Anyone looking for these teachers? The following extract is from a set of the histories of 59 schools of the Richmond-Clarence area, which I can send out to anyone interested. Kathy STATUS QUO - MCMLIX This publication presents the schools of the Ballina Inspectorate at this time – Education Week, 1959 – and their origins. SOUTH ARM PUBLIC SCHOOL One hundred and twenty-seven years ago the "Susan", the first vessel to enter the "Big River", as the Clarence was then called, slowly made her way up the river. The vessel was commanded by a Capt. Johnson, and on board was John F. Small a brother of the owner of the vessel. On the southern end of Woodford Island, Small selected a property and built a home for his family. Capt. Johnson selected a property near what is now known as Ulmarra. John Small's home was quite a large building. The walls and roof were made of cedar slabs. The floor was of hardwood and the whole supported by great logs or sleepers. Around the home many fruit trees were planted. Small originally came to the Clarence in search of timber - cedar - and during his lifetime here was engaged, at various times, in dairying, rice growing and sugar cane growing. It is interesting to note that timber, dairying, and sugar, are still important local industries. Other settlers followed John Small and settled on this part of the Clarence. Among them were Richard Benson, originally of Donegal, Ireland, who arrived in 1856; Patrick Cooney, of Anacrotty, Tipperary, Ireland (1861); Kenneth Gillies, Isle of Skye, Scotland (1857); John Hughes, Cambridgeshire, England (1861); Wm. McGregor, of Argyleshire Scotland (1861); W. T. Rayner, Cambridgeshire, England (1861); Thomas Ward, Drum Castle, County Sligo, Ireland (1866); David Archer, England, and George Watson, Hertfordshire, England (1861). Those were the days of large families and the need for a school was soon felt. Thomas Small, having by now built for himself a more substantial home, gave the original house to be used as a school. Thus the first house on Woodford Island became the first school; a rough school, no doubt, but, in the hands of the skilled craftsmen, much rough material is transformed into objects of use and beauty. The early teachers at this school must have indeed, been craftsmen, for many of the scholars who passed through the school have carved out for themselves quite brilliant careers in various occupations. http://my.yahoo.com.au - My Yahoo! - It's My Yahoo! Get your own!

Hello Kathy Pearson, Some of my CARTMILL ancestors came from the Clarence (Ulmarra) region-about 1860, if I remember correctly. Any data on that particular family ? Pleases. Lorraine Winsor