Page 137 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

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144.

DAIRY ARM SCHOOL

Dairy Arm School enrolment numbers started to drop. When in
August 1913, the total had fallen below ten (10 l pupils, the school was
closed and the teacher, R. Hunt, transferred to Willow Tree School.
A telegram was sent on 7th August 1913 to Inspector W. Cornish by two
local residents, Fred Harris and Arthur Thompson. The telegram read:-

" We request that the bush school place
twelve miles from Wollombi be granted
another lease of life".

Inspector Cornish must have been impressed by the telegram, because a
reprieve was granted to the Dairy Arm School and Charles Stanmore was
appointed teacher at the school on 8th August 1913.

Charles Stanmore had to purchase a horse to travel from his
accommodation with J.A. Thompson of Mount Auban. His board cost him
£1 .0.0 ($2.00) per week. His road to the school was very hazardous.
He followed the course of the creek, which had to be crossed three times.

On October 7th 1914, Dairy Arm School's enrolment was only
ten (10) pupils, with a daily average attendance of nine (9). On 23rd
October 1914, the Department of Public Instruction closed the school.

Mrs. M.J. Smith of Dairy Arm, on 29th June 1915, wrote to the
Education Department requesting the re-opening of Dairy Ann School.
The Department replied advising that this would require a daily average
attendance of ten (10) pupils at least. The Department offered an alternative
in the fonn of a subsidy of £5.0.0 ($10.00) per annum for each pupil
to attract a subsidised teacher. The Department offered the use of the
school building and the supply of school material. However, the offer
lapsed.

On 5th July 1918, Mr. W. Mc Mullen offered a price of £15.5.0
($30.50) to purchase the slab school structure. The floor was badly
white-ant eaten, but the building did have twenty four (24) sheets of
roofing iron in fair condition. The Department declined to sell. However,