How is your College History Trivia?
Many of you will know that we are trying to write a history of the College. The sources available have so far done as much to identify what we do not know or have, as to provide details of events over the last 45 years. There are many gaps in the information available, especially through the 60s and 70s. Much of the information that can be gleaned from the various sources leaves only tantalising clues and many loose ends.
Check how much you can remember about your days at Page. You may be able to help with some data. We are seeking your assistance in providing information to help to fill the gaps. Your help in answering any of the questions below, or in providing any information you think might be useful, would be very greatly appreciated. Hard copy or electronic format is preferred, as it can be difficult to recall the details of all those stories, anecdotes and snippets of information relayed in conversation.
Jack Hobbs/Kath Jacques: jhobbs@une.edu.au; 02 67 722 923
We hope you can help. Thank you in advance for anything you can provide.
- We do not have a complete set of Iskra. The first was published in 1968 but it appears that some years since then did not have one. Which years were these? We do not have issues for 1969, 1970, 1972, 1974 to 1979, 1981 and 1983. If you have any of these we would very much like to get a copy, as the magazine is one of the most valuable sources of information we have.
- When was the first Earle Page Forum published? Winter 1993 is the earliest found so far, but there appear to be gaps after that, assuming there were usually two a year (?). Does anyone have any issues before 1993, or indeed know if there were any before that?
- When, how and why did Weakly Page start? Has it always been called this?
- The 1988, 25th anniversary year, Iskra contains a reference to ‘…a twenty page historical insert.’ So far we have been unable to track down a copy of this. Does anyone have a copy, or know anything at all about it?
- In 1987 the SCR is reported to have organised a speaker on the history of the College. Who was this? Is there a written record anywhere of what was said?
- When did the Old Collegians Association start? Does anyone have any records? What did it do apart from hold a few dinners? Does it still exist, or is it what is now the Alumni Association?
- In 1997 there is was a reference to the ‘re-establishment’ of the Alumni Association, planned for 1998. When was there an earlier Alumni Association and what did it do? What were/are the links between the Alumni Association and the Old Collegians Association? Greg Eddy noted that the Alumni Association had existed in various forms over the years – when and what?
- What were the origins of POBAGA? How did/does it relate to the Old Collegians Association and the Alumni Association?
- When and how did the College mascot, Morie (what is the correct spelling, different ones have been found?) Magpie begin?
- When were the first College shirts with the magpie on the back?
- How many Town Houses were there? One source says 10, another 12. The 10 names we have are: Beta, Brennan, Comeytrowe, Dennis, Esrom, Lawson, Gordon, Kendall, Gilmore and Loombra (plus old PLC?). Addresses would be useful (some are known, but not all).
- Does anyone have any stories about the motel days in 1986?
- How and when did events/groups such as the Block-C Beach Party, the Block-B Ladies and Gents Night and Medieval Night, the Block-A Luncheon, the Luggage Night, the Mystery Dinner, the Karaoke Night, the Block-A 80’s Party, the Block-D 70’s Party and Murder Game, the Porn and Prawn (or is it Prawn and Porn?) Night, the Limp Fallers Association, the Common Market Night, the Oktoberfest Beer Tasting, the College Scavenger Hunt, the Pottery Club, the Photography group, the Top-D Cuddle Club and Gourmet Club, the Top-C annual Fantasy Party, an annual No Taste No Talent Quest, the Pajama Dinner, the St Patrick’s Dinner, the Australian Night, the Silly/Mini Olympics, a picnic at Dumaresq Dam, International Night, the Pensioners’ Party, the Black Russian Club, the Earle Page Surf Rats, the Yacht Rats Expedition, the Glencoe trip, Sunray Sunday, the Dirty Mothers Club, the Sluzzy Club, the Block-D country vs city touch football, and the Garden Party begin? There are many references to these and other similar events, but few details about their origins, in particular (or their demise), or about what they actually involved. Any recollections/stories about these would be appreciated. How many of them were just one-off events? We suspect that this is only a selection of such events/groups, so information about any others would also be appreciated.
- What was the ‘Fresher Wet’? When did it begin/end?
- What was the J.W.F.O.A.D. Party?
- What was the ‘Air Band’ competition, and when did it take place?
- In 1995 there was an abseiling day. Does anyone know anything about this?
- The EPCBCPCC seems to have been one of the longest-running ‘clubs’. When and how did it start and is it still operating?
- Are there any records of the invitations issued to famous people? Have there ever been any replies?
- What were the origins of the ‘Eagle Rock’ and ‘Khe Sahn’ traditions?
- Was the Adelaide-Armidale Cycle Classic of 1989 ever repeated?
- Was there really an Earle Page Sao Eating Association? Only in 1986?
- During the early 1980s Port and Coffee nights for externals were found to be a useful way to fund Iskra. When did they start/finish? Does anyone know anything about them?
- What were the SCR external intake parties? When did they start/end?
- The lecture series, ‘Aspects of the Ancient World’ (more recently ‘Aspects of Antiquity’), started in 1992. We still need a complete list of the lectures in this series.
- What happened to the EPC ‘College Stay Program’ introduced in 1993, designed to introduce prospective students, families and friends to life in EPC?
- A Politics/History essay competition was inaugurated in 1993 and may have lasted for two years. When and why did it stop?
- What happened to the Visiting Scholar scheme, which appears to have started in about 1993? Who were the visitors under this scheme, after Humphrey McQueen in 1993? From 1994 one of the Visiting Scholars each year was identified as the Robertson-Cunninghame Scholar, funded by donations from Rob Robertson-Cunninghame. Such scholars visited the College every two years until 2000, but there is no record of any since then.
- In 1993 the College sponsored a conference on ‘Churches and Social Justice’, the success of which apparently encouraged the organisers to plan another conference for 1994. Did this happen, if so, what was it?
- Art exhibitions in the Gallery seem to have started in 1994 (or was it 1995?). When and what were the exhibitions?
- When was the first Fashion Parade?
- Who was ‘Log’ (something to do with the Coast Run?).
- Did Andrew Landenberger win a silver medal at the Atlanta Olympics in sailing?
- What happened to the ‘Dinner across the Dumaresq’?
- B.O.B. Bob Crisp was the ‘Piano Man’. What do the letters B.O.B. stand for (assuming it is something which can be repeated without offence!)?
- Does anyone know anything about the Work Experience Register, set up to assist College residents with locating work experience?
- A Public Lecture Series seems to have started in 1995, possibly continuing in 1996, but details are sketchy. Who were the speakers, if there were any apart from Colleen McCullough and Professor Robert Melchers (and possibly Bruce Dawe and Jean Kitson)? What happened to the series?
- The SCR at one time ran events such as after dinner talks, a Brains Trust, wine tastings, a classical music group, etc. Any information about these or any other SCR activities would be appreciated.
- The SCR also hosted, for an unknown period, an annual guest (e.g. Ruth Cracknell in 1982). When did this scheme operate, who were the guests?
- What were the origins of the commissioning of original pieces of music (e.g. by John McCabe) for World Premiere performances in the College? How was this funded? Why did the scheme not continue?
- When did the College start producing plays? The 1985 Iskra refers to a ‘re-emergence of drama in the College’, so presumably there was some at some point before then.
- When did the College Musicals start? Possibly in 1973, the first year of a ‘mixed’ College?
- It appears that there was a College Band, the Earle Page Chapter, in the mid-1980s. We have no details, so any information would be useful.
- Does anyone know anything about a College Jazz Band, possibly formed in 1988?
- Why were 1976 and 1977 un-named?
