Chapter 35 (1899) The Work in Australia Comes of Age

On January 1, 1899, Ellen White, reviewing the accomplishments in Australia and particularly at the Avondale school, wrote: “Two school buildings are completed, and the main building is now going up. The meeting-house is finished and paid for, but there are fences to be built and trees to set out to make the place pleasant and attractive.... The things that need to be done in order that the work of God in our school shall not be hindered must be done.”—Letter 49, 1899. The third term of school opened a few weeks later, on February 1, to run thirty-six weeks to October 8. S. N. Haskell, who taught through the first two terms of the school and was a strong influence in the institution, was now serving as president of the New South Wales Conference. His wife, who had also taught some of the Bible classes, was, of course, with him in Sydney. This loss of staff members, and the rapid growth of the school, called for some major adjustments in both administration and faculty.4BIO 420.1

Agriculture, a very important part of the Avondale program, needed to be managed and taught by one well qualified. C. B. Hughes, who had served as principal, was assigned that responsibility. The teaching of higher mathematics was added to his duties, as well as that of business manager. A. G. Daniells, president of the Australasian Union Conference, was asked to come to Cooranbong and fill the office of principal temporarily. E. R. Palmer, the general canvassing agent, was to come also as one of the teachers and eventually serve as principal. Several teachers were brought in from Australasia and America to build a proper faculty.4BIO 420.2