AUS-NSW-NORCO-L Archives

From: Kathy Pearson <>
Subject: Codrington Public School
Date: Mon, 4 Feb 2002 19:09:28 +1100 (EST)

STATUS QUOMCMLIX

This publication presents the schools of the Ballina Inspectorate at this time
– Education Week, 1959 – and their origins.

CODRINGTON PUBLIC SCHOOL

Codrington Public School nestles in a picturesque setting on the south bank of
the Casino arm of the Richmond River five mile from Coraki. The school was
built in the 1880s when the cedar industry was thriving. Today the school
serves mainly a dairying district, with beef cattle, mainly Hereford, being a
strong sideline. Crops such as millet, potatoes and maize are also grown.

Families who have attended the school in past years include such well known
district names as Antonelli, Bugden, Bryant, Baker, Cannane, Cronan, Crook,
Frame, Livingstone, Goswell, Patch, Wallace and Walsh.

Past teachers at this school were J Jones, Spaulding, W M Miller, J K Larner, S
Stewart, Charlton, S Smith, M O’Keefe, P Agst, J H Veness, K H McAlpin and H
Cooper, while the present teacher is H D Blanch.

The enrolment for many years was always in the vicinity of thirty, but in the
year 1933 numbers were so low that the school became subsidized and was under
the charge of Mr Athol Livingstone. However in 1936 numbers again increased and
the school once more operated as a public school under the charge of J H
Veness.

SCHOOL GROWS

The first school at Codrington was built on the river bank, a little to the
left of the present building. This was a very rough slab structure. In 1912 a
new building was constructed just inside the entrance gate to the playground.
This position was low-lying and in wet weather the ground became very boggy and
conditions became most unpleasant at times. So, in 1927, the building was moved
back to higher ground on the river bank and that is the building which is in
use at the present time.

Although the enrolment for the past twenty years has always been above
twenty-five, enrolment this year has dropped suddenly to eleven. The main
reason for this is the fact that as the children of the district complete their
secondary education they tend to seek employment in other industries while
their parents still work the dairy farms. However, there are several families
with young children of pre-school age who will keep the school going for some
time.

Children from this school, on completing the primary course, pass on to either
Casino or Lismore High Schools, depending on which side of the river they
reside. Some of our pupils come to school by crossing the river in rowing
boats,

Pupils enrolled at present are Carolyn Wallace, Theo Bosker, Yvonne Bryant,
Hugh Livingstone, Barbara Bryant, Carmel Wallace, John Crook, Heather Bryant,
Ian Bryant (twins), Keneth Livingstone and Barry Stone.

BRILLIANT FAMILIES

We are especially proud of the children of Mr and Mrs Frank Cannane and Mr and
Mrs Harold Crook. The five members of the Cannane family attended this school
and four of them gained State Bursaries, Tom (1949), Mary (1950), Margaret
(1954), Theresa (1955).

The members of the Crook family have proved outstanding citizens in their
support of, and their success in the Junior Farmer movement. From 1955-58, Val
and Kaye won four state championships in their cooking projects. This year they
were equal third. Also, their sisters Janice and June, who are twins, have been
placed second and third in the State on several occasions in the junior
section, while their brother Ken was third in the State in his vegetable
project in 1958. In addition they have all had many successes in district
shows. Another sister Shirley, won the district girls’ high jump in 1949 with a
leap of 4ft. 7in. and then competed in Sydney, where she came third in the
State final with a leap of 4ft 4in.

We have an active and financial P. and C. Association. The school is well
equipped with fluorescent lighting, electric wireless, good library and many
teaching aids. Our latest expenditure was for an electric “Vumax” 500
projector.

Each year Empire Day is celebrated with a concert followed by an afternoon of
sports, games and competitions. For “end-of-year” activities we are fortunate
to have the use of a large barn near the school in which we have a concert,
Christmas Tree, games and dances for the children. Unfortunately Codrington has
no public hall.


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• Codrington Public School by Kathy Pearson <>