Bundaberg State High School

THE BIRTH OF THE SCHOOL

In 1911 the Queensland Government introduced a scheme of free secondary education. Provision was made in the year's estimates for establishment, during 1912, of several State High Schools around the State.

It was proposed to establish the high schools in towns where there were no existing grammar schools (the government intended to take over the existing grammar schools at a later date - thereby making secondary education free throughout the state).

These new high schools were not to be residential, as were the grammar schools; but it was expected that the standard of education offered would be the equal of that found in the existing institutions.

As a result of these proposals, six high schools were opened; one at each of Bundaberg, Charters Towers, Gympie, Mackay, Mount Morgan and Warwick. Free secondary education was also offered at Childers, Gatton and Herberton where "High-tops" were attached to the existing primary schools.

For a school sharing the honour of being one of the state's first high schools, Bundaberg State High had an unpretentious beginning - an old building on the river bank; a very small area of land; a staff of three; a moderate enrolment; and neither official opening nor speeches by town dignitaries to mark its inception. 

Bundaberg State High School opened on 1st January, 1912 in premises initially erected for the Sugar Bureau on land bordered by the Burnett River, Maryborough Street and Quay Street. The building - an old sugar laboratory known locally as "Dr Maxwell's Sugar laboratory", and which was now a wing of The Technical College - was adjacent to the butter factory.

In order to conduct a qualifying exam for prospective pupils, the Head Teacher, Mr. B.H.C. Krone had to borrow tables, forms and writing materials from the Technical College.

The exam, held on 29th January, 1912, was attempted by 97 candidates, of whom 61 (31 boys and 30 girls) were successful. Mary Simpson of Central Girls School topped the list, while the highest placed boy was Herbert Crow of Central Boys School. A further 11 students of advanced standing (including one who had passed The Sydney Junior Examination, one from The Maryborough Grammar School, and nine who had recently sat for the Queensland Junior

 Examination whilst students of the local Technical College Day School) presented themselves for admission.

The School formally opened on 31st January, 1912, with an enrolment of 59. By the end of the first quarter the number had risen to 76, and at the end of twelve months the school boasted a population of 90. The average number of students for 1912 was officially quoted as "64.7".

One of the original pupils was H.G. Watkin, who was later to become Director General of Education for Queensland. He was the first of a long list of pupils of the School who were to make outstanding contributions in academic, cultural and sporting pursuits and in the service of their communities.

Besides Mr. Krone, the school staff consisted of the Science Master, Mr. Jacob Christensen, B.Sc. (later to be in charge of the Technical College for many years), and Miss Grace Hodge, M.A. who had returned to Australia from a brilliant university career overseas.

At the time there was only one course, the Professional or Academic Course; and subjects taught included English, Latin, French, German, Mathematics, Algebra, Geometry, Physics and Chemistry .

For sport the school offered tennis for girls and cricket for boys, although initially there was no land set aside for sporting activities. Vacant land opposite the school, adjoining the old Labour Bureau, was to be acquired for use as a playing area.

Because of the school's position, pupils often arrived in the horse drawn cart which brought the daily supplies of milk to the nearby butter factory.

With the outbreak of World War I, many students enlisted or were required in other areas and the enrolment initially dropped, going as low as 80; although, when things became more settled, enrolments stabilised, and later began to rise again.

In 1916, Mr. John Baird joined the staff, a position he was to hold till his retirement in 1962. His 46 years of continuous service in the one school is surely an achievement hardly likely to be matched elsewhere in the State. By 1916, it was obvious that the limited space and shared facilities at the combined High SchooI/Technical College site were posing quite serious problems for both branches of education. With the problem of space as the catalyst, the whole question of the future of post primary education in Bundaberg was opened up to a great deal of public scrutiny and conjecture.

For the next five years the topic was the subject of much public comment in the press; many meetings of both Town and Shire Councils; numerous delegations to the Minister and Departmental Under-Secretary; investigations by the Technical College Committee; departmental and ministerial visits and inspections; and a quite vigorous letter writing campaign.

In March 1916, as a result of representations made to the Minister of Public Instruction the Under-Secretary wrote to the Secretary of the Bundaberg Technical College Committee, Mr. W.G. Lewis, suggesting "that in view of the future requirements of your college it is open to doubt whether the existing site is sufficiently large for the purpose . . . . (and) . . . . that it might be better to consider the whole question of erecting suitable buildings on the 'Grammar School Reserve' . . . . and not to proceed with further expenditure. . . . on the existing site".

As it had been the policy of the Department of Public Instruction, wherever possible, in towns the size of Bundaberg, to avoid the expense of running separate technical colleges and high schools by establishing combined institutions, it now looked as if Bundaberg State High was to have a new home.

The Grammar School Reserve, situated in South Bundaberg, north of the Lady Chelmsford Hospital, consisted of some 6 hectares about I km from the railway station and was bordered by the railway line and Maryborough Street.

On 9th March, 1916, the Minister and the Under-Secretary visited Bundaberg and met a deputation led by Mr. G.P. Barber M.L.A. At this meeting the Minister was informed by the Technical College Committee and parents of college students "that for technical college purposes The Grammar School Reserve was too remote" (and that as) "most of the classes were night classes and were attended by comparatively young boys and girls (and as) The Grammar School Reserve was used as a camping ground by undesirable characters and there was a possibility that the girls particularly might be interfered with, it was certain. . . . that if an attempt were made to put the technical college on The Grammar School Reserve parents would strenuously object".

The deputation also informed the Minister that in view of the urgent necessity for additional accommodation they wanted the new technical college block erected at once, and that they preferred it to be done on the site which had been reserved for Technical college purposes.

Faced with this opposition, the department investigated the possibility of two separate institutions, with the high school moving to the Grammar School Reserve and the Technical College remaining where it was. In anticipation of the adoption of this plan, the Department of Public Instruction wrote to the Under-Secretary of the Department of Public Lands on 13th March, 1916 requesting the Grammar School Reserve be vested in the Department of Public Instruction for use as the site of a new High School.

Thus it now seemed the high school was destined to be sited on land of which Mr. Krone was to say - ''as a piece of land it was practically the village tip" (although he did qualify this by saying "but since then, of course, it was altered"); and which was viewed by locals as little more than a swamp, on which ti-tree served as a screen for regular "two-up" games.

The relocation of the high school was not to happen for a number of years, however, for after weighing up the cost of building and running separate institutions it was decided that a more favourable solution was to have plans drawn for the building of a new wing on the technical college. This wing was to house high school classes during the day and technical college classes at night.

Until the new wing was constructed, classes continued under much the same conditions as before. In fact, in 1917, Mr. Morris, the Superintendent of Technical Education, was sent to investigate further complaints of overcrowding, and what were termed "certain differences" between the two institutions.

Morris detailed some areas of concern and drew attention to the fact that "no lavatory accommodation is available for the boys or girls of the High School; there is no teacher's room, and no room in which the principal may interview parents (and that) when the High School was inaugurated, the full requirements were not provided".

He went on further to state that "students of the High School use the sinks in the Chemical Laboratory for washing; and sometimes even the beakers and measuring glasses are used as drinking cups"; a practice, he commented, "that as well as being dangerous . . . . seriously interferes with the work of the Technical College Sugar Chemical classes".

Although highlighting many problems, Morris's report was to be a severe blow to the chances of a separate, relocated high school, for he stated that as there were only 60 students on the high school roll, and as a new secondary school was soon to be built by the Christian Brothers, the department would not be justified in proceeding with a new high school. He also said that the high school could be separated from the technical college quite inexpensively by screwing up the door leading from the chemical laboratory and erectIng a 3m x 3m lattIce screen on the verandah. To render the building more suitable for high school purposes a number of minor alterations were suggested.

In 1918 a large influx of high school students at both the beginning of the year and at the half year rendered the existing accommodation insufficient, and two new classrooms were to be constructed. A report on the buildings in September 1918 suggested, however, that the position would need further consideration as early as in six month's time.

Further problems were to appear in early 1919, for, with the inauguration of the Commercial Junior Examination, the onus of providing a full course of instruction in Commercial subjects was thrown onto the high school. Again a stop gap solution was found by having the Technical College teachers paid to do the work; but it was obvious that the High School would soon have to accept its full responsibilities.

During 1919, the campaign to have a new high school built was stepped up. On the 25th March, the Woongarra Shire Council wrote to the Minister urging him to have the school built, suggesting that not only was "this building urgently required" but also "if it could be put in hand it would help to release the unemployed"; while on the 2nd April a deputation of the Mayor and Aldermen of Bundaberg waited on the Minister and laid before him the claim that the High School would not be able to take its rightful place in the eyes of the people of Bundaberg until it was "housed in a building in keeping with the importance of the work to be undertaken’'.

In May 1919, another deputation, led by Mr. Barber presented Departmental official Mr. H.F. Hardacre with the views that a high school was urgently needed, and that the proposed additional wing on the Technical College would be totally unsuitable. They further argued, that, if it was still departmental policy to have combined Technical Colleges and High Schools, the committee now wished to see a beginning made on a building for both purposes to be sited on the Grammar School Reserve (the deputation stated that the previous objection to the area on the grounds that the neighbourhood was infested by undesirables had now vanished).

To further enhance their suggestion the deputation added that there would be no great loss to the Department since the existing Technical College buildings could be used for State Public Service Offices (such as Land Agent's Office, Shop and Factories Inspector's Office, and several others which were scattered over Bundaberg and for which rent was being paid).

Mr. Hardacre was quite happy with the new developments and promised to strongly recommend to the Treasurer, The Hon. E.G. Theodore, that the proposal to build the new complex be proceeded with.

Construction on the new High School buildings began very early in 1920. The concrete blocks on which the School buildings were to be built were already in place when the whole project came under severe threat.

In the first week of February the High School Committee (Mr. W .F Marshall, President; Mr. H.N. Thorburn, Secretary) was notified that the Railways Commissioner planned to erect a new locomotive depot on the School Reserve, as the North Bundaberg Depot was inadequate.

Public protests were made by various groups, including the Lady Chelmsford Maternity Hospital Committee, which administered the adjoining hospital. At a Public protest Meeting on the 18th February it was announced that the Railways Commissioner would seek another site for their depot and work on the new building resumed.

During 1920 Bundaberg was canvassed for donations to enable the new ground to be levelled and improved. Led by Mrs. R.J. Stringer and Mrs. C.M. Limpus the group was able to collect £150.00.

The work was well under way by August, 1920, but the decision as to whether the Technical College would also move had still not been made. By the 6th December, the new building was nearing completion and it was anticipated that it would be ready for opening in the New Year. On this date final recommendations were made and on the 9th December, 1920 approval was given that:

(i)         arrangements be made for the transfer of the High School to the new buildings;

(ii)         the matter of transferring the Technical College classes and placing them under the control of the Principal be deferred;

(iii)        the Works Department be informed as to the above and requested to arrange for the transfer from the old High School to the new buildings of the furniture, etc.

On the 20th December, 1920, the Bundaberg State High School was transferred to its new quarters - a site it was to occupy continuously until the present day. The decision to move the Technical College was deferred until a later date for a number of reasons, not the least of which was additional cost.

The new building had been built for a capacity of 180 students as follows

2 classrooms seating 40 pupils each        80

2 classrooms seating 32 pupils each        64

2 classrooms seating 18 pupils each        36

TOTAL  180

In addition the centre section of six classrooms had a male retiring room and a female retiring room, a Principal's office and a secretarial office. The eastern wing had a laboratory, a mechanics’ room, a music room and a storeroom. Rooms were provided in the western wing for book-keeping, domestic science, dressmaking and a storeroom. A detached building for a woodworking class was also provided. The builder was the Department of Public Works and the cost was £ 6,000.

The official opening of the new High School took place at a public ceremony on the 24th January, 1921. The Minister for Public Instruction, the Hon. A.J. Huxham, declared the buildings open. In his address, the Principal, Mr. Krone, revealed that the department had refused to provide a cricket pitch, although a tennis court might be put down. He announced that the school motto would be "Per Ardua ad Astra" (Through hard work to the stars). Mr. Krone suggested that this might be interpreted as "It's a rough road to the stars" or. "If you want to get to Heaven, WORK". Members of the High School Committee present included Messrs W .F. Marshall (Chairman), W.G. Lewis (Secretary), L.H. Maynard, G. Martens, G. Crooks, F. Kanmund, W. B. Alford, F. W. Faithful, R.C. Lister, H.N. Thorburn.

For the first term of that opening year, the staff consisted of the Principal, Mr. B.H.C. Krone, and seven assistants.

The enrolment was 106. Enrolment declined, for the average quoted for 1921 was "88.8".

A meeting of the Parents and Citizens Committee was held in the February of 1921 to discuss the question of sporting facilities. Mr. Krone stressed that a cricket pitch and a tennis court (preferably two) were needed. One pitch and one court would cost between £50 and £60. A women's committee was formed to canvass the town for subscriptions to a sporting equipment fund. By October, this committee had raised and spent upwards of £80 in improving and cultivating the grounds and buying and planting seed.

This prompted Mr. Krone to write to the Department in September, 1921, urging that a fence be placed on the western or railway side, to make the school secure "from the intrusion of goats and other small animals". He wrote "At present the goats are a bad nuisance, the concreted parts under the building became unsightly by reason of their visits; the pupils’ lunches are not safe from their depredations; there is no chance of planting trees while the danger of their mischief remains".

Mr. Conley, the Department's District Foreman, wrote in his report: "the verandahs, the buildings and the areas under the school are frequently in a filthy condition after a visit from the goats, not to mention the damage done." He recommended that approval be given for a secure fence to be constructed.

Finally, in November, 1921, approval was given for the work to proceed as soon as possible, "from a hygenic point of view alone".

Meanwhile electric lights and a telephone had been installed, and the school was connected to the main town water supply. The request for water tanks was not granted that year, although the Health Inspector described the town water supply as "although looking and smelling unpleasant, not dangerous". The "not dangerous" was noted and the request for water tanks to supply drinking water was denied.

1921 came to a close. A cricket pitch and two tennis courts were under way. The school flagpole had been moved from the Quay Street site to a prominent position in front of the new building. A fence had been erected to keep out the troublesome goats; landscaping had begun; grass seed sown. The Bundaberg State High School had begun a new phase in its development.

THE 20’S AND 30’S – THE SCHOOL TAKES SHAPE

The new High School looked likely to lose the services of Mr. Krone within one year of its official opening, for in October 1921, he wrote to the department asking for a transfer back to a position as Head Teacher of a primary school, stating that he did so because of "the inferior financial position of High School Heads and the want of prospects in the High School department of the service". The matter was, however, successfully resolved and he was to guide the school for a further eighteen years.

The direction in which the school was obviously headed can accurately be ascertained from the recollections of Mr. Krone when he says "The.School had not long been in operation when it became evident that the High School would have little place as the connecting link between the primary schools and the university. For some reason or other in Bundaberg they were not able to arouse much enthusiasm in the university. Parents very definitely put it to me that they sent their children to the High School with the idea of getting some secondary training which might fit them for some occupation in life".

The feelings of the parents were reflected in the numbers of students taking domestic science and woodworking. Such was the pressure that the building originally designed for both woodworking and domestic science soon was turned over to domestic science students only and the old building from the original Quay Street site was moved, in three pieces, to the High School grounds in 1925 to serve as a woodworking block.

Mainly as a result of this strong "vocational drive" attendances had continued to rise and by 1929 the average attendance was 155, compared to the 1916 average of 47.

In its first ten years of existence only 141 students stayed long enough to complete the Junior Course while a bare 10 passed the senior exam, or completed Matriculation requirements; and as late as 1931 the school could boast only 2 Senior and 21 Junior candidates.

It was not until Junior and Senior examinations were made the standard for various professions and semi-professional positions that numbers in the upper school increased significantly. This became evident when Junior passes were needed for entry to the Public Service and Senior passes for entry to institutions such as Teachers' College and for scholarships to universities.

Many people felt that it was only when the emphasis on Junior and Senior was greatly increased that the High School really started to occupy its rightful place as an educational institution within the Bundaberg Community.

SLOW DEVELOPMENT

High School attendances had actually started to decline from the peak in 1929 as the effects of the Depression became more widespread.

Other factors contributed greatly to the holding back of expansion in the High School section during the 1930's. The most important was the abolition of the High School entrance exam and the substitution of the Scholarship (a move with which Mr Krone obviously did not fully agree for he was to comment that the Scholarship requirement was "a little higher than it needed to be" and that "so many children would benefit from two or three years secondary schooling, even if they had no intention of going to University or entering the professions").

The rate of increase in High School numbers was to be affected too by the reduction of the period of study for Junior from three to two years.

A newly created section of the school, however, was showing a build up in numbers.

When the Education Department, in recognition of the value of higher education, raised the school leaving age, it became necessary to form intermediate schools to cope with the two classes before High School. Such a school, The Bundaberg Intermediate, became a separate part of the High School complex in 1933 bringing into the area another 146 students.

As the 1930's drew to a close the pace of change quickened.

The first Cooper Cup competition was introduced in 1938, with International footballer Noel Hazzard helping to bring home the cup for the first time.

Mr Krone retired after twenty-eight years of devoted teaching and Mr E.A. Loney, B.A. then became "Head".

Meanwhile, Australia was again at war and our school became much more involved. Uniforms, which had been introduced (navy box pleated pinafore, one or two inches below the knee, and white blouses, brown lisle stockings for High School girls; saxe blue pinafore and white blouse for Intermediate girls and boys similar to that of today) were soon forgotten with the introduction of clothes rationing. The old school took on a more sombre appearance with blackout paper on windows, sandbags in corridors and air raid trenches. Air raid drill was carried out regularly, but many of the girls preferred to take their chance with the enemy rather than share the trench with the horrid ugly toads lurking in the slushy mud in the bot tom.

Troop trains came past daily and lessons were often interrupted by enthusiastic troops, some waving their last "good-bye" en route to places overseas. American troops also began to arrive and often pulled up outside the school for a rest. Many an international friendship was sealed with chewing gum and bars of chocolates, luxury items unobtainable for the local kids. Many of our seniors left to join the forces, members of all services adding to the honours already gained by the school. These were very unsettled years with constant thoughts of invasion, evacuation and absent fathers and brothers posted to battle areas overseas. Slates were introduced to conserve paper.

POST WAR

THE SCHOOL CONSOLIDATES

With the passing of the war things slowly began to return to normal. During the early post war years the school was engaged in redefining its role in the education process and a number of significant changes were introduced (changes that were to become part of the "tradition" of the school).

In 1950 a system of interhouse competitions in all forms of sport and academic work was begun. This was quickly followed in 1951 by the decision to institute the awarding of "blues" for outstanding achievements in the field of sport (though no "blues" were awarded for athletics that year as the athletics carnival was not held due to a tragic outbreak of poliomyelitis which so drastically affected the town). Preceeding both, in 1949, the school conducted its first swimming carnival - an event held every year since.

In 1951 to commemorate the Commonwealth Jubilee the Mayor's Jubilee medals were presented. In the following year, to continue to highlight the role the school played in developing students as worthwhile members of society, and to reward students seen as outstanding examples for others, the Mayor of Bundaberg AId. F .H. Buss donated a Mayor's Medal for a boy and a girl (the recipients were to be selected along the lines of the Rhodes Scholarship). Such awards have been highly prized every year since their inception and many outstanding young men and women have been so honoured.

Meanwhile other "traditions" continued. The annual School Ball remained very popular and the Austral Hall was the scene of many memorable nights. The Past Students Association, solidly supporting the school as ever, continued the traditional links between the school and its former pupils though even to such a body, change would have to come in the "new era of the 50’s , and so It did, in 1951, when Miss Evelyn Lawrence became the first woman to hold the chair of the association.

The traditional links with the Mother country and the monarch that were fostered so strongly in schools were again brought to the fore when on two separate occasions in the early 1950's the School was able to participate In royal celebrations; firstly in 1953 when to honour the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II over 600 pupils took part in a public procession after previously having attended a coronation tree planting ceremony at school; and again, in 1954.when the Queen visited Bundaberg as part of her Australia tour.

From 1951 to 1956 the other major concern for the School community was the building of a school oval and Grandstand. Due to successful Industries Fairs and Fetes in 1951 and 1954 (supplemented by appeals for cash from parents and supporters) the projects were successfully completed.

Work began with City Council Machines levelling the oval in 1952. Then, bouyed by this initial success, the Committee started to plan for the erection of the £2 000 War Memorial Grandstand which was officially opened by AId F .H. Buss, M.B.E., Mayor of Bundaberg, on Saturday 6th October 1956.

Further extensions to the school were completed in 1956 when a new wing was added to the Domestic Science section.

In September 1955, the death occurred of the original principal Mr Krone. This was to be followed soon after by the retirement of only the second Princlpal Bundaberg State High School had had in its history, when Mr E.A. Loney retired on 31st December, 1957.

During Mr Loney's term of office, there were four Deputy Principals. First Deputy Principal was Mr G. Ward, B.A., Dip. Ed.; then came Mr R. Mackie, B.A., B.Ed., Mr. J.E. Bartholomew B.A. and Mr. M.J. Bourke, B.A. The old syllabus was taught with four straight courses offered - Professional, Commercial, Industrial or Domestic Science and a modified Commercial, known as Full Day Commercial. It was during Mr Loney's term that it was realised students must be groomed for taking their place in the outside world and many cultural activities were introduced, including concerts, art exhibitions and drama festivals. By this time, the uniform was again being enforced and pupils made aware of the school badge and motto introduced years earlier by Mr Krone.

It is fitting, then, that as a result of their commitment to the school Mr Krone and Mr Loney's names were to be remembered through the naming of two of .the houses Loney House and Krone House when the house system was instituted.

Further improvements to the school grounds were undertaken in late 1957 when the boys of the school constructed a turf cricket pitch - a fitting addition to the main oval, and one that nearly completed a project that had occupied the greater part of a decade.

Mr. G. Lockie had taken over as principal in 1958 just in time to see his new school take part in another "royal" occasion, for the Governor Sir Henry Abel Smith paid a short visit to Bundaberg in that year. The school administration was now a completely new team, for also in 1958 a new deputy, Mr T .B. Hamilton, had been appointed.

A new era in parent involvement in school life was now about to emerge for, in 1959, the inaugural Parents and Citizens Association was formed.

With memories of the achievement of the building of the oval and grandstand firmly etched in thelr.mlnds the new committee took the very far sighted and slightly dauntlng decision to commemorate the school’s 50th anniversary with the building of a memorial library in 1962 at an estimated cost of £10 000. As can be imagined the focus of their efforts until 1962 was fundraising.

The emphasis on cultural and service pursuits that had started with Mr Loney had now led to the school boasting a range of clubs including Art, Philately, Square Dancing, Chess, Drama, Red Cross, Photographs, Verse Speaking, Crusader's Union, Dressmaking, FIrst Aid, Choir and Cooking as well as a wide range of sports.

THE 60's - CHANGING TIME

Meanwhile " Alma Mater" had begun to change dramatically to cope with the number of students. Old D Block was remodelled and buildings El, E2, E3 and E4 were built. By 1962, the Memorial Library was completed. This was also the Golden Jubilee year and. a weekend of festivities and a roll call of original pupils, marked the occasion.

Significant changes were soon to be experienced in the area of staffing and curricula as well.

By now Mr J .E. Bartholomew was Principal and Mr J .H. Bowen B.A. was Deputy. For the next few years we lost "Heads;" quicker than they did in the French Revolution, and much too quickly for their individual ideas to be implemented. 1963 saw Mr G.T. Donohue, B.A., Acting Principal and Mr Pitt (our Mr Pitt, an ex-pupil) B.Sc., B.Ed. Acting Deputy.

For the first time Subject Masters were appointed to Bundaberg State High; and the subjects of English, Mathematics and Science were now to be under the direction of Messrs Bert Matthews, George Mellefont and Ron Pitt respectively.

Also for the first time a "modified" course of study was offered to students, and 35 pupils availed themselves of the opportunity to tackle work judged to be more at their level.

1964 saw no slackening in the pace of change. The school welcomed another Principal, when Mr A. Jones, a noted music lover, held the position for a short time; while in response to the increased emphasis that parents and the Community were placing on education, the number of students and the buildings needed to house them, like little Topsy, just "growed and growed".

Another chapter in the school's history had now closed, for on 6th December, 1963, the Intermediate Section of the Bundaberg State High School closed; its pupils and staff had merged into the new concept of grade eight being the beginning of High School. The section had opened on 18th April, 1933 with the top two grades of the Bundaberg South School. The following year pupils from all town and surrounding schools were admitted and the section started in 1934 with 315 students.

The number attending the Intermediate increased until in 1956 the decision was made to admit only students in the eighth grade as there had been major problems accommodatlng the number of students wishing to attend.

In its final two years only pupils from the Bundaberg Central School could be enrolled, and the staff consisted of three (including the long serving Mr A.C. Dixon).

It must have seemed strange to many that after having occupied, for 30 years, a unique position in the progression of children from primary to secondary education, the Intermediate was no more.

A totally new era in education was now about to unfold. For the first time in Queensland students in their eighth year of schooling were included in the Secondary sphere of education.

To cope with the new intake of students many ex-primary teachers were invited to transfer to secondary schools and to bring with them their vast store of experience.

Thus Bundaberg High, like all other secondary schools, saw a period of major rearrangement as new students, a new curriculum and a greatly enlarged staff including many "newcomers" were combined in an as yet untried mix.

Such changes, when viewed from a later era, seem fairly minor but at the time there .was a great deal of fear and conjecture attached to such a radical move.

That it ultimately proved so successful is in no small way due to the calibre of the staff and their willingness to work hard at effecting the changes, and to the enthusiasm of the new recruits who eagerly poured into Year 8 for their first task of the "high school".

Following this upheaval further major changes were to be experienced in quick succession.

In response to the increasing importance now being placed on scientific learning the State Government erected new science facilities; and, soon after, the Commonwealth Government issued sizeable grants for the building of a modern science block consisting of 3 laboratories, 3 science lecture rooms, 3 classrooms and assorted service areas.

Continuation of the changes to the school's make-up came with the announcement that from 1965 the Technical College was to be separated from the High School and was to have its own principal and administration.

Another significant change to the Education Act in 1965 was to have long term consequences for all Queensland Secondary Schools, and more especially for Bundaberg State High School; for, from then on, the School leaving age was to be 15 years.

The increased enrolment pushed Bundaberg State High, by 1967, to the position of second largest high school outside the metropolitan area and the fifth largest in the state.

The need for extra space for the administration to successfully manage this rapidly growing population had became all too obvious. Some relief was afforded when, in 1965, a new administration block was constructed.

1965 also saw the announcement of the knighthood (for service to education) of Sir Herbert Watkin, a former pupil and teacher of the school, who had continued his long interest in the school when promoted to Director General of Education.

The mid 1960's can justifiably be seen as one of the golden ages for the school in interstate competitions with 6 state representatives in 1963; II (in five different sports) in 1964; the win in 1965 by the Girls Swimming Team in The C.J. Connell Cup (making them the champion school in Queensland, after being runners up in 1964); and the annexing of the Queensland Schoolboys Rowing championship by the School four .

Not to be out done by their sporting confreres the school debating team won the 1966 Apex Debating Contest from 92 other schools - a feat they were to repeat the following year. Margaret Leckie competed a rare "double" when she won the Quota Club's "Student of the Year" contest in the same year as being a member of the winning debating team.

With the trend for people to stay on for higher education continuing, the school struggled to provide enough accommodation for its students. New buildings were erected on previously designated sports areas - thus forcing the school to rely on local sports associations for the use of their grounds and courts. In 1969 four "temporary" classrooms were brought in to cope especially with the rapidly expanding Year II population.

Somehow, in spite of the dearth of sporting: facilities, the school continued to produce an unusually high number of state representatives in all sporting areas (13 students in 1970 and 8 more in 1971).

At the same time as the school population was expanding so rapidly, staff and students had to come to terms with major changes in the methods used to assess a pupil's performances at secondary school; for, from 1971, "internal" assessment was to replace the external Junior examination.

1971 was surely a watershed, for the very year this "new" era in education was ushered in, two men who had come to be viewed as almost the embodiment of Bundaberg State High School retired - Mr Arch Dixon after 35 years and Mr Bill Millar after 26 years.

Internal assessment was extended to the Senior section of Secondary Schools and 1972 saw the final year for the external Senior Public exam.

While these changes were overtaking the school there remained an underlying continuity that has always been a feature of Bundaberg State High School.

The traditions of high standards of scholarship, achievement in sporting and cultural pursuits and service to the community that had been built up over the years were to continue unchecked through the 1970's and 80's.

With the passing of the awarding of open Scholarships and fellowships (the school had the proud record of 6 open scholars from 1958 to 1963) the public no longer had tangible proof of the school's academic tradition; however, whether measured by the number of A's, the number of points gained, the T .E. Score or by the ultimate position students of Bundaberg State High School held in society, the school continued to pass into the community, scholars of the highest standard.

In sporting arenas the 1970's and 80's continued to see substantially higher than average numbers of state sportsmen and women; (the 1970's alone providing about 90 state representatives while the first 5 years of the 1980's have seen nearly 50) while the school choirs, musical productions, public speaking, debating and art work continued to be of the highest standard.

The influence of the school on its students could be seen in a less tangible, but no less powerful way, which seemed to be highlighted in the 1970's. An increasing number of ex-pupils were returning "home" as teachers in their old "Alma Mater" - surely a testimony to the traditions instilled in them via the school.

1970's - THE PACE OF CHANGE

INCREASES

The 70's, however, were in essence a time of rapid change - much of it fuelled by the increasing importance the community placed on education and resulting in increasing numbers staying at school for longer. By April 1973 enrolments had reached an all time high of 1673.

To help cope with the pressure new buildings were again the order of the day.

A new Assembly Hall was opened in 1970 in order to provide more modern accommodation and more particularly to cater for, and hopefully to provide a stimulus to future cultural activities. This building represented the most ambitious project ever undertaken by the P: & C. Assoclation and showed once again the commItment that the parents and citizens of Bundaberg had to the advancement of education at Bundaberg State High School. Much needed library space was .afforded by the opening of the library extensions (which Incorporated the origlnal Memorial library built in 1902) in 1973. In 1975 the erection of a new, two storey Manual Arts building and the announcement of plans for the conversion of the soon to be vacated Technical College buildings for High School use helped immeasurably.

Year Eights were to be now housed in their own first year centre overlooking Barber Park. This centre was to reflect the more modern "open space" learning concept and brought to the school a new type of classroom architecture. Further easing of the pressure came with the opening of the North Bundaberg State High School, though the full effect of this was to be-felt more in later years.

For the first time subject masters were appointed in Physical Education and Art - reflecting the changing nature of the school curriculum. Such trends were further enhanced when in 1977, Physical Education and Music were introduced as Board subjects and could be included in a student's T.E. score. Previously (1975) the School had for the first time assembled its own orchestra, a move that was to pay immense dividends for the students in later years.

It is said that schools must reflect the community attitudes even at the risk of losing "traditional" activities. So it was that in these changing social conditions the school Cadet corp was forced to firstly go into decline, then to be re-established with the emphasis less on the military aspects and more on adventure activities and leadership training; and finally, in spite of a renewed effort to revive it in 1977 and its brief flourish for the next four years, to be disbanded at the end of 1981.

So, too, was the fate of other long held traditions, the Cooper Cup Competition and the annual Salisbury exchange trip, sealed. Changing community standards, greater pressure on school time, faster communications and rising costs all combined to finally end the Cooper Cup competition in 1976. Started in the early 1930's this competition had provided the highlight of the school's sporting year for over 40 years. To fill the gap left by the now defunct competition with traditional rivals Gympie and Maryborough, the school turned to its local community, and an inter-school competition was introduced between local Secondary Schools. These have proved equally as interesting but many past pupils will remember their involvement in Cooper Cup with great affection and pride.

Another traditional "highlight of the year", the annual Bundaberg State High School - Salisbury State High School trip, had in 1974 also finished. These trips had for many years offered a chance to a large number of students who would otherwise have been excluded from inter-school competition. As well as the competition, students and staff will remember the experience entailed in such trips and especially the friendships (both inter and intra school) that were forged in this the most "social" of inter-school competitions. To highlight the value attached to these trips the Salsberg Shield was struck in 1963 and became a valued prize right up to 1974.

By 1974, while Bundaberg State High School's population had rapidly increased, that of Salisbury State High School had fallen due to new schools being located in its area. As a result Salisbury State High School found great difficulty in providing the billets necessary when Bundaberg students went to Brisbane, and on the return trip, in the alternate years, found it increasingly harder. to provide enough students to cover the range of sporting and cultural pursuits traditionally undertaken on the exchanges.

With great regret the link with Salisbury was severed.

In recognition of the immense value these trips gave students attempts were made to forge new links with a large Brisbane School. For a few years Bundaberg State High School and Mansfield State High School tried a similar exchange programme; but, whether due to the lack of the "traditIonal nature" of the old Salisbury days or to those aforementioned pressures, these trips, while enjoyable, were unable to be sustained and like the Cooper Cup the school exchange trip (and all its attendant benefits) ceased to exist.

By 1980, with sports competitions in Bundaberg now organised by the Bundaberg District Secondary School Sports Association, all ties with Gympie, Maryborough and Salisbury were severed.

There occurred a number of events in the late 1970's which served as a strong reminder of the changes that had overtaken the school. In relatively quick succession the school saw the loss, due to retirement, of such long serving, dedicated contributors to the institution that was Bundaberg High as Ian Slack, Bill Russell, Steve Donohue, Betty Stewart, Les Sheppard and later Monte Rackemann and Ron Pitt, while transfers and promotions took away many others such as Bill Donnelly whose influence on the school will long be remembered; and learned of the death of Bill Millar; but, perhaps the most symbolic of actions occurred in 1977 when the original high school building, moved from the site on the river bank in 1925, was demolished.

The school, however, took up the challenge and adapted to the changing times. New courses such as the Advanced Transition Course (to cater for students who wished to continue secondary education but not to qualify for tertiary education) were introduced; a range of new subjects (such as Introduction to Catering, Theatre and Computing) was developed to meet the needs of a modern society; similarly a computer centre was established, and later expanded; new support personnel such as resource teachers, and teacher librarians were introduced while older support systems such as guidance facilities and personnel were expanded; programmes for the improvement of basic skills such as reading were redefined; and the whole schooling and teaching process came under much greater scrutiny and self-analysis with regular "co-operative evaluations".

The students and staff showed that like their predecessors they, too, had the ability, determination and desire to keep Bundaberg High in the forefront of Queensland education.

They successfully tackled major events such as the all Australian U/16 Netball and Hockey championships; put forward Australian representatives such as Michelle Pearson, Les Kiss, Anita Palm, Toni Medlin, Helen Lloyd-Jones, Anita Doblo and Dean Temple; supplied numerous state coaches, managers and selectors in a wide variety of sports; saw such outstanding efforts in public speaking contest such as wIns in Queensland Rostrum's Voice of Youth, and a placing in the National final and in the Queensland section of the "Youth Speaks for Australia " competition, and the awarding of a musically outstanding scholarship to Griffith University; and went through the demanding task of reviewing and redrafting every programme in every subject offered at the school to align teaching practice and assessment precedures with the new R.O.S.B.A. principles.

As in its previous history the school met this challenge by always promoting the intellectual social, cultural and sporting well being of each and every one of its pupils; and has continued its role in providing the community with people who have the benefit of this approach.

On its 75th anniversary the school can surely look back with immense pride on its place in Queensland's education system. Few schools could hope to rival its record of achievements.

It has shown a great ability to adapt to changing times while conserving those traditional values that have served it so well during its history.