My memories of Bondi Beach 1960 -1968 by Wilma Vallis
I attended Bondi Beach PS from 1960 to 1968. Eight years, as after Kindergarten I was placed in Transition. Transition existed in the 1960s. Not sure why. Maybe I was young in age or development!
I loved attending BBPS. It’s hard to put my finger on why I loved it so much. The teachers were fabulous and sport was an integral part of the school. I played netball, softball and was usually in the district swimming carnival.
Tracey Carter and myself were selected in the PSSA Netball team in 1968 and travelled to Inverell.
A memory is when the shark alarm was heard we’d pack up and head to the beach, line up along the promenade to look for the shark. How hilarious!
I also recall lining along the promenade when, I think, Prince Charles visited. It was a hot day and we stood there for a long time.
Mr McQualter was the Principal. In the days before RFF, he would drop into the classroom and take the class out for a game of softball on the grass at the front of the school. This gave teachers time to deal with administrative duties, etc.
Classes were large. Usually 40+ kids in a class. Classes were graded. Classes were smaller that catered for less able students. There were no Individual Learning Programs. When I look back the following analogy is very true.
“The ball was bowled down the middle and it hit as many pins as possible.”
From the classmates I have kept in contact with, all have achieved in later life, mostly attending University.
When I look back, I feel the quality of teaching was outstanding.
Mrs Cummins was my teacher is Years 5 and 6. In particular, she was an outstanding teacher and I felt ahead of most others when entering high school.
During the 1960s rules changed allowing female teachers to wear trousers. I remember Mrs Cummins adhering to the change in rules and I absolutely loved the fact she was modelling progress for women!
In Year 2, my teacher was Mrs O’Neil. An event that I haven’t been able to forget (probably traumatised me) is when a male student obviously did something to annoy her, so her response was to pull down his pants, lay him across her lap and spank him!
How times have changed!
In Year 6 we were separated into single sex classes in preparation for high school, as co-ed high schools were non existent in the Eastern Suburbs.
Some memories from my time at BBPS by Rosemary Stafford (Krygier)
I remember sitting in the back of the hall while watching a tiny black & white television at the front of the hall and we saw the grainy images of Neil Armstrong walking on the moon. The highlight was knowing that it was all happening on my birthday!
Mondays were the best days as I was allowed to order lunch from the tuck shop (the tiny shop that was located across the road in a garage in Gould St). Otherwise lunch was the usual Vegemite sandwiches every single day!
Recess was the worst as we had to drink a bottle of milk. It was inevitably warm and going off and to this day I cannot drink plain milk.
In third class I was caught passing a note between two other students. I remember being sent out and receiving a whack on the hand with a cane. I can’t believe they used the cane, especially on an eight-year-old girl.
Lunchtime was the best – the girls were in a separate part of the playground from the boys. We played Elastics, Jacks, did tumbles on the monkey bars. I have many fond memories of all of these games.
A personal story of my school life by Ernest (Ern) Kulmar
Educating Ernie can be downloaded here.
A personal story of my school life by Ernest (Ern) Kulmar
Educating Ernie can be downloaded here.