A little known school in Kew is at the centre of a reunion set down for September next year.
Former student David Bignell is organising a reunion of students who attended the Kew Public School.
“Originally I intended to invite people who attended the school in the late 1950s and 1960s around the time I was there, but I’ve had interest from a number of people including a lady who attended the school in the 1930s. So it’s open to all former students and I’m keen to find out more about the school and its former students,” David said.
It was established in 1883 as the Camden Haven Crossing School on Tathra Road and shared a school teacher half time with Johns River School. Then, in 1887, it was half time with Stewarts River School.
Half time schools were established to educate children in areas of scattered population. Itinerant teachers would travel between two schools.
Camden Haven Crossing became a provisional school in 1892 then a public school in 1893. The name changed to Kew Public School in 1894.
Teachers were shared for a time between Brush Gully Public School, south of Ross Glen, and Kew. These teachers were Doreen Bucton, Verley McKay, Heather Margaret McInnes, Maisey Haydon and Vince Dunn.
Norman McLeod taught at the school in 1899, M Riley and Thomas Abel prior to 1919 and Jack Britt from 1919 to 1926. Other teachers were EG Morton, S Mannix, PC Prowse, R Tanner, A Guant, HA Hurrell and Byron J Moss.
The school closed in 1967 and the building was moved from its location on the old Pacific Highway possibly to the Laurieton Catholic school.
The reunion of students is set to take place on September 9, 2017 at the Royal Hotel Kew, just down the road from the old school site.
If you have more information about the school or you’re a former student, David would like to hear from you. Email David Bignell at dabldooya1@hotmail.com or phone 0439 632 900.
Kate Dwyer
Journo. Wife. Mother of three.
Journo. Wife. Mother of three.
