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