Raukkan Aboriginal School, formerly Point McLeay Mission School (GA2458)

The Aborigines' Friends' Association was formed in 1858 in recognition of the fact that the aborigines of the colony were suffering as a result "not merely of the occupation by the colonists of their old hunting-grounds", but also because of "the introduction among them of white man's vices" (1). The remedy was not only physical relief but to make "Christ fully and thoroughly known". (2)

In March 1859 George Taplin was appointed by the Aborigines' Friends' Association to explore the Lakes and Lower Murray area (traditional Ngarrindjeri territory) with a view to establishing a Native School. He was charged with selecting a locality that was "not very distant from the fisheries in which so many of the natives are employed; that it should be so situated as to provide plenty of wood and water, and, (if possible) materials for building; and that, if possible, it should be so far distant from a township as to provide against the danger of evil influences arising out of assocation with white men." (3).

Point McLeay on the eastern shore of Lake Alexandrina was selected. A house was built and Taplin was able to report by the end of 1859, that ten young men aged from 15 to 21, attended the Sunday school conducted from his house (4). Ten years later the school boasted 40 children and 17 men attended evening school (5). The school was largely self-supporting at this period. Revd. Taplin reported the failure of the wheat crop in 1868 to the Government, stating that "the money ... would have....kept our school in flour and provisions and our people in employment ..."(6). Despite the failure of the wheat crop, which Revd. Taplin calculated to represent a loss of some 500 pounds, the Aborigines of the Station had saved 54 pounds of their own money which they intended to use for the construction of cottages and a further 25 pounds towards the building of a church (7). In 1868 also there was a whooping cough epidemic, in which 4 of his pupils died (8). In 1875 Revd. Taplin reported "there are now on the Station fourteen families living in cottages besides school children who are lodging at the school house". At this time the school consisted of 18 girls and 16 boys (9).

In 1879 George Taplin died. His successor, David Blackwell, does not appear to have had the same rapport with residents of Point McLeay as his predecessor. On more than one occasion he complained to the Protector of Aborigines that parents had removed their children from the school. However, as the school was not yet a public school, the compulsory clauses of the Education Act could not be enforced (10).

In 1895 W.E. Dalton, of the Aborigines' Friends' Association reported a new school house was in the process of erection, and acknowledged that the Government was not able to assist with the cost "in view of the state of the Finances of the colony", but requested help with the supply of desks and equipment. A blackboard, easel, 9' long desks and forms, and 3 sets of iron standards ( a combined chair and desk for one) were supplied at cost (11).

In October 1905 disaster struck. Francis Garnett, the Superintendent of Point McLeay wrote a hurried letter to the Protector of Aborigines reporting that "on Monday 30th during dinner hour, the School caught fire. Nothing saved except walls and shelter shed, thanks to efforts of overseer and men .... The probable cause was sparks carried from School fire to thatch by stormy wind blowing at the time." (12).

Not having sufficient funds, the Aborigines' Friends' Association applied to the Government to erect a new building. In the event, it was found that the burnt building could be restored, and was repaired at a cost of 147 pounds, 9 shillings and 5 pence. The labour was supplied by the Ngarrindjeri themselves. Harris Scarfe & Co. supplied the lead bolts and the iron for the (fireproof) roof (13).

At this time also the school teacher and the monitor were made a direct charge on the Education Department, with school materials also to be supplied by the Department. The school was officially classified as a 'Provisional' school and had an average attendance of 67 pupils. Patrick Francis was the teacher. In 1912 the school was re-classified as a 'Public' school. (14).

The school's most widely known old scholar is the preacher, author, inventor, and one of the faces on the fifty dollar note, David Unaipon.

In 1982 at the request of the Ngarrindyeri inhabitants, the name of Point McLeay was changed to Raukkan, a word meaning 'meeting place' (15).

Enrolment in 2013 is 18.

Sources:

(1) First Annual Report of the Aborigines' Friends' Association, 'South Australian Register', 14/11/1859, p.3.
(2) Ibid.
(3) Ibid.
(4) First Annual Report of the Aborigines' Friends' Association, Appendix, 'South Australian Register', 14/11/1859, p.3.
(5) GRG52/1/217/1869.
(6) GRG52/1/171/1868.
(7) Ibid.
(8) GRG52/1/286/1868.
(9) GRG52/1/48/1875.
(10) GRG52/1/283/1889.
(11) GRG52/1/102/1895.
(12) GRG52/1/405/1905.
(13) GRG18/1/181/1905.
(14) Ibid., GRG18/170, SA Education Gazette, 'Official Schools List', 1905 and 1913.
(15) G. Manning, Place Names of South Australia, p.260.