Our History

The Headmaster's Message of 1962

The following is an extract from the 1962 THS Logbook. Written by the first THS Principal,  Mr. G.A. Smallman, the  Headmaster's Message of 1962 reads:

The first year of the operation of any organisation is vital to its future service, influencing and effec­tiveness. This is true of a High School and has been very much so of Toronto High School. 

We have been fortunate in that an excellent building has been provided for us: it was constructed in record time and was available for occupation on the first day of the 1962 school year. The school comprised 80 second-year pupils who had attended Booragul High School for their first-year studies, and 170 first form pupils, fresh from Primary Schools. 

Much thought and effort preceded the opening of the school. The Administration planners of the Education Department foresaw the need for Toronto High School, arranged the details of its construction, the declaration of residential boundaries for pupils, and the initial staffing of the school: Parents made important and lasting decisions on uniforms. the badge and the Canteen, After the school opened a great deal was done to determine classes and courses, particularly within the findings of the Wyndham Report, to balance staff, and to formulate procedures in the Library, Laboratories and in Sporting and Cultural activities. It is particularly pleasing that a school magazine has been produced. 

It has been the concern of your headmaster and staff that, in this first year, there should be established high standards of conduct, deportment, academic learning and cultural appreciation. I am grati­fied that the present pupils have attained a high level of success in these fields and that with increasing maturity and experience, they will be in an ideal position to give the lead to pupils following in later years. 

It requires real personal effort by a pupil to attend school neatly, in full uniform, to master a tricky rule of grammar, to perform the niceties of address, to flow with the music of a concerto, to keep fit, and to fashion a garment or a model in metal. Especially when the activity requires co-operation with others, how important it is that all should do their best  - rise up to the oars  - "Remis Insurgite." 

G. A. Smallman, B.Sc. Principal

The School Badge 

Extracts taken from the 1962 and 1963 Logbooks:

To allow sufficient time for the manufacture of School Uniforms, decisions on details were required some months before the school opened in January this year. Parents will recall the meeting for this purpose in the Toronto Community Hall in October, 1961.

A deal of research preceded this meeting. In order to avoid clashes, all secondary schools in the Newcastle Area had been asked for their school colours, badges, uniforms. and house names. The Principals of the schools were most co-operative in giving the sought-for information and most of them added other interesting items peculiar to their schools, The Canadian Embassy provided considerable literature on the City of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. 

The information supplied enabled your Headmaster and Deputy Headmaster to prepare proposals and alternatives for presentation to the meeting of parents . 

Important parts of the uniform are the Badge and Blazer Pocket. Once the school colours, royal blue, sky blue, and red, were decided, it was possible to design the badge. Fortunately, the colouring of the school building matched the dominant blue of the school colours, and the beautiful waters of Lake Macquarie. The blue, aquatic theme was continued into the badge with a seven-oared Greek Galley, mounted on the upper portion of the colour bearing shield. Although the galley carries a small sail, its main driving force comes from the rowers. The motto is inscribed in traditional style in the scroll. 

The School Library

The original School Library was upstairs in A Block. The Cockle Creek News of August 1970, a magazine produced and printed by the Sulphide Corporation, reported the following:

Over $2000 has been spent on providing the school with T.V. Equipment. The main units being: a Video tape recorder which is used to record T.V. programmes which are stored until required, two T.V. sets and T.V Camera fitted with a zoom lens.

... To date over $25000 has been spent on the library and it is estimated that $2000 - $3000 per annum is required to maintain the stock to an acceptable level. 

A new School Library was built in 1984. Today the building is known as the Student Hub housing the Library, the Careers, IT and Wellbeing Offices, and the Student Services Office. 

🔴 1962 Log Book

🔴 1963 Log  Book

🔴 1964 Log Book

🔴 1965 Log Book

🔴 1967 Log Book

🔴 1968 Log Book

🔴 1969 Log Book

🔴 1970 Log Book

🔴 1971 Log Book

🔴 1972 Log Book

🔴 1973 Log Book

🔴 1974 Log Book

🔴 1975 Log Book

🔴 1976 Log Book

🔴 1977 Log Book

🔴 1978 Log Book

🔴 1979 Log Book

🔴 1980 Logbook

🔴 1981 Log Book

🔴 1982 Log Book

🔴 1983 Log Book

🔴 1984 Log Book