It was a very special day for the Ball family of Goorangoola near Singleton on Thursday when five-year-old Isabell became the fourth generation of the family to attend Mount Pleasant Public School.
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Joined by former students, her father David and grandfather Greg Ball, on her first day at school Isabell was happy to be continuing the family tradition at Mt Pleasant, one of Singleton’s five district ‘small’ schools.
It all began back in 1944 when her late great grandfather Allan Ball started at Mt Pleasant. Allan boarded with the school’s principal and despite his misgivings about attending school lasted until 1946 when he went to boarding school at St Gregory’s Campbelltown.
Greg attended Mt. Pleasant from June 1966 to 1970 and then David from 1993 to 1999.
In the 74 years since Allan first enrolled much has changed in particular access to the school from the Ball’s property.
A number of the creek crossings have been replaced by bridges and causeways providing safer and more reliable access to the school and Singleton.
But given the current drought conditions in the district flooded creeks are not an issue.
Louise Nichols
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
From cattle to coal. Once a specialist agriculture writer today its about community, in particular, the Upper Hunter. I have lived and worked in the region for more than 30 years. Land use issues and the future direction of our region. But you cannot take ag out of the picture - our food and how we grow it is the basis of all life. Covering the Hunter and Mid North Coast rural issues is now part of my role with ACM.
