Physical description
Newspaper Clipping with handwritten date.
Inscriptions & markings
Summary: Ringwood State School's 48th Birthday Celebration (1969)
At the 48th birthday celebration of the Ringwood State School Mothers' Club, headmaster J. A. Baines presented a short talk on the history of Ringwood State School using a historical scrapbook filled with records, photographs and memorabilia. (Note: Copy of this scrapbook is held by RDHS- VC 4691 in NWD 02-03-03 Box1)
Baines explained that the first State School in Ringwood once stood on the site later occupied by the Post Office and State Savings Bank. He noted that Ringwood was then largely an orchard and timber-cutting district. The original school succeeded an earlier school known as Cass's School, which was located on Whitehorse Road, Ringwood East, near the antimony mine. He also stressed the importance of preserving historical records, as the register of Ringwood's first school had been lost.
The article records that the school moved to its present Greenwood Avenue site in 1922. Early photographs showed the grounds without trees, and a former headmaster, Mr Fenton, was credited with establishing much of the school's garden.
A significant part of the scrapbook was devoted to Miss Daisy Paddock, one of Ringwood's best-known teachers. She taught at Ringwood from 1927 to 1941 and returned in 1951 for another ten years of teaching. Miss Paddock recalled that upon her return she was teaching many of the children of her former pupils, saying, "I felt I had come home." She also observed that school inspections had changed over the years from being occasions feared by teachers and students to more supportive and friendly visits.
The scrapbook also highlighted several notable former pupils of Ringwood State School, including:
- Professor Stanley Porteus, psychologist and academic.
- Allan Dawes, journalist.
- Sir Ronald East, engineer and public administrator.
- A. J. B. Aird, who commenced at Ringwood State School in 1903 and later became a distinguished legal figure.
The celebration concluded with songs and afternoon tea following the historical presentation.
People Named
J. A. Baines – Headmaster of Ringwood State School.
Miss Daisy Paddock – Long-serving teacher at Ringwood State School.
Mr Fenton – Former headmaster responsible for developing the school gardens.
Professor Stanley Porteus – Distinguished former pupil.
Allan Dawes – Journalist and former pupil.
Sir Ronald East – Engineer and former pupil.
A. J. B. Aird – Former pupil who began at the school in 1903.
(Co-Pilot 24/10/2026)
