Page 24 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

19.

ABERMAIN PRIMARY SCHOOL

Government Architect were drafted but did not come to fruition. On 25th
November 1925, Mr. George Booth, the local member of the Legislative Assembly,
told Parliament that the school had not received any painting in the sixteen
(16) years that it had been built. He also reported that a school classroom
designed for forty (40) pupils was housing eighty (80) pupils. The Education
Department's inspector in the following year advised his superiors that the
Abermain School buildings were the worst on the Maitland Coalfields. He said
that with this overcrowding, two classes were being conducted in the one room
and that adequate teaching under these conditions was almost impossible. In
September 1926, the Secretary of the Mother's Club wrote complaining that the
children were catching colds owing to wind coming through broken windows.
Finally, the pressure had results as new plans for an infants building were
issued in February 1927. The successful tenderer was J. Mitchell with his
price of £2,395.0.0 ($4,790.00). This building was completed in April 1928.
At the beginning of 1929, the school's total enrolment reached four hundred and
· seventy nine (479) pupils.

For many years, the efforts by various groups like the Parents and
Citizens Association, the Mother's Club, the Abermain Australian Labour Party
Sub-Branch etc., to improve the rough conditions of the playgroundi failed.
It was not until a school cleaner fell and broke her ankle whilst performing
her duties that anything was done to the grounds. On 15th February 1935, the
area was filled in, graded and paved with 11 Colvenac 11 at a cost of £643.0.0
($1 ,286.00).

The Education Department records show that its repair and paint.staff
on 8th April 1941, had made repairs to the school and outhouses. These had
been estimated to cost £972.0.0 ($1 ,944.00), but actually cost £1 ,149.16.11
($2,299.69). A library was added and completed on 13th Marah 1949 at a cost
of £166. 16. 2 ($333. 62) r School ground improvements finished on 5th April
1949, were assessed to have cost £1 ,041 .2.5 ($2,082.25). Some general
renovations made during April 1954, were valued at £309.4.7 ($618.47). Abermain
Sthool was connected to the Hunter District Water Board's ~ew sewerage mains