OCTOBER long weekends are often the time when reunions reign – and Tamworth this weekend will see more than 130 former students who started at Tamworth High School (THS) in 1972 reunited.
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The roll call of THS bodies is for those who joined the Willis St campus back then and went through the next few years, with the graduating class of 1977 winding up that era.
According to one of the organisers, Vicki Quinn (nee Wells), ex-students living in Tamworth will be joined by former classmates from around Australia.
There are even a few flying in from overseas to attend – including special guest Pernille Storr from Denmark.
She was better known as Penny and was the foreign exchange student in years 11 and 12.
“It is an awesome effort by these travellers,” Ms Quinn said.
“Strong bonds and friendships were definitely formed at THS during the ’70s.”
The reunion will be held at the Pirates Rugby Club tonight – and tomorrow morning brings a barbecue breakfast, followed by a walk around Tamworth High with current principal Daniel Wilson.
While there’s likely to be no shortage of stories that will prompt a flood of memories, there may just also be some candid chat about uniforms and the daily teacher inspections for the lengths of dresses. Those were the days.
The Leader in August 1977 actually ran a story and photo about the new-look Tamworth High uniforms.
Twelve students lined up in all their glory and the paper reported it was about the uniforms showing a change in outfit for senior boys.
Ray Tolley wore a white shirt with his uniform, a change being phased in to differentiate seniors from juniors, who would continue to wear blue shirts, we said.
The uniforms were being introduced that term and the next.
That’s our photo (above) with the then-Angela Smith in junior sports, Mark Gray in senior summer, Therese Moore in senior summer, Ray Tolley in senior winter, Sharon Ford in senior winter, Sarah Whitehorn in senior sports, Gary Swalwell in senior sports, Joanne Martin in official winter, Graham Byrne in junior winter, Jane MacWilliam in extra optional, Stewart Pyne in junior summer and Linda Janson in junior summer girls’ uniform. And archives show that when Year 12 graduated in 1977, principal Barry Ainsworth presented sporting blues to Donna Davis for netball, Malcolm Lyttle for volleyball, Colin Trickett for volleyball, Chris Wallington for water polo and rugby league and Douglas Wasson for volleyball.
There were some 94 students named in the Year 12 roll call. Early the following year, Mr Ainsworth would announce the dux for that year had been Malcolm Lyttle, with Tracie Taylor second and Paul Kerr third.
Among some other prizewinners were Robyn Lockwood for leadership, Carolyn Dunlop for citizenship, John Stuart for service, Jennifer Battle for public speaking, Robert Love for best senior actor, Donna Lowe for best senior actress and Debbie Walker for contribution to senior school.
For more information about this weekend’s reunion contact Vicki Quinn on 0427 628 481.
