Page 44 - Potted History 2017

raised blood blisters, for getting poor marks (in my case
English and French) and up to six strokes on the bottom 1970s
for being naughty, but most of us never cried or showed
any emotion. In year ten I won the science prize with an
average of 96% in Maths A and B, Physics and Chemistry,
but failed English 49% and French 32%. I was a member
of both the football and cricket teams and I won the 1970
under 14 mile in record time. I was looked down on by The new library and the JB Newbury
some of the rich boys because I earned my pocket money science wing was opened at the School.
by being a caddy at golf. Caddies were paid one shilling This was also the first operational year
and six pence for eighteen holes of golf. I also earned of Hale’s ‘Adventure Out’ programme,
pocket money doing odd jobs and running messages … centred on the North-West township of
Wittenoom, which was to last until 1988.
We were taught to be manly – that the sun never sets on A house in the town and a Landrover
the British Empire – Queensbury rules in boxing – God vehicle were purchased by Lang Hancock
Save the king – salute the flag – Anzac Day etc. We and Peter Wright. The previous year
learned lots of poetry, much of which I still remember, an exploratory group comprising Vic
like ‘My Country’ and bits like ‘How can a man die better (‘Sluggo’) Shields, Tom Hoar, Paul
than facing fearful odds’. If my son’ and ‘For the ashes of Maycock and Mark de Graaf surveyed the
his father and the temples of his gods’ and many more area and put in place the logistics of the
poems. Little did we know what lay ahead of us in World operation. The 1970 Cygnet reported:
War II, when so many of the lads I knew were to die in
battle or in prison camps.’ 19 ‘Hale-Wittenoom was planned so
that Year 11 boys would spend Weino Gorge
fourteen days at Wittenoom – a
1966 week in the town house under
Lister Drake is Acting Headmaster for 12 months. the overall supervision of Mr Bob Field work was based as much as possible on the northern environment and a
McMath and their group master, great deal of field work was finished by the boys … it was hard and rugged, each
The new Administration Block was officially opened by the and then a week out in the field boy being given certain duties in the house as well as in the field, something
many of the city ‘slickers’ were not accustomed to. … The whole concept of Hale
Governor of Western Australia, Major-General Michael Jeffrey. under the supervision of the group Wittenoom was to bring the boys and masters together as well as let the day
In part of his address he said, master only. boys and boarders get to know each other, and their often very different points
Mr McMath was based of view. It was also designed to toughen up and harden the boys, far away form
“… “this new complex is a living, breathing place for the luxuries of urban life.’ 20
people. It will have a significant impact in the effective permanently in the town house
management and educational offering of the School”. throughout the term and it was
his job to ensure that the whole 20 Cygnet, 1970, article ‘Important Developments’, pp 12-13.
1967 project ran smoothly, especially
the change-over of the groups,
Dr Ken Tregonning takes over as Headmaster one of which arrived every
Monday morning. Mr McMath was
Rhodes Scholars The Chapel of St Mark at Hale School was dedicated. also responsible for the logistical
Malcolm L Treadgold (left) and Bruce H Bennett (right), both support of the base and yet found
time to discuss problems with the
from the Class of ‘58 - were awarded Rhodes Scholarships in 1968 boys, ferry supplies out to the field
consecutive years: 1962 and 1963 respectively. The junior boarding facility, Brine House, was opened. camp as well as perform many
other tasks. Whilst in the town the
1969 boys slept in the town house and
The Chapel of St Mark was consecrated. when out in the field they slept The first year of Hale
under canvas – and under the
stars. in the north west - 1970
19 Bob Becher in Edgar, From Slate to Cyberspace, pp. 303-304.