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Featured Story from the Archives about Danebank's first Headmistress:

Edith Roseby Ball. A Life of Service
“How noble she was, how understanding, how patient to this spastic pupil. While society offered a child such as mine no escape from a life of boredom and illiteracy, Miss Ball with her innate goodness and faith, defied convention, and taught this child to concentrate, absorb and learn.”
These words were written about Miss Edith Roseby Ball, Danebank's founding Headmistress, by the mother of a boy who suffered from spastic paralysis. He had been (incorrectly) labelled as “mentally retarded” and refused entry to conventional schooling during the 1940's. His mother undertook courses in Speech Therapy in order to help her son speak and become mobile. She met Miss Roseby Ball at Danebank when she attended some university courses which were being held at the school. Miss Roseby Ball suggested to the mother that the boy attend Danebank where he remained for eight years. “She was as determined to impart knowledge to this little handicapped lad and care for his cultural and intellectual role in life, as I was to develop his muscles and co-ordinate his brain with movements”. The boy continued his education when he left Danebank and found employment. “His two brothers…are prominent in the medical profession…but their achievements are not comparable with that of their younger brother whose courage, determination and fortitude hall-mark him as one of Miss Ball's greatest achievements in her teaching career.”(Letter from Mrs Duncan written in 1967)

The records of Danebank's founding years are incomplete. From available information, however, a picture of Miss Ball emerges, of a woman who was “firm but fair” with the children, was a role model with a strong sense of propriety and high standards, was interested in the latest educational trends, who had definite ideas about how children learn, who worked tirelessly to develop her new school and who expressed her Christian faith by reaching out to serve the needs of children in her care and their families. Miss Ball was responsible for instituting the most valuable traditions of the school: a Christian school; a school where less able children in our society are accommodated; where students are educated to be useful, achieving members of society; a learning environment which supports innovative academic programs; continued development of facilities; and strong academic outcomes.

At first, in 1933, Miss Ball was the sole teacher of 5 pupils. She was also the administrator of the school. She had become acquainted with the latest educational trends while a probationary teacher at SCEGGS Redlands. “ Redlands was the first school in Sydney to have a modern practising kindergarten. The methods used here were so exciting and different from the old humdrum of teaching young children – it caught my imagination immediately… I discovered my life's calling, which was kindergarten and preparatory education with young children”. The curriculum, called “the new education”, was based on the premise that “children must learn to do by experience” rather than an over-emphasis on formal academic lessons. “The new education has shifted the emphasis from the school to the child, from mere learning to understanding, thinking and doing.” (written in 1937)

Miss Roseby Ball remained Danebank's Headmistress until 1950. During these years of great development, she relied on parents and the Reverend G.S. Richmond, Rector of St George's Church of England at Hurstville, for support. She was a modest, self effacing person for whom service was a practical ideal. It is apt that she chose “Ut Prosim” (That I May Serve) as Danebank's motto. She lived her life as a testimony to this ideal, as an expression of her faith. She also emphasised the value of serving others to her students: “School is a preparation for life. The complete life is one of service. How can we then lead, follow and serve without knowledge and understanding, thinking and doing.” (1937)

Miss Ball established the “new education” at Danebank and extended the pupils' awareness by gradually (as enrolments increased) employing a number of additional teachers. By 1937, she had a full time assistant teacher as well as visiting teachers who taught a range of subjects such as Art, Music, French and Elocution. The student population was 21 with 2 classes being taught from pre school level to Year 4. Parents were an integral part of the school and Miss Ball, intent upon assisting parents to understand their offspring better, initiated a parents' university tutorial class in Child Psychology. The class was well attended and was later extended to a second course by popular request.

In 1939, Australia entered World War 2. Miss Ball responded to the crisis by establishing Danebank's first boarding house. The children, some as young as 3 years old, were from families whose fathers were away at war and whose mothers needed to work as a consequence. A large air raid shelter and trenches were also dug by the fathers. Miss Knox, Miss Ball's first assistant teacher, described Miss Ball during those years as “an excellent Kindergarten teacher. She was a lovely lady, tall and strong and very clear in what she wanted to do. She seemed to know what the children were thinking. She knew everything. She wanted the children to be happy all the time they were at school.” (Miss Knox addressed the students of the school at a return visit to Danebank in 2003).

By the end of the war years, difficulties regarding accommodation were highlighted, particularly in accommodating the older students. Solutions were costly and Miss Ball did not have the means to support further expansion. She also had her personal “difficulty” in that her mother was elderly. She decided, therefore, to leave Danebank in 1950 to look after her aging mother. Before leaving, however, Miss Roseby Ball ensured that the future stewardship of the school was established. She arranged for Danebank to become one of a number of schools which operated under the auspices of the Anglican Diocese.

By the end of her 17 years at the school, Miss Edith Roseby Ball had established the traditions that we value today. Danebank' growth by 1950 bore testimony to the high standards, innate sense of rightness and outstanding service of this truly remarkable woman.
(written by Ms Jane Rees, Director of Development)