Welcome
This blogging site has been created to allow many people to share their fond memories of Epsom Primary School to help celebrate our 125th anniversary. We are having celebrations during the weekend Oct 14th -15th 2006 and encourage everyone to add their memories to this blog to become a part of our living history which we will be leaving for the committee of the 150th Anniversary celebrations in 2051.
October 14th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
I was a teacher at Epsom Primary School from 1982 - 1986. Epsom was my first appointment and I was thrilled to be appointed to a Bendigo school - my home town.
I have very fond memories of my days at Epsom. We had a fabulous young staff under the leadership of our principal (father figure) Gary Muller and we enjoyed teaching the wonderful children of Epsom.
October 14th, 2006 at 12:09 pm
I was appointed to Epsom Primary School in 1983 to 1987. I had a terrific time at the school. The staff were one of the best staff that I taught with. The majority of the children were great to teach. We had many laughs and social outings.
October 14th, 2006 at 1:16 pm
What I remember most about being at primary school, was when I was swinging on my chair in grade prep and Mrs McMahon put my name on the board in big letters. It was the only time my name was ever put on the board through primary school. Also the most memorable thing was when I won the citizenship award at the end of grade 6, it was an honor to have won it. Those were the good old days.
It was great to come back an see how things have changed and to see the old faces that are still around.
October 14th, 2006 at 1:20 pm
I remember the singing comp and how I won the first time I went in it then then the next year I came second.
Another thing I can remember is when the grade six went to deca and when I first hopped in the car I put my foot on the pedal and the car speed up and I ran into the pole and went red faced. Another thing from deca I was meant to go into a roofless car because I was so tall but it was broken so I went into a normal car and the person who I was paired up with missed the turn and went over the rocks, the speed humps and the lawn and I hit my head 6 to seven times. It hurt then but now I just laugh about it
October 14th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
I remember the fantastic enthusiasm that Mr Tunley put into all of his classes and students… He was and still is an inspiration to all… Thank you
October 14th, 2006 at 1:38 pm
I had a great time at Epsom, and tried not to get into trouble, although I often did! I really appreciate the diversity of classes that Epsom offered in arts, music and social studies. The teachers were fantastic and it has been fabulous seeing most of them (although I did miss Mr Tunley - a true inspiration for life!) today.
October 14th, 2006 at 1:40 pm
Our three daughters, Rachel, Katherine & Emma attended Epsom P.S right through from 1978 till 1989. I became president of the parents club when Rachel started in 1978.
I have many happy memories as a parent and relieving teacher at Epsom.
We were blessed to have such a teacher as David Tunley, he inspired our girls in music & art and truly coloured their overall development.
Colin Cleary certainly played a vital part in the girls learning in maths & Science.
Epsom school was a wonderful learning environment.
A fanatastic day,
Rosie Dean
October 14th, 2006 at 1:41 pm
I was here from 1956 - 1960. We had prep to grade 2 in the red brick building and the other half of the building was for grade 3 to grade 6. There were only 2 teachers called Mr. Derrick and Miss Diss.
October 14th, 2006 at 1:57 pm
I attended from 1969 to 1975 and many friendships were made. I can remember Mrs McMahon being a wonderful teacher. Lunch time was great in the summer when we ate the pine nuts form off the big pine tree. To this day I still have many good friends which were made at this wonderful school. Thank-you to all involved for making a wonderful and enjoyable day.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:02 pm
I really enjoyed the interview and the entertaining stories. Well done.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:10 pm
We left Epsom in 1947. We were only in the big room (redbrick buidling) Mr Jalland was the headmaster when I was here. We used get in with the boys and play marbles and cricket. We just had a wire fence and lots of paddocks. There was a canvas piece hanging between the rooms in the red brick buidling. We had an open fire and we would sit right around the fire with Una Cheffield in grade 1 and 2. No uniforms but we wore gumboots. There was one flood and Dad had me Up on his shoulders. ( Edna Luke-Tresize) Mum died on mother’s day from child birth and we had to move into Bendigo. We were only young I was 10 and Edna was 12 years old. There used to be a round shelter and the swaggies used to sleep in there. (They would wake up and go down the creek) We were warned if we came to school and there were swaggies we had to go home.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
I have many fond memories of Epsom P.S., both as a teacher and a parent.
My most vivid memory as a teacher is of a large brown snake that consistently “sun-baked” on top of the septic tank near the girls’ toilets. Year after year it would return to its favourite spot, and year after year it evaded capture.
As a parent, I clearly remember the year the creek flooded, and my Prep-age daughter had to walk home through the rising water carrying her shoes.
October 14th, 2006 at 2:54 pm
What great fun to catch up with people I haven’t seen for so long and to remember so many forgotten memories…going to Somers Camp, my first school concert ‘The Good Samaritan’ so many things. It’s suprising how easily I recognise people - the years may have past but we really haven’t changed have we?
October 14th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
I like IT, Library and science at Epsom and I will be very sad to be leaving at last. I can remember last year when the grade 6ers left. I was very sad that some of my classmates were leaving Epsom Primary School. I was so sad that I was crying alot. I had made some very good friends during grade 5 and now it will be my time in a few months.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:02 pm
I have such wonderful memories of Epsom Primary School, especially of my favorite teacher Mr Tunley. He taught us so many things, opened up our world to one of music, art and reading. We had a multi instrumental group which performed around Bendigo and even at the Royal Melbourne Show one year. We also made a professional recording in a studio!! There was such a lovely family feel about Epsom and it has been wonderful to come back here today with my husband and daughter.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:12 pm
I went to Epsom Primary from 1969 to 1972 (grade 2,3,4 & half way thru grade 5).
My memories involve being the “junior sack racing champion”; finding Easter eggs along the creek and around the trees.
I remember being “jailed” in the girls toilets by the older girls (the Gross sisters) & not being let out until I ate soap!
Epsom State School was a huge school for me as in Grade prep & one, I had been in a school of 18 only (Strath Creek State School).
The school oval seemed so much bigger than today.
I loved our sport days.
I remember Mr Worsnop (teacher) showing us why we should never smoke - he was a smoker himself. What he did was smoke a cigarette, then place a white handkerchief over his mouth & breathe into it. The white handkerchief turned brown. Naturally I have never smoked and went on to become a nurse & diabetes educator.
School was so much fun.
October 14th, 2006 at 3:30 pm
The second day of school I was told not to come back if I didn’t stop talking. Never stopped and probably never will… It comes in handy to talk now as it is part of my job as a talky hairdresser.
The curtains are still the same! That mum(Kaye Diss) made ten years ago.
Best time was home time!
I remember when our beloved Jenny Ghiringhelli dressed up as santa and fell off her bike… she was a duffa
October 14th, 2006 at 3:46 pm
TODAY WAS GREAT TO CATCH UP WITH PEOPLE THAT I WENT TO SCHOOL WITH AND PEOPLE THAT LIVED IN EPSOM.
October 14th, 2006 at 4:09 pm
My best memory would have to be when I was in grade 3 and we would play soccer and the teams would be every one on to the grade sixers + Marni and me it was awesome.
October 15th, 2006 at 6:10 pm
Highlights of my time at Epsom P.S. ( 1980-1985 )
-Annual Bookweek ‘ extravaganzas ‘
-Memorable Annual School Concert involving all students from Prep to Grade
6
-Highly successful involvement in the cluster of specially selected Primary
and Secondary Bendigo State Schools’ ‘ Musician-Teacher Pilot Project ‘.
Top-class, expert weekly instrumental tuition was offered to Epsom P.S.
students for violin, viola, ‘cello, flute, clarinet, oboe, french horn,
bassoon, trumpet, tenor horn, and percussion.
-The wonderful Epsom P.S. Multi-Instrumental Ensemble involving all
students from grades 4-6.
In the ensemble were… Recorders ( Descant, Treble, Tenor, Bass ).
Guitars
Strings ( Violin, Viola )
Woodwind ( Flute, Clarinet )
Brass ( Trumpet, Trombone )
Percussion ( Glockenspiel, Xylophone,
Tambour/Drum, Triangle etc )
This group played in the Bendigo Music Competitions, Music Festivals and at
the Epsom Pottery ( as entertainment for visitors ).
Some of the Epsom Students participated in the Bendigo Schools’ Recorder
Ensemble and a number of highly successful ‘ Rose Music Camps ‘ run by
Music Education for the Bendigo District Schools.
-Students’ Art Work displayed in a number of Educational and Commercial
Institutions in the Bendigo area.
(* none of the above would have been achieved without the wonderful support
and help of the Epsom staff and community )
-Composing/writing the Epsom School Song
-Drawing the facade of the old brick/stone school building
-The friendship and camaraderie of my teaching colleagues whom I held in
high esteem
-The wonderful children, their families and the wider school community.
This will do for starters !!
Best wishes, David