those were the days .............

TPHS

The school hasn't really changed too much physically over the years. A few additions here and there, a couple of exotic play areas for the younger ones, a boundary fence (to keep them in or out?) and a one way street around the front to ease traffic congestion at 3.30pm. 

The difference nowadays is in the curriculum. Since 1984, it has been a bi-national French-Australian school, operating with 3 streams: a K-6 bilingual stream, an English-French Stream 7-10 leading to the French Baccalauréat and a comprehensive 7-10 English stream. All secondary students undertake the Middle Years Program of the International Baccalaureate.

Cockatoos on the oval

We spent a few hours in this room trying to learn French!

MANUKA

Manuka Circle is still there, with a few modern townhouses along the Kingston side. Still functioning are the pool, the picture theatre, the cafes and the oval,but unfortunately, Lady Gowrie hall is no longer. The swimming pool remains almost the same.

Manuka is now the centre of restaurants in the inner south. The beautiful hedge and pitch of the mens' hockey field are long gone, Pelligrini's on the corner is  a restaurant and the 'Lawns' seem to be the place to drink coffee or buy exclusive shoes, handbags and clothing.

The Capitol Picture Theatre was demolished in the early 80's and rebuilt in a rather more modern form. Perhaps not as beautiful as the original building and with no fine pencil pines at the entrance, but definitely more functional.

Gumleys is still there and looks almost the same too. Canberra certainly changed when cafe patrons were allowed to eat and drink outside on the footpath. 

REUNION DATE!

The Canberra organising committee: 
Sue King (Upton), Judy Richmond (Summerhayes), Tony Preston Stanley, 
Norm Collings and Marylin Politi (Johnson). 


Sue reports on their behalf.

Ann Pritchard and Lynne Davis have worked hard to find you all, and now it is up to us to put the show on the road. Judy, Tony and I met recently, and over several glasses of red wine, came up with some rather interesting ideas for next year.

But first the big news! Our reunion will be held over 3 days:

16th, 17th and 18th March 2012

Several factors determined the date, including school holiday dates, availability of the school for a visit, Easter, and of course the weather.

As most of you will be coming from interstate, and the fact that it's been 50 years since the majority of us have seen each other, we felt the reunion should be more than just a single dinner on a Saturday evening. Perhaps an informal gathering at my home on the Friday evening to break the ice, a school visit and fun BBQ at Telopea Park late morning on Saturday, free afternoon to see the Canberra of 2012 at your leisure, a relaxing dinner on Saturday evening at the National Press Club, and a delightful lunch cruise on the Lake on Sunday just to finish off what we anticipate will be a very enjoyable reunion after 50 years. Partners and family are very welcome to join you at all the planned get togethers.

We will send out a more detailed program including accommodation options a bit further down the track.

Tony and Norm will head a group which will gather, collate and put together school memorabilia they receive from you. It is anticipated that this will be completed well before 2012. Photographs of then, and now, will form a large part of that. Strangely enough, I still have my invitation to the 5th year farewell.

We are really looking forward to making this reunion as special as those students who attended Telopea between 1958 and 1962.