'Not for ourselves alone' school reunion

Hi Babyboomers and in particular my former high school mates

School reunions are fun / confronting / interesting / but most of all, they make one realise how much time has passed.  I'm not going to mention it publicly as I am in denial, even though if you go to www.babyboomerconnections.com.au and read the 'Memoirs of a Babyboomer', you will get a fair idea. 

No-one mentioned the piano accordian
I was required to play at school functions.
Best forgotten perhaps!
What is the definition of a great accordian player?
Answer - One who is a great player of the accordian
but doesn't.

Enough time has passed to mould our lives into a rich and complex tapestry, with more than two generations  adding the colourful threads of their lives.  The two lunch tables of lovely women exchanged  details and empathy re those years, mainly about relationships, past work and present day retirement. 

I didn't count, but there seemed to be many of us who pursued the teaching path,(which by the way, has held me in good stead in rocky times and involves me still in the joy of relating to children).   My theory as to why I became a teacher, is because of the expectations of the girls' school we attended.  In those days, you were encouraged to be a teacher / nurse / secretary - going to University wasn't explored in depth.   If ever you strayed towards being less than compliant, the threat was that you wouldn't be eligible for a Teachers College Scholarship.  The teachers were good role models and at a time when the social fibre for women was changing, we were encouraged to achieve our best potential, even though it seemed to be limited at that stage. 

I took Home Economics as a subject, and I'm really thankful for the practical background it gave me.  To this day, I am an avid cook, was a competent dressmaker, and still use many of the basic principles I learnt then.  These are skills which are meaningful, useful, and fulfilling and I believe they are neglected today.

One of my memories, is of being late and having to go to the headmistress (can't remember her name but she was scary) who said to me, " Your hair is a very strange colour."  Which was unfortunate because it was actually my natural blonde colour!   I add here that, I made my own school uniform and had adjusted the design slightly to make it more alluring. 
Another, was of Miss ....., Help  - with severely dyed black hair, cut in a dramatic bob with short fringe - English teacher who acted out so many of our texts.  One in particular, was "We of the Never Never", where she acted out the scene where cup handles were threaded on her fingers as the character adjusted to colonial life.

I must have been going through a time where how I looked was important (possibly nothing has changed), when I was distracted from class by looking at my nails.  She said, "My nails, my nails, by beautiful nails, my interest in you never fails, I dream about you day and night and sometimes even take a bite."

They were good times and there was a good sound background.  We were lucky and to this day, I would recommend a single sex school.


I have been actively  working on what makes for a successful retirement through the blog, which documents day by day events and ideas.  What I have come up with beyond the need to keep active etc  is fairly simple - mainly that we need to work on this period of life and not just let it happen; to be interested and engaged in something which makes you want to get up in the morning; and social interaction beyond just the family. 

I would be interested in your thoughts.

I have posted the photos - a bit fuzzy for some reason, probably the lighting -  but that's OK.  I quite like 'fuzzy' these days!


Thanks for the memories     

Cheers Clara         

To view or add comment, click on comments at bottom of page  - it's easy to scroll down and choose 'anonomous' in the "comment as' box - or send an email - clara@babyboomerconnections.com.au or visit my website at www.babyboomerconnections.com.au