In May 1870 flooding recurred, finally rendered the original building completely unsafe. Once again, Mr Baddeley provided a room at the rear of his tannery, and the Local Board was granted permission to sell the building on the flat. Board members also turned their minds towards planning ways to raise the funds required for construction of the new school.

After the sale of the original school building raised £21/10/-, a subscription list was opened and when £50 was raised in a short time, local residents began to plan for a residence of rubble stone as well. This was put on hold, however, when the architect reported that a residence would be too expensive. Deciding to proceed with the school only, the contract was let for £156 to Messrs Booth and Nowles, who agreed to make 18-inch walls to withstand strong winds. Timber for the new school was supplied by a sawmill located five miles from the township.

Although the building was due for completion in June, it was not until August 1872 that Pambula's second school building was ready for its occupants who, no doubt, were pleased to move into a permanent home.

By this time, however, the unpopularity of the teacher was again causing problems. This time, Mrs Nevin was accused of using the school as a nursery and of being careless in her work. Another criticism levelled at her was that of her religion. Mrs Nevin, a Roman Catholic, became a victim of the religious division that was to plague the Pambula community for many years to come. This was despite the fact that of the 32 pupils enrolled, 22 were members of the Roman Catholic faith.

As a result, the Board notified Mrs Nevin that teaching was not a suitable position for a Police Constable's wife, in response to which she resigned. However, when the Chief of Police overruled this protest, Mrs Nevin withdrew her resignation and resumed work in October. Attendances, however, continued to fall as parents sent their children to Mr Wilson’s private school, despite the fact that it was in a barely tolerable state. The situation did not improve until Mrs Nevin was transferred at the beginning of 1873.

Mrs Nevin's replacement, Thomas Wellings, was no stranger to the district, having taught at the Greig's Flat/Lochiel half-time schools prior to his appointment to Pambula. Although he was not regarded as a particularly good teacher, he did begin the process of healing the rift between the local school and the wider community.

Although enrolment increased to 45, average attendance stood at just 16. However, an impressive 41 pupils were present when an inspection was carried out in August 1873. It was noted that:
"The pupils fidget and stare about, giggle a great deal, and in many little ways show they have not been trained to habits of strict and instant obedience...All this might be changed with a more determined government."

It was added that:
"As far as mechanical adherence to ordinary forms and methods...the teacher faithfully goes through his daily routine, but as yet he has only produced poor results. If he were to determine that, like it or not, the children should, week by week, do, and do well, all the work set out for them, if he would test his own labours and when unsound progress showed itself, spare neither time, himself nor his pupils, till thorough mastery of the subjects in hand had been obtained, the school might soon become a credit to himself and the district."

Although enrolment rose by just one by 1874, average attendance increased to just over 32, and much improvement was noted during an inspection in September:
"The discipline has much improved in the year, but increased firmness and consistency in government would still be advisable…The mark for dictation is above average, that for reading, writing, spelling and singing, well up on average, and that for arithmetic, grammar, geography, object lessons and drawing, below. The general proficiency is fair."

By this time, the local community had again turned their attention to erecting a teacher's residence, commencing with a small sum left over from construction of the school. With the school site too small and sloping for addition of another building, the search began for land on which to erect the teacher's residence. In March 1876, it was stated that the most satisfactory arrangement was to purchase the land next to the school, containing a small wooden cottage that could serve as a kitchen. It was also hoped to construct a stone building of three rooms.

Despite the Local Board’s determination with respect to the residence, the process of purchasing the land was to become a protracted one and was not finalised until August 1876. The same year, an additional half-acre, Lot 15, was purchased from a Mr Lyons and added to the school grounds.
Classroom achievement continued to improve, and in 1875 the inspector noted:
"Discipline improved, government firmer. Mark for reading, dictation, arithmetic and grammar above average. Other subjects, below. General proficiency between fair and very fair."

In 1876 the enrolment increase to the largest yet, 52, with the inspector commenting:
"Half the pupils regular. The discipline has improved and is now very fair. Arithmetic is a weak subject throughout the school. The marks obtained for other subjects are of average character. The general proficiency is fair."

The Local Board worked steadily towards erection of the teacher's residence but eventually local board secretary Mr C. H. Baddeley wrote that local people were not of affluent circumstances, stating that they should be able to raise about £20 in cash in addition to another £15 on credit. He continued:
"However reluctant I may feel to adopt such a course [abandon plans to erect a teacher's residence] I am afraid I cannot see my way clear to proceed any further with the matter, as it will be impossible to raise any further contributions, and at present I do not feel justified in adding to the personal sacrifice to which I have submitted in remitting the timely proceedings."

When the Department decided to continue with construction of the residence, Mr Baddeley found it necessary to draw up the plans himself, these being approved in 1876. He also advised that the residence be kept separate from the timber kitchen in order to reduce fire risk. Early in 1877, stonemason, Jacob Bernasconi, and carpenter, Joseph Hills, completed the job.

 

The teacher’s residence was completed in early 1877. It continues to stand in Monaro Street, Pambula, today.

Expansion, 1880 - 1889:

Teacher William Apsey with students in front of the second permanent Pambula Public School.

Although by this time, schools had been established in the surrounding district, students continued to travel what was a considerable distance inasmuch as no motorised transportation was available. For this reason, Mr Apsey wrote in 1880 that there was a need for a school paddock in which students could leave their horses whilst in class.

On a number of occasions, Mr Apsey applied for a transfer from Pambula, commenting:
"I have been and still am compelled to allow my six children (four boys and two girls) to sleep in one bedroom; and the room intended for a front sitting room is converted into a kitchen and store-room where washing the children, cooking meals and eating them, with everything in the way of something else, creates a state of things somewhat funny but at the same time indescribably irritating, unpleasant and unwholesome."

When finally Mr Apsey received a promotion in 1883, Mr Osbourne Wrightson, an older man with a grown family, was appointed to take over the position. By the following year, enrolment had risen to number 84 pupils, and with the township of Pambula continuing to progress, it was decided to extend the school room to accommodate the growing student population.

Pambula began the new decade with an upgrade, in 1890, to a sixth class school. That year pupils and teachers joined with many others throughout the state in celebrating Arbour Day with a tree and shrub planting ceremony. Through local subscriptions, Mr Healey raised forty shillings towards the event, with the Department giving an equal amount and through the school's involvement, the teacher set about beautifying the school grounds.

The new century began with the continuing battle for a new school. The Pambula Voice again became involved in the issue, stating in 1902:

"The unsuitability of the accommodation…has been keenly felt for some time. The school building is divided into two compartments, the head teacher (Mr Ashworth) having charge of the senior scholars and the assistant (Miss Huggart) looking after the juniors. The larger room has the smaller number of scholars, while the junior room is uncomfortably crammed with pupils. The petition separating the two apartments should be removed, or an additional teacher appointed."

In March 1903, the local Progress Association applied for permission to sell off the school paddocks for funds to construct a new school and when the department declined, the Progress Association took up another petition, the Voice again weighed in on the argument by commenting:
"It is of no use patching up and adding to the present piebald structure..."

The local member, Mr Wood, once more took up the case, but again without luck. In reply to the petition forwarded to the Department through Mr Wood, it was stated:
"...in view of the fact that the present average attendance is only 92 and the existing accommodation is ample for an attendance of 112, the Minister for Public Instruction is not prepared to accede to the request."

During 1905, the need for a new school was a persistent topic at Progress Association meetings, and in August that year, the Voice stated:
"It must be apparent to everyone that the barn-like building is unsuitable for the purposes for which it is used..."

By the end of that year, however, the Progress Association had decided that not only was a new school building necessary, so too was a new site. Finally, the Department held an inquiry in December 1905, conducted by the local inspector of schools, Mr Smith. With about twenty residents present, much discussion centred on the possibility or otherwise of a Pambula Roman Catholic School being opened. With more than 60 Roman Catholic pupils on the roll at the public school, Mr E. J. Cornell pointed out:
"In the event of a convent school being started locally it would have an effect on the school roll. The question of a new convent school had been considered but was shelved, but if the department did not erect a suitable building it would prove an incentive to provide another school."

It was also pointed out to the inspector that the current site had no room for agricultural instruction, an important subject in many rural communities.

By 1906, the long awaited reply came that, after years of lobbying, Pambula would get their new school to accommodate 250 pupils.

That year two and a half acres were reserved by the Department of Lands in Monaro and Oregon Streets on Lots 7 to 16 of Section 46, and tenders were called for the erection of the new building.

It was announced in November that Mr O. Lassen’s tender for £547 had been accepted, and by March the following year work commenced on the new school. Messrs Raynor Brothers of Wyndham supplied timber for the building, which was of weatherboard construction.
The building was finally completed in July 1907, with the furniture installed the same month. Despite this, however, it remained unoccupied until November, when finally classes were moved into the third permanent Pambula school.

The third Pambula Public School, which was completed in 1908.
The head teacher pictured in the left centre rear is
Mr Robert Ashworth, who occupied the position from 1895 until 1912.

The same year, the institution was promoted to a fourth class school.

In 1906 the Pambula District Teacher's Association was formed. This provided a means of professional support within the isolated local district (particularly for one-teacher schools) and performed as a lobby group for issues upon which local teachers felt strongly. That year the organisation set about arranging first aid courses for local teachers.

Pambula remained an unsophisticated rural community and many of the problems that had faced students years before were still apparent. The local inspector, Mr Smith, expressed concern at the exhausted state of pupils, stating:
"...In dairying centres a want of punctuality is frequently shown...and pupils come to school exhausted. The amount of child work on these farms is appalling. Children of tender years are often up before daylight, tending cows, feeding calves and pigs, cleaning up manure; and when breakfast is over - about 9 or 9.30 o'clock - they have often a long walk to school where, fagged and sleepy, they are physically unfit to receive instruction. They are often compelled to leave school early in the afternoon, to assist at home in the same monotony of labour, unrelieved by fun of any kind..."

A campaign commenced in 1908 for technical classes at Pambula, although it was to take some lobbying before these finally began.

---

Pambula Public School’s special training class of 1917.
The teacher is believed to be David Williams.

When after more than four years, peace was finally declared, the school wasted little time joining with the community to celebrate the fact:
"...On the news being posted on the Voice telegram board, the citizens, young and old, big and little, took possession of the street armed with every description of articles that would make a noise. The excitement was intense when the school children under the management of their teachers marched into the street, led by the Australian flag and a number of prominent ladies of the town, each with a tin can and stick..."

John Williams, son of the head teacher, recalled the celebrations:
"When the Armistice was signed, a dozen women from the town centre approached the school banging kerosene tins, entered the playground and rang the school bell for two minutes. Lessons ceased abruptly and we rushed outside cheering to our hearts’ content.”

During 1919, the school celebrated with the rest of the community at the Pambula Peace Day, held on July 19, to mark the end of hostilities in Europe.

The decade ended on a note of panic, however, following outbreaks of pneumonic influenza throughout the country. It became a weekly topic of news in the local media, and although there were no reported cases in the Pambula district, events such as the district show had to be postponed whilst the school was also closed down for a period. The school also became the designated hospital in the event of a local outbreak, contagious cases not being admitted to the district hospital.

Pambula Public School students and teacher David Williams, C. 1919.

In February 1919 a free inoculation clinic was set up at the town's School of Arts, where about 70 people, principally children, were vaccinated against the 'flu by Dr Macarthur in one afternoon alone.

Ben Baddeley remembered the epidemic, commenting:
"We got vaccinated at the School of Arts once, after the First World War, and there was a bloody crowd there too..."

Between the wars, 1920 - 1929:

Pambula Public School, grades 5 to 7, 1922 / 23.
Back row: unknown; unknown; Cliff Cole; Bob Woods; Noel Behl; Harry Wakeham; Ben Baddeley; Bob Williams.
Third row: unknown; Lloyd Williams; unknown; Paul Shanahan; unknown; Jack Bennett; unknown; Victor Laing.
Second row: unknown; Nita Lawless; unknown; Jean Pearson; ? Walker; Kath Longhurst; unknown; unknown; Florrie Laing; Ita English.
Front row: Vince woods; John Williams; unknown; unknown.
(About six pupils were absent when this photo was taken.)

With the war so fresh in people’s memories, patriotism still ran high, and one celebration the school always marked was Empire Day. In 1921, the school was provided with two flags, the Union Jack and the Australian Flag for the occasion.

Betty Whelan (nee Martin) recalled the celebrations, saying:
" We did celebrate Empire Day, they talked about the Empire and we always had a bonfire...all the kids used to go and build a big bonfire up at Dokerty's Park, as you go to Bald Hills, on the corner there..."

Elaine Brennan (nee Wellard) also recalled the bonfires associated with Empire Day:
"One big event of the year was the Bonfire on the hill, not far from the school. A gang of kids would cut down all the little trees we could find to dry and after that we would drag them down to the site, collecting old tyres and anything else we could find that would burn in an attempt to outdo Wally Woods and the Smith family at South Pambula. We would work for weeks after school and on weekends on this."

Tragedy touched the school directly in 1923, with the death of head teacher, Mr Williams. The father of nine met his untimely death boating on the Pambula River with Jack Severs.

The pair left the township on March 29 for Jigamy to gather oysters and fish for the following day, Good Friday. After camping at "Sailor's Home", near the river mouth, they set out just before daybreak, but capsized the boat.

After swimming ashore near his home on the south side of the river, Mr Severs met up with Fisheries Inspector R. Wakeham and Mr Tweedie, who immediately set about searching the river but failed to find any trace of Mr Williams, apart from the capsized boat.

When word had reached the township, local policeman, Constable Grinham, and several residents conducted a thorough search. Mr A. Hardaker placed his motor boat at their disposal, and for four days and nights, with only intermittent sleep, they dragged the river without success.

Mr Williams' fate remained a mystery until April 6, when local resident Ben Baddeley, camping at the Pambula River Mouth with his parents, discovered a leg floating close in shore whilst fishing. The presence of several sharks had been noted in the vicinity for some weeks prior, and it was assumed that the 52 year old teacher had been attacked by one after the capsize.

An inquest, held at the Pambula Court House before District Coroner Mr Nicholson, received evidence from Dr Trenerry, Sergeant Noble, Constable Grinham, Mr J. Severs, C. A. ("Ben") Baddeley Junior, Mr Wakeham and Mrs Williams, who positively identified her husband's remains by the clothing.

The verdict of the coroner was that:
"David Jenkin Williams, of Pambula...came to his death at the Pambula River on or about the morning of the 30th day of March, 1923, whilst boating with one Jack Severs. But how or by what means he died, whether by drowning or by being taken by sharks whilst alive, the evidence adduced does not enable me to say."

Soon after, Mrs Williams and her children moved to Sydney, and Mr William Haines arrived in April to take over the position as head teacher at the school.

Terry Dowling recalled Mr Haines:
"I can remember the first surf board I ever saw in my bloody life, old Billy Haines made that, our old school master made it out of balsa wood, you know all these modern surf boards and this that they've got, old Billy Haines sixty years ago made them, my bloody oath he did, that fellow was a plumber, he was a carpenter, he was a mechanic, he was a school master, and the Melbourne Cup in '32, when Peter Pan won the Melbourne Cup, he brought us older kids out of the school at Pambula and over to his verandah, on his bloody crystal set to hear bloody Peter Pan win the Melbourne Cup, all amplified, William Gorrie Haines would have been the most brainiest man I've ever run into in my life, and I'm 76 years of age..."

Soon after his arrival, Mr Haines set about organising a school concert, set around a cantata, together with other student performances.

Keith Hart recalled:
Ron Ford, Stan Ford, Harold Tyne and I all could carry a note fairly well and every Christmas time Mr Haines would organise a concert and every child in the school was in that concert. Mrs Ford used to come and train us... those Christmas concerts, they were a wonderful turnout. I remember we did the Cantata and it was called The Magic Wood and it was all about a mob of boys and they were naughty boys and I think they were tormenting the girls. The queen of the fairies who I think was my sister...and anyway, for punishment this queen of the fairies said that we had our hands stuck in our pockets and we couldn't pull our hands out of our pockets. Always a good moral to this stuff. And I remember we boys had to sing Whatever Shall we do. And the teacher's when they asked us to put up our hands when we wanted something, we couldn't. I remember another concert, later than that, there was Ron Ford, Harold Tyne and I, and we were in most of the singing things and Harold went and got appendicitis a couple of days before the concert was on so Ron and I, we took over all his singing parts as well, we were very busy. I think I was singing in nearly everything. But another thing I remember for the little ones, first class, all these little kids, it was an action song called the little gardeners, digging and raking, and of course they're going through the actions, and I remember well, that at the start of the whole show was Norm Ballantyne, and boy did he put some work into that garden. Of course all the mothers and the grandparents used to turn up and the old hall would be chock a block full of kids and it was lovely."

The concert was a huge success, with the Pambula Voice reporting:
"The long-looked for school concert in aid of the Pambula School of Arts eventuated in the hall on Wed. of last week, when the Cantata Dame Durden's School was staged under the management of Mr W. Haines, head teacher, and Mrs Pearson; the latter had charge of the musical part of the business, teaching the children their various songs etc. and every credit is due to her for the unqualified success."

Initially intended to raise funds for the school, Mr Haines was convinced to use it to benefit the School of Arts hall, which was suffering extreme financial hardship. However, this actually resulted in quite a public argument between Mr Haines and his co-coordinator, Mrs Pearson.

Many letters were printed in the Pambula Voice with regards to the argument, with Mr Haines stating that he had agreed to allow the first performance to aid the School of Arts on the condition that a second show would benefit the school. However, Mrs Pearson apparently then decided that she did not wish to have any association with Mr Haines as a result of the ensuing argument and refused to contribute to the second performance if any funds were going to be handled by him. When the School of Arts committee decided to allow the second concert to go ahead in their aid, the dispute began in earnest.

Mr Haines removed his two daughters, one of whom played a lead part, from the Cantata a week before the repeat performance, stating:
"So disgusted was I with the proceedings that I did what I would reckon any parent would do in a similar position and that was have nothing to do with it but let them run the concert on their own..."

In October 1923 the Pambula Public School's Parents and Citizens Association was formed at a public meeting. Mr W. Cole was elected first President of the association, with Messrs J. Haywood and A. E. Walker as Vice Presidents and Miss Mary Kennedy as both Secretary and treasurer. Altogether, 16 members were enrolled at that initial meeting, with a subscription fee fixed at one shilling a year.

The Association became one of the most important financial supporters of the school, meeting the shortfall when the Department did not provide all those things the school either needed or desired.

Pambula Public School C. 1920's.

By the 1920's, Pambula Public School was also participating in competition sports matches against other local schools, playing tennis, football and cricket, all played on the town grounds due to the fact that no such facilities were available on the school grounds.

Around 1927, Pambula began participating in the combined schools championship sports, which were initially organised through the Pambula District Teachers' Association.

In July 1928, the Association decided to organise a sports event for September 8. With the aim of making the day a family event, each family was requested to bring a basket. The event was held on the local sports ground, now known as Jack Martin Park. Messrs Haines (Pambula), Goodacre (Greig's Flat) and McMillan (Lochiel) were appointed a sub-committee to organise the day.

A report of the 1928 carnival was carried in a September issue of the Pambula Voice, which stated:
" The annual Combined Schools' Championship Sports was held on the Pambula Sports Ground on Saturday September 8. The weather was fine and ideal for the occasion. There were over 300 entries and 28 children's and adult's events were disposed of. Races were also held for the smaller children that did not compete in the Championship events. The gate takings amounted to £2/12/6, which was slightly better than last year. At the same time, there is still room for improvement. The adults should patronise these sports more, and make it a day for themselves as well as for the children."

During the next decade, school sports were to evolve into an event that the students were to look forward to all year.

Depression and the start of another war, 1930 - 1939:

During the 1930's the hardships of the Great Depression were experienced. For many in the local district, however, life was nowhere near as harsh as it would have been in the city. Although money was scarce, here in rural Australia, food at least was plentiful and community spirit prevailed.

Terry Dowling recalled the days of the Depression, stating:
"When I came back to my Auntie's place [from Sydney], we lived like Lords, food wise. We always had a good garden, chooks, plenty of butter, fresh milk, cream, we had a bloody old fishing net, we'd go down and set that behind the racecourse, we never had any money, but nobody else had any money either."

Despite this new clothes and shoes were a luxury, and some students came to school barefooted, while others wore shoes handed down with home made soles.

Pambula Public School, lower division, 1935.
Back: Ellis Heaton; Barry Bracken; Ron Haigh; Ron Legge; Don Brereton; Walter Woods; George Buckley.
Second row: Betty Villaume; Rene Barker; Betty Martin; Joyce Martin; Jean King (teacher); Lily Walker; Margaret Hart; Freda Barker; Betty Burgess.
Third row: Nita Henderson; Enid Villaume; Jean Newlyn; Norma Woods; Peggy Heaton; Joyce George; Thelma Rixon; Moira Botterell.
Front row: Peter McGregor; John Byrne; Neil Botterell; Colin Botterell; Pat Walker; Jim Neilsen; Ray Laing; Ray Kennedy.

Kevin Wilks compared today with those in Pambula during the Depression:
"I live in a beach suburb in Sydney...and you never see a really unpleasant looking person, every young person now is so well fed but when you look at these people, you can see what I thought I could remember, some of these faces. A lot of these kids, they wouldn't starve in so far as they'd had nothing in their bellies, but they would have had bread and dripping, just bread and dripping and nothing else, they didn't know about vitamins and minerals in those days."

Betty Whelan (nee Martin) recalled the poverty of those days:
"There wasn't many people that really could have afforded uniforms, there were a lot of poor people around here at that time. We were still getting over the Depression. There were quite a few that didn't have shoes. Shoes were more or less a luxury, a lot of things were luxury in my time at school, and as I said, there were a lot of poor people in the district."

Frank ("Chummie") Robinson recalled:
"Most children wore shoes or sand shoes, but quite a few were in bare feet. Shoes were often hand me downs and home made repairs, such as rubber soles glued on."

Keith Hart also commented:
“As far as uniforms were concerned, our mother always kept us clean and neat and tidy and of course during the Depression days, I remember having to patch my shorts, especially where I sat down because I'm still a fellow that fidgets a lot. She used to do it in such a way that it didn't show. So I can say that we were kept warm in the winter and nice and cool and clean in the summer time and it was sufficient to cover our nakedness, let us put it that way."

The Depression added importance to children working on the family farm, a tradition continued from the early years. Jean King, who taught at Pambula between 1933 and 1937, said:
"One little fellow, I remember, came late, as he had a long way to walk after helping to milk the cows. Sometimes he fell asleep."

The Pambula P and C Association was, by this time, funding Godfrey's Motors Ltd to transport local children to Bega High School.

Many pupils had to rely on horses, push bikes or their legs to get them to and from school. Terry Dowling remembered:
"A lot of poor bloody kids had to ride horses three or four miles...there was a paddock for the horses, no chaff or oats though, only the palings to eat..."

Betty Whelan (nee Martin) recalled her mode of transport:
"We walked to school, shanks pony...we used to meet up, you know, start off, perhaps Joyce and I and then you'd pick up on the way along the traps, pick up all your friends and walk to school together."

Frank Robinson remembered:
"Town kids walked, some country kids rode horses and a few rode push bikes. I walked and very often, almost every day, walked home for dinner which we always had in the middle of the day."

Some South Pambula students were lucky enough to be able to catch a ride, as Keith Hart recalled:
"When we didn't walk to school, we used to be able to hitch a ride with the mail bus. Balmain Brothers were the first ones that I can remember and then they gave it away, and then there was Robinson's and then, of course, we still see the buses of Edwards' coming along, old Dick Edwards, he was a great old chap. In the Roan Horse Inn, that was the Post Office for South Pambula and the mail bus used to have to pull up there, so we kids used to get down there and sit on the bank and wait till the bus pulled up...and we used to pile in and we'd get a ride over town, so we'd only walk from the Post Office up to the school."

In December 1935 it was announced that William Haines was being transferred to Minto East Public School, after almost 13 years residence in Pambula. He was replaced by Mr Wilks, a teacher who quickly gained the respect of both pupils and local residents alike.

Mr and Mrs Alan Wilks.

Betty Whelan (nee Martin) remembers Mr Wilks:
" Mr Wilks was my favourite teacher, maybe because he took an interest... helped me more than any of the other ones that I'd had. To me he was a kind person...I got on well with him...Of course I was no shining light but I didn't have any problems learning."

Kevin Wilks also remembered his father extending his teaching skills beyond the classroom and out into the wider community:
" Eric Coorey at that stage was running a remarkably successful business in Pambula, and it turned out that Eric was absolutely illiterate, and my father being a school teacher, coached him privately at night so that he could read and write. He was already a successful businessman, but he couldn't read and write."

The P and C continued to work hard for their school, holding socials, card nights and Cinderella dances, among other things, to raise funds. They also carried out practical work such as levelling the school tennis court; and purchased a wide range of equipment which included a piano in 1936. Of this, the Pambula Voice reported:
" On Friday night Mr and Mrs Wilks made their home available for a house party in aid of the funds and the function netted £8/2/-. There was an excellent attendance, about 100 persons being present, and a thoroughly happy evening resulted. A card tournament attracted 24 players and the winners were Mrs Bottrell, Messrs Eric Tisdale and Jock Christiansen (who divided the men's prize). Mr Ron Ford won a jumble-town competition and the prize for estimating the evening's takings was won by Mrs Martin on a draw with Mr Jack Spears, both having guessed the exact amount. Dancing and singing were indulged in heartily and several business men, lustily endeavouring to out do each other in their rendition of "Three Blind Mice" did much to enliven the proceedings."

Gwen Marshall (nee Wilks) recalled these functions, commenting:
"I seem to remember fundraising 'House Parties' at the residence, when the parents went in and gambled and the kids played in the playground."

It was also through the P and C Association that the school undertook an immunisation program in 1936, when they applied to the Imlay Shire Council for a diphtheria immunisation program. In August that year about 70 children were inoculated by Dr Jones under the scheme.

As far as lobbying for the needs of the school, the P and C proved themselves invaluable. In 1936, representatives met with the local member, Mr W. W. Hedges, to urge the substitution of dual desks for the older type still in use at the school. Finally, this was approved in 1937.

In 1938, the organisation also attempted to lobby for a subsidy to assist to cover the cost of transporting 17 students from the South Pambula area, stating that some of the smaller children had to walk two miles and more by way of a dusty and dangerous highway. The Department, however, replied that, based on regulations that children under 11 had to reside over two miles away, and those over 11 more than three miles from the school, only six were eligible for such subsidy.

The P and C Association suffered a minor set back in 1936 with the resignation of secretary Mr Sid Ford, who had proven himself to be a valuable worker over years of involvement with the organisation.

School concerts remained a big attraction to both the students and the general public of the district. Betty Whelan fondly remembers these events:
"We used to have a concert every year at the school...and I was chosen to sing the different things in the different plays, 'In Your Green Hat'. It was held in the School of Arts, and, oh, it was great to go down to the hall and practice, that was a real big thing to go down there and practice for the concert, get out on stage and giggle when you shouldn't be giggling, it was quite exciting...Mr Wilks always seemed to put on a good concert and he was a very good pianist."

Pambula Public School, 1935, upper division.
Back row: Colin Hart; Lance Godfrey; Gordon Schafer; Bob Villaume; Bill Walker; Ken Brerton.
Second row: Winnie Newlyn; Joan Villaume; Lesley Cole; Bill Haines (teacher); Joyce Martin; Margaret Hart; Lily Walker; Freda Barker.
Third row: Noreen Byrne; Gwen Cole; Nancy Hellings; Rita Martin; Ethel Spears; Beatie Morris; Betty Martin; Betty Burgess.
Front row: Frank Robinson; Lloyd Furnell; Ray Martin.

In 1938 preparations were made to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the landing of the First Fleet in Sydney Cove. This event, which required co-operation between many of the local schools and P and C Associations throughout the entire Imlay Shire area, involved a sports and tableau at Eden on March 18. The Director of Education authorised the headmasters of the schools involved, including Pambula, to close their schools for the day.

Secondary classes were placed on the agenda for Pambula School in 1938. Prior to this, students had either travelled to Bega High School or remained at Pambula until they reached the minimum leaving age. The move to provide secondary classes at Pambula was initiated by the nearby Eden Advancement Association, which wrote:
"As we are desirous of obtaining facilities for the secondary education of the pupils of the whole of this district, we have approached the Department of Education, with a view of having definite secondary courses established at Pambula Public School which is not only the geographic centre of the district but is the most economical centre for transport as the pupils from the southern section of this district could be served by mail car as a comparatively low conveyance rate."

The Pambula Voice reported on the matter by stating:
"Pambula School – Excellent prospects for Super-Primary Classes – There is every indication that before long Pambula Public school will be made the district centre for Super-Primary Classes. Every school in the district appears to have pupils who, while eligible for higher classes, are unable because of expense and other reasons to go to Bega and unless some provision is made for them here they must remain at an educational stand-still. Eden P and C Association, which is keenly interested in the matter, recently circularised district school teachers and P and C Associations asking for co-operation in the establishment of the classes at Pambula School and the reports so far to hand are most encouraging. Pambula P and C decided at Tuesday night’s meeting to give its hearty co-operation and it was stated that with the support in view from Eden and the schools at this end there should be at least 25 pupils for a start in the Super-Primary classes. Departmental subsidy will of course be a considerable assistance in the matter of transportation."

However, despite the fact that it was announced in July that the additional expense involved for staff and accommodation would not be justified for the relatively small number of pupils and that the proposal would therefore not go ahead, the local community was not willing to give up on this issue. Prospective students from Towamba, Wyndham, Bald Hills and Millingandi were added to those upon which the initial case was based, but again the decision was negative. Not to be defeated, a deputation then met with local member, Mr Hedges, MLA, in 1939. Consisting of Messrs Wilks (headmaster), T. Carter (for Bald Hills residents) and W. J. Gordon and E. Phillipps (P and C Association), the deputation pointed out that although more than the required numbers of pupils were available and the Department had been provided with all the facts, the Minister had several times turned down the request.

In 1939 the Pambula District School's Annual Athletic Association, commonly known as PDSAAA, was formed. Representatives from Pambula, Merimbula, Wolumla, Rocky Hall, Greig's Flat, Eden, Lochiel and Millingandi schools met in May that year at the Pambula School of Arts hall, where they unanimously decided to join forces for a combined school sporting event on Eight Hour Day, Monday, October 2 that year.

Although delegates from Nethercote, Wyndham, Burragate, Towamba and Kiah school did not attend that initial meeting, all promised their support. Invitations were also extended to both South Wolumla and St. Joseph's schools to join in the event.

The inaugural officers of the association's management committee comprised of Sid Ford (President), Messrs A. W. Tonge and A. F. Wilks (Vice Presidents), Lance Perry (Treasurer), Eustace Phillipps (Secretary), I. McInnes (Assistant Sectretary), E. Coorey, C. Brassington, J. Robertson, D. Boland, W. T. Henderson and R. M. Hart.

An article headed "Plans for Great Gathering of District Schools at Pambula" appeared in the Pambula Voice following the meeting, and outlining plans in very spirited terms. The District Teachers Federation drew up a draft program in June and this was adopted and distributed to the various schools involved the same month. The Pambula Voice commented:
"The enthusiasm in evidence practically assured success for the sports, even at this early date."

Local businesses supported the event wholeheartedly, with donations including a trophy of ten shillings six pence from James Robertson, Commercial Hotel publican, for the best schools marching in procession, whilst Association President, Sid Ford, gave a cup for competition amongst the schools.

The development of a special point score system meant that smaller schools, which actually made up the greater part of the competition, stood an equal chance with the larger institutions to take home the cup.

Betty Whelan (nee Martin) was in her last two years at school at Pambula when the PDSAAA was formed, and she recalls:
"I carried the flag, the two years I was in it, because I was taller than the other girls, and we borrowed, you know the thing you put the flag in, the surf club's, because Dad was in the Surf Club, and we borrowed that for me to put the flag in."

She added:
"...we had a great tunnel ball team, we blitzed in the sports, we had a really good team, tunnel ball, under and over, and over head. There was Pat Clarke, Lilly Walker, Betty Burgess, Margaret Hart, my sister Joyce, and myself. Other events were foot races, high jumps, hop, step and jump, relay races and long distance races."

For the first two years of the competition, 1939 and 1940, the carnival took place at what is now known as Jack Martin Park, Pambula, after which the various schools took turns to host the event.

The 1930's ended on another sour note, with the outbreak, in 1939, of what became known as the Second World War. Apart from the departure of local men to serve in the armed forces, it initially had little impact on the local district although the situation was not to remain like that.

 

Pambula Public School, 1943.

Preparations for the possibility of enemy invasion began, and one such plan was the evacuation of local children to beyond the mountains. Local woman, Sibyl Torpey, was apparently selected to transport the children to their destination, and many still recall having to have their little bag with necessities ready to go in a flash.

Alma Baddeley remembered this, stating:
"Sibyl Torpey was one of the drivers they had picked out, and all the kids, all the names of the kids and everything and they definitely would have taken them up the mountains."

An air raid trench became a permanent fixture in the playground at the Pambula school, as Elaine Brennan remembered:
"During the war we had constant air-raid practice, scrambling into slit trenches that had been dug just inside the side gate."

When the American liberty ship William Dawes was sunk off the coast by a submarine, the injured seamen were treated at the Pambula District Hospital. One of these men, Bill Minton, was accommodated by the head teacher, Mr Wilks, and his family at the residence at the school. Kevin Wilks, one of his sons, recalls:
"...I was at my last year at Bega and my sister Gwen and my mother looked after these sailors while they were here, you know, went to the hospital and cared for them, took them out and organised things for them…As we went to school that morning, the school bus used to leave about quarter past seven from Pambula for nine o'clock school in Bega and pick up people along the way and we stopped at Merimbula and it was July, 24th July 1942, a clear blue sky, you know one of those winter days you can have down here with not a cloud in the sky and as we came into Merimbula you could see this huge pall of smoke out off the point, not quite out to the horizon and as we went up the hill we could see it even more, it was a ship on fire out there and we recognised something was wrong. We had to go to school, it was final year and so on which was important to me that the school went on. When we got home we found all these sailors were ensconced in Pambula Hospital, and my mother and my sister up there looking after them. There was no dinner on the table..."

Life went on, however, despite the hardships brought about by the war, and annual events such as the PDSAAA sports and Empire Day continued to be held yearly.

Pambula Public School March Past team in Quondola Street, 1944.

In 1944 there was a classification change when Pambula became a Central School, something that remained until the end of 1949.

The P and C Association also continued to be active, and held events such as the Cinderella dance held in the School of Arts in 1945, with music provided by Hart's Orchestra.

When war finally ended, the entire district celebrated, much as they had in 1918, holding a street parade and dance, whilst events such as the Jockey Club's annual race meeting was renamed the Victory Cup in recognition.

VP Day celebration parade at the bottom of Quondola Street, Pambula, 1945.

Mr Wilks and his family departed from the district in 1946 with the Magnet - Voice newspaper stating in December that year:
" Mr and Mrs Wilks will be sorely missed, as they have been excellent workers for the town and district."

It was decided to hold an official social evening to farewell the head teacher and his family, taking place in the School of Arts in January 1946. The Magnet - Voice again reported on the function, stating:
"On Tuesday night in last week Pambula Hall was the centre of a very successful social evening, the occasion being a farewell to Mr and Mrs A. F. Wilks and family on the eve of their departure from Pambula to their new home at Exeter. A very large crowd gathered, including visitors from all the surrounding centres including Bega…Mr Woods, in opening proceedings, spoke of the sterling work done by Mr Wilks as headmaster at the Pambula Public School during his sojourn of ten years at Pambula, culminating in his success of having 5/6 percentage pass in intermediate classes the first year they were held in Pambula. As public citizens, Mr and Mrs Wilks had taken a very keen interest in all civic matters, being a tower of strength towards the success of the various organisations in which they were actively engaged...Mr S. W. Ford, as President of the Pambula and District Patriotic Movement, gave a glowing address of the work Mr Wilks had done for this organisation. Mr Wilks had held the position of honorary secretary of the committee ever since the inception some six years ago…Mr Woods, on behalf of the citizens of Pambula and friends of family, then presented Mr Wilks with a handsome set of stainless cutlery as an appreciation for all they had done for the district and a token of esteem and respect that they were held in…”

Mr Wilks was replaced by Mr Cox, who remained in the district only about eighteen months before he was transferred to Bombala.

Pambula School, infants class, 1949.
Back row: Douglas Porteous; Michael Parkin; Brian Kelly; Cecil Gill; John Carter; Albert Severs; Kevin Love.
Centre row: Alan Gill; Heather Radford; Barbara Kelly; Jeanette Brereton; Velda Perry; Keith Smith.
Front row: Mavis Radford; Loretta Whitby; Kay Henderson; Elva Henderson; Pam Thistleton; June Rixon; Isabelle Severs.

During his stay, he and many local residents from both Pambula and nearby districts worked towards the idea of consolidating all local schools into one district facility, but this was something that was not to be achieved for quite some time yet.

At his farewell, Mr R. M. Hart, chairman, said:
" Mr Cox had worked hard with the idea of creating an area school in the district, which would further the education of the country children a lot and hoped the foundation laid so far would bear fruit in the future."

The departure of Mr Cox brought Mr Vic Parkin to the district, where he remained for almost ten years.

Improved transportation enabled students to travel away for sports and by the late 1940’s Pambula students had also started competing against other local schools in what were termed inter-school sports. During 1949, they competed against other institutions such as Eden and Wyndham, playing games such as cricket, tennis, basketball and football.

Pambula Public School, middle class, 1949.
Back row: Teddy Metcalf; Terrence Kelly; Peter Lennox; Brian McDonald; Alan Radford; Bruce Carter.
Centre row: Gregory Whitby; Gordon Radford; Tommy Bradford; Billy Ainsworth; Kevin Cole; Max Love; Cecil Carter.
Front row: Barbara Smith; Janice Haigh; Lynette Best; Beverly Robinson; Maureen Kelly.

Pambula school, senior class, 1949.
Back row: Alan McLaughlin; Neville Robinson; Frank Kirk; Dennis Hart; Jimmy Laing; Ron Radford; Vic Parkin (teacher).
Centre row: Alan Gordon; Bill Gordon; Billy Whitby; Bruce Love; Tony Ainsworth; Barry McDonald.
Front row: Jacqueline Whitby; Beryl Clark; Noleen Smith; Alma Metcalf; Dawn Brereton.

P and C fund-raising remained an important activity within the community throughout the 1940’s, with a variety of functions held to raise money for the school. In 1949 the organisation held a Back to Childhood ball, during which Messrs Ron Ford and Vic Parkin arranged a humorous stage act, teeing up a mock radio station, called Radio B2C. The same year, a social evening was held in the home of Mr and Mrs J. Medcalf, during which billiard competitions were won by Roy Beasley and “Chicka” Walker, whilst Mrs W. Henderson Jnr and Mrs H. White were successful in the euchre tournament.