Reunion 2007 Part 1

55 years later, the Class of 1952/53 came back! Wherever in the world we were, however our lives and names had changed, the ghost of Miss Acason — woooooooo! — called us over the years. Via this website we made contact, sent photographs and recollections, and we were ready for our 55-year reunion on March 10, 2007.

We each added a 500-800 word self-penned biography plus one 21st century portrait to nearly all of the pupil pages listed on the left hand column.

This site hit the web on 14 July 2006. Within a mere three weeks we'd had over 450 hits. We passed 1000 hits on October 9. Thanks to the site, direct contact has been made with 27 of the original class of 35. We've heard of the sad deaths of Peter Edelman, Chris Wood and more recently, Diana Rea and Dorothy Bartholomew. Only 5 classmates remain unaccounted for. Please help us find —
Adrienne Apps   Warren Butler   Andrew Kirk   Bruce Morgan   Gordon Murray
Send information, guesswork, sleuthing suggestions to...

There's a Picture Gallery page. Photographs from 52/53 should be emailed as JPGs to our website...

There's a Reminiscences Page. Please email anecdotes, thoughts, memories to...

OUR REUNION: Saturday 10 March 2007
A Note by Brian

It was a truly unforgettable occasion. Fifty-five years since we first began our Fort Street OC experience in February 1952 we met once again at the school. Remarkably, out of 26 possible attendees, 24 showed up - some traveling far across the seas to be there. Comments were heard such as “I just couldn’t have missed it”, “they were two of the most important years my life”, “the class had a profound influence on me” and “Miss Acason was the nicest teacher I ever had”. Many of us had not seen one another for the entire 54 years since we parted.

We might have changed in appearance but, astonishingly, the school had not – exactly the same redbrick building and grounds with even some of the original furniture still in the classrooms. But the school today has less total pupils than our one ‘52-’53 class. “The Cut”, now full of noisy traffic entering the Bridge, still surrounds the school. The real estate must be worth a fortune today and high-rise buildings overlook it from every direction. Ross has suggested that we should lobby to protect it from development. Remnants of the old Weather Bureau are still next-door. The nearby Fort Street Girls High is now a museum. The Observatory, home to our classmate Chris, is now also a museum, but the glorious park surrounding it is unchanged with ever-larger fig trees providing much shade and natural beauty.

EVENT AT THE SCHOOL
It was fabulous weather for our historic occasion. We gathered at 2pm in the school hall where we greeted one another like long-lost family. It was all so easy – we were still the same personalities who knew each other so very well. The large-print nametags might thus have been redundant except for the several partners who also joined us. An 8-page souvenir brochure was distributed to all and after mingling for a while we sat down in front of the stage that Frank had so theatrically decorated with a life-size photo of our beloved “Aco”, plus blow-ups our one-and-only 1953 class photo, the two fancy-dress parties, some family shots of Miss A and our little choir singers.

Introductions from Janet ensued, followed by a tour of the school building and grounds – incredulous at a room full of desktop computers for today’s student tots. The outside toilets still smelled the same. The only thing new was the large stained glass war memorial window on the main staircase that was installed in 1958. We returned for remarks from Miss Acason’s brother Jim, now 90 years old and in failing health. We were electrified not only by his determined presence but also by the power of his message – how much we students meant to his highly intelligent sister and how proud he was to be here to celebrate her life with us. Some additional remarks were given by Miss A’s niece Lynne Springett, a daughter of her older sister Doreen who was too ill to attend. Then we had some childish fun singing – in strong voices - the old choir songs, and you can click here to download the Reunion Lyrics handout ( Click here to download this file ) Some people even tried a square dance. To further enhance the memories Vegemite and Peck’s Paste sandwiches with old-time sweets were handed out in brown paper bags.

Paul Gaskin informed us that his mother had kept the only surviving document that de-mystifies why we were ever at the school in the first place. A letter to parents dated 2nd October 1951 from the Department of Education states that ”children in Opportunity Classes work with other children of similar high capacity and the activities of the class are not regulated to the speed of learning of children who are naturally slower”. We were invited to attend a two and a half hour test “at the Opportunity Centre” and the results would be “considered along with our previous school record”. We only had to bring “two sharpened pencils”. The classes were “designed to meet the needs of pupils who are unlikely to receive adequate intellectual stimulation in a normal class”. So finally we know.

WALKABOUT AND DINNER
After leaving the school and locking it up (no teachers came) we ambled into Observatory Park and played jacks and marbles, some remembering the rules and how to play or cheat. Then a stroll through the pedestrian tunnel under the bridge roadway to glimpse King George V Playground, where we once dangled from the monkey rings, now occupied by a huge modern gym building. Exhausted and thirsty from so much nostalgia we retreated to the Glenmore pub for a few beers and much reminiscing. Finally, a short walk right under the bridge to the Harbour View restaurant for our reunion dinner, joined by several more partners. An evening of much hilarity naturally ensued with impromptu speeches and interjections by all. We are all grateful to our several anonymous classmate benefactors who generously underwrote about half the costs of the reunion and dinner. We also thank our so-called Reunion Committee who worked together for many months to make it all happen.

POST-REUNION PICNIC
Next day, Sunday 11th, about a dozen or so classmates and partners gathered for a bring-your-own picnic lunch under the shade trees near the Balmoral Beach Rotunda. Spectacular weather added to the opportunity to relax and chat with each other at the site of many sunburnt childhood days spent at this still-idyllic and peaceful suburban beach. John Pym even brought his marvelous mother from Springwood. Some swam in the clear waters, others walked along the promenade. We shared many memories and exchanged views and opinions on everything. All in all a very special post-reunion experience.

PHOTOGRAPHS
Guy has posted a huge number (183!) of wonderful photographs taken by himself and others on a Picasa website <>picasaweb.google.com/photoguy340> Also available for download on Guy's site (and from our Picture Gallery page) is the Gaskins' 1951 letter.

BROCHURE
You can read (or download) a pdf of the 8-page souvenir brochure by clicking here ( Click here to download this file )

BIOS
Jan and Brian have prepared this pdf of the combined biographic notes supplied by classmates and currently online. Now you can download them and read them at your leisure by clicking here ( Click here to download this file )

WHAT NEXT?
You are invited to submit any thoughts or reminiscences about the reunion to  to be included on our new REUNION DAY page. This special website will remain active for at least another 12 months. Whether or not we ever hold another reunion we are assured of renewed friendships and unending bonds with each other. Special thanks and love to Valerie who got it all started but was unable to attend from the UK.


HERE'S JANET'S WONDERFUL PHOTO MONTAGE OF OUR CLASS IN THE 21st CENTURY