Rowan Smith: The Heart of The Hills. The History of Sassafras Primary School Number 3222 and Its Place in The Sassafras Community For 120 Years: 1894-2014.

The Heart of the Hills.
The History of
Sassafras Primary School Number 3222

And
Its Place in the Sassafras Community for 120 Years: 1894-2014
Rowan Smith
Sassafras State School at the Sassafras Library and Mechanics Institute c.1898. Head teacher George
Jackson; fifty two pupils are in the photo. This is the earliest known picture of the school.

The History of
Sassafras Primary School Number 3222
And
Its Place in the Sassafras Community for 120 years: 1894-2014
Rowan Smith
On 23 October 2014, Sassafras Primary School turned one hundred and twenty years old. This
special event will be well celebrated by the Hills community, of which this school has been the
heart since its very beginning. The little Sassy State School Number 3222 has been a golden
strand, becoming part of the common memory of those many generations who attended it.
Memories of the nurturing, family-like atmosphere; of friendships made, good humour and
learning; of school picnics and concerts, and of the scores of individuals who dedicated their
energies to the Sassafras students over the years. The story of the school is indeed the story of
Sassafras, and the many characters who made this community.
At the beginning, the Victorian Government opened up the head of the Sassafras Creek for
selection to relieve the Melbourne poor, the victims of the 1890s depression. The first courageous
settlers walked, or came by pack horse, up the track from Bayswater into the wilderness. Their
barefoot children were educated in a leaking and draughty surveyors shelter shed amongst the
ferns on Sassafras Creek. One of the first teachers, Miss Boyd, despaired at the conditions they
had to endure. In 1895 the philanthropist James Griffith, tea merchant, built the Mechanics Hall
which provided better accommodation for the Primary School children and later in 1915, the
school moved to its present site. Life was still a struggle, with primitive conditions, hard work
eking out sustenance, long winters and frequent bushfires. The survival of the little school, and the
Sassafras community is ample testimony to the resilience of these pioneers, and is an amazing
story of struggle and success.
"Can you, my dear reader..step with me on to the magic carpet of your childhood's imaginations,
and fly with me to the nearby village of Sassafras, perched high on its eyrie on the summit of the
little blue smear across the eastern sky.."
("The Dandenongs: A Guide to Melbourne's Great Playground" Fern Tree Gully Progress
Association, 1925)
Dedicated to
all the Children of the Little "Sassy" School ...
Past,
Present
And
Future...
Published on behalf of Sassafras Primary School 3222, Victoria Australia.

Published by Seagull Press, Belgrave Victoria.
First Edition 1994.
Revised and updated 2014.
Rowan Smith 1994, 2014.
The Sassafras School

The Sassafras school
was a curious thing
It stood in the scrub
where the lyrebirds sing.
Where parrots and thrushes
went by on the wing,
Or dallied to bathe
in the shadowy spring.
Its wall were of tree ferns
the spongy floor too,
All cut from the trees
that there all around grew.
The roof was of shingles
good blackwood in hue,
And dark were the rafters
where squeaky bats flew.
The place leaked in buckets
whenever it rained,
Light glanced through in spasms
where the window was paned.
The doorway was reached
by a track deeply veined,
By dozens of rivulets
that kept the place drained.
Twas the first in the ranges
to assemble the classes,
Where deep shaggy moss
had replaced city grasses.
The beginnings remembered
each year as it passes,
Bring honor to it
that to all others, surpasses.
(from Jack Lundy Ballads From the Dandenongs No.11, reprinted in

Sassafras Primary School Bulletin, Summer 1985.)
Introduction 1994.
It has been both an honour and a privilege to be asked by the Sassafras Primary School Centenary
Committee, to write this account of the history of the Sassafras School. I have found it a
fascinating exercise for me as a comparative newcomer to the area, to learn about earlier
generations, who committed themselves to our friendly little school and our magnificent area. In a
small way, I hope that I have been able to preserve some of their memories in order that coming
generations at Sassafras may share them. I hope that I have done justice to this memory, as these
earlier generations were certainly an admirable group of people, good humoured, hard working
and resilient.
I wish to thank all the generous contributors of such valuable and fascinating information,
enabling this record to happen. They are too numerous to mention individually, however their
accounts of the past life of the school have been consistently wonderful and a privilege to read.
The numerous ex-students and local people of long-standing, who proof-read the drafts, checking
for errors, was an essential assistance and is most appreciated.
My particular thanks are due to:
Hilary Dewar
Jan Diamond
Gwen Horner
Jane Jones
and my wife Dagmar, for tolerating all the long hours that I have spent on this task and for
being a very constructive critic.
Hilary Dewar is the best research assistant one could hope for. She is interested in the history of
post-war Sassafras, and knows EVERYBODY! Her local connections have been invaluable, and it
was Hilary who did most of the running around to collect material for this history. She has spent
hours collecting resources, including some great photographs and patiently checking my drafts. I
hope this effort has been rewarded by the result.
Jan Diamonds diligent research at the Public Records Office; her proof reading and additions to
the drafts, have been essential in making this account possible. She also provided many
fascinating resources from her own collection.
Gwen Horner has also been a great help. Her collection of newspaper cuttings from the local
papers, going back many years, I found extremely useful. The other resources, and her editing
efforts were also much appreciated.
Jane Jones was an essential help in the final editing of the work, and correcting my tortured
syntax!
Special thanks is due also to the Shire of Sherbrooke for their generous loan, making possible the
publication of the book in advance of sales.
To everyone else , too numerous to mention all, who assisted with contributions, (but especially
Barbara Ure, Shirley Bye, the English family, the Downes family, Alister Cannon, Kath Shaw and
Norma Herbert), thank you all once again.
The many wonderful photographs reproduced in the book have been kindly lent by the following
people:
Malcolm Johnson, Gwen Horner, Jan Diamond, Brian Storrie and the Storrie family, Kath
Hallebone, Maree Alexander, Elaine Barrile, Simon Neill, Shirley Bye, Hilary Dewar, Mick
Dahllof (courtesy of Pat Hogan), Avis Smith, Bob Coleman and Peter Lehane.
Rowan Smith, Ferny Creek, 1994.
Introduction 2014.
The last twenty years have passed so quickly. It seems only yesterday that my children Ray and
Jessie attended the wonderful little school and now they are both in their late twenties. Ray is an
engineer and Jessie, a psychologist and therapist. Their success is testament to the wonderful
grounding the school gave them all those years ago.
It has again been my privilege to be asked to re-issue and update this history of Sassafras Primary
School to cover its hundred and twentieth anniversary and create a record of the last twenty years.
I would also like to pay my particular respects to many informants who I was honoured to have
met twenty years ago, when I began this work and who have since passed on. It was a privilege to
be able to learn their stories.
I would particularly like to thank Jean Krumtunger for the great help she has given me in locating
information and proof reading and critiquing the new work. Thanks are also due Heather Waring,
Catherine Jones, Matt Stamm, Eliza Rivers and all the many contributors of information,
photographs and recollections, specially the students. Finally, again I would like to thank my wife
Dagmar, for her editing skill and patience.
Rowan Smith, Ferny Creek, 2014.

The History of Sassafras Primary School Number 3222
And Its Place in the Sassafras Community for 120 Years: 1894-2014
The Sassafras township is geographically at the heart of the Dandenong Ranges (the "Hills")1, and
the century old Sassafras Primary School is the very heart of Sassafras.
Sassafras Primary School is the oldest school in the Hills2.It began with the beginning of the
settlement to serve its pioneers, and the development of the school reflects the progress of
Sassafras.
Throughout it has served this community, and the community has remained committed to the
school. The importance of such a continuity in the relatively young tradition of modern Australia
is impossible to overrate. It is rare and special by any standard.
Sassafras Primary School has been much more than merely in the geographical sense, "the heart of
the Hills". It has given the happiest of memories to its hundreds of ex-students, with golden
strands of tradition throughout the century becoming part of the common memory of those many
generations who attended this little school. Memories of the nurturing, family-like atmosphere; of
friendship, humour and learning; of picnics at the beach; of the school concerts, and of the scores
of individuals who dedicated their energies to the Sassafras students. These are the common
themes recurring throughout this history of Sassafras State School over the past century.
Background: Before 1893-4.

The Dandenong Ranges are a unique environment both in Victoria, and in Australia. The area was
known to the Wurundjeri and Bunurong Aborigines ("Yarra Yarra" and "Western Port" tribes) as
"Barngeong" (there is no agreement to its meaning, various suggestions: "Place of Past Fires" or
"High and Lofty") The Hills were integral to their seasonal hunter-gatherer round. Not being
permanently occupied, they were an important part of their summer hunting grounds, through
which they passed to winter in the Yarra valleys3.
The area remained little known to the inhabitants of Melbourne until after the 1870s. The
Illustrated London News of 1856 wrote an early account following reports by Baron Ferdinand
von Mueller, the explorer Daniel Bunce and others:
"About 20 or 25 miles distant from Melbourne...there is wild grandeur of which can scarcely be
1
Sassafras was known as "Sassafras via Bayswater" until the First World War, illustrating both its isolation and central hills
location.(Evan Wootton, "Sassafras State School. 3222- A History" Unpublished Essay Melbourne University 1992.) Sassafras
was midway between Ferntree Gully and One Tree Hill (Ferny Creek) along Hughes' bullock track in the early days and to South
Sassafras (Kallista) to the south along the creek. Monbulk was at the other end of the range. Helen Coulson, The Story of the
Dandenongs Melbourne 1968 Ed. pp 339 ff.
2
Some may claim Ferny Creek Primary School as the oldest, however this claim is not sustainable. The One Tree Hill school (no.
3228) (in 1924 called Ferny Creek) was established in 1895 (a year after Sassafras) on a different site to today's new school- the
original having burnt down in 1983(Sassafras/Ferny Creek Rural Fire Brigade Records per Bob Horner).Ibid pp 345-356.
3
Numerous references: see for example, John Larkins The Book of the Dandenongs Rigby 1978 pp23ff, or A.P.Winzenried
The Hills of Home Adelaide 1988 pp7ff
conceived by Europeans, and which is but partially known even among the colonists here."
Timber getting under Crown licence began as the major growth industry in the Hills to serve
Melbourne's building boom from the 1850s.
George Holden established the first timber camp in the area in 1852 or 1853, near present day
Monbulk. He felled and split timber around today's Olinda, the Sassafras Creek and Perrins Creek.
Roads and infrastructure were extremely poor. Hughes' bullock track followed the ridge to One
Tree Hill and down to Ferntree Gully. "Holden's Hut" was established at Olinda, and Holdens'
track went from there to The Basin. Holden used another track following approximately the
present Hilton Road to The Basin. A second timber camp was established, probably by Holden, in
the Kallista area ("South Sassafras") by 1867. The area the later Sassafras settlers were to move
into was certainly a frontier society. In 1867 the Government made the first survey of the area and
declared it a Crown timber reserve under the control of the Forest Commission/Lands
Department4.
Sassafras Creek was named by Ambrose Eyles, when he discovered the tall (7m) Sassafras tree
(atherosperma moshatum) growing in the gullies. It has a fragrant white flower. Sassafras wood
was highly prized for making the frame of horses saddles because of its flexibility. It also has a
nutmeg scent and was also used to make clothes pegs. The timber industry continued into this
century. By the turn of the century, the de-forestation of
the ridges is apparent in many early photographs and accounts and the best timber had been
removed.5
From the 1860s, as a result of the demand for land after the height of the gold rush, the
government passed the various Selection Acts. In 1878 land was opened up for sale in The Basin
and Ferny Creek (One Tree Hill) area, and in Upper Ferntree Gully, Upwey and Belgrave areas.
The Fern Tree Gully Shire, of which this area was a part, was founded in 1889.
During the financial depression of the 1890s, the Victorian Premier, Sir J.B.Patterson, and the
Minister for Lands, J.W.McIntyre, conceived of relieving urban poverty in Melbourne by opening
up a further 10,000 acres of forest reserve on the higher Hills around the head of the Sassafras
Creek. This was proclaimed on 23 May 18936.
There were two types of settlement, Village Settlements and free selection. Village settlers (such
as in Upwey and Belgrave), most of whom were destitute, got some help from the government and
were expected to live on their holdings for at least eight months of the year. They were encouraged
to take other jobs such as working on the roads. Free selectors were given no financial assistance
but were also allowed to do other jobs, though not in competition with the Village settlers. They
had to be much more resilient. Sassafras was to be settled by free selectors7.
numerous references, see for example A.P.Winzenried op cit pp77ff

per Audrey Edmondson, Gwen Horner, Shirley Bye & Jan Diamond L.Costermans Native Trees & Shrubs of SE Australia
H.Coulson op cit p25-26
6 Ibid p28
7
7Ibid pp36ff and A.Reid (et al) A Village in the Forest/The Story of Kallista Kallista 1993 pp12-13
5
Establishing the School: 1893.

R.P Ellis surveyed the shire boundaries, creeks and prospective allotments in 1893. He and his
team of surveyors occupied for the Lands Department, the "shelter shed".
This was probably the first permanent building in the Hills, and had been erected to shelter hunters
or cattlemen looking for lost stock (probably from the Glenfern Station) if they were caught in bad
weather. It contained a supply of blankets and provisions for that contingency. When it was built
and by whom is not certain.
The shelter shed was located on a small flat area, north-east of the Sassafras creek, and 100 metres
west of the "Monreale" Guesthouse (est.1923), opposite Noble's selection south of the creek, on
what was to be the Harris selection in 1893. (James Storrie acquired this land in 1895 after Harris
was killed by a falling tree)
Ellis set aside a Crown Reserve on the west side of Sassafras Creek Road Reserve (east of the
main Tourist Road). On this land the Mechanics Institute and the Infant Welfare Centre were later
built.
Thus began the closer settlement of "Sassafras Gully" (as it was then known). Allotments were
sold on generous terms, for one pound per acre, at a deposit of one shilling per acre, the balance to
be paid off at an annual rate of one shilling per acre over twenty years. Cultivation was to be made
within the first two years, and improvements were to be made on one acre in ten at a rate of one
pound per acre. The ten acre allotments were sufficient only for subsistence farming, and the
settlers could barely feed themselves, let alone sell their produce. Many settlers agitated for more
viable allotments of 40 to 50 acres, but that was not to be8.
The new settlers were city-dwellers with no experience of farming. They soon had to become
proficient with axe, adze, wedge and paling knife or went under. Cutting their way through dense
undergrowth to find a suitable giant ash or blackbutt, they felled the trees with a cross-cut saw
8
Ibid p45
from a platform. They then pains-takingly cut the tree into six foot lengths, split these into
"billets" and...into palings. Their first huts were made of these, roofed with shingles or bark, and
with initially at least, an earthen floor. Calico served as windows and in some cases, doors.9
The conditions are hard to endure, with long, wet and cold winters isolating settlers along boggy
bullock tracks and impassable gullies, and the ever-present threat of bushfires in summer".
(Oakleigh and FTG Times, 11/11, 1893)
Amongst the very first settlers in Sassafras Gully, the Warman family was fairly typical. They
were poor Cockneys who were driven out by bushfires and returned to England.10 Of the original
thirty selectors around the head of the Sassafras Creek in 1893, more than half had sold out by
1895 due to physical and financial circumstances.
Some were more successful however. Arthur.J.Goode established the first slab and shingle store
("Sassafras Gully Cash Store and Refreshment Rooms") and the first post office, either on his
selection south of the Government Reserve, or as the 1903 Allans road map indicates, near
Gwenneth Crescent on The Crescent11 He operated from there until 1908 when Mrs Curry, the
Headmaster's wife, took over the post office. In 1912, Mrs Curry moved the post office to the
Hinckley Guest House which is the present site of the main nursery in Sassafras12.
Goode had the first mail contract from Bayswater, and, according to Stan Storrie, introduced
blackberries to the Dandenongs. Jan Diamond remembered being told however, that it was Baron
von Mueller who introduced blackberries
"in order that the wayfarer of the future may find a feast to enjoy on journeys through the hills.13"
Sassafras Gully c.1894. Sassafras was then a frontier community where Arthur J. Goodes
9
H.Coulson op cit p28 Syd Storrie (1970s)

J.Larkins op cit p97
11
Although the evidence of the Allans map is compelling, Brian Storrie disagrees with this location as being too far away from
the main township.
12
This is remembered by local residents as Downes Nursery site.
13 Jan Diamond 1994
10
10
Sassafras Gully Cash Store and Refreshment Rooms provided hospitality for travellers. Goode
had the first mail contract.
William Jones was also one of the successful first selectors, taking up the allotment where the
present shops now stand south of The Basin track, and later building "Sassafras House" on this
site.
P.Cadby constructed three cottages in succession on the present site of the Sassafras Primary
School. Amongst Sassafras State Schools earliest ex-students, the Late Mr Harry (Mick) Dahllof
(born 1908), remembered the post office being moved to the Cadby cottages when he was at
school in 1916.14
E.Dorey had the first greengrocer's shop in 1909, and Sherrard built a store at the corner of
Woodlands Avenue. F.Buzaglo constructed a store where the newsagency now stands. A.Newburg
built a cafe and guest house on the site at the corner of Prince Street. For many years these were
the only substantial buildings in Sassafras Gully Township.15
The settlers made their living by tree felling, saw milling, market gardening and raspberry,
gooseberry or strawberry growing.
In the period immediately following the great Education Act of 1872, the importance of "free,
compulsory and secular" education for upward mobility, especially among the poor was readily
appreciated. The new settlers were young and many had small children, who now had to be
educated by law.
From a request made by Alex Rankin (whose selection was in the present day Crescent), to the
Minister of Education (dated October 1, 1893) asking for payment of five shillings owed for six
weeks teaching, it appears that arrangements had been made on a less formal basis for some
education of the children prior to the beginning of the school.16
On November 8, 1893 Captain Garside JP, whose selection was on the Sassafras creek 600 metres
north of the surveyor's shelter shed, forwarded a petition for a school at Sassafras Creek to Mr
Peacock, the then Minister of Education.17
On December 12, 1893, William Jones made a further request for the opening of a school. He
suggested using the surveyor's shelter shed and that Mrs Garside should be employed to teach the
children. The Education Department requested Jones to let them know the number of children in
the area, but as Jones reported:
"The forest of the area was so thickly timbered and that the undergrowth separating the
allotments was so dense that an accurate survey was impracticable."18
The Education Department instructed District Inspector Gamble to investigate the applications,
which he did by February 14, 1894, reporting that Sassafras Creek was a village settlement with
approximately 23 children. This was probably inaccurate and estimates vary considerably. Grigg
has the figure in early 1895 as up to 32 children, 46 children are spoken of on the petition to move
14
as per Brian Storrie and Hilary Dewar 1994

"Sassafras Gully Old Time Fair" brochure 8/4/1978 H.Coulson op cit p352
16 Public Records Office(PRO) Laverton Vic.Letters Ref.VPRS 195/1806 1/10/1893
17
PRO VPRS 795/1806 8/11/1893
18 E.Wootton loc cit, and Stan Storrie in the 1970s
15
11
the school in June 1895, and the 1898 photograph of the school shows 52 students.19
19
PRO VPRS 795/1806 June 1895. Photograph on file at SPS
12
Gamble recommended that a full-time school, or that one half-time, shared with school 2329 The
Basin, be established. He wrote that,
"There is a capital shelter shed 20 feet by 15 feet measuring 12 feet to the eaves belonging to the
lands department. The front should be boarded up, three windows, a door and an iron fireplace
inserted. The parents will put in a slab floor and do all the work. No tank is necessary."20
From subsequent reports, it is likely that Gamble's judgement about the suitability of this
dilapidated structure and site was, at best, optimistic. Access to the site following the creek was
difficult. Obtaining water thirty metres down a steep and over grown slope, from the creek
(downstream from the settlement), was both difficult and potentially unhealthy.
On April 24, 1894, the Lands Department handed over "with pleasure" the shelter shed to the
Education Department, but warned that it was full of vermin. The settlers were promised a grant of
ten pounds if they could get the building in order by installing a slab floor, a pot-belly stove,
white-washing it and "removing the vermin". This work was completed, if evidently inadequately,
mainly by Capt. Garside and his oldest son.
Garside complained of the difficulty in getting help from the settlers, as only five helped, even
though "their children are running wild all over the place", in what was the school's first working
bee(!). Whether the settlers were paid by the Department is not known.21
The First School Site: 1894-1895.

The first Sassafras Creek School number 3222, began on October 23, 1894 in the dilapidated and
draughty shelter shed built of leaking slab and shingles.22
Education Department records indicate that the first appointed teacher as of that date to Sassafras
Creek School was Theresa M. Boyd, however she did not arrive until November 16, 1894,23 and
that one William T. Angwin taught the children before she arrived. He does not appear in the
official records.
The conditions experienced by the pupils, and Miss Theresa Boyd reflect the hardship and
pioneering spirit of the community. She arrived by pack horse and foot from Bayswater station so
fatigued that she was "hardly able to move".
Miss Boyd was to board with the Garsides (recommended by District Inspector Gamble). She
found this arrangement difficult. The following extracts from her letters to the Education
Department, give a great insight into these early conditions.
On November 17, 1894, the day after her arrival, she wrote:
"...I beg the honour to state that Sassafras State School 3222 is not a fit place for a female
teacher.
The building in which the school is held is in an extremely dilapidated condition. The
boards of the walls are from half to one inch apart mostly, from the door to the floor there is a
space of six inches through which the wind whistles, while the shingle roof is so open that the rain
pours in from at least twenty different places. The floor is of rough slabs which are fitted so badly
20
Ibid
copy of letter on file at SPS
22
H.Coulson op cit pp353-354
23 PRO VPRS 640/1910 23/10/1894 copy of letter on file at SPS.
21
13
that in some places they are fully three inches apart. Consequently the draught is something
unbearable.
My discomforts do not end with school hours. I have to board at a settler's house which is
of the most primitive description. At present they only have a kitchen, across a part of this is hung
a curtain. In a corner of this I have to retire...
I could not innumerate all the discomforts I have to content against. Probably a male
teacher could put up with this, but it is too much for a female and I am certain I could not survive
it...(I have) contracted a severe cold through having to sit and sleep amid such draughts.
There is no way of getting my trunks up the mountain and I cannot even change my
clothes.."
She then requested a transfer so that she
"might preserve (her) health and remain capable of doing (her) duty."
One month later on December 17, Miss Boyd wrote:
" I could not obtain either proper food or lodging at Mrs Garside's...(as she has been) in very
delicate health and having a baby only two days old she is quite unable to attend to a boarder.
Consequently, most of the household duties fall upon Mr. Garside, even to making the
bread etc. The bread is so bad that I could not eat it nor anything else provided.
So desperately hungry, I walked seven and a quarter miles to Bayswater and from there
went to Melbourne and obtained enough provisions to last me a few days..."
She went on to request something be done about the school building,
"..it being injurious to my health...the rain pours down wetting the children and myself leaving
hardly a dry spot in the room. This sort of thing interferes greatly with the schoolwork as I have
constantly to change the position of the children to try and keep them and their copies and books
as dry as possible.
The timber surrounding the shelter shed...has been cut away for safety in case of bushfires
leaving the palings...to shrink and then split leaving apertures from one to two inches in every few
feet of the walls. The windows or door have not yet been attended to, the chimney smokes fearfully
and as I have to keep the fire going nearly every day this is very unpleasant.
If any officer of the Department could possibly spend one day at Sassafras State School
3222 he would be able to bear out my statements.
Under these circumstances, I beg to request that the building be made more habitable so
that I may be able to fulfil my duties without injuring my health. I also request if this is considered
a suitable place for a female teacher and whether I will be compelled to remain here during
winter.
I have the honour to remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
Theresa M Boyd24
Miss Boyd found a frontier community with children in great need. She must have
"wept tears of loneliness at night, and shared (her) pupils' pangs of hunger when the winter rains
turned the misty valleys into bogs and stopped the settlers going for more food".25
The Department reacted to Theresa Boyd's supplications perhaps deeming it not a suitable
appointment for a female teacher, and she did not have to spend the winter at Sassafras. On March
1, 1895, William H. Grigg arrived from Ballarat to begin teaching at Sassafras School.26
24
PRO VPRS 640/1910 23/10/1894 copy of letter on file at SPS

26 PRO VPRS 640/1944 1/3/1895
25
14
Grigg took up residence in Ringwood, and walked daily to and from Sassafras Creek to teach (!)27
Sassafras State School at the Mechanics Institute 1895-1915.

Agitation continued by the local community and W.H.Grigg for improved accommodation for the
children. William Jones wrote to the Education Department on June 5, 1895 complaining about
the state of the school, and urging something be done about it.
On June 8, Capt. Garside suggested that the Education Department may rent the Mechanics
Institute, which was then nearing completion, for 2/6d per week in order to relocate the school. A
plan of the Mechanics Institute, to be built on the Reserve, was included in the application. It was
to be a 30 feet, by 18 feet, by 10 feet high, lined wooden building with a brick chimney. The
petition was signed by 21 families on behalf of their 46 children.28
A formal request was made was made on June 17, 1895, to close the school until better
accommodation could be provided.29
In a letter to the Education Department of June 18, Grigg reiterated the concerns of the Sassafras
community about the terrible state of the shelter shed, saying that the childrens attendance was
falling off (from 32 to 15 over five weeks) due to
"..some of the children being too ill to attend and others are kept home to avoid serious illness...
The children are mostly very poorly clothed... and not able to withstand the severe weather
experienced in the mountains. They cannot get to school without walking along the creek..(and)
arrive wet and muddy.
I have arranged the desks so that the children are as close to the fire as possible; but while
their fronts are warm, their backs are cold and I have to give them turn about the fire...
The parents are sending to me to know how many days their children have got to attend to
avoid summonsing for neglect..
I think it would be kind to close the school till repairs were made or the mechanics
finished."30
The Education Department convened a "Board of Advice" to consider Griggs' letter and the
Chairman agreed with Griggs' recommendations, stating in his report that the old building was,
"a splendid place for colds Rheumatics Bronchitis Inflammation of the lungs and if the department
wishes the Children educated in that direction and to get rid of them to the next world they can
take the responsibility for doing so."31
Griffiths donated a similar hall to Tecoma in 1907.
Gwen Horner has provided information about Griffiths from Helen Clarkson, whose
father, Mr Ridley Griffiths, was Jamess great-nephew, and wrote much about this remarkable
man and his wife.
27
Stan Storrie (1970s) and other references.

PRO VPRS 795/1806 8/6/1895
29 PRO VPRS 795/1806 17/6/1895
30
PRO VPRS 795/1806 17/6/1895
31 copy of letter on file at SPS
28
15
Sassafras State School 1901 or 1902 at the Sassafras Library and Mechanics Institute. The Head
Teacher is James McCann with forty students, including Syd and Les Storrie.
He went on to recommend transferring the school to the Mechanics Institute, shortly to be

available when completed.
The philanthropist James M. Griffiths, the tea merchant, and his wife Emily, of "Ferndale" in The
Basin, had provided the answer to the school's accommodation problem. Griffiths had constructed
the "Sassafras Library and Mechanics Institute" and stocked it with a library at his own expense
"on the condition that any Protestant denomination should be permitted to use the building free of
charge for religious purposes."32
Their property, Ferndale, in The Basin, had its own character, and was like a small village. It
had a butchery, bakery, orchard and green houses,33 and through these facilities, Griffiths was able
to provide much-needed employment as a charitable act for Hills people during the 1890s
Depression.
Stan Storrie remembered Griffiths,
"..He used to drive up (to Sassafras) every Wednesday in a Phaeton, and a pair of cream ponies,
and he would hold religious instruction at the school and would have a large bag of boiled lollies
for us all. This was in 1906."
Griffith would "read from the Bible, give (the children) apples, and let them share his dreams of
planting the mountain side with terraces of tea".34
32
H.Coulson op cit p354

Gwen Horner 1994.
33J.Larkins op cit p101
34 34J.Larkins op cit p101-102
33
16
On Empire Day (May 24) the flag was saluted by the children, the oath repeated, as it was on
Monday mornings into the 1960s,
"I love God and my country, I honour the flag, I will serve the King, and cheerfully obey my
parents, teachers and the law", and "God Save the King" was sung.(The children knew all the
words!).
Being their local patron, Griffiths would drive up from The Basin, "give the children a talk,.. a
sixpence and a little gift."35
(Griffiths was killed with his wife and two others in 1925, being hit by a train on the
Bayswater level crossing because his watch was five minutes slow).
The Mechanics Institute was opened with a great display of local pride in July, 1895. A committee
of management was elected on August 1, and included G. Fisher as president, and W.Sharp,
J.Dodd, W.Jones, J.Breen, J.Mills and A.Goode on the committee.
The Sassafras State School shifted there on July 15, 1895. Classes were conducted in the main
room, which sometime after 1915 was used as the town billiard room. The second room was the
library.36 The rent to be paid by the Education Department was four pounds per year.
The Education Department was slow in paying the rent for hire of the Mechanics Institute. On
January 2, W.H.Foster and A.Goode requested payment of arrears. By 1898, fifty two pupils were
37
under instruction in the building by Mr George Jackson, head teacher from January of that year.
Two of these were the young Sydney and Stan Storrie of whom we shall hear more.
After the shifting of the school to the Mechanics Institute, there were still problems with lack of
facilities and poor conditions. Grigg requested a "Sewing Mistress" on December 3, 1895 and
noted an "average" attendance of 30 students.38 Truancy must have been quite high considering
the numbers by 1896. Stan Storrie recalled as well in a discussion with Hilary Dewar before he
died, that many of the students were kept home by their parents when work got too heavy on the
allotments and there were chores to be done.
On April 26, 1897 Jackson requested the Department to obtain permission from the Lands
Department to build a shelter shed on the Crown Reserve with voluntary labour provided by the
settlers, as "there is no shelter of any kind from the wind and the weather."39 This reflects the
township's exposure to the weather. There is no record as to whether these requests were met.
Such requests for shelter from the weather for the students, recur throughout the next century of
the history of Sassafras State School, due to the long winters in the Hills.
Jackson requested a water tank for the use of the school on November 1, 1898, and by this time,
35
35Mrs Earney of Olinda, quoted in R.Neal Recollections/A History of Olinda Primary School C.1990 p12 H.Coulson op cit
p354
36 Hilary Dewar op cit.
37The presence of the water tank vis-a-vis request for same, dates the Mechanics Institute photo to 1898. Therefore there were at
least 52 pupils in that year. *Hilary Dewar, in a conversation with Syd in the 1970s, formed the opinion that he may have begun
school on the first site at the Shelter Shed. Syd remembered it as horrible!
38
Hilary Dewar op cit.
39 PRO VPRS 795/1806 29/4/1897.
17
because of greater town settlement, in the words of Distinct Inspector Gamble, who endorsed this
request, the need was
"..urgent...as the creek water is liable to pollution by the settlers."
A tank was erected.40
Miss Ada Graham, sewing mistress at the school about 1900, had great difficulty getting to school
due to "the exceptionally severe weather" during the winter months.41
From the 1890's until World War One there were new settlers and an increasing demand for
facilities to educate their children.
Mrs Avis Smith recalled in 1994, that her mother, May Gill (later Lawrence), attended the
Sassafras School from about 1898, until she left school on 7 December, 1904: the day she turned
fourteen.
May was born in 1890, one of eight children of English migrants, Fred and Eva Gill who
emigrated from Yorkshire in 1888. They moved from Richmond in the 1890s Depression and
selected land on Perrins Creek Road in what was then South Sassafras (now Kallista) when May
was about eight years old, in 1898. Mrs Smith wrote that her mother told her that,
..they used to cross Perrins Creek Road, then the creek, up the hill and walk with the children
from Warwick Farm. They didnt go to school on rainy days (possibly due to the flooding of
Perrins Creek)..(The School) was about two miles away. The children from Warwick Farm may
have been called Barrett, but I am not sure.42
The Gill family at home, Perrins Creek Road, South Sassafras (now Kallista) in 1921. May is
second from the right, back row. (see text)
40
41
E.Wootton loc cit

Avis Smith 1994.
42
18
The home of Fred and Eva Gill, Perrins Creek Road, South Sassafras about 1910. This is
typical of the many early selections at the head of the Sassafras Creek. The land was
cleared of timber to grow vegetables, berries and fruit trees.
Many of the old families who still remain today, arrived in the area at this time. A notable early
family was the Storries.
The Late Syd Storrie has left a splendid record written in 1970 and 1978 (when he was in his
eighties), of this early period which gives a wonderful insight into what life was like for a young
student of Sassafras Primary School at this time. It was a "Tom Sawyer" existence, despite its
hardship and danger. As it speaks so eloquently for itself, I shall reproduce much of it in its
entirety below.
Syd's father James, having lost his job and house in the nineties depression, in 1895 or 1896,
applied successfully for a selection. James had been an engineer in the north of England and
immigrated in the 1870s. He brought his family from Melbourne to live in a log cabin:
"A two roomed hut with split slabs and a shingle roof, and a so-called lean-to at the rear...built by
him out of mountain ash..the only things bought for this being nails, glass, hinges (and) locks."
The selection was above the Sassafras creek, one mile below the township.
His wife, Adelaide and their children had stayed with relatives in Hawthorn whilst the home in the
hills was prepared. When it was ready, he and his wife walked from Bayswater pushing a pram in
which a child (brother Les) and a hen rode side by side (!). In 1899 when two weeks old., Stan was
brought to Sassafras on the back of a pack horse, up the One-in-Twenty Basin track.
Stan recalled in 1970,
"Mother came by train to Bayswater (terminus) then coach to The Basin, where father was
waiting with a pack horse. Provisions on one side and mother on the other side nursing me."
Syd also stated in the 1970s that,
I came to live, and started (school) on the day the school was opened in the then new hall at
Sassafras, now the Mechanics Institute..on the day a new teacher George Jackson started (Syd
19
would then have been 5 Years old)...My whole schooling was obtained at Sassafras State School
No.3222...
We used to keep a couple of cows, and pigs and grew fodder, in the form of oats and
maize...and potatoes, peas and beans, raspberries, black and red currants, Strawberries and
gooseberries for the Victoria Market...(and) later for the Cooperative Jam factory at Upper Fern
Tree Gully, whose manager was a Mr McIntosh, who lived at South Sassafras, now known as
Kallista...
(McIntosh) organised a Drum and Fife Band at Sassafras of which I was a member. I can
remember one occasion when we boys marched from the Hall to The Basin, then over the Forest
Road to the Shire hall at Fern Tree Gully, where we performed...and then marched home
again...Around about '97, a Sunday School was started in the Hall by my father, Mrs J.Wannan &
others, all members of the Plymouth Brethren...
One of my memories is of the first Mafeking Day, when the then Colonel Baden-Powell
was relieved (May 17, 1900: *The Boer War, 1899-1902)... our teacher gave us the day off. We
marched through the muck to Olinda and back, with flags flying and singing and shouting, and on
return an old Crimean War (*1854-56) Veteran settler named Jimmy Werrin, went through his, as
we deemed it, military drill, on top of a stump about seven feet high, in front of our school, his
weapon being a crowbar.(*this stump can be clearly seen in some of the c.1912 photos)
During the first ten years of settlement hardly a year went by without a bush fire
somewhere in the Hills.
During the pre-settlement period the area was the habitat of the giant eucalypts (Regnans)
and not far from our home, was the remains of a tree called the "King of the Forest". When I first
saw it, it had been burnt...but was reputed to (have been) seventy five feet in girth... Later only a
few hundred yards away, a settler names Miller felled another tree, not quite so large, which took
him a week to do so in stages...I put a tape around it...and made it forty five feet.(*this would have
been in the vicinity of Colehurst Crescent today, off Sassafras Creek Road)
...devastation (was) caused by the clearing of the land by the settlers, to grow crops and
fruit trees...(now) it is heartening to see how nature has taken over the rehabilitation of the
area...Mr Arthur Goode...is reported to have introduced the blackberry (*it may have been Baron
von Mueller..see previous pages)...as the clearing of timber proceeded, this plant took over and at
one time threatened to cover everything...the resurgence of native plant life especially in the
gullies, has forced them to die out and only in cleared areas now are they a pest.
The fires of 1898 destroyed much of Gippsland. Being only eight years old, and the
teacher at that time (*G. Jackson), having sent us home early in view of...the strong north wind,
told one of the older girls who lived about half way to my home, to see me home but when we
came to her place, she gave me a shove and told me to get home.
The fire had come down the ridge from Olinda, and was burning fiercely between myself
and home, and I had to leave the track and dodge round burning trees and scrub in the gully
before getting to the door.
The smoke and heat affected my eyes, so (Mother) put me in the darkened bedroom for a
while, and told me to lie down. I had to get up two or three times to put out small fires in the room
from sparks igniting the hessian lining.
My father was on the roof without a break for forty eight hours, with a wet bag putting out
the sparks as they dropped on to the split shingle roof. Sometime later he covered these (shingles)
with corrugated galvanised iron.
20
The Sassafras Drum and Fife Band outside the Fern Tree Gully Shire Offices in 1901, after
walking from Sassafras Gully. Syd and Les Storrie are amongst the group.
In the bushfires of 1914 that nearly wiped out Sassafras Creek, 14 year old Stan Storrie (the
younger brother of Syd) spent the whole day on the shingle roof of his parents' house trying to
save it, with his parents and sister relaying water from the creek.43
Syd continued his narrative:
Another summer, my brother Les and I went fishing for black fish in Woori Yallock, to the east
of Monbulk...a distance of at least five miles (*closer to a ten mile return trip!)...We saw a column
of smoke rising over Monbulk...When we arrived at the township, everything seemed to be
burning..."
The Monbulk Township was effectively wiped out, and the Storrie brothers walked home via
Nathania Springs, where they got
"a welcome drink of spring water ..We were pleased to get out of that and home to tea, without
any further trouble...
Some of the boys in those early days, used to have a competition going home from school,
to see who could go the greatest distance on fallen logs without touching the ground and we found
it possible to do so for at least two thirds of the distance.
My job after school was to keep the wood box full for both the open fire and stove...
I was at school until about the summer of 1904, when I passed my merit certificate, (sat) at
Mt Dandenong School(*end of Grade 8) and left to go to work as a general rouse-about for Mr
Plowman, who was a building contractor (*selection near Grandview Road)...
43
J.Schauble op cit p13
21
My job was to feed and milk the cows, feed pigs & poultry, and keep the house supplied
with fuel, as well as attend the customers at the little shop...and generally look after the garden at
his home, Lorna Doone (still standing today)...
About 1906, there was a heavy fall of snow in excess of 12 inches and the cows broke out
of the paddock, and I had to look for them in the bush on the western face of the hill...I remember
finding them late in the morning, and foundering up to my knees, and taking them home and
feeding and milking them, my feet and legs were so cold that Mrs Plowman made me take off my
boots and stockings and thaw them out with hot water, which was somewhat painful...
Along with the rest of Victoria, working conditions improved after...the Boer War...when I
went to Melbourne in 1907 to be apprenticed as an engineer. My father was working at his trade
regularly."
Syd's brother Stan recalled his school years at Sassafras Primary. He was at Sassafras
school from 1906 to 1914,
"..where I walked one mile each way. In winter the road was about one foot deep in mud, so I used
to keep a dry pair of shoes at school, and extra socks to change into...(I had to) milk up to six
cows before school, then carry that milk one mile and deliver (it) before school."
Families were so poor and isolated from commerce, that many of the children did not even have
shoes to wear!44
Stan recalled the school's picnic holiday, occasions which were warmly remembered by
generations of Sassafras children until well after World War 2 (although it was suspended during
World War 1, 1914-1918).
Similar fond memories of the school picnic, usually to the beach, recur in the accounts of exSassafras students throughout the century for over sixty years.
Stan Storrie remembered his trip to the beach, at a time when excursions and motor cars were rare,
and people travelled little. It was not uncommon for people to spend their entire lives in the area
where they were born. Many Hills children had never seen the sea, and the big, once-in-alifetime, train trip from Melbourne, might have been a persons Honeymoon-stay at an early
Dandenongs guest house.
Stan wrote of how the picnic began...
" The Annual School Picnic, where children from every school in the Shire (of Fern Tree Gully)
spent a day at the beach, was a feature of the district for (over) 40 years. The picnic began as an
outing for Sunday School children attending the Fern Tree Gully Church of England and was
originated by the Rev.F.W.R.Newton (about 1905)...
At that time few hills children had the opportunity of visiting the beach, and the outing
proved so popular, that Rev.Newton is believed to have approached the Council with a request
that the picnic should include all school children within the Shire and that the day be declared a
Shire holiday. The picnic certainly enjoyed the patronage of the Council and for many years the
Shire President of the day was the Chairman of the Picnic Committee...
In the early days special Puffing Billy trains carried the children with their parents and
friends to Fern Tree Gully where steam trains carried on and went to Brighton Beach, Mordialloc
and the Bayside Beaches.
The Children (young and old) enjoyed one glorious day of sea and sunshine during the
44
Hilary Dewar 1994, Shirley Bye 1994
22
month of February. (It was usually the second or third Friday) so we had the weekend to get over
it."
On 17 March, 1910 the Advertiser noted of the Shire picnic
"there was abundance to eat and drink for young and old. Some of (the children)..had never seen
the sea before, and nearly went wild with delight."
By 1913, the numbers of people from the Shire attending the picnic had grown to 1,500.45
Stan left school in 1914, and initially earned his living trapping and shooting the rabbits now
plaguing the ranges. He said he averaged about six pairs each day, and sold them to the many
guest houses.
The Dandenong Ranges settlements gradually became less isolated. At South Sassafras in 1894,
selector David Andrade called a public protest meeting, complaining of the isolation of the
settlements that were in "no man's land", and wanting the government to extend the railway to the
Hills.46 Although the railway was never extended from Belgrave up the mountain, by the turn of
the century some of the old tracks had been upgraded to gravel roads. Sassafras began to attract
tourists.
From about World War 1, Sassafrass postal address was no longer Sassafras-via-Bayswater,
and access to Sassafras from Upper Ferntree Gully for the mail and transport became more
important than the earlier connection through The Basin. About this time (c.1905), eight years old
Bob Clarke used to ride his horse to Ferntree Gully to pick up the mail for the Sassafras people.
Arthur Goode ran coaches during the summer months to Bayswater and Fern Tree Gully Railway
Stations from about 1896 until 1910, when W.E.Clarke (who was Bob Clarkes father), took over
the business. At sixteen years of age, Bob Clarke was allowed to drive the coach. This would have
been around 1913. Ralph Jones later drove for the Clarkes. Harry Dodds coaches of Olinda gave
them competition. The fare was 1/6d each way from Upper Ferntree Gully to the Olinda
terminus.47
Some of the best known guest houses were established such as Jones' "Sassafras House(18941924), Rostrevor (originally known as Mountain Rest, built with local split palings and slabs
the old way in 1897), Plowman's "Lorna Doone"(1904), Boulter's "Bella Vista", Murdoch's
"Clovelly" (Rupert Murdoch's great-aunt), Green's "Dewrang" and Hinckley Guest House. The
Storrie family got into tourism themselves: James and Adelaide Storrie opened "Kelway" guest
house in 1907, and after the First World War Syd Storrie and Tom Craven opened "Monreale" in
1923.48
Allans produced the earliest road map of the area in 1903, showing fledgling tourist facilities and
a well graded Tourist Road accessing Sassafras from Upper Ferntree Gully, The Basin and along
Sassafras Creek Road from South Sassafras.
45
M.Jones op cit. p138

M.Jones op cit p138 35 A.Reid op cit p16
47
Numerous personal references Passim.
48 H.Coulson op cit pp352ff and other references.
46
23
By 1912, the Country Roads Board was established, leading to slow improvement of the roads. In
1913 Les Storrie established, with Harry Tutt (another pioneering family), the first motor transport
in the area.
The first Tutt and Storrie "service car" was a Cadillac, later followed by six or eight Hudsons. Les
Storrie opened the garage in 1913, serving "Kalif" motor spirit (now Mobil). His son, Brian, still
runs this business in Sassafras.
The age of the motor car had arrived for the many tourists visiting the area, staying at the many
guest houses, and heralded great changes for the area.
Perhaps the most famous early guest house: Mountain Rest, later known as Rostrevor in 1911.
This was built in 1897 of hand-split and adzed local timber.
The citizens of Sassafras continued to take an active interest in their childrens education.
In 1903, the Education Department considered closing the Sassafras State School, and a petition of
October 26, 1903, signed by the 41 residents on behalf of 46 school age children succeeded in
keeping the school open.49 Ninety years later, the Department would again unsuccessfully try to
close the little school.
In 1906, A.G.Plowman, representing the parents, wrote to the Department objecting to the
proposed appointment of a certain Mrs Beatty, after Sassafras' previous Head Teacher, H.J.Cole
was transferred to Olinda as their first Head. The reason for these objections give an interesting
insight into proprieties of the time with regard to family, the role of females, and women teachers,
in particular.
The difficulty was that Mrs Beatty was a married woman with..
"..a family of Seven (7) Children, the youngest being under two (2) years of age & as Parents we
49
24
feel that it would be impossible for her to carry out the Duties of the Position." (Feb 06)50.
Nevertheless, the Department was mindful of this protest, and Mr Ralph R.Curry was appointed.
Mr Cole returned to teach at Sassafras after three months.51
Typical of many of the early teachers, Curry became an active and committed member of the local
community. He purchased the block from P.Cadby upon which the current school stands, and his
daughter Dorothy later married Les Storrie.
Early motor transport to service the many Sassafras guest houses in 1913: Tutt and Storrie
Service Cars outside Hinkley Guest House in that year, being the First car for hire, from the
Ferntree Gully Shire. What a great advertising slogan.
50
51

PRO VPRS 795/1806 12/6/1912 R.Neal op cit
25
Tutt and Storries Garage, Sassafras 1924. Les Storrie is second from the left.
Sassafras State School Gains its Present Site: 1915.

The Education Department bureaucracy burgeoned after the turn of the century. There were eight
grades, often taught simultaneously in one room, in State Schools at this time. At the end of
Primary School, all grade six students sat an examination for the Qualifying Certificate and the
Merit Certificate in the eighth year, after which most left school at the age of fourteen or fifteen.
A fourteen year old with a Merit Certificate would be eligible to enter the work force. Several
Eighth grade students on leaving Sassafras sought employment as teachers there, and applied to
the Education Department to become pupil teachers under the supervision of the Head
Teacher.52
The position of pupil teacher in the Department then, indicates that around the turn of the
century, teaching was considered more of a non-academic and unqualified apprenticeship. For the
academically-inclined children of poor parents, becoming a pupil teacher was the one of the few
ways open for them to eventually attain part-time, a university degree by later attending Teachers
College...
...for most teachers...their jobs, inadequately paid as they were, represented some improvement
over the economic position of their parents. Thus they could, in turn, do better by their children,
who...could go to University as full-time students and have other, more lucrative professions open
to them.53
52
E.Wootton op cit
C.Semmler (ed) 1974 ed. B.James The Advancement of Spencer Button Angus and Roberson, Brisbane. 1950. L.J.Blake
Vision and Realization Education Department of Victoria, 1973.
53
26
If the teachers lot was not always a happy one, women teachers were worse off than their male
counterparts. They were paid less for the identical work and they had many more restrictions
placed upon them by the Education Department.
Until well after the First World War, women teachers were forbidden to marry during the term of
their contract, and had to resign if they wished to enter into matrimony. Amongst other
restrictions, they were not allowed to smoke; not dress in bright colours; wear at least two
petticoats, and not wear a dress any shorter than two inches above the ankle! 54
The chances of promotion for female teachers were considerably less than male teachers.
Although then, as now, Primary Teaching was predominantly an occupation for females, of the
thirty-four Head Teachers over the century at Sassafras schools, only eight have been female; the
majority of these corresponding to the war years when the men were away.
The position of Sewing Mistress was held in high regard and fiercely contested in Sassafras by the
women of the area. Sewing and needle work was of vital importance in the daily lives of women at
the time, as most clothes were hand-made. If there was more than one applicant for a position,
then the District Inspector would conduct an examination, not in needlecraft, but in "writing and
arithmetic".55
The Curriculum at the turn of the century was firmly based upon the three Rs (Reading, Riting
and Rithmatic). Courses were laid out by the Education Department, who prescribed the
textbooks, and there was a high degree of uniformity throughout Victoria. From 1903, all Primary
Schools used the English School Royal Reader I-V as the basic text, and,
..many children learnt to read from the Primer and the First book, both of which had a phonic.
The First book represented a progression in phonic and look-and-say work...In 1902 the first
Copy books were released. The books portrayed a bold legible small hand. Writing position and
style were prescribed, letter formation had (to be) mastered.56
Arithmetic in the first decade of this century was taught as number study in the lower classes.
The Infants and Lower 1 should deal with numbers to 12 exhaustively: this includes (all)
operations. The coins, weights, measures, and fractions knowing numbers up to 12 should be
taught from actual objects, and the number lessons should constantly illustrate their practical use.
In every class mental arithmetic should be a special feature; mental should always precede
written arithmetic and should deal with simpler examples of all types of work given for practice
on slates. From the earliest stages to the end the work should be thoroughly practical; the
children should actually measure land, tanks, etc. (1905)57
54
C.Semmler loc cit 1974

E.Wootton op cit
56
L.J.Blake loc cit 1973.
57 57Education Multi Media Kit (AVEC) c.1978
55
27
28
The Merit Certificate was attained by Sassafras students upon the completion of Grade 8.
The Education Gazette in 1902, ordered that:

At least one hour per week should be given to history by teachers...When the full course of
29
geography is taken, only half the above time will be expected.

The importance of history and civics was to foster citizenship, Empire loyalty, respect for
institutions and hard work. The students learnt about the heroes of the past. The history was nearly
always British history or had British connections. The history text book of the time stated:
Every teacher of experience will agree with Carlyle that the twin guiding lights of history are the
map and the time chart. History, more than any other subject, offers the teacher the opportunities
of forming character in his pupils.58
A typical course at Sassafras Primary in these years would have included the three Rs,
transcription, dictation, drawing, grammar, spelling (10 or 20 words, learnt over night to be
tested), history (learning the dates of English monarchs!), geography (primarily of the British
Empire), poetry (memorising many classics), and sewing for the girls.
At Sassafras Creek, the Mechanics Institute Hall was evidently inadequate for these tasks.
The current school site looking towards Ferny Creek, circa 1912. The Cadby Cottages are on the
left. The Mechanics Institute, then the school site, is in the middle of the picture. Hinckley guest
house is diagonally opposite, on the other side of the road. Sassafras House in the background to
the right.
58
W.Gillies A First Course in British History- Stories in British History for Young Australians, Melbourne 1902.
30
Hills holiday houses from the turn of the Twentieth Century on the current school site, looking
towards Ferny Creek: The Cadby Cottages, circa 1912 with out-houses and chook sheds. One of
these cottages was later moved to the corner of the Tourist Road and Seaview Avenue, opposite
the Ferny Creek general Store. The Mechanics Institute is visible in the picture in the distance.
Like the annual beach picnic when Sassafras closed for the day, the residents enjoyed themselves
at the Australian Natives Association (ANA) Sports Day of 1912. The ANA was a Friendly
Society providing Insurance. They had been early supporters of Australian Federation and
ironically, the White Australia policy. Hinkley House, where the Post office was then located
may be seen on the left and Cadby Cottages, on the right.
31
On June 12, 1912, an application was lodged with the Department by citizens of the Hills, for the
establishment of one central school to meet the requirements of Sassafras, One Tree Hill (Ferny
Creek) and Sherbrooke.59
On January 29, 1913 the Education Department purchased the Curry block for 110 pounds:
"an area of 1 acre 34 perches(or 1.25 acres). Forming part of Allotment 19, Section D, parish of
Monbulk, county of Evelyn, as a site for school purposes, the erection of a building is to be
considered."60
On April 17, 1913, the sum of 460 pounds was granted by the Department for the construction of a
new school building on this site. The size was to be 26 feet 6 inches by 24 feet, to accommodate
50 children.61
It is interesting to note that the average monthly attendance at Sassafras for 1913 was only
between 27 and 30 students.62
This evidently smaller enrolment, combined with the building of a larger school by the
Department, indicates either
1. a higher official enrolment figure and much truancy (due to chores on the farms, or
young "Tom Sawyers" fishing for black fish?),
2. clever lobbying by the parents and a real fall in enrolment (a major bushfire had nearly
wiped out the township in 1913 and again in 1914), or
3. the expectation of growth in the area by the Department.
The building of a bigger school may indicate some, or all, of the above three factors.
The Education Department had still not called for tenders for the new building by 14
August 1914, and the parents complained in writing to the Department on that date.63
The new school building was completed on 27 January 1915, at a cost below the grant of 379
pounds 16 shillings. There is no record of exactly when the students moved in nor the opening
ceremony, if any. However it must probably have been in February 1915, at the beginning of that
school year.64
This building is now the grade 5 and 6 classroom and forms the kernel of the current school
buildings.
Harry (Mick) Dahllof, the nephew of Harry Tutt of Tutt and Storrie Service Cars, recalled his
first teacher as being Mr.Curry in 1914. He began school at the old Mechanics Hall and then
moved to the schools present site across the road. Mick does not recall whether there was a
ceremony when the site was tranferred. One of the nearby Cadby cottages housed the post office
after 1916, and there was a shop in front of the current site of Girira, where then a house stood
belonging to Mrs Earney.
59
PRO VPRS 795/1806 12/6/1912.

PRO VPRS 795/1806 29/1/1913
61 Ibid.
62 PRO VPRS 795/1806 not dated 1913
63
PRO VPRS 795/1806 14/8/1914
64 PRO VPRS 795/1806 not dated
60
32
Mick remembered the building on the present site, as having a cloakroom that was first entered
through the front door. Above the single class room, Mick remembered a motto:, Do unto others
as they would do unto you. He also recalled a teacher named Miss Monica Sharp, who used to
strap the boys legs if they misbehaved. He remembered another teacher named Miss Davison.65
The School during World War One and the Twenties:
Sassafras 1918, looking towards Olinda. The 1915 school building, on the current site may be seen
in the centre of the photograph, middle distance. It was turned ninety degrees sometime in the
65
Harry (Mick) Dahllof as told to Hilary Dewar, 1994.
33
1920s to accommodate expansion of the school buildings on the steep school block. Cadby
cottages may be seen to the right rear of this. The Mechanics Institute is on the right of the Tourist
Road. Sherrards store is in the right foreground. Sassafras House is at the bottom of the picture.
There is little surviving direct evidence of the school during World War One, however strong
inferences may be drawn from elsewhere. Doubtless the Sassafras children and community would
have been caught up in the patriotic fervour of the time.
Evidently a higher proportion of men enlisted from the Shire of Fern Tree Gully than in the
community at large (there was a particularly large contingent from South Sassafras who
enlisted)66, and in 1916 Shire employees not already enlisted were given fourteen days to do so or
face dismissal.
Miss Murdoch's guest house Clovelly (then called Braco Park) was used during the First world
War as a Nurses' Home by the Red Cross.
By 1918 a local church paper reported that
"Four more of our local boys have sacrificed their lives in the cause of justice and honour."
In 1918,
"The armistice was celebrated enthusiastically by the citizens of the Shire...The Council provided
the sum of 10 pounds for the entertainment of school children, and effigies of the Kaiser
were...destroyed at bonfires that were a feature of the celebrations."67
Without a doubt, Sassafras students would have been involved in the State-wide drive by school
children to help re-build the shattered towns of Flanders such as Villers-Bretonneux and Pozieres.
They were rebuilt after the war with the farthings from the pocket money of Victorian children,
just as the Shrine of Remembrance was built with the help of similar donations in 1931.
Some Sassafras pupils helped plant the chestnut trees on the Main Road as an "Avenue of
Honour" for the fallen of the district. Until it officially became "the Mount Dandenong Tourist
Road", the stretch of the Main Road from the War Memorial on Sherbrooke corner to the
Clarkmont Road corner, was known as "Anzac Avenue". Some older residents still use that
address today. Each chestnut tree that lined the road, originally had a plaque underneath it
commemorating a local who had fallen in the Great War. Most would have been past Sassafras
State School students.68
In 1920, the cenotaphs commemorating the war dead went up in the Shire, and Sassafras State
School housed the district Honour Board (now held in the RSL).
On Armistice Day each year, a service was held and a laurel wreath placed on the school Honour
Board until it was removed in the late 1980s, when Brian Kent was Head Teacher. Hilary Dewar
recalled this being presented to the R.S.L. for "safe keeping".69
66
A.P.Winzenried op cit p135.

68
Shirley Bye 1994, Ralph Jones 1994, Gwen Horner 1994. Jan Diamond 1994.
69 Hilary Dewar, personal communication, 1994
67
34
Prior to World War 1 the Right Honourable William Morris Hughes had a house in the area
named in Welsh, Ty-Coed.70 In 1916 or 1917, as the then Prime Minister, he escaped the
political controversies of the day, such as the great Conscription Debates of the First World War,
by coming to Sassafras and the Hills. The caretaker of his property was Mr Lloyd, who was a
cousin of the bushranger, Ned Kelly. Hughes fought bushfires with the locals and rode the gullies
on horseback. Hughes was a keen golfer and used to request to play golf with my father Ray
Smith, then a boy, at the Emerald Country Club, where my grandfather, Arthur Smith, was the
manager.
In 1920, as Prime Minister, W.M Hughes brought the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) to his
home at Sassafras. The Prince holidayed for a week and made a well reported horseback ride with
him through the bush to Olinda, stopping for billy tea on the way.71
The Prince of Wales greeted the school children, and each child was given a letter signed by His
Royal Highness.72
On the same occasion, 25 officers and ratings were entertained at the Mechanics Institute.73 The
young Ralph Jones was asked to look after a tree planted by The Prince of Wales, which was
added to Anzac Avenue in 1920.
The dedication of Anzac Avenue in 1920 by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII). The
photograph was taken from the Mount Dandenong Tourist Road looking towards Sassafras, with
the Sherbrooke Road corner on the right.
70
71
72
73
Jan Diamond 1994, Hilary Dewar 1994,

R.Neal op cit p8
35
The visit of the Prince of Wales in 1920. The Mechanics Hall is at the left of picture.
Ralph Jones remembered this period of Sassafras history well. He was the oldest living pupil of
the school still residing in Sassafras in 1994. Ralph started at Sassafras State School about 1919.74
It was from the 1920s through to today, that the school fulfilled a higher democratic service to the
wider Australian community, serving as a polling booth in Federal, State and Local elections.75
School life at Sassafras, and indeed elsewhere, right up to the Forties, had a certain stability about
it, based upon standard curriculum, limited resources and fairly fixed values based on such things
as Empire loyalty. The Royal connection remained strong. Earlier, at the time of Federation in
1901..
"The children (of Sassafras) heard of the excitement in Melbourne occasioned by the
arrival of the Duke and Duchess of York (for the opening of the Federal Parliament) and were
proud of the tree ferns cut down in their own bush and taken to the city to decorate the streets."76
Rod Neal writes that Mrs Earney of Olinda remembered the whole of the Olinda Primary School
going to Kenloch to hear the radio broadcast of the opening of the new Parliament, when it moved
to Canberra in 1927.
Doubtless this event would have been as important for Sassafras students, however I have found
no direct evidence of whether they, too, were there.
The 1920s saw the introduction by the Department, of the Education Department of Victoria
74
Ralph Jones 1994. Interviewed by Hilary Dewar.

75E.Wootton op cit.
76 J.Larkins op cit p.101. Larkins remarks that today's conservationists would have a "fit" over this!
75
36
School Readers from Book One to Book Eight, and this became standard curriculum. There were
also new Federal arithmetic, history and geography text books, used Australia-wide, but often
based upon English texts. Each month the Education Department published the School Paper,
which cost each student a penny. This was used along with the school readers, to develop reading
skill. Additional library books were non-existent. Physical Education was expanded in schools,
largely based upon army drill! In the Twenties, the three Rs were still very important, however
there was a growing emphasis being placed on the development of the student for later life.77
Pupils of the time remember the slates, slate pencils and a cloth for cleaning in Grades 1 and 2,
and exercise books in grades 3 to 8, where pens with nibs and ink wells were used (indeed up until
at least 1965). The stools had no backs and the students used to spit on their slates to clean them.78
Some improvements were made however. A shelter shed (the present school shed) was erected
circa 1920, originally with lattice sides. Jan Diamond can remember the shelter shed,
"lattice walls intact and no door standing obviously as it had since 1920, when (she) was at
school up to 1961."79
On 26 November, 1928, electric light was installed in the school, which would have been a
welcome addition because of the long winters in the Hills.80 Also sometime in the 1920s, the
Sassafras State School Mothers' Club was established.
Discipline was often rigid and, hopefully, fair. According to Evan Wootton, in the 1920s there
was a Departmental investigation at Sassafras into a parent complaint, alleging cruelty by the
Head Teacher.
Who this parent was is not stated. I cannot verify his source, however he uses the masculine "he"
when referring to the Head Teacher. In the twenties however, it can only have been either Florence
M.Parker (1918-20), Jessie Reid (1920-24), Dorothy Humberg (1924-25) or Johanna Holden
(1926-28). The next male Head teacher was Ernie Jones who took over in 1930.
This story may have substance and is at least apocryphal. The Head teacher apparently made the
boys stay outside at lunchtime during rainy weather in the small shelter shed with walls of lattice,
whereas the girls were allowed to remain inside.
The charge of cruelty was found to be apparently baseless, as it was found that, because there was
only one school room, the boys actually chose to stay outside rather than lunch with the females.81
New settlers moved into the area in the Twenties and Thirties, and new businesses were
established. Shirley Byes father established a boot repair shop in Sassafras about 1923 and the
business supported his young family from that year.82
77
78
L.J.Blake loc cit 1973.

79
Jan Diamond 1994.

PRO VPRS 795/2719 26/11/1928
81
E.Wootton op cit
82 Shirley Bye 1994.
80
37
Commerce at Sassafras in the Twenties. Byes Boot Shop.
The Sassafras State School pupils of 1925. Twenty seven students in one class. Who is the funny
little boy in the second row from the front, on the right?
38
The School during the Thirties and the Great Depression:
Memories of the Good Old Days

Soon- when I am there,
On Dear Sassy street,
I know Ill be happy with,
former School Mates, Ill meet.
When I close my eyes,
Our old School I see,
And hear happy voices
In the Playtime, so free.
Just the one Room
And Cloakroom beside,
Eight Grades within,
And one Teacher to guideAnd educate us
In the way we should learn,
The 3Rs, and all that.
Oh, how my heart yearnsFor the old days, the old ways;
Well never forget,
And well think of the Good Mates
Only, not here- they cannot be met.
For Theyve gone before,
In that time long ago,
But theyre with us in spirit,
As only, we know.
Shirley Kloester (Stanford)

...a student of the 1930s at Sassafras.
39
During the Great Depression of the 1930's, again men took their families to the Ranges to try to
sustain themselves. The tourist industry and commodity production was hard hit. The magnificent
environment however attracted the artists. At this time the Hills were home to C.J.Dennis
(Tecoma), Tom Roberts (South Sassafras/Kallista) and others from the 1920s.83
Life was still comparatively simple and unhurried. The Knox Sherbrooke News interviewed Arthur
Olver on 18 August, 1977 when he was 77 years of age. Arthur arrived in Sassafras in 1934 and
began a carrying business, running a "fleet" of one model T Ford and two model G Internationals.
To make a living he had to work a 15 hour day.
"They were great times",
When Arthur Olver arrived,

there was a butcher's shop, two general stores, a plumber, a billiards room, a hall and a cafe. I
can recall when there were fourteen guest houses in Sassafras. They were always booked out. You
had to book months in advance to get in around Christmas...
Sassafras residents had to line up to await (their)..visit to the barber, and the locals used
to meet at the billiard saloon on a Saturday night because it was about the only place to go."
Mr Olver remembered the annual picnic when the whole of Sassafras "closed" and everybody
went to the beach.
83
Shirley Bye 1994. J.Larkin op cit pp127ff
40
Sassafras in the early 1930s. Mechanics Institute and the Cabaret are on the left, and Storries
Garage is on the right
Sassafras 1936.
41
In the Thirties, the school was still one classroom, with a passage which was a cloak room and
entrance porch. A coke heater was installed after 193784, and prior to that, the single school room
only had an open fire, which was inadequate for the cold weather. Further wood heaters were
installed much later.
Norma Herbert (nee Dowsey) attended Sassafras from 1933 to 1942, along with her brothers
Kevin and Bill. She wrote in 1994:
There was one room which in those days held eight grades. The only heating was an open fire at
the front of the room, and if you were sitting at the back, it was still freezing...
Our only playground equipment in those days were two swings at the front end of the two
shelter sheds.85
Shirley Bye attended the school sometime between 1926 and 1938 as she remembered Johanna
Holden (1926-28), Ernie Jones (1930-35) and James R.Smith (1935-38) as Head Teachers. The
school then had between 30 and 35 students.
Shirley Bye remembered teacher assistants in the school for two afternoons a week, and two
sewing teachers who also assisted with Grades 1 and 2, Miss N.McLarty and Miss Wigmore. She
recalled sewing classes on Friday afternoons on a Singer Sewing machine owned by the school.
Another assistant was Edna France.
Shirley Bye says that credits were given to school work such as spelling, dictation and
composition.86
Mrs Betty Graham (nee Earney) and Mrs Alma Fowler (nee Earney) both attended the school in
the 1930s.
Alma Fowler recollects the needlework and arithmetic teacher, Miss Wigmore, riding her horse to
school each day from Monbulk where she lived. Her fondest memories from school life in the
Thirties were of the..
annual picnic nearly always to Frankston in the back of a truck- generally two trucks, one for
Mums and Dads, the other for the children.87
Shirley Bye also recalled the school picnic to the beach as an exciting event.
Norma Herbert has written an interesting account of one such school picnic, the highlight of the
year in the Thirties,
...in those days we went to Frankston. We used to travel in the back of open trucks, which had
high sides. The trucks belonged to Mr Bert Earney, Mr Sam Harbinson and Mr Wally Breen. Seats
would be placed down the sides and middle and parents (mostly mothers) would travel on another
truck. I am sure all the children on our truck would remember the day as we were travelling
down Stud Rd, when the truck stopped. Naturally we were all wondering what was wrong, but we
had run over a snake and the driver wanted to make sure that it had not been thrown up into the
84
Elaine Barrile 1994

Norma Herbert 1994.
86
Shirley Bye 1994.
87 Alma Fowler 1994.
85
42
back amongst us. Fortunately this was not so, so off we went again to our lovely day at the
beach.88
This account indicates just how rare motor transport was at the time, as road safety considerations
were minimal in transporting the children, due to there being few other vehicles on the roads. Stud
Road at the time must have been very much in the bush with little traffic.
Mrs Graham, too has wonderful memories of the end of year break-up concert, held in the
Sassafras Mechanics Hall. Mrs Betty Graham remembered her mother playing the piano for the
school concert.
Children would always be children, and Mrs Fowler goes on to write of,
The flax bushes behind the shelter sheds (which) could tell many a funny story because in the
shelter of these flax bushes the boys had their first cigarettes, the girls their first kiss.!89
Mrs Graham remembered a boy throwing an ink well at a teacher! Which boy and which teacher is
not recorded, however even in the Thirties, it is obvious that discipline was not always perfect!90
Sometimes imperfect discipline is also illustrated by Gwen Horner in an interesting anecdote
about James Smith. Apparently during his term (1935-38), his nephew attended the school,
..And was the reason why two young sisters were removed to the Kallista State School. (The
boy).. constantly tormented one of the girls during classes with pinching and kicking and Uncle
Jim refused to believe this of his nephew!91
Ralph Jones recalled some other noteworthy members of the Sassafras School in the 1930s. Billy
Guyatt senior (whose son owns the retail chain), was the Australian champion bicycle rider over
many years. Ernie Jones was an expert swimmer, who Ralph remembered as the first person to
swim from San Remo to Phillip Island.
Shirley Bye has fond memories of the Monday morning flag ceremony, and the patriotism of the
times. These still remained recurring themes throughout the period.
Jack Earney who attended the school when Ernie Jones was Head (1930-35) shares Miss Byes
memory of the Royal visit of 1934.
"The Duke of Gloucester drove through Sassafras, (we) children lined the road at one point of the
drive,"
wrote Shirley Bye. The Duke of Gloucester was paying a visit to Melbourne for the city's
Centennial, and visited the Shire of Ferntree Gully on 8 November, 1934.92
Jack Earney has fond memories of
" the glorious View from the back of the school..from The Basin (to) Melbourne & the mystic lakes
that would occur when the fog would start at the Basin & cover all Melbourne...Then as it lifted
or receded you would see all the tree tops or hill tops rising above the fog."
With the return of the forest of course, such a view would now be impossible from this spot.
88
Norma Herbert loc cit.

Alma Fowler loc cit.
90 Betty Graham 1994.
91
Gwen Horner 1994. Shirley Bye 1994.
92 H.Coulson op cit p36 Jack Earney 1994.
89
43
Jack recalled that during winter his mother would make hot cocoa each day for the Sassafras
pupils from their free government milk. Mrs Irene English and other parents maintained the hot
cocoa. The milk was too cold for Sassafras students to drink in winter, so parents came up with
this novel solution to make it into a more palatable hot drink. Jan Diamond also remembered this
practice continued well into the 1950s.
Mrs English came "up the hill" from South Sassafras in 1937. She was an active member of the
Ferny Creek and Sassafras communities, and served as Sassafras School Treasurer for twenty-one
years until about 1960. Mrs English was also in the Mother's Club and on various committees over
the years. She was involved in fundraising, and helped obtain coke heaters for the school room,
which still had a floor of bare boards and open fires.
She also helped raise money for a piano which is still used in the school today. In 1994 she was
still active in the local C.W.A. at the age of 85 years. The local C.W.A. used to help with the
annual Christmas concerts, fondly remembered by the English family, that were held in the
Sassafras Mechanics Institute in the 1940s and 1950s. More will be said of this later.
Mrs English maintained her connection with Sassafras Primary. In April, 1994 she demonstrated
sewing and knitting to some of the older Sassafras students, and this featured in the local paper.
Although she did not herself attend the Sassafras State School, her four children did. Elaine,
Raymond, Beverley and Valerie English were born in the Belgrave Private Hospital that used to
stand near where the current post office now is. (In the earlier generation, the doctor used to have
to come up to Sassafras from Ringwood). The attendance at the school of the four English
children spans the Thirties, Forties and Fifties.93
Elaine (now Mrs Elaine Barrile) has given a wonderful account of how marvellous it must have
been to be a child at Sassafras State School in the Thirties and Forties. Her happiness at school
then, positively brims through her account of her time at school, written in 1994. The childhood
hazards of life then, are also pointed to.
Before World War Two, regular epidemics of influenza (1919), smallpox and diphtheria in the
1920s and 30s, and in 1936, polio, threatened children throughout the state and of the school.
Elaine Barrile wrote:
I started school at Sassafras in 1937, when I was six years old. There had been an outbreak of
polio the previous year, so all five year olds had to wait until the next year to start school.94
Bushfires were also a hazard for Hills children. Shirley Bye remembered some bushfires, when the
fire siren on Storrie's garage would sound.
The Black Friday bushfires of 1939 erupted during the school summer holidays saving the
necessity to evacuate the school.
Norma Herbert did not specifically recall Black Friday, but she remembered other fires in the
93
94
Irene English 1994.

Elaine Barrile op cit.
44
1930s,
when we were sent home...In those days very few people had cars, and those who did would be
out fighting the fires, so there was no thought of evacuation.95
By the 1960s, with more motor transport, children were evacuated, and in the 1990s the first Fire
Refuge in Victoria was to be built at Sassafras Primary School in response to the Ash
Wednesday bushfires of 1983.
95
Norma Herbert op cit.
45
Sassafras Primary 1942. Head Teacher (possibly Roland Hill, as Edward Follett had enlisted) and
26 students.
World War Two at Sassafras State School:

Just as in World War 1, Sassafras men responded to "the call" in 1939. The Shire of Fern Tree
Gully farewelled volunteers at a function in the Shire Hall in 1940.96 Typical of many other locals,
the youngest of the three sons of the early settler, James Storrie, Stan Storrie joined up. So too did
the Head Teacher of Sassafras school at the time, Edward G.Follett (1939-42). They both enlisted
in the R.A.A.F.
Follett's enlistment directly affected the school. Les Storrie's son Brian, Graeme Jones and Elaine
Barrile remember as students in 1945, being a short time without a teacher, as most of the male
teachers were away at the war. For a short while, the Sassafras students had to attend the Olinda
school due to not having a teacher.
During World War 2 the school population was typically only about 30 students, reflecting the
still rural character of Sassafras.
After the war Mr Folletts ranking in the Education Department was upgraded, so although he
lived in the area, he had to go on to a larger school.
Gwen Horner interviewed Mr Follett in 1994.
96
M.Jones op cit p217
46
Mr Follett remembered the school as being only one room with school grounds too small to hold
organised sport. To accommodate this shortage of space, Graeme Jones and Norma Herbert both
recall that he conducted practices for the school sports against Ferny Creek, Olinda and Mt
Dandenong, on the flat area below the Tourist Road, opposite the school. This is where the bottom
car park now is now situated.97
Shirley Bye too, recollects school sports days when Sassafras competed fiercely against Ferny
Creek school for a shield in the relay race. There was particular rivalry between Sassafras and
Ferny Creek schools in sports meetings.
Normas brother Kevin Dowsey remembered the football and swimming. Norma wrote:
The boys used to walk to Olinda or Ferny Creek to play football against those schools. There
were also swimming lessons in the pool behind the Cabaret. This pool was filled by a pump from
the Sassafras Creek and the water was always very cold.98
Gwen Horner recalled that Mr Follett bought a gramophone and records for the children to sing
along to. One of the popular songs he recalled the children liked to sing was, "There's a Tavern in
the Town"! One of his jobs as Head Teacher was to dig a hole in the grounds each week to empty
the pans!99
Because of the manpower shortage, the women played a larger part at the school. Mrs Isobel Ford
was employed as a part time sewing mistress on Friday afternoons, and she helped with the
reading on other days. There were three Head Teachers in 1944-45, indicating the instability of
staffing at the time due to the war. Also due to the war, some the male teachers were young, or had
to be brought out of retirement.
Elaine Barrile recalled one such young teacher as
...Mr O'Donnell being younger than the other teachers we'd had. He taught us to dance at the
old Sassy hall, and he used to sing Irish songs to us..."
Mrs English remembered the "old gentleman", Mr Smyth being brought out of retirement to teach
for six months at Sassafras. He was a "lovely" teacher who lived in the Tremont area.100 Graeme
Jones remembered Mr Smyth coming out to the school for six months when Mr August Harvey
left.
Elaine Barrile also remembered Mr Smyth...
Mr Smyth would let us do classes outside when the weather was nice.. We used to sit under a big
oak tree, just up from the school gate. He also took us on nature walks in the forest opposite the
school, and we would walk right down to Perrins Creek Road. I really loved those walks.
Elaine had many other interesting memories of the war years at the school:
Mrs Earney lived next door to the school and she would play the piano for us to learn songs for
our school concerts. We would all form a single file and march into her living room and gather
around her piano. It really was a lot of fun.
97
Graeme Jones 1994
98
Norma Herbert op cit.

99Gwen Horner op cit.
100 Ibid.
99
47
During the war the girls (where) given wool to knit up into scarfs, socks and balaclavas. The
scarfs had to be six feet long and in rib. It seemed like one would never get to the end. They were
collected by the Red Cross ladies, and I would be madly knitting to get mine finished in time.
Often Mum would help me; we would put our names on them and hope that the airman or soldier
who received them would write and say hello...
Every year we had a school picnic, and the first one that I went on (1937?) was to the
Emerald Lake (*then Lake Treganowan) on Puffing Billy. We went by bus to Fern Tree Gully
station to get on Billy. It was a great outing. I still love riding on that little train...Other times our
picnics were at Mordialloc beach. I loved going there, and still love the beach...
In the winter the Mothers Club ladies took it in turns to come to the school during the
morning to make lovely hot cocoa for us. I tried a cup the other day, but it didnt taste as good as
I remember it was...
For heating we had a coke heater in the middle of the room. We only had the one room
then. The coke heap was behind the shelter shed, and it was OUT OF BOUNDS. But we used to
love to run and jump over it. One day I fell and to this day I still have a piece of coke in my wrist.
I was sent down to Mr Doolan the chemist, and he picked it out.
During the war Mr Storrie had the air raid siren (on the roof of) his garage just down
from the school101. Now and then it would (sound)(probably testing it) and for years after the war
I hated to hear an aeroplane going over.
School sports days were real fun. We didnt have many pupils. I dont think we ever had
any more than twenty-five the whole time I was at school. But we would still get teams together
and try our hardest to beat the bigger schools...102
The English family remember the Main Road "blacked out", and practise evacuations of the
Sassafras school, in preparation for expected air-raids. They recall that this threat of invasion was
taken so seriously that the Roman Catholic schools in Ferntree Gully were closed for the duration
of the war, and their students were evacuated to the Dandenongs and attended the State schools
there. There were some of these students at Sassafras.
The English family also remember providing cakes and drinks organised by the Red Cross and
C.W.A. for soldiers convalescing from war injuries at Sassafras. They came up in buses for the
day from the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital and meals and afternoon teas were provided for
them at "The Cabaret" which burnt down in 1993. Elaine Barrile recalled serving them scones,
jam and cream. Elaine also had a photograph of herself and other Sassafras Primary students that
was published in the local newspaper, with sailors of the Royal Navy on leave in Sassafras from
HMS King George V. She identified the students in the picture as including Irene James, Barbara
Jones, Rhonda Follett etc.. and I think the other girl is Carole Lombard? Actually not the
Forties film star!103
Bob Horner moved to Sassafras in 1939, and relates that the Royal Children's Hospital evacuated
some of its facilities to the area during World War 2. "Sherbrooke House" was used for
convalescence for the children, and they moved the orthopaedic section to "Burnham Beeches".
"Marybrooke" (later "Baron of Beef") was used as the Nurses Home.104
101
101It is still there today!(1994)

Elaine Barrile op cit
103
Evidently the girl in question is not Carole Lombard, as she arrived at Sassafras later. (Hilary Dewar)
104 Bob Horner 1994, per Gwen Horner.
102
48
Graeme Jones recollects two Danish refugee children, Kristan and Jane Neuman or Newman at
Sassafras about 1946.
Other important developments occurred in the Forties for the Hills. In 1944 both "The Save the
Dandenongs League" and the Country Fire Authority were formed, for the first time properly
coordinating a local response to bushfires.
The latter was due to the experiences of Black Friday in 1939, and the increase in military
training of the men in the war years, it being organised in a orderly military manner. Prior to this,
fighting fires had been "every man for himself" with the help of neighbours when their property
was safe.105
A strong connection is maintained between the school and the C.F.A. to this day by Bob Horner,
Ron Riddiford and others.106
When the war ended in 1945, the English family remember the sounding of the fire siren outside
Storrie's garage, and all the excited students running out of the school and down there to join "the
party".
105
J.Schauble op cit pp30ff

Many long standing members of the Sassafras/Ferny Creek Country Fire Authority Brigade such as Ron Riddiford and Bob
Horner, have had close connections with the school. Bushfires are still a threat to the area, and the school works closely with the
local DISPLAN (Emergency Management Plan).
106
49
After The War and the School in the Fifties:

In the ten years between 1939 and 1949, the population of the area nearly doubled.107 Thus began
the period of Sassafras' greatest growth, reflecting it becoming increasingly a settlement for
commuters to the suburbs and city.
In spite of this new influx, and probably because of the rustic nature of the Hills, the special
qualities of the area and the commitment to this by the new Hills residents, Sassafras Primary
school was maintained and improved. There was also a much greater emphasis being placed on
students moving on to the new High Schools like Upwey, established after the war.
To cope with this increase in population, a more organised approach was taken to life in the
Dandenongs.
In 1947, the Mount Dandenong State Schools Association was organised to begin formal
competition between the Hills schools on the Kalorama Oval, rather than the somewhat ad hoc
arrangements made previously between Sassafras, Olinda, Ferny Creek and Mt Dandenong.
After the war Norman K.Hallebone became Head Teacher (1946-52) The Education
Department however still did not have the welfare of their staff as an uppermost organisational
consideration.
Mrs Kath Hallebone well remembered this time, and gives a great insight into the period in a
conversation recalled by Mrs Gwen Horner in 1994. As with all the earlier Head Teachers, she
said,
" Mr Hallebone was required to find his own accommodation and finally found a house in very
bad repair...where they (Mr and Mrs Hallebone) lived for 2 or 3 years, with their son John (then
6) and daughter Ruth (then 3).
107
A.P.Winzenried op cit pp197 and 209
50
Head Teacher Norman Hallebone, Assistant Carmen Johns, and the Sassafras students. circa 1950.
Mrs Kath Hallebone recalled that the house was named "Walnut Lodge", but,
"was nicknamed "Tumbledoon" because of its bad state of repair. Norman Hallebone, a tall man,
had to stoop to enter the doorways. There was no water, no bathroom and a big tub had to be
carried in for the weekly baths on Sunday night. Lyrebirds came to the back door and daffodils
appeared in their thousands in springtime."
The president of the Sassafras School Council (then called School Committee until 1975), at
this time, was Arthur Olver.
"He lobbied the government through Sir George Knox and a (teacher) residence was finally built
below the school.(*this is the fenced area below where "Nessie" now is)...Miss Zoe Glanville's
great nephew Glanville Cornish visited (us) in the sparkling new home,(and) christened it "Persil
Dazzle" (from the popular soap powder) and that nickname remains with the family to this day...a
beautiful garden was created around this house from the nursery (*established 1946) belonging to
Mr Arthur Olver. During (Mr Hallebone's) term...the shelter shed was moved to the south side of
the school and, later the garage was built".
Gwen Horner goes on to relate that the Hallebone family were very musical and encouraged the
children to participate in the concerts held in the Sassafras Mechanics Hall.
Children were sent down to the residence and Mrs Kath Hallebone tutored in song and dance,
accompanying them on the piano. She also made costumes, and Mrs Hallebone remembered that
on Empire Day, 24 May, all children wore red, white and blue, and sang "Rule Britannia!" Mrs
Hallebone recalled it as a great day for both the children and the community.108
108
Gwen Horner op cit
51
John, Norman, Kath and Ruth Hallebone at home in the Head Teachers Residence, Persil
Dazzle in 1949.
Ruth Hallebone, 1949.

The end of the year school concert continued to be a highlight of the local community's calendar,
as it is today. It was feted in the Free Press on December 26, 1947. They wrote then:
"The spirit of Christmas...was nowhere celebrated more fittingly-or more charmingly than at
Sassafras..It was the Sassafras State School Break-up Concert and Christmas Party and the whole
countryside for miles around joined in to make the occasion a really memorable one. The hall
looked delightful, decorated with streamers and great bowls of flowers, whilst flanking either side
of the stage were two huge Christmas trees aglow with gay witch balls, stars, garlands and tinsel
and laden with gifts.
52
The neighbourly theme of Christmas formed the theme of the children's concert. Their
teacher, Mr Norman Hallebone has a great gift for organisation and excels in dramatic
presentations. Aided by Mrs Hallebone, his children's concerts are always outstanding.
The first item...was the singing of carols by the School Choir... Next..were recitations by
Barbara Watts, (including) "Vespers" by A.A.Milne...delightfully rendered..(next) An enchanting
number by the "Littlies"-who dressed in gay flower colo(u)rs clutching tight little Victorian posies
showed how "Gardening could be done without Tears." Allison Storrie, Barbara Watts and
Shirley Hulme then entertained with a Tamborine dance.
(Several other items followed culminating in..) the final item on the programme...Ebenezer
Scrooge's Christmas which was perhaps the highlight of the evening."
The local press also highlighted an innovation of Mr Hallebone's, the Bird Day excursion to the
Sherbrooke Forest,
"Over 300 children accompanied by their teachers took part in the outing...quite a number of
birds were seen and listed...and some good imitations of bird calls were given. Children from the
Mt. Dandenong School proved themselves particularly good mimics...
Schools that took part were Dandenong East, Ferny Creek, Hallam Valley, Sassafras,
Upper Ferntree Gully, Mt.Dandenong, Wantirna, Wantirna South and Kooweerup."109
Sunday afternoon was relegated to burying the sewage, which, as for earlier Head Teachers like
Ed Follett, was another of Mr Hallebone's tasks!
This is not the matter of levity that it might seem. According to Evan Wootton, the school had
written letters to the Education and Health Departments since the 1920s, requesting the
installation of a septic system, to no avail, until a student contracted scarlet fever in the 1950s.
Only then was the septic system installed: three decades after the initial request.
The old toilets remained "down the back" until the 1970s. Lance Gardiner, whose family owned
the Sassafras newsagency remembered the old timber slatted toilets in the early 1960s.110
Gwen Horner relates Ruth Scotts (nee Hallebone) memory of the installation of the septic system
in the early Fifties and..
the children being instructed how to use the magic button to flush the toilet. They were told
how the solids would be flushed away and end up in the septic tank...but when they experimented
and ran down to the tank, they found that the contractors had spoilt things by covering the tank
with a concrete slab!
Ruth Scott remembered when the school reached approximately seventy-six pupils, her father, Mr
Hallebone, received more staff,
One Mrs Nolan with red hair kept in a bun, was classed as vicious. The children were made
to keep their hands on the table to stop fidgeting or else!! Others were a Miss Carol Barret just
out of college and Carmen Jones, - both very popular.111
Margaret Gibson (nee Earney) was at the school from 1952 to 1957 and remembered only six
grades totalling from thirty to forty pupils. By that time, there were two classrooms. Mrs Gibson
109
Courtesy of Jan Diamond.

110Lance Gardiner 1994.
111 Ruth Scott 1994.
110
53
remembered Miss Gallus teaching her in 1952; Mrs Deery in 1954; and Mr Cannon in 1957. Her
childhood memories at Sassafras Primary include sports days at the Kalorama oval; the school
picnics; hoppo-bumpo in the shelter shed, and skipping on the asphalt, however there were no
school camps nor trips, common today for students. Her memories indicate a continuation of
earlier traditions such as the royal visit of 1953, when the Sassafras students..
were all presented with a gold medallion and all given Australian Flags to wave, as the Queen
passed by at Upper Ferntree Gully.112
Alister Cannon, who was a very young Grade 5/6 teacher at Sassafras State School in 1957, has
written a fascinating account of school life in the late 1950s.
Mr Cannons Recollections (written in 1994) are reproduced below with minimum editing as
they speak eloquently for themselves:
I rode my BSA motor cycle up to Sassafras Primary School..
(about the same time a Marlon Brando made The Wild One!(Ed.))..
to be met by the greying Principal Miss Mary Walters. The motor cycle was then given an allotted
area as I was told that they were such oily smelly things.
I then met my roommate Miss Pauline Jackel. Yes, roommate is the correct term(!) I was to
teach Grades 5 and 6 (near the windows) and Pauline Grades 3 and 4 near the entrance foyer of
the big room. We had half the blackboard area each in the old original school room. Miss Walters
taught Preps, Grade 1 and Grade 2 in a detached classroom. Her transport from home in
Cockatoo was a grey Austin A30.
Alister Cannon remembered the winter Milo provided to the students from their
government milk. He continues...
I think there were about 60 pupils attending Sassafras. We were visited by Mr R.P.McLellan, our
District Inspector, noted for his quick wit and understanding nature. Later he became Victorian
Director of Education. He noted the family-like atmosphere of the school and social links with the
local community, especially in settling newcomers to the area.
Mr Bert Brown acted as school cleaner whilst also carrying out duties in the local dairy.
112
Margaret Gibson 1994.
54
Snowfall at Sassafras in 1952. The Mechanics Hall is on the left, and the Cabaret is left in the
middle distance. Stan Storrie said that there was a major snowfall every seven years, and a minor
fall every three.
Winter brought cold, rain, sleet and then three days of snow. The coke heater in the old
school room worked overtime. Travelling up from Kallista to Sassafras on the BSA was a fairly
precarious ride; the road icy and the tree ferns shrouded in snow.
The school children pushed snowballs down the footpath towards Storries garage until
the snowball could not be moved- a large snowman then adorned the landscape lasting for several
days.
Springtime brought outdoor lessons- plays, readings, art/craft work and sport. On sunny
days one could see down past the school residence to Melbourne.
The Mt Dandy bus took Grades 3-6 children to the Belgrave Baths for instruction in their
Herald and Junior Swimming Certificates during the warmer seasons.
The local State Schools Sports Association arranged for the Annual School Sports to be
staged at the Kalorama Oval. I well remember being asked by Miss Walters to attend a sports
meeting at Mt. Dandenong Primary School. In company of two School Committee members, we
climbed the road towards Mt. Dandenong, enveloped in ever thickening fog. We resorted to
counting the seconds (between) the white lines...
Although it was daytime, they had to drive with their heads out of the windows to try to see where
they were through the pea soup. When they could not see the white lines, they had to stop the
car and walk to tell..
..the driver where his large 1939-40 sedan (was) placed, and so on to the school. What a tame
meeting to attend when contracted (against) the trip there and back!
Now the end of the year was approaching. Grade 6 pupils were looking forward to their
move from Sassafras Primary to Upwey High School in 1958.
Another school year had rolled by in a fascinating pocket of the Blue Dandenongs as I
55
prepare to leave for a permanent appointment at Tecoma State School.113

Valerie English has fond memories of that period. She remembered students running to the pan
toilets "down the back" where "Nessie" is now. She recalled swings at the bottom of the school
near the residence, and a "new" picnic area established in the front of the school. She remembered
Miss Mary Walters, head teacher in the late 1950's as a "strict teacher". Jan Diamond recalled that
Miss Walters was also very caring and understanding, and drove her little car from her home in
Cockatoo every day.
Valerie English recalled the games organised for the annual Mordialloc or Frankston picnic which
had been reinstated after the war, and she enjoyed the combined school sports begun in 1947, held,
as it is today, on the Kalorama oval.
Gwen Horner relates of one particular parent, Mrs Val Ponsford, who put in much valuable time in
training the pupils in athletic skills.
The Tenth Annual Sports Meeting of the Mount Dandenong State Schools Sports Association,
Kalorama Oval, 1957.
The Tenth Annual Mount Dandenong Sports Meeting, held on the Kalorama Recreation Ground
on Thursday, 21 November 1957 from 10.00 am to 3.30 pm, had the Hills schools competing, plus
Bayswater North, for the Dandenong Ranges R.S.L. Shield given to the annual winner, and the B.
Beor Cup for the runner-up. Being such a small school, Sassafras had not won either in the
decade. The band from the Salvation Army Boys' School in The Basin "rendered selections"
113
Alister Cannon Recollections unpub. 1994.
56
throughout the day. The Hon. G.L. Chandler presented the trophies.114
Jan Diamond, likewise, has fond memories of the picnic when she attended school c.1955-1961. It
was then held at Frankston, however she says that it was not held every year in the late 1950's.
.."it was something we all looked forward to and suffered the effects of sunburn after! I think it
may have been replaced on one or two occasions by a trip to the Healesville Sanctuary. I don't
think we would have done both - excursions were very rare in those days."
Jan Diamond also remembered the tradition of hot cocoa being served to the children continuing
each day in winter. The children had to bring their own mugs and lined up at the entrance to the
foyer of the old school room where various mothers, rostered two at a time on a daily basis..
"filled our cups with delicious hot cocoa. Mrs Allan, mother of David and Richard, had a magic
recipe for the mix, the chocolaty liquid being made up by her and kept in old tomato sauce bottles.
The milk was heated in a big urn, the mothers on duty having to open each of the little
third pint bottles individually and empty them into the urn. This delicious treat was enjoyed at the
first recess and was something we all looked forward to."115
The government later stopped free milk due to hygiene problems and cost cutting.
In the 1950s the school's one classroom, built in 1915, was not adequate for increased numbers
and expectations. There were only two buildings at this time; the other being the 1920s shelter
shed. The students used the chimney on the old building as a back-stop for games of cricket. There
was a log swing in the front of the school and two other swings near the shelter shed. These
swings were later removed due to a serious accident.
A relocatable classroom was brought in at the end of 1953. Later, Mr Lloyd Pepperall recollected
a second relocatable arriving with an office. This would have been between 1958 and 1961. About
then too, the school purchased Mrs Earneys house. It was for a time used as a residence for the art
teacher, and the building was later moved, in 1965, to Ferny Creek, being re-erected at the corner
of Seaview Avenue and the Tourist Road, where it may still be seen.116
Mr Pepperall also remembered the lack of a flat area in the school grounds to practise for the
sports being addressed. A child had broken a leg due to the uneven ground, so a bulldozer was
brought in and an area was levelled for athletics and games.
At that time, there was a large hedge in front of the school, and one of the houses towards the back
of the school was used for health checks.117
114
from an original sports programme courtesy of Jan Diamond.
115
Jan Diamond op cit.

Brian Storrie believes that the building moved to Ferny Creek may have been the shop in front of Mrs Earneys house, rather
than the house itself.
117 Lloyd Pepperall 1994.
116
57
Before the expansion of the school: - the old 1915 school building, C.1964. Peter Bundy is in the
foreground. The chimney was used by the children as a backstop for cricket.
58
The Sixties:
The 1960s were a period of great change and expansion for Sassafras School. The post war boom
in population led to a swelling in enrolments at the school which existing facilities could not
adequately meet.
The old 1915 school building was turned around 180 degrees to create an internal space with its
verandah to join the new prefabricated classroom. The two front classrooms, the principal's office
and the hallway were added to the "old school room". The cost of this needed addition was 3,000
pounds. This was in 1962-1963.118
By about 1965, the school now had six classrooms and wood heaters in the rooms. The schools
population was about one hundred students.
About this time the nomenclature changes, and "Sassafras State School" became "Sassafras
Primary School", and "Principal" began being used as a synonym for "Head Master/Teacher".
From the late Fifties, the school now had Prep. and six grades, and not eight, as pupils aimed at
high school. Greater expectations produced changes in teacher training, curriculum and the
demand for facilities.
118
Ibid.
59
The conditions for teachers granted by their employer, the Education Department, improved, as
did teachers qualifications. Women teachers also began to get a better deal, although equal pay
only came in at the end of the decade.
This decade for Sassafras Primary School was dominated by two well respected and fondly
remembered Head Teachers: Mr Robert H.Grandy (1961-1964) and Mr John D.Tipping (19651972).
When Mr Grandy was farewelled from the school after three years, in an interview to the Free
Press in 1965, he said that when he arrived,
"..he could not find Sassafras listed in the combined sports programme...he was told that
Sassafras only came along to make up the numbers. After much effort on his and the school
committee's part they were able to get the facilities and equipment for the staff to train the
children, and for the last three years the school has won first place at the sports".
Audrey Edmondson remembered Mrs Elaine Brain, for many years a teacher at S.P.S., relating
that Mr Grandy used the corridor for tunnelball practice when the weather was wet, in preparation
for the school sports.119
On Sports Day, Janis Lee (now Boal) recalled Mr Grandy holding a two gallon bucket of lollies
and gathering the whole school about him in a large circle. He would then throw handfuls in all
directions.120
Heike Butten (nee Gaertner) lived in the sixties at her parents milk bar on the corner of Prince
Street and Main Road, Sassafras. Mrs Butten helped Mr and Mrs Grandy to move in to the
principals residence in 1961. She fondly remembered Mr Grandy as
..a very fair and wise teacher (who)organised concerts and.. activities.
Mrs Butten recalled singing German Christmas Carols in the Mechanics Hall at the end of the year
concert. She loved the sports days competing against the other local schools, where she won
skipping competitions and tunnel ball. She remembered riding sticks with strings as horses in
the school yard, and having stick horse gymkhanas!121
As a small boy, Nicholas Alexander recalled getting to school at 7-00am during winter to chop
wood and light up the wood heaters in the classrooms...
for which we would get a handful of lollies out of a large jar at the end of the year.!122 He
worked cheaply!
1965 was a champagne year for Sassafras Primary. For the third year in a row, little Sassafras won
the Mount Dandenong State Schools Sports, having tried to beat the bigger schools for fifteen
years prior to 1962.
Also in 1965, State-wide honours were attained when the schools choir won the Footscray
119
Audrey Edmondson 1994.

Janis Boal 1994.
121
121Heike Butten 1994
122 Nicholas Alexander 1994.
120
60
Eisteddfod, under the direction of Mrs Peg Hampton, a local and well respected music teacher.123
This was feted in the local press, and the Free Press further wrote that..
at their break-up concert (students) Katherine Wositzky and Judith Downe both elicited very
favourable comments from (an) eminent Australian ballet authority."
When Mr Tipping left the school in 1972, he was feted, as had Mr Grandy before him, by the local
paper. The Free Press described him as
The happy teaching-principal of a happy school"
They quoted Mr Tipping:
"" They're marvellous kids,"(Tipping) said of the 120 pupils...and they obviously return the
compliment. A steady stream of boys and girls knocked and entered his office with their queries,
approaching the big, fatherly figure confidently, yet respectfully.
"I'm very fortunate to have such a stable staff," he continued...All the teachers at Sassafras
have been there for some time and there is an excellent rapport between staff, children and
parents..
Mr Tipping spoke highly of the Mothers' Club. "Their efforts and the grant from the
Education Department provides all our needs. Last year the parents raised and spent $1500 on
equipment for the school."
Mr Tipping was an honourary probation officer, an active member of the local Lions Club, and
Chairman of the Youth of the Year contest. He was a big man with a good sense of humour. Philip
Johnson recalled during Mr Tippings time that the young John Tipping Junior announced at
Show and Tell, that Dad (Mr Tipping) sat on his bed this morning and broke it!
Other amusing memories are recalled by ex-students. Christopher Lee remembered the school fete
when a student, John Loury, renowned for being rather naughty, could not find his money, so his
sister Susan tipped him upside down and shook him! Christopher also recalled Mr Tipping
running Mrs Brains hand bag up on the school flag pole.124
In the time of Grandy and Tipping, the facilities at the school were further enhanced. The need for
more grounds was addressed from 1963 to 1965, when four adjoining properties were purchased
over those two years, with the help and effort of the school community.
Mr Grandy lobbied the local member, the Honourable Mr Bill Borthwick and funds were raised at
a rate of one pound to three pounds supplied by the Education Department.125 This added an
irreplaceable aspect to the grounds of Sassafras Primary, with superlative rhododendrons, many
planted on the early blocks in the 1920's or earlier.
One of these blocks had been the second site of the post office with its avenue of rhododendrons,
and Cadby's Cottages (the Post Office had been in one cottage after 1916, Olive Sharpley lived in
another and the Bye family in the third). These houses were amongst Sassafras' oldest buildings
dating from about 1900. There was a private laneway, which was incorporated into the school
grounds that led to the site of Judds's house behind the Cadby cottages. The old steps of another
cottage, built around 1900, which was burnt down around 1948, may still be seen near the back
gate of the school. At the back of the school was yet another house that was later demolished,
123
Gwen Horner op cit

Christopher Lee 1994.
125 Gwen Horner op cit
124
61
sometimes known by the children as the ghost house.126

Elaine Barrille and Valerie English remembered "old" Mrs Earney occupying a cottage where
Girira now stands into the 1960s. As has been previously indicated, this cottage was moved and
relocated opposite to the Ferny Creek General Store, at the corner of Seaview Avenue and the
Tourist Road, in 1965.
The other four houses were demolished in the late 1960s, and the acquisition of these blocks, plus
two more blocks of land adjoining Mason Grove in the 1980s, increased the school's size from its
original 1.25 acres to its current size of approximately seven acres, relieving the shortage of
space.127
Ever mindful of the special character of the area, at working "bees" in the 1960s, active members
of the Sassafras school community such as Geoff Downe, Peter Ponsford, Ted Greenwood and
Ron Riddiford made further rhododendron plantings and built rock retaining walls and the
beautiful slate steps to the oval.
Geoff particularly, spent many hours every evening, doing this work, as well as planting and
providing most of the plants. Heather Downe used to take Geoffs dinner over to him at the school
many evenings, as he was too busy to come home!
Geoff Downe and Peter Ponsford were the main driving forces behind an energetic committee at
this time, and Mr Grandy had two trees planted beside the small gate in their honour.128 All this
work enhanced the obvious historical importance of the school.
The sixties and early seventies evoke many fond memories amongst ex-pupils of Sassafras
Primary. Janis Lee (now Boal) remembered both Mr Grandy and Mr Tipping, along with Mrs
Brain, Mr Peter Amor and others. She "thoroughly enjoyed" her years there. She remembered Mrs
Peg Hampton, the conductress of Sassafras' successful choir bringing her baby, Paul to attend
practice in his play pen, and the choir making an appearance on the television show, "The Magic
Circle Club". Nicholas Alexander likewise, recalled appearing on television about 1965 or 1966 as
one of the choir singers.
The coming of the television era saw Debra Banner (nee Crichton) and her mother produce a
childrens show for the A.B.C. on plastics, and the whole school fitting into one class room to
watch it on TV. Debra also remembered being allowed out of class with the other children one
year, when it snowed, to build snowmen.129
Janis Boal has
" ...a not so funny recollection of our fear of an old man called "Old Tom", who used to live in a
tin shack...We truly believed he would eat small children and the boys would throw stones on his
roof as we walked to and from school. We seldom saw him, but no doubt he was a very lonely,
poor old man, and quite harmless"
Jan Diamond also remembered "Old Tom" as
126
most of this information supplied by Hilary Dewar 1994.

Ibid.
128
Ibid and Heather Downe 1994.
129 Debra Banner 1994.
127
62
"a feared local identity...He was the local drunk and...there was a sad story behind his situation.
He lived in an old tin shack just below the Tourist Road opposite what is now "Pancakes at
Sassafras"...known as "The Thistle" in the 50's and...one of the hills' original Devonshire tea
houses."
Gwen Horner recalled that Old Tom did odd jobs and gardening for Misses Ella and Zoe
Glanville at their home Glemmalure on the Tourist Road opposite Lorna Doone.
Another ex-student, Meredith Greenwood, at school during John Tipping's time, remembered the
choir and Peg Hampton, playing outside, and barbecues "up amongst the rhododendrons above the
oval".130
Beverley Mosley (nee Taylor) remembered the school in Mr Tippings time. She wrote in 2014:
I remembered the toilet block way down the back (and) the early school plays In grade 5-6 we
got our pen licence and had an ink well on our desk and being left handed I used to smudge my
work often and I remember getting into trouble. I remember Mr Tipping as a rather largish man.
He was Principal I think the entire time and used to teach us in Grade 5-6.
The school had four classrooms, a staff room and Mr Tippings office opposite the 5-6
Classroom. We used to assemble every morning and sing God Save the Queen.
When I was about seven years we moved to Ferny Creek but I continued at Sassafras and
every morning no matter what weather I used to walk the two miles to school. My dad worked
shift work and my mum didnt drive. I used to cut down Hilton Road and go to a friends house
at the end then we would go through some empty bushland and come out behind the Presbyterian
Church (which I think is now a restaurant) and continue the walk to school. I was able to catch
the bus home The school had about one hundred students then an in my last grade, year 6 there
were only four girls, myself, Bronwyn Storrie, Debra Winter and Naomi Robinson. I kept in
contact with Naomi for a few years after we left.
After Sassafras I went to Upwey High and then later my family moved to Queensland.
I loved my time at sassafras. I have fond memories of the school and feel privileged that I
was my early education was in such a small school.
Bushfires continued to be a hazard in the Hills during the 1960s. They directly affected Sassafras
students and their families.
Hilary Dewars family moved to the area in 1960 and lived at Rostrevor. She has striking
recollections of both the 1962 and 1968 fires, as a girl at the time. She submitted a vivid account
of these for the Quality Provision Taskforce Working Document in 1993.
Hilary wrote:
...the 62 fires began about noon on Sunday...I was sitting on the hill above the last Cadby
cottage...waiting for the Bye boys...as their father was taking us swimming...
An enormous cloud of smoke was billowing up which was getting redder.. by the minute.
This was my first real bushfire...Every man who was available had to fight the fire.
Sirens rang throughout the hills, fire engines, cars and people were racing all over the
place. The fire was tearing up the hill at great speed..It was unbelievable. The next minute, it was
at the top of the hill...The flames were lighting each tree like a torch...
I ran from the house... (The firefighters) discovered that the tanker was out of water and
had to fight the fire with knap-sacks and fire beaters (a pole with a piece of Hessian attached)...
130
Meredith Greenwood 1994.
63
I used a branch of a tree to try to beat the fire, which had become much worse. The fire
was fought late into the night...(One of the locals) made a fire break with a grader (and) he did a
wonderful job (down amazingly steep descents)...
The police told the women and children, that they must evacuate from Sassafras...My
younger brother went.. (He, being only a toddler, had been emptying buckets of water that had
been filled to put out bark and burning leaves. Nobody then had mains water, and water was
scarce.)
The rest of the family, being older, stayed, because my mother felt that her house
(Rostrevor) had survived all the other bushfires, so it would survive this one (...being built
around the turn of the century and...still there).
People were very good...(the) Nicholas Aspro people came up to help and...went through
Sassafras shouting their motto of the time, Aspro will ease it! Concrete trucks came up full of
water, pouring the water along the roads...
By Tuesday night we had to give up. There were only a few women and children left. We
had to go as it looked hopeless. We left my father and two older brothers protecting the
house...and left the hills blazing...
When we came back home, everything was black; the only things standing were burnt
trees; no bush; no grass and some houses gone...
Hilary relates her experiences during the 1968 bushfire. She was not at home, but in the suburbs
off the mountain...
My younger brother was still at school at Sassafras. Was he safe? We did not know.
As during the 1983 bushfires, the police had road blocks set up on the main roads leading to the
Dandenongs and refused to let the family through...
They had sent police from the suburban areas,...so we used the back roads...and finally got
home, discovering that the rest of my family had had to do the same thing, even although some of
them were members of the (fire) brigade and were needed to relieve the weary few, still out
fighting the fires.
Some how we found out that my brother had been evacuated to the local Technical School
safe area. The only problem was that they had driven through one of the most dangerous parts of
the fire, where it had jumped the road in two areas. Everywhere there was smoke (and although)
my brother Philip was (only) nine years old...he remembered smoke and fire everywhere, and
being very excited as they approached the fire (that they) had to drive through. ..They should
never have been evacuated with the fire cutting off their path...
I shall never forget these experiences):..the excitement; the choking smoke; flames
dashing...to devour everything in their path, and the fear of loss. Most importantly, the way the
community pulled together to overcome this monster that had taken over the hill. Fire brings a
closeness that (you have to experience in order to truly understand).131
Heike Butten recalled the 1962 bushfires coming right up to the back of her parents milk bar at
the corner of Prince Street and Main Road, and evacuating up the road in our small car. She found
all this very scary.
Nicholas Alexander, who lived at Jack and Jill Stores, Main Road Sassafras, remembered being
evacuated twice from the family home during the 1962 bushfires. The first time because the fires
were coming up from Ferny Creek, and the second time a day later because of a wind shift burning
the fires back from the direction of Olinda...
131
Hilary Dewar, written submission to Quality Provision Taskforce Working Document SPS 1993.
64
an alarming sight to see fire balls shooting hundreds of metres across the night sky.
Linda Martin (nee Crichton), Beverley Moseley (nee Taylor) and Kim Gealer (nee Tipping) both
remember being evacuated during one of the 1960s bushfires to Ferntree Gully Tech.
Meredith Greenwood has a somewhat better recollection of the 1969 bushfires. She writes:
"I have very vivid memories of...seeing the hill at the back of the then Methodist Church all aglow.
We were transported to Ferntree Gully Tech. in buses- (which way we went, I've no idea because
anywhere near the National Park, Tourist Road and "one-in-twenty" (Basin Road) were razed!)
It was so, so hot and very frightening (but exciting at the same time!)"
After the 1960s bushfires, Philip Johnson recalled the reserve water tank being installed near
Mason Grove in the school grounds, as a further safety precaution.132 This was converted into the
Dreaming Centre in 1988.
A fitting end to the decade was when Sassafras teacher, Miss Vicky Stevens was crowned
"Sassafras Gully Fiesta Queen" on Cup Eve (November 3) 1969 at the Hideaway Restaurant. She
had been sponsored by the Sassafras Primary School Mothers' Club to aid local charities.133
Mrs. Peg Hampton coached the Sassafras School Choir to winning the Footscray Eisteddfod in
1965.
132
133
All these informants recorded their memories of the 1960s bushfires in 1994.
Based upon various local newspaper accounts supplied by Gwen Horner.
65
Maree, Nicholas and John Alexander outside The Jack and Jill Store, Main Road, Sassafras,
1960. They were evacuated when the store was threatened in the 1962 bushfires.
The concrete reserve water tank installed on the school grounds, as a result of the 1960s bushfires,
was converted about 1988 to The Dreaming Centre. In the foreground in the rope bridge.
66
The time of expansion for the school began in the 1960s. Fred Bye on his bulldozer. The current
library is in the background.
The Seventies and Eighties:

In April 1972, the old Mechanics Institute burnt down, 134 thus closing a chapter on the history of
the school and the community. In that decade and 1980s, however, growth was to continue at the
new site of the school based upon the pattern established in the 1960s.
John Tipping began the decade as Head Teacher, followed by Donald Steele (1973-1977),
Maxwell Bennett (1978-1979), John Ure(1979-1982), Charles Crooks(1983-1984), Brian
Kent(1985-1986) and Brian Allen(1987-1989). Mac Craig finished the decade.
In the early 1970s, Fred Bye bulldozed some more flat areas as playgrounds for the children at the
school. A Playground was added to the school, close to the current site of Girira. Peter Ponsford
was largely responsible for both these projects, with the assistance of Ted Greenwood and Geoff
Downe. Gwen Horner and Heather Downe informed Hilary that the School Council wished to
name it in his honour, as the "Ponsford Playground", however his modesty caused him to decline
the honour. A scramble net was added in 1981. A rope bridge was added in Don Steeles time and
other attractions were later added to the playground, including a fitness track when Brian Kent
was Head Teacher, paid for by the students with competition spelling Bees.135
So the improvements went on. The outside toilets were demolished and inside toilets were built.
Many of the rooms with previously bare floors, were carpeted, and linoleum was laid in the hall.
To cope with the increased numbers there was growing agitation for more permanent classrooms.
Kath Sanders, President of the Mothers Club and active on the School Council in Don Steeles
134
135
Bob Horner 1994.

Audrey Edmondson op cit.
67
time, believes that the school may have approached an enrolment of nearly two hundred. This
would have been necessary for it to justify receiving the two additional relocatable classrooms
added near the front entrance of the school.136 The two new rooms were placed where the portable
classroom had been in the late 1950s.
A larger module was later moved in to house the Glanville Library from September 1981 until
1989 when it was removed to make room for the construction of the fire refuge "Girira".
Kath Sanders remembered that the new additional facilities only came about through much
lobbying, negotiation, many letters and requests sent by the School Council and members of the
school community to the Education Department.137 This success is testament to their commitment
to the children and the Sassafras State School, which has been typical throughout the schools long
history.
In 1974 the school was fortunate to receive a shared librarian with Ferny Creek, Olwyn Brooks.
About the same time, the current Head Teacher, Mrs Audrey Edmondson, arrived at Sassafras and
is fondly remembered by scores of former pupils for over twenty years. She is the longest serving
staff member at the school since its establishment.
Mrs Edmondson has some wonderful anecdotes of earlier days at the school. Some of the
highlights indicate the warmth and good humour that characterise her two decades of teaching at
the school. Mrs Edmondson remembered that animals have been important for the children at
Sassafras over the years. Sheep were often used as lawn mowers, and adopted by the children,
until the heartache for the children caused by predation from uncontrolled packs of dogs made it
necessary to get rid of the sheep.
More light-hearted reminiscences include the time around 1974, when, in response to the childish
fascination in things military, Mr Steele built a scale model battle field based on the North African
campaign. For the desert, he used real sand, in a metal tray approximately 1.5 metres square. It so
happened that at the time, the children had adopted a stray cat named Samantha, who slept at
night in the kiln shed, and was brought into the school during the day. A distraught boy appeared
at the staffroom door one day (David Fitzgerald, uncle of Sonja, who exited in 1993). He
announced to the staff that,
Samantha had - - - - ed in the Alamein Desert!
Mrs Edmondson remembered Lorraine Garnett and the students hatching a pet duck in the library.
Stephen Elliot was fond of it, and constructed a pen for it next to a heater inside the building. The
students used to give it flying lessons by throwing it off the embankment! What became of the
duck and whether it finally learnt to fly, I do not know.
On another occasion Mrs Edmondson recalled that the school retained a pet billy goat called
Charlie, who became rather too territorial. He bailed up the entire school and prevented them
from entering the building. Jillian Payne heroically tried to placate Charlie by offering him some
oak leaves to eat, only to be chased by him. She had to flee for her life on her bike, only to fall
off it sometime later!
136
137
Kath Sanders 1994.

Ibid.
68
Poor old Charlie had to go, and went to a nearby property. Apparently he maintained his
unpleasant disposition for all, except the teacher, Elaine Brain. For her, he was like a lamb!138
Again there are some interesting recollections from former students such as Jillian Payne. Mrs Jill
Carter (nee Payne) was at Sassafras in the early 1970s, and remembered Mr Tipping, Mr Steele,
Mr Amor and Mrs Edmondson. She remembered the arrival of portables at the school to aid the
overcrowding. A visit by the Governor is recalled by her, as she joined the Brownies and Cubs in
uniform to welcome him, much as previous generations had done for Royal visitors to the Hills.
Jill relates changes and innovations such as the Swimming Sports held at the new Monbulk Pool:
going next door to Downes in 1969 to watch the first moon landing; and the Grade 5 and 6 camp
to Lake Eppalock with Mr Hall in 1975. A movie was apparently taken of it.
She also recalled the making of a movie "Ned Kelly", when she was in Grade 6. She wrote the
script.139 The Knox Sherbrooke News covered this event on August 19, 1975. Mr Hall produced
the film. It was in colour and of 15 minutes duration. The students held a stall to raise money to
hire the horse and cart for the film. It was scripted by Jillian (then 11 years old), and Colin Brown
(12) played Ned. The students organised their own very authentic costumes.
Ned Kelly comes to Sassafras in 1975. (see text)
Another former student, Felicity Grasset (now Harvey) has memories of this period at Sassafras
school. She remembered particularly Mr Steele ("He was lovely"), and Mrs Edmondson ("in
particular...she was lovely & caring, especially in grade 3"). Felicity went to the Lake Eppalock
camp and recalled the Ned Kelly film. She and three other students represented the school and
138
139
Audrey Edmondson op cit.

Jill Carter 1994.
69
went to see the Queen on her 1977 visit to Australia.140

Elise Szczudlo (nee Winter) remembered two hundred students at Sassafras Primary in Mr
Steeles time. She well remembered Mrs Edmondson, Mrs Brain, Mrs Ure, Mr Kehayas and Mrs
De Brona, and found them to be very kind and helpful. She also enjoyed the Lake Eppalock camp
and sports days.141
From the mid 1970s until the 1980s, the students produced their own monthly newspaper called
The Lyrebird Chronicle. Existing copies still make an interesting read!
A monthly newspaper called The Bulletin was also published during the late 1970's and early 80's.
It ran a trivia quiz in autumn 1986, on the history of the school. One question was: "When did the
school have to close because of heavy snow falls?" I wonder if anybody knows the answer? It was
edited first by Margot Dunne and later by Libby Gulford.142
In 1978 Sassafras started developing a real interest and pride in its long past history, and
contributed to the "Sassafras Gully Old Time Fair" in that year. It recorded many of the memories
of "old timers" like Syd and Stan Storrie to preserve them for posterity.
In 1985, Sassafras celebrated Heritage Day, and buried its own time capsule with due care and
ceremony. This included copies of school rolls, a school newsletter and photographs of the school
and samples of student work.143
In the 1980s new facilities were further added to the school and some were removed.
Many of the current members of the school community perhaps have little idea of the origins of
the Glanville Library and the Hallebone Trust, both so important to the school over the years.
Hilary Dewar knows the story. She wrote in 1994:
"Miss Zoe Glanville, after the tragic death (from asthma) of John Hallebone, aged seventeen
years, a brilliant student and son of Norm and Kath Hallebone, established a trust fund for the
library for the purchase of books in the memory of John...
Each year following she made a monetary donation (equivalent to) her age, until she died
(at the age of 102 years). She was a good friend of the (Hallebone) family, the school and the
community."144
In the 1970s, Miss Zoe Glanville approached Geoff Downe to organise on her behalf, something
positive for the school as a memorial to the late John Hallebone. Miss Glanville was very
interested in encouraging children to read. After Geoff conferred with a solicitor, it was decided
that the most beneficial way of assisting the school was to establish a Trust, and each year the
school would receive interest from the Trust, and this, combined with a government subsidy,
meant that the school could establish a library with the annual purchase of books. A committee of
five School Council members became the Trustees.
140
Felicity Harvey 1994.

Elise Szczudlo 1994
142 Jan Diamond op cit. There is no answer to the question, as we found out!
143 Helen Niven 1994.
144
Hilary Dewar and Gwen Horner 1994. Zoe Glandville was the oldest living ex-pupil of Sassafras and P.L.C., where she did her
secondary schooling (Audrey Edmondson op cit.)
141
70
The Hallebone Trust continued for many years, and eventually only two of the original trustees.
Ron Riddiford and Geoff Downe remained in the area. Thus with poorer government funding, the
invested principle was paid to the school on maturity, and the remainder of the Trust still exists as
an interest-bearing deposit in the schools budget.145
Thus, on September 11, 1981 as a result of the Hallebone Trust, the school library was opened and
dedicated to Miss Zoe Glanville, in recognition of her generous donations to the library. The
children dressed as characters from their favourite books. Lyndel Rech and Hilary Dewar
organised this valuable resource.
The Dedication Ceremony was attended amongst others, by Mr J. Ure, The Hon. Mr Norman
Lacy, Minister of Education, Mr and Mrs Hallebone, Mrs Bill Borthwick (wife of the local MLA),
Mr Ted Greenwood (School Council President) and Mr John Tipping. Mr Lacy unveiled a plaque.
This plaque may still be seen attached to the door of the schools libray, although it is now inside
the main school building.
Mr Hallebone planted a magnolia on behalf of Miss Glanville and a rhododendron to
commemorate the Hallebone Trust. The children also made plantings and luncheon was provided
for children, parents and guests.146
In 1982 Mr John Ure, the then Head Teacher, in a request for urgent works including a walkway to
the Glanville library and shelter over the outdoor seating, stated that, the weather is wet and
misty two thirds of the year and the children have no covered area".147 Weather conditions at
Sassafras had not improved since George Jackson made a similar request in 1897 for more shelter
for the students at the Mechanics Institute.
The covered walkway was constructed by parents and improved conditions for the students. A
very popular ex-pupil Shaun Mitchell, who was idolised by the children, had to pick up the
hallway sections from Port Melbourne in his meat truck. Shaun was tragically killed on his
motorbike at Ferntree Gully when he was twenty-one.148
Parents and students "got with it" to construct the 'Sassy' monster, "Nessy" in 1981.149 Also, a flat
area that was to be used as the school oval was ploughed with a brilliant device. A little car
pulling rakes at the back weighed down by human ballast, spent many hours ploughing and resowing the area with donated seed. The parents rigged up a watering system during the hot
summer vacation, and the Dewar children took turns in turning this on and off during the school
break.150 The tennis court was re-surfaced, and an ex-army scramble net was erected as an added
attraction for the childrens playground.
145
Heather Downe op cit. Dagmar Smith, Treasurer SPS School Council 1994.
Based upon the programme of the day courtesy of Jan Diamond.
147 E.Wootton loc cit
148 Audrey Edmondson op cit.
149
Barbara Ure 1994
150 Hilary Dewar op cit.
146
71
Nessy, being constructed in 1982. Sassafras students pictured are, Kitty Dickie, Roanne Dewar,
Daniel Anderson, Dean Askham, Nathan Anderson, Fiona Dewar, Brett Askham, Mac Dickie,
Cameron Dickie, Richard Symes and Kylah Dewar.
In 1984 when Mr Charles Crooks was Head Teacher and in 1985 when Mr Brian Kent had that
position, two highlights were the construction of the "Commando-Course" fitness track, and the
ceramic wall mural depicting the school and its surroundings in the school's entrance. Together
they indicate the breadth of endeavour and interest promoted at the school.
The Knox Sherbrooke News reported both events. The 500 metre long fitness track cost $500 and
was paid for with money raised by the students through running a spell-a-thon. The News stated of
the mural that
"The Sassafras Primary School will boast one of the most picturesque school entrances in the
district by the end of the year."
Mr Kent was interviewed and said that the mural had been two years in preparation as part of an
extensive ceramics programme completed with parent assistance. A parent, Lindsay Wilson, spent
some time each week assisting the children with their ceramics, and the mural had been his
idea.151 Jan Diamond wrote that Lindsay Wilson,
"Instigated the ceramics program and spent many hours revealing the mysteries of clay to
students, parents and teachers. I believe it was begun prior to 1984."152
153
Mr Crooks had begun it in 1983.

Mr Kent contributed much in the short time that he was here.
151
151Jane Jones 1994

Jan Diamond op cit.
153Hilary Dewar op cit.
152
72
The tradition of wonderful school productions put on over the years at Sassafras was maintained.
A particular highlight was the production of "The Piper Man" in 1984. (Recently several of the
1984 Grade six students re-lived old memories by reviewing the video made of it, at a twenty-first
birthday party. How time flies!)
1989 was a big year for changes at Sassafras Primary. Brian Allen was the Head Teacher.
The teacher's residence, built in 1949, had fallen into disrepair and was demolished in 1989. The
School Council had tried to purchase the residence for the use of the school for Art-Craft or an
after-school programme. The Department denied the request as it was divesting itself of the
maintenance responsibilities of such buildings across the State.
The relocatable module that had been home to the Glanville library was removed to make way for
the construction of "Girira". "Girira", the quarter of a million dollar fire refuge extensively used by
the local community today, was Victoria's first primary school fire refuge built after the Ash
Wednesday bushfires of 1983. It was paid for by the Federal and State Governments, and opened
by the then Deputy Premier, Joan Kirner, on Thursday, 23 November, 1989 at 1.00 PM. It was
"covered" by the Age, the Herald and the Sun as well as the local papers. The Herald education
reporter wrote (Nov 21)
"Twelve months ago the students at Sassafras Primary probably didnt know what Girira meant.
Now the 90 students realise it could save their lives. Girira is the Aboriginal word for children's
refuge-and the name given to the recently completed building in the Sassafras school grounds
which will double as a multi-purpose room and fire refuge...the building is designed to withstand
hurricane strength wind and can accommodate 150 people."
One might wonder what Miss Boyd in the long-ago Shelter Shed would have thought of this!
In 1989, Mac Craig became the Principal and stimulated a renewed interest in music and drama at
the school. Mr Craigs first production, Kids in Space has been followed annually by a grand
musical. This has recently been produced by Margaret Waldeck, and has revived the earlier
tradition at Sassafras, of the fondly-remembered end of the year concert.
73
Universal Childrens Day, 1983, where the children dressed up in various national costumes. The
children stand in front of the Glanville Library which had been dedicated in 1981.
Sassafras students Amanda Tomada and Jeanette Harvey work on the ceramic mural with parent
Lindsay Wilson in 1983. This was begun in 1983 and took two years to complete.
74
Sassafras pupils practise emergency procedures in Girira, 1989.
The original 1915 classroom on the current school site. In 1995 it was the Grade 5 and 6
Classroom.
The Nineties and Beyond... A Hundred Years on...
75
The Sassafras Primary School remains as it has always been: one of the few constants in today's
society; a small school backed by a School Council and community committed to the best
education for their children through fund-raising, voluntarism and effort.154 In 1993 it survived its
second closure/merger attempt, (the first being in 1903), through parent action in preparing a
submission to demonstrate just how well Sassafras "delivers the goods".
The School's dedicated and hard-working Council President, Mrs Jane Jones, wrote in 1994 that in
1993 there was a State-wide review of schools leading to the closure of over one hundred and fifty
schools.
"Sassafras, along with Ferny Creek and Olinda, was placed in a "Quality Provision Taskforce",
which recommended that one of these schools should close. Many people assumed that Sassafras,
being the smallest of the three schools, would be the one to close. However any closure of the
schools was strongly opposed by the community, who were galvanised into action to prevent this.
At Sassafras, a Working Party set about producing a document which would demonstrate
that, not only was the school viable, but that it also provided an excellent education for its
students and met the needs of its community. A group of parents at Olinda tackled the question of
bushfires and the importance of retaining all three schools, with fire refuges, as part of a chain of
safe havens along the Mt Dandenong Ridge in the event of future bushfires. Ferny Creek parents
became involved and eventually "The Document" (a copy of which is in SPS library) represented a
statement by all three school communities emphasising the value that each community placed
upon the schools and their relationship to the three communities.
154
Girira" is used by the Girl Guides, the Electoral Commission and other local clubs and societies upon request. It illustrates the
close connection of the school with the community. Voluntarism by the community has many examples such as the current LOTE
Programme, Music (paid for by the parents), Religious Education, Art and PMP Programmes. These are all staffed by parent
volunteers as well as DSE employees and exist only because of community input.
154Jane Jones op cit.
76
..A Public Forum (was) held ...(and) a rally to gain support for the schools...on the
Sassafras Village Green, along with letter writing campaigns, visits to the local Member of
Parliament and other activities aimed at pushing the case for retaining all of the schools. The
senior students of Sassafras took it upon themselves to contact the local papers and ring radio
talkback programs to express their concern...The local Taskforce, after reviewing all the material
and hearing expert witnesses on the Bushfire issue, recommended the retention of all three
schools.
Finally, after an agonising wait, the school received a letter from the Minister of
Education, Mr Don Hayward, announcing that he was accepting the Taskforce recommendation
and all three schools would remain open. Sassafras (along with its neighbours) was safe!"155
Alan Siggers, a concerned parent, was the driving force behind the Task Force working party.
Alan spent hundreds of hours co-ordinating and preparing the submitted document to save the
school.
Sassafras Primary School goes from strength to strength!
After Girira" was built, the undercover shelter was built in the early 1990s to give the children
somewhere to play on wet and dismal days. According to Hilary Dewar, this only happened after
ten years of deliberation! Dealing with the weather at Sassafras has been a hundred year tradition.
The school received the State Garden Encouragement Award for the Best State School garden.
The Free Press photographed Sassafras students Martin Cox, Meaghan Dewar, Lorren Stevens,
Glen Stevens, and Kylah Dewar, tending the school garden in 1990. The efforts of the school
community led to the Award in that year.
The school also began innovations and improvements such as computers from 1985 and the
Perceptual Motor Programme (PMP) established in 1986.
An excellent instrumental music programme was begun about 1991 (through the help of a parent,
Sue Salter). Sassafras Primary School students, Benjamin Goudey, Sarah Francis, Kate Lock and
Jamie Tarling, put into practise the skills learnt in the Programme, to celebrate the anniversary of
the Country Womens Association in 1994. The CWA president, Mrs Irene English came to the
school for the occasion and maintains a long connection with the Sassafras school.
A successful Art/Craft programme commenced about 1992 (thanks to parent, Cheryl Cox), and a
German language LOTE programme continues from 1992 (run by another parent, Dagmar Smith).
The long tradition of Religious Education was also continued through the 1990s.
In 1994 this small school comes closer to providing quality education through such efforts than
most other much larger schools, so amply illustrating its special characteristics.
The Sassafras Mothers Club (now known as the Parents Association) remains as active as ever,
since the 1920s. Noted recent presidents include Lorna Chapman, Susie Askham, Julie Stevens,
and the current president, Nola Gallagher.
At the time of writing, a wonderful new community playground is being built in the school
155
Jane Jones op cit.
77
grounds courtesy of a grant from the Shire of Sherbrooke of $10,000-00 and due to the work of
many volunteers from the community. The plan reflects the wishes of the students themselves. For
many years a favourite of generations of Sassy students was an old Blackwood "climbing" tree.
This had become unsafe, and so its stump is to form the base of a new tree house. Other student
ideas that may become possibilities include slides, a tunnel, an abseiling wall and other exciting
ideas.
Further ties with the wider Sassafras community were established with a greenhouse erected on
the school grounds by the Friends of Sassafras Creek. This group will share their expertise with
the children, teaching them how to care for the local environment, and how to propagate native
plants.
A community market is planned to take place in the school grounds on Sundays commencing in
October 1994. This will hopefully give the school a much needed source of extra income to pursue
new projects to enhance the educational environment for our children now and in the future.
Many of Sassafras Primary School's proud traditions continue, such as the annual presentation of a
pen to all graduating grade six students at the end of the year concert. Jan Diamond received her's
in 1961, just as our present students will receive their pens at the end of 1994.
Sassafras children have gone forth into the world and had great success. Lindell Bromham is one
such example of the success of many former Sassafras students. She was Victoria's 1993 Rhodes
Scholar. At the time of writing, there are at least five ex-Sassafras students currently studying for
PhDs.156 This might be seen as a fitting triumph to the end of Sassafras' first century.
Sassafras Primary School celebrates a century of this success, and my daughter Jessie and son
Raymond, six and eight years old respectively, will share in this bond with ex-pupils of Sassafras
Primary such as Mr Harry (Mick) Dahllof, now in his eighty-sixth year. Too high a value cannot
be placed on such a special and rare continuity as this. We look forward to the school's second
century of success.
The last word should go to Mrs Elaine Barrile (nee English), who attended Sassafras Primary
School in the 1930s and 40s. She wrote in 1994:
I loved my days at Sassy...I read some letters in the Free Press a while back from
students who attend school there now. It was nice to see that they all love their school too. Lets
hope its there for many more years, so other children can enjoy it as well.
156
Audrey Edmondson op cit. Further examples of the success of ex-Sassafras students, indicate the strength of the little school in
giving a good educational grounding to their students. In 1994, Brie Phelan is beginning her secondary schooling at the
Presbyterian Ladies College, on a scholarship won by her to that prestigious school. She joins other students who have also won
scholarships in the past such as Graeme Downe (doctor), John Alexander (tutor at the Swedish Film Institute and author), Genet
Edmondson (Applied Maths & Computer Science Hons. (Melb), BA (ANU), MA (ADA
78
79
Sassy one hundred years on!
80
81
A New century dawns for the School, twenty years on.

1994 to the Millennium.
The Sassafras Primary School goes from strength to strength and remains a caring and nurturing
environment.
1995 saw the beginning of the schools second century having survived the closure attempt under
Quality Provision earlier in 1993. In 1994, the Kennett Liberal Government brought in The
Schools of the Future, which occupied the attention of the School Council. It mandated more
school autonomy and local management of the global school budget to implement a three year
School Charter that had to be written by the school. Early in 1994, the Minister for Education,
Don Hayward presented the School Council president, Judy Elliot, with the finished School of
the Future, Intake 3, School Charter.
Such political changes adversely affected the workload of school administrators but helped the
school to clarify its goals and ideals. Importantly, it helped to show that Sassafras Primary School
was fulfilling its task effectively and there was little need for change. The schools excellent
Reading Recovery Program continued as a priority of the new School Charter.
Central to the new charter were the schools philosophy based on core beliefs and values:
Respect for childhood and the individual uniqueness of each student.
Belief in the potential of each student to reach their optimum level of development.
Community shared responsibility for caring for our childrens well-being and growth.
Creating an environment to enhance pride in individual achievements and excellence.
Commitment to present our children with a wide scope of learning experiences, both in
content and method.
Creating a positive, happy and tolerant environment that fosters a love and joy for
learning.
To implement the charter, the school needed to meet the Quality Provision of being able to cater
for all eight Key Leaning Areas mandated by the Education Department from Prep to Grade 6:
English, Maths, Science, Technology, Studies of Society and Environment, Health and Physical
Education, The Arts and Languages Other Than English. One reason for the earlier attempt to
close the school by the department was the supposed difficulty of small schools to offer all eight
KLAs. Sassafras managed by relying on volunteers as well as a small group of very versatile
professional teachers.
In addition, the school offered Instrumental Music, creative thinking programs based on the ideas
of Edward de Bono, a Perceptual Motor Program, intensive swimming, school camps and
excursions and inter-school sports throughout the year. The schools performing arts program and
excellent school productions are also a long established tradition.
Another key factor that allowed the school to remain open was a recognition that the school was in
a high risk bushfire area. Sassafras Primary Schools Fire Refuge building was designed to shelter
their children and those of the nearby pre-school. The building also served as a multi-purpose
room for the school and a community meeting area.
82
The positive atmosphere in the school led to an excellent transition program with the local Preschool and increased enrolments.
On Monday 20th February 1995, Principal Audrey Edmondson welcomed the returning school to
the new school year and their next century, with her first newsletter. She introduced just nine new
preps and five other new students by name (an advantage of a small school). Margaret Waldeck,
Victorian teacher of the Year in 1994157, was farewelled but the school gained a new teacher,
Christopher Kent, who took up the 1/2/3 class. Sandra Goudy continued with the Prep/1 class and
David Shears continued with the 4/5 class. Audrey taught Grade 6.
The school Centenary Committee (Jane Jones, Brenda Dennis, Helen Niven, Wendy Reece, Nola
Gallagher and Hilary Dewar), organised a very successful Centenary Celebrations held 22nd to 24th
of October, 1994. The original building was set up to look like a typical 1890s classroom. Visitors
to the school were treated to Devonshire teas, sandwiches and displays. A new flag pole and time
capsule were dedicated. There was a wonderful photographic display, a Centenary Fair and Dinner
Dance at the Cuckoo and the first edition of this book was launched.
Notwithstanding the schools small size, the new Quality Provision was maintained with some
dedicated specialist teachers, such as Georgie Ruzyla, the Art teacher and two integration teachers,
Deb Smith and Jenny Bunn. Parent Dagmar Smith was the volunteer German Language teacher.
Other important personalities of the time were Helen Niven, the school secretary, Tom Hudson
and Peter Lehane, the Crossing Guards and Martin Diamond, the cleaner.
Then, as always, the backbone of the school was the parent volunteers. Probably the key to the
schools continued success is it high parent involvement and engagement.
In 1995, such stalwarts included Kath Harvey, Raewyn Kavanagh, Nola Gallagher, Carey TaylorWilliams, Dagmar Smith and others, helped with Council, committees, school clean-ups and fundraising. 158
157
158
The Trader Tues Oct 4th, 1994.

The Trader, July 26th, 1994.
83
Barb Lock and Helen Wositzky ran the Environmental Studies program, working closely with
The Friends of Sassafras Creek (founded 1990). This Environmental Studies program arranged
for the construction of the Friends of Sassafras Creek Greenhouse at the school in 1994. The
greenhouse was funded by Melbourne Parks and Waterways. The Mountain District State
Electricity Commission supplied and installed, free of charge, a hundred metre underground
power line to run a propagation unit hand misting system for the greenhouse. 159
159
The Trader, Tues, July 26th, 1994.
84
Audrey Edmondson retired at the end of 1995, replaced in 1996 by Jean Krumtunger. Audreys
final Principals Report in December 1995 noted the completion of the Adventure Playground and
thanked the school community for her wonderful send-off and their support for over twenty years
at Sassafras Primary. Brian Cox, Dermot Doherty and parent volunteers had established the
Adventure Playground with the aid of community funding.
Carey Taylor-Williams160 remembered her favourite part of the school as the Adventure
Playground area (or the Adventures as the children called it). It is a great feature in the
memories of the students. Carey recalled that it was an improvement on the earlier playground in
approximately 1994. (Nessie had been constructed in 1982 and the Dreaming Centre in 1988). The
old Shire of Sherbrooke donated $10,000 to the school for the upgrade.161
Carey used to like the big swing in the Adventure Playground but she thinks it was removed
because they thought it was a bit dangerous.
The Giant Swing.

The towers were called the Doherty Towers because the Doherty family donated some money
towards the construction of the Adventure Playground. The children advised Carey that the
towers are now called the Dodgy Towers.
160
161
She was a parent who was involved with the school from 1990 to 2013. Interviewed by Cathy Jones in 2014.
Knox-Sherbrooke Post, Weds 4th May 1994, p.3
85
The Adventures.
Jean Krumtunger wrote of her years as principal:
I came to Sassafras PS as Principal in Term 2 1996 and stayed in that role until Term 2 2005.
I was fortunate that, after the State Governments attempts to close schools in 1993,
strongly resisted by the Hills communities, we entered a period of stability and support of State
schools by the new State Government.
Sassafras too continued to build on the solid foundations of the past. Three of the class
teachers, Sandra Goudey, Deb Smith, and David Shears continued in their roles. The addition of
Denise Munt was another stabilising influence over the next 9 years. The experience and local
knowledge of these teachers was invaluable. The parent and community support was as strong as
ever, with new people taking the place of those who had moved on.
I was attracted to Sassafras because of the strong teaching component. I had led a school
before, but found the administration by itself rather limiting. I missed the close interaction with
the children. At first (3 years) I had a classroom to run as well as the administration work. As the
enrolments settled and grew, the staffing component increased enough for me to take part-time
teaching duties with the help of slightly-increased Office staffing.
The School Garden Club was established in 1996 for the children to work in the school
grounds and gardens on a voluntary basis, with the support of the Environmental Studies program
led by parent Helen Wositzky and the Friends of Sassafras Creek group.
Later in the year Sassafras was entered into the State Garden Awards for Small Schools
and gained an Achievement Award. Subsequent Awards were the Regional Award in 1997, and
1999, but the highlight was the visit by the Garden Award judges by helicopter.
The whole school travelled by bus and car to the Ferny Creek Reserve, which was large
enough to allow the helicopter to land, then everyone returned to the school to show the judges
86
our wonderful garden. At the presentation at the Fitzroy Gardens in December, Sassafras
received a State Award.162
163
The Free Press reported on November 12th, 1997:

Sassafras Primary School children last week impressed judges from the Victorian Schools
Garden Awards.
Judging panel member and gardening expert, Kevin Heinz said (that) the children had an
excellent working knowledge of garden maintenance.
School principal Jean Krumtunger, who co-ordinates the childrens growing club, said
students had designed a master plan of the school to maintain a beautiful garden and had placed
fire-retardant plants in the fire refuge area.
Four judges arrived by helicopter at the Ferny Creek Reserve, where the children waited
with anticipation for their special guests The students efforts were recognised when they won
a regional award.
162
163
Written 2014.
The Ranges Trader, July 20. 1999.
87
The helicopter arrives at the Ferny Creek Reserve.
In 1996, the Environmental Studies program organised a whole-school fun day to brighten up
Nessie, the playground Tyre Monster!
Michael and Glen help paint Nessy.
88
Senior Constable Jeanette Berriman, Police in Schools Program 1998.

The Police Program was taken by Senior Constable Jeanette Berriman and After School Care was
run by Sue Whitely. The school also had Christian Religious Education and Instrumental Music.
In 1995 and 1996, the Japanese language was taught as well as German and Yasuko Yokoyama
was appointed as a language assistant.
The first computers appeared at the school in the late 1980s, heralding a new era. 1995 was also
the year of big changes in the wider community with the Digital Revolution in Information,
Communication and Technology really beginning to affect society. Four new computers were
purchased at the end of 1995 to enhance student learning. This was just the beginning of changes
that would drastically alter educational practise.
Jean Krumtungers account of these developments is an interesting one:
From the mid-1990s, local efforts to provide computers for the students was supported and
advanced by Education Department programmes to promote the use of Information Technology in
schools. The DOE/DEET IT Division has been a major provider of resources and incentive for the
89
expansion of Information Technology at Sassafras Primary School over these years.

New Administration hardware was provided by the Department of Education in 1997/98
and the Internet connection was upgraded successfully. The Department also provided training
for all Staff, plus a District Technician (Malcolm Hayse) to assist and troubleshoot fortnightly.
Mrs Sandra Goudey and a team of parents worked to computerize the library system in that year.
In November 1998, with the help of the Department IT Division, which provided the
equipment and a technician, plus knowledgeable parents who provided the labour, a Net Day was
held to provide Intranet cabling throughout the school, to all classrooms, the Library and
Staffroom. This enabled Internet access to all classrooms in 1999. Also in 1998, a group of
interested parents organised the Sassafras Computer Expo 1998 to provide information about
hardware, software and Internet technology to the whole school community. Presenters and
hands-on activities were enthusiastically received.
The Department IT Division provided 6-packs of ex-industry computers on two occasions
over the next three years and a parent (Alex Buxton?) was able to supply 16 ex-industry
computers from his company, so each classroom had 4 compatible computers linked to the
Intranet. The DEET IT Division provided a net server and 4X5-port hubs free to extend access to
the Internet. Fundraising by the school community provided funds for an upgrade of one computer
each year and such hardware as a digital camera, a scanner and an 8-port hub in the library to
assist access.
Software was purchased through local fundraising, the support of the Sherbrooke Lions
Club, the DEET Microsoft agreement and Rolling Software Fund.
On these foundations the Information Technology revolution in schools has built to
inclusion in all subjects using wireless, I-pads, Tablets and all the attendant hardware and
software.
New computers arrive.

Adequate funding for such ventures was a perennial problem for a small school like Sassafras and
Parents Association fundraising and sponsorship from local businesses were important
supplements to funding from the Department of Education. For example, in 1997 After School
Care had been a serious drain on the budget and was reformed as the Sassy Kids Club run my
parent volunteers Kath Harvey and Nicole Bartlett. The after school care program, Sassy Kids
Club, proved to be a draw card for working parents and assisted Sassafras enrolments.
90
In class, 1997.
Fundraising was coordinated by a School Council sub-committee and run by the Parents
Association. It involved such things as raffles, concerts, Trivia Nights, Rockn Roll dances, the
November school fete and Math-athon.
The Sassafras Lions Club was a great financial supporter of the school. In 1997, for instance, it
donated $500 worth of books to the school library through the auspices of the Harvey family in
memory of Lions Club member, Ray Harvey.
The 1997 Black Saturday bushfires on January 21st spared Sassafras, but were not far away in
nearby Ferny Creek. The event traumatised many of the children, whose friends or family were
affected. Because the fires occurred on a Saturday the children were at home. The Fire Refuge was
not needed for the students although it was used by the wider community. The Principals Report
to School Council commented on the effect of the fires:
After the initial shock and trauma of the bushfire, the year saw a very positive atmosphere
develop in the whole school community. Teachers, parents, students and the local community to
achieve many benefits for the school through Garden Awards, involvement with the CFA, the
CWA, Lions Club, Pre-school, local business people, National Park rangers and Police in
Schools.
Shortly after Black Saturday, Sassafras Primary students contributed to the Phoenix Art Calendar
as part of the Dandenong Ranges Bushfire Recovery Project. Raymond Smith produced a ceramic
work title Man Clearing Rubble and Alexander Wietrzyck, a pastel entitles Rebuilding.
The Shire of Sherbrooke organised and encouraged the school to participate in the Sassafras
Village Green memorial pathway remembering the bushfires of Black Saturday. The students
sculpted and fired individual pavers to construct the path with the supervision of Helen Wositzky
and school staff and parents.
91
Crafting the pavers for the Sassafras Village Green memorial path remembering the bushfires,
1997.
In 1997, Sassafras storekeeper, Frank Oostermeyer became something of a local hero as reported
in The Free Press.
The saga of the missing teddy bear made the news!
Mariska Visser was playing in the grounds of the school at lunchtime, when a neighbours dog
stole her teddy bear. Mariskas mother Michelle said, Mariska was terribly upset.. The dog
was some kind of retriever and it took the teddy home.
Mariska reported the loss to the principal, Jean Krumtunger, who was on yard duty at the time.
Jean went looking for teddy and found him in the backyard of an adjoining house. There were two
dogs there and one of them looked like it might be vicious.
She then went knocking on doors to try to find out how to contact the owners of the dogs. Finally
she went into Franks shop and told him of the problem. He volunteered to retrieve the teddy.
But when I reached the house I realised that I knew the owners and the dogs, he said.
They would have been aggressive to anyone else but they didnt attack me because I feed them
every Saturday morning. Im not really a herobut thats our secret, okay?164
In 1998, twenty new Preps had fond memories of Claire and Frank Oostermeyers local mixed
business and lolly shop which exemplified the close connection between the school and the wider
community. When Claire and Frank sold up that year, the students wrote a little ditty for them
parodying a number in the school production of that year, Lollies held at Monbulk High School
Hall. All the preps dressed up as assorted lollies. Delicious!
Goodbye the Claire and Frank at the Shop
Lollies, sweets and candy is what you used to sell,
164
The Free Press, 2nd July, 1997.
92
Milk and bread and papers, you had them all as well.
Were so sad youre leaving, we know its for the best,
Cause Frank and Claire, its time for you to have a little rest.
His name is Frank, shes Claire,
They ran the local store
They always made us welcome each time we walked through the door.
His name is Frank, shes Claire
Theyre fun, theyre great, theyre cool,
We hope youll come and see us soon at Sassy Primary School.
Lollies, sweets and candy is what you used to sell,
Milk and bread and papers, you had them all as well.
We just want to tell how much we all love you
Oh Frank and Claire we wish you
Goodbye, farewell, hooroo.
The sign at the old school entrance in the mid 1990s, outlining a wonderful program.
It was a new era of accountability to parents and the Education Department through regular
reporting that took up a lot of administrative hours to produce these documents. The Sassafras
Primary School School Self-Assessment, as part of the Schools of the Future Triennial School
Review for 1998 to 2000, gives evidence of the schools many successes. The enrolments
gradually increased and included 12% of students from beyond the local area, who were attracted
by the schools programs, practices and values. The students at the school performed better than
like schools in English and mathematics was improving, with the more able students
performing well above average and few students significantly at risk of not succeeding in maths.
Under the new Curriculum Standards Framework (CSF), there had been a consistent
improvement in Reading over the three years, contributed to by the wonderful Reading Recovery
Program. Writing and Speaking and Listening had made similar improvement over this time.
93
Parent opinion of the school with regard to Quality of Teaching, Academic Rigour and Student
Reporting, as part of the Review, indicated a high level of satisfaction with the school.
These results reflected later reports after the turn of the millennium.
One of the real secrets to Sassafrass success was the catering for their students very much as
individuals. The school responded to the students specific needs. To this end, the school ran a
very successful Extension or Enrichment programs, providing opportunities such as the
Tournament of the Minds, metacognition programs such as Edward De Bonos Thinking Hats
which encouraged students to think laterally and special events such as a starwatch evening for
budding scientists and astronomers as part of Education Week and Science Week in 1999. Side by
side with these programs, the school also ran special needs programs such as Reading Recovery
for those students who needed a little extra help.
Tournament of the Minds, Monash University, 1997.
De Bonos Six Thinking Hats, 1997.
94
165
Jean Krumtunger highlighted some of the possible reasons for such success.
With the long period of a stable teaching staff- Mrs Sandra Goudey, Mrs Deb Smith, Mrs
Denise Munt and Mrs Jean Krumtunger, supplemented by other part-time staff it was possible to
build students skills by consistent practice.
As well as the academic achievements, success in sporting achievements was led by Denise
Munt and supported by the other staff (plus parents) over a number of years. In the annual
Dandenong Ranges Athletic Sports, Sassafras Primary, despite being the second smallest school,
won the John Bergman Handicap Shield (based on achievements/enrolments) for 4 consecutive
years from 2000 to 2003. In 2000 we also won the Jumping Sports and in 2003, Sassafras won the
overall Athletics Shield!
The biennial musical production, with Sandra Goudey as producer, involved all students,
so their confidence and skills built from each production to the next and allowed those with talent
to be identified early.
The students also recalled the Bluey/Police Day of 1999, which was a fund-raiser to help fight
cancer.
All the kids (and teachers) had crazy hair. We raised money for police officer and parent, Meg,
(Senior Constable Meg Atkinson) to shave her head. Bluey Day was run again in 2001 and
reported in the Free Press on August 14th. The school raised over $3,500 in 2001.
They remembered the opening of the new picket fence and bell tower by the Shire of Yarra
Ranges mayor, Louis Delacretaz, at the country fair on November 14th, 1999. It made Sassy
Primary a real feature of Sassafras Village. 166
The addition of a new school sign; parent-designed picket fence; lych-gate and bell tower were
planned and built by the Facilities Committee, enhancing the appearance of the school and lifting
its profile in the community.
Each picket on the new fence was sponsored by a past or present family from the school. It has
165
The Ranges Trader, May 18th, 1999.

2004 Sassafras Primary Year Book outlines these memories of the Grade 6 students, as the progressed through the school from
their enrolment in Prep in 1998.
166
95
proved an enduring record of the history of the Sassafras community.

Apparently, there were plenty of imitators from other schools. It was a fitting way to celebrate the
schools success and mark the end of the millennium.
REMEMBER: Sassafras Primary School students Laura and Bryce think having a fence picket is a great
way to remember their time at the school.167
After the Millennium. The School to 2014.

Many special events marked the life of the school in the first decade of the new millennium.
Fittingly, Sassafras Primary School, with the help of parent Helen Wositzky, created a new
pathway on the Village Green featuring symbols of Indigenous Reconciliation. The Ranges Trader
Mail of May 23 led their article with Footprints pave the way for future generations(and
continued) Wurundjeri elder Joy Murphy told the school how the footprints could represent
following the path of ancestors, so the children made imprints of their own feet for the path.
167
Ranges Trader Mail, June 18.2002 p 3
96
Helen Wositzky, Mayor Cr. Robyn Hale and Elder Joy Murphy dedicate the Reconciliation Path,
Sassafras Village Green, in 2000.
Now the school was a member of the Dandenong Ranges Network of twenty-one primary and
secondary schools. This saw on-going cooperation, partnerships and less competition between
schools for the benefit of all the areas students.
Some of these benefits included the implementation of long-term programs to enhance Primary
school transition to the Secondary level, and better facilitation of the teaching of Languages Other
Than English (LOTE) throughout the district.
In 2000, there was a great buzz with the advent of the Sydney Olympic Games and the passage of
the Olympic torch around Australia. The children waved flags as the Olympic torch came past the
school, handed by solo sailor, Jesse Martin, a Sassafras local, to parent Helen Wositzky who ran
with it to Olinda.
School parent Helen Wositzky had the honour of carrying the Olympic torch. As she carried it
through Olinda, we did a reverse run, back through Sassafras, with heaps of kids and the rest of
the school cheering from the bank. 168
168
Free Press Aug 15th 2000 p 16
97
Helen Wositzky carrying the Olympic torch, 2000.

A grant of $30,000 from the Education Department enabled an upgrade in school facilities after
2001.
The Centenary of Federation in that year saw all Victorian school children presented with special
medallions. It was celebrated with a whole-school event: the school childrens Federation Day
train ride on Puffing Billy.
The very successful Environmental Studies program continued. In January 2001 their good work
and the concerns of the Sassafras students about run-off from Vic Roads drains causing erosion of
the Sassafras Creek watershed was brought up by the Federal Member for Latrobe, Bob Charles
MHR, in Federal Parliament. He congratulated the students on their hard work. I am pleased to
say that they worked out the problem and came up with the solution... I believe that the children
should be congratulated. It also demonstrates that as adults, we dont always know everything,
said Mr Charles.169
Also in 2001, again, Sassafras Primary School won the Regional Garden Award for Small Schools
for the second time. The school also won $5,000 in the Dollars for Scholars, run by the Knox
City shopping centre.
2002 saw Sassafras students take part in community events such as the Shire Community Safety
Fair; the Ferny Creek Horticultural Society spring exhibition and the RSL Remembrance Day
service on the Village Green.
In 2002, the school and wider community lost a wonderful lady, Kath Harvey, to cancer and the
school and local newspapers paid special tribute to her. Kath had been a member of the school
community for over thirty years and was the After-School Care coordinator. Kath had been a
tireless contributor and volunteer for just so many aspects of community life.
Earlier in the year, Kath had beaten three hundred Eastern region schools, to take home The
169
La Trobe Link, autumn 2001.
98
Education Department Community Service Award. The Ranges trader Mail wrote on June 4th,
Kath was nominated by the school after using her links in community groups such as the Lions
Club, CWA, CFA auxiliary and RSL to assist the school Kath (was) famous for organising
events such as getting the CWA to knit squares for a blanket which would be raffled off or
arranging prizes for a fire awareness week poster competition
The award was presented at the schools annual morning tea for the anti-cancer councilalso organised by Kath she has raised funds for cancer research through morning teas and
daffodil days for several years Kath said the award had been a bit of a shock but a great
surprise Kath said the support from the community and her family was reward enough for her
volunteer work.
The School Council Annual Report for 2002, highlighted some of the many strengths of Sassafras
Primary, but most notably parent engagement with the school.
Parent involvement at Sassafras Primary is very high - 95% of the 52 school families directly
assist the school in some way during each year - officially, through the very positive and
knowledgeable School Council well as its sub-committees, and the newly formed Sassafras
School Community Cooperative (26 members), who are working to provide funds for a muchneeded Facilities program.
The Parents and Friends Association undertake a multitude of tasks, particularly
fundraising activities, supporting classroom activities personally and financially e.g. the Art
program, Library, Literacy and Numeracy programs, supporting students by providing hot
lunches each week, free hats for new students, playground equipment and uniform coordination;
community liaison with the Sassafras Pre-school, CFA, RSL and businesses; organising
social/fundraising events e.g. the Trivia Night, Big Morning Tea; and school promotion events
through classroom representatives.
At the 4 Working Bees each year the attendance averages 13 families (25% of the school
total).
The parent body also contributes "in kind" with donations of classroom materials, recycled
materials for Art and Science, pet visits, classroom helpers, volunteers for sports coaching,
environmental studies, excursion helpers, and unofficial playground patrol after school hours.
Parents are aware that their contributions make a real difference to the school and its students
and the staff is very appreciative of their wonderful support.170
Sassafras Primary won the Athletic Sports shield, yet again for the fourth year in a row, in 2003.
That year they achieved the win outright, without handicapping, for the first time in twenty years.
23rd October, 2004 saw the 110th anniversary of the founding of Sassafras Primary School. It was
celebrated with many activities including an exhibition of photographs taken by the students and
related to historic photos. The project was funded by the Department of Education Artists in
Schools programme. The school raised funds to enable Susan Gordon-Brown, a local
photographer, to teach the students in all classes how to use the cameras. Susan guided them in
framing and composing photos and the children achieved some excellent results. There was a
local exhibition of the photographs in November 2004 and subsequently, in the following year, the
exhibition toured to the Melbourne National Arts Centre of Victoria.
170
2014.
99
Sassafras Year 2 students Molly, Ruby and Liam getting ready to take photographs.171
171
Free Press Leader March 10. 2004 p 5.
100
101
Sassafras students in 2004, photographed for Sassafras Now and Then, celebrating 110 years.
These wonderful photographs were not done by professionals! They were actually photographed
by the students under the obviously excellent instruction from Susan Gordon-Brown. The student
photographers are listed in the footnote.172
Four children from Sassafras Primary School became junior reporters for the Free Press local
newspaper in March 2004.
Chris Norris reported on the 110th anniversary of the school:
Since the start of term, Susan Gordon-Brown has been teaching the whole school about
photography. Our theme is Now and Then. In the early 1900s, a stack of photographs were
taken. We decided to show where and when the photos were taken then, to compare how the town
is now.
Geogie Ruzyla was a real Sassafras legend, a respected teacher of the longest standing of anyone
at the school. Student reporter, Aylce Byatt, honoured her:
The art teacher, Mrs. Ruzyla, is an amazing art teacher. If you start off scrappy youd get better
every year. She has taught me that you need to have faith in yourself and your art, no matter how
good or bad you are. She teaches you all the techniques and has inspired many students to begin
art as a hobby.
Georgie Ruzylas students developed a deep appreciation of art history and their obvious
knowledge impressed even the guides or custodians at the National Gallery of Victoria, when
Sassafras students visited there on the Urban Camps.
172
Contributors include: Luka, Natasha, Stuart, Rhys, Eden, Bronte, Kayla, Casidy, Kaelan, Arial, Ruby, Lexie, Makhela, Jake,
Akeylah, Ailish, Adam, Alisha.
102
Generations of Sassafras students had enjoyed attending the Urban Camp near the Melbourne Zoo.
The camp provided students with a rich, practical, experience of applied learning, introducing the
students to the city of Melbourne. The camp was run as a rather exclusive co-operative between
schools and luckily Sassafras had long been a member.173
As well as art, camps and other enrichment activities for the students, music also played a big part
in the life of the school. In 2005, for example, nine of the twelve students studying keyboard with
teacher Addam Stobbs sat for the Australian Music Guild Exams and eight received high
distinctions. 174
In June 2005, the school farewelled Jean Krumtunger who retired after a long and distinguished
career. She handed over to the new principal, Alex MacDonald on 10th July, 2005.
Jean had many funny recollections from her days as Principal:
Among the many tasks in which a Principal is involved, the bushland environment at Sassafras
set up close encounters with the animal kind, (such as) capturing magpies that sneaked into the
open corridor, looking for scraps, then flew panic-stricken into the library. I became expert at
creeping up with a coat or art smock to fling over the intruder and take it out squawking to a safe
tree!
On one memorable occasion a young echidna wandered up from the back of the school
during lunchtime. A call for everyone to Freeze! made sure the little fellow was not alarmed,
and in fact, it felt so bold that it shuffled up to one of the girls and sat on her foot for a few
minutes, then continued its journey out the front gate, (escorted across the road by the Principal
with a stop sign) and disappeared into the forest. Oh for a camera!
A less enjoyable task occurred when a knock at the Staffroom door during recess revealed
an excited group of boys holding up a dead hawk which had been impaled on a branch while
hunting. It had to be disposed of secretly because a previous corpse kept being returned from the
grave by curious students.
Carey Taylor-Williams was another great contributor to the school for over twenty years. She was
173
174
Heather Waring 2014

The Mail, Tuesday 1st ma103.rch, 2005. p.8.
103
School Council President and edited the school newsletters amongst many other things. Carey had
fond memories of one particular school fete when the school hired a dunking machine as a fundraiser. Good sport that she is, Mrs K sat in the dunking machine. A lot of money was raised and
Mrs K got dunked quite a few times! Lucky it was a warm day.
Principal Alex MacDonald made a great contribution to environmental awareness at Sassafras
Primary and installed solar panels and new water tanks in 2009. Alex also established a chicken
coop as part of sustainability and environmental awareness. His experience teaching in the
Northern Territory also gave him a special interest in raising awareness of Aboriginal culture in
the school. A framed certificate featuring Kevin Rudds Apology to the Stolen Generation in
2008, has pride of place in the school office and dates from Alexs time.
Staff at the school remained remarkably stable. Prep/1 was taught by Sandra Stevens (Goudy);
Year 1-2, Deb Smith; Year 3-4, Dianne Keats and Year 5-6, by Denise Munt. All the excellent
school programs continues such as the Reading recovery Program run by Deb Smith and Georgie
Ruzylas Art program175. The PE/Sports program run by Denise Munt. Environmental Studies
continued with Helen Wositzky, who was joined by another parent, Amanda Christians, in the
Gould League Sustainable Schools Program which stimulated a new initiative: the Sassafras
Vegetable Garden, where our students could grow and eat their own produce.
Sandra Stevens (Goudey) in class.

In mid-2010, Alex Macdonald was replaced as principal by Heather Waring.
Heather Waring quickly became a passionate advocate for the school. She was well aware of the
schools reputation for providing outstanding service to children with special needs and wonderful
175
QV p. 104
104
music, art and sport programs. Heather wrote176 of her impression of the school at this time:
(The school was a) remarkable community with a great staff sprit supporting each other and
that there was, no escaping the genuine, spontaneous feedback that you unselfishly received as
principal.
Heathers initial focus in 2010 was to improve the depth of curriculum as much as possible for a
school of Sassafrass size.
In 2010 there began a great expansion of school facilities, much of it funded by federal grants
under the Rudd Governments Economic Stimulus Package, Building the Education
Revolution (BER).
The most notable new addition to the school was the building of the Learning Centre to provide
facilities for the twenty-first century such as Interactive Whiteboards and wireless technology. It
was a modern, open-planned building with three classrooms and a central meeting place, designed
to facilitate more co-operative ways of teaching and learning.
Building the Learning Centre was a major logistical effort. The Sassy News, the school newsletter,
on 31st May, 2011, outlined the building process. It informed parents that the building that the
building would be delivered over two to three days in ten modules. The loads were oversized and
had to be escorted by VicRoads.
The old music shed had to be demolished first, as this was the only position the crane could be
located to lift the modules over the old building to the locations of the Learning Centre. The
destruction of the old shed upset a few people but it is an ill-wind that blows nobody any good.
As the rubble from the old shed was being removed as part of the contract, miraculously
somehow, it became full of all the old rubbish, old desks etc. that the school wanted to get rid
of.177
On Delivery and Crane Day, according to the Education Department, the school still had to run,
so the entire school had to be relocated to Olinda Primary School for the day, where they did a
modified program in two classrooms. Olinda had very generously volunteered their facilities and
come to Sassafrass rescue for the day.
Wide Load. The arrival of the

Learning Centre modules on Delivery
and Crane Day.
176
177
2014
Heather Waring, 2014,
105
In with the new: The Learning Centre modules are

lifted by crane over the original 1915 classroom.
At the same time, respect for and celebration of, the past was maintained with the renovation of
the original 1915 classroom and maintaining it as a Heritage Centre. The continuity of the older
classrooms and hallway, which actually gave the school so much character, was greatly
appreciated. The old part of the school is what is remembered by generations of students and gave
the school its heart and soul. The old classrooms were improved. The school foyer, library, science
and art areas were expanded but their essential character was maintained. The mosaic wall in the
foyer (created in 1983) was retained and repaired.178
The 2011 Annual Report to the School Community highlighted the many strengths of Sassafras
Primary. It was a case of steady as she goes for all the good things the school did. Successful
programs were maintained and innovations, added. Notable improvements were made in student
engagement and well-being, with a very safe, caring and inclusive approach to the students and
wonderful programs such as the Buddies Program, allowing greater responsibility for students to
connect with their peers. That year, the new National Assessment Program (NAPLAN) showed
that Sassafras students performed in the 90th percentile of the state.
The Age Education Supplement of February 24th, 2012 led with the headline, Oh my, how a tiny
school stumped the rest, referring of course to the wonderful NAPLAN results. The article
commented that Sassafras Primary School results were substantially above statistically similar
schools and it continued, Principal Heather Waring doesnt speak the language of bureaucrats.
When you say .5 above the benchmark I see the face of the child, she says. Personalised learning
plans are another piece of educational jargon but when a school has only 57 students and three
classroom teachers, it is possible to tailor activities to suit every child. It is also impossible to fall
178
See p 74.
106
through the cracks. We know every child and what developmental level they are at, Ms Waring
says. The article then went on to say that it was with focus on the individual student and their
personal learning plan that helped to explain why Sassafras performed substantially above
similar schools.
The years 2011 to 2012 saw more facilities added to the school, with the covered play area; the
basket-ball court and the new kiln shed.
Heather Waring retired as principal in 2012, to be replaced by Catherine Jones. Catherine obtained
state disability funding for the most recent school improvement in 2014, the wheelchair ramp
connecting the upper level of the school to the lower level.
In 2012 the school had two expert classroom teachers: Stacey Goodger and Joanne Foster plus a
full-time graduate teacher, Matt Stamm. Cornelia Tyrrell taught German and Geogina Ruzyla
continued the Art Program. Jean Krumtuger was back teaching science one day a week. The
school had two integration aids, Michele Cottam-Starkey and Fiona Peterson and it had a full-time
business manager, Mel Cornwall.
Some of the highlights of the 2013 school years included barbecues, police talks, a fun run and
district cross country, the 3-4 camp, the Premiers reading challenge, excursions to the Victoria
Market, Carols on the Mountain and the Anzac day parade.
Clean Up Australia Day 2014 with some of the new buildings in frame.
107
In July, 2014, Sassafras teacher, Matt Stamm, invited some current students to share their thoughts
about the school today and collect reminiscences from friends and family members.
Highlights of the school for Aiden Ardley were the Grade 5 camp to Coonawarra, where he fell off
a horse and swam in the lake in his clothes and the Grade 6 graduation, where they had a limo ride
and went to the Cuckoo restaurant. We ate so much food and laughed so much.
Annabelle Freeman wrote:
On 14th of July 2014, I started at this wonderful school. I completely had to make friends straight
away and surprisingly I DID!.. I find I am much happier now I am at Sassafras PS.
Beki had similar happy memories of her first day: I still remember the day and it was very
enjoyable. She wrote.
Callum liked the fact the, as a student, you learn more things and challenge yourself. You are
becoming grown up, to be wise and understand more.
Hayley liked the Pet parade: (it) was so fun. Everybody brang (sic) their pet. There was pet rocks
and dogs and much much more. There was even a pony. It was so much fun!
Finlay De Coite listed his role at the school as, a friendly and helpful student. He talked about
the mysterious school cat that comes around once or twice a term. Every time I seem to catch a
glimpse of it its going in the same direction which is down towards Nessie. I reckon that it
takes one of the chickens that live in the veggie patch though I havent heard about disappearing
chooks.
Jakob Rivers wrote: At Sassy, we always have cubbies that we would turn into civilisations of
young survivors (at least thats what it felt like). We would turn leaves into decorations and hats,
and ferns into walls and shelters. We turned all our resources into something useful. All the
children had their own part to play from a marketer in a shop to warriors on the battlefield
(playground). Whenever there were cubbies there were cubby wars, a battle between sides, a quest
for victory; defenders and attackers. The attackers tried to take a cubby or demolish the
competition and the defenders as you have guessed, defend their civilisation and often were the
nicer side you see in people.
Jasslyn wrote about The Day We Got Free Icy Poles: One day Rod, the man who runs the local
caf, came up to our school saying that their freezer had broken so at the end of the day we could
go down to the caf and get a free icy pole. When school had finished there was a big stampede of
kids running from the school to get a free icy pole. It was really nice that Rod and Karen gave us
the icy poles instead of just throwing them out. Thats one of the good things about going to a
small school because you know the people in the local community,
Katherine Noonan started school in 2008. Her buddies were Miran and Samantha. She wrote about
her various teacher such as Miss R (Nicole Raditsis) and the school production Kids in Paradise,
Mr Birch, Mr Stamm, Mr MacDonald Mrs Foster and Mrs Waring. Katherine remembers that
Mrs Waring told the students one day that the School Council wanted them to go to school on
108
Saturdays as well as through the week. We were furious. So Mrs Waring suggested we wrote a
persuasive letter to the School Council (about) why we shouldnt go on Saturday, The following
Friday Mrs Waring told us that the School Council had been very impressed but they had never
really been planning at making us go on Saturdays. It had been a trick to make us work harder or
something. I remember feeling shocked.179
Lachie Boyd had been on the Junior School Council for three years. He is friends with Jordan,
Jakob, Taye and lots of others. He remembered the school production, Kids at Sea, going to
Science Works, the school camp and Clean Up Australia Day. Lachie also remembers the
legendary Cubby wars.
Liam Goodyer met his friend Jakob Rivers in Grade 2 after coming from Tecoma Primary School.
Mila remembered the class party at the end of second term in Mrs Forsters maths class. It was a
reward for lining up properly, not interrupting the teacher and bringing diaries to the class. They
made cakes and cookies.
Phoebe interviewed her father who had been a student at Sassafras in Audrey Edmondsons time
(1993-1995). She said that her dad once ran around the oval in his underpants and was caught by
Mrs Edmondson! He liked reading with Mrs. Edmondson.
Saxon wrote of Sassafras Primary that it is the best school ever. and that he enjoys science and
playing games.
Sophia remembered the Pet Parade in March 2014. She wrote, It was held on the school oval.
There were lots of different animals there, including guinea pigs, rabbits, a bearded dragon and
even a pony! There were prizes for the biggest pet, smallest pet, cutest pet and quietest pet and
others. Mrs Waring was the judge. She judged very well. All the children enjoyed this very much
and would like to make it an annual event.
Tara Phelan loved the pet parade and remembered cantering around the oval on the pony.
She has a funny story about rolling down the steep hills in the playground when one day, all of
my friends. Hayley, Taya, Clea and Ella all rolled down the hill and kept bumping into each
other. After we got up we had grass on us then just started laughing. That will be a memory that I
wont forget.
Tristan remembered his first camp being the best camp ever! His favourite part of the camp was
going on the flying fox and the giant swing.
Riley Scott wrote: A group of boys were given the job of taking the compost bins down to the
veggie patch. One of us walked past and threw a tea-bag in the tree. The next day the old
principal walked past and said oh, someones been putting tea-bags on the tea tree! We called it
the Tea Tre not knowing that the real name of the tree was Tea Tree. We didnt get into trouble
because she thought it was creative and the tree was getting cut down in a month or two.
179
This had been a very skilful incentive devised by Heather Waring to get students to practise persuasive writing, which was to
be assessed on the upcoming NAPLAN test.
109
Riley also remembered the annual Anzac parade, when everyone goes to the RSL for some food
and drink and the kids go out the back and play tag.
180
The parent of Josh and Taya Thornton, Chelsea Wilson had some wonderful recollections of the
school in the years 2006 to 2012. She wrote in 2014 that as a parent, Ive always felt welcomed
to help in class and at school.
She remembered Carey Taylor (Williams) who, always had a smile and welcoming word and
who was at every school event and at the heart of the PFA during my time at the school.
Chelsea also remembered helpers like Michelle and Fiona who go above and beyond (and)
Sandra Stevens as Joshs first teacher.
Chelsea had fond memories of the Grade 6 graduations. She found the slideshows of the children
very moving. Seeing some of the kids from prep to Grade 6 Seeing their photos put together is
wonderful and then, next thing, theyre working locally. Thats part of the beauty of this
community and their start at Sassafras.
Chelsea has summed up the importance of the little Sassy school for the local community. These
strong connections will be retained as the school moved into its second century.
Liz Dunn, a student at the school from 1994 to 2000, was very involved in school productions and
sports days. She loved the school grounds and exploring the beautiful natural environment that
we were so lucky to play in.
Liz highlighted the strength of connections with the school over many generations when she
wrote, Sassafras Primary will always have a very special place in my heart. I still, quite often,
visit and take my two year old son to play in the playgrounds.
Finally, Tricia Cullen, a current parent at the school, similarly wrote how happy she was with the
180
110
school, having changed schools to Sassafras due to the excellent NAPLAN results. She
particularly loved the 2014 Pet Parade which was hilarious, with pet rocks, robot dogs, soft
toys, fish and a horse.
A rather splendid poem that is close to the heart of ex-principal Heather Waring reflects the same
sentiments and neatly sums up the success of Sassafras Primary School. Its a good place to finish:
I dreamed I stood in a studio

And watched two sculptors there
They clay they used was a young childs mind
And they fashioned it with care.
One was the teacher, the tools being used
Were music, books and art,
One a parent with a guiding hand
And gentle, loving heart.
Day after day the teacher toiled
With touch that was deft and sure,
While the parent laboured just as hard
And polished and smoothed it over.
When at last their task was done
They were proud at what they had wrought
For the things they had molded into the child
Could neither be sold nor bought.
For behind the parent stood the school
And behind the teacher, the home
And both agreed they would have failed if
They had worked alone.181
181
Anon.
111
182
Sassy one hundred and twenty years on!
182
Courtesy of Schoolpix: The Wise Choice.
112
183
Staff 2014.
183
Courtesy of Schoolpix: The Wise Choice.
113
Appendix 1
Head Teachers and Principals
At Sassafras State/Primary School 3222 1894-1994
HEAD TEACHER/PRINCIPAL
William J.Angwin
Theresa M.Boyd
William H.Grigg
George Jackson
James McCann
Henry W.French
Henry J.Cole
Ralph R.Curry
John Harrison
Florence M.Parker
Jessie Reed
Dorothy Humberg
Johanna Holden
Ernie Jones
James R.Smith
Edward G.Follett
Roland M.Hill
August Harvey
Philip Smyth
Nellie Lillis
Norman K.Hallebone
G.M.Callaghan
Mary Walters
Geoffrey Lloyd Pepperell
Robert H.Grandy
John D.Tipping
Donald C.Steele
Peter Hall
Maxwell L.Bennett
John C.Ure
Charles M.Crooks
Brian P.Kent
Brian L.Allen
Mac Craig
Audrey J.Edmondson
Jean Krumtunger
Alex Macdonald
Heather Waring
Catherine Jones
114
YEARS
1894(Oct-Nov)
1894
1895-1896
1896-1900
1901-1902
1903
1903-1906
1906-1916
1916-1918
1918-1920
1920-1924
1924-1925
1926-1928
1930-1935
1935-1938
1939-1942
1942
1944
1945
1945
1946-1952
1952-1957
1957
1958-1961
1961-1964
1965-1972
1973-1977
1977
1978
1979-1982
1983-1984
1985-1986
1987-1988
1989-1993
1993-1995
1996-2005
2005-2010
2010-2012
2013-
ENROLMENT IF KNOWN (*Approx.)

24 plus
24 plus
32-46
52
40
46
27-30
27
30-35
38
30-41
39
26-30
49-52
c.40
c.60
60-100?
120
100-200
73
130 plus
78-86
78
80-85
70-93
88
57-61
59-60
INDEX
Aborigines. 7, 74, 95, 96, 103.
Adventure Playground/Adventures. 85, 86.
Alexander, John. 1, 66.
Alexander, Maree. 6, 66.
Alexander, Nicholas. 60, 62, 64, 66.
Allan, Mrs, David and Richard. 57, 115.
Allans Road Map. 10, 23.
Allen, Brian. 67, 73, 114.
ANA (Australian Natives Association) 31.
Angwin, William J. 13,114.
Anzac, 107, 109.
"Anzac Avenue". 34-35.
Ardley, Aiden. 108.
Askham, Susie and family. 72, 77.
Barrile, (nee English) Elaine. 6, 44, 47, 48, 49, 78. QV The English family.
Basin The, 8, 11, 13, 16, 17, 19, 20, 21, 23, 43, 56, 65.
Bayswater.1, 10, 13, 14, 17, 19, 23, 56.
Beatty Mrs. 24.
Belgrave. 8, 23, 44, 55.
Bennett, Maxwell. 67, 114.
Berriman, Jeanette, Senior Constable. 89.
Birch, Mr. 108.
Boal (nee Lee), Janis. 60, 62.
Borthwick, Bill. The Hon. 61, 71.
Boyd, Lachie. 109.
Boyd, Theresa M. 2, 13, 14, 73, 114.
Bromham, Lindell. 78.
Bunn, Jenny. 83.
Bunce, Daniel. 7.
Bundy, Peter. 58, 59.
Bushfires.2, 7, 10, 14, 21-22, 35, 44-45, 49, 63-66, 74, 77, 92, 93.
Butten (nee Gaertner), Heike. 60, 64.
Buxton, Alex. 90.
Buzaglo, F. 11.
Byatt, Aylce. 102.
Bye family/Bye, Shirley. 5, 8, 23, 35, 37, 38, 42, 43, 45, 47, 61, 63, 67,
Cabaret, The. 42, 48, 49, 56.
Cadby P/Cadby cottages. 11, 25, 30, 31, 32, 34, 61, 63.
Carlyle, Thomas. 30.
Cannon, Alister. 5, 54, 56.
Chandler, GL, The Hon. 57.
Chapman. Lorna. 77.
Christians, Amanda. 104.
Clarkson, Helen. 15.
Clovelly/Braco Park. 23, 34.
Cole, Henry J. 24, 25, 114.
Coleman, Bob. 6.
Cornwall, Mel. 107.
Cottam-Starkey, Michele. 107, 113.
Cox, Martin. 77.
Cox, Brian. 85.
Curry, Ralph R. 10, 25, 32, 114.
CWA (Country Womens Association). 77, 91, 99.
Dahllof, Harry (Mick). 32, 78.
Dandenongs, The. 1, 2, 4, 10, 22, 48, 49, 50, 55, 64.
De Bono, Edward. 82, 94.
De Coite, Finlay. 108.
115
Delacretaz, Louis cr.95.

Delacretaz, Tyler. 84.
Dennis, Brenda. 83.
Dennis, CJ. 40.
Dewar, Hilary.5, 6, 17, 34, 63, 73, 64, 65, 68, 70, 71, 72, 77, 83,
Dewar, Kylah. 72, 77.
Dewar, Meaghan. 77.
Diamond, Jan. 5, 6, 10, 37, 44, 56, 57, 58, 62, 71, 72, 78.
Diamond, Martin. 83.
Dodd, J and Harry. 17, 23.
Doherty, Dermot. 85.
Doherty family. 85.
Dorey, E. 11.
Downe family. 1, 5, 61, 62, 67, 69, 70, 71.
Dowsey, Kevin. 47.
Dowsey, Norma see Herbert.
Dreaming Centre, The 65, 66, 85.
Edmondson, Audrey. 1, 60, 68, 69, 70, 83, 85, 109, 114.
Edmondson, Genet. 1.
Education. Passim.
Education Act 1872. 11.
Education Department (DOE, DEET) 11, 13, 15, 17, 24, 26, 32, 36, 37, 46, 50, 61, 82, 89, 93, 98, 99.
Electrification/SEC (State Electricity Commission) 84.
Ellis, RP. 9,
Emerald, 35, 48.
English family, the. 1, 44, 47, 48, 49, 56, 62, 77, 78. QV Barrile, (nee English) Elaine
Earney family. 18, 32, 36, 42, 43, 47, 53, 57, 62, 116.
Eyles, Ambrose. 8.
Ferndale. 16.
Federation. 31, 36, 98.
Ferdinand. 7, 10, 20.
Ferntree Gully. 7, 8, 23, 25, 43, 48, 53, 54, 65, 71.
Ferny Creek (One Tree Hill) 1, 8, 31, 44, 47, 50, 62, 63, 76, 86, 87, 66, 98.
Fires. See Bushfires.
Flanders. 34.
Foster, Joanne. 106, 112.
Fowler (nee Earney), Alma. 43.
Francis, Sarah. 78
Freeman, Annabelle. 108.
Gallagher, Nola. 77, 83.
Gamble, District Inspector. 11, 13, 17 , 116..
Garside, Captain JP. 11, 13, 14, 15.
Cox, Cheryl. 77.
Craig, Mac. 67, 73, 114.
Crooks, Charles M. 67, 72, 114.
CFA (Country Fire Authority). 1, 49, 91, 99.
CRB (Country Roads Board) 23.
Gealer (nee Tipping), Kim. 65.
Gibson (nee Earney), Margaret. 53, 116.
Gill family. May, Eva, Fred. 18, 19.
Girira. 32, 62, 67, 68, 73, 75, 77.
Glanville Library. 68, 70, 71, 74.
Glanville, Zoe. 1, 51, 63, 70, 71.
Glenfern Station. 9.
Goode, Arthur J. 10, 11, 17, 20, 23.
Goodger, Stacey. 107, 113.
Goodyer, Liam. 109.
Gordon-Brown, Susan. 99,102, 116.
116
Goudey, Benjamin. 77.

Goudey, Sandra. 86, 90, 95, 104.
Grandy, Robert H. 60, 61, 62, 63, 114.
Graham, Ada. 18, 116.
Graham (nee Earney), Betty. 42, 43.
Greenwood, Meredith. 63, 65, 116.
Greenwood, Ted. 62, 67, 71.
Griffith, James M. 2, 15, 16, 17.
Griffith, Ridley. 15.
Grigg, William H. 11, 14, 15, 17, 114.
Hale, Robyn. 97.
Hallebone, John. 50, 51, 8, 71.
Hallebone, Kath. 6, 51, 52.
Hallebone, Norman K. 51, 52, 53, 54, 114.
Hallebone, Ruth. 52, 53, 54.
Hallebone Trust, The. 70, 71, 72.
Hampton, Peg. 61, 62, 63, 65.
Harvey (nee Grasset), Felicity. 69.
Harvey, Jeanette. 74.
Harvey, August. 47, 114.
Harvey, Kath. 83, 90, 91,
Harvey, .Ray. 91.
Hayse, Malcolm. 90.
Heinz, Kevin. 87.
Herbert (nee Dowsey), Norma. 5, 42, 116.
Hinkley House. 25, 31.
Hogan, Pat. 6.
Holden, George. 8,
Holden, Johanna. 37, 42, 114.
Horner, Bob. 7, 47, 48, 49, 51, 67.
Horner, Gwen. 1, 5, 6, 8, 15, 43, 49, 50, 51, 53, 56, 61, 63, 67, 70.
Hudson, Tom. 83.
Hughes, William Morris.35,
Hughes bullock track. 8.
Humberg, Dorothy. 37, 114.
Jackson, George. 1, 17, 16, 20, 71, 114.
Johnson, Malcolm. 6.
Johnson, Philip. 61, 65.
Jones, Barbara. 48.
Jones, Carmen. 53.
Jones, Catherine. 6, 107, 114.
Jones, Earnie. 37, 42, 43, 114.
Jones, Graeme. 46, 47, 49.
Jones, Jane. 5, 73, 76, 83,
Jones, M. 24, 47.
Jones, Ralph. 23, 35, 36, 43,
Jones, William. 11, 12, 15, 17.
Kallista (South Sassafras). 1, 8, 18, 20, 40, 43, 55.
Kavanagh, Raewyn. 83.
Keats, Dianne. 104.
Kenloch. 36.
Kent, Brian. 34, 67, 72, 114.
Kirner, Joan. 73.
Kloester (nee Stanford), Shirley. 39.
Krumtunger, Jean. 6, 85, 86, 87, 89 92, 95, 103, 114.
Lehane, Peter. 6, 83.
Lands Department. 8, 9, 13, 17.
Lorna Doone. 22, 23, 63.
117
Lloyd Mr. 35.

Lock, Barbara. 84.
Lock, Kate. 77.
Lundy, Jack. 4.
McCann, James. 16, 114.
MacDonald, Alex. 103, 104, 114.
McIntosh. 20.
McIntyre, JW. 8.
McLarty, N. 42.
McLellan, RP.54.
Martin, Jesse. 97.
Mechanics Institute, Sassafras. 1, 2, 9, 15, 16, 17, 19, 30, 31, 32, 34, 35, 36, 41, 43, 44, 51, 55, 60, 67, 71.
Monbulk. 1, 8, 21, 32, 42, 69, 92.
Moseley (nee Taylor), Beverley. 65.
Murdoch Miss. 23, 34.
Murphy, Joy. 96, 97.
Monreale.9, 23.
Nathania Springs. 21.
Neill, Simon. 6, 60.
Nessie the Loch Ness tyre monster. 51, 56, 85, 88, 108.
Niven, Helen. 1, 83.
Norris, Chris. 102.
Olinda. 1, 20, 23, 24, 33, 35, 36, 46, 47, 50, 64, 76, 97, 105.
Olver, Arthur. 40, 51,
Oostermeyer, Claire. 92.
Oostermeyer, Frank. 92.
Parker, Florence M. 37, 114.
Parliament. 36, 77, 98.
Patterson, Sir JB. 8.
Pepperall, Lloyd. 57.
Persil Dazzle. 51, 52..
Peterson, Fiona. 107.
Phelan, Brie. 1.
Phelan, Tara. 109.
Plowman, AG.21, 22, 23, 24.
Ponsford family, the./Ponsford Playground. 56, 62, 67.
Pozieres 34.
Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) 35.
Quality Provision. 63, 76, 82.
Rankin, Alex. 11.
Riddiford, Ron. 49, 62, 71.
Rivers, Eliza. 6.
Rivers, Jakob. 108, 109.
Roberts, Tom. 40.
Rostrevor 23, 45, 63, 64.
RSL (Returned Services League) 34, 96, 99, 109.
Ruzyla, Georgie. 83, 102, 104, 107.
Reece, Wendy. 83.
Rudd, Kevin. 104, 105.
Salter, Sue. 77.
Sanders, Kath. 67, 68.
Sassafras Creek, The Friends of. 78, 84, 86, 98, 117.
Sassafras/Sassafras Primary School. Passim.
Schauble, John. 21, 49.
Scott, Riley. 109.
Scott (nee Hallebone), Ruth. See Hallebone, Ruth.
Selections/Selection Acts. 2, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20, 23.
Sharpley, Olive. 61.
118
Shaw, Kath. 5.
Shears, David. 83, 86.
Sherbrooke/Sherbrooke, Shire of. 5, 32, 34, 35, 40, 49, 54, 70, 73, 78, 83, 89.
Sherrard. 11, 34.
Shrine of Remembrance. 34.
Smith, Arthur. 35.
Smith, Avis. 6, 18,
Smith, Dagmar. 1, 5, 6, 77, 83, 88.
Smith, Deb. 86, 93, 95, 104,
Smith, James R. 43-44, 114.
Smith, Jessie. 6, 37, 78,
Smith, Raymond (Ray). 6, 37, 78, 92.
Smith, Rowan. 1, 3, 6.
Stamm, Matt. 6, 107, 108, 113.
Steele, Don C. 67, 68, 69, 70, 114.
Stevens, Glen. 77.
Stevens, Julie. 77.
Stevens, Lorren. 77.
Stevens, Vicky. 65.
Stevens, Sandra. (see Goudey, Sandra)
Stobbs, Addam. 103.
Storrie, Adelaide. 24.
Storrie, Allison. 54.
Storrie, Brian. 6, 10, 11, 47, 58.
Storrie, Bronwyn. 64.
Storrie, James. 9, 24, 47.
Storrie, Les. 17, 22, 25, 27, 47
Storrie, Stan. 10, 12, 15, 18, 22, 23, 47, 56, 71.
Tarling, Jamie. 77.
Taylor-Williams, Carey. 83, 85, 104.
Tecoma. 15, 40, 56, 109.
Thornton family. 110.
Tipping, John D. 60, 61, 62, 63, 65, 67, 69, 71, 114.
Tomada, Amanda. 74.
Tutt, Harry. 24, 25, 26, 34.
Ty-Coed. 35.
Tyrrell, Cornelia. 117.
Upwey. 8, 50, 55, 63.
Ure, Barbara. 1, 5, 117.
Ure, John c. 67, 71.
Village Settlements. 8, 11.
Villers-Bretonneux 34.
Visser, Mariska. 92.
Von Mueller, Baron Ferdinand. 7, 10, 20.
Waldeck, Margaret. 73, 83.
Walters, Mary. 54, 55, 56, 114.
Waring, Heather. 6, 103, 104, 195, 106, 107, 108, 109, 110, 114.
Warman family. 10.
Werrin, Jimmy. 20.
Wietrzyck, Alexander. 91.
Wildfires. See bushfires.
Woori Yallock. 21.
Wositzky, Helen. 84, 86, 91, 96, 97, 98, 108.
Wositzky, Katherine. 61.
Wurundjeri. 7, 95-96.
119
Autographs..
120

Rowan Smith: The Heart of The Hills. The History of Sassafras Primary School Number 3222 and Its Place in The Sassafras Community For 120 Years: 1894-2014.

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Rowan Smith: The Heart of The Hills. The History of Sassafras Primary School Number 3222 and Its Place in The Sassafras Community For 120 Years: 1894-2014.

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The Heart of the Hills.

Sassafras Primary School Number 3222

The Heart of the Hills.

Published on behalf of Sassafras Primary School 3222, Victoria Australia.

The Sassafras School

(from Jack Lundy Ballads From the Dandenongs No.11, reprinted in

Rowan Smith, Ferny Creek, 1994.

Rowan Smith, Ferny Creek, 2014.

The Heart of the Hills.

Background: Before 1893-4.

numerous references, see for example A.P.Winzenried op cit pp77ff

Establishing the School: 1893.

H.Coulson op cit p28 Syd Storrie (1970s)

as per Brian Storrie and Hilary Dewar 1994

PRO VPRS 795/1806 June 1895. Photograph on file at SPS

The First School Site: 1894-1895.

PRO VPRS 640/1910 23/10/1894 copy of letter on file at SPS

Sassafras State School at the Mechanics Institute 1895-1915.

Stan Storrie (1970s) and other references.

He went on to recommend transferring the school to the Mechanics Institute, shortly to be

H.Coulson op cit p354

copy of letter on file at SPS

E.Wootton loc cit

J.Schauble op cit p13

Hilary Dewar 1994, Shirley Bye 1994

M.Jones op cit. p138

copy of letter on file at SPS

copy of letter on file at SPS

Sassafras State School Gains its Present Site: 1915.

C.Semmler loc cit 1974

The Education Gazette in 1902, ordered that:

geography is taken, only half the above time will be expected.

PRO VPRS 795/1806 12/6/1912.

The School during World War One and the Twenties:

Harry (Mick) Dahllof as told to Hilary Dewar, 1994.

A.P.Winzenried op cit p135.

Jan Diamond 1994, Hilary Dewar 1994,

Ralph Jones 1994. Interviewed by Hilary Dewar.

L.J.Blake loc cit 1973.

Jan Diamond 1994.

Commerce at Sassafras in the Twenties. Byes Boot Shop.

The School during the Thirties and the Great Depression:

Memories of the Good Old Days

Shirley Kloester (Stanford)

When Arthur Olver arrived,

Shirley Bye 1994. J.Larkin op cit pp127ff

Elaine Barrile 1994

Norma Herbert loc cit.

Irene English 1994.

Norma Herbert op cit.

World War Two at Sassafras State School:

M.Jones op cit p217

Graeme Jones 1994

Norma Herbert op cit.

101It is still there today!(1994)

J.Schauble op cit pp30ff

After The War and the School in the Fifties:

A.P.Winzenried op cit pp197 and 209

Gwen Horner op cit

Ruth Hallebone, 1949.

Courtesy of Jan Diamond.

Margaret Gibson 1994.

prepare to leave for a permanent appointment at Tecoma State School.113