Happy Years at Elwood Central 1962 -1963
I started at Elwood Central in 1962 in form one. My previous
school was Eltham Primary School, which was then regarded as being in the
country. It took me a while to adjust to the difference between city and county
life. I was in forms 1A and 2A. My form teacher was Mrs Stent. There were
between 40 and 50 children in our form, which was one of four for our year
level. Only 16 pupils in our form had been born in Australia and during the
year three or four new pupils came from overseas. They had to attend special
English lessons each morning. Over half the pupils were Jewish, which meant on
Jewish Holidays the classes were half empty. On Wednesday mornings, when
religious instruction was held, you would see rabbis, and ministers of various
denominations dressed in their various outfits arrive at the school. Our form
teacher Mrs Stent had that role for both my years there and she also taught us
Maths. Mr Hunter, who was also the teacher in charge of the year seven and
eight levels, taught us French for both years. Our science teacher for both
years was Mrs Farber. Mrs. DuCrois stated off 1962 teaching us English and
Geography, but she left at the end of term one and for the remainder of my time
at Elwood Mr. D. Smith took us for Geography. Our new English teacher was an
American called Mr Sugarman who also taught us History. He drove an old London
taxicab. He left at the end of 1962 and we later learnt that he had opened a
Jazz Club called The Fat Black Pussycat. Mr Sidaway started off teaching us History but during first term he had a bad car accident and only returned to
the school briefly. Later he became active in local government. Sadly he was
killed in a fire at his home a few years ago. Miss Lean took us for Art in
1962. Teaching changes in 1963 involved Mr Jones taking us for Art, Mrs Tipping
taking us for English and History. They were very good teachers and I have
always felt they gave me the foundation for the rest of my secondary and
tertiary education. In first form we had to attend Elsternwick Primary School
each Monday morning for woodwork classes. Mr Monger, who was very strict, took
these. At the same time the girls were taught Needlework. The following year
Woodwork lessons were over the road at the High School. Mr McLeod, who was more
patient and less strict, took them. At the same time the girls attended cooking
classes. At recess and lunchtime, the boys and girls mainly stayed in their
defined sections of the yard. We played a lot of ‘four square’, various ball
games or just talked with friends. On Friday afternoons we walked down to
Elsternwick Park, where we would play either summer or winter sports such as
cricket or football etc. I would walk, ride my bike or catch the tram to
school. Just after Easter in 1963 I had a bike accident and missed a lot of
school. My classmates visited me in hospital and when I returned home. They
were also very helpful in ensuring that all the subject notes and work I had
missed was made available to me. My time at Elwood Central was very happy and I
have fond memories of my two years there. I saw some of my class over the next
few years and we always shared our memories of those two years.
John Watson
In : 1960s
Tags: teachers subjects "happy days" kindness friends "quality teaching" migrants religion sport "large classes" education nostalgia