Rathmines Public School History Project, 1991
The first school at Rathmines opened in January 1936 with 6-8 students and one teacher. It functioned as a susidised school operating out of the public hall. Subsidised schools were a way for the government to provide education facilities when the number of students in the area was very small. The Department of Education provided materials such as books, pencils and paper, but the community provided the building and the teacher.
The establishment of the R.A.A.F. base at Rathmines during the second world war brought more families and children to the area, and a Provisional School was approved in September 1941. The new school opened for it's first lessons on Monday 19th October, 1941.
1991 marked the 50th anniversary of public school education at Rathmines. To celebrate this milestone, the school produced and published a book "Reaching for the sky : Rathmines Public School 50 years on 1941-1991", and undertook an oral and written history project to interview and capture the stories of current and past teachers, pupils and parents.
These interviews can be accessed by following the links below.
Oral histories
- Interview with Dave Robertson, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1978-1982
- Interview with Warwick Lean, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1953
- Interview with Val Young, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1972 - 1982
- Interview with Frank Quinlan, student of Rathmines Public School 1955 - 1961
- Interview with George Sneddon, student at Rathmines Public School 1946
- Interview with Julie Rayner, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1983 - 1989
- Interview with Roy Malone, student of Rathmines Public School 1957 - 1962
- Interview with Elaine Wilson, student of Rathmines Public School in 1939
Written Interviews
- Interview with Marian Parker, member of the clerical staff at Rathmines Public School 1977
- Interview with John Lydiard parent of students of Ratnmines Public School in the 1970s. Interview about project to design the school logo and badge
- Interview with Val Young, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1972 to 1982
- Interview with June Leonard, parent of Rathmines Public School students 1955 to 1964
- Interview with Jean Viney, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1959 to1962
- Interview with Denis O'Hearn teacher at Rathmines Public School from 1982. Speaking on the School band
- Interview with David Koh, small business owner and restauranter at Rathmines 1983
- Interview with Dave Robertson, teacher at Warners Bay Public School 1978-1982
- Interview with Beth Miles, Principal of Rathmines Public School 1980 to 1986
- Interview with Phyll Reed parent 1933. Instrumental in campaigning for establishment of school.
- Interview with Lorraine Solemn. Student at Rathmines Public School from 1959-1966
- Interview with Julie Rayner, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1983 - 1989
- Interview with Roy Malone, student of Rathmines Public School 1957 - 1962
- Interview with Warwick Lean, teacher at Rathmines Public School 1953
- Interview with George Sneddon, student at Rathmines Public School 1946
- Interview with Elaine Wilson, student of Rathmines Public School in 1939
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