John Ferguson Gives His Members Profile

Posted by Paul Murray 
on Apr 06, 2016
 
Past President John Ferguson gave members an most infromative overview of his life at last Tuesdays meeting.  A copy os his speech is reproduced below:
 
Born Sydney 1947 at the Crown Street Women’s Hospital in the heart of the great South Sydney area.
Had 2 older brothers and a sister and we lived with our parents in a big 100 year old 3 story stone terrace house in Darlinghurst. Mum & Dad purchased it for 700 pounds during WW2 while Dad was serving in New Guinea. Sold recently for $2.8K. Great place to live and grow up with all the main Sydney sporting & cultural attractions within walking distance-SCG, Showground, Botanical Gardens, Harbour, Museums & Kings Cross!
 
 
Attended Darlinghurst PS for 5 years before parents made the momentous decision to move to the St George area. Of course by this time I was an ardent Rabbitohs fan. The school I moved to was Carlton South PS at the southern end of the St George RLC’s home ground of Kogarah Jubilee Oval. I was a long time suffering Rabbitohs fan as Saints rattled off a record 11 straight premierships. But growing up in a sports mad area gave me untold opportunities to be involved in a host of sports. Played in numerous Saturday and school competitions. One cricket team, St Cuthberts, South Kogarah had Kerry O’Keefe as a team mate. Went to Blakehurst HS where I was known as the “phantom” because I was hardly at school through representing the school at a variety of sports. Played in the inaugural S G Ball St George Rugby League team-you had to be 8 stone 7 pounds! And the school tennis team was the CHS champions in 1964. Somehow passed the Leaving Certificate (HSC to anyone under 67) and received a Teachers College Scholarship. 

Came to Wagga Wagga (50 years celebration next month planned). Arrived at the old Teachers College south campus and arguably spent the best 2 years of my life on campus there. Population of Wagga was 25,000 and the Teachers College was about the end of “ciliization”. There was any number of activities to relieve the boredom of lecturers which were 9am-5pm, 5 days a week! Played rugby on Saturdays, soccer on Sundays, the Turvey Tavern when you had enough money and an oversupply of women living 200 metres from you! The gender ratio was definitely in our favour by about 3 to 1! Rumours of an additive placed in the drinking water to reduce the sex drive---it had no effect!!!  Food was very ordinary and was the cause of several student revolts and then reprisals by the administration. The College provide the community with many memorable concerts and I remember vividly being part of T S Elliotts “Murder in the Cathedral” at St Michaels in the middle of August-it was perishing!!!! Demonstration lessons were held at Turvey Park PS and prac teaching usually meant a 2 hour bus trip out to Coota, Gundagai, Narrandera etc.

Graduated and then spent 2 extraordinary years attached to National Fitness Camps-Sport & Rec Camps now. Camps were schools back in the 60s and I was based at Broken Bay some of the time. It was surrealistic-catch a train to Brooklyn on the Hawkesbury and then a ferry around to Patonga and walk to the camp and get paid for it!. There were no roads in then. Often found myself on train escort duty with schools around the state so hence my fondness for railways.

Transferred to Wollongong in the late 60s where Bob Willis’ dad Mick was my principal at Unanderra PS. The school was otherwise known as the “League of Nations” as we were very close to the migrant hostel. Classes of 45 with little assistance to teach newly arrived kids. Started coaching tennis on one of the parent’s backyard courts at their request. Just started with their 3 kids but it rose steeply over the next few months to over 40 where I realised Saturday mornings were much more financially rewarding than teaching 5 days a week. I started my lifetime involvement in school sport organisation in Wollongong.
1972 came back to the Riverina with an appointment as principal at French Park PS near Lockhart. There were 13 kids! In 7 classes! Also a 3 bedroom residence at $3.50 a week rental. I saved a lot of money!!!!! Great families who I am still friendly with today. One story was of a male student walking to the toilet and he sighted a snake shedding its skin. I thought it was a great chance of a natural science lesson and called the rest of the school over. The snake had shed its skin and it measured over 6 feet. Fortunately I was not called upon to show my skill with a shot gun provided, as I had absolutely no idea how to fire it! 

Met Judy in 1973 when she was appointed to Collingullie Demonstration School and we married that year. Bought our first house in Wagga for $21,000. We have 3 children; Phil, David & Louise and 5 grand children
 I moved to Currawarna PS as principal when French Park was closed due to enrolments dropping below 10. Saw the record floods of 1974-5. School was closed for a short while and used for temporary evacuations.
During this time started playing with Wagga City Rugby Club and of course was privileged to play with our past Wollundry member Brian Roberts. Not so privileged to play against Pykie, as he was a member of our great opponents-the Waratahs. I have maintained a lifelong association with Wagga City, being one of the foundation members of the Rugby Choir.

1977 I successfully applied for a position with the Commonwealth Schools Commission and became the executive director of the Education Centre in Peter Street. This was an exciting time in education with many innovatory programs available for schools, parents and the community. The Centre not only provided resources and courses for educators, but was a valuable community resource and meeting place for over 50 community organisations. I resigned from the position in 1981 but maintained involvement for many years later as a Board member.

From 1983 to 1996, I was deputy principal at two K-12 Central schools at Coolamon and The Rock. Excellent schools with a many fine students and parents. During this time I became the NSW Schools Tennis Convener and Coach, responsible for state tennis competitions involving around 7,500 players. Moved to Rosewood as principal until I became the Regional Senior Education Officer for Equity Programs responsible for around 80 schools and a budget in the millions. Final position was principal at Tolland PS where I ended my 41 years teaching career in 2007.It became the first Riverina school with a preschool attached to it.

In 2000, I was elected to a national position with School Sport Australia as its school’s tennis director. It is an honorary position responsible for organising 3 national events and an international tour each year. I was made a life member last year.

Introduced to this great Rotary club by Greg Conkey & Frank Fuller in 2007. They arrived at Tolland “bearing gifts of dictionaries”!?!!! Joined Wollundry and can honestly say it has been a privilege. It is a club filled with skilled, honourable and dedicated members. Being on 3 boards with of course the highlight being president in 2014/15!

I am a member of the Board of Management of the Legacy Club of Wagga Wagga, being responsible for scholarships awarded by 1 RTB Kapooka.
 In my spare time!!! I am a tour guide at the Junee Railway Roundhouse and I am employed by Tennis Australia as the NSW Schools participation officer.