Noeline wishes to obtain the bell to create a memorial to a group of Aunties who promoted education for the Indigenous population, in the belief that it is the last remaining piece of the Aboriginal Reserve School. 

However James and Alf are certain the Reserve School bell and MEPS bell are not the same.

“She said there that the bell had been donated to the Aboriginal school by the local fire brigade. That's not on, that definitely did not happen,” James said. 

In a letter to the editor, he explained that his father Arthur Pritchard built the new fire station with Hetherington & Pritchard Building Contractors in 1962, and requested the bell for MEPS, the school he’d built three years previous. Noeline believes the fire department bell was initially donated to the Reserve School, before following Aunty Maynee Saunders to MEPS after its closure. 

“He had no association with the Aboriginal school at all, and he was the one that got the thing organised and got the thing donated to the primary school,” James said.

“It needs to be said that it didn't come from the mission. It was the fire brigade to the primary school, that’s the movement. It definitely didn't go there.”

92-year-old Alf was the inaugural president of the MEPS P&C, and agrees with James.

“I remember putting the bell up and everything. It was bloody heavy!” he said.

“At that time, there was a bell down at the mission school. Where that bell came from, I don't know.” 

“All I want to do is bring to the public in Moree, so they'll know that what she is saying, she's way out.”

Despite his disagreement with Noeline’s views on the bell, James thought creating a memorial to the Aunties was a positive notion.

“I think it's a very good idea, that sort of thing has to come to the fore more often.”

To read the original story on Noeline's efforts to move the bell, click here.

For Noeline's letter response to this story, click here.