Records of the early days of The Scots School are a bit patchy, although some donations of material from John McLucas, whose father was Headmaster from 1949-1952, have boosted the collection from that period.

The Founders- Canon Smith and Bishop Marsden. Across Eastern Australia’s Great Dividing Range, set in the plains, is Bathurst, one of the first towns established in New South Wales. By the 1870s, Bathurst was busy in its role as a thriving gold and pastoral centre. It was also seen as ‘a bearer of enlightenment’ with all kinds of schools, each one ‘fighting for its share of the public purse, parents’ fees and children’s attendance’.

At the beginning of 1942, the neighbourhood on O’Connell Road was quiet. At Werona, the Ray family were well known locally as orchardists, with Edwin Ray being a spokesman for the industry in Bathurst. The neighbourhood changed very much in April 1942 when a group of pre-teen boys moved into the next-door property of Karralee. We sadly have to report the death at the age of 103 of Miss Lorna Ray, Edwin’s daughter, who was a continuing and much-loved link between the family and the school next door.

At the Old Bathurstians’ Reunion Dinner in Dubbo last weekend, there were many ‘Old Boys’ in attendance, and some had not seen each other for over 50 years since leaving school. In addition, there were a few Marsden ‘Old Girls’ who came, and much of the conversation was about being a boarder during Miss Glover’s (Aunty Marg) headship some 50 years ago!

We have recently received a book written by an Old Bathurstian, Ross ‘Rusty’ Baker (ASC 1956-61), titled Letters from a Boarder, where he records his life as a boarder at All Saints’ after rediscovering the letters he wrote home to his family. His recollections are amazingly detailed, and he has included photos, images, and other memorabilia in this book.

With “High School Musical” being presented later this week, memories have been stirred of a past musical production involving two of our predecessor schools.