OurStory

FAIRBRIDGE MEMORIAL
West Australian - April 19th 1948

Site At Umtali Proposed

An appeal was made recently through "The Times," London for subscriptions to erect at Umtali in Southern Rhodesia some form of memorial to Kingsley Fairbridge, the founder of the Fairbridge Farm Schools. Umtali was Kingsley Fairbridge's early home and it was there on the ranges near the township that he conceived the idea that farm schools throughout the British Empire would provide the best means of adjusting the balance between the over-population of England and the under-population of the Dominions. Children trained for the most part to agriculture and brought up with love and care in the hands of cultured people would, he felt, give the Dominions the type of citizen they so sorely needed.

BIRTHPLACE
For many years past Viscount Devonport has wanted to mark the spot that gave birth to this idea. Mrs. Kingsley Fairbridge was also in sympathy and now the citizens of Umtali have asked for cooperation in such a project. A small English committee, with Viscount Devonport as its chairman, has been formed to further the plan in England, and a committee is also being formed in Southern Rhodesia.
It is thought that old friends and admirers of Kingsley Fairbridge, those who were at Oxford with him and were members of the original Child Emigration Society, may wish to be associated with this scheme More especially it may be that old Fairbridgians will want to have some share in thus honouring their founder. Cheques may be drawn in favour of "Kingsley Fairbridge Memorial" and crossed Barclay's Bank, Rye, Sussex, and sent to Viscount Devonport Peasmarsh-place, Rye, Sussex.

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A STATUE TO RISE IN UMTALI
Umtali Post - 22nd June 1951.

Kingsley Fairbridge, founder of the Farm School at Pinjarra, who died on June 29, 1924, is to be honoured by his home town of Umtali, in Southern Rhodesia.

RHODESIA'S jubilee year will be 1953 and it has been decided that the unveiling of a memorial to Fairbridge shall take place then. Mrs. Kingsley Fairbridge has been invited to perform the ceremony.
The idea of this memorial has been fostered by a committee of Umtali citizens helped by friends in England and other parts of the world. The form the memorial is to take is a statue group in bronze designed by the English sculptor, William McMillan, R.A. It depicts Kingsley as a lad of 12 years with his companions of many foot journeys — his native boy, Jack, and his fox terrier, Vixen.
Task And Vision.
The story is that he had been out some eight miles over the hills surrounding Umtali to do some work for his father, who was a land surveyor.
Owing to the unfriendly attitude of the nearby native village where he had expected to be able to buy food, the little party found themselves, after some days, with an empty larder and the work unfinished. They worked on for nearly three days mostly in drenching rain, and finished the job.
It was while struggling homewards that this boy, faint and starving, began to ask himself: "Why are there no farms here? ... some day I will bring farmers here."
Thus the vision came to him which never let him rest, and thus the seed was sown from which have sprung the Farm Schools which we know today.
The statue is to be set up in a little garden on Christmas Pass, overlooking the now rich farmlands and orchards about Umtali.
The fund for this memorial is still short of some £1,500. Many Old Fairbridgians have already subscribed and it is hoped that there may be a number of Kingsley Fairbridge's old friends and admirers in the State who would like to be associated with Rhodesia in paying honour to one who gave much in the service of this State and in the cause of humanity.
Any willing to subscribe are invited to send their donations, marked "Fairbridge Memorial," to the secretary of the Fairbridge Farm School, Mr. W. E. Aspinall, 168 St. George's-terrace, Perth, and it will be forwarded to the committee in Rhodesia.

With thanks to Fairbridgekids.com for permission to use the images