Page 43 - J Delaney - City of Cessnock Education and Schools

38.

BE L LBI RD S C H 0 0 L

was done. The Education Department records for the month of April, 1911
show approval for the payment of an average daily total of twenty-
eight (28) pupils being conveyed by Mr. Joe Doyle from Bellbird
to the Cessnock Central School. During the balance of 1911 QO action
was taken by the Education Department to provide the recommended school.

On 10th May, 1912, Mr. W. Farnham, Secretary of the Bellbird
Progress Association, wrote to the Department of Education asking
when the school would be built. In this particular letter, Mr. Farnham
made these special points:-

1. At the date of the letter, Mr. Joe Doyle's driver
had told him (W. Farnham), that twenty-seven (27)
children were being conveyed from Bellbird to the
Cessnock School.

2. That there were forty-seven (47) children living at
Bellbird, between the ages of six (6) years and
fourteen (14) years.

3. That there were at this date fifty-seven (57) residential .
buildings and ten (10) 'batches' or camps in the Bellbird
Village.

4. That there were now at Bellbird, a number of shops,
including a grocery, butcher, post-office, soft drinks,
a bake house, a baker's shop and dwelling combined
and two (2) general stores in the course of erection.

5. That the population at Bellbird as per the new electoral
roll now totalled 149 persons.

6. That the number of workers at the new local Bellbird
mine had now reached ninety (90).

Not receiving a reply, further letters on behalf of Bellbird
Progress Association were sent on 27th May, 1912 and 15th July, 1912.