STAFF, PARENTS & STUDENTS REFLECTIONS

Classic Student Comments Over The Years

Canberra excursion 1989. Teacher Liz Howe diplomatically exiting a boutique in Belconnen Mall with a Year 6 student who had just tried on a $500 cocktail dress?

A query some days after a lesson on the thesaurus – ‘can I please borrow that dinosaur book again?’

(Liz Howe/Sasha Free) Remember!

At a combined Primary School’s Church service at St. Michael’s church many years ago - Grant Moon fainted and Wayne Bradley and Adrian Parker were seeking some water.

Honni Goulding (Allan) remarked: “are Mr Parker and Mr Brad trying to christen him?”

Sydney excursion – night bus trip around inner Sydney/ Kings Cross.

‘Hey Mr. Brad – “there’s one on that corner and (later)” LOOK - there’s another one over there.”

Mr Brad – trying to salvage what he thought was going to be a delicate situation – “what’s that Johnny? “ (what other name could be used!)

Reply – “ Macca’s restaurants Mr Brad – they’re everywhere”!

~ Wayne Bradley

Would love to be there this weekend! Missed the 25th anniversary in 1997 - heavily pregnant. Made it to Bendigo in October 2022 – stopped by floods/postponed/ sadly not to be. Left Deni on Monday 21st March 2023 after returning for a beautiful wedding. Have to hang in there for the 75th celebrations!

Lovely memories of Edward. Kids wanting to play on the ‘hill.’ What hill? George and his beautiful art work.

Hamburger Wednesdays – a Parker ‘Whopper’ Burger with the lot - including a chocolate frog on the top. Productions! That hall looks so small now!

Anthony Bradley kicking me in the ankle when I ‘escorted’ him back to Kinder after recess. He’d decided half a first day at Kinder was enough for his school career and he’d rather go home with mum after she finished canteen duty.

Mr Parker carrying me to his car and taking me home when I became very ill at school one day!

Ever smiling Mrs Smith in the office. Not to mention the lovely kids, many of whom keep in touch. I could go on but won’t...a special time, a special place and always a place in my heart. ~

Michelle Stenner

My first year at Edward was 1989. I have so many wonderful memories of my six years there.

Kids fantastic, staff the best and a most supportive group of parents.

It was a time of so many changes in education with school based budgeting, school councils, introduction of K-6 staffing, and the beginnings of sponsorship.

That all paled into insignificance compared to important issues such as Edward production, school fete, computer room, bike ride to Steven’s Weir, camps and excursions. Best wishes to the Edward School community on another 50 years of fantastic public education. ~ Jim Wiblen

I remember when we broke the Guinness Book of Records for the most people skipping at one time. ~ Sarah

Young

So many memories - school productions, sports days, excisions to Canberra and Borambola, penny crust at the canteen (Rosie), the school fountain (falling in). I remember every one of my year teachers, the massive library and school hall, the basketball courts and cricket nets, Jump Rope for Heart, some lifelong friendships, riding to school every day, Mario’s corner store, serious games of end to end footy and British Bulldog, some schoolyard scraps, hiding from the dental nurse when she walked into your classroom - it all helped shape who I am today and it was brilliant. Happy Birthday Edward! ~ Sam

Hall

One story that springs to mind was back when I was captain, Merv Bennett hurt his back and was unable to do the sprinklers on the sports ovals, so it was my job to put the sprinklers out and move them around. One day the pump over at the lagoon near Mario’s became blocked with mud. So Mr Parker grabbed me out of class got a pair of shorts out of lost property, and over we went. Down the pump well up to my neck in water, pulling mud out of the pipe by hand. Once we finished he hosed me down over near the water wheel to clean off the mud. It was a different world back then. Imagine doing that now.

~

Chris Mitsch

The three years of Edward on Edward music concert. Watching the fantastic performances of our talented local musicians, many of whom were Edward students.

Scott Mildren

For a long time Kinders had their annual excursion to local farms. We visited the piggery and were able to cuddle new piglets. We saw honey being extracted and cows being milked. We always ended with a visit to Helen Dann’s place to see her horses. It was there that we were fortunate enough to witness a Shetland pony give birth to a foal right in front of the entire Kinder group. It caused great excitement. I’m sure those kids will remember it forever.

~ Jo Evans

I remember a swimming carnival one year when Bill Vernon swam under water for 2 and a half laps in the big pool.

The 5 cent penny crust was a favourite at the canteen with Rosie Borden running the show and the parents volunteering their time.

Cold rainy days all huddled in the auditorium around the gas heaters, eating a pie that turned up in a washing basket in a brown paper bag with your name on it in texta, that’s if you were lucky enough to get your order in the morning. The hall seemed massive back then!

The furnace outside the Kindy rooms! Not sure if that would be allowed these days.

One year at the school fete there was a car that was beaten up by the parents with sledge hammers between the sand pit and bbq. I remember Macca Oddy as one of them! They started off pretty quick, but soon ran out of puff.

Adrian Parker and building the 4 x 2 coffee table with tile tops. So 80s. Still got mine!

Not sure of any school that had a school dentist? But we had one. ~

Bernard Marshall

(80-87) Kindy to Year 6

I remember having a hot air balloon at the school fete. When in trouble having to stand on the wall. Rhys Westcott chasing bearded dragon’s on the back oval every lunch. Sleeping in tents in the pouring rain in Canberra. Ride-a-thon were always a favorite.

~ Anthony Bradley

My favourite memories of Edward School would have to be the fabulous staff who made coming to school everyday feel like fun with friends not work.

~ Georgia Jacobs

Remembering the bike ride to Stevens Weir. When I was told, my immediate thoughts turned to farm machinery, local traffic, hoons etc amid our students, including our smallest members of the school. But the organisation was superb with road closures, signs and an abundance of parental support assisting in what was wonderful community spirit. Bob Armitage driving the SAG wagon and Des looking after the stragglers, I couldn’t help but be impressed. It culminated with a picnic and, strangely, some students even decided to ride back to school - from memory it was 20km. Reflecting on it now, I don’t suppose it would be possible today and maybe children of today are the poorer. The staff were simply outstanding, promoting bike safety in a very practical manner.

The school productions had to be the most memorable moments! Everyone put so much effort into them! I distinctly remember every one, from Kinder where I was Glinda the Good Witch from the Wizard of Oz and my final year 6 production Spirit of the Anzacs.

~ Ella Harvey

~ Dennis Burton

Teaching at Edward has been a wonderful experience and I wouldn’t change anything from the fantastic kids great staff and school community.

Having my own three children enjoy the inclusive education offered at Edward provided them with great foundations as they now have successful, enjoyable careers. As parents, Craig and I loved the strong community spirit of the school and the many life long friendships we made.

So much that Craig, along with Glenn Barnett was awarded life membership of the P&C in 2010. From fun sporting trips, memorable excursions, productions that were like Broadway musicals.

Receiving the Director Generals award for performing arts was a highlight.

So many happy times as a staff member and parent that will always be special.

~ Karen Druitt

The kind and caring community of Edward School at all times. Our Year 6 trip to Canberra when one of the students was left in the mint! All our cross country trips.

~ Felicity Walmsley

“Where are you going Mrs Bowie?” said a Kindergarten student a few years ago. “I’m going out to playground duty”, I replied. “But where is Playground Judy ? Where is she? I want to meet her!”

~ Deb Bowie

The Digit Dick novel Mr Lutton read to us all took us all to another world of adventure. Penny crust and sunny boys at Rosie’s canteen was a hit, and the slush puppy machine at the fete was the best. When Mrs Stenner left and went to South we told her the big bad wolf would never blow Edward down as it was made of bricks. Best days of my life. ~ Clint Free

Many years spent helping out at P&C fundraising efforts at Conargo Mother’s Day markets! Great fun with families and staff cooking burgers and sausages and selling hundreds of cakes to grateful families so they had something to give Mum on Mother’s Day! Many of us still make those cake recipes today. ~

Christina Mildren

So sorry to be missing this reunion. Loved my time at EPS with the fabulous staff kids and parents that I met there. Hope you all post heaps of photos. I’ll be looking on from NZ. ~ Kim Roebuck

Wishing you all the best for a fantastic weekend of celebrating. I was a teacher at Edward from 1979 to 1983, approximately, and have so many fond memories. Mr Parker was the principal and Mrs Kirby was the infants mistress. I would have loved to have been there.

Congratulations ~Sue Lyons

Sadly, I am not able to attend either. So many memories. I love seeing the photos: the who, when, where and why.

~ Ingrid Hampton