Bob Kirk organises Goulburn High School reunion for 1962-67 years

Despite the odd caning for "misbehaviour," Cr Bob Kirk fondly recalls his time at Goulburn High School. Now he's organising a reunion of the 1962 to 1967 cohort.

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The year 1962 was significant for the introduction of the Wyndham education scheme. It allowed primary school students to progress, without examination, to a maximum six years of secondary education if they wished.

"I and a lot of others were in that first year of the Wyndham Scheme. It's 60 years since it started and I think it's a good excuse to get together," Cr Kirk said.

The lunchtime reunion will be held on Thursday, May 19, with a venue to be decided based on numbers. It may also incorporate a school tour.

Cr Kirk said there had been several reunions over the years, the most recent in March, 2021 in Canberra, which he and several other Goulburn-based ex-students "gatecrashed."

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He's promoting this year's gathering on social media but is keen to enlist more than the current 27 acceptances.

In 1962, there were up to 200 students in each year, split across four classes.

"It was absolutely a formative time," Cr Kirk said.

He recalled his former economics teacher, Ron Butterworth, now in his nineties, the English master and former principal, the late Jack Plews, the late Ross Banwell, who taught woodwork and metalwork, and science teacher, Fred Ring.

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Then there was Mathematics teacher, Brian Smith.

"We had the up and down blackboards in those days," Cr Kirk said.

"Brian would write all his figures on one board, pull the other down, use that up and when he ran out of room he'd write on the wall."

The school also had a cadet unit, with Keith Wilson as officer in charge.

Some of Cr Kirk's classmates included Bruce Hammond, who later married co-student Cherilyn Jones. Michelle Cook, the mother of Sharks rugby league coach, Craig Fitzgibbon, was also in the year.

While many ex-students have left Goulburn, a handful have remained.

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After leaving school in 1965, Bob Kirk secured an apprenticeship with Ian Grant's barber shop in Auburn Street. He left a year later and started a long career with the Commonwealth Bank.

He hasn't seen some of his classmates in almost 60 years.

The reunion is open to anyone who joined the 1962-67 cohort or left during that time. Cr Kirk is also hoping to include a tour of Goulburn's new performing arts centre in the itinerary.

"It's a good chance to catch up with some old faces and share some memories," he said.

Anyone interested in attending can call him 0418 21 7520 or email rjkirk@bigpond.com

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