Reminiscences: T B Trebeck (Master, 1885-1900)

It was the turning point of my life's career when I knocked at the Screen of the S H School one January morning in the year 1885. Having applied to the Department of Public Instruction for a position in a high school, I was ordered to report at the Castlereagh Street centre after an interview with one Mr Maynard, Chief Inspector. The whole of the buildings and surroundings were drab and unlovely and I was not favourably impressed by them. However, after the Headmaster, Mr Joseph Coates, had recovered from the shock of perusing my "paste-board" or "Carte de Visite" which I had sent into the Head he sent for me, examined my credentials and escorted me to an over-crowded room of "entrants", where I suffered the torments of a wild animal surrounded by hounds, due largely to lack of experience.

However, I brought this latter at a severe expense and developed into quite an average pedagogue during sixteen years at the SHS until receiving a call to East Maitland, where I retailed the fruits of a ripe experience for a further twenty years, when I retired with a gratuity and moderate pension, which I am thankful to say I am enjoying this year of grace, 1936.

My fellow colleagues were A B Piddington, J F McManamy (sic), who was later killed at Gallipoli, one Mr Thomas and at subsequent intervals, L Blumer, C R Smith , C Taylor, J Gordon-Legge, later Major-General, one Mr Stout and Mr Coorall of Ireland both of whom passed away not very long afterwards. G P Barbour was acting as relieving staff when Mr Piddington took a trip "home" , whilst W Crompton of Winchester also did good service, both at the old and new buildings.

I might mention the staff examined the new boys on Mondays and Tuesdays, and announced the results at about 4 pm on Tuesday afternoon, even on one occasion having completed the work by 1 pm on Tuesday. The boys knew of their probable success prior to our producing full certificates and those who passed attended the school on Wednesday. Reading, algebra, geometry, French and Latin formed the compulsory subjects during some years of the system. Of course, we took papers home on Monday evenings in order to get results by Tuesday. I saw the Head correct 125 algebra tests in 45 minutes at the School, although there were four questions of division, and prove his corrections at a glance. With five classes going in one room there was a good deal of noise, but we managed fairly well.

The school cadet system was managed at the Castlereagh Street depot and "faute de mieux" as the French have it. I enlisted and some of the rank and file gave good service in the Boer War and Great War , like Lieut Fitzhardinge and Bugler Watson who rode into Pretoria unattended and demanded the surrender of that capital by 9 am the next morning in the name of Field Marshall Lord Roberts, V C He was received at first with disgust, but afterwards was entertained at afternoon tea. Brig General J Heane learned to shoot at Flemington under my command when he was in the school cadets. In 1891 I took 54 riflemen to Campbell town Camp (N S W Military) as a unit and we took part in movements for the whole period, having the bands playing at Mess as in the regulars; turning out the Guard at 4 am; and visiting pickets at certain hours. A grand sham fight took place, with the explosion of a mine and artillery attack. A great many "shells" (oysters) burst as we marched to positions at the rear of the Commissariat. The Officers' tents were floored with oilcloth and wood and had proper beds and internal fittings.

When we moved to Ultimo, whole day instruction parades were held, but as these entailed my absence from a class of 40 - 44 boys I did not feel justified in being absent from duty and responsibility for such a long period. I did not regret the time taken up in the cadet corps, although sometimes I had to walk three miles to Redfern Station by 8.30 on a Saturday and entrain to Flemington for rifle practice. These rifle practices used up most Saturdays and made a pleasing interval to chalk and blackboard, whilst they gave me a chance of being a help to the boys outside mere teaching duties.

The semi-military system of school yard parades and drill was of great help in the cadet system, the fact of boys knowing the meanings of "fall in" and "numbering off" gives them a start in life which boys who do not go through the system, fail to grasp. I have found it useful in school fetes and functions, as it reduces "chaos" and waste of energy to order and system and enables people in authority to handle a crowd without friction.

In cases of panic, fires, shipwreck, etc, men who have drilled are amenable to discipline, as was exemplified in the loss of the "Birkenhead" when the soldiers stood to attention while the women and children were taken off in boats.

The Record, December, 1936, pp 72 - 74.