Page 29 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

24.

ABERMAIN NO. 2 SHAFT SCHOOL

the election held on 6th December, 1913. No doubt as a new member in
a new electorate, he was able to influence the Department of Public
Instruction of the need to build new schools within his area and particularly

I

in this mining village. The Progress Association had requested that
the new school should be. called "Eddenville" as a change from Abermain
No. 2 Shaft School. However, the Education Department considered that
the name "Eddenville" was too similar to that of another Departmental
school and it requested the Progress Associatio~ to select another.
On 27th May 1915 - perhaps in appreciation of Mr. W. Kearsley 1 s efforts
in this matter - the Association suggested the name "Kearsley':.

A site of three (3) acres twenty nine (29) perches, part of
Section 14, corner of Caledonia and Allandale Streets, Village of Kearsley,
was resumed for a school site. The area was dedicated and gazetted
on 28th July, 1915.

The Department of Public Instruction's medical officer, Doctor
M. Edelsten, on 9th March 1915, furnished a report on the Abermain No.
2 Shaft School. In this report, the doctor gave these details:-

"School Rough wooden frame, covered
with hessian which is torn.
It has a galvanised roof.

Furniture Old-fashioned.

Drinking Water Supply None

Sanitary Arrangements One earth closet only. It is a
rough sapling frame, covered with
torn hessian and has hessian flaps
for a door. It has a galvanised
iron roof. The pan is emptied by
an adjacent householder, who also
has the use of the lavatory.