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Gormly, Mr James

James Gormly (1902-1997) was a teacher at Mulligan's Flat and Tallagandra Part-Time Schools from 1923 to 1926 and at Glenwood Public School from 1926 to 1935, when Glenwood closed.

James Gormley recalls having to travel seven miles between Mulligan's Flat and Tallagandra Schools, which he did for four years:

"...the old half draught horse Mick Cavanagh gave me to ride. I used to canter half a mile and then walk the old mare the next half mile as she was puffing and blowing after half a mile."...

He then purchased a push bike.

"The creek at 'Spring Flat' gave me a lot of trouble and one day as I was travelling per push bike it snowed all the way. I guess I cursed the Department of Education freely and I was mighty glad to get to school and get a blazing fire going to thaw my frozen legs which were wet up to above my knees..........I was mighty glad when I was able by September to get a transfer to the school at Glenwood where I was able to board at Mr and Mrs Will Worthy's house and had only to walk across to the school a couple of hundred yards away."

(L. Gillespie, 'Early Education and Schools in the Canberra Region', pp 203 – 204.)

He married Irene Veronica Pratt (1901-1998) who was also a schoolteacher. Irene Pratt taught at Glenwood from 1922 to 1926. They resided at 'Glenona', Hall, opposite the Hall Sportsground for several years to 1935. Together they raised five children : James, Joseph, Joan, Richard and David. Both James and Irene are buried in the Bungendore Cemetery

The Canberra Times Wednesday 9 January 1935:

'Mr. J. Gormly, who is at present living in Hall, and was teaching at the Glenwood School, has been removed to a small school twenty miles from Wagga. Mr. Gormly has been in this district for twelve and a half years, first teaching at Mulligan's Flat and later removed to Glenwood. He has taken an active part in the Hall Cricket Club and tennis club for a number of years, and has done much for both clubs. A farewell will be tendered to Mr. and Mrs. Gormly and family in Kinlyside's Hall on January l8th'

Gormly Grove, Gungahlin, was named after him. Gormly also taught at Tallagandra, and at Glenwood Schools. He married Irene Pratt, also a teacher, and lived at 'Glenona', Hall, for several years to 1935.

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James Gormly
James Gormly

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