cadets - inverell high school · these activities were an important part of school life until...

Inverell High School 34 75th Anniversary

Cadets The Cadet Unit, which was formed in the 1940s, was popular with students for more than twenty-five

years. They trained one afternoon a week, were issued with uniforms and rifles, went shooting at the

rifle range, attended regular bivouacs and the annual Cadet Camp at Singlet3434on. Interested staff,

advised by the Army, drilled the cadets who participated in Anzac Day marches and the school’s Anzac

Day observance. The Passing Out parades were quite impressive with a Cadet Band and visiting Army

Officers inspecting the troops.

These activities were an important part of school life until anti-war sentiment, at the time of the

Vietnam War, persuaded the Government to order the units disbanded. Subsequently, an Air Training

Corps operated in the town but was only on the fringe of school activities. It was sometimes

represented at the passing out parades and continued to function long after the cadet unit was

disbanded.

Bivouac

ANZAC Day March


Special Events

Farewells to 5th Year/6th Form/Year 12 have been a tradition from the beginning. These were/are

formal occasions organised by 4th Year or its equivalent and catered for by the P & C Ladies’ Auxiliary

for many years. Since the implementation of the Wyndham Scheme, the departing students are young

adults and the farewell function is now a much grander affair.

Early prefects were 5th Year students elected by staff but gradually more democratic procedures were

followed. These days the Student Representative Council has representatives from each year and is an

active body recommending reforms and undertaking various fund raising activities for the benefit of

the student body.

Public Speaking competitions have been held regularly and many fine speakers have taken part. IHS

students take part in Lions’ Youth of the Year, Sydney Morning Herald and Rotary competitions and

have had great success in statewide debating competitions.

The school magazine, the Pinnacle, has been published by and annually, except for the period 1948-

1952. A committee of students with staff assistance puts together the story of each year for

publication. Early editions seem very amateurish compared to the current issues, which are very

professionally presented. Students participate enthusiastically in fund raising activities to support the

publication.

Anzac Day is commemorated each year with a special assembly to remember and pay tribute to those

students who died in the service of their country. Their names are read from the Honour Roll that is

kept open in the foyer of the school. The usual songs and poems are part of the observance as well as

an address by a guest speaker who usually has a connection with one of the armed services.

State Debating Champions – Clare Angel-Auld, Indi Angel-Auld, Charles Witherdin-Costigan, Tori McGregor (2007)


Ancient History & Italian Excursion - Rome - Anthony Collins, Phoebe Drake, Amy Nesbitt, Hannah Shumack, Aimee Hurford, Claire Hunter, Hannah Donnelly, Stuart Croft, Mrs Julie Drake (2006)

ANZAC Day – Peter Ashenden, Melissa Hill, Emma Miller, Jodie Brooks, Simon Blyth,

Stephanie Dale, Jo Eshman, Mr. Paul Alliston (1999)


Armidale Inter-School Visit - Dr Karen Roberts, Bec Cook, Claire McCosker, Noveau White, Emily

Dean, Shannon Hughes, Emily Pianko, Jolene Monckton, Emilie Jorgensen, Tiffany Cook, Mrs Katrina Richardson, April Seaton, Mrs Denise Bryant

NAIDOC Week Celebrations - Tyrone Connors, Mr Paul Alliston, Hannah Donnelly (2006)

ANZAC Day - School Captains Adeline Clemson and John Worgan (1951)


Bastille Night - Erica Harcourt, Emma Hulbert, Sarah Allen, Helen Willard, Jeannie Cross, Annette Twemlow, Amanda Jones, Gemma Kimmence (1982)

Mock Trial Team - Christine Smith, Allison Hill, Clayton Miller, Sean Parnell, Mr Anthony Dale, Kate Alliston, Erin Adams, Sally Glenn, Elizabeth Krauss, Jessica Huf (1993)


Year 12 Muck Up Assembly - Tania Brooks, Marion Bailey, Jenny Hamilton, Sandy Clark, Mr Anthony Dale, Tanya Jones (1984)


Time Capsule - Peter Jones and Ian Chaney (1975)

French Excursion - New Caledonia - Marina Psaros & Amanda Jones (1979)


Formal -Marlene Yee, Adeline Clemson, Jean Waddell, Betsy Paterson, (1951)

Formal - Robert McLeay, Sarah Croft, Amelia McArthur, Alexandra Dale, Rebecca Mudford, Joshua Hoare (2001)


Formal – Angela Porritt, Melissa Fong, Jacquie Fuller, Andrew McInytre, Andrew Castleden, Stuart Howard, Steven Gillman, Karlene Bailey, and friends (1988)

Mr John Dickson and Year 9 History Class – Parliament House Sydney (1985)


Support Class – Alicia Pratt, Gemma Ritter and Michaela Lane (2011)

Choral Group – (Back) Madeleine Bower, Isabelle Thompson, Erin Murray, Erin Savage, Isabelle

Bailey; (Front) Eloise Collins, Natasha Brown, Zoe Wilkinson , Hannah Worsley


Above Left: Josie Gibson singing with Gondwana Voices – National Youth Choir USA Tour (2011)

Above Right: Erin Murray, Madeleine Bower, Josie Gibson, Zoe Bailey, Eloise Collins (piano) (2011)

Myall Creek Memorial – (Back) Mrs Elizabeth Connors, Mrs Jenny Donnelly, Lyall Munro, Victor

Dominello (NSW Minister for Aboriginal Affairs), Dr Karen Roberts, Jaola Byers; (Front) Yalarah Blair-

Davis, Teena Binga, Brickelle Binge, Jodie Geyer, Ebony Adams, Miss Tarran Backhus, Mrs Adele

Adams (2011)


NSW Youth Parliament - Nathan Hughes, The Hon. Richard Torbay MLA, Charles Witherdin-Costigan, Matilda Witherdin-Costigan (2011)

Formal - Fay Rogers, Merlene Thompson, Wendy Rae, Helen Hartman, Beverley Humphries (1957)

Volunteers

Parents and Citizens Associations have contributed greatly to the life of the school, thousands of

volunteer hours having been given to fund raising and working bees. The Ladies’ Auxiliary catered for

school functions until too few helpers forced it to disband. The canteen was run by the Auxiliary for a

number of years but the school now employs a supervisor who relies on the help of volunteers.


The Hostels The CWA Girls’ Hostel across from the school in Howard Street and the Boys’ Hostel (1946) a short

distance away in Brae Street were very important in the lives of many isolated students who were

forced to board in order to complete their education. The Girls’ Hostel burnt down in 1966 but it was

quickly replaced with help from the Education Department. Sadly, over the years, numbers in both

establishments declined and they were closed down. Many hostel students formed friendships that

have lasted for years.

Girls' Hostel (1951)

Matron Bonita (1951) Senior Hostel Girls (1951)


HOSTEL BOYS - 1952

(Back Row) Geoff Mathieson, Bruce Tucker, - Hollis, John Gall, Frank Nicholson, Kirby Reece, Ian

Porritt, , , John Small, Terry Hartog; (Second Row) Doug Moore, David Leathley,

Kevin Robinson, Alan Watchman, Keith Honour, Ian Saunders, - , - , - , - ;

(Seated) , Trevor Humphries, Stan Tucker, - , Gordon Paton, Mr O’Dell, - , - , -

, Phillip Hartog, - Doak ; (In Front) - , - , John Nichols, - .

Hostel Girls (1960)


Elaine Delbridge

& Frank Nicholson Right: Jean Waddell, Jean Robinson, Helen Saunders, Beverley

Lannigan, Nancy Waddell and Rosemary Duff (1949)

Betsy Paterson, Barbara Turner, Elaine Delbridge, Ed Fuller, Frank Nicholson, David Hollis, Blair Humphries

Left : Barbara

Neilsen, Mr A Johnstone, Betty Peters,

Margaret Goldsworth

y (1953)

Right: Marlene Yee


Ancillary Staff

The school had always had the services of cleaners and a kitchen assistant but the 1960s saw the very

welcome appointment of clerical, library and science assistants who would take over many of the

tasks previously performed by staff, and undertake additional ones. The numbers of these folk have

increased over the years, keeping pace with new technology and contributing greatly to the smooth

running of the school.

Ancillary Staff –Di Parker, Katherine McNamara, Margie Pagan, Val Harris, Kathy Legge, Sue Currie, Anne Butler,

Kim Pilcher, Leanne Sims, Janis Moore, Kay Kramer, June Saint (2007)

Jane Lawry (Librarian) and Isobel Morison (Office Manager) (1977)


Reunions 1986 was the 50th year of Inverell High and a good time to celebrate its Golden Anniversary. Displays

were prepared, a history book, ‘A Golden Age’, was written, past pupils were contacted and a Reunion

Dinner, targeting mainly students from the early years, was organised for the Saturday night. The

guest speaker was a former school captain, Mr. Richard Delbridge (1954) who was, at that time, a

senior executive with BHP. His gift established the BHP Scholarship that is awarded each year. A

Church Service in the MPU on Sunday morning was well attended and many folk stayed for a barbecue

lunch.

Richard Delbridge (BHP) and Les Moulds (P&C President) (1986)

Peter Swan, Joyce Barry and Russell Blanch (1986)

cadets - inverell high school · these activities were an important part of school life until...

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