Mallacoota was founded on the fishing industry and for we children one of the most exciting times of the year was late April when professional fishermen with their families arrived from other Gippsland fishing towns for the opening of the season on May 1st. It closed again in October. The arrival of the children swelled the numbers of our school. Robinsons from Paynesville, Mitchellsons from Lakes Entrance and Casements from Metung who would later live here permanently. There was always a fear of school closure if the numbers dropped (I think below eight) so many parents sent their children younger than five years of age. Mione was four and a half. In those days there was not enticement for children to commence school and it was not unusual to see parents literally carrying kicking screaming kids to the school gates only for them to double back and head for home.