About UsIn 1959 the new Coburg Teachers’ College was one of several built by the Victorian Education Department to meet the demand for an increased number of teachers to be trained as quickly as possible to teach the rapidly increasing number of primary school enrolments which followed the post-war baby boom. Other infant and primary teachers' colleges were built at Toorak, Burwood and Frankston around the same time.
The original courses undertaken at Coburg were for the Trained Primary Teacher's Certificate (two years) and the Trained Infant Teacher's Certificate (three years). These programs were phased out when the new three-year Diploma of Teaching (Primary) course was introduced in 1968. Over the years the number and range of programs offered by the college increased, as did the required number of years required to be registered as a primary teachers (from 1978 programs increased to four years in length and were re-named Bachelor of Education). A 50th anniversary reunion for graduates from Coburg Teachers’ College's 1965 cohort was held in 2015. In the lead-up to the reunion, organiser Brenda Langmaid took a trip down memory lane and shared some of her experiences from that special year: "Teaching bonds ensured staff retention for three years after graduation. Placements into schools rather than applications ensured graduates staffed country and remote schools. Further extension courses were offered directly from college in Primary Art, Phys Ed, Special Ed and Librarianship through Melbourne Teachers’ College. What a simple exciting time this was for students after the restraints of Matriculation or Year 11 study! After throwing away our school uniforms we needed to be organised by new staff, ex-teachers and academics to dress and behave correctly for our future roles in schools as role models to young students. Men were to wear jackets to lectures with staff in academic gowns or suits. Permission needed to be granted for men to remove their coats in extreme heat. Many tales abound of the dress requirements for women to maintain dignity and decorum and not excite the males! There were to be no shiny patent shoes worn, which were becoming the fashion. You could not wear red or short skirts, and certainly no slack suits or trousers in schools until later in the 1960s. Driving and owning our own cars were remote aims. How prestigious were those who had cars at college and drove past us as we caught the white Bell Street bus! Chalkboard, flashcards, recorder and physical education were all different experiences to prepare us for schools. There were also teaching rounds, preparing and gathering resources, as well as visits by lecturers to assess our lessons. We were taught class control. Were we really just at college waiting to mature, to see the purpose of Piaget’s theory? Once we were ready for schools we were equipped with limited resources, such as one reader per class from John and Betty in Prep through Playmates, Grade two and The Hobbyahs, Grade Three and poetry, school newspapers. On top of this there were more administrative tasks such as milk rounds, rubbish bin duty, incinerators, playing tunnel ball, organising cross ball competitions. We existed in two separate worlds: college days and teaching rounds. Then we were in the big, wide, real world, with big kids, cheeky kids, clever kids, parents, meetings, and more meetings. There were meetings before 3.30pm, and after 3.30pm. Many of us experienced country school living, cleaning, and head teacher roles. There were discussions about Superannuation, although why did we need to think about that then? There was the option to join the Union, and the change to decimal currency." PS: Our fortnightly paycheque was 19 pounds 6/5 in 1965, rising to $46.02 on 24 February 1966 (our first pay in decimal currency) for third years and extension groups. The reunion was held on Sunday, 22 February 2015, from 2.30pm-5.30pm, at The Manningham, 1 Thompson Road, Bulleen, Victoria. To get in touch with Brenda Langmaid about the reunion or any other information, email her at: [email protected] |
HISTORY OF COBURG TEACHERS' COLLEGE
In 1959 the new teachers' college at Coburg was one of several built by the Victorian Education Department to meet the demand for an increased number of teachers be trained as rapidly as possible to teach the rapidly increasing number of Primary School enrolments which followed the post-war baby boom. Other infant and primary teachers' colleges were built at Toorak, Burwood and Frankston around the same time.
Several factors led to the selection of the Coburg site -
availability of nearby training schools;
likely local enrolments;
distance of the proposed site from nearest railhead and immediate development.
There were many nearby schools and public transport was close by. Coburg was a well-established area of Melbourne. It was first surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1837 and one of the first landowners was John Pascoe Fawkner, a founder of Melbourne. The areas grew rapidly - in 1850 the Port Phillip authorities chose Pentridge as a site for a penitentiary, and even by then at least three churches had been built in the area. Pentridge's first school opened in 1850, and the National School (which opened in 1853) became Coburg Primary School (on Bell Street, very close to the Coburg Teachers' College site).
The railway line from Melbourne to Coburg was opened in 1884, and electric trams ran along Sydney Road from the city to Coburg North by 1916. The transport links provoked a boom in residential land subdivisions, and the War Service Commission encouraged servicemen to settle and build on Coburg's relatively cheap land. This growth is evident from the census population figures with growth from 9,505 people in 1911, to 33,118 (1933), and 70,771 (1961).
The nearest other teachers' college was in Parkville (adjacent to the University of Melbourne) so there was a large potential number of local enrolments.
The original courses undertaken at Coburg were for the Trained Primary Teacher's Certificate (two years) and the Trained Infant Teacher's Certificate (three years). These programs were phased out when the new three year Diploma of Teaching (Primary) course was introduced in 1968. Over the years the number and range of programs offered by the college increased, as did the required number of years required to be registered as a primary teachers (from 1978 programs increased to four years in length and were re-named Bachelor of Education).
Teacher education remained at Coburg until 1997 when it moved to the Bundoora West campus of RMIT and its new building.
In 1959 the new teachers' college at Coburg was one of several built by the Victorian Education Department to meet the demand for an increased number of teachers be trained as rapidly as possible to teach the rapidly increasing number of Primary School enrolments which followed the post-war baby boom. Other infant and primary teachers' colleges were built at Toorak, Burwood and Frankston around the same time.
Several factors led to the selection of the Coburg site -
availability of nearby training schools;
likely local enrolments;
distance of the proposed site from nearest railhead and immediate development.
There were many nearby schools and public transport was close by. Coburg was a well-established area of Melbourne. It was first surveyed by Robert Hoddle in 1837 and one of the first landowners was John Pascoe Fawkner, a founder of Melbourne. The areas grew rapidly - in 1850 the Port Phillip authorities chose Pentridge as a site for a penitentiary, and even by then at least three churches had been built in the area. Pentridge's first school opened in 1850, and the National School (which opened in 1853) became Coburg Primary School (on Bell Street, very close to the Coburg Teachers' College site).
The railway line from Melbourne to Coburg was opened in 1884, and electric trams ran along Sydney Road from the city to Coburg North by 1916. The transport links provoked a boom in residential land subdivisions, and the War Service Commission encouraged servicemen to settle and build on Coburg's relatively cheap land. This growth is evident from the census population figures with growth from 9,505 people in 1911, to 33,118 (1933), and 70,771 (1961).
The nearest other teachers' college was in Parkville (adjacent to the University of Melbourne) so there was a large potential number of local enrolments.
The original courses undertaken at Coburg were for the Trained Primary Teacher's Certificate (two years) and the Trained Infant Teacher's Certificate (three years). These programs were phased out when the new three year Diploma of Teaching (Primary) course was introduced in 1968. Over the years the number and range of programs offered by the college increased, as did the required number of years required to be registered as a primary teachers (from 1978 programs increased to four years in length and were re-named Bachelor of Education).
Teacher education remained at Coburg until 1997 when it moved to the Bundoora West campus of RMIT and its new building.
1964 - NOTES FROM MY DIARY by Noel Kelly
20 Jan - Medical Examination for Primary Studentship
30 Jan - I was awarded Primary Studentship
18 Feb College year began with a “Rag”…. expensive shoe lost in the pile
24 Feb - I was changed from C1 to D1
27 Feb - First Payday – 79 Pounds 11/9 for 8 weeks including backpay
28 Feb - College Welcome Dance
3 Mar - 1st year v 2nd year cricket match
11 Mar - Swimming Sports at Coburg Pool
13 Mar - Jinx Jazz Night at College
17 Mar - D1 Group Night at Brenda’s
18 Mar - Staff v Student cricket match at Princes Park
23 M-3 Apr - 1st Observation Round (Thornbury SS)
24 Mar - Easter Breakup Party
25 Mar - Inter-College Swimming Sports
23 Apr - To Woollert for trailer & ute load of hay for barn dance
24 Apr - D1’s Barn Dance in Common Room
28 A-5 May - Cinema 64
4-8 May - 2nd Observation Round (Olympic Village SS)
14 May - End Term 1
1-5 Jun - Camp at Anglesea
8 Jun - Recorders were distributed. D1 Group Night at In Melbourne Tonight
10 Jun - Coburg TC d Balwyn High 9-7 at baseball
16 Jun - Tests for ISA, Maths & Novel (Pigs Have Wings)
18 Jun - Logic, PE and ACER Tests
19 Jun - Music & PE Tests
22 Jun-3 Jul - 1st Teaching Round (Ivanhoe SS – Mr Kennedy)
23 Jun - Gave my first lesson – English
1 Jul - Excursion to Heidelberg Tech.
Defeated Burwood Teachers’ College 28-0 in baseball
8 Jul - IQ Test
10 Jul - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
15 Jul - Personality Test
22 Jul - Premier of Salad Days
Visited Institute of Applied Science
27 Jul - Made drum and shakers in music
30 Jul - Bought my first teacher’s whistle for 8/6
3-14 Aug - 2nd Teaching Round (Preston East SS – 5B Mr Belcher)
11 Aug - D1 Group Night
12 Aug - Defeated Frankston TC 20-4 in baseball
26 Aug - Students’ Assembly, Staff v Students Footy
28 Aug - Recorder & singing tests. End Term 2
14 Sep-2 Oct 3rd Teaching Round (Olympic Village SS - Gr 2 Mrs Storey)
23 Sep - Medical & XRay
25 Sep - College Dance
14 Oct - Choir sang in festival at Kew Town Hall
27 Oct - ISA & Writing Tests
2 Nov - Exams – Education 3 hrs & Art 2 hrs
4 Nov - Exams – Maths & PE
5 Nov - Exams - English & ISA
6 Nov - Exams – Music & Social Studies.
College Dance
12 Nov - “Physical” Test
18 Nov - Group Photos
19-21 Nov - Revue 64
25 Nov - Inter-College Athletics at Olympic Park
27 Nov - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
2 Dec - Choir sang at Combined Teachers’ College Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
Annual SRC Meeting & Elections
D1 Group Night at Hotel Victoria for dinner then Her Majestys, then Storeys' House
4 Dec - College Picnic to Mornington
9 Dec - St John’s 1st Aid Exam
11 Dec - Final Day of 1st Year
1965 – NOTES FROM MY DIARY by Noel Kelly
9 Feb - 2nd Year began – our fortnightly pay was 19 pounds 6/5 in 1965
10 Feb - Newies v Oldies Swimming at Coburg Pool
15 Feb - C2 Group Night in Strathmore
22 Feb - Choir practice began on Mondays 4.15 – 5.45ish
24 Feb - Newies v Oldies Cricket Match
26 Feb - College Dance
9-26 Mar - 1st Teaching Round (Thornbury – Rural Grade - Ken Ramage)
10 Mar - Newies v Oldies Swimming Sports
13 Mar - Party at Bob Mundy’s in Gisborne
17 Mar - Staff v Students Cricket Match
31 Mar - Inter- College Swimming Sports (Coburg TC came 2nd)
14 Apr - Coburg TC d Northcote HS 11-4 in baseball
21 Apr - English Assignment due – “The Roots of Heaven”
26 Apr - Inspectors at College
30 Ap-8 May Cinema 65
6 May - Excursion to the Observatory
11 May - Footy Dance with Brian Fitzgerald’s Band
12 May - Fashion Parade
13 May - C2 Group Night at Yvonne’s
15 May - End Term 1
31 M-18 Jun – 2nd Teaching Round (Preston West – Grade 4 Miss Walsh)
2 Jun - Mapping at Merri Creek for electives
28-29 Jun - Dress Rehearsals for Golden Legion of Cleaning Women
30 Jun-3 Jul - Golden Legion of Cleaning Women
6 Jul - Paul Killeen & I were removed from music for being late – and did “duplicating for VATCS”
(whatever that was!) instead
9 Jul - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
13 Jul - C2 Group Night to In Melbourne Tonight
16 Jul - C2 Gentlemen to Terry Newton’s for tea
20 Jul - Lecture at Wilson Hall by Sir Edmund Hillary
27 Jul - Recorder & Autoharp tests
28 Jul - Coburg won Baseball Premiership by defeating Frankston 7-2 in very wet conditions
29 Jul - Woodwork & Maths Tests
30 Jul - This entry read, “Not much doing at college so we had lunch at Ken Linton’s house then went for
a 40 mile drive!”
Choir competed in the Footscray Eisteddfod and came 2nd by 1 point to the Postal Institute Choir
2-27 Aug - 3rd Teaching Round (Heidelberg SS – Grade 3 Mr Reid)
6 Aug - Choir sang in West Footscray
17 Aug - C2 Group Night at Neville Muir’s
24-25 Aug - “Bill’s Play” … The Emporer’s Birthday by Bill Tabbernee
26 Aug - College Dance
15 Sep - Excursion to Rickett’s Point for Electives
20 Sep - A few of us discovered we were conscripted for National Service
21 Sep - Took possession of my “new” 1958 FC Holden Special Sedan. (paid 360 pounds)
24 Sep - College Dance
29 Sep - Excursion to Pentridge Prison with David Biles
2 Oct - Choir sang at Melbourne Choral Festival at Melbourne Town Hall
6 Oct - Medical with Dr Ross
7 Oct - Train trip to Ballarat for sport
13 Oct - Projector lessons
18 Oct - Exams – English & Social Studies
19 Oct - Exams – ISA & Music
20 Oct - Exam – Health
21 Oct - Exams – Education & Art
22 Oct - Exams – Maths & Science
25 Oct-19 N - 4th Teaching Round (Ivanhoe – Mr Sheehan)
25 Oct - Miss Lowndes signed my Registration Papers
27 Oct - Excursion to Healesville Sanctuary
3 Nov - Oldies v Newies (Aths?) Sports
10 Nov - To North Wharf for Harbour Trust Trip
11 Nov - C2 Group Night at Brenda’s
24 Nov - Exit Group Photos
I passed exams
26 Nov - Graduation Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
1 Dec - Choir sang at combined Teachers College Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
2-3 Dec - Revue – “This is The Year That Was”
6 Dec - Graduation Ceremony at Wilson Hall – presented with TPTC
7 Dec - Granted extension to complete Trained Art Craft Teachers Certificate (Primary)
at Melbourne Teachers’ College in 1966
8 Dec - College Picnic to Queenscliffe – we walked to Point Lonsdale
9 Dec - C2 Group Night at Lower Plenty
10 Dec - Final assembly at which school appointments were announced
End of College Year
21st Parties of Ron Major and Dave Morrison
20 Jan - Medical Examination for Primary Studentship
30 Jan - I was awarded Primary Studentship
18 Feb College year began with a “Rag”…. expensive shoe lost in the pile
24 Feb - I was changed from C1 to D1
27 Feb - First Payday – 79 Pounds 11/9 for 8 weeks including backpay
28 Feb - College Welcome Dance
3 Mar - 1st year v 2nd year cricket match
11 Mar - Swimming Sports at Coburg Pool
13 Mar - Jinx Jazz Night at College
17 Mar - D1 Group Night at Brenda’s
18 Mar - Staff v Student cricket match at Princes Park
23 M-3 Apr - 1st Observation Round (Thornbury SS)
24 Mar - Easter Breakup Party
25 Mar - Inter-College Swimming Sports
23 Apr - To Woollert for trailer & ute load of hay for barn dance
24 Apr - D1’s Barn Dance in Common Room
28 A-5 May - Cinema 64
4-8 May - 2nd Observation Round (Olympic Village SS)
14 May - End Term 1
1-5 Jun - Camp at Anglesea
8 Jun - Recorders were distributed. D1 Group Night at In Melbourne Tonight
10 Jun - Coburg TC d Balwyn High 9-7 at baseball
16 Jun - Tests for ISA, Maths & Novel (Pigs Have Wings)
18 Jun - Logic, PE and ACER Tests
19 Jun - Music & PE Tests
22 Jun-3 Jul - 1st Teaching Round (Ivanhoe SS – Mr Kennedy)
23 Jun - Gave my first lesson – English
1 Jul - Excursion to Heidelberg Tech.
Defeated Burwood Teachers’ College 28-0 in baseball
8 Jul - IQ Test
10 Jul - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
15 Jul - Personality Test
22 Jul - Premier of Salad Days
Visited Institute of Applied Science
27 Jul - Made drum and shakers in music
30 Jul - Bought my first teacher’s whistle for 8/6
3-14 Aug - 2nd Teaching Round (Preston East SS – 5B Mr Belcher)
11 Aug - D1 Group Night
12 Aug - Defeated Frankston TC 20-4 in baseball
26 Aug - Students’ Assembly, Staff v Students Footy
28 Aug - Recorder & singing tests. End Term 2
14 Sep-2 Oct 3rd Teaching Round (Olympic Village SS - Gr 2 Mrs Storey)
23 Sep - Medical & XRay
25 Sep - College Dance
14 Oct - Choir sang in festival at Kew Town Hall
27 Oct - ISA & Writing Tests
2 Nov - Exams – Education 3 hrs & Art 2 hrs
4 Nov - Exams – Maths & PE
5 Nov - Exams - English & ISA
6 Nov - Exams – Music & Social Studies.
College Dance
12 Nov - “Physical” Test
18 Nov - Group Photos
19-21 Nov - Revue 64
25 Nov - Inter-College Athletics at Olympic Park
27 Nov - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
2 Dec - Choir sang at Combined Teachers’ College Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
Annual SRC Meeting & Elections
D1 Group Night at Hotel Victoria for dinner then Her Majestys, then Storeys' House
4 Dec - College Picnic to Mornington
9 Dec - St John’s 1st Aid Exam
11 Dec - Final Day of 1st Year
1965 – NOTES FROM MY DIARY by Noel Kelly
9 Feb - 2nd Year began – our fortnightly pay was 19 pounds 6/5 in 1965
10 Feb - Newies v Oldies Swimming at Coburg Pool
15 Feb - C2 Group Night in Strathmore
22 Feb - Choir practice began on Mondays 4.15 – 5.45ish
24 Feb - Newies v Oldies Cricket Match
26 Feb - College Dance
9-26 Mar - 1st Teaching Round (Thornbury – Rural Grade - Ken Ramage)
10 Mar - Newies v Oldies Swimming Sports
13 Mar - Party at Bob Mundy’s in Gisborne
17 Mar - Staff v Students Cricket Match
31 Mar - Inter- College Swimming Sports (Coburg TC came 2nd)
14 Apr - Coburg TC d Northcote HS 11-4 in baseball
21 Apr - English Assignment due – “The Roots of Heaven”
26 Apr - Inspectors at College
30 Ap-8 May Cinema 65
6 May - Excursion to the Observatory
11 May - Footy Dance with Brian Fitzgerald’s Band
12 May - Fashion Parade
13 May - C2 Group Night at Yvonne’s
15 May - End Term 1
31 M-18 Jun – 2nd Teaching Round (Preston West – Grade 4 Miss Walsh)
2 Jun - Mapping at Merri Creek for electives
28-29 Jun - Dress Rehearsals for Golden Legion of Cleaning Women
30 Jun-3 Jul - Golden Legion of Cleaning Women
6 Jul - Paul Killeen & I were removed from music for being late – and did “duplicating for VATCS”
(whatever that was!) instead
9 Jul - College Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
13 Jul - C2 Group Night to In Melbourne Tonight
16 Jul - C2 Gentlemen to Terry Newton’s for tea
20 Jul - Lecture at Wilson Hall by Sir Edmund Hillary
27 Jul - Recorder & Autoharp tests
28 Jul - Coburg won Baseball Premiership by defeating Frankston 7-2 in very wet conditions
29 Jul - Woodwork & Maths Tests
30 Jul - This entry read, “Not much doing at college so we had lunch at Ken Linton’s house then went for
a 40 mile drive!”
Choir competed in the Footscray Eisteddfod and came 2nd by 1 point to the Postal Institute Choir
2-27 Aug - 3rd Teaching Round (Heidelberg SS – Grade 3 Mr Reid)
6 Aug - Choir sang in West Footscray
17 Aug - C2 Group Night at Neville Muir’s
24-25 Aug - “Bill’s Play” … The Emporer’s Birthday by Bill Tabbernee
26 Aug - College Dance
15 Sep - Excursion to Rickett’s Point for Electives
20 Sep - A few of us discovered we were conscripted for National Service
21 Sep - Took possession of my “new” 1958 FC Holden Special Sedan. (paid 360 pounds)
24 Sep - College Dance
29 Sep - Excursion to Pentridge Prison with David Biles
2 Oct - Choir sang at Melbourne Choral Festival at Melbourne Town Hall
6 Oct - Medical with Dr Ross
7 Oct - Train trip to Ballarat for sport
13 Oct - Projector lessons
18 Oct - Exams – English & Social Studies
19 Oct - Exams – ISA & Music
20 Oct - Exam – Health
21 Oct - Exams – Education & Art
22 Oct - Exams – Maths & Science
25 Oct-19 N - 4th Teaching Round (Ivanhoe – Mr Sheehan)
25 Oct - Miss Lowndes signed my Registration Papers
27 Oct - Excursion to Healesville Sanctuary
3 Nov - Oldies v Newies (Aths?) Sports
10 Nov - To North Wharf for Harbour Trust Trip
11 Nov - C2 Group Night at Brenda’s
24 Nov - Exit Group Photos
I passed exams
26 Nov - Graduation Ball at St Kilda Town Hall
1 Dec - Choir sang at combined Teachers College Service at St Paul’s Cathedral
2-3 Dec - Revue – “This is The Year That Was”
6 Dec - Graduation Ceremony at Wilson Hall – presented with TPTC
7 Dec - Granted extension to complete Trained Art Craft Teachers Certificate (Primary)
at Melbourne Teachers’ College in 1966
8 Dec - College Picnic to Queenscliffe – we walked to Point Lonsdale
9 Dec - C2 Group Night at Lower Plenty
10 Dec - Final assembly at which school appointments were announced
End of College Year
21st Parties of Ron Major and Dave Morrison