In the 1970s
I attended Elwood High School from 1974 to 1977, after
completing Grade 6 at St.Kilda Park Primary School. The years I spent at EHS
hold some of the best memories of my life. Not that they were all good, of
course. These were really the formative times, where all the usual stuff that
happens in a teenagers life, happened. A lot of what I'm talking about has come
flooding back to me by watching Puberty Blues on TV!
I remember the quadrangle and the buildings that surrounded it very clearly,
and the cricket nets down in the back corner near the canal where we used to
try and sneak a smoke. I seem to remember getting a lookout person to watch for
teachers and sound the alarm. Some of us even snuck out over the fence, over
Glenhuntly Road, and off down the canal under one of the small bridges.
I also remember the famous fire that engulfed the gym/hall -
it was extremely sad to see it go, but if I remember correctly the first thing
that most kids said was "cool! a day off!". :)
Apart from the very close friendships I made in my time at EHS, I certainly
remember quite a few of the teachers because the teachers and staff in those
times were able to deal with us young bucks and chicks in a way that saw us get
reprimanded if we were being idiots (yes, I DO remember the strap!) but also
join in with us for a laugh from time to time without it affecting our actual
academic learning. Yes, I actually did learn a lot of stuff in class by the
way, but over the years it seems the best lessons I had at EHS were more about
life in a broader sense.
All in all I would have to say my time at EHS in those very important years was
a fantastic time in my life, and helped to prepare me well for life after
school. The memories I will carry with me always.
Jim
In : 1970s
Tags: "puberty blues" friends smoking "the strap" learning "hall fire"