focus feature
Port Macquarie High School
Some great people have passed through the corridors of Port Macquarie High School, not only as students, but as staff members and as ancillary staff members.
Tony Cronin - Long standing Teacher
PORT MACQUARIE 50TH ANNIVERSARY
High School
hen did you first commence teaching at Port Macquarie High School? When I transferred to Port Macquarie High School in 1977, my first impressions were: what a beautiful location and what lovely students! The staff members were all experienced and the Principal, Mr Gordon Milne, made me feel very welcome. I felt I was joining a well-run school and a very dedicated team. I loved it. I was teaching English. Later in the ‘80s I got to teach photography as well. What’ve been some of the major changes you’ve witnessed from your early days at Port High? There have been many changes since those early years in the ‘70s. Changes to curriculum affecting the School Certificate and the HSC came and went. We survived. Class sizes came down. dow Corporal punishment became a thing of the past. We bec all missed Gordon Milne when he retired in 1984. The following year, yea the Multi-Purpose Centre was wa opened. When Mr David Brown W became Principal in 1988, bec Distance Education became a Dis new feature added to the school. During the next ten years, many Du renovations and additions were ren built bui by Mr Geoff Schache, which
included playground shelters (jokingly referred How do you feel looking back over your to as ‘Brown’s Barns’), a new canteen, a new time at the school, knowing it’s now been a darkroom and numerous improvements to office vital part of the community for 50 years? space etc. Mr. Brown’s retirement in 1999 was I’ve had a wonderful teaching career, also a sad occasion for us all. spending most of it at Port Macquarie High What has been the most rewarding part for School. I have seen many wonderful students you personally being involved with Port excel in so many different ways, either High? academically, in the Arts or in sport. The book I’ve had the privilege of being a positive I referred to tries to document most of the influence on so many young lives. Most of the achievements of the past 50 years. I feel very students I taught continued to excel out of privileged to have been part of the history school and went on to bigger and better things. of this great school. I’ve worked with all six Some exceeded everyone’s expectations and are Principals, whom I admired and respected. now productive, established and even famous The first Principal, Mr. Stan Condon, was members ofend society. retiredfiwhen I first came, but he often came Eastern of the school (note the newly planted g tree) Their success stories make it all worthwhile. It’s in to help out in times of casual shortages. always delightful bumping into these students as His enthusiasm for teaching, his energy and young adults from time to time. seemingly endless knowledge helped inspire How have you helped to organise the me. Working with Gordon Milne was fantastic school’s 50th anniversary celebrations? and also inspirational, and David Brown’s ten My main contribution as a member of the years were simply magical. Mark Longstaff has 50th anniversary committee was to co-ordinate been guiding the school on a successful path the book on the 50 years of Port High’s history. since 1999 with his inspirational leadership, and Mr. Grimmond, a former Principal, began I have a wonderful working relationship and the work and spent two months researching personal friendship with him. the archives, before handing it on for further Some great people have passed through the development and fine tuning. corridors of Port Macquarie High School, not With 28 students and 50 teachers helping only as students, but as staff members and as over the last three months, the work has finally ancillary staff members. gone to the printers. The 208 page book will be However, the school’s best years may still be available for the anniversary celebrations in April. ahead in the future. It’s looking good. Thanks Tony.
greater port macquarie focus 79