THE Bega Pioneers' Museum has countless files on people and places. This history was researched and written by Robert Russell on the occasion of the Tanja Public School Centenary in 1978.
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MR BRYON started as the teacher in 1904 and during his time, the school was distinguished as a prize-winner at Bega and other district shows. In 1912 Mr Byron exchanged with a teacher at Bredbo and had three months leave of absence. He was a good teacher, but hard on the children. His daughter, who was a frail girl, died in Tanja.
Mr Fred Long was appointed to Tanja in April 1912, but had a nervous breakdown and was relieved for a short time by G Watson-Brown, who came via steamer on June 29, 1912. Michael Corrigan's coach brought him to Tanja, via Bega, for a fare of 15 shillings. On Empire Day, 1912, Tanja joined with Wapengo to celebrate the opening of a new school at Wapengo.
Later Mr French was appointed temporarily, as was Mr Carr of Murrah Provisional School. Mr Long appeared to have come back for a short time until he was transferred in May, 1915. Mrs Alex Munro of Hillside was recommended as a teacher of sewing at two shillings and sixpence a week for four hours.
With the coming of Mr Farmer in May 1915, the area seemed to enter a new period of change. Teachers remained much longer. Mr Farmer came from Tumbarumba and loved to spin tales of that area. In October, Mr Farmer fell off his bicycle and hurt his shoulder and was on leave for two weeks, and then in the next month his family had a outbreak of scarlatina.
Mr Farmer always had a good garden and was very fond of music. He played the piano at social functions, besides teaching the piano to many of the young people, at times walking three miles each way to give lessons. It was daylight when he left but he carried a hurricane lamp for his return journey.
All played at local dances. How the children enjoyed the Cinderellas and, at suppertime, they took their partners up and across the stage in the hall, down the steps to the supper room underneath the stage. The food was kept in carry-alls and the babies in the lids of same.
Sometime in 1919, Tanja and Wapengo residents arranged a peace picnic and the pupils were all given Peace Medals with a red, white and blue ribbon attached.
During Education Week, 1922, Mr Farmer was well received as was the singing of the pupils of Tanja School. With Mr Nicholson of the Wapengo School, he organised several large picnic sports on Mr Taylor's property.