Page 311 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

342.

ROCKVIEW SCHOOL
STATE ARCHIVES FILE NO. - 5/17499

In a letter dated 30th July 1892, John Deasy, grazier of Rothbury,
on behalf of his neighbours, wrote to the Department of Public Instruction
seeking the establishment of a 'Provisional' school adjacent to his property.
He also forwarded a petition giving the names of his neighbours, their family
numbers of possible pupil children, the family religion and the distance
of their homes from the suggested school. The petition shows the following:-

NAME POSSIBLE FAMILY DISTANCE
PUPILS RELIGION TO PROPOSED
William Elliott
Henry Bull BOYS GIRLS Primitive Methodist SCHOOL
Robert Hamilton Church of England
James Lambkin 22 Roman Catholic 2 miles
Thomas Rourke Roman Catholic
John Deasy 2 Roman Catholic 2 miles
Roman Catholic
TOTAL 4 1~ miles
2
4 mile
2
q miles
8 13
1 mile
~

The Department of Public Instruction approved the establishment
of a 'Provisional' school on 24th September 1892. The promoters of the new
school had estimated the construction of a one roo~ classroom, and to furnish
it would cost £60.0.0 ($120.00). Mr. Thomas Woodworth quoted a price of
£55.0.0 ($110.00). The school on Deasy land was completed and opened on 22nd
May 1893, with James Farrell as the first teacher.

Mr. Farrell, on 1st August 1894, was unfortunate enough to suffer
a broken leg. In a letter to his Department, he indicated that as sixteen
(16) pupils were enrolled with a daily average attendance of ten (10) pupils,
a replacement teacher would be required. Miss Alice Chaseling was sent as
a temporary replacement.

As in many other parts, like Pokolbin, Rothbury and Cessnock areas,
vintage time took toll of school attendances and Rock~iew School was no