ABPA - Australian Bush Poets Association

A single classroom stood so proud
within these grounds.
A lonely bell rang out
where now a siren sounds.
Brief memories and echoes
of children whisper low
from a country school 100 years ago

With lunches wrapped in cotton cloth
and school books tied with string,
they stood before their country’s flag
and sang God save the King.
Then to their classrooms one by one
they marched in silent row
at a country school 100 years ago.

A thriving school now stands again
within these grounds.
Yet sometimes if you listen,
you still can hear the sounds.
of teachers speaking sternly
and children whispering low
in a country school one hundred years ago.

So join your hands together.
Raise your voices high.
Salute the passing cavalcade
Of years that hurried by.
Look towards the future,
But don’t forget all that we know
of a country school one hundred years ago.

Goodonya Warren. I don't know about schools 100 years ago, you might have to ask Bill Williams or Dave Smith.

Why Neville It seems just like yesterday when I was 7 and I held your Hand as we went to school Yes Mate I know you were only 5 then so see you ain't much younger than ME

bill the old battler

G/day Wazza,

spent a bit of time in country schools myself and my wife's dad actually taught in a one teacher school for some years.

Cheers Terry

Your maths are a bit out Bill.

I didn't go to a small country school. My grandmother did, she assured me with great authority that the education in a bush school was far superior to my suburban learning.

There's an old country school house across the river from my place, it is now the depot of the Scott's Flat rural fire brigade. A friend of mine many years ago was the sole teacher at a little bush school at Coolac near Gundagai. To-day the Coolac schoolhouse is a dwelling and art gallery occupied by Peter Batey the organiser of the famous Bald Archy satirical portrait contest.

OOPS sorry Neville I made a mistake you were 4 then sorry mate
oh dear how could I make a mistake like that.



Bill the old battler

Hi Terry. I taught in both North-West and South- West schools and enjoyed the time I spent in each.

Bill and Neville ... what was that all about?

Who has the fastest car I think.

well Wazza Neville stated what things were like 100 years ago and you should ask me or Dave Smith as we would be old enough to remember and I reminded him that he was only a couple of years younger than both Dave and I . The cheek of that young whipper snapper . Bloody old copper

bill the old battler

What a cheek!