Boarding School
When I was 15 I was sent to Boarding School. We had been living in England as my father was on exchange there with the Air Force and he had been informed that his next posting in 6 months would be back to Malaysia. I was half way through high school so my parents decided it was probably best that I go back to Australia at the beginning of the school year rather than disrupt my schooling with more moves.
Arrangements were made, a school was found, my aunt was to be my guardian and I could stay with her for the short school breaks and go home for the Christmas holidays and 1 other holiday each year. The school chosen was situated in the country half way between Canberra (where i live now) and Sydney just outside the small town of Moss Vale. It was the country school of the Sydney Church of England Girls Grammar School (SCEGGS). At the time I thought it would be a bit of an adventure….after all I had read, when i was younger, all those Enid Blyton books about life at boarding school….’The Naughtiest Girl’ and the ‘Mallory Towers’ series…….it would be fun 
Uniforms were ordered and awaited my at my Aunts house, other clothes, as per the clothing list, were bought and 2 big suitcases were packed full of my things. My parents bundled me off to the airport, the son of another Australian family was also being sent back to school so we would travel together. It was a really long flight and I had a dreadful head cold. I had a week at my aunts before having to go off to school. And so I was put on the train, there were other girls on the train in their uniforms also, returning from holidays. We arrived after dark…and so my first sight of the school was in the dark, I didn’t get a chance to visit before I had to start there…..it was a really strange introduction…straight into the dormitories. some how I survived. it wasn’t as fun as the books and for the most part I didn’t like the school much, but there were some funny times, silly times and I was there until I finished at 18.
And here are a few pictures to share, taken during the last year, the school closed down the following year and parts were demolished due to their age and state……..
The front of the school from the bottom of the drive & the main building
in front of the main building My desk in my cubicle
My bedroom/cubicle, the partitions didn’t go right up to the ceiling, in the last year we had our own cubicles rather than being in a dormitory
Messing about on a squash court, don’t you love the uniform & I was 18, how embarrassing 
4 thoughts on “Boarding School”
Manda, thank you for the look into your past and the cute pics…Wow, all these girls in short skirted uniforms…I would have been in heaven when I was teen. lol But, really, thanks for sharing with us. It is all these things each of us experience in life that makes us the person that we are. It is learning these things about each other that makes us true friends. Hugsssss
You had such an interesting childhood! I always enjoy your blogs about your past experiences & places you lived. The pics were sweet, in the last one can see the mischievious Manda that we all love! I too, always wanted to go to a boarding school because of the adventures I found in books I read. Thanks for sharing an interesting part of your life & the sweet pics! Hugsss to you:)
What a wonderful blog, Manda!!! I agree with Mr. Cowboy, The experiences you faced as a child growing up, helped form the person you are today, and I’m sure enjoying you, my aussie Sis!! Thanks for sharing yet another part of your life! It’s very heart warming. And of course, lovely pictures once again. They had taked of us having to wear uniforms way back when I was growing up (k…notice I didn’t type “way way way” back…giggles) but it never was implemented. Big hugs to you, Hon!
I love the building, it’s too bad they couldn’t restore it. Iove these pics, funny though…those days don’t seem THAT far away when you go back down memory lane. I went to an all girl school my senior year….HATED the uniforms! This was fun, going with you down memory lane, but, I wanna hear more about your experiences there! Have a wonderful weekend Manda!!!!!! Hugs!