Family & Schooling
Family
Arthur Shannon was born in the small Victorian border town of Yarrawonga, on the Murray River, on 12 February 1915.
He spent the first 15 years of his life in the town, where his father ( an Irish immigrant) operated a general store.
Arthur's mother grew up on a family farm at Telford about 12 miles south of Yarrawonga. Caroline Chappell attended the South Yarrawonga State School, where she obtained the Merit Certificate.
He spent the first 15 years of his life in the town, where his father ( an Irish immigrant) operated a general store.
Arthur's mother grew up on a family farm at Telford about 12 miles south of Yarrawonga. Caroline Chappell attended the South Yarrawonga State School, where she obtained the Merit Certificate.
Arthur was the eldest of three children born to John and Carrie Shannon (nee Chappell).
His two siblings were George and Elsie.
John Shannon had six other children by a previous marriage.
His two siblings were George and Elsie.
John Shannon had six other children by a previous marriage.
Mary Schultz suffered poor health for many years.
Twelve years after their marriage, John Shannon moved his family from the Melbourne suburb of Richmond to benefit Mary's health in the warmer, drier climate experienced by Yarrawonga. However, after just five years in Yarrawonga, Mary died from consumption, exacerbated by a fall. The couple's youngest child, Elizabeth, was only 14 months old. Mary's sister, Lizzie Schultz, initially stayed with John Shannon to look after the children. Sarah Caroline Chappell was later employed as a housekeeper. After about six years, Carrie and John were married on 10th April 1914. |
Arthur was close to the children from his father's first marriage. He was especially close to his half sister Elizabeth, the youngest child from the first marriage, while he was the eldest from the second family, putting them relatively close in age.
Elizabeth Shannon, later Elizabeth Kennedy.
She was Arthur's youngest half sister. Her husband Ken, trained in the Army at Albury at the same time Arthur was posted there. The three used to enjoy picnics in the Albury area during army leave. Ken Kennedy fought on Rabaul in New Britain, and was among more than one thousand Australian troops and civilians taken captive by a huge Japanese invasion force in 1942. For information about the tragedy which followed the fall of Rabaul, click HERE . This will take you to the Albury/Bonegilla page and the section Some Leisure Time. |
Living on the edge of the Murray River instilled in Arthur a life-long love of the bush and the river, and natural history.
Click HERE to see photos taken by Arthur of some of his favourite places.
When his father retired from business in 1930, Arthur moved with his family to Melbourne.
They purchased a house in Heatherbrae Avenue, Glen Huntley. Although being only about 10 miles from the centre of Melbourne ,the suburb in those days still had many vacant blocks of land .
Arthur was to live in the family home for almost four decades.
Click HERE to see photos taken by Arthur of some of his favourite places.
When his father retired from business in 1930, Arthur moved with his family to Melbourne.
They purchased a house in Heatherbrae Avenue, Glen Huntley. Although being only about 10 miles from the centre of Melbourne ,the suburb in those days still had many vacant blocks of land .
Arthur was to live in the family home for almost four decades.
Following the death of his mother in 1966 Arthur purchased a semi-detached property in Albion Street , Caulfield South.
As the crow flies it was less than 1.5 km ( under a mile) from the old family home.
He enjoyed living in his Caulfield South home and tending its gardens for almost 40 years.
As the crow flies it was less than 1.5 km ( under a mile) from the old family home.
He enjoyed living in his Caulfield South home and tending its gardens for almost 40 years.
Schooling
Arthur's early education was gained at the Yarrawonga State and Higher Elementary School ( above photo: from Google Maps, shows the older part of the present school complex).
The school did not have a library, and at that time the School Readers had not been introduced.
The only reading material for children when Arthur was in Grade 3 in 1922 was the newly-introduced School Paper which cost one penny at the newsagents.
It was published by the Victorian Education Department.
Arthur retained his very first edition ( 1st February 1922) all of his life. Because it was read and re-read , he and his classmates were "sick of it" by the time the next month's edition was due.
The school did not have a library, and at that time the School Readers had not been introduced.
The only reading material for children when Arthur was in Grade 3 in 1922 was the newly-introduced School Paper which cost one penny at the newsagents.
It was published by the Victorian Education Department.
Arthur retained his very first edition ( 1st February 1922) all of his life. Because it was read and re-read , he and his classmates were "sick of it" by the time the next month's edition was due.
Arthur's First Term Report for 1923 shows he obtained marks above the Class
Average in Arithmetic, Composition, Grammar,Dictation and Reading. At the end of Term Three his teacher noted he "tried hard".
The young Arthur excelled in sports while at the Yarrawonga School. At 12 years of age, in 1927 he won the School's Junior Championship. Winning the 100 yards and 220 yards running events and the Long Jump gave him sufficient points to take off the Championship. This was despite being beaten in the High Jump.
Arthur completed Year 10 at Yarrawonga in 1929 ,gaining the Intermediate Certificate.
Average in Arithmetic, Composition, Grammar,Dictation and Reading. At the end of Term Three his teacher noted he "tried hard".
The young Arthur excelled in sports while at the Yarrawonga School. At 12 years of age, in 1927 he won the School's Junior Championship. Winning the 100 yards and 220 yards running events and the Long Jump gave him sufficient points to take off the Championship. This was despite being beaten in the High Jump.
Arthur completed Year 10 at Yarrawonga in 1929 ,gaining the Intermediate Certificate.
In 1930, Arthur started the last years of his high school education
at Melbourne Boys High School at South Yarra ( above photo). At left is the teenage student wearing his Melbourne High blazer and badge. It was at Melbourne High that Arthur developed a life-long interest in Geology. See Volcanoes on this website. He did his Leaving Certificate Year in 1930, and Leaving Honours in Form Six in 1931-32. At left, MBHS School Crest. Throughout his life, Arthur Shannon lived up to the school's motto "Honour The Work" |