C ENTENARY OF P UBLIC S ECONDARY E DUCATION Celebrations for the Centenary of Public Secondary Education in Dubbo, and the 100th birthday of DHS, are being planned for Easter 2017 – Friday April 14th to Monday, April 17th. A Planning Committee has been working during the past twelve months and the Bindyi Club will keep members informed of the developments. The Committee is seeking input from ex-students of Dubbo High, South Dubbo High and Delroy High as the planning develops for the celebration events over three days. T he 26th Annual Reunion Luncheon and AGM was held on 9 March 2013 at NSW Leagues Club in Phillip St, Sydney. Guest speaker was award winning photographer, Merv Bishop, who presented his lecture with photographs, featuring his early years in Brewarrina, his years at DHS, then as a photographer at the Sydney Morning Herald and with the Commonwealth Dept of Aboriginal Affairs. We were honoured to have former Principal Richard Skinner present at the lunch with his wife, Sam. President Jenny Gleeson presented Richard with a Certificate of Service, in recognition of his achievements for the College and his support for the Bindyi Club. Honorary Life Membership Former Secretary Keith Gordon was presented with an Honorary Life Membership. His citation reads: “The Dubbo High School and Dubbo College Ex-Students Association is proud to award Honorary Life Membership to Keith Steele Gordon to honor his devotion to duty as Bindyi Club Secretary since 2005, including secretarial matters and maintenance of the list of members. We acknowledge his diligence and endeavour in these tasks and thank him for his attention to detail and perseverance over these years.” Annual Reunion Luncheon Ex- student, Bob Ridge (1942 -46) was awarded an OAM for his services to the Bourke community, particularly his work with the Isolated Children’s Parents’ Association. Mary Mathews was also awarded an OAM. Mary was not an ex-student but will be well known to many for her many years of community service in Dubbo. Her daughter, Catherine, was vice-captain of the school in 1976. Queens Birthday Honours List Dubbo High School & Dubbo College Ex-Students Bindyi Club Edition 79 - July 2013 PO Box 1919 Dubbo NSW 2830 [email protected]Bindyi Club News
Transcript
Centena ry of PubliC
SeConda ry eduCation
Celebrations for the Centenary of Public Secondary
Education in Dubbo, and the 100th birthday of DHS,
are being planned for Easter 2017 – Friday April
14th to Monday, April 17th.
A Planning Committee has been working during
the past twelve months and the Bindyi Club will keep
members informed of the developments. The Committee
is seeking input from ex-students of Dubbo High, South
Dubbo High and Delroy High as the planning develops
for the celebration events over three days.
The 26th Annual Reunion Luncheon and AGM was held on 9 March 2013 at NSW Leagues Club in Phillip St, Sydney. Guest speaker was award winning photographer, Merv Bishop, who presented his lecture with photographs, featuring his early years in Brewarrina, his years at DHS, then as a
photographer at the Sydney Morning Herald and with the Commonwealth Dept of Aboriginal Affairs.
We were honoured to have former Principal Richard Skinner present at the lunch with his wife, Sam. President Jenny Gleeson presented Richard with a Certificate of Service, in recognition of his achievements for the College and his support for the Bindyi Club.
Honorary Life Membership
Former Secretary Keith Gordon was presented with an Honorary Life Membership. His citation reads:
“The Dubbo High School and Dubbo College Ex-Students Association is proud to award Honorary Life Membership to Keith Steele Gordon to honor his devotion to duty as Bindyi Club Secretary since 2005, including secretarial matters and maintenance of the list of members. We acknowledge his diligence and endeavour in these tasks and thank him for his attention to detail and perseverance over these years.”
DHS & Dubbo College Ex-Students Bindyi Club News July 2013
Saturday 22nd June dawned clear and sunny in Sydney presaging a 50 year reunion of the Leaving Certificate class of ’63.
Then, by 11am, the rain had arrived and it poured all day and night. Too late! All 58 people (including a few hardy spouses) were safely ensconced in the NSW Leagues Club trying to recognise their fellow students whom most had not seen for 50 years. Our “super sleuth”, Owen Lincoln, had managed to find and contact more ex-students than the rest of us put together. We could not find a few people but what the heck, maybe next time!
The program was very casual. It had to be. Too much to catch up about, and far, far too little time. There were a few seniors’ moments and one notable case of collective amnesia. The DHS Shotgun Wedding of the year (’63) photograph could not be explained by any of the participants. Taken at the DHS Fete of ‘63, it featured Margaret Baird as the groom, Geoff Deacon as the bride, Kae Woodley as mother-in-law, Phil Warwick as cupid etc. but none remembered it – oh, what a night!
Other deep, dark and long forgotten school secrets were also revealed including how the school was listed for sale in the Liberal in 1963 (and who did it).
Mary Batch, our French teacher of ’63, was guest of honour. Coming from a very small town environment, Mary was somewhat overwhelmed by the size of everything, including the school, when she arrived at Dubbo in 1956. However, she quickly found (what we all seemed to find in Dubbo) a feeling of community
and acceptance and a willingness to work together. She recalled our group, who started first year in 1959, as a group who embodied that spirit to a marked degree – as evidenced by the wonderful atmosphere in the reunion.
Mary kindly refrained from talking about “all our faults and failings” which she had threatened to do! She was a mentor and encourager to all of us and was able to impart to so many people her own love of the French language, and an understanding of learning that went far deeper than just the time spent in school.
Ken Murray (Maths), Dawn Henry (History) and Max Griffin (Science – and Rugby League) also joined us to help celebrate 50 years.
Thanks to Sandra Batey, we had the music and words of the School Song and the DHS “War Cry”. This “performance” brought the day to an end, or so we thought. Reliable reports confirmed that the reunion actually finished much, much later thanks to Kae Woodley’s wild, lurid tales of “life after ...!!”
Good food, good venue and a few drinks, all contributed to a fabulous reunion. We will do it again in 5 years’ time. The group photograph is above – if you can recognise anyone!
-Phil Aikins, Sandra Batey, Doug Howe, Owen Lincoln & Phil Warwick.
DHS Reunions in 2013Oh what a night (and day) –
Class of ’63 50 year Reunion
DHS & Dubbo College Ex-Students Bindyi Club News July 2013
Vale: Esse Quam Videri
Blackburn, Kim died 25 June 2013, at Gulargambone. DHS 1964 -1968. Kim was a hostel girl (from Armatree), a tennis player and a keen student. In 6th form, she was one of a few students to achieve the silver level of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, part of which involved them making a three day trek on horseback through the Warrumbungles. After school she trained at Teachers’ College in SA, then worked in computer programming until she began work at Jindabyne as a riding instructor. On 23 February 1973, she was thrown from a horse and suffered crippling injuries from which she never fully recovered, living first with her parents and then in Gulargambone Hospital. For forty years she was confined to a wheelchair, and although she had almost no short-term memory, she nevertheless enjoyed her close family relationships and friendships to the end of her life. Several of her old school friends attended her funeral in Gulargambone on 28 June.
Gibson, Jean Vera died 6 June 2013 aged 101. DHS 1926 – 1928. The 1928 Bindyite recorded that she scored 4 A’s and 2 B’s in the Intermediate Certificate. Miss Gibson was a valued member of the clerical staff of the school from 1961 to 1964.
O’Bree, Betty (nee McKie) died 5 June 2013. DHS 1939-44. Betty entered Armidale Teachers’ College in 1945, and spent 5 years teaching in Primary Schools. In recent years she had lived in Port Macquarie, close to her family.
Peacocke, Gerald Beresford Ponsonby died 22 May 2013. DHS 1944 -48. School Captain 1948 and a member of the Astley Cup Football team 1947-48. Gerry joined the Country Party in 1949, served as Deputy Mayor of Bathurst in 1965 and was elected to Dubbo City Council as an Alderman from 1970-76, Elected to the NSW Parliament as Member for Dubbo in 1981, he served in that position for 17 years, followed by a term as Dubbo Mayor - later retiring in 2004. He held the portfolios of local government from 1991-93 and Small Business and Consumer Affairs from 1988-91.
Williams, Keith died 4 May 2013. DHS 1939 – 43. Keith enlisted in the RAAF when he left school and trained as a pilot. After discharge he qualified for a degree and a Diploma of Education. In 1950, after the death of his elder brother (also a pilot) in an accident, he returned to Bourke to work with his parents and brothers in business and remained there for his entire life.
Vale Kim Blackburn
DHS Reunions in 2013Canberra LunchThe Canberra Lunch this year differed from previous ones in that we had guest speakers. As the Senior College Principal (Rel.) and the Vice-Captains were unable to attend the Sydney lunch in March, they were offered a chance to come to Canberra instead. Debbie Head with Corey Suckling and Karlia Strachan were able to join us in May for a very pleasant time at the Mawson Club.
Debbie gave a short talk about the situation of the College at present and the two students also spoke. All three answered questions from an interested audience, and the variation on previous Canberra lunches was approved. We may do this again.
This year we were joined by several ex-students from Sydney and other places. They included 1960 Captains Mickey Matthews ( Harri-son) and Barry Cant (Cootamundra), and Penny Crapp (Dews), Captain 1961 and her husband Bob, Perce Butterworth (Class of ‘62), Alan Matthews (Class of ‘61) and Darbie Condie Gardner (Munro. 1960). The Dubbo visitors were particularly interested in talking to the older ex-students, and Barry Cant, in particu-lar, enjoyed a long talk to both.
Debbie Head advised that applications for the position of Senior College Principal closed the week after our lunch, so we hope this will be announced soon.
In all we had a total of 24 people attending, and all agreed that it was the best Canberra reunion we have had.
- Jenny Gleeson
DHS & Dubbo College Ex-Students Bindyi Club News July 2013
Bindyi Club Committee Members 2012 – Contact Details
90 Years of Astley CupBathurst High School is celebrating its centenary this year, and they hosted a great evening to mark this event, and also 90 years of Astley Cup. Past and current students and teachers spoke about their memories and involvement in the competition, highlighting the friendships that were forged and the spirit that was generated amongst participants. Dubbo College was represented by Keiran Smith, Sports Organiser, School Captains, Zoe Basham and Sam Wells, and Sports Captains, Rebecca Dunn and Zac Griggs. Rebecca and Zac addressed the gathering about what the competition means not only to Dubbo College, but also the community. Perhaps fittingly, Bathurst has won the 2013 Astley Cup, and also the Mulvey Cup.
Where did Oigle come from??The present incar-nation of OIGLE lives in the library of Dubbo Col-lege and is a much loved mascot. But who can tell us the origins of Oigle?
I remember a different, slightly smaller OIGLE, in the 60s but was it the original?
