FORSTER REUNION

It was a wild bunch that gathered at Forster at the end of Feb and into March this year - 2017. At least they regarded themselves as a "wild bunch". Of course over the years the edge has been rubbed off and they're now a fairly docile lot. At least that's what Terry Dwyer told me to write!!!

Fay Keast (1963-64), Dave Otterman (ring-in), Barb (Campbell) Otterman and Marg (Stuckey) Crofts. The Ottermans had come from Perth for the event.

Heather and Terry Dwyer along with Mick McGrath and his wife Robyn were the movers and shakers for the reunion. Forster is certainly a great spot for such a gathering. Ray Petts is the shorter guy in the 2nd photograph.

 Garry and Margaret Towle. Garry (in blue shirt) was a Church of Christ pastor when Fay and I lived in Orange. In the bottom photo, Garry Craig and his wife Kay  were enjoying the gathering. Garry was one of the best tennis players in the 1961-62 period. The two Garrys roomed together in Marinya dorm - the same dorm I was in during 1962.

 Gordon and Di Nolan were in Cooma at some stage - maybe just before Fay and I spent 13 years there (1986-98). His knickname was PeeWee.

 Murray Norman and wife Kay along with Noel Miller.

Fred Gollash and his wife Inta. Inta (Grass) was on my table back in 1962. Probably I was on her table if the truth be told. Hadn't seen them for some decades.

SOME YEARS AGO?

 Dino with Fay

 Mick Bryant (blue shirt), Jim Smart (right)...

 Fay (Bailey) & Grahame Keast

 Kambu girls: Julie, Barb, [Grahame], Di and Fay

 Lorraine, Barb, Grahame, Di

Kambu 63-64: Di, Lorraine, Fay, Jan, Dale

 Marion, Grahame

 ????, Warwick, Barb and Barry Robbo

Marg, Grahame, ???? - Barb and Julie in front

LIFE IS LIKE A PENDULUM

Life is like a pendulum, tilting to and fro,

Marking out the limits of your daily ebb and flow.

When you’re young, life’s path is easy; you can fly, swift like an arrow,

But as the years progress the track gets rocky, steep and narrow.

Life is like a pendulum, it never stops to rest.

You forge ahead at work; perhaps a partner warms your nest.

And if some children come along you’re really on the run.

Mixing family, work and social life is not so easily done.

Life is like a pendulum, relentless as a clock,

It keeps you moving forward, always thinking, taking stock.

It’s good to be on top of things, heading for a win.

But if you slip, then crash and burn, just take it on the chin.

Life is like a pendulum, swaying left and right,

Tempering misfortune with excitement and delight.

On the one side: disappointment, despondency and grief,

But on the other: satisfaction, enjoyment and relief.

Life is like a pendulum, wavering in scope,

If tragedy should strike you down, stay calm... don’t give up hope.

The mechanism’s finely tuned; a balance will be struck.

When life gets tough, keep moving on; hard work will bring good luck.

Life is like a pendulum, unceasing, never slack.

A time machine might change your history. If you travelled back

You could choose your words more carefully, make wrong choices right,

Apologise; forgive someone; rise to greater height.

But life is like a pendulum, its beat you can’t resist,

And time machines are fantasy; they simply don’t exist.

Your actions in the future will be all that you can change,

So you must concentrate your focus on those things within your range.

Life is like a pendulum, back and forth it goes.

It comes to rest one day of course, but when? One never knows.

Stay even tempered, and support your friends in all you say and do,

Then life, just like a pendulum, will swing in time with you.   

By Rob Hughes   © 2014

WARBURTON, VIC

 Forty ex WWTC students - all aged pretty close to 70 - gathered in Warburton, Vic. We partied, toured, cycled, golfed, drank, sampled wine, punted and of course ate! Somebody's gotta do it!

 Alove is Bernie and Janice Fitzpatrick from Wollongong. Below is Graeme & Suzi O'Brien and Helen Smith.

 Checking out the Yarra Ranges National Park - Grahame and Fay Keast and Beth and Barry Robertson.

 The Chandon winery was a great place to check out. A few of us like bubbles!

Thanks Col Doherty and Julie for looking after us and ensuring we have a beaut experience at The Alpine Retreat Hotel. Thanks Marion and Sue for your planning. Thanks to all for coming and making it a ton of fun.

KENTHURST BONFIRE IN JULY

 I think it's safe to say - YOU HAD TO BE THERE!!
Marion (Smith) GIDDY driving with Sue (Upton) KING getting a free ride. [Shaking one's head - and they are mature adults?]

 Of course it wouldn't be the same without input from the college "cleaners" - Ethel and Mavis.

 Bernie and Janice (Kerin) FITZPATRICK were commended for their coming intrepid bike ride in South Aust to raise money for the Royal Flying Doctor. Not for the faint-hearted!

 Rob HUGHES (our resident poet) entertained us again with his latest poems.

 Dino and Nola FORSYTHE congratulate "Sir David" GILES on winning the highly prized inaugural BOCCE competition.  Judy James was the runner-up.

 Graham WRIGHT, his wife Janet and Keith LAMBERT always have a good yarn together.

 Neil TRIBE, Bernie and Judy (Wilson) JAMES at the bonfire site.

 Sue explains things to Robyn (Whitely) WILLIAMS.

 Janice and Marion. Catching up on what's been happening and what's on the horizon.

 Doug, Leonie and Lucy solve the problems of the world. (Lucie normally looks much happier!)

 David BAKER and Anne McKIBBIN (Tom's wife.)

 Without Van and GOB, Dino stepped up to the plate...I mean fire.

Tom McKIBBIN yarns with Fay (Bailey) KEAST. Yes, it was jacket weather around the fire, but the weather during the day was superb.
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Sue and Gerd did a great job feeding the masses on Saturday lunchtime. Thanks guys. Marion's pad at Kenthurst was as always a great place for us to hang out and catch up with one another. There were 5 caravans of varying descriptions and sizes. Some of the blokes (and maybe girls) also did some yard work  prior to the fun and frolicking. Thank you to all.
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Present: Marion, Sue and Gerd, Judy James, Neil Tribe, Keith and Wendy Lambert, Rob and Julianne Hughes, Tom and Anne McKibbin, Grahame and Fay Keast, Dino and Nola Forsythe, Dave and Leonie Baker. Doug and Lucie Walker, Bernie and Janice Fitzpatrick, Helen Smith, Robyn Wheeler, Gerard Say, Robert and Colleen Cureton, Graham and Janet Wright, David and Lyn Giles.

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.