Technical School 1

1963: Chamber of Commerce appointed Mr Keith Errey to convene a meeting to investigate a technical school at Cobden. Mr Errey, Mr Jim Gleeson and Mr Cec Burgin met Chief Inspector of Technical Schools, Mr Kepert and documents were forwarded to Premier Henry Bolte.

1965: In November, an Education Department letter indicated Cobden was the most suitable location.

1967: In July, a telegram arrived confirming the boys-only school will be at Cobden.

1968: While McKenzie St was advised as the new school site, parents were told: “We regret we are unable to occupy new buildings immediately but we’re grateful for accommodation at the sports arena.”

1969: Day 1- Sixty-seven full-time students, five staff in two portables and two rooms of the pavilion at the recreation reserve. Principal Mr Dan Costigan and registrar Miss Yvonne Jenvey.

1970: New enrolment is 205 students at recreation reserve. In April, the school moved into the terrapin building and four portables on the McKenzie St site. A canteen commenced operation.

1971: Building stage 1 commenced – $480,000 contract.  Most improved third-year student scholarship was shared by Gary Cronin and Ross Cowley.

1972: Principal Mr Keith Morrison arrived. Workshop and canteen blocks occupied. Library, humanities, science, art, administration blocks being worked on – costing $500,000. Mark McKenzie, Tony Moran, Ian Russell and Doug Greaves win cross countries at Corangamite day.

1973: Co-education commences. Administration block and gymnasium completed. Three and a half acres of playing fields sown. St Albans student exchange and Tasmanian tour. John Dunstan, Vincent Harink and Colin Cottrell win Commonwealth scholarships.

1974: Mr Wally Grubb appointed vice-principal. 500 trees planted. New teachers included Frank Tyndall, Cliff Cobbledick and Beth Kotzmut.

1975: November 28^th OFFICIAL OPENING. Parents took 300 hours to re-paint the terrapin. Farm apprenticeship course began. Fourteen students injured as bus overturns near Simpson. Colin Rooney won Model of the Year’ (Victoria) with his covered wagon. Leigh Blake, Steven Morrison and John Fahey starred at Corangamite swimming.

1976: Victoria Governor Sir Henry and Lady Winneke visited. First debutante ball. SRC formed. Walkathon raised $2000 for video equipment. Dallas Petrie arrived. SRC formed.

1977: Annette Duynhoven, Sandra Mitchell and Daryl Harkness formed star debating team. Teachers Lindsay Harrison, Peter Birthisel, Alan Pell, Graham Hatherell, Jeanette Callow, Barry and Stephanie Speight, Ian and Jenny Hosken, Kelvin White and Charlie Benjafield arrived. Media Studies begins.

1978: Vice-principal Mr Jim McLeod and senior mistress Terri Breen appointed, Kevin Norris was careers advisor, 418 students enrolled. Vincent Harink completed Business degree in Warrnambool.

1979: Students produced radio broadcast for 3YB. 57 firsts, 48 seconds and 29 third prizes for local show exhibits. Judy Coverdale in the Rostrum public speaking final. Outstanding Victorian farm apprentice – Richard Downs. Official chartering of Cadet Corps under Lt Gary Taylor. Educational trip to Kormilda Aboriginal College (Darwin) involves shire officers and school community. Dale Vagg produces ‘Oliver’. In ten years, 1360 students have passed through school. Chuck wagon makes first appearance. John Dunstan – B Eng (Deakin). Sweathogs won cross country and athletics from Blues Union.

1980: First computer purchased – a TRS-80. Seven female cadet officers on parade. Merv Edmunds built an ultra-lite aeroplane. Snow trip. Ian Vagg and Stephen Cummings re-built Holden V8 engine. Doug Sargent won awards for exercise cycle used to generate power. More graduates – Steven Morrison, Trevor Holmes (both science), Stuart Dunstan (elec tronic engineering). Darren Whelan won Victorian school weightlifting – 82.5 kg class. Outstanding dairying apprentice for Victoria for second year Chris Logan. Vale Keith Errey. Ivan Woolley retired (library) and Christine Purcell resigned (general office).

1981: 395 students enrolled. TEAC students visited French Island and McLeod prison farm. Six Vietnamese students visited from Maribyrnong HS. Sixty cadets at annual camp at Puckapunyal. Alan Hallyburton chaired meeting of P&C Association. Fibreglass room neared completion. Audio studio sound-proofed with egg cartons by Paul Bachelor. One of only three in Victoria, Cobden’s school-to-work transition program was launched. Winning float in Gala Day procession was a five-metre rocket ship with launch pad. ‘Annie Get Your Gun’ on stage. David Hallyburton – first of many to represent school in both Hampden football and Corangamite cricket schoolboy teams. USA exchange student Bruce Houseman arrived.

1982: Mr Greg Tippett appointed Principal, work on new big gymnasium began and Michael Steel to USA as Rotary exchange student. Sandra Mitchell appointed media assistant and Diane McMinn was new receptionist/typist. Colin Howarth is region’s top graphics student. Lindsay Perston (7 years) and Heather Kirtley (4 years) leave. Video ‘A Day in the Life of . . .’ was produced for transition program. Starred Shelley Lord, Kerri Hunter, Phillip Holmes, Brendan Hawkins and Michelle Nimmo. Keith Morrison farewelled. Year 12 courses to be made available in 1983. Walkathon raises $3000 to paint and shelter school bus. Year of the Tree activities including 1800 trees planted in local area. Year 10 students form co-operative that designed and constructed a fibreglass body for a 1964 Studebaker which funded their trip to America in 1983. Students from Chandler (Melbourne), Eaglehawk and Cobden involved in work experience exchange program. Graham Spencer began as the vice-principal.

1983: ‘Bye Bye Birdie’ starred Dianne McMinn and Rick Arthurson. Student mannequins trained and modelled to receive their diplomas from the Michael Filip Academy. New gymnasium near completion. Students raise $1900 to aid Ash Wednesday bushfire victims. Television and radio programs on fires produced by Media Studies. Ben Buntman and Mark Van Veldhuisen arrived

1984: Tenders called for new agricultural apprentice building, students built model yachts and involved in BMX track construction. 15th year reunion of first students held. New library and first of relocated portables arrive. 42 students visited Central Australia and 60 students, parents and friends visited Fiji. Naughty Nineties old-time music hall – theatre restaurant at Purrumbete Homestead.

1985: T12 students present ‘Cinderella and the Gayball’. KC Errey Farm Apprenticeship building opened in December. ‘Talent Afloat’ project with ten Year 12 students organised by Merv Edmunds sailed from Port Fairy, Apollo Bay and visited King Island. TOP (Tertiary Orientation Program) was offered for first time.

1986: Allocated eight hectares of racecourse land. Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme available to students. Vice Principal Ted Mohn appointed. Eight year 12 students worked with Bathurst Island’s aboriginal community. Debating team won Apex district final. Some Year 11 and 10 students took part in an exchange work experience program in Melbourne initiated by Knox Rotary Club. TOP art students displayed work in school’s first exhibition. The school and Glenormiston College combined to provide dairy education. A student welfare role was established to support the student coordination program.

1987: Pre-driver education began. Ten Tiwi aboriginal students from Bathurst and Melville Islands visited.500 students walked ten kilometres to fund a ceramics building. Free trip to Queensland awaited the student who raised the most. Four students swapped locations for work experience with students from Fairhills School. New health education course ‘Life in the Fast Lane’ was introduced. In July, Vice Principal Doug Styles and wife Sue arrived. School combined with Regional College and Camperdown High to produce ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’.

1988: Kevin Johnston visited Illinois USA to begin Cobden Connection. Student-built pottery room to open. Job explorer computer, a permanent fixture in careers room. Expo trip to Brisbane was organised by Kevin Johnston. Fourteen students from Cobden, Illinois were hosted. Jason Vandeligt wrote a 1500-word essay and won three Apple computers and one printer. School presented musical ‘Chicago’ produced by Michael Fitzgerald.

1989: Largest Year 12 group – 45 students. Trial school for Victorian Certificate of Education. Steven Boxshall won Master Plumbers and Mechanics Association scholarship – presented by Governor-General Hayden. Nineteen students set off for Cobden, Illinois, as part of the Cobden Connection. Year 7/8 footballers played off for regional title. Year 12 TOP students stage ‘Ma Baker’s Tonic’. From 33 entries at the Melbourne Show, 21 won awards. Rick Van Leerdam, Robert McKenzie and Paul Quarrell organised a cruise around the Whitsunday Islands. Thirty-five students built walkways at local primary school.

1990: Year 11 students undertake the new VCE. Paul Rees (England) swaps homes/jobs with Phillip Bernoth. Principal Mr Greg Tippett retires, succeeded by Mr Doug Styles. Science laboratory becomes the studio for ABC’s Quantum program. Student Wendy Lees accepted as VACC apprentice.

1991: One third increase in Year 7 students. Emma Body, Sharon Kelso and Melissanne Keally reached debate finals against Emmanuel College. Gazebo in Tandarook Park is built by students. Steven Page took eighth place in Australian All-School Cross-Country Championships in Brisbane. Elective Model Farm was developed on race-course. Won Cats Cup competition over Colac Tech by four points. Pomborneit North Primary School shifted to Cobden Technical School – used as Year 12 common room. New Capri donated by Ford for pre-driver education. Eight-day sailing trip around Gippsland Lakes undertaken as part of Duke of Edinburgh Award.

1992: Folk from Cobden (USA) arrived. Two Year 12 students, Darren Gardiner and Terry Harrison, talked to Russian astronauts. VCE students won award for designing an innovative package to educate students about plastics technology. School represented BSW Region in the classroom category of the 1992 Curriculum Excellence Award. Ex-student Murray Lock was ‘Ford Apprentice of the Year’.

1993: Exchange student Bjorn Gudjonsson arrived from Iceland. New state-of-the-art computer system introduced to library. Ex-student Deiter McDonald won best first year plumbing apprentice, adding to a long line of apprenticeship success by former students. Wind generators class won 1993 Victorian Curriculum Excellence Award for Special Project No 1. Tanya Robilliard on exchange in France through World Youth International. Public meeting was called by parents to fight for school’s survival. Student Glen Gorman drafted by AFL club Sydney Swans. VCE Business Studies students excel in national competitions. Cobden Technical School selected as a pilot “School of the Future”. DUX: Daniel Beard.

1994: Finnish exchange student Joonas Mikkonen arrived. Mr Peter Rock appointed Acting AP. DUX: Ben Nelson.

1995: Bali trip for seven Indonesian students with teacher Jim Matthews and Heather Petrie. Model building club with CPS grade 6 students. Exchange student Natalie Ehler arrived from Wyoming, United States, for a year. Barbara Anderson retired. DUX: Stuart Snell.

1996: Outdoor Education sailing excursion to Gippsland Lakes with Merv Edmunds and Dallas Petrie. Duke of Edinburgh Award and Driver Education programs continued with Ford Capri convertible. USA/Australia ‘Cobden Connection’ tour to America and Canada. Mona Pyke and Lindsay “Harry” Harrison retired. DUX: Ben McKenzie.

1997: ‘Johno’s Shed’ – foundations dug in October. Officially became part of the Corangamite Combined Schools‘ concert band. Dale Vagg, Ken Bunning, Kevin Norris, Merv Edmunds and Val Maynard retired.  DUX: Tamara Price.

1998: Graphics calculators used for Year 11/12 classes. Rotary Club Vocational Service Award to Heather Petrie for customer service. Johno’s Shed completed in July. Exchange student Adrian Sorger Lenning (Norway) here for a year. Alan Bryant awarded BSW Coach Award. Cliff Cobbledick, Kevin “Johno” Johnston, Russell Lacy and Mary Hay retired.  DUX: Roger Edmunds.

1999: 30th Year Celebration (1969 – 1999)! Peer Support Program returned after ten years. Combined Band’s first performance at the Warrnambool Eisteddfod. Bob Warriner and John Todd retired. DUX: Daniel Morris.

2000: State winner of Secondary School Tidy Towns Eco Recycle. Winner of Schools Low Energy Week Challenge. Runner-up Secondary Waste Wise School of the Year.  Des Bryant, Phil Bernoth and Russell O’Shea retired. DUX: Aaron Ovens.

2001: First place in Year 10 Mathematics competition. Kevin Duffin retired. DUX: Rebecca Bowden

2002: 120 students participated in the 2002 Rock Eisteddfod at Rod Laver Arena. Exchange student Michelle Dunkin arrived from USA. Senior band 3rd and junior band 2nd in Warrnambool Eisteddfod. Alex McDonald retired. DUX: Alison Ryan.

2003: VCAL (Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning) introduced. Drought relief appeal sponsored Walgett student exchange. Exchange students Julia Brunner and Anna Bluemel arrived from Germany. Blake Christiansen departed for Denmark. DUX: Jason O’Keeffe.

2004: After ten years as Assistant Principal, Peter Rock replaced Principal Doug Styles who retired after 17 years at the school. Kelvin White appointed Assistant Principal. Production of ‘Honk’. Great Victorian Bike Ride – cycling in your own backyard. Ex-students Claire Blackstock and Ben McKenzie returned for ‘Back to School Day’. DUX: Laura Errey.

2005: First year 8 camp to Phillip Island. Production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat .Sue Styles received Victorian Secondary Teacher of the Year Award. Michael Smart received a Community Merit Award. Rod Bufton retired. DUX: Emma White.

2006: Production of ‘The Wiz’. Exchange students Bethany Errey returned from Canada, and Claire Duynhoven from Thailand. Ford donated a silver XR6. Education Dept certificates of recognition presented to Kelvin White and Dallas Petrie for 35 years of teaching service. Participated in Spring Festival Parade with Ford vehicles. Vale past principal Greg Tippett.  Colin Keane retired. DUX: Brett Webber.

2007: Assistant Principal Sue Styles replaced retiring Kelvin White. Production of ‘Reality Dreams’. Cheyenne Rohan won javelin gold medal at VSSSA championships. Tek Turbo placed second in the RACV Energy Breakthrough 24 hour trial & open hybrid vehicles, XLR8R was placed second in design and scrutineering and CTS won the Holden teamwork and Innovation award. Swiss exchange student Simon Hoess arrived. Alan ‘AB’ Bryant retired. Vale Graeme ‘Rowie’ Rowe. DUX: Bethany Errey.

2008: Ex-students Tahlia Howard, Nigel Petrie, Wayne Robertson, Brett Taylor and Alistair Tune returned for ‘Back-to-School Day’. Production of ‘Fairytale High’. Exchange student Luca Gotzke arrived from Germany. Bus ‘Fuso’ was purchased. DUX: Jeffrey Rosolin.

2009: Production of ‘Sequinned Suits and Platform Boots’. Cheyenne Rohan won gold for javelin and Gary Rohan won gold for high jump at the VSSSA championships. Night Rider took out overall winner at the RACV Energy Challenge hybrid powered section. Gary Rohan was no 6 pick in the 2009 ALF draft joining Sydney. DUX: Rohan Nowell.

2010: Production of ‘Damhsa Cailin’. Cheyenne Rohan won gold for javelin and Ashley Ovens won bronze for long jump at the VSSSA championships. Fusion took out overall winner, 24-hour time trial, design and construction in the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge. Dallas Petrie retired after 34 years. Erica Elliot retired. DUX: Bryce Errey.

2011: Cheyenne Rohan won third successive javelin gold. Jack Hutt won the SSV State Junior Golf Championship. Science wing construction takes shape. School’s dirt bike team debuts. Fusion, Ignition, and Carbon Force took out awards at the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge. School’s performance was recognised by Mr Dan Tehan MP. School captains were introduced. Heather Petrie retired. DUX: Brent Errey.

2012: Official opening of the ‘Peter Rock Science Wing’. Cheyenne Rohan won her fourth gold medal for javelin. Eddie Bell placed third in the SW Zone cycling championships. Sue Styles, Ed Arundell and Peter Rock retired. DUX: Sarah White

2013: Michael Smart . . . New Home Economics Centre opens. Ash Ovens first in long and triple jump at VSSSA championships. Dirt bike team won Corangamite Youth Achievement Award again. CTS enjoys more outstanding success at the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge. AFL Victoria Herald Sun Country Cup champions. DUX: Ashley Ovens.

2014: Placed first, second and ninth overall at the RACV Energy Breakthrough Challenge. El Diablo won, Tech Industries second and Rapido third in the RACV Energy Breakthrough Hybrid 2 Challenge. DUX: Billy McGlade.

2015: Exchange student Sammie Besford arrived from New Zealand and CTS student Georgia McDonald left for New Zealand.  Teaching Indonesian language resumed for Year 7/8s. Equestrian Stacey Walker was awarded Pierre de Coubertin Award by the State Olympic Council. Senior boys cricket won HSSSD cricket and came second in the Great Western Region. Jack Bell fourth at the Victorian Junior Road Race Cycling Championships (Under 19s). SSV Lawn Bowls State champions. Colin Brown, Deanne Smith, Helen Sinclair, Carol Sykes retired. Jim Lock retired as School Council president. DUX: Stephanie Simmonds.

2016: CTS Indonesian Tour. Exchange student Keisuke Kanazawa arrives from Tokyo. Jack Hookway first in high jump at GWR athletics carnival. Lilley Ayres first at HSSSD cross country. Ryan Robbins won SSV sporting and academic achievement medal. Tara Anderson awarded Pierre de Coubertin Award by State Olympic Council. Denise Butler, Colin Venn, Liz Patterson and David Hedley retired. DUX: Stacey Walker.

2017: Corangamite Trade Training Cluster building established. Football Academy formed. Harley Reynolds first in shotput and Carly Walsh first in discus at GWR athletics carnival. Marcus Watson awarded SSV sporting and academic achievement medal. Molly Hutt awarded Pierre de Coubertin Award by State Olympic Council. DUX: Helen McMaster.

2018: Official opening of the Corangamite Trade Training Cluster. Technology Dept purchased 3D printers.Introduction of QuickSmart intervention program. First three places at State Lawn Bowls Championships. St Patrick’s Day fires – school closed for two weeks. Ally Jeffrey awarded Pierre de Coubertin Award by State Olympic Council. DUX: Amy Veenstra.

2019: Celebrated 50 years of Cobden Technical School with a huge weekend. Luke Hickey was awarded the Academic and Sporting Achievement Medal, Ingrid Bellman was awarded the 2019 Australian Olympic Change Maker Award. DUX:  Gemma Kelly

2020: COVID  pandemic hit and remote learning became the rule. DUX: Ingrid Bellman

2021: CTS and the Cemetery Trust created an Anzac flag-raising and commemorative event. Xx flags flew on the graves of veterans who fought in wars. The memorable service was attended by many community members. Andrea Stoddart developed a Community Maths Project in conjunction with Progressing Cobden – learning about the many volunteer organisations in Cobden.

2022: Back to school full-time although many student and staff absences through COVID and influenza. CTS received the Corangamite Shire Community Event of the Year for its role in the 2021 Anzac commemoration which was followed up by a repeat event in April, this time involving 70 flags and Cobden Primary School too. Indee Smith won the Australian National Champion rider at the Arabian National Equestrian Championships in Sydney. CTS combined with Timboon P-12 for a Central Australia camp. Chaplain Malcolm Ward retired after 14 years. Cows Create Careers returns.