Back to school - Berowra Public School

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Identifiernot specifiedPhotographernot specifiedDescriptionYears 4, 5 and 6 of Berowra Public School, 1936 courtesy of Nathan Tilbury

Can you spot members of the Huett family and others you might know in this early Berowra school photo?

Peter Huett returned to his primary school, now the Berowra District Hall, to celebrate his 90th birthday on Sunday, 5th June. Around that time the coast of NSW was being lashed with torrential rain and king tides. Berowra district was awash with some areas experiencing power blackouts.

As a schoolboy, Peter was never allowed to cite even hail or pouring rain as excuses for missing his lessons. At first walking from his home in Goodwyn Rd where he was born and then from 1935, from the family home at Berowra Waters, Peter, like many others, would arrive at school in sopping wet clothes.

Mr James, the headmaster would set a fire in the open fireplace and the children’s clothes would be dried in front of the fire in the drying room.

Many of Peter’s family and friends gathered to share such memories and to congratulate him on his 90th birthday. The second photograph sees Peter with friends, Rhonda Davis who was part of the Berowra Living History team and Neil Davis who like Peter, had come back to his old school.

Peter Huett introduces us to some of his family and schoolmates from 80 years ago.

In the back row left hand corner we meet ten-year-old Peter himself. He has his hands resting on the shoulders of his cousin, Paul Jones. The tallest girl in second back row you may have picked as another Huett youngster. Yes, this is Peter’s older sister, Laurie.

Sixth from the left in the back row with the fringe is Frank Frost. Turning to the second row from the back, standing next to Paul Jones, we have five girls –Ada Duffy is the girl with the plaits, then Betty Sicily, Laurie Huett (previously introduced) and on the end, Jean Chadwick.

Seated in the third row we meet the young student in glasses, Beryl Jackson, the girl in overcoat and gloves, shares the same first name, she is Beryl James, along the line, the smallest girl with the long plait and its big ribbon is her sister, Gwyneth James. Standing to the side of Gwen, we have young George Thompson.

Seated on the ground, on the left and partially obscured, is Ray Thompson, George’s elder brother, in front wearing a tie is Walter “Sandy” Holmes from the local dairy farm, the next boy is Keith Frost, cousin of Frank in the back row and Danny Fitzgerald proudly displays the slate, presenting BEROWRA IV, V, VI 1936.

Lastly Peter introduces the next lads, Lenny Ethridge, Dave Cleland and just over his shoulder a bigger boy, Ray Fitzgerald, brother of Danny. Each child has a story to tell…

Today as you pass by the old Berowra school, Berowra District Hall, you can imagine it alive with these youngsters of the Depression Years and so many children throughout its history.Physical FormatBerowra Last edited by: Neil Chippendale

DimensionsBerowra Living History Last edited by: Neil Chippendale

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Building NameBerowra Public School Last edited by: Neil Chippendale

Huett family Last edited by: Neil Chippendale

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Back to school - Berowra Public School