The way we were: 1975 School Council
Staff
In April, Mr Robin Clarke was elected as President of our School’s Council. Dr Brian Cuming and Dr Hugh Mackinnon were elected as Vice-Chairmen. Robin Clarke had previously been the initiator of, and a driving force behind, the School’s foundation in 1966. He was to remain as president of the Council until 1981. His photograph shows him in the garden of his North Croydon home, Jillingolo where much of the planning for the new School had taken place.
New teaching staff members this year were: Max Burke, John Cheetham, John Close, Marjorie Cooper, Bruce Howe, Warren James, Brian Keyte, Anne Mullett, Andrew Watson and Pat Woolmer. Bob Acford also returned to the School in 1975.
Headmaster A letter of resignation from Mr Ken Jago was read to Council in April. Mr Jago said the highlights of his time had been the expansion of the School, work on curriculum development and the building up of a staff with commitment. A major task for 1975 was to prepare a curriculum which would be applicable throughout the whole School. In November, Mr Jago announced that he would now not be taking up the position at Sturt University as he had been offered the position of Chairman of the new State Planning and Finance Committee (which concerned Independent Schools).
Responsibility for academic and pastoral care of students was taken by the following Groupmasters; Form 6: Bruce Brown, Form 5: Jim Sansom, Form 4: Peter Sansom, Form 3: Warwick Davidson, Form 2: Bob Acford. In Junior School, Mr John Lawley took the role of Form 1 Groupmaster, Mr Peter Carr became Maths Coordinator and Mr Jim Davis became a full time P.E. teacher.
Student Leaders and Awards School Captain: David Hayes Vice-Captain: Bruce Twentyman Prefects: David Agnew, Philip Cranswick, Peter Gillson, Andrew Mills, David Poulton, Anthony Reynolds, Peter Tonkin, Derek Watkins, Alan Wroblewski. Margaret Denniston Clarke Award: Derek Watkins Award for Academic Achievement: Henry Gardner The Student Advisory Council set up a broadcasting station which operated during lunch hours.
Buildings The new Preparatory School building was completed and occupied early in the year. Each of its three buildings was a modified version of a Merchant Builders’ Home. The official opening of the Junior School Resource Centre and of the Preparatory School was held on 1 June. The Resource Centre was named after Mr A B Carter, a
local estate agent, member of the School Council and Chairman of the Building Fund, and the Preparatory School was named after Mr John Harper, a leading company director and president of the School Council 1966-71.
The Bushwalkers’ Club Under the leadership of President Mr Warwick McGregor, this club was very active. Walks ranged from Sunday strolls through Sherbrooke Forest, to a weekend walk in the Cathedral Ranges, a four day holiday trip to the Warby Ranges, a trip to Wilson’s Promontory and a walk in the Otways.
Sport A report from Mr David Chivers, supported by Mr Neville Lyngcoln, suggested that the performance of our First Eighteen was such that Yarra should either leave the AGSV or recruit some footballers. Council discussed the Headmaster’s report on compulsory sport and the report from Mr Chivers and Mr Lyngcoln. They decided that sporting scholarships were not considered to be in the long term interests of School. Further discussion was delayed until the arrival of the new headmaster. However, a letter was sent to parents notifying them that School team commitment would take priority over local team commitment in 1976.
Drama The major productions, in combination with Tintern, were Senior School’s Kismet and Death of a Salesman and Superman staged by Forms Two and Three. Superman was a fun musical written by Messrs Peter Haines and Ian Lee. At the end of Term 2 the Fourth Form presented The Odyssey of Runyon Jones under the direction of Mr Neil Bechervaise. The Loner, a film and slide presentation produced by the Form 5 Drama class, also under the direction of Mr Bechervaise, was shown each afternoon and evening of the International Education Exhibition 17–21 June. Room H12 (opposite the library entrance and now a chapel) was developed into a workable theatrette and Ringwood’s Clocktower Theatre group presented Noel Coward’s Blithe Spirit there.
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