Hi to all former EHS students.

My association with Elwood High is a long one. Being one of four children who were brought up in Elwood we all went to EHS after first attending Elwood Primary School and then Elwood Central School. Even my Mother went to Elwood Central School when it was the only school in the area and well before EHS was established. I made many good friends at each of these schools; many of these are still friends and are living in the local area today. We went to school together, partied together, had our first relationships together and in many cases including, my own, met and married a fellow EHS student, with a fellow student as my Best Man. Memories of sporting activities, drama events and socials are very vivid in my mind. Walking to and from school every day with friends who lived nearby; stopping at the focal fish and chip shops and getting sixpence of chips to share among three of us was a regular occurrence. Playing weekend cricket and football with EHS friends at the small ground on the corner of Scott and Southey Street was also a common activity.

My memories are many and are almost without exception all very positive. It was a fine place to be educated.

  • Eating lunch in the quadrangle and occasionally buying lunch from the canteen
  • Monday morning assemblies and the address by the Headmaster, Mr. Powell or his deputy, Mr. Wills
  • At the beginning of each year filling in our book and stationery requirements and getting them from the Book Store that was run by Martin Blakey
  • The occasional time of being sent to the Principal’s Office for misbehaving in either French class or science
  • Fond memories of Muck-up Day before our Matriculation exams in Form Six.

Many of us when we finished school went on to University, completed degrees, went to work, had families and still live in the area. I remember many teachers who influenced my life. Teachers such as Des Eccles who taught me geography whom I met again professionally at the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal (VCAT) where he was a member in the Planning Division for may years. Another one who comes to mind was Daryl Allemand who went on to teach for many years at Dandenong High after leaving EHS. He was also a long serving Councillor on Dandenong Council and in fact was on the final interview panel when I was appointed to a General Manager’s position there in 1988. I have kept many of the school magazines and they provide a fine record of some of the great times I had at school and the various class photos are a reminder to all my fellow students who I knew during my years there. I have been to each of the reunions that have been held although I think I missed one when I lived in Sydney for 8 years between 1995 and 2003. My wife and I, with our two adult children, still live in the area and go past the school when we ride along the Elwood Canal bike path to the beach. Those of you who may have gone to Elwood Central School (School No 3942), there is a small booklet history of  the school that was published for its 100th Anniversary (1917 – 1977). A very interesting read. I hope to read other stories from other former students and congratulate Irene for taking the initiative to get this site going  Regards to all..JSW (EHS 1967 – 1971)