What were you doing on 15 November 1976, 50 years ago today?
I have spent much time these past few weeks contemplating just that and trying to recall my thought processes, feelings, ambitions and expectations of that time.
On this day in 1976, like every other Year 12 student in Victoria, I was sitting the first exam of a block of usually 5 exams that marked the conclusion of our Secondary School life.
The first exam was English or more correctly, English Expression.Bbeing the sole mandatory subject back, it meant all students started the “beginning of the end” on the same day.
For many schools, the exam venue was their school. For us at Camberwell High School, our exam venue was the Exhibition Building in Melbourne City.
It is only now that I realise this day 50 years ago was the final day the 1976 Camberwell High Scholl year 12 class would be at the same place at the same time. After 6 years (more for many of us) It would be the last time we would ever see each other. I recall no awareness of this at the time.
My recall is we all very much wanted to pass year 12 but with few exceptions, specific high aggregate scores were not on many agendas.
I fully expected to pass the exams. I even expected to achieve a score that would lead to various tertiary offers from which I would select the most interesting and lucrative. My arrogance was extraordinary because in reality, there was evidence by way of any commitment to my final year studies to support such an expectation.
Our decade, the 1970’s, being jammed between the free love, experimental and socially revolutionary 1960’s and the financially ambitious 1980’s, is often depicted as a little bland.
It almost feels that very little was expected of us and this even comes through in the written history of our School, Camberwell High School. Much to my annoyance, the 1970’s era is treated with some considerable derision to an extent I doubt the authenticity and credibility of the rest of the written history of Camberwell High.
In 1976, I had absolutely no idea what I wanted to do or be. My priorities were sport, girls, mates, music, fun and banter.
I recall having ideas about working in radio but thinking that was a dream out of reach for people like me. I also recall thinking a Barrister would be fun but that was more for the performative nature of the job as depicted on TV.
I don’t know if it was just me, but I really have little recollection of us generally having hard committed goals, career or life objectives. I don’t mean we didn’t care because we did (I’m sure we did). Interestingly or maybe arrogantly, we all thought we would do ok if not thrive.
I had been working Friday nights and Saturday mornings at the Dickens supermarket in Camberwell and was able to earn some extra cash working full time in the weeks before Christmas.
A part time colleague (Gerard from memory) was also doing year 12 but had already secured a position with the State Savings Bank of Victoria.
I have no idea why I though this a good idea and I have no idea of how or why I ended up in an interview with the Commercial Bank of Australia where I secured a role to start on 14 February 1977. I do know I had no intention of actually starting the job. What it did however, was give me an answer to the question about what I was doing next year. It also got my parents off my back.
Anyway, I started work with the Commercial Bank of Australia at the 335 Collins Street Melbourne Office on 14 February 1977, the first day of what became a long and rewarding career in financial services.
Coincidently, school mates Ian and Patrick also started work that same day in roles that also became or directly led to what also became their long term careers.
15 November 1976 is 50 years in the past but as we sit here now in our mid to late 60’s, it seems not that long ago. We are all products of our environment and it’s only looking back now that I wonder how aspects of that environment, or that era, impacted how we reacted or responded back then.
It may be 50 years since our year 12 exam block started, but it was also only 30 years since the end of the second world war which would have directly or indirectly significantly influenced our teachers and our parents.
The class of 1976 had escaped, only just, the perils of the war in Vietnam and to this day I thank the Whitlam Government for getting rid of the injustice that was National Service and getting Australia out of Vietnam. How did not have the threat of being involuntarily sent to fight a war hanging over us impact of attitudes and ambitions?
I wanted to acknowledge today, the 50th anniversary of our first, final exam.
I also want to use it as the catalyst to say “thank you” to all my fellow Camberwell High School student colleagues from those years 1971 to 1976. I appreciate you and I value you for what you gave me individually and collectively. I cannot imagine a better place to have been or better people to be with in those years.
I loved my school years, the people, the influences and today, my most valued friends and associates link back to Camberwell High.
Take a moment to enjoy, reflect and remember that day 50 years ago.
In the meantime, wishing you all a wonderful future where the best is yet to come,
In the meantime, wishing you
all a wonderful future where the best is yet to come,
Colin Morley
Camberwell High School
Tuesday 2 February 1971 to Monday
15 November 1977 (plus other exam dates)
