The First Inhabitants - Padstow Park Public School

1
History Book
HHH
2
Contents
The First Inhabitants
Before 1929
The School in 1929
Railway to East Hills Opened
The Depression
The Growth of Padstow
The Sixties On
Recent Years
Music
Sport
The Fire
The Late 1990’’s to 2003
Page 3
Page 4
Page 7
Page 9
Page 10
Page 12
Page 15
Page 18
Page 20
Page 21
Page 22
Page 24
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The main sources of information for this booklet have been provided by:
1. Documented research to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of
Padstow Park Public School in 1979, compiled by Mrs Monica
Garside.
2. The Historical Department of the NSW Department of Education
and Training
3. Bankstown City Council
4. Bankstown Historical Society
5. Present students, staff, ex-students and ex-staff members of
Padstow Park Public School
3
The First Inhabitants.
The Padstow area has a long history. Aboriginal people inhabited the
Sydney region prior to European invasion in 1788. Aborigines occupied the
land for more than 20,000 years and it is believed that they lived in
separate language groups which each occupied a particular area.
Aboriginal societies co-existed with the environment. Groups of families
inhabited an area only for as long as the resources were abundant after
which the flora and fauna were left to regenerate. The locality could be
used again when the season allowed. Children gained knowledge of plants
(their location, means of reproduction, seasonality and their relationship
with animals) and about practices of land management as they helped the
women to harvest food and medicine.
The tribes of the Bankstown area had two types of plant resources:
x semi-aquatic plants such as Bungwahl ferns, freshwater reeds and
rushes, and mangrove fruit;
x inland resources such as fruits, roots seeds, and plants.
This diet was supplemented by animal foods like possum, eel, emu, wallaby,
kangaroo, tortoise, swamp rat, bearded dragon, insects, shell fish,
oysters, mussels, fish, crayfish and water fowl.
Although the decision to settle at Sydney Cove rather than Botany Bay
eased the impact of European presence on the Aborigines of the
Bankstown area for a while, their day to day living was soon affected.
Displaced Aborigines pushed back from the southern shores of Port
Jackson put strain on resources and upset the carefully monitored
balance between food supplies and demand in the Bankstown area. Scenes
of hangings, public lashings, fighting and drunkenness by Europeans, along
with the wholesale clearing of their lovingly nurtured land, must have
appalled the native people.
Conflict between the Europeans and Aboriginal populations characterised
life in the Sydney area until about 1820, by which time European
occupation was firmly established and land grants to European settlers
were well underway.
Adapted from Rose, S. (1996). Bankstown: a sense of identity,
pp. 7-35. Sydney: Hale and Iremonger P/L
4
Before 1929
The Area’’s Early History
Padstow Park Public School is built on part of 130 acres ( =59ha) of land
that was granted to Simon McGuigan on 31st August 1819, by Governor
Lachlan Macquarie. At the same time, Joseph Cunningham was granted a
smaller property adjoining McGuigan’’s and Michael Conroy was granted
land adjoining Cunningham’’s.
Simon McGuigan was an Irishman who was sentenced at the Assizes in
County Tyrone in Ireland to be transported to New South Wales for 7
years. He arrived in 1797 on the ship ““Britannia 2””. After completing his
sentence, he was pardoned. Governor Macquarie helped hardworking,
freed convicts like McGuigan to live as respected citizens. Simon
McGuigan married Eleanor Russell at St Phillips Church in Sydney on 9th
August 1807, and their marriage certificate showed that both were
““free””. The McGuigans’’ raised two sons and a daughter.
McGuigan was the licensee of a tavern call ““The Dog and Duck”” on
Brickfield Hill in Sydney in 1810. He also had stock in the Bank of New
South Wales in 1820. It is not known whether he ever lived and farmed
his land grant at Padstow. Since his name appeared on lists for licences
for selling wine and spirits until his accidental death on 6th May,1820 at
the age of 55. He probably stayed in Sydney to attend to his tavern and
other business. It is thought a tenant or manager probably farmed the
property all the way out at Bankstown, a long journey of about 12 miles, or
19km.
Michael Conroy had also been a convict, arriving from Ireland on the ship
““Friendship”” in 1800, sentenced for life. However, he was given a
conditional pardon on 29th February, 1812 and was soon working as a free
citizen.
5
The three grants of land were later sold and made into one property
named Padstow Park Estate. It was a very large estate. To appreciate its
size it is useful to superimpose the estate boundaries onto a modern road
map. It ran along Faraday Road in front of the school from Uranus Road
to Cahors Road, along Cahors Road to Lester Road, from Lester Road to
Wilberforce Road and completing the rectangle along Wilberforce Road
back to Faraday Road. It takes in Padstow Railway Station and the
overbridge near McGirr Street.
To appreciate its size
Padstow Park Estate was named after a seaport in Cornwall on the south
west coast of England, but it is not known who chose the name or why it
was selected. By the early 1900’’s the whole area was known as Salt Pan or
South Bankstown because of Salt Pan Creek was nearby. The name Salt
Pan Creek reminds us of how important salt was in the early days of the
colony with some men making their living recovering salt by boiling water
from the creek in drums or evaporating it in shallow lakes.
A formal name for the whole area was sought in the 1920’’s. ““Padstow
Park”” suggested by Mr Hindmarsh, was adopted after ““Wattlegrove””,
proposed by Mr Gray was rejected. Padstow Park was subdivided into
many small farms and orchards. The five acres (2.3ha) that were
eventually purchased to build Padstow Park School were owned by Mr W
Watson.
6
This 1843 plan shows the parish of Bankstown after virtually all grants were
given.
The children of the one hundred or so families living at Padstow Park in
the 1920’’s had to go all the way to Revesby for school. Transport to
Revesby was provided by G Clarke’’s horse-drawn bus. Whenever the bus
broke down, the children had to walk to school, often with the fear of
passing Monson’’s orchard. Monson’’s orchard, where the Doyle Road
railway bridge now stands, was feared because of its bull and a saltpetre
gun.
The first bus
from Salt Pan
Creek to
Bankstown.
7
Eventually, an area of five acres (2.3ha) of land was resumed from Mr
Watson of £585 ($1,170). The first building, described as a ““two-storey
structure of modern type…….. accommodating about 152 pupils””, was
completed at the beginning of 1929 at a cost of £4,680 ($9,360). The
building accommodates Kindergarten to Year 2 classes today.
The School in 1929
Mr Mitchell was the first headmaster in March 1929, with two classes of
62 pupils. The two classes were a combined years 3,4,5 and 6 and a
combined 1 and 2. The combined Year 1 and 2 Class was taught by Mrs
Shaw, who also ran the small general store on the corner of Segers
Avenue and Faraday Road. The land on which the store and residence
were built was later purchased by the Education Department and included
in the school property.
Among the school’’s early pupils were members of the following families:
Allen, Avery, Banks, Barr, Beardmore, Burton, Clarke, Gray, Greedy,
Haines, Harbuckle, Mortley, Parker, Pope, Prosser, Rayner, Rogers,
Schweitzer, Shultz, Springfield, Stibbs, Taylor, Tilbury and Whittaker.
It is believed that the first dux of the school was Edward Stibbs. His
widowed mother opened the small tuck shop adjoining the Infants
Department about 1930.
8
Mr Clarke, a pupil from the first class of Padstow Park Public School,
recalls:
““Each pupil in 1st and 2nd class used pencils, 3rd, 4th, 5th, and 6th used pens.
Ink wells were in each desk (two seaters). All books and writing equipment
were totally free.
No language except English was taught in Primary School but the
headmaster’’s wife, Mrs Chapman, taught girls sewing and singing. Boys
were taught to make fern baskets and kept a good garden. Saplings for
fern baskets were cut in the swamp at Salt Pan Creek””
There were no school uniforms and very few people had enough money to
buy a school bag. School bags were only used for lunch. All books were
left under desks. Bags were of a leather like a haversack.””
Opening morning, 28th January 1929.
Group awaiting headmaster Mr Albert Mitchell
Some of the streets near the school are named after people who lived
here before.
Doyle Road leads to Lachlan Doyle’’s grant of land, adjoining Conroy’’s and
granted at the same time, 31st August, 1819.
Ryan Road is on land granted to Michael Ryan in 1838.
Gibson Avenue leads into Padstow from Canterbury Road and is named
after Willliam John Gibson, Mayor of Bankstown 1905 –– 1907 and 1915 ––
1916, but is some distance from his home. He had a property of 31 acres
and his house was near today’’s Baddeley Avenue.
Barkl Avenue is named after Alderman Blance R Barkl, mayor of
Bankstown in 1951 and 1954.
McGirr Street is named after a former Premier of New South Wales.
Parker Lane after the Parker family who lived in Ryan Road.
Schultz Lane after the Schultz family who lived in Howard Road.
Sprinfield Road after the Springfield family who lived in the Windsor
Road area.
9
Railway to East Hills Opened
A railway was constructed from Tempe to East Hills in response to
continuous demands from residents of Dumbleton, later known as Beverly
Hills. Trains commenced running on 21st September, 1931. Kingsgrove was
the terminus for the electric trains. Beverly Hills, Herne Bay (later known
as Riverwood, the name being officially changed on 10th March, 1958),
Padstow and stations beyond were served by a motor train. Although the
trains started to run on Monday, 21st September, 1931, the official
opening took place on the following Saturday at Kinsgrove with the
official train from Sydney being decorated with flags. Mr J McGirr,
Minister for Transport, declared the line open for traffic.
The Tempe-East Hills Railway service and cheap land led to an expansion
of people buying land and taking up residence in the Padstow area.
Left: Opening of East Hills Railway Line
Above: Padstow Park Public School Children in 1931
Mr Clarke reminisces:
““The special days I remember were the opening of the railway line.
Padstow won both boys and girls races. As we were the only school with a
banner, we led the parade from East Hills Railway Station to East Hills
Park for the festivity””.
10
The Depression and the War Years
Mr George Chapman was headmaster through the difficult years of the
depression. Class photographs during this ear reveal much poverty. The
children were provided with soup each day at 11.00am.
““To get to school everybody walked, some from as far as One Tree Point
(Padstow Heights), mostly taking short cuts through the bush. High
School pupils travelled by train: boys mostly to Belmore High or Tempe
Technical High School; girls to St George High School, Kogarah. Very few
pupils wore shoes even in winter time over frosty ground””, remembers Mr
Clarke.
““Parents were involved in soup kitchens in the winter time. They made
soup from vegetables supplied free from market gardeners around the
district. This was appreciated by the children from poor families as it was
free.””
““As we were in the Great Depression everybody helped and shared; those
with money shared their lollies and everybody shared their lunch. Some
state wards came to school with bread spread with dripping and salt””. Mr
Clarke recalls that baskets made from dried flowers collected from Salt
Pan Creek provided a money raiser for the school during the Depression.
Arbor Day was celebrated for the first time in New South Wales schools
in 1890. It was optional and schools that observed it were allowed to pick
their own day. A general celebration of Arbor Day was introduced in 1891.
The two laurel trees at the front of the original building on Faraday Road
were planted on Arbor Day, 1932.
11
““In the 1930’’s, the Depression affected everyone. When the 1939 war
came, our mothers went to work in textile mills, woollen mills and the IXL
fruit and jam factory as so many men went into Armed Services and that
is why we had no activities at school. We liked school and made our own
fun””, recalls Rose Cromie, a pupil at this time.
Daphne Hart, also a former pupil, remembers, ““The area where cars are
parked in front of the concrete steps of the original old school, workmen
dug zigzag air-raid trenches. This was in 1941””.
Year 1 1942
Year 1 1943
12
The Growth of Padstow –– 1940 –– 50s
Mr R Craven was the Headmaster from 1939 –– 1946. He was succeeded by
Mr John Findlay (1946-1953) who oversaw a period of rapid growth. In
1946, there were about 250 children in five classrooms (at one stage
there were 83 children in the Kindergarten). By 1953, the enrolment leapt
to 800 and was accommodated in 19 class rooms. Mr McGirr, a prominent
citizen ensured that a splendid assembly hall was included in the building
program. Mr McGirr later became Premier of New South Wales.
Mr Findlay instituted a Younger Set to care for the pupils leisure hours,
particularly on Saturday nights. The Parents and Citizens Association and
Mothers Club (founded in 1948) were active, holding regular market days
and social functions.
The end of coeducation in the Primary Department came with Mr W Landy
as Headmaster in 1953. Padstow School became a ““First Class School””,
with separate Infants, Girls and Boys Departments. To alleviate the
overcrowding, about 130 pupils were diverted to a new school at Padstow
Heights in June 1954. Even so, the attendance continued to rise to
approximately 1200 pupils in 1955. Additional classrooms facing Segers
Avenue were built for the Girls Department.
Students in 1955
5M 1948
13
There have been many developments at the school since 1955 when Mr W
Muddle replaced Mr Landy. For example, the school canteen began
operating. In 1955 the 1,222 boys and girls at Padstow Park Public School
were housed in 32 class rooms and educated by 33 teachers. During this
period the Infant’’s Mistress was Miss Sturgess and the Deputy Infant’’s
Mistress was Mrs Marge Pope.
1950 Football
Team
Pressure on Padstow Park Public School was relieved in 1957 when
Padstow North Public School in Watson Road absorbed 170 pupils living in
the area north of the railway line. Padstow Park Progress Association was
responsible for the opening of an annex of the Bankstown Evening College
at Padstow Park in 1958. The college provided a number of interesting
courses for residents of the area.
Teaching Staff 1960
Back Row: F Davis, H Boyd, J Campbell, L Cousins, N Benson
Front Row: R Dalley, J Murphy, W Muddle, V Haydon, H Taylor
14
The Growth of Padstow
Padstow Parade, part of Howard
Road and Faraday Road form an oval
which is the main shopping area of
Padstow. This area became known as
the shopping island. Other shopping
areas were developing: North
Padstow, South Padstow and Padstow
Heights.
15
The Sixties On
Coeducation was reintroduced in 1962 when Mr W Muddle was
transferred after being Principal for 7 years. The two Primary
Departments (Boys and Girls) were merged into one Primary Department
and each class became a mixture of girls and boys. During this period,
some girls and boys with high academic abilities were selected from 4th
Class and given the opportunity to attend Lakemba Public School to
continue 5th and 6th Class with specialised teaching.
Mr K McDonald succeeded Mr Muddle as Principal in 1962 and remained
for almost 11 years until he retired in 1972. During these 11 years,
enrolments dropped steadily to 750 at the end of 1972, a decrease of
about 470 on the number in 1957. Extensive ground improvements were
commenced in 1964 and the whole area, which up to then was almost
totally bare earth ( a sea of mud in wet weather and a dust bowl in
summer) and badly eroded, was transformed with asphalt and lawns.
As vandalism was a recurring problem at the school, outdoor security
lights, burglar alarms and wire mesh window screens were installed.
Office and storerooms were burglar-proofed at this time.
6M
28 June 1960
th
16
Mr Ross Packer, a former teacher at Padstow Park remembers an
unfortunate incident which took place in the early sixties.
““One of my first memories of the school was of arrival at school one
morning to find Miss Manion’’s aluminium portable classroom burnt to the
ground. It was a sad sight with congealed blobs of aluminium on the
ground, the roof collapsed and charred books and desks.
As Miss Manion was a Deputy Mistress, she took over my classroom and
my class and I spent the winter in a wooden storage room with items of
furniture pressed against the back wall to make room for our desks. I’’ve
forgotten now whether or not we had any means of heating.””
The school library was established and a full-time Teacher/Librarian was
appointed in 1965. Although this was a big step forward, it was clear that
the single classroom library would not be large enough to serve adequately
the need of such a big school. This first library was later to become a
computer room, then an administration block and staffroom (1990).
The first ancillary staff member, Mrs Margaret Scheller, was appointed
to Padstow Park School in 1970 and the first General Assistant, Mr
Robert Garside was appointed in 1970.
Mrs Roberts of the Padstow Red Cross Society presented the school with
a sapling pine while Mr McDonald was Principal. The tree, which is planted
along the Faraday Road boundary of the school, was grown from one of
the original Lombardy pines from Italy.
17
Lombardy pines are a significant symbol for the Red Cross Society. Henri
Dunant, a Swiss Banker, travelled through Lombardy during the war
between France an Austria in 1859. He was so indignant and moved by the
sight of so many men dying around him in the almost total lack of any
medical service that he founded the Red Cross.
The aim of planting a small Lombardy pine tree amongst growing children
is that the desire to care for their fellow man will grow with them.
The school’’s first woman Principal, Mrs A Noonan, was appointed in 1973
after the retirement of Mr K McDonald. At this time, the school had a
teaching staff of 23 in Primary and Infants, plus a Librarian. Mrs Noonan
and her successor, Mr H Halpin, were both Principals for 3 years. Mr
Halpin was replaced by Mr J Kendall.
Several alterations to the school grounds occurred during the 1970’’s. The
unsightly and derelict shop on the resumed section of the school block,
facing Faraday Road, was demolished in 1973 and fire destroyed two
unused army huts in the playground in 1974.
Kikuyu squares were laid in the Faraday / Segers Avenues corner in 1974
to create an attractive green playing area, while asphalt was used to
cover the army hut site.
Library development was a major project of the school during the period
1973-1975. The Library was moved to an unused double portable
classroom which could cater more adequately for the needs of the large
school. Its ever-increasing and carefully maintained stock of books and
resources has made the library a major focus of Padstow Park Public
School.
18
Recent Years
Mr M Rowsell took over as Principal form Mr Kendall and served Padstow
Park School until his retirement in 1988.
In 1989 Mr William Martin began his leadership of the school. The
following 6 years saw a growing enrolment of children (from 370 to 485)
and an increase in staff as a result. The school reflects the variety of
cultures which has entered the community during recent years.
School Staff 1990
Initiatives Since 1989
The staff has been blended to become a whole Kindergarten –– Year 6
school unit. A new administration block has been set up in the centre of
the school to facilitate the merging or Infants and Primary Department.
The wooden portable refurbished into an office area and staffroom.
19
The Padstow Park Annual Art and Craft Show was instituted as the major
fund raiser for the school in 1980 and continued as such until 1997 when
it was replaced by the Annual Spring Fair.
Strong community support continues through the Parent’’s and Citizens
Association and the School Watch Scheme.
An environment program has resulted in the beautification of the school
through the planting of trees and the establishment of garden
throughout the school grounds. The students are intimately involved in
this program. Students are also involved in the recycling of waste.
A School Council, one of the first in the East Hills Cluster and
Metropolitan South West Region, was established in 1991. The Council,
which deals with issues relating to the governance of the school, meets
eight times a year and consists of elected staff members, community
members and parents.
Involvement of parents in a range of learning activities, eg reading
mathematics, science and sport has strengthened the bond between
school and community and has assisted the school in catering for the
needs of its students.
A language other the English (L.O.T.E.) program has been established
which enables every student in the school to learn Japanese.
20
Government grants combined with monies raised by parents have provided
a wide range of resources for technological programs that reflect
current developments.
The school is involved in all Primary School Sporting Association (P.S.S.A.)
Sporting activities and over recent years many children have represented
the school at Regional and State level at various sports. Sporting teams
competing at district levels have been successful premiers in various
sports.
A Student Representative Council was established in 1994 to recognise
the importance of student involvement in decision-making in the school.
New
Computer
Rooms
Music
Padstow Park Public School Choirs (primary and infants) took part in the
first choral festival of East Hills Inspectorate at Sir Joseph Banks High
School in 1973. In 1974, the Bankstown Town Hall became the venue for
the East Hills District Music Festival and has remained so ever since. The
name of the event is now the East Hills District Performing Arts Festival.
Senior Dance Group
21
Sport
Sport has continued to be a strong feature of school life, intra and interschool sport continuing in the weekly program. Girls Netball was added to
the competitive field in 1973. In 1974, the sporting house names were
changed by the majority vote of children and staff.
Children’’s selection of new names were Aboriginal words:
CALOOLA
GUNYAH
TARALGA
ORANA
Battle Place
Home, Shelter
Native Companion
Welcome
RED
YELLOW
GREEN
BLUE
The school held its first annual Swimming Carnival in 1973.
Sport at Padstow Park is an integral part of the school curriculum. The
PSSA competition is presently divided into three seasons and we
participate in Netball, Rugby League, Newcombe Ball, Boys and Girls
Soccer, Basketball, Softball, T Ball and Cricket.
22
The Fire
The school suffered a major setback in January 1995. A fire destroyed
the wooden building which had served for over 30 years, first as a
library, then as a computer room and finally as the administration block
and staffroom.
Bronni Curd, a former pupil who lives opposite the school, recalls the
tragedy:
““During the Christmas holidays at 2.00am my mother had just finished
reading a book when she looked out of the window through the curtains
and saw a red glowing lights. She got out of bed, went to the front room
and saw the office was on fire. Mum rang Carlie Cameron (School Watch
Coordinator) and they rang the police, the fire brigade and Mr Martin. By
morning, the fire was out but the smell of smoke was still in the air. The
office was all charred with chairs falling apart, books burnt and half
eaten sandwiches lying on the ground. At the other end of the building
(the end which was not burnt) there was some graffiti.
A couple of days after the fire, crew men came to pull the office down.
Bobcats and chainsaws were ripping the office apart while all day and all
night security people protected the office. After two weeks, all that was
left was the place where it use to stand and the sight of this horrific
tragedy in our memories””
Naturally, many organisational changes were needed to adapt to the lack
of an administration area, the hub of a school. The disruption to routine
was hardly noticed by the students when school resumed at the end of
January. It was the office and teaching staff who had to make the
greatest adjustments by using makeshift facilities.
A portable staffroom and office block were delivered to the school at
the end of Term 1 and once again the office was relocated, this time to
the new temporary building. Things finally started to settle into a
comfortable routine again and continued that way until the last week of
school that year when it was announced that the staffroom had to be
taken away! Alternative temporary premises had to be found.
23
Demographic changes in the Padstow area, which resulted in a decline in
the school enrolment during 1995 and 1996 from 485 to 440 students,
created a spare classroom in Block C, which was used as the temporary
staffroom during 1996. This building became the site for the new office
and staffroom, which was opened in 1997 following extensive
refurbishment.
In 1998 Mr Stephen Cooper replaced Mr Martin as Principal.
Staff 1999
24
The Late 1990’’S to 2003
The late 1990’’s were characterised by rapid technological change. Every
room in the school was computer networked to allow staff and children
access to use of the internet, email and a wide range of programs to
assist the children in their learning. Since then, the Celebration of
Learning, Presentation Day Assembly, held annually at Padstow RSL Club,
has featured electronic presentations by Year 6 students showing many
aspects of the learning undertaken during their time at the school.
Padstow Park participated for the first time in a national computer link
activity called Bookwrap, ““ My Girragundji”” where students were able to
communicate their ideas about this book by email to schools all over
Australia. It proved an enjoyable, beneficial and educationally challenging
experience. In 1999 Year 4 students also participated in ‘‘Murder Under
The Microscope’’ an online project shared by thousands of children around
Australia, seeking ways to improve our environment. From 2002 onwards,
more classes began to use EduWeb, a program allowing each child to have
a webpage that electronically stored many examples of their learning.
A significant statewide event in 1998 was the celebration of the
Sesquicentenary (150 Years) of Public Education in NSW. Padstow Park
children featured with children from all district schools in a giant aerial
photograph depicting the number 150.
Two members of staff received significant recognition for their
outstanding work. Mrs June Abbott received the Minister’’s Award for
Excellence in Teaching in 1998 and Mrs Jamese Scott received the
Minister’’s Award for Outstanding Service to Public Education in 1999.
A drop in enrolments in 1999 meant an empty, upstairs classroom in A
Block could be used for the establishment of the Bankstown District
Learning Difficulties Centre at the school. The specialist staff provided
learning assistance to many children in Bankstown district schools.
2000, the year of the Sydney Olympics, saw Padstow Park Public School
buzzing. The school was actively involved in many events relating to the
Olympics, Paralympics and the Pacific School Games. One A Block room
was transformed with Olympic Memorabilia that featured as part of visit
by a Japanese television crew reporting on how Australian children were
preparing for the Olympic Games. Many students proudly wore Olympic TShirts that were added to the school uniform for this celebratory year.
25
The Bankstown Millennium Buzz, a showcase of the performing talents of
children from all schools in the district, including Padstow Park was
another feature of this exciting year.
In addition the annual East Hills Performing Arts Festival continued to
provide an excellent opportunity for students from Padstow Park to
display their singing and dancing talents, as it had done for more than a
quarter of a century.
Following these celebrations the 2001 school year featured the
Centenary of Federation. A large tile mosaic designed by every child and
teacher was constructed and now proudly hangs in the office foyer to
mark this commemorative event. Also in 2001, a school magazine,
‘‘djalaringi’’ was launched. The title, an aboriginal word meaning ““something
that belongs to us”” allowed each class and child to publish significant
aspects of that year’’s learning. Reports on major whole school activities
were also included. It has been published each year since.
Debating and Public Speaking have been strongly promoted aspects of the
school’’s programs. The school participates in the Bankstown District
Debating Competition comprising entrants from over thirty schools. It
has also been fortunate enough to produce two District Public Speaking
Champions, David Raft in 1998 and Rachael Beaven in 2002.
Major fundraising events for Stewart House and the school through the
Golden Circle Fun Run have been held annually since 1999. Money raised in
days such as the 2003 Crazy Hair Day and the 2002 Australiana Fun Day
allowed the school to make large donations to Stewart House. The Fun
Run complements the annual Cross Country and allowed the children to win
incentive prizes and simultaneously raise much needed funds for sports
equipment.
Staff and students
enjoying Crazy Hair
Day 2002
26
Major community surveys undertaken in 2000 and again in 2002 provided
valuable information about future school directions. The Student Welfare
Policy was reviewed in 2002. Music had taken a higher profile in recent
years as well. A school band was started in 2002.
Sport continued to have a high profile within the school with participation
in many PSSA sports and carnivals. Swimming schemes took on a greater
prominence, particularly as the number of non-swimmers from overseas
countries increased. Padstow Park played at Sydney Showground in the
final of the Daryl Halligan Rugby League Challenge in 2002 in front of
10,000 spectators during a Canterbury Bulldogs and Melbourne Storm
match. In 2002, the Junior Rugby League team represented Canterbury
Bankstown at the State Championships in Manly.
2002 Senior Rugby
League Team coached by
Mr John Kolodziej
In the five years since Mr Cooper’’s arrival the school environment has
continued to be developed to meet the needs of a modern school. A huge
outdoor shelter, (COLA –– Covered Outdoor Learning Area) was erected in
front of the administration block in 2002 with extensive covered
walkways being built in G Block.
In 2003, the driveway adjacent to the administration block was sealed
with bitumen and the area bordered by sandstone blocks enclosing an
outdoor classroom and sensory garden area complete with native plants
and possum boxes. This project was completed in conjunction with
Bankstown City Council.
27
Unfortunately with all the positive aspects of life at Padstow Park Public
School, came some sad, heartbreaking times. Two highly respected staff
members have passed away in recent years. Jamese Scott (1999) and
Wayne McKrell (2002) both retired for medical reasons while at Padstow
Park and died shortly afterwards. Both are fondly remembered through
the Jamese Scott Memorial Award given at Presentation Day each year
and the Wayne McKrell School Bell which adorns the entrance to the
office area.
Nevertheless, the school remained committed to Public Education and
focused its desire to providing quality learning programs for the children
of Padstow.
2003 also marked a special time in Padstow Park Public School history.
It was the 75th Anniversary of the schools opening and celebratory
events were planned for this special occasion.
Padstow Park Public School
75th Anniversary
Celebrations
September 18th – 20th 2003
75th Anniversary Logo,
which was designed by
students, Beth Teaupa &
Kieran Pirie.
Celebrating 75 Years of
Public Education