Tinonee Memorial School of Arts and Honour Roll

About

The Tinonee Memorial School of Arts is a typically designed country hall, with a high gabled facade, constructed of weatherboard, and a galvanised iron roof. There is a porch over the front entrance, which contains an honour roll recording the names of those who served in various conflicts from the First World War onwards. Of the 19 local men who enlisted for service in the First World War, 12 were killed in action with two being awarded the Military Medal. The roll was unveiled on 20 April 2002. It contains elements from the original honour roll tablets, which were unveiled on 14 March 1954, along with the porch.  The hall There was an early Tinonee Federal Hall by February-April 1903. A new Federal Hall was official opened in February 1913. In February 1944, action was taken to establish a Tinonee Memorial School of Arts (The Manning River Times and Advocate, 12 February 1944). Fundraising events were then held at the Federal Hall, including dances, euchre games, race days and sports days. Donations were also received towards the memorial fund. On 18 August 1945, The Northern Champion reported on the annual meeting of the Tinonee Memorial School of Arts held that month. The article said the Federal Hall had been purchased to become the School of Arts. Six gentlemen contributed 50 pounds each to pay the purchase price of 300 pounds.  Almost four years later, at a meeting of the memorial fund on 14 February 1949, designs for a proposed set of memorial gates were reviewed, but no decision was made. The hall may have also received a new facade treatment that year, as the Champion wrote on 5 October that the hall "stands resplendent now in its new protective and decorative covering." The porch  By the annual general meeting on 31 July, the memorial fund contained more than 100 pounds. Attendees discussed the form the memorial would take, with the State Head Quarters of the RSL suggesting a memorial avenue with attached plaques. Mr V.O. Dennes of Tinomee presented an plan for changes and additions to the facade of the School of Arts and plans for canvassing donations were made (Northern Champion, 5 August 1950). In November 1950, it was decided to build a porch at the entrance of the School of Arts, the pillars of which would bear tablets with names of the 17 local men who fell in the First and Second World Wars. Mr Dennes went through the plans and a sub-committee was formed to obtain technical advice and prices (Northern Champion, 2 December 1950).  The dedication of the porch and unveiling of the honour roll tablets took place on 14 March 1954. The service was witnessed by a large crowd and included members of the RSL who led the Anzac Day commemoration portion of the afternoon. The porch was dedicated by Mr. P.E. Lucock M.P. The tablets were unveiled by Miss Pankhurst, who had served in the Australian Army Nursing Service in the First World War (The Northern Champion, 19 March 1954).