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