The Hostel 1961-1975
After 1961 accommodation for country children, primary or secondary, was available at ‘The Hostel’ established by Mrs. A. M. Pumpa of Lara.
The hostel, a converted private dwelling in Yew Street, began with four students but grew to over twenty. Both girls and boys were accepted on a casual, weekly or permanent basis with a matron in charge.
It was run as a private venture by Mrs. Pumpa for several years but was never a paying proposition.
Some funding was eventually arranged by MLA H. O’Donnell, but as the average age of students became higher (after school bus runs began) the difficulty of finding suitable staff led to closure in 1975.
