Reminiscences: Alan P Renouf (Pupil, 1932-1936)

Excellence in studies saw to it that I should continue my education. The Depression began while I was at primary school and my parents became very short of money. Nonetheless, my mother was determined that I should qualify for a profession. I helped by winning a bursary to what was then one of the two premier public high schools of Sydney, Sydney Boys' High School. Enough money was always scratched up for me to continue there on the basis of the bursary. Success at the Intermediate Certificate in 1934 (seven A passes) was not matched however by my performance at the Leaving Certificate two years later. Dropping all sport to concentrate entirely on studying, even during holidays, I set myself the over-ambitious task of seeking honours in four subjects, and obtained only one, in history. But my overall performance was enough to win an exhibition (exemption from fees) to the Sydney Law School, which I entered at seventeen years of age.

I look back upon Sydney Boys' High School as an outstanding educational institution. Being a selective school, a great number of first-class teachers found their way to it. Many were later to become headmasters, some of Sydney High itself, and many of the students were later to have notable careers in various walks of life. One of them was Roden Cutler, now Sir Roden Cutler, Governor of New South Wales. I remember Cutler well for an exploit which made him an object of awe amongst his fellow students. As well as being an outstanding swimmer, Cutler was a first-class marksman. At the time, the magpies which perched in the enormous Moreton Bay fig trees at the entrance to the school were nesting and constantly swooping down to attack anyone who came near. Cutler was attacked one day when carrying his rifle to school and retaliated by blasting one of the assailants in full flight. It did not surprise me many years later when Cutler, as Australian Minister to Egypt, drove straight through the Egyptian Soldiers blockading the British Embassy in Cairo to supply his beleaguered British colleagues with food and drinks.