Page 47 - Potted History 2017

1971
By now the population of Western Australia had reached over 1
million, Western Australia’s oil and gas industry was consolidating
and the Ord River dam project was well underway. Enrolments at
Hale School had reached solid proportions but Headmaster Ken 1983
Tregonning always maintained that one of the key components The School
in quality education was keeping the numbers relatively low. ‘We invested in its first
deliberately stay small – we could double the number of students computers.
here given all the grounds. But we stay with just 850 boys to
21
ensure that each is an individual’, Tregonning said. The Round
House, originally
The State Public examination board announced that the Junior the Art Centre
Certificate Examinations would cease to take place in 1974. Hale of the School,
School’s response, via its Headmaster Dr Tregonning, was that it was converted
was not convinced that the accreditation method was superior to into a computer
an examination system. And so Hale School continued to tread its suite and the first
own path despite criticism from many quarters and pressures to computer courses
fall into line. “What is the point in being an independent school if were introduced to
one can’t be independent” stated the redoubtable Headmaster. staff members in
September 1983.
1977
Tim M E Davis (1971) awarded the 1977 1984
Rhodes Scholarship. Peter Dyer and
Alex Panarese
1978 ‘Newty’ Roberts, 1983 produced a
This was the first year of prefects’ bible book entitled
Computers for
readings at assemblies. Tim Urquhart Everyone. Some
of Parry House was the first to take the of the introductory
challenge to ‘add a bit of colour’ to the 1980s sections now
reading and, after delivering a reading seem quaint.
with an unprecedented level of grammatic In chapter one
flair, became the only prefect in the history there are sections
of Hale School to receive an animated such as: What is
ovation from the full assembly for a 1980 a Computer? - a
bible reading. No one has attempted to The Stow music centre was opened. basic navigation
22
emulate Urquhart’s achievement since.
of the keyboard,
Hale School lost its traditional grass tennis 1983 the screen and
instructions on
courts, replaced by plexipave courts. Two Haleians were intimately involved in the login and logout 1988
America’s Cup success at Newport, Rhode Island procedures.
1979 in the United States. John Longley [1953-63] was a Headmaster Ken Tregonning announced his retirement. In an interview he stated
that his tenure had been marked by ‘… a gradual enrichment rather than marked
Western Australia celebrated its sesqui- Director of the ‘Australia’ challenge and Newton 1988 innovations … ‘. He went on to say, emphasising continuity as well as change, ‘you
centenary Roberts [1937-42] was a member of the support crew. Old Boy Peter don’t get true wisdom without tradition’. There have been many additions to the
23
Tim M E Davis Dowding becomes School during Tregonning’s tenure but, probably more crucial than bricks and mortar
Hale School’s fifth in the School’s metamorphosis, the School had enjoyed a twenty-two year period of
Premier of the stability, overseen with a certain sagacity of style and humanity. Tregonning’s legacy was
state. that Hale School stood on firm foundations, ready for whatever was to come.
21 Ken Tregonning interview in ‘Profile’ (1982), The Western Mail
22 A full account of the Tim Urquhart bible reading in Edgar, From Slate to Cyberspace, 23 Ken Tregonning in Edgar, From Slate to Cyberspace, p. 323.
pp 320-321