Chapter 3. The Thirties

In February, 1930 approval was given for the Dumbleton Troop of Boy Scouts to use one of the school's sheds for its Wednesday night meetings because there was no public hall in Dumbleton. In 1934, it was found that the MUIOOF was using the school for social purposes as well as for meetings and playing euchre and 'housie-housie'. The Department warned them that if this continued, their permission to use the school for meetings would be withdrawn. On the other hand, however, the Department did not object when in 1934 the secretary of the P&C, Mrs B Page, wrote that the P&C used the profits from fortnightly 'euchre nights' to buy library books, sports materials and anything else the children might need.

Mr J.W.Gettens (Headmaster) was given approval in 1931 to hold a " 'penny concert' to supplement the efforts of the P&C Association in giving a basket picnic to the school pupils on Thursday 17th December."

The Department's supervisor of Music inspected the school in 1931 and criticised the teaching of music appreciation. Defending his staff against this attack, Gettens wrote:

...With regard to Mr Naylor, as Headmaster I desire to state that he is a pianist of exceptional ability. He plays for pupils to march in and out of school at recesses and his daily rendition is such, and his versatility as an artist so wide, that his daily performances are really an entertainment for appreciation by teachers and scholars. In fact his playing is a distinctive feature in the daily routine.... During 1930 ,community singing on occasional Friday afternoons, with Mr Naylor at the piano and myself as conductor, was indulged in. On these occasions, the pupils were allowed to express appreciation by singing songs of their own choice. The Infants' section had a gramophone, but this was stolen one weekend when the school was broken into by burglars.

Gettens wrote that in November, 1931 Dumbleton school did not take part in the St George District Swimming Carnival because, owing to the prevailing unemployment, I could not get sufficient pupils to attend and make it a paying proposition to the bus owner as the boys were conveyed to Ramsgate by bus at a cost of 5 pence return per pupil.

TRAFFIC

Hurstville Council had first asked the Department about rounding off the corner of Dumbleton and Stoney Creek Roads in July, 1929 to make it safer. Ironically, rather than making it safer, it made it more dangerous. In April, 1930 the Town Clerk, asking for the Department's co-operation with fencing, wrote that the re-construction of Stoney Creek Road at this particular intersection is practically complete and will consequently carry a great deal more traffic than previously, thereby increasing the likelihood of serious accidents to the school children and travelling public.

In June, 1931 Gettens, who had been asked to report on the progress of the work on the corner, wrote that Hurstville Council fully discharged its obligation. The corner was rounded off, fence re-erected and footpath levelled. From the motorist's point of view the alteration is a decided improvement..

In June, 1932, 120 pupils of the school attended a matinee film at Penshurst Picture Theatre. The pupils had attended two matinees in the 7 years prior to that.

A 9 year old boy, Mathew Crooks, broke his collar-bone while playing cricket before school on 1st September, 1932. Witness statements about the accident were supplied by pupils, Jack Holland and Frank Brett. In another playground accident in August, 1933, 10 year old Stanley Martin broke his arm while playing football. Witness statements were provided by fellow pupils, Martin's 13 year old brother, George, and by Jack Clarke.

In a separate accident in August 1934,101/2 year old John Murphy got a deep cut over the eye while playing rounders before school. Witness statements for this accident were provided by Ray Knock (or Knoch), Erick Cooper and George McLaren.

In March, 1932 Gettens burnt off much of the paspalum grass in the school ground. He noted that it had been a menace to the school out-buildings and adjoining houses. The P&C had asked the Department to remove this grass as this month and next is very dangerous with the 'trap door' spiders. A patch of blackberries was removed from the school grounds by local resident Mr W.H. Young in December, 1932.

Gettens did not manage to gain the lA classification he sought before his retirement from the school in March, 1937. The inspectors considered his running of the school to be good but not to have the conspicuous merit necessary for this classification. In May, 1930 the inspector reported:

There is much in the school that merits commendation. The grounds have been nicely laid out and the appearance of rooms is very creditable. The Headmaster exercises careful oversight of the work of the other teachers and, with a few exceptions, the work is satisfactorily co-ordinated. The work of 6th class taught by him was tested. Some very good composition exercises were done by pupils and the standard achieved indicated efficient teaching. The results in simple mechanical tests in Arithmetic and Spelling were below standard.

Gettens retired for health reasons in March, 1937. The inspector wrote on his letter of resignation:

Mr Gettens' early retirement [he was 62] is a distinct loss to the Department. He has worked with customary skill and enthusiasm right to the eve of retirement. His results (Primary Final) last year, a 93~G pass, call for special comment and commendation. If possible, I should like the Department to mention that splendid finish to a career of usefulness, when it sends on to Mr Gettens its usual farewell, best wishes and thanks.

In 1932, free milk was being distributed by Mrs Bolton to pupils whose parents were unemployed on behalf of an unemployment relief organisation which had also supplied soup to neighbouring schools in the winter months. Gettens appreciated this humanitarian gesture. The milk, which was all being drunk by these pupils, was donated by local dairymen or by residents who purchased milk from dairymen. An objection to this practice came from Mr W. Black, who gave his address only as 'Hurstville' (probably so that he could not be identified) when Hurstville was already an extensive district.

In defending the practice, Gettens pointed out that this was the first time at this school that anyone has offered to distribute milk gratis. Gettens obviously believed that W. Black's real objection was Black's unstated suspicion that the unemployment relief organisation was in some way communist although it had said it was purely humanitarian. The Department ruled that any milk distributed must be delivered in sealed bottles and this probably stopped the distribution.

Vandalism was continuing as a problem at the school. The P &C had requested a new fence around the school in December, 1932. By 1933 the P&C wrote that "the grounds are becoming 'common property' and the Department's property is being interfered with, flag pole & bell post altered and window broken."

In November 1934 Gettens wrote:

On Saturday last, the school cleaner surprised two lads on the roof interfering with the corrugated iron in search of birds' nests. She had them identified and I am handing their names to the Police. The Police have drawn my attention to the unsatisfactory condition of the school fence as applied to trespassing. The school is situated at the intersection of two main roads. Along one of them, Dumbleton Road, is a constant stream of traffic and I respectfully submit that the school fence is a reproach to any Government institution.

In September, 1934 the P&C wrote to the Minister: I am sure, Mr Drummond if you saw the fence, you would not hesitate to have it attended to. In March 1935 the Department's chief building officer described the fence as being in a most disgraceful state. The P&C wrote in November 1935 that Mr Gettens has the gardens looking so nice now, and it would be a shame that straying stock should get in and destroy everything. New fences around part but not all of the site were completed by May 1936. A tall pine tree which had recently died in the school ground was removed at the same time.

The P&C was inconvenienced by having no assembly hall in which to hold fund-raising functions. In September, 1933 Gettens wrote that the school suffers considerably by comparison with the neighbouring modern buildings at Penshurst and Peakhurst where large assembly rooms have been provided. Individual members of the Association have attended neighbouring functions where the facilities for such, considerably reflect, in adverse ratio, the disabilities here. Gettens suggested that the weathershed might be extended, enclosed and converted into a commodious assembly hall which could also be used for shelter in wet weather. For the next few years the P&C tried to get the Department to agree to this alteration, offering, in 1936 to bear the full cost of it, but the Department would not agree.

Gettens successfully applied for an extra assistant teacher in April, 1933, noting that the enrolment was 314 and that the teacher of Class 1 had 72 pupils. In October, 1934 when the enrolment was 304, Gettens again applied for an extra assistant as there was a disproportionate number of pupils in 1st Class. To add weight to his request (the outcome of which is not shown in the records), he wrote that unemployment relief work is being carried out in the immediate vicinity of the school. I understand that this work, construction of storm water channels, will go on for some months. It will cause our attendance to increase.

The P&C unsuccessfully requested in April, 1934 that the travelling dental clinic again visit the school as there are a lot of children that need treatment and their parents have not the means of getting such treatment for them.

Asking the Department for a hose for the school in February, 1935 the P&C wrote that the headmaster has a very nice garden in front of the school. However, a hose was not supplied.

A branch of the Junior Red Cross was established at the school in 1936.

The next head of the school was Mr Martin Gibbons who was appointed in March, 1937 when Gettens left. Gibbons was transferred to Mortlake at the end of 1939.

There was a fire at the school in the early hours of 30th September, 1937. Gibbons wrote that the outbreak was confined to the Staff Room where most damage was done though S class rooms, sewing room, office, passage, porch etc suffered smoke staining and damage by water. The Hurstville Fire Brigade was on the scene soon after the alarm was given and effected a good save.... I am of the opinion that the fire was the deliberate act of some person or persons unknown. The police reported on 5th October, that

... at the time of the fire one of the windows had the glass broken near the catch and entrance made by the intruder. Papers had been taken from one class room into the staff room, where they had been set on fire in one corner. Drawers in the school had been broken open and the cane had been taken out of one, broken in two and left on the table. Jars of flowers had been upset and thrown out of the window but so far nothing is found to be stolen. As the result of our inquiries we are quite satisfied that it was boys responsible for the offence ... but so far no information has been obtained that would assist in clearing the matter up satisfactorily.

The plans of the P&C were disrupted by the fire. O n 1st November, 1937 they wrote to the Minister asking that the electric light, which had not been working since the fire, be attended to as there is only one meeting night before vacation and only a few more euchre parties, and, if we can't have the parties, we can't do very much for the children's breaking up party.

This fire necessitated the renovation of the interior of the school except for two rooms and a corridor which were also painted to freshen them up.

On 21st February, 1938 Martin Gibbons reported that Dr Shute of The Avenue, Hurstville, had visited him that morning. After this visit Gibbons wrote: James Allan, 9 3/4 years, of 63 Millet Street, Hurstville, and a pupil of 5th Class in this school, is suffering from Infantile Paralysis. He last attended school on 18th Inst. Anticipating official notification from the necessary authority I.. sent the 5th class home.

In August, 1937 Mrs E J Sinclair, secretary of the P&C, drew attention, as Gettens had previously done, to the defects of the school's sanitary accommodation. She wrote: The buildings which are in a bad state of repair, are at too great a distance from the school. No provision is made for locking same, as, owing to the bad state of the fence [still obviously not all renewed], they are available to the public at all times.

Pupils attended a film matinees at Penshurst Theatre on 17th August, 1938 and 17th October, 1938 and again on 7th May, 1939.

In November, 1938 Gibbons successfully applied for permission for a party of about 36 members of the Junior Red Cross Circle of this school to visit the 'Cudgelo' home at Ramsgate to present Christmas goods and comforts, which have been raised by the members of this circle. This outing was approved again towards the end of 1939 when Gibbons wrote that it is the intention to take the usual gifts of groceries, fruit etc.

In 1939 approval was given for the renovation of the school's furniture which Gibbons had first requested in November, 1937. Following his first request, the head officer of the Department's furniture workshops had visited the school in January, 1938 and reported that the furniture throughout this school has received no attention since originally installed many years ago, and consequently is in a very shabby and dilapidated state . Approximately half the desk tops are so badly worn and scored that it will be necessary to replace them with new tops. The work was not done following this report and Gibbons renewed the request in February, 1939 after which it was approved.

The Dumbleton and Narwee Progress Association requested the appointment of a female (assistant) teacher to the school in July, 1939 as at that time there were only male teachers. The Department replied that this would be done as soon as practicable.

Mary McPherson
Management Information Services Directorate
Department of School Education

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