The former school is now a private residence. Colour photograph of the former school and teacher's house at Kooroocheang. kooroocheang, education, school

The following names were on the Kooroocheang State School World War One Honour Board - A.H. White, C.H. White, L.C. White, H.E. White, G. Croucher, P. LaFranchi. L. LaFranchi, T. LaFranchi, W. Pickering, H. Pickering, J. McMahon, R. Hull, J. Neale, D. Williams, W. Risk, J. Waddingham, R. Waddingham, G.A. Heron, W.F. Heron, D. Dunstan.Photograph of the Kooroocheang State School World War One Honour Board on display in the Smeaton Primary School in 2013.world war one, kooroocheang state school, kooroocheang state school honour board, la franchi, kooroocheang, a.h. smith, smith, l.c. white, croucher, p. lafranchi, t. lafranchi, pickering, mcmahon, hull, kneale, risk, g. waddington, waddingham, heron, dunstan, williams, peter lafranchi

The following names were on the Kooroocheang State School World War One Honour Board - A.H. White, C.H. White, L.C. White, H.E. White, G. Croucher, P. LaFranchi. L. LaFranchi, T. LaFranchi, W. Pickering, H. Pickering, J. McMahon, R. Hull, J. Neale, D. Williams, W. Risk, J. Waddingham, R. Waddingham, G.A. Heron, W.F. Heron, D. Dunstan.Colour photograph of the former Korrocheang State School.kooroocheang state school, kooroocheang, education, a.h. white, c.h. white, l.c. white, h.e. white, g. croucher, p. lafranchi. l. lafranchi, t. lafranchi, w. pickering, h. pickering, j. mcmahon, r. hull, j. neale, d. williams, w. risk, j. waddingham, r. waddingham, g.a. heron, w.f. heron, d. dunstan, peter la franchi

Private James Argent (318), served with the No. 8 Platoon, B. Company, 21st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. He was born in Yandoit, and was a 24 year old labourer when he enlisted for service at Kingston on 20 April 2015 during World War One. HIs next of kin was his wife Harriett Argent of Kooroocheang, Victoria. He was wounded in Acton at France on 04 July 1914, and had shell shock for the second occasion on 03 August 1916. On 22 August 1916 he embarked on the "Denis" for England suffering from Shell Shock. He was transferred permanently to Base in England on 18 June 1917. He was admitted to hospital with VD on 21 August 1917 (63 days), and sailed for Australia on 30 January 1918 with Neurasthenia. (NAA: B2455, ARGENT J)Photographic portrait of James Argent in his World World One AIF uniform. j. argent, world war one, 21st battalion, yandoit, kooroocheang, james argent, harriett argent, uniform

Private James Argent (318), served with the No. 8 Platoon, B. Company, 21st Battalion, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division. He was born in Yandoit, and was a 24 year old labourer when her enlised for service at Kingston on 20 April 2015 during World War One. HIs next of kin was his wife Harriett Argent of Kooroocheang, Victoria. He was wounded in Acton at France on 04 July 1914, and had shell shock for the second occation on 03 August 1916. On 22 August 1916 he embarked on the "Denis" for England suffering from Shell Shock. He was transefered permanently to Base in England on 18 June 1917. He was admitted to hospital with VD on 21 August 1917 (63 days), and sailed for Austrlalia on 30 January 1918 with Neurasthenia. (NAA: B2455, ARGENT J)Photographic portrait of Mrs Argent, and her son James Argent in his World World One AIF uniform. j. argent, world war one, 21st battalion, yandoit, kooroocheang, james argent, harriett argent, uniform, jim argent

The Smeaton Presbyterian Church was built in 1859 of locally made brick, and opened in 1860. The building committee was . Messrs. John Hepburn, W. McAlpine, W. Anderson, S. Moore, W. H. Clarke and W. Miller. It cost an estimated 1,200 pounds, and was assisted by Captain John Hepburn who donated 5 acres of land and 150 pounds for the church. The rest was contributed by the settlers and their employees. Around 1890, the outside brickwork was given a coat of cement, which has improved with age. In 1938 the grey stained exterior was described as “not altogether displeasing”. Colour photographs of Smeaton Presbyterian Church.smeaton, smeaton presbyterian church, churches, kooroocheang

Smeaton Hill was the name of the property first settled by squatter Captain John Hepburn and Elizabeth Hepburn.Five landscape photographs of the seven volcanic hills around Smeaton.smeaton, kooroocheang, john hepburn, john hepburn, elizabeth hepburn, volcano, volcanic

Born in 1911, Cecil Alan Sonsee lived at Springmount near Creswick, and taught natural history at the Ballarat Teachers' College for 30 years. His teaching career stretched over a 48 year period. He spent six years as a student teacher before reaching the position of first class teacher. He had the distinction of never attending a teachers' college, but spending half his teaching career training students to become teachers. At the time of his retirement Mr Sonsee said during his years at the college, "the training had changed from a one year course to a two year course, followed by a three year course, and now a four year course was offered." He recalled "in the early days all country schools had eight grades and a child finished with a merit certificate. Today [1976], children went to high schools from sixth grade and most of the country schools had disappeared.' Alan Sonsee spent 10 years on a television program on BTV6 answering questions sent by viewers regarding aspects of plant and animal live. Mr Sonsee was a life member of both Creswick and Ballarat Field naturalists Clubs. Alan Sonsee died in 1985.1) Foolscap Department of Victoria Ballarat newsletter titled Education 'Regional Views'. The newsletter depicts an image of Alan Sonsee and outlines his career at the time of his retirement on 20 July 1976. The author of the newsletter is unknown. .2) newspaper article on the retirement of Alan Sonsee dated 25 August 1976 (probably from the Ballarat Courier).1) Mr "Nature Man" Retires After a quiet celebration, Mr C.A. Sonsee, a well-known staff member at Ballarat State College, retired from the Victorian Education Department on 20th July, 1976. Alan was the longest serving primary teacher seconded to the State College (Formerly the Ballarat teachers' College), probably the best known and certainly one of the most highly respected educationalists in this region. Leaving Ballarat high School in 1927, he spent the following years teaching at Smeaton, Willowvale, Lawrence (originally called Jerusalem) and Kooroocheang primary schools. However, during the last twenty-nine years, his fame and his influence spread further and further afield. From 1947 to 1976, under a number of principals, Alan endeared himself to thousands of students undergoing their tertiary preparation for teaching. And thousands is the word! Hundreds and hundreds of practising teachers of all ages came to this great teacher again and again for assistance in understanding natural phenomena, a broad field in which he is an acknowledged expert. What undoubtedly made him so accessible to the young and the no-so-young alike was his ready willingness to share with them is rich experience. The warmth of his nature, his kindliness, his dry humour enriched and enlivened the gifts he lavished liberally on all who needed help. Nor did he spare himself in the process. During his ling period of service to teachers, students and some two generations or so of school children, Field Naturalists also, within and well beyond Ballarat, profited from his participation and guidance. A car trip from Ballarat to Lancefield was made unforgettable by Alan's running and lively commentary; the time spent with him viewing and fossicking in an aboriginal flint area is still vivid, thouhg many moons have waxed and waned since then. And who can ever forget his palcid, home;y handling of "Mr nature Man" programmes on BTV 6 for over ten years? his name became a hose-hold word over an existence viewing area in Western Victoria - as his mail bag showed. Mr T. Turner was closely associated with C.A.S. for some twenty-three years as colleague and college principal. Recently tome said, "Alan was highly esteemed by staff and students, When I saw him lecturing I would be struck by the depth and breadth of his knowledge, and by the smooth, almost deceptively simple way he shared what he knew with others. I remember, too, his consideration for the views and the feelings of others; for the tolerance and range of his understanding of human nature. But, above all else, I remember him as a friend." All who know him in any way at all will want to say, "Thanks you, Alan, for everything you did for us. Thank you, Alan for what you are."alan sonsee, ballarat teachers' college, ballarat state college, education, teaching, ballarat field naturalists, creswick field naturalists, aborigines, lancefield flint, smeaton primary school, willowvale primary school, lawrence primary school, jerusalum primary school, kooroocheang primary school, nature studies, mr nature man