A lifelong bond: the enduring friendship of school days at Calrossy Anglican School
Over 60 years ago, this group of women met on the grounds of the Tamworth Church of England Girls School, now Calrossy Anglican School. Supported by the kind of community you can only find in a New England country town, it was there they learnt the importance of a strong work ethic, independence, authenticity and caring for others. Fast forward to today and the foundations laid in the classroom remain, ensuring their lifelong friendship is stronger than ever.
It’s not a feeling known by many – sharing your world with someone for almost 70 years. But that’s something Calrossy alumni Prue Hartigan, Helen Easterman, Jacque Fogarty, Carol Scott and Jillian Morphett have managed to achieve since they met on school grounds back in the 50s, when both the school and the New England region looked a little different.
In that time, they’ve come to consider each other as family and, to be perfectly honest, it’s hard to get a word in edgeways since they all tend to finish each other’s sentences. That chatter is glorious, the laughter loud and the wine flowing. This right here is friendship goals, Calrossy style. Here they reflect on some of their fondest memories shared back in the old school yard.
“I was an only child, so I loved finding these mates. I hated going home at holiday time, except when I used to go out to Walgett with Carol’s family – they were great memories.”
Prue
“The first thing I remember is her name – I’d never met anyone called Prudence before. But we’ve been best friends ever since.”
Helen
“Some of my best memories include the fact I actually learnt something at school. My parents had been trying to teach me correspondence and it didn’t stick – but it was lovely to have that routine at school, to do our work together and actually get things done.”
Carol
“Prue and I were twins at school – we both had blonde hair and blue eyes. I’d get into trouble because they’d think I was Prue! Meanwhile, Prue was a good girl because they thought she was me.”
Jillian
“Being at boarding school, you made a lot of friends and you helped each other. It’s very special to have made lifelong friends. You also had access to a lot of sports that you otherwise wouldn’t have, so that was fantastic too.”
Jillian
“Time at school taught you to be very independent from a young age – and we’ve been very loyal friends. I’ve made a real effort to keep us all together because they were my family for years and years.”
Prue
“It also taught us to have high expectations of ourselves, to have standards – I guess that Christian education rubbed off on us a bit at least. Let’s just say it gave us the foundation of Christianity. Whether we followed in that direct line or not, it taught us about caring and looking after people and I think we’ve all got a bit of that in us.”
Jillian
“I think we’re all genuine people. Anyone we’ve kept in touch with, they’re the real deal – there’s no airs and graces about any of us.”
Prue
“I think one of the things that we’ve got, is that whenever we’re together we pick up where we left off, and that’s very special. We’ve had a lot of fun keeping in touch. Even though we might not see each other for months, when we do, it’s like it was yesterday.”
Jillian
“We were responsible for doing our own laundry from the age of 12. Every Saturday morning, outdoors, in a plastic wash basin, summer or winter. That will teach you to be self-reliant very quickly.”
Carol
“Matron Hazel Holding was there for all our school years too – she was terrific. She was a registered nurse – she had her favourites and I think I was probably one of them. You could go up to the sick bay and have a chat with her every night before prep. She was instrumental in getting the bishop to see my point of view when I got expelled. One Saturday, I’d missed check off because I’d gone to the swimming pool with three other girls to meet some of the boys from Christian Brothers College. We had a lovely afternoon down there, then when we got back we saw all these mistresses at the school’s entrance – that’s when we knew something was amiss.”
Carol
“I think I enjoyed playing sport more than doing anything else – it was called basketball back then, but it was netball. They were the kind of opportunities we wouldn’t have had access to if it wasn’t for the school. I cherish that, alongside our friendship.”
Jacque
“Everybody needs a Prue in their class who gets everybody together for anniversaries and things like that. You just need someone who’s the key organiser and just does it.”
Jacque
