydney to hunt up "papers," as
they call them, in connection with the road
grants, and to endeavor to get shortcomings
enquired into, and to place the result of
his enquiries before the Towamba Progress
Committee.
'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
28 May 1884
Tenders, endorsed "Tender for Teacher's
Residence, at Towamba Public School,"
must be lodged with the Acting Under Secretary,
Department of Public Instruction, at or before
10 o'clock MONDAY, 10th JUNE, 1884.
'The Bega Standard and Candelo, Merimbula,
Pambula, Eden, Wolumla, and General Advertiser'
9 August, 1884
Towamba. - That wretched school business again crops
up. The building has become so dilapidated,
and is so thoroughly unfit for a school,
that several children have been withdrawn,
the parents intending to defy the Department
that utterly neglects them.
October 30, 1884
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
Public School teachers.-The undermentioned
teachers have been appointed to the positions
and schools specified in connection with
their respective names:-David Gilpin, Towamba.
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DAVID GILPIN SCHOOL TEACHER TOWAMBA PUBLIC SCHOOL |
|
David Gilpin |
David Gilpin was born in Alma Bank, Hensingham,
Cumberland (Cumbria) in North England on
the 29th April, 1863. His father David Gilpin
Snr was an Iron Miner in Yorkshire and Cumberland.
In 1866 David Gilpin Snr and his brother
Robert Gilpin brought their families to Australia,
aboard "The Queen of the Colonies".
David Gilpin Jnr was just three years old
when he came to Australia. David's younger
brother, John Robert Gilpin died at sea at
the age of one year old. He was buried at
sea near Cape Town South Africa. "The
Queen of the Colonies" arrived in Moreton
Bay in October 1866.
The two families stayed in the Moreton Bay
area for a few months before heading south
to Newcastle by a steamer boat. This is where
most of the Gilpin's all made their home.
David Gilpin Snr was to be a coal miner at
Hamilton Bore at Newcastle. David's mother
Jane Gilpin had two more children at Newcastle.
They were William Claude Gilpin and Henry
Taylor Gilpin. However, after just 11 weeks
Henry died and his mother Jane Gilpin died
from an infection from the birth of Henry
in 1870.
David senior remarried after a couple of
years to Jane Hall. Our David Gilpin jnr
was just 7 years old when his mother died.
Now there is a bit of a mystery as to what
happened with David Gilpin Jnr after his
mother died. It appears he may have been
taken back to England with Robert Gilpin
(his Uncle) and his family in 1877. However,
somehow he returned to Australia and he appeared
on the South Coast of NSW in May 1882, where
he was to take temporary charge of Montreal
Public School near Bermagui. Montreal was
a gold mining area.
In August 1882 he passed his Class II exams.
In August 1883 he was instructed to act as
teacher, at Narooma P.S. and Tilba Tilba
P.S. half time schools. In the following
January 1884 he was instructed to act as
teacher for Tilba Tilba P.S. and Coolagalite
P.S. which were also Half Time Schools. David
Gilpin Jnr was removed from Tilba Tilba,
Half Time School and sent to Towamba P.S.
4th October, 1884. However, before he left
for Towamba he was married to Mary Ann Southam
of Couria Creek near Tilba on the 21st October,
1884.
In October 1886 David Gilpin applied for
leave of absence for six weeks, (which was
granted), from teaching at Towamba due to
ill health. A further one month was granted
in January 1887. After no improvement of
his health he was allowed to resign his position
at Towamba P.S. with permission to apply
for re-employment when his health was restored.
When his health was restored he was given
a school at Richmond Vale near Maitland.
He stayed at Richmond Vale School for a few
years till October 1891.
David Gilpin apparently played Cricket for
Towamba whilst a young man. Judging by the
scores he made he wasn't a very good batsman
but did take a couple of wickets.
Eventually he went back to Tilba Tilba on
the South coast where he purchased a farm
at Couria Creek next to his wife's family
the Southams. He was a dairy farmer on this
property till approximately 1901. He then
moved to Sydney to open up a Produce Business
at Burwood. He ran the produce business for
many years with the aid of his sons.
David Gilpin was always a fighter for the
cause no matter what it may be. In 1899 he
was involved in the Gold Miners dispute at
Mt Dromedary west of Tilba. He was the negotiator
between the miners and the owners of the
mine when all the miners went on strike.
Maybe this was the forerunner of being elected
to Camperdown Council in Sydney. He eventually
was elected on the Sydney City Council in
1908 when Camperdown Council was absorbed
into Sydney City Council. He stayed on the
Sydney City Council as member for the Camperdown
electorate from 1908 to 1924.
In 1922 he was elected as Lord Mayor of
Sydney and stayed in that position for two
years. In the Sydney Council there were both
Liberal and Labor councilors. However in
1922 another group was formed and that was
the Civic Reformers. My Grandfather David
Gilpin was one of the Civic Reformers which
was a breakaway group from the Liberals.
David Gilpin was elected as Lord Mayor when
the Civic Reformers were supported by the
Labor councilors. One of the Civic Reformers
was Sir Allen Taylor who was a close friend
of my Gt. Grandfather. It was Sir Allen Taylor
who nominated David Gilpin for the position
of Lord Mayor and he won the elections. Sir
Allen Taylor owned a number of Timber Mills
around the Riverina and North Coast.
This period of council was a very volatile
period in the history of the Sydney City
Council. David Gilpin worked hard to control
it and did well. There is a building in Woolloomooloo
in Sydney with a plaque in honor of him.
He had the building erected to reduce the
amount of slums in the area. He was also
high up in the Masonic Lodge and was the
first Lord Mayor to host the National Masonic
Lodge meeting in the Sydney Town Hall. He
also hosted visiting International Cricket
Teams such as England, and Rugby Teams.
In 1924 The Lady Mayoress also held a charity
function for the homeless in Sydney. They
supplied a number of things to the homeless
such as clothing and blankets. The Lord Mayor
also turned the first sod of soil for the
Southern Pilon of the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
David Gilpin was a very resourceful man.
He came from a coal mining family in Newcastle.
However he never wanted to go into the mines.
That is most likely why he became a School
Teacher, Farmer, businessman and Councilor.
Two of his sons fought in World War I in
Fromelles in France and Belgium. They were
both wounded and survived to return to Australia.
My Grandfather Aubrey Gilpin enlisted in
World War II and worked in the Ammunition
Factory as an engineer making bombs and bullets
in St Mary's west of Sydney.
David Gilpin retired from the Sydney City
Council in December 1924 at age of 61 years.
He then moved to Plumpton near Rooty Hill
in Western Sydney for a while as a poultry
farmer, before retiring to the Blue Mountains
at Wentworth Falls. He passed away in May
1952 at Wentworth Falls and is buried in
the local cemetery, with his wife Mary Ann
who passed away in 1938.
Terry Tweedie
Great Grandson of - David Gilpin
'The Bega Gazette and Eden District or Southern
Coast Advertiser'
4 March 1885
Department of Public Instruction,
FRESH TENDERS FOR TEACHER'S RESIDENCE.
FRESH TENDERS are invited for the erection
of a Teacher's Residence in connection with
the Towamba Public School.
Plans and Specifications may be seen, and
Forms of Tender obtained at the Office of
the Department of Public Instruction, Sydney,
and at the Public School, Towamba, on application
to the Teacher.
Tenders, endorsed "Fresh Tender for
Teacher's Residence, Towamba Public School,"
must be lodged with the Under-Secretary,
Department of Public Instruction, at or before
10 o'clock a.m., on WEDNESDAY, the 11th March,
1865.
The Minister does not bind himself to accept
the lowest or any Tender.
W.J. TRICKETT.
'Evening News'
24 October 1888
Tenders Accepted. - Department of Public
Instruction : Towamba, new school building,
L. N. Bouquet, £269 10s.
December 16, 1898
Wanted, a half time school.
The residents of Wog Wog and Bondi are desirous
of having a half-time school established
in their neighbourhood. We hear that the
two places can supply about 15 scholars each,
which should be sufficient inducement for
the Public Instruction Dept. to provide the
necessary means of education. It is said
that at present the children in the localities
named have little or no facilities for learning
and many of them do not even know the meaning
of the word "school".
March 1, 1901
Wog Wog School
We are informed that for some reason or other
the Department of Public Instruction has
not yet replaced the school teacher who was
stationed at Wog Wog (or Muskgrove) a few
months ago and had to leave owing to ill
health. With school buildings at both Wog
Wog and Pericoe, it should be possible to
at least arrange for a half-time school at
these places, that children may enjoy the
privilege of education. There are very few
other privileges in these out of the way
localities.
November 15, 1901
Picnic and dance in connection with Lett's
halftime school....
October 16, 1903
'The Manaro Mercury, and Cooma and Bombala
Advertiser '
* Miss Gill, daughter of Mr Charles Gill
of Cooma, and who for some time held an appointment
as teacher at the Towamba Public School,
was awarded a farewell by the residents on
the occasion of her departure last month,
at which the school concert and ball committee
presented her with a purse of sovereigns.
An address accompanied the gift, expressing
admiration of the recipient's many sterling
qualities, and regret at her departure. It
also conveyed the respect of the parents
of children attending the school, and complimented
her upon the success following her efforts
which had brought the concert to such a satisfactory
issue. A second address signed by twenty
of the children, was also presented, and
expressed the regret of the signatories at
Miss Gill's departure, and conveying an invitation
to a school picnic on 9th November. Mr Solomon,
the master of the school, also wrote wishing
Miss Gill every prosperity.
January 27, 1905
The half time school at Rockton, which has
been worked in conjunction with Lett's Creek
(Upper Pericoe) has been made a full time
school. The result is that Lett's Creek school
is closed......
LINK TO PHOTOS SENT FOR INCLUSION IN TOWAMBA
PRIMARY SCHOOL'S 150TH ANNIVERSARY ON AUGUST
4, 2012 FROM EX PUPILS AND RESIDENTS.
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Towamba school pupils and teacher Mr. H.H.Solomon. 1888 |
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Towamba Public School. c.1896 |
'Magnet' June 20, 1931
* H. P. Wellings's article "Odd Notes
of Early Days".
* 1863 Thomas Stockdale Cochrane's Flat and
Towamba as half-time schools.
1871 - 1874 T. Beare in charge of Wyndham
and Burragate Half-Time .
F. McPhail succeeded Beare in 1875.
* Wyndham and Burragate half-time schools.
Mark Johnson in 1869 followed by G. D. Riley
in 1870 - 1871. M. Johnson went to Greig's
Flat and Lochiel 1871. Succeeded by T. H.
Wellings. The latter being transferred to
Pambula. G. D. Riley went to Wyndham - Burragate,
Merimbula then Eden
'Magnet' June 1929.
* Mr. C. P. Brown - school teacher at Towamba
* Mr. McMullan - school teacher at Pericoe
* Mr. Cornford - school teacher at Burragate
'Magnet' November 1929
Teachers: Mr. Luff - Rocky Hall
Mr. Cornford - Burragate
Mr. Browne - Towamba Mr. Tyson - Kiah
Mr. Bissell - Wyndham
TEACHERS OF TOWAMBA PUBLIC SCHOOL
NAME - DATE APPOINTED
STOCKDALE. John - Nov. 1863 - 1863
BEARE. Thomas - May 1870 - July 1874
McPHAIL. Francis Lou - August 1864 - July
1875
SMITH. Charles - May 1882 - Oct 1884
GILPIN. David - Oct 1884 - Jan 1887
SOLOMON. Henry - March 1887 - Jan 1914
JEACOCKE. E.H.G. - Jan 1914 - April 1917
KENNY. James - April 1917 - Sept 1918
DALLING. John - Sept 1918 - April 1924
SELDON. Clarence - April 1924 - Jan 1925
BROWNE. C.P. - Jan 1925 - May 1932
MAIR. Stanley - May 1932 - Aug 1935
BOLLER.Bruce - Aug 1934 - Dec 1936
McKENZIE. Joseph - Jan 1937 - ' Dec 1949
MILLS. D.F.R. - Jan 1950 - Dec 1957
VANCE. E.L. - Jan 1958 - Dec 1963
MEAKER. K.J. - Jan 1964 - Dec 1965
LONG. T.P. Max - Jan 1966 - Dec 1968
GARLING. N.B. (Bob) - Jan 1969 - Dec 1971
McGRATH. Kip - Jan 1971 - Dec 1973
COLLINS. David Mark - Jan 1974 - Dec 1975
SIDLOW. Robert - Jan 1976 - Dec 1980
STOCK. David S. - Jan 1981 - Dec 1985
RYAN. Margot - March 1981 - Dec 1981
EDE. Jan (Teacher) Jan 1982 - Dec 1999
CHIN. Greg (Principal) Jan 1986 - Dec 1987
MACEY. Lucy (Teacher) Jan. 1987
GRIFFITHS. Phil (Principal) April 1988 -
April 1992
HOUNSELL. Dave (Teacher) Feb 1991 - Dec 1992
WHYMARK. Robert (Principal) July 1992 - Mar
1997
O'HALLORAN. Van (Teacher) April 1993 - Dec
1995
DRANSFIELD. John (Relieving Prin) April 1997
- 2002
FREW. Keith (Teacher) Feb 2000
BUFFIER. Geg. (Principal) Feb 2003-04
McDOUGALL. Barbara. (Principal) Jan. 2004
TOWAMBA
The formal application for a non-vested Public
School at Towamba was made on 14th June 1862
( see above link 'Application Document' )
by a group of citizens who acted as Local
Patrons. They were William Laing, Alexander
Binnie, Patrick Whelan, John Slattery, Samuel
Parker and Robert Higgins. The slab building
consisted of a school house 33ft x 15ft and
two rooms 19ft x 14ft and 12 ft x 11ft which
were rather grandiosely listed as the "master's
apartment". This building, in the possession
of John Stockdale, was on land that had been
a Government grant and contained, as school
furniture, a desk and twelve forms.
The Local Patrons, who expected an attendance
of 25 boys and 19 girls, nominated as teacher
John Stockdale, a married man of 47 who,
though born in England, had been resident
in the colony for nine years, during which
he had been private tutor to several families.
His wife, who was 35, had been born in New
South Wales.
John Stockdale had been teaching in Towamba
for twelve months in a private capacity but
in May, 1862, he had written to the National
Board of Education asking for aid. He stated,
"...the remuneration is so trifling
that I shall be obliged to give up the school
if the inhabitants do not succeed in securing
the assistance of the Board. "...The
inhabitants are in impoverished circumstances,
owing principally to the long drought which
entirely put stop to all dairy operations
upon which the inhabitants chiefly depend.
..."the inhabitants, much to their credit
have erected ample school accommodation and
a suitable apartment for the teacher."
In February of the following year William
Laing, the Secretary of the Local Patrons,
reported to the National Board the results
of a meeting of the Local Board at which
it was agreed that Mr. Stockdale "had
transgressed against the rules of the Board"
but asked that aid should not be withdrawn
and that another teacher be sent from Sydney.
Whatever the cause, Towamba was without a
teacher and despite a plea from Mr. Laing
in June for a replacement, the school did
not reopen.
In 1870 Mr. Thomas Beare left for Towamba
and Cochrane's Flat in April and took up
his duties on May 9th. The school opened
with an enrolment of eleven boys and eleven
girls. Later in the month Mr. Beare applied
for a forage allowance stating: "I have
to travel fifteen miles from Towamba to Cochrane's
Flat over a rough and hilly road, partly
swampy, besides having to cross the Towamba
River twice, which, at certain periods in
the winter season, cannot be crossed on horseback.
From the above impediments and the shortness
of the day I am obliged to stop a week at
each school, taking Saturday to travel from
one to the other". He was granted an
allowance of £10 p.a.
In 1887 Mr. Henry Solomon arrived. He seemed
to have started well and a year later the
enrolment had risen to 35. Because of this
and of the dilapidation of the existing building,
it was decided to build a new school. In
the years that followed enrolments fluctuated
a lot. There was trouble in maintaining the
attendance. Unfortunately Mr. Solomon was
not on good terms with the parents. He made
repeated attempts to obtain a transfer but
without success. As early as 1894 he was
complaining of the "peculiar isolation
together with the monotonous and ungenial
nature of the general surroundings"
and in 1905, when applying for transfer on
medical grounds, stated that "This school
is most inconveniently situated, my not being
a horsy man, and to me the society is most
uncongenial and unintellectual". The
inspector commented: "Largely due to
circumstances beyond his control Mr. Solomon
is not an efficient teacher. He is not a
success and has lost the confidence of the
people. A change would in every way be desirable".
However, he was left at Towamba until 1914,
a total of 27 years.
A lot of difficulty was caused during these
years by the river, with its frequent freshets
and periodic floods. In February 1898, 26
inches of rain fell in less than a week.
Many of the children lived on the opposite
side from the school, and any rise in the
water level could be used as a pretext for
absence. In 1893 the Department tried to
combat this by buying a boat. When the river
was too high to cross without wading the
teacher rowed the children over. But no provision
seems to have been made for maintenance and
by 1902 it was in such bad repair that "By
the time we reached the opposite shore 20
yards away the water was within 6 inches
of the top. She has been repaired so often
that further tinkering is no use". The
Department declined to buy another boat,
saying that if the parents wanted one they
should buy it themselves.
Excerpt from 'History of Towamba Public School
1862 - 1939.
(Probably) Compiled by Leon Vance, Teacher
in Charge in 1962, for the School's 100th
Birthday Celebrations.
'Pambula Voice' July 7, 1893
* Our school master Mr. Solomon was united
in holy wedlock to Miss Maxwell on the 28th
of June by the Reverend W. L. Forbes and
started the same day for Rocky Hall where
they propose spending their honeymoon amid
the good wishes of their friends.
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Henry Solomon with wife (standing) and family. Towamba school teacher 1887-1914 Photo courtesy C.& G. Clements |
'Pambula Voice' August 4, 1893
* The river has been in a state of flood
for some considerable time causing much inconvenience
to those wishing to cross. A boat has been
purchased for the use of the children attending
the school which will be a great boon, it
being impossible for the children to cross
formerly thus causing the young people to
remain away for some time during the year.
'Pambula Voice' October 20, 1893
* Mr. H. Solomon, public school teacher at
Towamba, was seriously ill last week, suffering
from inflammation of the bowels. The services
of Dr. Meeke were summoned from Candelo and
under his treatment the patient was soon
pronounced to be out of danger.
June 27, 1900
'Southern Star'
* Miss Florrie Poidevin was yesterday made
the recipient of a presentation by her Bemboka
friends and admirers. After the midwinter
vacation Miss Poidovin commences duties at
the Towamba Public School.
'Pambula Voice' September 28, 1900
PERICOE
Towamba Public School is temporarily closed
owing to the absence of its popular teacher
Mr. H. Solomon on sick leave. He is recouping
at that most healthful seaside resort, Eden.
'Pambula Voice' August 21, 1903
Tenders for improvements and additions to
the Towamba School Teacher's residence.
November 21, 1904
'The Sydney Morning Herald'
PAMBULA..
* Mr. Robert Jones, aged about 60, who for
some years past was engaged as a private
teacher at Towamba, was admitted to the Pambula
Hospital to-day suffering from heart weakness.
He died two hours after admission.
Newspaper Unknown. March 19, 1913
* An epidemic of whooping cough is with us
and extends from Wangrabelle to here. The
Towamba school has 24 children absent from
this cause, and the confounded thing lasts
so long.
Newspaper Unknown. April 7, 1913
* The whooping cough that has been prevalent
here for some time is now showing signs of
leaving and many of the ailing children have
returned to school, plainly well on the mend.
It is to be hoped that those who are suffering
from a lingering attack will recover before
the winter sets in, as the contrary would
mean a hard struggle through the cold weather,
and perhaps result in serious lung trouble.
* A football match is to be played at an
early date between the school boys of Wyndham
and Towamba, Burragate and Lower Towamba
combined.
* Parents and citizens are to assemble at
the school ground on the 12th instant to
assist in the planting of ornamental trees
supplied by the Department of Education.
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Towamba Public School pupils and teacher
- Mr. Dalling. 1923 Tindall family members in photo: Mary (Spackman) Courtney; Edna (Roberts) Dorothy (Morrow); James (Jim), Ivan and Vera Eileen (Kelly-Power) |
January 22, 1914
'Delegate Argus'
* Mr. H. Solomon, the school teacher at Towamba,
has been stationed there no less than 27
years. He has just received notice of removal.
May 25, 1918
'The Cobargo Chronicle'
*
Mr. P. E. Sicard, who was recently transferred
from Towamba side to the charge of the school
at Kangloon, near Bowral, writes to say he
is well pleased with the change.
September 25, 1918
'Southern Star'
* Mr J. Dalling, teacher of Fox High school
for some years, has been transferred to Towamba.
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David Gilpin who was a teacher in Towamba
in 1884/5. (Photo at the top of this page.) He became the Lord Mayor of Sydney in 1922-24. Photo courtesy Terry Tweedie |
'Magnet' April 12, 1930
* Our annual school picnic and dance eventuated
on Friday, 4th instant, under favourable
conditions and was a great success. Much
credit is due to the secretary, Mrs. W. Parker.
'Magnet' April 19, 1930
Our annual school picnic held on Friday,
the 4th instant, was a great success and
the orderliness of the arrangements was a
credit to the teacher and organising secretary.
The day was lovely and the children's merriment
was matched by the pleasure of the adults
whose smiling faces reflected their appreciation
as they watched the youngsters eagerly compete,
pick their prizes and get ready for the next
races which later kept the working committee
busy, especially the handicapper and judges.
The ladies had a busy time looking after
the lunch and in seeing all that received
a sufficiency of the abundance of nice eatables
provided. The dance that night was very successful,
the takings amounting to nearly £9. The thanks
to Towamba people are recorded to Messers
Ramsey Brothers, Izzard, Nicholson and Turnbull
with their donations of special prizes which
were a great help. Also to Mrs. A. Parker,
Mrs. A. Clements, Mrs. King, Mrs. W. Parker for their special donations. At the end of
a perfect day the children retired, tired
but completely satisfied with their days'
outing.
On August 4, 2012 Towamba Primary School
will celebrate its 150th Anniversary of educating
children of Towamba village and at times,
children of surrounding villages.
Invitations went out to ex teachers, students
and residents to attend on the day and to
bring any memorabilia. Below are some photos
that were sent in reply and included on this
site by permission of the owners.
I have attached some photos that my Grandfather
"C P Browne" took when he was at
the school between 1925 and 1932 of his two
Children Norman and Gwen that attended the
School. I hope they are of some use in the
celebration this year. I thought you might
be interested to know that Mrs Browne, the
Head master's wife at Towamba, was originally
Aileen Ruth Brooks from the original Brooks
family near Berridale
Ian Browne
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Towamba Primary School pupils 1925-32 |
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Teacher's residence at Towamba School 1925-32 | Norman and Gwen Browne 1925-32. Towamba school building in background |
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Outside school residence at Towamba. Possibly
Mrs Browne, Norman, Gwen and unknown. |
Norman and Gwen in school grounds with Towamba
River, General Store and hall in background. |
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Gwen and Norman playing in Towamba River. |
'Magnet' November 15, 1930
* Towamba P & C association request for
repair to streets in Village of Sturt.
'Magnet' February 7, 1931
* Mr. Browne - school teacher at Towamba
spent his holidays at Berridale and Newcastle
'Magnet' December 26, 1931
* Presentations to Sunday School children
by their teachers were made in the local
hall on Thursday night last week.
'Magnet' June 11, 1932
* Mr. Browne - transferred.
* Mr. Mair - Towamba school teacher.
June 17, 1932
'The Southern Record and Advertiser'
*
Mr. Mair has been succeeded at the South
Wolumla school by Mr. E. M. Hawkins, the
former having been transferred to Towamba.
'Magnet' August 19, 1932
* Tenders called to repair and additions
to Towamba School and residence.
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Towamba Primary School Pupils. c.1924. John Dalling - teacher. |
'Magnet' December 16, 1933
* Mr. Geraghty is the school teacher at Nethercote.
'Magnet' June 15, 1935
* At the P & C meeting last Tuesday night
it was unanimously decided to write to police
headquarters urging that an officer of the
force be stationed here. It was also decided
to ask the Education Department to have a
new boundary fence erected around the school.
The present fence is in such bad condition
that it is considered dangerous to the pupils.
Various other matters of minor importance
were also dealt with.
'Magnet' August 17, 1935
RIDING TO SCHOOL
Government Subsidy Rates
As mentioned in the 'Magnet' last week children
who travel to school on horseback or by vehicle
are to be granted subsidy in future by the
Department of Education.
The rates of subsidy as specified in the
Education Gazette, the official journal of
the Department, are as follows: - for one
child conveyed to school either by vehicle
or on horseback, 4 pence; for two children
of one family conveyed by vehicle or on two
horses, 8 pence; for three children by vehicle
or using three horses, 9 pence; this is the
maximum daily rate for any one family group.
In cases where more than one child rides
to school on the one horse only the rate
for one child will be paid. The new conditions
will come into operation on September 10th.
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Towamba Public School 125th celebrations. L to R: Sally Farrell, Tal McGowan, Sheena and Peter Mitchell, Robert Mitchell, Jayda Gardaya. 1987 |
Towamba Public School 125th celebrations. Oldest ex-pupil Florrie Parker, youngest pupil, Peter Mitchell. 1987 |
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Bullock Team outside Towamba Public School.
Probably School Centenary Celebrations
1962. Courtesy Jenny Love (Aileen tasker Photo collection) |
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School residence Photo courtesy Don Mills |
Don Mills and family. 1950-57 Photo courtesy Don Mills |
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Sports day at Burragate oval. 1950-57 Photo courtesy Don Mills |
Building the weather shed. 1950-57 Photo courtesy Don Mills |
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Towamba Public School pupils. c 1950-57 Photo courtesy Don Mills |
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The likely looking group who rode our bikes
to school - so many stories with those
adventurous
rides to and fro from Love and Lucas
properties.
Step-brother, John Martin and myself (Elaine Roberts), on right hand side of picture, lived further West at Pericoe and Hayfield. Photo courtesy Elaine Delaney |
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There is an Australian story called the Pommy
Jackeroo giving the experiences of an Englishman
who worked on a cattle station and his problems
not only with his work and conditions but
also the ribbing that pommies get in Australia,
so in the position I found myself thought
perhaps there were some similarities as the
isolation and living conditions could be
somewhat the same.
Towamba is situated on the Towamba River
some 20 miles inland from Eden and 50 miles
from Bega, which was the closest shopping
centre, and the roads to both centres were
at the best, corrugated rough dirt surface.The
closest railhead was Bombala.
The store and accommodation house at Towamba
were both on the North side of the river
and the school and church on the South. To
get from one side to the other was by means
of a low level wooden bridge. During normal
times the river was just a gentle flowing
coastal river but during heavy rains it would
become a roaring torrent and the only means
across was by a rowing boat, this being a
most hazardous journey. There were none of
the usual public utilities, water, sewerage,
gas, electricity or garbage service and the
only public transport was by the mail bus
which left for Bega at about seven o'clock
returning in the evening anywhere from six
to eight o'clock. This would allow two or
three hours shopping time in Bega, the journey
was necessarily slow as many mail stops had
to be made and the road was over Mount Darragh
which meant slow climbing both ways.
Our isolation was complete as during the
first nine months we did not have a car and
I cannot recall my wife, Joan or I being
given many rides to other centres. The store
was run by Ira and Eva Parker and it also
served as the Post Office, agent for the
Commonwealth Bank and telephone exchange
from which we had a party line system, so
you can imagine there was very little privacy
in those areas. As far as I can recall we
did not have the phone connected at first
but soon the Parents and Citizens' Association
agreed to help with the payments as it could
be used to contact parents and other school
matters.
The store mainly sold groceries and hardware
items but no meat or bread, these items had
to come from Wyndham on the mail bus so we
had to have a great reliance on our butcher
and baker and whenever we went to Eden we
made sure we got some fish. Ira Parker, the
storekeeper, was surprised when we first
shopped wanting to pay cash and he really
forced us into running an account, as with
cash you paid the full amount, but when you
paid your monthly bill he gave a discount.
He also sold petrol which also went onto
the account. Next to the store was the hall
and both the store and hall had electricity
as Ira had his own generating system.
In the early days the South side had been
planned as a village with wide streets and
places for all the necessary utilities, even
a railway station, which was to have come
down from Bombala to Eden. There were houses
dotted here and there all basic residences
but well kept and of wood and corrugated
iron, as these being the only materials available.
All employment was related to the land, dairy
farming, sleeper cutting, a few cash crops
such as beans, peas and maize and stripping
bark from the wattle trees, which was used
for tanning leather. There had been a mine
to the West of Towamba past Pericoe (Yambulla)
but it had long been shut down.
So all in all the children and their parents
had very little knowledge of life outside
the village excepting of course the ex-servicemen
of which there were enough to form a strong
local Returned Servicemen's Association.
I had joined the association in Parramatta
but did not attend the meetings regularly
but, as with all activities in isolated areas
the incumbent teacher not only helps with
such groups to function but by being a member
gains the support and encouragement needed.
I became a delegate to attend district meetings
and made sure the children joined in the
march and service on Anzac Day so that they
gained an appreciation of what it meant to
be an Anzac. After the service we joined
with our wives for a dinner they had prepared
having a most enjoyable social get-together.
Through this we became friendly with Verna
Clements and his wife. Sport was keenly played.
Tennis, cricket and with the surrounding
area a rugby league team, so there was a
good community spirit in the area. The only
meeting place was the wine saloon attached
to the accommodation house and I believe
that quite often beer was supplied illegally.
One election day, when all licenced premises
were closed, the local policeman from Wyndham
paid a visit and caught many of the locals
enjoying their wine but only gave them a
warning. Whether I was right or wrong I always
declined invitations to drink there with
the local men.
The best position in the village was on a
hill above the river where the school residence
was built, but of course everyone could see
all the comings and goings. The school was
just below the residence the grounds being
quite ample for the children attending. In
the lane below the school there were two
tennis courts. The school and residence grounds
were all one so the children often encroached
on our yard. It did not take long for us
to have a fence built to keep us separate.
Neither of the buildings had received any
maintenance for the past ten years or so,
actually the school was in better shape than
the residence. The main entrance to the residence
was through the back door, you couldn't use
the front door as there wasn't a step to
get up. This back door led into the kitchen
which was large enough to have a table and
chairs for meals, thence you came to the
dining room, off which was the children's
bedroom and from there through a hall to
the main bedroom and lounge. Off the lounge
was a small verandah which overlooked the
school ground and the river. These rooms
had open fireplaces but had no grates so
the wood was lifted up on firedogs.
Coming from Northmead we had carpet squares
for the inside rooms. When the locals knew
about the carpets they said that we must
be pretty dirty as you couldn't sweep under
beds. Their eyes goggled when they saw Joan
using a carpet sweeper. Remember we did not
have electricity. The open fireplaces were
the hallmark of a good housewife, so they
had to have a regular coating of pipeclay
which had some lime added to bring out the
whiteness. In the hallway there where some
pellet marks, the story being that a previous
teacher had threatened his wife with a shotgun,
so, onto that most important room, the kitchen.
Off the kitchen there was a pantry and bathroom,
the bathroom had the usual sheet of flat
iron on the floor, which made sure people
knew when you were in there. There was a
hand basin and bath, but I'm afraid no shower.
At one end of the bath was the chip heater
which supplied the hot water and the cold
tap was at the other end. Great care had
to be taken when heating water as we only
had tanks to supply us with water.
The chip heater was not the normal down draft
model, which would supply enough hot water
just with newspaper, even Joan's parents
had one of these in Parramatta, but the cylinder
was only about a foot or less in diameter
made of copper and in the front a slide which
lifted out so that the fuel, wood chips only,
could be fed in. This slide had a hole in
the middle to cause a down draught. Actually
it was super efficient as once when Joan's
sister in law decided to have a bath she
got in the bath and had hot water pouring
in one end and cold the other, the hot winning
the contest. I had to rush in to help with
her standing in the middle a washer hiding
her private parts. On another occasion the
visitors thought we were having chips for
our meal when I said I was going to light
up the chip heater. Thinking back we did
have a shower but if we wanted one I had
to pump water by hand up into a high tank
as of course all our water tanks were below
the gutter line to catch the rain water,
I'm sure we didn't use it a great deal.
The fuel stove was nearly a wreck, badly
cracked, and more smoke came into the room
than up the chimney. It was not raised much
above the floor level so you had to kneel
when using it. I rang Joan about the stove
and she hot footed it into The Department
of Education and by gentle or other means
got in to see the property manager and a
new Bega stove with an enamel front was on
its way.
I may as well tell about its installation
here by Terry Goward. The Gowards were a
family that befriended us. Joan wanted it
lifted so that she did not have to kneel
whilst cooking. The hob part was no worry
but the brick wall above the stove had to
be knocked out. Terry was a sleeper cutter
and attacked the bricks in like manner, luckily
he had a steel bar to insert to hold up the
remaining wall and managed to insert it before
the whole lot came tumbling down.
The sink and draining board, which was wooden,
had also seen their use-by date but it took
some long time before that was improved.
The water from both the sink and bath flowed
down an open drain into the vegetable garden.
I guess hardly hygienic. The laundry was
away from the house and had the usual fuel
copper and a tub, of course we were very
modern as we had a small Acme clothes wringer.
The toilet was the pit or long drop type
and as it was getting close to full. I soon
made sure it was so that it could be shifted
further away from the house. Actually I had
it put near the wood heap so that a visit
to toilet had a double purpose.
There were no fly screens on the windows
so the blow flies had easy access.
As the stove was such a mess Joan had purchased
a stove that was fuelled by kerosene which
besides having open burners, had an oven.
We also had a pump up Primus stove and various
kerosene lights, mostly the type with wicks
but also a pump up type which could be carried
outside. By some good fortune we had a refrigerator
fuelled by kerosene. It was a Charles Hope manufactured in Brisbane originally for
the American Armed Forces in the tropics
and compared with the Australian designed,
Silent Night, was in a class of its own. All the refrigerators
after the war were of the absorption type
and had to have some kind of heat to operate
and the Charles Hope only worked on kerosene. Joan's parents
had a Silent Night powered by electricity and on very hot days
it was useless.
With all these appliances run by kerosene
we bought it at first in 4 gallon containers
which when empty could be converted into
useful buckets, and Joan used one to boil
up the napkins on the fuel stove.
Before I continue and tell about Joan's and
my routine jobs will try and give a picture
of the school conditions.
The school building was only a stone's throw
from the house not attached as it was at
other schools. It was deep enough for about
5 rows of desks but much wider than deep,
the desks were long enough to seat 5 children
and made of cedar. The children sat on benches,
which weren't the most comfortable, and in
the middle of the front there was an open
fireplace on each side of which there was
ample room for blackboards, the floor of
course was wooden. There was a closed in
front verandah but no office for the teacher
to use to talk to parents etc. The grounds
were quite ample although they sloped quite
steeply down to the river, at the bottom
there was a horse paddock and an area for
a fruit trees. There was not a shelter shed
for the children to use so in wet weather
break periods had to be spent in the school
building, of course the pit toilets were
some distance from the building.
I'll go back to when Joan, her mother and
John, our small son, arrived, for this was
our first introduction to Towamba living.
When they arrived I was just going down with
the measles and Joan was informed that the
next Sunday was the monthly visit of the
Church of England priest, Freddy Hart, for
service and it was tradition for her to give
him his dinner (mid-day). I had made contact
with the Gowards who were our backstops and
supporters so Molly Parker at the shop gave
her the run down on ordering meat and bread
from Wyndham. Not wishing to trust the fuel
oven to bake a roast she bought some corned
silverside so as the only green vegetable
available being cabbage she cooked these
for Sunday dinner.
As an explanation it was our habit then to
have dinner in the middle of the day. By
this time I was a cot case confined to my
bed in a darkened room so when the blowflies
got a smell of the cooking and my measles
we were invaded, closing the doors and windows
had some effect but they even came down the
chimneys. Of course I couldn't take school
and some of the parents said that I didn't
have measles at all but had rubbed flea powder
into my skin to keep the fleas off me whilst
I was at the accommodation house. They had
learnt that I had purchased some powder at
the store and didn't believe that I had used
it to sprinkle around the residence before
putting the carpets down.
During my first year at Towamba I had to
be inspected for my Teacher's Certificate
as for the first three years we were on probation
, he arrived just before morning tea time
so after a short chat I took him over to
the residence for a cuppa and Joan had scones
etc ready for us, after fifteen minutes I
started to get fidgety as it was time to
go back to work, so he said to Joan, "What's
he worried about?" which relieved the
tension for he was also interested in our
whole situation. I survived the day and he
took a lesson or two as a demonstration.
He recommended me for my certificate as he
thought that one day I would become a very
successful teacher as I had an easy way of
handling children and had a pleasant personality
with good professional attitudes ( I'm copying
these remarks from his report on me which
I still have). He also sent us bulletins
containing ideas from other teachers in the
area mainly in the teaching of basic skills.
Lots of the aids for children the teachers
made and were stored in anything from match
boxes to tins and cartons. I know from experience
that many innovations by one teacher staff
have been rediscovered later and hailed as
new ideas and sold in published form. There
was also a great friendship amongst the teachers
in the area who were mostly the same as me,
the only exception being the Headmasters
from Eden, Pambula and Merimbula and once
a month on a Saturday morning we would have
a Teachers' Federation meeting at a different
centre. In the morning we would meet in the
school whilst our wives met in the residence,
mainly I think to complain about the condition
of the residences, then in the afternoon
some kind of sporting activity would take
place. After the meeting we would look at
the aids for teaching at that school for
there was not any professional jealousy amongst
us. I think in our early days that Eric Carle
from Burragate, who had a Chev four tourer
would pick us up.
There not being a ready supply of text books
or the money to purchase them much preparation
were necessary and the work for the day had
all to be written on blackboards so that
whilst personally teaching one group the
others had work to get on with, such as questions
to be answered from reading they had done
or examples in maths to be tackled. Much
work was done and learnt by rote and repetition.
I must confess I could print out maps, by
now an ancient method, using wax stencils
and black ink. This meant of course getting
to school by eight o'clock and going back
after tea to have things ready for there
was nothing worse than children having nothing
to do.
The children living in the village of course
walked to school but the ones from outlying
farms came in various ways some driven by
their parents, some on push bikes and a couple
on horseback, they were all very regular
attenders and being a farming area, know
that some had an easier time at school than
at home. I tried to have a good balance of
subjects both mental and physical and on
Thursday afternoon I would have the boys
for handwork whilst Joan took the girls for
needlework in the residence. Once whilst
she had them working in the kitchen she had
some soup on the fuel stove in a pressure
cooker and the release valve became blocked
so that the rubber safety valve blew sending
streams of liquid up the chimney. The girls
really thought they were in mortal danger.
Actually this sewing was a sore point with
Joan as the allowance for this work was added
to my salary, whilst she thought she should
have been paid direct. I taught the boys
a mixture of woodwork, bookbinding, cane
work and crafts to suit the season.
The parents at Towamba were on the whole
interested in their children's well being
and besides their basic learning skills liked
to see the children in the other activities.
In fact when I suggested at a Parents' meeting
that I would happily have a weekly lesson
in cane work the response was overwhelming.
Some of them soon got passed the wastepaper
basket and tray weaving and started on picnic
baskets and even bassinettes for their babies,
far beyond my capabilities, but I did have
some excellent text books which they used.
I had to buy the cane and an honesty system
made sure I was not out of pocket. At meetings
I would always try to explain and illustrate
any part of teaching method they did not
understand as parents could not help their
children if they did not know what was going
on. One policy I maintained was regards Homework
and would only ask the children to do tasks
that would not confuse their parents, such
as spelling, learning tables and reading
books they could manage. As the children
did not have any shelter in the playground
permission was given to build a weather shed,
the department supplying the material if
the parents would do the construction, This
took place and we ended up with a fine building
where sporting equipment could be stored
and great for the children in wet weather
as you remember I went home for my dinner
at mid-day and did not want the children
in the classroom during the break.
We somehow survived those early days and
by the time Joan's mother left we were pretty
well settled in and ready to take on the
challenges that were to face us.