3 Rosso have used characters based on historical information to create families living in Paddington at the turn of the century. These families are our creations but the information on the number of children, occupations and ages are based on historical fact.

I am Joseph Ryan and I am 7 years old. I play football at Hampton Oval. My teacher, Miss Bub, always says, "I don't see how you children like this horrid game." If anyone disagrees with her Miss Bub pulls out her pen, writes a six on their hand and sends him or her to the Headmaster's office. In the Headmaster's office you get hit with the cane six times and have to write out "I should not disagree with the teacher" until the class comes back. You don't go to the football if you are in the Headmaster's office.

If you speak while you are writing down words you instantly get whacked with the cane. Our science teacher, Mr. Beavis, is a cheeky one indeed. When one of us asks to go across the yard (to go to the toilet) he says yes! You get about as far as the door and he'll shout...."Tomorrow!!!" The infants mistress stalks the corridors. Once or twice she'll stick her head in one of the doors. If you go into the corridors at teatime and lunchtime you get sent to the Headmaster's office. Most boys play jacks and marbles. All the girls play marbles as well. The girls also play skipping and hopscotch.

Josh and Aime - 3 Rosso

MAUREEN EILEEN RYAN My name is Maureen and I go to Glenmore Road Public School. I'm in year six and my teacher's name is Miss Margaret - the evil teacher. Because I am so poor my parents don't have enough money to buy me shoes. My friends at school always call me names so I feel sad and lonely. At school we do sports and things. Every Friday is sports afternoon. There are 6 teachers in this school. There is Miss Grub who is the year four teacher and she is in love with Mr Adolphus Meadth. I don't know why!! Na Yung - 3 Rosso

Here I am in my 80s and..oh dear, I should know better - I've forgotten to introduce myself. Anyway my name is Ruby Briggs and I'm ummmm having a mental blank, I am! The rooms were dusty on my first day at Glenmore Road, and the windows were up so high because kids used to get distracted - really unfair, don't you think? The rules were strict. There were rules like don't talk or you will get whacked with the cane around 2 times for the girls and 6 for the boys. And the teachers were not sexist let me tell you. Anything you did wrong you would get hit. At lunch my friends and I would play hopscotch and marbles while the boys would play boring old football and jacks - oh and a big thing in those days would be trading any collectable toy things. Teachers in those days, you see dear, were really strict and made up their own rules half the time so it got more and more confusing every year, love. But one of the rules Mr. Nanta made up was that no toys were to be brought into the class. You see love, my brains have gone a bit numb! Don't think I'm a goodie goodie or a boaster or anything like that love, but I never got the cane. Matthew R - 3 Rosso

	NAME	OCCUPATION
Father	George Copeman	chimney sweep
Mother	Matilda Copeman	takes in laundry
Children	Thomas George	died in infancy
	George Jnr	died in infancy
	Joseph (6 years)	at school
	Albert (4 years)	at school
	Victoria (3 years)	at home
	Jessica (2 years)	at home
	Harold (6 months)	at home

Bianca

In the early 1900s the children had desks that were very simple. The shelf underneath held the children's books. Every child had a little blackboard to write on. The window was built high up so that the children could not look out and be distracted from their work. Matthew - 3 Rosso

It was in 1900, a little girl called Joyce (or Joy) came home from school and went to her music lesson with Miss Beatrice Anderson, where she learned the piano and violin. Before her lesson she would tell Miss Anderson about her day at school. One day she came to her lesson crying because she had got the cane for saying something very important to a friend. As you know Miss Anderson is a very kind person with a big heart and a loving soul. Whenever Joyce was sad Miss Anderson would say that she should think of happy things like being in the KitKat Band, which is what Joyce was aiming for. Before she left, Miss Anderson reminded Joyce not to speak during class. The next day Joyce remembered what Miss Anderson had told her, so she didn't talk during Miss Bub's and Miss Grub's lesson. At play lunch Joyce played hopscotch and marbles. Every Friday the girls would go down to the Hampton Oval (now called Trumper Oval) and play Vigaro. That afternoon Joyce came skipping down the road to Miss Anderson's house for her piano and violin lesson. As Joyce stepped in the door it was silent for a moment and Miss Anderson was smiling a big smile. Then she said to Joyce, "If you keep playing the piano or violin you can join the KitKat Band next month." Joyce was very happy and she kept playing until finally she joined the KitKat band the next month. Pascale, Sophie and Elizabeth - 3 Rosso

	NAME	OCCUPATION
Father	Edward Carpenter	unknown
Mother	Laura Jane Carpenter	home duties
Boys	Frederick Lloyd (12)	at school
	John Edward	died in infancy
	Edward (8)	at school
	Arthur (7)	at school
Girls	Lillian May (11)	at school
	Florence May (10)	at school
The Children all take elocution and violin lessons from Miss Beatrice Anderson.

Music now playing : Ode to my Family - The Cranberries

  

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