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OXLEY - -
HOUSE MASTER: Mr. Doube.
HOUSE MISTRESS: Miss Golliker.
HOUSE CAPTAINS: Barbara Szkutko; George Roberts.
THIS has been a memorable year for our school for it has seen the estab
lishment of FOUR new houses and not ONE as the misguided are
inclined to think. New houses meant new traditions and wider though some
times ill-regulated competition.
The house year began with the selection of cricket teams. The finals
have not yet been played but our High School team under Ian Hastings has
met keen competition.
Many are enthusiastic, but only the best may be chosen—the Inter
mediate swimming team took to the foam and obtained second place. Our
outstanding swimming stars were Robin Couser, Lorraine Cohen, Caroline
Taylor and D. Byrne, B. Fitzgerald, P. Castleton, T. Green.
With such an example in mind the High School water babies worked
hard and somehow managed to win the much prized cup. Jim Thallon. the
under-fifteen champion was by far our best swimmer: John Burnett won the
open dive. With apologies to any who may have been omitted, those deserving
special mention at this point are Barbara Arnold, Dorothy McDonald, Carol
Bryning, Peter Bell. Graham Lind. John Lindley, Tony Grant, Doug Duval,
Mike McDonald and Robin Christophers.
The football season was enjoyed by both our teams. Vin. Klaikalietis
led his "B” team through, undefeated but the “A” team hardly saw which
way Cunningham “A” went.
Coming to athletics, it seems appropriate to mention the untiring sup
port which the vice-captains gave the captains and we of Oxley are more than
a little proud of “Chris" who ran in Stuarts’ shadow on several occasions.
Fortunate in having Loraine Hillier and Judy Turnbull, our girls’ track
events were quite successful—Loraine added the open championship to her
string of trophies—but the ball games were a little disappointing. Practice
will make perfect for next year, eh girls ?
Tired of the boasting of old-timers, David Monks decided to break a
record or two. Roger Sands ran an outstanding 880. Others who did quite
well for themselves were Alan Hill, Bert Attewell, Geoff Smiley and Robin
Christophers.
Over all Oxley secured third place in the athletics carnival.
The reliability trial was soon upon us and from the results the question
propounded is where did our house master go with ins car just before the
race. We offer condolences to the houses that chased us around the course.
We noticed that of the five competitors from our school who participated in
the School Boys’ Cross Country during August, four were from Oxley.
Intermediate basketball resulted in a defeat for our “A” team and a
win for the “B” team.
Our special thanks go to Mr. Hazell, Miss Golliker, Miss Hawkins, Mr
Doube, Mr. Williams and to every girl and boy who had sufficient house spirit
to participate in qualifying races which have become so important of late.
We wish you keen competition for years to come.
JOHN OXLEY (1781-1828). On the recommendation of Matthew
Flinders, John Oxley was appointed Surveyor-General of New
South Wales and commenced duty in that position in 1812.
Governor Macquarie kept him active in the Blue Mountains dis
trict and in 1815, Oxley planned the town of Bathurst. While
leading an exploration party to find a new penal settlement in
1823, Oxley discovered the Brisbane River. He gave valuable
service to the colony in many ways, and was described by Darling
as being “a philanthropist almost in the extreme”. Let all who
are in Oxley house be as Oxley, “persevering, conscious and
honourable in the highest degree”.

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