MOOJEBING SCHOOL

Moojebing School. Moojebing School. Moojebing School. Moojebing School.

Written by Elva Shackley

Moojebing School

The opening of the Moojebing School – 3rd June 1897

The first record of this school was an application made on 3 July 1895 by district residents asking for a building to be erected for the purpose of conducting a school signed by the following: –

  • T. Haddleton
  • W.C.A. Quartermaine
  • F.W. (Bill) Beeck
  • F.V. Wreford
  • A.E. Quartermaine
  • John Day
  • Fred E. Smith
  • E. Higgins
  • T. Garstone
  • Koj. Loc. 66 (Coompatine) (Yowangup)

Andrew Stewart, H.J. Kindred and W.H. Baker also signed as settlers apparently not having children.

The application was forwarded by the District Board of Education to the Minister for Lands and the site suggested was the junction of McKenzie and Dumbleyung Roads. Approval was granted for this site to be reserved on 31 July 1895  on an area five acres (2ha).

After consultation between the settlers it was decided an alternate site would be more suitable. Mr. Patterson was asked for an independent opinion and he suggested the Moojebing townsite would be more suitable. Following this, Mr. Haddleton sent a plan of the selected alternate site which was at the corner of Trimmer and Hassel Roads; the top corner of the townsite. This application also contained a suggestion by Mr. Piesse that the building be of stone and similar to Marracoonda which would cost £229 ($458.00) built under his direction.

On 29 August 1896, the Chief Inspector of Schools arranged an inspection to obtain numbers of children who would attend and see if the site was suitable. His opinion was that a school was warranted and had prospects of doing well. He recommended tenders be called for a building similar to the one being erected at Jarrahdale at a cost of £210 ($420.00).

Tenders were called through the Albany Advertiser, but no replies were received so Messrs. Thorn, Bower and Stewart of York were requested to quote which they did asking £258 ($516.00). There being no alternative, this price was accepted with construction to be of timber with an iron roof. The District Board of Education decided a stone building would be too expensive and that local stone was not suitable being a substance of only half granite and shelly. Sand and water for building was also scarce.

Considering Mr. Piesse’s estimate, some of the figures are a bit puzzling. It wasn’t stated what size the building was he proposed building with stone. The one now proposed was to be 25 feet (7.62m) by 16 feet (4.9m). The contract was let on 11 December 1896 and the building completed on 7 May 1897. The Surveyor General had issued instructions to surveyor Turner to mark out reserve No. 310 consisting of two acres as the school site.

The school opened on 3rd June 1897 with children from the following families attending; J. Day, F.W. Beeck, T. Haddleton, F. Smith, F. Wreford, W.C.A. Quartermaine, A.E. Quartermaine and A.E. Newton. There were 27 children available and 13 younger ones to come.

Miss Ellen Farrel was the first teacher appointed while Miss. Amy Wreford applied for the position of sewing mistress. However, this was rejected because there was a lady teacher. Difficulty was experienced finding accommodation for the teacher, but she lodged with Andrews’ at “Moojepin” and had to walk four miles through the bush to the school. She complained to the Department about this and they suggested she get a horse and trap. She then applied for a transfer stating she “would have to find other employment if not granted”. The answer was “there is no other position available”, so she resigned on 28 February 1898.

In November 1897, £3-1 ($6.10) was approved to clear one acre of the school ground but the District Board advised the children had cleared a large portion of the playground.

The next teacher, Frederick Graham, was English and had taught in the Eastern States and then at the Boys Public School in Fremantle. He then came to Moojebing to take up duties on a salary of £100 per year on 1 March 1898. He also had trouble finding board and, for a time, he lodged with a local family but had to share a room with the husband. He decided to leave feeling he was causing too much inconvenience. He then boarded in Katanning paying 25 to 30 shillings per week (most of his salary) and still had to get conveyance, walk, bike or horse.

It seems he walked some of the time for a letter he wrote to the Education Department stated some of the creeks would be too high to cross when wet. He asked for an allowance or alternatively to have accommodation at the school, even a tent. A lot of correspondence took place on this subject and at one time it was planned to erect “an officers’ tent with floor and an outside fireplace”.  This was finally considered too much of a fire risk and, early in 1899, a small room was added to the west side of the school.

During this early period, quite a lot of trouble was experienced with stray horses and cattle camping on the verandah and rubbing on the tank. Graham made repeated requests to have the grounds fenced which was finally approved providing it cost not more than £7 to £10. When making application for fencing Fred Graham stated he was going to plant fruit trees and experiment in agriculture. He would be getting seeds from the S.A. Bureau and also Mr. Steinwedel the famous wheat breeder.

(Steinwedel, August Wilhelm – 1834-1924 – A farmer at Dalkey SA. He selected a few tall plants from a crop of Champlain’s Hybrid, an American wheat variety which was otherwise a failure. The selection was named Steinwedel and this variety was grown extensively in the drier areas of the Australian wheat belt from 1890–1910. It has been used as a parent for yielding capacity and drought resistance. The varieties Bobin, Sword, and Ford, bred at Roseworthy, had Steinwedel as one parent.)

Graham made a good impression because he received a glowing report from the District Board of Education which consisted of Wesley Maley, Chairman, H. Severin, T. Hoglin, and T.C. White sec. when they made their inspection of district schools in September. 1898.

Time doesn’t permit further details, so I will quickly enumerate the succeeding teachers. In 1901, Charles Webb was appointed teacher on a salary of £140 and Ellen Wreford was appointed sewing mistress at £12 per year.

Webb was succeeded by Miss Kate Logue in 1904 and she also had to teach sewing. In 1905 Harry Illman was appointed teacher with Ellen Wreford reinstated as sewing mistress. Illman remained until 1909 and, it would appear, he married for his wife took over as sewing mistress in 1907. It can be assumed that quarters for married teachers were added at this time.

Sarah Jones was teacher in 1910 followed by Charles Hillin 1911. Fred Nadebaum was appointed in 1912, with May Nadebaum as sewing mistress, and they continued until 1917. In 1918 Arthur Marling took up duties and remained during 1919, 1920 and 1921. Hazel Taylor was the next teacher for the years l922, 1923 and 1924. John Leeder is shown as relieving teacher with John Beach coming for a year in 1925.

Edward Dewing was appointed in 1926 and continued until 1928 with Florence Dewing acting as sewing mistress. The school was closed for a period in 1929 reopening with Norman Kruger as teacher. Fred Judd arrived in 1932 as numbers were declining for when Mrs. Susan Day took over in 1934 it was shown as an assisted school and remained so until its closure in 1936.

In 1942 the Moojebing school was revived but, as all the old buildings were gone, it was now held in the Hall. The first teacher here was Mrs. Fenny, who wasn’t a stranger to the area, having previously taught at Cartmeticup in the late 1920’s. The enrolment was now 12 including Mrs. Fenny’s two girls and a niece. Following Mrs. Fenny was Miss Elizabeth Fry, Miss Phyllis Porteous and Miss Beryl Evans.

The enrolment at the school fluctuated over the years and, on several occasions, numbers were considered sufficient to warrant the appointment of a monitor to assist the teacher. The applications made however were refused and throughout the term of the school it was always in the hands of one teacher.

Today we pay tribute to the initiative of these teachers and to the scope of education they provided. Besides dealing with a number of classes, handicrafts were taught, sewing lessons conducted and, in the summer, swimming for the boys in a nearby dam. Students enjoyed playing tennis on the very good court in front of the school. Cricket, football and baseball were played on the marked playing field on the west side of the school below the play shed.

Gardening was a feature of the Moojebing school with a beautiful display of spring annuals grown by the girls with each having their own particular area to care for. The boys had their own vegetable plots and all plants were grown by the children at the school. Great pride was taken in the gardens and many times those passing would stop to admire the children’s efforts.

Work from the school was always entered in the Katanning Show gaining many prizes. Moojebing parents gave wonderful support to all activities and the students were all very grateful to them in helping to make their education very complete.

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