My siblings and I caught a bus in Barkley Street (walking from home in Carlisle Street) that took us to Elwood High. The first thing I did was to take off my hat and sit on it. I didn't like hats!

I remember school as being very structured-students listened to teachers and didn't argue - it seemed natural then. I also enjoyed the freedom to go out of the school grounds to buy lunch at the local shops! Students were of various nationalities. Being of Chinese descent; albeit, Aussie born, I always thought everyone was the same...not overly, curious, in those days.

My sisters were academically superior to me- all having 'jumped' a class- so I endeavoured to excel in sport to avoid comparison. Whatever seasonal sport they played, I chose the opposite i.e. softball instead of hockey. Ditto with subjects; I chose the Commercial Course, as they chose Arts or Science. I looked forward to sports day wearing the maroon tunic at High school. Walking, to Elsternwick Park, I occasionally helped carry the sports equipment bag - that I considered an honour! Sport gave me the opportunity to 'let loose'.

Over time I applied to join as many teams as I could; this enabled me to visit other schools for competition -one of which was Mt Scopus College in Burwood. Their half time refreshment of cake and soft drink was a step up from orange segments! I relished the inter-school sports day. The only damper to this was the boys team had first pick of the school track suits, taking the large tops and smaller trousers - leaving the girls with small tops and baggy pants making us look somewhat clown-like! Miss Orpin was a 'jolly hockey-sticks' type of gym teacher- her encouragement to try many things sometimes led to 'rope-burn' or bruises in my misguided enthusiasm!

There was much excitement when Laurie Mithen (ex-Melbourne football player) arrived to teach. It was around this time (mid 1960s) that I decided to set up a girls footy team. We called ourselves the 'Melbourne Girls Football Team'. I approached the Melbourne Football Club* then secretary, Jim Cardwell. 

The Melbourne Football Club (through Jim Cardwell) loaned us the spare kit of the Melbourne VFL Reserves Team:- -consisting of woollen jumpers and sox. In those days, the Reserves teams would usually play the preliminary match before the Firsts (or their main team) game.

My favourite High School teacher was Mrs Cope (nee Miss Steele) - she was also my English teacher and in charge of Strickland House when I was House Captain.

Exams in those days meant we would keep our head down and get on with it! No calculators, or toilet stops that students now have. I loved history; feverishly memorising dates that I included in exams even when not needed - a plethora of dates exploding like a waterfall onto exam sheets!

Recently, I had the pleasure of attending both Central and High School anniversaries, and looking through school albums-I was happy to see recorded my participation in athletics, softball, basketball and gym teams.

Sadly swimming wasn't one of them; as I 'swam' like a stone then! Curiously one year someone asked me to swim in the Butterfly much to my, first, concern-then great amusement!

Sport is an integral part of learning - a balance to academic work.

If I could simplify school days, I would say that it was enjoyable.

I left school confident that I had the tools to get on provided I applied myself - that I owe with fondness to Elwood Central and Elwood High.

I am now retired after a successful career in advertising and fashion.**


Georgina Chin Quan


*See story in Herald Sun-June 23, 2016. The Melbourne Football Club provided outfits for women's football team back in the 1960s.

**Also see https://www.elwood.vic.edu.au/georgina-chin-quan