Recently added

Keith Fletcher YHS 1938 - passed away peacefully at home on 7.7.2005 and is survived by his loving wife Shirley, 4 children, 3 stepchildren, 18 grandchildren, 3 great-grandchildren and sister Joyce Wardley (YHS 1944).

Judy Vise (Leech) YHS 1952 sent a photo of the 1955 YHS Marching Team:

(Photo attached)

Remember Mr Cass training the team in military fashion? It was an honour to be selected but, boy!!, did we train hard!! (I later learnt that Wally Cass suffered traumatic experience in the North African desert during WW2.)

Irving Stephens YHS 1945 - wrote seeking information about Geoff Maddern, Coral Clarke and Gloria Farmer. These were his findings and if anyone can add to these, please contact Julie - “Geoff Maddern lived opposite the high school in Latrobe Avenue. I went to YTS with him and we both completed diplomas in mechanical engineering. My last knowledge of him was that he was employed with a tractor manufacturer in Tottenham.

I have located Coral Clarke (now Gibson) and have written to her but understand that she has not been well.

Helga & Horst Berg - have been members of our Assoc for several years now just to keep up with snippets of Yallourn in our newsletters - now Helga writes: "I want to congratulate the committee for their work in keeping the spirit of Yallourn and the school alive. All of us who have lived in that wonderful town, although we grizzled about the coal dust, can never forget our years there. For us, the Berg family, it meant an easy integration into Australian life (from Germany), we came to the town as raw immigrants, having been in the country for all of 4 years.

Dorothy Taylor (Squires) YHS 1935 wrote "I was thrilled to read Richard Sullivan's letter in the Jan 06 Newsletter. Richard's mother, Ivy, was a great friend of mine and, of course, I saw Richard grow up. Ivy and I visited each other on a Monday afternoon, after spending Monday morning doing our washing (rain or shine!!) and then if the clothes were dry, the ironing was done in the afternoon. During these afternoon visits, whichever one visited would take their knitting (perhaps) and chat while the hostess ironed. When this chore was finished, we enjoyed a home-cooked afternoon tea.

David Grant YHS 1957 emailed - Our little group had the best turn up ever and we are going to make sure a lot more turn up next time.

(Photo attached) L-R: Jimmy Demetrious, Keith Grant, Zenon Miltiadius

Bill Ebbott YHS 1954 wrote: I was introduced to the Yallourn Old Girls/Guys Association by one of my four daughters. Later I became a Julie Francis "victim" and overcome, by her enthusiasm I have responded to her request for the "Bill Ebbott" story.

Brown Fuel - A poem by Barbara Ellen Cranwell (circa 1926) It lies at the foot of a haunted range Where a stream goes winding through It's a secret hoard that the old earth stored In the place where a forest grew. Centuries long it has lain 'neath the sod And no mortal its presence guessed But the river knew and the dark range too What lay hid in the earth's broad breast. But now all uncovered the treasure lies And the place shows a magic change For a modern town - a place of renown Now stands at the foot of the range.

Vivien Wakefield (Gardner) YHS 1953 Well we seem to all have gone quiet since the YOGA back in March. It was good catching up with old schoolmates, and some great photos were taken. Even though I have now seen these mates down the track, I still remember them as they were back in the 50's. I was struck by the fact that almost everyone had white hair!! I suppose mine would be too if I didn't splash red in it! Anyway, I have just received the following on my email, and I thought I would like to pass it on to you for inclusion in a newsletter. There will be no nursing home in my future.

Robin Bavinton YHS 1958 - The articles by Henry Winters and Judith Dolan (Dickson), have stirred me into action. I have really enjoyed reading the contributions in the YOGA Newsletter and they have bought back many memories of Yallourn and in particular YHS.

Robert Vincent YHS 1954 Miss Williams was my teacher for grade 5 and 6, in 1952 and 1953 respectively. My moderate success in life can be greatly attributed to Miss Williams and her excellent teaching. My parents and various teachers in the Yallourn Technical School/College also played a significant part, but Miss Williams provided the keystone in my learning processes. One of her attributes was the respect she showed for each pupils. We just knew that we had a special teacher. So, I went to the Tech.

(Photo attached)

Peter Wallace YHS 1949 - shares some great recollections with us…….

Pam Street (Parker) YHS 1955 - I have just been into Esk to pick up my mail from our private box, as we don't have a mail delivery to our property 7 kms out of Esk on the Hampton Road. Thank you so much for the Newsletter from YOGA, I was so thrilled to read it, I will send money order next time I get a chance to update Subscription, as I would not like to miss out on news of days gone by. I went to Yallourn State School and started at the grand age of 4, I dearly remember two teachers Miss Williams - Grade 6 and also John Robinson ?

Malcolm Gibson YHS 1962 - Another little personal story on the side which relates to Yallourn residents. My father passed away for some 6 years ago now and last year I decided to walk in the Melbourne ANZAC day march to the Shrine of Remembrance in memory of him. During World War two, he was a Lancaster pilot with several British squadrons and was one of the lucky one third of the members of Bomber Command to survive the war. He was not a member of the RSL, but was a member of a group of fellows who named themselves the Odd Bods Association.

Vivien Wakefield (Gardner) YHS 1953 Wrote - was rapt to receive my first newsletter and couldn't believe all the names for my year, and to even read a bit by Margaret Jenkins (Huther) - I remember her clearly. My dad used to send for our grocery order from Hinkley's store. I used to catch the bus (Cattle Wagon it was called) at La Mode Factory in Morwell. in 1956 (my last year) I was determined that I wanted the front seat at the top, so got to the bus stop at 7.30 so I was first in line. Whatever seat you got was established for the whole year!

Shirley Lockhart (McFarlane) YHS 1946 Wrote that reading the list of names of ex students gave her a huge bout of nostalgia!! A few vivid memories include walking down to the complex where Yallourn cafe was situated, to have music lessons from Miss Mortimer. Shirley remembers being nervous having to play the piano for the big school assemblies – there seemed to be hundreds of staff and students (but there probably weren't!) We always seemed to have "Sussex By the Sea" as one of the songs. After YHS, I trained as a primary teacher and taught for nearly 30 years.

Marion Kossatz (O'Hara) YHS 1945 Matriculated from YHS in 1950 and went to Melbourne Teachers' College in 1951 – qualified as a trained Primary Teacher at 18. I was not old enough to go to University so joined the Primary Service in Vic. I taught till my marriage in 1958; compulsorily resigned and had my 3 children during the next 10 years - Peter, Leanne & Jim.

Jan Houston (McHenry) YHS 1952 Wrote about their grandson, Rhys, a very intelligent, gorgeous young boy, who attends Tanjil Sth Primary. He should have been in Grade 4 but was placed in an accelerator Grade 5. Because of this, he was able to go on a snow camp to Mt Baw Baw for a school excursion. Once up there, the kids had proper skiing lessons and it was on his third day that while practicing, the boy in front fell, Rhys skiid around him but unfortunately hit ice, lost control and plummeted into a tree - head first.

Andrew David Spaull, who was born at the Korumburra Bush Nursing Hospital in 1943, passed away after long illness, at Emerald Hill Residence on 26.1.2019.

Andrew attended the Yallourn State School (4085), commenced High School in 1955 and played football and cricket for Yallourn. Andrew loved the township of Yallourn; and is mentioned by Prue McGoldrick in her book ‘Yallourn Was’ for his submission, which argued against the removal/closure of Yallourn, at the Parliamentary Public Works Inquiry in 1970.

A GALA SPORTS DAY AT YALLOURN The following news article was published in the ‘Morwell Advertiser’ more than 90 years ago; and reported on a specially arranged day of sporting contests for returned soldiers who lived in and beyond the Yallourn-Morwell area.