1939 was a momentous year for the world. In May Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy signed the "Pact of Steel" to become a military alliance. Then in August Hitler and Stalin became partners in a "Non-aggression Pact". This enabled Hitler to launch the first "blitzkrieg" (lightning war). At the start of September, Germany invaded Poland. Britain and France immediately issued an ultimatum to Germany to withdraw from Poland within two days or face them as Poland's military allies. Germany did not respond to the ultimatum, and this latest European crisis escalated into the Second World War.
Stalin signs Non-aggression Pact
Hitler announces invasion of Poland
1939 started badly for Australia. An intense prolonged heatwave (temperatures reached 45.3c in Sydney and 47.6c in Adelaide, while the country town of Bourke in New South Wales experienced more than 38 consecutive days of temperatures over 42c) caused the worst bushfires on record in Victoria, New South Wales and South Australia. On "Black Friday" (13 January) in Victoria, 71 people died and more than 1,000 homes and millions of hectares of forest were destroyed. Then on 3 September, Prime Minister Robert Menzies announced on radio that "Great Britain has declared war upon [Germany] and that as a result, Australia is also at war".
"Black Friday" bushfires
Prime Minister Robert Menzies
'OASIS' EDITORIAL
"To the wise and experienced"
Any worth-while educational system assumes fundamentally that its students should be trained to use leisure time in after-school days for the benefit of both themselves and the community in which they live. The school takes up the training by teaching its pupils at least the rudimentary principles of beauty and of scientific method. It follows up this work by encouraging children to read widely, to listen to good music, to appreciate manual art of the various types, to take a direct, systematised interest in current social problems, and to realise the value of scientific discovery.
Such teaching would be of little value if the pupil were not aided in the art of expression. He must be taught to write and talk of what he learns; to express his aesthetic appreciation by his own practice of the arts; to discuss openly the interests of men; to make experiments for himself amongst the facts of science. In the sound teacher the foregoing principles are axioms underlying his whole purpose. For the layman they may be realised but vaguely in his Press-formed conception of "Education".
This school is no exception amongst educational establishments which endeavor to carry out those principles. It sports classes and clubs in which pupils are trained and encouraged to take more than the customary academic interest in "school work" demanded by examinations.
'OASIS' STUDENT EDITORIAL
"We who are passing"
It is with a tinge of regret that we write these words. Only a few more months, then farewell to the High School wherein we have been happy for so many years. It seems but yesterday that we, a timid but excited First Year, crossed the threshold of Griffith High - then Griffith Intermediate High. Almost five years have passed since then, but we have lost none of our initial enthusiasm - we have, rather, gained some! But at last the time has come when we must bid the school adieu.
And, as we realise that we shall soon be leaving, it seems only fitting that we should leave in this magazine, some lasting tribute to our school. Perhaps the best tribute that can be paid is contained in the name of this magazine. As the magazine is an "oasis" in our literary life at school, so our school is an "oasis" in our lives. It is the oasis wherein we refresh ourselves before setting out on our journey across the desert of Life. Here the food and drink of knowledge and commonsense lie in abundance, ready for those who would store themselves well with provisions before setting out on the journey. Here we build up our strength in preparation for the attacks we shall have to meet on the way; here we have guides who point out to us the pitfalls of the journey, and who tell us what provisions are the best for our use.
Yet, even with all these facilities at our disposal, we ourselves must be persevering and steadfast if we wish to achieve that other oasis on the other side of the desert - Success. And even while we are there, we must labour to be thought worthy to remain.
Thus our school fits us for Life, and, if we make use of its various advantages, we will benefit accordingly. But let no one gather from this description that one may slack there; indeed, the first lesson that school teaches us is: "The true success is to labour". Should we do so, we are rewarded accordingly.
STAFF DIRECTORY
Headmaster: Mr J. J. Hudson Girls' Supervisor: Miss J. McAlister
Dept of English and History: Mr J. J. Hudson, Miss J. McAlister, Mr A. Goran, Mr P. Marquet, Mr J. Peek
Dept of Classics: Miss E. Howie
Dept of Modern Languages: Miss I. Tate
Dept of Mathematics: Mr R. Cole, Mr J. Edmunds, Mr T. Kean, Mr H. King
Dept of Science and Geography: Miss M. Clark, Miss F. McLeod, Mr R. Cole, Mr H. King, Mr J. Peek
Dept of Economics and Business Work: Miss F. McLeod, Mr R. Brooks
Dept of Agriculture: Mr R. Giltinan
Dept of Home Economics: Miss L. Downie, Miss T. Gilbert, Miss B. Chinchen
Dept of Manual Training: Mr M. Twigg
Librarian: Miss J. Heffernan
Dept of Music: Miss M. Clark
Sports Mistress: Miss J. McAlister
Sports Master: Mr T. Kean
SCHOOL CAPTAINS
William Rimmer and Sylvia Basham
SCHOOL PREFECTS
William Rimmer (C), D. Watters, T. Lawler, K. Braithwaite
Sylvia Basham (C), Jean Hillam, Noela Vagg, Zoe Lasscock
A BLAST FROM THE PAST
THE WATERFALL
By Carmen Macfarlane (Yr 1A)
Like the song of the harp and the tinkle of bells,
And the softest sweet singing in green fairy dells;
With a feast of gay colour o'er the clear water sprinkled,
The crystal-like fall down the mossy rocks twinkled.
When the golden-faced moon is sailing on high,
It puts nature to sleep with a soft lullaby;
Then the fairies come out and they dance and they play,
And the fall gurgles on till the break of the day.
I LOVE TO HEAR
By Dorothy Passey (Yr 2B)
I love to hear, I love to hear,
The sound of rain upon my ear,
I love to hear it swishing by,
Pouring from a lowering sky.
I love to hear the singing birds
Which can from dawn till dusk be heard,
I love to hear the merry notes
Rippling from their feathered throats.
I love to hear the summer breeze
Rustling, dancing in the trees,
I love to hear it whispering "Flowers,
Spend with me the happy hours!"
SUNSET FROM SCENIC HILL
By Marjorie Allen (Yr 4)
With humble tread I came to gaze on thee,
O glorious sight - O majesty portrayed
By meadows green and feathered wattle tree,
By gurgling streams in fretted cypress shade.
I turned away although my heart complained,
And slowly gazed upon the orchards green
To where the sun with chariot ribbons strained
Adorned you, claiming you as nature's queen.
Thy ling'ring splendour stirs no leaping heart -
Now peace is with me, while thy beauty sleeps.
The glowing embers of the day depart
And dusk's grey ash on murmuring cypress creeps.
Too soon thy power on night's black altar dies
And I am left with solitude and sighs.
MOMENT
By Donald Watters (Yr 5)
I stood at twilight on a mountain crest,
The darkening plain beneath me lay supine
In sleep, its head upon the mountain's breast,
Black-dotted with the forms of sleeping kine.
No breeze spoke sweet seduction to the boughs
The raucous evil of the crow had gone;
Time paused, for me the seconds went like hours,
My bonds I fought and for an instant won.
The instant went, What was't I'd known, O Gods?
Some great eternal secret then was mine,
But ye remembered of my mortal state
And sent a rising moon to snap the line.
