George Pestorius, The Teacher
There are two parts to the life of George Pestorius, one is as a Soldier in WW1 and the other is as a well respected Teacher for the Education Department of Qld. The following is a summary of George’s life as a teacher and his career as a soldier was covered in a previous blog which you can read here.
George Pestorius’ lifelong connection with education and the Queensland Education Department commenced with his first day of school, January 23rd 1899 at Maryborough Central Boys State School. His brothers Alfred and Percy also attended while sister Gladys attended the Central Girls School. The PESTORIUS children were high achievers, all receiving State Scholarships to further their education at Maryborough Grammar School. He began his teaching career, age fourteen when he was appointed Pupil teacher at Tinana State School and became a classified teacher in 1910. His potential for teaching, empathy, and connection with school children was recognised early in his career when he was chosen to attend a Special Instructional Course for teachers at Gatton Agricultural College in 1911. Transfers to schools at Many Peaks as Assistant teacher 1913, Haly’s Creek, Hemmant and Enoggera followed.
A transfer to Enoggera state school in 1914 brought George in contact with a very attractive young teacher, Miss Emily Helen HEALEY. Romance followed and their engagement was announced in 1915 following his transfer to Imbil state school. In December 1915, Miss Emily HEALEY resigned as a State school teacher.
On Saturday 12 February 1916, page 6 of the The Queenslander (Brismane, Qld: 1866 – 1939) carried the following report “A pretty but quiet wedding was celebrated at the residence of the bride’s parents on January 17, when Mr George Charles Pestorius (head teacher of the Imbil State School, Mary River) was married to Miss Emily Helen Healey, (second daughter of Mr W. A Healey, head teacher State school, Enoggera). The Rev. Douglas Price officiated. The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a beautiful gown of fine white voile, trimmed with guipure, and a handsome wreath and veil. Mr. and Mrs. W.A.Healey afterwards entertained those present on the verandah of the school residence, where a wedding breakfast was served. Later in the evening Mr and Mrs Pestorus left for their new home at Imbil.”
George PESTORIUS enlisted in July 1916 and in August 1916 his wife Emily Helen applied to be re admitted to the teaching service and was duly appointed as acting head teacher of the Imbil State School to take charge of Imbil in her husband’s absence. On George’s return to teaching, Emily resigned and her husband resumed his postion at Imbil. Emily was “credited for the excellent work she had performed in the three years she ran the school. She had planted quite a number of trees; conducted outdoor work with the children in vegetable and farm plots; and interested the children in agriculture to a ‘far greater extent than many male teachers in similar schools’. On his return, George had expanded on this good work by having each child keep detailed records of all the work performed. Several years of data could be easily accessed detailing the weather, rainfall and crops. The senior classes were engaged in experiments on maize and pototoes and the plesing feature is that the child learns by doing.” Prestoruis was commended for ensuring his teaching especially suited the children of the district. (Agricultural Inspector’s Report, 8 June 1921. QSA, Item 1D 995793.)
Imbil State School occupied two acres of river flats comprising high quality rich sandy loam. The school had re opened in 1915, and the head teacher George Charles PESTORIUS, along with his wife Emily Helen PRESTORUIS, had seen the school build from around ten pupils in 1916 to one hundred and thirty pupils when inspected in 1921. Around this time, vigorous discussions were being held within the Education department on the merits or otherwise of establishing further Rural schools in regional areas. The Rural School at Imbil officially began in February 1925 with George PESTORIUS judged as well fitted for such wrrk, not just involving himself, but leading the community, in advancing agriculture within the district. He was vice president of the local show society and initiated events at the show to involve the youth of the district. He was vice president of the local show society and initiated events at the show to involve the youth of the district, e.g. junior judging of cattle at the show. Pupils from the district’s schools were attending vocational classes at Imbil by March 1925.
Two children were born to George and Emil PRESTORIUS while they were at Imbil. Their only son, Harry George was born on December 6th 1919 at Maryborough, followed by the birth of a daughter, Rita Margaet at “Emsleigh Private Hospital Imbil on February 21st 1925, Dr. R McDonald and Nurse Carter in attendance.” (Brisbane Courier, Tuesday, 24 Februaty, 1925).
The PRESTORIUS family left Imbil in July 1926 and were living at Home Hill when their second daughter June Pamela was born on June 26th 1930. From Home Hill Rural School, George was transferred as Head teacher to Ross Island School, Townsville. He had attained to the rank of Class 1. Division 1. In January 1936, he was promoted to District Inspector of Schools for the Far Northern District based at Cairns with further postings to Mackay, Rockhampton and Bundaberg district. Five years later the family were living in Kelvin Grove, Brisbane where George gave his occupation as Public Servant in the 1941 Electoral roll. George Charles PESTORIUS died, age fify four years on June 23, 1946 thus bringing to a close an illustrious teaching career spanning forty one years with the Queensland Education Department.
Many newspapers of the day carried notices of his death with the following appearing in The Morning Bulletin (Rockhampton, Qld; 1878-1954), Monday 8 July 1946, page 3 “Mr, G.G.Pestorius Obituary notices in the Brisbane Press mark the passing of George Charles Pestoruis, Inspector of Schools under the Department of Public Instruction. He will be lamented by hosts of friends and generations of young Queenslanders to whom he was mentor and benefactor. He was born at Maryborough on November 8, 1891 and in due course passed the Scholarship examination, thus gaining admittance to the Maryborough Grammar School, where he received his secondary education. He was appointed a pupil teacher at Tinana School at the age of 14 years, and became a classified teacher in 1910. He served as head teacher at Haly’s Creek, as assistant teacher at Many Peaks, Enoggera and Hemmant and as head teacher at Imbil Rural School, Home Hill Rural School and Ross Island (Townsville). In 1936 he was appointed in-spector of Schools and was stationed in that capacity in the Carins, Mackay-Rockhampton and Bundaberg districts, and for a year prior to his death was emplyed at head office, Brisbane. In July 1916, he enlisted in the AIF and was a member of the 26th Battallion, being discharged medically unfit in March 1919 after three years’ service, two served overseas. During later years he was an enthusiastic bowler and a popular member of the Ithaca Bowling Club. He was a member of Lodges Telford, Imbil; AIF Memorial, Townsville; and Ashgrove, Brisbane. Mr Pestorius is survived by his wife (formerly Miss Emma Healey) a member of a well known teaching family), son Harry and daughters Margaret and June. A sister, Miss Gladys Pestoruis, lives in Brisbane, and a brother, Percy, at Tambo. Legions of friends throughout the State will mourn the passing of a great citizen, a foremost educationalist, and a kingly gentleman. He will be long remembered by those privielged to enjoy the warmth of his friendship.
The Maryborough Chronicle Wide Bay and Burnett Advertiser (Qld: 1860-1947), Saturday 6 July 1946, page 3 stated “Many pupils and teachers have cause for gratitude for his assistance and for his ready and sympathetic understanding at all times. By his passing, the Education Department lost one of it’s foremost officers and many Queenslanders will miss a genial and warm hearted friend”.
Such was the measure of the man and his ethics, three of the pupils who signed the Welcome Home presentation to George PESTORIUS in 1919, Jean DIGGENS, Roy ROBINSON and Arthur BARSBY, went on to make teaching teir career. Emily Helen PESTORIUS was living at Trout Street Ashgrove when she died July 25th 1982. George and Emily PESTORIUS are commemorated at Mt Thompson Memorial Gardens and Crematorium, Brisbane.
This story was written by Val Buchanan.
Ref:
Mary Valley Sub branch R.S.L
Trove newspapers N.L.A.
Family Search
Imbil School Centenary 1897-1997
Maryborough State High School Education Dept. W.W.1 plague
Gordon Family Tree
Ancesty.com
Nat. Archive Australia. Record Search
Qld. Dept. Public Instruction
The Rural School Experiment, creating a Queensland Yoeman. By Tony James Brady.
Imbil, Jewel of the Mary Valley by Joy King
State Library of Victoria, The Green collection
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