is it the end of the road? - charles sturt university
TRANSCRIPT
Volume 14 No 3 November 2011
IS IT THE END OF THE ROAD?
When the Wagga Wagga Teachers Alumni Association was formed we had great hopes that our Associationwould include all teachers that trained at the Wagga Wagga Campus of Charles Sturt University. The ideawas to provide a greater number of alumni to be of service to the Wagga Wagga Campus of Charles SturtUniversity.
Our Association was given that impression by the then Head of Campus, Professor David Green that thiswas to be our future. We accordingly changed our Association name to accommodate future members. Ourrelationship with the Head of Campus and his staff has always been a happy and cordial one.
It was decided early in our existence to resurrect our College newspaper “Talkabout” as the official organof our Alumni Association. As I had been Assistant Editor of “Talkabout” at College, I was appointed Editorof the new “Talkabout”. I persuaded the late Lew Crabtree to join me in resurrecting “Talkabout” as ourAlumni newsletter.
It is interesting to note that my appointment as Assistant Editor with John Rummery as Editor came aboutwhen the 1949 editorial staff was sacked by the College Principal, George Blakemore for an editorial thatwas headlined “Students and Lecturers You Can All Go To Hell.” The outgoing staff had the right tonominate its successor, and that is how the new editorial staff was appointed.
We had great hopes that of the over three thousand graduates from our College, it would be possible topersuade at least one thousand to support “Talkabout” and contribute to our fundraising. In our early days,the Secretary, Ann Smith, did a tremendous amount of research in establishing the whereabouts ofteachers who had trained at Wagga Wagga Teachers College and the mailing list for Talkabout grew to over3,600.
We did not secure the one thousand contributors that we had hoped for. In our recent appeal forcontributors, the number of contributors increased to a little more than eight hundred.
These contributors can be justly proud to have raised almost $79,000 for the Wagga Wagga Campus ofCharles Sturt University. This comprises the Scholarship Fund of $60,000 which allows us to provide finalyear teacher trainee scholarships, AND $19,000 which will be used possibly to provide bursaries to helptrainee teachers during their final practicum.
Our efforts to contact and include graduate teachers from Charles Sturt University have not come tofruition.
Our future looks grim as we cannot expect the loyal 800 and the present Alumni Committee to continue formuch longer.
Do we have a future?
Lew Morrell
REUNION PAGE
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MORE FROM THE 1961-62 REUNION
Profile of Margaret Crofts
I have always maintained that my twoyears at W.W.T.C., were the best twoyears of my life!
It was an excellent teacher’s college,well equipping us to be good allrounded teachers, in the short space ofonly two years. BUT it was theresidential accommodation andtherefore the meeting of, in some cases,lifelong friends, who were all pursuingthe same careers, in the same place, atthe same time that made it so special.
My lifelong friends (with mini reunionson a number of occasions) have beenLouise Scott (Clements) – myroommate, Barb Campbell (Otterman),Julie Gibbs (Hughes), Diane Webster(Grube) and Ruth Stuckey (Roberts) –my cousin. Of course I met Peter Croftsat college too!, and we married in 1967.
My first appointment was Minto P.S.(suburb of Campbelltown) in ’63-’66.In ’67 I then went to Toongabbie EastP.S. until August ’70. David, our son,was born in October 1970. Cathy, ourdaughter (also a teacher), was born in1973. We built a home in BaulkhamHills in 1969 and I lived there for 28years, with Peter for only 21 years, ashe died in 1990. He taught from 1963to 1988, when he had to medically
retire, because of ankylosing spondilitisand rheumatoid arthritis, which wasmedically a very bad combination. Hewas only 48 when he died and anexcellent teacher. He mainly taughtYear 6. He was highly regarded bypupils and colleagues, especiallybecause he had to be in a motorisedwheel chair, in the last 5 years of histeaching life and his vision was verypoor for many years before that (due tohis medical condition).
In 1970, I resigned and just did CasualTeaching at local schools, for 10 years.
Then in 1980, I was permanentlyappointed to Excelsior P.S (Castle Hill).In 1990 (the year Peter died) I wasappointed to Crestwood P.S. (BaulkhamHills) – two blocks from our home! Iretired from Crestwood in 1998. Afterthat I have continued to do CasualTeaching, but not as much in the lastcouple of years. So I’ve chalked upabout 40 years of teaching! Luckily, Ihave mostly enjoyed it and it has been avery satisfying career. Even though Ibecame ‘four years trained’, over mycareer, I have always wanted to justteach, and have my own class, gettingmuch satisfaction with each class andtheir great progress every year.
Even though I have now retired fromfull time teaching for 11 years!, I’mvery happy and busy pursuing otheractivities. I have always been activelyinvolved with my local church, in manydifferent activities e.g. leader of‘Wesley Walkers’, Elder, Fundraisingactivities etc. Since retiring in 1998, Ihave had O.S. trips and Aussie toursevery year and love all travel. Myfavourite hobby is photography,followed by gardening.
I married again in 2004, to SteveAllchurch, but kept my name of
Kumbu Dorm Girls 1961
Kumbu girls 50 years later: Julie Hughes (Gibbs), Lynne Palmer (Pavitt),Louise Clements (Scott), Margaret Crofts (Stuckey), Kay Clarke.
REUNION PAGE
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‘Crofts’. I have 5 beautiful grandchildren, the eldest is 13 and theyoungest is now 8.
I enjoyed the recent Reunion in Forster,this March 2011, as we caught up with alot of mates from our two years ofcollege – 1961-62. Another greatReunion, in Wagga Wagga, at least 20years ago, had hundreds of formerstudents and many Staff members, itwas very memorable too.
I have been blessed with many goodand important years of my life andintend to continue, in the same vein formany years to come!
Margaret Crofts (Stuckey) 1961-62
This photo of The Group was sent in by Barbara Deece and was left out of the lastTalkabout. My apologies to Barbara who wrote the report for the March Reunion.
GOLDEN WEDDINGAudrey (Sear) 1948-50 and MaurieSchaecken.
Maurie and Audrey, who recentlycelebrated their 50th weddinganniversary, met at an engagement partyin 1960.
Love was certainly in the air that nightbecause Maurie, who had emigratedfrom Holland as a teenager, proposedjust five weeks later.
After asking Audrey’s father for hisblessing, Maurie presented Audrey witha huge bunch of flowers one night andpopped the question.
They were married a short time later, onMay 13th 1961 at North BondiMethodist Church.
After the wedding they moved into thehome Maurie built for them inMarayong, in Sydney’s west. Thecouple still live there today and it iswhere they raised their two children,Peter and Anne.
Now both retired, these days Audreyenjoys Healthwise classes and herweekly craft group, while Maurie likesto go fishing with his son. They alsospend as much time as they can withtheir two grandchildren, David andKatie.
The photos were published in theSunday Telegraph.
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LETTERS PAGEDear Lindsay,
We would like to thank the Editors ofTalkabout for the recognition of our 60th
Wedding Anniversary. I wonder ifGeorge Blakemore would appreciate theHall of Fame heading.
We bought our engagement ring oneSaturday morning just beforegraduation. We returned to the Collegeon the 12 o’clock bus. Just before12.15, George burst into the room and,blinking furiously, said – “Mr Wilcox,you have done the wrong thing, I don’twant my College known as aMatrimonial Bureau.”
At graduation we received our firstappointments – Winifred to Emu Plainsand me to Kangiara via Bowning viaYass. As we had no personal transport,public transport was such that we saweach other briefly at holiday time andsome long weekends.
When we married in 1951 we weretransferred to Bathurst. Winifred taughtat Bathurst Girls Demonstration Schooland I at Kelso PS. In 1953 we weretransferred to Eugowra Central School.
In 1956 Winifred resigned to start ourfamily. During our country serviceyears we taught many children whoseparents were schoolteachers, bankemployees or policemen. We wereaware of the effects on the family whenthese people had to move to a new towndue to promotion. We were veryanxious to move to Sydney before ourchildren had progressed far in theireducation.
In 1959 I completed my degreeexternally from UNE, and in 1960 Itransferred to Bathurst to teach atBathurst High School where I had beena student. In 1966 I was promoted toSubject Master at Canterbury GirlsHigh School and we bought our housein Oatley.
At this time our younger son Nathanwas ready to begin school. Winifred,who had stayed at home for ten years tobe with the children while they wereyoung, returned to teaching. Our elderson, Matthew, only had to make the one
change, from 3rd Grade in Bathurst to 4th
Grade in Oatley West.
Winifred returned to teaching atHurstville South Public School. In 1974she was promoted to Deputy MistressPrimary at Cartwright PS, then in 1977became Deputy Principal at Birrong PS.In 1981 she transferred and DeputyPrincipal to Kogarah PS. She retiredfrom there in May 1984.
I transferred to Chester Hill High in1973 as Social Science Master, and thenI was promoted to Deputy Principal atCasula High School in 1984. Itransferred to Moorefield Girls High asDeputy Principal in 1988, and retiredfrom there in February 1990.
We have often thought back to the“Matrimonial College” comment andwonder what George thought of themarriages of Shirley Brown and TomHodges, Shirley Williams and NickBricknell, Edna Baker and Keith Brew,June Scott and Merv Whittaker, OlgaTaylor and Bob Collard, Beth Dentonand Arthur Smith, Thelma Whitechurchand Don Davis, Nita Chidsey and JohnMitchell, Margot Wilson and BrucePhillips, to name but a few of the happymarriages from College beginnings.
We read with interest the contributionfrom Peter Debenham. For Kevin it
brought back many happy memories ofvisits to our hut where we listened tothe cricket tests. Names like MacYabsley, John Skene, Jack Brewster,Alan Nilon who were among thosecrowded into that room. We wish Petercontinued health and well-being inretirement after what was obviously adedicated and satisfying career.
It was with sadness we read of thedeaths of Pay Poole, Paul Rees, MurrayMillar and John Cummins. MurrayMillar was the first SRC President atWWTC. He was one of a group of ex-servicemen in the first and secondsessions who provided wonderful rolemodels to some of us younger ones. Afew of those ex-servicemen who cometo mind are Ian Thomas, Jack Ackhurst,Jack Gleeson and Bruce Phillips.
Wagga Wagga Teachers College wasunique. It provided the perfectopportunity for self-development. Itshigh standards radiated out to thebenefit of all pupils taught by its ex-students. Its influence continues tospread today through those same ex-students from the efforts of our Alumniwith its scholarships for present CSUteaching aspirants at the Wagga WaggaCampus.
Winifred and Kevin Wilcox 1947-49
CONTACTS
President: Bob Collard MBE: 2 Louise Close, Ourimbah 2258 Phone 02 4362 2764
Secretary: Dorothy Tanner: 282 Doncaster Ave, Kingsford 2032Ph 02 9663 3204 E-mail: [email protected]
Research and Records Officer (Retired):John Orange: Unit 1 1039 Pacific Highway, Pymble 2073Phone 02 9144 2690
Treasurer: Lindsay Budd: 4 Flemington Close, Casula 2170Phone 02 9601 3003 E-mail: [email protected]
Talkabout Editors:Lindsay Budd: 4 Flemington Close, Casula 2170Lew Morrell: 25 Grandview Drive, Newport 2106Phone 02 9997 1506 E-mail: [email protected]
Faculty Advancement Officer: Stacey FishThe University Advancement Unit,Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW 2795Phone 02 6338 4832. Email: [email protected]
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TEACHING MEMORIESDear Lindsay,
I was quite excited to receive my first e-mail copy of “Talkabout” and now ahard copy has turned up! I thought thatit may have been a very subtle hint forme to send another subscription: henceattached cheque.
Included is a paper I presented at theTimbumburi PS centenary celebrationswhich were held on 11th and 12th June2011. There may be some commentswhich stir nostalgic thoughts amongstour colleagues.
I was probably the worst singer thatChris Stirling had to listen to and wasnot even good enough to make MervGray’s tutorial class. Merv threw hishands in the air and said that I wasexcused from further attendance.
When DI Brian Dennis came to visit Iknew that I was in trouble. Brian was asinger of some note and would render asolo at the slightest hint of an invitation.Little Mark Ellwood had a beautifulvoice and knew the words to all of oursongs so I used to stand in front andfollow Mark and the rest of the childrenwould follow me.
During the inspectorial presentation Ithought that I should exert someauthority so stopped the singing andmade the children start again. Brianlater said that he was very impressedwith the way that I had corrected thedescant. I did not have the slightest ideawhat he was talking about so just smiledknowingly.
I have been farming since 1990 and forsome years was on the ExecutiveCouncil of the NSW Farmers’Association. Some of my farmingfriends have been upset when I havesaid that I didn’t realise how hardteachers worked until I became afarmer. Nevertheless anybody who eats,or perhaps has grandchildren who haveinherited the habit, should be aware ofthe threat posed to our primeagricultural land by coal seam gas
extraction. Governments listen, but onlyhear noise. Please make some!
Best wishes,
Bob Muir, 1952-53
Reminiscences from TimbumburiPublic School, 1970-1972.
I was Principal at Timbumburi from1970 until 1973. My immediatepredecessor was Norm Heinrich and mysuccessor was Brian Potter. My familywas the last to live in the schoolresidence prior to its demolition. Wethought the house was great. We notonly had bore water to establish avegetable garden, but an electric copperand stove, a hot water system and,luxury of luxuries, an indoor flushingtoilet! Ever so much more convenientthan a trip to “The Long Drop” outsidelate at night.
Shirley Millett was the other teacher in1970 and Di Collins in 1971 and 1972.Beth Falkenmire joined us for first termin 1970 but we were unable to sustainthe magical enrolment of 67 so she wastransferred. Joan Roworth was thecleaner. There were no other membersof staff.
Apart from the fact that there was nowasted travelling time there were agreat many advantages to living on thejob. One of which was to be able to slipacross the playground early in themorning to light the classroom fires.During winter, icicles would be hangingfrom the roof and the children didappreciate the chill being taken out ofthe room before we started. Perhaps itmay have just been a matter ofconvenience but my desk was alwaysclosest to the fire!
We didn’t have any computers ortelevision sets but there were boxes ofchalk, blackboard dusters and packetsof ink powder and, even though livingon the main highway, there were nobreak and enters into the school during
this period.
On that first day when the childrenarrived we had to re-arrange seats anddesks. Billy Wilcox was helping me tomove the sick bed and dropped it on hisheel. My first contact with aTimbumburi parent was to ring MrsWilcox to advise her of Bill’s accidentwhich necessitated eight stitches. Billmade a good recovery!
One of the records which must be keptis the school Punishment Book. In thosedays the cane was allowed to be used asa disciplinary tool. Even though girls upto the age of twelve were allowed to becaned I was never aware of it beingadministered to any girl. We can nowsee that as a very discriminatory genderissue. Up to six strokes could bedelivered to the palm of the hand.Eventually it was recognised that thehand was a very delicate part of thebody and that became another of themany reasons why the use of the canewas eventually banned. Perhaps therewas another part of the body whichwould not have suffered any damage!
On opening the Punishment Book,which was commenced at the school’sopening in 1911, I could see that therewere regular entries of about five or sixevery year but in 1933 there wereeleven. At the School Inspector’s visitin 1933 he had written in the ever-popular red ink — “Apparentlydiscipline at this school is not as goodas it has been in previous years.” As aconsequence no child at Timbumburihad received the cane from 1933 until1972. [Theoretically at least!)
I wasn’t going to be bluffed by a SchoolInspector so made the entries asnecessary. I forget now but I hope thereweren’t many. I am fairly certain that nomore than one stroke was ever given. Ican remember that on one occasion asubsequent enquiry revealed that thewrong culprit had been caned. Thewronged pupil was told that he couldkeep that stroke in the bank and use it
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TEACHING MEMORIESwhen necessary. He thought that was agreat idea and trotted it out on morethan one occasion.
Shirley Millett had a little kindergartenboy who was causing her some concernbecause he just wasn’t talking. I spoketo him but no amount of encouragementfrom either of us could get him to talk.His mother wasn’t concerned because hespoke quite freely at home. We had alarge scrambling net in the playgroundand at lunchtime one day this littlefellow was perched right at the top withsome Yr 6 boys on the ground shakingthe net quite violently. He looked downand shouted, “ Stop shakin’ the f****’nnet!” This language was a seriousbreach of school discipline but becausewe had been trying so hard to get him tosay anything it would have done untoldharm to punish him for this so I just hadto walk away. This broke the ice andthere were no further problems.
With an approaching visit from theSchool Inspector I confess that I had anattack of cold feet and was in a realpickle with the Punishment Book. Whenhe asked for it I presented a brand newbook, with no entries, and told him thatI had sent the old book to the ArchivesOffice because of its historicalsignificance. I had a clear conscience,almost. It may be that the organisingcommittee of the Centenary celebrationshas had this book returned. I would liketo hear from any pupils whose name hasbeen entered and who feel that theywere wrongly caned so that I canapologise, or from any who feel that itwas a justified action.
The school’s neighbour, Stan Burgess,used to grow a crop of watermelonseach year and would bring a truckloadto the school. Pupils and teachers wouldall sit on the school veranda and feaston as much watermelon as we could eat.We would just spit the seeds asnecessary. I was able to justify thisseeming waste of valuable classroomtime by calling it a Natural Sciencelesson with the emphasis on thedifferent methods of seed dispersal.
There were many other highlights
during my time at Timbumburi butcertainly one was the time the schoolchoir won the Tamworth eisteddfod.The children sang- “The Little WhiteBull”.
Their item was the very last of the day.Though all dressed in the schooluniform, they had been running wild allday and it was a very scruffy lot thatwalked onto the stage, but their singingwas magical.
Folk Dancing on Friday mornings wasalways good fun. My children’s petmagpie used to pull all the shoelaces outof the pupils’ shoes when we wentoutside for a barefoot PE lesson. It tooka long while for the children to sortthem out but they didn’t mind because itkept them out of the classroom for a bitlonger. I didn’t mind either! Both brownand black snakes were common. Icouldn’t hazard a guess at the numberkilled but I gather they are both nowprotected species.
There is no doubt that television setsand computers are able to spreadchildren’s horizons so much farther andI cannot even guess the things thatteachers can do with smartboards, butnevertheless the greatest classroominvention during my time as a teacherwas the ballpoint pen. Not only teachersbut even ex-pupils would now have tobe quite elderly to remember the traumaof blots on a lovely page of handwritingor the rotten post office nibs which usedto rust and which had to be licked to getthe oil off before their first use. Theironly advantage was that the childrenfound that, with a little modification,they made wonderful darts.
The school community, parents andteachers, were very good to me duringmy time at Timbumburi and the SchoolInspector deemed that the schoolstandards were such that I wasrecommended for promotion andsubsequently spent the rest of myteaching career at Quirindi.
Bob Muir, 1952-53
A PIONEER’S STORY
Ruth McFadden, the author of ‘TheRoad South’, which was mentioned inthe November 2006 edition ofTalkabout, has written another bookcalled ‘A Pioneer’s Story’.
Ruth McFadden, who, as RuthJohnston, was one of the first studentsto arrive at Wagga Wagga Teacher’sCollege. In those early days Ruth wrotemany letters home and after the death ofher mother in 1971, Ruth discoveredthat some of those letters had beenpreserved. Thanks to the invention ofcomputers these have now been scannedand printed and along with photos andother memorabilia from those first twoyears at Wagga Wagga Teacher’sCollege this book has been put together.Ruth has given permission for excerptsto be reproduced in Talkabout.
A Pioneer’s Story
Introduction.
1945: The terrible war had ended but itsafter effects would play a part in manylives for years to come.
1946: Ruth Johnston had sat for whatwas then called the Leaving CertificateExamination. Along with most of herclassmates she had applied for aTeacher’s College Scholarship but hadno expectation of receiving such anaward. Ruth was left- handed and inthose days the Department of Educationexcluded such people from working as ateacher! They had told her mother that— way back in 1935 — when sheenrolled her little daughter in schooland young Ruthie had begun using apencil in the wrong hand! However, soadept was she — far more competentthan were the other five year olds —that in response to her mother’s pleaseventually her teacher said, “OK I’ll lether be, but remember she can never be ateacher!”
1947: In January the Leaving Certificateresults were published in the SydneyMorning Herald and since her daughterdid OK her mother proceeded to plan a
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COLLEGE MEMORIESfuture for her. There were few optionsopen to girls in those days. The mostpopular were Nursing, Secretarial workand of course, Teaching. Mother hadbeen a secretary all her life and wantedsomething different for her daughter.Nursing? No. According to her nursingfriends they worked horrible hours. Andas she had been warned years ago thatteaching was out she decided to acceptan offer from a local Pharmacist to takeher daughter on as an apprentice.
Up until then the daughter, that is me,had not been consulted! Not directlyanyhow. In those days we believed thatour parents knew best and most of uswere happy to let them do the worrying.
Then the letter arrived. It was addressedto me! I opened it and could not believewhat I read. It offered a Teacher’sCollege Scholarship! There wereprovisos of course. I would have toattend the Department Headquarters inBligh Street Sydney for an interview,and I would have to write legibly on ablackboard with my right hand!
My mother was ecstatic! It was as if shehad won first prize in the lottery. Irealised then that she had wanted herdaughter to have such a career andpossibly had regretted her soft heartedsupport for my left handedness all thoseyears ago.
I was less enthusiastic. Three yearsbefore I had broken my left arm in a falland I knew how difficult it had been forme to write anything with my righthand. But my Mum knew better. “Gofor it,” she was so enthusiastic; “youhave almost a month. I know MrCallaghan” (he was the headmaster ofour local school which was very closeto where we lived) “he’ll let you use theschool blackboard and you can practiceevery day!”
So, always the obedient daughter, I didas suggested and was surprised todiscover that pulling a chalk across theblackboard was much easier thanpushing it. And at my interview laterthat month I wrote ‘A quick brown fox
jumps over the lazy dog’ in veryreadable and what was termed SyllabusStyle! The Teacher’s CollegeScholarship was confirmed and Iawaited more details.
Evidently it had been the war that hadchanged things. A baby boom was onthe way and more and more teacherswould be needed. So the Department ofEducation had decided on a newexperiment. A live-in College for bothsexes would be trialled on the site of aWartime Military Hospital in the city ofWagga Wagga. It would begin at thestart of the second school term that year.And that was where, left- handed or not,I would be trained to be a PrimarySchool Teacher.
With one hundred and fifty others wewould all be trained not only in a newCollege but in — a never before triednew experiment in living.
And we would be called“The Pioneers”.
1971: On Christmas Day that year mydear mother died. As we checkedthrough her carefully preservedmemorabilia I found, amongst otherinteresting bits and pieces, a collectionof letters. I believe that she must haveanticipated the future historical value ofthose letters that I penned to her in theearly days of Wagga Wagga Teacher’sCollege.
Because of train connections linkingOrange and Wagga, I and several otherstudents had arrived early on theSaturday morning. It surprises me that Inoted at the time the historicalsignificance of being the first to set footon the campus. That memory, thoughdim, had always given me a warmfeeling of importance and I oftenboasted to my own children that I wasthe first of “The Pioneers!”
I am not so proud of some of the othercomments made in my letters whichshow up an egotistic vanity, religiousbias and my lack of commitment to
study. I may have been addressed as“Miss Johnston” but really I was a veryyoung seventeen year old, much moresheltered and mostly less aware than myown children were at that age. Then, ofcourse, there was that on-going battle ofthe bulge! Lonely, homesick kids doovereat!
However, as I read through the lettersfrom Day 1 to Graduation Day I noticeda change. There was evidence ofgradual growth and a start up the path tomaturity possibly fostered by theexperiences of those early pioneeringdays at the College.
Life was not easy. Money, or the lack ofit, was a constant headache. Isupplemented my meagre allowance bydressmaking for others as soon as asewing machine had been installed inthe Common Room.
Also we were involved in so manyextracurricular activities that study wasput off until the last days, or laternights. This caused me much stress, as Ifelt a duty to my mother and also to Mr.Blakemore!
Ah! If it was a tough life it was also agood one. There were very few who didnot make it to Graduation Day, whichjust goes to prove that ‘without painthere is no gain ‘! So I will always begrateful for the experience of being:
A Pioneer of Wagga Wagga Teacher’sCollege.
*******************
1952-3 60 YEAR REUNION
It will be 60 years since we all met sowe are having a reunion in Sydney onFebruary 28th, 29th and 1st March 2012.
If you have missed out on theinformation, please contact RobinMcKinnon (Williams) [email protected] 02 9878 1857.
TRAVEL MEMORIES
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Dear Lindsay,
I appreciate the problem you havefinancing Talkabout’s publication anddistribution. I have enclosed ten dollarsas a subscription payment but will behappy to receive future issues via email.
The following can be published in thenext issue if you feel it suitable.
Regards,
Barry Cohen (1955-56)
“Over the years I have read withinterest, articles in Talkabout thatdescribed the early years of mycolleagues’ teaching careers. I can’trecall any reports of their experiences inlater years, or in retirement. I thoughtreaders might be interested in hearing ofa visit my wife, Marion, and I made toCairo. I had been retired for sixteenyears. I penned this account for ourrelatives in 2010.
OUT OF EGYPT
Thought you might like to hear aboutthe last leg of our trip, the two dayCairo visit.
It was the most memorable part of ouroverseas tour, but for all the wrongreasons. To sum it up in one word ...‘depressing’. We were told that in thearea of Port Said, Cairo and Alexandriathere are 20 million people. It seemedthat half of them were alwayscongregated in the street we were usingwhile the other half was asking us formoney. Without a doubt Cairo is thegrubbiest place we have ever seen. Thestreets leading to the pyramids arefilthy. There was one Amsterdam-typecanal beside the road that could havebeen quite nice but it was so pollutedwith litter and heaven knows what else,that the water was of no use foranything, even agriculture. The canal isto be filled in and replaced by aroadway. There was one area of thecanal that had approximately 900 sq/mof rubbish on the surface where nowater could be seen. A cat could havewalked across from bank to bank. Therewas a sign labelling the waterway but itwas in Arabic so I couldn’t read it. Iwould guess it said, “Sewers Canal”.Great piles of rubble and rubbish couldbe seen everywhere you looked.
Buildings were dirty and unkempt.Even the clean parts were dirty. Wearranged for three tours with a personalguide and our own mini bus.
The first tour was of the Cairo Museum.The young woman who was our expertguide, conversant with all aspects ofEgyptian history and modern life, led usinto the museum. “This is a famousmuseum,” she said. “There are lots ofold things here to see. You have a lookaround and meet me back here in 20minutes”. We had paid a lot for herexpertise. She went off to sit withanother tour guide. There really werelots of old things to see.
We then went on to another place withold statues and stones. It was about 40degrees and we had to drink lots ofwater. Our guide said, “There are somestatues and old stones here that areinteresting. Have a look around andmeet me in 20 minutes. I will be underthe shade of that tree. And don’t drinkthe tap water or you will most likelydie.”
We had a look around but could notlearn anything about the statues or oldstones as the glass-covered displayswere completely covered in dust. If youwanted to read what they said youwould have to spend half the daycleaning the glass. It was at this placethat two uniformed, on-duty policemenasked us for money. We had beenwarned not to give anyone any money,(except the tour guide) so we walkedaway. As the cops were armed we werehoping Mick Dundee was lurkingbehind one of the statues, our guardianangel, waiting to protect us. He wasn’t,but we escaped anyway.
The second tour, the following day, wasto a perfume making establishment. Ourguide took us in and introduced us toMohammed. “This is Mohammed. Hewill show you around the place. I willwait over there and have a coffee. Comeback in 20 minutes.” Mohammed toldus that you squash flowers and pour thejuice into bottles. He then told us thebig (as our stubbies) bottle cost 3,000Egyptian pounds. The other two, 2,000and 1,000 respectively. He also said thathis perfumes were guaranteed to last fordays and wiped some on Marion’s wrist.It seemed like days before we couldconvince him that we weren’t going to
pay the prices he was asking and whenwe finally escaped, there was no sign ofaroma on Marion’s wrist. We found theguide who seemed disappointed that wehad not bought anything. She wasobviously on 10%.
The next part of that tour was to acarpet making school. The guide tookus in and introduced us to a man namedMohammed. “This is Mohammed. Hewill show you how they make carpets. Iwill wait for you. Be back here in 20minutes.” Mohammed took us in towand said, “It takes a long time to make acarpet. Those little boys are learning thetrade. The girls are much quicker thanmen. See those big carpets on the wall,they are $US30,000. How many carpetsdo you want to buy?” We would haveliked a magic carpet to fly us out of theplace. Actually, we did buy a small one,about 40cms long but when we got backto our guide, she looked disappointed.Probably because we didn’t buy one offthe wall. We thanked Mohammed andleft for the papyrus making factory.
At the papyrus making factory, our tourguide introduced us to a Mohammedwho was to show us how to make paperfrom reeds. The guide said she needed arest after guiding us about and went tosit down. “I will see you in 20 minutes.”Mohammed explained, “You cut thereed, roll it and then put it into water.”(If it was the canal water, the reedwould have dissolved.) After a few daysyou weave the lengths of reed thenpress them. When they are dry, youwrite on the paper or make prettypictures. There is one papyrus paperwith Diana’s picture on it. Do you wantto buy it?. No! Well what about the onewith a camel on it?” We thankedMohammed and went to wake the tourguide.
Our party of four which includedMohammed, the bus driver, then headedfor the pyramids and some real pressureselling tactics. (“Mohammed” actuallywas the name of the driver.)
Our guide said, “These are thepyramids. Big eh? They took 20 yearsto erect because the builders keptgetting sick from drinking the canalwater. As it is 43 degrees, I will go andsit in the air-conditioned bus withMohammed. You have a look around.Meet me back here in 20 minutes.”
TRAVEL MEMORIES
Page 9
We were then accosted on all sides byrobed fellas trying to sell us souvenirs.One wanted to take our picture with hiscamel. “No thanks mate. I would makethe camel look pretty.” One particularlynauseous little chap came up to Marionand said, “I will give you present. Nomoney. I like Australians.” We thankedhim and walked away. He then followedus asking for something from Australia.I didn’t have an Akubra, a black singletor a bottle of Fosters and I told him so.
“No, I want Australian dollars.” (“Youlying little twerp”, methought.) “I don’thave any. Here are some Egyptiandollars...(notes and coins, as the Arabhead dresses with their black bandswere pretty cool.) Then he saidsomething odd... “I can’t exchangecoins for notes.” It was Egyptiancurrency I was offering!
He kept on asking for Aussie money sowe decided to give him back his goods.He took them but kept the notes I hadgiven him. I thought about donging himwhen I noticed all the mean lookingfellas around the place, obviously hismates, so I threatened to call the police(for what little good that would havedone!) However he vanished in a cloudof dust.
We then took in the pyramids and weresomewhat disappointed. We knew thehistory of the pyramids and how theirbuilding was a great feat of engineeringbut we had imagined them to be muchbigger.
Personally, I looked on them as bigpiles of big rocks. This might seem tobe an outlandish statement, but I hadrecently visited Masada in southernIsrael and it would have been difficultfor anything to make more of animpression on me. Masada, anenormous, flat topped mountain, isbigger than the pyramids but that is notits main attribute. What amazed me wasthe palace built by King Herod. Notonly is it perched precariously on theedge of the mountain, on three differentlevels, but it is so elaborate withingenious ‘plumbing’ systems to supplywater. On the plateau are the remains ofthe village where the famous battle wasfought between the Romans and theJews. The other amazing structure atMasada is the earthen ramp which theRomans built, in a couple of months, to
reach and breach the gates of thefortress.
Anyway, back to Egypt.
We felt sorry for the animals that lookedso bedraggled and hot. However, Isuppose they have always managed tosurvive in their unfriendly environment.(By not drinking the canal water.)
I guess you could not visit the pyramidswithout taking a photo of the Sphinx.Time has not been kind to the visage ofthis noble Pharaoh. His nose has goneas well as his eyebrows and beard. Theposition of the beard, straight down orcurved upwards determined whether thestatue was made before or after he died.
To me the most memorable part of ourvisit to Cairo was being on the roads.You have be there to believe it. It ishard to see the bitumen for the vehicles.They are like ants, scurrying in alldirections at once. The few traffic lightsand zebra crossings don’t mean a thing.It is every man for himself. Cars havetrafficators but they are not used, thehorns are though! We saw vehicleszigzag across three lanes of traffic inone hair raising dash without hittinganything. Camels, donkeys, donkeycarts, cyclists and people all join in themayhem. It is the people’s involvementthat is the most amazing part. Can youimagine a blind man walking across pitstraight, between the cars, at the start ofthe Bathurst 500? People in Cairo stepoff the kerb and, without looking, strollacross the road seemingly oblivious tothe danger. They probably believe Allahis looking after them. He must be as thegutters are not filled with mangledbodies.
Nearly every vehicle we saw had dintsin the body work. FortunatelyMohammed had twenty five yearsexperience as a driver so we came outunscathed. The taxis were worth amention. They were little black andwhite cars about the size of a HyundaiExcel but with the front sectionidentical to the back section. Youcouldn’t tell which way they weremeant to go. You couldn’t really tellwhen they were moving either! All weregreatly dented and dirty. I hate to thinkwhat they would be like on the inside.
There were a couple of positives. Ourhotel was quite grand in the old Raffles
style.
Even though the towel rack and soapholder fell off when you simply lookedat them, we were happy with theaccommodation. The amount andvariety of food available for breakfastwas unbelievable. The a la carte dinnerswere quite attractive and at reasonableprices. We were told not to eat anythingfrom street stalls. There was no way wewould have done that even if they hadbeen recommended.
At night, the sound and light show atthe pyramid site was quite impressiveeven though two locals near uschattered on all night in Arabic. It was abit annoying. Marion suggested theymight have been discussing ways torelieve tourists of their money but Ireckon, by the animated hand gestures,that one was telling the other that hiscousin had fallen into the canal andnever been seen again. The final sorrychapter saw us get food poisoning,either from hotel food or in flight meals,catered for by the Egyptians. It took aweek to recover. One thing thatparticularly annoyed me was the hassleof going to the W.C. As you walked in,a hand with a tissue was pushed at you.As you walked out, an empty, openhand was pushed at you. Now Iaccepted the different cultural practicebut not reactions received. At oneestablishment I only had a couple ofcoins (I wasn’t going to pay $10 toempty the bladder) and when I offeredthem I got a cynical, ‘hmphh’, a dirtylook and no thank you. I thought $2 wasplenty for the service given. It is not asthough he helped me handle myablutions!
Only recently, long after I had writtenthis account, I heard another femalevisitor to Cairo saying on TV that shehad been chased onto the street by aknife-wielding man who was not givenenough money for handing the woman atissue. Even more recently was the newsreport of an American reporter assaultedby a group of men on the streets ofCairo. It is not advisable for women towander around by themselves.
To sum up, we both felt mostdisappointed in our visit and would notreturn to Egypt even if they promised tobuild a pyramid in our honour.
Page 10
TEACHING MEMORIESHi Lindsay,
I thought that some of my teachingmemories may be OK for ‘Talkabout’.I was accepted as a mature agedstudent and entered College in 1953.I’m now 82 and still kicking alongOK. I finished my teaching career as aLiaison Officer Western Region – 22years ago.
I love reading the articles, whichprompted me to put pen to paper. Istill remember this young bloke as if Iwas still teaching him, and him me.What a delight.
Best of luck,
John Ireland (1953-54)
Significant events of 1955.
Firstly I didn’t believe that there wereany significant happenings worthwriting about that occurred in 1955.
After giving my head a firmer shake afew events surfaced. I received myfirst teaching appointment! From thatshake events rolled on. I wasdelighted. I received an appointmentas a Teacher in Charge of a oneteacher school in the West. I was sopleased! I didn’t have to go throughthe steps of being a class roomteacher. I was appointed as a teacherin charge - first up. After asking a fewquestions of a clerk in head office Iwas more excited. He informed methat there were about 12 kids at theschool – its name was Terowie.
How do I get there? You catch theBourke Mail Train at Central – get offat Narromine. You ring the P&CPresident’s number and he will tellyou about being picked up atNarromine Rail Station. I thought theP&C President said he would pick meup himself. I asked him what he lookslike and he asked the same. Howeverhe then said not to worry because onlyabout 3 people alight at Narrominedaily – so we’ll just ask around.
Things were looking good and fromthat moment on I was pretty excited. Iwas about to change the life of 12little Aussies forever and tell the P&Cpeople a thing or two! Yep, the P&CPresident and I had no trouble –onlyone person alighted from the train thatday.
About 50 miles later we came close toTerowie. The P&C President wantedto take me home – introduce me to“the Missus” and the six kids, “you’llbe teaching 4 of them”, he said. “Oh,and by the way, have you got aDriver’s Licence,” he asked? “Yep,” Iproudly replied. “You’ll be driving the12 seater school bus too.”
A further event that was to be. Thingswere looking up already. One of thekids would move to another room orsleep on the verandah – my livingquarters looked OK. The kids alllooked OK, and the smell around thekitchen was just right. The olderdaughter who has left school does thecooking. Well, while dinner was on,the phone rang constantly – I couldhear a constant reply “Yes, he looksOK. He’s a mature looking sort ofbloke – so he won’t be a firsty”.Quickly I deduced that every phonecall was about me.
Well next morning we, myself andfour kids set off for school – the P&CPresident had the key. The kids toldme the route – about 5 miles to theschool, where we unloaded, then twomiles to pick up two more kids.
One of the kids didn’t show up but thekids said you’d know Jamie and youcan tell when he’s here – he parks hispush bike under the gum tree – it’seven two miles from his house to thegum tree along a corrugated road.
The way the other kids talked aboutJamie – he sounded like a monster.Comments like, yep you’d knowJamie when he comes Sir. He doesn’tdo any reading, composition or maths,Sir. You see Jamie doesn’t come toschool much – he’s in 4th class Sir. Mymind just started with things aboutJamie, “What will I do with him?”
The next day no school – it started torain – and this was ‘black soilcountry’ – no travel. This was thebeginning of the 1955 floods on theBogan River.
No one moved – it just rained andflooded. What did I do? I helped thefarmer move his stock from lowlandsto higher paddocks, I helped withfencing and just to really help out Imilked the milker.
School started a week later – when theflood waters subsided.
Still no sighting of Jamie. About fourweeks later on a shout went up fromthose in the bus, “There’s his bike!”Jamie was back sitting on the otherside of the old gum tree. Jamieboarded the bus – half glanced at meand then he grunted sort of as hepassed heading for the rear seat.
Jamie really couldn’t read, write or domaths. But any other job, cuttingwood, gardening, killing snakes,cleaning up – Jamie was an expert andloved doing it.
You see Jamie’s normal daily routinewas arise, milk the cow, havebreakfast, walk down from home tothe Bogan River, row across, get onhis bike, ride for two miles, park itunder the gum tree, board the bus andoff to school – in the afternoon it wasthe reverse except he didn’t milk thecow but rounded her up for the nextmorning.
About 30 years later on – just prior toretirement I happened to be motoringthrough Narromine so I decided tolook Jamie up. I checked in the phonebook and got on to the NarromineExchange. The exchange lady put meright on to Jamie’s home and Jamiewas next on the phone – a quickarrangement was made to a meetingplace in Narromine.
What a meet it was and what’s morewe both kinda recognized each other –a special meeting it was. Part of themeeting turned to Jamie and his career– he was a very successful sheep,wheat farmer – doing very well – histhree children did not have to rowacross a river etc – Jamie and spousehad them attend well known boardingschools in Sydney, where the three ofthem were doing well in academicsand practical learning – he was veryproud.
Jamie’s attitude about life was anexample for all. You know, somethingtells me we’re both still learning!
John Ireland 1953-54
Page 11
A LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENTMURRAY MILLAR
(1924-2011)
Murray Millar was a role model formany of the male intake of the PioneerSession of Wagga Wagga Teacher’sCollege.
Murray possessed a youthful exuberancefor life. He was articulate and confident,at ease with students and lecturers andwas a gifted sportsman, representing thecollege at Rugby League and Cricket.He was part of the camaraderie thatexisted, and still remains, amongstPioneer Students. He was the inauguralPresident of the Wagga Wagga TeachersCollege Student Representative Council.
A small notice appeared in the SydneyMorning Herald in June indicating that aservice was to be held to commemoratethe life of Murray Millar. From theeulogies given by Grant (son), theGrandchildren, Stafford Baird (ExW.W.T.C. 56-57) and Presidents of theCamden and Campbelltown R.S.L.Clubs, I learnt more of the life ofMurray Millar.
Murray met Laurie, his future wife,while they were pupils in Murray’sfather’s class. They were, and remained,a twosome. They were inseparable andloved and supported each otherthroughout their life together. Lauriewas a beautiful, charming, intelligentyoung lady, and retains those qualities tothis day. Murray was Captain at LismoreHigh School and Captain of the ByronBay Surf Club.
Murray Millar was twenty-two years ofage when he enrolled as a student at
Wagga Wagga Teachers College.
In the intervening period between HighSchool and College, Murray hadenlisted in the Royal Australian AirForce, been promoted to Flying Officer,posted to Bomber Command Base,Lindholme, United Kingdom and servedwith 460 Lancaster Squadron, whose
attrition rate was the highest of allbomber squadrons flying out of theUnited Kingdom. On his demobilisation,he married Laurie and enrolled as astudent teacher at Wagga WaggaTeachers College.
Honours and Awards: 1939-45 Star
France and Germany Star
Defence medal
War Medal 1939-45
Australian Service Medal.
On graduation in 1949, Murray wasappointed to North Wagga PublicSchool and later transferred to WaggaDemonstration School. He sought aschool with a vested residence and wasappointed to Murrami PS in the RiverinaDistrict. He later moved to the Liverpooland Campbelltown areas and served asDeputy Principal and Principal atvarious schools in these Districts. For aperiod, he was seconded to head aRetraining Unit at Head Office. He laterreturned as Principal, Macquarie Fields,from which position, he retired.
In the 1950s/60s schools, in the main,were formal forbidding institutions,where the day’s activities were governedby a restrictive timetable. While schoolswere an integral part of the community,they were apart from it. Murray valued
honesty, humour, loyalty andscholarship, - hypocrisy and pretensionwere never part of his credo. He carriedthese values into his leadership role. Hedignified the role of each member ofstaff, ancillary and teaching, andafforded each the professionalismdeserved. Community members werewelcomed into the school. Schoolsunder his leadership became happierplaces for all. Today’s schools are betterplaces. They are kinder, more tolerant,humane and inclusive. If they are not,they should be. This change was in nosmall way due to Principals such asMurray Miller.
Murray enriched the life of so manypeople. He made people feel good aboutthemselves. While it may seem trite tosome, he did have a passionate anduwavering commitment to ensureschools had a warm and welcomingpresence, where all staff, ancillary andteaching were deemed equal and treatedfairly. He was a guiding light to manyyoung teachers.
Des Bieler 1947-49
COMING EVENTS
ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONMEETINGS
The next quarterly meeting ofthe Alumni Association will beheld at 11 am on:Tuesday 8th November, 2011.The meeting will be held at:NSW Teachers FederationConference Centre.37 Reservoir StreetSurry Hills.All welcome.
ALUMNI LUNCHEONS
The next Alumni luncheon willbe held at the IconsRestaurant in the MarriottHotel, Pitt Street Sydney (nearthe Quay) on Tuesday 15thNovember, 2011.
For bookings contact LindsayBudd on 9601 3003 a weekbefore.
Page 12
A LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENTMICHAEL JOSEPH SMITH
(1924 – 2011)
To WWTC students of 1959-68 intakes,Michael Smith was known as MrGeography Smith. This was todistinguish him from another Mr Smithon staff. Michael Smith died on 25th
August 2011, a few weeks short of his87th birthday. He is survived by hisdevoted wife of 57 years, Ruth, theirdaughter Rebecca, son-in-law BrianHastings and grandchildren Carl andSacha.
Word of his passing spread quickly.Few lecturers were loved by theirstudents as much as Michael. Onhearing the news, several of his studentssent messages to express this love thatthey carry after so many years:
“Sad news for us. A lovely man hasleft us. … .We were so fortunate thatour lives touched his, however briefly.”
“Mike was a gentleman with all thatmeans about courtesy, charm,compassion, intelligence, integrity andgrace. We were very pleased and veryfortunate to know him.”
“Mike was one of nature’s mostbeautiful people. I always rememberhim as such even though I was not inany of his classes.”
“Mr Geography Smith was awonderful man, respected and loved bymany of his students.
I have very fond memories of hisgeography lectures where he inspired uswith stories of the Maori culture and healso opened our eyes to centralAustralian Aboriginal culture. Theselectures were not only informative, theywere FUN, and we could not wait to getthere.”
Michael Smith M.A. B.Econ.(Cantab. NZ) arrived in Australia withhis wife Ruth in February 1959 after afive-year stint in Guernsey, ChannelIslands. He was immediately appointedto Wagga Wagga Teachers College.Principal George Muir was elated tofind he had not only a highly qualifiedlecturer in Geography and anexperienced teacher, but a leader andmentor for section 607, and a first-ratecoach of the College Rugby team.
Michael’s and Ruth’s only child,Rebecca, was born in 1961. In theeulogy Rebecca gave at her father’scommittal, she said: “It was difficult todecide where Dad’s true allegiance lay,in Australia or in his country of birth. Ithink it was only when the All Blackswere playing that he showed his truecolours. He was a dedicated All Blacksupporter, as he said he liked to supportthe team most likely to win against theWallabies!”
Other passions that vied forMichael’s attention were salmon fishingin New Zealand and trout fishing inAustralia’s SnowyMountains, politics,philanthropy, poetry,Gilbert and Sullivan, andgardening.
At the end of 1969Michael transferred toWestmead TeachersCollege which, shortlyafter, was renamedNepean College ofAdvanced Education. Hewas promoted toDepartment Head of theSocial Sciences,Kingswood Campus, aposition he held until illhealth forced hisretirement in 1979.
Michael never didthings by halves:whatever he took up as ahobby would have hisfull commitment. In his
retirement, his lifetime hobbies,Croquet, Bridge and Stamp Collectingwere duly attended to right up until hisdeath. This positive attitude to life wasmade possible by the encouragementand support of his family.
Michael’s garden was his chiefpassion; in particular, his veggie patch.There was nothing he liked better thanto sit watching his garden grow, withthe family’s pet rabbit under his chairand a wild cockatoo perched on hisknee.
In his last days, when the family wastold to expect his decline very soon,Michael recovered enough to sit in achair and watch the All Blacks wallopthe Wallabies in the first match for theBledisloe Cup. He did not wait aroundto see the second match. Ross Hosking,one of his Rugby players from thosegood old days at WWTC said: “IfRugby really is the game which isplayed in heaven, he may get to see areplay!”
[Most of the information above hasbeen taken from Rebecca’s eulogy ofher father. Friends of Michael mightlike to contact Ruth and Rebecca on:[email protected]]
Submitted by June Whittaker.
Page 13
A LIFE OF ACHIEVEMENT
NSW Local Government Minister Don
Page paid tribute in Hansard to the life
of veteran councillor Les Shore, who
died on 16th June 2011, after a long
battle with illness at the age of 80.
As the Minister for Local Government Ipay tribute to one of the State’s longestserving councillors, Les Shore, whopassed away last night aged 80. Formercouncillor Les Shore was elected toBaulkham Hills Shire Council in 1969and retired at the last local governmentelections held in 2008. His term oncouncil was almost 40 years and heplayed his part in shaping the growth,vitality and prosperity for which theHills shire is widely known. Les Shoreis one of our longest serving councillorsin the history of the Hills shire. Herepresented council at manyconferences and external forums duringhis years of service. Les Shore’s localgovernment career is distinguished byrepresenting council as Shire Presidentof the Baulkham Hills shire from 1983to 1986. He was a member of theHawkesbury River County Council,serving five terms as chairman and fourterms as deputy chairman from 1987 to2007. He was a Local GovernmentAlternative Delegate on theHawkesbury Nepean Forum, whichreplaced the trust. He also was thecouncil’s delegate to the HawkesburyNepean Local Government andCatchment Management Reference
Group, including as deputy chairman.He was a member of the NoxiousWeeds Advisory Committee to theMinister for Agriculture from 1993 to1999 and a member of the board ofIntegral Energy, formerly ProspectCounty Council, up until July 1995. Hewas council’s delegate to ProspectCounty Council from 1997 to 1980 andfrom 1987 to 1995 and council’srepresentative on the Cattai StateRecreational Trust. He was executivemember of the Central Region BushfireOrganisation and chairman of the ShireRural Fire Service ManagementCommittee.
Les Shore also had a distinguishedteaching career. Les was appointedclassroom teacher after graduating fromWagga Wagga Teachers College toWentworth Central School. He taught atMurwillumbah Public School,Mullumbimby High School in myelectorate and Parramatta East PublicSchool. He was principal at TheissVillage Public School in the SnowyMountains, Werrington Park School forSpecial Purposes and Harrington StreetPublic School, Cabramatta. Les wasappointed school principal of CastleHill Public School in 1976 and held thatposition until his retirement in 1992.Castle Hill was the largest public schoolin New South Wales during that time,with up to 1,400 students. Les was alsoa very keen cricketer and a member ofGlenorie Cricket Club since 1947. Theoval at Glenorie is named after him. Themember for Hawkesbury, Ray Williams,who served alongside Les Shore duringhis last term at Baulkham Hills ShireCouncil, said about Les:
Les’s passing is a sad loss for ourcommunity. His dedication to serviceand great affection for our shire wasnothing short of outstanding and he willlong be remembered as a great leader ofour community.
On behalf of all members of the House,I offer condolences to Les’s family andacknowledge his wonderful
contribution to his community oversuch an extended period.
The following are excerpts taken fromspeakers at Les’ funeral.
Les’ brother Stan Shore said his fatherhad insisted that his eldest son benamed Leslie James North Shorebecause of the new Harbour Bridgebeing built to join the north shore to thecity. He was 10 when the family movedto the farm in Glenorie in 1941. Theeldest of six children, he would organisehis younger siblings.”He was like an extra parent. Mum andDad were always on the farm,” saidStan. “If we couldn’t go to school, he’dset up the desks on the verandah andteach us.”
Les Shore was the youngest principalappointed to a first class primary schoolin NSW and during his 15 years atCastle Hill Public School (1976 to1991), it grew to be the biggest primaryschool in the state.
“Les thrived on challenges and wasgenerous to a fault,” said Stan. “I grewup in his shadow but he was aninspiration to me. “He was a true legendin his life time and will remain so.”
Sonya Phillips called him a “greatcommunity leader” who had shaped theshire in so many ways includingfunding for improvements to OldNorthern Road. “Mr Glenorie’’ as manypeople called him. He was a “Son of theShire” she said.
A fan of all sport, but especially cricket,he loved horses and was delighted whenhis horse Laughter in the Rain won atHawkesbury a few weeks before hisdeath.
Ross Higgins said he was an“innovator’’ who “recognised potentialand gave opportunity”. “He had inexcess of 1400 students at Castle HillPublic but Les knew the name of everystudent.”
LES SHORE 1949-50
Page 14
NEWS FROM CSUA New Vice-Chancellor for Charles Sturt University
Mr Lawrie Willett AO announced in June this year that Professor Andrew Vann will succeedProfessor Ian Goulter as the new Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University (CSU).
Professor Vann will take up his appointment in January 2012. He was selected from a high qualityfield of applicants after an extensive national and international search. He is currently SeniorDeputy Vice-Chancellor at James Cook University and is responsible for leading the University’steaching and learning strategies.
“I am thrilled and honoured to be appointed as the nextVice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University,”said Professor Vann.
“I have devoted the last 15 years of my life to education inrural and regional Australia and this gives me theopportunity to continue and strengthen that contribution. Iwas attracted to Charles Sturt University because of itsunique geographical position in inland Australia and itsconnection to its communities.
“Charles Sturt University is also making very importantcontributions in incorporating Indigenous perspectives incurriculum and in educating Indigenous students.
“It has research strengths in areas that are critical for ruraland regional Australia and the nation as a whole.
“I am also delighted to be following Professor Goulter asVice-Chancellor. Under Ian’s leadership Charles SturtUniversity has clearly grown and strengthened substantially.
“My family and I have really enjoyed the warmth and friendliness of regional communities since wemoved to Australia. We are looking forward to moving to inland NSW and being an active part ofCharles Sturt University’s diverse communities,” said Professor Vann.
Professor Goulter welcomed Professor Vann to CSU. “I have known Andrew for many years andhave high regard for the important contributions he made in research and teaching and learning atCentral Queensland University, where we worked together for a period of time, and at James CookUniversity,” said Professor Goulter.
A farewell and end of year celebration will be held at the Grange on Bathurst campus for ProfessorGoulter on December 2 and will also be followed by events at other CSU campuses with times anddates yet to be confirmed.
Alumni Information
The Advancement Unit welcomed Stacey Fish back from maternity leave in September. Staceyresumed as the Faculty Advancement Officer for Education. Stacey is in the office on Mondays andWednesdays and can be reached by phone on: (02) 6338 4267 or via email at [email protected] .
Julie Brouggy
Professor Andrew Vann
Page 15
The Wagga Wagga TeachersAlumni Association
KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE IN 2011TO SECURE THE FUTURE
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The Scholarship Fund has been closed with a grand total of $60,000. Congratulations to all our contributors!This means that we can award Scholarships to a total of $6,000 annually.
We also have a further $18,665 which will be contributed towards our next Fundraising project.
You will note that our Association is now known as the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ Alumni Association as all graduates ofW.W.T.C., Riverina C.A.E., Riverina Murray I.H.E. and the C.S.U. Campus have been invited to join our ranks.
The next stage of the W.W.T.A.A. fundraising is still to be confirmed. The Committee is now considering appling thefundraising to assisting stuednts with expenses incurred in practice placements.
However, while we consider the best way to move forward, we encourage you to continue supporting the WWTAA and wehope that the past generosity will remain strong.
All donations should be made payable to the Charles Sturt Foundation at:-Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795
As you know, we pay for the printing of TALKABOUT as well as the cost of postage. The cost of each edition of Talkabouthas been around $3,500. It has therefore been decided that an annual subscription of $10 per member is required and thatthis will fall due at the time of the March “Talkabout”.
Talkabout subscriptions should go directly to the Treasurer of the WWT Alumni Association:-Lindsay Budd, 4 Flemington Close, Casula NSW 2170.
If you require a receipt please enclose a stamped addressed envelope.
The University over the years has been a great supporter of the Association and will continue to provide volunteers to carryout the mailing of Talkabout.
If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the University Advancemant Unit on 02 6338 4832.
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Page 16
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