Students at Bobin Public School had a surprise visit on Thursday, July 2 from an ex teacher who taught at the school nearly 60 years ago.
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Ray Morrison, with his son Richard, popped in after they took a detour on a trip from Sydney up to Grafton, to check how the school was faring after having been destroyed by bushfires. Ray had also visited in November after the bushfires.
"Since I was a teacher there I've always had an interest in the district. Last November after the bushfires I went up to renew my association with Ron Miller," Ray said.
"I went back (this time) to see what sort of differences had been made. I was very pleased, really."
Ray, now 94 years old, was the sole teacher at Bobin for six years from 1964 to 1969 inclusive and has many fond memories of the school and the Manning Valley.
"I regard myself as being fortunate as being appointed to Bobin," he said.
During his tenure at Bobin the school grew from 17 students to 29 students, and the name of the school was changed from Bobin Flat Public School to Bobin Public School.
"It was a move, I think, generally statewide to tidy up the names of places," Ray said.
"So I wrote in and said 'I think this is a misnomer here, there's no flat!'. As a result of that after some months the Department of Education wrote to me and ordered me to delete the word 'Flat' from all school records. It was to be known as Bobin from that time onwards."
Current acting principal Sarah Parker and her students enjoyed Ray's visit down memory lane.
"We were thrilled to receive a visit from Mr Morrison," Sarah said.
Our students peppered him with questions, wanting to know everything about how things looked 60 years ago.
- Sarah Parker, acting principal Bobin Public School
"It was a wonderful coincidence actually, as we had just been discussing our upcoming history unit, and how important it feels to study the history of Bobin - especially since the fire - and in walked Mr Morrison and his son Richard the very next day!
"Mr Morrison described his daily routine as the teaching principal of Bobin. His love of the place was evident. He described how the grounds looked back in his day.
"Our students peppered him with questions, wanting to know everything about how things looked 60 years ago. They were particularly interested in the horse paddock, the long drop toilets, the play equipment and how the old buildings looked," Sarah said.
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Prior to the 2019 bushfires, Ray's last visit was in 2008 for the schools 125th anniversary, and he says this most recent visit is probably his last.
"I feel that I'm satisfied now. I don't think I'll ever visit Bobin again. I'm satisfied that they've recovered from the bushfire and things will go on," he saod.
"Apparently the Department (of Education) has expended quite some money in renovating and restoring the school after the fires, so they too must think there's a future for Bobin School. It will go on for some time."
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Julia Driscoll
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
Julia Driscoll has worked as a journalist for the Wingham Chronicle and Manning River Times for seven years. She values the deep connection with community that being a rural and regional journalist brings. Career highlights have involved environmental stories - bringing the plight of the little known endangered Manning River helmeted turtle to the attention of the public, resulting in wide-spread knowledge in the community and conservation action; and breaking the news of the Manning River ceasing to run for the first time in recorded history.
