The students of Young Intermediate High School, in 1938, published their school magazine, The Pillars, a copy of which is in the collection of the Young Historical Museum.
George A. Morrow was Inspector of Schools in the Young district from 1934 to '38 and the magazine gave him a valedictory address.
Greetings were also included for the incoming Inspector, Edward A. Griffiths.
The school's headmaster was Mr T. Ransley and the magazine editors were Una Gault and Len Blackett.
Representatives of each year group wrote a summary of their experiences at school in 1938.
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Third Year Class Notes (Boys) complained: ‘Monday 28th - We are all suffering from terrible headaches this morning from the affects of eyestrain caused by trying to puzzle out the French Exam paper. If any of the other papers are as bad, the Y.I.H.S. will be responsible for dozens of nervous breakdowns and mental cases. Taking everything into consideration I think that after Wednesday the teachers as well as ourselves will be deserving of a little relaxation’.
The 2A Class Notes (Girls) wrote: ‘Cherries serve very well to break the monotony of some periods especially Latin and English. Naturally it is best not to leave any cherry stains around or to have your mouth full when spoken to if you don’t want detention or lines galore’.
‘Class 1B. Comes to the Fore Again. We often do – in sport, in noise and even in Maths, last exam. Our Class abounds in good sportsmen. Eric Lowe jumps, plays football and cricket. One sport’s afternoon Eric hit three sixes in succession then a four. He always plays full back or three-quarter on the football field, and is the champion jumper in the school, clearing 4ft. 10ins. against Cowra.’
After the class summaries were reports on girls' and boys' sports with much commentary about the introduction of the House system into weekly sport – the four Houses being Oxley, Parkes, Wentworth and Sturt. Lorna Sweeting was ‘the outstanding girl swimmer’.
The Young female basketball team ‘proved superior to the Cowra girls on the Annual visit’.
‘Joan Paterson proved herself an able and efficient captain and outstanding goal-keeper’ in the girls hockey team. Dorothy Caldwell ‘retained her title as Tennis Champion of the School’. ‘John Philip, Norman Burrows, Dave Hall, Eric Sweeting, and Alan Hanigan were most successful at our Swimming Carnival.'
In athletics, ‘Jim Stark, Bruce Brown, Eric Lowe and Ross Goodman made sure that the Collins’ Shield didn’t stray from home’.
Other contributions to the magazine included poetry and short stories. Entries were interspersed with various advertisements for local businesses.
The Young Historical Museum is celebrating 100 years of education at the current site of Young High School during the National Trust Australian Heritage Festival on Saturday 3rd May 2025.
Karen Schamberger - Young Historical Society
