Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged 1st Form, English Class, Nepean High School, reading, Year 7 on May 31, 2012| 5 Comments »
She scares me,
The 1st Form* English teacher.
Thin, bird-like features, beehive hair.
Palpable fear,
Like walking through Magpie territory
In spring.
I know an attack is imminent.
I hope I’m prepared.
Mrs Skelly’s methodology,
Students reading aloud.
Class starts with harsh high-pitched command.
Predictably:
“COWAN! BEGIN.”
Dutifully I read.
Note:
* 1st Form in Secondary School. It s now Year 7. Students are generally turning 13 at this stage.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, 138 Station St, Nepean High School, Penrith South Primary, tagged football, football socks, hookers, props, scrums, shin pads on May 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
We are wearing the jerseys with the white band across the middle. From left to right is: Paul Bardon, Max Cowan, Steve Cameron, Greg Mobbs, Mick Harpley (bending)
“I just like ’em rolled down,
Dunno why.”
Not good footy etiquette
And being practical
Socks “up” would hold shinpads
To protect shins from
Kicking, raking, & threshing
Of hookers and props
In scrums that are contests.
I don’t like shinpads, either!
Coach & parents reluctantly sigh:
“Just win the scrums, Max.”
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, 10 Reserve St, 138 Station St, Nepean High School, Penrith Primary, Penrith South Primary, tagged football boots, polished boots, ritual, Rugby League, school shoes on May 29, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Friday ritual
Football boot preparation
Clean, polish, shine.
Thick white cotton tape wrapped ankles & bridges.
Respectful of the game, teammates, opposition.
Shiny black boots laced with thick white cotton tape
Extra lengths wrapped around ankles & bridges.
Ready for fields dusty … or muddy.
A ritual loved.
Contrasting school shoes
Scuffed by kicking the can
And reluctance to polish.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged canteen, chaos, Nepean High School, school antics, school culture, sewerage on May 28, 2012| 2 Comments »
School canteen, full of students.
Queuing, sitting, eating,
Chatting, laughing.
I’m seated near the entrance when …
Hell breaks loose!!
Commotion, screams, panic,
I dash, look back.
A cocktail of effluence,
Is spraying across induced chaos.
Garden hose connected to sewerage.
Releases Brownian motion in student body.
Illustrative science?
Innovative boys!
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged Dux, humble pie, Penrith South, Peter Herrmann on May 27, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Nervous, tentative,
Feeling small.
New faces, all unsmiling, unsure.
Familiar faces comforting.
Look, there’s one …
“Hi Max.”
Old Penrith Primary colleague,
Chatting reveals news of my being
Peter comments:
“Geez, must’ve been dumb there!!”
No arrogance, no malice.
Matter-of-fact.
No harm comes from humble pie!
Posted in 138 Station St, Penrith South Primary, tagged academic, public, Secondary School, selective, travel on May 26, 2012| Leave a Comment »
The choice is between:
Assigned local school,
Nepean High School,
Or
Hurlstone Agricultural College
Nearest selective school.
Headmaster Smith suggests local is best,
Teacher Mr Bruce, values the school
Selecting its students.
My choice!!
Todays route using M4, M7 is around 40 mins. Imagine 1968 route.
Hours travel, friendless, disciplined,
Versus
Nearby, friends, laid back.
It doesn’t seem a choice at all.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged musical theatre, Oliver!, School Concerts, theatre, Theatre Royal on May 25, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Great reason for a city trip, entertainment.
Theatre, music, musical theatre.
Matinee performances preferred
But love the night trips,
And a sleepy late-night car-ride.
An all time personal favourite
Becomes favoured by schools for
Student concerts.
Musical adaptation of Dickens’
Oliver Twist.
Oliver! by Lionel Bart
At The Theatre Royal.
Extra:
In 1968 the film of Lionel Bart’s Oliver! was released. Ron Moody’s performance of Fagin was wonderful.
Posted in 138 Station St, Penrith South Primary, tagged distractions, Dux, prayer, religion, responsibility, School Captain, TV Ban on May 24, 2012| 2 Comments »
The change,
New school, elevated responsibility,
School loyalty and student loyalty.
Somewhat resisted,
And enforced limiting of distractions,
No TV, no “treehouse gang” (or the like),
The Medal.
In gold letters on shiny maple honours board,
And medal awarded,
1967 Dux.
Gives me choice for high school.
Posted in 1 Guildford Rd, Penrith Primary, tagged lights in rain, Neon Lights, reflections, wealth, William Street on May 23, 2012| Leave a Comment »
William Street 1965 – Photo: Wolfgang Sievers. Held by State Library of Victoria
Driving along William Street
Night rain, sparkling
Lights shine, shining surfaces reflect
Refract, multiply
My head turns, twists
At fractals of
Colourful neon lights shining down,
Mirrored in rain-drizzled road
Flash, polished cars – Rolls, Mercs, Jags –
Slide, illuminated above & below.
Hypnotised, impressed, my conclusion is drawn.
“Roger, Sydney is rich!”
Posted in 138 Station St, Penrith South Primary, tagged Assembly, School Captain, The Lord's Prayer on May 22, 2012| Leave a Comment »
“I’ve tried , Mr Smith,
I don’t know why I can’t remember it?”
The Headmaster is exasperated by
My continuing to read rather than recite
The Lord’s Prayer to assemblies.
Two terms, 25 readings.
We both have
Resigned to reading rather than reciting.
I’m very pleased.
Pressure relieved, absolved from guilt.
Note:
* This Short Memory relates to two earlier Short Memories. The first one was 91. Ignorance exposed, prayer answered and the second was 108. Encouragement or warning? Stop reading, start leading.
365 Short Memories 