Ram Park Historical Centre and Museum, Blackall

News of the day

Central Queensland Herald, Thursday 18 July 1935, page 53

NEW STATE SCHOOL

Opened at Yalleroi ROCKHAMPTON, July 16.

A very important and very happy event took place at Yalleroi when the Hon. F. W. Bulcock, M.L.A., opened the new State school there. Amidst brilliant sunshine, cars began to arrive at an early hour and by 2 o'clock Yalleroi seemed quite an important place.

The children's sports started at 2.30 and Mr Bulcock arrived at 3 p.m. Mr and Mrs Richmond went along the road to meet him and escorted him to the hall, where everyone awaited him, led by Mr S. Adams, chairman of the school committee. The schoolmaster (Mr W. Marsson) and the children gave three cheers for Mr Bulcock and then continued their sports.

After tea was served by the C.W.A. members, who arranged the catering for the school committee, all adjourned to the new State school building.

THREE IMPORTANT EVENTS.

In an excellent address, Mr Sydney Adams (chairman) said that this marked one of the three most important events in the history of Yalleroi. The first was the putting down of the bore, the second the coming of the railway, and now the opening of the State school. Mr Adams gave a brief history of the birth of the school and all it meant to Yalleroi. It was the C.W.A. branch's first objective when the branch was started in Yalleroi. Mrs Richmond had worked untiringly from then until the school became a reality. Mr Bul-cock had fostered the work throughout, indeed, he could rightly be called the foster father of the school. The school committee had purchased the three acres of land for £15, £5 of which Mrs Richmond paid, and presented it to the Government. It was a pleasure to have Mr Bulcock with them.

Mr Bulcock said that, as Mr Adams had pointed out, the occasion marked one of the three most important events in the history of Yalleroi. The first and second were material events. This was a spiritual one. He referred to the important part of a child's life that was spent in school. Some of the great men in the world started their education in a school no bigger than the one he was to open in Yalleroi. Yalleroi was a long way from Brisbane, but he promised that he would always be interested in their school and do all he could for it.

TRIBUTE TO MRS RICHMOND.

Mr Bulcock congratulated Mrs Richmond on all she had done, and said if she never did another thing she had justified herself as a worthy resident of the district, and would be greatly missed if she should leave it. She had kept him in touch with everything from the beginning until now. He wished the school every success and congratulated the school committee on its work. Mr Bulcock then unlocked the door and, cutting the ribbon, declared the school officially opened.

Mrs Richmond thanked Mr Bulcock for coming to open the school. Everyone knew what a strenuous trip he had just had, yet he found time to come and open the school as he had promised when he opened the provisional school in Yalleroi two and a half years ago. Mrs Richmond said she felt unworthy of all the nice things Mr Bulcock and Mr Adams had said about her and would like to mention the wonderful support the members had always given her, and also their husbands, who had made it always possible for their wives to attend the meetings. She felt it was a privilege to have done what she did and to be able to continue the work with such a splendid committee.

PRESENTATIONS.

Mrs Richmond then presented an electric torch to Mr Bulcock as a token of esteem and appreciation from the school committee.

Mr Bulcock thanked the committee and said it gave him much pleasure to accept this gift. He then took from his pocket the pencil which was presented to him by the C.W.A. branch when he opened the provisional school, saying that it had been in constant use ever since. He said he had a pleasant duty to perform in making a presentation to Mrs Richmond from the school committee in appreciation of all she had done. Mrs Richmond thanked Mr Bulcock and the school committee for their kind thought and gift of a beautiful fountain pen. This was a delightful sur-prise for her. She would treasure the gift.

The dance held at night was a very successful one. Mr Bulcock and several visitors from Blackall were present. The door takings amounted to £7 10s., the gross proceeds being £17 5s. 3d., including donations of £1 1s. from Mr J. R. McDonell and 70s. 6d. from Mrs Richmond. The door number was won by Mr Ray Hinch, Blackall, the Monte Carlo dance by Mrs Adams, and the streamer by Master K. Peut.

Background

Ram Park is an historical complex located in the main street of Blackall which hosts a number of relocated buildings, important to the region, including Navena Homestead, Yalleroi Railway Station and the Yalleroi School. Also set in the relaxing surrounds of the complex is the Blackall Visitor Information Centre housed in the historic Blackall Railway Station.

Take a step back in time and visit the Navena Homestead complete with personal objects used by the McLean family during the operation of their extensive property. Relocating buildings is a long established Queensland tradition. In the 1900’s, the McLean family relocated the homestead in four parts from Mount Morgan to Blackall by bullock wagon over a distance of 615 kilometres. It was relocated again to the museum complex in the 1990’s. 

You can also see the Blackall Queensland Ambulance Transport Brigade rail motor, a rare survivor from Queensland Ambulance history. Originally built in 1923 it was used effectively when roads were closed due to flooding. 

Displayed at the front of the complex is the Big Ram from whom the complex takes its name. It symbolises the importance of the sheep and wool industry for the development of Blackall and surrounding regions. 

A visit to Ram Park is a must when visiting Blackall. It complements other historical attractions including the Black Stump, Jackie Howe Museum and the Blackall Woolscour.

Courtesy of Museums and Galleries Queensland

 

Additional images

---

Discover more