THE REUNION IN CANBERRA

 These 5 Kambu Cuties were some of the 90+ folk who celebrated 50 years since graduation. What fun everybody had. Barbecues, official dinner, dancing, drinks, cruise.... and all that sort of stuff. Dale, Di, Fay, Jan and Gabi are the Kambu girls.

Laraine and Bruce Lucas enjoyed their chance to party and catch up with folk they'd not seen for decades in some cases.

 Wow! How gorgeous! And the flowers are lovely too!

 These flowers were grown by Graham and Janet Wright and brought to the reunion to decorate the tables. Janet instructed a few volunteers who then put the roses together. They sure looked great.

 Bruce played while we sang. Sounded great Bruce. Thanks.

 Sue thanks Col Sale - our guest speaker. Col was a warden and lecturer during 1963-64.

 Many ex-students caught up with Col to have a chat. Here John Griffin chats with Col.

 De Bak and Whit - have stories to share.

These two, Wendy and Keith, enjoyed college and each other. They've been married for nearly 50 years now.
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Activities included a Meet and Greet on the Friday night at the Forrest Hotel, a bus tour on Saturday finishing with a barbecue lunch. Then the official dinner was on Saturday night at the Hellenic Club. What a top night! On Sunday, there was a gorgeous lunch at Yarralumla followed by a lake cruise for the stayers on dusk. (Barbie on board the cruise boat.)
Fifty years is worth celebrating. Wonder when the next gathering will be? Two possibilities at this stage for 2015 include a bonfire at Kenthurst (Sydney) in July/August and a gathering in Melbourne, probably around Melbourne Cup time. Keep an eye on this blog for more pictures and updates. For Andy's photos, check out his FLIKR account by googling WWTCREUNION. (Or was it WWTC REUNION?) If I found it, you should be able to also.

GRAEME O'BRIEN

Later start than the rest of you but eventually received a letter saying that I was approved to join the teaching service.

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Appointed as Science teacher to Wagga Wagga HS in March 1965. That didn’t last long! Transferred at Easter to Doonside HS to teach Science and Mathematics. Taught PE as well but mainly Mathematics.

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Married Susann 17/01/70. Happy wife, happy life!

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Transferred to Singleton HS as a Mathematics teacher, starting at the beginning of 1970.

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Completed Bachelor of Arts in the School of Mathematics and Physics in Macquarie University, having started at UNE in my second year at Wagga Wagga.

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Children, Sarah 1973, Garth 1977 and Andrew 1980 born while living at Reedy Creek.

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Enrolled in the Masters Degree programme in the University of Newcastle in 1984.

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Taught at Singleton until the end of 1985 when I was appointed Head Teacher Mathematics at Wallsend HS.

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Completed Master of Educational Studies in 1988.

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Transferred to Singleton HS as Mathematics Head Teacher, starting at the beginning of 1990.

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Grandchildren started to appear in this time: Olivia 2000, Sophie 2004, Hamish 2006, Elodie

2006, Nesha 2008, Nicolas 2008 and Grace 2011.

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Retired from teaching 19/09/2005. 40 years, 6 months and 5 days the Department letter said!

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I have led a very rewarding life in Singleton:

I joined the Rural Fire Service in May 1971, hold the rank of Group Officer and received the National Medal for Service in 2010.

There has been a long running interest in Rugby as a player, coach and administrator.

Rural interests include serving on the Northern Agricultural Association Committee.

I joined Rotary in 1990, am a past president and Paul Harris Fellow and am currently serving as the District Secretary.

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We had a Hereford cattle operation while at Reedy Creek but downsized and bought a property at Bulga where we still have cattle and a small vineyard growing muscat grapes.

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Fighting mine encroachment and noise and dust impacts on our village now consume much time. We never thought about being environmental activists at this stage of our life.

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Susann and I recognise how comfortable and lucky our life has been thus far – we really appreciate our lot and are grateful for our health, family and achievements.

JAN and JIM SMART

Yep, Jan Ferguson and Jim Smart were an item at college - they whizzed! (Ask Jan about the mixed common room incident!!)
Jan began her teaching at Yerong Creek (her home town 45 km from Wagga.) Jim started out at Cathcart, 20 minutes out of Bombala. Cathcart and Yerong Creek were about 400 km apart.
They married on 23 Dec 1967 and moved to Talbingo. From there they found their way to Canada (Buckhorn Elementary! - but that's another story).
Later the Smarts did a stint at Penang. Jim finished his career at Sanctuary Point as AP and the family lived in Bomaderry/Nowra. Jim was regarded as a premier fisherman and certainly caught the fish to go with the reputation.
Jim passed away on 19 October 2011, just 10 days after he reached 66.
Jan has now relocated to the Arbour in Berry on the south coast. It recently won the top "retirement place". [And it is very nice there.] Jan's still into gym work and of course craft. Her three daughters are in Townsville, Seattle and the NSW South Coast. Jan is eagerly awaiting grandkid #6, already overdue! Jan still has links with Nowra and visiting the three daughters and their families keeps her busy.
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Oh, the mystery lady's initials were GZ and are now GB. (That's a giveaway!)

BILL FROST

Bill Frost once landed a JetRanger chopper at Nev Pollard's small school at Yarras Mill inland a bit from Wauchope in about Nov 1972. He was doing a ferry trip from New Guinea to Sydney and talked to Nev's kids then took Nev up for a ride.

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 [From Bill:]         Visited Talbingo in either late 67 or early 68 by car while on a shooting trip. Luke Livissianos (Turvey Park Dem) was Headmaster to Jim Smart and I talked to the assembled kids on how a chopper stayed in the air. Self and a mate stayed in Jim's Talbingo house for about five days in Aug 68 school hols while Jim / Jan were away and I was about to depart for SVN. I got back from SVN just as Jim was about to leave for Canada in Sep 69 and I was able to take the family for lunch at Rose Bay. All back in the days when I was on the move all the time. Now I'm very content to watch the change of Seasons  and observe the trees grow.

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Bill lives near Tumut - which is where Bob Bennetts and Dave Ross (WWTC 1962-63) came from and also Jim Smart.  

MYSTERY LADY

This lady attended WWTC in 1963-64. She lived in Kambu dormitory. She was not born in this country. She currently doesn't live in NSW. She has worked in education for longer than many of the ex-students.

WHO IS SHE? 

She will be at the reunion in Canberra!!!

SUE (UPTON) KING - MANY FACES!!

My two years at WWTC were great. “Growing up’ without mum and dad hanging over my shoulder for 2 years was a real bonus! But most importantly, friendships were made that are still strong today.

I only taught for 5 years here in Canberra at North Ainslie Primary as I married Gerd King in 1969. My years studying German certainly paid dividends, as shortly after marrying, we lived in his hometown in Germany in the Black Forest for about 18 months.

As Gerd was a letterpress compositor, we decided on our return to Australia in 1971 to start our own printing business, which (we are very proud to say) we are still working in together! Retirement is somewhere in the not too distant future ………….

Our 2 children, Martin Wendelin 41 and Elizabeth Anna 33, decided that Canberra is the place for their families to live. As grandparents living here, we couldn’t be happier. One grandson and 2 granddaughters certainly keep us both on our toes.

Gerd and I are keen racehorse owners and race goers. About 10 years ago, I started a club in Canberra called Women in Racing, which now has close to 200 members who love the racing scene. Until recently, I was a board member of the Canberra Racing Club, Diabetes ACT and the ACT Bookmakers’ Licensing Committee. Family and other interests now take up all my spare time.

Gerd and I used to ski, but this sport has been shelved permanently as our knees are not as good as they were. Going to the races is a very pleasant and non-strenuous alternate way to spend our leisure time together and with friends.

Life is good.

Editor: We, ex-students from WWTC, are most fortunate to have such an energetic, focused chairperson of our Reunion Planning Committee. We're sure gonna have a beaut time in Canberra at the end of October. Thanks Sue.