Establishment Establishment of a State Primary School in the developing suburb of East Ayr can be attributed solely to the efforts of Mr CG McCathie. As early as 1949, Colin McCathie MLA in Ayr in State Parliament, anticipated the need for a second primary school. He was determined that a site for such a school should be reserved before all available, suitable land was taken over by private enterprise for housing and industrial development. To back his opinion he had a census taken in 1949 to ascertain the number of children who would be likely to attend the school. A second census taken in 1950 corroborated his beliefs when it was revealed that some 98 children would become pupils at the proposed school. Immediate steps were taken by Mr McCathie to procure the area in Ross Street, East Ayr, known locally as Tom Menso's "Pineapple Plantation." The site comprised an area of approximately 18 acres. Towards the end of 1951 Col McCathie's dreams had become a reality. In November of that year, the Department of Public Works commenced the erection of the first section of the East Ayr State Primary School. Unfortunately December 1951 and January 1952 were very wet months and building operations were seriously impeded. First School Day The school, despite the fact that the building was very incomplete, opened to enrol its first students on Monday, February 4th, 1952. Enrolments on that first day totalled 137 children. Three weeks later the enrolment was 166 pupils. The first staff comprised, Mr J J Short, Head Teacher; Mr M Bachelor; Mrs L Connell and Miss Margaret O'Kane. Miss O'Kane was transferred to Ingham a few months later and Mrs J Jackson replaced her on the staff. First Committee Great progress was made during the first few weeks and the enthusiasm of the residents of the district was revealed by the large attendance at a meeting held in the East Ayr Progress Association Hall on the evening of Thursday, February 21st, 1952, for the purpose of forming East Ayr State School's first Parents and Citizens' Association. In opening the meeting, Mr Short, Head Teacher outlined the requirements of such as Association as specified by the Department of Public Instruction and the procedures to be adopted in the election of ex officio members. Mr C G McCathie MLA and Chairman of the Ayr Shire Council in addressing the gathering said that although the school had a very brief history as yet there was a very interesting story attached to it. Mr McCathie outlined the difficulties encountered in erecting the school buildings due to the very inclement weather. He complimented the members of the Works Department for their splendid efforts under trying circumstances and also paid tribute to the teaching staff who had been working under extreme difficulties. A discussion then followed on whether the meeting should elect a School Committee with a limited membership of five or a Parents and Citizens' Association of unlimited membership. The meeting decided in favour of the latter and all present at this initial meeting were to form the first Parents and Citizens' Association of the East Ayr State School. The meeting then proceeded with the election of the Ex Officio Officers. Mr Rod Suthers was nominated for the position of President by Mr Viv Dunn. Mr Suthers was unopposed and accepted the position. The position of Secretary went to Mr V Dunn on the nomination of Mr McCathie whilst Mr Tom Archer, nominated by Mr F Brock (Snr) undertook the duties of Treasurer.
Women's Auxiliary This initial meeting of the East Ayr P&C Association also decided that a Women's Auxiliary to be comprised of all ladies present at this meeting, with power to add thereto, be established. It was also resolved that the first meeting of the Women's Auxiliary be held at Mrs Lindsay's store on Wednesday, February 27 at 2:00pm. The purpose of this meeting was to discuss proposals for a Fete to be held in the school grounds on the day of the official opening of the school by the Minister for Public Instruction. It is interesting to note that all P&C Meetings were held during 1952 in the East Ayr Progress Association Hall, due to the fact that electric power had not been installed in any of the school rooms. Use of the Progress Hall was provided free of cost. Official Opening The school was officially opened on Saturday, April 19, 1952 by the Minister for Public Instruction, the Hon. GA Devries who made a special trip from Brisbane to officiate. The official party comprised Mr and Mrs Devries, Mr CG McCathie, Minister for Mines and Mrs McCathie, Mr Arthur Coburn MLA and Mrs Coburn, the Northern Regional Director of Education, Mr GKD Murphy and Mrs Murphy and Mr RA Suthers, President of the P&C and Mrs Suthers. A Fete held in conjunction with the official opening realised a profit in excess of 300 pounds ($600). This enabled the P&C Committee to purchase a piano and to install a radiogram, with speaker extension to the five classrooms. Library books to the value of 55 pounds ($110) were also purchased. First Permanent Head Teacher The intake of pupils to the school continued and when the first permanent Head Teacher, Mr EA Gordon was appointed to take over from the Acting Head Teacher, Mr JJ Short, the enrolment was 188 students with 86 boys and 102 girls enrolled. Mr Gordon assumed duties in August, 1952. When he was transferred at the end of 1955, there were 118 children, 110 boys and 118 girls, attending the school. Mr Gordon was succeeded by Mr PM Hynes who took up duties at the commencement of the 1956 school year. In his first year, Mr Hynes saw the school grow from an enrolment of 249 to one of 277 by the end of 1957. The year 1958 saw further progress under Mr Pat Hynes but the year ended on a very tragic note. On Monday, September 1, 1958 Mr Hynes collapsed and died in the Staff Room after he had been summoned to the telephone at 11:20 am. It was a very sad day for the staff, pupils and members of the School P&C. The late Pat Hynes was succeeded by Mr WM Pearson who took up duties in February, 1959. At this time the school attendance had risen to 360. Mr Pearson was Head Teacher until the end of the school year 1961 when he was transferred to Townsville and replaced at East Ayr by Mr WJ Burkett who took up duty in February, 1962. It was during Mr Burkett's term of office that the school enrolment topped the 400 mark for the first time. In 1962 there were 439 pupils on roll and by the end of 1967 there were 268 boys and 216 girls attending the school. It was during Bill Burkett's term as Head Teacher that the underground spray system was laid throughout the grounds. Just as 1958 had ended on a very sad note, so too was the beginning of the 1968 year. During the mid-summer vacation, on New Year's Day 1968 Bill Burkett collapsed and died suddenly whilst on holidays in Brisbane. On February 26, 1968 Mr Eddie Mitchell took up duties as the school's sixth principal. Mr Mitchell was the school's leader for a period of four years until June, 1972 when he was transferred on promotion to Bowen. The 1970s saw further growth in the school's population. When Mr Don Thorne took over as Principal on June 26, 1972 the enrolment was 463 pupils when he was transferred to Yeppoon. In 1976 the enrolment had passed the 500 mark with 268 boys and 250 girls in attendance. Mr Thorne was succeeded by Mr Earl Grady who took over as Principal on Monday August 23, 1976 when the enrolment was 518 students, comprising of 268 boys and 250 girls. Enrolment as at June, 1977 was 551 with 304 boys and 247 girls making up the total. Outstanding Events The year 1952 saw the first steps taken in a beautification scheme for the school grounds. It was significant that on Arbor Day that year, amongst the several trees that were planted, were two Royal Palms, to mark the occasion of Queen Elizabeth II to the throne. These two palms are now landmarks at the front entrance to the school grounds. One of the big tree planting campaigns in the grounds was carried out by Mr WM Pearson who in 1960 made a special trip to the Atherton Tablelands to procure a number of Camphor Laurels. These trees are now thriving in various parts of the grounds and provide excellent shade for the children. The school residence was built in 1955 and was occupied by Mr E Gordon and family in September of that year. The East Ayr State School was the first school in Queensland to hold its Annual Fancy Dress Ball in the open air. The spacious lawn made an admirable setting for this function on the night of Friday, October 14, 1955. In 1955 the Ladies Auxiliary decided to adopt a school uniform for the students. The uniform selected for the boys was khaki shirt and shorts, brown shoes and socks and fawn felt hat. For the girls a blue sun frock with white bolero, short white socks and brown shoes was favoured. The school colours for sporting purposes were red and gold. These colours were registered with the Lower Burdekin Primary Schools Sports Association in 1952. In 1956 a concrete cricket pitch and concrete vigoro pitch were provided for the pupils. The school's first Tuck Shop went into operation in May 1957. In 1963 Mr Len Ashworth, proprietor of the local firm Smellie & Co Pty Ltd (later called IBC) designed and planned the underground spray system that has since transformed the entire playground from a veritable sandy desert to a splendidly well grassed, green area. The East Ayr School was the first school in the Ayr Shire to install such a watering system. President of the School's P&C at the time, Mr Wally Darker, played a leading role in the installation of this watering scheme. Building Progress The original building, comprising of six classrooms and staff room, accommodated the students for the first nine years but due to increase in enrolments a further block of buildings was required in 1960 when the second block complete with office and health room was added. In 1963 it was found necessary to add further rooms and the third wing was added to the school. In 1974 a fourth section was added and in 1976 a demountable, double room, open area was provided (this has since been dismounted). The modern Preschool centre was constructed within the spacious grounds and this building was officially opened by the Hon RE Camm, State Minister for Mines on November 2, 1974 who was accompanied by the Member for Burdekin, Mr Val Bird. Mr Camm deputised for the then Minister for Education, Sir Alan Fletcher.
AHLSTRAND, Barry
William
ROSS, Alice Ruth
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