Pro Tanto Quid Retribuemis
Robyn McKinnon( nee Williams) gave a toast to the school and the ex- students. She told those assembled that attending HWMHS was her good fortune as she had previously been at a one teacher school. The best thing about a bigger school was“ they had sport " and Robyn remembered travelling to Griffith“ on the back of a truck”. No OH & S in those days.
“ For so much, what shall we repay”.
Hay War Memorial High School opened on ANZAC Day 1923. According a 1926 clipping from the Riverine Grazier, Governal General Lord Stonehaven said the school was,“ The finest war memorial in the empire”. Ninety years later, the Ex Students Association members agree that this still holds true.
Former students celebrated the 90th anniversary of the school on ANZAC Day 2013 with a dinner at the Spirit of ANZAC building. Old class mates had the chance to catch up on each others news and reminisce about‘ the good times’ at HWHS.
Boards depicting photos and news stories from the schools past were a major attraction and started many stories of shared experiences. Photo’ s of the old punishment book caused much laughter as naughty students remembered a time when corporal punishment was the biggest deterrent to‘ playing up’.
Ralph Proctor( 98 years old) and Nerida Reid cut the cake. Boomerang decorations around the table and stage hold special meaning for many former students. When students completed their Intermediate Cert in 3rd year( year 9), they were presented with a badge in the shape of a boomerang. Boomerangs come back and the sentiment was that students would hopefully return to Hay and the school.
Fifth year students were presented with a horseshoe badge, for good luck.
Sue Smith( nee Sheldrick), Publicity Officer for the Ex- Students Association, felt honoured to be asked to say Grace. She told those assembled that Hay War Memorial High School is a life long, rewarding experience. Attending the school between 1959 and 1963, Sue’ s family had a long history in the area; her grandparents moved to Hay in the late 1800s.
Former Riverina Hostel girls Beryl Hobbs( nee Hancock) and Colleen Schiller( nee Dean) caught up with David Elliot, the 1949 School Captain. Colleen and Beryl“ are like sisters” after spending many years living and going to school together.
Friday 13th September, 2013 Investiture school Captains & Vice Captains. HWMHS Captains of 50 years ago at the ceremony.
School Colours: Purple for remembrance, Brown for the earth and Yellow the sun.
Contacts for Ex-students Association: Nerida Reid: 6993 2176 Geoff Tuckett: 6953 3716 Pat Cox: 6962 9716
Laura Jones is a PHD student, from Monash University, in Hay doing research for a project on ANZAC celebrations in Regional Australia. She gave a talk on her research and shared a slide show of photo’ s from the history of Hay and the men and women who went to war.“ We remember the dead, but forget the returning maimed and damaged. They are not counted as war dead although many died as a result of war ", said Laura. She concluded her talk by saying that ANZAC Day is a time to remember all who suffered due to war, and Hay has made a tremendous effort to remember all their ANZACS.
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