On the centenary of the Battle of Passchendaele, a campaign of World War I, former students of Singleton High School decided to flock together once again to commemorate the 55 years which have elapsed since many of us chose our own ‘path to tread’ once we had left school.
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Fifty seven former students and their partners answered the clarion call of ‘It’s Time’ to gather once more at the Golf Club to exchange reminiscences. We were sad that more of our teachers were unable to attend but at least Peggy Moore was able to call in despite being on duty as a volunteer at the Museum, it was so good to see her.
It was Jenni (nee Simpson) and her husband Peter Fagan who came the greatest distance from Cowra for the celebrations. Judy Thomas (nee Groves) journeyed from Port Stephens; Jean Moylan (Henderson) and her sister Carol from Newcastle; Max and I came from Tuncurry, near Forster, so did Linda and Errol Burley; Audrey Lockwood (nee George) from Denman; Rosemaree Knight, one of our chief organisers, came from her home on Lake Macquarie at Wyee Point; Colin and Helen Wake from Walcha and of course there were substantial numbers of locals both from within the town and the outlying regions.
Peter Naglost was there. He was born in Croatia, arriving in Singleton in 1949, his family contributing to the magnificent melting pot that was post-war Australia.
Warkworth, where I lived for 20 years on the banks of the Cockfighter Creek, was well-represented in the form of Lynette (Andrews) Harris and her husband, Stewart, who grew up at Bulga; Diana (Partridge) Heuston, now deeply involved in the Singleton & District Historical Society; Audrey (George) Lockwood, a volunteer journalist on the ‘Denman News’; Judy (Groves) Thomas, who has retired and lives at Port Stephens; Jan (Stokes) Merrick, also retired and lives in town and David Moore, not exactly from Warkworth, but a veteran of the Jerry’s Plains bus, attended the festivities and stayed the length of the proceedings.
We were honoured that two former school captains were in our midst, in the form of Diana Heuston (Partridge) and Neil Chapman.Thanks to Hope Hardy and Rosemaree Knight for their organisational abilities by enthusiastically rounding us all up.
Unfortunately, we did note some absent friends like Moose, Goose and Loose Morris; Tubby Eather; Stalky Rowe; Froggy Gardiner, Swill Pearce; Bloodnut Bailey and Purdie Castledine. Was this an early form of discrimination that, as far as I know, girls didn’t have such fabulous nicknames as the boys?
Wendy Borchers AM
