Lugarno Public School

ESTABLISHMENT

The Lugarno Public School was established as a result of pressure brought to bear upon the government by the Lugarno and District Progress Association and the Members of Parliament representing the district.

The Progress Association wrote a letter to the Minister for Lands on the 12th July, 1927.

"Members are anxious to know whether there is any land set apart for a Public School in the Lugarno district, Hurstville Municipality."

The letterhead of the Progress Association listed its executive officers as H.C. Cleveland, President; P.R. Purcell, Vice President; H. Connell, Hon. Treasurer; F.S. Wales, Hon. Secretary; and A. Zoeller, Assistant Secretary and Publicity Expert.

This letter was passed to the Department of Education, and Mr. Inspector Price was asked to report if steps should be taken to secure a school site in the Lugarno area. Inspector Price informed the Chief Inspector that he was too busy to visit Lugarno until early in the new year, and was of the opinion that the matter was not one of urgency. He reported on the 31st March, 1928:

"It is very probable that in the not distant future a school must be established in the locality, and that being so, it is desirable that a site be acquired at once.

A tracing of the site [Portion 161] suggested by the local Progress Ass'n is forwarded herewith. The block comprises approx. 3 1/2 acs., is lightly timbered, level, centrally situated, and otherwise suitable for school purposes. It is recommended therefore that the necessary steps be taken to acquire the site as requested."

The Headmaster of Peakhurst Public School, Joseph D. Woods, was asked to report to Inspector Price. The Peakhurst Public School was the closest school to Lugarno at this time, and the report lists the names and ages of pupils at Peakhurst who lived at Lugarno, with the distance they travelled.

The Headmaster also gave his opinion on the proposal:

"Lugarno is a sparsely populated centre. The houses are chiefly week-end places. The Progress Association have been trying to boom it of late. The apparent boom is being engineered by a few land-jobbers who have bought extensively there, but cannot sell. I think it will be years before people seek homes there as communication is too inconvenient. They can show only about eleven children near school age.

These people have no educational hardships at present for they ride about 3 miles in a bus for which all are receiving subsidy. There is no congestion at Peakhurst School. The risks to the children now of an afternoon waiting for the bus are practically nil. There is plenty of shelter available from weather conditions, and traffic is very light. For these reasons I think a school at Lugarno is unnecessary at present."

It was decided to provide land for the school, but to defer opening a school.

On the 26th April , 1928 the Department of Education requested the Department of Lands that the proposed school site, which was Portion no. 161 of Crown land, 3 acres, 2 roods, 35 perches in size, be dedicated for school purposes. The Department of Lands gave approval on the 13th July, and the Government Gazette of the 26th October, 1928 officially notified the vesting of the land in the Department of Education.

The Minister for Education, Mr. D.H. Drummond, wrote to the local member, Mr. Fred Stanley, M.L.A. for Lakemba, stating that he preferred to have five acres for a school site, but as the school would not be erected for some years to come, and as there was Crown land on the opposite side of the road, he was satisfied with the three and a half acres.

Soon the Progress Association and the local Member of Parliament, Fred Stanley were pressing for a school to be erected on the site provided.

The bus to Peakhurst was a major issue. In May 1930 the progress Association wrote to the Minister for Education, pointing out that if the children were dismissed early they must walk along a lonely road, or wait at a lonely corner for the bus to come, which exposed the children to moral and physical danger.

At this time most Lugarno residents were not wealthy, and would have been affected by the Great Depression. Mr. Stanley, M.L.A. for Lakemba, representing the Lugarno residents, wrote to the Minister saying that they received a subsidy of 9d. a week for the bus fare, but they had to pay a shilling a week, and this was a hardship for parents with several children, especially if the parents were unemployed.

To indicate their strong desire for a school the Progress Association told the Minister that residents had agreed to clear the ground ready for a building to be erected, and Mr. H.P. Cleveland offered his hall as a schoolroom, until a proper school was built, at a rental of ten shillings per week.

Mr. Cleveland described it this way:

"I have erected a fibro building, 20'x12' with stone foundations, tiled and gabled roof. The building is now in use as a Sunday School, and is well ventilated, attractive, and situated just off the main road."

An Inspector, Mr. McDowell reported on the 11th August, 1930:

"There were sufficient children at Lugarno to warrant the establishment of a school...I have seen the Hall; it would be fairly suitable, and would enable the Department to test the bona -fides of these applications without the cost of building a school. I recommend that the Department accept this offer of Mr. Cleveland's for that purpose."

This offer was not taken up, and agitation for a school continued.

A new Member of Parliament, Mr. Edward Parnell Kinsella, M.L.A. for George's River took up the fight for a school during his term in office from 1930-1932, but without success. He was informed in May 1931 that the present financial stringency precludes the Department from taking any steps toward the establishment of the school.

The next Member of Parliament, Mr. C.O.J. Monro, M.L.A. for George's River pressed the case for the school with the Minister for Education, the Hon. D.H. Drummmond, M.L.A., and indicated the political advantage of having a new school in his electorate. He arranged for the Minister to visit Lugarno with him on the 29th March, 1933 and they met a deputation of Lugarno parents including Mr. W. Dyson, President, and Mr. Hans Matthei, Secretary of the Progress Association.

They claimed that there were forty four Lugarno children at Peakhurst school, four at Penshurst school, and ten at Menai school. Complaints about the bus service being expensive, the bus being old, packed full of both children and adults, and unsafe were made. Some children had to walk two miles, and others had to cross the ferry from Menai to catch the bus. An undertaking was given by Mr. Dyson that the local residents would clear the land, and fence it if materials were provided. The Minister pointed out the advantages of the well equipped and fully staffed school at Peakhurst over a one teacher school at Lugarno, however he felt that they should have a school of their own, and he asked for a diagram to be prepared showing where the pupils lived in Lugarno.

Mr. Monro forwarded the diagram, wit a letter commenting that it showed that 30 families with 72 children lived within a mile of the proposed school, and he suggested that the provision of a school would encourage additional people to live at Lugarno in their places on the water front. He reported that the people of Lugarno had begun to clear the site.

The Department wrote to the parents in Lugarno seeking details of the number of pupils and their ages. They also wanted to be sure that the parents would send their children to the Lugarno school rather than the better staffed and equipped Peakhurst school.

There was a little opposition to the school by a few parents. One wrote that if the names of his children had been used to support the establishment of a school at Lugarno, then this was done without his knowledge or consent.

Another wished to keep her children at Peakhurst, and wanted an adequate subsidy of the bus fares. She had not received the subsidy for six months, and objected to having to use the child endowment money for bus fares, but was willing to do this if it was the only way to get her children properly educated.

On the 17th July, 1933, Mr. Monro, M.L.A. was informed that the application for a school at Lugarno had been approved. In August it was decided that the name Lugarno would be used, and instructions for a building to be erected were issued. It was a S.P.C.R. (Single Portable Class Room) similar to the building at Balgowlah Heights, and was erected by the Drummoyne Workshops of the Department of Education at a cost of œ363/2/3d, including a wash shed and closets.

The official opening took place on the 28th October, 1933, and the following account appeared in the Hurstville Propeller of Friday November 3, 1933:

LUGARNO PUBLIC SCHOOL

The Opening Ceremony

After several years of agitation, the new public school at Lugarno was officially opened last Saturday afternoon by Councillor C. Monro M.L.A. for George's River in the presence of Dr. Eli Webb, M.L.A., Mr. Albert Lane, M.H.R. and members of the Lugarno Progress Association. Mr. A. Carpenter (Pres. of the L.P.A.) acted as Chairman.

There was a large gathering of children and their parents.

Mr. A Carpenter presented Mr. Munro with a key to open the school, and after inspection refreshments were served, the children not being forgotten.

In declaring the school open, Mr. Munro said the new school, situated in ideal surroundings with a playground of 3 1/2 acres had accommodation for 40 to 50 pupils. If increased accommodation became necessary in the future , he would make representations for the school to be enlarged. Mr. Munro also referred to the urgent necessity for the construction of a bridge across the George's River at Lugarno. Mr. Munro said it was costing the Government nearly £4,000,000 per annum to carry on the States education system which was the best in the world.

Dr. Webb, M.L.A. referred to the progress of Lugarno during the last eight or nine years, its good roads, water supply, electricity, etc. He would do his best to secure a bridge for Lugarno.

Mr. A. Lane gave a short address also.

The school was made available to the children of the district on Monday morning. [30.10.1933]

EARLY YEARS OF LUGARNO PUBLIC SCHOOL 1933-1950

Miss Delia King was appointed the first teacher in charge of the school, and was also its only teacher. There were eight girls and nine boys to teach.

A crisis arose on opening day. Mrs. Cleveland telephoned the Department of Education to say that no pans had been supplied for the closets. At this time no sanitary service was provided in Lugarno, although the Peakhurst area was served by the contractor to the Council, John Hannon.

The children must have been relieved when a contract to service the school was signed with John Hannon on the 6th November, 1933 to empty pans once a week at 6d. per pan.

Another problem was that the school did not provide classes for the older children.

Mr. C.J. Monro, M.L.A. wrote to the Education Department on the 31st October, just after the opening of the school:

"Will you kindly let me know whether it is intended only to enrol children up to 8 years of age, and if so when it may be expected that a teacher of a higher standard will be appointed to take up the 4th class."

Miss Delia King reported that 9 pupils had been refused admission to the school as they were above Infants age. The Department of Education refused to have additional classes for the small number of older pupils.

Further requests were made for additional classes by the local Member, and the Progress Association, and questions of the number of pupils available, and the suitability of the bus service were again considered, but it was not until 1950 that Lugarno was made a Public School Primary class 2.

Miss Delia King had other concerns - the condition of the playground. She reported that there was great risk of accident due to protruding tree roots and stumps. There were two playing areas, one on either side of the building. The eastern playground was 25 foot x 15 foot, and the western playground was 24 foot x 25 foot. The children were forbidden to play elsewhere in the grounds of 3 acres, 2 roods, 35 perches.

The next teacher in charge, Edith Beynon was appointed on 11th January, 1934. She found that although the school was connected to the Water Board's supply, the school was often without water. In 1936 a 600 gallon corrugated iron water tank on a 4 foot high stand was installed at a cost of œ13.15.2. to store water from the mains, and so have water available when the pressure was low.

The first case of vandalism was reported on the 16th December, 1937, when a window was broken by a small stone from a catapault on the weekend. Mrs. Beynon made enquiries, but found that no-one had been seen about the school at this time. The repair was done by Mr. H. Matthei at no charge, but the materials cost 3/1d.

In 1940 the school made its contribution to the war effort for the Second World War. The school windows were covered with craft paper so as to adhere to blackout precautions. The National Emergency Services (N.E.S.) held evening classes at the school in First Aid and Air Raid Precautions. Mr. Colebrook, a local St. John's Ambulance Officer instructed, and Dr. Ashby examined the candidates in First Aid. The N.E.S. group enthusiastically practiced cliff rescues.

Mrs. Beynon left the school in September 1941, and Mary Gourd served as Teacher in Charge from 16.9.1941 to the end of the year. Euphemia Levis was appointed on 20.1.1942, and was replaced by Mrs. Nora (Noanie) Cox on 28.1.1943.

The school closed for a year in 1944, due to dwindling enrolments. The pupils travelled to Peakhurst Public School, where many of them had older brothers and sisters in the Primary School.

However the Lugarno residents wanted their school back in operation, and the school re-opened with the appointment of Ellen Collins on the 12.12.1944.

In 1946 the Progress Association lent the school a piano.

Ellen Collins was the last Teacher in Charge of the one teacher, one roomed Infants School.

Mr. James Peters was appointed headmaster on the 31st January, 1950. The school was given Primary school status, and the original building was extended by adding another classroom. These two classrooms were joined, and had a common verandah, and there was a small office.

LUGARNO PUBLIC SCHOOL BUILDING PROGRAMME

In 1951 a double Bristol classroom unit was erected, parallel to the two room wooden building, as student enrolments had now grown to 118. The Bristol classrooms were made of aluminum by the Bristol aircraft company. After the Second World War there was a shortage of building materials, and these pre-fabricated buildings became common.

The following year there were 135 pupils divided into three groups: Kindergarten and 1st class (53), 2nd and 3rd classes (40), and 4th, 5th and 6th classes combined. The spare room was used for exhibiting films, storing materials, and general activities. Tenders were let for the erection of a new lavatory block, the fencing of the grounds, and the provision of a storeroom and office.

Mr. W.A.G. Dawes was appointed Headmaster on 2.2.1954.

The school site was extended by the purchase of 2 roods and 5 1/4 perches from Mr. H.J. Miller. Miller's Farm on the western boundary of the school was originally owned by B.R. Lloyd, and was a poultry farm.

Additional accommodation was approved in 1954, but the new rooms were not completed by the beginning of the 1955 school year., and an increase in enrolments meant that some classes had to be conducted in the Baptist Sunday School Hall, and at St. Stephens Church of England, until the new classrooms became available - a block of four timber classrooms and an office with a verandah.

Mr. Dawes made representations to the Department of Education for a library, but without success. However when the new classrooms were being built he was successful in saving the original double wooden classrooms from being removed. Donations of books and a cupboard, grants for books from the Department of Education, and fundraising by the P. and C. resulted in a library being established, although the room was considered poor and there were no library tables. The library was in one of the aluminum classrooms for many years.

On wet days the children had to stay in their classrooms, so in 1958 a fund raising effort called "Eat your way to a weathershed" was begun, and it proved a great success. Each Monday a special batch of buns was baked and collected by one of the mothers, then the Mothers Auxiliary prepared lunches in the Clinic Room.

On the 25th May, 1959 an additional one acre 32 1/4 perches was bought from Mr. H.J Miller, as a new Infants Department was being planned. By 1960 the school had grown to 349 pupils and 10 staff.

A new building was opened on the 26th November, 1960, by Mr. T.H. Ransley, the Deputy Director of Primary Education. It was to provide for a separate Infants Department from the beginning of 1961. In the brick veneer building there were three classrooms and a kindergarten room, two of the rooms being joined by a folding partition. There was also an office, a staffroom, a hat room, new toilet and ablution blocks, which were to be connected to a septic sewerage system, and paved assembly areas.

In November 1962 the Lugarno Public School Assembly Hall Building Fund Appeal was launched.

The Education Department advised the P and C Association that funds had been made available for two additional classrooms and a garden storeroom in 1963. The P and C took a census of pre-school children in Lugarno to assist the Education Department in planning for new buildings.

In 1965 work began on new buildings for the school to replace the original double portable classroom unit which was transferred to Fairfield West Public School. As no temporary accommodation was available, the new classrooms had to be erected before the old wooden building could be removed. Construction began late in 1965, and the first classroom was occupied in February 1966, other rooms being available in April and May. The new buildings, consisting of four classrooms, with a milk shelter, school bell, a new incinerator and paving, cost $48,700, and were opened by Mr. D.D. Cross, M.L.A. for George's River on the 29th October, 1966. The new buildings were necessary as the rapidly growing suburb of Lugarno now had 542 pupils and a staff of 17 at the school.

The long awaited school Assembly Area was opened by the Minister for Education, the Hon. E.A. Willis, on the 17th November, 1973. It provided seating for 500, and had a stage and sound equipment, and was constructed by Mr. Gadd.

In 1976, with an enrolment of 783 pupils and 28 staff, additional accommodation was opened by the Minister of Education, the Hon. Neil Pickard on the 28th February, 1976. The new block provided an administration block, library, a shelter-food service area, 8 new classrooms, 6 reconditioned classrooms, 4 re-sited classrooms, and toilet facilities. This major building programme resulted in the school substantially as it is today. The Principal, Mr. E.V. O'Brien described the new library as "architecturally and aesthetically outstanding, and without equal in the St. George area."

An adventure playground for the Infants children was installed in 1976.

A committee met at the school on Friday 14th January, 1977, to hand over the Dental Clinic Unit. Also in 1977 gas and electricity were connected to the incinerator and radiant heating was installed in the shelter area. Tenders were called for fencing the Lugarno Parade frontage, and for the erection of practice cricket nets.

In 1980 the Department of Education allocated $78,000 to be spent on improvements to the grounds, and most of this was spent on a sports oval. A Fitness Training Circuit was installed in 1981.

The many buildings and well developed grounds of today are quite a contrast to the single roomed school with a small area cleared for a playground of fifty years ago!