Talk:Lyneham High School

School image
Can we get an image of the school logo or the front of the school? To get around fair use, I think one of us will have to take it. I could go and take it, but maybe it would be easier if a current student could do it for me. Let's talk. Cheers. Declan Keating (talk) 02:14, 5 March 2008 (UTC)

Front of the School picture -
 * http://www.usaus-h2o.org/site/assets/files/1065/lyneham-high-school.jpg

203.129.58.177 (talk) 14:25, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

Front of the School picture *UPDATED*
 * https://imgur.com/a/M49WDFj

118.210.62.64 (talk) 13:48, 16 November 2020 (UTC)

Enrolment
The link in the Article seems not to work ? "Each ACT public school gives priority to the enrolment of children living in its Priority Placement Area (PPA). ACT public schools are non-selective. source." - http://www.det.act.gov.au/whats_new/enrolling-for-a-new-school-in-2014

Of course, "The feeder school's are Turner Primary and Lyneham Primary School." needs No apostrophe.

I'd suggest that all might better be expressed as - "The main feeder schools in its Priority Placement Area are Turner, and Lyneham Primary Schools as well as some children enrolling from St Joseph's (Catholic) Primary in O'Connor, along with some out-of area pupils who are attracted by their LEAP, Music/Band Program, and SEAL curriculum opportunities." 203.129.58.177 (talk) 15:01, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

Notable people
People placed on lists of Notable People in Wikipedia articles are to have the same level of notability required to have an article written on them. See WP:NLIST. A single casualty in a war that had between 500,000 and 1 million casualties is simply not notable in terms of what is required for notability in Wikipedia. I am not saying that his death was not significant for the school and the people who attended it. The guys I went to school with that died in Nam broke my heart. But they are not on the list of Notable People for my high school, because their deaths, altho tragic to those who knew them, simply wasn't notable on a world-wide basis. The article on your school is not for your school; it is for the world. Hope that helps you understand why the edit adding LT. Wheeler will continue to get reverted. Gtwfan52 (talk) 03:28, 11 September 2012 (UTC)


 * REPLY: I was re-edited my contribution on the misapprehension it was not loading successfully, not realising it was being deliberately deleted so swiftly - and so counter-intuitively as it were. That is to say, I was editing the "Notable people" section on the basis of the commonly understood dictionary definition of the term, rather than what it appears Wikipedia guidelines mean, which is more along the lines of "famous/infamous". Lt John Wheeler is certainly neither famous nor infamous, but he is particularly notable amongst Lyneham High School alumni as he was the only ex-pupil who lost his life in the horrendous and socially significant Vietnam War. Indeed, thankfully he is the only ex-pupil of LHS to have done so in any war as far as I know. There is a bronze plaque in the foyer of the Lyneham High School to remind pupils, staff and visitors of Lt Wheeler's sacrifice, as well as a street named after him in an Australian state capital, ergo he is quite literally notable alumni- in the real world at least!

http://www.memorial.act.gov.au/person.php?action=detail-image&id=3356&image=1

It really appears quite nonsensical a professional soldier and officer honoured by his country to lead a platoon of troops into action can lose his life doing so, yet not be "notable" by Wikipedia's definition, whereas a professional junior athlete who served her country at the Olympics regrettably without placing anywhere of note (medal wise) is "notable". The majority of reasonably minded folk would consider them as both being notable alumni at the very least, worthy of any mention on a page pointing to their school's mentionable alumni. Any other evaluation creates a danger it could be construed as political-influenced opinion, or a shallow Gen Y preoccupation with celebrity. One would presume those concerned with the direction of Wikipedia would be above such narrow and short-sighted deviations.{{. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Kirchner18 (talk • contribs)


 * Wikipedia only reports on what others have noticed. To be notable, substantial coverage, not just in a single locale, is required.  You are failing to understand something that has been communicated to you at least twice.  It isn't who is notable in the school you are writing about, rather it is who the world has deemed notable that went to the school.  Are you proposing that Wikipedia should list every single casualty of every single war?  Because you do realize that every fallen solider had classmates, neighbors or whatever type of article you think they should be listed in?  People die in wars.  Unfortunately due to the huge numbers involved, the individuals are simply not significant to the world; they are only significant to the honestly grieving people he left behind.  Wikipedia is not a memorial.  Please realize that no one is trying to diminish any personal feeling you may have in regard to the LT.  I have lost close friends in wars too, and am definitely not Gen Y.  The standard for notability for soldiers is significant world wide fame, or the awarding of his countries top honor, equivalent to the US Congressional Medal of Honor. You surely must realize the impracticality of listing war casualties in articles about their hometowns or alma maters?  There are inner city high schools in the US that had over 100 kids die in Nam.  My hometown that was at that time about 10,000 people, lost 47 boys in WW II.  It is totally impractical to list each and every casualty of wars anywhere.  Imagine trying to put the WW II casualties in Sydney's article.  Are you beginning to see why the guideline is what it is? You really shouldn't take edits personally.  Because it isn't. Gtwfan52 (talk) 08:03, 11 September 2012 (UTC)


 * I agree, Kirchner. The world would probably be a better place if most considered Lt. John Wheeler notable and some hall-of-famer who kicks a ball around a bit then goes to his multi-million dollar home was not... Jim1138 (talk) 08:24, 11 September 2012 (UTC)


 * I too agree with that sentiment, but it does not change the jist of what I said above. Sad, I know, but true. Gtwfan52 (talk) 08:29, 11 September 2012 (UTC)

OK, how about Paul Lyneham the journalist and author. He was an alumnus. Although his largely autobiographical biography edited and published by his wife after his (early) death, makes only the slightest reference to his 'eponymous' High School. ANYWAY, HE HAS a substantive Article - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Lyneham

Then there is the first Headmaster, Mr Gill Hughson, who was as far as I recall, the creator of the School Motto - 'vera semper colere' - "always foster the truth", perhaps in consultation with the 1960 Latin teacher and Cricketer Mr John Cope, who was the editor of "Between the first forty Lynes : a history of Lyneham High School 1959-1999". Mr Hughson also designed the school Crest/Badge, I believe. He was a notable educator, but no doubt, utterly forgettable, Kirchner.

And then there was Lt. JOHN W. WHEELER - (source - http://www.memorial.act.gov.au/person.php?id=3342 )

"John [William] Wheeler was the grandson of an original Anzac, represented the ACT in schoolboy rugby and graduated from the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1969. After training at RMC Duntroon he spent a year at the army base at Woodside in the Adelaide Hills. He served in Vietnam from 12 February 1971 with the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment but was killed by a grenade during a nine hour night contact in Phuoc Tuy Province in March 1971. He is commemorated at Norwood Park in Canberra and by Wheeler Avenue in the Adelaide suburb of Pooraka."


 * So, is someone who is worthy enough to be memorialised by the ACT Government, AND who represented the ACT in schoolboy rugby AND who is commemorated by the naming of Wheeler Avenue in the Adelaide suburb of Pooraka, still technically deemed not a sufficiently notable Alumnus?  (And that is not even observing that his father was Mr Roy Wheeler, who was the School's very highly-regarded Science Master, and who taught his own son in Physics and Chemistry to the Leaving Certificate in 1964.)


 * Obviously, AFTER someone WRITES an appropriate biographical Notable Person article about Lt J.W. Wheeler in wiki, THEN he can be mentioned in the List of this Article. Wheeler WAS INDEED Notable in the school, and in my book, primus inter pares with the four currently named, in his service for the Nation. Arguably, he has been more important as an inspiration to a long generational succession of Lyneham High's students, as a non-political role-model (vale Andy Barr), even if John couldn't sing as well as The Church's lead-songwriter Steve Kilbey (with all due respect to both S.K's dear parents and to himself).


 * Moreover, within the School there is a Bronze Plaque in the Foyer specifically intended to remind pupils of Lt James Wheeler's sacrifice. That Plaque is certainly NO LESS significant than the individual names featured on the School's Honour Roll, Gtwfan52.
 * I feel confident that (the very appropriately listed Notable) australian diplomat Margaret Adamson would not demur.


 * Just to round out this Chat a little more -
 * There is "a memorial at Henderson Reserve, Montague Farm, [S.A.] which Honour's [sic] Vietnam veterans ... Returning to their home in the same suburb, they decided to research the meaning behind their street name, Wheeler Avenue. Streets in the Montague Housing estate were named in dedication of South Australians who were killed in Vietnam. The suburb had been developed with the help of a Vietnam Veteran. [They] discovered that their street was named as a tribute to 22-year-old Lt John Wheeler who died in combat in an explosion that occurred during an enemy attack on March 2, 1971. … Lt John Wheeler died along with his friend and comrade Private Paul Manning. ... not only had both men died together that night; they are also united in the street names of the suburb. Wheeler Avenue adjoins Manning Crescent in the suburb."
 * source http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSmpid=48049511&GRid=37533887&
 * So that is WHY Wheeler's name came to be memorialised in a South Australian suburb.

Another notables among the early Teachers, included:
 * Mr Potter was the 1960-64 first Deputy Head; and among other matters was personally responsible for the delivery of memorable corporal punishments - 'the cuts' - to the most recalcitant boys who had been sent to "The Office" by their Teachers driven to distraction.
 * I cannot recall the name of the Head-girls' Teacher (indeed, was it Mrs Potter ??), (Mrs York) but there was always 'detention' as another 1960s punishment.
 * Mr Ken Mattei. He was the first Maths Master, who was instumental in encouraging some pupils (mostly boys, from memory) in an interest in electronics and in their becoming Radio Hams. Mr Mattei introduced us to the word 'catenary' to explain the shape (inverted chain segment) of the main architectural feature of the internal-clear-spanned School Assembly Hall, to the north of the School Offices. He also collaborated with Prof Hannah Neumann at ANU in the creation of a mathematics society in Canberra.
 * Mr John McKinnon was the Languages Master. He also taught third-year Latin (supplementing Mr Cope). French and German was taught by a Scot (with a lisp) who was married to a Pole - her surname's spelling was impossible.
 * Mr Campbell also taught French, and played the Trumpet, including as a bugle for his ANZAC Day / Cadet Corps needs.
 * Mr (not Jack surely) Frost taught 'tech drawing', as well as carpentry in 1960. 'Frosty' may also have taught metalwork. He notably had an ingenious hand-crafted box with a metal fly-wire meshed top, on which he sharpened his chalk for tech drawing perfection working on the blackboard.

The last Notable was the first School DOG, 'CHEWIE', whose biog was given in Mr Cope's book, if I remember rightly.203.129.60.195 (talk) 21:00, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

Sister-School Relationship[s]
There was a competitive sister-school relationship established in 1960 with Caringbah High in Sydney. See - http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/137120027?searchTerm=Lyneham%20High&searchLimits=. Canberra Times, page 23 - Saturday 30 June 1960. The Caralyne Cup was won by LHS at Caringbah at their first inter-school competition. Both academic (e.g., debating and chess) and sporting competitions were conducted at each school, year and year about. Participants were billeted with 'home'-school families. Caringbah High created a great Haka-style 'war-chant', which Lyneham pupils attempted to emulate. To my ears, the LHS chant was wet by comparison. Chiz! (Molesworth was available to read in the 1960s Library.)180.200.141.157 (talk) 09:08, 7 July 2015 (UTC)

Early Music Studies
The young Music Teacher (who came to LHS after Mrs Turner) in about 1964, (Janice Jacobs, I think from 1962 Andrewdav (talk) 10:42, 12 May 2017 (UTC)) used to play to Fifth Year students LPs of notable music in an attempt to at least widen our knowledge. I still can recall an E. Power Biggs's majestic Organ music LP, as well as 'The Planets Suite' by Holst, so she had a small victory. Her attempts to continue the School's Gilbert and Sullivan performances (such as Yeomen of the Guard, and The Pirates of Penzance) were foiled in 1964 when a too ambitious production of The Gondoliers had to be abandoned, and instead only a few songs by soloists were included in a School Concert. (I recall being one of the peers in a production of Iolanthe, in 1962 or 1963. Some of my classmates had roles in Yeoman of the Guard in 1964 Andrewdav (talk) 10:42, 12 May 2017 (UTC))

In 1960, "Mrs Turner" (see her other references) was LHS's first (essentially unqualified, at least initially) Music Teacher. Amirah Inglis in her 1995 autobiographical book "The Hammer & Sickle and the Washing Up - memories of an Australian woman Communist" (Published by Hyland House), as the then "Mrs Turner" discusses some of her experiences (as well as other matters related to the School, its Teachers, and a few of its pupils) at pages 168 to 170. She mentions her recruitment by Gil Hughson and Ray Potter, the brand-new School's "adventurous" architecture, the "lavish music room" (with its tiered seating), the fact that Music was a non-exam subject then, the Third Year classes that she recalled differently, some memorable students (for various reasons), as well as her teaching colleagues. "Some of the men were ignorant, narrow-minded, mean-spirited and tyrannical; grizzling constantly ..". The "staff common room" was as I recall it, on the upper front above the Headmaster's/ Deputy's/administrative offices, to the right of the main Foyer. (North-east wing.) The Music Room was off the Foyer, being the first room on the right in the then School admin. wing's corridor. 121.127.213.162 (talk) 06:16, 16 June 2015 (UTC)

Army Cadet Corps
Soon after opening, Lyneham High School was incorporated into the Australian Army's school Cadet Corps scheme. The Corps' Armory was installed in a room adjacent to the 'boys' entrance to the Gymnasium & Basketball Court building, facing east onto the Quad. .303 Rifles were issued and used for drill. Members of the Corps went away to Camp with the Army, which included live-ammunition use. (Lt.) J.W. Wheeler was an 'officer' member of the Lyneham High Cadet Corps when he was in Fifth Year. (I think John did his fifth year in 64 but stayed back to do it again in 65 so was one of my classmates in 65. Andrewdav (talk) 10:42, 12 May 2017 (UTC))

Religious Instruction
In the 1960s, once a week, on Thursday mid-morning, one period for Religious Instruction was integrated into the School's various timetables. Religious came to the School to officiate. Church of England (Anglican) students were gathered together in one group. Roman Catholics went over into O'Connor to St Joseph's for their Service. A joint service for those students such as Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, was held in the Assembly Hall, with a different Vicar each week visiting, which made for both better variety and ecumenism. (I cannot recall any Jews or Muslims, or whatever they might have done.)

Tolerantly, Mr Hughson allowed nominally C. of E. students to participate in the Joint service, so long as their parents did not object.

Inter-school Sports
In the 1960s, in Winter, there was an inter-school Rugby Union competition, usually of a team of the better players from Fifth Year. Canberra Buses took the Team to their respective grounds. Canberra High, Telopea High, St Edmund's, and Queanbeyan High were played. Their 'jumper' was in the School colours- being light blue with three maroon stripes, the middle one being wider (from memory). (Lt.) J.W. Wheeler played a key Team roll as Half-Back servicing the Scrum, and feeding the Backline in 1964.

1960s School Colours and the Uniform
School Colours in 1960 were Maroon and Pale Blue. Now ther are apparently blue before maroon.

Boys' 1960 Uniform - Black shoes; long school Socks with grey Shorts, or grey long Trousers; light grey collared Shirt (white was an alternative) worn with a School Tie, being maroon with thin diagonal pale blue stripes. There were also grey wollen school jumpers (pull-over cardigans) with maroon and blue striped highlighting around the vee-collar, and/or a School Blazer - Maroon coat with one pale blue ribbon on the sleeve about 3 or 4 inches up from the cuff, and with a woven school badge on the breast pocket. These Blazers could be the school's enamel in-on Badge, (and/or the sister-school's green and silver (?) Badge), as well as the Prefect or Vice-Captain or Captain Badge. Failure to wear the standard (not inexpensive) Uniform was an issue in the 1960s, so the P&C (Mothers) did run a second-hand clothing shop, associated with their 'Tuck-Shop' (Canteen) activities.

There is an advert for some current (2014) uniform items at - http://www.docstoc.com/docs/122299522/Lyneham-High-Uniforms

Extension of the original 1959 Buildings
A complete wing, on the western side was added to the original design. Originally, the younger students were in the eastern wing, as well as the domestic science classrooms (for girls) and the metal and wood shops to the south-east (for boys). The older students were in the western parallel wing. LPAC was added most recently.

Disappearance of the two CEDRIC FLOWER (Untitled) Murals
The notable artist Cedric Flower assisted by his wife, working on a special commission from the NCDC, painted Historical Mural panels which in mid-September 1960 were installed in the Main front Foyer of the School, adjacent to the Offices. They were at an angle to the wall, right up at the ceiling of the Foyer, inserted between wall pillars. They were in pastel colours, and given the Artist, they were presumably valuable Collectables.

There is a b.&w. picture of Flower in front of part of one mural, in this Canberra Times article - http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/136938117?searchTerm=%22cedric%20flower%22%20%22lyneham%20high%22&searchLimits=

John Cope's "Between the first forty Lynes" school history records that the murals were "removed" during some subsequent renovations. p.28

Lamentably, some Philistines (or fine-art Thieves) spirited them away … see - http://www.environment.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/235536/206.pdf This reference specifies their size and some extra details.

Cope's history (pp 26 and 28) provides some description of these murals, as well as reproducing a black and white picture of a part of the northern mural, facing up the Headmaster's corridor, with the music room door on the right. (In those early years too, Mr Ray Potter, Deputy Head, gave the cane as corporal punishment after teachers had sent boys to stand and wait for him in that gloomy corridor.) 2001:8003:1C0E:0:3180:A64E:F822:AB66 (talk) 07:54, 18 November 2023 (UTC)

Prime Minister Gillard's Visit
One 2013 Lyneham High not-so-notable joined in the fun by throwing a Salami Sandwich at the P.M.
 * http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/gillard-doesnt-bite-as-sanga-hits-the-deck-20130530-2nf3w.html 203.129.58.177 (talk) 14:50, 16 February 2014 (UTC)

"Mrs Turner" - Lyneham High School Music Teacher - early 1960s
See - http://www.canberratimes.com.au/comment/obituaries/a-crowded-life-after-an-unaustralian-childhood-20150605-ghi137.html OBITUARY of  Amirah Gutstadt ( Turner ) ( Inglis ) 07-12-1926  –  02-05-2015 Obituary includes photograph of "Mrs Turner" ( 1984 )

See also - http://www.canberratimes.com.au/entertainment/the-hammer-amp-sickle-and-the-washing-up-20130119-2czko.html for an extract from page 172 of Mrs Turner's 1995 autobiographical book. This Canberra Times' text is an extract republished in "The Invisible Thread: One Hundred Years of Words, an anthology of writers from the Canberra region", edited by Irma Gold, published by Halstead Press. 121.127.213.162 (talk) 03:47, 16 June 2015 (UTC)

Amirah Inglis's death in 2015 is memorialised in a sepaprate second small bronze plaque, related to her role as a "true believer in Spanish democracy" and for her role in the "Australians in Spain Memorial Committee", upon the sandstone and brick "Australians in the Spanish Civil War - 1936 to 1939" war memorial that has been erected in the "Peace Park" on the southern shore of Lake Burley Griffin in Canberra, A.C.T. This Spanish Civil War memorial, which honours some 70 Australian men and women who went to Spain, was dedicated in 1993. There is a relief map and a bi-lingual explanation in the two main bronze plaques. 124.171.80.12 (talk) 06:02, 15 October 2016 (UTC)

Minh Do - Notable or a Hoax
This may be a hoax ? The substantive <> iten states, inter alia - [This page has been deleted. The deletion and move log for the page are provided below for reference. [10:37, 18 May 2015 Smalljim (talk | contribs) deleted page Minh Do (G3: Blatant hoax) [05:34, 13 October 2010 Tony Fox (talk | contribs) deleted page Minh Do (Speedy deleted per CSD A7, was an article about a real person that didn't assert the importance or significance of its subject. using TW) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 180.200.184.109 (talk)

1960s TEACHER - ANN WATERS - ? "Mrs Waters" ?
In Amirah Inglis's 1995 autobiographical book "The Hammer & Sickle and the Washing Up - memories of an Australian woman Communist" (Published by Hyland House), the then "Mrs Turner" mentions ruefully at page 172 that a Mrs Ann Waters came to Canberra, and that "fate played me [Amirah Turner] another very dirty trick when she [Ann Waters] came to teach at Lyneham High." Little did we know as students then of the emotional turmoil both LHS Teachers were then enmeshed in, over Ian Turner's "passion for Ann". Who recalls WHAT subjects did "Mrs Waters" teach ?121.127.213.162 (talk) 03:39, 16 June 2015 (UTC)

Principals Pass
On Twitter: ‏@CraigNorenbergs Jun 24 2015 Auckland City, New Zealand Sad to hear of death of former Lyneham High Canberra principal Brian Dooley. 121.127.208.197 (talk) 23:53, 30 June 2015 (UTC)

Ham Radio Group - August 1963
See - http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/109901087?searchTerm=Lyneham%20High&searchLimits= .. The school's Mathematics Master Mr Ken Mattei was the adult Radio-Ham behind the formation of this group. (Think "Dick Smith"-like 'geeks'.) Mr Mattei was the proud owner of a gun-metal grey Jaguar Mark 7 sedan. "Star members of the school's club are 17-year-old George Brzostowski, of Dickson, and 15-year-old Roger Davis, of O'Connor." Read the article to find out why.180.200.141.157 (talk) 09:22, 7 July 2015 (UTC) As a member of the radio club, and included in that Canberra Times article and photo, I still have contact with all except George. The Radio club was one of the first in the Youth Radio Clubs Scheme of the Wireless Institute of Australia. Ken Mattei collaborated with Rex Black of Kingsgrove NSW to build the scheme, devise a five level technical achievement award system and issue certificates to club members who passed the exams, which were basically physics and maths combined in a radio theory context. The scheme was also taken up by Keith Howard at Weslakes high school and by other teachers who had an interest in radio via their own ham radio licence, or who saw merit in encouraging young people to learn more about electronics. Andrewdav (talk) 10:42, 12 May 2017 (UTC)

Ian "Scrubbie" Stokes : 1970s-Alumnus, worked as the most reliable Dickson windscreen cleaner
Renowned Dickson windscreen cleaner for 20 years, Ian Stokes dies at 63, in mid-January 2016. See - obituary/report - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-20/canberras-dickson-window-washer-ian-stokes-dies/7100876?WT.ac=statenews_act His nickname "Scrubbie" apparently related to his unkempt hair as a youth; not to his years of window-cleaning. ".. Stokes was born in Canberra in 1953 into a family of four children and went to Lyneham High School where he was a head prefect." His corner was mainly for west-bound cars on Antill Street at the Northbourne Avenue intersection (with some south-bound, on Northbourne). . 08:53, 20 January 2016 (UTC) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 49.195.147.133 (talk)

More at - http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/canberrans-continue-to-pay-tribute-to-window-washer-who-touched-their-soul-20160121-gmb4kk.html

121.127.213.138 (talk) 09:03, 22 January 2016 (UTC)

Lola de Mar - Art Teacher
"The Canberra Times" of Saturday 18 November 2023 records the death of Mrs de Mar who was among the first teachers at Lyneham High School. Her obituary includes no dates, and there was no public funeral at Mrs de Mar's wish. John Cope's "Between the first forty Lynes" records her having been a teacher from 1960: p.34. 2001:8003:1C0E:0:3180:A64E:F822:AB66 (talk) 07:19, 18 November 2023 (UTC)
 * Unless she was notable (by Wikipedia's standards, which does not necessarily include "among the first teachers" at a school) there's no need to mention her in the article. Mitch Ames (talk) 06:16, 18 November 2023 (UTC)