Gordon Hewitt

I attended the Thebarton Boys Technical School, Ashley Street, Thebarton in the years 1941 to 1943 inclusive. I lived at Mitcham at that time and rode my bike to school. The headmaster was Mr Cant, a tall man with the best hearing I have heard about. He would be writing on the blackboard and he would be able to hear someone talking at the back of the class. He could hear a fox whistle I think because he caught me out many times.

At the conclusion of primary school I was assessed by the Education Department and the recommendation was that I was most suited to work involved in the use of my hands and therefore technical school was more appropriate that high school.

An army search light battery was stationed next door to the school yard on the Thebarton oval, I think as a training unit.

The war years were pretty hard in some ways. My mother had a very hard time repairing my clothes because rationing coupons for clothes sometimes did not go far enough, especially for a boy who was always tearing them.

Tyres for my bike were sometimes a bit hard to get so a few patches were needed and my father was kept busy, at times, trying to keep my bike mobile. I was riding home one night along the Unley Road when a car hit my bike from behind. I was shot over the handle bars and then hit the road. My two knees were injured with skin taken off them but otherwise the only other thing hurt was my pride. The next day I had to travel to school by tram and walk to school from the tram. I was a little late walking with stiff legs because of bandages, the teacher Mr Chapman was a little shocked to see me arrive in this fashion. Of course, like any other boy, I had a few mishaps with my bike, like a buckled rear wheel when I hit another bike skylarking. My father was not impressed when I came home late with my bike on my shoulder.

The subjects that were taught at the time were, from memory, English, German, French, maths, geography, science, a subject called building drawing, mechanical drawing, woodworking, sheetmetal working, fitting and turning, blacksmithing and physical education.

The science teachers were Mr Berryman and Mr Gibson, the French teacher was Mr Pennells, Dr Naegeli taught German, Mr Chapman taught English, Mr Allen was the drawing teacher, Mr Middleton and Mr Bicknell were the sheetmetal teachers, Mr Schultz was the wood working teacher and Mr Horvat the physical master.

Mr Pennells was a short rotund man with a pleasant nature. He had to be of this temperament teaching me because I found it difficult to concentrate on this subject. We had only one lesson a week so it was a bit difficult for me.

Mr Berryman, our science teacher, was a man who somehow got his message over very clearly. A balding man, I must admit we had a nickname for him (Bandy Berryman is B______ Bald) not very flattering but as lads I suppose it happens. I remember a little story he told us to illustrate the importance of being careful in class of the chemicals being used. He told us of a new teacher who, after class, was thirsty and took a beaker that had been used in experiments and drank from the unwashed beaker. This teacher from all accounts died from poisoning so from then on we were all very careful handling all the chemicals and equipment.

In our science lessons we had various experiments to carry out. I remember one when we used a foul-smelling substance, consequently the experiment was carried out at the farthest point of the yard from the school room. What that experiment was I don’t remember but I do remember a few drops were placed on some washing that was hanging near the fence. I assumed that the washing belonged to the personnel of the searchlight battery.

I must admit my craft subjects were much better than my other subjects. I was always handy with my hands, making ‘billy carts’, ladders to climb trees and so on. Some of my ancestors were very good with tools. One uncle was an excellent wood carver and wood turning expert: he taught this at a night school. Another uncle was in the smoking pipe manufacturing business, so I guess some of their genes were carried on in me. I always had good marks in woodworking and sheetmetal working. I also enjoyed the drawing lessons, like building drawing and geometrical drawing for which I had reasonable marks.

A speech night was held every year in the Thebarton Town Hall when prizes were presented and a demonstration of gymnastics was performed. I was always a member of the gymnastics team especially the horse work and tumbling. The Schools Patriotic Fund was formed and students made objects for the home, such as cutting boards, coat hangers, paintings and so on. These articles were then sold to the public through a display in the Adelaide Town Hall.

I still have in my possession some of the articles I made at school. I treasure them because those years during the war were a bit tough I feel. The grounding I received at that school carried me in good stead for my working life as firstly a carriage builder and then as a timber inspector.

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