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YALLOURN HIGH SCHOOL SEX SCANDAL by Reg Penkethman YHS 1951 Now that I’ve got your attention – have you ever had that sinking feeling? Yes; me too. My latest stomach lurch was brought about by an oh-so-friendly reminder from our hard-working Secretary that my oft-promised contribution about early Newborough days had never quite seen the light of day. In desperation (and no little guilt), I dusted off a “draft” and tarted it up a tad. Better late than never, they say : things can only improve.

Lance White YTS 1956 wrote with this small, but significant question which appeared in Albury/Wodonga local paper “The Border Mail” in August 2012: Q: Who said, “Knowledge is Power”? Of course this was our motto under the YTS / YTC’s blazer badge which many of us proudly wore. A: Sir Francis Bacon ( 1561-1626). “We all knew the motto very well, but I wonder how many students knew who this was attributed to or from where it originated. An interesting enough item which many OB’s might appreciate.

Take a Walk on the Wild Side - Julie George (Francis) YHS 1966 “In November 2011, Frank Wild completed his final journey from Johannesburg, South Africa to the Whalers’ Cemetery in Grytviken, South Georgia, when his ashes were placed by me in a grave next to that of his long-time friend and ‘Boss’, Sir Ernest Shackleton.

On a cold and blustery day in Morwell recently, we gratefully accepted a State Government grant to help further fund our historical project - Virtual Yallourn...I’m sure you have noticed the data being inputted from the Electoral Rolls of the 1960s in an endeavor to get every house in Yallourn connected to at least one family and soon you will see some major visual improvements...so please continue to support the website, dig out the old photos and add generously - help solve some of the queries and read what our newly appointed “Mayor Brogan” (Kevin Brogan) has to say - if he doesn’t know the

My brother Ray died of lung cancer aged 62. Far too young to die but he managed to live a full life for the years he had. After leaving school he spent the obligatory few years trying out various jobs and generally having a good time until he grew up (a bit) and ended up in the public service. He spent the early years in Melbourne then a few years in Darwin where he met Julie (also a public servant) and had a son Michael, then they moved to Canberra where he spent the last twenty years or so. Ray and Julie split up about ten years ago.

John Gloz YHS 1965 - re Alex McAlister's article about his time in the Scouts in the Jan 2011 edition, I thought the article was great. I have a couple of minor corrections to the names for the photo he submitted (P7) of the Rovers. Back row, far left is my dad Jack Gloz (not Gloss); and front row far left is George Toye (not Eddie Toy). Unfortunately dad never seemed to have any photos of his time in the Rovers, so I am unable to add any enlightenment as to who the other unknowns were. Thanks Alex for reviving some more memories!

Helen Fischer (Hender) YHS 1967 wrote:

DO YOU REMEMBER……….??

An apprentice at Yallourn 1939-1944 by Alex McAllister (YHS 1935)

An apprenticeship was a period of training undertaken by young people between the age of 16 & 21 years to qualify as a tradesman or tradeswoman in their preferred occupation. I attended the Yallourn Higher Elementary School and as I had visions of eventually going to sea as a ship’s engineer and the minimum qualification required was that you had served an apprenticeship in a heavy industry as a fitter, I applied for an apprenticeship with the SEC.

Irene Hunnam (Park) YHS 1952 wrote an article on Yallourn Hospital in the late 50s

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In 1957 I started my Division 1 nursing training at the Yallourn Hospital. There were only two of us and we were shown to our rooms in the nursing home and issued with a grey uniform, stiffly starched cuffs and collars and a white cap. A purple cape with the hospital’s insignia and a full white apron completed the uniform.

HISTORY OF YALLOURN - POST OFFICE (provided by Luisa DeAgnoi) 1874 Coal first discovered in Yallourn area, form of lignite. 1886 Small private mine opened up to promote the brown coal. 19.10.1888 The Great Morwell Coal Mining Co registered to mine coal. 10.9.1890 Private railway line built and connected to main railway line at Hernes Oak siding, selling over 200 tons coal per week. 1897 The Mining Co produced the first briquettes, selling at 17 shillings 6 pence per ton, but in 1898 the Co was wound up. 1917 The coal mine reopened with sales at 15 shillings per ton.

Grace James (Catchpole) YHS 1945, sent this article about Brenda Finlayson (Block) who started YHS in 1946 and came from Hernes Oak. (Photo attached)

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Doug Prestidge YHS 1950 wrote: I attended Yallourn High School from 1950 to 1953. I came across an old photo taken 1952/53 of the Junior Football Team. Football in Gippsland in those times was very strong and played a big part in the local communities. The senior team at YHS consisted mainly of Form 5 & 6 students and many of them played in their respective town’s senior teams. As YHS was the only high school in the area, students travelled from Traralgon, Morwell, Moe, Trafalgar and all surrounding areas.

FATHER: Now listen, son, from now on you must do your own homework. I’m not going to do any more for you - it’s not right! SON: I know, but have a shot at it just the same. (A funny from Colin Nash YHS 1956)

Christine West (Salisbury) YHS1959

MRS KIMBERLEY'S TEAPOT I have a teapot which I treasure, every time I look at it, it reminds me of the happy times we had growing up in Yallourn and of our lovely neighbours when we lived at 8 Latrobe Ave.

Alex McAllister YHS 1935--1938

Tru Energy inherited the lookout site when the SEC was privatised. Over the past decade the lookout was allowed to deteriorate and eventually reached a point where Tru Energy had no option but to close it to the public. A couple of years ago, discussions began to take place between Latrobe City Council and Tru Energy regarding the transfer of the land to council as public land. Tru Energy gave the land to council around the middle of 2009 after demolishing the existing lookout structure.

Tim Harvey YHS 1971 continues with Part 5 - Sound, Colour & Light

Sue Bussell YHS 1968 sent a photo taken recently of 4 ex-Yallourn friends:

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We met up for lunch at my place in Coburg one Saturday in May and talked and talked as you do when you all meet up after 37 or so years.......

Lots of coincidences over the years....... every now and again I meet someone with a Yallourn history and it is so good to connect through YOGA and the websites.

Steve Gray YHS 1971 - Cubs, Scouts, Venturers and Rovers in Yallourn:

Way up past the pool was the YMCA hall and across from that was the Scout hall, It was big, or maybe I was small, it had various bits to it, like the Captain Hurley Rover Crew hut out the back, and a side storage area used for paper and bottle drives.