Schools

The Geham Slate school celebrated its golden jubilee on Saturday afternoon. The gathering included many old pupils among whom was Mr. H. Erb, the last of 13 original pupils who attended the school when it was opened on April 4, 1873 [sic]. The school attendance is now about 90. Mr. T. Black, an octogenarian, who was unable to attend personally wrote to the headmaster, Mr. O. E. J. Bartlett, interesting reminiscences of the seventies. Many years ago, he said, the district formed part of three sheep stations, Gowrie, Crow's Nest, and Helidon.  The Gowrie shepherd was named Jim. The Crow's Nest shepherd, a foreigner pronounced  the name Geham, and thus the district got its name.

THE JUBILEE OF GEHAM SCHOOLS. (The Queenslander)

The Geham State School, whose official number is 54, was opened on April 4, 1871, with an enrolment of 13 pupils. One of these, one pupil, Henry Erb. took part in the Golden Jubilee celebrations, held on Saturday, October 27. Mr. John O'Beirne, whose death occurred recently at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Watson, in Bundaberg, at the age of 77 years, was the first teacher of the school. He was succeeded by Mr. McIntyre, who is still living, and resides in South Brisbane. Mr. T. Speneely, who retired from the Education Department last year, and who now lives at Wynnum, with Mrs. Spencely, followed Mr. Mclntyre a head- teacher at the Geham School. The intervening head teachers have been Mr. W. T. Gray (retired), Mr. G. C Neech (secretary of the Chamber of Commerce, Dalby), Mr. A Harrison (now of the State Agricultural Bank), Mr. E. T. Gould (head teacher Walter Hall State School. Mt. Morgan), and Mr. J. Collings (of Park avenue School, Rockhampton). The present head teacher is Mr. 0. B. J. Bartlett, who is also president of the Darling Downs Teachers' Association. The enrolment of the school at the present time is about 80 pupils, over 2000 pupils having been admitted since the date of opening. The jubilee festivities took the form of a monster basket picnic and sports, and attracted a very large crowd of visitors from all the surrounding districts, including Crow's Nest, and Goombuugee, while Toowoomba was well represented by past pupils, with their families and friends, Five camphor laurel trees were planted to commemorate the day, by Mesdames Black, Cronin, Connelly, Collins, and Costello, who were amongst the earliest pioneers of the district. All these ladies are widows, the youngest, Mrs. Connelly, being 66 years of age, while the eldest, "Granny Cronin, is 83 years of age, A memorial tree was also planted for the late Mr. John O'Beirne, by Mr. J. P. Nolan, of Pechey, and Mrs. Edwards, of Toowoomba, nephew and niece respectively, of Mr. O'Beirne.