Many of the former pupils attending the jubilee of the Mount Duneed State School in March 1928 remembered Andrew Thomson Abercrombie. He began teaching at the common school held in the Church of England building in 1868. Over a hundred students were attending which necessitated the appointment of Thomas Rainford to assist. Education was not free and it was not compulsory. Every Monday morning fees were collected. The new state school was opened on 11 February, 1878 across the road from the Church of England school, on the corner of Torquay and Mount Duneed Roads. Andrew Abercrombie became the head teacher at the new school until 1882. |
In 1866 he married Mary Anna, daughter of Samuel and Anna (née Heath) Kenshole. Their children were:
Jessie Elizabeth — born 23 June 1867 Chilwell, Geelong, married Creighton Wilson Rankine 24 May 1898 (Queen's birthday) at Christian Chapel, Swanston Street, Melbourne, died 1912 Hawthorn
Mary Anna — born 1869 Mount Duneed, married Thomas Stafford
Agnes — born 29 July 1870 Mount Duneed, married Sidney John Grace 20 January 1892 at her father's house Albert Park, died 1895 Cue WA
Blanch — born 15 June 1872 Mount Duneed, Mount Duneed. On 18 December 1887 Blanch, aged 5 years, died from a fractured skull caused by a kick from a horse on 14th December. This happened after school when her father had unharnessed the horse. She was buried at Mount Duneed Cemetery.
Mary Beatrice Heath — born 1874 Mount Duneed, married Walter Thistlethwaite 16 November 1898 at her father's residence, died 1952 Malvern
Constance Lucretia — born 1876 Mount Duneed, died 9 March 1906 Murchison
Andrew — born 17 Jun 1878 Mount Duneed, died 1970 Camberwell
Maud Thomson — born 1880 Mount Duneed, married Dickson Russell Johnston
Ralph — born 19 Jun 1881 Mount Duneed, died 3 May 1957 Hawthorn. He was appointed Auditor-General as from 1 September 1938. He continued in this role until 1946.
Eva Mabel — born 1883 Tower Hill, died 1969 Balwyn
James McGregor — born 1885 Tower Hill, died 1960 Camberwell, died 1960 Camberwell
He took an active interest in public life and held many honorary positions including treasurer of the Victorian Male Teachers Association and president of the State Schools Teachers' Union.
In March 1910, while head teacher of Victoria Park State School, he retired after 45 years' service. The staff and scholars presented him with a dressing case, travelling rug, silver serviette ring, gold medal and other tokens of appreciation. He had commenced his career in the beginning of 1865 as a trainee in the old Queen Street Church of England Training College. He then served in Geelong at the Saffron Street Wesleyan Day School (a common school), Mount Duneed, Koroit, Melbourne, Saint Kilda, South Melbourne, Bendigo and Victoria Park.
He died at the age of 81 at his home "Woodlands" in Yarra Street, Hawthorn, Victoria on 2 March 1926. Mary Anna died in 1885.
A younger brother of Andrew T Abercrombie, Ralph, born in 1855, taught for four years at a night school in the old St James School buildings in Aberdeen Street, Newtown which were on the east side of Cumberland Street. This school, which began in January 1876 as Newtown State School used the buildings of the old St James school until the new Newtown State School was built further west in Aberdeen Street. He also assisted in day classes. He moved to Yarram Yarram near Port Albert in 1880. |