School & Store

So this is what I HAVE managed to write today. I'm not overly happy with it, but I did state at the outset that I would be posting anything I write on here, so I don't intent to break that vow. Here 'tis.

In all, about 60 parents, some with children in tow, a couple of shire councillors, and the local government representative were congregated in the community hall waiting for proceedings to start. Mr Monroe rose from his seat and got things underway, inviting representatives from each outlying groupie community the opportunity to speak before the local politicians took the stage, and questions from the floor were opened up.

A rare and beautiful thing happened– there was unanimous support for the proposal- and everybody wondered why they went through all the trouble of organising the meeting, the speakers and representatives when the result turned out to be so decisive. In fact things went even beyond their hopes. Not only was it agreed that a school covering grade 1 through to 10 in Karabup, but that there should be a second school set up in a settlement 5 miles away, and even the proposition of scholarships for eager students to board in Manjimup and complete year 12. The local government representative was in full support, and agreed to table these proposals at the sitting of government the next week.

The guilt of the government for their handling of the Group Settlement Scheme must have gotten to them, as plans for the construction of three schools dotted throughout the region, and the provision of electricity to each of the settlements was approved and construction began post haste. By the end of the year we had a school, a teacher, electricity, and a railway siding to a bush block just to the west. Paradise was now opened up to the outside world.

A couple of years after the opening of the school and the connection of electricity a merchant from the nearby town saw an entrepreneurial opportunity and opened a store next to the school and hall. Now the 9 families that presently made up the settlement of Karabup need only travel a few minutes on horse to gather food and supplies, rather than take a day to fill orders in town. Sure there were still some things that a small store couldn’t afford to stock that required a trip into town, but now the staples could be easily sourced from close to home.