Forward July 2014 | Page 9

SENIOR SCHOOL History really does repeat: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the Forward magazine and to celebrate the occasion, we look back to the very first edition, which was written in May 1964. Forward turns 50 The first edition of the Forward magazine marked the 50th anniversary of the consecration of the School Chapel and was therefore celebrating the foundation of the School as well as a recently published book entitled “Guildford Chapel”. That year the School welcomed a new modern clock and bell after the departure of Mr McIntyre, the first Housemaster of Harper House, who was known for having incredible accuracy in tolling the School Bell. The Parents and Friends Society of the School was nearing its 10 year anniversary and was well respected for its efforts in acquiring extra amenities for the students, specialised teaching aids, a cricket scoreboard and a hull for the School speedboat! In that year, there was a headline story highlighting that the School was going to sponsor and host two dinners for the year. This makes for an interesting comparison when we consider how many functions the School hosts each year now! The new St George’s House building was opened by the Rt. Rev’d Bishop R E Freeth on May 14. This building later became what is now known as the Senior Boarding House. Sport was similarly a serious business amongst students and the School, with the events calendar dominated by football, hockey and rugby fixtures, and nothing else. The School was experiencing constant growth, much like it is now, and because of this, new sporting facilities were being introduced. Roberts Oval had previously been referred to as “the New Field” and experienced a large volume of sport, so an area on the lower flats, next to where Pexton Oval is now, was being used. However, it was noted that in the winter this field became more suitable for swimming than for rugby. The 50 metre swimming pool and the gymnasium had been introduced and were helping to establish Guildford Grammar School as the leading swimming, lifesaving and gymnastic school in the state. The year the magazine was released, the School had come a close second in the interschool swimming competition, the Darlot Cricket Cup and the interschool rugby competition. The first edition of the Forward magazine is a timely reminder of the history, progress and development of the School and reminds us of what the school has experienced and what it is re-experiencing today. Some common threads include Chapel celebrations, with the 50 year celebrations in 1964 and the 100 year celebration this year; sporting ground developments in 1964 and new classroom developments in 2014; the release of the book “Guildford Chapel” in 1964 and the release of our new Chapel history “A Goodly Heritage” this year. The School has celebrated many achievements in its history and the first edition of the Forward magazine is a reminder that we will continue to experience many more in the future. 9