Graham Elliott

 
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To introduce myself to your memory, I was known as ‘Stretch’, a skinny 6’5”, and joined the school with several classmates from Mosman Primary, like Greg Frewer, John Harkness, Hansen Yee, Paddy Dawson etc.

I was at NSBHS from 1957 to 1959, but hated school and decided on a sea career. I left just prior to the intermediate certificate (similiar to classmate Chris Barrie), having gained a scholarship to a nautical training college in London, HMS “Worcester”. Returning to Australia five years later, I worked on the coast in the shipping companies of E&A, CSR, Burns Philp and finally BHP, ultimately achieving my Master’s Certificate and some Pilot licenses.

My sea career ended after 20 years when I was nearly washed overboard by a giant wave, permanently losing some eyesight.

So we bought a dairy farm at Kempsey! After a couple of years we made a more sensible move to breeding cattle at Coonabarabran on 2200 acres, where we were for 20 years. My time there included state chairman of the Gelbvieh cattle breed as well as participating in stud cattle shows. We are now retired, living on 5 acres in Taree (but for sale, time to downsize!) Maybe our next move will be to some rural city like Tamworth, as we’ve lost all ability to live in the metropolis of Sydney!

I married Cheryl Dandie in 1969 and have three children and ten grandchildren. Cheryl's father, Mr Dandie, was appointed Principal of NSBHS in 1972, but was unable to physically commit to the position because of serious illness, and sadly passed away.