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Reflections of Elizabeth High School
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DescriptionI am an "Elizabethan" and proud to say it. I am also a migrant child who was born in the British Military Hospital, Singapore in 1952, son of a British Army Sergeant. We later lived in Kuala Lumpur during the Malay Emergency. After returning to the UK in 1959, my father was made redundant in 1962, as the British Army was downsizing. With little prospects of work and disliking the English weather after the tropics, my parents embarked on a courageous journey to migrate to Australia with three children. Migration was not new for my mother, as she had migrated as a two year old with her parents to Canada from the coalfields of Northumberland in the late 1920s, when prospects in the UK looked grim and "The Depression" was approaching. Like many British ex-pats, she returned to served in the British Forces during WWII.
Being Royal Army Education Corps (RAEC), my father was accepted by the South Australian Education Department as a Maths and Physics teacher. So under the "Assisted Passage" Scheme, we left Tilbury Docks, London and sailed for six weeks to arrive at Outer Harbour and given accommodation at the Elder Park Migrant Hostel, which was then situated on the banks of the Torrens River, where the Festival Hall stands today. Having proven himself, after a two year stint at Mt Gambier High, my father was transferred by the Education Department to Elizabeth High School.
My life in Elizabeth started just before Christmas 1964 with our family moving into a Housing Commission property in Elizabeth Downs. Unlike a more notable celebrity, I grew up with a totally different experience and outlook to this new satellite city created by the Playford Government, to house the influx of migrants needed to ensure economic and industrial growth for the region and the state. In early 1965 I entered Elizabeth High School (EHS), along with a majority of migrant kids trying to live up to the dreams and aspirations of their parents seeking a new life in their adopted country. It was estimated that the school had students from over 140 different countries. With the influx of migrants in the late 50s and early 1960s, EHS was built to cope with the demand and was opened for the start of the 1962 school year and rapidly become the largest government high school in the state, with over 2,000 students by the late 1960s.
In those days, on Monday mornings the whole school would assemble in the central yard for roll call and announcements, which finished with us standing to attention as "God Save Our Queen" was played. Some may remember that it was not until the Whitlam Government, sometime in the mid 1970s and post the Vietnam War, that a political feud with the British Government saw a breakdown in relations and the introduction of "Advance Australia Fair" as our national anthem. Back in the 1960s, even when you went to the cinema, before the two films were shown, everybody had to stand as footage of Queen Elizabeth II was shown and "God Save Our Queen" was played. Not only that, but the history I studied in school was British and well as Australian history. I shall always remember learning about the Battle of Hastings in 1066 in three different schools in two different countries. Which of course, meant little to all the kids from other European migrant families. The "White Australia" policy was in place back then and immigration was only for Caucasians. The only Asian restaurants around were run by descendants of Chinese miners who had flocked into Australia during the gold rushes and stayed.
Our Headmaster from inception until 1968 was Mr Robert F. Booker, under whose direction the school prospered into being one of the top government schools in the state. Mr Booker was a man highly revered, who supported student activities, strict discipline and enforced the wearing of school uniform to teach self discipline and pride in one's school. Back then, girls had to conform to strict dress rules, no make-up, and often asked to kneel as the Deputy Headmistress, Madame Mousalla, later Mrs Morell, checked the length of their dresses above the knee. Those with short skirts and boys with long hair were sent home. Assessments for Years 10 to 12 students were all done externally by the Public Examination Board (PEB), rather than just Year 12 as today. There was little progressing assessment back then. Your fate hinged mainly on the end of year PEB exams, which were nerve racking, as all EHS students then competed against every other student in the state. Those who passed were given Intermediate, Leaving and Matriculation PEB Certificates. Those who failed, repeated or sought work. Midway through Intermediate (Yr 10) my parents sold the house they had built in Mt Gambier and we moved to their own house in Elizabeth Grove, where they stayed until their respective passing in their 80s.
Whilst my father taught at EHS, my journey to school was in the family's 1960 FB Holden station wagon, but due to my father's after school commitments, my walk home was across the expansive Ridley Road Reserve. Being a teacher of the old school and with reducing standards of discipline, my father left EHS early 1969 and was later headhunted by Pultney Grammar. That meant I was now walking across Ridley Road Reserve twice a day, where I also played so much of my sport for the school; namely athletics, hockey and baseball. School swimming carnivals were held at the Elizabeth Pool, which was an open air, unheated pool at that time, whilst school and inter-school Athletic carnivals were held on the recently constructed Central District's Football Club Oval. Mr Booker was replaced in 1969 by Mr Don McDonald, who took a more liberal approach. Sadly, 1969 was to be the last year that EHS had Prefects. Each year fifty Matriculation students (Year 12) were selected by senior students by a ballot, reviewed by senior teaching staff. Prefects assisted teaching staff to manage student behaviour during recess and lunch periods and represented the student body with issues facing the school.
With such a wealth of talent, apart from doing well academically, the school also thrived in sport, claiming numerous trophies for various regional sporting competitions. From 1967 EHS dominated the local regional inter-schools football competition and continued to do well, even when elevated in 1968 to compete against metropolitan private schools. Several EHS students made State squads in a variety of sport and won State Championships. Some later went on to represent their country in international competitions. When I left EHS, it was a vibrant and progressive school, which had successfully produced numerous future teachers, medical scientists, engineers, economists, commercial business, IT and Defence Force personnel.
On my visits home on leave in subsequent years, it soon became apparent that the declining situation with the old Elizabeth Grove shops reflected the status of Elizabeth. Moreover, later reduction in student numbers, with fewer migrants arriving, saw the amalgamation of EHS with the Elizabeth Girls Tech, changing its name to the Fremont-Elizabeth High School. Like the city of Elizabeth, the school then appears to have gone through tough times and declining standards, as the social economic profile of the region changed. In early 2016, attendance at the EHS Old Scholars Association's 55th reunion brought a new outlook for our old school. A name change to Playford International College instigated by a new Principal, with a vision that encouraged overseas students, gave old students hope that things may be turning around for the school. In 2019, the Matriculation Class of 1969 will celebrate their 50th anniversary of graduation. Back In 1969, over 180 students were in Year 12 at EHS, in five classes with over 30 students in each. Efforts have been made to find the majority, with many still living in South Australia, whilst others are scattered around Australia and the world. Why all this effort? Well, without doubt high school is one of the most significant steps in anybody's life and for the majority, it has influenced their future. From submitted articles for the Class Newsletter, it is evident that a majority of the Matric Class of 1969 owe their current socio-economic situation to the guidance and education provided to them by the dedicated teachers and staff at Elizabeth High School. They were all definitely part of its success during the hay days and were given the best possible first step into the real and at times cruel world. What they made of it, was then up to them.
CreatorColonel Terry Beaton (Retd)Date created2018Dates coveredBetween 1st January 1964 and 31st December 1969Geotag[1]
Being Royal Army Education Corps (RAEC), my father was accepted by the South Australian Education Department as a Maths and Physics teacher. So under the "Assisted Passage" Scheme, we left Tilbury Docks, London and sailed for six weeks to arrive at Outer Harbour and given accommodation at the Elder Park Migrant Hostel, which was then situated on the banks of the Torrens River, where the Festival Hall stands today. Having proven himself, after a two year stint at Mt Gambier High, my father was transferred by the Education Department to Elizabeth High School.
My life in Elizabeth started just before Christmas 1964 with our family moving into a Housing Commission property in Elizabeth Downs. Unlike a more notable celebrity, I grew up with a totally different experience and outlook to this new satellite city created by the Playford Government, to house the influx of migrants needed to ensure economic and industrial growth for the region and the state. In early 1965 I entered Elizabeth High School (EHS), along with a majority of migrant kids trying to live up to the dreams and aspirations of their parents seeking a new life in their adopted country. It was estimated that the school had students from over 140 different countries. With the influx of migrants in the late 50s and early 1960s, EHS was built to cope with the demand and was opened for the start of the 1962 school year and rapidly become the largest government high school in the state, with over 2,000 students by the late 1960s.
In those days, on Monday mornings the whole school would assemble in the central yard for roll call and announcements, which finished with us standing to attention as "God Save Our Queen" was played. Some may remember that it was not until the Whitlam Government, sometime in the mid 1970s and post the Vietnam War, that a political feud with the British Government saw a breakdown in relations and the introduction of "Advance Australia Fair" as our national anthem. Back in the 1960s, even when you went to the cinema, before the two films were shown, everybody had to stand as footage of Queen Elizabeth II was shown and "God Save Our Queen" was played. Not only that, but the history I studied in school was British and well as Australian history. I shall always remember learning about the Battle of Hastings in 1066 in three different schools in two different countries. Which of course, meant little to all the kids from other European migrant families. The "White Australia" policy was in place back then and immigration was only for Caucasians. The only Asian restaurants around were run by descendants of Chinese miners who had flocked into Australia during the gold rushes and stayed.
Our Headmaster from inception until 1968 was Mr Robert F. Booker, under whose direction the school prospered into being one of the top government schools in the state. Mr Booker was a man highly revered, who supported student activities, strict discipline and enforced the wearing of school uniform to teach self discipline and pride in one's school. Back then, girls had to conform to strict dress rules, no make-up, and often asked to kneel as the Deputy Headmistress, Madame Mousalla, later Mrs Morell, checked the length of their dresses above the knee. Those with short skirts and boys with long hair were sent home. Assessments for Years 10 to 12 students were all done externally by the Public Examination Board (PEB), rather than just Year 12 as today. There was little progressing assessment back then. Your fate hinged mainly on the end of year PEB exams, which were nerve racking, as all EHS students then competed against every other student in the state. Those who passed were given Intermediate, Leaving and Matriculation PEB Certificates. Those who failed, repeated or sought work. Midway through Intermediate (Yr 10) my parents sold the house they had built in Mt Gambier and we moved to their own house in Elizabeth Grove, where they stayed until their respective passing in their 80s.
Whilst my father taught at EHS, my journey to school was in the family's 1960 FB Holden station wagon, but due to my father's after school commitments, my walk home was across the expansive Ridley Road Reserve. Being a teacher of the old school and with reducing standards of discipline, my father left EHS early 1969 and was later headhunted by Pultney Grammar. That meant I was now walking across Ridley Road Reserve twice a day, where I also played so much of my sport for the school; namely athletics, hockey and baseball. School swimming carnivals were held at the Elizabeth Pool, which was an open air, unheated pool at that time, whilst school and inter-school Athletic carnivals were held on the recently constructed Central District's Football Club Oval. Mr Booker was replaced in 1969 by Mr Don McDonald, who took a more liberal approach. Sadly, 1969 was to be the last year that EHS had Prefects. Each year fifty Matriculation students (Year 12) were selected by senior students by a ballot, reviewed by senior teaching staff. Prefects assisted teaching staff to manage student behaviour during recess and lunch periods and represented the student body with issues facing the school.
With such a wealth of talent, apart from doing well academically, the school also thrived in sport, claiming numerous trophies for various regional sporting competitions. From 1967 EHS dominated the local regional inter-schools football competition and continued to do well, even when elevated in 1968 to compete against metropolitan private schools. Several EHS students made State squads in a variety of sport and won State Championships. Some later went on to represent their country in international competitions. When I left EHS, it was a vibrant and progressive school, which had successfully produced numerous future teachers, medical scientists, engineers, economists, commercial business, IT and Defence Force personnel.
On my visits home on leave in subsequent years, it soon became apparent that the declining situation with the old Elizabeth Grove shops reflected the status of Elizabeth. Moreover, later reduction in student numbers, with fewer migrants arriving, saw the amalgamation of EHS with the Elizabeth Girls Tech, changing its name to the Fremont-Elizabeth High School. Like the city of Elizabeth, the school then appears to have gone through tough times and declining standards, as the social economic profile of the region changed. In early 2016, attendance at the EHS Old Scholars Association's 55th reunion brought a new outlook for our old school. A name change to Playford International College instigated by a new Principal, with a vision that encouraged overseas students, gave old students hope that things may be turning around for the school. In 2019, the Matriculation Class of 1969 will celebrate their 50th anniversary of graduation. Back In 1969, over 180 students were in Year 12 at EHS, in five classes with over 30 students in each. Efforts have been made to find the majority, with many still living in South Australia, whilst others are scattered around Australia and the world. Why all this effort? Well, without doubt high school is one of the most significant steps in anybody's life and for the majority, it has influenced their future. From submitted articles for the Class Newsletter, it is evident that a majority of the Matric Class of 1969 owe their current socio-economic situation to the guidance and education provided to them by the dedicated teachers and staff at Elizabeth High School. They were all definitely part of its success during the hay days and were given the best possible first step into the real and at times cruel world. What they made of it, was then up to them.
CreatorColonel Terry Beaton (Retd)Date created2018Dates coveredBetween 1st January 1964 and 31st December 1969Geotag[1]
Connections
Notes
AcknowledgementsColonel Terry Beaton (Retd)
Colonel Terry Beaton (Retd), Reflections of Elizabeth High School. Playford's Past, accessed 23/03/2026, https://playfordspast.recollect.net.au/nodes/view/19938