HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT IND 184 SEPTEMBER 2025 | Page 11

LOCAL LIFE

A warm welcome for Wyndham pioneers

by Greg Martin

Could you imagine the organisation which Richmond High School staff underwent on the opening day of the new school year back in 1962?

School numbers were boosted by 416

The world is your oyster! Marilyn Byrnes, another Richmond High’ s Wyndham Scheme pioneers, won an around the world trip after being anointed Sydney’ s Miss Waratah Princess in 1968. new arrivals – the students who would go into eight Year 7 classes.

And Richmond High wouldn’ t have been Robinson Crusoe as all high schools in the state were undergoing the same experience.

The school, which opened in 1955, catering for Years 7-8, was experiencing its first day under the new Wyndham Scheme.

Of those 416 inductees only around 20 or so members of the classes of’ 62 will be on hand to reminisce about that auspicious occasion in their lives in attending a reunion at their old alma mater on Wednesday, September 24.

“ It is envisaged guests will be given a guided tour of the school, enjoy a morning tea and meet the principal, Hayley Macdonald, and the school captains,” said Paul Wayling, one of the organisers.

“ Our‘ 62 classmates are spread far and wide but those we have been able to contact have jumped at the chance to meet up with their old school friends.”

The classes of’ 62 were a mini League of Nations with

a number of newcomers to this country amongst the Year 7 intake – students from the British Isles, The Netherlands,

Germany, Canada, Belgium, Yugoslavia, Poland and the Baltic States.

The youngsters gathered to the fray from all over the region – many making long treks to school from as far away as Wisemans Ferry and Mt Tomah.

Also contributing to the Year 7 intake were the children of RAAF Richmond personnel and of the families marking time at Scheyville Migrant Hostel for their integration into Australian society.

“ Two of our schoolmates went on to become Hawkesbury City Mayors, the late Dr Rex Stubbs and current mayor, Les Sheather,” Paul said.

“ Others went into the nursing profession, three served in the Vietnam War and Marilyn Byrnes, a real beauty, was the Hawkesbury Showgirl and later that year won an overseas holiday after being anointed Sydney’ s 1968 Miss Waratah Princess.

“ And one of our schoolteachers that year, Grigor Taylor, fresh out of teachers college, became a well-known actor, appearing in several movies including Mad Max 2, and in numerous TV series.”

The Wyndham Scheme was a significant reform of the New South Wales secondary education system.

Wyndham introduced a six-year secondary school structure, replacing the previous five-year system and abolishing the Intermediate Certificate and replacing the Year 5 Leaving Certificate with the Year 6 Higher School Certificate.

The scheme aimed to provide a more comprehensive and inclusive education,

Current Hawkesbury City Mayor, Les Sheather, is among a host of successful students who were Wyndham Scheme pioneers at Richmond High.

emphasising broader subject choices and opportunities for all students.

Those Year 7 Richmond High students back in 1962 would be the first group of students across the state to take the first of six yearly steps in progressing to sitting for the HSC exams.

Sure, there was movement at the station when the word had got around about the colt from Old Regret doing a runner – but that was nothing compared to day one, term one at all high schools across the state in’ 62.

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