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Douglas McKirdy (Class of 1959) Did you know that CBC Fremantle had a Junior School? Located on Tuckfield Street overlooking the river, the campus housed Years 5 to 8, with students transferring to Ellen Street to finish their senior years at the College. The site was purchased in 1981 when Our Lady of the Missions High School for girls closed its doors due to low enrolments and CBC Old Boy Mr Doug McKirdy was appointed Deputy Principal of the Junior School to ensure a smooth introduction for the initiative.
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building that had originally been a girls’ boarding school, along with two large classroom blocks, built in 1969 and 1975. There was limited space for the young boys to burn off their excess energy, so Mr McKirdy struck a deal to lease the oval next door for the sum of one shilling a year. In return, the College fenced and reticulated the adopted playground to provide security and comfort for the students.
The Music programme owes a lot to Mr McKirdy’s enthusiasm for liberating education, but first there was the matter of the cohort of Year 12 students from the recently closed school who were welcomed into the CBC Leavers’ class to finish their high school studies. Eighteen girls graduated from CBC in 1982, joining the ranks of the Old Boys and remaining stalwart supporters of our Alumni Association to this day.
But it was the Music programme initiatives that is the legacy of the enterprising Deputy Principal. Although there were no funds for a Music teacher, Mr McKirdy consulted with parents who were willing to pay a small fee, resulting in the appointment of Mr Uwe Stengel. The highly respected WA jazz musician commenced at the Junior campus in 1982 and taught many talented CBC boys, including international trumpeter, composer and vocalist, Adam Hall, and current Head of the Arts and saxophone maestro, Shane Mancuso.
After negotiating this unique arrangement, Mr McKirdy then dusted off his hands to address the limitations of the Tuckfield Street site. The campus consisted of a two-story federation
With limited funds, in 1985 Mr McKirdy approached Eileen Bond for financial assistance. With the promise that the CBC musicians would perform outside
touchstone Vol 9 No 1 Winter 2021
