Following is a letter from John Nicholson who taught at “Plumthorpe” for a period of three years from September 1942.
‘I was somewhat surprised but very pleased to receive your letter a few days ago and it certainly sent my memory cells operating back to “Plumthorpe” School, almost fifty years ago.
There were two members of the Simshauser family from “Campo Santo” attending the school during my term from September 1942 to December 1944 at that school. If I remember correctly they were Lex and Maurice, although I am sure the latter was known by his more familiar nick-name!
Some of the families that come to my mind are:- Akers, Johnson, Simpson, Perry (two families I think), Taylor, Smith, Saunders and Reid. (Alan boarded at the Saunders during the week and went home for the week-ends.)
I lived at “Cairnton,” the home of Mr. and Mrs. Sid Saunders whilst I was teaching at Plumthorpe.
Also comes to mind the mailman, Jim Fletcher, who delivered mail, etc. three times a week. He often called into the school on his way into Barraba and I shared a cup of tea (thermos variety) with him, probably much to the delight of the pupils for a few minutes free time.
I am sure one activity Lex and Maurice would remember would be the growing of vegetables in the front garden of the school and the watering of these from the tanks. Pupils took the vegies home and the mums sent cash to the school according to their thoughts as to the value. This cash I then sent on to the Barraba Red Cross as a contribution to their efforts during WWII.
Many of the boys, I suspect all of them, had great fun chasing and killing snakes that came around the damp area underneath the large canvas water cooler that was suspended from a tree near the old tennis court, especially during the hot, dry summer days. (I have an idea that Valmai Simpson wasn’t far behind in the chase.) The snake activity meant a few minutes from the drudgery inside.’
After leaving “Plumthorpe” John Nicholson married Edna Brett (originally from Barraba) on 3 January 1945 at Barraba. He then took up a teaching post at Tingha, followed by numerous appointments in NSW. He now lives in retirement with his wife at Sefton.