HEADMASTERS
NUMBER 1
MR. LANGFORD
1919 - 1934
Our founding Headmaster, Mr Percy C W LANGFORD
South Bourke and Mornington Journal (Richmond, Vic. : 1872 - 1920), Thursday 30 January 1919, page 3
A meeting of the High school com
Imittee was held on Thursday evening
last, to meet Mr Langford, the acting
headmaster. Mr Langford, who has
been on active service since the
outbreak of the war, was head
master of the Mansfield High school
and the Iocal school is particularly for
tarate in seecurng
his services.
The Rev. H Buntine, who presided,
introduced Mr Langford to the com
mitttee, and various questions were dis
cussed, bearirg on the necessary ar
rangements :o be made before the
opening date, which will be Tuesday.
February 4 (instead of February 10.as
advertised
last week).
Temporary premises have been ob
tainmed in a central position at the Fire
brigade and Temperance halls, which
will be utilised until the erection of the
new school building.
Tbh h-admstter wi?l he in attendance
at the S'ate school on Monday, Feb
ruary 3, duri:: school hours, to inter
view parents and enr-l pupils. and will
be to supply
s:,v informa'on re.
quired.
Pupils who have completed grade
riii, and holl their merit certifite,
will be admitted for a two
veers'
course to enable them to qualify for
their intermediate certificate (formerly
known as the junior public), while
pupils entering from grade vii (in
cluding those entering from grade vi,
at the recent examination), will require
four years to complete the course.
Yo fees are charged in the case of
children under 14 years, but those over
14 will be required to pay £6 per an
nunm. Remission of fees will, however,
be granted in deserving cases.
The subjects to be taught will in
clude English, French, history, geo
gtphy, arithmetic, algebra and geo
metrv.
The provides an opportunity
for every child in the district to of tain
an education equal to that given at any
of the public schools in Melbourne,
free, or at a nominal cost. Parents
with an eye to their children's future
should use every effort to make
the School a success.
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 3 January 1935, page 2
Dandenong High School Vacation
CLOSING THE YEAR 1934.
Delight was experienced by those
who had assembled at the sixteenth
annual break-up of Dandenong High
School, which was held on Wednesday,
December 19, when there came to.
address the scholars Dr, Cunningham,
with whom also was- Mrs. Cunning
ham, who presented the many awards
and prizes to the successful candi
dates. As is the general custom,
seats were provided for the many
visitors, and also for the students,
who sat at the southern annex. The
sun was obscured, and a gentle breeze
made tlie day delightful.
Apologising first for certain ab
sences, Mr. F. A. Singleton, J.P., who
presided, on a raised rostrum,, spoke
of the pleasure of having- with them
Dr. and. Mrs. Cunningham, and of the
joy which had been experienced in
their recent arts and crafts exhibi
tion.
'
He touched upon those prin
ciples which had been imbibed therein
by the school, and he pronounced
them as a marked success.
-
There -was, he said, for him a duty
tinged with regret, and he referred
to the approaching departure of the
head teacher. Mr. Langford had come
to them as a stranger, 16 years ago,
and had endeared himself to the boys
and girls of the school, ,and was a
force in the community life
.
here, as
he had become likewise a brother to
each member of his .loyal staff; thus
of him he could claim with confidence
he .was a huge factor in the pros
perity and success of the school he so.
dearly loved (Applause). Sorry are
we. to lose him, although our loss will
be another’s gain.
To those assurances Mr. Langford
replied briefly, and thanked Mr.
Singleton for his expressions of re
gard: That was scarcely wanting,
since his years here had been .as days
years
of joy.
.
He spoke of his coming,- in
.1919, .since when time had passed
quickly, though he had enjoyed each
minute, and now' he was hoping soon
to return and to meet again . his
friends to. whom he must meantime
say adieu. His place here will be
filled, by Mr:-James, of the Colac High
School, to whom he wished every suc
cess.
DR. CUNNINGHAM SPEAKS.
This, to
(
me, said Dr. Cunningham,
is an especial privilege in that you
have invited me here, .and to speak.
My pleasure is an outcome of happy
associations,'-since it was within this
school some of my family received
them earlier lessons, which were to
be of service" to then! throughout life.
Shyir.-g he had-ndt.'realised the task
whifcli had been set him on coming
though-'
lie
’
would
.
strive to speak
a fe\v'thoughts, which"might serve to
illustrate’ how closely important was
tins occasion to so many of the
younger ones.
First, that which had impressed
him most had heen the vast improve
ment which had been brought about
in this school of learning during the
last seven years. That, he thought,
had heen due to their head teacher
and his staff’s faithfulness (Ap
plause).
From thence he entered for a few
minutes into the subject, mutter of
bis address to the scholars, saying
that for them the school should foster
in them the characters of truthful
ness, unselfishness and thoroughness.
Each quality he illustrated, and
claimed
-
the real test of faithfulness
would be found in that hope which
was in them for the grasping of fur
ther knowledge. ' _ ’
A PRESENTATION.
For 16 years our. respected head
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 3 January 1935, page 2 (2)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213963083
teacher, said Mr. W. L. Brumley, has
been associated with this school, and
during that time there have been no
fewer than 91. teachers who have
passed through as members, of the
staff. No words could express how
sorry were they at losing him -now.
To the school -and to the district Mr.
Langford has been as a tower of
strength. To all he was most kind;
he was ever just, and they for long
will have fond recollections of him.
(Hear, hear). All now feel that they
cannot say farewell without asking
his -acceptance of a gift from the
givers’ hearts, and in the. hope that
he may treasure it in recognition of
the happy hours, days and years he
has spent with us in the D.H.S.
’ '
IN APPRECIATION.
Conscious of his duty—aud all
which the change will mean to him —
Mr. Langford said that first he had
to thank Mr. Brumley for the kind
words
.
he had spoken. They two had
been longer known to each other than
possibly .to others here, and it was to
the boys and girls and to members
.of the staff he was most thankful. I
am in a sense sorry you have made
the gift, he said, because I know how
loyal you have been in sparing some
thing, to aid the flood’ distress; yet
I can assure you it will remind me of
many .happy years spent with you and
others, in our life-as teachers there
is not -a great continuity of service.
Years come and go; they bring their
changes, and we must move on striv
ing always to do our duty. Thus,
briefly, I thank .you in alp- sincerity,
for your gift, which J shall clierish.
'After the awards were distributed,
Mr. Field proposed, and Mr. Russell
seconded a vote of thanks to Dr. and
Mrs. Cunningham, when the -memor
able occasion closed.
1 .
ANNUAL REPORT.
.
Reading, his lucid -annual report, the
■head teacher' paijl to Dr.
and Mrs. Cunningham foK their
'
pre
sence. He had known the former for
several .years, and his educational re
search work had been ever valuable.
1
Three hundred pupils were in atten-
1
dance this year, or 86 in excess of
l
1933; and, due to the introduction of
anew course for girls, he claimed
there* was no lessened desire ..of
parents to give their children the
advantages-of a higher education. Of
the recent exhibition of pupils’ work
be spoke encouragingly, and tlie
teachers -also.
.
b
Last year candidates for the Univer
sity examination had maintained a
good standard set by previous years.
In technical examination results had
been excellent, and that was so as
regards proficiency in aids, and home
crafts.
"
For the 1.0. R. examination 53 can
didates sat. Fanny Amor and Mar
garet Brumley obtained 93*diid 91.per
cent, respectively, and they divide
tlie prize. John Lang has been ac
cepted for the Hemingway and Robert
son coaching college. Ex-students
who had been doing excellent work
were also mentioned.
SPORT.
The school had done well iii sports
manship in every department. In
many, in contest with other clubs,
they had shown to. advantage, and had
frequently been successful. Hockey,
basketball, cricket, football, tennis
and foot-racing had been the attrac
tions. They also have.been associated
with several school activities, and had
raised £ 6/13/ for the Dandenong
Hospital, besides money to -purchase
garments and materials for Babies’
Homes, and have collected 73 dozen
eggs for. the metropolitan hospitals,
and have been generous..ih other ways.
They’ raised £7B/8/10 by aid of a
bazaar, and they desire to thank Mrs.
W. Hopkins (president). and-.; Mrs. I.
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 3 January 1935, page 2 (3)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213963083
W. Hopkins (president). and-.; Mrs. I.
G. Sxhith (secretary)
1 ,
who with others
had -worked so unselfishly. v
Miss Anderson’s cookery class had
made ah annual contribution to the
Talbot Home, at Clayton, and the
work of the. gardener, Mr. Wines, is
immensely, appreciated, as is like
wise—in another direction—
:
the efforts
put forth by the High School Coun
cil.
i . : ’
In the work of religious instruction
he thanked Pastor Atkin, Mr., Cham
bers, Rev. A.'Craig, Capt. J. Faulds,
Father Little,-Rev. J, Meers and Rev.
B. L. Semmens- and Mr. J.. Abbott.
As to the stpff, there will be .se
veral changes, this year by the de
jrirture of Miss Cor’dn'er, Miss Kelly,
Miss Kingston, and myself (said Mr.
Langford).
1 .
>
v i..;
HONOUR LIST.
'
.
Form F3: Lorn a James, Pass (9):;
English, history, geography, science,
hoqse-wjfery, needlework, -drawing,
-
cookery, hygiene and writing;’ First
in form. Jean Shaw, Pass (10): Eng
lish, history, maths., geography, house.'
wifery, needlework, drawing, cookery,
hygiene and writing; second in form.
One Honour: Norma Williams
(Needlewoilt). .Helen Fletcher
(Needlework). Beryl Johnston (Cook
ery). Jean Stuart (Needlework).
Form F2.: Dorothy Amor (Honors
9): English, history, maths., geog
raphy, science, drawing,
housewifery and hygiene; first in
form. Beryl Koetsveld (Honours 8) :
History, maths., geography, science,
cookery, housewifery, needlework and
hygiene;' second in form.
.
One Honour: Esther Adamsf (Needle
work). Elaine Beck (Housewifery).
Two Honours: Baryl Zeuschner
(Needlework, housewifery). Vera
Kerr (Hygiene, cookery).
Four. Honours: Marion; - Dawson
(English,. history, housewifery,
hygiene.). Patsy Riley (History,
M
cookery, housewifery, hygiene).
M
'
Form FI.: Ronald Kingston (Hon
ours 8): English,
.
history, algebra,'
geometry, science, geography, draw
ing, hygiene and writing; first iii form.
Kelman Semmens (Honours S): Eng
lish, history, algebra, geometry,
science, geography, drawing, hygiene
and writing; second in form.
One Honour: Colin McLeod (AI-,
gebra). Gordon Mussett (Sloyd).
Betty Head (Algebra). James Dobson
(Hygiene and writing).
Two Honours: Marjorie McCalion
(Algebra, drawing). Russell Keeble
(Geometry, hygiene and writing).
Robert Titclier (Algebra, sloyd).
Harry Dobson (Algebra, hygiene and
writing).
Three Honours: Laurence Flett
(History, algebra, hygiene and
writing).
Four Honours:
.
Peter 'Wagstaff
(Algebra, geometry, sloyd, hygiene
and writing.)
Form E3.: Jean James (Honours
5): Hygiene, geography, cookery,
housewifery and-drawing; first in
form.
One Honour: Mabel Housed (Needle
work).
Two Honours: Theima Thomas
(Cookery, needlework). Alva. Burton
(Cookery, craft). Yexly Hawk (His
tory, needlework). Peggy Allen (Eng
lish, history).
. Honours: 'Joyce Loftus
(Hygiene, history, cookery.
Four Honours: -
; Valerie Wilcoclc
(History, English, cookery, needle
work).
1 -
Form E 2: Joyce Dunne (Honours
2): English and,history; first in form.
Onfe 1-loiiour: Peggy. King (Cookery).
Olive Taylor (Cookery).. Eileen Rad
burn(Cookery);; Margery Taylor
Form El.: Elaine Brumley (Honors
5) English, French, geometry,
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 3 January 1935, page 2 (4)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213963083
sciene and
'
cookery; .first in form.
John Fullard (Honours ,4): English,
French, algebra and geometry; second
in form.
' :
One Honour: Arthur Brookes
(Sloyd).
.
AIL
, 7
Caremon (Sloyd).
Diileie Riley (Cookery). Lorna Dark
(Cookery)'. Raymond Renniclc (Sloyd).
Leo. Shinners V (Sloyd). Jack Cox
(Geometry)./ Ivan Lewis (Geometry).
.Two Honours:
-
Keith Enderby
'(Geometry, sloyd). Wilbur Naylor
(Geometry, sloyd). Ron Dawson (Eng
lish, sloyd). Henry Fleisner '(French,
geometry).
'
Three Honours: ~Alf Chandler (Geo
metry, geography, slowd).
Form Es.: Edna'Dawson (Honours
6) : English, history, French, algebra,
geometry and geography; first in form.
One Honour: Alan Whyte (Algebra).
Three Honours: Dorothy Whit
worth (English, algebra, geography).
Five Honours: Fanny Amor (Eng
lish, history, French, algebra, geog
raphy):). Noel Corbel: (English,
French, algebra, geometry, geography)
Robert O’Shea (English, history, geo
metry, algebra, geography).
Forms D2. and D3.:, Dorothy Wil
liams (Honours 4): Cookery, needle
work, home 'management, and., do
mestic science; first in form. Myrtle
Luxford (Honours 2): Arithmetic and
cookery; second in form.
One Honour: Sheila Kirkham (Eng
lish).
Two Honours: Betty
■
Bowman
(Cookery, home management).
Three Honours: Estelle Hansen
(English,-arithmetic, art).
Four Honours: Moya Bydder (Eng
lish, cookery,, needlework, home
management)..
Five Honours: Mavis Ward (Eng
lish, cookery, needlework, home
management, art).
Form Dl.: Morrison McLaren (Hon
ours 1): Arithmetic; first in form.
ours
One. Honour: Robert Lethbridge
(Drawing). Jean Hower; (Arithmetic).
Three Honours: Norma Mortensen
(French, arithmetic, algebra).
Form Dc.: Allie Berryman (Honors
5):. English,. French, geometry, book
keeping, shorthand; first in form.
John Page (Honours 2): Arithmetic,
geometry; second in form.
One>Honour: John Herbert (Book
keeping). Gilbert Davies (History).
Joan Pugh (Algebra). Marjorie Black
(English).
■ , ; '
Two Honduis: Winnie Vincent
(Arithmetic, algebra). Joyce. McPhee
.(History, French). ' ‘ '
Three Honours: Lottie Si in ns on
(Algebra, geometry, book-keeping).
'Form Ce.: Betty Stephenson (Hon
ours 2): History, book-keeping'; first
in form.
■ ' ■
One Honour: Fred Field (Book
keeping)
.
Form C.: Eric Renfree (Honours 3) :
French, algebra, physics; first in form.
One .Honour: Frank S tor an (Geo
metry!) Phyllis Kirkham (Arith
metic).
Two Honours: James Radburn
(English, arithmetic).
.
Three Honours: Dorothy
"
Jukes
(English, history, physics).
Form B.: Eva Baird (Honours 2):
French, mathmetics; first in. form and
Dux of the school.
One Honour: Margaret Douglas
(Drawing). Reg. Brinsmead (Geog
raphy). John Lang (Commercial
practice).
Two Honours: Molly Colvin (Com
mercial practice, shorthand). Agnes
Donaldson (English, French). Ruby
Hopkins (English, French). Eric
Taylor (English, commercial prac
tice)
. '
1.0. R. Prizes: Fanny Amor 1, ./Mar
garet Brumley 2.
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 3 January 1935, page 2 (5)
National Library of Australia http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article213963083
O.P.A. Prizes: (Girl), Ruby Hop--
kins; (Boy), Charles Bloch.
Hemingway and Robertson Scholar
ship
:
John Lang.
SPORTS PRIZES (Championships).
Junior Girls: Valerie Wilcock.
Junior Boys: Keith Enderby. Inter
mediate Girls: Yexley.Hawk. Inter
mediate Boys: Frederick Kay. Senior
Girls: Margaret Colvin. Senior Boys:
Gordon Graham.
Tennis Championship.—Girls: Yex
ley Hawk. Boys: Graham Westaway.
Swimming Championship;—Gilds:
Nola
Dandenong Journal (Vic. : 1927 - 1954), Thursday 11 April 1935, page 5
DANDENONG.
Last Thursday morning a very
happy function was held, when an
enlarged photo, of Langford
was presented to the school. The
portrait was the gift of Mrs. Lang
ford. The students, and
members of the Advisory Council as
sembled to do honor to the occasion.
The head teacher (Mr,’James) pre
sided.
The presentation was made on be
half of. Mrs. Langford by Mr. F. A.
Singleton, president of the Advisory
Council, who, in the course of his re
marks, eulogised Mr. Langford' as a
teacher and citizen. The speaker re
ferred to Mr. Langford’s coming to
Dandenong, 16 years ago, to establish
a High School, and' achieved wonder
ful success, with credit to
himself,
and satisfaction to all- concerned. Mr.
Langford was described;. with having
a high sense of his vocation, fulfilling
all the responsibilities involved to a
marked degree, and in presenting the
photo to the school, the. speaker said
it was not necessary as a reminder of
the first head master, for he was sure
the healthy influence exerted, the
friendly spirit exhibited, and the
success accomplished as a head tea
cher will linger long With those who
have, been privileged .to have had
any part with the “best school of
all.”
: .
Mr. Gill, the district inspector, sup
ported the remarks of the previous
speakers, and in glowing terms spoke
of the magnificent work the teachers
are doing for the true development of
national life, emphasising the splen
did service Mr.. Langford rendered
the High School and the town.
In accepting the' portrait 'on be
half of the school, Mr/ James gra
ciously acknowledged the gift. He;
referred to a long frie'ndship which
existed between Mr. Langford; and
himself, paying a high tribute to Mr.
Langford’s work arid character.