Posted 1st July 2001
--------1963 Foundation student
---------------------Remembers those early days at
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Westfields High School
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Dear old Westfields High School.....Yes, I was one of those 300 foundation
students, from back in 1963. She was brand new then...(I feel like old Rose Dawson in the beginning
of the movie Titanic !...)I remember Denis Evans I think he was the school captain back then....
and I remember William Devenish too, doing so well in the swimming.
I recall Mr Quinlan the school Principal explaining to us the meaning of Fortitudo... he said it
meant "stug" spelled backwards (in those days you wouldn't use the word "guts" which was the real
meaning.
We were a pretty colourful bunch... Fairfield was the migrant centre of Sydney, we hailed from mostly Europe.... we were the
"ten dollar tourists", migrants who came out here on assisted passages. Needless to say there was
the occasional difference of opinion amongst us. Mr Quinlans cure for this was to put the boxing
gloves on and work it out that way. That happened once to me... I was just about the smallest kid
in the school and I copped a beating...(but I did get a few jabs in before the fight was over.)
Another time I recall that we had a new school song(all I can recall was "Westfield school of
friendly learning, guide us gently up life's hill....teach us all to have discerning...dreams
and hopes we might fulfill..." ) One day we all had to sing it but we were not too keen so we
stood at assembly from recess to nearly lunch time we were drilled but we weren't able to sing
it, I guess we were'nt too gifted with song at that time.... (although a well known singer did
walk the hallowed halls back then, he was going to be a boilermaker if I can recall, but
instead he became John Paul Young...our own Yesterdays Hero.)
I remember my teachers... Miss Miller(science), MrJohnson(maths), Mrs Dwyer(English),
Mr Guthrie(woodwork), Mr Stas(metalwork), Mr Brown(deputy...he could wield a pretty mean cane I
recall)...They were good old days, and I am proud at seeing the growth of my old school. It used
to be waaaaay out in the sticks...people wondered why they built it so far out !!
Anyway I stumbled across you on the net so I thought I would ask you whether any of the original
bunch are in contact with the school, I guess it would be good to hear how they might be after
all this time. So if there is then kindly let me know...thanks.
There are lots of things that come up when you start to think back....I can remember Gough and
Margaret Whitlam coming to open the school...a while before he made PM. Then there was the time
in 1964 when the entire block burned to the ground and we had to have some classes under the
trees and in the gymnasium come auditorium... yes those were the days....and who am I?
My name is Ken Long and when I left school in 1966 (I wasn't one of the academics) I became
an apprentice bricklayer with my father (who incidentally worked on the construction of the
school in 1962)...I later moved with my family to the Central Coast...I married a Sydney girl to
whom I am still married and we had 2 boys now both grown up. I became a builder and later we
moved to Bellingen in search of the "alternative lifestyle". After that we lived and sailed on
our own yacht for 4 years, before "swallowing the anchor" at Mooloolaba.
Life has many turns and with every turn, new opportunities, and it is worth taking these
opportunities whenever they appear...I guess that requires Fortitudo. Anyway, I am now the
owner of a small rainforest resort in the Sunshine Coast of Queensland and I am a Shiatsu
therapist to ten other resorts in the hinterland.......its a hell of a long way from bricklaying.
I didnt mean to write this letter I only wanted some info...but you are the unfortunate
person who has recieved this email so I hope you now know a little bit more about our school.
Always be proud of it, it is your foundation and a person who doesn't have a good attitude to
there foundation must be standing on sand....Thanks for your time...
Ken Long.
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P.S. Ken would be happy to hear from any of his old school mates, he can be contacted by
Email.
Posted 15th October 2001
An Invitation To Students of 1971 - 1973
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I attended Westfield High from 1971-1973 and I was known as Sheila McLean, I
am now living in Brisbane and would like to chat to anyone else who attended
during that period. Could you please post a note on your website to help me
get in contact with past students. I can be contacted by Email
or on ICQ. My ICQ number is 35757458. Hope to hear from you soon.
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