After a few months at Sale High School, in 1913 Charles was appointed Headmaster of the Mansfield Agricultural High School and the family moved to Mansfield. However, in November 1914 he was appointed Principal of the Science Departments in the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries, with teaching responsibilities in the Geological branch of the School. The family moved to a house on 2 Doveton Street, next door to 101 Eyre Street. The next two children, Frank Johannes (later John) and Winifred Joyce (Winn), were born in Ballarat on 21 December, 1914, and 26 August, 1916, respectively.
Miss Emma L. Hirt (the adult on the left) teaching at Inglewood Primary School.
From left: the bridesmaid, Emma's sister Paula; the bridegroom; the bride; the best man, W. M. Sullivan. Seated: Emma's nieces Joyce Love and Elva Hirt.
Field trips for the geology students and his own weekend studies focused on the geology of the Bacchus Marsh district, including Werribee Gorge, and it was for papers on this work that he was awarded the degree of DSc by the University of Melbourne in 1917. Scientific papers written while he was living in Victoria are listed in the Bibliography in Chapter 16. In 1915, he was appointed Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines, but he was soon to move on. When he left, the Council recorded the following testimonial:
Mr Charles Fenner has held the position of Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines and Industries since November 1914. Throughout his appointment he has fulfilled his duties with a zeal and enthusiasm that merit the highest praise. He is an organized man of exceptional ability and his keen insight into the needs of technical education has enabled him to place the departments under his control on a higher level of efficiency than they have ever before reached.
In his lecture work Mr Fenner has had charge of the Geological branch of the School and his labors therein have met with marked success. In the Technical Schools' examinations in Geology, Mining Geology, Petrology and Mineralogy, the examiners have on each occasion specially commented on the excellence of the work done by his students. He has made a special point of the field work, which has become a very popular part of the students' curriculum, and in all branches the economic bearing of the subjects taught has been continually stressed. Mr Fenner has also prepared students for the Geology Examinations (Science and Arts Courses) at the Melbourne University, and there, too, his students met with more than ordinary success. He has the power of inspiring in his students a love for the subjects he teaches. Mr Fenner's brilliant University record speaks for itself. He is a cultured gentleman, and combines with the qualities of decision and tact a charming personality that has made him exceedingly popular with the Staff and students.