Robin Paulin / Vargo
In my secondary school years I lived in Thornbury attending Christ Church Grammar and University High. Three years after College I headed to Alberta. I married a Canadian Wayne Vargo in Edmonton in 1970 when we both taught in St Albert. We returned to Melbourne to teach, building a house in Lower Plenty. Doug was born in 1974 and Nicole in 1976 and they both started their schooling at Briar Hill PS. In 1983 I had an International Teaching Fellowship in Chandler Arizona. That summer we drove up the west coast from Mexico to Vancouver, to Edmonton and Peace River in Northern Alberta then back via Saskatoon and Yellowstone. It was a great experience for our family. I went to Greythorn PS as a senior teacher and we moved to Kew. In my ‘spare’ time I did a graduate Diploma in Computer Ed and an M.Ed at Deakin Uni becoming very involved with teacher PD when laptops were rolled out. I travelled to China and back to Canada/US three times through this period including a 1 yr International Teacher Fellowship. Both our children are travellers. Nicole worked in England, Greece and Canada before having a family and Doug worked in England, Saudi Arabia, Canada and is now in California with his family. In retirement I worked for The Smith Family as a volunteer then in a part-time position heading up the Telstra Connected Seniors program for their VIEW Clubs around Australia which required a lot of interstate travel. Now I work as a volunteer for The School of St Jude in Tanzania as their Australian Financial Coordinator. The school provides free education for over 1800 very poor students in Arusha and is mostly supported by Australians. The highlight of 2014 was a month working at the school and visiting my sponsored students. I also teach technology classes at the local U3A. We have six grandchildren. |
Ian Buszard
Primary School: Coburg North
Secondary School: Coburg High School
Married to Susan
Children: Meagan (37), Lachlan (34) Step Children: Mathew (36), Cameron (33)
Grandchildren: Olivia (5), Kate (2), Amy (1)
On completion of my TPTC I headed for the Wimmera Region of Victoria to become the Head Teacher at Murtoa North P.S. with 28 children in all grades.
It was a great experience but a better experience was playing football in the Wimmera League for Minyip!
During that year my number came up in the National Service Ballot but I was lucky that the doctor I had for my medical thought that too many teachers had been “called up” already and he found a reason, apparently sinisitus, that aborted my “call up”.
I returned to Melbourne where I was appointed to Brunswick North Experimental School (as it was then called). The experimentation came from the C & R Branch giving the teachers new courses to try. It was another great experience and a lot of fun.
I was married in 1969 and went down to Rosebud to teach for the next two years before we headed to the UK and Europe for 12 months.
Upon return I was seconded to the Publications Branch where I was part of the team that produced Comet, Explore, Challenge and Pursuit. These were great years and I learnt many new skills.
During my final year in Publications I was asked to lecture part time at the Melbourne University in their new B.ed (Primary) course for those who had a first degree and wanted to teach. An interesting couple of years in academia where I also studied for my own B.ed.
I then decided I wanted to try Special Education and was given 12 months leave on full pay to attend Burwood College to complete a Grad. Dip. in Special Ed.
Sport: I was appointed in the first group of Interchange Stewards with the VFL and officiated at the 1979 Grand Final (an amazing experience walking out onto the MCG with the Umpires on Grand Final Day) and 1980 Reserve Grade Grand Final. These were the days when teams and umpires would meet together after the game for drinks and eats. And much fun was had by all!
At the end of that year I was seconded to the Reading Treatment & Research Centre and headed the teaching area of a multi-disciplinary team treating and studying reading problems from Prep through Year 12 all around Victoria. It was an interesting four years working with doctors, psychologists, social workers, welfare workers, the RCH and Members of Parliament. On many occasions I had to represent the teaching aspect of our work to MP’s and others so our teachers were valued for what they were doing.
During these years I also studied computers and attained a Grad Dip in Computer Education.
I then took promotion to Ormond East PS (now called McKinnon P.S.) as Deputy Principal but after 12 months I took over as Acting Principal when the Principal took extended leave.
After 3 years as acting principal I applied for and was accepted to the position of Deputy Principal at Rye Primary School on the Mornington Peninsula. Unfortunately the then Principal took seriously ill before I arrived and I was thrust into the position of Principal before I had even met the staff.
When the first group of “Packages” were offered by the Ed Dept I applied for one and was accepted finishing at Rye P.S. in April 1993.
Sport: I became assistant coach of the U.16 Stingrays team to compete in the Schoolboys competition, held each year about Easter time.
I was also asked by Robert Walls, then coach of the Brisbane Bears (AFL) if I would become their Advanced Tactitian which in effect meant I was their ”spy”! A position I held for five years before deciding I was sick of the travel for the “peanuts” I was being paid. It was good fun and I did enjoy the talks I had to give to the playing group and seeing the different styles of the various coaches we had. I didn’t relish the return flights to Perth on the same day although I did once manage to get a couple of weeks for my wife and I by convincing Brisbane that I would check out both Fremantle and West Coast at training and on the weekend in the game!
I then went to Sandringham in the VFL and helped them in their 3 peat premiership years. I also had two years with the Casey Scorpions (VFL) when my son was their Football Manager.
Since leaving the Dept. I have had numerous different positions such as:
a. Relief Teaching at Padua College (Secondary) in Rosebud
b. Chief supervisor of VCE at Padua College Mornington
c. Assisted my uncle in an advertising business
d. Produced my own local sport newspaper
e. Produced newspapers for local schools
f. Assistant Supervisor VCE at Rosebud Secondary College
g. Part Time with Marillac as a Community Living Worker assisting disabled to live in their own homes and participate in their local community
h. Civil Marriage Celebrant
Primary School: Coburg North
Secondary School: Coburg High School
Married to Susan
Children: Meagan (37), Lachlan (34) Step Children: Mathew (36), Cameron (33)
Grandchildren: Olivia (5), Kate (2), Amy (1)
On completion of my TPTC I headed for the Wimmera Region of Victoria to become the Head Teacher at Murtoa North P.S. with 28 children in all grades.
It was a great experience but a better experience was playing football in the Wimmera League for Minyip!
During that year my number came up in the National Service Ballot but I was lucky that the doctor I had for my medical thought that too many teachers had been “called up” already and he found a reason, apparently sinisitus, that aborted my “call up”.
I returned to Melbourne where I was appointed to Brunswick North Experimental School (as it was then called). The experimentation came from the C & R Branch giving the teachers new courses to try. It was another great experience and a lot of fun.
I was married in 1969 and went down to Rosebud to teach for the next two years before we headed to the UK and Europe for 12 months.
Upon return I was seconded to the Publications Branch where I was part of the team that produced Comet, Explore, Challenge and Pursuit. These were great years and I learnt many new skills.
During my final year in Publications I was asked to lecture part time at the Melbourne University in their new B.ed (Primary) course for those who had a first degree and wanted to teach. An interesting couple of years in academia where I also studied for my own B.ed.
I then decided I wanted to try Special Education and was given 12 months leave on full pay to attend Burwood College to complete a Grad. Dip. in Special Ed.
Sport: I was appointed in the first group of Interchange Stewards with the VFL and officiated at the 1979 Grand Final (an amazing experience walking out onto the MCG with the Umpires on Grand Final Day) and 1980 Reserve Grade Grand Final. These were the days when teams and umpires would meet together after the game for drinks and eats. And much fun was had by all!
At the end of that year I was seconded to the Reading Treatment & Research Centre and headed the teaching area of a multi-disciplinary team treating and studying reading problems from Prep through Year 12 all around Victoria. It was an interesting four years working with doctors, psychologists, social workers, welfare workers, the RCH and Members of Parliament. On many occasions I had to represent the teaching aspect of our work to MP’s and others so our teachers were valued for what they were doing.
During these years I also studied computers and attained a Grad Dip in Computer Education.
I then took promotion to Ormond East PS (now called McKinnon P.S.) as Deputy Principal but after 12 months I took over as Acting Principal when the Principal took extended leave.
After 3 years as acting principal I applied for and was accepted to the position of Deputy Principal at Rye Primary School on the Mornington Peninsula. Unfortunately the then Principal took seriously ill before I arrived and I was thrust into the position of Principal before I had even met the staff.
When the first group of “Packages” were offered by the Ed Dept I applied for one and was accepted finishing at Rye P.S. in April 1993.
Sport: I became assistant coach of the U.16 Stingrays team to compete in the Schoolboys competition, held each year about Easter time.
I was also asked by Robert Walls, then coach of the Brisbane Bears (AFL) if I would become their Advanced Tactitian which in effect meant I was their ”spy”! A position I held for five years before deciding I was sick of the travel for the “peanuts” I was being paid. It was good fun and I did enjoy the talks I had to give to the playing group and seeing the different styles of the various coaches we had. I didn’t relish the return flights to Perth on the same day although I did once manage to get a couple of weeks for my wife and I by convincing Brisbane that I would check out both Fremantle and West Coast at training and on the weekend in the game!
I then went to Sandringham in the VFL and helped them in their 3 peat premiership years. I also had two years with the Casey Scorpions (VFL) when my son was their Football Manager.
Since leaving the Dept. I have had numerous different positions such as:
a. Relief Teaching at Padua College (Secondary) in Rosebud
b. Chief supervisor of VCE at Padua College Mornington
c. Assisted my uncle in an advertising business
d. Produced my own local sport newspaper
e. Produced newspapers for local schools
f. Assistant Supervisor VCE at Rosebud Secondary College
g. Part Time with Marillac as a Community Living Worker assisting disabled to live in their own homes and participate in their local community
h. Civil Marriage Celebrant
Jill O’Hara (Collison/Pope)
It’s hard to believe 50 years have flown by since graduation. I’m not really 70 next year.
In a nutshell, I married Graeme, a teacher at my first school, and we have two great kids and three lively and lovely grand daughters. Thirty years ago I married Noel and inherited another great kid who has added another charming grand daughter to the list. They are all good people and I consider myself very fortunate.
Teaching suited me well and I mostly enjoyed the job for more than 30 years. If there was a prize for the number of Education departments to teach for, I might win it with Victoria, Republic of Nauru, A.C.T., Queensland and finally NSW where I eased out of full time teaching with 5 years of casual work.
Being a student must suit me too. For about 20 years I studied calligraphy (and later taught it for several years). I’ve been a yoga student for over 40 years and now I’m studying Italian with the UNE. There’s a trip planned mid year to attend a language school and sip some vino.
I still have a close group of girlfriends from College days. Of course we still think we’re 17 at times, just a bit slower. We sometimes travel together, mostly within Australia but twice to Europe. College days are amazingly close to the surface at times.
Noel and I live at Yamba, on the far north coast of NSW, after 25 years on acreage. Life’s great!
It’s hard to believe 50 years have flown by since graduation. I’m not really 70 next year.
In a nutshell, I married Graeme, a teacher at my first school, and we have two great kids and three lively and lovely grand daughters. Thirty years ago I married Noel and inherited another great kid who has added another charming grand daughter to the list. They are all good people and I consider myself very fortunate.
Teaching suited me well and I mostly enjoyed the job for more than 30 years. If there was a prize for the number of Education departments to teach for, I might win it with Victoria, Republic of Nauru, A.C.T., Queensland and finally NSW where I eased out of full time teaching with 5 years of casual work.
Being a student must suit me too. For about 20 years I studied calligraphy (and later taught it for several years). I’ve been a yoga student for over 40 years and now I’m studying Italian with the UNE. There’s a trip planned mid year to attend a language school and sip some vino.
I still have a close group of girlfriends from College days. Of course we still think we’re 17 at times, just a bit slower. We sometimes travel together, mostly within Australia but twice to Europe. College days are amazingly close to the surface at times.
Noel and I live at Yamba, on the far north coast of NSW, after 25 years on acreage. Life’s great!
Ross Kimber TPTC 1963-64
Following my two years at CTC, I took up an extended studentship to Monash University and completed an arts degree before taking up teaching appointments at Leonards Hill, Westbreen, Upfield, Heidelberg Heights and Heidelberg West primary schools. I developed a keen interest in curriculum design and development and participated as writer and consultant in a range of curriculum development projects in Victoria including the development of Society in View. In 1979 I gained an ITF in Utah where our family lived for a year.
In the early 80’s I was appointed as a Senior Education Officer in the Tullamarine Region and in the late 80’s early 90’s took up the manager’s position at the Inner Western School Support Centre. Following yet another restructure of the Department I then moved into the centre in senior executive positions including, Assistant General Manager, Curriculum and Learning Technologies Branch and Acting General Manager, School Programs and Student Welfare Division. From 2001 until 2004 I was Regional Director of Eastern Metropolitan Region.
During my time in the department I was privileged to lead teams of curriculum consultants and student support services officers to support school reviews, school improvement, curriculum and student welfare planning and improved educational provision, particularly for secondary schools.
For the past ten years I have been an educational consultant specialising in leadership development, strategic planning, program evaluation and school, organisational and educational improvement. My work has been at state, sector and national levels working with schools, systems and sector authorities.
I met Ann (Hope) while at college and married in 1968. We have two very grown up sons and enjoy being grandparents to two delightful young girls.
Outside work I have developed a passion for photography (http://rfkimaging.com and https://www.facebook.com/ross.kimber.5). I still barrack for Essendon, try to keep fit, belong to a book group, enjoy a range of movies and listening to music across many genres.
Qualifications include Trained Primary Teacher’s Certificate (Coburg Teachers College), BA (Monash), BEd (Melbourne) and MEd (Melbourne).
Ross Kimber
PO Box 1414
Fitzroy North VIC 3068 Australia
[email protected]
Following my two years at CTC, I took up an extended studentship to Monash University and completed an arts degree before taking up teaching appointments at Leonards Hill, Westbreen, Upfield, Heidelberg Heights and Heidelberg West primary schools. I developed a keen interest in curriculum design and development and participated as writer and consultant in a range of curriculum development projects in Victoria including the development of Society in View. In 1979 I gained an ITF in Utah where our family lived for a year.
In the early 80’s I was appointed as a Senior Education Officer in the Tullamarine Region and in the late 80’s early 90’s took up the manager’s position at the Inner Western School Support Centre. Following yet another restructure of the Department I then moved into the centre in senior executive positions including, Assistant General Manager, Curriculum and Learning Technologies Branch and Acting General Manager, School Programs and Student Welfare Division. From 2001 until 2004 I was Regional Director of Eastern Metropolitan Region.
During my time in the department I was privileged to lead teams of curriculum consultants and student support services officers to support school reviews, school improvement, curriculum and student welfare planning and improved educational provision, particularly for secondary schools.
For the past ten years I have been an educational consultant specialising in leadership development, strategic planning, program evaluation and school, organisational and educational improvement. My work has been at state, sector and national levels working with schools, systems and sector authorities.
I met Ann (Hope) while at college and married in 1968. We have two very grown up sons and enjoy being grandparents to two delightful young girls.
Outside work I have developed a passion for photography (http://rfkimaging.com and https://www.facebook.com/ross.kimber.5). I still barrack for Essendon, try to keep fit, belong to a book group, enjoy a range of movies and listening to music across many genres.
Qualifications include Trained Primary Teacher’s Certificate (Coburg Teachers College), BA (Monash), BEd (Melbourne) and MEd (Melbourne).
Ross Kimber
PO Box 1414
Fitzroy North VIC 3068 Australia
[email protected]
Noel Kelly
After graduating from CTC in 1965 with my TPTC tucked proudly under my arm, I completed an extra year of study at Melbourne Teachers’ College gaining my Trained Art Craft Teachers Certificate.
I was posted to Tongala Consolidated School in 1967 and spent 2 years there. Because the school didn’t have a secondary maths teacher, I, in my naiveté, volunteered for extra duty. I really enjoyed the country life but my art room, with glass on three sides and no air conditioning often topped 100 degrees in summer.
I returned to Melbourne in 1969 and was married to Lesley in January of that year. I was appointed to Aberfeldie Primary School and taught Art/Craft for 4 years. I was asked to be a District Art Adviser and thinking it was a promotion (which it wasn’t) I accepted. I worked from Western Division Office at Moonee Ponds Junction and was still based at Aberfeldie for two further years.
In 1975 I gained promotion as a Band 3 to classroom teaching at Box Hill Primary School where I stayed for 19 years. I really loved teaching there except for the 2 year stint as Acting Principal in 84-85 which didn’t suit me at all. I probably would have stayed there forever but for the fact that the school was closed at the end of 1993 despite a grand fight by parents and staff to keep it open. I was presented with the old school bell in recognition of my service to the school and it still hangs proudly outside our bedroom window. Ex-students (now in their 40s) drop in occasionally to visit it and have a ring.
When Box Hill closed most of the kids went to Kerrimuir Primary only a few kilometers up the road. I was lucky enough to be allowed to go with them and I stayed there for 15 years until my retirement at the end of 2008 after 45 years of service. In August of my final year we made a video of school songs called “Sing Along With Mr K and the Kerrimuir Kids”. I still return to make the odd presentation at assembly, I still attend their camps and I have been compering graduation since 1995.
I never aspired to be a Principal as I enjoyed “real” teaching so much. I only taught at four schools in all but I was blessed with great staff, parents and kids at each of them.
Les & I have 2 children – Chris 44 and Jen 42. We have 5 grandchildren ranging from 10 months to 16 years. We have lived in the same house in East Kew since 1971 and we enjoy walking, reading, gardening and holidaying. I am a keen photographer, I sing in the church choir and a small singing group. The Annual Kelly Clan Christmas Barbecue has been held in our backyard since 1978 and I have been one of the Santas on Puffing Billy for the past 7 years – with padded tummy, of course. I have been involved with Kew Hockey Club for 36 years.
After graduating from CTC in 1965 with my TPTC tucked proudly under my arm, I completed an extra year of study at Melbourne Teachers’ College gaining my Trained Art Craft Teachers Certificate.
I was posted to Tongala Consolidated School in 1967 and spent 2 years there. Because the school didn’t have a secondary maths teacher, I, in my naiveté, volunteered for extra duty. I really enjoyed the country life but my art room, with glass on three sides and no air conditioning often topped 100 degrees in summer.
I returned to Melbourne in 1969 and was married to Lesley in January of that year. I was appointed to Aberfeldie Primary School and taught Art/Craft for 4 years. I was asked to be a District Art Adviser and thinking it was a promotion (which it wasn’t) I accepted. I worked from Western Division Office at Moonee Ponds Junction and was still based at Aberfeldie for two further years.
In 1975 I gained promotion as a Band 3 to classroom teaching at Box Hill Primary School where I stayed for 19 years. I really loved teaching there except for the 2 year stint as Acting Principal in 84-85 which didn’t suit me at all. I probably would have stayed there forever but for the fact that the school was closed at the end of 1993 despite a grand fight by parents and staff to keep it open. I was presented with the old school bell in recognition of my service to the school and it still hangs proudly outside our bedroom window. Ex-students (now in their 40s) drop in occasionally to visit it and have a ring.
When Box Hill closed most of the kids went to Kerrimuir Primary only a few kilometers up the road. I was lucky enough to be allowed to go with them and I stayed there for 15 years until my retirement at the end of 2008 after 45 years of service. In August of my final year we made a video of school songs called “Sing Along With Mr K and the Kerrimuir Kids”. I still return to make the odd presentation at assembly, I still attend their camps and I have been compering graduation since 1995.
I never aspired to be a Principal as I enjoyed “real” teaching so much. I only taught at four schools in all but I was blessed with great staff, parents and kids at each of them.
Les & I have 2 children – Chris 44 and Jen 42. We have 5 grandchildren ranging from 10 months to 16 years. We have lived in the same house in East Kew since 1971 and we enjoy walking, reading, gardening and holidaying. I am a keen photographer, I sing in the church choir and a small singing group. The Annual Kelly Clan Christmas Barbecue has been held in our backyard since 1978 and I have been one of the Santas on Puffing Billy for the past 7 years – with padded tummy, of course. I have been involved with Kew Hockey Club for 36 years.
Daniel Richards
..... and the story goes on and continues like this.....
A few weeks after graduating from Coburg, Geraldine and I were married
and were off on our honeymoon for the holidays!
If anyone says life in rural schools was a dream, they did not have
anything like the acute deprivation, isolation and loneliness of my
experience, and a party line wind up battery charged school phone, only
available 9-4.30 Mon. to Fri.
We were fortunately kept sane by small social network of teachers and
their families with similar interests, such as John Sonnefeld (who later
became an army helicopter pilot and was awarded the MC for bravery in
Vietnam) and John Ford who also later became an Art Teacher. I was
definitely not the country footballer type , but played cricket in the
Ballarat League.
Rabbit traps were very well used to supplement the diet. Being snowed in
was a regular feature of winter, as well as frozen water pipes and
frozen ground, water hand pumped from a tank, and scrounging wood for
cooking and heating, plus smelly long drop toilets, way up the back.
We soon learned that to survive we needed to to find our way around
the alternative bush back tracks leading around the old dangerously
open shafts left over from the gold rush of the 1860's, in our VW
beetle. And that was just to shop for essentials. Today you would
require a heavy duty high lift 4wd. with a winch and muddies and a
chain saw, to survive. They didn't teach you how to manage those things
in College.
Studies in Art and Design were eventually completed at the School of
Mines and Industries in Ballarat, with the notable war artist Geof
Mainwarring, the designer from the Bauhaus, Heinz Moritz and highly
regarded stained glass artist David Kellogg among others. (Previously,
I had commenced studying Art at RMIT in the late 50's)
During this time two of our four children were born, Paula (B.Arch.)
RMIT and Dr. Matthew (Ph.D.), Deakin. Then moved on from the Education
Department into private schools as a secondary Art Teacher, teaching art
initially up to the old Matric., and later HSC and VCE. At this time I
became an Art script marker (examiner).
During this time Jeremy (M.Mus.) Monash and Andrew (B.A.) ACU were born
and Geraldine went back to teaching at the local Catholic Primary
School.
Further studies for degrees ensued.
During the summer school holidays we would help out on a large sheep
property of friends in Western Victoria and give them the chance to get
away for a holiday. We did this for many years and experienced floods,
fires, fly strike, shearing, sales and the many vicissitudes of rural
life and loved it. At this time sailing became yet another way for
relaxation.
I became rather involved in the international art and art education
scene and really enjoyed what I was doing. I could at last see some
purpose for effort. I also coached school hockey teams rather
successfully. Yes one of the boys later played for the Gold Medal
Australian Olympic team.
1989 saw Geraldine and I off on the first of several extensive and
exhausting explorative tours of Europe and in later years, USA and
Canada. It was both a revelation and education to see in the flesh what
I had only seen in illustrations and texts.
Unfortunately, after months of travel things began to seriously unravel.
My GP sent me off to hospital where it was found I had already had
sustained a heart attack and survived. While still in hospital, another
heart attack, followed by a cardiac arrest. Thank goodness for highly
skilled medial staff. Open heart surgery and quite a long rehab.
followed.
Teaching now had become extremely difficult for me.
I had done numerous drawings and paintings of what I was experiencing
post surgery. A friend of mine, Laurence Course an Art Lecturer at The
University Of Melbourne saw some the work and introduced me to Dr. Eric
Cunningham-Dax. 260 of these works were subsequently loaned to Dr Dax
and are now still featured in the Dax Collection at The University of
Melbourne. They are regularly exhibited in their education programmes.
Some have even been hung for a time in Parliament House Melbourne and
the Melbourne Museum
I moved away from teaching for some considerable time, doing many other
things such as fruit picking, organising Bingo or studying French.
Later,after doing some CRT teaching, I was back teaching Art and Drama
part time. That meant performances and exhibitions. Life seemed to be
slowly getting back to normal.
I tried classroom teaching but technology quickly found me out. So it
was back to the CRT work which I did until 2009. There were two more
trips overseas meanwhile, including France, where my French was
surprisingly understood.
Further serious heart complications and kidney cancer in 2010 have
intervened and both required surgery. So now I am sporting even more
scars and a defibrillator.
You will now find me staggering very slowly on a stick, or travelling
when able, up the coast to Sydney and on to Brisbane for the football to
see Gerry's beloved Swans Or my old Fitzroy- Brisbane-Lions, or just to
escape the cold of Melbourne.
At this point I must pay a very special tribute to Gerry who has been
by my side and supported me the whole time. She can read me like a book.
I really owe her so much for what she has done for me. And our children,
who have given us so much pleasure and support when we needed it most,
and the grandchildren, for their unconditional love.
Daniel Richards=
..... and the story goes on and continues like this.....
A few weeks after graduating from Coburg, Geraldine and I were married
and were off on our honeymoon for the holidays!
If anyone says life in rural schools was a dream, they did not have
anything like the acute deprivation, isolation and loneliness of my
experience, and a party line wind up battery charged school phone, only
available 9-4.30 Mon. to Fri.
We were fortunately kept sane by small social network of teachers and
their families with similar interests, such as John Sonnefeld (who later
became an army helicopter pilot and was awarded the MC for bravery in
Vietnam) and John Ford who also later became an Art Teacher. I was
definitely not the country footballer type , but played cricket in the
Ballarat League.
Rabbit traps were very well used to supplement the diet. Being snowed in
was a regular feature of winter, as well as frozen water pipes and
frozen ground, water hand pumped from a tank, and scrounging wood for
cooking and heating, plus smelly long drop toilets, way up the back.
We soon learned that to survive we needed to to find our way around
the alternative bush back tracks leading around the old dangerously
open shafts left over from the gold rush of the 1860's, in our VW
beetle. And that was just to shop for essentials. Today you would
require a heavy duty high lift 4wd. with a winch and muddies and a
chain saw, to survive. They didn't teach you how to manage those things
in College.
Studies in Art and Design were eventually completed at the School of
Mines and Industries in Ballarat, with the notable war artist Geof
Mainwarring, the designer from the Bauhaus, Heinz Moritz and highly
regarded stained glass artist David Kellogg among others. (Previously,
I had commenced studying Art at RMIT in the late 50's)
During this time two of our four children were born, Paula (B.Arch.)
RMIT and Dr. Matthew (Ph.D.), Deakin. Then moved on from the Education
Department into private schools as a secondary Art Teacher, teaching art
initially up to the old Matric., and later HSC and VCE. At this time I
became an Art script marker (examiner).
During this time Jeremy (M.Mus.) Monash and Andrew (B.A.) ACU were born
and Geraldine went back to teaching at the local Catholic Primary
School.
Further studies for degrees ensued.
During the summer school holidays we would help out on a large sheep
property of friends in Western Victoria and give them the chance to get
away for a holiday. We did this for many years and experienced floods,
fires, fly strike, shearing, sales and the many vicissitudes of rural
life and loved it. At this time sailing became yet another way for
relaxation.
I became rather involved in the international art and art education
scene and really enjoyed what I was doing. I could at last see some
purpose for effort. I also coached school hockey teams rather
successfully. Yes one of the boys later played for the Gold Medal
Australian Olympic team.
1989 saw Geraldine and I off on the first of several extensive and
exhausting explorative tours of Europe and in later years, USA and
Canada. It was both a revelation and education to see in the flesh what
I had only seen in illustrations and texts.
Unfortunately, after months of travel things began to seriously unravel.
My GP sent me off to hospital where it was found I had already had
sustained a heart attack and survived. While still in hospital, another
heart attack, followed by a cardiac arrest. Thank goodness for highly
skilled medial staff. Open heart surgery and quite a long rehab.
followed.
Teaching now had become extremely difficult for me.
I had done numerous drawings and paintings of what I was experiencing
post surgery. A friend of mine, Laurence Course an Art Lecturer at The
University Of Melbourne saw some the work and introduced me to Dr. Eric
Cunningham-Dax. 260 of these works were subsequently loaned to Dr Dax
and are now still featured in the Dax Collection at The University of
Melbourne. They are regularly exhibited in their education programmes.
Some have even been hung for a time in Parliament House Melbourne and
the Melbourne Museum
I moved away from teaching for some considerable time, doing many other
things such as fruit picking, organising Bingo or studying French.
Later,after doing some CRT teaching, I was back teaching Art and Drama
part time. That meant performances and exhibitions. Life seemed to be
slowly getting back to normal.
I tried classroom teaching but technology quickly found me out. So it
was back to the CRT work which I did until 2009. There were two more
trips overseas meanwhile, including France, where my French was
surprisingly understood.
Further serious heart complications and kidney cancer in 2010 have
intervened and both required surgery. So now I am sporting even more
scars and a defibrillator.
You will now find me staggering very slowly on a stick, or travelling
when able, up the coast to Sydney and on to Brisbane for the football to
see Gerry's beloved Swans Or my old Fitzroy- Brisbane-Lions, or just to
escape the cold of Melbourne.
At this point I must pay a very special tribute to Gerry who has been
by my side and supported me the whole time. She can read me like a book.
I really owe her so much for what she has done for me. And our children,
who have given us so much pleasure and support when we needed it most,
and the grandchildren, for their unconditional love.
Daniel Richards=
Max Grant
After graduating in ’65, appointed Head Teacher at Lovely Banks PS, from there to Broadmeadows East, Coburg East, Reservoir West, and then 28 years at Newlands Primary the last 16 as Principal.
In’ 67 first selected in Victorian Baseball team and then in the 70’s represented Australia in numerous competitions overseas.
Completed my B. Ed and then Grad Diploma of Sports Science
Named in the Victorian Baseball “Team of the Century” in 2003.
Resigned from Newlands in 2001 and moved to the Mornington Peninsula in 2005 where I co ordinated PE and Sport at Flinders Christian College until 2011.
Married to Joanne for 40 years with 3 children and 3 grand children
Joanne is a Dental Prothetist who runs her own business in Hastings. She also has Theological Degree and co ordinates Operation Christmas Child on the Peninsula.
Joanne has been a volunteer with Prison Fellowship for 15 years visiting women in prison and she is God’s gift to me.
We are both active members of a very large Baptist Church in Mt Martha called “New Peninsula.”
I am a member of the Rosebud Country Club and play golf a couple of times a week.
Locally I assist a low socio economic Primary School running a breakfast program and also mentor children experiencing difficulties.
Fulfilled a life long ambition this year publishing my first Children’s Book. “Ahmed The Singing Turtle” is a children’s story based on love and forgiveness.
Absolutely loved my time at CTC.
It’s doubtful I will be at the reunion but trust that it all goes well.
God’s richest blessings to you all.
Max Grant