history

Tallowood School

A Brief History of Tallowood School

In 1984 a small group of parents unhappy with the school system available and wanting more say in the children's education decided to go ahead with their own school. They want the school had cared about individuals and grouped them in family groupings as opposed true age groups. They also hoped to help children have a say in their own education and take some responsibility for their own learning as opposed always 'being taught'.

The school opened in February 1985 with eight children and one teacher in a vacated bedroom at Lyn and Ed Orrego's home at "Kookaburra Farm". By June of that year they had bought this land. Together they put up the converted railway portable that this new building has replaced. By September they were in the new school, Tallowood School.

All this had been done their own money as funding was not available until the end of 1986 for 1987. In 1988 the new building was commenced and completed, or without any assistance except that of the parents and friends. Likewise in 1993 our other classroom was completed by the parents and their friends, once again without any financial assistance.
In 2000 the old railway portable was finally replaced by a new library / office, and for the first time we received assistance from the federal government in order to make this possible.

However, Tallowood has never been just buildings. The people and their ideas, and their ideals have made Tallowood the special place that many students and their parents have come to look fondly back on as they pursue their lives. While Tallowood may have changed in some respects with the changing needs of our society the one thing that has always remained is the Tallowood spirit, and it is this is that keeps us on track.

That special feeling that all of us who work and study here have Tallowood must be contagious because over the years we have received so much help and positive reinforcements from members of our local community as well as other bodies such as the AIS, the Board of Studies and the Department of School Education. All of these groups have been of great assistance over our 17 years of running.

Tallowood school has been fortunate in being able to secure teachers who could see what Tallowood was aiming to do. Without their dedication to those aims we likewise might not be here today.

Finally, the students and their parents. Many students and parents have passed through these doors. All have special needs and talents. They have given what they can toward the school and its running. Most have gained and look back fondly on their stay with us. They have played a crucial role in the development of Tallowood. The school would not be what it is today without our parents and their children.

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Hand-Made Houses - 2005

Hand-Made Houses - 2004

Hand-Made Houses Tour 2003

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