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SCHOOL HISTORY

Some Memories of Students 1944—1950

• Walking through the swamp to make your legs black
• The open fire on a winter's morning
• The banning of tackle football in the playground
• The daily proverbs on the blackboard
  eg. "Do unto others as you would like them to do unto you"
• The broom throwing contests – the broken windows
• Vigaro games and branding games with a tennis ball
• The chore of filling ink wells
• The races around the school for selection to the PSAAA Sports Day
• Who was forced to remove all his clothes to get past the Allens' bull?
• The great cubby houses

The numbers eventually picked up, and in 1952 the school became Avoca Beach Public School after 17 years of being classed as a provisional school. In 1953 a second classroom was built and Miss Sullivan was employed as a second teacher. This meant that for the first time the school was divided in Upper and Lower divisions. Another classroom was completed in January 1960 which was used by the Upper Primary. The original classroom was then used as a scripture and craft room. It was also used on a Monday for tuckshop. It is hard to believe that the school didn't receive its first phone until 1963. Up until then it had to rely on  Nancy and Norm Hollis who lived across the road.

A Typical Day in the 1960s

• Down the track beside Mr and Mrs Lawrence's house, in through the gate, bag on the verandah and off to play.
• 9.30am The bell rings and assembly commences. The Infants go with Mrs Lawrence and Upper Primary go with Mr Lawrence.
• From the infants class would come the sound of children singing scales and then sing "Good Morning Dear Teacher".
• Recess was announced with the ringing of the bell. All students then lined up for their bottle of milk and then went to play.
• After lunch different activities were planned. The boys worked on weaving, leatherwork and bookbinding while the girls did needlework
• Sport was held in the afternoon on the grass area that is now the car park. Students usually played softball or other ball games.
• School finished at 3.30pm.

From 1972 the school saw increased enrolments. The school contained the original building, 2 newer buildings plus the old church building which had arrived at some stage, and was later destroyed by fire. One demountable arrived and was located behind the church/canteen area and the "house" was used as a staffroom/classroom area. As the area continued to grow and the school needed more buildings, the P&C continued raising the matter with the department until plans for a new school were approved late in 1973. Building commenced in 1974. The P&C were also very active running the canteen, cleaning up the canteen each time it flooded after rain and maintaining the grounds.