THE AUSTRALIAN PAPER MILL (APM) AND ITS INFLUENCE
Prior to the formation of the Parents & Citizens Association (P&C), parents gave their support via the ‘School Committee’. During the 1950s, this Committee was particularly active in working to improve the school.
“It was during the remaining years of Mr Hansesn’s teaching career that the A.P.M. was built and opened. This gave a gradual population rise in the district and later the school numbers rose. Mr Arthur Hansen retired at the end of 1950.”
– Margaret A Zillman – Assistant Teacher, North Pine State School, 1941 – circa 1957
During this era, Petrie was a small two teacher school, the incoming head teacher was Mr Mal Langusch, and Miss Zillman was the assistant teacher. The Australian Paper Mill (APM) had now become established in Petrie on the north bank of the Pine River (opposite what is now Wyllie Park, [Google Map] and the population of the area dramatically increased.
“… My family owned the land that the A.P.M. is now situation on. Wyllie Park and Wyllie Street in Petrie are named after my family, who were one of the first to settle there.”
– Norman Wyllie, attended North Pine Provisional School from 1987
With the many new workers came many new children and the school found it difficult to cope with the increase in enrolments. The “mill people”1 became very concerned with the educational activities at the school, and they now formed a large contingent of parents. As stated in the 1974 Centenary publication:
“ … the mill people wanted better things in education at our school which resulted in a school committee under virtual control of the APM” 1.
The School Committee consisted of seven members, five APM staff and two non APM staff. This seemed to benefit the school at the time, as with the APM supporting them, things got done.
It is believed that Mr Reg Kay and other Australian Paper Mill staff organised the original playground equipment in the mid-1950s.
In 1964, the Tuckshop moved to the small room beneath C Block (where the Uniform Shop now operates). The School Committee, with aid of Australian Paper Mill carpenters, built it after the expansion of the school.
In the 10 years from the formation of the P&C until 1974, there was a marked decline in the influence of the Australian Paper Mill on school activities. This was due to changes in the population demographic and the children of the early long-term staff growing up, as well as the introduction of other school choices in the area.
The Australian Paper Mill eventually became a part of the multi-national paper recycling company Amcor Packaging Pty. Ltd. In 2013, the company decided it was no longer viable to keep the historic mill open and promptly closed it completely. This was considered to be the end of an era in this area.
“I would also like to thank the A.P.M. staff at that period for their kindness to me.”
– Margaret A Zillman – Assistant Teacher, North Pine State School, 1941 – circa 1957
WASTE PAPER
“Waste paper sold to the Australian Paper Mill has been our chief source of revenue in recent times. This was commenced in 1963 – mainly due to the efforts of Mr Dick Jones and head teacher Mr Leo Robinson. Some of the stalwarts who have helped the continuation of this operation over the years included Messrs Bob Hunter, Eric Brown, Oscar Neilson, Reg Crouch, Angus Pollock and Ernie Powell. In recent times, great support has come from Messrs Barry Patman, Bob Grant and Alex Wakely to mention only a few who continued these operations during the last eighteen months. The consideration show to us by the APM management and staff in accepting and processing our waste paper is greatly appreciated.”
References:
1. Centenary Petrie State School 1874-1974, History of Petrie State School Formerly North Pine State School, Petrie State School, [self-published], 1974.
2. Commemorating 125 Years of Service, Petrie State School 1874-1999, Petrie State School, [self-published], 1999.
