Page 307 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

338.

RICHMOND VALE SCHOOL

earlier in the year, had recommended such a course following drops in school
pupil enrolments. When the total enrolment fell to seven (7) pupils the
Department acted.

The schoolhouse residence was rented to Mr. Griffiths Thomas, a surveyor
at Richmond Main Colliery on 30th October 1903. Rent was fixed at £10.0.0.
($20.00) a year. Mr. G. Thomas was the son of Mr. Richard Thomas, the General

Mines Manager for J. & A. Brown. This Company had recently purchased Pelaw

Main and Richmond Main mining leases and was in the process of constructing the
Richmond Vale Railway.

On 8th February 1906, an application for the re-opening of Richmond
Vale School was submitted on behalf of the local residents by Mr. John Grant
of Buchanan. Inspector Ernest Friend made an investigation and forwarded a
report to his Department. In this report Inspector Friend advised that there
were nineteen (19) children, 10 boys and 9 girls, of school age within the area
and, with the recent new developments of both the mining and railway, enrolment
could be expected to grow to at least thirty (30) pupils. Inspector Friend
recommended that the school should be re-opened.

In his report the Inspector had advised that there were five desks
at the old school but no forms. He requested that six (6) new forms, each
seven (7) feet six (6) inches long be sent to:-

"School Teacher,
Richmond Vale Schcol,
Cl- Mrs. John Leggett,
Mulbring".

Further, some minor repairs were required and for this Mr. Friend had engaged
George Latter, who was paid £8.0.0. ($16.00) for this work.

Rich~ond Vale School re-opened on 15th June 1906, with Mr. Archibald
Greentree as teacher. School pupil enrolment was 18 pupils, 10 boys and 8 girls.