‘We would form lines every morning and march up the stairs into the school. Those who had hats would put them on the pegs on the verandah,’ Denis said. A little later, Mr Garratt arrived and soon passed on his enjoyment of cricket to the school. Mrs Garratt taught the girls sewing.

‘We sat two at a desk. I liked school, especially arithmetic. I took a cut lunch in the school bag. We got our books at school, had some homework and could take home a library book. There were exams three times a year. We had a garden at school where we would plant and then sell the vegetables for the school. Friday was always clean up day - there were no cleaners in those days.’

Denis remembered Empire Day, May 24, as a big celebration in the school year. The flag was raised and Mr Suter senior made a speech.The annual Arbor day in April was also a big event in the life of the school. Teacher, Mr Garratt would involve the students in the study of trees, boiling the billy and having lunch outside.

The end of the year highlight was a Christmas tree in the hall, and each student was presented with a book.

Denis remembers being on the end of the cane only once. Along with several students, he ignored Mr Garratt’s warning about walking along the school fence, while the headmaster was at home for his lunch. With the school residence in view of the playground, Mr Garratt observed the students doing the “fence walk”. Back at school, he duly lined up the offenders and dished out the cane.

Denis left school when he was 14, in 1931. He could have gone to high school at Murwillumbah or college but he wanted to be a farmer, so it was onto the farm to help his parents.