NSWRTM = New South Wales Rail Transport Museum at Thirlmere.
Bob Booth was never short of a few good words to say about himself. The following is sourced from http://www.sths.nsw.edu.au/reminiscences_boothwrites.php
A Personal Reminiscence by Bob Booth
(Science Teacher 1961 - 1969)
(Science Head Teacher 1970 - 1999)
A Teacher's Perspective
During my teacher training (Dip.Ed.) year I hoped that the greater part of my career would be presenting and explaining my subject and not one of having to enforce discipline for most of the time. This outlook was somewhat selfish and even unrealistic, but opportunity to find a school where quality teaching and learning were the established norm was soon to present itself. I was sent to Sydney Technical High School for my final supervised practice teaching session in late 1960. It wasn't long before I discovered that here was a place with a difference - professional and competent staff at ease with its work, and a student body having a quiet confidence, a good disposition and an understanding of the benefit of giving teachers a fair go. Of course, a teacher had to know his work and present it well. Add some involvement in student activities such as grade sport coaching and a teacher was well on the way to a satisfying career. I made a mental note of placing Sydney Tech at the top of the list of schools which in the future I would apply for as my seniority grew. In those days I would be waiting for 20 years at least. Imagine my feelings of surprise and privilege to be posted to Sydney Tech as my first appointment.
Up to the 1960s, students wanting to matriculate spent five years at high school culminating in the award of the Leaving Certificate. In senior years English, Maths 1 (algebra and calculus), Maths 2 (geometry ad trigonometry) and Physics were compulsory at Sydney Tech leaving students with two options to select. University matriculation required a language and here German was the most popular. Otherwise students chose mostly Chemistry and Technical Drawing. This limited subject choice was really a left-over from the days when the school was located at Albion Street Paddington and then truly Sydney Technical High School.
The moving of the school to its current site at Bexley in 1957 provided the growing St. George area with its first matriculation level boys' high school. Fortunately, the school's name was retained thus keeping alive the school's history going back to 1911. As an aside, a recent suggestion to change the name of the school because it is no longer exclusively technical sent alarm bells ringing everywhere, such is the feeling and regard of its old boys. The idea of throwing away such a heritage asset was both sensibly and quickly abandoned.
A major revolution in New South Wales education commenced in 1962 with the introduction of the Wyndham Scheme leading to the Higher School Certificate as we have today. A much broader curriculum resulted, although being a boys' high school in a working to middle class area means that senior subjects such as Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, Economics (and more recently Business Studies) are the most often selected at Sydney Tech, Engineering Science would be listed here but for artificial restrictions imposed by the Board of Studies.
A selective school with 88 years history builds up many achievements and traditions, especially academic and sporting. Grade sport still attracts 65% of the boys. Even though Rugby Union is no longer played (much to the chagrin of the old boys), the development of team spirit and playing by the rules, even if your opponents do not, is a time-honoured tradition at Tech no matter what the sporting code.
More recently the school's participation and achievements in various state-wide and national subject competitions capitalises on the students' preparedness to compete for personal and school honour. A special highlight has been the selection of two of our boys to compete as members of the Australian team in the international Olympiads in Physics and Chemistry respectively.
A feature of the school not present in the days of old is the top class orchestral band. The band's internal and public performances bring the highest praise and enhance the pride in the school.
One enduring tradition of the school is an effective and relevant Prefect team. On two occasions recently the Prefects have been asked officially to state their role in the school and have done so most convincingly. It is not surprising really that for every Prefect position there are five nominations.
If I might be allowed to drop my guard just briefly, I regard my association with the boys as Prefects Master as one of the pinnacles of my career. For it highlights the grandest feature of Sydney Tech. - an excellent relationship between the students and the staff, something I detected back in 1960 but which the writings show goes right back to 1911.
I have many happy and satisfying memories of the school. Somehow such memories always lead me to room 2, my home room for many years. As a room there is nothing much to distinguish it, but the digressions, the banter, the antics, the confidences, the politics, the humour and the goodwill not only lightened the routine of the job but enriched it as well.
The privilege to teach at Sydney Tech will always remain undiminished.
