PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL  
Research by GORDON FREEGARD   April 2021

The Piesse Brook was first named in 1890 and is thought to honour William Roper Piesse who was a prominent citizen with a large family living in the Guildford area at that time. One of the focal points of the district was the Piesse Brook School (1928 – 1954) which hung on the side of a very steep slope on Mundaring Weir Road near the intersection with Aldersyde Road.

On the 20th February 1928 Messrs J. Sanders, W. Palmer, H. Whiteside, and F. Bateman made application for the establishment of a Primary State School at Piesse Brook, because the Kalamunda State School was more than three miles away and the growing numbers of children of the district's settlers were not getting any formal education. On the 16th October 1928, a school building consisting of a 30ft x 20ft classroom with an 8ft verandah was completed.

It remained a one teacher school up until 1949, when a monitor was appointed to assist Charlie Rose in 1950. The school closed in 1954 and the building was transferred to the Youth Hostels Association the following year.

1928
                       Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, THOMAS ELSON, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, ARTHUR PALMER, COLIN PRICE, JOHN PRICE, NANCY PRICE, ELSIE SANDERS, MILDRED SANDERS, FRANCIS SHAW, BETTY WHITESIDE, FAYE WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, MARJORIE WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

The teacher, Miss Clarissa Elliott, arrived to find the school unclean and devoid of furniture. All the desks and other furniture was still at the Kalamunda Station. Mr. Palmer and Mr. Bateman went in horse and cart to bring it all back to the school. Mrs. Bateman and Mrs. Palmer helped clean the school of sawdust and building scraps. Miss Elliott obtained board with the Palmer family, but later bought a Baby Austin car and drove from Kalamunda each day.

OFFICIAL OPENNING 1928      #1

1929
                     Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, BETTY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

June
The Piesse Brook State School was the scene of much gaiety and excitement on Saturday evening, 15th last., when it had its initial dance, the proceeds of which are to be expended on a piano for the school. Great credit is due to the Piesse's Brook settlers for their ambition. The school, which is quite a new one, is tucked right on the side of a hill at the end of the new portion of the Mundaring Weir Road (and which will go right through in the course of time).

The hall was packed to its utmost, and many of those in attendance travelled from Perth, and from all parts of the district. Special cars left Kalamunda with full loads, and everybody had a royal good time. There were some pretty dresses worn by the ladies which, combined with the decorations depicted an unexpected scene. All concerned entered into the affair whole heartedly, and were recompensed by it being a great success both financially and otherwise. The supper, which was provided by the ladies, everything being home made, was thoroughly enjoyed, Mr. P. Collins proved an able M.C> and the Kalamunda Orchestra provided the music.

1930
                     Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, BETTY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

CHILDREN AT THE SCHOOL'S FANCY DRESS BALL          #2
L - R:      ?      , SANDY FINDLAY, NORMA SCOTT, JIMMY FINDLAY

1931   
                      Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, BETTY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

1932   
                      Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, EILEEN DANIEL, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, JOAN LOARING, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, JACK THOMAS, ROY WALKER, BETTY WHITESIDE, FAY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, MARGARET WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

1933    
                      Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON, JOAN LOARING, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, BETTY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

BIRD CLUB'S ACTIVITIES. September

Enthusiasm at Piesse's Brook

School Bird Clubs, which aim at encouraging children to protect and appreciate the birds about their schools and lomes, have been formed in many of the State Schools throughout this State as a result of the Education Departments recent move to foster, an interest in bird life. Some of the clubs keep a bird calendar and take short excursions to study the birds, while others make collections of old nests, supply water and food for birds and celebrate Bird Day each year. The Piesse's Brook club, which is perhaps the most active of the clubs in the Darling Range districts, has progressed a step further.. At an Arbor Day, which was held at the local school on Saturday afternoon, the club published the first issue of a 12-page monthly school magazine entitled 'The Brook Bird Club Broadcaster.' This magazine, a copy of which was presented as a souvenior to Mr. E. S. Sampson, MJL.A., was compiled by a committee' of children comprising Margaret Whiteside (editor), Neil Hutchinson (secretary) and Ted Bateman (treasurer). It contains many interesting articles, short stories, bird notes and poems, relating to birds, most of which were written by the children. The editorial column states: — 'The aim of the club members is to study the lives and habits of birds. 'We hope this magazine will contain helpful advice for those who seek it.' In the 'Did You Know This?' column, which is contributed by Fay Whiteside, it is stated:— 'The birds of Western Australia seem to be working towards the south. The magpie lark did not at one time inhabit these parts, but it does now, having come from the north. The pied butcher bird is also coming to the south and has lately been seen around Carmel. Original notes on various birds to be found at Piesse's Brook are contributed as follows:— Cuckoos, Betty Whiteside; kookaburras, Roma Bracey; magpie larks, Eileen Daniel; magpies, Jack Thomas; yellow-tailed thornblls, Margaret Whiteside. Original stories about local birds are provided by Margaret Whiteside and Arthur Palmer, and verses about birds are included from the pens of Doreen Schleicher, Nancy Price and Jean Whiteside.

Eighty Varieties of Birds. Perhaps the most interesting article in the magazine is one entitled 'Our Local Birds.' which has been contributed ° by Mr. W. Loaring, a local resident, who is a member of the Royal Australian Ornithologists' Union. This states that in the Piesse's Brook gully, within a mile of the school, there have been recorded 80 different varieties of birds. Some of these, such- as the emu and zebra finch, have only rarely been seen. The articles proceeds. Other birds, among which may be named the red-capped robin, the willy wagtail, the white-fronted  chat, the rest-less fly-catcher and the beautiful regent parrot, have been known to pay only brief and irregular visits. The list also includes nomadic birds such, as the lorikeets and cockatoos. When all these accidental, casual and wandering visitors have been taken from the list, there still remain between 40 and 50 different birds which year in arid year out, make their nests, within a mile or two of Piesse's Brook school. These birds, with their great value as insect destroyers, their different and interesting ways of obtaining their food, their wonders of flight, their varied and beautiful plumage, their songs and calls, their often wonderfully made nests, their great care of nestlings, their arrivals and departures, and with their beauty about the homes of man, form a study that is well worthy of the quickened interest of simple hearts and intelligent minds. At the Royal Show next month the second display from bird clubs will be staged. It is expected that all those clubs which forwarded matter last year will do so again this year, and that many of the newly-formed dubs will compete also. Through the Royal Agricultural Society a prize of £2/2/ ($1.20) will be awarded to the country school staging the best natural bird exhibit at the show.

1934
                     Teacher         CLARISSA ELLIOTT

Children known to have attended:  TED BATEMAN, NORMA BRACEY, FRANK HUTCHISON, NEIL HUTCHISON,  ELVA LOARING, JOAN LOARING, ARTHUR PALMER, NANCY PRICE, NORMA SCOTT, BETTY WHITESIDE, JOAN WHITESIDE, PEGGY WHITESIDE

June
VICE-REGAL VISIR TO PIESSE'S BROOK SOLDIERS' SETTLEMENT
A plesent an instructive day was spent on the 26th, when His Excellency the Governor and Lady Mitchell paid a visit to Piesse's Brook. The party was in charge  of Inspector E. C. Bribkworth, of the Agriculturel Bank, and by invitation Mrs. Brinkworth was  also present. A halt was made at the Piesse Brook School, when the parents and children attending the school entertained the party at luncheon, when Mr. Joe Gray (Chairman of the Darling Range Road Board) and Mrs. Gray joined the party. The school wasdraped outside with two flags which were flown at Mafeking during the siege in the South African War.

At the conclusion of the luncheon and accompanying speeches, a christening ceremony took place. Piedde's Brook can always muxter up at least one baby, and this one, a son of Mr. and Mrs. Findlay. just a fortnight old, was christebed "James" by the Rev. Hicks, of Kalamunda. A group photo was taken, good-byes said, and the party proceeded to Pickering BRook via Bickley and Carmel. A tour of the district was made, followed by afternoon tea in Carilla Hall, provided by the ladies of the district, after which the return journey to Perth commenced.

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1934          #3
Back Row L - R: MISS ELLIOTT, FRANK HUTCHISON, BERNE SCHLEICHER, DOREEN, SCHLEICHER, NORMA BRACEY, EILEEN DANIELS, PEGGY WHITESIDE,
 NANCY PRICE, TED BATEMAN, NEIL HUTCHISON.
Middle Row L - R: CYRIL PALMER, JOAN LOARING, ELVA LOARING, FAY WHITESIDE, BERYL THORNE, JOAN WHITESIDE, NORM SCHLEICHER, BETTY WHITESIDE,
HEATHER SCOTT, NORMA SCOTT, ARNOLD PALMER.
Front Row L - R: VINCENT SCHLEICHER, KIETH DANIELS, ARTHUR PALMER, JACK THOMAS.
 

1935
                     Teacher         VICTORIA SERVENTY

Children known to have attended:  ELVA LOARING, JOAN LOARING, ARNOLD PALMER, CYRIL PALMER, DOREEN SCHLEICHER, NORM SCHLEICHER, HEATHER SCOTT, NORMA SCOTT, BERYL THORNE, FAY WHIESIDE

December
A bus containing 50 children from the Piedde Brook School visited the Zoo.

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL unknown date          #4

1936
                     Teacher         VICTORIA SERVENTY
 

Children known to have attended:  ELVA LOARING, JOAN LOARING, MARIE LOARING, ARNOLD PALMER, CYRIL PALMER, DOREEN SCHLEICHER, NORM SCHLEICHER, HEATHER SCOTT, NORMA SCOTT, BERYL THORNE, FAY WHIESIDE

1937
                     Teacher         JEAN SLOMAN

Children known to have attended:  SANDY FINDLAY, ELVA LOARING, JOAN LOARING, MARIE LOARING, EILSA McWHIRTER, ARNOLD PALMER, CYRIL PALMER, DORIS PALMER, EDWIN PALMER, DOREEN SCHLEICHER, NORM SCHLEICHER, HEATHER SCOTT, NORMA SCOTT, PEGGY STACEY, BERYL THORNE, FAY WHIESIDE

Teacher Jean Sloman rented a flat called "Have-a-rest: opposite what is now the Dome Cafe in Canning Road. She walked to school every day, but sometimes managed to get aride home with Jack Honnor who had an old grey car without a hood. He and his family were at the time cutting wood in the bush towards Mundaring.

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1937          #5
Back Row L - R: CYRIL PALMER, FAY WHITESIDE, BERYL THORNE, DOREEN SCHLEICHER, PEGGY STACEY.
Middle Row L - R:  ARNOLD PALMER, NORMA SCOTT, EILSA McWHIRTER, JOAN LOARING, HEATHER SCOTT, ELVA LOARING, NORM SCHLEICHER.
Front Row L - R: SANDY FINDLAY, JACK McWHIRTER, MARJORIE NEWMAN, EDWIN PALMER.

1938
                     Teacher               JEAN SLOMAN

Children known to have attended:  ELVA LOARING, GRETCHEN LOARING, MARIE LOARING, EILSA McWHIRTER, JACK McWHIRTER, CLARENCE NEWMAN, MARJORIE NEWMAN, RON NEWMAN, ALISON PALMER, DORIS PALMER, EDWIN PALMER, NORMA SCOTT,  BERYL THORNE,

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1938          #6
Back Row L - R: MARJORIE MEWMAN, DORIS PALMER, ELVA LOARING.
Middle Row L - R: EDWIN PALMER, BERYL THORNE, EILSA McWHIRTER, ALISON PALMER, MARIE LOARING, CLARENCE NEWMAN, JACK McWHITER.
Front Row L - R: RON NEWMAN.

1939
                     Teacher            JEAN SLOMAN

Children known to have attended: ELVA LOARING, GRETCHEN LOARING, MARIE LOARING, EILSA McWHIRTER, JACK McWHIRTER, JEAN McWHIRTER, MOLLIE McWHIRTER, EDWIN PALMER, DORIS PALMER, GORDEN PALMER, NORMAN SCHLEICHER, NORMA SCOTT,

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1939          #7
 Back Row L- R:  NORMAN SCHLEICHER, MARIE LOARING, NORMA SCOTT, HEATHER SCOTT, ELVA LOARING, EILSA McWHIRTER, EDWIN PALMER.
 Front Row L - R: JACK McWHIRTER, JEAN McWHIRTER, MOLLIE MCWHIRTER, GRETCHEN LOARING, GORDEN PALMER.

1940
                     Teacher            JEAN SLOMAN               

Children known to have attended:   GRETCHEN LOARING, ROSA LONGO, DORIS PALMER, GORDEN PALMER, NORMA SCOTT

1941
                  Teacher            UNA PEACOCK   

Children known to have attended:   GRETCHEN LOARING,  ROSA LONGO, DORIS PALMER, GORDEN PALMER

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1941          #8
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1941          #9

1942
                     Teacher on Probation          CONSTANCE DAVIS
                     Teacher                             Miss BAGLEY

Children known to have attended:  GRETCHEN LOARING,  ROSA LONGO, BOB MITCHELMORE, CYRIL MITCHELMORE

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1940c          #10

1943
                    Teacher            GLYNN MILLER

Children known to have attended:  GRETCHEN LOARING,  ROSA LONGO,

1944
                    Teacher on Probation            JEANNE SMITH

Children known to have attended:  ROSA LONGO,

1945
                    Teacher          DELPHINE WHITLOCK

Children known to have attended:  ROSA LONGO,

1946
                    Teacher                JOHN F. MILLER           

Children known to have attended:

1947
                    Teacher                JOHN F. MILLER
                    Sewing Mistress      GLYN MILLER

Children known to have attended:

1948
                     Teacher                JOHN F. MILLER
                    Sewing Mistress      GLYN MILLER

Children known to have attended:

Father Christmas attended a break-up party on Friday giving much happpiness to the children with gifts lollies, etc.

1949
                     TemporaryTeacher     JOHN F. MILLER
                     Teacher                   CHARLES ROSE
                     Sewing Mistress        GLYN MILLER

Children known to have attended:

March

The Piesse Brook School P & C Association again request the Darling Range Road Board's plant be made available for levelling the playgound at the school. They were advised that the Board's plant was most unsuitable for the work required as a bull dozer would be required. The Board would be prepared to make a donation towards the cost of the job if carried out by a private contractor, although it was cinsidered that the work is the responsibility of the Education Department.

June
Teacher John Miller has been transferred to Esperance. They were given several farewell parties by their friends and the various organisations on which Mr. Miller had been an ardent worker. The Hprticultural Society gave a social evening in theit honour on Wednesday, June 1st and they were presented with a tray suitably inscribed. Adaibtu supper was served by the ladies committee, On Friday, May 27th, the Piesse Brook Parents and Citizens Associarion nel a social in the schoolroom and Mr. and Mrs Miiller were presented a leather writing case and crystal ware to show the appreciation of this association for all that Mr. Miller had done to hrlp them and the schoolchildren under his care. A bouquet of beautiful flowers given by Mrs. W. Loaring and presented to Mrs. Miller by the two youngest pupils. A welcome was given to Mr. Rose, the new Schoolmaster, who is well known in the district, his wife being the daughter of the late Mr. John Turner and Mrs. Turner of Lesmurdie.
 

1950
                   Teacher                           CHARLES ROSE
                   Monitor on Probation        GRETCHEN LOARING

Children known to have attended:  EMI BORIS, LAZZLO BORIS, DAISY BOYANICH, DANKA BOYANICH, GEORGE BOYANICH, OLGA BOYANICH, RODERICK BULLOCK, JOE CLEMENTS, NORMAN CLEMENTS, SIMON DeVITT, LAURIE FLYNN, MARY FURFARO, ALF GIOVINAZZO, FRANK GIOVINAZZO, ARTHUR HUTCHISON, DONALD HUTCHISON, LUIGI LONGO, NANCY LONGO, BEVERLEY McWHIRTER, LESLEY McWHIRTER, DOROTHY PRINGLE, GEOFFREY PRINGLE, GEORGE PRINGLE, LYNETTE ROOTES, JUDITH SINCLAIR, REX SINCLAIR, LEIGH STEADMAN, DALLAS TROTTER, HAROLD TROTTER, CECILIA TURTAN, DARRYL TURTON, JOHN VUKOVICH, TOM VUKOVICH, ROBIN WRIGHT, VIVIANNE WRIGHT

June
Tender were called for the building of a school shelter.

    PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL      #11
Back Row L - R: NANCY LONGO, JUDITH SINCLAIR, LEIGH STEADMAN, LYNETTE ROOTES, VIVIANNE WRIGHT
Front Row L - R: JOE CLEMENTS, DARRYL TURTON, ALF GIOVINAZZO, JOHN VUKOVICH
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1950          #12
Back Row L - R: LUIGI LONGO, HAROLD TROTTER, LAURIE FLYNN, GEORGE BOYANICH, FRANK GIOVINAZZO, REX SINCLAIR, SIMON DeVITT, TOM VUKOVICH
Middle Row L - R: Miss G. LOARING (Monitor), DONALD HUTCHISON, ALF GIOVINAZZO, LYNETTE ROOTES, ROBIN WRIGHT, OLGA BOYANICH,
EMI BORIS, NANCY LONGO, ARTHUR HUTCHISON, LEIGH STEADMAN, Miss HARRIS
Front Row L - R: VIVIENNE WRIGHT, MARY FURFARO, LESLEY McWHIRTER, CECILIA TURTAN, DAISY BOYANICH, DANKA BOYANICH,
DOROTHY PRINGLE, JUDITH SINCLAIR, BEVERLEY McWHIRTER
Seated Row L - R; RODERICK BULLOCK, LAZZLO BORIS, DARRYL TURTON, JOHN VUKOVICH, DALLAS TROTTER, JOE CLEMENTS,
GEORGE PRINGLE, NORMAN CLEMENTS, GEOFFREY PRINGLE
 

1951
                     Teacher                  CHARLES ROSE
                     Monitor                   MARIE PATON
                     Assistant Teacher    PATRICIA BENN

Children known to have attended: ALF GIOVINAZZO,  ARTHUR HUTCHISON, DONALD HUTCHISON, LUIGI LONGO, BEVERLEY McWHIRTER, LESLEY McWHIRTER, ROBIN WRIGHT, VIVIENNE WRIGHT

February
Tenders were called for additions to the Piesse Brook School.

April
Letter to Newspaper
Sir, - Reading of school playgrounds being repaired, and central schools being erected, urges me to beg a little space in your correspondence column. For 25 years a small school perched on a craggy, preciipitous incline has been without any playbround at all. No shelter shed is provided and attendance is about 39 children. This school is in Piesse's Brook, is passed by tourist buses, is unlines and in shocking repair. Sanitation, by no means hygenic, was until recently attended to by school-children, until the President of the Parents & Citizens' Association approached the Kalamunda contractor.
Much correspondence has been passed between the Parents and Citizens' Association and deputation to the Education Department and Public Works Department, have resulted in definite promises of immediate action over the past few years. But nothing has been done at all. The parents and citizens have themselves, and so far at their own expense, bulldozed level an area of hillside - sufficient to remove the children from their road playground - the junction of four roads, Mundaaring turn-off, Piesse's Brook, Bickley Valley and Kalamunda Roads. Men from both the Education Department and the Public Works Department have investigated and been shocked sat the conditions and congratulated the parents and citizens on their efforts. Can anyone make a suggestion what to do next to penetrate the iron wall of inactivity and lack of interest in a worthy school with a very solid Parents and Citizens' Association? Perhaps immediate steps towards a central school in Kalamunda would help to solve the problem. Something should be done before winter.
                                    Signed GRACE D. WRIGHT

BEVERLEY McWHIRTER & LESLEY McWHIRTER       #24

May
The Piesse's Brook P. & C. Association wrote and asked the Darling Range Road Board to provide a road to Piesse's Brook School from Mundaring Road, so that all types of vehicles could be driven up to the school building. The association was advised that the Board was having an inspectionmade to ascertain details of the work required.

July
Piesse Brook Parents and Citizens held their monthly social in the schoolroom on Saturday, July 14. It was well attended by members and friends from Walliston and Bickley. Farewell was said to Mr. and Mrs. C. Wright who are leaving the district for Perth. Thay have been very active members of the associationMrs. Wright being the President.
Patricia Benn has been posted to Piesse Brook School to assist the Headmaster, Mr. Rose.

September
The Piesses' Brook P. & C. Association asked the Darling Range Road Board to arrange for diphtheria immunisation to be carried out at the Piesse Brook School for those local children who could not attend the Kalamunda Clinic. The association was informed the the Road Board will agree to the request provided that a minimum of 15 children are available for treatment and subject to the M.O.H. being agreeable to such procedure.

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1951c          #13
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1951c          #14
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1951c          #15

1952
                    Teacher                     CHARLES ROSE
                    Assistant Teacher      PATRICIA BENN

Children known to have attended: ALF GIOVINAZZO, ARTHUR HUTCHISON, DONALD HUTCHISON, LUIGI LONGO

December
The children and parents went on a trip to the zoo and had an enjoyable time.

1953
                     Teacher                   CHARLES ROSE
                     Assistant Teacher     JOAN LEWIS
                     Assistant Teacher     Mrs. SCHOOK

Children known to have attended: ALF GIOVINAZZO,  ARTHUR HUTCHISON, DONALD HUTCHISON, MARIE HUTCHISON, LUIGI LONGO

Piesse's Brook P. & C. Association2nd April

There was a good representative gathering at the last meeting of the Piesse's Brook Parents and Citizens' Association when Mrs. Loaring, the retiring secretary was presented with a tray and a set of sherry glasses, as a token of appreciation and thanks. Mrs. Loaring has filled the position ably and well for five consecutive years. Hearty thanks were also extended to Mr. Thomas, the retiring president, for excellent work done during his term of office. Officers for the coming year are Mrs. E. Doyle, secretary and Mr. Lush, president. Everyone was gratified at the success of the last games and card social held in the Piesse's Brook school, and hope that the one arranged for April 11 will be equally successful. A hearty invitation is extended, and a good time guaranteed to anyone who would like to come. One of the P. & C.s' chief concerns at the moment is the problem of transport for the children. Many of them are walking long distances to school—even some of the kiddies in their first year have a four-mile walk daily, and it is hoped that something definite about transport can be done be-fore the winter.
 

1954
                    Teacher                          CHARLES ROSE
                    Teacher on Probation      GRETCHEN LOARING 

Children known to have attended: TONY BATEMAN, R. BATEMAN, LEE CONWAY, JOHN DOUBKIN, STELLA FURFARO, NANCY FURLAP, NED GIGLIA, THERESA GIGLIA, ALF GIOVINAZZO, ARTHUR HUTCHISON, DONALD HUTCHISON, MARIE HUTCHISON, LUIGI LONGO, BILL McWHIRTER,  STEPHEN McWHIRTER, HILLARY TAYLOR, RONALD TURNER, EDWARD VanRIJNSWOULD

November
The Headmaster Charles Rose and some of the pupils enjoyed their stay at the National Fitness Camp at Point Perron arranged by the Education Department. Young Bill Harris, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Harris, of Lesmurdie Road, was bugler at the 3rd Music Camp at Point Peron, and gained much experience playing with the Perth Symphony Orchestra at the Camp. Bill plays the Trumpet.

December
The school closed on the 23rd December 1954 after serving the children of the area for 26 years. After that, the children were taken to Kalamunda Primary School by bus.

TEACHERS CHARLES ROSE & GRETCHEN LOARING AT THE 1954 ROYAL VISIT      #16
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1954          #17
 

   PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL 1954         #18
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL WAITING AT GUILDFORD 1954 ROYAL VISIT          #19
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL WAITING AT GUILDFORD 1954 ROYAL VISIT          #20
 

PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL WAITING AT GUILDFORD 1954 ROYAL VISIT          #21
 

UNKNOWN DETAILS - CAN YOU HELP?     #22

UNKNOWN DETAILS - CAN YOU HELP?       #23

VALE
PIESSE BROOK SCHOOL

It was just a little bush school where the wattle blossoms fell
And the children the hillside in answerto the bell
We were taught to add and multiply and read and write and spell
But we learnt some other lessons and we learnt them very well

We saw how magpies build a nest and heard the robins sing
And though we watched their babied grow we never touched a thing
We learnt so much at Piesse Brook and grew in such a way
For the lessons that we had there are still with us today

Two and two are always four - some things never bend
If you make a promise you must keep it to the end
We learnt to try and try again and worked with all our might
Correcting all our errors until we got them right

Our little school has gone now, though the wattles bloom there yet
And the lessons that we learnt in youth we never will forget
 The ripples go on spreading as we pass those lessons on
Goodbye our little bush school - your legacy lives on.

By Lesley Coe (McWhirter) & Norma Walsh (Scott)

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                      Kalamunda & Districts Historical Society

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