Selections from The Falcon November, 1961

REPORTS:

LADIES' AUXILIARY REPORT
The year 1961 has been a very successful one both socially and financially for the Auxiliary. Membership has been very good and many new members joined our ranks at the beginning of the year. Every effort is made to make new members welcome and our friendly meetings are always well attended.

	The year's effort began with serving tea and scones to our new parents on enrolment day. This is an excellent way of getting to know new mothers and we always take this opportunity of asking them along to our monthly meetings.
	The fete was a success financially, thanks to our members who worked so consistently with one object in view‑the final payment on our gymnasium. From the beginning of February until fete day, our life was an extremely busy one, commencing with a "Film Day" at Mrs. Connell's, a "Quiz Day" at Mrs. O'Neill's, a Floral Art Demonstration at Mrs. Ratner's and a Luncheon at Mrs. Cooke's. To these ladies, our grateful thanks.
	In June we welcomed Mr. Swain, Principal of the Academy of Decor and Interior Decorating. Three hundred parents and friends attended this most interesting and unusual lecture. We were very happy to have this opportunity of entertaining many visitors from other high schools, both boys and girls. In return we have received invitations from these schools and each time we have been able to send representatives from this Auxiliary.
	Dr. Yeomans, from the Psychiatric Clinic at Ryde, came to our July meeting and gave us a talk on "Parent and Child Relationships." We would like to acknowledge his kindness in coming to us; we realise what a busy man he must be.
	Sports Day at the end of July went off extremely well and the ladies as usual supplied tea, drinks, sandwiches and cakes to staff and boys at a small cost.

THE CADET UNIT

At the end of 1960, the Unit was unfortunate to lose the services of Major A. F. Henry, who had been O.C. of the Unit for 18 years.
During the Passing Out Parade, the Inspecting Officer, Major‑General J. N. Dougherty, thanked Major Henry for his 20 years of untiring and warmly praised him for the way in which he has brought the Unit up to	its present high standard of efficiency. Although Major Henry has been transferred to the Reserve List of Cadet Officers, he still shows a keen interest in the activities of the Unit and his advice has been most helpful on many occasions throughout the year.
	The Unit commenced the year with an intake of 118 recruits. These have since completed a year of training and are a credit to the C.U.0.s and N.C.O.s who instructed them in their basic training. The two Recruit Drill Competitions, one of which was held early in the year, the other during the Camp at Singleton, resulted in wins for 10 Platoon and 6 Platoon respectively, although in each case the decision was very close.
	Specialist Courses were conducted by 2 Cadet Brigade at Singleton during May and Cadets who attended from the Unit acquitted themselves well, Cpl. C. Easterbrook topping the M.M.G. Course. The following attended: M.M.G‑Cpl. Course: Easterbrook, L/Cp], J. McFadden, Cdt. D. MyIes; Signals‑L/Cpl. N. Mattes, L/Cpl. D. Howell; Band - L/Cpl. G. Brown, Cdt. C. Newman; Intelligence - L/Cpl. I. Thomas; Coms. - L/Cpl.Haldane; 3" Mortar -Cdt. C. Farrell.
	At the Range Practice held at Long Bay Rifle Range on 22nd June, windy conditions made accurate shooting difficult. Nevertheless, some good scores were recorded. Best scores out of a possible 100 were: Sgt. Frewer 94, Cpl. Birse 92, Cpl. Stanwell 90.
	The 25‑Yard Range, in the school grounds, was used regularly each Tuesday, during training parades.
	The Annual Camp was held at Singleton from 22nd to 31st August, 1961. In spite of the very wet weather which prevailed for about five days during the Camp period, the respective companies carried out their training and duties efficiently. Unfortunately, "Operation Contact" had to be cancelled because of the wet conditions. It was replaced, however, by a one‑day Field Exercise in which six patrols of Senior Cadets look part. Cadets cooked their rations in the field, established themselves in defensive positions and then sent out patrols to attack enemy posts. Numerous "contacts" were made throughout the day and Signals, Intelligence and Regular Army personnel accompanied each patrol. The exercise, as well as proving valuable experience, was thoroughly enjoyed by all who took part in it.
	All other major. activities set down for Camp were carried out successfully. Specialists fired the M.M.G. and Mortar; Cadets other than recruits fired the L.M.G., Bren and .303 rifle on the Field Firing Range, while recruits, as well as firing the .303 rifle on the 30‑Yard Range, carried out a separate one‑day exercise in the field. Members of the Signals Platoon had several days' valuable practical experience in the field at Camp Forest.
	Spectators were impressed by the Unit's Ceremonial Guard change which took place on the last evening in Camp and which has become a tradition of the Unit. Two Guards, each comprising 3 C.U.0.s and 48 0.R.s, together with the Band, took part in the ceremony.
	Much praise is due to the Cadet Under Officers and N.C.O.s who worked hard to make the Camp a success. Special note should also be made of the many hours of hard work put in by the members of the Q Store staff.
	One of the important events of the Cadet Year occurred on 14th September when, on invitation, the Unit provided a Guard of Honour for the G.O.C. Eastern Command at a Presentation of
Medals ceremony at Victoria Barracks. The Guard comprised 2 C.U.O., and 48 O.R.s and was commanded by C.U.0. R. Horsfield. Music for the actual ceremony was provided by the Brass
Band of our Unit, while the Eastern Command Band with incidental music beforehand. The G.O.C. and other Senior Officers present warmly praised the marching. drill, dress
and music of those representatives of the Unit.
	The Passing Out Parade for 1961 has been set down for 24th October, when Brigadier F. G. Galleghan, D.S.O., O.B.E., I.S.O., E.D., will be the Inspecting Officer. Afternoon tea is to be served later in the hall by the Ladies' Auxiliary.
	The Cadet Unit band maintained its high standard throughout the year and, as well as carrying out its duties with the Cadet Unit efficiently, made several public appearances. On all of these occasions, its playing was very much appreciated. Although the strength of the Band is 38, it is hoped to increase the strength still further in 1962.
	Lt. G. Boardman and Lt. J. Cook, both members of staff, were, welcome additions to the Unit during the year, filling vacancies created by Capt. L. Osborne, and Lt. E. Gluyas, both of whom left the school at the end of 1960 after giving valuable service with the Cadets.

OFFICERS OF CADET UNIT ‑ 1961
Back Row: C.U.0.s R. Witton, B. Donald, J. Carlsson, P. Diamond.
Centre Row: C.U.0.s I. Pettigrew, J. Harkness, R. Gordon, A. Wyburn, J. Harrison, G. Allman.
Front Row: C.U.0.s N. Lowndes, R. Horsfield, Lt. G. Boardman, Capt. L. Buck, Capt.P. Lyons, Lt. A. Moore, Lt, J, Cook, C.U.0.s Q. Potter, B. Britton.

DEBATING REPORT
	The school met with success in the Hume-Barbour and K. R. Cramp debating competitions. The Hume‑Barbour team won the trophy, for the fifth successive year, and the K. R. Cramp team (G. Staines, C. Easterbrook, R. Macdonald and J. O'Neil, reserve), for the third. The Hume-Barbour team (R. Connell, R. Gordon, G. James and W. Goff, reserve), also had two social debates with North Sydney Girls' High School; the first was drawn and the second won by the girls. R. Connell was chosen to lead the Combined High Schools' Team against the G.P.S. in a debate that was won by the G.P.S., by a 2‑1 vote of the adjudicators.
	The Teasdale Team, which is taken from the Junior School, came third in its competition. The team is P. Short, I. Hunt, K. Ricketts and P. Glissan (reserve).
Oratory. The leader of the K. R. Cramp team, Graham Staines, was a finalist in the Junior Chamber of Commerce Public Speaking competition. He finished third, being beaten by two fifth year students. Several boys entered in the Royal Commonwealth Society's Public Speaking competition, but unfortunately the results will not be available in time to be published.
	The K. R. Cramp team has reached the finals of the Sydney Eisteddford Junior Debating competition, but the results of this will not be available in time for publication.
	Altogether this has been a good year for debating, except that the audience at the final of the Hume‑Barbour competition could have been better. A large audience from schools other than those actually concerned in the final were present, and it is surely reasonable to expect that some people from the schools which have reached the final should be able to find some time to encourage their school in this field.
House Debating:
	The Junior House Debating was won by Williams House, and the Senior by Harvey House.
	The Falcon Oratory competition will be held in the third term.
	The thanks of all teams are due to Messrs. Bates and Boardman whose help and instruction has been appreciated.

Standing: P. Glissan, P. Short, I. Hunt, G. Staines,
J. O'Neill, R. McDonald, K. Ricketts.
Seated: G. James, W. Goff, Mr. J. Bates, R. Connell,
Mr, G. Boardman, R. Gordon, C. Easterbrook.

REPORT OF NORTH SYDNEY BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL RECORD CLUB
	Formed late last year, the schools' record club is made up of boys interested in popular music. The club meets on Fridays to discuss, play and exchange discs.
	At the beginning of the year it was decided to form a new record club which would be open to students of all the Sydney High Schools and directed by the two co‑presidents of N.S.B.H.C. Record Club. "Teens' Record Club," as the new Club was christened, has branches in the following schools: North Sydney B.H.S., Canterbury B.H.S., St. George G.H.S., Strathfield G.H.S., Narrabeen G.H.S., Parramatta High, St. Andrew's Cathedral School, Queenwood Ladies' College.
"Teens' Record Club" has held many successful social activities and has, we feel, served a useful function by bringing high students with a common interest together.
	N.S.B.H.S, Record Club, due to the imminent examinations is at present in a state of recess but will be re‑opened after the, Annual Presidential election early next year.
Arthur Streeter 5D.
George Vanharasz, 4C.
For the Club

INTER‑SCHOOL CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
	"... To know Christ and to make Him known." is the motto of the Inter‑School Christian Fellowship which is an inter‑denominational Christian group that operates in the schools of N.S.W.
	This year, in our group, our activities have varied greatly. Each week we have held meetings in Room 1 where a speaker from either inside or outside the school spoke to the boys. Twice we held a "Forum" at which questions, submitted by the boys, were answered by a panel of three teachers, Mr. Cook, Mr. Bates and Mr. Cumming. All of these meetings were of great success because God's grace and guidance was behind each one.
	Perhaps the highlight of the year was the weekend House party held at the Grange from 30th June to 2nd July. The speaker was Mr. Brian Hill and the director, Mr. Ken Elford, was assisted by three other officers. Twenty‑three boys attended this weekend and we all had a great time physically and spiritually. Our studies for the weekend were on the 2nd letter of Peter and were entitled "Fact and Fraud". These gave us an insight into the "Fact of God and Jesus Christ, and the "Fraud" of modern‑day heresy.
	At the end of the August holidays we held a hike with North Sydney Girls' High J.S.C.Y. and the speaker was the Rev. Macintyre. We went from Cowan to Jerusalem Bay and back to Cowan by a different route. This was really great fun.
	Behind all these meetings and activities there has been the great power of prayer. Each week on a Friday afternoon, after school, we held a prayer meeting where we sought God's strength and guidance for the running of our group. It has been through God's grace that our group has functioned and has helped us, "To know Christ and to make Him known."
Bruce Donald, Leader, 1961.

LIBRARY REPORT, 1961
	This year was the first in which the new library was operating fully. Additional funds have again been provided this year by the Education Department to cope with the extra reference books demanded by the increasing use of the library.
	This year it is pleasing to note the increasing number of boys who are using the library. We are confident Fifth Year boys will appreciate fully the privileges extended to them by the library staff and that they will all set an example to the up and coming Fifth Years.
Special praise should be to the various staff who have worked exceedingly well in the past year in the face of increasing pressure, brought about by greater use, of the facilities offered by the library. We hope that all future members of the staff will strive to maintain the standard of service by their predecessors in trying to attain maximum efficiency.
	Early next year several hundred new reference books at present in the librarian's office will be put into wider circulation. They are at present being catalogued with the help of experts from the Schools' Library Service,
	All due thanks to Mr. Bates for his excellent work in making us good librarians; let us hope we have set a good example for those who will follow us in later years.
A.	Williams, Deputy Librarian.

LIBRARIANS
Standing: D. Warden, M. Lawton, D. Elwood, G. Curnow.
Seated: D. Gain, Mr. J. Bates (Librarian), A. Williams (Dep. Librarian), Mr. T. Mason (Headmaster), R. Macdonald. (Absent: A. Large.)

LITERATURE:

PROTEST AND REPRESSION
No‑one has ever achieved anything by doing nothing. This may seem so obvious a truth that it is pointless to repeat it; but it is a truth in mortal danger of being forgotten.
Too many people never realise that. nothing is static, that everything is. changing; and if they too do not change conditions will not get better, but worse. We are in danger of being left behind the march of events in every field, be it politics, school, or clothing, where we do not constantly revise and develop our ideas.
In these circumstances, some group must take the lead in forcing society to keep its opinions fluid and its institutions adaptable. This role traditionally belongs to the younger generation, and quite rightly so, for in youth mental processes have not had time to harden into habits. The younger generation should remember that this is the most important thing it can do; bring fresh ideas, new thoughts, and effective criticisms to the notice of society. The dreams of today are the axioms of tomorrow.
Protest is the duty of youth. But equally it is the duty of society to listen to this protest, even to encourage it. This is far from being the case today, in fact, protest is repressed rather than welcomed. It is repressed by the police, who restrict the activities of students on Commem. Day; it is repressed in the schools, as witness the swift treatment given to anyone who protests actively against the school uniform; it is repressed by particular groups such as the Empire Loyalists, who raised such a tremendous row and even threatened violent assault upon Malcolm Muggeridge who dared to protest against the British Monarchy. But above all, protest is repressed by the sheer cold dead weight of public disapproval and frigid unresponsiveness. The majority of people, particularly the older generations who are in effective control of our society, cling tenaciously to the established order in the fear that their power may be destroyed if any real changes are made. Fear is the root of repression‑fear of change, fear of the new, fear of the unknown.
But change is not to be feared, it is a necessary part of life. Change is development, development is growth, and no society can hope to survive unless it grows and adapts to changing conditions. Change is the order of nature, life and death, growth and decay, time itself, is change. Men can no more hope to escape change than they can hope to escape death.
Protest is an expression of change, a sign that new forces are at work. Repression, in all forms, and at all levels from state craft to school teaching, is a violation of the order of nature. It has no justification and will never, in the long run, succeed.
R. W. CONNELL, 5C.

DER GAMEISCHE HUNTER
	Der gameische hunter ben gekommen in da wooden mit allsorten von rifles und gunnen. Der hunter und da natif guiden hatten da chance to kill wildisch much aftersoughten lions. In der middel von der night der hunter ben upwaken und ben gesoyen to da natif helpers to maken smallisch flashen mit der torch wenn der lion hen gekornmen in sighten. Mit all da kostlich gunnen und so‑onnen upsetten an grossisch stands, der hunter ben gepriden himself mit quichisch haulen. Der hunter wood schuten der lion geright inbetween da eis! After gewaiten a smallisch wellen der hunter ben geseen two brightisch spots schmackbangen in der middel von da sighten. Der trigger ben rapidisch gepulled, und they had gefounden notracen von cin deadisch lion in der mornen. Der same thing ben occuren fur three nights.
	Denn a natif ben upspeaken, advisen der hunter to schuten der rifle across der lion's face, not schmackbangen in between da eis. Dies fourthisch night, der hunter ben geschuten der lion geplonk in der musch mit allsorten von bullets.
	Und hat der hunter gefounden in der mornen a grossisch, deadisch lion outgespreaden an der field? Nein ! der hunter hat gafounden two one‑eyed lions!
PETER KEITH, 5D.

SIRENS
Sleepily I counted the blasts of the siren there were six of them ‑ so I rolled over in bed, glad to be able to ignore the snowstorm outside. This siren was no mermaid luring fishermen to their doom, but a warning to the American rural townspeople and in many places a card was hung in a prominent place in the home listing the meaning of the various groups of blasts.
	There were several special codes, three groups of twos, as I have mentioned was the blizzard code and three groups of eight signified an air raid either in reality or in practice. These mock raids were executed with great particularity, even to the extent of proclaiming the next day what towns had been destroyed. All traffic was stopped and everybody was supposed to seek whatever shelter they could find. No business was allowed to resume before the all clear signal had been given.
	The siren was also important in locating the position of fires in each individual town since many fires occur and it is necessary for the firemen who were mostly volunteers and thus usually away, from the fire station to reach the scene of a fire as quickly as possible. The grouping and spacing of the blasts showed location of the fire within the vicinity of a the short street or intersection. This helped not only the firemen but also those who "only stand and watch."
	When I hear a siren, even now, I automatically commence to count . . .
JAMES S. O'NEIL, 4D.

TWO‑FACED HORMONES
The human body is an exceedingly complex machine whose functions are governed by substances known as "bio‑catalysts". These compounds, though only present in minute quantities, determine the rate of chemical reaction in the body.
	Bio‑catalysts are divided into three main groups: vitamins, enzymes and hormones. Let us consider the hormones.
	Hormones ire similar to vitamins except that they are synthesised by the body's ductless (endocrine) glands whereas vitamins are normally obtained from foodstuffs.
	The popularity of hormone treatment began when the Mayo Clinic (U.S.A.) released a 12 minute film showing the amazing effects of "compound E" (cortisone‑one of the steroid hormones) on chronic sufferers of rheumatoid arthritis. Extensive research and application showed that cortisone and ACTH (adrenocortiocotrophic hormone) relieved the most distressing symptoms of arthritis, bursitis, inflammation, gout, colitis, systemic infections, hay fever, drug sensitivity, certain types of arrested sexual development and impotency, certain conditions of the arteries, blood and kidneys.
	In an initial wave of enthusiasm, hormones were used in the treatment of an astonishing number of diseases. In the vast majority of cases, hormone injections gave rapid relief from the physical symptoms of the disease.
	As time passed and research began to yield more new information about hormones, grave doubts about the advisability of hormone treatment were raised. It was found that male patients who received doses of estradiol (female sex hormone) for various complaints suffered painful swelling of the breasts similar to puberty in a girl. Dangerous situations were encountered in patients who developed infections while under hormone treatment. The hormone suppressed "danger" symptoms so that the infection reached an advanced stage before it was detected. Some patients were offered a choice of two diseases Arthritis without hormone or diabetes with hormone. A serious reaction to hormone injections was the decreasing amount of natural hormone manufactured in the body when other hormones were supplied from outside.
	It is now known that hormone injections do not actually cure anything. They will remove the symptoms and give the patient, a sense of well‑being but the disease may be multiplying insidiously within his body. In such cases they are a doubtful blessing indeed!
	The value of the hormone lies in their ability to remove harmful physical symptoms thus giving the normal body defences time to rally and defeat the disease itself. But as a cure‑all they can be very dangerous and should never be administered without the specific recommendation of a doctor.
ARTHUR STREETER, 5D.

LAMENT AT PARTING
The light is shrinking from the chilly skies,
The clouds hang sullen, and the dark hills quail;
The day is fading fast before my eyes.

I cannot stay to watch the last light fall,
Or watch the tired wavelets lapping slow
Against dark rocks along the water's pale.

I cannot stay to watch the final glow,
The melancholy embers of the day,
The passion of the sun: for I must go

To chase the warmth of life slipped far away,
To clasp sweet passion to my aching breast,
And evermore wipe out this scene of grey

Dull lifelessness where now I rest:
For life must shun the spot where dead love lies,
And colder hands to trembling lips are pressed.
R. CONNELL.