Housemaster’s Time At Shore

Growing up in Wahroonga, as a family we use to visit Robson House a few times in the year when I was very young.  My father was related to John Colebrook’s wife, Margaret.  John was the Robson Housemaster for some time and I remember parking outside Robson when I was about five years old, running down the hallway, out the front door of the House and diving into the pool.

My grandfather, my father, my brother and myself attended Shore.  I clearly remember mum and dad informing me that I was attending Shore in the Christmas holidays about three weeks before school began and I was absolutely thrilled!! Dad and I had a meeting with Nev Emery before the first day and he said to dad that I had to play in the Under 13 rugby side, weighing in at about 28 kilograms. 

How school has change! I wanted to be a boarder as I played rugby and steered the boat (badly I might add) with many boarders in the team and crew.  However, mum and dad could not afford the cost.  Many of you would know that I taught at Joey’s for 24 years.  I remember dad saying to me “you are never to leave Joeys”.  Of course, I joke with Mr Morris and Mr Junee about their time at Joeys, between the three of us we have spent 53 years in boarding at Joeys and I think we would all agree that we some experience in boarding.

Our Robson boys are working hard in all areas of this school, particularly their academics.  Often of an afternoon, the boys from Year Eight to Year Twelve are in their rooms working hard doing prep; this would not have occurred 40 year ago.  Boarding has changed and many parents would have better stories that these and so I am really looking forward to hearing about their stories in the times ahead.