History Matters || Nan Mellings taught for 35 years

She had been home schooled on the family farm at Pinkett before her high school years when her father William Mellings became a Stock and Station agent, and the family moved into Glen Innes.

An exceptional teacher who progressed from classroom teacher to headmistress in only 10 years, Nan taught for 35 years, first at Tenterfield and later for 27 years in Glen Innes.

Except for a period of two years when she was in Tamworth she was headmistress of the Infants department of the then Glen Innes Practice school from 1953.

In 1945 School Inspector John Pollock noted: "Nan Mellings is a teacher who has impressed me with her work and methods on the occasion of each inspection over the past five years.

"She has an attractive personality, a happy and healthy outlook on life and is strikingly industrious and conscientious.

"In her management of infants classes, she shows skill above average and wins with ease, the love and cooperation of young children. Her teaching ability and her general attitude to her profession should take her a long way in our service."

Despite her 'information technology' mainly consisting of chalk and an inanimate blackboard, film strips and the radio; the Examiner December 9, 1968, reported "Every teacher who came to Glen Innes from another centre said the local school was the best equipped in which they had worked."

Our children's room and school room at the museum will remind you of those school days - come for a nostalgia trip.

Betty Scott was president of the Mother's Club at the school of 280 children at Nan's retirement in 1968.

Kathy Walker presented her with a suitcase and Rex Lyndon and Lea Beness, a beach umbrella.

In her retirement Nan, who excelled at athletics, swimming, hockey, golf and tennis, continued being active in community work including Quota and the Adult Education Association and was one of the foundation members who worked so very hard to establish our museum.