Hambledon State School, a special place at a special time.

Hambledon State School was common of many schools throughout Queensland, yet in its own way unique. Originally established as Black Fellow Creek Provisional School in 1887 with an enrollment of 23 students, the school was relocated to its present location on Mill Road in 1910 and renamed Hambledon State School. The school’s buildings were high set, which protected them from flooding and the underneath area was a cement base, usable for students during recess. Next to the school was the Principal’s residence that offered affordable accommodation for the Principal and enhanced security for the school, with the Principal providing passive surveillance of the school after-hours. Such common-sense policies were indeed common, prior to the curse of neo-liberalism infecting the nation, with it’s incomprehensible management lingo, asset sales and privatisation.

State schools provided a community hub that brought together children from families throughout the township. State Education more broadly was the very machinery of social integration, bring together children from diverse cultural backgrounds and cultural experiences, colour and class to learn and grow together.

The Principle when a started in 1972 was a Mr. Brady who looked very old to me. He can’t have been the Principal for too long, as I was only canned by him once. It would have been thoroughly deserved as people in authority then and later, found me to be at best annoying and at worst, a right little bastard.

Despite my resistance to authority, I think like most problematic children I could tell when someone was sincere and wanted to make a difference and I respected that. One such person was a Mr. Tom Murray.