Dyce, Clarence
MURRUMBATEMAN. (From an Occasional Correspondent.)
General regret was felt here on Friday last when it became known that our esteemed and popular Public School teacher, Mr. C. G. Dyce, had received an appointment to Appin, in the Campbelltown district. Mr. Dyce came to Murrumbateman close on thirteen years ago, and during that time he and Mrs. Dyce have endeared themselves to our little community by their kindly and sympathetie interest they have displayed in all the joys and sorrows alike of their pupils and neighbours, and it is felt that their departure will leave a social gap in our little circle which will not readily be filled.
As a mark of the esteem in which they were held, Mr. G. Merriman on Tuesday last, on behalf of the residents of the district, presented Mr. and Mrs. Dyce with a handsome silver tea and coffee service. In making the presentation Mr. Merriman referred to the length of time they had all known Mr. Dyce, and he could say without fear of contradiction that in all that time Mr. Dyce had made many friends and no enemies. As a rule he (Mr. Merriiman) did not believe in this "send-off" business - it was over done; but in Mr. Dyce's case he was sure they all felt with him that it was only a very inadequate mark of their appreciation of his long years of patient toil and apparently unrecognised merit.
As a teacher he had performed his duties kindly and conscientiously, and had ever been to the front in any movement for the benefit of his neighbours or the good of the district. His quiet and unassuming manner had stamped him as one of Nature's noble men, and won for him the respect and affection of all who were associated with him. He concluded by wishing Mr. and Mrs. Dyce every prosperity in their future field of action on be half of all present, after which he asked them all to drink to their health and happiness. The request, needless to say, was responded to with enthusiasm.
Mr. Dyce, who was taken by surprise, was considerably affected by the manifestations expressed on all sides by his old friends and neighbours. Some of the young men he saw before him (including several who were married) were former pupils who had entered upon and completed their school life under his tuititon, which brought home to him the fact that he must be growing old-in years at any rate-though he was still as young at heart as ever when he joined his old pupils in a game of cricket or tennis. He would always cherish a warm place in his heart for the people of Murrumbateman, who had proved them selves good nelghbours and true friends during his long stay among them. He thanked them from his heart for all the kind wishes they had expressed for the welfare of himself and family, and for the handsome, and valuable present, which would be treasured in his family as an heirloom for, he hoped, generations to come.
Mr. Dyce took his departure on Wednesday last. His family are to follow in a few days. Mr. Fairley, who succeeds him, entered upon his duties on Monday last. He comes to us with the reputation of an efficient and painstaking teacher, and it is to be hoped that parents will endeavour to encourage him as far as possible by sending their children regularly to school, so as to improve the attendance, which has fallen off lamentably during the past year or two.
[Goulburn Evening Penny Post, Tuesday 2 September 1902]
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- Murrumbateman School
11/1889 - 08/1902