Stories

Stan Smith YHES 1928 - apologised for not being able to attend the reunion in March due to ill health. Stan first arrived at Yallourn in 1924, not long after his 8th birthday. The township was in its infancy then. School was in the cottages until shifting over the road to the newly built brick school 4085, then known as a primary school, in 1925. Ultimately worked for the SEC in the Main Office before being transferred to the Head Office in Melbourne in 1938. Stan will always cherish memories of Yallourn, the life long friendships, the community spirit, the sporting facilities, the dances… more

Shirley Marshall YHS 1950 - wrote: I would like to say how appreciative I am for receiving the "Back to Yallourn" book so soon after the reunion. It is a great publication and one which must have entailed a large amount of work.

I do hope the reunion was successful. Unfortunately, I was unable to attend but perhaps I will be able to attend the next one. I have enclosed an application form for membership to YOGA. Although I've only had the book for a little over a week, it has evoked so many memories of growing up in Yallourn during the time my father was working at the briquette… more

Peggy Steffen YHS 1947 - born in Morwell in 1935 to Snow & Joyce, who moved to a new house at 58 Fairfield Ave in 1936. Dad rode his bike from Morwell to Yallourn Briquette Factory each day - remember that hill! Number 58 was a lovely home to we three kids throughout our childhood.

Barry spent most of his spare time 'over the bush' building dugouts, tree houses and secret places, bringing home anything that wriggled, flew, crawled or swam - much to mum's dismay at times. "Possy" the orphan possum raised in a handbag hung beside the briquette stove; a young joey which hopped… more

Olga Dunn (Tabaczynski) YHS 1958 - wrote: Did I ever dream we'd leave the Latrobe Valley? NEVER ! Barry had just retired for the 3rd time! We had done ballroom dancing, 10 years of tenpin bowling, clubs & pubs, fishing etc. Being home "together" every day all of a sudden was too much to bear for both of us, kids were doing their own things. (Greg was in Churchill & Julia in Cairns.) Time for a change - but what ? Our friends, Rod & Jan Farmer, had moved 3 years prior from Willow Grove to Clermont in Queensland & always said "come on up & visit us in the Outback" So we… more

Lynette Bellamy (Mulgrew) YHS 1955 - wrote: I am an old girl of Yallourn High School having been a student there from 1955 (Form 2) to 1958. I lived out of the township at the Hospital, where my father was the manager. I have only just found out about your association and am thrilled that such a group exists. I was at a meeting in Warragul recently and by way of conversation, I said that I had completed my memoirs (for want of a better word) and did anyone know where I could get them sorted out for printing. I explained that they were mostly of my school years and one of the ladies showed… more

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).

Keith was born to George and Cecilia Fletcher on 5.5.1929 at the Yallourn Hospital and later his sister, Joyce, was born there. Keith loved Yallourn dearly, always looked back on it with great pride and held many happy memories. He always looked forward to the YOGA reunions each year, meeting up with old friends etc and reminiscing old times. He spent his childhood… more

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.

Gloria Farmer lived at 1 Meadow Lane Yallourn… more

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. 23 Parkside was our haven… more

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. These… more