Ivanhoe Primary School Memories 1970s - 2004
This article continues from the article "Ivanhoe Primary School Memories", a collection of reminiscences from past students collected by Louise Ryan.
Extracts from the Supplement to Slab Hut to Red Brick: the history of Ivanhoe Primary School (2004) compiled by Theresa Casteltevetere, Dianne Fox and Louise Ryan, including recollections of former students & staff.
Contents |
[edit] Roula Dres: 1973-1977
I was a student at IPS in the 70's and commenced in Grade 2 in 1973 after my family moved form Abbotsford to Ivanhoe. IPS has always been a presence in my life as long as 1 can remember. We lived in Livingstone Street and our backyard overlooked the school oval at Tate Street, from our kitchen window we could see and hear children playing and the school bell ringing long after I stopped attending the school. The streets surrounding the school were different then, there was less traffic flow and had more of a suburban feel. The Ivanhoe shopping plaza did not exist and there were lovely English Tudor style homes instead and traffic never came into Livingstone Street but went up into Oriel Road. There were no pedestrian lights at Waterdale Road entrance to the school and cars could drive all around the school perimeter as Tate Street was not closed to traffic. The army barracks were also at Tate Street. It was a safer time with parents allowing their children to walk to and from school unaccompanied and hardly anyone was driven to school - the traffic that exists now at each end of the school day was non-existent.
Mr Wade was the principal of the school, a kind and gentle man who would walk around the school whistling in his three piece suit and his fob watch chain hanging from his suit vest all year round despite the weather conditions. When he entered our classroom we would all jump and stand to attention in his presence. I also remember him as the ‘stationery master’ if we needed a new pencil or sharpener we would present at his office hand over the money and he would go into a small room off his office and go into a cupboard packed with stationery items and hand over the required item. It was also the days of ‘capital punishment’ and Mr Wade was in charge of 'the strap/ruler' and there were many occasions where unruly boys in my class would be punished this way, although I cannot recall the offences that were perpetrated.
We would have assembly once a week and sing the national anthem – ‘God Save Our Queen’ while the flag was raised, I was also in the school marching band and played the drums during this ceremony but cannot recall anyone ever marching in time with the band. The school operated on the ‘House System’ where all grade levels were divided into four groups, there was Red House, Blue House, Green House and Gold House, these groups all competed against each other throughout the year in various sporting and musical events. I was in Blue House which always came last in all the events.
I can still remember my first day at school clutching my mother’s hand and holding onto dear life with terror as I could hear cries and blood curdling screams form the nearby prep classrooms as the preps were being dropped off at the door by their mums. It was way before the days of Prep Transition Programs were ever thought of. The 70's classroom was a different world from what we have now. It was a time where we all sat in twos in the old wooden desks (with the flip top lids) that faced the front of the classroom looking at the blackboard while the teacher gave us lectures of the three Rs. There were no computers, no white boards, no liquid paper and no calculators allowed. The day was started with a roll call where the correct response was ‘present’. If we misbehaved discipline included the golden classic ‘go-stand -in-the-comer-with-your-hands-on- your-head -facing -the-wall’ which never worked as a strategy because the offences were always repeated.
Uniforms were not compulsory which should have been mandatory in the 70's where horrific fashion felonies were committed by both staff and students. I remember my Grade 5 teacher Mr Taylor wearing a stripped open necked shirt tucked into his shorts with long white knee-hi socks and open toe sandals topped off with his signature Nana Mouskouri-style glasses. Looking back at old school photos I can see fellow students wearing flares, Abba T -shirts, Miller shirts, surfie beads, treads, knee-hi stripy socks and Sherbet-style mullet hair-dos. Only one or two students would wear the official school uniform as it is today and I always thought they were ‘the brains’ of the class.
The school’s physical layout had changed since my days there. The current photocopier room used to be the Principal’s Office and administration staff, the staff room was my Grade 2 classroom, the library was downstairs in the current prep rooms. All the grade rooms were housed in the main building and there were hardly any portables around except for one near after care, which was the art room. The projector room was in the current art room where we would go weekly to view documentaries on the old 8mm film but most of the session was spent watching our teachers battling with the projector trying to thread the film through the reels which was far more entertaining and educational than the actual film. The toilets were a huge red brick block in the middle of the schoolyard with the drinking fountains on the perimeter. The canteen or "tuck shop" as it was called in those days still remains in the existing area with the same menu, I can still remember when you could purchase 2 cents worth of mixed lollies and get a paper bag brimming with sweets.
I remember playtime at recess and lunchtimes, where elastics, jacks, chasey , bat tennis, stocking ball, chasey and swapping Holly Hobbie cards were all the rage. I can also remember the Adventure Playground - a perilous piece of playground equipment with a slide and ladder contraption, that stood (it seemed like) over 10feet high with no side protection barriers, how students didn't plunge to their death from that thing is beyond my comprehension - but the injuries sustained if you fell off it were broken legs, fracture arms, sprains and concussions. It was the days before play equipment safety standards as well as no 'sun smart' campaign.
Miss Wilson was by far my favourite teacher who I had in Grade 2 She was very helpful and kind to me being new at the school and not knowing anyone. At the time I thought she was in her 80's but thinking back I'm sure she was in her early 40's if that, she wore her hair like Margaret Thatcher and wore checked /plaid skirts from Fletcher Jones and was very English in her manner. She also wore a calliper on her leg and may have had polio as a child, as she walked with a limp. Miss Wilson was the only teacher that refused to appear in our school photo so I have no picture of her which is sad since she was wonderful to me. Another highlight of my Grade 2 year was being a milk monitor. Bottles of milk were given to each child to be consumed at the school premises, I loved stabbing the knitting needle into the foil tops of the milk bottles and them putting a straw in each hole, we then had to carry the crate of empty bottles to the milk shed which still stands in its renovated seat from at the Ailsa Street entrance. I also enjoyed being the duster monitor and banging the duster with the ruler which raised a dust storm.
Other teacher I remember include Mrs McDougal (I think that was her name) my Grade 4 teacher who lived on a farm and loved horses, she organized an excursion for all the Grade 4s to her property and we all went yabbing at her dam. When her favourite horse died she still turned up to class and kept breaking down stricken with grief over her loss, which traumatized me. I also had Mrs King in Grade 6 who was also very nice.
Its amazing to think that 30 years have passed since then and its celebrating 150 years. My daughter Georgia now attends IPS and will be in Grade 1, on her first day at school all my first day memories came flooding back and I was terrified as I held Georgia's hand and walked her into Miss Mascara's classroom but they have Prep transition programs now which is great and I didn't hear a whimper from anyone. As I sat in what used to be my Grade 2 classroom for the ‘Classroom Helpers Course’ I felt like I'd come full circle back to where it all started in Miss Wilson’s class. Although the school has changed throughout the years and now is bigger with better recourses and technology the spirit of the school remains unchanged for the better and reflects its motto - Loyal and True.
[edit] Notes On Principals 1975-2004.
Carol Haycroft was asked to help interpret some staffing documents supplied by the Education Department for the school history.
‘I commenced my appointment at IPS on promotion in 1983 as Miss Carol Considine. My appointment was Classroom Teacher Band 2 – ‘Assistant With Responsibility’. The Principal at this time was Miss Kathleen Wilson, whom I believe was appointed in 1978 as Principal. I taught Grade 4 in 1983 and was married in April of that year. Many of the children I taught and their families attended my wedding.’
Principals / Assistant Principals from 1975-2004.
1975 1976Robert Wade PP1 (Permanent Principal 1) Kathleen Wilson PST (Permanent Senior Teacher) [infant mistress / se ditto cond in charge] 1977 ditto 1978 Robert Wade retired at 65 years, ceasing duty 14/2/78 Kathleen Wilson PSP 1979Eunice Craythorn PST [deputy principal] ditto 1980 Kathleen Wilson PP1. 1981Eunice Craythorn PST ditto 1982 Kathleen Wilson PP1 1983 1984 1985(uncertain of Deputy, either Pauline Bazley, Ian Boyle or Joan EdwardKathleen Wilson retired 27/6/83 Lyn Morrell PT3 appointed as Deputy but was on family leave. Edwards was offered the Acting Deputy Principalship in Lyn Morrell’as next qualified, Mrs Carol Haycroft took up this Acting D/P position Noel Shaw appointed Principal June 1983. Noel Shaw (Principal) Carol Haycroft (D/P Acting) ditto s) So, in seniority, Joan s place, but declined, so (PT3).
During this year Mr Shaw was unwell and often absent (sick leave), extended leave was taken from July. This resulted in the appointment of a State-Wide Relieving Principal – Mr Laurie Potter – very briefly, then Mr William Callaghan, also a State-Wide Relieving Principal. Mr Callaghan himself fell ill, with appendicitis and peritonitis, and was obliged to take sick leave until the end of 1985 (beginning approximately 1/10/85). Therefore, the then Acting Deputy Principal, Mrs Carol Haycroft (‘also teaching a Grade 4 at this time and, incidentally, nearly 6 months pregnant!’) was asked by Northern Metropolitan Regional Director of Education to take on the role of Acting Principal for approximately 8 weeks in the final school term of 1985. ‘A relieving teacher was engaged to cover some / most of my classes – Mr Neil Montford. We managed brilliantly together, thanks to a great staff, great kids, great office lady and lots of good luck!!’
1986 Noel Shaw (still officially principal – on extended sick leave)
Acting Deputy principal (Carol Haycroft) took extended Family Leave.
Mrs Lynette Cole appointed to the school (PT3) and took up position as Acting Principal
‘Not sure who took up Acting D/P in my place at that point – I think Lyn Morrell was still on leave. Possibly, the then school librarian, Mrs Janice Green (an experienced teacher, at IPS already for 3-4 years did so, until Lyn Morrell’s return.)’ 1987 Principal Mrs Lyn Cole (Acting) (NB Noel Shaw extended leave until he ceased duty (retired) on 20/2/1988) D/P Mrs Lynette Morrell 1988 Principal: L.Cole D/P: L. Morrell 1989 Principal: Mr Bill Hunt D/P: L. Morrell (??) ‘Lyn Morrell moved to Ivanhoe East PS around this period & her husband, Jack Morrell arrived (in her position!!)’ 1990 Principal: Bill Hunt Assistant Principal: Lyn Morrell followed by Jack Morrell followed by Bernadette Gately.
‘Not sure when Bernadette took over from Jack Morrell as Assistant Principal (she had been at IPS as a classroom teacher for 3 or so years, prior to this). However I do think it was at the end of 1995-into 1996, which is when all the positions in the department were ‘spilled’ in certain levels; causing a bit of flack at the time in the teaching service, generally. This period was a very huge ‘change’ period in education in Victorian government schools – Schools of the Future, etc. and autonomous school councils, also in workload and accountability; curriculum etc. etc.’
‘I returned to IPS (from extended family leave) in April of 1996 on a part-time basis, initially doing gifted education (and training) and classroom work, until returning full-time in 2001.’
I REMEMBER…
…fond memories of Reefton Camp and Rhonda Sant. Vicki Bucher (grade 6 1982)
...our footy games and one in particular against St.John’s. We played at the Ivanhoe Primary footy oval and we scored a goal just before the siren to put us into the final. I remember also being a pretty naughty student in grade 3 in particular the last few months of the school year. I was summons to Mr Shaw’s office…and he told me that he was considering suspending me. I came back in grade 4 and for some reason I had changed. I recall his words, ‘George you have turned over a new leaf.’ I recall when I was in my Art class with Mrs Flintoff, we heard that the bus that had students travelling back from Reefton left the road and crashed (Foote St Templestowe). Some students were injured and Matthew Fyfe was in the newspaper the next day.
[edit] Jack Morrell: 1989-2001
School population: (1989) 230 – (2001) 475 After Care building burnt down by student recently enrolled 1987 - Police chased bank robbers across school oval, with guns drawn. Children evacuated school grounds to inside school. After Care building replaced by Mod Library portable. Completion of new Multi Purpose Room. Instigated by Principal, Lyn Cole. 1989-2001 Major changes to school buildings: Caretaker’s residence removed and school able to grow using portables on the land now available. Playground equipment removed from centre of asphalt area to allow double after care portable to be realigned and another portable added. School continued to grow. After care portable purchased and placed at rear of grounds near Tate Street. Working Bee system great success. Each grade level held a working bee each year (seven per year). Attendance of parents, teachers and children was outstanding as each was attended by at least thirty adults and some to as high as sixty adults. Working bees completed regular maintenance and larger projects. These larger projects included construction of three outdoor shelters: Small shelter near Ailsa Grove (organizer Neil Scrawbler) Large shelter near oval ramp (organizer Avis Kristens) Cricket pavilion (organizer Jack Morrell) Rebound wall (organizer Dennis Swan) Worm bins (organizer Steve Hines) Sub-floor storage rooms Reading Room 6 Adventure playgrounds Memories:
Construction of rebound wall delayed as cement trucks sank into the asphalt. Luckily a new basketball court was constructed over the damaged asphalt.
A large flock of pigeons inhabited our school building. Damage was considerable to our school window ledges due to the bird droppings and blocked drains. The then Australian Air Rifle Champion was employed to move them on. On the first night of spotlighting over half the birds were removed. The second night the police arrived with guns drawn. After identifying ourselves we continued. But the pigeons had flown to the front of the building. Jack Morrell (Vice-Principal) climbed onto the exceedingly high school roof in the darkness and chased the birds back to the rear of the school where the task was completed.
On one afternoon working bee, 1-4p.m., in the winter months a father volunteered to cut the grass on the oval. This job took five hours on the ride-on mower. Another parent commented about how dark it was and said that he was worried about David on the mower. A quick reply at the time said, ‘Oh, it is alright the mower has headlights.’
One Canberra tour, a child lit a fire in his motel room and was returned home by plane. The grateful parents removed their three children from the school shortly afterwards.
Correctional Services provided workers to our school for many years. After many tools were damaged, this was curtailed. The ride-on mower was burnt to the ground on the oval and another damaged so much that it was carried into the store without the supervisor’s knowledge.
Other Changes: Additional rooms were created in the third floor which were not used for many years with the installation of an updated fire security system. Office and staff room have moved several times. Overhead fans installed in all rooms. In 1989 the tradition of Grade Six leaving a tribute to the school began: 1989 Painting in Principal’s office 1990 Wall tapestry 1991 Wall ceramic tiles 1992 Wall tapestry 1993 Rose walk at front of school 1994 Silk screens on M.P.R. ceiling 1995 Lead lighting on library windows 1996 Brick paver at front of school 1997 Historical photograph 1998 Graduation Year Book 1999 Silk screen panels 2000 Mosaic wall to music room 2001 Exterior wall tiles 2002 School shield Many years of Grade 5/6 camps to adventure camp, Coonawarra. Fun activities of horse riding, canoeing, climbing and hiking. Canberra tours each alternative year were informative. Especially proud to meet Jenny Macklin, parent at our school, each year. Long tradition of sporting success: eleven out of thirteen softball premierships won by boys’ softball team. I Remmber…
…the day that the old after-school care building / shelter shed burned down. Fortunately it was during class so very few people were outside. We were all excited of course to witness something like that. Then one of the girls thought a budgie might have been in there and this made her be sick which caused a small domino effect, with a messy outcome. A very memorable day.
[edit] Rachel Blackburn (1987-1990)
…when I was playing on the oval on a really wet day with my best friend Katie Murray. I was spinning around singing, ‘the hills are alive with the sound of music!’ I slipped in the mud and was totally covered from head to toe in cold mud. I had to get changed in the toilets into daggy school ‘accident’ clothes. I was really embarrassed!
[edit] Bill Hunt: Principal 1989-2001
Ivanhoe Primary School: Unforgettable Experience at one of Victoria's Oldest Schools
My initial exposure to Ivanhoe Primary School was a somewhat intimidating occasion. It was late 1988, and I was interviewed in the library by a panel of eight; principals, teachers and parents whose task was to nominate the school's first 'locally selected' principal. This was a relatively new Department of Education process then, replacing seniority as the sole criterion for appointment.
In retrospect, it was not as historic as we believed at the time. Maybe the school had a bit of a chuckle to itself, for it was really just a return to the process used so many years before when the school began in September 1853. Though part of the state system now, it started out as a local Church of England school. Back then, a committee of local gentlemen met in the then Darebin Hotel to found the school and select its first Head Teacher, William Wood.
When I took up my appointment in 1989, I joined the many thousands of people who carry with them fond memories of Ivanhoe. In the years since that interview, I have lost count of the many people I have met who attended Ivanhoe as a pupil or as a staff member or as a student teacher on a teaching round. One former pupil that I met is now the principal of a small rural school near Milford Sound in New Zealand –we discovered our mutual love for the school at a conference in Christchurch.
What are my earliest memories? In 1989 there were 232 students in nine classes. The current multipurpose room and canteen were in the process of being built. There was an old double-portable which was used for After Care placed sideways on the site near the big elm tree, the attic rooms were 'out of bounds' because of a Department directive and filled with excess furniture and junk. The cleaner was still part of the staff and lived on site in the 'residence' at the end of Lowe Street. Some of the older houses opposite the school in Waterdale Road had been demolished, others were to receive the same treatment over the next few years. Play equipment was sparse, old and generally unsafe. But the children were delightful.
My brief 'honey-moon' as the new principal ended fairly abruptly -two families wanted their respective children moved to other classes despite the disruption it would cause, and a very aggressive father stormed into my office demanding that a perceived safety issue concerning the building program be 'fixed immediately or else'... Fortunately both issues were resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.
For the next twelve and a half years, Ivanhoe provided me with experiences that were tremendously challenging, rewarding, productive and enjoyable. I was very lucky to meet and work with many marvellous children, staff and parents. Thousands of images flash through my subconscious when I think about those years. Without reciting a complete calendar of events or a catalogue of names, what are some of the more memorable images and recollections?
Significant school achievements from 1989 to 2001
In the early 1990's the government introduced a 'quality provision' process involving Bellfield, Heidelberg West and Ivanhoe primary schools. Its intent was to force one of the three schools to close. The three communities forged a strong bond to vigorously resist the process. All three schools survived and continue to operate successfully today.
The extensive growth and development of the school to what it is today occurred during one of the most dramatic periods of change in education in Victoria. The introduction of 'schools of the future' from 1992 onward meant huge changes in the way schools operate. Whilst schools must still operate within a state-wide framework, in most respects schools are self-managing. A global budget is provided to cover personnel and operational costs. The fact that Ivanhoe was able to make the transition to this new form of governance and responsibility so effectively is a lasting tribute to the staff and parents concerned. .
People and Events
Introduction of the now traditional 'Gift to the School' from the outgoing grade 6 students, as well as the grade 6 'Graduation'.
Whole school tabloid sports days based on a 'footy' theme, with everyone dressing up. Christmas' concerts' under the stars, with each grade performing and with crowd participation in sing-alongs
70th birthday celebrations in 1993 for the current red brick building Computerisation of the library in about 1993 The introduction of a comprehensive arts and music program, including choir, strings and recorders The commencement of the sell-out 'Celebrating Music' concerts held in the Girls’ Grammar auditorium, with very professional introductions and performances from the children 'Net' Day -cabling the entire school to allow for the development of a computer network by volunteer parents, staff and students Wonderful 'artist in school' programs -dance, construction, musical marimbas... The growth and development of our camps program The high levels of participation in and success at interschool sport enjoyed by the students in grades five and six, and the strong links forged with other local schools. Buildings and Grounds Developments 1990 Administration Upgrade -construction of the current office and foyer, the former staffroom, assistant principal's office, the sick bay and the staff toilets Removal of the old cleaner's residence followed by the installation of two additional portable classrooms. The progressive increase in portable buildings to the current total of ten Installation of covered walkways to provide shelter for students and staff Purchase and installation of a shipping container to store mowers, gardening equipment, fuel, paint etc Reconstruction of Waterdale Road and Ailsa Grove Major maintenance of the red brick building both inside and out, as well as grounds and drainage works. This included construction of the basketball court. Introduction of the Reading Recovery program for children in grade one Improved safety & security measures, including higher fences, more secure gates, staff name tags and a phone system linking all portables to the main building Installation of a new mod-5 portable building (RLI-2) and relocation of the old existing mod 5 so that both were aligned with the Ailsa Grove boundary Installation of fibre-optic cabling to link the portables with the computer network in the main building
Re-claiming of the Attic for school use as a specialist music room and strings teaching area, facilitated by the installation of a fire detection service. (In the distant past, the larger of these two rooms once housed four educational psychologists who serviced district schools, and the other once housed the euphemistically named 'opportunity grade', a class for intellectually and physically impaired students. It was also the room where a former student used to be sent to rotate the aerial to improve school radio broadcasts.)
Many, many other successful facilities projects such as the creation of the reading room, the rebound wall, the under-school rooms, the installation of air conditioners, new play equipment, external shelters and shade cloth shelters
Purchase and installation of the current Out of School Care portable and the associated grounds development. The noteworthy and the notorious
My first yard duty at Ivanhoe where I came upon two children in some dispute. They assured me that I wasn't needed, that they could work it out! Our first school Fair in 1989 where I volunteered for the dunking pool. We didn't do it again. Successive and highly successful school fairs, now stretching on for 15 years and still no rain! Freeing a trapped pigeon from the gas heater in one of the upstairs rooms (it had fallen down the flue) At a later stage quietly organising for a marksman to send the remaining pigeons ‘to the Bahamas’ (the pigeons perched above the drinking taps causing health concerns). Regularly donning the rubber gloves to clear toilet blockages (much to the delight of parent witnesses) or getting on the third storey roof to clear blockages or replace broken tiles. The delight of emergency teachers with the students at Ivanhoe, and their eager requests for more opportunities to work at the school Two of our earliest grade 2 participants in the violin program, Phillip & Jack who inadvertently placed themselves and everyone else at risk with their bows Crawling under the school in the dark, the dust and the detritus of many years to try to unlock the cellar door in the brickwork (helped by one of the grade 6 boys) Being mistaken for Mr Bean by the Preps (or for a 103 year-old)! Catching two teenagers using the large shade-cloth shelter attached to the main building as a trampoline during one holiday break Being told quite seriously (and many times) that I had a 'big nose' in one memorable recorder lesson, by Marcus, an autistic student Supporting a terrified hearing-impaired student who was certain she was about to be 'put down' in the first aid room. (Her family had horses, she already had a broken arm and she had just broken the other falling on the asphalt.) Being reassured by one of the new Preps, Michael, that I would be OK because I was his mate Sharing the merriment when our assistant principal mistakenly wore different coloured shoes to work Being told at morning tea that my fly had been undone at assembly (and still was). There are literally hundreds of people who deserve to be mentioned in this brief reminiscence because of what they contributed during my period at Ivanhoe. However, I would invariably leave someone out and that would be unfair. At other times and places I hope that I have been able to congratulate you and thank you for your efforts. Ivanhoe is a place that I will never forget. The warmth, the friendliness, the sense of teamwork and identity are just some of the outstanding attributes of this great community.
For all of you (and you know who you are), thanks for the memories.
Bill Hunt
August 2003
[edit] Reading
Schooled in Family Traditon Heidelberg Leader 15 February, 2011 p.6
