Stories

1935’s big adventure began when I commenced high school at Bowral. To get to and from school we would catch the Southern Highlands Express from Moss Vale in the morning and travel to Bowral and then walk approximately 1 1/2 miles to high school. We walked to the station in Moss Vale was approximately 3/4 of a miles so we got plenty of exercise. Coming home we caught a goods train with two dog box carriages attached at the rear. This was supposed to arrive at Bowral at 4:15 but often it would be five or even 6 o’clock before it arrived. The kids from Wingello 30 km distance were very late getting home. On a Monday the afternoon train was often cancelled so we had to catch one at 12:30 which resulted in sports afternoon being moved from Wednesday to Monday and train kids missed out on sport unless we stayed at school and walked the 6 miles or further home depending on where you lived. Many of us did this and never thought about the walk home. We would walk from Bowral to Moss Vale sometimes and perhaps see only one or two cars, a little different these days.

School headmaster was Mr Watson a large silver haired man who had been on one of the expeditions to Antarctica, he was a strict disciplinarian but very fair. Mr Paul was his assistant and chief of caning. Step out of line and it was off to his office for four or six cuts which I was on the receiving end many a time throughout my four years at high school. I remember one time he dished out 84 cuts to 14 of us and never drew breath in between. We had those Tom Thumb sized throw-down’s and as we approached Burradoo station we peppered Mrs Fail known as Mrs Fart who was always dobbing somebody in on the train to the headmaster for saying kind (nasty) things to her pampered darling daughters. We copped six cuts each but everyone reckoned it was worth it to see her dance on the platform. 

Teachers I can’t remember all but some were Miss Dunn – English, Miss Humphries (old mother fig) – Geography, Miss Cahill – English, Mr Jenkins (Jenny Wren) – Business Principles, Mr Fogarty – Science, Mr Bridges – Woodwork and Mr Dudley – Latin.

For woodwork we would have to walk down to the primary school for teaching about half a mile in either recess or lunch time periods. He was a great teacher and I still have a table beside my bed which I made at school. He could be very violent at times and hurl stuff at you.

There was scarcely a house beyond the hospital and high school towards what is now known as East Bowral. There was a college park where sport was played. One of our favourite sports on sports afternoon was a paper chase which travelled out as far as old Eridge Park Road, round the open paddocks up to the top of the Gib and back to school. I was no good at cricket or football the two main sports but enjoyed athletics and was very proud of myself when selected to represent high school in high jump and 1 mile events against Goulburn high school in the RS Smith cup competition. This competition is still going on between the schools, I ran second in both events.