This book belonged to Roma Cameron. In the 1920's most of children's school work was done in copy books. Drawing as a subject generally began in Year 2. Each day's work was carefully dated and checked by the teacher, always ready for an inspector's visit. Roma Cameron was the daughter of Harry Purchase Cameron and Lilian Gladys (nee Harding). Roma married Ronald Richard Smith in 1944 and is the mother of Lorraine (Mrs Peter Coulton) and Margaret Smith. Harry's father, James Cameron, came to Bellagoogan on Majors Creek in 1882. Bellagoogan was on Majors Creek near Orbost and was the site of the first race course. Like many others at the time, the Camerons bred race horses.Harry died in 1964 aged 75. Roma was the youngest of three siblings: Jean (Mrs John Gavin (Jack) Ralston) and James (Jim) (m. Joan Hosack). This book is an example of school work in the early 20th century. The Cameron family are prominent members of the Orbost community. A small book with a grey cover. Inside are simple shapes to be copied.inside cover: Roma Cameron 1928education book-drawing cameron

This copy book is for the practice of copperplate handwriting and was used at the Orbost School. It was not until the mid-20th century that Australian schools were investigating the modern cursive styles being taught overseas. Writing slates and slate pencils had been a commonplace item of everyday life in colonial Australia. Slates were generally only used by school children in the most junior grades By Class III, however, school children in Victoria had normally passed beyond the need for slates in shaping letters and used ink and copybooks instead. Writing slates often continued to be used for arithmetic exercises. the use of slates was discontinued mainly because paper became cheaper and writing on paper was deemed to be more hygienic.This item is an example of a school text book commonly used for the practice of handwriting in most primary schools in Australia. It shows a style of handwriting not commonly used today. The Cameron family is significaant in the history of Orbost.A school handwriting copy book. It contains examples of copperplate writing for copying and practice. On the front cover there are drawings of a kangaroo, emu, platypus and echidna in each corner. The book is titled "AUSTRALIAN COPY BOOK FIFTH GRADE No. 4". It is designed for use in all states and New Zealand. Inside a banner is "small hand proverbs geography commercial terms". All print is black.on front cover: Jean Cameron Inside front cover: Jean Cameron 1924, J.M. Ralston 1924handwriting education cameron

This book is an early reader which all Victorian students would have read during the 1930's. The book is made up of poems and stories. The Victorian Readers, one for each of the grades that then comprised the primary school, were first published by the Victorian Education Department between 1927 and 1930. Much of content of these readers was British in origin but there was an attempt to add the works of some Australian authors. This book was owned and used by Roma Cameron. Roma Cameron was the daughter of Harry Purchase Cameron and Lilian Gladys (nee Harding). Roma married Ronald Richard Smith in 1944 and is the mother of Lorraine (Mrs Peter Coulton) and Margaret Smith. Harry's father, James Cameron, came to Bellagoogan on Majors Creek in 1882. Bellagoogan was on Majors Creek near Orbost and was the site of the first race course. Like many others at the time, the Camerons bred race horses.Harry died in 1964 aged 75. Roma was the youngest of three siblings: Jean (Mrs John Gavin (Jack) Ralston) and James (Jim) (m. Joan Hosack). This is historically significant showing what young children were reading during the 1920's and 30's in schools across Victoria. It is vastly different to readers used in schools today. The Victorian Readers provide an insight into the teaching of reading in Victoria and offer an overview of the values and behaviours that were taught and reinforced in schools in the first half of the 20th century.A small grey covered book of 98pp. It is titled "First Book of The Victorian Readers". A picture has been pasted over the original b/w drawing of a young boy reading,on front cover: Roma Cameroneducation reader cameron