The 1956 Matric Reunion
It's now 50 years since our first Matric class at CHS. Previously, to do a Form 6 year, students had to leave CHS at the end of their Leaving year (Form 5) and transfer to another school.
Back row, left to right: John Clark, Robert (Bob) Lord, Graeme Cox, Graeme Galt, John Mercer, Keith Walker, Ken Petrie
2nd back row, left to right: Teacher Jack Foster, Edward Clarke, Peter Chesterman, David Wilson, Brian Blythe, Elemer Sipos, Clive Beed
3rd back row, left to right: Don Seedsman, John Francis, Robert Kaegi, David Chesterman, Neil Twitt, Gerald Robinson, Peter Friend, Ray Yates
3rd front row, left to right: Kevin Quinlan, Robert Jones, Alan Meiers, John Youens, Ross Reading, Anthony (Tony) Giblett, Ray Spark, Brian Firth, Charlie (John) Kirkman, Jonathon Holmes, Geoffrey Sproat
2nd front row, left to right: Norman Head, John Brown, Robyn Curry, Kerrie Price, Patricia Ashley, Lorraine Anderson, Teacher Miss Lynch, Nicola (Nick) Donkin, Lyn Carter, Jennifer de Mole, Tom Shen, Allan Carter
Front row, left to right: Brigitte (Britt) Gatzke, Heather Burden, Beatrice Mason, Diana Whitney, Ann Evans, Ruth Spetts, Margaret Reid, Cedar Sonnenberg, Sigrid Beilharz, Hanna Korman, Judith Eltham
One of those students, Tony Giblett, has done a wonderful job of organising this historic get-together and he even found 5 teachers. Well done!
On Friday, May 19th, they all came to the school for a morning tea and welcome.
Hanna Mrocki (Korman), Peter Chesterman, Tony Giblett
Robin Brougham (Curry), Cedar Prest (Sonnenberg), Bob Lord, Brian Blythe
Wilbur Keene and John Foster (both 1956 teachers)
Allan Carter and Alan Sipos
Don Seedsman and David Wilson
Nick Williams (Donkin), Peter Chesterman, Cedar Prest (Sonnenberg)
Sigrid Weller (Beilharz), Geoff Sproat, John Holloway (1956 teacher)
Bob Lord, Allan Meiers, Brian Krahnert (1956 teacher), Norman Head
Tricia Phillips (Ashley), John Brown, Graeme Galt, Neil Twitt, Don Seedsman
Tony Giblett addressed the gathering and introduced the current Principal, Elida Brereton, who talked about the new facilities and the school's curriculum and student achievements.
Elida even did a roll call and you could hear "Present!" after each name. Plus the odd hand shot up!
Tony Giblett at the rostrum
Elida Brereton's address
Tony announced that those attending had given donations to the school, to use at their discretion, which totalled around $1500.
Nick Williams also spoke of her time in this first Matric and how she was inspired to do chemistry, which became her vocation.
Bernard Corser, the President of CHESS, mentioned the main objectives of the past students' society.
After a tour of the new Performing Arts building, everyone gathered on the front steps for a photo shoot and then adjourned to the new library for a light lunch.
The photographer, Dennis Spielvogel, organised the first group photo with students standing where they were originally, leaving spaces for the ones who were no longer with us or couldn't attend. And also John Foster, the teacher in the original photo, took his place!
Below is a photo of the entire group (present) plus five teachers, standing at the front.
Later that night, a reunion dinner at the Wattle Park Chalet was held and a spit roast was held at the school on the following day.
©CHESS 2001