Libby Martin
By Jessie Martin
Jessie Martin interviewed her mother Libby Martin who has lived in Wollomombi for 31 years. Jessie is the third generation of her family to attend Chandler School. Her grandfather, Mr Doug Browning and her mother both attended this school. Below Jessie has recorded some recollections of her mother, Mrs Libby Martin.
I was born in Armidale in 1966 and I have lived in the Wollomombi district for the most part of the years since. My father, Mr Douglas Browning, also lived his life in the district, first as a youngster at the property ‘Chandler' and then in later years after his marriage to Helen Coleman on the property 'Wattlegrove'.
I have very fond memories of my younger years at Wollomombi. We regularly attended church at the Wollomombi Church and we went to many old time dances at the Sauer Memorial Hall. There was always a large contingent of Ex-servicemen who marched on Anzac Day every year. A lot of these people are dead now. I recall watching them place wreaths on a commemorative plaque and not really understanding why their faces were etched with the sad memories of the war.
I attended Chandler School from 19972 to 1978 and I am still actively involved with the school and with a number of the people with whom I attended school during those years.
The school structure remains the same now as it was in the days I attended. For a short period of time there was a demountable classroom as the number of students was too great to fit into the two classroom and a third teacher was appointed. The third classroom was later removed.
In my days at school we enjoyed a number of activities that seemed to come and go in phases. Tennis was always very popular and we used to spend many a recess and lunchtime playing tennis. Handball was another favourite - although I don't recall quite the number of rules and regulations the game is now played with. We also used to play hopscotch, elastics, red-rover cross over and do lots of climbing on what was then called the jungle bars.
The lessons were always held in the classroom except on special days when we did outdoor learning activities. We always had to sit at desks which were usually placed in very straight rows. There were no computers and every Wednesday afternoon we used to tune into the ABC radio sing-a-long and sing songs for the afternoon. We were taught scripture for one hour each week and had an Art and Craft lesson for one afternoon every week.
Canteen was held every Monday lunchtime and was run by the mothers on a roster basis. The menu was a simplified version of what is served today. In the early years of my attendance at Chandler milk was delivered in glass bottles for every child in the school. It was paid for by the government and as it was quite often lukewarm with a thick layer of cream on top - it tasted quite ordinary.
After my years at Chandler I attended PLC Armidale as a weekly boarder for 6 years. Then I worked in a bank in Armidale before marrying and returning to this district.