School memories … Williamstown High School’s oldest surviving pupil, Marj McCrakett, 96, and daughter Moya Palmer, 71, attended the school reunion. Inset: Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alan Howes from the class of 1953 holds the peace coin from the International Peace Committee of 1986. Pictures: BRIARSINCLAIR.MARJ McCrakett is probably the oldest living student of one of the oldest Victorian suburban high schools, Williamstown High School, but that didn’t stop her from getting to the 90th reunion on Monday.
“If you can find me an older one, let me know,” the 96-year-old said.
“Wherever I go I’m always the oldest.”
Mrs McCrakett, who was born and raised in Yarraville, attended Williamstown High School in the 1920s.
“I came here when I was 12 so that’s 84 years ago and that was in the third form,” she said.
“I did two years at Kingsville and then I came here because I was too young to come on the train, my mother thought.
“Williamstown High School was the only high school in those days.
“People had to come out from Deer Park and Sunshine to go to the Williamstown High School because there was no other school.”
Mrs McCrakett and her husband James taught music from their home but when he died she moved to Mitcham.
Her daughter Moya Palmer, 71, also attended Williamstown High School for five years up to 1950 and now plays an active part in the Ex-Students and Staff Association.
Mrs Palmer published a history book of the school last year using school records and press reports.
“The girls were strictly on one side of the yard and the boys were on the other,” she said.
“I once wagged a class and went to the senior pavilion and the headmistress came along.”
Mrs Palmer said she hid under a seat which the headmistress then sat on and took up the magazine Mrs Palmer had left, which was also forbidden.
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“I’m sure she knew I was there,” she said.
“It was a good time, we respected our teachers and really enjoyed the friendships of the people.
“I had a class that had six girls and 20 boys and a lot of them have passed on but we really were a friendly group because the boys looked after the girls.”
Mrs Palmer said sport was important and she was also part of the hockey team.”
Two retired lieutenant colonels are among former students of the school.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Charles Mollison, who now lives Queensland, donated copies of his book Long Tan and Beyond: Alpha Company 6 RAR in Vietnam 1966-77, to the school.
Retired Lieutenant Colonel Alan Howes, who now lives in Canberra, handed over the copies to the school at the reunion.
Mr Howes was also the secretary on the 1986 International Year of Peace committee and helped push for a $1 coin to be minted for the celebrations.
At the reunion, the Ex-Students and Staff Association launched the Williamstown High School Pictorial, a book of photos for ex students and teachers.
The earliest photo in the book dates back to 1921.
Because it precedes her years, Mrs McCrakett does not even have to worry about searching for her face in it.
