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A Goat Grazing: 1957 to 1963 By Richard Johnson, November 2006

For the uninitiated, Goethals Memorial School (GMS) is located in Kurseong at the foothills of theHimalayan mountains in India. Boys who attended Goethals were generally known as Goats or

Goethalites. In 2007 Goethals celebrates its Centenary which has brought about this reflection.

My connection with Goethals started in the

1940s my elder brother Maurice went to

Goethals (first row, third from the right).

Other well known identities in the photo-

graph are Matthew Lobo (GMS teacher

extraordinaire and mentor) Bro. Fitz-

patrick, well known to generations of Go-

ethalites. I can hear the voices of Mum andDad We must try to give Richard the

same opportunity as Maurice My fa-

ther worked in the Burmah-Shell Oil

Company and used to get transferred to

various parts of India every few years. In

true Anglo-Indians tradition, my parents

wanted me to have an education in a good

English school and they felt that not

changing schools would be desirable. So,

when my father was transferred to Muzaffarpur in 1956, they sent me to Goethals the following

year.

The toy train is an early memory being

sick the windy roads the fear the un-

knownThen arriving at the school being

overwhelmed by the size of it all the grand

main building waiting in the Parlour my

father left - the thought of sleeping in a dor-

mitory with so many others the lights went

off and there was a lot of crying. Then there

was another day it started with mass Iremember kneeling in front of the altar with

the mighty banner Thine Will Be Done.

Did that mean I would never see my mother again,

I thought sobbing!

A visit from family was few and far between - it

was just too expensive. My Mum and sister

Cynthias (pictured) visits were very special in

those early days. I remember giving my sister very

clear instructions and it was my only request -

Dont kiss me in front of the boys. A request sheduly ignored!

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The first sight of the school food was a strong memory the tuck room was visited on a regular ba-

sis and the contents of the personal tuck box brought from home lasted about a week then there

was a few weeks of starving then I ate the food served in the refectory, and I still eat everything!

There are also memories of someone at my table spitting in a tin of jam so that no one else would

want any at least from that tin! And the time when we were so fed-up of peanut butter that balls of

peanut butter were thrown on the ceiling and they stuck there. There were consequences.

St. Patricks day was memorable for the good grub

and so were those other special days. There were

also those special add-ons to the meals that people

paid extra for eggs and side dishes and things that

smelt good more because others had it. However,

you could get a swap done for doing some elses

homework at times! Then, there was the box man

Blackie. That must have been racist and I have

got to say, I feel funny saying the word now but

those days seem to have been so simple I think.

Any excuse to go to town or Darjeeling was

gobbled-up and so were the MoMos which were

cheap and delicious and ice creams at Keventors

(Pokie, Glenn, Lawrence and yours truly pictured)!

I often wonder why the nostalgia is so strong when it

comes to the GMS experience it must have to do

with being away, the separation, the isolation and

from that, the development of strong friendships. Istill (forty-six years later) identify smells, colours,

music, tastes, fears with those seven years of my life

the texture of stewed eggplant (brinjal) still gets to

me! Strong experiences are etched in my behaviour

though the source or the memory is fading.

I remember a bleak time I was being bullied and it

was relentless it went for about a year and a half.

The culture was well, youve got to do something

about it. I couldnt. Then, quite unexpectedly, a guy

by the name of Patrick Bland came up to me one day and gave me a strategy. Do you know how to hit? he asked No was the reply from this meek

and mild twelve year old. He taught me simple stuff dont hold your thumb under your fingers,

dont bend your wrist and now you have to do it What? Well, the next time he says any-

thing to you hit him just hit him and you must hit him in the face right on the nose. I did. He

was all but knocked out and things changed instantly I was never bullied again. In that very ma-

cho male environment, this was an important message and I can still hear it. It had an important

influence on me I took up boxing and developed a keen interest in physical exercise and weight-

lifting. As I write this piece now, I am 60 years old, I go to the gym five days a week and I can still

bench press 80 Kg.

Those bonds of friendship were so important and they still feel important to this day they are the

special people who helped me through as friends and confidants Babs (aka Arun Gazi, Glenn,

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Lawrence, Mohan, Pon Mei, Tony, Eugene, S.K.,

Patrick, Bruce, Jeff and many more.

Croker was an interesting wilderness- close -

full of stinging nettle and leeches I have early

memories of gangs having hiding spots

camps I suppose and sometimes you capturedsomeone from an opposing gang and took them

in and tortured them with stinging nettle sounds

awful and dangerous now, but it was all innocent

fun. The other visit to Croker was when the

football went over the fence on first field and cry

went out Fishers! Then the team of nominated

fishers went down to fetch the ball or rather to

find the ball. Some used this as a great opportunity for a smoke. I never took to smoking maybe I

was just a goody-two-shoes I just hated the taste I still remember it Charminar I recall. The

gangs were serious business I remember being involved in a gang fight ( I cant believe Im writ-

ing this it seems like an out of body experience) it came to a head and a fight was arranged a

particular time and the place was on second field I was in the same gang as Glenn (Storey) and

Archie (Scott) and I can only remember the one I had to fight it was Thorpe (I cant recall his first

name) who was with us for a short time, he did regular push-ups and was very strong I dont

know why I scored him! I was certainly not the strongest in our gang. I must have lost the fight be-

cause I cant remember it!

It was sometimes hard to appreciate the work of the teachers and I now find my-

self taking a very critical view as I have been immersed in teacher education for

the past twenty six years. But it all must be put in context. I do reflect on a safe

and caring environment. Sr. Felix (pictured) was soft and caring when you neededit most when you were unwell and then there was the trip to the infirmary for

Horlicks many spoons in a mug with a drop of water and mixed into a thick

paste if there was any left it was made into a drink. That Flu epidemic in 1957

was a fearful time for all when one of the students lost his life.

Then, there were the brothers and lay-teachers memories flood back

of all shades the rules, the enforcement, the strappings for my bath-

ing shorts being on the wrong line the inspections with a clean

handkerchief and shining shoes I dont have inspections any more,

but I always have a clean handkerchief and shining shoes I wonder

why! I also always hold a cup by the handle, quite elegantly, peoplehave remarked thanks to Bro. Kyle who ac-

cidentally bumped into me and spilled my hot

coffee all over me with a comment referring to

the incorrect way I was holding my coffee cup!

Bro. Moynahan (pictured in his office and with

his class of 63) has a special space in the

memory bank as my teacher for the last two

years and as a mentor and great person. While I

believe that all my friends and teachers had an

impact on my life probably none more than

Bro. Morrow (pictured with the prefects of

1963).

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The annual play was a leading feature of the year. Yes, I remember the Mikado of 57 and A

Royal Jester (pictured) in 1962 with Mohan as King

Ortensis, R.Johnson as the Chancellor of the Excheq-

uer, Basant Lama as the Prime Minister, Babs Gazi as

the Commander in ChiefIn 1963 we were doing

The New Boy the teacher who was directing theplay took ill. Mohan Shivdasani and I decided that we

could direct the play and conveyed that to the broth-

ers. We were allowed and could not help but notice

Bro. Morrow, down the back of the hall with his

usual very red face and arms folded, just watching.

As usual he didnt say much. Then one day he asked

to see me after rehearsal. I shivered. Johnson, he said if you decide to take up teaching next year,

we will pay for you. Then he turned around and walked away. This was the most influential line

anyone has ever said to me. I was not a high academic achiever, I was always around the middle of

the class and in my earlier years I had experienced the bottom ranks and yellow cards. I never

imagined myself doing further studies and suddenly some-

body (and not just anyone) had planted a seed and offered

me a scholarship and in return I would be required to teach

with the Christian Brothers for a few years. As circum-

stances would have it, I didnt take up the offer but I did do

a Commerce degree (St. Xaviers, Calcutta) and gave pri-

vate tuition to test if I was interested in teaching. I have

taught since then and I now have six degrees in Education,

my last being a Doctorate (PhD). The fact that I finished

my schooling in Goethals was through the generosity of

the Brothers. In 1961 my father had just retired and couldnot afford to re-enrol me. We were then living in Calcutta

and very near Calcutta Boys School where I was enrolled

till my father received a letter from the Principal, Bro. Ponise (I still have the letter) offering to

waive the fees for my final two years. This is the kind of concern and compassion I recall behind

those tough exteriors.

Other memories of staff members are of tough Tunu and Khuttoo and Rassick (I was never sure

why we called him that) and I also remember umbrellas going up in the front row when Bro. For-

eign spoke the front row had to protect themselves from the spray! I remember Mr. Chakraberti

(Chemistry teacher), I didnt do Chemistry, but he had that special ability to relate to students. Mr.

Roy, our Physics teacher got a raw deal from a group of us. We had an uncomplimentary name forhim relating to his laugh. It must have made life so

difficult for his son, a fellow student and an out-

standing one at that. The result: I dropped Physics

and academically, to this day, I have an embarrass-

ing lack of knowledge in the sciences, particularly

Physics. You had the last laugh Mr. Roy! Matthew

Lobo was one of those inspiring teachers. It was

Matthew Lobo who arranged that memorable trip to

Darjeeling which included the Mountaineering In-

stitute and us meeting the famous Tenzing Norgay

(pictured). I also recall the name of a student Avari

facilitating that meeting.

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I have fond memories of

him and Mr Pascall, our

Hindi teacher (pictured

wither Bro. Morrow) for

some reason. I remember

Bro. Rowe (pictured super-

vising his favourite MazeDrill) his first joke to start

his Mathematics lesson was

always about the cowboy

who took his son to be en-

rolled in school. He saw Trigonometry on the Mathematics curriculum Give him plenty of that,

said the cowboy, hes the worst shot in the family. We always laughed heartily but is was more at

the image of Bro. Rowe telling the joke and the crimson face that followed! I have strong memories

of Mr. McKenzie - tweed jacket - meticulous writing of copious notes on the chalkboard. He broke

his right arm and we were delighted - no more copying of notes, we thought. He appeared in class,

right arm in plaster and proceeded to write on the board with his left!

St. Marys, the Jesuit Noviciate was an important place and the source of in-

spiration through the regular visits of luminaries such as Fr. Summerton, Fr.

Reilly the great Spanish footballer, Fr. Arroyo (pictured) and so many others.

The Crusaders and Sodality were significant organizations run by the priests.

Fr. Summerton (a glimpse of him in the photo below) in particular was inspira-

tional supportive and nurturing. Like many others I am sure, I reacted to the

compulsion of attending daily mass and the other religious commitments by

not attending mass or having much to do with the formal

church for some years. However, I have gone the full circle

and I am back to being a fully paid-up Catholic. My favour-ite song (hymn really) isAve Maria I have four versions

on my MP3 collection but that all started when I first heard

it being sung by Cecil Gibbons I can still hear that mag-

nificent soprano voice.

I call myself a Catholic with Buddhist leanings and this

could also be attributed to that great multicultural environ-

ment that was Goethals. The environment offered me

friends from diverse cultures and religious backgrounds.

There were never any religious or cultural tensions except

for the duration of the match when the non-vegetarian refectory played the vegetarians! I also re-member S. Khan, a friend and colleague who played full back - a fierce competitor and one who

gave me a lot of confidence when I kept goal. He was of course Muslim and I recall a deep and

meaningful conversation with him about girls of course and I was curious to know how a Muslim

would know whether a girl was beautiful under that full cover. His answer came promptly and was

clearly well studied it was from observing her ankles of course!

There were two years when the Shakespearianas visited. They performed the Shakespeare plays on

our book lists on the stage and stayed for a few days. We enjoyed the performances but took them

for granted little did we know that they were to be so famous the famous Kendall family with

the beautiful Felicity (we all wanted to help back-stage) Sashi Kapoor did a stint with them and

Felicity. I cant believe how lucky we were to have that experience.

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A recurring theme of my recollections is simplicity

the wonderful naivety that seems to be lost today.

What would we have thought of a Television show

likeBig Brother! I remember those autograph books

they were so important. In mine there was a picture

of Elvis and Pat Boon on opposite pages and friends

were invited to sign under who ever they supported.So, heres my opening page and then a sample from

Mohan (middle) and Archie Scott (pictured third).

Archie became quite famous with a recording he did

in the UK Move it baby I recall. He used to

use this photograph in the UK and tell people that it

(the Victoria Mimorial in the background) was his

home in India. A real character he was I love the

verses that preceded the autograph representing the

importance of the friendship bonding that was so

much a part of the boarding school life for me

anyway.

I remember Chungeeand hanging around the kitchen when the chickens were being beheaded in

preparation for those good grub days we would then descend and rip those long, floppy feathers

off and all that was needed then was a washer and piece of leather.

Another game I have not heard of since is

Salts a great game and BabyCricket. Those special picnics to Kettle

Valley (pictured) and the winning team

got to go to Constantia(pictured it

was Bro. Hughess team). The paper and

chalk chases were a special event again,

often used as an excuse. I remember the

sunshine holiday negotiating/begging

for it just before inspection and then the

chalk chase that followed. The proper

group of serious players went off and a

splinter group made their way to St Hel-ens. I was in the splinter group we only

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managed a glimpse and a few words with

the girls but the thrill was exhilarating.

Those St Helens memories

will always remain. I remem-

ber being with Richard Hay-

ward at the St Helens Fete

sweet shop and Richard pull-

ing out a snake from his

pocket (he did have a pen-

chant for reptiles) and putting

it on the counter when one of

the girls came to serve him

needless to say, we had the

shop to ourselves in seconds!

The deeper memories were ofGita Sharma, my girlfriend

for two years whom I sadly

last saw in 1963. While there

was an inevitability about the

end, in Gitas wisdom, she

shared that with me through a book Im sure it was called Bitter Sweet

Autumnand towards the end there was reference to two ships that passed

in the night years later, a metaphor for the possibility of us meeting again.

Im still hopeful for that possi-

ble moment isnt it amazing

after all the years I some-times have that feeling

wouldnt it be wonderful to be

able to turn on the monitor and

select Gita Sharma or Margaret

Sargent or Meena Narula or

Rakha Sarkar and just say Hi.

The fact that I feel that way

must be because those fine

friends meant so much in those

formative years. That theme of simplicity again comes

to mind I think Gita and I may have held hands am I

imagining that it certainly was nothing more. The thrill

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of walking to town and passing the St Helens playing field with the girls looking down from be-

hind the wrought iron fence the waves or the occasional meeting on Hill Cart Road! All commu-

nication was special and in particular the school socials. Gita Sharma started and was the first Edi-

tor of The Highlights, the St. Helens paper and I was the Editor of the Goethals Madonna in

1962 (front page copies shown) - Romantic, dont you think? I thought so!

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The major events were special. The athletics meets I

remember N.C. Karr (RIP), and Pon Mei Son, Eugene

Roberio, Arun Gazi, the Wallaces we had some real

stars. The competition with Victoria was intense. The

Inter-school relay was a feature.

Football, Hockey, Cricket and Athletics were all im-portant and we certainly had stars in each code. The

very special thrill was to win in Darjeeling and come

home singing in the jeep.

I have strong recollections of the football finals I got

into the first XI football team by default in 1962 that

was a great moment in developing my self confidence

and sense of identity. Seems incredible to think about all that now, but there it was I was a goal-

keeper one who tried hard, but fairly average, I thought.

I was playing a late game against the novices from Mount

Carmel there were such names as Freddie Fernandes and

Pinto and Co. those games were played after the formal

sport time and one of the added benefits was that you were

able to have a longer shower an important privilege.

Arun (Babs) Ghazi was our First X1 goal-keeper he had

a fairly serious finger injury there was a game coming up

against North Point but that didnt occupy any space in my mind as N.K. Sargar (Nakatoo) was the

second-eleven keeper courageous and daring and an automatic (I thought) replacement. It was a

good game against the Carmelites, wet, but it was good when you knew you could have a good hot

shower games against the Carme-

lites were always played in good spir-its fair and hard though. Bro.

Hughes (Sports Master and selector of

the First X1) was watching it didnt

matter, but you did care just by vir-

tue of the fact that he was around! So,

after getting cleaned up and following

all the rituals, I was lying in bed (sen-

ior dormitory) listening to Cliff Rich-

ards, when Bro. Hughes came to my

bed (I shuddered) Johnson, you are

in the First X1 for the game againstNorth Point and off he went. You

couldnt ask but what about N.K. or

why me or anything like that. By the

way, N.K. was a bit of a lad he must

have annoyed Bro. Hughes but I went

on to play that game and hold my place for the rest of the season (Babs was injured for all that

time). I will never forget that first game against North Point the nerves we had GMS old boys

like Adrain Alphonso and company (Mel Brown) supporting us. We won! The first picture is of the

return match at GMS we won that too and the second photo is with the famous C.S. Gurung

(Olympic Hockey Gold) as coach.

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But the dream was to go home and all goas

knew the lines:

Going home day has come at last

Do Dah, Do Dah

Going home day has come at last

Do Dah Do Dah Day

... More days and where shall we be?Out of the gates of GMP!

The final night bonfire used to be a feature.

The pea-shooters used to be going as if there

was no tomorrow final grudges were sorted

out and there were many stories of bravado

that didnt quite come to fruition the myths

were perpetuated none the less. The Last

Bend (pictured) was a legendary landmark

after which the school was no more in view - and still I crave to take that bend now and have the

school come into view. I did call into the school some years ago, just briefly and unannounced. The

taxi pulled-up just outside the main building

(pictured). A few boys sat at the bench over-

looking First Field bit slack I thought, that

used to be our of bounds with a few excep-

tions I sat with the boys for a minute and then

asked Whats the school like? Its a very

good school Sir. Are the brothers and teach-

ers cruel. An emphatic No Sir. Is the food

good? Yes Sir. How many days are left to go

home? As quick as a flash Seventy Two days

Sir! Thankfully, nothing has changed, Ithought.

My relationship with Goethals and Kurseong never really ended. After seven great years at Go-

ethals, the relationships continued with families such as the Knights (Jeff, Patsie, Susan, Steven) the

Alphonsos (Adrian, Darryl (RIP), Andre), Dolly, Nat and Dick Campbell, the Rufuss, and the Wal-

laces (Sydney, Patrick, Bruce and Alice) of Kurseong. I married Alice Wallace in Kurseong in

1968. We left for Australia in 1969. Kevin (named after Sr Kevin from St Helens) was born in Mel-

bourne in 1972. Alice and I were divorced some years later.

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I took Bro. Morrows advice and took up secondary teaching when I left school. I have taught ever

since St. Marys Orphanage (Christian Brothers), Dum Dum, in Australian schools (St. Josephs,

Christian Brothers College) and since 1980 I have been teaching in tertiary education, currently at

Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. I guess I could say that in true Goethals spirit I chose

Australia because they had and have a good cricket team. But seriously, so much of what I do and

choices I make can be traced back to those formative years at GMS. When I reflect on traces of

GMS in me now, I have to acknowledge genetics, other experiences and places but I do see influ-ences. My wife Evelyn (pictured on the

right, then theres the goat, my grand-

son Lewis, son Kevin and grandson

Finley), has a saying: Watch that

Christian Brother in you Richard!

Thats when there is the potential for

me getting fired-up. Like the time I

went into work with the intention If

he utters a word, Im going to belt the

. out of him! My son Kevin (now

34) reminds me that the advice I gave

him to cope with bullying wasnt really

appropriate. What and how I eat and I

suppose the fact that I dont waste food

is also linked. My clearest lesson from

the GMS experience is a fierce sense of

independence and perhaps resilience.

The notion that using your own re-

sources to survive is strongly reminiscent of lessons I learned when I was young.

I hope I have not offended anyone with my ramblings or with the images I have used, the intentionwas to celebrate. It seems indulgent when I read over what I have written and I have to say, I do so

with a smile on my face. The overall feeling is, those were great days, thanks for the memories to

GMS to those great friends I had and to whom I am thankful, to the Christian Brothers so far away

from home, looking after a group of boys, not angels, to those Priests and lay teachers who did their

jobs so diligently and found time and energy to inspire and care, to the support staff who did just

that. Cheers for Goethals, cheers for Goethals, keep those colours high

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We cant re-heat a souffle but can we examine the notion of reunion some forty-four years later?

We could re-unite online, by telling our story and we may also be able to meet at Goethals in No-

vember 2007 (http://www.goethalscentenary.com). But can we meet like we last met on first field,

in our dungaree sports uniforms - the great equaliser - without pre dispositions of race, colour,

wealth, class, caste, religion or sexuality? Can we redefine what success means all these years later?

So often reunions are haunted by notions of success to do with career, wealth, marriage, position

and the rest...

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http://www.goethalscentenary.com/http://www.goethalscentenary.com/


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Friendsfrom1963...

Where arethey now?

Contact: Dr. Rich-ard Johnson

email:[email protected]

Post: Deakin Uni-versity, 221 Bur-wood Highway,Burwood, 3125,

Victoria, Australia

JigmeTshering,

when you put thispicture of yourselfin my AutographBook, did you thinkyou would see itagain?

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mailto:[email protected]:[email protected]

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