Thomas Smith, a native of West Melton, South Yorkshire, trained at St. John's Training College in York before commencing a 10-year teaching career in England. In 1880 he was recruited by the Queensland Agent General in London to teach in Queensland. Following a 3-month voyage with his wife and young family on the barque Garnock, Thomas was assigned to the Maryborough district where he became Head Teacher of the Tinana State School, a position he held for 23 years. This story covers the lives of Thomas and his family in England and Queensland