School Days is a new exhibition opening at the Hurstville Museum and Gallery which will help many Georges River residents to reconnect with their old school memories.
Opening Friday, July 19, School Days will explore school stories and objects from early school days to more recent times.
For many people, school memories form a large part of their early life.
The sound of children playing in the courtyard, the smell of old text books or the taste of a Vegemite sandwich are all part of the school experience.
This in-house curated exhibition presents personal experiences from local residents and their school memories from the 1940s through to the 2000s.
People who went to school in the 1950s will recall drinking their milk at school following the government's introduction of a free school milk program to improve nutrition and health.
Stephen Gard, who attended Sydney Technical High School remembers, "milk was always warm because they would deliver it in steel cages with chunks of ice, which the 'Milk Monitors' would take out, and throw at each other, so by 11 o'clock when you had to have it, it was revolting."
Themes of the exhibition include the development of classroom and teaching aids, uniforms, corporal punishment, school lunches and school yard games.
There will be hands-on activities such as playing a game of hopscotch, and writing on a chalk board.
In addition to the exhibition in-situ at the gallery, an historical overview of local schools will be available via an online project.
Objects on display are a mix of the gallery's own collection, private lenders and institutions, including old classroom furniture on loan from Hurstville South Public School and GRC Penshurst Girls Campus.
There's even a punishment book on loan from the NSW State Archives which reveals the particular punishments for behaviour such as throwing paper, chewing after warning, and playing two-up.
The exhibition will be on display from 20 July - 6 October 2019, and includes a Family Fun Day on Saturday 21 September.
Official opening
Friday 19 July 2019, 6pm
All welcome, drinks and nibbles provided.
Guest speaker: Stephanie Sekulovska, Georges River Council Young Citizen of the Year 2019
RSVP by Wednesday 17 July 2019
To RSVP visit the 'what's on' page at www.georgesriver.nsw.gov.au/HMG
Family Fun Day 'Open Playground'
Saturday 21 September 2019, 11.00am-2.00pm
Includes tours of the exhibition, old fashioned games and craft activities.
Contact details
Hurstville Museum and Gallery
14 MacMahon Street, Hurstville
Opening hours: Tuesday - Saturday 10am-4.pm
Sunday 2pm-5pm
Phone: 9330 6444
E-mail: museumgallery@georgesriver.nsw.gov.au
