Last year, I gave the opening speech for the THS 1971 Matric Classes Reunion
I opened the speech by saying - “Can you believe we’ve finally got together after all these years AND how gorgeous you all look"
Well, I think I have to say the same words today because you do all look gorgeous!

I would have never have predicted that we would be getting together after so many years
It sounds unreal that many of us were either in 1XY or 1GH forty years ago
And never in my wildest dreams (not that I have many wild dreams!) that we would have located so many
56/62 is amazing!

Whilst the focus of this Reunion was for the students, I obviously wanted as many teachers present
I realise it’s also a 'mini-reunion' within the 'main'reunion' for many teachers who haven’t seen each other for a number of years

I often reflect back on my childhood
Many of you know that I grew up in Leadenhall Street, Port Adelaide
It was tough times, strict East German parents (during my childhood), low income
But life seemed a lot simpler, with absolutely different pressures than today
One knew one was growing up when it was time to go to high school, although in the same breath, I was a very immature, naive, thirteen year old
Lessons were so different than in primary school

I thought I’d share a few snippets of some of my memories from school

1	I loved PE because it was the only thing I could do better than Gale Edwards

2

Remember before I said that I was naïve - well, during a Mothercraft lesson, the subject matter was on how someone became pregnant - after the lecture, I raised my hand to the surprise of the person giving the lecture and told her there’s another way - she looked shocked and of course I thought I discovered something that nobody else knew! - she was adamant there was only one way, but sheepishly asked me HOW? - I said, "by accident"! - because from time to time I heard mum and dad’s friends say, "this one was an accident" - I recently found my Mothercraft Certificate and I got a credit for it - so I must have studied hard on my theory after that!

3	I remember:-

someone (and I think I know who it was) playing with a fire extinguisher and all the foam going everywhere

Miss Smith telling us the origins of surnames - the crazier your surname is, the more likely your ancestors did something weird

the annual Speech Nights and also being responsible for wrecking the May Pole Dance in one of the years Talk about speech nights, do you remember this song - Gaudeamus Now I can understand why Miss Whittington asking me to mime - she didn’t have the heart to say I couldn’t sing in the choir because of my poor singing

a few of us going to see Dale Lockwood get married

Vicki Lamont eating oval grass so she could be sick and be sent home - the real reason was so she could go to town to see a top model called Mouche the Fly

I can still hear Mrs Morris in sewing classes saying 'the warp and the weft'

Miss England showing us how to wash a jumper - I suppose so that we could become good wives and mothers

crying during Romeo and Juliet

and I heard Susan Mahar requesting a song on radio - “I heard it through the grape vine” - when we used to have our trannies playing while doing homework

Key Dates from 1967
----------The Seekers were named Australians of the Year
----------Ronald Ryan is hanged in Melbourne becoming the last person to be executed in Australia
----------Elvis Presley marries sixteen year old Priscilla
----------Don Dunstan succeeds Frank Walsh as Premier of South Australia
----------Dr Christian Barnard performs the world’s first heart transplant
----------Harold Holt disappears

Some top Australian Pop Songs were
----------Sadie the cleaning lady
----------Georgy Girl
----------Living in a Child’s Dream (Master’s Apprentices)
----------Ooh La La (Normie Rowe)

Some top Overseas Pop Songs were
----------Itchycoo Park
----------I’m a believer
----------Dedicated to the one I love
----------Penny Lane

I would like to acknowledge and thank those who provided leads or details of students - some of you wouldn’t be here without those people
In particular I would like to thank Steph Key and Rhonda Jenkins
Steph has made it possible for Miss Park to be here and was a regular sounding board for me
Rhonda for her persistence in trying to locate many of the last few on the list (although I was a bit nervous of her wandering about in the dark)

I would also like to thank those who brought along memorabilia - some obviously couldn’t bare to throw away their school books (Rhonda, Patricia!)
On the table there’s photos, bio’s of people, and other bits and pieces - and of course, we have the table cloth!

I would also like to acknowledge those who have come from interstate as well as the country - stella effort!!

I’ve mentioned in one of the email updates that I’m considering organising a full Port Tech Reunion - this will obviously involve a lot of planning, with hopefully, some sponsorships or some sort of grant
Stay tuned

I think we’ve come out quite well from being at PAGTHS

I might not at the time, but I did later on, become appreciative of my life at Port Tech and I thank you, Miss Park, and all the teachers

So today is for reacquainting and for some acquainting
I hope that there will be some continued and lasting friendships resulting from today’s Reunion
And lastly I have to say - "You can take the Girl out of the Port but you can’t take the Port out of the Girl"