From the Archives: School Personalities
In the 1960s, it was common that editions of Ubique included a section entitled ‘School Personalities’, in which the Ubique team would share thoughts and anecdotes about some of Uni High’s weirdest and most wonderful students and staff. These are the ones that we published on our old website and love so much that we thought they deserved a second upload.
Mr. Athol Jones
"AJ's smile is even more enigmatic than that of the Mona Lisa, although we feel that this is perhaps stretching things too far"
What more can be said about this man that has not already been expressed a thousand times more eloquently on desk tops and restroom murals? Simply this: Mr. Jones, or AJ as he is affectionately known to all of those who arrive before the bell, has now been at UHS for nearly three years since coming from Camberwell in 1963. Over this period we have endured the exotic lapel wear, the limp, the National Service. Also over the same period we have seen the virtual abolition of the Great Russian Sport and various cancer-inducing practices, and today, hardly a morning goes by when, through the magic of modern communications, that velvet larynx of his does not strike fear into the hearts of those who have sinned. So much for Jones the reformer. But what of Jones the man?
Sifting through those opinions which would not invoke the Obscene Publications Act, we found that most regard AJ as being basically a ‘good bloke’, and that he was disliked by some only because of his job, in a manner similar to Genghis Khan. Although apprehension first touched us at that Wilson Hall Assembly many years ago when Mr Jones was introduced as ‘also in charge of Boys’ Discipline’, this ominous title has since faded away, and informality is now the keynote whenever Mr Jones is discussed among students.
Mr Jones’ popularity stems also from his pioneering work of table-tennis as a lunchtime recreation for boys; he has also been praised, as a result of this work, by private study students in the BCR for the new and exciting aspects of work which have, quite literally, revolutionised activity in that room. Also, he has been admired for the cheerful manner in which he executes the more odious tasks of his job, such as conscripting, and… conscripting, and… conscripting, and… In fact, several students have gone so far as to say that AJ’s smile (which can mean anything from ‘the Liberals lost a seat’ to ‘gotcha!’) is even more enigmatic than that of the Mona Lisa, although we feel that this is perhaps stretching things too far. Anyway, La Gioconda had long hair.
We believe that Athol Jones passed away in 2013, loved by all those who surrounded him.
Harry Reicher
(He’s not always that from, it’s just that he can’t stand the thought of Harold Holt holding down the party leadership until Harry can depart post-haste from Monash with his B.Eco & Pol. (hon.).
Harry is one of those fortunate people who are fairly satisfied with what they have done and are very certain of what they are going to do. His birthday is the day before Arthur Calwell’s, two days before Lord Casey’s and coincidental with that of Lyndon Baines Johnson, Bishop Fox, Sir Donald Bradman, and Tuesday Weld. That Harry’s name should be linked with those of such fame is significant – although Tuesday Weld is a constant embarrassment.
Perhaps having such associations as the first three – from here on we will ignore the ‘black sheep’ of the group – destined Harry to be a politician. At the moment, he is a Member of the Young Libertines (pardon, Liberals), Captain member of the Burrows Debating Team, was a member of the Unley debating team, and seems particularly well in charge of his destiny. Harry’s confidence and ability to make news friends (for most people find it hard to believe that University High knew nothing of his existence until this year) and his cheerful and optimistic nature should prove to be great assets when begins to canvass his first electorate.
Next year, he intends to take Law and Economics and Politics, and later, if he successfully infiltrated the upper levels of the Government hierarchy, we may see the Reicher flourish appearing in many top-level policies.
A glimpse into the future? An excerpt from Harvard, 1984: Mr. Margolis (Labour, Vic): With all due respect to the integrity to the Minister of the Interior, do you, Mr. Reicher, honestly believe that the resolution of the problems of Northern Development and the Reserve Price Wool Scheme lies in the pertinent estates being submitted to your proposed Kibbutzim programme?
However ambitious he might be, Harry is nevertheless quite realistic: if he does not attain his ultimate goal in life, namely leading our diplomatic legislation to Israel, he will gracefully accept other, less demanding jobs, such as the Prime Ministership. ‘I think THAT jobless pretty much of a sinecure,’ says Harry. ‘However I can’t be certain as there’s no basis for comparison within living memory. Is there?’ No, Harry.
Other hobbies: Chronology, Numismatics and sport (mainly cricket and soccer).
As far as we can tell, Harry Reicher went on to be a leading human rights and taxation expert in Australia. He delved into Holocaust politics and Indigenous studies, sharing his expertise across Australia and the United States. He served as a lecturer at both Monash University in Melbourne and the Pennsylvania Law School, at which he was awarded the school’s adjunct teaching award in 2003. Harry Reicher passed away in 2014 at the age of 66, leaving a powerful legacy behind him.