Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged dedication, English Class, excursion, inspiration, Nepean High School on September 29, 2012| 1 Comment »
English classes become interesting
Teachers wanting to share
What they see, feel & love
They transport us.
Metaphorically, by their care & passion.
And, literally, by bus, train or car
Anywhere, anytime
To venues, events, theatres,
Anything …
Enlivening texts, engaging us.
Ms Purcell & Mr Young
Dedicate many private hours
Opening our eyes.
NHS Staff 1970: Ms Purcell is front row, extreme right. Mr Young back row, 7th from left.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged class war, fighting, Nepean High School, schoolboy fight on September 21, 2012| Leave a Comment »
School fights are common at NHS
Generally they
– involve juniors
– are stopped without damage
– happen on perimeters.
Quadrangle, heavily populated
Tensions escalate between
Senior boys.
It’s on!
Quadrangle becomes giant boxing ring,
Entire student body watching, stunned.
Mountains v The Dam??*
Serious battle rages,
Blood spilt, bones broken.
Finally, bell rings.
Note:
* Are the names of the combatants important? Maybe but really only to … well, two of the adversaries are in the team photo in Short Memory #154. On the same team in 1968, some years later these two duked it out on opposite teams in the quadrangle that day. If you can pick the two … I am sure the names of the other pugilists will come to you. If you can’t it’s probably not that important to know.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged cards, gambling, geography excursion, Nepean High School, outback Australia, pontoon on August 30, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Bus rumbles along
Through hours of red dusty landscape.
One diversion, cards,
More engaging when
Playing for money.
Mr Ellem joins in.*
Pontoon, for cash.
Coins on a makeshift table
In the aisle of a bumpy bus
We play for hours.
Mr Ellem loses heavily
Schoolkids win,
My winnings … big – about $9.
Note:
* I am pretty sure this game took place along the Stuart Highway as we headed towards Alice Springs. The map below gives you a rough idea of our itinerary.
A, N=Penrith; B=Mt Isa; C= Camooweal; D=Three Ways; E=Katherine; F=Darwin; G=Alice Springs; H=Uluru (then known as Ayers Rock); I=Coober Pedy; J=Port Augusta; K=Adelaide; L=Mildura; M=Canberra
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged geography, Nepean High School, outback Australia, school excursion on August 28, 2012| Leave a Comment »
A long school excursion,
Travelling for a few weeks
Outback.
Transport: buses
Accommodation: camping
Travellers: interesting mix – oil & water.
Male teenagers & retirees.*
Teenagers guard(ian): Geography teacher.**
Steve & I are in.
Itinerary:
Outback NSW & Queensland,
Darwin, Red Centre,
Simpson Desert,
Salt Lakes,
Simpson Gulf,
Adelaide,
Barossa Valley,
NW Victoria
ACT.
Home.
Notes:
* Below is a (poor quality) picture of the traveling troupe. I am in the front row fourth from the left. Stephen is immediately to the right of me. Some others I think I can identify are:
John “Trapper” Trevena – front row on the left of me.
Craig Bale – front row, immediately to the right of the lady with pink cardigan
Michael Bale (Craig’s cousin) – on the right of Craig.
John Welch – the tall guy right at the back, in a direct line back from Michael Bale.
The bloke waving his hand is (I think) Arpad Rapsak
** I am pretty sure the teacher was Mr Ellem.
*** In Short Memory #18 I recalled an event happening at aged 16. Only a few days later some of my alumni (Garry, Ruth, & Jenny) suggested that the event happened at least a year earlier. Recalling this excursion and it’s timing (3rd form – or year 9) pretty much confirms their opinion.
The Touring Party for a NHS Geography Excursion circa 1970
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged graffiti, Nepean High School, vandalism on August 18, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Nepean High School looking south west.*
Morning arrival.
A hive of activity, almost frantic,
Not the usual student hubbub.
Students quietly watching, chattering
Something’s wrong!
Cleaners scrubbing.
Painters painting.
Shared goal:
Remove white painted lettering
Applied overnight, everywhere –
Walls, windows, asphalt.
Huge letters,
Visible … even to passing rail commuters.
Single phrase repeated:
DILLON IS A CUNT**
Notes:
* The white graffiti was painted onto every side of the building and quadrangle. In the photo, the railway line is visible in the distance … beyond the football fields.
** Mr Dillon was the headmaster. While this sort of language was often heard at school … it was rarely seen. Even the most profane of students seemed shocked by its sight and dimension. The shock perhaps subdued the laughter – but didn’t diminish the mirth. I don’t think the graffitists were ever identified.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged canteen, English Class, Nepean High School, progressive dances, school dancing on August 7, 2012| Leave a Comment »
Nepean High, No School Hall
We have a multi-purpose canteen.
Seating shifted to the perimeter,
We know real fun – with relevance – awaits:
The Pride of Erin
Progressive Barn Dance
Canadian Three Step
We dance (hehehe) the circle, stepping
Forward, back, heel, toe.
Partner progresses.
Doh-see-doh!!
I’d rather be in Skelly’s English class!
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged football team, Nepean High School, school sport on June 2, 2012| 2 Comments »
Senior industrial arts teacher,
And coach of the 7 st 7lb football team,
Mr Hush
Wants to see me.
What have I done?
“Junior sport is Tuesday.
I want you in the 7-7’s.
You’ll have Wednesday sport too.”
Too! Two sports days.
“Get your parents’ permission.”
“Yes, sir!”
Parents, Headmaster, Sportsmaster, & me.
All OK!!
1968 – 7 st 7 lb Nepean High School RL Team
Here are some names. If you can fill in any of the question marks, please do:
Back row (l to r): John Cavanagh, Greg Carrol, Steve Hollick, Geoff Hush, Lindsay Cole, Tony Boyden, Mr Hush
Middle (l to r): Peter Cahill, Russell Jolley, Trevor Hardy, Bruce Waugh(?), Graeme Curzon, Max Cowan
Front row ( to r): Paul Walker, ?, Jim Lord, Clarke Scott, Jon Trevena.
Posted in 138 Station St, Nepean High School, tagged art class, Nepean High School, teachers, trouble on June 1, 2012| 1 Comment »
Willy
School quadrangle – very old teacher strolling the diagonal.
Willy (in Year 1 Art class):
Mr McInnes – “Gabby”
I bet I can hit Gabby (teacher – Mr McInnes) with this.
Holds up an apple.
Guffaws, go-on’s, nahs!!
Leans back, arm extends catapulting fruit through window.
It was a great throw.
Thwack!
Direct hit. Top of spine.
Art students duck, hide. Trouble ahead.*
Note:
* Willy was very honourable. The class was threatened with a group punishment if no-one shed light on the event – and it looked like the class was solid – Willy raised his hand, declared his role and faced the music!!
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 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!
365 Short Memories 