Haigslea History

Queensland Times (Ipswich, Qld.), Tuesday 29 September 1936, page 10

HAIGSLEA SCHOOL’S 60 YEARS’ SERVICE
MANY DIFFICULTIES OVERCOME. 

Early Pioneers’ Foresight and Triumph.
The impressive fight of the early pioneers of the Haigslea district and their triumph over extreme difficulties to establish a school there forms an inspiring chapter in the early history of the district. In commemoration of the attainment of the 60th anniversary of the foundation of that school, jubilee celebrations will be held at the school on Saturday, when, it is expected, many former scholars will gather from a wide territory to talk of happy times and merry pranks in and around the bush school house.

Just 65 years ago the first white settlers began to clear the thick scrub at a spot about 10 miles from Ipswich, and rich soil suitable for the growing of many crops was revealed. They were so pleased with the locality that they established their home there, and gave it the name of Kirchheim. With commendable foresight, they set about remedying the lack of educational facilities for their children, and set themselves to establish a school so as to fit the younger generation to carry on the splendid developmental work that their elders had so ably begun. Members of the first committee set to work with a will, and overcoming extreme difficulties, eventually had made a definite move to secure a new school. One-fifth of the cost of erecting the building had to be raised before the department would consent to go on with the building. Under the conditions prevailing in those days the collection of such a sum of money was a very much more difficult cult matter than it would be in the better times of to-day. The pioneers had spent the first few years in the scrub lands clearing the timber, and building their slab huts, preparing the land, and planting their first crops, and watching them at nights to keep the wallabies off. Under these circumstances their work was particularly creditable. 

SCHOOL ERECTED
The provisional committee had for its first problem the selection of a site. Through the foresight of the surveyors provision had been made for seven acres of land to be reserved “for public purposes” at the Fiveways. A portion of this was granted for the school. Then the house-to-house canvass began in Kirchheim and the sum of £43 was realised. Later a further collection was made in Ipswich, when an additional £17 was raised. The brigalow scrub then was cleared in readiness for the erection of the building. Mr. John Pettigrew, M.L.A., then the member for Stanley, helped the committee to secure the school, and although only £60 had been raised and the Government wanted £120 the school was built. The quota of 30 pupils easily was secured, the first day’s enrolment being 43. That day was July 12, 1876 – five years after the arrival of the first settlers – and it was an occasion for rejoicings on the part of these far-seeing people so as to become a red-letter day in the history of the district. From that beginning, the school progressed greatly, helped on by good teachers and energetic committees, until it now has reached the venerable age of 60 years. The primary education it offered has left its stamp on the characters of hundreds of men and women scattered over the State, and even in other parts of the world; and they have cause to be thankful for the foresight of the old pioneers. 

FIRST COMMITTEE
Members of the first school committee who were responsible for placing the institution on such a firm footing were Messrs. L. Krebs, C. Voss, F. W. Linning, P. Klupfel and H. Pieper. The numbers of pupils have fluctuated considerably in the past 60 years. From its establishment the attendance grew from 48 to a total of 80 children. Later that figure was exceeded, when the total enrolment reached the century mark. At the time of the school’s 50th Jubilee, about 50 young people were attending the school, and at present there are 42, whose ages range from five years to 14 years. 

The first Head Teacher was Mr. A. B. Kemp, who stayed for two years. He was followed by Messrs. F. C. Papi, F. A. Shannon, F. Sturgess, R. H. Berry, J. D. Ridley, F. McLaughlin, Powell (relieving), R. Craig (who remained for several years), B. J. Mullan, S. Russell (who was in charge of the school for about a year), and the present Head Teacher, Mr. W. K. Hughes, who recently was transferred from the Gowrie-road (Toowoomba) School. 

At different periods when the attendance figures rose to the half-century there have been assistant teachers. 

CHANGES IN DISTRICT
Big changes have occurred in the district during the periods of the school’s activities. In the early years of the school’s history, it was almost entirely surrounded by dense bush, and the young people travelled comparatively long distances to receive the boon of education. Where once the only outlet from Kirchheim (or Haigslea, as it afterwards was named) was a particularly rough bush track, which was practically impassable in wet weather, now there is a fine bitumen highway. Instead of the old horse-drawn vehicle, which took a day to cover the distance to Ipswich over tracks which wallabies used as a playground, modern motor cars travel the same journey in minutes. Despite its long and useful life, very little change has been effected to the school building. Originally the school consisted of a small building, but as its accommodation became limited, additions to the western end, erected about 10 years later, made the school about twice its original size. No improvements have been made since, and the building, which once was the pride of the district, now has become old and shabby in comparison with modern structures. Consequently, it must be replaced by an up-to-date building, and in keeping with the department’s modern system, a new school will replace the old veteran before many months have elapsed. 

EARLY SCHOLARS
Scholars who attended the school in the course of it first year were: Louise Kruger (Mrs. A. Kruger), William Dahm, Kate Tronc (Mrs. T. Haley), Alexa Tronc (Mrs. P. Tessman), Joseph Muller, William Linning, Michael Goos, Philip Hertweck, William Klupfel, Emma Schmidtchen (Mrs. A. Stern), Otilda Schubel (Mrs. W. Elholz), Mary Schubel (Mrs. W. Meissner), Fritz Duhs, Pauline Krebs (Mrs. C. P. Hertweck), Frederica Claus (Mrs. H. Sakrzewski). Harry Scheu, Minnie Althaus (Mrs. J. M. Schumann), Henry Muller, John Sippel, Isabella Browning (Mrs. J. Frazer), Mary Ann Welch (Mrs. T. O’Connor). Henrietta Fritz (Mrs. C. F. W. Ruthenberg), Fred. Retschlag, William Argow, Annie Scheu (Mrs. F. Hellworth), Ernest Krebs, Jacob Goos, William Luder, Henry Luder, George Muller, Henry Linning, Minnie Voss (Mrs. Robinson), John Voss, Conrad Vogler, Henry Kreis, Kate Kreis (Mrs. W. Staatz), Edward Kreis, Louisa Scholl (Mrs. James Lenehan), Eliza Verrenkamp (Mrs. G. Hellworth), Fred. Verrenkamp. Anna Goos (Mrs. R. Beavis), Eliza Klupfel (Mrs. R. B. Brown), Mary Schmidtchen (Mrs. E. Jerred), Henry Althaus, Martha Sippel (Mrs. T. Matthews), George Hell-worth, Amelia Muller (Mrs. J. J. Raabe), Philip Grieves, Susan Hesse, Anna Hesse, John Schaffer, William Browning, Anne Butterfield, George Siemon, Dennis Day, Patrick Day, Rose Day, Susan Goodman, William Sevis, Anne Petch, Brighetta Petch, James Browning, Charles Browning, Matilda Dahm, Louis Tronc, William Voss, Mary Vogler (Mrs. J. Roote), Sophie Scholl, William Kuhn, William Hertweck, Mary Duhs, William Boch, Kate Scheu, John Scheu, Henry Sippel, Eliza Schaffer, William Fritz, Annie Sevis, and Chris. Sherry. 

Many of these early pupils have moved to widely different parts of Australia and in some cases, the world, while some have passed away. However, there still are a number who have memories dating back 60 years to the time when they were children at the school. Members of the present committee, who are working energetically for the function, are Messrs. C. Holzheimer (Chairman), A. Dilger (Secretary), L. Littmann (Treasurer), A. V. Hertweck, W. Dilger, C. Johnston, and A. Althaus. 

The people of the district also have been preparing enthusiastically for the jubilee, but it was found impracticable to hold the function nearer the real date of the anniversary. However, the celebrations will not lose any of their delight through the delay.