A Start in Life & William Thompson Masonic School – A Celebration of 99 Years

A Celebration of

99 Years

Students at the 2019 reunion event

Students of the William Thompson Masonic School and A Start in Life

99

years ago the William Thompson Masonic School opened. 98 years ago the charity, then known as the NSW Masonic Youth Welfare Fund, began.

As students from the school grew, so too did the charity, now known as A Start in Life. Originally formed to help students, both while at the school and as they transitioned to employment or further education, A Start in Life has grown to help support any youth deemed to be in necessitous circumstances.

While we are delighted to still be supporting children today, we are honoured to have supported students of the William Thompson Masonic School.

This booklet is in celebration of previous students of the William Thompson Masonic School and present students of A Start in Life. Many years have passed and times may have changed, however many themes remain universal, as shown in the collection of photos and artworks in the following pages.

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Students enjoying the garden 2

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“Lending a helping hand”

Bruce Nelson, who likes outdoor work.

1 Students “lending a helping hand” in the school gardens, 1962

2 Bruce spending time in the garden, 1949 3 Casper’s drawing of one of his favourite

places at school – the garden

A good jump, or two!

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4 An impressive high jump on Sports Day – 1926

5 Jay enjoying his time on the trampoline during this year’s lockdown

A good jump

Students of the William Thompson Masonic School and A Start in Life

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Friends are always treasured 6 A gathering of happy

friends – year unknown

7 A drawing by Sah, who loves making friends at school

Musical talents abound in our alumni 8 A Start in Life alumni, Natalia, now a successful conductor and concert pianist

9 William Thompson Masonic School alumni playing the bugle – 1947

“A gathering of happy friends”

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11 Buglers John Craven, Robert Evans and George Bloomfield (ex-pupils).

...and in our younger students!

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10 The skilled band

performing – 1937

11 Talented Em performing at

a recent William Thompson Masonic School reunion “The Skilled Band”

Riddles Enjoy these riddles from the 1925 school magazine. Answers are on the back page!

1. What part of London is France in?

2. Which letters are the hardest workers?

3. Two cows in front of a cow, two cows behind a cow, and one cow in the middle; how many cows in all?

5. Where can we find sea without water, towns without houses, and islands without people?

6. When did the king stand up to eat his dinner?

4. Which four letters describe the State Governor?

.org.au

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The joys of swimming

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12 Arnold learning to

become a great diver

13 Fun at the William Thompson Masonic School’s first swimming carnival – 1937

Sports adventures of all kinds

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“Swimming Carnival”

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14 Beau running a close race at his athletics carnival

15 An impressive gymnastics display by the girls – 1925

16 A captivating wheel race by

junior boys on Sports Day – 1934 Gymnastic Display by the Girls

Answers

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Answers to the riddles on the previous page.

1. The letter ‘N’ 2. the Bs 3. three cows

4. XLNC 5. on a map 6. when ‘de Chair’ was in Australia 17

Wheel Race – Junior Boys

Animals help us, and we help them

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17 Sammy on equine placement

during her Veterinary Science degree

18 Bringing in the hay from

the school farm – 1930

Bringing in the hay from our farm.

Save the Date!

Please keep 11th November 2022 free for our Special 100th Anniversary Event celebrating the centenary of the William Thompson Masonic School to be held at Cropley House, Baulkham Hills NSW.

NOVEMBER

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We look forward to sharing more details with you soon!

© A Start in Life 2021

.org.au