THIS photograph is of boarders at St Johns Hostel, Armidale taken in 1937.
Back row: F R Allen (Warden), W (Bill) Peters, - McGlauchlan, I Thompson, H Conway, R (Bob) McLean, R (Bob) Jack, J S Keogh, B (Barry) Cook, K (Ken) Bowman, C (Colvin) Churches, D (David) Marr, - Morrison, L (Laurie) Barnes, B (Bruce) McKenzie, - McRae, S (Stauby) Baker Third row: D Spencer, J B Ivor, Bruce-Smith, W (Wal) Sabine, - Godfrey, J (Jim) Munro, D Hall, J (Canary) Woodhouse, H (Harry) Freame, I (Ian) Ferris, R Crawford, J (Jack) Thompson, C (Charlie) Sourri, J (Jim) Morrison, D Ferris, C (Chicka) Henderson. Second row: E (Edward) King, M (Max) Virtue, A (Austin) Kimball, B (Basil) Virtue, K (Ken) Wall, J (John) Millett, F Kerr, - Roper, Canon Dickens, Matron, Dr Drummond, R (Bob) Gray, R L Waugh, R (Ross) Clark, P (Peter) Capel, W (Wal) Samuels, R (Rex) Hobden, - McGee. Front row: R (Ron) Green, M (Malcolm) Hawke, I A (Ian) Clarke, A (Allan) Gray, J (John) Hays, A G Thomas, N (Norm) Melick, D Hays, J Rolands, A J Jameson, D Dowe, J E (Jas) Barnes, A R Keohan, C R (Clinga) Gibson, R (Ron) Gray.
My thanks to Gordon Smith for drawing my attention to this story in the Armidale Express.
I have not had time to check my facts, so I am relying on memory.
Around 1898 St John's College was established in Armidale to train priests for the Anglican Church. A new building was built for the College not far from the Bishops' private residence on the southern edge of Armidale. In the 1920s, the College was shifted to Morpeth in the Hunter Valley.
Following the College's move, St John's became a boarding hostel for boys attending Armidale High School. The hostel closed as the need for boarding declined. Today, St John's has become the prep school for the adjoining New England Girls' School.
Ian Clarke was a boarder at St John's in the 1930s. The Armidale Express records his reminiscences:
"St Johns was next door to NEGS on the road south out of town.
Although impossible, one wonders, how many of these boys are still with us. Many came from surrounding districts such as Uralla, Walcha, Inverell, Glen Innes, Guyra, Bendemeer, Bundarra and as far away as Grafton. All attended Armidale High School.
From a failing memory I recall that Cleave (Clinga) Gibson, Bruce McKenzie and McRae came from Walcha and Uralla. Ross Clark from Bendemeer, Ken Bowden Bundarra and Harry Freame Kentucky.
Harry’s father was a secret service agent in World War 1. Basil, Max Virtue and Jim Munro were from Inverell and R L Waugh possibly from Guyra. Wal Sabine, Ivor – Bruce – Smith and myself, Ian Clarke were from Grafton and travelled up through Nymboida and Tyringham in the large touring coaches operated by Woodward and Purkiss.
And that is as far as I can make my brain reveal.
As for myself, I spent 44 years in the banking profession interrupted by four and a half years service in the second AIF.
Now heading for 84 years and married to a wonderful woman for over 60 years I am the proud father of four, grandfather of eight and great grandfather of six.
Would it not be a wonderful thing if some others could be found."
31 comments:
Hi Jim,
I am wondering if you can help me.Today i stumbled upon the photo of St Johns Hostel Armidale while searching for the history of Werris Creek. You seem like a fairly knowledgable person so I thought I would contact you. I am trying to trace my grandfathers history, however there is no birth record for him in Australia, however he claimed (hes now deceased) he was born in Werris Creek in 1918 and had a twin sister and older brother. He went by the surname Giles, hoever Henderon may also be a possability. If you think you may be able to help me, It would be greatly appreciated. Yours Sincerely
Helen Cram
Hi Helen. Werris Creek was (is) a fairly small place. It is also a railway town.
If he was born there in 1918, then there is a chance his dad worked for the railways. Then it is also possible he went to primary school there. The schools kept pupil records.
I am not sure whether or not there is a local historical society in Werris Creek. However, there is a railway museum. You might try them first - contact details here: http://newenglandaustralia.blogspot.com/2008/04/kamilaroi-highway-werris-creek-railway.html
Do let me know how you go on.
Cheers
Jim Belshaw
With reference to Harry Freame, his father was not a secret service agent in WW1. He (also Henry Wykeham Freame) fought and was decorated for gallantry at Gallipoli. He later settled on land at Kentucky, New England, running an orchard. Freame senior was recruited by Australian military intelligence in 1939 to spy on the Japanese community in Sydney. He, himself, was half-Japanese (having being born in Japan). Fluent in the language, he was employed, among other things, to read intercepted mail going to and from Japan.
I believe the Rex Hobden referred to in this photo was my Uncle Rex born in Boggabri in 1921. He married my mother's sister and had one daughter Kay. Rex passed away in 1986 after living the majority of his life in Birrong, Sydney.
Hello, my name is John Skeoch. I am photographed at the back row, 8th from the left in the light suit. You have listed me as J S Keogh. Please be assured my name has not changed since then. Also I could give more info about the others here, but I cannot get into this blog site. You can email me at ijskeoch@bigpond.com if you want.
The above message was from my father John, with his email address if you wish to contact him re St John's Hostel; he is keen to help and to contact any of his colleagues still around.
Hello, David and John. Before responding, I wondered if the Armidale Express might help. They ran the original photo, now lost in the latest Fairfax web restructuring. I have emailed Janene Carey to see.
Hello All. I have seen this photo before and am reasonably certain the C (Chicka) Henderson is my father Lawrence Joseph (known as Bill) Henderson. He was born in 1923 and attended the hostel and AHS. He lived in Garah near Moree and as far as I am aware he had to leave and return home in his early teens for family reasons.
Dad is still alive and will turn 89 today. He and my mother live in Goondiwindi after living and working in Moree until about 2004.
Would love to get an enlarged clear copy of the photo to show him. Also if it is Dad would also be great to know a bit more about others in the photo etc.
I was a boarder at the infamous 'Jacks Jaol' between 1966 and 1971
I cannot say that my stay there was at all good.
I was pleased that it was closed down in 1972.
The Anglican Church have a lot to answer for for allowing systematic abuse of children.
That's disappointing, Peter.
I was a boarder from 1955-57. My mother withdrew me after the infamous mass caning incident, where a boy almost lost a finger. In my memory, the "systematic abuse" Peter Dowling refers to was at the hands of a particularly sadistic group of self-styled prefects, who were allowed to run the place after the Warden retired to his quarters after dinner. If the church was guilty of anything, it was systematic neglect.
That's interesting if also depressing, Ian. Clearly very mixed memories
Hi Jim, I went to the hostel and come from Werris creek. There is a Werris Creek site under Facebook may help you. Keith
Hi Keith and thanks. Will have a look at that
I can relate very well to Peter Dowling and Ian's comments. It could have been so much better.
I like to think that the bullying dissipated in the latter years of St Johns (1969 and 1970), from what were very unhealthy levels in the mid 1960s.
There remain some great memories of some very good people, despite the culture of bullying that had come from the top.
Neil Schafer ns.ausalpha@gmail.com
Hi Neil and thanks. Boarding can be a pretty tough environment - kids (girls as well as boys) can be cruel. I saw this at TAS and then many years' later with my girls. They did not board, but you had the problem of the populars and bullying. I have been writing on Harry Freame. His son is in this photo. Harry jnr seems to have enjoyed his time at High. Individual personality is very important.
Jim,
And thanks for this site, which I have now passed on to others.
Is there a way to access your writings re Harry Freame?
Neil ns.ausalpha@gmail.com
Hi Neil. I will have to update the site! I have sent you an email as a test. In the meantime, you may find this link interesting http://www.pixnet.co.uk/pixsg/AA-HISTORY/World-War/Goodyear/Goodyear/goodyear-pages/Freame-pages/narrative01.html
Hi fellow ex-St John's boarders. I first boarded there around 1951, at the age of 7. My father had a sheep station, "Sentry Box", 10 miles out of Bundarra on the Baker's Creek road. It became too difficult for me to get to Bundarra Public School, so I was sent to St John's. I used to walk to Martin's Gully Public School, and back, every day. I think I was there for less than a year, on that occasion. But I returned at the end of 6th form, around 1956, and went to the Demonstration School in town for one term. I stayed at St John's for the next 3 years then, until I completed my Intermediate Certificate at Armidale High School (now bulldozed down, I've been told).
There were 3 superintendents at St John's during that time: Mr Henderson, who had been the verger at St Peter's Cathedral in Armidale, and had a tough time controlling 40 or so unruly boys. We ran rings around him, poor bloke. Next was a man called Gould, an avuncular type who smoked a pipe. He seemed nice enough, but didn't last long there. Then came Jack Peters, an Englishman, who loved football. One of my fellow boarders was Ray Beale - Kurtley Beale's grandfather. Needless to say Ray was a pretty good footballer, and Jack appreciated this. He ran straight between the legs of one of the opposing team one day, in a game of touch footy down near the bike sheds, without being touched. Jack couldn't believe his eyes.
I'm saddened to read of Peter and Ian's experiences at St Johns. I was fortunate in that the superintendents during my time there were pretty good. But yes, I remember the bullying and physical abuse (usually courtesy of a Dunlop Volley sandshoe across the arse) by the older prefects. Not a very good way to teach kids how to behave in our society.
I've written a (fiction) book recently called "The Gaze of Dogs", some of it based on my experiences at St Johns. If anyone is interested it can be purchased on Amazon (Aust), or through Valentine Press. I'd love to know what you think of it.
Leon Saunders
I posted here about five days ago but the post must have gone into cyberspace.
My post was -About 4-5 years ago I posted a number of photos of the boys at ST.Johns taken between mid-1955-end 1956 on an AHS ex-students gallery site managed by an ex-teacher of AHS.
Now I can't find the site or the photos.
I went to St John's in 1964 when I was 16. I was from Grafton and flew home once on a Focker Friendship. My first time in a plane and by myself. I remember Jack Peters and Matron (his wife). I remember one night the Prefects put liniment on a boys testicles as retribution for someting the boy had done. I cannot recall any bullying in that year. I joined the school cadets and Jack did not like us being in the cadets. We went on a trip to a rifle range one Sunday and were all sick on the Monday. Jack took that as justification for not liking the cadets untill the doctor told him we all had food poisoning from the sandwiches prepared in the hostel kitchen. I hope sombody else from 1964 reads this and makes contact. Brian Diamond 6 August 2022
i went to st johns hostel unfortunately from 1965 to 1968 and i can assure abuse and bullying
was just a given i have very few pleasant memories of this institution if any at all.
Andrew,
Very true. (and good to see your post here).
Would be good to get in touch somehow.
Neil
Hi St John's fellow boarders. Yes on reflection, St John's was pretty hard. Have many memories of St John's of constantly being cold. The only warm place was in bed until being disturbed by the 7 o'clock bell. Listening to our crystal sets which we were not allowed to have, ingeniously hiding the aerials in cracks in the walls. Not been able to talk after lights out and if caught getting caned and then having the resultant bruises for all to see in the showers the following night. Recalling showers, all timed to the second by Jack with his stop watch, so no time to linger. Food, being constantly hungry so needed to be supplemented by night raids to orchards, also frowned upon and if caught also resulting in caning or gating. But I do have some fond memories associated with my fellow boarders. I don't think we kind of thought at the time that it was that tough. Remember the Saturday night boxing, myself and Rob Bodergraven, which Jack loved to pair up in the fight. I think he thought we were both smart arses and enjoyed watching us belt the crap out of each other. Though Rob and I did place a Just Married sign on the back of Jack's prized falcon, with Jack wondering why all the townfolk were cheering him on in town. Jack did not, as I recall have much of a sense of humour. Seems like this experience was from another world especially when you start recounting the life at St John's to the younger generation of today.
Darryl,
Very well said.
Wonder can you email me your email address, as the last one I have doesnt seem to work anymore.
Neil (ns.ausalpha"gmail.com)
Hi Neil
My email address is dwh.oakbank@gmail.com
Look forward to hearing from you
Does anyone know how to post a photo on this blog?
St Johns Hostel now has a Facebook page - see link below - and everyone is welcome to contribute to it.
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100092184581154
I was there at the same time and i remember you Peter.. I certainly have no good memories of the place and Jack the man in charge. I was only there for 1yr for 4th yr high school which was enough for me.
Steve, Good to see your comment. Wondering where you are these days? Neil
In Brisbane now Neil since 1977. Send me an email khaliroberta2005@yahoo.com.au if you like. Some familiar names here.
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