Nineties Natter
Hughesdale Primary School 90th Birthday Merchandise
Don’t forget to get your order forms in for the merchandise. Or you can purchase on the day. It is important that if you wish to
pre order any merchandise the order form and payment needs to be returned by Friday 17th October. There will be limited
items on sale on the Reunion Day.
‘Back to 1920’s School Day’ - Monday 10th November
In the last newsletter of term 3 I mentioned that the school will be having a special ‘1920’s’ day as a lead in to our
90th birthday celebrations on the 15th November. Students (and teachers) can come to school dressed in that era.
Students on the day will be able to participate in a variety of activities of that decade. There definitely won’t be any
21st century technology! There will be plenty of old fashioned games such as hopscotch, elastics, sack races, egg &
spoon, skipping ropes, marbles, knuckle / jacks etc.
Classrooms may be set up very differently as in that time the tables and chairs were lined up in straight rows, ink
pens for writing, slate boards & chalk for the juniors, students marched into the school with marching music and
there was an old school bell that rang. Discipline was very strict!
On researching the 1920’s I found this information that may be of value: ‘In the 1920’s the end of the First World
War brought a period of great optimism and progress for many in Australia. Due to the successful exploits of
Australian servicemen during the war and in international politics, 'the digger' was enshrined as an Australian icon
and legend. The 1920s saw a higher level of material prosperity as many returned soldiers received advantageous
financial loans to build houses, typically Californian bungalows, on suburban blocks of land. New inventions such as
radios and automobiles became common acquisitions for the ordinary family and going to the cinema was a popular
form of entertainment.
The 1920s was known as the Jazz era. Women had greater freedom of expression and found work outside of the
home. This was reflected in new fashions, short hair, dancing and improved access to jobs and education.
In October 1929, the world experienced a stock market crash on Wall Street in New York that plunged the world into
the Great Depression (1929–34)’.
So hopefully from that information parents may have a few ideas of what their child / ren can wear on the day!
Past Student and Teacher ‘Memories’ about Hughesdale PS
Last week of term we sent out just under a 1000 invites to past students and teachers at our school from our archive
list. We have had some lovely responses with interesting memories and photos.
Esther Cooper – Teacher 1949 - 1967
This week I had a phone call from a lovely lady. We chatted for 20 minutes about her experiences at Hughesdale PS
(then Oakleigh State School) and she had many stories to tell. What made it so wonderful is that she is 97 years old,
living in a local nursing home and she made the effort to call.
These are some of her memories: ‘I was a teacher for 18 years at the school. She met her husband at teachers college
and they both got a job at the same school. He taught here from 1939 – 1943. She had 2 children and they also came
here. At the time that she and her husband where teaching there were 900 students – 60 students in a classroom!
She taught grades 2, 4, 5 and 6. Also taught post primary boys. As she had an outstanding mark by her head teacher
she was moved around to different levels. In 1968 she was ‘poached’ by Coatesville PS as they needed a senior Grade
6 teacher. She was promoted to ‘second class’ in the school leadership scale. She stayed there for 7 years. She and her
husband lived in Moorokyle Ave; Hughesdale for 67 years before moving to aged care 6 years ago.’
Heather Crawford – Student
Heather also called this week and said: ‘I was a student at this school. I am now 85 years old and have many fond
memories of the school. My two older sisters attended, plus my 4 children. I won many athletic championships and
still have one cup that l polish and exhibit in a cabinet at home.’
Bill Dennis
We have also received an email from a past student Bill Dennis. He has scanned and emailed the photos below.
Some old photos I happen to have are attached. Comment from Bill – ‘My father (Claude Dennis) I believe started at
the school in 1924 and my mother (Betty Newsome) in 1926. I started there in 1949’
It is amazing to see the difference. We have had many comments about the local shop opposite which the children
use to visit regularly.
We would love to hear from other past students and teachers from the school who still live in the area. Please email us on the
following site and we’ll publish your memories too. (Hughesdale.ps@edumail.vic.)