Cooma school records

Schools are often the centre of a town and reflect the good times and bad times but also the fun times like days off for the local show. They reflect the culture and location of the town – early finishes so the children can help with the milking or more pupils attending while the railway is built nearby. Teachers move from school to school frequently and struggle to find accommodation in growing towns. Teachers study and take exams to progress in their careers. Their leave requests provide many details about their lives.

Recording of the virtual event

School Files, 1876-1979

[NRS-3829]

Cooma

The school files show the growth of the government school system in Cooma. The government school in Cooma started in 1863 before the School files began. Cooma Public School became a Superior Public School as early as 1892. Cooma continued to grow as did the interest in secondary education so the school became a District School in 1920. The growth wasn’t sustained, and Cooma dropped back to being a public school in 1929 and remained at that level until 1944. Secondary classes became available in Cooma again when the school became a Central School in 1944 and then an Intermediate High School from June 1950. The 1950s brought the Snowy Mountains Scheme and the Snowy Mountains Authority headquarters in Cooma. Two new public schools opened - Cooma North in January 1953 and Cooma East in January 1955. Cooma East was sited in the Authority’s township. Monaro High School opened in 1954.

New public school buildings were approved and built from the 1880s onwards. School buildings and fences and school residences needed repairs very regularly over the years. Additional land was always needed.

Schools closed for the local show, the annual school picnic day, to mark the end of World War 1 and for Peace celebrations, combined schools sports carnival and as a reward for a PE demonstration. Half-holidays were given by the Minister of Education and the Governor when they visited, for the laying of foundation stones, for Empire Day and by General Birdwood in April 1920. Schools marked Arbor Day in some years. Pupils learnt and teachers taught in weather sheds, rented halls and in the teacher’s residence.

Teachers enlisted during the World Wars and on return took up teaching again. Teachers requested leave to be with sick family members and when ill; applied for rent allowances and reimbursement of travelling expenses; struggled to find suitable accommodation and requested repairs and extensions to the school residence including a bath heater.

Parents and Citizens groups (formal and informal) made representations in support of the schools in numerous matters – additional teachers, new buildings, reclassifying the school, provision of secondary education. They raised funds and spent them on having electric light put on at the school and buying a Gestetner duplicating machine.

Photographic collection

[NRS-15051]

What are they?

The History Unit of the Department of School Education collected these photographs (from around 1963 to around 1991) when preparing school histories, research for public relations, or giving presentations.

Many photographs are not official photographs, so they vary in subject, titling and image quality. There are no photographs for some schools. 

More about this series in Collection Search

What can these records tell you about your town?

The photographs of Cooma Public School include seven undated photographs of the school but probably from the 1960s or 1970s. The photographs show part of the work carried out to provide additional accommodation. The photographs show a range of views.

Teacher career cards, 1908-1987

[NRS-15319]

What are they?

These cards detail each teacher’s appointments during their career in NSW government schools and/or the Department of Education. They also have some personal information like date of birth and date and details of marriage. 

More about this series in Collection Search

What can these records tell you about your town?

The career cards show how frequently teachers moved (generally every 3-5 years). Many career cards show woman resigning after they marry. There were a few post World War 1 marriages and resignations including Alma Feld from Cooma Public School. The women were excused repaying any remaining part of their bond and repaying travelling expenses if they produced their marriage certificate. Alfred Wright began teaching in 1927. He enlisted in the Volunteer defence Corps in 1941 and in the AIF in 1942. In 1953 he was appointed as the first Head Master of Cooma North Public School.

List of some of the teachers in these schools

Follow the links below to browse cards for Cooma, Cooma North and Monaro High.

Cooma

• Allan Bennett NRS-15320-1-4-[6]
• Alma Bottom NRS-15320-1-5-[4]
• Sidney Bowers NRS-15320-1-6-[13]
• Evelyn Bray NRS-15320-1-6-[14]
• Hebe Bridges NRS-15320-1-6-[18]
• Maurice Broadfoot NRS-15320-1-6-[17]
• Rosamunde Brown NRS-15320-1-7-[7]
• Thomas Casimir NRS-15320-1-9-[10]
• Kate Clarke NRS-15320-1-10-[8]
• Elsie Curry NRS-15320-1-13-[16]
• Daphne Davies NRS-15320-1-14-[6]
• Albert Dowd NRS-15320-1-15-[9]
• Elsie Fountain NRS-15320-1-19-[6]
• Inez Hood NRS-15320-1-27-[9]
• George Humphreys NRS-15320-1-28-[13]
• Averil Jack NRS-15320-1-28-[15]
• Arthur Jacobs NRS-15320-1-28-[14]
• Florence Johnson NRS-15320-1-29-[5]
• Kate Kaufline NRS-15320-1-30-[10]
• Clive Linz NRS-15320-1-33-[4]
• Reginald Lynch NRS-15320-1-34-[3]
• Albert Madew NRS-15320-1-37-[8]
• Bede McKerney NRS-15320-1-36-[10]
• Lancelot McManus NRS-15320-1-37-[9]
• Henry Medlicott NRS-15320-1-39-[10]
• Lila Menzies NRS-15320-1-39-[9]
• George Reeder NRS-15320-1-48-[8]
• Lorenza Sanders NRS-15320-1-50-[4]
• Alan White NRS-15320-1-60-[7]
• Alan Wilks NRS-15320-1-60-[7]
• Frederick Wilson NRS-15320-1-61-[9]

Cooma North

• Ainslie Hobson NRS-15320-1-26-[4]
• Alfred Wright NRS-15320-1-62-[7]

Monaro High

• Donald McKay NRS-15320-1-36-[9]

Site register cards, 1930

[NRS-3988]

What are they?

These cards were compiled in the Department of Education and its successor agencies from approximately 1930, and record details of school sites purchased and subsequently disposed of since the early nineteenth century. 

More about this series in Collection Search

What can these records tell you about your town?

Cooma Creek Provisional School and Half time school existed between 1901 and 1913 about 20 kilometres from Cooma. The site card shows the site and how and when it was disposed of. It is also a reminder of the many small schools that existed across New School Wales.

Cooma East Public School operated from January 1955. The Site card shows where it was and the relationship with the Snowy Mountains Hydro Electric Authority.

The site card for Cooma Teachers Hostels is from the 1970s.