Miss Grace Adams

My Dad's first cousin, Grace Adams was attending the Flemington training school in 1922.

She was one of the "5 best spellers" at the school at that time.

Grace is the girl on the far right of the photo.
Read more information about the Old Flemington Training School at Lenore's website Time Travellers in Essendon, Flemington and the Keilor Plains

Grace's contributed a composition to the Victorian Education Department's Jubilee exhibition in 1922 which is still in the possession of her sons Warren and Geoff Delbridge.

What amazing handwriting for a 6 year old!

"May and Annie are going to the country and May is taking her grandmother a bunch of flowers.  When they get to the country they will have lunch."

Education Department, Victoria

Jubilee Exhibition 1922

Exhibitor Grace Adams

Age 6

School 250 Flemington.

In July 1923 on hearing that she was unwell  Grace's teacher wrote her the following letter.

Essendon July 29th

Dear Grace,

I was very sorry to hear that you were unable to come to school but I hope you will be well again before long.

Your little brothers were quite excited as they told me that you had left school forever, but I hope it will not be long before I see you back.  

You would like to be back when we go over to the new school, wouldn't you?

Perhaps you will be put into a higher grade as you do such nice work.

Good-bye, now, dear Grace.  I hope you will soon be quite better.

Your loving teacher

B McFarlane

Grace's teacher 'B McFarlane' would most likely have been Helen Valetta "Blanche" McFarlane (1881- 1974) daughter of John McFarlane, an engineer and Emily Amelia McFarlane, nee Gray.

Warren tells me that both the envelope and note paper are bamboo paper.

The images on the writing paper and envelope are of the pagoda near the Sarusawa pond at Nara in Japan.  

The pond was created in 749. (see - https://www.japanvisitor.com/japan-parks-gardens/sarusawa )