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Crackers! - Lachlan McPherson YHS 1962

Judith Dolan (Dickson) YHS 1954 sent some photos and said:-

Jim Hazen (ex-teacher YHS 1963-1966) Jim wrote "It is now 40+ years since I first taught at Yallourn High School. It was the second High School I taught at after completing my university studies. My first was Drouin High School from 1961-1962. Yallourn has remained very fondly in my memory as I found the town, staff and students there very friendly, open and welcoming. Drouin had been much less so, especially the town and staff. The students at Drouin were great however. The four years I spent at Yallourn were very special.

Irma Esler (Verrall) YHS 1947 passed away peacefully in her sleep at home in Foster on Sunday, 10th October 2004. Irma’s passing was very sudden and totally unexpected, even though her heatlh had not been good for a number of years. Irma was very proud of her Yallourn Old Girls’ Association and didn’t miss too many reunions over the years, and as far as husband, Geoff, is concerned, she was the best thing ever to come out of Yallourn High School. Following is a poem Irma wrote some years ago and requested it be read at her funeral:-

Some History (Photo attached)

Henry Winters YHS 1954 wrote: "The reunion at Woorabinda was excellent except for not having enough time to talk to all those recognisable. I missed so many and even lining up for the group photo, met some for the first time in the day. I was elated to find some contributions I had published in the 'Pylon' and one poem of the senior boys hockey team I played in I had forgotten even writing, but the memories flowed back. The venue at Woorabinda was excellent with the warm conditions and to make sure I can meet up with those missed, it will need attendance again in the future reunions.

Gwen Rodda (Ritchie) YHS 1953 sent the photo on the right with this letter:- “I recently bumped in to Mrs Muriel Feehan, who was Miss Williams at Yallourn State School. She taught there for 10 years from 1946 to 1956.

(Photo attached)

Miss Williams lived in Green Street with her mum and we shared back fences - we lived in Southway. My two brothers and I loved her fruit trees.

Enduring Love - Gary Smith YHS 1962 It began on a Saturday in the 1950's, about 1pm - my enduring love. It might have been ignited by Grace Kelly or Steve Reeves. It was all there - romance, terror, action, adventure - it cost sixpence. It was worth every penny...I refer to my enduring love of movies (I even owned a video library later).…..but the engine that drove it was the powerhouse Saturday matinee at the Yallourn Theatre. The stuff of dreams - Flash Gordon, Batman, The Shadow, Roy Rogers - the greatest show on earth and all for half a bob.

Dorothy Deppeler (Bishop) YHS 1955 - Dot & Ian both attended the "Back To" at Woorabinda last March and met people they hadn't seen for over 40 years. Dot wrote, "it's amazing how little some people have changed!! Beth Dooley (nee Crook) was just as I remembered her. She had quite a "historic" photo of her, me and Peggy Raggatt in our teens! Were we really so slim?

David Cooke – YHS 1952 Although I wasn't born in Yallourn, I spent 10 years of my early youth there - attending both Yallourn Primary School and Yallourn High School. I now live in the Hawaii - having been in the US for 26 years now (as a university professor.)

I'm still very sentimental about my time in Yallourn. I lived with my parents and brother Robin (he was killed in New Guinea in 1979) in the house at 3 Maiden Street.

Alison Kennedy (Kelly) YHS 1936 "Firstly - who am I? Alison Kelly - I'm sure I started in YHS 1936 sub-intermediate, when I would have turned 12 in April - I have been searching unsuccessfully to find my school report book to confirm this - however, due to a "strained heart", I missed several months and consequently seem to recall girls in various year groups. I worked in my brothers' businesses (they became garage proprietors - Kelly Bros Motors) for 11 years before marrying in August 1950. My husband, Kevin, is the most splendid husband, dad and friend.

Who WAS responsible for the great stinkout of the new high school wing in 1967:

Paul Vincent YHS 1962 Yallourn Fountain - “enclosed a photograph to jog a few memories - no prizes for it, but I was driving to Glenmaggie Weir last week and, lo and behold, a Yallourn fountain was spotted, sitting in a private garden in Heyfield! Yes, it even works and has the original copper lights still mounted inside (although the centre pole is now painted white). Was unable to speak to the property owner, as they were out, but will be returning to find out how the hell it was transported there!” Paul lives in Sale with wife, Freda, and they enjoy a relaxing life together.

Marj Brogan was born in Box Hill, moved to Yallourn when she was 2 and moved to Newborough when they dug up Yallourn in 1976. She met her husband in Yallourn and was married in 1946 (57 years). She has two children - Kevin 55 and Suzanne 51. Marj worked in the library at the SEC before starting work at the mill in 1942, where she would ride her pushbike to work. She has been a member of the Yallourn Golf Club since 1956 and has played golf almost every day from when her kids started high school.

Malcolm Gibson YHS 1962 - “the photograph certainly brings back memories. I would like a look at the fountain. I don't recall specific dates, circumstances etc but I recall two occasions when detergent was used in the fountain, one of these occasions also involved a quantity of potassium permanganate (Condies crystals) which turned the frothy water purple. As to who the perpetrators were is anyone's guess, but I would say that the list of suspects would be fairly large and would probably not hold any surprises to those of us from that era. Good harmless fun eh?

Lachlan McPherson YHS 1962 - Loved the photo of ONE of the Centre square fountains (where's the other?)….and I certainly did not have anything to do with foaming up the fountains, more's the pity! What a prank! Condies crystals is VERY impressive. Did you know that the fountains were constructed for the Queen's Visit of 1954? I shall be there for roll call in 2004...cheers.

Helene Warner (Wall) YHS 1962 wrote of the Yallourn Fountain - I vaguely remember all the adults being outraged at the detergent in the fountains saying how it would wreck the pumps and stuff, but my siblings and I thought it was hysterical. I've no idea who was responsible but they were so clever. Some-one also used to put bubbles in the fountain in Morwell, the one on the side of the building of the Water Board offices, and as some-one said pretty harmless. The fountain still looks pretty good in the photo. I had my wedding photos taken in those gardens in Yallourn.

Anonymous - this article was shoved under my door by person(s) unknown! and relates to a famous episode that occurred towards the end of 1967 in the new classroom wing at YHS. I note with disappointment that another famous episode that of Don Chalmers 'woody' MiniMinor, somehow finding its way into the corridor and surrounding itself with lockers, did not get a mention. Perhaps the incidents are not connected. Preface: We Liked High School So Much, We Went Twice!

Margaret Huther (Jenkins) YHS 1953 Sent some photos and wrote: I have been receiving the YOGA newsletter for many years and enjoy reading about people I went to school with. I have been to many reunions but don't always meet many mates of my era. I attended the reunion at Moe 5 years ago. My sister, Kath Peruzzi (Jenkins) and I lived in Morwell and travelled on the bus to YHS along with many others. I really enjoyed my 5 years at YHS playing sport, flirting with the boys, and having mostly great teachers. Kath still lives in Morwell.

Ted Ebsworth YTS 1942 read The death notice of Charles Howard Beanland in July 2001 and it brought back a lot of memories, as Charles was the Principal of Yallourn Tech School and his son, Graham, was in Ted's class. In 1939, Ted and family moved from the settlement called the South Camp to Newborough (Moe East). Riding our bikes to school was more fun than hard yakka. There were always chases through the bush tracks and animals to chase, especially the wild sheep, One hot summer morning, someone suggested we go for a skinny dip down the Latrobe River, which we often did.