Volume 16 No 1 March 2013

“GOODBYE, FAREWELL AND AMEN”

All good things must come to an end. This is the last edition of Talkabout that I will produce.After fifteen years of putting Talkabout together I have finally run out of puff.Editors Lew Crabtree (dec), John Riley(dec), Lew Morrell and I have put together over 40editions. This enabled us to maintain contact with Alumni and to renew happy experiences andmemories of the unique institution that was Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College.Largely due to the extraordinary efforts of Ann Smith we had at one stage a mailing list of over3,600 Alumni.Although over the years the numbers dropped off so that since the introduction of a subscriptionthe mailing list is now only 800, these dedicated readers continue to send subscriptions andobviously look forward to the next edition.I have always been amazed that copy seemed to materialise sufficient to fill another edition.CSU has been placing Talkabout on the Alumni website since 2006 so if you want to look back atany previous copies they are readily available.It has been a wonderful journey and I have enjoyed every minute of it.

Lindsay Budd.

Stalwarts of the Alumni Committee.Bob Collard, John Riley, Graeme Wilson, Nigel Tanner, Phil Bastick, Lindsay Budd

Kevin Wilcox, Winifred Wilcox, Malcolm Hanratty, Ann Smith, Lew Morrell, Dorothy Tanner.

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VALE TALKABOUT.

Unfortunately, the time to ceasepublication of Talkabout has come. As amember of the original editorial staffthat founded Talkabout, I would like toexpress to Lindsay Budd, constantlyworking at a high standard, and to LewMorrell, working on despite repeatedhealth problems, a very sincere ThankYou for enabling Talkabout to continuefor so long.

The membership of the AlumniCommittee has remained almostunchanged since its beginning, withBob Collard always our very dedicatedand capable President. We can feel veryproud of our many achievements, suchas the establishment of the ScholarshipFund, the writing of records and thepublication of Talkabout, which allowedcommunication and contact, sometimeswith long lost friends and colleagues.However time takes its toll.

Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College was aunique institution, providing a uniqueexperience. The students were all youngand all had the same aim in life – toqualify as school teachers and work inthe New South Wales Department ofEducation. Development of the wholeperson, in an intellectual, physical,social and spiritual sense was stressed,with opportunities provided for thisdevelopment and with the desire topromote this all-rounded developmentin our future pupils.

PRESIDENT’S REPORT FORTHE 2013 AGM

I write this report in the almost certainknowledge that it will be the last onbehalf of the WWTAA. At our AGMthis year a determination will be madeas to the viability of continuing with theWWTAA. Informal discussion occurredat the last meeting of the managementcommittee which clearly demonstratedthat no “new blood” was available tocarry forward the work which began in1997.

Probably the major contributing factorin this situation was the future ofTalkabout. Our editors have a systemwhich is in fact the lifeblood of ouralumni. Lew has suffered health andmobility problems in recent times whileLindsay, in his two important roles aseditor and treasurer, would be in needof a substantial number of volunteers tobe able to cope with the work involved.

Perhaps the words of Pierre Corneille, aFrench dramatist, are appropriate at thistime:

Do your duty, and leave the outcome tothe Gods.

Many of our WWTC colleagues haveperformed this duty without hesitationand with distinction. There willprobably be one more edition ofTalkabout in which an outline of thegoals achieved by the alumni will bepresented.

I personally feel that our aims andvisions for the WWTC alumni havebeen accomplished. Most notable ofthese would be the recognition by CSUand the City of Wagga Wagga that thepresence and success of WWTC shouldbe acknowledged and preserved inpractical ways.

On a personal note, I draw attention tothe failure by those in authority tolocate the gift of the 1948-50 session ofthe blue carved head of a boy, inmemory of Merv Gray who was the firstto lose his life while still a WWTCstudent. This gift in his memory hadvalue, both in monetary and artistic

terms, as well as serving as theDebating Trophy for WWTC students.

Being a student and later an alumnus ofWWTC (now CSU) has been, for me, aunique and enriching experience. BothOlga and I cherish the memories andfriendships that we have enjoyedbecause destiny put us together with aselect and peerless company of people.

God bless,

Bob Collard, President, WWTAA.

WWTAA ANNUAL GENERALMEETING.

The AGM was held on Tuesday 12th

February 2013.Lindsay Budd had indicated that he wasnot going to continue to produceTalkabout. Several other committeemembers expressed the concern thatafter all these years we had been unableto attract new members to take oncommittee positions. The generalfeeling was that we cannot keep goingforever.After fifteen years we feel that we haveachieved the goals that were set at theformation of the WWTC AlumniAssociation.These included:

• Making contact with over3,600 ex-students ofWWTC.

• Distributing Talkabout toevery student whose addresswe had.

• Raising over $80,000 for theWWTC Scholarship fund.

• Providing scholarships for 24students in the EducationFaculty.

• The honorary naming of astudent residential building“The WATAL”, whichstands for Wagga TeachersAlumni Lodge.

It was moved that all current officeholders continue in their positions untilthe next quarterly meeting on Tuesday14th May 2013.

At that meeting a Special Meeting willbe held with the only item fordiscussion being the Dissolution of theAssociation.The exact wording from the WWTAAConstitution is:(a) The Association shall bedissolved in the event of membershipless than three (3) persons or upon thevote of a three-fourths majority ofmembers present at a special meetingconvened to consider such question.(b) Upon a resolution being passedin accordance with paragraph (a) ofthis rule, all assets and funds of theAssociation on hand shall, after thepayments of all expenses and liabilities,be handed over to the University.

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The Wagga Wagga Teachers’ Collegewas the first fully residential Teachers’College in Australia. Wagga WaggaTeachers’ College and Wagga WaggaAgricultural College were theforerunners of Charles Sturt University.

Charles Sturt University has grown intoone of Australia’s largest universitiesand has many campuses including onein Canada. In 1997 we formed anAlumni Association and are proud to beaccepted by Charles Sturt University.We are also proud to have graduatedfrom such an institution as WaggaWagga Teachers’ College.

Times have changed. When we weretraining, we had full board and lodging,inhabited an independent communityarea, contributed to sport and businessin the city of Wagga Wagga and werepaid the princely sum of ten poundsevery five weeks. So, one could livelike a king for three days and then livelike a pauper for four weeks and fourdays. Many of our lecturers lived withus and all had been successfulclassroom practitioners. As students weprofited from their experiences.

Today most teacher trainees are not paidand are forced to work in order tosurvive and know that on graduationthat they will have to pay for theirtraining.

Our Scholarship Fund gives us $6,000per annum for Scholarships of whichwe have awarded twenty four to date.

Our Scholarships are not based entirelyon academic achievement. Need plays apart in the actual selection of recipients.Also relatives of past students whoattended Wagga Wagga Teachers’College receive special considerationprovided that they are students at theWagga Wagga Campus.

Charles Sturt University at the WaggaWagga Campus nominates suitablecandidates and Scholarships areawarded by our interviewing panel.

Our periodical “Talkabout” is about todisappear for the second time in itshistory. Apparently after the retirementof George Blakemore, the College’s

founding principal, Talkabout wasdiscontinued.

In our time, students looked forward tothe weekly “Talkabout” to gather newsand gossip and articles concerningCollege life. Most students paidthreepence for three copies (one pennyeach). It was cheaper to have a thousandcopies printed than several hundred.

With the foundation of our Alumni“Talkabout” was resurrected andbecame the organ by which our Alumnireconnected with our College mates.

Lew Crabtree and I were responsible for“Talkabout”. I am indebted to LindsayBudd, who joined me as Co-Editorwhen Lew Crabtree died. Lindsay hascontributed a lot to our Alumni as Co-Editor plus his responsibility asTreasurer of our Alumni. Lindsay hasdone a wonderful job and for this I ammost grateful. In our early days I had totype out the whole edition of“Talkabout” and Lindsay relieved me ofthis.

The University have suggested to allScholarship sponsors that they mightconsider increasing their scholarshipamounts. When our Alumni Associationceases to exist we should have over$92,000 in assets. It would bewonderful to increase our ScholarshipFund to $100,000, thus increasing ourScholarship to $10,000 per year.

We have been assured by MichelleFawkes at our last Alumni CommitteeMeeting that our Scholarship willcontinue to be awarded to final yearstudents in Education who attend theWagga Wagga Campus of Charles SturtUniversity.

Another $7,000 or $8,000 wouldincrease our scholarship to $10,000 peryear.

WHAT ABOUT IT? CAN WE DOTHIS?

IT ALL DEPENDS ON YOURCONTRIBUTION

Lew Morrell 1949-50

A FINAL APPEAL TO THE EX-STUDENTS OFWAGGA WAGGA TEACHERS’ COLLEGE

Intellectual, physical and socialdevelopment can be observed andevaluated. Spiritual development, thatof the inner core, the aesthetic sense,feelings, empathy for fellows and thetraditions is harder to define butdevelop it we did and we soared like thepoets.

On the outskirts of the Wagga Wagga ofthat day, we lived like a family. We didnot go home after a day of lectures. Wespent from 7 pm to 9 pm in our lecturerooms to study and to practise ourblackboard writing. We ate our mealstogether. On Saturday nights we dancedtogether. On Sunday evenings wewatched films together in the hall.

Long after we are all gone, there will beothers who will also soar, who willvalue a sense of history, who will have alove of learning and the handing on ofknowledge, who will not valueeverything by size and who will askabout the origins of Charles SturtUniversity. They will be able to studyour records and there they will find theseed, Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College.

Winifred Wilcox (Walshaw) 1947-49

COMING EVENTS

ALUMNI ASSOCIATIONSPECIAL MEETING

The next quarterly meeting of theAlumni Association may be the lastmeeting and will be held at 11 am on:Tuesday 14th May 2013.The meeting will be held at:NSW Teachers FederationConference Centre.37 Reservoir StreetSurry Hills.Everyone welcome.

ALUMNI LUNCHEONS

The Alumni luncheons will continue tobe held at the Icons Restaurant in theSydney Harbour Marriott Hotel, PittStreet Sydney (near the Quay).The next luncheon will be held onTuesday 21st May 2013.

For bookings contact Lindsay Buddon 9601 3003 a week before.

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DURABLE VALUES AND MEMORIES

Our younger son, Nathan, hadcompleted his post-grad MastersDegree in Education at Charles SturtUniversity and we travelled toWagga Wagga with him to bepresent at his Graduation Ceremony.We arrived in Wagga Wagga on theday before the ceremony so Nathantook us on a tour of the old WWTC

Campus. Our first stop was theBlakemore Building whichhouses CSU Archives. ArchivistDr Nancy Blacklow, who hadinterviewed us in our home inOatley as part of the PioneerStudents oral history project,unfortunately was not on duty sowe missed seeing her.

We were saddenedby the condition ofthe few remainingbuildings of theonce vibrantTeachers CollegeCampus. All wereboarded upobviously waitingdemolition – thePrincipal’sresidence,Matron’s quarters,Art/Craft andBiology lectureblock, the hall/gymnasium, thelecturers’ commonroom, and my olddormitory – theone closest to thegym. Winifred’s

dormitory had been demolished longago. Soon there will be no physicalstructure of the original college left. Asad thought.

Our next step was CSU campus wherewe drove past Joyes Hall on the way tothe relocated Band Rotunda. It was ajoy to see it in its ideal position, our son

was impressed bythe acoustics fromwithin, and aboveall, for us, to see atlast the Pioneers’brass plaque firmlyembedded in thecentre of the floor.

Nathan was quiteimpressed by theCSU winery andwith wines wetasted. As on ourother visits weordered wine fordelivery to besipped whilereminiscing in thecomfort of ourhome.

Kevin and Winifred in the Rotunda

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The graduation ceremony in JoyesHall was most impressive and wewere very proud of our son’sachievements. He was very pleasedto be photographed in front of theoriginal WWTC badge in the foyerof Joyes Hall. The buildings andmany of their occupants at the oldcampus are already gone, as happenswith material things and people, buthere was tangible evidence of thecontinuation of the aims and valuesof those early days.

During the trip home, Nathansuggested a detour to Bowning,

where at the beginning of eachschool term, having arrived at therailway station at 3 am on the SWMail train, I was permitted to use theemergency stretcher in the signalBox until the arrival of the StationMaster at 6.30 am to start his tour ofduty. Each time he woke me in timeto cach the mail car from Bowningto Kangiara Public School, my firstappointment in May 1949. Therewere naturally quite a few changessince then. That mail route no longerexists, the railway station is much

smaller, and the hotel hadmore shade trees in thestreets.

Our next move was thedrive to Kangiara.Property names broughtback memories of theowners and their children.From previous visitsWinifred and I knew theschool building was nolonger there. The schoolground has now become awell kept nature reserve.Having seen no one, wewere leaving when a car

passed us and turned into thedriveway of a house adjacent to the

school site. We followedand the lady who steppedout of the car was my firststudent, who recognised useven though we had notbeen to the area for manyyears.

During the conversation Ibecame aware that, of thoseat the school from 1949 to1951, this former pupil andI were the only ones stillliving.

Continuing our triphomeward Nathan againdetoured at Goulburnthrough Taralga to the areasouth of Oberon. It was inthis area at places such as

Shooters Hill, Edith, Norway andEssington Park that the originalWilcox family settled when theyarrived from Cornwall in 1839.

Over time we have talked at lengthabout WWTC and our meeting onthat first day in June 1947. It was agratifying experience to be able toshare with Nathan in Wagga Waggamany place and items of interest thathave been our treasured memoriesfor 65 years.

Winifred and Kevin Wilcox.

The Plaque in the Rotunda

Nathan Wilcox with the WWTC Badge

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WWTC SCHOLARSHIPS

The Wagga Wagga Teachers CollegeScholarship was established in May2002.

The first Scholarship was awarded toIngrid Jones. Members of the AlumniCommittee travelled to Wagga and werepresent at the Scholarship presentation.

It was a memorable occasion and we allfelt a sense of pride that the ex-studentsof Wagga Wagga Teachers College hadbeen able to raise sufficient money forthe award of a scholarship.

The Scholarship Fund continued toincrease, and at the end of 2012 theamount in the Foundation had grown toover $80,000.

Scholarships have been awarded everyyear and up to the end of 2012, 24Education students have receivedScholarships.

The Scholarship recipients are asfollows:

2002: Ingrid Jones

2003: Blair O’Meara

2004: Cheryl Ann Fuller and Kristil-RaeMobbs

2005: Liana Croker, Kate Williams andHayley Ruffles

2006: Rheanna McWaters

2997: Ann Harris and Carolyn Scott

2008: Alicia McNab, Amy Worsfold,Sheree Chadderton.

2009: Glen Bobbin, Brooke Daniher,Kylie Reardon

2010: Adriana Cartwright, LaurebnIrvine, Samantha Clark

2011: Caleb Willis, Tamara Hope, LisaHulands

2012: Hayley Dwyer, Luke Richardson.

John Riley, Dr Henry Gardiner, Roy Parker, Lew Morrell, Lindsay Budd, Bob Collard,Gladys Meaney-Budd, Ann Smith, Ingrid Jones, Margaret Gardiner, Olga Collard.

Caleb Willis, Tamara Hope, Lisa Hulands - 2011 winners with Lew Morrell.

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We were bonded to the Department ofEducation and had to serve whereverwe were sent. Some interestingappointments resulted.

Weilmoringle: Brian Pettit (1959-60).His first teaching assignment was apioneering experience on the sheepstation at Weilmoringle, north ofBrewarrina. He was the only passengeron a single carriage that left Byrock onefateful day in January 1961. His firsttask was to build the school.

He wrote about his experiences in “TheWeilmoringle Kid”. Years later hereturned to Weilmoringle and a sequel,“When the Curlew Cries” was theresult.

Cummeragunja: Robert Smyth (1960-61). “I received my first appointment asTeacher-in-Charge of an all-aboriginalschool to a place I had never heard of!It wasn’t on any maps we had and theonly instructions for getting there, as wedidn’t have cars in those days, were tocatch the Murray Valley Coach fromAlbury to Echuca, then catch the mailtruck to Cummeragunja!”

Balladoran Public School. MerveArmstrong (1950-51) and then BarryCohen (1955-56). 30 miles north ofDubbo.

Reids Flat: Bill Brien (1950-51). Asmall school about 50 miles fromCowra. The mailman said to me, “Idon’t know where you’re going to staybecause Mrs Elvins who boarded thelast teacher swore she’d never haveanother teacher as long as she lived!”

Cooplacurripa: Dave Benson (1962-63). Between Mount George west ofWingham and Nowendoc, well inlandand on the road to Walcha.

Kenibri: Christel Wangmann (Cox)(1948-50) Her first appointment was toa small school in the Piliga scrub.

Tibooburra: George Blakemore taughtthere in 1921, Bill Bennett (1950-51),Jim and Jill Cleary (1954-55).

Mt. Seaview Timbers Pty. Ltd: HughVarnes (1955-56). “In 1957, my firstappointment was to Mt. SeaviewTimbers Pty. Ltd., yes, that’s correct,not to a town or village, but to a timbermill. The actual Mt. Seaview was atleast 20 miles away as the crow fliesand there was no settlement there at thattime. The mill, which cut coachwood tobe used as rifle butts at Lithgow SmallArms Factory, was situated betweenYarras and Yarrowich on the thenunsealed Oxley Highway. This was 60miles west of Wauchope and 27 milesfrom the nearest school and post officeat Yarras.”

Stony Crossing: Geoff O’Brien (1949-50). First appointment T.I.C. StonyCrossing (Travel Instructions “Trainfrom Greenthorpe to Albury, MurrayValley Coach to Swan Hill, Mail Truckto Stony Crossing”). “It was the mostgod forsaken place in the middle of adrought and a rabbit plague. I spentthree years there.”

Roto: Mick Rowlands (1950-51).Mick’s first appointment was to theone-teacher school at Roto, in the west

SOME INTERESTING APPOINTMENTS

of NSW where he spent a couple ofyears in difficult teaching and livingconditions.

Wallangra Public School: JohnShields (1953-54). In the Inverelldistrict.

Wakool: Alan Lake (1959-60) I went toCentral and I bought my ticket – rail viaMelbourne, Bendigo and finally Echucato Wakool which was indeed on aVictorian Line within NSW. I looked atRailway maps and there it was, betweenEchuca and Moulamein.

Edith Public School: Graeme Wilson(1947-49). Between Oberon andJenolan Caves.

Rennie Provisional School: PhilBastick (1950-51) Somewhere out theother side of Corowa.

Bongongolong: Arthur King (1950-51).Near Gundagai. “The inspector told meto walk into the playground on the firstmorning with half a dozen canes andmake sure you use them in the firstweek!”

Brooman Provisional School: BillAtkinson (1958-59). On the upperreaches of the Clyde river, not far fromthe base of Pigeon House Mountain.

Crooble Public School: RayOsmotherly (1959-60). On theBoggabilla line some 60 km north ofMoree.

Windellama Public School: JohnMoon (1951-52). Located about 30 kmsouth of Goulburn.

Greta Migrant Camp No 2: JudithHiatt (Hanns) (1948-50). On the staffwere Pioneeers Jack Collins, HarryGibbs and Des Beiler.

Norfolk Island: John Woodger (1950-51). John was appointed in 1962 to startthe Wyndham Scheme in Norfolk Islandand spent three happy years there.

Eurunderee Public School: MickRowlands (1950-51). Near Mudgee.Henry Lawson went to school there.

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A Typical Small School

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HALL OF FAME

Lew Crabtree.

Lew Crabtree was to his colleagueskind and understanding, a splendidconversationalist with a delightful senseof humour.

As an ex-serviceman in 1949 he was sixor seven years older than the majority ofthe teacher-trainee students who alllooked up to him as a wise mentor andguide.

At college it was amazing, he appearedas a more mature person, you wouldtake him for a lecturer rather than astudent and for the next fifty or soyears, while the rest of us aged, hehardly changed in appearance.

Often when ex-students met over theyears, their opening remarks werealways “Lew Crabtree, you haven’tchanged a bit!”

Lew had been a member of theManagement Committee since itsinception in 1997. He, together withLew Morrell and Lindsay Budd, createdand developed the alumni paper,“Talkabout” and many of the witticismsthat appeared in its pages can besourced back to Lew Crabtree.

He had a commitment that wasinspirational and together with a quietsagacity contributed to the many andoften lengthy debates that have takenplace at our meetings.

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John Riley.

John played a leading role in the work ofthe Wagga Wagga Teachers’ CollegeAlumni Association.

He was an active member of theAssociation’s email group, being knownas John “Raillie” because of his love oflocomotives.

He was involved in the organisation ofthe quarterly alumni lunches held at theMasonic Club and was part of the editorialteam which produces the Association’smagazine “Talkabout”.

However, John will be best rememberedfor his labour of love that was “TeachingMemories”. Not content to sit back andrelax in retirement, John encouraged andsometimes cajoled alumni to commit theirteaching highlights and lowlights to paper.

The stories and photos, which stirred thememories and hearts of so many,combined under John’s skilful hand toform a wonderful volume of memoriesthat reaches out, not just to those whoattended Wagga Wagga Teachers’College, but to anyone who is fortunateenough to have read it.

A copy of “Teaching Memories” residesin the University Library.

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Bob Collard

Robert (Bob) Collard, MBE, has beenthe President of the Wagga WaggaTeachers’ College Alumni Associationsince its inception and has beenpersuaded to retain that position to thepresent in spite of needing to travel tomeetings by train from his home atOurimbah on the Central Coast.

His energy and enthusiasm asChairperson have inspired theCommittee to plan several major civicfunctions as part of the College’sDiamond Jubilee Reunion in 2007.

Public service is a tradition in theCollard family, as evidenced by thenaming of Collard Reserve at Ourimbahin honour of the community workperformed by Mr R W C Collard, Bob’sfather.

Bob is still active as an umpire for theCentral Coast Cricket Association,having received the inaugural ThirdGrade Umpires Award in 1987.

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HALL OF FAME

Ann Smith(Taken from the citation to Anndelivered by Lawrie Willet at the 60thReunion in 2007)

Ann Smith was among the first group ofstudents to attend Wagga WaggaTeachers’ College in 1948. Shegraduated as an Infants teacher in 1950with her first appointment to GuildfordPublic School.

This appointment was followed bypositions at Darcy Road, The Meadows,Oxley Park, Parramatta West, Ringroseand Windermere Schools. Ann’ssuccessful career spanned 36 and a halfyears; 23 years of which encompassedthe responsibility of a Mistress orDeputy Principal. A highlight was herrole in the setting up of theMetropolitan West Publications Unit.

Over the last ten years, the WaggaWagga Teachers’ College AlumniAssociation has played a major part inher life. At the inaugural AGM, Annwas elected as Secretary, a role whichinvolved not just the usual Minutetaking but also tracing missing alumni.It soon became evident that thisrequired a full-time effort and theposition of Research and RecordsOfficer was created. Ann was electedinto this new role and held it for manyyears.

Ann became the bounty hunter of theAssociation. She took to her mission oftracking and recording all those who

had passed through the College from1947 until 1972 with the passion of atrue believer.

The Association’s records of studentsfrom the College blossomed under herstewardship. Ann has located more than2800 alumni. This has been a truedemonstration of the “spirit” of WaggaWagga Teachers’ College.

Ann’s dedication and her ability toinfect all of those around her with herpassion, has helped to strengthen theties which bind together all WaggaWagga Teachers’ College alumni.

The success of Wagga Wagga Teachers’College Alumni Association in raisingover $60,000 for Scholarships can inpart be attributed to Ann’s dedication.

There have been 10 Wagga WaggaTeachers’ College Alumni AssociationScholarships awarded over the past fiveyears with a combined value of$20,000. Each Scholarship has helpedto enable a young student to achievetheir goal to be a teacher.

In 2001, Charles Sturt Universityinitiated the Distinguished AlumnusAward. This award is presented to analumnus whose dedication to, andaffinity for, their profession has shonethroughout their career.

Ann Smith epitomises the values andprinciples that this award represents.

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Dawn Stewart (Andrews)1950-51

Dawn Stewart, the little barefoot kid,wrote about growing up on a propertyBack-o’-Bourke.The stories have provided a wonderfulinsight into what it was like growing upout in the “Backblocks”.Stories included: my games, mytuckerbox, my wartime memories, myGrandma, The Enngonia SchoolCentenary.We are fortunate that Dawn has allowedus to publish her stories and let useavesdrop on her childhood world.

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Ann Smith received the Distinguished Alumnus Award fromChancellor Lawrie Willet AO.

Alumni Yahoo Group

Many hundreds of reminiscences can befound on the Alumni Yahoo Groupwebnsite.The group is one of the Yahoo Groupsand can only be accessed by members.

To join go to http://groups.yahoo.com/and follow the instructions to get aYahoo ID.Then log in to the websitehttp://groups.yahoo.com/group/waggatc-alumni/.

The link can also be found on theTalkabout page of the CSU AlumniPublications:http://alumni.csu.edu.au/publications

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The Collection of the Regional Archiveswas first formed in 1973, and wasmanaged as the “Riverina SpecialCollection” in the Library of the formerRiverina College of AdvancedEducation in Wagga Wagga. ThisCollection, which comprised of regionalarchival and non-archival material, wasinitiated and largely driven by localhistorian and academic, Dr Keith Swan,to complement regional research andteaching.

Dr Swan began his teaching career inthis region in 1950 at the newlyestablished Wagga Wagga Teachers’College. Following the formation of theRiverina College of AdvancedEducation, Dr Swan was appointedsenior lecturer in history in 1972, andbecame Acting Dean of the School ofBusiness and Liberal Studies one year

later. His contribution to the tertiaryeducation sector was recognised in the1974 New Year Honours (BEM) and alecture theatre dedicated in his name onCharles Sturt University’s Riverinacampus. Whilst working as aprofessional historian and academic, DrSwan re-established the Wagga Waggaand District Historical Society in 1962.He subsequently served as Presidentand initiated the Society’s archivalcollection.

The following account was written byJohn Riley after a reunion at Wagga.

The morning after the Reunion dinnerthe Alumni Committee was given theopportunity to visit the Charles SturtUniversity Regional Archives (formerlyRiverina Archives) in the BlakemoreBuilding at Old Campus, to ascertainthe situation concerning archivalmaterial about the college and whatfacility there is there to storememorabilia.

Before entering the archives, some of uswent in search of the devastation BillAtkinson had told us about recently; itwas not hard to find - where the adminand dining room once stood is a fenced-off blank (except for weeds) space – aCONSTRUCTION AREA.

Apparently white ants were the cause ofthe removal of the old buildings.

In the archives we were given a run-down on policy by the Director, DonBoadle, before being given a tour of theplace. We were then allowed to browsethrough various priceless documentsincluding books of CUTTINGS,photographs, REGISTERS, etc.

It was interesting to examine thephotographic record of students in yearsafter the earliest and to see among themsome of the members of this group. Itwas even possible to examine (shouldone wish) one’s EXAMINATIONRECORD.

Apart from photos of college in itsvarious stages of construction, the itemI found most interesting was the largebook of CUTTINGS, in which amongstother fascinating items were thePrincipal’s agenda for the earliest ofCollege assemblies. In a program of thedramatic performance “Hay fever”, thename of one Charlie Ferris was seen tofeature prominently. Someone couldsurely write a book on those early yearsof the college using these primarysources!

Another gem was the collection ofcollege CALENDARS, complete exceptfor the first in 1947. A reading of theCuttings shows why – there WAS none– it was like Topsy! Seen in that sectionwere the earliest Rules & Regulationswhich appeared religiously in everyyear’s calendar.

We were treated royally by the staff atthe Archives, and were givenphotocopies of material that we askedfor.

Anyone is able to view the material inthe Archives, Mon-Fri, but they wouldhave to pay for any photocopying.

John Riley 1948-50

A VISIT TO THE ARCHIVES

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Those Were The Days

A common theme for comment inTalkabout in early days was the use ofthe recorder flute in music lectures.Lecturer Cornell brought out a box ofthese for distribution and use forplaying folk airs from a set collection.Those not especially enthusiastic on thepractice could hide their lack of skillwhen the section played, but whenindividual performances were called forat exam time, the truth came out. Yourstruly managed to learn set pieces, butwhen it came to the UNSEENS!!! Hereare some of the comments found inearly times.

Off the Record

Oh for a gramophone! Oh for a record!Oh for a bonfire of broken recorderflutes!Never before have I heard so manyversions of “The Lost Note” – pardon, Imean “The Lost Chord”. I see beautifulyoung ladies frantically running up anddown our 6 inch by 6 inch corridorsmournfully asking all those not alreadydead, “Have you seen my note? I justblew this …… (confounded thing) andthe note came out the wrong end. You’llreturn it if you find it, won’t you?”

My delicate ears are assailed bythe volumes of monstrous windjammingthat goes on morning, noon and night.All the wind possible is jammed into thepoor little insignificant flute!!

Don’t be surprised if I exert mysuperiority with a super atomic bomb. Imust outdo the noise somehow.

B.E.S., 3/8/48

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Sir,During a recent visit to the garden cityof the south, I was privileged to tour thecampus of your celebrated College.Hailing from Italy where music is notrare or fettered within the record, I wascharmed to hear music everywhere. Ithought it must surely be the Pipes ofPan in this Arcadian setting, but, onenquiry, I found that the majority of thestudents are flautists. This was a

wonderful discovery. The MusicDepartment must be commended for itsinitiative and enthusiasm.It is to be hoped that this ideal may beperpetuated and that lecturers andstudents will never become accustomedto the music they cannot help hearing.What I really mean is that they mustnever let such experiences becomestale, but on each outburst, find delightin the subtle uncertainties of thisinstrument.Yours, etc.,

Antonio Magnafigio-11/4/49…………………..

……. I am told on good authority thatthese students invariably take with themwherever they go a new-fangledmusical instrument known as amarauder toot, which they play at allhours and even to the children. As Iobject to jazz music of any kind and as Ido not wish the children in my school tobe contaminated in this way, I wouldprefer not to have to meet such ex-students rather than to have to tell them(kindly but sternly) to keep themarauder toot at the bottom of thesuitcase where it rightly belongs.

From Matilda Snifwell – 11/4/49……………….

Sir,It is indeed time a concerted attack wasmade upon a pernicious influence thatthreatens the stability of our communitylife. I refer to a thin ectoplasmic wailingthat haunts the air after nightfall, aghostly caterwauling, an inharmonious,nerve-wracking thread of sound - inshort, Sir, the recorder flute. I think ithigh time a stand was made against theMusic Department of thisestablishment, a department whichseems to be actuated by an insane desireto wreck the seraphic calm of thecampus, the deep peace of thedormitories.The recorder flute itself is an instrumentwhich is in shape questionable, in origindoubtful, and in performanceblasphemous. It is an outrage againstNature and against God.

Yours, etc.,“PRO BONO PUBLICO” –11/4/49…………………………..

Dear Sir, I would like to draw theattention of Miss Cornell to the seriousrisk of infection which every secondyear student takes twice each week. Iam referring, Sir, to that potentialspreader of disease, the recorder flute.I have no objection to blowing into thefool thing and producing a hideous wailor an ear-splitting squeal, provided I amgiven a flute for my own, sole, personaluse. As an alternative I would suggeststerilising the foul mouthpiece andusing an instrument similar to a pipecleaner for removing the drool, spittleand remains of numerous breakfastsfrom the piece with the holes in it.Perhaps this would ruin its alleged tone.If this is the case I’ll have one for myprivate use, please.Why do I not buy one? For the samereason I do not buy a white elephant.Yours, etc.,

“CONTAMINATED” - 20/9/49……………….

The following excerpts were compiled and edited by John Riley.

In MemoriamYears go by, memories stay

As near and dear as yesterday.

Frances Yvonne (Fay) Bevan (Foord)1954-55 March 2012

Donald Christie 1953-54 Aug 2009

Fay Lee (Barnes) lecturer 1947-50March 2012

Judith Malcolm (Perryman) 1957-58July 2010

Brian Charles Webb 1947-49October 2012.

Page 12

Those Were The Days

Our highly respected former lecturer inEducation, Dr Victor Couch, kindlyrecorded on tape a number of humorousexperiences from his five years atWagga Teachers’ College. Taken fromTeaching Memories.

The Gem of Them AllI had been invited by Norm

Donnison and the students to attend thefootball “do” at the end of the season -to honour the team for its successes andNorm for his great work in coaching theteam. I was asked to say a few words.As it was an all-male affair, I thought itwould be appropriate to tell the storyabout termites in the Northern Territory.

The Wet Season wasapproaching and the termites haddecided it was time to make a moundout of buffalo dung. They were makingheavy weather of it because the dung,being too moist, tended to keep slidingdownhill all the time.

So the foreman termiteassembled all his workers and begangesticulating with his antennae. Atermite from another colony waswatching this performance. Intrigued,he walked over to the foreman andasked, “What’s all that about?”

The foreman replied, “I’m notsure I’m getting my message through tothem. The signal I’m giving is `Stopthat BULLSHIT; stop thatBULLSHIT’.”

I thought that would be the endof it, but when assembly came thefollowing Tuesday and George stood upto speak, every man and woman studenthad their antennae up.

George was flabbergasted and, ofcourse, so was I. He could notunderstand what had brought on thisremarkable reaction. I felt I had to tellhim for his peace of mind that I had toldthe story, but not with any specialintent.

Indeed, as I assured him, at myfirst lecture after the football get-together, a few of my students had theirantennae up also!

In Loco ParentisBecause Ian Renwick and I

lectured in Psychology, George

sometimes sought reassurance from us.He was concerned that, although hethought he was trying to do his best forhis students, no matter what he did theycriticised him.

He often pointed out in hisaddresses that he was “in locoparentis”, and I assured him, “That’sright, George, but you’ve got toremember that you’re the father figurefor both the men and the womenstudents. You are getting the same sortof reaction from the students as anyfather would get from his late teenageson or daughter, but here it’s magnifieda hundred fold.

“And of course the relationshipwith the women students is a moredelicate one, but nonetheless it’s therelationship between father anddaughter. With a daughter it’s muchmore complex, because a daughter atone stage of development idolises herfather, while at a later stage she hateshim. And it’s an extraordinarilycomplex situation.”

At the next College assemblyGeorge stood up to propound on thematter. His outline of his role with themen went over all right. When hestarted to address the women he got abit mixed up and said, “I’m responsiblefor the condition of every woman in theplace.”

The Old BagsThis incident occurred very early

in the life of the College. The College’sassembly hall had inherited all itscurtains from the old RAAF hospitaldays. They looked for all the world asthough they were sugar bags dyed. SoGeorge decided there would have to benew curtains.

It so happened on a particularday we assembled on stage with staffmembers on the right hand side and onthe other side a couple of members ofthe Infants Staff from Gurwood StreetDem. School. George was outliningwhat he was going to do.

He said, “We’re going to get ridof those drapes.”Then, pointing in thedirection of the women, he continued,“and we’ll get rid of these old bagstoo.”

Out of the Mouths of BabesThe next occurred very early in

the piece. My family and I lived inBrookong Avenue. This meant thatwhen the bus came down from theCollege, we would join it at Burns’corner store to go down to the town.My daughter Jeanette at that stage wasnot quite two years of age. She was inthe habit of wandering down the aisle ofthe bus, mixing with the studentpassengers and listening to what theyhad to say. As the bus came to one ofits stops, she suddenly called out at thetop of her voice, “Daddy, they’re talkingabout George too.”

I thought to myself, “Out of themouths of babes.”

My Pillion RideNorm Donnison and I did the

Henty run for practice teaching,spending a day in turn at Uranquinty,The Rock, Yerong Creek and Henty, etc.We thought we made an effectivesupervising team.

On this particular day Evelyn(my wife) was not well and I spentsome time tending to her needs. I couldhave phoned College and said I couldnot make it, but I decided to do my bestto get there. I rode up to College, butfound the bus had already left.

One of the students (probablyMervyn Whittaker) had a motor bike,and George commissioned him to takeme to Uranquinty on the pillion. I’llnever forget that ride as long as I live!Not used to being a pillion rider, andbeing rather too ample to becomfortably seated on one, we set offwith myself clutching a briefcase andhanging on like grim death.

Merv rode hell for leather, tryingto catch the bus before it reachedUranquinty. We did not succeed.

All I can say is, I was verythankful we did not have an accident.

Continuing BiologyAs you all know, Arthur Cornell

was the senior lecturer in Biology andMarjorie Reidman his junior staffmember. In due course Arthur begancourting Marjorie and finally they

COLLEGE ANECDOTES FROM DR VIC COUCH

REUNION PAGE

Page 13

CONTACTS

President: Bob Collard MBE: 2 Louise Close, Ourimbah 2258 Phone 02 4362 2764

Secretary: Dorothy Tanner: 282 Doncaster Ave, Kingsford 2032Ph 02 9663 3204 email: netanner@optusnet.com.au

Research and Records Officer :Gerard Say: Unit 3, 822 Pacific Highway, Chatswood 2067Phone 02 9412 3267 email: gsay@bigpond.net.au

Treasurer: Lindsay Budd: 4 Flemington Close, Casula 2170Phone 02 9601 3003 email: lbudd@bigpond.net.au

Talkabout Editors:Lindsay Budd: 4 Flemington Close, Casula 2170Lew Morrell: 25 Grandview Drive, Newport 2106Phone 02 9997 1506 email: lewismorrell@gmail.com

Faculty Advancement Officer: Stacey FishThe University Advancement Unit,Charles Sturt University, Bathurst NSW 2795Phone 02 6338 4832. (Preferably Monday and Wednesday)email: sfish@csu.edu.au

decided to marry, I believe during thelong vacation.

At the final staff meeting for theyear, George got to his feet and saidhow pleased he was that Arthur andMarjorie were going to be married -then they would be able to continuetheir biology experiments.

Power Failures

Arch Miller, one of our lecturersin English was a most likeable personwith a sardonic wit. He could come upwith some very short one-liners.

It must have been in 1949 whencoal strikes in New South Wales werecausing periodic black-outs throughoutthe state, sometimes causing problemsfor staff.

One day Arch had just warmedup to his lecture when there was aknock at the door and a male studentstuck his head inside. He said, “MrMiller, there’s a power shortage, youknow.”

“Oh!” said Arch, “you run onelectricity, do you?”

The Power of Bluff?

My last little story perhapsillustrates the power of bluff. One of thefootball team’s important matches wasagainst Tumbarumba. I travelled downwith coach Norm Donnison and theteam.

Evidently a lot of money hadbeen wagered on the result of thematch, though I do not know who wasbacking the College team. Apparentlythe locals lost a lot of money.

At the conclusion of the gamewe were in the tin shed standing in for aVisitors Dressing Room. Norm wasinside discussing the match with theteam, when along came three or fourangry looking locals wanting to get atour team. I happened to be standing atthe doorway.

When they demanded entry I,with the greatest bluff in the world said,“Well, you’ll have to do it over my deadbody.”

Fortunately they did not take meliterally.

********************

FIFTY YEAR RE-UNION

Graduate Students of WWTC 1966-1968

Thank you to those fellow alumni who have expressed their interest for thefifty year re-union of WWTC graduates of 1966, 1967 and 1968, the lastyears of the Leaving Certificate students.

Replies have indicated a preference for this re-union being held in WaggaWagga in 2016. The date is yet to be decided.

Interested persons please contact Bruce and Lesley Forbesemail: bruceles@bigpond.com ph: 0243225650mob: 0408587065.

The Alumni Association has supplied a database. However, there are manynames missing. To assist in compiling a comprehensive list we appeal toAlumni members to make contact with and inform relevant ex students of there-union.

Page 14

NEWS FROM CSUAs this is the last report from Charles Sturt University, I would like to express on behalf of the University our

gratitude to the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ Alumni Association (WWTAA) for its work and for allowing the University theprivilege of working with the Association over the last fifteen years. Being able to include CSU news in your excellentTalkabout publication has helped to engage WWTAA members with the University and allowed them to become involved inthe life of the University.

With the thought that WWTAA may be dissolving, the University would like to thank the Association, its Committeeand its members for the support and valuable input they have contributed over the years to both the Association and theUniversity. Their contribution to engagement between WWTC Alumni and CSU is to be commended as is the forethoughtand determination to establish the WWTAA scholarship. Fundraising efforts and the establishment of the WWTAAScholarship will ensure that the name of the Association will continue to be recognised and acknowledged and that the“Spirit of Wagga Wagga Teachers’ College” will live on.

Although the WWTAA may be dissolving, CSU Advancement Unit will remain the facilitator for contact betweenAlumni. Please continue to update the office with new email and postal details and remember that CSU’s Free MemberBenefit Programme is available to you. To register online, visit www.csu.edu.au/alumni . The University will continue toengage through CSU Facebook and a regular Alumni newsletter.

Additionally, please remember to continue to forward any information about successful alumni or those undertakingsomething notable for possible inclusion on the web site. Don’t forget to keep sending photos in for sharing on the Alumnitimeline on the CSU Facebook http://www.facebook.com/charlessturtalumni. Here WWTC photographs have been placedaccording to the timeline for alumni to look at and remember College days. Forward your own photographs from WWTC(be it social or noteworthy occasions), for inclusion via email: sfish@csu.edu.au

Please also note that the Advancement Unit is always available to help facilitate your reunions. You can contactStacey Fish via sfish@csu.edu.au or (02) 6338 4832 with any enquiries and remember to look at the CSU web site forguidelines on how to plan a reunion www.csu.edu.au/alumni. Let Stacey know about any upcoming reunions so they can beplaced on the CSU Alumni website and Facebook pages. (Note: Stacey is in the office on a Monday and Wednesday).

It would be terribly remiss, not to mention Mr Lindsay Budd for his tireless and tremendous work as Editor ofTalkabout. The biggest congratulations of all must go out for Lindsay’s efforts, and also to all those who have assisted withcontributions; Lew Morrell particularly needs a special mention for his work in previous years as a second Editor. Together,they have made each issue worth the anticipation of its arrival and an invaluable tool of communication for WWTC Alumni.It has also been a highly valued vehicle for fundraising, news notification and engagement link to the University. Apublication of this standard is not an easy task to put together, however the efforts in doing so are greatly appreciated andrecognised by both the University and WWTAA. Thank you again to Lindsay for his commitment and hard work to producesuch a significant publication.

Past issues of Talkabout, dating back to 2006, are available to view (with coloured photographs), via the CSU Alumniweb site: http://alumni.csu.edu.au/csu-alumni-chapters/alumni-publications/89-talkabout.

Finally, the WWTCA Scholarship continues as an ongoing effort for fundraising. As mentioned, this Scholarship is alasting legacy of the WWTCA and provides a significant opportunity and support to a Charles Sturt University studentstarting out in their career. Please continue to send your regular donations via the CSU web site and complete the onlinedonation form at http://alumni.csu.edu.au/get-involved/supporting-csu. Alternatively, continue to send your cheques to theCSU Foundation Trust via Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst, NSW 2795.

The WWTAA funds raised to date are $82,512.80. Since the start of fundraising, there have been 2,344 gifts(donations) received from 793 donors, with the average gift being $35.20. This is an outstanding achievement and all donorsshould be very proud of their contribution to “Keeping the Spirit” of WWTC alive. Congratulations!

The spirit of the WWTC is unsurpassed amongst CSU Alumni and its antecedent institutions and all of the WWTAAare to be congratulated.

Stacey Fish.Faculty Advancement Officer.

Page 15

The Wagga Wagga TeachersAlumni Association

KEEPING THE SPIRIT ALIVE IN 2013 TO SECURE THE FUTURE

The Scholarship Fund has been closed with a grand total of $60,000. Congratulations to all our contributors!This means that we can award Scholarships to a total of $6,000 annually.

We also have a further $22,512.80 which will be added to the Scholarship Fund.

This means we can provide a larger sum which will increase the value of the Scholarship.

You will note that our Association is now known as the Wagga Wagga Teachers’ Alumni Association as all graduates ofW.W.T.C., Riverina C.A.E., Riverina Murray I.H.E. and the C.S.U. Campus have been invited to join our ranks.

If you wish to continue supporting the WWTAA to increase the Scholarship fund donations can be sent to the Charles SturtFoundation using the form below.

All donations should be made payable to the Charles Sturt Foundation at:-Charles Sturt University, Panorama Avenue, Bathurst NSW 2795

As this is the last edition of Talkabout no more subscriptions will be necessary. The subscriptions received so far will beadded to the Scholarship Fund together with the other funds of the Alumni Association.

If you have any questions please do not hesitate to contact the University Advancemant Unit on 02 6338 4832.

Here is my donation to WWTAA Fundraising.Donations over $2.00 are TAX DEDUCTABLE.

My donation for 2013 is: $________________

Please find my cheque for $ __________________

OR please debit my credit card for $ ___________

Card type: Mastercard Visa

Name on Card: ________________________________

Expiry Date: __________________________________

Signature: ____________________________________

Surname: _____________________________________

Former Name: _________________________________

Given Names: _________________________________

Address: _____________________________________

________________________ Postcode: ___________

Years at College: ____________ to ________________

Home Phone: _________________________________

Work Phone: __________________________________

Facsimile: ____________________________________

email: _______________________________________

Page 16

If undeliverable please return to:The University Advancement UnitCharles Sturt UniversityBathurst NSW 2795 Australia

Change of Address

If your address details are incorrect please emailadvancement@csu.edu.au

orThe Advancement UnitCharles Sturt University

Bathurst NSW 2795 Australia02 6338 4680

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