4 minute read
The hard-fought battle for a high school in Frankston
FRANKSTON High School turns 100 on February 12 2024!
We take our large local schools for granted nowadays but they haven't always been here. While primary schools were established fairly quickly, (incidentally Frankston Primary School aka Davey Street turns 150 this year) the push to establish schooling for older students took some time.
This was largely due to the prevalent opinion that most young people would be better off working and it was seen as the employer's responsibility to teach them the necessary skills for their particular job. There was also a bit of a bias against children from working class backgrounds....what did they need an education beyond Grade 6 for?
But Frankston mothers refused to accept this. They began to lobby the Education Department to insist that a secondary school be built in the area. A referendum was held by the Shire of Frankston & Hastings (combined population in 1921 of 3843!) and a majority of 560 voted to hand land in Cranbourne Rd over to the Education Department.
The new Minister of Public Instruction, Sir Alexander Peacock, was 'ambushed' on his way back from holidaying in Portsea to hear the latest about Frankston's efforts to build a secondary school.
But the fight was worth it.
Frankston High School opened at The Masonic Hall in Young Street on February 12, 1924, with a total enrollment of 64 pupils. But conditions were Spartan. There were no desks, no blackboards, no inkwells and the children had to sit on rough benches till the furniture arrived.
There were three forms, with two classes being taught in the one room, separated by a material divider. Mr Chapman was the Headmaster. He was an ex-officer from WW1 and evidently was very 'military' in his bearing.
The hall was tin on the outside, painted cream, with just dirt surrounding the building.
By the end of 1924 80 pupils attended FHS and additional premises were rented. The Rechabite Hall in Thompson Street was used for typing classes. Bond's Market, on the corner of Wells and Thompson Streets, was a classroom four days a week and a fruit and vegetable market on Friday!
(Source: "Optima Semper Frankston High School 1924-94" by Mary A Evans, Heather Murray, & Jenny Evans. 1995)
DURING the 1970's the school ran a weekly dance called Epicurus which was unique in that it was organised by students. It ran successfully for quite a few years till the advent of disco spelt its demise.
The amazing thing is that groups like ACDC performed there! The story evidently goes that the organising committee was fearful that the night that ACDC played would be crashed by the local sharpies, but one of the leaders of the "gang" convinced everyone to behave and the night proceeded smoothly.
They had over 600 young kids attend, and the band was paid the outrageous price of $250!
A BOOK celebrating 100 Past students of Frankston High to be launched at the school on Thursday March 21.
Ex-student and past staff member Sue Robinson has written a book showcasing 100 past pupils of Frankston High as part of the Centenary celebrations of the school.
The book celebrates some well known exstudents such as: Sir John Holland: founder of Holland Construction. Dr Ruth Bishop: joint discoverer of the Rota virus. Mal Walden: well known Melbourne TV journalist. Bill Pratt: founder of Pratt's Stores that were among the first modern supermarkets in the Frankston area. Paul A Bottomley: joint inventor of the MRI machine. Campbell Bolwell: founder of the iconic Bolwell sportscar. Stephanie Alexander: famous restauranter and cooking writer, The book also documents the changing face of Frankston High, from a small cohort of children schooled in a rudimentary hall to the huge establishment that it is today.
The book will be available for purchase later in March from the school.
