Chrystabell Stephens

Chrystabell Stephens was born in Burton-Upon-Trent, Staffordshire, in England on May 8th in 1875. She was the fourth eldest of 12 children. She commenced school at the age of 3 years and never really left the school system thereafter. At 12 years of age it is believed, she became a 'pupil-teacher', teaching younger children in the mornings and attending secondary school in the afternoons.

She completed her formal teacher training at Edinburgh University (1895-1897) and commenced duties as a certified teacher at the old Anderstaff Lane School, in Burton-Upon-Trent. She later wrote an extensive thesis, which made her a lady Literate of Arts, which was the highest qualification available in England at that time.

Miss Stephens emigrated to Western Australia in 1911, with her mother, two sisters and two brothers. She taught in Southern Cross from 1911-1912 and then Greenbushes from 1913 until she was sent to Bunbury Primary School in 1918. In 1923, she become the first mistress at Bunbury High School when the school first opened, and remained there until 1940 when she retired. After her retirement, she ran a boarding house for the students of the High School at her home in 56 Stockley Road - a house built by her brothers. In 1954 at 79 years of age, she still had a full complement of school boarders. In 1955, soon after her 80th birthday, she passed away peacefully in her sleep.