Chatswood High School Class of 1977

We now have a Planning Team for our 50th Reunion in 2027.

More information will follow.

Leah
Marina
Mark
Sue H
Andrew L

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Hello all,

Is anyone interested in being part of the organising team for our 50th year reunion next year?

We need at least 4 people and to date don’t have any firm volunteers.

Look forward to hearing from you.

From Admin (1977 year 12)

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We are deeply saddened by the passing of Barbara Eordogh in 2024. She will be fondly remembered.
Please feel free to share your memories or tributes below.
RIP Barb. 🙏

2M2 1973 .. thanks Dave Ferguson .., now can you name all your clsss mates please?

Another one .. I remember Shane with a shy friendly smile and long straight red hair. Please comment if you knew Shane. Rest in peace … still too young

Vale Adele Johnston.

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the passing of our colleague and friend, Adele Johnston.

Adele first joined us around 2001 as a full-time member of the Chorus and was a valued part of our artistic family until 2012. Her contribution to the life and spirit of the company over that time was immeasurable.

Most recently, Adele made a guest appearance performing the roles of Abbess and Zita in Suor Angelica and Gianni Schicchi, respectively, as part of our 2024 season of Il trittico. Her performances were characteristically full of heart.

In addition to her tireless commitment to the chorus, Adele took on a wide range of featured roles over the years, including Cousin H**e in H.M.S. Pinafore, Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance, Marcellina in The Marriage of Figaro, Inez in The Gondoliers, Mrs Pearce in My Fair Lady, Katisha in The Mikado, and Herodias in Salome.

Adele was a generous, supportive, and professional colleague. She brought not only vocal and dramatic skill to her work, but also warmth, humour, and unwavering dedication.

She will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of working with her. Our thoughts are with her family, friends, and the many colleagues who will feel this loss deeply.

We've lost another friend and member of our school friends group. Roger Patterson died in Royal North Shore last Sunday. He died peacefully with his younger brother Bob by his bedside for the last little while. Roger ..such a good rugby union player, a clever student, loved by all the girls and one who always had a cheeky grin on his face. Rest in Peace Roger. Sympathy and condolences to all his family and friends past and present.

Here she is the Principal of Chatswood High School from 1973 to I am not sure when. Perhaps late 1970's. Ilma Grace Woodward was born in 1919 in Mortdale, Sydney. She studied at Sydney University at a time when not many women went to university; enrolling in a Bachelor of Arts, followed by a Diploma of Education; which were granted in 1940 and 1941 respectively. Her first post as a teacher was at the small town of Wentworth in south western NSW on the Murray River; just a little west of Mildura. She recently recounted how during WWII at night all the town would turn off all their lights so as not to be spotted by enemy aircraft flying by. Prior to becoming principal at CHS she taught at Picton High ..a much smaller school and still probably rural.

There are many memories our the red headed school principal and please feel free to share some in the comments. She came at a time when 'progression' was fast; amalgamation with single s*x Naremburn High school occurred and boys were allowed to wear Levi Californians and those casual shoes whose name I have forgotten. She also introduced 'trouser' wearing for girls.

Ilma has recently died in Mullumbimby at the age of 103. In the last few years I had morning tea with her and her step family. She did not have children of her own and survived two husbands; with the second one coming from Mullumbimby originally. After holidaying here with him on one occasion and then returning to Sydney to live; he died and she thought ..I think I would rather be in Mullum

She didn't offer any life long secrets; she espoused to living a simple life and had travelled the world over. She loved watching horses and horse racing, but never had a bet, and she strove to be, and thought it very important that women be financially independent at all times. She commented that she has seen significant improvements in the life of women in her time and she also thought it was very important to get as much education as you could and to be yourself along the way.

When asked if she had imagined that she would live that long, she said she had never thought about it; however she had a strong feeling that more and more people will live to her age and that it won't be so unusual in the future.

She was lucid to the end; stubborn with her lack of hearing and surrounded by her step family in the last few weeks of her life.

Wow; what a woman; and what a lovely long life she had.

Any of you who went to Mowbray Primary School ..save the date for this 70th Anniversary celebrations of the school in December. Hope everyone is ok with a bit of cross promotion here. Mary