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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