History of the Woodsreef School
Woodsreef School
The first school was a one room building and was built on the Creek bank. At first the school was 3 days a week at Woodsreef and 2 days a week at Ironbark.
Mr W. Woodhouse took charge on 13th September, 1901 and remained at the school until April, 1942. Mr Woodhouse taught both schools. At first, he walked the distance to ‘Ironbark’ from ‘Anglesey’ where he was boarding but laterhe travelled on horseback.
During 1901, nineteen pupils were enrolled at the school. They were:
Ivy Marian Saunders, Clarice M. Saunders, Ella Maud Tyrrell, Kathleen Mitchell, Harriet A. Graham, Sidney J. Saunders, Arthur J. Reading, Albert Reading, Sidney S. Reading, Frederick R. Saunders, William James Tyrrell, James Thompson, Thorton Spencer, George King, Ernest Hayes, Henry Graham, John Cotton, Charles Cotton, William E. Cotton.
The second school building was built about 1907. After the closure of Woodsreef School in December, 1965, this building was transferred to Barraba Central School. The school became full-time in 1914. Mr Woodhouse married Miss Ivy Saunders in 1907 and in the same year built a residence to the east of the school.
Mr Woodhouse kept bees and any interested children were shown how to look after bees. He also looked after the stock on the common. During his years at Woodsreef, Mr Woodhouse and his wife were active in the following pursuits:
They operated the local Post Office as well as selling stores to the inhabitants.
He cultivated a thriving vegetable garden, the produce of which he sold.
He operated a licensed dairy.
He was possibly the first in the district to purchase a car.
On quite a number of occasions it was necessary for him to act as the doctor and the dentist. Many old residents can recall clearly the times when “Old Woody” removed teeth with the aid only of a pair of forceps and a “hefty tug”.