Cessnock High School celebrates 75 years

‘‘They were invariably full of water,’’ he said.

‘‘I remember wondering if there was a raid on Cessnock whether I’d jump into what were pools of water.’’

‘‘Some things come and go, others feel like they were yesterday.’’

A Freeman of the City of Cessnock, Mr Bothwell, 87, will be among guests celebrating the school’s 75th anniversary today.

The school opened in 1921 in the grounds of Cessnock Public School and moved to its current site in Aberdare Road in May 1938, with Mr Bothwell in the first year-seven class to attend the new premises.

Principal of 14 years Ian Scanlon said it soon became one of the state’s largest high schools, producing alumni including former mayor Eric Fitzgibbon, conductor and pianist Brian Castles-Onion, former Coca-Cola chief executive Douglas Daft, professors, surgeons and archbishops.

Mr Scanlon said he expected 350 former students and staff to attend an assembly today and 250 to attend a dinner tonight at Crowne Plaza Hunter Valley.

‘‘This school has played a significant role in their personal history and we want them to have a really good time and reconnect,’’ he said.

Mr Bothwell’s teaching career took him all over the state, but he kept his eyes firmly focused on a return to his much-loved Cessnock.

‘‘I wanted to become principal at Cessnock High but didn’t think I had enough seniority, so I bought a house in Tumut [where I was working as a deputy principal],’’ Mr Bothwell said.

‘‘Two weeks later I was asked if I would become an inspector.

‘‘When I told them I was holding out to become principal at Cessnock High they told me if I got the job I’d be in charge of Cessnock and other schools in the Hunter area.

‘‘I took it.’’