Australia 1788-1988
:
A History of Central Coast Schools
This publication has been funded by The Australian Bicentennial Authonty and Gosford City Council to celebrate Australia's Bicentenary in 1988.
Few areas in Australia
will be able to present as a Bicentennial publication a book such as this.
The Central Coast was one of the first regions outside the Sydney Basin to be settled. It contained some of the earliest schools and because it has been a significant area of population growth it contains some of the latest. This book contains a brief history of each of these State schools. You will find the photographs of great interest. They, together with the resumes, trace the development of school activities, architecture, dress and games. Those of you who like to look into our past will be fascinated by such development. Those of you who like to look to our future will be able to give rein to your imagination — can the rate of change of the past continue? What will it be like in our schools and our community ten, twenty, fifty, a hundred years from now? Will it be better? My congratulations to the Committee which put this material together and to the teachers and students, past and present, who have made it possible. R.G. Nicholls, Assistant Director
Published by The Department of Education sub committee of the Gosford Bicentennial Community Committee. Department of Education P.O. Box 649 Gosford, 2250
1788-1988
A History of Central Coast Schools
A publication of the combined Public Schools of the Central Coast
A limited edition of 1000 copies
This book has been designed to be an historical record of the seventy schools on the Central Coast. Financial assistance given to the Bi-Centennial Education Committee, by the Gosford City Council Bi-Centennial Community Comrhittee has made this publication possible. The organising Committee wishes to express its appreciation to all teachers and pupils, past and present, who each in his or her own way has contributed to the development of the Central Coast schools system, and in particular to those who took the time to research and type the copy for this book.
Designed, typeset and printed by Dunamis Press, Woy Woy (043) 41 8624
A History of Central Coast Schools
A v o c a Beach P u b l i c School Bateau Bay P u b l i c S c h o o l
Page 4
M o u n t Penang SSP
Page 74
Page 6
M o u n t W h i t e P u b l i c School
Page 76
Page 8
N a r a r a P u b l i c School
Page 78
Berkeley V a l e P u b l i c School
Page 10
N i a g a r a P a r k P u b l i c School
Page 80
B r i s b a n i a P u b l i c School
Page 12
Northlakes H i g h School
Page 82 Page 84
Berkeley V a l e H i g h School
Page 14
O u r i m b a h P u b l i c School
B u d g e w o i P u b l i c School
Page 16
Peats Ridge P u b l i c School
Page 86
C e n t r a l M a n g r o v e P u b l i c School
Page 18
Point C l a r e P r i m a r y School
Page 88
Chertsey P u b l i c School
Page 20
Point Wolstoncroft N F C
Page 90
C h i t t a w a y Bay P u b l i c School
Page 22
Pretty Beach P u b l i c School
Page 92
Page 24
Somersby P u b l i c School
Page 94 Page 96
Brooke A v e n u e P r i m a r y School
C o p a c a b a n a P u b l i c School D o o r a l o n g P u b l i c School
Page 26
Spencer P u b l i c School
E m p i r e Bay P u b l i c School
Page 28
T a c o m a P u b l i c School
E r i n a H e i g h t s P u b l i c School
Page 30
T e r r i g a l H i g h School
Page 100
E r i n a H i g h School
Page 32
T e r r i g a l P u b l i c School
Page 102
E r i n a West P u b l i c School
Page 34
T h e Entrance H i g h School
Page 104
E t t a l o n g P u b l i c School
Page 36
T h e Entrance P u b l i c School
Page 106
Glenvale SSP
Page 38
T h e Entrance N o r t h P u b l i c School
Page 108
G o r o k a n H i g h School
Page 40
T o u k l e y P u b l i c School
Page 110
G o r o k a n P u b l i c School
Page 42
T u g g e r a h P u b l i c School
Page 112
G o s f o r d H i g h School
Page 44
T u g g e r a w o n g P u b l i c School
Page 114
G o s f o r d P u b l i c School
Page 46
U m i n a H i g h School
Page 116
G o s f o r d East P r i m a r y School
Page 48
U m i n a School
Page 118
Gwandalan Public School
Page 50
V a l l e y V i e w P u b l i c School
Page 120
H e n r y K e n d a l l H i g h School
Page 52
W a m b e r a l P u b l i c School
Page 122
H o l g a t e P u b l i c School
Page 54
W a r n e r v a l e P u b l i c School
Page 124
J i U i b y P u b l i c School
Page 56
W o y W o y H i g h School
Page 126
K a n w a l P u b l i c School
Page 58
W o y W o y P u b l i c School
Page 128
K i U a r n e y V a l e P u b l i c School
Page 60
W o y W o y South P u b l i c School
Page 130
K i n c u m b e r P u b l i c School
Page 62
W y o m i n g P u b l i c School
Page 132
K u l n u r a P u b l i c School
Page 64
W y o n g H i g h School
Page 134
L a k e M u n m o r a h P u b l i c School
Page 66
W y o n g P u b l i c School
Page 136
L i s a r o w H i g h School
Page 68
W y o n g G r o v e P u b l i c School
Page 138
L i s a r o w P u b l i c School
Page 70
W y o n g Creek P u b l i c School
Page 140
M a n n e r i n g Park P u b l i c School
Page 72
Y a r r a m a l o n g P u b l i c School
Page 142
///
Page 98
Page 4
Early Days at Avoca Beach Public School
B
u i l d i n g of the A v o c a Beach P r o v i s i o n a l School was commenced o n the 8th February, 1935, and consisted of a b u i l d i n g of w o o d framed construct i o n , l i n e d internally w i t h wood. T h e outside was to be of weatherboards a n d the roof of galvanised i r o n . The b u i l d i n g consisted of one classroom w i t h a hatroom and verandah and accommodated 24 pupils. T h e b u i l d i n g was completed and first occupied on the 27th M a y , 1935, 4 years a n d 9 months after the first correspondence was entered into! M r . A r t h u r H o g g was the first teacher to be assigned to the school. H e arrived w i t h the qualifications to set up a new school h a v i n g come straight from M o u n t W h i t e School w h i c h he had established i n J a n u a r y of 1935 a n d before that b e i n g T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e of the one teacher school at O u r i m b a h Creek School for 9 years. M r . H o g g took delivery of the necessary school furniture w h i c h consisted of: 3 L o n g Desks - 6 ' 8 " long x 2 6 " 3 L o n g Desks ] 6 ' 8 " long x 2 4 " 6 Forms for the above 1 Teacher's T a b l e - T y p e ' A ' 1 Teacher's C h a i r 1 Press - T y p e ' D ' E n r o l m e n t day arrived w i t h the following pupils commencing after the J u n e long weekend: Betty M i l l e r D o r o t h y Parsons Doris M i l l e r Jean Bryan June Chapman Grace Lake Peg C h a p m a n Colin Callan
Mackinnon Miller Heather Bryant V e r o n i c a Parsons M a r i e Ives John Allen
Beryl White Betty W h i t e Isobel K i r k n e s s N a n c y Bryant
T h e pupils that made up the rest of the 1935 enrolments were:A l i c e , George and A r t h e r L a i d l e r who enrolled on 5 / 6 / 3 5 ; E r i c P o n d - 1 0 / 6 / 3 5 ; Ethel C h a p m a n 1 0 / 9 / 3 5 and C l a u d i a P o n d 3 0 / 9 / 3 5 . These pupils must have appreciated this new school for instead of having to walk up to miles to K i n c u m b e r School they now only had to stroll %\.oVi mile for some. These early years saw the parents and P & C i n v o l v e d i n w o r k i n g bees m a i n t a i n i n g a n d i m p r o v i n g the school. A s w e l l as this many social activities were held. Concerts and Fancy Dress were held at " B r i d g e h a v e n " the b u i l d i n g beside the A v o c a Newsagency. Break up day was celebrated w i t h a picnic. School was deserted. H a r r y Price w o u l d drive everyone over to T o o w o o n Bay i n his bus. E v e r y p u p i l irrespective of his or her academic standing was given a book donated by the P & C. Some of these books are still housed i n family libraries. T h e late 1930's and early 1940's (the war years) saw many families pass through the A v o c a area w i t h c h i l d r e n attending school on a temporary basis. D u r i n g this time the c h i l d r e n had A i r R a i d practice, they had to walk quickly to outside the bottom fence and hide i n the scrub facing towards their own home. Page 5
Bateau Bay Public School
T
he dramatically increasing enrolments at T h e E n trance and K i l l a r n e y V a l e Schools i n 1979, made the establishment of another school a necessity for 1980. T o provide the required accommodation immediately, a totally demountable school on a temporary site was established i n Brooke A v e n u e , w h i l e plans for a new school at M a r l o w e R o a d were being prepared. Bateau Bay P u b l i c School opened on Tuesday 29th J a n u ary, 1980, w i t h P r i n c i p a l M r . R o y Strange, 13 class teachers, a C l e r i c a l Assistant, Teachers' A i d e , Part T i m e L i b r a r y C l e r i c a l , Part T i m e L i b r a r i a n and Part T i m e Craft Teacher. Departmental officer M r . T r e v o r H a r r i s o n , had carefully sited the pre-fabricated, steel buildings a m i d the s u r r o u n d i n g bushland. T h e temporary school consisted of thirteen classrooms, an A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Block, L i b r a r y , Food Service U n i t and an outdoor assembly area. T h e Departmental E s tablishment G r a n t for the 167 Infants and 195 P r i m a r y p u pils, was $26,510. T h e school was officially opened by the
Page 6
M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n , M r . P a u l L a n d a , on M o n d a y 13th October. T h i s co-incided w i t h the centenary of education i n N S W celebrations throughout the coast. T h e Bateau Bay district continued to grow. Eighteen months after opening, 3 additional classes and buildings were added for the 459 pupils and 17 teachers. T e r r i g a l H i g h School was still occupying (in demountable accommodation), the site for the permanent Bateau Bay school. By 1984, the formerly m u c h a d m i r e d bushland setting was showing the effects of the many thousands of footsteps and the squeeze of the necessary additional accommodation. Parents were very anxious for the permanent school to become a reality. T h e ultra m o d e r n brick complex at W a r a t a h Street, was ready for P r i n c i p a l M r . A l l a n J o h n s o n , 438 pupils, 16 classes and 23 staff to commence i n J a n u a r y 1985. A d d i t i o n a l features included a clinic, school counsellor's office, audio visual r o o m , w i t h d r a w a l rooms adjacent to
classrooms, a pottery k i l n and wet-areas for craft. P r o v i s i o n has been made for 8 demountable classrooms as p u p i l n u m bers increase. These facilities are indicative of the ever w i d e n i n g scope and growth of education i n the 80's. Parental Support a n d involvement has always been a feature of Bateau Bay School. T h e p r e l i m i n a r y meeting of Parents of the future Bateau Bay pupils on the 2 2 n d N o vember 1979 packed T h e Entrance H i g h School H a l l . T h e first P and C meeting i n 1980 had over 100 i n attendance a n d elected M r s . Teresa Barnes, President, M r s . C h r i s Pollock, Secretary a n d M r . Stan Steele, Treasurer. A news item i n 'The G u a r d i a n ' i n September mentioned that financial assistance had " b e e n a record of $1,000 per m o n t h . " T h i s was surpassed i n 1981, w i t h P a n d C members contribu t i n g over $20,000 to school needs. Parents have always been w i l l i n g helpers i n the classroom, library and sporting activities.
Students have excelled i n a variety of academic, sport and career fields. N e i l T u r n e r represented A u s t r a l i a i n Basketball i n the U S A . H e and M e g a n D o b b i n are currently at the C a n b e r r a Sport Institute. M a t t h e w K i n g was r u n n i n g his own radio station at 14 and has moved into television w i t h the A B C . L i s a H e c k i n g was chosen for a T V part i n the State W i d e T e l e v i s i o n commercial for the Centenary C e l ebrations i n 1980. Three pupils have achieved state level representation i n sport. Shane Forbes i n athletics, L a u r i e Pappalardo a n d Leanne N o r m a n i n tennis. T h e schools is p r o u d of its progress d u r i n g the last eight years. U n d e r the guidance of the present P r i n c i p a l , M r . Bob N o r r i s , the parents and staff are developing a tradition of a caring community school striving for achievement i n many areas.
Page 7
Page 8
Berkeley Vale 'Community' High School
B
erkeley V a l e is located between W y o n g and T h e Entrance on Tuggerah Lake. P o p u l a t i o n growth had far exceeded the provision of community facilities and services when i n 1983 the decision was made to commence Berkeley V a l e H i g h School at the N o r t h Gosford demountable site. T h e first p r i n c i p a l was M r . T e d Doyle w i t h M r . J o h n M c G e e as deputy. T h e staff" was small i n n u m b e r but very enthusiastic. T h e science department was headed by M r . D o n Ritchie who was ably assisted by M r . P a u l M c K i e and M r . A l i s t a i r M c L e o d who was the A g . / S c i e n c e teacher. M r . George K e n n e d y was i n charge of the E n g l i s h / H i s t o r y department w i t h M r . K e i t h M c A l i s t e r . M s . Rosemary S c h m i d was the L a n g u a g e / A r t teacher, M r . L i n d s a y West M u s i c , P a m M c A l i s t e r Social Science. J a c k i e M c D o n a l d P . E . , Sharon Rochford H o m e Economics and Textiles, J o h n Doherty M a t h s , P h i l Tate Industrial A r t s , a n d Annette W a l s h was the L i b r a r i a n . M r . T e d D o y l e was determined to see that the c o m m u ting by the Berkeley V a l e students to the N o r t h Gosford site w o u l d be restricted to the shortest time possible and that a new school w o u l d be p r o v i d e d for them at Berkeley V a l e . M r . D o y l e was assisted i n this task by a very active and v o l atile parent c o m m u n i t y who formed the B . V . A . C . (Berkeley V a l e A c t i o n Committee). T h r o u g h o u t 1 9 8 3 / 8 4 the B . V . A . C . parent group was led by M r . Stephen F o w l e r a n d M r s . R o b y n H e i n k e and their campaign for the new school was rewarded w i t h the earlier scheduling of the new school to open i n 1986. T h e early achievement and sense of commitment e n couraged the school to make p r o v i s i o n for parental participation w h e n establishing the school's 'aims and objectives' and M r . George K e n n e d y and M r . D o n Ritchie conducted staff/parent workshops and a weekend conference i n
1983/84 to develop the school's policies a n d procedures. I n 1985 the school staff continued to expand w i t h M r . K e n Bunnett replacing M r . M c G e e as Deputy, M r . J o h n S m y t h taking on the role as H e a d Teacher M a t h s a n d M r . R a l p h M u r r a y replacing M r . George K e n n e d y as H e a d Teacher E n g l i s h / H i s t o r y . In 1985 the early staff/parent links were further strengthened by P . E . P . funded staff/parent workshops and conferences to implement a re-structuring of the c o m m u n i cation channels w i t h i n the school. T h i s initiative led to the introduction of the House C o u n c i l system w h i c h effectively d i v i d e d the school into four house vertically integrated w e l fare networks. T h e four year patrons broadened their role to that of house co-ordinators and each became the democratically elected welfare leader of one quarter of the school's staff a n d students. Parents and students were represented o n the School C o u n c i l w h i c h operated as the forum for school and c o m m u n i t y based democratic p r o b l e m solvi n g and decision m a k i n g . In 1986 M r . T e d Roberts became H e a d Teacher Social Science and i n 1987 M r . K e n Bunnett was replaced by M r . T e d W i l l i a m s as Deputy. T h e school size by 1987 had g r o w n to 600 students and a staff" of 50 teachers and w i t h an ever expanding Y e a r 7 school enrolment the school is p r o jected to soon reach 1,000 students. T h e " n e e d s " of the student population have been quickly addressed by M r . T e d Doyle and his dedicated staff who through the school W e l fare Committee carefully monitor the progress of a l l students attending their school. T h e school's welfare program has received particular attention and recognition from the Regional Director, M r . K e n M c K i n n o n who regards Berkeley V a l e H i g h as an exemplar for the other schools i n the region i n the area of student welfare. Ted Doyle, Principal Page 9
1920 Group at Berkeley Vale Public School Tumbi Umbi Public School.
then known as
School. In use until 1979, when it was dismantled after the new school was built.
Berkeley Vale Public School
A
n application for the establishment of a p r o visional school at Berkeley V a l e , then k n o w n by the name of T u m b i U m b i , was made on 1 st September, 1911. It was stated that the nearest school was over two miles away at W a m b e r a l , w h i l e nine boys and seven girls resided i n the locality. In December 1 9 1 1 a M r s . E . Hargraves offered a site for the school but it was not until A p r i l 1913 that the work was commenced. H o w e v e r , i n M a y 1913 the work was suspended w h e n it was reported that there were now insufficient c h i l d r e n l i v i n g i n the locality to establish a school. T h e foll o w i n g m o n t h M r . Inspector Reay stated that, as twelve c h i l d r e n were available, the work should be recommenced a n d the school worked on a half-time basis w i t h the p r o posed school at Tuggerah Entrance — now k n o w n as T h e Entrance. A new school at Tuggerah Entrance opened on a halftime basis w i t h T u m b i U m b i on 16th N o v e m b e r , 1915. T h e first teacher was M r . B e r n a r d D a g g , also a verandah was added to the school b u i l d i n g at T u m b i U m b i i n 1916. Page 10
T h e school site o r i g i n a l l y comprised two acres, but i n 1924 the site was extended. D u r i n g this same year, on 8th J u l y , the name of the school was changed from T u m b i U m b i to Berkeley V a l e . Increasing enrolments necessitated the enlargement of the school b u i l d i n g i n 1927. M r . A l f r e d G a l l o p , w h o had been Headmaster since 1920 was succeeded b y M r . J o h n M c L e a n i n 1930. B y 1932 the enrolment had increased to 57 and representations were commenced for the enlargement of the b u i l d i n g and appointment of an as'sistant teacher. In September 1935 the enrolment at Berkeley V a l e was 66 p u p i l s , and for the next two decades, through the headmastership of A l b e r t W r i g h t , Leo Cheers. J o h n A s b o r n and W i l l i a m H e y , these numbers varied little. H o w e v e r by 1968 as a reflection of the general growth of the C e n t r a l Coast, the school population reached almost 100 students. In August of that year, the Department of Education approved the purchase of an area of 31 perches on L o t 85 P i n d a r r i A v e n u e . In N o v e m b e r the Department of P u b l i c W o r k s was asked to prepare plans and specifications for the
erection of three brick veneer classrooms (kindergarten size with folding partition), office, store, t o i l e t / a b l u t i o n a n d septic system. T h e awaited new buildings were not occupied until
1973
but the school was still split between two sites. T h i s year m a r k e d the school's most r a p i d increase i n numbers ever from
132 to 214
i n one year. T h e staff rose from 5 to 7
teachers, with a librarian, craft/sewing specialist a n d clerical aide, under the p r i n c i p a l s h i p of M r . J . L e i s h m a n . In
the
period
from
1975
to
1978
while
F o t h e r i n g h a m served as P r i n c i p a l , enrolments
Mr.
D.
rose from
253 to 455, causing acute accommodation difficulties. Severe space limitations, increasing demountable buildings a n d inadequacies of the site taxed the smooth functioning of the school. T h e need for a permanent
structure
finally
Original Berkeley Vale School buildings (with extensions) in use until 1976. Now used as a Community Leisure Learning Centre.
was
recognised a n d i n 1978 work commenced o n sixteen brick classrooms, an administration block, library, hall, canteen a n d associated A / V a n d multi-purpose rooms. These buildings were officially opened by the then P r e m ier of N . S . W . T h e H o n . N . K . W r a n , Q . C . M . P . i n O c t o b e r , 1979, the year M r . L . O ' M e a r a was appointed P r i n c i p a l . T h e school's numbers have continued to grow steadily to the present record h i g h of 730 pupils, necessitating the use of nine demountable
classrooms
i n a d d i t i o n to the
new
structure. During
1980-82, several nearby residences were p u r -
chased a n d demolished to allow for p l a y g r o u n d expansion.
New school buildings at Berkeley Vale. Completed in October,
T h e future of Berkeley V a l e P u b l i c S c h o o l seems assured.
1979
Group of pupils and teacher outside original Berkeley Vale School building, several hundred metres from the present site. Taken during 1920's. Page 11
Brisbania Public School — The original portable (and school) with one of the early enrolments (all of the primary).
Brisbania Public School
P
rior to the b u i l d i n g of B r i s b a n i a P u b l i c School, the pupils from Saratoga travelled by ferry to W o y W o y w h a r f a n d walked to school. T h e c h i l d r e n from D a v i s t o w n rowed across Brisbane Watqrs to E m p i r e Bay, then proceeded to walk to school. Because of these arrangements the c o m m u n i t y sought to have their own school a n d Pat Bourke donated the present site to the Department of E d u c a t i o n . A s the land was located near to Saratoga a n d Davistown border, a name to suit both areas was needed, hence B r i s b a n i a P u b l i c School came into being, w i t h its extensive, picturesque views over the Brisbane Waters. O n 16th September, 1941, the school opened as a one r o o m portable, w i t h 11 boys a n d 11 girls, r a n g i n g i n ages from 6-13 years, w i t h M r . G . S . W a l k e r as teacher-incharge. (This portable is still standing a n d is used as a R e source Room). A s it d i d not r a i n after the portable was erected a n d the water tanks completed, the pupils had to carry small bottles of water each day till the first rain. In September, 1947, A l a n Davis was contracted to supply materials to b u i l d a shelter shed 20 x 10 feet for £70.00. In October, 1948, another £28.00 was spent on additions to the shed. The school remained a one teacher school t i l 1950, when
Page 12
M r . E . M a l c o l m a n d M r . W , F o r d were appointed to their positions. M r . W . F o r d conducted classes, for the Infants, i n the shelter shed t i l l the second b u i l d i n g was completed. G r a d u a l l y the school built up to five classrooms a n d teachers by 1969. M o r e land was acquired a n d because of the increased attendances Brisbania was given a 2 Stage B u i l d i n g Programme. The 1st Stage; a double classroom, toilets, shelter area and administration block were opened i n 1973. A s Departmental policy changed to b u i l d i n g whole schools, Brisbania never gained Stage 2 a n d spent years of b o u n d a r y changes a n d added portable b u i l d i n g s . 1987 has seen the start of a new School B u i l d i n g concept, c o m p r i s i n g of a L i b r a r y , Food Service U n i t , H a l l a n d ten classrooms. T h e expected completion date is M a r c h , 1988 and is eagerly awaited by pupils a n d teachers. Teachers-in-charge/Principals 1941-48 - G . S . W a l k e r 1950-60 - E. M a l c o l m 1961-62 - A . Burke 1963-68 - J . C a r s o n 1969-82 - W . Griffin 1983-85 - R . R . D a r k 1986- R.F. Lock
Brisbania Public School - Ladies of the first P^C with the caretaker of Davistown Progress Hall.
Brisbania Public School — marching down Mann Street to the Sports Meeting in the early fifties.
Page 13
Year 6 students dressed as convicts of the First fleet Education Week 1987.
Page 14
Infants pupils entertaining Senior Citizens! during Senior Citizens Week 1987.
B.B.Q. set in the playground built by the Pi^C
Association.
Brooke Avenue Primary School
B
rooke A v e n u e P r i m a r y School is one of the newest on the C e n t r a l Coast, having begun operations at the b e g i n n i n g of the 1985 school year. T h e school enrolment was 247 w i t h 9 classes. T h e first P r i n c i pal being M r . A l f . Roach. P o p u l a t i o n growth i n the K i l l a r ney V a l e and Bateau Bay areas necessitated the establishment of yet another school, hence Brooke A v e n u e . Brooke A v e n u e P r i m a r y School is housed i n the demountable accommodation w h i c h was formerly Bateau Bay P r i m a r y School. T h e new buildings for the Bateau Bay P r i m a r y School were completed at the end of 1984 a n d the staff a n d pupils of that school moved to their new site. D u e to the rezoning of the whole area i n 1984, the m a j o r i t y of the pupils attending the new Brooke A v e n u e School were former pupils of K i l l a r n e y V a l e a n d Bateau Bay schools. T h e majority of the teaching staff were also from those two schools. T h e P . & . C . Association, w i t h M r s . L o i s M a s o n , the first President at the h e l m , was quickly organised a n d began w o r k i n g for the school. A t its first meeting o n 19th F e b r u ary, a U n i f o r m Committee, a F u n d R a i s i n g Committee a n d a Canteen C o m m i t t e e were established. E a c h of these c o m mittees w o r k e d very h a r d a n d r a p i d l y results were forthc o m i n g . A u n i f o r m p r o v i d e d the identity of the new Brooke A v e n u e School and was p r o u d l y w o r n by pupils a n d supported by the parents. A Canteen p r o v i d i n g the nutritional needs of the pupils was soon i n operation o n a daily basis. F u n d r a i s i n g activities i n the form of a S l i d e - A - T h o n at Forrester's Park Slide, D o l l and Craft Show a n d a School Fete, helped i n establishing the school i n the c o m m u n i t y as w e l l as p r o d u c i n g essential funds.
T h e school educational program, likewise had a good start. T h e services of a Resource Teacher were available i m mediately, as also that of a School Counsellor. E . D . S . A . C . C . stadium p r o v i d e d the venue of an excellent P . E . program. In 1985 the school along w i t h K i l l a r n e y V a l e school took steps to set up a Safety-House P r o g r a m . It was officially opened by Sen. C o n s . Hargreaves on 27th N o v e m b e r , 1985. T h e m a i n function at the end of the first year was the Christmas Concert and Presentation N i g h t w h i c h proved to be a very popular a n d enjoyable evening. I A t the b e g i n n i n g of 1986 M r . J . Deasey was appointed P r i n c i p a l following the retirement of M r . Roach. A n Infants Department was also established i n 1986. A second A . P . was appointed, M s V . Densmore, additional to M r . I. W i t t , A . P . Primary. D u r i n g 1986 and 1987, the school has continued to develop educational programs a n d improve its teaching resources. A C o m p u t e r Education program is i n place a n d A p p l e Computers are part of the school resources. M u s i c has also been developed and m u c h enjoyment has been achieved i n this area, especially w i t h the recorders. V a r i o u s staff development days have been held at the school, and these have been of great benefit to a l l participants. Brooke A v e n u e is a growing school, A t the end of T e r m 3, 1987 the enrolment was 302. D u e to the establishment of Pacific D e l M a r H o u s i n g Estate, enrolments are expected to increase considerably, reaching the 400's i n 1988. P l a n n i n g is w e l l underway for the b u i l d i n g of a permanent school, o n the present site, and the M i n i s t e r is expected to announce the c a l l i n g of tenders, once p l a n n i n g is completed. Page 15
Page 16
Budgewoi Public School
Page 18
Central Mangrove Public School
S
et i n the lovely M a n g r o v e M o u n t a i n area, C e n t r a l M a n g r o v e P u b l i c School nestles on a hillside among the market gardens, orchards and poultry farms w h i c h serve the markets of Sydney two hours south. A l l of its pupils come to school by bus, some from as far as 25 k m away. T h e school is the youngest of the " M o u n t a i n s " area's schools a n d , i n this Bicentennial Y e a r , it has its 30th b i r t h day. O n 20th September, 1958 it was opened by the H o n . R . J . H e f f r o n , M . L . A . , then Deputy P r e m i e r and M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n . H o w times have changed! T h e o r i g i n a l school w i t h its basic amenities was erected for ÂŁ 5 3 6 0 . T h e extensive grounds include three hectares of u n spoiled sandstone outcrop. Nature trails have been developed i n this area and are continually being i m p r o v e d . T h e c h i l d r e n show a healthy interest i n the bush and its creatures! A small creek winds along the northern boundary. T h e natural setting is a unique feature of the school. Y e a r by year the active parent bodies a n d staff have developed two p l a y i n g fields, gardens on the rock outcrops near the buildings a n d gardens a r o u n d the classrooms. T h e annual M o u n t a i n s Schools Sports, a delightful p r e l ude to the P . S . S . A . Athletics season, has been held at C e n t r a l M a n g r o v e since 1971. T h i s day with its picnic at-
mosphere, races, dances, novelty events and tug-o-war is a j o y for children and adults. U n w e l c o m e visitors over the years have included several bushfires, a cyclone w h i c h flattened fifty fully grown trees, the neighbour's billy-goat, w h i c h kept a class marooned i n a demountable b u i l d i n g , and various reptiles. A feature of the school for the last ten years has been the children's involvement i n the School Parliament, with a n nual elections for a P r i m e M i n i s t e r and M i n i s t e r s responsible for school activities such as sports and recreation, keeping the grounds tidy, health and cleanliness etc. T h e traditional elections and ensuing responsibilities are looked forward to eagerly. C e n t r a l M a n g r o v e School's uniqueness revolves a r o u n d three features: 1. Its rural setting. 2. T h e variety of backgrounds of its pupils and the way they operate together. O n e - t h i r d of the c h i l d r e n come from Greek, Italian, Maltese, D u t c h or G e r m a n families. 3. T h e size and beauty of the school grounds. It is very satisfying to watch these features operating i n the school and developing a lively, cooperative group of children. H A P P Y 30TH, C E N T R A L 200TH, AUSTRALIA...
MANGROVE!
HAPPY
I,-
Parliament meets.
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Administration
Block and classrooms on the first day, third term, 1969 following
Section of the lower playground,
the move from temporary quarters at East Gosford.
later to be filled and developed as playing fields. The frequent appearance of snakes did little to
deter the more adventurous children having exciting lunchtime games. Note citrus trees overgrown with brambles and barnyard grass.
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Chertsey Public School
C
hertsey School at Springfield opened T h i r d T e r m i n 1969 w i t h B i l l R y a n as the first teaching P r i n c i pal. T h e school site was o r i g i n a l l y an o r c h a r d , Chertsey, named after an E n g l i s h town. T h e m a i n block was occupied i n 1972. T h e grounds at this time were very rudimentary and c h i l d r e n and staff spent a lot of time i m p r o v i n g them. Craft groups were used to establish rockeries, i.e. digging, cementing and planting. M u c h of this work was done under the supervision of M r . V a u g h a n O ' D o n n e l l and M r . J i m Baker. M r . J i m Hastings donated seventy Swamp M a h o g a n y seedlings raised at E r i n a H i g h School for p l a n t i n g w i t h i n the school environs. T h e p l a y i n g fields at this time were still an overgrown citrus orchard bisected by a slow flowing creek surrounded by paper barks and sheoaks and b a r n y a r d grass about two metres tall. It was generally agreed by the staff that pleasant physical surroundings were necessary for the c h i l d r e n , so
staff spent l u n c h hours m o w i n g and b u r n i n g the grass gradually m a k i n g a suitable playground for the c h i l d r e n . Snakes i n the grass and being caught i n the blades of the r i d e - o n mower proved a serious problem. O n one occasion the fire brigade a r r i v e d m u c h to the embarrassment of M r . R y a n and M r . B o b M o r r i s . $60,000 w o r t h of fill was put on to the lower p l a y i n g area as parts of the p l a y g r o u n d were only one metre above sea level. Three housing blocks were resumed from developers and used for an extension o n to the playground to give a second exit a n d entry into the school. Stage two of the school was recommenced i n 1971 a n d Block G opened to use on 1.2.72. M r . B i l l R y a n retired i n 1978 and was replaced by M r . Dale Fotheringham. A n Infants Department was established i n 1985, w i t h M i s s Y v o n n e H o l m e s being appointed as the first Infants Mistress (Assistant Principal).
Grassy slopes of the playground set among trees resounding to the crystal clear ringing of
bell-birds.
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Chittaway Bay Public School A Brief History
C
hittaway Bay P u b l i c School was established i n 1982 i n fully demountable accommodation, but on its present site. It was to cater for the western end of Berkeley V a l e and thus has only a small feeder area extending from K i n g s f o r d S m i t h D r i v e to O u r i m b a h Creek. T h e enrolment on opening day was only 167 a n d a P r i n cipal a n d six classroom teachers had been appointed with a 2% days/week C l e r i c a l Assistant and 2 days/week L i brarian. A s enrolments grew the C l e r i c a l Assistant became full time and a full time Teachers A i d e was appointed. Since then we have g r o w n by approximately one class per year u n t i l we now have twelve classes. O f the o r i g i n a l seven the P r i n c i p a l , M r . Derek A d a m s , the Assistant P r i n c i p a l , M r . T r e v o r Weekley a n d M r . N e i l Fraser, are currently on the staff.
In 1986 our numbers had grown such that M i s s P a m Slough was appointed as Assistant P r i n c i p a l (Infants) to head our Infants Department. C u r r e n t l y the Staff consists of, our P r i n c i p a l , two teaching A P's, ten classroom teachers, a face/face release teacher, a 2 day/week part time teacher, a 3 day/week Resource Teacher, a 3 day/week L i b r a r i a n , a F / T C l e r i c a l Assistant and a F / T Teachers A i d e . W e also have a G e n e r a l Assistant for 1 day/week , 2 F / T and one P / T cleaner. O n J u n e 2 2 n d , 1987 we moved into our new permanent accommodation on the same site. W e were provided with a ' C o r e plus ten' complex. T h e core consists of an A d m i n i s tration Block, a L i b r a r y , a H a l l , a Canteen and toilets. There are 10 permanent classrooms and two demountables, w h i c h were re-located from the old site. A s the school grows, and it should by one class again next year, demountable classrooms w i l l be added.
• •
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Copacabana Public School
F
or many years school c h i l d r e n from Copacabana attended either A v o c a or K i n c u m b e r P u b l i c School. A v o c a School became overcrowded a n d the site d i d not allow for great expansion. M o s t Copacabana c h i l d r e n were then attending K i n c u m b e r P u b l i c School. A s the population of both Copacabana a n d K i n c u m b e r was continually increasing, it was obvious that the Department of E d u c a t i o n w o u l d eventually need to open a P u b l i c School at Copacabana. I n the early years of the Eighties, the K i n c u m b e r School was becoming very crowded and the K i n c u m b e r P. & C . A s sociation was i n contact w i t h the E d u c a t i o n Department for the commencement of a School as Copacabana. T h i s resulted i n the p l a n n i n g of the Copacabana School for the start of the 1983 school year. I n 1982, at a very w e l l attended meeting at the C o p a c a bana Surf C l u b , M r . F a i r b a i r n , Inspector of Schools at W o y W o y a n d M r . K e n Ison, P r i n c i p a l of K i n c u m b e r School outl i n e d to a l l the arrangements for the new school. A fully demountable Departmental School w o u l d be operating i n
Page 24
1983 at Copacabana on p u b l i c recreational l a n d a d m i n i s tered by Gosford C o u n c i l . T h i s school w o u l d be used for approximately five years u n t i l a permanent school was constructed on the Departmental land adjacent to the school. Copacabana School opened i n 1983 w i t h 170 c h i l d r e n and the following staff: Bruce Barnier — P r i n c i p a l R o d W a t s o n — Asst. P r i n c i p a l Y e a r 5 / 6 D a v i d Paton — Y e a r 4 / 5 Ian Jones — Y e a r 3 A d a Collier - Year 2 Glenda Bunning — Year 1 Sue M u l h o U a n d — K i n d e r g a r t e n K r i s C a r m o d y — Resource Teacher Joy Henderson — Librarian A very active P. & C . Association was formed w i t h : Peter Bates — President K a y A h e a r n — Secretary K e i t h Stafford S m i t h — Treasurer
T h i s body worked extremely hard — h o l d i n g functions to raise money for needed school equipment. W i t h financial support from K i n c u m b e r School and full co-operation from the Copacabana Fire Brigade and Surf C l u b , the whole population of Copacabana was fully supporting the newly formed Copacabana School. T h e School Fetes, M u s i c a l s , B a n d , O p e n Days, F a m i l y F u n Days, Social Activities, Speech N i g h t s a n d educational programmes have a l l been m a i n features of the school d u r i n g the years of operation. Plans for the new school were prepared but were not suitable for the site. Further plans were d r a w n and these were far more suitable as the flat l a n d on the site was now being utilized for p l a y i n g fields. After a few m i n o r alterations, work commenced on the permanent school i n A p r i l , 1986. T h e support of the P. & C.
Association a n d E d u c a t i o n Officials from M e t r o p o l i t a n N o r t h ; M r . K e n M c K i n n o n , Director, M r . Bob NichoUs, Assistant Director and M r . R e x G a r d n e r , Inspector of Schools was tremendous i n having such a fine school p l a n drawn. T h e new school was occupied on M o n d a y , 17th August and Copacabana is very p r o u d to have one of the finest schools i n the State. T h e school consists of two 4 Classroom blocks plus practical activity areas, a L i b r a r y with A . V . r o o m . A d m i n i s t r a t i o n block. H a l l and Canteen. T h e school is excellently equipped to cater for m o d e r n teaching methods and the population is most appreciative of the efforts of all concerned for the construction of such a fine school. N u m b e r s have steadily increased and i n 1988 the expected enrolment w i l l be 260.
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Page 26
Children riding to Dooralong
School 1937. Henry Hitchcock, leading the hone taking Pattie, Marie and Frank Sewell.
Dooralong Public School
D
ooralong P u b l i c School opened on 19th August, 1903 w i t h 15 pupils. T o d a y after many rises and falls the c h i l d r e n n u m b e r 25. In 1908 Samuel A r m o u r M c K i m m was appointed Teacher-In-Charge and remained there u n t i l he retired i n December 1950. H i s 43 years as T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e is a record for the length of service i n the same one teacher school i n the W y o n g Shire, and probably is a record i n N e w South Wales. H e was very active i n district affairs — being the patron of the L o c a l C r i c k e t a n d Football teams a n d a member of the W y o n g A g r i c u l t u r a l Society. T h e grandstand at the W y o n g Race Course (named after him), the S.A. M c K i m m H a n d i c a p on the W y o n g Horse R a c i n g C a l e n d a r a n d the M c K i m m House at W y o n g H i g h School are a l l worthy reminders of the w e l l respected m a n . M c K i m m was a m a n of discipline — (he recorded the use of the cane 464 times d u r i n g his time at Dooralong) but never-the-less is remembered w i t h great affection by his expupils. T h e w a r m t h of the m a n shows i n the ex-pupils who visit the school and tell the many interesting tales about their adventures d u r i n g the time of M c K i m m . M a n y a F r i d a y afternoon was spent i n the rose garden! T h e school inspector's comment on 24th A u g u s t , 1921 was - " T h e enrolment is higher than at any previous inspection. T h e r o o m is too small for present needs a n d an assistant teacher is urgently needed." T h e enrolment was 67 p u pils! In J u n e 1943 the inspector said, " T h e impression gained on entering this school that one has broken i n on the activities of a very busy family. T h e visitor is greeted i n a happy friendly fashion, made to feel quite at home, a n d then the c h i l d r e n immediately return to their occupations." In
M a r c h 1955 the report says, — " L o y a l t y to Q u e e n and country as well as the ideals of neatness, appreciation of spiritual and aesthetic values and notions of fair play are regularly i n c u l c a t e d . " These last two comments sum up the philosophy and atmosphere w h i c h still prevail at the school today thanks to the dedication of the present T e a c h e r - i n Charge, M r . P a u l M a i s h . T h e school has a tradition of h i g h academic and sporting results. In recent years excellent results have been obtained i n the " U n i v e r s i t y of N . S . W . M a t h s C o m p e t i t i o n " , and the school has w o n two gold and one bronze medal i n the S m a l l School's s w i m m i n g relay at the State P r i m a r y Schools S w i m m i n g C a r n i v a l i n Sydney i n the past three years. Last year 1987 the c h i l d r e n broke the state record. Ex-students of the school include former W y o n g Shire President W i l f r e d Barrett, James H o s k i n s P r i n c i p a l of the James Ruse H i g h School and c h a m p i o n jockey Peter L o s h . D u r i n g the last few years the c h i l d r e n have been fortunate to have had many parents who have helped i n school activities. T h e y have received assistance i n reading, craft, music, spelling, mathematics, sport and kindergarten activities. W h o l e school excursions and the above activities have enabled the parents a n d c h i l d r e n to better understand each other and develop a real D o o r a l o n g School Spirit. Peer Support development is a new undertaking i n the H i g h Schools, but this has always been the case i n the smaller type schools like D o o r a l o n g , where the older c h i l d r e n protect and care for their younger school mates. P h i l l i p Bailey E x - P u p i l 1951-57 P & C President from 1981 Page 27
Cockle Creek Public School (Empire Bay) mith teacher Mrs. Elizabeth cluded Palmers, Settrees, Rileys and Beatties.
Langford
on the left in white dress. The children
in-
Empire Bay Public School
E
mpire Bay's name has changed over the years from Cockle Creek to Davis T o w n to E m p i r e Bay and so the first official school was called Cockle Creek P u b l i c School and it opened on M o n d a y , 2 n d M a y , 1881 and by the end of the m o n t h had a healthy enrolment of 42. T h e teacher appointed to this weatherboard b u i l d i n g w i t h its shingle roof was a M r . Jeffreys. In 1883 M r . Jeffreys was transferred to Howe's V a l l e y School and M r . J o h n R o b i n s o n took charge. D u r i n g the nineteenth century it seemed the school was attacked by white ants and the c h i l d r e n were affected by epidemics. In 1888 ÂŁ9.11.0 was spent on r e p a i r i n g timbers w i t h i n the school and painting the structure. T h e school was closed on many occasions w i t h outbreaks of diptheria i n 1888, scarlet fever i n 1895 and w h o o p i n g cough i n 1896. In 1902 it was proposed that the name of the school be changed to Davis T o w n because it was the name of the local post office but i n 1910 the name was again changed to E m pire Bay because the E m p i r e Bay Post office was only % Page 28
mile from the school and on the western side of the Cockle Creek (the same side as the school). T h e school at that time was surrounded by bush on three sides and the creek that crossed part of the grounds was said to harbour snakes. There was a dramatic increase i n enrolments i n the 1970's. In August 1977 enrolment was 105 and i n August 1980 it reached 221. T h e increase i n enrolment also meant a change i n staffing. In 1972 the school had one teacher i n charge and i n 1973 an assistant was appointed. In 1977 the staff numbered 4 and i n 1987 this had become 9 permanent class teachers w i t h a non-teaching p r i n c i p a l . T h e history of E m p i r e Bay P u b l i c School w o u l d not be complete unless mention was made of M r . A r t h u r (Leo) Jones who was the school's longest serving teacher. M r . Jones was T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e from J u l y 1940 until his retirement i n 1971. In recognition of his 30 years service i n the school there still exists a plaque unveiled by the District Inspector i n 1970.
Z**^^
1
/ / y.
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/ J ,
J/. A
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-
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Empire Bay Public School - 1910's
Page 29
Erina Heights Public School
T
he first school at E r i n a was located on four acres of l a n d presented by M i s s D o n n i s o n , being o r i g i n ally part of W i l l o u g h b y Bean's 2,000 acres. It was i n a gully k n o w n as " M o s c a t o T o w n " . It was a C h u r c h of E n g l a n d school built i n 1868 of wooden slabs w i t h a shingle roof and an earth floor. T h e school had one l o n g desk w h i c h was used i n turn by the scholars when w r i t i n g . T h i s was k n o w n as M r s . Capper's School. F o r some u n k n o w n reason it had closed, leaving over thirty c h i l d r e n without a school. In 1873 M r . Charles N e w m a n applied to the C o u n c i l of Education for a i d to establish a provisional school. In those days a provisional school was one i n w h i c h the local comm u n i t y p r o v i d e d the b u i l d i n g and furnished it and the C o u n c i l of Education p r o v i d e d a teacher, p a i d his salary a n d supplied educational equipment and books. T h e C o u n c i l agreed to the application and M r s . J a n e C o u l t e r became the school's first teacher i n A p r i l 1873. T h i s school, held i n the A n g l i c a n premises was b u i l t of slab and stood about a quarter of a mile along Serpentine R o a d and i n the valley below. H e r salary was £ 6 0 per a n n u m plus whatever was p a i d i n fees. In 1873 fees only amounted to £3.15 so she w o u l d not get r i c h on these. T h i r t y seven c h i l d r e n enrolled i n that first year but only about twenty five were regular i n their attendance. Lunches had to be h u n g from the rafters because of the prevalence of goats. Some of the families who sent c h i l d r e n at this time were of W i l l i a m H e n r y J . M i l e s , W i l l i a m A d r i c k , R. W r i g h t , A . W i l s o n , James S w a d l i n g , W i l l i a m R o b i n s o n , R. Hitchcock, S. A n s o n , T. D u n c a n , W i l l i a m C r a n e , J . Blake and Christopher C l u m p . In 1874 the Inspector of Schools visited the provisional school at E r i n a and reported on it as follows: 1. T h e b u i l d i n g is tolerably suitable and i n passable repair, but inadequately furnished. T h e stock of apparatus and books is tolerable. 2. T h e m o r a l tone is fair. 3. T h e occupation is suitable and fairly arranged and the instruction tolerably intelligent and painstaking. 4. T h e average proficiency is nearly tolerable. F o r 1874 and for a provisional school this was a reasonable report. C e r t a i n l y many other schools received reports w h i c h were m u c h worse than this. For the rest of the 1870's the school continued to be held i n the A n g l i c a n premises and the C o u n c i l of Education paid a rental to the Brisbane W a t e r C h u r c h of E n g l a n d . W i t h the passing of the P u b l i c Instruction A c t 1880, education was p r o v i d e d for a l l c h i l d r e n irrespective of means or creed. It was free, compulsory and secular. T h e only sign of change for E r i n a i n the 1880's was the general deterioration i n the conditions of the school b u i l d i n g a n d residence, so towards the end of the 1880's there was a movement made towards erecting new buildings. H o w e v e r action was delayed by the financial difficulties of the early '90's.
Page 30
Mrs. Coulter - First Erina Teacher
T h e first school b o a r d , formed i n 1891 consisted of Messrs. W m . J . A u b i n , J o h n D e n i n g , Robert D e n i n g , W m . Smalley and J . A u s t i n . T h e y held their meetings i n the A u s t i n house. Considerable discussion took place over the choice of a suitable site for the new school and m u c h criticism was levelled at the board over the selection of the present site of five acres on October 13th, 1891, at the j u n c t i o n of T h e E n trance and Serpentine Roads. A new stone school was built on this site i n 1892 at a cost of £ 2 0 0 by the W r i g h t Bros, of E r i n a . T h e o r i g i n a l gaol type b u i l d i n g has undergone remodelling several times. A large verandah was added and the windows lowered and enlarged i n 1914 and a new room was added i n 1919. It was designed to accommodate forty p u p i l s , though i n early 1893 enrolments had risen to just over forty pupils. T h e next major event i n the school's life was the gaining of a second teacher. P r i o r to this, enrolment had been near to the sixty mark for several years and this was more than one teacher could handle. So i n J u l y , 1914, M i s s K a t h l e e n Loane was appointed to assist M r . W a l t e r Weiss, the headmaster. H o w e v e r the population of the area was b e g i n n i n g to grow at an accelerated rate and by 1918, the 1914 b u i l d i n g was too small for the enrolment. Thus i n 1919, additions costing £ 4 5 0 were added to accommodate the 120 c h i l d r e n enrolled.
B y the 1930's the enrolment had risen to nearly 150. A t this stage the o l d wooden desks and forms were still i n use and it was decided i n 1935 to replace them w i t h more m o d ern dual desks. A few years later the school went even more modern by the a d d i t i o n of electric light. Since 1950 w h e n the school's name was changed to the present E r i n a Heights, enrolment w h i c h d u r i n g the forties had dropped to around 100, began to rise again. B y 1960 it was 130 and by 1965 nearly 220. A s a result the school was raised i n status from a Class 3 to a Class 2 school. B y 1970 the school was m o v i n g quickly towards the 300 enrolment mark. A t the conclusion of 1972 the n u m b e r had c l i m b e d to 350 w i t h eleven teachers. A t the b e g i n n i n g of the 1973 year, the n u m b e r of pupils enrolled was sufficient to divide the school into two departments — p r i m a r y and infants and M r s . M i c h e l s e n , a former p u p i l at E r i n a Heights was appointed as the first infant's mistress. In 1963 M r . D o n Fitzpatrick was appointed headmaster with a staff of 4 one of w h o m was G e r r y Davies, who was later to return i n 1976 as the next headmaster on the retirement of M r . Fitzpatrick. In M a y 1973 the centenary of the school was celebrated w i t h many former pupils and staff returning for the day. T h e development of new subdivisions i n the W a m b e r a l area meant that i n a comparatively short time the population of the area and consequently school enrolments i n -
creased quite rapidly. A new brick administration block with two classrooms, a new kindergarten b u i l d i n g was completed, septic toilets replaced, the o l d pan system and town water was laid on i n 1974. In 1986 M r . D o n Fitzpatrick retired and was replaced by G e r r y Davies who had previously been at the school as an assistant teacher. By now the school was literally bursting at the seams, there were 6 demountable classrooms, while there were 8 buses transporting children to and from the school each day. It was obvious at this point a new school had to be built at W a m b e r a l to accommodate the c h i l d r e n from W a m b e r a l , Forresters Beach and T u m b i areas. B y the b e g i n n i n g of 1981 that school was completed and approximately % of the school enrolment transferred to it. E r i n a Heights returned then from being a school w i t h a staff of about 26 to a staff of 8. That year also saw the retirement of M a r y M i c h e l s s e n and i n 1981 Y v o n n e O ' D o n n e l l was appointed Infants M i s tress, again a teacher w i t h past connections w i t h the school. A l l her c h i l d r e n were past pupils. T h e general falling enrolment i n N . S . W . also affected E r i n a Heights and unfortunately M r s . O ' D o n n e l l was not able to stay as headmistress after only two years. So after nearly ten years E r i n a Heights once more became a single department school. O n l y d u r i n g the last year has the enrolment steadied and perhaps slightly increased. G e r r y Davies retired at the end of 1986 and M r s . J i l l Yates became our p r i n c i p a l i n 1987.
A few of the children assembled at Erina's first public school in 1885for this photograph. The school was situated on a 4-acre Government reserve in the centre of the Gosford Model Farm Estate. The floor was of earth, the walls of slabs and the children sat on rude slab benches split from trees grown nearby and smoothed off with an adze.
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Page 32
Erina High School rina High School was to be built and ready for educational purposes by the beginning of the first term, 1964, but was not ready until second term, 1964. The school comprised: a classroom block, two Science laboratories and Homescience unit. Another block was to house Industrial Arts and Art rooms. A general services unit containing a shelter area, toilet blocks, and a food preparation centre and three more stages were to be completed by 1969. The new school was to cater for all high school students from Erina, Matcham-Holgate, The Entrance, Avoca Beach, Kincumber and all localities east of Erina. In the first year the school attendance was 210 students and 11 teachers. This record has now risen to over 1,300 students and 88 teachers. The first Headmaster of Erina High, M r . C.O.G. Thomas, retired at the end of 1964, and a new arrival, M r . A.J. Connor, was to take his place. M r . V . W . Lynch was the first Deputy Headmaster.
E
Erina High was very successful in sport. Sports were very limited at first, but the range has widened. Swimming, Athletics, Softball, Soccer and Basketball were the main sporting events. Fund raising events were often organised, such as fetes and school dances. Speech nights were also held, and these nights were for the allocation of awards and certificates to students. The current Headmaster is M r . Howard Bellamy, who has been at the school since 1981. M r . Bellamy has dealt with tremendous growth in the school size over the last six years. Both students and staff now await the development of the new school at Kincumber, which should once again take some pressure off Erina, just as Terrigal did earlier. Meri Treers Steven Gambrill Craig Wickham Year 9
BiivHniiiii •iiiilillBr^
i^Miiiii
The earlier uncrowded playground.
The afternoon crush Page 33
The original School Building (1893) still in use today.
Erina West participating in a march through Gos/ord in 1953. Page 34
Erina West Public School
E
r i n a West P u b l i c School was o r i g i n a l l y named W o o d p o r t P u b l i c School. In the early years E r i n a was k n o w n as Woodport. It derived its name from the small ships that crept along E r i n a Creek and after loading timber to capacity, returned on the outgoing tide. E r i n a d i d not have a direct l a n d l i n k w i t h Gosford u n t i l 1884 w h e n the first punt bridge was built over E r i n a Creek. T h e o r i g i n a l school i n the area was described as, "composed of slabs and bark, the rafters and bark rotting - the roof allows sun a n d rain to stream i n onto the c h i l dren." James Legge, a local resident, pressed the government for a new school to serve the c h i l d r e n of Woodport. W o o d p o r t P u b l i c School was opened i n 1893 on l a n d p u r chased from M r s . J . Legge for £80. T h e o r i g i n a l enrolment was sixty one pupils. M r . George S p a l d i n g was appointed teacher i n charge i n J a n u a r y temporarily and was replaced by W i l l i a m M e t c a l f i n M a y 1893. School life i n those early days were very formal as were the visits from the inspector. These visits were trying for both teacher and pupils. Inspector W a l k e r visited the school i n J u n e 1910 and was critical, among things, of the lack of a vegetable garden and the failure of the c h i l d r e n to use the school library. In 1919 the teacher M r . George W a l p o l e took the c h i l d r e n of W o o d p o r t on their first excursion. T h e school p o p u lation at that time was fifty two. T h e y travelled by train to Sydney Zoo. In addition to his teaching duties M r . W a l p o l e organised a committee to raise funds for b u i l d i n g a W a r M e m o r i a l at the j u n c t i o n of T e r r i g a l D r i v e and T h e E n trance R o a d . T h i s m e m o r i a l now stands i n the Salvation A r m y grounds.
W o o d p o r t P u b l i c School had its name changed to E r i n a West i n 1927 to avoid confusion w i t h other schools i n N e w South Wales. In 1976 moves were made to close the school as the school population had fallen drastically. There have been eighteen principals i n E r i n a West's ninety five years. In later years growth i n the G r e e n Point and E r i n a areas has seen E r i n a West grow dramatically. T h e school population is now 344. In 1982 new brick l i b r a r y and administration buildings were completed. T h e o r i g i n a l school room is currently being used as a kindergarten room. T o d a y c h i l d r e n at E r i n a West are able to enjoy their spacious grounds and the beautiful trees w h i c h are the legacy of past generations. Head Teachers at Erina West Public School 1893 - George S p a l d i n g 1893 - W i l l i a m M e d c a l f 1895 - A l f r e d F o x 1909 - W i l l i a m K i n g 1916 - A r t h u r Davies 1919 - George W a l p o l e 1921 - Ernest Jones 1927 — A r t h u r Davies 1935 - V i c t o r M i d d l e t o n 1940 - W i l l i a m M c P h e r s o n 1943 — Denis M c E n e a r n e y 1948 - W i l l i a m Trewhi^lla 1960 - J o h n H a r r i s o n 1966 - H e r b e r t Paine ' 1973 - Dennis Scully 1979 - Rosemary M c N a b 1981 - Douglas Govey 1986 - M a r g a r e t Cash
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Ettalong Public School
D
u r i n g the afternoon of Saturday, 30th J u n e , 1928 the official ceremony of opening a new school b u i l d i n g at Ettalong was carried out. T h e first pupils had been enrolled on Wednesday 6th J u n e . T h e Gosford T i m e s reported that, " T h e weather was fine and the school looked pretty i n its bush setting, a little to the south of Ettalong H a l l . T h e b u i l d i n g was decorated w i t h flags, and seats were placed o n the verandahs. There was a considerable attendance of parents and friends, and the proceedings were enlivened by the presence of the G o s ford B a n d , w h i c h attended under the conductorship of M r . R . L . W e l l s , Bandmaster, and played a n u m b e r of items. P r i o r to the ceremony, the youngsters were interested i n a n u m b e r of races, for w h i c h the prizes were d i s t r i b u t e d . " T h e n , as now, time elapsed between the recognition of a need by the c o m m u n i t y and the satisfaction of that need by the relevant authority. A petition, signed by 71 Ettalong residents was presented to W a l t e r Bennett M . L . A . i n M a r c h 1924. T h e petitioners sheweth: * T h a t Ettalong c h i l d r e n travel by M o t o r Boat and M o t o r Bus at the State's expense to W o y W o y and i n wet weather the c h i l d r e n r u n the risk of exposure. * T h a t the present W o y W o y school w i l l need to be enlarged at considerable expense to an amount w h i c h , together w i t h the saving on conveyance of c h i l d r e n , should go far towards the erection of a N e w school. * T h a t i n a d d i t i o n to some 160 permanent families there are always a large n u m b e r of Tourists and temporary residents who w o u l d avail themselves of the proposed school. * T h a t the B u i l d i n g s i n the District are increasing very r a p i d l y , being erected at the rate of nearly one per day. * T h a t a site can be obtained i n every way suitable and convenient for the erection of a School. B y J a n u a r y 1925 the citizens of Ettalong were completi n g the departmental A p p l i c a t i o n for a p u b l i c school at Ettalong. Parents and guardians were s u p p l y i n g family details w h i c h had to " b e written by himself." Twenty four families w i t h c h i l d r e n r a n g i n g i n ages from 2 to 14 years completed the form w i t h one family h a v i n g 8 potential p u pils. In M a r c h 1925 the M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n visited E t t a l o n g "for the purpose of i n q u i r i n g into the requirements a n d i n reply to a deputation he intimated that he was i m pressed w i t h the need for some extra p r o v i s i o n . " T h e residents met i n J u l y 1925 a n d decided to ask the Department to secure the present school site as o r i g i n a l l y selected by Page 36
M r . Inspector H e n r y and to ask the M i n i s t e r to receive a deputation on the matter. B y December 1925 the C r o w n Solicitor was preparing a contract to purchase a school site the perimeter " c o n t a i n i n g an area of 2 acres 0 roods 13 persches by the above measurements a little more or less" for ÂŁ950. T h e asking price had been ÂŁ 1 2 0 0 but this had been considered too high a n d the matter was allowed to remain i n abeyance as "the necessity for a school at this place is not pressing at the moment." T h e site grew by "about 23 perches" i n August 1926 w h e n a p u b l i c lane r u n n i n g through the o r i g i n a l site was formally closed and the lane area dedicated to the school. L o u i s a J e n n e r , grandmother to 18 g r a n d c h i l d r e n , was moved to write on 19th M a r c h , 1927 about delays i n establishing the school. " P e o p l e are afraid to send young c h i l d r e n from here to W o y W o y i n the Bus w h i c h runs. I send you a paper where you w i l l see how one boy fell and was u n conscious for a day and night. There are several c h i l d r e n about who w o u l d go to school if there was one here. T h e early years are most important, as you very w e l l know, but if the y o u n g idea is left to idle away, the way the twig is bent the tree w i l l g r o w . " Documentation related to the letting of contracts for the erection of the o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g has not been sighted. H o w ever, by 3 r d A p r i l , 1928 a local carter, C . V . Shakespeare, wrote to the M i n i s t e r observing that the school " i s pretty w e l l finished" and off'ering to supply any clay or soil for filli n g a n d to cart School Furniture. H i s offer was declined but o n the very day he wrote the Furniture Workshops of the Department of Education despatched the school furniture to R y a n & M o o r e , the Contractors. T h e furniture was despatched per steamer to Booker Bay on SS E r i n a . T h e Ettalong residents continued to lobby for i m p r o v e ments at Ettalong School. Successes i n c l u d e d : 1. In A p r i l 1933 a V i g i l a n c e Committee was formed w i t h encouragement from the Department "for the protection of school premises." 2. I n M a y 1933 the P & C was granted ÂŁ 4 6 / 1 0 / 0 for m a terial to erect a shelter shed. Cost of erection to be met by the P & C . 3. In October 1933, M r . K n i g h t M . L . A . i n a question aski n g that classes be reduced to approximately forty pupils cited Ettalong where " 1 2 3 pupils are being taught by two teachers." 4. I n December 1933 temporary accommodation was secured from the local Presbyterian C h u r c h at a rental of
1 0 / - p e r week, i n c l u d i n g sanitary services a n d cleaning. A d d i t i o n a l teacher appointed. 5. In February 1934 a school bell was supplied and erected by the P & C after many requests to have a b e l l supplied by the Department. 6. In February 1935 unprotected windows on the north side of the school were to be shaded at a departmental cost of ÂŁ17/15/-. 7. I n J u l y 1935 the tender of Messrs. C . L . M e a k i n & Son for
ÂŁ 3 2 3 for additions to the school was accepted, their tender being the lowest of five tenders received. T h e o r i g i n a l school b u i l d i n g plus the a d d i t i o n m e n tioned above was retained d u r i n g the r e b u i l d i n g p r o gramme undertaken between 1974 and 1976 but how the parents of Ettalong convinced the Department to r e b u i l d is another story. H o w e v e r , the anecdotes mentioned above have the flavour of truth because we fight similar battles today.
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Glenvale Public School (S.S.P.)
G
lenvale evolution commenced w i t h the small group of parents forming a branch of the S u b n o r m a l C h i l d r e n ' s Welfare Association i n 1962. A church h a l l was h i r e d at K i n c u m b e r to commence a small school group. T h i s moved a year later to East Gosford and then to the Fairhaven site at Point Clare i n 1964. In 1966 at the request of the S . C . W . A . the N S W E d u cation Department commenced its first O p p o r t u n i t y ' F ' class. T h e S . C . W . A . school and the E d u c a t i o n Department's school co-habited at Fairhaven School u n t i l 1977 w h e n at the S . C . W . A . ' s request the E d u c a t i o n Department assumed responsibility for a l l 7 classes at Fairhaven. Due to continued growth the school was relocated at N a r a r a and renamed G l e n v a l e i n the last school week of 1984, w i t h 11 classes. C u r r e n t l y there are 107 pupils and 13 classes. " G l e n v a l e " is a School for Specific Purposes situated at N a r a r a . It caters for c h i l d r e n w i t h moderate, severe and profound intellectual handicap. C h i l d r e n are enrolled i n the
school either by transfer from other similar schools or by referral to the senior Guidance Officer by School Counsellors. C h i l d r e n may be enrolled at age 4 and continue i n the school until they are 18, w i t h a yearly review of progress after they turn 16. T h e school is staffed by the Education Department w i t h Physiotherapy, Speech Therapy and O c cupational T h e r a p y Staff p r o v i d e d by the H e a l t h C o m m i s sion. Because of the diversity of age and handicaps, programmes are very i n d i v i d u a l and include provision of emotional security, encouragement, and understanding; realization and acceptance of their o w n capabilities and limitations and the development of a positive and realistic self image; social acceptance both of others and by others; acquisition of skills and acceptance of responsibilities i n a wide variety of areas and situations; experience of success, confidence, dignity and sense of personal w o r t h ; and increase i n independence, self reliance and resourcefulness.
Living Skills/Work
Workshop skills.
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Skills
Cross Motor Programme.
Classroom activities.
Gorokan High School
G
orokan H i g h opened i n 1976 i n demountable buildings i n D u d l e y Street, G o r o k a n , the site of the present P r i m a r y School. T h e first intake was 250 Y e a r Seven students and there were 21 staff members — the P r i n c i p a l M i s s G . Foley. D e p u t y P r i n c i p a l M r . G . O w e n , 14 teachers and 5 ancillary staff were appointed to the school that year. In 1977 the school body moved to the first b u i l d i n g s on its permanent site i n Goobarabah A v e n u e G o r o k a n and a further 250 students and 15 staff j o i n e d the o r i g i n a l group.
Stage 2 of the b u i l d i n g s were completed d u r i n g the year a n d i n 1978 the school moved into the completed p e r m a nent b u i l d i n g s w i t h 800 students a n d 70 staff. B y the time the first School Certificate group finished Y e a r 10 the school had g r o w n to over 1300 students and 85
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staff and because of this r a p i d growth a new h i g h school was developed at San R e m o . T h i s was to become Northlakes H i g h School. T h e first group of G o r o k a n H i g h School students sat for the H i g h e r School Certificate i n 1981. Since this time the school population has stabilised at just over 1000 students a n d there were 78 staff i n 1987. There have been changes over the years and the school b o d y has changed w i t h the times. T h e first P r i n c i p a l M i s s G . Foley stayed at the school for 7 years. O n her retirement M r . D . Bailey took over for 4 years and the current P r i n c i pal M r . K . Bunnett j o i n e d the staff i n 1987. W i t h the addition of several demountable b u i l d i n g s the school has continued to grow and develop on the G o o b a r a bah A v e n u e site. M a n y new courses have developed to suit the c o m m u n i t y and the school has a p r o u d history i n sport and music as w e l l as a strong acacemic tradition.
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(-
Present School Principal Mr. Neville Foubister with the P.^.C.
The school librarian
J987's Captains and Prefects assembled in the school foyer.
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President and Secretary.
working with the children.
A parent helper working in one of the classrooms.
Kindergarten
children using one of the school computers.
Gorokan Primary School
G
orokan P r i m a r y School opened i n 1980 as a 21 classroom school, w i t h 543 pupils and a staff of 23 permanent teachers. G o r o k a n was one of the first schools i n the State to be designed to an architectural brief for p r i m a r y schools to suit new adaptable and flexible teaching methods a n d c o m m u n i t y use of the school after school hours. T h e classrooms were designed i n units of three or four, clustered a r o u n d the L i b r a r y , C o m m u n a l A r e a s , A u d i o V i s ual areas a n d the a d m i n i s t r a t i o n . E a c h of the units acts as an integrated teaching area i n corporating unit p l a n n i n g areas for teachers, practical activity areas, w i t h d r a w a l areas, toilets a n d store rooms. A system of s l i d i n g doors between the classroom p r o v i d e d a variety of flexible teaching spaces to suit different teaching methods. Three fully a i r - c o n d i t i o n e d audio visual rooms have also been p r o v i d e d . T h e school is imaginatively designed a r o u n d a large i n ternal walkway w h i c h incorporates a series of practical activity spaces. These areas have kilns, cooking tops, ovens a n d facilities for p a i n t i n g a n d other craft activities. M r . T e d T o m l i n s o n was appointed P r i n c i p a l of the new school w i t h M r . W a r r e n D e l l as Deputy P r i n c i p a l . M r s . E l a i n e C a l l a n was appointed Infants Mistress assisted by M r s . Lynette Scholte as D e p u t y Mistress. M r . T o m l i n s o n (1984) a n d M r s . C a l l a n (1981) have since retired and were replaced by the present P r i n c i p a l M r . N e v i l l e Foubister i n 1985 and D e p u t y P r i n c i p a l Infants M r . Peter N e w m a n i n 1983. M r . Russ Sheumack replaced M r . N e w m a n i n 1987.
T h e c h i l d r e n began school life at G o r o k a n i n K a n w a l P r i m a r y School u n i f o r m u n t i l their uniform was finalised. B y the end of the year a l l children were attired i n the royal blue and gold. G o r o k a n P u b l i c School named its four school houses after local pioneering families — Brooks, Buck, Gascoigne and Thwaite. A school song was written to the tune of " W a l t z i n g M a t i l d a " and these names figured p r o m i n e n t l y i n the song. B y J u l y the first Book Week Parade for the community was held and by the end of the year G o r o k a n School had successfully participated i n a Fete, O p e n D a y , Sports C a r n i v a l and a celebration to commemorate the Centenary of Education i n N . S . W . T h e c h i l d r e n and staff came a p p r o p r i ately costumed. T h e school was officially opened on F r i d a y 24th J u l y , 1981 by H i s Excellency, A i r M a r s h a l l Sir James R o w l a n d , K . B . E . , D . F . C . , A . F . C . , G o v e r n o r of N e w South Wales. T h e school's first musical production " T h e Deeper Y o u D i g " was held on December 1, 2 1982, and was a great success. A l i n k w h i c h has continued over the years was established w i t h F a i r h a v e n Special School, w h e n an extra performance was given especially for them. T h i s successful production was followed by " T h e W i z a r d of O z " (1982) " T h e T h o u s a n d and Second N i g h t " (1983) " M a n u t e a " (1984), " W h i c h W i t c h is W i t c h " (1985). I n recent years the school has moved to K - 6 involvement and an Australiana D a y was held i n 1986 and this year (1987) the Theme of M a g i c and M a k e Believe was developed. Page 43
Left to right - Mr. Chaplin, Mr. White (P.H. U.)
Stage 2 of building - 1966
First three headmasters — from left to right Mr. Bamborough, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Rattray Page 48
Physically Handicapped Unit - 1977
Building of East Gosford School -July
1960
Gosford East Primary School
G
osford East P r i m a r y School opened on October 17th 1960. There were five teachers and 183 students from K i n d e r g a r t e n to G r a d e Five. M r . T . H . B a m b o r o u g h was the Headmaster and had been transferred here from Walgett C e n t r a l School. A t that time, only the present Infants block and wash-sheds had been built. T h e first c h i l d enrolled was eight year o l d M i c h a e l J o h n s o n who l i v e d i n the East Gosford area. L i k e the majority of the new students, he was a transfer from Gosford P r i m a r y School. T h e c o m m u n i t y w o r k e d very hard to establish the new School. T h e p l a y i n g field was cleared of r u b b i s h and l o n g grass by parent volunteers. C h i l d r e n planted many shrubs as w e l l as the grass for the front lawn. T h e school badge was designed by K a t h y A l l e n i n 1961 and two House system was inaugurated — Y o r k House and W e b b House. Enrolments increased rapidly, and a separate Infants D e partment was established and M i s s D o r a M a k i s o n was appointed the Infants Mistress. Classes had spilled over into three local halls. T h e new Headmaster, M r . A l f r e d Rattray, arrived from Sawtell P u b l i c School i n 1966. In the same year the m a i n b u i l d i n g was opened as Stage T w o of the development was completed. T h e standing timber at the bottom of the school grounds needed clearing. A g a i n , parents volunteered to help. W i t h their help and a money grant from the Education Department, the land was cleared and terraced, and a water course was diverted to give East G o s ford some of the best playing fields i n the District. T h e present four-house system had been formed i n 1967. School enrolments kept pace with the r a p i d growth of the East G o s f o r d / S p r i n g f i e l d area, and by 1968 there was a n other accommodation problem. Classes were again moved out into local halls. T h e parents started l o b b y i n g the G o v -
ernment over the planned new Chertsey School. A t the b e g i n n i n g of the 1969 school year, Chertsey opened with 102 c h i l d r e n transferred from East Gosford. M r . Rattray retired i n December 1971 and East G o s ford's third headmaster was M r . A l f r e d S. T a y l o r . A s student numbers fell, he envisaged the possibility of using spare classroom facilities for children with special needs. In 1973 two Special Education classes were formed under the guidance of M r . E r i c O u t r a m and M r s . J o a n C r a i g . These were the first classes of their k i n d i n the Gosford area.. Gosford East began to develop something of a reputation as a progressive school for c h i l d r e n w i t h special needs. A class for Deaf and partially sighted began i n 1975 — another " f i r s t " at a regular state school. In J u n e 1977, a Physically H a n d i c a p p e d U n i t was opened here as a j o i n t venture by the Department of Education and the H e a l t h C o m m i s s i o n . M r . Bruce W h i t e was appointed teacher-in-charge. There were initially 17 enrolments from pre-school to h i g h school. In September 1981, the older students moved to H e n r y K e n d a l l H i g h School. These classes were designed to b r i n g students w i t h special needs into the mainstream of ordinary school life, a n d the co-operative team effort of the entire school has been responsible for achieving that goal. A n o t h e r addition to the School was the George K e n t M e m o r i a l L i b r a r y w h i c h was opened i n 1981. M r . K e n t had been Deputy Headmaster at the time of his death i n 1968. M r . T a y l o r retired i n 1985 and his replacement was M r . Bob C h a p l i n from C o r r i m a l Prirhary School, who carries on the traditions and h i g h standards. East Gosford continues to encourage c o m m u n i t y involvement i n the school w i t h its " o p e n d o o r " policy, w h i c h is i n keeping w i t h the concepts of modern day education. Page 49
Friends together -an important part of high school life, (a group of seniors — 1980)
March Past 1953.
The first High School in the district — opened in 1929 with an enrolment of282 pupils. In 1988, we expect an enrolment of 1120 pupils. How different from those early years when Gosford was a small country town!
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Gosford High School EARLY DAYS Before 1929, h i g h school pupils i n the Gosford district either boarded i n Sydney or attended Gosford P u b l i c School w h i c h was a " d i s t r i c t s c h o o l " u n t i l 1922 a n d then an "Intermediate S c h o o l " . W h e n the new h i g h school was opened i n 1929 it served a district stretching from B r o o k l y n to A w a b a , and from W i s e m a n ' s Ferry to the coast, w i t h p u pils a r r i v i n g at school by trains and country buses or s i m p l y w a l k i n g if they l i v e d i n the town.
BUILDINGS T h e b u i l d i n g was extended several times as the school grew. In 1937 the two wings were added; i n the late 1960s a " u - s h a p e d " three storey b u i l d i n g was added to the n o r t h of the o l d b u i l d i n g ; i n 1976 the Assembly H a l l was opened and i n 1981 the new l i b r a r y block completed the school.
HIGHLIGHTS W h a t are the events that come to m i n d w h e n former students are interviewed? Everyone remembers the d i v i s i o n of the p l a y g r o u n d into boys' a n d girls' areas w i t h a h i g h fence r u n n i n g d o w n the m i d d l e . W e still have the sign " B o y s " and " G i r l s " over the doors at each end of the m a i n b u i l d i n g - kept there as a r e m i n d e r of earlier attitudes to co-ed schools.
I n the Depression the school increased i n numbers w i t h many c h i l d r e n from the city c o m i n g to live w i t h relatives. Ex-students from the war years remember how each class was responsible for pasting strips of cloth i n a criss-cross pattern over the windows to prevent glass flying i n a b o m b attack. Each class was also given the j o b of d i g g i n g a section of the " z i g - z a g " a i r - r a i d trenches where the H a l l now stands. O n l y once were those trenches ever used. F o r almost a full day each class sat i n its o w n section of trench w a i t i n g for the threatened a i r - r a i d to eventuate. H o w e v e r , it proved a false a l a r m and the trenches were soon neglected, filling w i t h water u n t i l finally the soil was returned and the trenches forgotten. B i g changes came i n the 1950s w i t h the g r o w i n g p o p u l a tion of the C e n t r a l Coast area r e q u i r i n g two new h i g h schools. Gosford H i g h is now only one of fourteen h i g h schools i n the area. Some of the b i g events of this period are remembered w i t h nostalgia. Everyone looked forward to the " a n n u a l march through the t o w n " i n w h i c h a l l the local h i g h schools took part, and to the O l d Students' B a l l w h i c h had been held every year since 1934 i n that great barn of a b u i l d i n g ; the D w y e r P a v i l i o n . In 1979 Gosford H i g h celebrated its fifty years a n n i v e r sary and ex-pupils from a l l over the State returned for a special weekend of r e u n i o n activities. M a n y people have very fond memories of their years at Gosford H i g h School.
Gosford High from the front - 1929. Page 45
History of Gosford Public School
G
osford P u b l i c School was first established i n 1865 i n a b u i l d i n g that was also used for church purposes. A one acre site at the top of G e o r g i a n a T e r race was dedicated i n 1873 a n d a new sandstone structure was opened on the site i n 1877. T h i s is now the stone b u i l d i n g i n the grounds of the T . A . F . E . College. M i s s H o n a r i a M c G r a t h was the teacher for these first 12 years.
T h e school continued to grow and w h e n M r . Charles Peck was appointed P r i n c i p a l i n 1887, he had two assistants, a M i s s C o o k and a M i s s C a p p e r , and 173 pupils. B r i c k extensions were added to the school i n 1892. M r . Peck retired i n 1910. A s numbers increased a n d wooden portables were added some classes were placed i n the basement of the School of A r t s (now the Resources Centre w i t h i n the present school grounds.) A n o t h e r long serving P r i n c i p a l was M r . George W a l p o l e appointed i n 1933 who retired twenty years later. D u r i n g the late 1930's it was suggested that the m a n g rove swamplands on the waterfront should be acquired and
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filled for the proposed new school. A s some of the land belonged to the Police Department an exchange was made i n 1938 w i t h the Education Department. T h e new b u i l d i n g s were opened i n 1954 but six classes still remained i n the wooden portables. W i t h the c o m i n g of the new rail l i n k to the city i n the early sixties the numbers increased r a p i d l y and classes were housed i n a n u m b e r of halls and demountable buildings. N e w schools at W y o m i n g , Niagara Park and V a l l e y V i e w were built to ease the p r o b l e m . T o d a y most of the c h i l d r e n come from N o r t h Gosford, K a r i o n g , West Gosford and parts of Point C l a r e w i t h an enrolment nearing 600. O n e h u n d r e d years o n , six wooden portable classrooms are still used, as w e l l as demountable rooms, as the school population begins to grow. Gosford P u b l i c School is p r o u d of its fine record and its contribution to educating thousands of c h i l d r e n d u r i n g the past 123 years. T h e traditions live on with today's children and stafi^ continuing the honoured record established by the many w h o have gone before.
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'Temporary Premises'Page 50
1961-1966
Gwandalan Public School
T
he first school at G w a n d a l a n was opened o n Tuesday, September 12th, 1961, i n temporary p r e m ises. T h e instigation of this temporary school was brought about by the problems facing the parents of a n u m b e r of c h i l d r e n who had been unable to attend L a k e M u n m o r a h School for some 5 months due to the regular school bus service being discontinued. T h e first teacher i n charge was M r . J i m Waters and 17 c h i l d r e n enrolled on that first day. T h e premises were i n deed " t e m p o r a r y " — a 30 foot by 12 foot u n l i n e d fibro' b u i l d i n g rented by the Department on a small piece of land. T h e " t e m p o r a r y " premises remained u n t i l 28th October, 1966, w h e n after m u c h agitation from parents, the c o m m u nity a n d the m e d i a , a new school on the present site was opened by the then Assistant M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n , M r . W a l Fife. A s the school has g r o w n since then, demountable b u i l d -
..at Wyong District Sports Day -
ings have been added, t i l l now i n 1987, there are eight permanent classes w i t h an enrolment of 200 c h i l d r e n . In 1984, the school was reclassified from a 3 r d to a 2 n d Class school. Plans are now under way for a new school a n d this could possibly be opened some time i n 1989. Because of the relative isolation of G w a n d a l a n , the school has been the focal point for many extra curricular activities to broaden the education of its pupils. Sport, music, art, craft, cultural activities play a leading part i n the school's programmes along w i t h welfare functions such as s w i m m i n g , lifesaving, bicycle education. T h e interest of the local community and parent groups has enabled a plentiful supply of resources to be assembled. T h i s , coupled w i t h enthusiastic staff', over the years has p r o v i d e d a sound, a l l r o u n d education for G w a n d a l a n children.
1962 Page 51
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History of Henry Kendall High School
H
enry K e n d a l l H i g h School takes its name from the poet who l i v e d w i t h i n the present d r a w i n g area of the school i n West Gosford from 1872-4. A l t h o u g h H e n r y K e n d a l l ' s residence was short i n d u r a t i o n , his years i n the Gosford region were amongst the happiest and most productive of his life a n d , as a result, he has become widely identified w i t h the area. It is only fitting, therefore, that a new h i g h school, established i n 1970 close to his residence, should honour the poet by being named after h i m . P r i o r to becoming a h i g h school, however, the site was used from 1958 on as an annexe to Gosford H i g h School w h i c h , at the time was experiencing serious accommodation problems because of the rapid expansion taking place on the C e n t r a l Coast. I n these early days, the annexe was semiautonomous, and only j o i n e d with the mother school on special occasions. It was staffed separately, and i n 1958 it came under the control of a senior teacher, M r . R o n C o l e . In 1959 the position was assumed by a deputy p r i n c i p a l , M r . V i c Cooke. F r o m its inception as a school i n its o w n right, the newly appointed p r i n c i p a l , M r . Leo H i c k e y , together w i t h the staff and students, set about creating a distinctive identity. H i s a i m met w i t h some difficulty, however, as the first intake of 160 First F o r m students had to share the school w i t h 470 students i n the Second and T h i r d Forms, who were still a n nexed to Gosford. Nevertheless, w i t h i n a few years, H e n r y K e n d a l l H i g h School had established such a commendable
reputation, particularly i n academic a n d sporting achievement, that the term " a n n e x e " soon dropped from local reference, and the school's independence gained recognition. T h i s reputation has been further consolidated by the p r i n c i pals to follow M r . H i c k e y — M r . L y l e C a m e r o n (1972), M r . H a r o l d Fraser (1977), and M r . T e r r y Devine (1982). Students are d r a w n from a very wide area, i n c l u d i n g East Gosford, West Gosford, P o i n t C l a r e and Tascott, and the m o u n t a i n areas of Somersby, M o u n t W h i t e , Peats R i d g e , Central M a n g r o v e , K u l n u r a and Spencer on the H a w k e s b u r y R i v e r . T h e school has maintained an e n r o l ment of over 1,000 students for many years now, w i t h a significant number having diverse ethnic backgrounds, particularly Greek and Italian from the farming communities. T h e school is a mixture of architecture. T h e four wooden buildings from the annexe days r e m a i n , a n d w h e n the school was established i n 1970 a brick teaching block was built. In 1976, a brick A d m i n i s t r a t i o n / L i b r a r y block and a M u l t i p u r p o s e H a l l were added, and these extensions were opened by H . R . H . Princess A l e x a n d r a on 27th September, 1978. Late i n 1981, a Physically H a n d i c a p p e d U n i t was established at the school. T h e work of this unit is to integrate students into the n o r m a l programme. T h i s was the first scheme of its type to function i n a state h i g h school a n d its success i n b r i n g i n g disabled c h i l d r e n into the mainstream of everyday school life has warranted its becoming a full department i n 1988.
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Holgate Public School
H
olgate P u b l i c School is a small school, nestled i n the beautiful valley of Holgate. T o d a y the school has 125 pupils, 5 classrooms a n d a L i b r a r y / A d m i n i s t r a t i o n block grouped i n a friendly fashion a r o u n d a central square l a w n , w i t h beautiful tall trees seeming to tower protectively over them. It was due to a group of residents who w o r k e d hard and l o n g that the school became an actuality. These residents formed themselves into a Progress Association i n 1924 and began s u b m i t t i n g applications to obtain a school for the c h i l d r e n of the valley. Eventually 3 acres was resumed for the school and i n 1927 the Progress Association formed w o r k i n g bees every Saturday to clear the l a n d u n t i l it was completed. In O c t o ber the tender was let for the b u i l d i n g of the school. A s the school neared completion, a committee was formed to organise events o n O p e n i n g D a y . A bush shelter was built for the A f t e r n o o n T e a and was later used for the c h i l d r e n to have their lunches i n . T h e o r i g i n a l school was officially opened on 21st J a n u ary, 1928 and consisted of one classroom w i t h a corridor r o o m alongside a front verandah. A t the o p e n i n g , children's races were h e l d , after w h i c h they were supplied w i t h ice cream, lollies a n d nuts, songs were sung and o p e n i n g speeches by C l r . A . C . L . T a y l o r , Shire President and other various officials were made and a flag raising ceremony was held. T h e first teacher was M i s s Jeff'reys who taught the 29 p u pils for the first year and was succeeded by M r . A . C l a r k e i n 1929. T h e Progress Association also acted as the P . & . C . Association and w o r k e d very hard to raise funds for equipment for
the school. The association built fences, planted trees, helped to make flower and vegetable gardens and eventually built a tennis court for the school. A S u n D i a l was donated to the school, a concrete map of A u s t r a l i a built, and the weather shed was totally constructed by members of the association. Enrolments i n the next few years grew u n t i l i n 1935, w i t h an enrolment of 59, another classroom was built and an assistant teacher was assigned to Holgate. O v e r the ensuing years enrolments have varied up and d o w n , sometimes losing a teacher, but, especially i n later years, gaining extra teachers and rooms. There are now 5 permanent teachers at the school w i t h an additional 3 parttime teachers, a l l of w h o m i n c l u d i n g the secretary, are caring and dedicated people who do their best for their p u pils. In 1947 the Progress Association became the P . & . C . A s sociation, w h i c h kept up the previous traditions of w o r k i n g hard to raise money and equipment for the school and cooperating closely w i t h the teachers and c h i l d r e n for the betterment of the school and the enjoyment of a l l involved. E v e n today, w i t h the g r o w i n g number of new residents and pupils from new sub-divisions, there is still that close i n volvement and caring necessary to the r u n n i n g of a happy school. In 1967, the Department of Education resumed another piece of l a n d for the school playgrounds, b r i n g i n g the size to a total of just over 4 acres. In 1981, school uniforms were introduced. The basic colour scheme of m a r o o n and gold check dresses for the girls and grey shorts a n d m a r o o n T-shirts for the boys was i n troduced and a l l the c h i l d r e n now p r o u d l y wear these colours both at school and wherever they represent the school. Page 55
Jilliby Public School he early residents of Jilliby were not only timber cutters and farmers, but, at some stage of their lives, were probably students at the Jilliby School. The original school opened as a provisional school in May 1889 with William Baldwin as its first teacher. It was called the Jilliby Jilliby School. The school has a colourful history. It was located at its present site onjilliby Road in 1891 and was made a provisional school. Its name was changed to Jilliby Public School in 1910.
T
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Whether this upset somebody terribly we will never know, but shortly afterwards the school was destroyed by fire - together with all the old records. The present building dates only from 1912. The two photographs represent the earliest surviving and latest photographs of the school and its pupils.
The two photographs represent the earliest surviving and latest photographs of the school and its pupils.
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Circa 1949. Many ex-pupils will recognize the old palm trees that are still there today.
The first school building at Kanwal called Wamervale after Mr. Warner who donated the land. As it was only a few yards from the Kanwal Post Office the name was changed in 1926.
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Kanwal Public School
I
n 1910 the district k n o w n as K a n w a l (which means heavy forest) began to be opened up for settlement. I n J u n e of that year a petition for a p r o v i s i o n a l school was sent to the E d u c a t i o n Department and it was expected that the i n i t i a l enrolment w o u l d be 18. T h e settlers were farmers on small holdings of from 25 to 100 acres. T h e application was granted and M r . A . H . W a r n e r , of Sydney, owner of the W a m e r v a l e Estate offered a site of two acres free to the Department. T h e b u i l d i n g was constructed at a cost of ÂŁ107 and was completed i n February 1911. T h e first teacher was W i l l i a m M a r s h a l l , or " O l d M a r s h a l l " , as the pupils called h i m because he must have been fully 35. M r . M a r s h a l l l i v e d i n W y o n g and drove to school i n a sulky. T h e road was no more than a bush track. In 1918 he reported he was unable to reach the school because "the road has been ploughed up, and owing to the heavy rain it is quite unsafe." M r . M a r s h a l l had to walk to school. M r . M a r s h a l l tended to vary the school timetable w i t h out authority, closing the school for occasions such as E m pire D a y and m a k i n g up time lost by keeping school i n longer o n other days. T h i s earned h i m the displeasure of the Education Department.
" M r . M a r s h a l l ' s ideas of observance of regulations and instructions seem to be somewhat elastic, and it is time that he had learned to carry out the spirit of an instruction." M r . M a r s h a l l ' s successors were M r s . E m i l y Pratt (191920), M r . P e r c i v a l Ruane (1921-22), and M r . Frederick Breakwell (1923-26), M r . A l f r e d C l a r k (1927-28), M r . Sidney T r a u t w e i n (1929-32), M r . George H i c k s (1933-47), M r . K e i t h Saladine (1948-1960), M r . K e i t h M a n u e l (196163), M r . James Hughes (1964-68), M r . B i l l H o p k i n s (19691974), M r . R a l p h Bryant (1975-1987). F r o m this humble b e g i n n i n g K a n w a l grew to be the largest P r i m a r y School on the C e n t r a l Coast i n 1979 w i t h an enrolment of 1,050. A t this stage a new p r i m a r y school was built at G o r o k a n a n d 500 of the K a n w a l c h i l d r e n were transferred there. C u r r e n t l y K a n w a l has 740 children attending i n 26 classes. T h i s is a far cry from the days w h e n the p r i n c i p a l requested 10 shillings and 8 pence for hessian to divide the infants class from the p r i m a r y w h e n two teachers were appointed.
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Killarney Vale Public School 1970
1978
Although the school began in 1969, it was officially opened in March, 1970. The first Principal was Mr. L. Weiss. Classes only went to Year 3.
Enrolments passed the 800 mark and Bateau Bay School was opened to relieve the pressure.
1972
1979
Enrolments extended to Year 6, and a building programme began. However, Tumbi Hall was used as a classroom.
Library/Hall and Canteen building programme was completed — but still demountables were used as late as 1984 to house pupils until Brooke Avenue School was opened.
1974-75
J . Bone, Principal. This period saw the growth of the school extend to 420. The Administration and Primary classrooms were completed. 1976
R. Scobie, Principal. 1977
J . Rutherford, Principal. The school was growing rapidly. In 1977 it reached 605 pupils.
iHHiB
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I
1980-87
The school began a series of unique programmes: "School Without Walls" "Australia's Heritage" "Health and You" which have benefitted, all children who have passed through the school, thanks to the leadership of Jim Rutherford who will retire this year. A new era of history is about to unfold in Killarney Vale's history.
Killamey Vale Public School 1970
New canteen, seating and grassed areas 1986
Returned Soldiers Memorial erected in school grounds in 1919.
Kincumber Public School
K
incumber was proclaimed a village i n 1885. It was once the scene of four ship b u i l d i n g yards a n d its inhabitants were m a i n l y boatbuilders, t i m b e r getters, farmers a n d fishermen. It is thought that an i m m i g r a n t chaplain from N o r t h e r n I r e l a n d , W i l l i a m Davis w i t h the assistance of his daughter, was associated w i t h the first school i n the early 1840's. In 1848 M r . H e n r y Lane became the schoolmaster of the C h u r c h of E n g l a n d D e n o m i n a t i o n a l School. H e held this position u n t i l it closed on 1st M a r c h 1870, failing to meet the required 30 pupils. A P r o v i s i o n a l School, p u p i l requirement of 20, was opened o n 1st M a y , 1870 w i t h the same teacher, M r . H e n r y L a n e . It was closed i n 1871 and a P u b l i c School was reopened across the road i n 1874. A combined school and teacher's residence was erected from sawn slabs d u r i n g 1874 o n a site adjacent to the A n g l i c a n parsonage and the first P u b l i c School teacher was M r . D . E d e n from B l a c k w a l l P r o v i s i o n a l School. H e was succeeded by M r . J o h n K e n t i n 1875 who had taught at the
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T e r r i g a i P r o v i s i o n a l School. M r . K e n t was replaced by M r s . C h r i s t i n a W a l d r o n followed by M r . D a v i d C o w a n i n 1879. A M r . T a y l o r commenced duty i n J u n e 1885 and remained there until M r . C h r i s t i a n K o h l h o f f ' s appointment i n J u n e , 1886. In this year a new classroom, kitchen and weatherboard shed, of a l l of sawn timber were built. M r . K o h l h o f f taught for 12 years and had the distinction of o w n i n g the first four-wheeled buggy i n K i n c u m b e r . M r . J o h n Pryce came to K i n c u m b e r i n 1899 i n a horse a n d sulky from the M o n a r o District to replace M r . K o h l h o f f . H e was to r e m a i n for 38 years, teaching three generations of some families. T h e buildings were o l d and damage caused by white ants resulted i n replacement of the school and residence i n 1908. W h e n M r . Pryce first arrived there were only 13 pupils, but i n 1915 the school became a two teacher school when M i s s CoUess was appointed as an assistant. B y 1922, enrolments had reached 75 and the b u i l d i n g was extended. C h i l d r e n walked from as far as E m p i r e Bay, G r e e n P o i n t , Davistown,
M c M a s t e r s Beach and A v o c a Beach. D u r i n g the Great W a r (1914-1918), the girls knitted socks using needles cut from n u m b e r 8 fencing wire. A tree was planted i n the school grounds for every soldier at the war a n d a R e t u r n e d soldier's M e m o r i a l was opened i n the school grounds by G e n eral M c A r t h u r O n s l o w i n 1919. In 1937 the Pryce era ended, the school boasted 90 p u pils. M r . Buttsworth became headmaster 1938-1948. D u r i n g his stay M r . Buttsworth always observed E m p i r e D a y w i t h sports afternoons a n d the year always concluded w i t h a Christmas Tree. M r . A l a n W i l k s was headmaster from 1948-1966 a n d as soon as he a r r i v e d he i n v o l v e d K i n c u m b e r School i n G o s ford District education celebrations, where there was a float procession and games afternoon at G r a h a m Park. H i s era saw m a n y changes. M r . W i l k s initiated the a n n u a l school fete, the B o o k m o b i l e started c o m i n g to the school and he i n troduced the school u n i f o r m . M r s . G l o r i a Smiles came to
the school as an assistant teacher i n 1955 a n d stayed u n t i l her retirement i n 1984. M r . W i l k s was due to retire at the close of 1966 but d i e d suddenly i n M a y of that year and M r . J o h n James from Pretty Beach School was appointed headmaster. T o mark the school's centenary, 50 shrubs were planted i n the school grounds a n d a t h i r d teacher, M r . E r i c Betts was appointed. M r s . M a r g a r e t C a s h was p r i n c i p a l from 1975-1977 followed by M r . D o n A n d e r s o n 1978-1979. D u r i n g this period K i n c u m b e r became the centre of b o o m i n g u r b a n development a n d by 1979 there were 11 teachers. P r i n c i p a l s , M r . Peter N e w m a n 1980-1981 a n d M r . K e n Ison 1982-85 saw vast changes i n school enrolments and facilities. Today w i t h M r . B o b G o r m a n as p r i n c i p a l a n d 28 teachers, the school has an enrolment of 619 pupils, new administration block, h a l l , library, staffroom a n d class-
Old school building 1908. New hall 1986 Page 63
Kulnura Public School
K
u l n u r a P r i m a r y School w i l l celebrate its sixtieth birthday d u r i n g the Bicentennial year. It is quite a y o u n g school compared to schools not far away i n the Y a r r a m a l o n g V a l l e y . T h i s reflects the relatively slow development of the M o u n t a i n A r e a i n comparison to regions closer to the coast. " K u l n u r a " is an a b o r i g i n a l w o r d w h i c h means " v i e w of the s e a " a n d its development as a citrus growing area can be traced back to the early part of this century. A s w e l l , passionfruit a n d tomatoes were also grown.
T h e first school b u i l d i n g only recently demolished, was b u i l t by a M r . B. S m i t h of Berkeley V a l e at a cost of $700. T h e new classrooms, completed i n 1986 were b u i l t at a cost of some $225,000 w i t h construction by L u s t e d of W y o n g . T h e school has a very large feeder area — probably the largest of any p r i m a r y school i n the M e t r o p o l i t a n N o r t h R e g i o n w i t h c h i l d r e n l i v i n g u p to 30 kilometres apart attendi n g the same school. Page 64
T h e i n i t i a l enrolment totalled 27. Some sixty years later it has 90 p u p i l s , most of w h o m travel by bus. T h e b u i l d i n g of M a n g r o v e Creek D a m meant the loss of some available l a n d and may i n part account for the school's relatively slow growth. M o s t c h i l d r e n from K u l n u r a attend H e n r y K e n d a l l H i g h School. O n e l i n k still r e m a i n i n g w i t h the earliest buildings o n the school site is the weather shed facing W i l l i a m s R o a d , w h i c h was built i n 1933. T h e school has always enjoyed an excellent relationship w i t h what was a n d can still be a relatively isolated c o m m u nity. I n very early years the K u l n u r a A g r i c u l t u r a l Bureau a n d since 1947, the Parents and Citizens Association have p r o v i d e d the school w i t h excellent resources. It is w o r t h noting that electricity wasn't connected to the school u n t i l 1955 a n d very rugged bush country is but a short walk away. M a n y families have had l o n g associations w i t h the school w i t h t h i r d generations of Shorrocks, G i b s o n s and C o l l i n s currently enrolled to name but three.
The Nolan, school twenty
current staff of four teachers, M r s . Gregory, M r . M r s . A l f o r d and M r . Cairncross is the largest the has had. M r s . A l f o r d has given the school over years of service.
M r . L e o n Lentfer spent some eleven years as P r i n c i p a l at the school from 1973 to 1983 w i t h M r . D o u g Govey, presently O u r i m b a h ' s P r i n c i p a l i n the role from 1969 to 1973. B o t h these gentlemen contributed greatly to the beautiful garden setting pupils now enjoy. T h e current p r i n c i p a l , Robert Cairncross has returned to the school after teaching there from 1970 to 1972. T h e future is a little uncertain for K u l n u r a and w i l l largely depend on l a n d use legislation. T h e horse racing and stud industries look set to play an increasing part. U r ban development still looks a very long way off.
K U L N U R A P R I M A R Y 1978-1988 T h e decade following the school's fiftieth birthday has been one of stability followed by a period of marked change. F o l l o w i n g L e o n Lentfer's transfer i n 1983, 1984, 1985 and 1986 saw three different principals — M r . A l w y n Braye i n 1984, M r . C h r i s Bayliss i n 1985 and M r . Robert Cairncross i n 1986. A s w e l l , the o r i g i n a l school buildings were demolished and replaced by a magnificent 2 room learning unit i n 1986. It is w o r t h noting thai M r . Cairncross has returned to the school after teaching there from 197072. M r s . E l i z a b e t h A l f o r d ' s and M r . M i c h a e l N o l a n ' s presence d u r i n g most of the decade has greatly helped the school continue to provide an excellent service to what is geographically, a widely spread community. T h e school's parents continue to provide welcome support and encouragement i n a l l the school attempts.
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Lake Munmorah Public School EARLY SCHOOL HISTORY ÂŤ he families w h o settled first i n the area were widely scattered. A t E l i z a b e t h Bay were the H u t c h i n s o n s , H a m s , Hancocks a n d the C a m p bells. A t the end of what is now T a l l T i m b e r s R o a d were the Freemans a n d Bridges. I n C h a i n V a l l e y were the D ' A r c y s a n d O ' N e i l l s . Halfway between the m a i n road and C h a i n V a l l e y were the Carters. W h e n it was decided to b u i l d a school, it was placed geographically central to these areas. T h a t is the present site, a n d later it gave rise to m u c h agitation as the population a n d traffic increased (Bailey B r i d g e etc.)
T
H i t h e r t o the c h i l d r e n of school age h a d attended C a t h erine H i l l B a y School. T h e breadwinners of a l l the families i n Lake M u n m o r a h were miners. School attendance was a fairly desultory affair before the L a k e M u n m o r a h School was built. T h e c h i l d r e n w a l k e d to school and i n some cases it means five or six kilometres each way. I n 1923 shoes were not w o r n , feet hardened a n d there was always a " k i c k e d " toe or two. T h e p l a y g r o u n d was bare a n d stony w i t h a few stunted trees. T h e slight, poor topsoil a n d lack of water made gard e n i n g impossible. H o w e v e r , one of the early teachers planted three m y a l l wattle trees o n the western side of the b u i l d i n g a n d they flourished, growing into g r a n d o l d m o n archs p r o v i d i n g shade a n d a shower of s p r i n g gold. T h e present m y a l l wattles i n the p l a y g r o u n d are the descendants of these o r i g i n a l three. T h e scrub s u r r o u n d i n g the school g r o u n d was resplendent w i t h coastal wildflowers i n early s p r i n g a n d the c h i l d r e n h a d opportunity to observe birds, lizards, insects a n d even the o d d echidna at close range. T h e school ground was a haunt of red-bellied black snakes.
A view of the school today.
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SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT T h e o r i g i n a l school built i n 1922 sufficed for accommodation for forty years. Few of the pupils i n the twenties went to h i g h school, most were school leavers at fourteen. Boys from the area went to stay at home, work o n the farms or occasionally enter domestic service around W y o n g . P o p u l a t i o n growth was slow due to the lack of industry i n the immediate area, a n d the generally isolated nature of it. BARRED WINDOWS T h e o r i g i n a l school b u i l d i n g was a wooden structure w i t h a corrugated i r o n roof, 18' x 18' w i t h a porch o n the western side. It faced the m a i n road w h i c h was then a n a r row road following the o l d gravel road to Swansea. Some years later another small porch was added to the eastern side to house the water tank. T h i s was because motorists w i t h d r y radiators made free use of the only visible water for miles; the outside school tank. Irons a n d bars were also a d ded to the windows to restrain thieves a n d vandals. BACKLESS W O O D E N FORMS T h e furniture i n the b u i l d i n g consisted of l o n g desks seating up to six c h i l d r e n (depending o n their size) o n backless wooden forms. A l l ages sat o n these benches, a n d legs dangled or arms stretched accordingly. T h e desk tops were punctated w i t h holes for inkwells. T h e Teacher's table a n d chair, a couple of presses for exercise books, chalk, nibs, pencils a n d various other items of equipment completed the classroom furnishings. There were two blackboards o n easels o n either side of the room. S m a l l c h i l d r e n wrote on slates. T h i s meagre equipment rem a i n e d i n the o l d b u i l d i n g until 1950.
EXTENSIONS T O T H E S C H O O L BUILDINGS T h e first additions to the o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g built i n 1922 were begun i n 1961 a n d completed a n d occupied i n 1962. A n assistant to the teacher-in-charge was appointed i n 1960. She had the lower d i v i s i o n of the school i n the o l d schoolroom a n d M r . O ' C o n n o r had to manage w i t h the u p per d i v i s i o n i n the porch. It wasn't u n t i l 1962 that the first a d d i t i o n a l classroom was available. It consisted of a classr o o m teacher's r o o m a n d a small storeroom. I n 1966, as the school population had g r o w n , a further extension was a d d e d i n the form of a large kindergarten room. I n 1970 it was decided that the further a d d i t i o n of a n other classroom was necessary w i t h an office for the P r i n c i pal as a n adjunct. Since then eight demountables have been acquired and form part of the school complex. SCHOOL'S HISTORIC BELL T h i s is a l i n k w i t h the past. T h e S.S. " M u n m o r a h " ; a c o l lier of 1,273 tons was built at L e i t h i n Scotland i n 1934 for
the W a l l a r a h C o a l C o m p a n y . She traded between N e w castle, Sydney a n d B e l l a m b i . It has not been used as a school b e l l , but is of historical interest. SCHOOL HOUSES Freeman House: Freeman House is named for A l f r e d Freeman. H e and his bullock team actually hauled the t i m ber from w h i c h the school was built. O'Connor House: O ' C o n n o r House is named for D a v i d O ' C o n n o r who was i n charge of the Lake M u n m o r a h School from 1941 to 1961. SPORT These days Lake M u n m o r a h School has lots to offer the c h i l d r e n i n the sporting area. F i x e d equipment like a tennis court, cricket nets, cricket pitch, goal posts, v o l l e y b a l l court and gymnastic bars are a l l used o n a d a i l y basis. Besides that, bats and balls, hoops and ropes, mats a n d bags are i n constant use.
Original school house with first addition. Page 67
Mainly
Year 10 1987
Lisarow High January 1980 — Temporary school, comer Jarrett & Dwyer Streets, North Gosford.
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Lisarow High School
L
isarow H i g h School had its first intake of 120 students i n J a n u a r y , 1980. T h e first p r i n c i p a l was M r . J . O l i v e r a n d the first deputy M r . B. Pearsall. There were ten teachers and five ancillary staff. O f the o r i g i n a l staff, five r e m a i n , they are M r s . J . J a c k s o n , M r s . M . H i c k s o n , M r s . M . S m i t h , M r . D . H o p k i n s and M r . J . Langlois. A s the school has grown we have had changes i n the executive staff. M r . O l i v e r was succeeded by M r . A . H a r v e y a n d then by our present p r i n c i p a l M r . J . Paine. M r . F e r g u son followed M r . Pearsall and now we have M r . D . Fraser as Deputy Principal. T h e school badge was designed by D u n c a n Fisher then, i n 7 A , i n 1980. T h e school motto is 'Strive'. T h e school was first housed i n temporary b u i l d i n g s on the Department of E d u c a t i o n site at the corner of D w y e r a n d Jarrett Streets, N o r t h Gosford. O r i g i n a l l y the proposed site for the permanent b u i l d i n g s was i n W y o m i n g . W i t h negotiations for this site being unsuccessful, the present site at L i s a r o w was selected. T h e initial p l a n was for Stage 1, w h i c h w o u l d house 800 students, to be built. A future Stage 2, to house an a d d i t i o n al 200 students, was p l a n n e d . A t present. Stage 1 is c o m plete and houses 918 students, 64 teaching staff and 13 a n -
First school assembly — Lisarow High January
cillary staff. T h e school's students come from Lisarow, O u r i m b a h , some areas of N a r a r a and N i a g a r a Park and the northern end of W y o m i n g . T h e school m o v e d to its permanent site i n December 1982; those who helped w i t h the move still remember the heat. It wasn't until 1983 that lessons i n the new buildings really got underway. T h e first time students from L i s a r o w H i g h sat for the H i g h e r School Certificate was i n 1985. F r o m the outset the school's staff have always been interested i n encouraging the growth of caring, competent and w e l l - r o u n d e d people. A s w e l l as attention being p a i d to the academic life of the students they have been encouraged to participate i n other areas. W e have had and have students who are performing well at the state or interstate level either i n d i v i d u a l l y or as a team. Students are also active i n debating, public speaking, performing i n musical and d r a matic events and c o m m u n i t y work. A n example of the latter can be seen w h e n i n 1980, students made wooden toys for the Salvation A r m y / S m i t h F a m i l y / C e n t r a l Coast Express Christmas A p p e a l . T h i s tradition has continued to the present where Y e a r 12 are raising money for a local charity and Y e a r 11 H o m e Science are i n v o l v e d i n teaching basic cooki n g techniques to students of Glenvale S S P .
1980
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Lisarow Public School
L
isarow School opened on the 28th M a y , 1928. H o w e v e r , this was the successful conclusion of a battle for a school w h i c h began i n N o v e m b e r , 1907. T h e Progress Association a p p l i e d for a prov i s i o n a l school i n that year w h i c h they proposed should be sited where H i g g i n s and N e i l d now stands. A further a p p l i cation was denied i n 1911, but a subsidy, i n a i d of private teaching i n accordance w i t h regulations, was recommended. H o w e v e r , we have no evidence that this was ever paid. In 1916, the Progress Association was again unsuccessful, a l though the proposed site was now M c D o n a l d R o a d . B y 1921, L i s a r o w residents were p l a n n i n g to b u i l d a P u b l i c H a l l , w h i c h they hoped to hire to the Education Department for a P u b l i c School.
M i s s H u t c h i n s o n r a n a private school i n the H a l l from January. 1924 to December, 1925. C h i l d r e n p r o v i d e d their o w n books and pencils. T h e fees were one guinea per year. Later M r s . V o l v e r r a n her school i n Taylors R o a d u n t i l the P u b l i c School opened.
Lisarow Public School 1951 Page 70
T h e Department of Education was always adamant that there was no need for a school at L i s a r o w because N a r a r a and O u r i m b a h schools were both w i t h i n 2 miles measured from L i s a r o w station. There was 'excellent transport' and 'a very good road' to both schools. T h e Department became interested w h e n the numbers became greater and the site proposed was i n M c D o n a l d R o a d thus shortening the walk of c h i l d r e n who could walk d o w n that road to the station. B y 1923, the parents were signing " p r a y e r f u l " petitions, w h i c h were also rejected. H o w e v e r , i n 1925, a decision was approved to obtain l a n d for the b u i l d i n g of a school. There was a spirited and heated debate about the siting of the school. T h e possible sites were the present one, owned by the W i l s o n family, the cricket pitch site i n M c D o n a l d R o a d , owned by M r . H u m p h r e y s and the present site of Clifton's Sawmill. A deal for the l a n d was negotiated w i t h M r . W i l s o n and a relative, M r s . K r u m i n for the sum of ÂŁ 3 7 5 . Unfortunately, the sale was very slow i n being completed and poor M r .
W i l s o n had a l o n g wait and a great deal of inconvenience before he got his money. M r . W i l s o n had to move two houses from what is now school grounds and i n front of one of them were two spiky A c a c i a bushes. Those spiky Acacias have stood the test of time a n d after 50 years of determined c h o p p i n g and poisoning they are still flourishing madly i n the Eastern corner of our school grounds today and we are still w o n d e r i n g what to do w i t h them. M r . M c D o n a l d cleared the g r o u n d of fruit trees for £ 5 , after a complaint from the A g r i c u l t u r e Department. B y December, 1926, the need for a school was recognised as extremely urgent and a contract for b u i l d i n g our school was awarded to M r . M i l l i g a n of Taree of the sum of £598. M r . M c L a c h l a n was appointed Headmaster and the school commenced enrolments on the 28th M a y , 1928. O n e m o n t h later, M r . M c L a c h l a n wrote to the Department that the school was too small. Built for a total of 44 p u p i l s , there was an enrolment of 60 already. Canvas blinds were supp l i e d for the verandah and the overflow was accommodated w h e n extra furniture was delivered. A n assistant teacher, M i s s Beeston was appointed i n A u gust, 1928. T h e next year, i n M a r c h , the school was closed for the day w h e n M r . M c L a c h l a n and M i s s Beeston were married. A contract for a second r o o m was let i n M a r c h , 1929 at a cost of £ 3 7 3 / 9 / 0 . T h i s basic two-roomed b u i l d i n g rem a i n e d virtually unchanged, although up-dated to the present day conditions. H o w e v e r , the b u i l d i n g works being carried out at the moment w i l l completely change the o l d school's profile. M i s s M a r g i n became Assistant i n 1931, while the now M r s . M c L a c h l a n became the sewing teacher, replacing M i s s
M c L a c h l a n . Later, along came the teachers M i s s Ramsay and M i s s Herbert. M r . D e n n i s o n was appointed Headmaster i n December, 1933. H e is remembered as an excellent teacher. M r . Demas was followed by M r . M c K e n z i e and then came along M r . S n o w d o n , who became longest serving Headmaster with 10 years service to his credit. M r . K o r s c h stayed two years and then M r . C u m m i n g s a r r i v e d i n 1957 and stayed for a period of nine years. M r . C u m m i n g s was then followed by Messrs. W i l s o n , Strong, C l i f f o r d and the present H e a d master, M r . C o p e , who commenced i n 1975. M i s s Jones was Assistant teacher at the end of the forties and must have been a very popular lady, for she is still remembered today w i t h a great deal of affection by her expupils and parents. T h e school enrolment rose to 120 pupils and M r s . Brodie, who stayed for a number of years, was the t h i r d teacher. She also taught sewing to the girls and w o u l d sometimes tell of her experiences i n India whilst the girls sewed. There was a severe shortage of room i n 1950 and M r . Bloomfield had a class on the open verandah that year. The blinds were no longer there, so it was chaos w h e n it rained. It must have had limitations as a classroom and it was very cramped, but being out i n the fresh air and the sunshine was a delightful place to do school work. A wireless was purchased by the P . & . C . i n 1945 for £ 1 5 and the power was connected to the school at the b e g i n n i n g of 1946. " B l u e H i l l s " was available to any one interested at lunchtime... It was compulsive listening to addicts. By 1987 the school had grown to a 4 teacher school, w i t h an enrolment of 106 pupils.
Lisarow Public School 1971 Page
Mannering Park Public School
T
he first settler i n the Garth's P o i n t area, w h i c h was later to become M a n n e r i n g Park, was James V i n r a c e V a l e , w h o , i n 1911 took up 640 acres of l a n d purchased for £ 3 2 0 . H i s o r i g i n a l home was b u i l t where the barbecue stands i n the p l a y g r o u n d , a permanent home, w h i c h was destroyed by fire i n 1926, being b u i l t some distance away later. T h e name, M a n n e r i n g Park, was given to the property by V a l e ' s wife — there was a l ready a M a n n e r i n g Creek a n d M a n n e r i n g Bay i n the area. N o school amenities existed for the c h i l d r e n of the people who settled a r o u n d the foreshores of the lake i n the ensuing years a n d they travelled to either K a n w a l or M u n m o r a h for their education.
W h e n a decision was made to b u i l d a power station on V a l e ' s P o i n t it was evident that school facilities were necessary for the c h i l d r e n of the residents and the large n u m b e r of workers a r r i v i n g to start the project. A temporary school was opened i n the C . W . A . H a l l on 12th September, 1961, the T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e being M r . G . Jackson. T w e n t y two pupils were registered and the Infant School was named M a n n e r i n g Park P r i m a r y School, catering for K i n d e r g a r t e n a n d 1st grade pupils. M r . J a c k s o n was replaced by M r . R. Sharp i n 1962 and the school's enrolment increased d u r i n g that year. I n 1963 the Progress H a l l came into use as a second classroom a n d the year began w i t h M r . A . Sandercock as P r i n c i p a l , teaching grades 1 and 2 w h i l e M i s s D . M o s s taught K i n d e r g a r t e n , there being a total enrolment of 54 pupils. T h e Department of E d u c a t i o n purchased the land previously owned by James V a l e and work commenced on the present school on 2 8 t h J u l y , 1963. T h e school, a contemporary b u i l d i n g of white b r i c k veneer, consisted of a four classr o o m b u i l d i n g a n d a separate office-staff r o o m section and was b u i l t by W . A . W e n h a m Builders, of Newcastle, for the contract price of £25,000. Classes commenced i n the new school on 28th J a n u a r y , 1964 w i t h 109 p u p i l s , m a n y being grades 3, 4, 5 and 6 r e t u r n i n g from K a n w a l School. T h e staff was: M r . Sandercock (Principal), M i s s D . M o s s , M i s s R. M u d i e and M r . I. M o r r i s . T h e official o p e n i n g of the school was performed by the M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n , M r . E . W e t h e r e l l , on 16th October, 1964, the enrolment at that stage being 120. A dedicated P . & . C . Association, formed w i t h the opening of the o r i g i n a l school, had completed the landscaping of the Page 72
p l a y g r o u n d , planted lawns and set out gardens w i t h shrubs donated by residents and business houses. Enrolments increased d u r i n g 1965-66 to reach 137 when the first change i n the staff was made. A fifth teacher was appointed i n 1968 and a new classroom erected. In M a r c h 1974 M r . Sandercock retired due to ill-health after a term of 12 years. M r . H . G a r t n e r acted as P r i n c i p a l u n t i l the end of the year, d u r i n g w h i c h time, M r s . M . Briggs was appointed as a C l e r i c a l Assistant. In 1975 M r . P. P r i t c h a r d became P r i n c i p a l w i t h a greatly changed staff and 137 pupils. N u m b e r s increased rapidly d u r i n g the next two years as the area grew and a sixth teacher was appointed. A c c o m m o d a t i o n problems became pressing and i n 1977 the first demountable classroom was erected, office extensions were carried out and a weathershed and storeroom constructed. M r . P. N e w m a n replaced M r . P r i t c h a r d as P r i n c i p a l at the b e g i n n i n g of 1978 a n d major changes took place i n the school. A demountable library was p r o v i d e d , a L i b r a r i a n appointed, staff changes occurred and M r . N e w m a n relieved of classroom duties. 1979 was a great influx of families to the area as the seco n d section of the power station was being constructed and the enrolments reached 200. T h i s resulted i n another classr o o m being erected and the staff being increased to seven. It was at the end of this year that the school was re-classified to become a Second Class one. M r . N e w m a n was replaced as P r i n c i p a l by M r . T . Weeks i n 1980 and the first D e p u t y P r i n c i p a l , M r s . R. Keevers was appointed. Later i n the year another teacher j o i n e d the staff as well as a Teacher's A i d e , while yet another demountable classroom was placed i n the grounds. T h e further increase i n enrolments d u r i n g 1981 led to another demountable classroom a r r i v i n g and a demountable F o o d Service U n i t being made available. D u r i n g 1982 school enrolments reached 242, two more demountable classrooms were erected to cope with the i n flux as w e l l as demountable staff room and a new A d m i n i s tration block complete w i t h offices and storerooms. W i t h the completion of work on the power station families to move again and i n 1983 one teacher was lost from the staff and one classroom removed. In the last several years there have been flunctuation i n enrolments at the school w i t h 1986 showing 220 pupils. T h e staff consists of 10 teachers, a T e a c h e r - L i b r a r i a n , R e source Teacher and a Relief Teacher from face to face teachi n g as w e l l as four ancillary staff.
1
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Mount White PubUc School
T
he M o u n t W h i t e area was opened up i n the early 1930's as a Homestead F a r m settlement, whereby the early settlers were granted parcels of land for a period of 5 years. By the end of this p e r i o d they had to have developed the land as a profitable concern. After the l a n d had been cleared, passionfruit, citrus fruit a n d vegetables were mostly grown. T h e first application for a public school was made through M r . R. W a l k e r M L A by M r . E . C o o p e r i n J a n u a r y 1933. Included i n the application were the names of 22 prospective students. A further application was made i n M a y of the same year by the then recently formed M o u n t W h i t e Progress Association. G a i n i n g approval was not easy as the authorities doubted the permanency of the settlement. H o w e v e r , w i t h M r . W a l k e r ' s continued efforts a n d the persistency of the letter writers of M o u n t W h i t e , the M i n i s t e r finally agreed i n the N o v e m b e r of 1933 to the establishment of a school at M o u n t White.
T h e school site, almost 3 acres, was dedicated i n J u l y 1934, and a tender of ÂŁ 2 5 5 by M r . T . Cook for the construction of a timber b u i l d i n g w i t h a galvanised i r o n roof was accepted. T h e b u i l d i n g was half its present size and was designed for 16 c h i l d r e n . O n the m o r n i n g of Tuesday 29th J a n u a r y 1935, M r . A r thur H o g g , the first Teacher i n Charge, opened the door of M o u n t W h i t e P r o v i s i o n a l School and accepted enrolments for the first time. Three boys and four girls were enrolled that day, w i t h another boy and three girls the next day and a further boy and g i r l the following M o n d a y . Schooling had finally arrived at M o u n t W h i t e . M o u n t W h i t e has always been a one teacher school, so numbers have always been small, the highest being 37 i n 1958. T h e school was closed i n 1944-1946, due to lack of numbers and since 1970 the fear of closure has remained. In 1950 nearby C a l g a School was closed, w i t h a l l the c h i l d r e n , the teacher and a few year later the b u i l d i n g being transferred to M o u n t W h i t e .
I
Mount White pupils
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1939
The original building prior to extensions. (It is now twice this size).
Mount White pupils — 1987 outside the cubby house that they built in the back playground.
O u r current enrolment is 8, five short of the thirteen that were enrolled i n 1935. A l t h o u g h the numbers are m u c h the same as i n our early years, as are the ages of the c h i l d r e n , from 5 years to 12 years, there have been many changes i n the form of education that the c h i l d r e n receive. In a d d i t i o n to their one teacher the c h i l d r e n have a part time teacher who comes i n for M u s i c (provided through the D i s advantaged Schools Programme), L i b r a r y a n d Science a n d another teacher for H e a l t h , Safety and Craft. Schooling is not restricted to the school grounds as it was i n the past, but instead they venture to many other areas o n
the coast or Sydney on educational excursions. T h e c h i l d r e n j o i n i n w i t h the other one teacher schools on the coast for s w i m m i n g carnivals, athletics carnivals and Easter Bonnet Parades. W e also visit Peats R i d g e School once a month for sport. In a d d i t i o n , the c h i l d r e n benefit from the more interesti n g aids i n c l u d i n g computers that are available now than i n the past. T h e parents are just as active i n the school life as they were i n the past, but nowadays instead of just being fundraisers, they are heavily involved i n assisting i n reading i n the school and p r o v i d i n g transport on our excursions. Page 77
Mt. Penang School for Special Purposes
M
t. Penang S.S.P. was commenced under the auspices of the Department of E d u c a t i o n at the b e g i n n i n g of the 1981 school year. T h e school operates w i t h i n the bounds of the T r a i n i n g
School. Since a l l boys are over age 15, they may elect to either attend school or undertake other training i n the T r a i n i n g School. T h e school caters for 48 boys at any one time. The boys may attend school for v a r y i n g periods of time. T h e programmes i n the school are designed to meet the needs of the boys. T h e programmes are d i v i d e d into three m a i n groups, i.e. R e m e d i a l E d u c a t i o n , E x t e r n a l Courses through the Department of Technical and Further E d u c a tion, and n o r m a l school A c a d e m i c Courses. T h i s means i n fact that the school caters for boys experiencing problems w i t h reading and mathematics through boys d o i n g T e c h . Courses i n such areas as M o t o r M a i n t e n a n c e , Introduction to Data Processing (there are some 40 such courses) to boys d o i n g their School Certificate and H i g h e r School C e r t i f i cate.
At sport Page 74
In a d d i t i o n the above courses the boys do L i v i n g Skills, C o o k i n g , Industrial A r t s , Sport and Electives. The electives include studies i n G u i t a r , Pottery, C o p p e r E n a m e l l i n g , A d vanced C o o k i n g and String A r t . T h e boys have a say i n the r u n n i n g of the school, where representatives from each class form a School C o u n c i l . T h i s C o u n c i l presents ideas to the staff" on programmes, school rules, sports and outings. Boys are awarded certificates for completed courses of work. Excursions are a regular part of the school programme a n d are based o n vocational and educational basis. Such excursions have i n c l u d e d Sterland Bros. M i l l , Vales Point Power Station, Gosford M e a t s , F o r d M o t o r C o m p a n y , Goodyear Tyres, T a r o n g a Park to name a few. T h e boys of the school have also entertained boys and girls from St. Lucy's School for the B l i n d and they also assist w i t h the s w i m m i n g programme for the handicapped c h i l - , d r e n from East G o s f o r d P u b l i c School.
Building Shed for Car Maintenance and Car Detailing
Excursion to Sterland Bros. Page 75
Narara Public School
N
arara School is fast approaching its C e n t e n n i a l Y e a r . I n 1887, M r . H u g h C a m p b e l l , p r o m i n e n t citizen of N a r a r a , together w i t h Messrs. J o h n F o u n t a i n , James Fargie, W i l l i a m C o o k , C . G a v e n l o c k , a n d M e t h o d i s t clergyman E d w a r d Briscombe submitted a n application to the Department of P u b l i c I n struction requesting that a school be b u i l t i n the area. T h e application was approved i n December, 1888. Subsequently, l a n d situated on the M a i n G o v e r n m e n t R o a d , now the Pacific H i g h w a y , was resumed at a cost of ÂŁ151.11.10 a n d i n 1889 C r e i g h t o n , Son & C o u l t e r built the schoolroom at a cost of ÂŁ379.0.0.
Narara School 1934.
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N a r a r a School opened its doors on 2 n d September, 1889 w i t h George I. Foott formerly of the W o y W o y School as T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e w i t h a n enrolment of 8 pupils. 1890 saw the appointment of M r . W . R . T h o m p s o n as T e a c h e r - i n - C h a r g e , a young single m a n who saw m a n y changes i n his twenty years at N a r a r a . In his first years he boarded i n Gosford for 1 0 / - p e r week but after his marriage he requested the p r o v i s i o n of a school residence. After m u c h persistence a residence was erected i n 1899 (things haven't changed, have they?) Assisting M r . T h o m p s o n i n the classroom was p u p i l
Narara Float in the 1960 Empire Day Celebrations at Graham
Park.
teacher, M i s s cook, who was required to study after school hours to gain her qualifications. D i s c i p l i n e i n those days was quite different as the records i n the punishment book show1892
10 pupils detained after 3.30 for leaving hats off at play on a very hot day.
1896
10 year o l d boy received 4 strokes for i n s u l t i n g a tramp before the arrival of the teacher.
Principals i n the next 20 years were: T . D . C r e i g g 1910-1911, A . D . Sellars 1912-1926, W i l l i a m D r e w 1927-1929. T w o ex-pupils remember this period — " T h e p l a y g r o u n d was terribly steep, w i t h rough pebbles and no grass". — " T h e teachers wore full aprons over their frocks." — " L a r g e charts h u n g b e h i n d the door from w h i c h we recited sounds, spelling a n d tables." — " W e walked l ) ^ miles to L i s a r o w Station, caught the train to N a r a r a , then walked past the hall and through a paddock to the school."
Subsequent P r i n c i p a l s were: M r . Faux 1930-1935, M r . Lane 1936, C . J . C o l d i t z 19371948, M r . H a r r i s o n 1948-1960. These years included activities such as H e a l t h a n d T e m perance E x a m s , Bursaries, Citrus Week Festivals, D i p t h e r i a Immunisations, free m i l k a n d speech days. M r . Brett a r r i v e d i n 1960 and remained u n t i l 1971. In 1964 a 75th A n n i v e r s a r y was celebrated i n the form of a Wattle D a y Fete. There were several h u n d r e d o l d pupils present a n d a large 75th B i r t h d a y Cake was cut. T h e last 17 years has seen great fluctuations i n e n r o l ments under Principals R. L y t t o n , M i c k Broadfoot, R e x M e l v a i n e a n d M r s . R o n n i e v a n Wees w i t h D o u g Tate as D e p u t y for 13 of these years. T h e o r i g i n a l classrooms have been refurbished but unfortunately the residence has been demolished. W e look forward to celebrating our Centenary i n September 1989, and invite any ex-pupils or teachers who have photos or interesting tales to tell to please contact the school. Page 79
Niagara Park Public School
I
t w o u l d have been hard for the teachers and pupils who started at N i a g a r a Park School i n 1974 to agine how large this School has grown i n fourteen years. O n 30th J a n u a r y , 1974, D e a n W i l s o n was enrolment N o . 1 at the new School of N i a g a r a Park. M r . Peter D a y was the first P r i n c i p a l a n d M r s . Strange, M r s . M u d r a z i j a and M r s . R o w e were his teaching staff. 123 pupils were enrolled d u r i n g the first year. T h e school b u i l d i n g s consisted of three b r i c k classrooms a n d administrative rooms. Before the end of the first term one demountable classr o o m was needed. T h e School grew gradually a n d more demountables were added. M r . R o y Strange succeeded M r . D a y a n d P r i n c i p a l i n 1977 w i t h M r . Ian W i t t as Deputy P r i n c i p a l .
In 1979 our first Infants Mistress, M i s s N a r e l l e Rogers, was appointed. W i t h boundary changes i n 1979 N i a g a r a Park's School population doubled to over 500. M r . J a c k C l a r k was appointed P r i n c i p a l i n 1980 and plans to replace the 17 demountable classrooms w i t h a permanent structure were put into operation. In 1982 the b u i l d i n g programme was completed. N i a g ara Park now had a brick administration b u i l d i n g , h a l l , l i brary and 21 very m o d e r n classrooms. M r . Peter B r o w n was appointed P r i n c i p a l i n 1986. T o d a y , i n 1987, our School has an enrolment of 750 c h i l dren. There are 26 classes and a staff of 35 teachers and 8 ancillary staff. A s M r s . Rowe who has taught here since the School started, and M r . K e n Cooke who a r r i v e d a year later commented, " I t is very different from 1974."
RGR Niagara Park School September 1980 before building the new school. New school site in foreground. Page 80
Some of the demountables at Niagara Park School 1980.
Buildings at Niagara Park School 1987. Page 81
Northlakes H i g h School
O
n the 6th J u n e this year, Northlakes H i g h School was officially opened b y the M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n , the H o n o u r a b l e R . Cavalier. It was an occasion as formal a n d as important for a school as any, except perhaps, for a centenary, a n d the students present responded magnificently. T h e large group of distinguished guests were most impressed w i t h the observable standards of the school a n d its students, w i t h the smoothness of the organisation a n d the standard of performances. M r . C a v a l i e r made the comment, " I t was one of the two best official openings I have a t t e n d e d . " D u r i n g the opening, M r . C a v a l i e r presented three official Department of E d u c a t i o n ties, (for " c o n t i n u e d valued service to education"), to M r , K . M c K i n n o n , (Director of E d u c a t i o n , M e t r o p o l i t a n N o r t h Region), to M r . R. B i r d , (District Inspector) a n d M r . D i n n i n g a n d following the official ceremony, specially i n v i t e d guests had the opportunity to sample an excellent l u n c h a n d inspect the school. T h a n k s were extended by the M i n i s t e r and others to a l l those w h o assisted a n d , i n particular, to the m a n y students w h o acted as guides, ushers, hosts at luncheon, officials, performers, and audience. NORTHLAKES ASPECT Settling into their newly designed school has been a " d e l i g h t f u l " experience for students a n d teachers at Northlakes H i g h School o n the C e n t r a l Coast.
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Evidence of the positive effect the pleasant new e n v i r o n ment has had o n the school c o m m u n i t y is obvious, accordi n g to p r i n c i p a l , M r . Des D i n n i n g . " O n the whole they are quieter, more enthusiastic, more committed a n d there is a real sense of identity n o w , " he said. Northlakes, w i t h enrolments a r o u n d the 900 mark, was needed to serve the burgeoning northern lakeside c o m munities of San R e m o , L a k e M u n m o r a h , D o y a l s o n , M a n n e r i n g Park a n d G w a n d a l a n . It existed for a n u m b e r of years i n demountables on l a n d directly opposite its permanent site i n G o o r a m a A v e n u e , just off the Pacific H i g h w a y . Staff at the school were able to contribute their ideas a n d the end result is an eye-catching complex w i t h excellent teaching facilities i n c l u d i n g a multi-purpose hall w h i c h can be shared by the local community. W h e n the school first opened the location seemed isolated, but today newly constructed homes are nearby a n d other amenities such as a community centre a n d sporting grounds have been added. " R u n n i n g effective programs from demountables had its difficulties but m o v i n g into such an outstanding school was w o r t h w a i t i n g for," said M r . D i n n i n g .
School hall.
As we were.
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School hall.
As we were. Page 83
Pencil Drawing by Kathie Underwood for School's 50th Anniversary — celebrated in 1981. The original school building. Page 86
Peats Ridge Public School
P
eats R i d g e was named after George Peat, who carr i e d m a i l from Sydney to Singleton on horseback. It was settled i n the early 1800's. A C o m m u n i t y H a l l needed to be built and money was raised. L a n d was donated by M r s . F. W o o d , and i n 1928 the present clubrooms were built and opened. Education for c h i l d r e n i n Peats R i d g e was p r o v i d e d by Correspondence or the c h i l d r e n transported to K o o r e e School at M a n g r o v e , but it necessitated m u c h travelling. It was difficult to convince the authorities of the need for a school. E v e n t u a l l y a teacher was p r o v i d e d but the residents had to provide a b u i l d i n g . T h e School commenced i n 1931 at the C l u b r o o m s — rental being 25c (2/6d) per week. T h e first Teacher was M r . J . B y r o n w i t h 18 pupils. H e was replaced by M r . M . L . M o r r i s s e y i n 1933 w i t h 16 pupils. G r o u n d s for the school were donated by M r . Pinkstone, the E d u c a t i o n Department supplied the materials for the school b u i l d i n g , w h i c h was erected by the c o m m u n i t y i n 1935. In 1936 education i n Peats R i d g e was transferred to the new Peats R i d g e P u b l i c School and M r . M o r r i s s e y was still Teacher-in-Charge. Inspector P . F . Cane stated " i t was a great improvement on the gloomy a n d unsuitable h a l l . " E n rolment was 13 p u p i l s , and c h i l d r e n by this time were being transferred to H i g h School. School p o p u l a t i o n gradually increased a n d by 1950 there were 26 pupils enrolled. A t this stage there was no P . & . C . Assocation and money was raised by the local N . S . W . A g r i cultural B u r e a u . In 1953 a Parents and Citizens Association was formed and the purchase of equipment and other e d u cational items were the earliest priorities. B y 1954 the school enrolment increased to 44 — too m a n y for one teacher. That year a second teacher, M r . A . L . J o h n s o n was ap-
pointed. T h e younger c h i l d r e n were instructed i n the C l u b room. M r . J . F . K e n n y was appointed as the School's first P r i n cipal w i t h its reclassification i n 1955 as a T h i r d Class School. In 1956 a new b u i l d i n g was provided. School e n r o l ments had, by this time reached 57 pupils. T h e P . & . C . had purchased a r a d i o g r a m , radio's, microscope and gramophone. T h e bookmobile visited the school regularly each fortnight and supplemented the books i n the school library. A new weather shed was constructed by parents i n 1960. In 1963 a new classroom greatly i m p r o v e d accommodation. Further acquisition of l a n d i n 1967 greatly i m p r o v e d the previously narrow site. A school residence was constructed on the eastern boundary of the school grounds. A new a b l u tion block and toilet was constructed i n 1973. D u e to increasing enrolments a t h i r d teacher was appointed i n 1976. T h e o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g was reinstated as a classroom u n t i l a new demountable a r r i v e d . A part-time T e a c h e r - L i b r a r i a n was appointed i n 1979 and i n 1981 an E . S . L . (English as a Second Language) Teacher was appointed. D u e to the heavy traffic a slow lane was constructed outside the school grounds and a new bus bay and entrance road were constructed. T h e P . E . area near the original b u i l d i n g was also relevelled and asphalted. T h e grounds have been planted with most varieties of Hibiscus and n a tives and have had considerable success i n the Gosford C i t y G a r d e n C o m p e t i t i o n since 1978. W i t h reduced numbers the school lost a teacher i n 1987 leaving 54 pupils w i t h two Teachers. T h e demountable was taken away. Traffic has reduced considerably since the Sydney to Newcastle Expressway was opened i n December, 1986.
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The School - It's first Fete.
The School on the Official Opening Day.
Page 88
Point Clare Primary School
P
oint C l a r e P r i m a r y School was opened on J u n e 2 n d , 1955 w i t h two teachers and an enrolment of 53 c h i l d r e n . Grades ranged from K i n d e r g a r t e n through to Y e a r 5, organised into only two Classes, an U p p e r and L o w e r D i v i s i o n . These c h i l d r e n previously attended W o y W o y or Gosford P r i m a r y Schools and were so saved a long and crowded bus j o u r n e y every day. T h e first P r i n c i p a l was M r . P . J . Farrell and his assistant was M r s . C . J o h n s o n . T h e two roomed wooden b u i l d i n g had a long verandah w h i c h faced north. It was sited where the present A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Block now stands. T h i s o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g is still i n use as it was retained and moved to its present site elsewhere i n the playground. T h e School was officially opened by M r . E . Waterhouse, District Inspector of Schools, on 2 2 n d September, 1956. Plans for additions to the school were well underway i n the early sixties w h e n the next P r i n c i p a l , M r . Parslowe, arrived i n 1963. A t h i r d teacher, M i s s Shirley Staniland, was also appointed that year. O n 24th M a y , 1963 the new b u i l d i n g , a classroom and offices, was opened. By 1965 the enrolment had increased to 88 c h i l d r e n and the following year, M r . Ross C u m m i n g was appointed as
the new P r i n c i p a l . Three years later he was succeeded by M r . H a r r y Cooper. A s enrolments continued to increase another b u i l d i n g programme was p l a n n e d and i n 1970 another b u i l d i n g , i n corporating a Staff R o o m was added. M r . B i l l Streater was appointed P r i n c i p a l i n 1972 to the School w h i c h now had a Staff of eight teachers. B y 1974 the b u i l d i n g programme was complete w i t h 10 permanent classrooms, a staffroom, L i b r a r y , Canteen and A d m i n i s t r a t i v e Block. T h e present P r i n c i p a l , M r . Dennis Scully, was appointed i n 1979. T h e next few years saw the enrolment reach a peak of 350 w h i c h necessitated the addition of four steel demountable classrooms. H o w e v e r , i n c o m m o n w i t h many schools, enrolment has dropped over the past couple of years and only two of the demountables remain. O u r present enrolment is now 320 w i t h a Staff of 17 teachers and three A n c i l l a r y C l e r i c a l Staff. T h i s includes our L i b r a r i a n (3 day/week), our F / F Release teacher, a P a r t / T i m e (Craft) teacher (2 day/week) and a Resource Teacher (1 day/week). W e also have three F / T or P / T m e m bers of the C l e a n i n g Staff and a P / T G e n e r a l Assistant.
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Point Wolstoncroft Sport and Recreation Centre
P
oint Wolstoncroft Centre is one of five S.S.P.'s i n N . S . W . staffed w i t h teachers of the N . S . W . Department of E d u c a t i o n and operated i n co-operation w i t h the Department of Sport and Recreation. A s w i t h m a n y of the other Sport and Recreation Centres, the P o i n t Wolstoncroft site was selected b y M r . G o r d o n Y o u n g , (Director of Physical Education) and a N a t i o n a l Fitness C a m p was officially established i n 1948. W h i l e Point Wolstoncroft Centre has had a number of name changes a n d has been under the administration of several Departments, the basic purpose and ideals have not changed greatly. E a c h week between 120 and 130 pupils from N . S . W . P r i mary Schools participate i n the P r i m a r y O u t d o o r Education P r o g r a m p r o v i d e d by the Centre. T h e pupils are given the opportunity to experience a variety of recreational activities, learn social skills and develop self reliance associated w i t h commercial l i v i n g and through study and comparison, develop an appreciation for the particular environment of P o i n t Wolstoncroft. P o i n t Wolstoncroft S.S.P. is on a peninsula of land extending into L a k e M a c q u a r i e . It covers an area of 121 hectares, most of w h i c h is natural bush. T h e c o m m u n i t y of G w a n d a l a n is about two kilometres from the Centre. M o s t pupils travel to W y o n g by r a i l a n d a bus brings them to the Centre. T h e earliest campers — i n the early 1940's - were ferried by boat from D o r a Creek. Some groups walked the 7 kms from the Pacific H i g h w a y to the Centre until a trafRcable road was constructed. T h e i n i t i a l accommodation was i n tents and the first permanent b u i l d i n g s were erected i n 1945. T h e present M e s s H a l l was completed and officially opened i n 1948. T h e hospital and s w i m m i n g baths at the edge of the lake were also completed i n 1948. F r o m 1945 P o i n t Wolstoncroft was a camp for Senior
Banksia Lodge - Airing the Bedding - Woollahra girls. Page 90
girls. T h e programs were of fifteen days duration followed by a six day leave for staff. By 1950 the Centre has the following additions :44,000 gallon water storage tank H o t water for the ablution block — supplied by a coke " d o n k e y " boiler A n earth dam for future septic A l l weather gravel road Electric light to Mess H a l l from a generator Telephone service In 1954 the camp was re-classified as an S.S.P., huts 1 to 12 were completed and 98 girls accommodated. In 1956 the programs went for 10 days with four days leave. In 1960 the emphasis changed from Senior girls to J u n i o r girls camps. T h e septic system was i n operation using water from a bore. 1964 saw the introduction of co-educational p r i m a r y school camping w h i c h has continued to the present. D u r i n g the past ten years the following constructions have been undertaken :Boatshed and Recreation H a l l , Conference Centre/Staff R o o m , Tennis Courts, 25 metre S w i m m i n g P o o l , Barbecue A r e a and L o w Cost F a m i l y Units. In 1982 the p r o g r a m was changed from 10 days to 5 days. Greater emphasis was placed on the attendance of school/class groups accompanied by class teachers. P r e viously only a few places were allocated to each school i n the program. T h e class teachers are given the opportunity of selecting available activities for the weekly p r o g r a m to best meet the needs of their class group. T h e following activities are available for inclusion i n the p r o g r a m at the Centre:-
E n v i r o n m e n t a l observations and comparisons; specific studies of trees, soil, leaf litter, lake, shells, fresh water p o n d and insects; nature craft; night time explorations; sensory awareness; beach excursion; visit to power station; bivouac and cookout; specific activities requested by the school; canoeing; archery; orienteering; new games/boomerangs; abseiling; grass s k i i n g ; sailing; bike education; water safety and dance. Since the end of 1985 a Senior C i t i z e n ' s P r o g r a m has been r u n concurrently w i t h the P r i m a r y O u t d o o r Education P r o g r a m . Between 16 and 20 Senior Citizens use the low
cost units and share the Mess H a l l and some equipment w i t h the children. D u r i n g vacations the Centre is used for F a m i l y Camps. A s the name suggests these cater for M u m . D a d and the children and they are able to enjoy similar activities to those offered i n the P r i m a r y O u t d o o r Education P r o g r a m . T o meet the ever increasing needs of the pupils who attend. P o i n t Wolstoncroft S.S.P. is constantly changing and developing so that the best possible environment and selection of activities is available for the pupils.
Wendy, Hughie and Brownie distribute fruit.
Woollahra Girls returning — Mac distributing mail. Page 91
Pretty Beach Public School retty Beach P u b l i c School opened i n J a n u a r y 1927. Before the school was constructed the c h i l d r e n had to take a long j o u r n e y by foot, pony or boat to a peninsula school for their education. It was through the efforts of dairy farmers M r . and M r s . M i c k M y e r s w h i c h saw the construction of a single r o o m a n d porch at Pretty Beach. It was constructed on a twelve acre site. T h e land cost ÂŁ610 and the school house cost ÂŁ 6 0 0 . It was constructed by H . E . M i l l i g a n of Taree. M r . Charles A l l e n was appointed teacher-in-charge on J a n u a r y 18, 1927. M r . A l l e n spent twenty two years at Pretty Beach School and his termination of service was caused by his death. M r . A l l e n travelled each week day by boat from Booker Bay. M r . A l l e n d i d not receive an assist-
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ant until enrolments rose to 65 i n 1932. A p p o i n t e d was M i s s Florence Roach. H e r room was ready i n 1933. M r . A l l e n was replaced by M r . W . Ingram 1950 followed by M r . A . C a i n s 1955, M r . J . James 1962, M r . W . G i b b o n s 1966, M r . J . K e r r 1976, M r . F. Flanagan 1977, M r . C . Owens 1981, M r . C. T a r b o x 1982 and M r . F. Bridgement 1986. T h e school now has six classrooms with a teaching p r i n cipal. A n enrolment figure of 155 is expected i n 1988. T h e photo shows Pretty Beach School i n the 1920's. T h e pupils at the school today still enjoy the scenic bushland beh i n d the school as well as the beautiful view of the bay at the front of the school.
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Somersby Public School
T
he Somersby area has been settled for approximately 100 years and was originally known as Penang Mountain. However, mail from overseas often went astray and so the name was changed to Somersby, after a village in Lincolnshire, England, from which came one of the local residents. Progress was steady on the mountain with citrus gradually becoming the main crop. A part-time school and a private school ran for short periods but most mountain chil-
High Jump in Progress Page 94
dren by the 1920's made the daily trek to Gosford Public School. By 1926 it was thought that sufficient pupils were available and so a one room weatherboard building was constructed at Somersby. The first day of instruction was 31 st January, 1927. Twenty five pupils were enrolled in that first week with M r . Prentiss, a World War I veteran, as teacher in charge. Some of the family names of 1927 are still well-known in
School Concert Band 1984
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the district today: Allen, Sylvester, Studds, Moore, Wood, Chivers, Robinson etc. The school area was two acres and was held by the Department of Education on lease from M r . Jack Studds for one shilling per year. The first 25 years was a hard time for education. Communications were poor, roads were bad and the depression of the thirties was followed by World War II. M r . Lorimer took over the school on M r . Prentiss' retirement in 1946 and set about improving the environment of the pupils. The parent bodies worked very hard constructing level playing areas, planting grass and trees and generally changing the
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playground into a beautiful park-like area which by this time had been expanded to seven acres. The parent bodies combined in the 50's to build a school assembly hall making Somersby one of the very few schools of its size in the state to have such a hall. In 1970 a modern brick building containing classrooms, office, septic toilets etc. was completed to the dehght of pupils and teachers alike. These days the pupils of Somersby are renowned for their athletic prowess, soft ball skills, musical talent and sound academic attainments. There must be something about the air in Somersby, in its 61 year history it has had only three principals. Page 95
Spencer Public School lthough there has been a school at Spencer since approximately 1898, it has existed in four different locations. It was originally sited in a valley north of present day Spencer and was there until approximately 1920. The school then moved into the Byrnes house for approximately six months; the Collier house for approximately eighteen months and then into its present building in 1922. It was at this time that the school's name was changed from Fernleigh to Spencer. Although modifications have been made to the Collier house, the original 20' x 16' classroom has remained struc-
A
The School's Honour Roll. Page 96
turally unaltered. The house is still standing and has been owned by members of the Cox family for the past forty years. In recent years attempts were made to have the school closed due to a lack of pupils. The present enrolment of 14 and a projected 15 in 1988 suggest that Spencer will remain a one teacher school as it always has been. A n ex-pupil who made a name for himself in the Gosford district was Father Austin Woodbury. Another ex-pupil who gained wider fame was Vic Patrick — a former world boxing champion.
Three members from this 1908 school photo are still alive today. This building became the Collier house.
Tacoma Public School
T
acoma School opened as a one-teacher school i n 1905, w i t h an enrolment of 24 pupils, the first teacher being M r . W . H . Smee. T h e school served the small fishing village of T a c o m a located on both sides of the W y o n g R i v e r near its j u n c t i o n w i t h the T u g g e r a h Lakes. T h e first T a c o m a School, a wooded structure, was built on a most unsuitable site several h u n d r e d metres back i n the scrub off the South Tacoma R o a d , and i n wet weather the pupils were not able to reach the school because the area flooded easily. T h e following item was published i n the Gosford Times dated J u n e 28, 1906: " T h e lakes are very h i g h now since the amount of rain that has fallen. T h e T a c o m a School is shut up o w i n g to the school grounds being cut off as the track along w h i c h the c h i l d r e n have to travel is covered w i t h water about
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one foot deep. It is time something was done to make an inlet and outlet to the school grounds so as the children can get out w i t h dry feet." T h e final solution was to move the school much nearer the road where the now disused b u i l d i n g still stands. T h i s school closed i n 1969 w h e n the present school, a brick veneer structure, opened i n large well-grassed grounds on a low h i l l i n Hillcrest A v e n u e , Tacoma, on the northern side of the W y o n g R i v e r , where most of the p o p u lation of Tacoma is now concentrated. Demountable classrooms and library have since j o i n e d the single brick r o o m to house the school's present p o p u l a tion of 71 c h i l d r e n and 3 permanent staff members. B i b l i o g r a p h y : " A Pictorial H i s t o r y of the W y o n g S h i r e " by E d w a r d Stinson.
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Terrigal High School
I
n 1987 T e r r i g a l H i g h School celebrated its tenth birthday. O r i g i n a l l y , the school was situated i n demountables at Bateau Bay, built as a showpiece by the Department of Education. T h i s was to prove that, w i t h landscaping and careful siting, demountables could be a pleasant transition stage. In 1978 M r . D . Ross was the first P r i n c i p a l and M r . T . H e a d was Deputy. M r . W . M a i d e n replaced M r . D . Ross,
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a n d M r . T . M a r s h a l l became Deputy. A t present, M r . G . W i n d e r is our P r i n c i p a l and M r . M . Scott is Deputy. T e r r i g a l H i g h now has a large school population of over 1200 students and is an important part of the local c o m m u nity. T h e m o d e r n and attractive buildings a n d surrounds are appreciated by a l l staff' and students and are used regularly by local community groups and even the A n n u a l A r t s and Crafts E x h i b i t i o n as an " A R T G A L L E R Y " .
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Terrigal Public School
A
t the turn of the century, there were only four houses i n T e r r i g a l a n d the few c h i l d r e n i n the area w a l k e d along bush tracks to attend E r i n a Heights School. H o w e v e r , by 1909, T e r r i g a l residents h a d begun to agitate for a school of their o w n , a n d i n 1910, a P r o v i s i o n a l School was opened i n a cottage i n W i l l oughby R o a d , rented by the Department of E d u c a t i o n from M r . G . H . W i l s o n , at a cost of seven shillings a n d sixpence per week.
Terrigal Primary School - 1911-12
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T h e i n i t i a l enrolment was 18, and M i s s O l i v e H u n t was appointed as our first teacher, opening the school on 10th October, 1910. In September 1911, M i s s H u n t married M r . B e r r e l l , c o n t i n u i n g as Terrigal's teacher u n t i l 1933. O w i n g to difficulties with rented accommodation, the school moved to other cottages i n 1911 and 1912, i n c l u d i n g one rented by M r s . Berrell herself. H o w e v e r , on 2 n d September 1912, a one-roomed timber b u i l d i n g was erected at T h e H a v e n , (then k n o w n as
Terrigal Primary School 10th October, 1985.
Fishermen's Beach), at a cost of one h u n d r e d a n d seventeen pounds, five shillings. It measured 18' x 17', w i t h a closed i n verandah fitted up as a hat r o o m and wash place. M r s . Berrell remained Terrigal's teacher u n t i l the end of 1933. She proved to be a remarkable w o m a n , a strict and devoted teacher who spent m u c h out-of-school time w i t h her pupils. It was not u n c o m m o n for her to take c h i l d r e n to Sydney by train from Gosford to visit the zoo, factories and shops, and especially the Theatre. W e e k e n d picnics a r o u n d T e r r i g a l and N o r t h A v o c a p r o v i d e d m a n y fond memories for some of our early students w h o spoke very h i g h l y of her at T e r r i g a l School's 75th A n n i v e r s a r y Celebrations i n 1985. B y the 1930's, the o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g was overcrowded and parents were campaigning for a change i n the location of the school. In J u l y 1937, a two roomed weatherboard b u i l d i n g was occupied at our present address i n H a v e n v i e w R o a d , M r . A l y C l a r k e h a v i n g been appointed as Teacherin-charge i n 1934. T h e o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g at T h e H a v e n was demolished and re-erected at the new site, where it was
used as a weathershed (and emergency classroom!) for many years. O n October 10, 1960 T e r r i g a l School commemorated its 50th A n n i v e r s a r y and a number of our o r i g i n a l pupils, • along w i t h their former teacher, M r s . B e r r e l l , attended the 'celebrations. B y 1978, the enrolment of the school exceeded 600 and our m o d e r n brick complex was officially opened by the G o v e r n o r G e n e r a l , S i r R o d e n Cutler. T e r r i g a l School i n the 1980's is a First Class P u b l i c School of more than 700 students, who enjoy fine educational amenities, i n c l u d i n g a w e l l stocked library, a computer network system, and a wide variety of sporting opportunities much of w h i c h have been p r o v i d e d by our hard w o r k i n g and supportive Staff, P . & . C . Association and I n fants' M o t h e r s C l u b . W e look back w i t h pride i n our School's past, and forw a r d to the future w i t h enthusiasm. Page 103
The Entrance High School PREHISTORY T h e c h i l d r e n of T h e Entrance area d i d not always find that educational services were close by. U n t i l the first P r i mary School was opened at T h e Entrance i n 1922 the 30 c h i l d r e n of the area were carried by launch to W y o n g . T h e population grew steadily i n the 1920s and the N o r t h E n trance P r i m a r y School opened its doors i n 1926. Education past P r i m a r y L e v e l was a more difficult matter. J u n i o r secondary students could attend Gosford District School but anyone w i s h i n g to pursue an academic education needed to study Languages and this required commuting to
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Sydney! After 1929 the " l a n g u a g e " was available at Gosford H i g h School and, by 1947, at W y o n g . : NEW HIGH SCHOOLS T h e growth of the C e n t r a l Coast i n the 1950s and 1960s demanded more H i g h Schools and i n 1964 E r i n a H i g h was opened to cater to most of the coastal areas. B y the late 1960s it was inadequate and so, i n 1968, the decision was taken to b u i l d at L o n g Jetty over the o l d airstrip w h i c h had been used for j o y flights. In 1969 the newly formed Parents and Citizens E x e c u -
tive w h i c h included names such as Squires, D u h i g g , Baker, Swadling, C h m e l a r , Byles and G i l l a r d decided u p o n a u n i form. D u r i n g 1969 one h u n d r e d and ninety five students wearing that new u n i f o r m and identified as T h e Entrance H i g h were boarded at either E r i n a or W y o n g H i g h School. M e a n w h i l e the L o n g Jetty site was prepared and three square buildings were erected — A , B , and C blocks. In 1970 the new H i g h School was established at its present situation w i t h Years 7 and 8 and 25 staff. T h e first few weeks were inauspicious as the heavens opened a n d converted the already messy construction site into a quagmire. T h e first student council consisted of M a t t h e w M c K i n non, Cathy Clarke, Robyn Duhigg, M e l v i n H o l l a n d , Athena Hawkswell, Beth H o d g e , Fay A n d e r s o n , Warwick M c K i b b o n , M a r k L a n d o w and K a t h y N a r l . T h e new P r i n c i pal was M r . D a v i d T u r n b u l l .
O v e r the last seventeen years of the school'soperation the staff and student body has excelled i n the fields of academic achievement, sport, musical d r a m a a n d educational pioneering. It is currently one of the largest schools i n the state w i t h school population always hovering around 1300. Nevertheless esprit de corps is i n a healthy state.
Back Row (I to r): Ray Judge, Ed Raftery, John Baker,Danny Bond, "Digger" Hilton, Wally Howe, John Russell. Middle Row: Kay Turton, Ethel Woodward, Marie Goldsmith, Betty Ford, Wendy Bentley, Kay Hunter, Marcel Macnamara, Esther Hutchenson, Liz Cook, Gay Beresford. Front Row: Bev Hobson, Helen McCurdy, George Coulquhoun, Dave Turnbull, Esther Macdonald, Laurie Flynn.
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mm
The Entrance North PubUc School
T
he Entrance North Pubhc School nestles beneath the sand dunes between Hutton Road and the Tasman Sea, east of Wilfred Barrett Drive and neighbour to North Entrance Surf Club. This site was occupied by the first Public School in 1928, but education in the community dates back to 1926 when, through the generosity of Mrs. Walter Denniss; a one-roomed structure was built almost opposite the present school site, closer to the lake, and used as a school, church and community meeting hall. This school saved children of The Entrance North from a twice daily punt trip across the channel to attend The Entrance School. Records show an enrolment in January 1926 of thirty children, listed below: Boys: Walter Clifford, Morris Hutton, Pat Clifford, Charles Denniss, John Huntingdon, Owen Clifford, Reg Denniss, Allan Freeman, Cyril Freeman, H . Freeman, Robert Kennedy, Athol Atkins, Garry Clifford, Charles McCloskey, Alfred Clifford. Girls: Silvia Clifford, Iris Clifford, Mavis Clifford, Sylvia Denniss, Joyce Foott, Eileen Starkey, Mary Clifford, Patricia Clifford, Zona Robins, Laurel Foott, Lizzie Clifford, Edie Clifford, Gwen Clifford. The school has varied from a two teacher to four teacher school and at present has three permanent and two part time teachers. Enrolment topped 92 in early 1981 and 1982. Currently there are 63 children enrolled. A new four room brick building was completed in 1982 bringing the school into the 80s architecturally as well as educationally, and is now equipped with an excellent l i brary and many modern items of equipment.
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Principals and staff tend to have long terms of service at The Entrance North Public School, It is not clear who had charge of the children of The Entrance North for those first two years, but since the official Public School opened in 1928 the school's Principals have been: Mr. J . Roberts 1928-May 1955 (Mr. Roberts died whilst Principal and a M r . Snowdon was relief Principal from May to July 1955 until the appointment of M r . Moylan) - 27K years. Mr. Ken Moylan - July 1955-Dec 1978 - 24% years Mr. Robert Pegg - Jan 1979-May 1985 - 6% years Mr. Ian Wells — May 1985 — present time 2K years Assistant Teachers: Mrs. Gallagher, Miss Innes, Mrs. J . Roberts (Princ. Wife), Mrs. C. Field, Mrs. M . Parkes, Mrs. J . Jones, Mrs. J . Flanagan (Sept. 68 to present time - 19 years), Mrs. R. Blackman (Jan-May 1971), M r . B. Chittick (Feb. 72-Jan. 75) Miss S. Garner (Mrs. Williams) Sept. 1976-Dec. 1983), M r . Ralph Taylor (Jan.-June 1981), Mrs. L. Hamilton — Foster (June 81 to present time). Ancillary Staff: Mrs. D . Taylor (Feb. 1975 to present time) Part Time Teachers: Mrs. C. Moylan (Principal's wife), Mrs. C, Baker (Feb/Mch 1979), Ms. J . Morris (March 79Sep. 80), Mrs. E.D. Paskal Qan 81-Dec. 83), Mrs. F. Doyle (April-Dec 83), Ms. H . Burke (Feb 84 to present), Mrs. A . Clymo (Jan 84-Dec. 85), M r . G . AttriU Qan.-Dec. 85), Mrs. M . Imbruglia (Sept.80-June 85), M r s . H . MuUey (June-Dec. 1985), Mrs. D . Tatham (Feb 86 to present time). Cleaners: Mrs. J . Waddington (1977-1979), M r . L. McKay (1977-1981), Mrs. R. Lalor (1979-1984), M r . R. Crutcher (1981 to date), Mrs. N . Cross (1984-1987), Mrs. R. Crutcher (Part time 1980-1987, full time 1987 to date).
First School, 1926 (not a Department of Education structure).
First Principal, Mr. J. Roberts and some pupils,
1928.
First Public School building (now demolished) and new building on hand-over day, 1982.
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/
The Entrance Public School as it is today. Page 106
#
(If
The Entrance Public School
B
etween 1910 and 1914 several applications were made for the establishment of a school at Tuggerah Entrance. T h e requests were declined u n t i l J u n e , 1914 w h e n the Secretary of the E r i n a Shire U n i t e d Progress Associations, M r . W . Ross, stated that sixteen c h i l d r e n were i n need of educational facilities. H e was duly i n f o r m e d that a p r o v i s i o n a l school was to be established, and that steps w o u l d be taken to erect the requisite school b u i l d i n g s . A contract was let to M r . George S i m p s o n i n J u n e , 1915 for the erection of a schoolroom, measuring 18 feet by 18 feet, on a site leased from M r . R . B . T a y l o r . T h e work was completed i n A u g u s t at a cost of £ 1 8 9 . 1 0 . 0 Records are rather vague as to subsequent events but it appears that the school opened on a H a l f - t i m e basis w i t h T u m b i U m b i o n 16th N o v e m b e r , 1915. T h e first teacher was M r . B e r n a r d Dagg. In M a y , 1916, M r . Inspector Frazer recommended that both schools be converted to full time, as settlement i n the district was progressing rapidly. T h e recommendation was adopted and Tuggerah Entrance was converted to a full time p r o v i s i o n a l school i n J u l y . It was later raised to p u b l i c status i n J u l y , 1919. Increasing enrolments necessitated the extension of the school b u i l d i n g i n August, 1923. T h e following year the C h u r c h of E n g l a n d H a l l was rented as a temporary classroom at £ l per week. For many years Tuggerah Entrance experienced seasonal increases i n enrolments due to holiday makers who rented cottages for considerable periods. By 1926 the accommodation position had become acute and two additional classrooms and a weathershed were erected. B o t h rooms, each
capable of accommodating 48 pupils, were occupied i n N o vember. In 1927, the school site, c o m p r i s i n g three rods and 32^2 perches was given to the Department as a gift by M r . R . B . T a y l o r . The l a n d had o r i g i n a l l y been held under lease from h i m at a peppercorn rental. A t the same time a total of one acre and 31 perches was purchased from M r s . Denniss for £ 1 7 5 , while one r o d and 15 perches was acquired from the C o m m o n w e a l t h L a n d and A g e n c y C o m p a n y i n September. The name of the school was changed to The Entrance i n J a n u a r y , 1935 to conform w i t h the designation of the post office. The enrolment at this time stood at 203 pupils with average attendance of 184.7. B y August of that year the enrolment had risen to 240 as the number of permanent settlers i n the locality was i n creasing, the C h u r c h of E n g l a n d H a l l was subsequently reoccupied at a rental of 10/-per week. A n additional acquisition was made to the school site i n 1936. The l a n d , fronting Gosford R o a d and comprising 31 % perches, was purchased from M r s . D J . Inglis for £ 1 2 5 . In 1960 the Infants' Department m o v e d to a site two blocks south of the P r i m a r y Department, fronting O a k l a n d A v e n u e and extending nearly to the lake. N e w P r i m a r y D e partment b u i l d i n g s were opened i n 1965.
LIST OF T E A C H E R S IN CHARGE/PRINCIPALS B e r n a r d D a g g , N o v e m b e r , 1915. M i s s A l i c e Barden, December, 1916. M r s . Constance Baker, J u l y , 1919. M i s s M a y M a c G r e g o r , A p r i l , 1920. Stewart B l a i r , January, 1923. A l e x a n d e r M c M u U e n , M a y , 1934. Samuel M c M a r t i n , M a y , 1941. H e n r y F o r d , J a n u a r y , 1944, and December, 1961. A . D . S m i t h , J a n u a r y , 1962. W . A u l d r i d g e , 1974. E J . D o y l e , 1979.
Picture taken in 1927 after two further additions to the school. Page 107
Toukley Public School 1891
T h e first school opened i n September. C o n f l i c t i n g reports exist as to the exact location. H o w e v e r it is generally accepted that the school was built adjacent to Brisbane Street, N o r a h H e a d , i n the vicinity of J e n n y D i x o n Reserve. A clearing i n the scrub w i t h a couple of p a l m trees nearby supposedly still marks the place of the former school. T h e first pupils were m a i n l y the c h i l d r e n of the lighthouse keepers. A M i s s Hargraves was reputed to be the first teacher. H o w e v e r , departmental records state that the first departmental teacher was a Charles Rackitz who was appointed on 2 4 / 9 / 1 8 9 1 .
1892
School temporarily closed on 31st December u n t i l 17/2/1897.
1920
School closed u n t i l 1935 but two Hargraves girls, though they were not fully trained, filled i n as teachers. Bessie taught from 1920-1932 and R u t h from 1932-1935. In M a r c h , 1921, the total enrolment was 15, w i t h an average attendance of 11. B y 1934 the total enrolment had increased to 23. M r . J a c k Evans was appointed as Teacher-in-charge. T h e present school site i n M a i n R o a d , Nor'aville was donated to the Education Department by M r . N e d Hargraves. T h e school's name was changed to T o u k ley P u b l i c School despite being situated just across the border i n N o r a v i l l e . T h e name ' T o u k l e y ' is of abo r i g i n a l o r i g i n , being the single b a r r e l version of the o r i g i n a l name appearing i n the early records as ' T o u k l e y O u k l e y ' . T h e w o r d ' O u k l e y ' or ' O o k l e y ' seems to have derived from an a b o r i g i n a l w o r d for one of the local b r a m b l e - l i k e shrubs growing hereabouts a n d a logical meaning for T o u k l e y w o u l d be ' T h e B r a m b l e B u s h ' a n d for T o u k l e y O u k l e y w o u l d be ' M a n y B r a m b l e Bushes' or ' T h e B r a m b l e Patch'. T h e school burnt d o w n and another b u i l d i n g was erected on the same site i n 1941. There were 19 p u pils i n attendance.
1938 1939
1940
1947
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T h e first teacher at the new school, who was appointed to the o l d school i n 1938, was a M r . J a c k Evans who l i v e d i n W y o n g . P r i o r to the opening of the T o u k l e y Bridge on 29th A p r i l , 1939, he drove to W a l l a r a h Point. G o r o k a n each day, rowed across to
T o u k l e y by boat and finished the j o u r n e y to school by push bike. M r . Evans remained as T e a c h e r - i n Charge u n t i l M a y , 1947 when he was accidentally killed. W h i l s t preparing a demonstration of e q u i p ment for other district teachers at his home, he was electrocuted when the power to a projector donated by the P . & . C . was inadvertently switched on as he was connecting two leads. Evans R o a d , w h i c h runs beside the school, was named after h i m . M r . T e d Jones became p r i n c i p a l after M r . Evan's death, the enrolment then being 50. 1961
Construction of new accommodation, i n c l u d i n g one kindergarten room w i t h folding partition and terrace, 2 infants' classrooms, new toilet and ablutions blocks for boys and girls, an office, staff'room and clinic commenced. T o t a l cost was ÂŁ21,872. M r . Jones retired and M r . E . M a l c o l m was appointed i n his place. T h e enrolment was 225 and there were 6 teachers. 70 c h i l d r e n transferred from T o u k l e y to attend a new school opened at Budgewoi i n the same year.
1973
M r . M a l c o l m retired i n M a y and M i s s D . C a m p b e l l was appointed as P r i n c i p a l . T h e enrolment was 550 and there were 22 teachers and 4 ancillary stafT members.
1976
T h e school was made a First Class School. M i s s C a m p b e l l was transferred and a new p r i n c i p a l , M r . L . Irvine, was appointed to Toukley.
1978
M r . Irvine retired and M r . J . Foley became p r i n c i pal. School enrolment was then 620 w i t h 10 infants and 13 p r i m a r y classes.
1984
H a l l was constructed at an approximate cost of. $120,000. M r . Foley transferred to Coff^s H a r b o u r at the end of the year and M r . P. V e e c h was appointed. M r . V e e c h retired at the end of 1986.
1987
M r . G . W i l l i a m s was appointed as principal. School enrolment is currently 434 and there are 7 infants and 10 p r i m a r y classes. A current b u i l d i n g program i n c l u d i n g four classrooms and the revamping of existing classrooms into a new library, w i l l be finished i n September, at a cost of $750,000.
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Tuggerah Public School
O
n 21st M a r c h , 1890, the District Inspector M r . W , D w y e r , submitted an application to the D e partment of P u b l i c Instruction for the establishment of a public school at Tuggerah on behalf of the residents of the district, three of w h o m were George Fowler, W i l l i a m S m i t h and M . C . Smith. Despite opposition from the W y o n g P u b l i c School that it was unnecessary to establish another school i n the district so close to W y o n g or K a n g y A n g y schools, Tuggerah School was opened i n 1892 having been built at a cost of ÂŁ45. School furniture came from the o l d M u l l e t Creek School. T h e school opened w i t h an enrolment of 27 pupils w i t h M r . Thomas T a y l o r as its teacher. M r . T a y l o r , despite being i n v o l v e d i n gross misconduct i n examinations at Fort Street T r a i n i n g School and being declined re-admission to complete his Second Class T r a i n i n g Certificate remained at the school u n t i l the K a n g y A n g y School was closed i n 1894 and its teacher M r . M i c h a e l T u o h y appointed to Tuggerah. The parents objected to M r . T u o h y ' s appointment and d i d not send their c h i l d r e n to the school. M r . J o h n Richards was appointed two weeks later on 25.1.1895 and was replaced on 17.9.1895 by M r . J o h n Beattie, w h e n the enrolment was 35 pupils. In approximately 1895 the school was re-sited i n its present position. T h e o l d K a n g y A n g y School was d e m o l ished i n 1895 and some materials were used to b u i l d the weather shed at Tuggerah. In 1913 the H e a d M a s t e r M r . N a t h a n i e l Pye reported an
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enrolment of 73 pupils. N o record exists to show if M r . Pye had any assistants. T h e school was reclassified from a P r i m a r y Class 4 to P r i mary Class 3 on 13th September, 1960 with M r . J o h n C h a m b e r s and P r i n c i p a l . T o d a y the school has an enrolment of 39 pupils and the present P r i n c i p a l , M r . J o h n Selwood, being the twentyseventh teacher i n charge of the school. Centenary celebrations are planned for 1992.
Kangy Angy School which Tuggerah School's establishment caused its closure.
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Tuggerawong School. New classrooms and Administration
Tuggerawong School — Original
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Building.
Block.
Tuggerawong School "The Cottage". Mural painted by children
in 1986.
Tuggerawong Public School
T
uggerawong P u b l i c School is situated on the Western side of Tuggerah L a k e between T a c o m a and K a n w a l Schools. It opened as a two-teacher, t h i r d class school at the commencement of the 1957 school year, 29th J a n u a r y , with an enrolment of 44 pupils, 34 of w h o m transferred from an overcrowded W y o n g P u b l i c School, w i t h two from K a n w a l P u b l i c School. Previously, local pupils had been transported by bus to W y o n g . T h e first P r i n c i p a l was M r . A l l a n Burke a n d his assistant was M i s s Doreen A g n e w . F o l l o w i n g A l l a n Burke, the Principals at the school have been R a l p h B o l t o n (1961-64), B o b Passlow (1964-69), T e d C a m e r o n (1970-72), A t h o l Griffiths (1973-82), R e x M e l v a i n e (1983) and J u d y T u r l e y (1984 - ). T h e honour of being first i n the A d m i s s i o n Register goes to Barry R i l e y who transferred from W y o n g School and e n tered 5th Class. M r . R i l e y still lives i n the Tuggerawong district. H o w e v e r , the dubious honour of being top of the " h i t " parade goes to P a u l Schuback then aged 9, who received one stroke of the cane on 7 / 5 / 5 7 for m i s h a n d l i n g school furniture. T h e opening of the school i n 1957 was regarded as one of the major steps of progress for the T u g g e r a w o n g - W y o n g a h district a n d was achieved by a small but w i l l i n g group of men and w o m e n w h o canvassed for numbers, and cleared and fenced the ground through v o l u n t a r y w o r k i n g bees. T h e first presidents of the P . & . C . Association were E n i d
W a r b r i c k , J o a n Daniels and C a r m e n Innes. M r s . Daniels was made a life member of the P . & . C . for her outstanding service over ten years. In early years the school population fluctuated from 75 i n 1963 d o w n to 41 i n 1968 and a t h i r d teacher was actually appointed for one year i n 1966. In 1973 it became a 3 teacher school again w i t h 66 pupils and since then has grown only steadily to its present size of approximately 200 pupils w i t h 7 class teachers plus P r i n c i pal. Tuggerawong became a second class school i n 1983. T h e o r i g i n a l portable wooden b u i l d i n g of two classrooms is still i n operation while i m p o s i n g brick buildings c o m prising an A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Block and two classrooms were completed and occupied i n 1982. A d d i t i o n a l classrooms and the l i b r a r y are demountable buildings. A l a n d m a r k at the school is " T h e C o t t a g e " a fibro weekender w h i c h was retained as teacher accommodation if needed w h e n the property was resumed. O v e r the years it has been used as a canteen, l i b r a r y and classroom. A t present it is used as a Craft r o o m and it has a colourful m u r a l covering one exterior wall. T h e reasonably spacious playground s u r r o u n d i n g these buildings contains many impressive native trees, enhanced by w e l l - p l a n n e d lawns, gardens and shrubs, p r o v i d i n g a picturesque setting ro a l l connected w i t h the school as they strive to u p h o l d the school motto of " P a r t i c i p a t e W i t h E n thusiasm". Page 115
Umina High School
A
decision was made i n 1974 to open a new H i g h School at U m i n a to ease the overcrowding at W o y W o y H i g h School and to cater for the e x p a n d i n g population w i t h i n the area. U m i n a H i g h School opened its doors for the first time i n J a n u a r y , 1976 with some 300 pupils i n Years 7 and 8. T h e school's first P r i n c i pal was M r . R o d D u n w o o d i e who transferred from W o y W o y H i g h School to take up the position. A competition was suggested by M r . D u n w o o d i e to establish a M o t t o for the school. T h e motto finally selected was that devised by G r a h a m M o u l d s i n Y e a r 8 — "We Build Tomorrow" from " O u r father's father built yesterday O u r father built today A n d we b u i l d t o m o r r o w . " T o b u i l d a tradition of close links w i t h the district's history the school's four (4) houses were named after — 1. 2. 3. 4.
D A V I S - the ship b u i l d e r , Rock Davis W E B B - the farmer, James W e b b B O O K E R — the convict who founded Booker Bay, and C R O M M E L I N - the district's first postmistress
After a very special b e g i n n i n g , the new U m i n a H i g h School was finally opened officially for inspection by m e m bers of the C o m m u n i t y on the 4th and 5th M a y , 1976. T h e first P . & . C . meeting was held on 2 1 / 1 0 / 1 9 7 5 where M r . George Retford was elected as inaugural President. It is at this meeting that the distinctive M a r o o n colour was selected as the p r e d o m i n a n t colour for the school's u n i forms. M r . Dunwoodie was later succeeded by M r . D . Foster our second School P r i n c i p a l . O n M r . Foster's retirement, the school's present P r i n c i p a l , M r . J o h n H e n r y , was appointed i n charge of the school. T h e school has undergone extensive b u i l d i n g additions since 1976 and presently accommodates approximately 1150 pupils. T h e school has enjoyed considerable success i n both the academic and sporting fields. Pupils who have achieved notable successes are D o n n a G o w , the first student at K u r i n g a i College to achieve a l l D i s t i n c t i o n passes i n a l l her courses;
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M a r k Pegg, first class honours i n H i s t o r y at Sydney U n i v e r sity; C r a i g S m i t h who has an outstanding record as a B i o Chemist. There are many other students who have achieved similar academic success. Sporting champions include Brett A u s t i n e , w i n n e r of a W o r l d C h a m p i o n s h i p i n T r a m p o l i n i n g and W a r r e n Peters, A u s t r a l i a n Beach Sprint C h a m p i o n . U m i n a H i g h School has a proven record of achievement i n many varied fields since its inauguration i n 1976.
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Umina Public School -p m i n a P u b l i c School was founded i n 1956. B L e o n a r d Carey was appointed as the first I Headmaster. H e had a staff of three teachers to ^^^^ assist h i m . T h e y were H e l e n W i n w o o d - S m i t h , W y l v a W i l l i a m s and M y r a Elliott. W a u d r i n a K e e t m a n taught needlework. In M a y 1956 the school had four classrooms and total enrolment of 192. T h i s gave the teachers an average class size of 48. In those days the school telephone n u m b e r was W o y W o y 425. Since 1956 the school has had four P r i n c i p a l s , Robert M u r r a y (1960), Elsie B a i r d (1962), R o n a l d Lazarus (1967) and V i c t o r C o l d i t z (1974). M r . C o l d i t z retired i n 1985. A p a r t from M y r a Elliott, who retired i n 1986, V a l B r a n d r i c k and K e i t h A t k i n s have been long-serving teachers at U m i n a . T h e o r i g i n a l school was b u i l t by M r . A . G . H i l l of O u r i m bah at a cost of ÂŁ 1 1 7 0 5 - 5 - 6 and was officially opened on 25th October, 1957 by the then Deputy P r e m i e r and M i n i s ter for Education H o n . R . J . H e f f r o n . T h e Parents and Citizens Association at U m i n a dates from the school's first year. T h e n as now, the P . & . C . con-
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ducts the school " t u c k s h o p " . In 1957 a profit of thirty s h i l lings per week was made. In 1987 the weekly profit is considerably higher. The first canteen was i n a tent w h i c h was erected on Sunday night and taken d o w n on M o n d a y night. A n interesting early donation to the school was a large bell. T h i s b e l l is still i n the school. It now hangs i n the school hall as a constant reminder to the c h i l d r e n of the school's early days. T h e first g i r l enrolled at U m i n a was Suzanne Stebbing and the first boy was K e v i n M c L e n n a n . U m i n a ' s most famous e x - p u p i l is Brett Austine who has w o n w o r l d championships i n t r a m p o l i n i n g . M a n y of the school's pupils have gone on to w i n national titles i n a variety of sports. Today U m i n a P u b l i c School caters for 580 pupils and has a staff' of over twenty teachers. There is a very fine assembly hall and a very modern administration b u i l d i n g . A s well as the P . & . C , a M o t h e r ' s C l u b has been active for some years. Last year U m i n a celebrated its thirtieth A n n i v e r s a r y and the school looks to the future w i t h confidence.
Valley View Public School ot 14, Chamberlain Road, Wyoming, was resumed for a public school on 28th October, 1966. The area consisted of orchards and farms but in the early 1970's many subdivisions were commenced while settlement in the vicinity of Valley View gained impetus in the late 1970's. Incentive for development was provided in 1974 when Wyoming Shopping Centre and Alan Davidson sporting area were developed and again in 1977 when sewerage became available. On 16th May, 1978 a contract for $1,960,886 was awarded to G . M . Pluim Construction Pty. Ltd. for Valley View School to be built. The school was handed to the Education Department on 26th September, 1979. In line with current educational aims of providing for individual needSj interests and talents, the school is flexible and adaptable in design to provide for the years leading to the end of the twentieth century. Sliding partitions between the home bases allow for team teaching, while withdrawal rooms and practical activity areas encourage co-operative decision, parent involvement and group work.
L
Storerooms in each home base, pottery kilns in each block, unit preparation rooms for teachers and air conditioned audio-visual rooms provide pupils and teachers with facilities not normally found in older schools. The library, centrally located, provides ease of access from all learning units but also a degree of isolation from the noisier elements of school operation. It provides a main resource area, audio-visual workroom, group-discussion area, workroom, teachers' reference storage area and an office. Donations to the school for use of the hall, together with proceeds of concerts has enabled stage curtains and a sound-system to be installed. A lighting system is to be installed in the near future. Page 120
The late Paul Landa, Minister for Education, officially opened the school on 13th October, 1980. Pupils of Valley View in 1980 were drawn from Narara and Wyoming. Six hundred and twenty-five pupils were enrolled in 1980 and by 1983 had increased to 683, with three demountables in use. Since 1984 the enrolment has gradually declined to 535. End-of-year productions, including several musicals written and directed by staff' members, have received enthusiastic acclaim. Outstanding achievements in sporting, academic and extra-curricula activities have been made in our brief history. In 1985, our soccer team won the State Knockout competition and was runner-up the following year. Parental involvement has been of prime importance since the school's inception. Initial meetings to establish the school attracted attendances of 150 people. A very active P.&.C. organises social functions as well as fund raising activities. Although the Principal and Mistress commenced duty in term 2, 1979 they were based at Wyoming School until Valley View was handed over to the Department of 26th September, 1979. Pupils and teachers commenced at the beginning of 1980 and the late Paul Landa, Minister for Education officially opened the school on 13th October, 1980. Every student and teacher at Valley View in its first year have had their names preserved for posterity. The names have been etched into the earthenware tiles which make up a mural of the school badge on an outer wall of the school. Other murals of earthenware tiles have been placed around the school as a "gift" from each year six as they complete their primary schooling. They are a constant reminder of the excellent relationships that exist between pupils, teachers and parents at Valley View Primary School.
Valley View — Parental involvement evident during a Book Week Parade.
of every child and teacher who attended the school in its inaugural year, 1980,
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Wamberal Public School
T
he first school opened on 11th J u n e , 1877 i n a schoolhouse built by W i l l i a m L o n g on his p r o p erty and leased by the C o u n c i l of Education for ÂŁ13 a year. The first teacher was a local g i r l , M i s s Theresa A n n a Gleeson, and the first pupils were from the families of: Cornelius Swadling James L o n g Alfred Kelly James Channells William Long
George S w a d l i n g M r s . Margaret Watkins Matthew Campbell Robert G o l d s m i t h W i l l i a m Salisbury
In 1885 two acres of l a n d adjoining the o r i g i n a l site, a n d to the south of it, were resumed for the purpose of a school site. In 1891 a new schoolhouse was b u i l t by A l m a
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Charles W a t k i n s for a total cost of ÂŁ70.12.3. The site of this school is still designated as W a m b e r a l P u b l i c School a n d is on T h e Entrance R o a d , Forresters Beach, directly opposite the new Amusement Park B o w l i n g Centre. It is interesting to note the long distances w h i c h c h i l d r e n were required to travel to school. The T a y l o r family (The Entrance pioneer family) came 5 miles to school from their home near the present location of The Entrance Infants' School, and M a g g i e Davis also came 5 miles from T e r r i g a l where her father T o m Davis was a boat builder. O t h e r children came from the T u m b i U m b i / K i l l a r n e y area, w h i c h at this time appears to have been k n o w n as 'Tuggerah Lakes, W a m b e r a l l ' . Three days a week many of the c h i l d r e n were required to walk to W a m b e r a l Post Office to collect m a i l before going home. Attendance at the school d w i n d l e d , due partly to the
decline of the timber industry and the resultant removal of many families from the district. T h e school closed i n 1895. D u r i n g the next five years many efforts were made to have the school re-opened, either as a full time or half time school. W i t h the opening new C r o w n L a n d sites for homestead leases or free selection a n u m b e r of new settlers were attracted to the area, thus i n 1900 the M i n i s t e r for P u b l i c Instruction approved the re-opening of W a m b e r a l School on a new site. A C r o w n L a n d site i n Bellevue R o a d near its present intersection w i t h T u m b i U m b i R o a d was set aside for a school site, and i n 1901 a b u i l d i n g was erected by A l f r e d Ernest W a t k i n s (one of the o r i g i n a l pupils) for ÂŁ31.15.0. School opened on 17th M a y , 1901 w i t h M i s s E t h e l Dent as teacher. T h e attendance at the school slowly increased and the b u i l d i n g was extended i n 1915 at a cost of ÂŁ45.19.0 to meet the demand for a d d i t i o n a l accommodation. T h e school residence was p r o v i d e d i n 1915 w h e n the house i n T u m b i U m b i being rented for the teacher, M r . P a u l N o l a n was sold. In 1924 a new b u i l d i n g was erected by M r . A .
P a r t r i d g e - W a l l for ÂŁ542.10.6. T h e teacher at this time was M r . W i l l i a m Hayes. Attendance at the school gradually dechned, and i n 1947 the teacher M r . A d r i a n Russell was instructed to close the school at the end of the year. T h e school buildings were moved to T o u k l e y P u b l i c School, where they still stand. M r . Russell now lives i n K i a m a . T h e present W a m b e r a l P r i m a r y School was b u i l t on its present site i n L e a A v e n u e , W a m b e r a l by Lusted Constructions Pty. L t d . at a cost of approximately $1.85 million. T h e school commenced operating i n J a n u a r y , 1981, w i t h an enrolment of 371 children. E n r o l m e n t presently stands at 486. T h e school is a 17 classroom complex. O t h e r features are, a C o m m u n a l H a l l w h i c h contains a Food Service U n i t , a spacious, carpeted L i b r a r y , A u d i o V i s u a l rooms, and an A d m i n i s t r a t i o n Block containing facilities for the use of teaching a n d ancillary staff members. T h e physical advantages that this school possesses have assisted staff members greatly i n the establishment of practices that truly promote the K - 6 concept. Page 123
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Warnervale Public School he very first " W A R N E R V A L E " School was not i n the hamlet of W a r n e r v a l e as it is k n o w n today. T h e W a r n e r v a l e School, established i n 1911, was built at K a n w a l , 3 k m east of W a r n e r v a l e R a i l w a y station. A t the t u r n of the century a large tract of land between N o r t h W y o n g a n d W a l l a r a h Creek (Gharmhaven) was owned by a M r . A . H . W a r n e r . Subsequent subdivisions since 1910 resulted i n an increase i n population. T h e first teacher of W a r n e r v a l e School (at K a n w a l ) a W i l l i a m M a r s h a l l drove a sulky out from W y o n g , daily. M a r s h a l l often abandoned his sulky w h e n the " P a c i f i c H i g h w a y " became impassable i n wet weather w i t h carts and drays bogged to the axles. In the twenties, residents agitated to have the school moved from K a n w a l , closer to the railway l i n e , the only reliable all-weather route. K a n w a l residents were equally anxious to retain the school and change its name to K a n w a l — this eventually happened. (See history of K a n w a l school i n this publication). A W a r n e r v a l e resident, M r . Perc Cawthorne led the agitation to have another school established nearer the Warnervale R a i l w a y Station. M o s t W a r n e r v a l e school age children caught the 8 a.m. train to W y o n g to attend school,returning on the 4.30 p.m. M a n y c h i l d r e n , i n c l u d i n g Kindergarteners were not reaching home u n t i l after 5 p.m., on those days w h e n the trains were not delayed. Perc Cawthorne's perseverance p a i d off. W a r n e r v a l e residents cleared the Department's school site and a single r o o m
school and weather shed was built and opened i n 1958. O v e r forty c h i l d r e n j a m m e d into the smallish r o o m , their ages r a n g i n g from 5 to 13 years. T h e y presented a real c h a l lenge to the sole b e g i n n i n g teacher M r . V i v Davenport. C o incidentally M r . Davenport is now Deputy P r i n c i p a l at K a n w a l P u b l i c School, and he recalls that the W a r n e r v a l e c o m m u n i t y worked energetically to make their school the focus of c o m m u n i t y life. Bonfires, barbecues and fetes were memorable events i n the school's early days. Parents built a tennis court and shed i n the grounds and many trophies were w o n and lost on the day. O n e of the first pupils, M r . R o b Butler recalls the days just p r i o r to the b u i l d i n g of the school w h e n the land was being cleared, levelled and sown with blue couch. R o b says the m o u n d of dead timber and stumps i n the m i d d l e of the school y a r d made a magnificent E m p i r e N i g h t bonfire — w h i c h burnt for many days. T h e school has progressed gradually over its 30 years w i t h a current enrolment approaching a h u n d r e d . There are now 4 permanent teachers at the school (including the teaching-principal, of 12 years J o h n M a h e r ) . O t h e r staff" i n clude a full time clerical assistant (Rosalie Wells) cleaner, general assistant, part time L i b r a r i a n , craft teacher and release teacher. School buildings i n 1988 consist of a double classroom block (timber), a freestanding L i b r a r y (converted weather shed), toilet block, staff amenities block and two demountable classrooms. L i k e most of the other ' u r b a n fringe' schools, W a r n e r v a l e is expected to grow i n numbers i n the coming years.
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The School - 1987
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Woy Woy High School njune 1962, Woy Woy High was officially opened by M r . K . A . Hills, who was the first headmaster. There was quite a variety of subjects including History, Art, Needlework and Woodwork. Green Street was also constructed in May on urgent requests. The first 5th Year Farewell was held in 1963, and in 1965 'D-Block' was opened to cater for new enrolments. It consisted of eight classrooms and two science rooms. This year was also the last fifth year farewell, as in future it would be extended to Year Six Farewells. In 1966, the senior girls' uniforms were changed to an ' A ' line royal blue dress with white Peter Pan collar, and in 1967 the School Blues were introduced. This was a reward for students who had shown outstanding ability in sport. The school captains of 1970 received the chance to meet Her Majesty the Queen and other members of the Royal Family at Sydney. A two storey block was approved for Woy Woy High consisting of about twelve rooms and two new portables were also erected this year.
In 1973 a new library and laboratory block was built and an Indonesian family was adopted. Work experience was introduced in 1976 where many students wanted to work at Gosford Hospital. The school hall was constructed in 1978. The S.R.C. was formed in 1980 and Woy Woy High received a System 80 Microcomputer. M r . Murray replaced M r . Thorncraft as Principal and M r . Connolly replaced M r . Snape as Deputy in 1983. They are still currently at this school. The Canteen was replaced by a more modern establishment and a new 2 unit course in Plastics Technology was introduced for Year 11 in 1984. The Pioneer Cottage was also completed this year and Peer Support was introduced for years 7 and 11 in 1984. A State Government grant of $1.8 million was allocated to the school in 1986 for refurbishing. Work is now in progress on two of the original blocks and stage one of the project is due to completion by Christmas 1987.
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Woy Woy Public School
W
oy Woy Public School opened in August 1884 as a Railway Camp school for the children of workers building the main tunnel on the Northern Line between Sydney and New-
castle. With the completion of the work on the tunnel, the school closed in March 1888 and the few local children were left without a school until 1891 when a Provisional School was opened at Blackwall. In July 1891 Blackwall Provisional School attained Public School status and occupied two different sites in the Blackwall area until 1911 when the school was moved by bullock team to its present site. To coincide with this move, the name was changed to Woy Woy Public School.
It was not until December 1949 that pupils going on to Secondary School were able to receive their further education on the Peninsula. This became possible with the expansion of Woy Woy Public School into a Central School during the 1950s. In January 1962 the school reverted to a Public School with the establishment of Woy Woy High School. From its humble beginnings in 1884, Woy Woy Public School grew to a large Class 1 Primary School during the 1970s with a population of nearly 800 pupils. Today the school has approximately 350 pupils, including a Preschool, Infants Department, Primary Department and several Special Classes.
lilll—1
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Early Fund Raising Activities. (Pupils left to right) Back Row: Linda Reay, Glenda Allsop, Adrian Hawkins, Robert Sharp, Sandra Adams, Kathy Henry. Front Row: Leanne Wright, Debbie Iggleden, Kerrie Piper, Kim Rogerson, Total raised $364.71from 9 classes) (Kathy Henry now has children at the school).
Woy Woy South Public School
T
he school c o m m e n c e d i n J a n u a r y 1964 w h e n the
Ettalong G i r l G u i d e s H a l l a n d M r s . L . Rae a n infants class
p r i n c i p a l , M r . J . Haggerty, a n d six assistants were
i n the Baptist C h u r c h H a l l . M r . G . C u r r i e a n d M r s . D .
a p p o i n t e d a l o n g with 151
pupils. T h e first p u p i l
enrolled was Lester A l l s o p .
N o buildings were o n the site; rather the classes
Fewre taught classes based at W o y W o y
P r i m a r y School.
M r s . Fewre resigned after a term a n d was replaced by M r s . were
scattered throughout the district i n whatever spare rooms c o u l d be used. M r . K . Q u o d l i n g had a composite class i n the U m i n a Progress H a l l . T h i s g r o u p at times m o v e d out
G. McNeil. M r . Haggerty's role was to unite these scattered elements as one school from a base at W o y W o y P r i m a r y School. A s rooms were completed o n the present site,
classes
w h e n the Progress H a l l was needed for other uses. M i s s P.
were m o v e d firstly from U m i n a i n M a y 1964, then Ettalong
Pratt had an infants group i n a spare r o o m at U m i n a P r i -
i n J u l y a n d finally W o y W o y i n September. A l l classes were
m a r y S c h o o l . M r . L . Brett taught a p r i m a r y g r o u p i n the
now together for the first time.
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T h e name of the school was the cause of m u c h debate with Everglades, Blackwall and Webbs Flat being considered. T h e fact that W o y W o y was a better k n o w n name led to the retention of the name W o y W o y South. Increasing enrolments led to crowded rooms. In N o v e m ber 1969 enrolments stood at 473 with 6 classes of 40 or more c h i l d r e n , 5 classes with numbers i n the 30's, one class of 30 i n the " 2 6 ft. by 16 ft." staffroom (now a computer room) and another of 18 i n the " 2 0 ft. by 12 ft." principal's office (now a storeroom). T h e then M i n i s t e r for E d u c a t i o n , M r . Charles C u t l e r , visited i n 1970 to observe at first hand the conditions. T h e school was by this stage a two department school and i n 1974 became a first class school. M r . Haggerty was then u n able to stay as p r i n c i p a l and spent his last 12 months i n the department as p r i n c i p a l of Redfern. O n l y three principals have followed :M r . T . J o n e s 1974 to 1976 M r . W . H o p k i n s 1976 to 1985 M r . K . Stephens 1986 It is interesting to note that i n the years since the school's opening, changes i n education have meant that schools had
, gone from a p r i n c i p a l who was also a teacher ( M r . Haggerty 1965) w i t h no clerical assistant, to a non-teaching p r i n c i p a l , non-teaching infants' mistress, now deputy p r i n c i p a l ; with a full time clerical assistant and teachers' aide, part time teachers' aide, part time clerical assistant and part time l i brary assistant. There is also a full time general assistant. T h e similarities and differences of the last 24 years i n educational thoughts are best reflected by the t h i r d grade c h i l d r e n themselves. " I n the past W o y W o y South has had a lot of changes. T h e buildings have been extended. T h e school has planted 200 trees for the Bicentennial project. T h e school has got a craft r o o m , a computer r o o m and a room for the school b a n d . " (Leith, L i n d y , Danielle). "These days we use computers to help us i n education. T h e bell rings at 9.00 to go into school. Recess is at 11.00 a.m. and l u n c h is at 12.30 p.m. W e do d i v i s i o n differently to what our parents had learnt when they were at school. Last year (1986) we used to get the cane but this year (1987) we don't. In our l i b r a r y we have lots and lots of books, some donated by the pupils and their families." (Rosalie, N o e l l a , Chanell).
WOY WOY SOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL 1970 Standing (Back Row): Mr. Bob Anthony, Mrs. Diane Hanks, Mrs. Jackie Shaw, Mrs. Keetman (Sewing), Mr. David Bales, Mr. Leon Brett, Miss L. Bennett, Mrs. Olive Gallimore (Librarian), Miss Y. Randall. Sitting. —, Mrs. Olive Pryke, Mr. Gerald Davies, (Deputy Principal), Miss Maureen Davies (Infants Mistress), Mr. Joe Haggerty (Principal), Miss Yvonne Holmes, Mr. Robert Pegg, Mrs. Irene Knowles. Mr. Haggerty and Mr. Brett were members of the original staff of the school (7) appointed to begin classes in January 1964. Page 131
Wyoming Public School — Planting Liquid Amber Tree — Keith Jamieson Memorial Ceremony 24/4/78. Martin French, Cathy Courts.
Hagan enrolling a new student. Beryl Hagan was not only the secretary of the P.&'.C. but also voluntarily ran the school canteen for the first two years.
Wyoming Public School — considered a model school at the time of its erection.
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Wyoming Public School
W
y o m i n g P r i m a r y School, M a i d e n s Brush R o a d , was opened i n M a y , 1969. J i m Hughes, the first P r i n c i p a l , brought the c h i l d r e n over from Gosford where they had been as a school group since the b e g i n n i n g of the school year. P r i o r to this time a small infants school had been ting at Laycock Street, W y o m i n g since 1955. T h e continued to operate as part of the new W y o m i n g until December 1971 when the completion of more ings at W y o m i n g meant it could be closed.
operaschool School build-
M e m b e r s of the first Parents and Citizens club headed by President, M e r v y n Bunt and Secretary, B e r y l H a g a n and the Ladies A u x i l i a r y headed by President C a r r o l D o r r o u g h and Secretary, Sheila Astolfi worked very hard to support the school i n the early years. Sewing bees every Wednesday helped make the M o t h e r s Day Stalls and A n n u a l Fetes great successes. T h e cake stall at the fete was said to be second to none anywhere on the coast. Later parent organisations have successfully strived to maintain the traditions established bv those at the beginning. F o l l o w i n g the moon l a n d i n g by the A p o l l o II mission i n J u l y , 1969 it was decided to name the sporting houses A r m strong, C o l l i n s and A l d r i n with G l e n n selected as the fourth house. T o enable the school to have sufficient stock of prints by famous artists the first P . & . C . donated five " o l d masters" and decided to award the w i n n i n g houses of athletic and s w i m m i n g carnivals, as w e l l as Fete and M o t h e r s Day com-
petitions, prints instead of trophies. Consequently the school has a fine collection a d o r n i n g its walls. "Deeds not W o r d s " is our school motto and the opening line of the school song composed by P h y l Everett, a staff member, i n 1970. T h e motto itself was established by J i m Hughes. (Following J i m Hughes as P r i n c i p a l was B i l l Streeter [1972-73], J i m Rutherford [1974,75,76], G o r d o n W e b b [1977,78,79,80,81,82,83], J o h n K e n n e d y [1984-85] and C o l i n Shore (1986- ]) W i t h i n its boundary W y o m i n g has a natural rainforest that has been nurtured by parents and teachers since the school began. J i m Rutherford was able to obtain a grant to have a steel footbridge built across the creek into the rainforest. T h i s made it more accessible for school groups from across the coast to study the rainforest environment. (One member of the staff at that time, who encouraged the use of the rainforest, was Frank H a d d o n , who later became associated w i t h the G o u l d League). T h e school badge was designed d u r i n g J i m Rutherford's time and incorporates the rainforest, the A p o l l o II mission and the school motto. Parental involvement has always been a strong point of W y o m i n g School. T h i s has been highlighted i n recent years by the introduction of the two day E n v i r o n m e n t a l E x t r a v a ganza w h i c h sees teachers, parents and pupils participating i n a variety of activities ranging from home crafts and m u r a l painting to bushwalking and overnight camping. T h e B i centennial Extravaganza promises to be the best yet.
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Wyong Creek Public School
I
n A p r i l 1881, Reverend G . H . J o h n s o n , the C h u r c h of E n g l a n d clergyman who visited W y o n g Creek on his circuit of communities, requested the establishment of a school at W y o n g Creek.
T h e M i n i s t e r of Education approved the establishment of the school on August 6th, 1883. In October 1883, W i l l i a m B e r r y was appointed to open W y o n g Creek L o w e r P r o visional School. It should be noted that a P r o v i s i o n a l School catered for a smaller n u m b e r of pupils than a P u b l i c School w h i c h was p r o v i d e d w i t h a site and b u i l d i n g . T h e school site was leased from Thomas G a m , complete w i t h split slab b u i l d i n g and bark r o o f T h e first enrolment of c h i l d r e n was on 5th N o v e m b e r , 1883 w i t h 29 pupils on the r o l l . Its current enrolment is 20. Later, from 1 st A p r i l 1884, the school was reclassified as a p u b l i c school. T h e o r i g i n a l b u i l d i n g gave way to better things i n the form of a new school b u i l d i n g i n J u n e 1893. T h e o l d one became the weather shed.
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O n e of the school's neighbours built a residence so that the newly m a r r i e d teacher, Frederick Breakwell, w o u l d not feel i n c l i n e d to transfer to a school w h i c h d i d have a residence. Years later the Department purchased the house from the then owner, M r . L a b a n A n d r e w s . D u r i n g its 105 years, the school has had 21 teachers and as numbers grew there have been some assistant teachers w h e n two teachers were justified by the numbers. A l s o d u r i n g this time the Craft F a m i l y has had four generations w h i c h have passed through the school. M a n y events form a colourful history of W y o n g Creek School and these are w e l l documented i n the School's C e n tenary Booklet. E x pupils and interested persons are welcome to visit the school and perhaps combine this w i t h a trip through the beautiful Y a r r a m a l o n g V a l l e y . T h e school w o u l d be pleased to meet w i t h its former pupils and share some of their m e m ories. C e r t a i n l y today's pupils find m u c h interest i n the stories about the " o l d days".
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Wyong Grove Public School
W
yong Grove was established as a Public School in 1981. It was housed in what had previously been Wyong Infant Department. Two classrooms were converted into a modern Administration Block, a demountable Food Service Unit was set up and a magnificent Library was built to complete Wyong Grove as a 2nd Class Primary School. The School Badge was designed by local artist, M r . Ken Cowell, and the motto: "Grow With Understanding", was suggested by a Staff member, M r . Jerry Limbrick. The School colours are sky blue and navy blue. The summer, winter and sports uniforms were designed by another member of Staff, Miss Judy Davis. The buildings were supplied to establish this School, but the qualities that make Wyong Grove the great school that it
is, have been willingly given over the 7 years of its existence by caring, co-operative, interested and hard-working parents and members of the Teaching, Ancillary and Cleaning Staffs.
1987 Teaching Staff: Principal — Miss Dorothy Campbell Assistant Principal — M r . Bob Debenham Assistants — Mrs. Gail Henry - M r . Norm Ellis - M r . J o h n O'Connell — Miss Julia Thompson — Mrs. Helen Brown Teacher/Librarian — Mrs. Maria Bruce
1 iw
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Wyong High School
1
987 marks the R u b y A n n i v e r s a r y of W y o n g H i g h School. T h e M i n i s t e r for Education the H o n o u r a b l e R . G . H e f f r o n M . L . A . laid the actual foundation stone on 2 2 n d M a r c h . 1946. T h e new school was to be a C e n t r a l School. Built i n brick, it was designed to house 350 pupils. There were seven classrooms plus specialist rooms and offices built at this time. T h e school was located i n a horse paddock w h i c h had previously been treated as public l a n d and a good many picnics and football games had been played there. W y o n g Secondary School was officially opened on 7 th N o v e m b e r , 1947 but it was proclaimed a J u n i o r H i g h i n 1950. It was designed to take pressure off the Gosford H i g h School w h i c h was the only H i g h School between Sydney and Newcastle at that time. M r . D ' A r c y Rose M e m b e r for the U p p e r H u n t e r was i n strumental i n b r i n g i n g about the project a n d the b u i l d i n g itself was built by D a v i s Brothers at a cost of ÂŁ30,000. T h e first three Headmasters (now called Principals) were M r . R. Dennis who was i n charge between 1944 and 1949, M r . W . E . G o l l a n 1950-51 a n d M r . J . R . Rae 1952-1957.
T h e site of the school is particularly attractive and there are very few schools i n the state that can boast a rural river frontage such as W y o n g ' s . W i t h i n the school grounds there are several large stands of beautiful forest trees i n their natural state and b i r d song is often as l o u d as the voices of the c h i l d r e n . B e l l b i r d s and Currawongs provide a melodious backdrop. In 1972 the Department of M a i n Roads had plans to r u n the m a i n Sydney to Newcastle Expressway through the school grounds and its i d y l l i c setting was i n danger of disappearing forever. H o w e v e r , local citizens a n d pupils and teachers banded together under the leadership of M r . Buckle to fight the project. T h e y eventually succeeded i n persuading the government to keep the highway out of the school grounds and now generations of c h i l d r e n can enjoy a rare and natural area. W y o n g H i g h School i n the Bicentennial Y e a r consists of four large wings around a central quadrangle a n d a new extensive M u l t i - P u r p o s e Centre. It caters for over 1000 pupils and has a teaching staff of over 80.
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Wyong Public School
W
yong P u b l i c School was established i n 1888 i n temporary premises rented from a M r . J . R a n k i n for 5 shillings per week. T h e first teacher, M r . W i l l i a m Berry had about 50 p u pils on the r o l l . A two acre site i n A l i s o n R o a d , W y o n g was selected for the new School and the b u i l d i n g was opened on M a y 2 n d , 1889, when the enrolment was about 70. T h e A l i s o n R o a d site remained i n use until 1979 when the School moved to its present position i n C u t l e r D r i v e . T h e School is now set i n beautiful grounds landscaped with Australian native trees and shrubs. In 1988 the enrolment is 570 students i n 22 classes. T h e School serves the community of N o r t h and South W y o n g and the s u r r o u n d i n g farming areas. In a d d i t i o n , two classes for intellectually m i l d l y handicapped students are based at the school a n d students come from s u r r o u n d i n g towns and suburbs to attend these classes.
T h e very large and well stocked library provides a central resource unit to the School. A computer laboratory provides students with the opportunity to find the most recent information while learning valuable skills for tomorrow's j o b market. A strong emphasis is placed on the basic skills. F u n d i n g from the active P . & . C . Association and M o t h e r s C l u b together w i t h Disadvantaged Schools P r o g r a m grants have ensured that the School is particularly well equipped. T h e School has a strong sporting tradition. In 1987 the R u g b y League team reached the final of the State K n o c k o u t Competition. W y o n g P u b l i c School is p r o u d of its long tradition and of its blend of the best of the o l d with the best of the most modern educational amenities and equipment.
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Yarramalong Public School arramalong P u b l i c School is one of the oldest a n d most historic schools i n the W y o n g Shire. It is situated i n the Y a r r a m a l o n g V a l l e y , 18kms west of Wyong. T h e school was opened as a private one on 1st August, 1870, w i t h an average weekly attendance of 15 pupils. H o w e v e r , i n October of that year, the C o u n c i l of Education agreed to fund the school at a rate of ÂŁ36 per year. O n Saturday, 2 n d N o v e m b e r , 1872, the o r i g i n a l school was b u r n t to the ground. It was replaced by a slab structure w i t h a shingled r o o f T h i s b u i l d i n g however, appeared to have structural problems so a solid stone school b u i l d i n g and teacher's residence was built i n 1890 at a cost of ÂŁ1133.16.0. These b u i l d i n g s are still used as the m a i n classroom a n d teacher's residence today. In 1981, the T o m H a r r i s M u s e u m was established at the
school. T h e b u i l d i n g , w i t h slab walls a n d bark roof, houses treasures from the Y a r r a m a l o n g V a l l e y ' s past i n c l u d i n g relics of the timber a n d dairying industries a n d household items from days gone by. T h e museum is of great interest to the locals a n d visiting tourist a n d school groups. D u r i n g the past ten years m a n y trees a n d gardens have been established at the school. A s a result of this natural bush setting, the school w o n T h e W y o n g Shire G a r d e n C o m p e t i t i o n (School's Section) i n 1985. In 1988, the school has an enrolment of 22 pupils. A l though it is a one teacher school, the Department of E d u c a tion also employs a S u p p l y Casual Teacher (6 hrs per week). A n c i l l a r y Staff (3 hrs per week). G e n e r a l Assistant (17 days per year) a n d a cleaner (6 hrs per week). Y a r r a m a l o n g P u b l i c School, w i t h a r i c h heritage of 118 years, is unique i n its b l e n d of traditional a n d m o d e r n educational techniques.
The class of 1987. Teacher: Greg Frohlich Page 143