STOCKDALE ROAD PRIMARY SCHOOL
(September 1991 - Speaker - Principal Mr. Gary Robbins  (Dawn Hustler)

The first Principal, Mr. Walmsley, and also the Infant Teacher, Ms. Dorothy Fry, will be in attendance. The current Principal, Mr. Gary Robbins , addressed our meeting on 13th August on the history of the school from its opening. At this time of rebuilding and extending we hope that it will have a long future. The Vice-Principal, Ms. Margaret Williams, also attended our meeting. She is the longest serving staff member of the school and has seen many former students returning to enrol their own children.

Gary grew up at Maffra and Heyfield, coming to Traralgon in 1955 when his father opened a men's clothing store in the National Mutual Arcade. His first teaching appointment was for I week at the Kosciusko Street school from where he was summoned to open the Wild Dog Creek school. He eventually returned to Traralgon as Vice-Principal of Grey Street, then Kosciusko Street, Principal at Yinnar and then, 4 years ago, he was appointed Principal at Stockdale Road.

When, in1951, Traralgon (West End) was selected as the site for another State school, the Housing Commission and A.P.M. were developing the area. Three temporary classrooms were put on the site in Stockdale road, out in the open paddocks. There was no power, no trees and no play-ground equipment, just grass paddocks. At a meeting held on April 26, 1951, a committee was formed from the 19 parents attending. This, then, was the first meeting of the school, representing the 193 pupils who were enrolled.

Later that year, in August, a motion was passed by the Committee that traffic be not permitted through the school grounds as it was dangerous for the children - no doubt, contractors on building sites were the offenders. By 1952, the school was too small and only children of 6 years or over were enrolled. Any others were asked to attend at Grey Street; this was not very popular with the parents. At the same time, Grades 1 and 2, in charge of Miss Fry, went to the Baptist Hall which had been relocated to Kay Street, next to Kingman's store. Mr. Kingman gave permission for these school-children to use his block of land as a play area.

Shortage of accommodation was still a problem in 1953 when the roll call numbered 334. Eventually, more temporary rooms were added. Student numbers reached 554 in 1954 but eased after the Kosciusko Street school opened. By the late 1950s the numbers again reached 524. Today, in 1991, student enrolment is 340,and teaching staff number 17 ½ compared with 10 teachers who would have had care of 500 pupils earlier. The addition a new wing, 2 classrooms, and some groundworks took place in 1978.

This year, with extensive rebuilding, ground works and play equipment for pupils, Stockdale Road school has every appearance of being a very permanent school, having new offices, a sick bay, interview rooms and classrooms, as well as excellent facilities for staff members. Older classrooms have been refurbished and two the the original "temporary" buildings of 40 years ago are to be removed. One will become a library. The life-span of these rooms was supposed to have been 13 years.

The past 40 years have seen a lot of change. There are new attitudes to teachers. and many more facilities available through the medium of T.V. and computers, while, on the playground, new games and skills are required. An example of this is the economy car built by Grades 5-6, in conjunction with Traralgon Heights Secondary College, and tried out on the Traralgon Showgrounds.

Our thanks were extended to Gary for a most informative evening. A small presentation was made to Gary on behalf of all members who wished the Stockdale Road Primary School well with the "Back TO" celebrations.