Who WAS responsible for the great stinkout of the new high school wing in 1967:
In 1965 there was a major announcement from the Boss (the generally loved Mr Coulson) that the existing Rooms 18 & 19 (yes those same two rooms we had occupied in 1958 and had unfortunately had to reoccupy from time to time since starting officially at YHS, and, yes, they were still dreadful) as well as the existing shelter sheds and toilet blocks, were to be demolished and replaced with a brand new classroom wing and toilets/change facilities. His plea that we cooperate with the builders was taken on board literally by the boys who set to the first stages of demolition of the cement rendered brick "amenities" block (where most had received their ceremonial initiation ducking/semi-drowning, into high school over many years), knocking huge holes in the walls. Rumour had it that the boys were trying to get closer to the girls. Knowing some of those boys, I reckon that would be pretty close to the truth; but not to be outdone, some of the girls joined in from the other side, or did they not want to waste any more time? Unfortunately somehow Snake got hold of the scheme and much steam and loud noises ensued. Threats were made, innocent children mauled, writs issued, governments toppled, -STOP! -got a bit carried away there, anyway things did get a bit ugly there for a while (was that man ever pretty) and the unofficial demolitions ceased (almost). Things went back to normal, you know, innocent games like Finger Fist or Thumb, boxing demonstrations behind the toilets (It's YOUR turn to fight tonight!) or 200 in the cricket nets (but that's really another story). There were many other tasks to complete like the move at the end of the year, when the students were press-ganged into removalists. Snake was again not impressed with the form sixers magnificent efforts at removing an extension lead and the (imaginary?) sheet of glass. What a magnificent spectacle, great organisation and a fantastic team effort. The builders did a really good job despite us, the students, and we moved in early in 1966, around the fourteenth of February 1966 when something BIG happened to the land of Oz (but that's really another story). The New Year brought with it a changing of the guard. The school, because of dwindling numbers had lost a bit of its distinction and therefore we lost many of our best teachers (even Snake) and our headmaster, "The Boss", and some fun went as well. He was replaced with "The Groper", a mongrel who took a long time to recognise that people need to be respected (but that's really another story). And we all moved into another year. Now, to get back to the real reason for this diatribe. It had always come to pass that Form 5 Chemistry was one's oyster into the world of miraculous experimentation with a myriad of concoctions both real and imagined, legal and otherwise. It had also been tradition that Room 2 (the old Science room) would, on occasion, be unapproachable; as at the time would be emitting fumes that would make us think Maryvale (Paper Mills smell) was palatable. Many Form 5 boys would be seen lolling about in front of Room 2 with gigantic grins from ear to ear as us poor lower form slobs attempted to approach our lockers. Phew! With the shift to new classrooms, came new duties for new rooms. I think it was Room 23 that became the new Chemistry Lab. With Jim Hazen demonstrating what happens when Sodium (Na) or Potassium (K) come into contact with water or whatever with spectacular results (thanks Jim), we had our baptism into the new laboratory. In the meantime, there was the time honoured tradition of the passing of the small Piece of ferrous sulphide from those leaving school to those entering the hallowed lab of chem. And it came to pass that the Piece was passed to Me during summertime. What to do? What to do with It? Where to hide it? AND, most importantly, When to use it? No opportunities arose in '66 as I fought off unsuccessfully television; misunderstanding of things French, chem or trig; puberty/maturity (still having trouble); school bullies; and failure. A new dawn: 1967. Repeat Form Five. Groper still being beastly, only worse than before. And more new teachers, most of whom were great. FeS + 2HCl (or H2SO4 or HNO3, etc) = H2S + FeCl2 plus plenty phew! Oh Dear! Recipe for many smells! Didn't eventuate, did it? The year passed, some were suspended, some were victimised, some were circumspect, Groper frowned and breathed fire (dragons ARE mythical), Exams came, we passed.
Just before the exams…. "You are all staying behind" those were the fateful words from Miss Marsh…… to finish chemistry prac. And behave like good boys. But she left the room….. The temptation was too great. That piece of FeS had been burning a hole in my pocket for nearly 2 years and the honour of previous 5th formers had not been satisfied. Acid was easy to access in those days……… Around the fume cupboard we gathered………Crikey!………Doesn't it react quickly………What Fun!………Put it in the Fume Cupboard………….Wash it off……It's still reacting……What a pong……Quick…..Miss Marsh will be back soon………I'm out of here………Kerry (Bruce Kerr) cover for me………Malcolm & Ian have gone………the Groper will go ballistic with this one………and I departed (toot suite!)………Laughter……… We came to school next morning………Phew! The classrooms and corridors were reeking with the unmistakable odour of Hydrogen Sulphide (rotten egg gas) and were untenable. Heck, what have I done? The Groper WAS going ballistic, he couldn't see the joke. I don't remember much more, I think I suddenly became ill and departed for a safer environment called anywhere away from school. News report: …."It was reported that a whole wing of Yallourn High School was evacuated today as a poisonous gas enveloped the new classroom wing". I believe that I inadvertently uncovered a scam that the air conditioning contractor had connected the air ducts to the exhaust system for the fume cupboard, thereby any exhaust gases would travel through the fresh air ducts. And very successfully too. I have no idea how I was not discovered and expelled (thanks again Bruce etc) Blimey! I still laugh about it. I did it