Where to travel and when - my travel plans

Jan/Feb/Mar
Spain - Seville
Romania - Bucharest
Poland
Greece
Turkey
Portugal - Lisbon
Egypt -
Morocco

April/May/June
St Petersburg
Amsterdam
Barcelona
Berlin
Bolivia
Prague
Turkey
Istanbul

August
Oslo

Riddles

This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.

Answer-highlight to view: Time

Tribute to Bob Booth

A TRIBUTE TO THE LEGEND - By James, Year 12 (1999)

After thirty-nine years as a school teacher at Sydney Technical High School, Mr. Booth will be retiring at the end of the year, 1999. During his time, he has served as Science Teacher (1961-1969), Science Head Teacher (1970-1999) and Prefects Master (1973-1981, 1989-1999).

Whether it is Mr. Broome, former School Principal, Mr. Ward, Science Teacher, or Mr. Quill, the current School Principal, they are all full of praise. If ever there was a person, let alone a teacher who seriously had no enemies, Mr. Robert Booth is that person. We will all miss Mr. Booth. Whether it be his gentle smile, his humble yet inspirational words, his subtle humour, or his guidance and encouragement for all to set their goals, take the challenge and aspire to them. It will be very difficult next year for the entire school community to go about its business, knowing that a man who has made such an impact on the school will not be there.

FRIEND AND INSPIRATION

"Mr. Booth has been an integral part of the school for many years, and will be very difficult to replace."
Mr. Quill, Principal

"He has always been a wonderful person to associate with. He is not only a great colleague, but a supportive friend, not to mention an encyclopedia of the history of the school."
Ms. Irvine, Deputy Principal

"Mr. Booth is flexible enough to cater for all students. A lesson in his class is never boring."
Salman, Year 12, School Captain

"A man of dedication, commitment, knowledge, and experience. His train stories will be dearly missed."
Andrew, Year 12, Vice Captain

"What a wonderful person to be taught by, both in and outside the classroom."
James, Year 12, Senior Prefect

"We will be saying farewell to one of the most experienced teachers at the school."
Justin, Year 12, Editor of "Fred"

"A man of integrity. Genuinely cares and is concerned about the welfare of others."
James, Year 12, Vice President of Interact

"Truly inspiring, and always willing to encourage and challenge students to achieve better things."
Nick, Year 12, Treasurer of the SRC

"A very important part of the school community."
Mrs. Collins, Clerical Assistant

"A teacher whose contribution to the ethos of the school will remain for many years to come."
Mrs. Stanford, Laboratory Assistant

"Sydney Tech's encyclopedia of scientific knowledge."
Mrs. Carrington, Science Teacher

"A great influence on thousands of students over the years."
Mr. Short, History Teacher

"Always very appreciative of anything anyone does for the school, and always personally thanks you for their effort."
Ms. Peric, English Teacher

MR BOOTH'S VIEWS - THROUGHOUT THE YEARS

Most Memorable Times

* Annual Prefects Investiture - students so proud and committed to the good name of the school
* Student response to the Hill End excursion run annually during the 1960s and 1970s
* Class presenting me with a cake having 50 lighted candles. I will never forget the warmth, it was just incredible
* Countless "incidents" in my home room - room 2

Changes for the School

* The 80 minute periods are too long - even university lectures run only for one hour!
* Reduce the amount of assessing, thereby overcoming the strangle-hold it has on the school
* Seek more autonomy for subject departments

Tech- Always a Great Place for Learning

* It has been always good mainly because of the number of self-motivated students and dedicated staff. Academic success is a virtue at Tech and results from a good partnership being formed between teachers and students.

Alternative Professions

* Teaching was a good job in the 1950s when I made my career decision. Furthermore, a training scholarship with a living allowance was a good inducement. Teachers, then, held more respect and authority in the community. Teaching is nowhere as attractive now.
* At Tech, your efforts produce a positive response. Tech students are not shy to tell you if you are good or you are not.
* In 1961, it was the right decision. Today, I would have sought different employment, perhaps ,for example, an Instrument maker.

Extra Effort for the Students

* I have never minded doing something extra for my classes. However, more laborious procedures for assessing, reporting, and discipline consume too much time without any extra benefit.

Encouraging the Study of Science

* Ensuring there is a good balance between theory and practical application. Care needs to be taken not to trivialise or falsely popularise science.

Sad to Leave?

* No.
* I have too many fond memories to be sad. I arrived at Tech in 1961 feeling proud and privileged. I will depart 39 years later feeling proud and privileged.
* I am quite looking forward to retirement so that I can do things in my own way, in my own time, and at my own pace.

Plans for Retirement

* Do some touring, especially along the byways of NSW. Some of the newly created national parks look inviting.
* Avail myself to the seniors' fare concession on public transport to visit institutions such as museums and scenic sights such as South Head and Barrenjoey.
* Devote some of my increased leisure time to restoring railway relics, which I have collected over the years.

Why a Love Of Railways?

* Now I could fill an edition of "Fred" answering that!

THE BOB BOOTH ARCHIVES ROOM

As a tribute, the School Executive recently decided to rename the School's archives room "The Bob Booth Archives Room".

Sydney Tech... Teachers and Memories A Personal Reminiscence by Bob Booth

If you think about the past certain memories come to the fore. If you want to connect to the past how can you?

I recently started a group on facebook for my graduating year. I would like to see the faces and names from the past, but not just my mates, but also those who influenced me from above.. the teachers. Two stand out - Mr Bob Booth physics and prefects master and Mr Peter Heath, the Paddle Pop lion. I use that nick name affectionately. He inspired a love of English in me.

I found something written by Bob on the STHS website, and I post it here for ease of finding and posterity.

A Personal Reminiscence by Bob Booth
(Science Teacher 1961 - 1969)
(Science Head Teacher 1970 - 1999)

A Teacher's Perspective

During my teacher training (Dip.Ed.) year I hoped that the greater part of my career would be presenting and explaining my subject and not one of having to enforce discipline for most of the time. This outlook was somewhat selfish and even unrealistic, but opportunity to find a school where quality teaching and learning were the established norm was soon to present itself.

I was sent to Sydney Technical High School for my final supervised practice teaching session in late 1960. It wasn’t long before I discovered that here was a place with a difference - professional and competent staff at ease with its work, and a student body having a quiet confidence, a good disposition and an understanding of the benefit of giving teachers a fair go. Of course, a teacher had to know his work and present it well. Add some involvement in student activities such as grade sport coaching and a teacher was well on the way to a satisfying career. I made a mental note of placing Sydney Tech at the top of the list of schools which in the future I would apply for as my seniority grew. In those days I would be waiting for 20 years at least. Imagine my feelings of surprise and privilege to be posted to Sydney Tech as my first appointment.

Up to the 1960s, students wanting to matriculate spent five years at high school culminating in the award of the Leaving Certificate. In senior years English, Maths 1 (algebra and calculus), Maths 2 (geometry ad trigonometry) and Physics were compulsory at Sydney Tech leaving students with two options to select. University matriculation required a language and here German was the most popular. Otherwise students chose mostly Chemistry and Technical Drawing. This limited subject choice was really a left-over from the days when the school was located at Albion Street Paddington and then truly Sydney Technical High School.

The moving of the school to its current site at Bexley in 1957 provided the growing St. George area with its first matriculation level boys' high school. Fortunately, the school's name was retained thus keeping alive the school’s history going back to 1911. As an aside, a recent suggestion to change the name of the school because it is no longer exclusively technical sent alarm bells ringing everywhere, such is the feeling and regard of its old boys. The idea of throwing away such a heritage asset was both sensibly and quickly abandoned.

A major revolution in New South Wales education commenced in 1962 with the introduction of the Wyndham Scheme leading to the Higher School Certificate as we have today. A much broader curriculum resulted, although being a boys' high school in a working to middle class area means that senior subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics (and more recently Business Studies) are the most often selected at Sydney Tech, Engineering Science would be listed here but for artificial restrictions imposed by the Board of Studies.

A selective school with 88 years history builds up many achievements and traditions, especially academic and sporting. Grade sport still attracts 65% of the boys. Even though Rugby Union is no longer played (much to the chagrin of the old boys), the development of team spirit and playing by the rules, even if your opponents do not, is a time-honoured tradition at Tech no matter what the sporting code.

More recently the school’s participation and achievements in various state-wide and national subject competitions capitalises on the students' preparedness to compete for personal and school honour. A special highlight has been the selection of two of our boys to compete as members of the Australian team in the international Olympiads in Physics and Chemistry respectively.

A feature of the school not present in the days of old is the top class orchestral band. The band’s internal and public performances bring the highest praise and enhance the pride in the school.

One enduring tradition of the school is an effective and relevant Prefect team. On two occasions recently the Prefects have been asked officially to state their role in the school and have done so most convincingly. It is not surprising really that for every Prefect position there are five nominations.

If I might be allowed to drop my guard just briefly, I regard my association with the boys as Prefects Master as one of the pinnacles of my career. For it highlights the grandest feature of Sydney Tech. - an excellent relationship between the students and the staff, something I detected back in 1960 but which the writings show goes right back to 1911.

I have many happy and satisfying memories of the school. Somehow such memories always lead me to room 2, my home room for many years. As a room there is nothing much to distinguish it, but the digressions, the banter, the antics, the confidences, the politics, the humour and the goodwill not only lightened the routine of the job but enriched it as well.

The privilege to teach at Sydney Tech will always remain undiminished.

Poetry Critical

http://www.poetrycritical.net

My favourites poems are:

Visit From a Dying Friend
what I meant when I said nothing
On "Having a Coke With You"

Thieving Secret Santa

AKA White Elephant Gift Exchange

Traditionally, a "White Elephant" is something lying around the house that you don't want (some horridly ugly item that someone gave you as a gift or some other item unwanted for some reason). I am of the belief that in most parts of the country, if you tell someone to bring a White Elephant gift it will almost certainly be a gag gift and not something genuinely useful or desirable.

The type of gift exchange that you have described, I have always heard referred to as a "Yankee Swap".

THE GIFTS:

1. This party's gift theme is XYZ.
2. The gift should be valued as close to $xx.00 as is reasonable.
3. The gift should be something someone would actually want or use. It should be in new or good condition.
4. The gift should be wrapped or in an envelope before arriving to the party. Gift bags are OK only if a wrapped item is inside.
5. Gift certificates are OK only if it is accompanied by some other item as part of the gift. For instance, a $xx Starbucks gift certificate, by itself, is not OK, but a $yy Starbucks gift certificate together with a coffee mug is OK.
6. As guests arrive to the party, the gifts should be placed in an area where few people can see who brought which gift. All efforts should be made to hide who brought which gift.

THE GAME:

1. Each guest who wishes to participate must contribute a gift. Everyone sits or stands in roughly a circle around the pile of gifts.
2. Prepare slips of paper equal to the number of gifts with clearly written numbers. Be sure to distinguish 6 from 9, 1 from 7. Each participating guest draws a number and holds onto that slip of paper.
3. On the first turn, the guest with paper slip #1 chooses a gift, opens it, and all admire it.
4. On the second turn, the guest with paper slip #2 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's) or choosing a wrapped one. If #2 steals #1's gift, then #1 must open a wrapped gift.
5. On the third turn, the guest with paper slip #3 gets the choice of "stealing" any unwrapped gift (#1's or #2's) or choosing a wrapped one.

The game continues based on the following:

1. If a gift is stolen from you, you can steal a gift (within limits, described below), or open a wrapped one.
2. The turn proceeds until a wrapped gift is chosen.
3. A gift cannot be immediately stolen back from the guest who just stole it.
4. The fourth "owner" of a gift gets to keep it. The gift is "dead" after it has been stolen three times.
5. "Owners" of "live" gifts must keep them visible and hold them up when requested.
6. The gift exchange ends when the last wrapped gift is opened. Usually, guests are encouraged to perpetuate the gift stealing as long as there are "live" gifts, but no one is obligated to do this.

Have a master plan.

Successful moneymakers may not have every detail of their future mapped out, but they do have some sense in their minds of the steps they’re going to take in life. Somewhere, they’re programming.

Here’s an example: Scientists surveyed the Yale class of 1953, and found that 3 percent had written down financial goals for their futures at their college graduation. When the group reconvened in 1973, this 3 percent of the class that had started their careers with some kind of plan controlled more combined net worth than the other 97 percent combined.

Chesterton for today - “Back in the primal darkness”

Humility is the thing which is for ever renewing the earth and the stars. It is humility, and not duty, which preserves the stars from wrong, from the unpardonable wrong of casual resignation; it is through humility that the most ancient heavens for us are fresh and strong. The curse that came before history has laid on us all a tendency to be weary of wonders. If we saw the sun for the first time it would be the most fearful and beautiful of meteors. Now that we see it for the hundredth time we call it, in the hideous and blasphemous phrase of Wordsworth, “the light of common day.” We are inclined to increase our claims. We are inclined to demand six suns, to demand a blue sun, to demand a green sun. Humility is perpetually putting us back in the primal darkness. There all light is lightning, startling and instantaneous… To the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sun is really a sun; to the humble man, and to the humble man alone, the sea is really a sea. When he looks at all the faces in the street, he does not only realize that men are alive, he realizes with a dramatic pleasure that they are not dead.

- Heretics (1905).

MoDictionary

The MO-xford Dictionary
of the MOVEMBER MOcabulary
from http://movember.org/MOxford_dictionary.html

The most benelovent Movember Committee has provided you with a glossary to allow you freedom of speech:

AlaMO: the mo that will always be remembered

AtMOsphere: Earth's gaseous outer - in which moustaches are known to reside (average altitude 150cm).

Good KarMO: having many moustaches in past lives, and being rewarded with a fulfilling mo in this life

ELMO: a small, furry, sickenly cute mo

GizMO: any gadget designed to technologically enhance a moustache's splendour

International MOnetary Fund: an organisation devoted to monitoring world-wide moustache trends

MObile: a mo that 'gets around'

MOcha: a brown Mo

MOdem: what you use to log on to moustache sites on the Net

MOi: I am a frenchman's moustache

MOlest: to harrass people at the pub about Movember

MOlotov Cocktail: a flaming drink that sets fire to your mo (recipe)

MOmentous: a mo of great importance

MOmentum: a mo that cannot be stopped once it has started

MOnarch: a moustache that rules the rest of the face

MOnitor: a person who continually looks at the growth of his mo

MOnoceros: a mythical horse-like creature with a single protuberance from its upper lip

MOnogamous: no-one but your wife likes your moustache

MOnokini: a scanty 1-piece beach garment (equivalent to the bottom of a bikini), worn to conceal a mo

MOnopoly: exclusive possession of the right to grow a moustache in Movember

MOnotonous: when all moustaches start to look the same

MOnth: how long we give you to grow a mo in Movember

MOpe: to sulk about not having a moustache

MOsaic: a moustache made up of hairs of different colours.

MOsey: a mo that shuffles leisurely about the face

MOss: nature's way of growing a moustache

MOtionless: when someone talks with a mo, the lips are moving, but the mo remains perfectly still

MOther: your mother has a big moustache

MOurn: lament for a shaved moutache

MOuth: what you wear under your moustache

MOw: to trim one's mo

ParaMOid: the irrational fear that people are out to get your moustache