Mitchie High Reunion - Class of '78

Go ahead and post a message about your days at Mitchie High, what you've been up to since then or your impressions of the latest reunion.

2008

Hi Lindy, I too remember the camps and Bribie Island still stick in mine. As well as the trip to New Zealand the teacher everyone wanted to leave behind everytime the bus stopped does anywone else remember Mr Reesmmmmmmm I think that was his name used to put mmmmmmmmm on the end of every sentence, I think he taught geography. Well it was good just remebering the good times how time flies, sorry I will miss the reuion though.

ahh, Bribie Island, our first true hint of scandal!!! I remember sitting in the library, huddled over books we were supposedly studying, absolutely agog at the rumours filtering back...that was the most exciting library period we ever had!!! Of course, by the time the weekend group got there, it was pretty tame. If you don't count the bad food, bad tents, snoring, social maths kids having to get up in the depths of the night to wade into the cold sea, and making sure they woke everyone else up. I bet schools don't do that sort of thing anymore!!!! (and what a pity, all those memories not being made!)

Yes Gary, it was "C" Block and you are dead right about the humiliation etc. from wearing the uniform in cadets, especially when in classes and you were the only one in uniform and mine was extra baggy because I had to wear the smallest size which was still huge on my weedy frame!

Peter, I had a good chuckle reading your stories. Cadets always intrigued me. Though I never participated, it dawned on me that there must be better ways to get humiliated, hollered at and wear baggy uniforms and then watching you guys during those parades, standing in the sun and we trying to anticipate the number of guys who would pass out in the heat. Tim must have gotten something out of all that which helped him with his refereeing career. I liked your story about escaping from class rooms. Was it "C" block (with views to Dipples farm) that had the ground floor classroom where you could "roll out" and fall a few feet to the pathway of freedom? I remember watching a few guys make the dash over the years while diversions were being created. And that camp, you're right I'm not touching that one!!!

In the spirit of the occasion I thought I'd add a few random memories. Wide eyed innocence of youth - During the first few weeks of school I was sent on an errand to the senior girls section, and they were all milling about outside their room, where I had to run the gauntlet of these mature attractive females. Bravely I went through, amid being hugged, tousled and patted until I made it to the door and delivered my message. As a spotty faced,skinny little boy, fresh from Primary School I then felt it was my duty to volunteer my services should any further errands be needed. By the way Gary, I read your memories regarding schoolyard crushes and I assure you, you weren't alone!! ha ha...Were you girls really that blind??? ha ha School Cadets - Even though I was only in Cadets for a year before it was disbanded, I've many memories, of which these are a few.. We had a lot of interaction with the Regular Army, the first at Enoggera Army Barracks being issued with uniforms ,and as I was barely the correct height, one of the soldiers supervising made a comment to which I replied, "ha ha yeah". The cyclonic blast I copped from this gentleman then tore through me, the fiery blast bending my puny frame 45 degrees. To this day I know how to correctly address a Sergeant Major/Warrant Officer...for those who don't know this rank, watch the movie "Full Metal Jacket". If, when using a rifle and it jammed, there were procedures to follow, basically to keep the weapon aimed at the target, raising your hand and asking for help. However at Greenbank Range a cadet (from another school I think), stood up, turned in a circle pointing the rifle at all and sundry, jostling the bolt and saying "Sir..my rifle is jammed"..things then go a bit hazy as myself, along with other cadets, soldiers and Officers were all lying prone on the ground hoping the bullets wouldn't start coming in my direction. Obstacle courses were always fun...but did safety regulations exist in those days?? One cadet, straddled a "fence like" obstacle, then rotated 180 degrees until he was upside down, firmly caught in the barbed wired underneath...or the cadets caught entangled in the cargo nets like moths in a spiders web...and who can forget the joy on the soldiers faces as the unsuspecting cadet made a leap of faith for the Tarzan swing over a green stagnent pool, only for the rope to be pulled at the last minute from his futile clutches On a camp, why was it necessary for one of the cadets one night to slide naked down his tent, and then be surprised when he was reprimanded for tearing a huge hole in the canvas.Not to mention his burnt bum. One last thing about cadets...we had a crosscountry exercise to do but unfortunately our Corporal (don't worry Tim, I won't say your name) reversed the map coordinates and we got thoroughly lost. On the count of three we repeatedly yelled Help! and finally we were found. The Army apparently was out looking for us. Our Corporal was temporarily demoted and now looking back I realise how serious it was. Detention - Our class (science I think) had detention, and the teacher took roll call as soon as we were seated.Having detention was bad enough, but our room was on the ground floor and my mates were walking past the window grinning and making faces at me. So, with the teachers' back turned, I saw my opportunity and crawled ( was pushed,fell) out of the window. My unbelieving but willing accomplice at my desk passed my books out and I bolted, enjoying the illicit freedom of a missed incarceration. School Camp - I think I enjoyed all of our camps and excursions (ummm, why did we go to an abattoir, I can still smell it!), but I'll mention only one. A maths camp at Bribie Island. At this point, in view of possible litigation, it might be best to say. "What happens at camp, stays at camp!" Those of you who went I hope are now smiling, and those that didn't will have to wait for the movie ha ha. Well I hoped you enjoyed my random ramblings and maybe feel inspired to write some of your own. Look forward to seeing everyone.

Hi Lindy, I think the last time we bumped into each other was in the eighties, while you were studying for that BA, and I believe you were selling Easter Bilby's in Post Office Square. I remember asking you why you were studying at the time and you said you were doing it for your own reasons. (I think you might have been miffed at my dull understanding). Sounds as though you've always been following your passions, look forward to hearing more about your eccentricities in Oct.

Sounds like an English exercise - reduce the past 30 years into less than 300 words! Now living in Sydney, moved here in 1995 for love, not money. Still very happy with my gorgeous man (Roy - a scientist, mad perhaps to put up with me?) NO sprogs, no cats, no dogs. A house in Arana Hills (luckily the bad tenant didn't quite burn it the ground...but that is another story!) so still have attachments to the area. Work as senior buyer for one of the best independent bookshops in the country - perfect job: I get to spend a lot of someone else's money on books! And that BA done part-time back in the 80s has come in handy. Have travelled extensively throughout Australia - and always birdwatching! (Well, I decided to practise mildly eccentric in my middle-age and look forward to wildly eccentric in a few more birthdays!!) Look forward to trying to match faces with dimly recalled names. Cheers!

Hi Gary, Thanks for your reply. Yes it is great and there is a lot of similar programs which are growing all the time. Simulated Patients are part of a large organisation in America and it is something Australia took on a number of years ago. I had done many role plays for the medical field and lots with other organisations such as Qld Rail, Qld Health. In the medical field alone it has given me great satisfaction knowing I have contributed to the learning process of many students/doctors/physiotherapists/psychologists and the list goes on. I am happy to hear you have been a part of this process. Sincerely Kym

Hi Kym, It seems a few of us started a career with the "Big Elephant". I finished up after 10 years and set sail for other things. I was interested in your latest role. A couple of years back I was contracted to work for a Company running similar programs teaching Doctors about improved patient interaction. We hired actors to perform similar roles to those you no doubt expereince. Its a great forum for education. Look forward to catching up later in the year. Cheers Gary Horwood

I remember the counting of the 'right' word episode as clear as if it was yesterday.(this coming from a person who had to write 100 lines on the blackboard--small things amuse small minds !! ) I believe that the year was grade 9 or 10 and I believe that the teacher was Mrs Waud (pronounced Ward) The room was a dismal old demountable building set on the bank between E block and the manual arts building. Otherwise Gary I remember it exactly as you tell it. Keep the memories coming

I know 15/16 year old boys can be immature, and little things amuse them but I still get a smile out of a little event that happened with Mrs Sharp in one of our Maths Classes. A group of us were mad cricketers at the time and statistics are a big part of the cricket mystique. Mrs Sharp had a habit of using the word "right" in every second sentence, "Right, you boys need to pay attention". "Now this formula means this ..right.. now this then means this". "Right, now we are going onto this page.." So someone got the idea of counting how many times Mrs Sharp used the word in our 30 minute session. With a minute to go in the lesson Mrs Sharp had accounted for 93 "rights", and as every good cricketing fan knows 100 (the Century) is a big milestone. So to gee her along some of the boys stood up in the class and started chanting "Come on Miss" To which Mrs Sharp responded by pointing her finger at each boy and saying "Right, right ,right, right, right, you boys will be in big trouble if you don't sit down, right right ". I'm sure she was confused as the bell rang when up to 10 boys all let out a big cheer and threw their Maths books into the air. and one Mrs J Sharp went into the record books by registering a fine century in only 30 minutes. The only stand up fight I've had in my life was with Billy Diehm. I can't remember what it was about, but I do recall the adrenalin of throwing a hundred punches and not connecting with one. and being somewhat overly self conscious having the crowd calling their usual chant "Fight..fight..fight" I'm sure they were disappointed with the display and prowess of both Bill's and my boxing talents. So much so that I remember after the fight had settled and the crowd dispersed Joey Schmidt came up to me and said "this is how you punch someone in the guts" and pounded me in the stomach so hard that it winded me for several minutes. So being in the "main ring" turned out to be less dangerous than some helpful advice from a mate. Bill must have been so enamoured with his performance that day against me that he went onto to have a fight a little while later with Mark Lewis (who had been trained as a Boxer) Bill might relay the story a little better, but from what I saw of his bloodied face I think Bill retired from the fight game as well. Our Form teacher in years 11 and 12 was Chuck Morrish. Head of English and no doubt the "setter" of semester exams. One day in class we were reviewing the work we had covered for that semester and Chuck had written a comprehensive text on the blackboard. In his usual style he mentioned that it would be beneficial for those wanting to pass to pay close attention to what was written on the board. And hinted that this could indeed be on the test the following day. So knowing Chuck's "helpful" hints led to something important most of us copied it word for word and this is how we submitted it the next day word for word. It was interesting to read our results a week or so later when the Teacher assigned to mark the papers, Robin Bell, had marked all of our papers 13/20. and wrote an identical comment at the bottom of each paper to the effect "originality is the essence of English literature" Romance is a matter that drags you out of "innocence" and heralds the adult life about to come and for me romance was an event that came after my school years had finished. As much as I was friendly and sociable at school I must admit to being somewhat a typical 16year old, awkward, trouble with engaging mouth and brain at the same time and so unsure of how to express himself. Combined with my home life being less than ideal (My Dad had well and truly developed his Alcoholism by then) I was a classic example of how young men are desperately trying to match their inner and outer maturity. I look back at horror at my paltry attempts at being an acceptable proposition for a romantic partner. One girl who had my interest would hardly have known my intentions because of this debilitating immaturity. I remember having her friendship and seeing her regularly after school, but not once telling her how I felt. Simply to find out if she had any interest in me!!!. (I think in the years since I realised she did not !!). However for as much as I held a flame for her there were events that should have told me I was heading down the wrong track. one incident that might have been a bell ringer was telling a mate of mine about my feelings for this girl and he informing that he would put "a good word in for me" - so good in fact that at a party a few weeks later he ended up "being" with her !!! Heartbroken, a few weeks further on he consoled me by telling me that "she was frigid". Ahhhhh the consolation and tact that young men have for each other. so gentle and subtle.

Hi Everyone, Lived in Arana Hills while going to Mitchie, then Stafford and Albany Creek where I bought my first home. Worked in Commonwealth Bank for 15 years and ended up a Senior Stenographer in the Corporate Centre City (shorthand etc - remember girls). Towards the end married my wonderful husband Rino, had my son Sebastian now 14 at Terrace, left the bank and moved to Hendra. Had my daughter Chanel now 12 who is at All Hallows. While taking care of children I studied acting and starred in a few commercials, movies etc. Can be seen on the Golden Circle website under Nutrition News, as I did a brochure for them once. Also worked for my acting agent, Village Roadshow, an accountant and a law firm in town. During this started work as a role player for the Uni of Qld School of Medicine Simulated Patient Program playing patient roles for medical student exams and many others. Now I co-ordinate the program out of the Mater Hospital and love the challenge and responsibility. Love to see all of you again. :)

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Mitchie78 Forum

2008