School Days – Part 8

Tom and Margaret Simpson had to live away from the school at Ubanks Farm for two years till a new house was built, after the school house brunt down in July 1950.

Tom and Margaret were the Albany creek vice regals with Tom as headmaster from 1948 to 1961, in every way they were great role models. The took mid day lunch on the porch overlooking the unruly ‘Rounder’ games, we made ginger beer in the kitchens and girls has sewing classes on the porch.

A real team effort and a guaranteed couple to support every district every endeavour to ensure their charges got the chance. Not just a career in teaching, a life dedicated to teaching.

Top of mind experiences, outings to Strathpine Picture Theatres on the back of Eddie Meaghers pig truck holding on for dear life to the swill drums. Wooloowin scho9ol for domestic science and manual arts crammed into the beck of Earl Chapman’s milk delivery van. To the big annual picnic trip to Morgan’s paddock so the grade 8’s could sit for scholarship. Swimming at Leitches Crossing and swinging off a rope over the wall.

Rodney Lomow and the racing draft house he rode from Warner Road, the fancy dress ball parade on the Tennis Courts; door to door collections for the Annual Break up; the one room school dances with “pop” on the floor it made it slippery and the local Macklin/Jones bands elating the wood; Guy Fawkes night and threepenny bungers; planting the ‘pinus elliotti’ plantation in the rain the day before the school inspector arrived; Major Mann (Salvo’s) and Cannon Grayson (Anglican) religious instruction classes.

As I move around the schools and admire the leadership of Bronwyn Campbell (Albany Hills), Lyn Rutley (Albany Creek High), Clyde Campbell (Eatons Hill) and Rob Pearce (Albany Creek), who tackle a far more complex set of demands, I admire the pioneering style of Tom and Margaret Simpson and often reflect upon their influence, inclusiveness and teaching skills, that helps me today and every day.

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