By BRIDGET SCOTT
A FORMER teacher from Garfield North State School has recalled his memories and the history of the school in a book to be launched next month.
Ron Smith from Ferntree Gully said that when he started he didn’t anticipate it would take him more than a year to finish the project.
“I spent a day a week for a year going into the state library and reading 60 year’s worth of the Bunyip and Garfield Express,” he said.
Mr Smith taught at the school for two years from 1970 until 1972 and lived locally in towns such as Bunyip, Tynong North and Catani.
He said that in his first year at the school each teacher had to write their own version of the history of the school and five or six of his paragraphs were published in a book about Garfield North.
He said after this he kept his notes and told himself it was something he would finish off when he retired.
Mr Smith said he was lucky to have the input of past teachers and students from the school while he put his book together.
The book tells the story from the point of view of those who had a close connection with it, and Mr Smith said he wrote it for the people affiliated with this historic Garfield North icon.
He said the greatest part about writing the book was the people he got in touch with.
“I sought out past students and teachers and had a chat,” he said.
Mr Smith will launch his book next month and is excited to have a local vet and one of his past students there as a guest of honour on the day.
The author said he was delighted when this former student that he had in grade six agreed to come along and be part of the launch.
Mr Smith said the Garfield North State School started in 1914 and is now a school camp for special schools throughout the area.
He thanked the various people who helped him compile the book and said he looked forward to the book’s 13 July launch.
Anyone is welcome to attend at the Garfield North State School at 2pm and copies of the book are now available for $35 either via Mr Smith or from the school, and post office in Garfield.
