The “Paleroo” School at Caroda, 30 miles form Narrabri along the Bingara Road, holds fond memories for many of the Rocky Creek Simshauser family, as well as for others in the district.
Johanna C. Lamrock was the first appointed teacher in November 1909 on a salary of 104 pounds annually. Except for a year or two teaching at Bingara prior to 1915, Miss Lamrock taught at “Paleroo” until she resigned in 1919, as Mrs Tuffrey. In November 1915 she married Walter Tuffrey and together they became well known identities of the Rocky Creek district.
In March 1919 Arthur Cairns, a 20 year-old, was appointed on a salary of 156 pounds annually. He taught at “Paleroo” for three years and in 1925 he married C.M. York. He continued to teach throughout his life until retiring at Pretty Beach in 1962.
He was followed by Fred Price (1922), V. Kealey (1923), Win Brayley (1926), Aubrey King (1930) and Alexander McCrohan (1933), until the school closed in December 1935. (During 1928 – 1929 “Paleroo” School was run as a subsidised school.) However, after a lapse of almost fifteen years the school was re-opened in September 1949 with a continuation of teachers until it finally closed in 1968. Teachers at “Paleroo” from 1949 include John Lewin, James Considine, Athol Griffiths, Joseph Ekin, Brian Parker, Kevin McKay, Bernard Fitzpatrick, David Simmmons, David Howard-Smith and Jeffrey McIntyre.
