MPPS Interviews
2020 -2022

Rosalie remembers there being only one building when she with two classes having both boys and girls, unlike when they went to "big school" at West Ryde where boys and girls were separated. She remembers planting things beside the school path , perhaps the roses. She has fond memories of the mothers making "Oslo lunches".
She has many memories of growing up in Melrose Park including the iceman delivering ice for the ice chest and the baker delivering bread. She also remembers the first fridge and washing machine being bought.

Interviewed November 2022 (11 mins)

Sandra McAdams has vivid memories of what it was like to grow up in Melrose Park in the late 40s and 50s.  She mentions many local people by name and remembers it being a wonderful community.  She also describes her strong family life and reflects that school provided many opportunities that their parents didn't have. 
There was only one building in the school when she was at MPPS, with A block (now the library) to be the second building erected.

Interviewed November 2022 (12 mins)

Len Hassell hasn't visited the school since he was a student here and noticed how much the buildings have changed. He has vivid memories of his time as a student at MPPS including maze marching, rugby union and athletics. Len had a fantastic time growing up in the "wonderful environment" of Melrose Park. He recollects the Chinese market gardens, rose and citrus gardens, orchards, a pig farm, the trotting track and playing at the local tip. He also remembers seeing the petrol barges going down the river as he looked out the classroom window.

Jan Gilmore
(nee Simmons) 

Jan Collins
(nee Taylor)

June Lovette
(nee Eager)
Students 1950 - 1957 

Interviewed November 2022 

Jann Dodds

(nee Brackenbury)

Currently being edited

Student 1940s  

Jann Dodds came to Melrose Park Public school as she used to live close by.  She had been a school prefect and her classroom was in C block (currently Year 5 & 6). She used to do patchwork that she put in her book.

Interviewed by
Florence & Sophie P

 Student from 1952  to  1957

Graham Watts was interviewed in the school library, which was his classroom when he went to school.
Mr Watts' grandfather built his house in Melrose Park at Cobham Ave and it is still standing.
He remembers that at school all of the students were given free milk for morning tea and Graham loved it! 

Interviewed by Millie & Makayla

Lorraine Hassell

Student from 1952 -1958

Lorraine remembers growing up in Melrose Park was a wonderful experience. Her Mum told her that it was known as "nappy valley" because everyone had young children or babies.

Val Johnson

Student from 1959  to  1964

Val remembers pole dancing, soccer on the oval at lunch, playing marbles, doing needlecraft and basket weaving as well as using the school incinerator.
He thinks his teachers were:
• 1st class -  Miss Deece
• 2nd  & 3rd - Miss Simonds
• 4th class -  Miss Harvey
• 5 & 6th class  Mr Moyer, which was housed in the old timber building in the middle of the school, now demolished.

He remembers building billy carts and racing them down the footpath, the tip which was where Meadowbank fields are now located.  He also remembers seeing Betty Cuthbert training on the fairways at the golf course.

Student 1961 - 1964

Mr Jenkins attended MPPS from Kindy to Year 4. He remembers it being a very friendly place and it was “a joy coming to school every day”.

After a career in teaching, he now regularly visits the school to share his memories of MPPS with current students. You can watch a slide- show he created for this purpose here.

Interviewed by Khizra & Ibrahim

Leo Ruiu

Student from 1975  to  1982

In 2020, Leonardo Ruiu is a parent at MPPS but also went to school here from 1975 to 1982, before going on to Marsden High.

Leo was school captain at MPPS and you can find his name on the board in the school meeting room.
He did lots of bike riding around all of the bike tracks around Melrose Park and still lives locally. 

Interviewed by Chiara R

Lisa Simmonds

Student from 1978  to  1984

Lisa enjoyed growing up in the Melrose Park community. Because MPPS was such a small school everybody new each other.  She has fond memories of the teachers, playing netball and the end-of-year performances. Lisa was school dux in 1984. 

Interviewed November 2022

Class teacher 1974 - 1976

Mr Kim Reed was a teacher at Melrose Park Public School from September, 1974 to December, 1976 where he taught a 3-4 composite and then a 4-5 composite class.

In the 70s there was a big jump in immigration to Australia and the NSW Dept of Education hired hundreds of overseas teachers to fill teaching vacancies. Mr Reed, from Iowa, USA,  was one of these teachers.

Written interviewed available here.

Interview by Marius and Luke

Mrs Denham was a classroom teacher who mostly taught in C-block which are the current 5 and 6 classrooms.  She talks about some of the events the school participated in during her time here. In a walk around the school, she discusses how some buildings were originally used.

Interviewed by Bella, Chiara B and Elizabeth, November 2021 

Mrs Wade was a classroom teacher and executive teacher at MPPS for over 20 years.  After retiring in 2010 she returned as a casual teacher and was also part of the committee that set up the original out-of-school care.  In this interview, she talks about the many changes she saw in her time at the school and since her retirement.

Interviewed by
Kai & Oskar in  May 2021

Currently being edited

Parent from 1998
General Assistant 2000 - present

Leisa Cuneo is a staff member at Melrose Park Public School and works as the General Assistant. This means that "she does what needs to be done around the school".
Leisa sent her children to this school because it was local and the school looked like a great educational place for learning.  She started working as a volunteer so wasn't paid, but later was employed by the school.
This interview is about what she remembers about the school and how the school has changed over the time she has been here.

Interviewed by Amelia & Maddy

Jordan Lane

Student 2000 - 200?

Mayor of Ryde (2022)

Jonah 

Student 2012 - 20

Mrs Deb Beauman

Parent from 1994
Librarian/Office assistant
2004 - present

Mrs Beauman works in our school office. She came to MPPS in 1994 when it was time for her five year old son to start school. In 2004, Mrs Beauman began working in the school library and then later in the school office.

Written interviewed here
Interviewed by Maddison & Chloe

Mrs Karen Price

Office Administrator
2004 - 2017

Mrs Price worked in the Melrose Park PS office for 13 years. Some of the changes she saw during her time here was how much the school has grown in numbers and the new buildings and classrooms. She loved how all of the staff and the parents at the school treated her so well.

Interviewed by Ellery and Fadel

Ms Jen Riley

Assistant Principal
2011 - 2018 

Ms Riley came to MPPS as Assistant Principal  and also shared teaching a Year 6 class with our current principal Mrs Kristensen.  During 2018 Ms Riley was relieving principal at MPPS before taking up the position of Principal at Ermington Public School in November, 2018 .  When Ms Riley started at Melrose Park the school was a lot smaller which meant she only taught composite classes. She first found out about Melrose Park Public School because this is where her husband went to the school. Watch the video to find out more about Ms Riley!

Interviewed by Mia and Olivia

Mrs Clare Kristensen

Came to MPPS as Assistant Principal in 2009 , then
Principal in 2011

Mrs Kristensen is the current principal of Melrose  Park Public School and she has been the principal for the longest amount of time. She has renovated the school and changed it for the better and has made everybody feel welcome. 

Interviewed by Tyson and Owen