Prospect 50 year reunion
Photo supplied
Front row L–R: Cynthia Harris, Kaye Dargan, Virginia Shipp, Jan Burnie, Sylvia Brinkhoff, Denise Anderson, Jan Knox, Christina Jezeweski. 2nd row L–R Christeen Wells, Marlene Harvey, Rena Taylor, Vicki Blackwood, Jennifer Crosswell, Louise Hill, Marilyn Dazeley, Jean Pearn, Sue Fisher, Sandra Matthews. 3rd row L–R: Jenny Fitzpatrick, Sally Lambert, Colin Davis, John Heron, Lynden Rogers, Adrienne Curwen, Lyn Kelly, Rosalie Jessup, Susanne Goodyer, Vicki Ross, Pauline Older, Pam Dean, Carmel O’Brien, Vicki Fulton, Rosemary Hay, Martin Pryor, Robin Hills, Alister Strickland, Felicity Mathers, Andrew Vial, Merril Gough, Robert Polley, Mark Fisher, Jan Groom, Tony Martin, Tony Quill, Tony Matthews, Wayne Harris, Karolyn Davidson, Andrew Torok. Back row L–R: Peter Jetson, Greg Giffin, Peter Chadwick, Paul Cook, Dale Stephens, Peter Davey, Ian Hunt, Laurie Harris, Peter Cross, Andrew Merry, Peter Davidson, Robert Holmes, Colin Clements, Barbara McCulloch. Absent: Peter Brumby, Laurie Pearce, Randall Langdon, David Robertson.
By David Claridge
SCHOOL REUNIONS usually happen every ten years or so and are a chance for people to reunite and reflect on their time at school.
Recently, a 50-year class reunion for former Prospect High School students had even more significance, as they were the first students to attend the newly built school back in 1966.
Former student, Jennifer Crosswell remembers the first time she attended at Prospect High when it was a brand-new building on top of a hill.
‘It was full of clay, no bushes, no trees, it was just a shell, but we had all the bells and whistles of the day – we had floor heating, nice pink walls, it was a great school.’ Jennifer said.
‘The classes were much bigger those days. There were over 500 students across three year levels on day one
‘We broke so many new grounds back then. We had the first school tour, over the holidays, open to boys and girls. Prior to that, only boys could go.’
50-year reunion experience, that brought them all back to where it all started.
‘We had the best reunion you could ever imagine. We all got together, and it felt rather strange. Whether it was because it had been 50 years since we were all together, or that our group had a special bond because we were around for the founding of the school, I am not sure. It was a very special day.’
When the group met at the school, they were given a tour of the current facilities. Many of the original students were surprised to see how much the school had changed over fifty years and described the school as unrecognisable.
Jennifer’s conclusion – ‘The most interesting thing was the 3D printer. It made us all realise how far technology has come since the days of the Fordigraph printer.’
A Fordigraph, also known as a Roneo printer, was a forerunner of the photocopier. Those who attended school during the 1960s and 1970s would remember the distinctive smell of the alcohol-based ink on the printed or ‘roneoed’ pages that were handed out to students.
