Through My Eyes: A Life Well-lived

By Raymond Dart

The subject of this book concerns the author's reflection on his life of over eighty years. From a humble beginning, mainly in a suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, the author weaves an interesting story of a life guided by principles gleaned from both of his parents and his faith

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookTrail Publishing
• Release date: Sep 21, 2022
• ISBN: 9781637678176

Book preview

Copyright © 2022 Raymond H Dart

Paperback: 978-1-63767-816-9

eBook: 978-1-63767-817-6

Library of Congress Control Number: 2022905279

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Because of the dynamic nature of the Internet, any web addresses or links contained in this book may have changed since the publication and may no longer be valid. The views expressed in this work are solely those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher, and the publisher hereby disclaims any responsibility for them.

The content and opinions expressed in this book are the author’s own and do not represent those of the Department of Education. Copyright in featured school logos is held by the NSW Department of Education and are reproduced with permission.

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Psalm 78: 3 – 4

Things that we have heard and known that our fathers have told us we will not hide them from their children, but tell to the coming generations the glorious deeds of the Lord and his might, and the wonders which He has wrought.

Revelation 5: 9

Worthy art thou, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honour and power, for thou didst create all things, and by thy will they existed and were created.

Art Credit: Heraldic Names

Contents

Foreword

Preface

Chapter 1:     The Beginnings

Chapter 2:     School Days

Chapter 3:     Life at Hercules Street, Chatswood

Chapter 4:     Growing Up - The Teenage Years

Chapter 5:     Growing Independence - Between School and Vocation

Chapter 6:     Starting Out On a New Career - My Time at Perricoota

Chapter 7:     Albury and Cookardinia – Married Life Begins

Chapter 8:     Camden - Family Growth Together

Chapter 9:     The Eden Years – The Family Disperses

Chapter 10:   The Tamworth Years

Chapter 11:   Retirement And On

Chapter 12:   Travels

Chapter 13:   My Descendants

Chapter 14:   Significant Events in My Life

Chapter 15:   Visitors To Our Home

Chapter 16:   My Faith

Chapter 17:   Important Events and Awards During My Life

Chapter 18:   Life in My Growing Up Years

Chapter 19:   Major Health Issues

Chapter 20:   A Parting Note

References

Resources for Further Reading

Appendices

Appendix A My Birth Certificate

Appendix B My Ancestors

Appendix C My Descendants

Appendix D Our Wedding Certificate

Appendix E Bachelor of Arts Testamur

Appendix F Diploma of Education Testamur

Appendix G Master of Educational Administration Testamur

Appendix H Doctor of Education Testamur

Appendix I Teachers Certificate

Appendix J National Service Record

Appendix K ABMS Letter

Appendix L Leaving Certificate

Appendix M Intermediate Certificate

Appendix N TAFE Record of Attainment

Appendix O IT Certificate

Appendix P ACE Service Award

Appendix Q Glasser Certificate

Appendix R Rotary Changeover

Appendix S Mayoral Reception

Appendix T ACE

Appendix U TREC Opening Invitation

Appendix V Peel Medal Citation

Appendix W Bega Letter of Thanks

Appendix X First Appointment – Pambula Hospital Board

Appendix Y Second Appointment –Pambula Hospital Board

Appendix Z Director’s Award

Appendix AA Woodley Letter

Appendix BB Open Learning Access Centre Appreciation

Appendix CC Queen’s Congratulations on Sixty Years of Marriage

Appendix DD Guthrie’s Note

Appendix EE Justice of the Peace Appointment

Appendix FF Scenic Airlines Flight Certificate

Foreword

We are not able to know what lies ahead in the future but by writing down some of the activities and doings of those who come before us it is hoped that those who follow us will come to a better understanding of how they themselves came to have the characteristics and ways of doing things that they undertake.

It is interesting to note that this autobiography is one of a number of autobiographies and memoirs written by quite a few of the writer’s forebears and near relatives, including his grandmother, father, Uncle Bert and brother, Philip, to name a few. It is regrettable that all the writings about our families are not known to the author, but he is aware that other unpublished materials do exist somewhere and may yet be revealed. It would appear that the Logan, Brimblecombe and Dart families down through the years have had an interest in writing of family history for the benefit of following generations. The Logan and Brimblecombe stories have also been written down for posterity.

As one comes to grips with the stories of the various generations it becomes clear that all these families, many of whom commenced as farmers and agriculturalists have striven to improve their education and status as they have lived their lives, with many being recognised nationally and internationally. Many family members have also served in various military campaigns and have contributed to society through active community involvement, thus playing their part in ensuring the society in which they lived was left in a more progressive state than when they entered it.

At the end of the autobiography the author has listed a number of resources which any interested reader can follow up to gain a wider perspective of the families and the eras in which they lived.

Preface

Raymond was the middle child of his family, which consisted of seven children. He was educated at Willoughby Public School in Sydney and then at North Sydney Boys’ High School, a selective high school in NSW from which he graduated in 1953. After training as a teacher at Balmain Teachers’ College in 1954-1955, Raymond commenced teaching at a small school called Perricoota located twenty-five kilometres west of Moama, NSW on the Murray River.

Later he pursued further education by correspondence as an external student of the University of New England in Armidale, NSW. He graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1963 and followed this up with a Diploma in Education in 1965. In 1983 he graduated with a Master of Educational Administration and completed his education after his retirement from full-time work with the obtaining of a Doctorate of Education in 2006 at the age of seventy years.

Commencing teaching as a primary teacher in a small one-teacher school in rural NSW, Raymond worked his way up the promotion ladder by inspection through four lists, Raymond finished his career as Principal of a secondary school, Peel High, for fourteen and a half years, in the north-west of NSW, in a rural city called Tamworth.

Always community-minded, Raymond involved himself in local government, co-operative housing societies, state hospitals, long day Care centres, and credit unions. He served as NSW President of the Australian College of Educators and also served a term on the National Council of that body. He had a thirty-eight year association with Rotary International serving as secretary, treasurer, president and district committee chairman over the years. He also served as president of the Tamworth Prostate Cancer Support Group for six years and as chairman of Janelle Street Long Day Care Centre for seven years.

His achievements were recognised with Life Membership of the Australian college of Educators, Life membership of the Secondary Principals Association of NSW, a Paul Harris Fellowship from Rotary and the award of the Peel Medal at his last school.

It is the author’s wish that any reader will be able to draw inspiration for their own life from what is written here and come to understand that nothing can be achieved without hard work and perseverance and that failures along the way are the means of learning.

As a Christian from an early age, Raymond has relied on God’s overwhelming love and guidance throughout his life and gives God the glory for what he has been able to achieve.

Chapter One

The Beginnings

The word PEACE’ in huge letters jumped out at me from the Sydney Sun" newspaper. The year was 1945 and I was nine years old. The ‘war to end all wars’, so it was said, was over, yet conflict continues to the present time. Protagonists of ‘peace’ abound but conflict, fear, hatred, and schism are increasing in intensity. The final battle is yet to be fought.

I guess that the end of World War II impressed my youthful mind at that time because my life until then had been lived with war or the threat of war a daily concern to my family and friends. But I must return to my beginnings.

1936

A ‘bananalander’ by birth, my first hours were spent in hospital in New Sandgate Road, Clayfield, Brisbane, where I was delivered by Doctor John Leslie Dart, my father’s brother, with a Sister Thompson in attendance. My parents were Harold Whitmore Dart, aged 35 years, born in Blenheim in the Lockyer district of Queensland, and Elsie Janet Dart (nee England), aged 33 years, who had been born in Uddingston, County of Bothwell, Fallside, Scotland. At the time they were living in Findlay Street, Ashgrove, a suburb of Brisbane, Queensland.

1937 – Arriving in Sydney

In the year of my birth I was the fourth arrival into my family with Marguerite, Donald, and Daphne having been born already. By 1942 the number of children reached seven as Philip, Bruce and Sylvia came into the world, making me the middle child of the family. When I was one year old, my family moved from Brisbane, Queensland to Sydney, New South Wales, to live - first in 12 Balfour Street, Wollstonecraft for twelve months and then at 7 Hercules Street, Chatswood. I remember nothing of my time in Brisbane or Wollstonecraft, so 7 Hercules Street, came to be ‘my home’, for it was from this residence that I eventually left for employment and to carve my own niche in the world. I remember my mother as one who was selfless in her devotion to her children and husband, and yet, because of her background, one who had to learn the task of household management ‘on the job’. Mum found washing a chore and ironing a frustrating, difficult job carried out after tea on many occasions before she retired for the night. Mum was an excellent Bible student and was the one who taught us many Biblical truths during our nightly prayers at bedtime.

1938

My father, I had learned was a Baptist minister, and as such, he was never able to command a large salary. Money was difficult to come by, and did not stretch far with nine mouths to feed and bodies to clothe from 1942, when my youngest sister’s birth made the family complete.

1938 – about 20 months

In spite of the demands of so many on an inadequate budget, I remember my early life as being a very happy one. The family was close-knit and the children were able to make their own fun. Before I commenced school (pre-schools were not readily available at that time), I was often commended by Mum or Dad on my ability to understand what the older children were saying, and to anticipate what my parents needed and react to them. I was often first to respond to their call for an item from some other part of the house or yard. I guess that I have always liked order and neatness and often spent hours ‘tidying up’ after others. My father, too, was a meticulously tidy person, and this trait, no doubt, I inherited from him.

Raymond, with Bruce and

Philip pushing Sylvia in a billy cart

I remember filling my days playing in the sandpit, chasing moths and butterflies, banging saucepans, and watching the birds playing in the bird-bath, playing forcing back, riding trikes and bikes, building and riding billy carts and cubby houses, and