Gerringong Public School is having its 150th anniversary and I wanted to tell you the tale of one of the teachers from the Second World War era.

Helen McKinlay came to Gerringong on her first appointment from Sydney. Her parents were Scottish and she was an only child. She came to replace Eileen Agar, who came from a farming family south of Berry.

There were not very many places for a young teacher new to the district to rent at that time, so she did what most young teachers did in those days and boarded with a lovely couple, Alf and Sarah Cooper.

This couple had lived in Kangaroo Valley for all of their working lives. They had retired to Gerringong, living in one of the town’s original buildings.

They loved having Helen as a boarder both for the company and the help it gave them financially.

Helen had only one regret about her time with them and that was that she did not record their stories of life in Kangaroo Valley.

She enjoyed her time at Gerringong PS and in the local district.

One memory she had was of having dances with US servicemen. She said they were perfect gentlemen and boy could they dance.

Even though they had to dance in combat boots she never had her toes trodden on.

She also remembered getting on a team bus from Gerringong Rugby League Club that was provided for supporters in a match against Berry.

Helen and my mother Elva hopped on (there was little petrol so going on any trip anywhere was a special treat) and went to Berry with the other supporters.

Unfortunately, they were not invited back as they showed more interest in the shops than the big game!

Helen and Arthur Walker.

After leaving Gerringong she taught in a number of other schools but was forced to give up her cherished career because she got married - imagine saying that to the female staff of Gerringong PS today!

I remember visiting her, as she was my Godmother, and she would love to tell me stories of the good times she had teaching.

Helen told me that two grown-up men had sought her out specifically to tell that her teaching had made a big influence in their lives.

Later she lived in Penshurst and raised two children, Ina and Margaret, and many grandchildren as Mrs Helen Walker.

She passed away in 2015 at the ripe old age of 94.

When cleaning out her possessions, an unpleasant but necessary task for any child, Ina asked me if there was anything that I wanted.

I said if they came across anything from her time in Gerringong, I would appreciate it.

One thing they came across was her class at Gerringong in 1945. And what a lovely looking bunch of kids they are.

There is only one major problem with the photo. There are no names.

Now I would like the help of any old Gerringong residents or descendants.

Is there anybody out there in the Gerringong district who can name any of the children? I reckon you would have to be about 85 to 90 now.

Any help would be appreciated.

I remember Helen as one of the loveliest human beings I ever met. I reckon those in Gerringong in 1945 who knew Miss McKinlay would agree.