Name Helen Lee
Subjects We learned
Science, Art, Maths, English, Culture. I liked Science
because of the experiments, it was great burning the
burners.
I
didn’t like English, I was not good at it.
Teachers I only got on with a few
teachers. Errol Prince and Margaret Geike were helpful and down-the-line. They
kept on pushing us.
Culture Culture was part of school.
The elders from the community taught us – they are now deceased. We did
traditional dancing. I went to Areyonga, some students went to Toowoomba.
Discipline Discipline was
very, very strict. No students at all were allowed to walk out of the school
yard. Other rules were to respect others, no teasing, same as now. We had to
line up at the assembly area in class groups. We didn’t have the national
anthem.
For
punishment, when I was very naughty I got the cane. That was my first and last
cane. Now, discipline should be strict too.
Friends I had 3 special
friends – Jane McDonald, one now deceased and Christine Curtis. I’ve kept in
touch with them.
We
did things like girls are doing now. We used to hold hands, skip along the road
holding hands. Heaps of times we had arguments.
Clothes Everyone had to wear a
uniform. The dress was checkered red and white, 2 pockets. We wore black shorts
and red T-shirt when other communities used to come and compete. I think it’s a
good idea to wear uniforms. I’ve always been proud to wear uniforms.
After school no one wore
shorts, it was all skirts and dresses. Our parents chose our clothes. Today
girls dress is outrageous, that’s my opinion.
Sports
and games For sport we
played soccer, softball, basketball, netball and athletics. I liked soccer the
most. We had competitions in Katherine. Our Principal, Holt Thompson, used to
take us in. Best ones at sport? Everyone excelled at their own level. Finny was
good and represented the NT quite a few times.
Excursions and Entertainment I remember when the movie Grease was out, secondary students went
to the old Drive-in theatre in Katherine. That was my first outing.
Buildings and Equipment Some buildings got
demolished. My first pre-school was a tin shed where the council is. We had
silver bullet caravans all around the school.
Play
equipment is modern now. We played on monkey bars and one that spins around and
see-saws. There were no computers, we just used our
exercise books.
Reflections I don’t think anything
bothered me when I was growing up. My family vas a very poor family and I was
happy with what I got. The community was so relaxed,
there was nothing to worry about. Everyone was close and looked after each
other. Now, I definitely worry about young people, things like drugs, alcohol
and attendance at school.
One sad moment was when our soccer boys
went to Katherine, and one boy died in a bus accident.
I remember a funny time when I wagged
school and went down to the old crossing. Three of us went down and we got caught
by the Principal. We went under the water thinking we would stay for a very
long time but we didn’t. I remember he pulled our ears.
Advice to My personal opinion is for
the students to continue on with their
young people education and take
every opportunity they can. As I said, I wished
I’d stayed
on.