Heritage Talk - Whangārei High School

Picture of Whangarei High School taken in the 1930s.

Students' recollections

Talk date: 27 September 2023.

Don Goodall presented a light-hearted romp, with fascinating and humorous tales about events and personalities at Whangārei High School from the 1920s to 1960. It was a coed school until 1947 when it was split into Boys High and Girls High.

Topics include:

  • 5 knights, a VC and some other famous products
  • Meercats
  • Guns and war preparation
  • American Hospital
  • Taj Mahal
  • Moascar Cup
  • Classroom stories
  • Half day holiday
  • The caning of McCannon
  • Teddy the Tickler, Ajax and Hector
  • Condoms
  • The Sawdust Piles
  • The Carruth Wall and hostel stories.

Picture shows Whangārei High School during the 1930s. Pictured are the old school (left), the original boys' hostel (right) on Lupton Avenue and in the distance, the then new school on the Weavers' farm site (Manse Street).
From 'Fideliter - Shaping Us: a pictorial review of Whangarei Boys' High School' by Don Gwilliam.

Picture of Don Goodall.

About Don Goodall

In his working life Don was a teacher, city planner, researcher and scientist. He has lived and worked in Turkey, Greece, Brazil, Argentina and the United Kingdom. He briefly worked in a nuclear power station in England.

Now retired, this Old Pupil is determined to keep alive the stories from our Past.

Don has collected many stories from his personal contacts, having contributed to several of the True Tales series of books which are social histories that have provided new information about small country districts.

He recounts stories from those who were determined to "have the true stories told". "You must tell it as it really was. We don't want any bull's wool spin or window dressing". This he has agreed to do.

Come and enjoy the presentation. But do not expect a history.

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