BANANA POCKET /LETHEBROOK SCHOOL (1922 – 1964)

Although the Lethebrook area was settled years earlier, the Banana Pocket Provisional School did not open until May 29, 1922. The first pupils hailed from three families – Arthur, Terence and Evelyn Smith; Norman, Eleanor, May and Fred Williams; and Daly, Alex and Marjorie Thomas.

As was often the case in these early days, residents of the area enabled the establishment of the first school. In this case, it was Mr Jack Smith who had a small hut on a block of land known as the “Old Garden”. After a few modifications, this 16 foot x 10 foot (4.87 metre x 3.05 metre) shed became the first school with Miss Phyllis Lena Dawson as the first teacher. A bedroom for the teacher was built by Mr Williams adjacent to the residence of Mrs Redman who had agreed to board Miss Dawson. Mr Lascelles gave £50 and each of the three families donated £5 towards the timber costs. The department provided a bed and duchess for the room.

Classroom facilities included four desks and forms, each for seating five children; a table and chair for the teacher; a bell; blackboard and pointer; maps of the world and Australia; a chart with the Ten Commandments; a good manners chart (read every day); a few reading books; slates, pencils and rulers; and a couple of bibles from which the teacher read a lesson every Friday.

In 1923, residents began lobbying for a new state school and were supported by the District Inspector. The district had grown and children were having to share desks and even a box for a seat. The inspector also noted that there was very little space for play and drill.

In 1924, Mr E.G. Lascelles offered one acre of land for a school but this was deemed insufficient as the department believed a horse paddock would be necessary in the future for children riding their ponies to school. In 1925, an additional two acres was purchased from Mr Lascelles for £60. Delays and shortages meant that it was not until May 1926 that the school was completed at a cost of £900. Miss Maud Monaghan was the last teacher at the provisional school and the first teacher at the new state school which opened on June 7.

In 1932, Lethebrook residents built a hall adjacent to the school on land given by Mr Lascelles. Dances were staged to raise money for a tennis court with the department subsidising the cost. These dances were eagerly anticipated. An orchestra played until the early hours; lighting was provided by hanging kerosene lanterns and later lights operated by farmers’ generators; suppertime food was plentiful and tea and coffee were made over an open fire.

Marbles, hopscotch, rounders, tiggy, skipping and later tennis, were popular schoolyard games. Banana Pocket students also trained hard for the annual combined school sports day in Proserpine.

Although the name of this district was changed from Banana Pocket to Lethebrook in 1924, the name of the school did not change until 1948.

In the 1950s, Fancy Dress Balls were popular annual fundraisers. The annual concert was also one of the biggest affairs at the school but Break-Up Day was the most anticipated of all. Sack races and other novelty races were fiercely competitive; there was much mischief afoot with watermelon fights and boys putting ice down girls’ backs; and special treats such as ice cream and other goodies were readily devoured.

After serving the Lethebrook District for over 40 years, the school was closed on Friday, June 12, 1964.

Contributed with thanks to the Proserpine Museum.

Banana Pocket students in 1924 with their teacher Miss Blanche Gilmore

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