Learning intention
We are using evidence to learn about postal services in the past.
Success criteria
We can use stories and images as evidence of the past.
We can draw conclusions using stories, images and objects as evidence.
These two envelopes contained marked work books and lesson instructions.
Identify the:
stamp
address
return address
dates sent.
'Commercial Papers' – the envelope contained printed documents.
'On His Majesty's Service' – the envelope was from a government department.
Stamps – have a portrait of King George V, the king from 1910 to 1936.
Stamp values – blue stamp is 3d –threepence. The red stamp is 2d –tuppence (two pence). Pence is a penny.
Address– Mrs J. J. Collins, Collinvale, Bevendale, via Dalton. Collinvale is the farm, Bevendale is the location and Dalton is the nearest village
Return address – The Correspondence School, Blackfriars, Sydney
Dates sent – 8th April 1931 and 24th April 1931
Mrs Jean Collins lived on a farm called Collinvale in country NSW. The nearest school was too far away so she helped her son Geoffrey do his school lessons at home.
This is Geoffrey's first day of school at home in 1929. The envelopes above held his school lessons and marked work books. His mother helped him do his lessons at home.
Recall your Schoolhouse Museum visit.
View the video or read the writing task Geoffrey's 4th Class teacher set.
View the video or read what Geoffrey wrote for his written composition.
Recount what you learnt about past postal services from Geoffrey and his teacher.
A 'composition' is a written story. Today we call it a 'written text'.
Geoffrey's story describes his personal context.
"Almost every day the trains and steamers leaving Sydney, carry packets of mail to 'my big family' scattered all over New South Wales.
Suppose you tell me this week what really does happen when your school work arrives.
Tell me how it is brought to your place – by steamer, train, mail car, coach or horseback?
Is it delivered right to your door, or do you ride or walk miles to get it?"
This lesson sheet has been typed on a typewriter.
"Our mail comes by train to Gunning and from there to Dalton by car, and to Bevendale also by car.
We motor a mile and a half for our mail, which is delivered by the road side, across the river.
We have no bridge only a concrete crossing. If the river is in flood then the mail is brought over on a flying-fox.
I always look forward to the mail which comes three times a week."
Geoffrey wrote his story using pen and ink in Cursive writing.
What modes of postal transport did the teacher list?
How was the mail transported to Geoffrey?
What were some challenges for Geoffrey's family when collecting the mail?
How do you know this information?
Examine the images below.
What do you notice first?
What people and objects can you see?
What forms of transport can you see?
What do you think is happening in the image?
What can you learn about transporting the mail from the image?
What might be a challenge in delivering or collecting the mail that way?
What does the image make you wonder?
Recall your Schoolhouse Museum excursion, the video and photos.
How was the post transported and delivered to far away places in the past?
Draw a picture of what you think Geoffrey’s flying fox over the flooded river looked like.
What other challenges might there be in transporting the mail to far away places?
Postal services – services that manage mail delivery such as sorting and postal trainsport
Mail – letters and parcels sent through the post
Envelope – a flat paper container to hold letters and paper documents
Mail train – a train that transports mail. About mail trains.
Steamer – a shallow boat designed for rivers and powered by steam and often a paddle-wheel
Mail car – a car used to transport mail, sometimes with a traler
Horseback – tranport by riding a horse
Correspondence – communication between people by sending and recieving letters and emails
Image – a picture