1955-1956 MARIST BROTHERS DARLINGHURST PART II

ZEROING IN 1955 - MY BEST FRIEND AND FUTURE BROTHER-IN - LAW TONY HANNON EXTREME LEFT BACK ROW 

ZEROING IN 1956 TONY HAS MOVED TO THE RIGHT A LITTLE IN THE BACK ROW, WHILST YOUR SCRIBE HAS MOVED DOWN TO THE FOURTH ROW DOWN THIRD FROM THE RIGHT - AND HAS OBVIOUSLY BEEN WATCHING TOO MUCH LENI RIEFENSTAHL!

The photos above are now 56 and 55 years old respectively. It is interesting that what they do in my mind is summon up a series of brief thumb-nail sketches of a remarkably diverse range of rapidly forming personalities.  I can't share them all in full and one or two might be deemed libellous in any case, so I shall confine myself to a very few.

 It needs to be borne in mind, that the majority of the Class were longtime students of "Darlo"as it was affectionately known, but in the year I transferred in on my own, a group of boys from Marist Brothers Bondi, which had closed in an Archdiocesan Schools rationalisation, came to Darlo. I think about 10 were in our class, including Tony Hannon ( now my Brother-in-Law) . Tony and I shared many interests in common, but especially History and movies and Goon Show humour. We frequently  went to the movies and bushwalking and in later years .Each of us had a bewildering succession of cameras and cars, perhaps I led the race in the "bewildering range"area. Zany humor was the order of the day and the Goon Show was the ideal grist for our mental mills. Here was a friendship that was to last through the decades and I would still, anytime, trust my life to Tony.

I guess I was rather reserved in those days with most people so I did not form close friendships with other students - living 12-14 miles away to the West didn't help in that regard, I was always coming from or going to a different place to everyone else. I got to know a little and to like the irrepressible Roger Constable, an incorrigible wag who delighted in "stirring". There were several students who repeated 5th Year for their personal reasons. Whilst I didn't "hate"school I was impatient to be out in the world and independent of the regimented routine of school.

I particularly admired, but was not close to, several students for various  reasons : Bill Allport for his ultra modest manner and politeness coupled with academic ability and athletic success, Brian Wyndham for his manly bearing and good humour and outgoing personality - he was also accomplished as Drum Major in the School Cadets and Paul Langford for his quiet but friendly manner and genuine openness. The Class had varied outcomes in our lives one  student became a successful lawyer, another a doctor, another a dentist, another went into the Army , at least one a teacher ( my Brother-in- Law Tony with great distinction as a much admired Rugby Coach of Sydney Boys High and longtime enthusiastic and accomplished History Teacher) . Another was Bob Vagg who became media  famous for a time in the Financial Press as an "expert"executive of a major American Merchant Bank. But, several financial crises later that is not the sort of "darling"the media cultivates. 

I joined the Cadet Corps in 4th Year and saw the year out without distinction and did not sign up again for 5th Year. Interestingly, whilst re-reading the book "The Old School Tie"by Father John O'Neill the well-known Parish Priest of Doonside in Sydney's western suburbs, I came across a description that immediately brought to mind a Cadet Corps figure with outstanding clarity. The book is based on Father O'Neill's life together with that of another Priest friend. Names are fictionalised and some characters are "telescoped"for the purpose of the book, but it is all based solidly on fact.The hero and his friend and fellow Priest to be are both students at the Cathedral School and are members of the Cadet Corps.  The Permanent Army supervisor of the Cadet Unit at the School is "a World War Two and Korean War veteran, Sergeant Peter Irwin". When the two friends are at a mixed Schools Cadet Camp at Singleton and attendance at Sunday Mass makes them a tad late for breakfast in the Mess Hut the cook abuses them and won't serve them. The story goes on :
"He did not notice Sergeant Irwin standing near.
  Get breakfast for these men Cookie", said Irwin, They've been to Church Parade, I don't think we'll penalise them for being Christians."
The cook grumbled as he sloshed porridge into bowls, and slapped rounds of toast onto cold plates.
"Thank you Cookie", said Irwin. "Enjoy your breakfast gentlemen."
'Thank you Sir, they replied.
"If you can't enjoy it, offer it up"laughed the Sergeant as he walked away, and from that remark, the boys knew they had a fellow Catholic in high places."

Our Cadet Unit at Darlinghurst - just up the hill from St.Mary's Cathedral College was obviously supervised by the same man as the Cathedral College :- the smiling, manly Warrant Officer Sam Irwin who exuded an admirable competence, efficiency and self - possession that made him universally admired. He was every inch the professional soldier, and a great fellow.