Collated by Heather Wade, 2026.
Aug 1895 Miss Susan Mitchell – Head Teacher
Aug 1896 Miss Kate Logue – Head Teacher
May 1898 Mr LC Nielsen – Relief Head Teacher
Oct 1898 Miss Kate Logue – Head Teacher
Feb 1899 GW Ward – Head Teacher
1900 Lilian Clarke – Sewing Mistress & Monitor on Probation
1901 Henry Scott – Head Teacher
1901 Lilian Clarke – Monitor on Probation
1902 Lilian Clarke – Sewing Mistress
1902-04 Harry Harms – Head Teacher
June 1902-04 Sara Harms – Sewing Mistress
May 1904-07 Fred Ranson – Head Teacher
1905-07 Eveline Ranson – Sewing Mistress
1906 Stanley Meredith – Junior Monitor
1908-10 Wellesley RG Walsh – Head Teacher
1909-10 Lettice Walsh – Sewing Mistress – WRG’s wife
1909-10 Daisy Walsh – Monitor on Supply – daughter of the above.
1910 – School Built
1911-12 Arthur Hill – Head Teacher
1911 Margurite Hill – Sewing Mistress
1911 Frederick Schoch – Monitor on Supply
1912 Margurite Hill – Probationer and Sewing Mistress
1914 Oscar Fiebig – Head Teacher
1914 Elvie Meredith – Monitor
1914-15 Ruby Clarke – Sewing Mistress
1915 Winnie Fiskin – unknown if a Monitor or teacher
Sep 1916-17 John Adlard – Head Teacher
1917 Alice Adlard – probably Sewing Mistress
1918-25 John M Rogers – Head Teacher
1918 Isa Nicholson – Monitor
1919 Isa Nicholson – Monitor, Sewing Mistress
1920, 21, 23, 25, 27 Catherine Rogers – Sewing Mistress
1926 Leslie Elkington – Head Teacher
1926 Catherine Elkington – Sewing Mistress
1927-29 Claude Beverley – Head Teacher
1928-29 Mabel Beverley – Sewing Mistress
1930-31 Albert Knight – Head Teacher
1930 Maud Rice – Sewing Mistress
1931-40 Robert Jennings – Head Teacher
1931, 33, 34, 35, 36 Harriet Jackson – Sewing Mistress
1934 Victor Williams – Monitor on Probation
1937 Mary Davis
1938 Mollie McEvoy – Monitor on Probation
1941-42 Leslie Prideau – Head Teacher
1943 Gilbert King – Temporary Head Teacher
1943 Alexander Henderson – Monitor
1943 Pam McCann – Sewing Mistress
1944 Joyce Hutchinson – Sewing Mistress
1945-50 Hugh McGeachin – Head Teacher
1945-50 Lena McGeachin
Feb-Aug 1949 Keith Gosling – Acting Head Teacher
1951 Alfred Kau – Head Teacher
1951 Johanna Fitzgerald – Assistant Teacher
1951 Raymond King – Assistant Teacher on Probation
1951-53 Frederick Green – Head Teacher
1951 Esther Stephens – Assistant Teacher on Probation
1952-53 Sarah Green – Sewing Mistress
MORE DETAIL
January 1895 – Location of, and tender accepted for school
BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Mr. Woodrow also stated that the site for the Cookernup school had been fixed on Government allotments 27 and 28 on the townsite, and that Mr. Jas. Clarke’s tender of £95 for the erection of the building was accepted. (Bunbury Herald, Saturday 26 January 1895, page 3.)
August 1895 – Miss Susan Mitchell
DISTRICT BOARD OF EDUCATION.
The secretary read a letter from the Central Board, stating Miss Susan Mitchell had been appointed teacher of the Cookernup school, and they trusted the lady would fill all the requirements of her position and that under her charge the school would advance in number and in status. (Bunbury Herald, Saturday 31 August 1895, page 3.)
January 1896 – Miss Susan Mitchell
ANNUAL SCHOOL EXAMINATIONS.
The following were the results of the annual Christmas examinations of the various schools in the Wellington School Board District: –
COOKERNUP SCHOOL.
Head Teacher—Susan Mitchell.
Number of scholars on the roll—Boys, 11; girls 12. Total 23.
Number of scholars present on the day of examination—Children under 7, boys 6; girls 2. Over 7, boys 5; girls 10.
For classification only—Scripture, very good; singing, very fair; object lessons, very fair; drill, very fair.
The examination was for classification only. The Mistress, Miss Mitchell, served as monitress for many years in the Bridgetown School, and, judging from the results of her work in that school, the children at Cookernup should pass satisfactorily at the next annual examination. (Southern Times, Thursday 23 January 1896, page 3.)
July 1896 – Election of a Member of the Legislative Council
The South-West Electoral Province.
I THE undersigned, being the Returning Officer for the said Province, hereby give Notice that on the second day of June, 1896, I received from the Governor of the Colony a Writ for the Election of One Member to serve in the Legislative Council for the said Province ;… and the following Polling Places in addition [to Bunbury Court House] … School House, Cookernup …
Dated the fourth day of June, 1896.
W. E. TIMPERLEY, Returning Officer for the South-West Electoral Province.
(Southern Times, Saturday 25 July 1896, page 2.)
August 1896 – Miss Susan Mitchell
A Wedding.- The first marriage celebrated in the new Victoria Park Church was celebrated yesterday. The contracting parties were Mr. E. B. Courthope, only son of Mr. E. Lane Courthope, late Auditor General, and Miss Susan Mitchell, fourth daughter of Mr. W. O. Mitchell, of Newlands, Blackwood-road. The Very Rev. the Dean of Perth officiated. (West Australian, Tuesday 11 August 1896, page 5.)
June 1897 – Miss Kate Logue
In our last issue and also in a prior issue a correspondent over the non-de-plume of ‘ Cookernup. Cockatoo’ adverted in somewhat unmeasured terms on the conduct of affairs at Cookernup school. We have investigated the case and find that in publishing the correspondence referred to we have unwittingly done the teacher of that school a wrong, inasmuch as the strictures of ‘Cookernup Cockatoo’ were altogether uncalled for and his statements inaccurate. Had we been as conversant with the facts at the commencement of the correspondence as we are at present, we should very strongly have objected to being made a party to a vile attempt to injure a defenceless lady. We regret the occurence exceedingly and in tendering our apologies to Miss Logue, we must inform ‘Cockatoo’ that no further contributions in connection with these groundless charges of maladministration at Cookernup School will be published in The Herald. (Bunbury Herald, Tuesday 29 June 1897, page 3.)
May 1898 – LC Nielson
APPOINMENTS. The following appointments have been made —L. C. Neilson, relieving teacher at Cookernup; (Daily News, Saturday 28 May 1898, page 5.)
September 1898 – Miss Kate Logue
Cookernup Notes. —Miss Logue, School teacher, returned last Friday after a well earned holiday of six months. Miss Logue takes up her duties again on October 3rd. (Bunbury Herald, Tuesday 27 September 1898, page 3.)
February 1899 – George William Ward
SCHOLASTIC APPOINTMENTS. – The following appointments have been made by the Education Department … Mr. G. W. Ward, master, Cookernup; (West Australian, Wednesday 1 February 1899, page 4.)
March 1899 – George William Ward
From the same, [Education Department] asking the board to get an estimate of the repairs needed at the Cookernup school.
With reference to the repairs needed at the Cookernup school, Mr Cyril Jackson wrote intimating that the £20 could not be provided and that the board had not expressed itself whether in favor of the expenditure or not. It was decided that the secretary should write to the department and point out that the quarters at Cookernup school were not suitable for the teacher, who was a married man with a family of five children. (Bunbury Herald, Tuesday 7 March 1899, page 3.)
March 1899 – George William Ward & Miss Kate Logue
From Mr G. W. Ward, teacher Cookernup school, intimating that he had succeeded Miss Logue in the teachership of the school and forwarding returns of teacher’s stock for 1899. (Bunbury Herald (WA : 1892 – 1919), Tuesday 7 March 1899, page 3.)
July 1900 – Voting for/against Federation
…VOTERS’ CERTIFICATES can be obtained by those persons not on a District Electoral Roll for 1899, on application to the following persons:— Names. Addresses… G. W. Ward Schoolroom, Cookernup.
Dated at Dardanup this 26th day of June 1900.
FRANK JOHNSTON, Assistant Returning Officer, Electoral District of Wellington. SATURDAY, JULY 21, 1900. (Collie Miner, Saturday 21 July 1900, page 2.)
October 1900 – Henry Scott
Henry Scott, head teacher, Cookernup. (West Australian, Tuesday 16 October 1900, page 4.)
July 1901 – teacher’s quarters
It was decided to recommend that certain very necessary alterations to the teachers’ quarters at Cookernup be carried out. (Southern Times, Thursday 4 July 1901, page 5.)
June 1902-1904 Sara Harms
Appointed Sewing Mistress. (West Australian, 14 June 1902.)
May 1904 – Frederick Ranson
EDUCATION DEPARTMENT APPOINTMENTS, The following appointments have been made. provisionally and temporarily, in the Education Department: … Frederick Ranson, head teacher, Cookernup; (West Australian, Tuesday 17 May 1904, page 7.)
August 1910 – School built
Cookernup Jottings. – The State school has been built this year, on a more up-to-date plan and in accordance with local board of health requirements, and the increase of school children. (Bunbury Herald, Saturday 20 August 1910, page 4.)
August 1910 – Miss Walsh
Regret has been expressed by parents on Miss Walsh severing her connection with the Education Department, as she was so popular with the children of the district. (Bunbury Herald, Saturday 20 August 1910, page 4.)
June 1911 – Teacher had mumps, school shut for four weeks
THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT. A Country School-Shut up for Four Weeks-Because the Teacher has the Mumps. Sunday Times, Sunday 25 June 1911, page 6.)
March 1915 – Oscar Fiebig
Fiebig was dismissed from the Department for indecently dealing with children. (Sunday Times, Sunday 28 March 1915, page 3.)
March 1915 – Misses Elvie Meredith and Winnie Fiskin
Miss Elvie Meredith has received notice of transfer from the teaching staff of the Cookernup State School to the Practicing School, Claremont. We congratulate Miss Meredith upon her success. Miss Winnie Fiskin has been appointed to the Cookernup School in succession to Miss Meredith, and both have been the recipients of good wishes. (Southern Times, Saturday 6 March 1915, page 5.)
September 1916 – John Adlard
At the Mt. Kokeby Agricultural Hall on Thursday, 14th inst., a farewell social was tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Adlard, prior to their departure for Cookernup to which school Mr. Adlard has been appointed. (Beverley Times, Saturday 23 September 1916, page 6.)
April 1929 – Death of John Major Rogers
Major Rogers, late schoolmaster of Cookernup, died yesterday week, and was accorded a Masonic funeral. Mr. Rogers was well known in the South-West and at Broome. (Sunday Times, Sunday 21 April 1929, page 2.)
January 1932 – AOV Knight
Mr. A. O. V. Knight, of Cookernup State School, has instructions to proceed to Highbury after the holidays. (Great Southern Leader (Pingelly), Friday 15 January 1932, page 5.)
September 1932 – Robert Jennings’ son Charles
OUT OF MY POST BAG
Letters from Auntie Kitty’s Nieces and Nephews
Dear Auntie Kitty, – I thank you very much for the box of paints you sent me. I have been painting every night with them, and like them very much. I am going to send this month’s puzzle in, and hope to get a prize. I will send a piece of poetry in, too. I went down to the post office to get the box of paints on Monday and Tuesday, and they were not there, so I was very disappointed. I went down on Wednesday, and they were there this time, and I was so excited I rushed home as fast as I could. With love from your nephew.
CHARLES JENNINGS. School House Cookernup. (Sunday Times, Sunday 18 September 1932, page 6.)
June 1941 – Robert Jennings
Mr. R. Jennings, who, for many years was head teacher at the Cookernup school, and is now stationed at Babakin, has commenced long service leave, which will last until after the Christmas vacation. Mr. Jennings intended touring the State by car but petrol rationing has necessitated change in his plans. (Harvey-Murray Times, Thursday 26 June 1941, page 3.)
July 1942 – Leslie Prideau
Mr. L. Prideaux, head teacher at the Cookernup School, has received notice of his promotion to the Corrigin School. (South Western Times, Thursday 30 July 1942, page 2.)
February 1943 – Gilbert King
Mr. G. King, of Meekatharra, commenced duty at the Cookernup State School on Tuesday last. (Harvey-Waroona Mail, Thursday 4 February 1943, page 1.)
August 1949 – Hugh McGeachin and Keith Gosling
Mr. H. McGeachin has resumed after his long-service leave. (South Western Advertiser, Thursday 4 August 1949, page 12.)
Mr. Keith Gosling has been a guest at the Yarloop Hotel for the past six months, and has been relief teacher at the Cookernup school. He left Yarloop on Friday night and has gone on to Bunbury to do a spot of relief duty there. (Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 5 August 1949, page 7.)
January 1951 – Hugh McGeachin
Mr. and Mrs. H. McGeachin left Cookernup on Monday to finish their holidays in Perth and arrange for their transfer to Bullfinch. Mr. McGeachin has been the teacher at the Cookernup school for six years. Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 26 January 1951, page 8.)
February 1951 – Fred Green
Mr. and Mrs. F. Green have arrived in Cookernup. Mr. Green has been appointed teacher at the Cookernup school. (Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 2 February 1951, page 1.)
October 1951 – Fred Green
Mrs. F. Green, of the school house, Cookernup, has returned home after spending several weeks with her son and daughter-in-law at Broad Arrow. (Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 5 October 1951, page 11.)
August 1951 – Mrs Fred Green
Mrs. F. Green, of the school house, Cookernup, has left for a prolonged stay at Kalgoorlie. (Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 3 August 1951, page 6.)
January 1954 – Fred Green
Many Yarloop and Cookernup residents greatly regret the departure of Mr. and Mrs. J. [sic, F] Green for their new home at Mundaring. Mr Green has been the teacher at the Cookernup school for a number of years and during that time he and his wife have made many, good friends. The Cookernup school will remain closed after the holidays and the pupils previously in attendance there will travel, to the Harvey school. (South Western Advertiser, Thursday 14 January 1954, page 6.)
October 1954 – David Compton, school house
Mr. Henn was spending the weekend with Mr. and Mrs. David Compton, of the school house, Cookernup. (Harvey-Murray Times, Friday 22 October 1954, page 20.)
References
WA State School Teachers 1900-1980, Carnamah Family History website at https://www.carnamah.com.au/teachers
Newspapers as referenced.