Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Introduction

As an impressionable boy, not even a teenager yet, I was fortunate to have the opportunity to attend Adelaide Boys' High School. It was 1962, it was his final year as Principal and in that single year, I learned to respect and appreciate his words of advice; mainly given during our school assemblies. I recall vividly his softly spoken, but mostly serious well chosen words, that demanded our best endeavours and that we always honour the School and what it had stood for.

In the beginning, I knew little of the contribution Wybert Milton Caust Symonds had made to secondary education, both in the city and regional South Australia. I knew even less about who he really was.

There was a multitude of archival records available from which to research and construct this biographical work. These included his war service records, digitised newspaper articles, genealogy databases, Adelaide University Archives, school magazines and several other sources. From these, it was possible discover a little more about the life of Wybert Milton Caust Symonds, in education, sport and the community. This however, could only provide a relatively superficial picture of the man and his character.

With thanks to his grandson, Nicholas Birrell, I have had the privilege to access his memoirs recorded by Wybert on cassette tape when he was in his mid-eighties. In the tape recordings, he thoughtfully reminisces, with articulate sentiment, about his boyhood days through to his last years. This provides his own intimate, but modest, reflections on his life achievements and gives a perspective relating to the importance of his family, particularly in reference to the great support he had from his wife, Jean. It also provided more information relating to his activities after his retirement from Adelaide Boys' High School, which was not readily available in the public domain.

Robert Martin O'Shannassy (April 2020)
Adelaide Boy's High School
1962 - 1966

Biography

Family Origins and Early Years

Wybert Milton Caust Symonds was born on 7th November 1897 at Chain of Ponds, South Australia. His parents were John Symonds and Amelia (née Caust).

Both John and Amelia's parents were born in Cornwall and emigrated to South Australia. Francis Symonds and Thomasine Symonds (née Crocker) arrived aboard The Navarino in 1848 and James Caust and Ann Caust (née Clogg) were aboard The Recovery in 1839 . They became some of the earliest families to settle and farm in the Chain of Ponds area.

Wybert's father, John Symons was only 5 years old when his parents and their eleven children arrived in Australia. Within six months Francis and his family had taken up land at Chain of Ponds. His mother, Amelia was born in 1854. Her father, James Caust had set up a blacksmiths shop in Pirie St, Adelaide shortly after his arrival in South Australia, but then relocated to Chain of Ponds in 1855 to take up farming. He later set up a blacksmiths and wheelwrights shop to service the local community and travellers. Many other members of the Symonds and Caust families also settled in the same region.

Wybert's parents married in the Chapel of the Bible Christian Church, Young Street, Adelaide on 21st April 1883.

A township was laid out in the Chain of Pond's district in the early 1850s and this helped attract more settlers and businesses. Improvements to the North-Eastern Road to Steventon (Tea Tree Gully) followed, but unfortunately the bullock track to the Morning Star Inn at Chain of Ponds, which penetrated through the opening to the gully and then serpentined through the hills, was almost impassable during the winter months.

In 1855 Francis Symonds was one of the Chain of Ponds landowners who signed a "Memorial" (a statement of facts) to petition the Central Board of Main Roads to improve the North-Eastern Road and bullock track through to Chain of Ponds. The township at Chain of Ponds was originally called Philp Town, named after the founding publican of The Morning Star Inn, Oliver Philp.

Why Wybert?

Wybert was named after entertainer Wybert Reeve (1831 - 1906). Apparently with so many names already used up for boys of the Symonds families in the Chain of Ponds area, it was said that his father and mother had difficulty thinking up an original christian name. It was finaly decided to name him after Reeve, a popular English actor who came to Adelaide and at the time was managing the Theatre Royal. The year before Wybert's birth, he was the first to demonstrate "moving pictures" in South Australia. The origins of his other christian names are fairly obvious, being after John Milton the English poet and Caust, his mother's maiden name. Wybert was the youngest of eight children born to John and Amelia. Sadly, two sisters, Anne (1890 - 1893) and Alma (1892 - 1895) died in infancy and a brother, Hedley (1893 -1893) died at birth. Infant and child mortality before the age of 5 was was still very common and if you were in the country the risk to life was higher. Wybert had three surviving older brothers, John (1888 - 1966), Claude (1894 - 1988) and Harry (1895 - 1921) and older sister, Bessie (1886 - 1987).

Growing up on the family farm, Wybert would learn much about the care of the land and crops, rounding up (with the help of Max the cattle dog) and milking the cows and harnessing "Darkie" the horse to the family buggy. He and Brother Harry knew all the spots around the property where the mushrooms were plentiful and the best locations to set the rabbit traps; both a means of making some pocket money. At age twelve he shot his first fox with his own gun, a .22 caliber Winchester, which he had acquired as a 10 year old. At day's end, after all farm duties had been completed; young Wybert would be called into the weatherboard farmhouse "Rosedale" for the evening meal. Afterwards his mother often read adventure stories to him which created an early interest in reading.

The Symonds and Caust families from the Chain of Ponds area were very much involved in local community affairs. They played in a variety of sports and Wybert's father was the President of the Chain of Ponds Cricket Club and a Vice-President of the North East Hills Cricket Association for many years.

Wybert's father, John Symonds, like his father Francis Symonds, was a local Methodist preacher. John was also the Chain of Ponds member on the Para Wirra District Council for 30 years, having taken over that role from Francis, who also had been on the Council for 30 years.

Millbrook Primary School

Wybert started formal schooling at 7 years of age, and walked the 3 miles from "Rosedale" to attend the local Millbrook School.

From 1904 until 1911 he completed his primary education under the watchful eye of headmistress Mrs. Belcher. He participated in a variety of school, church, sporting and other community activities. Wybert showed his musical attributes by performing a duet with his brother Harry at a church function in 1908 and his athleticism by winning a running race at a sports day in 1910.

Sadly for the family his father John passed away on 23rd September 1913 aged 72, leaving his wife, a daughter and four sons.

At the time of his death he was the Chairman of the Para Wirra District Council and had just been re-elected President of the Chain of Ponds Cricket Club. Representing the local residents, he had also been involved in the dealings with the State Government over the construction of the new Millbrook Reservoir.

Wybert showed an early interest in becoming a teacher and two years after completing his primary education and having attained the prerequisite age of 15 years, returned in early 1913 to Millbrook School as a Monitor . He then was appointed as a Junior Teacher in December 1913. Under the guidance of headmaster Mr. John F. Davis he gained self-confidence in the classroom. Wybert's older brother, Harry had also been a Monitor and Junior Teacher appointed to the Norwood School.

Adelaide High School

Older brother John "Gumma" had already spent two years at Prince Alfred College, however with an interest in teaching Harry and Wybert would need to go to Adelaide High School (the former Pupil Teachers School). In January 1913 Harry passed the entrance examinations and in 1914 Wybert also gained entry to Adelaide High School to complete his Junior Public Examinations. He had ridden his second hand bicycle from Chain of Ponds early in the year to enroll. For several years Harry and Wybert boarded together at Miss E. Sprigg's home at St Peters in a house that is now part of St Peter's College. It would take him three years to prepare for entry into Teachers College and University.

In 1914 at Adelaide High School, Wybert passed in five Junior Public Examination subjects (English, History, Geography, Physics and Drawing). He also attended the Adelaide School of Art and achieved a pass in Solid Geometry. Wybert then completed the Senior Public Examinations passing six subjects in 1915 (English, Modern History, Geometry, Trigonometry, Arithmetic and Algebra). That year he again attended the Education Department School of Art achieving a "Good" in 1st and 2nd Grade Freehand Drawing.

At Adelaide High School, Wybert showed athletic skills both on the football and cricket fields. In August 1914 he was amongst the best players in the Premiership match against the University of Adelaide B Team.

Unfortunately Adelaide High School was defeated by 5 points but as they had finished in top position at the end of the regular season they were able to "Challenge" the University team to another match. They lost again by a larger margin but with Wybert again in the best players.

In 1915 and 1916 Wybert captained the 1st XVIII football team. They played in the Students' Competition against all the private colleges. In 1916 the AHS team defeated St Peter's and Prince Alfred College 1st XVIIIs for the first time.

Adelaide High School played in the A Grade Metropolitan Cricket Association in the 1914/1915 season and Wybert was a valuable member of the 1st XI side and was vice-captain in 1915. In one match he took four wickets in four balls and on the following Monday at the School assembly, he was called onto the stage by the headmaster, Mr. Adey. To his surprise, he was presented with a new cap by the cricket captain and head prefect, Eric Kelly, in recognition of the remarkable performance.

During the school holidays in December 1915, Wybert was selected to play for the combined Junior Metropolitan Team in an inter-association contest.

By the 1915/1916 season, the Adelaide High School 1st XI team was competing in the Adelaide and Suburban Cricket Association B Grade competition which played against some of the college teams. Wybert had a noteworthy performance against St Peter's College B team in January 1916. Other noteworthy performances followed.

By this time Adelaide High School also had a 2nd XI team that played in a High Schools Association.

In the 1916/17 season a separate Adelaide Students' Grade Association was formed with Adelaide High School being "privileged" to play against the private colleges!

Wybert also had the honour to be selected as Head Prefect in 1916. In addition to his sporting responsibilities as captain of cricket and football, he was also editor of the school magazine and President of the Literary Society. Among his other tasks, as Head Prefect he was required to speak at some school assemblies.

In February 1916 Wybert was posted by the Education Department to Norwood Public School as a Junior Teacher (3rd Grade). This was in addition to the task of completing some Higher Year Public Examination subjects at Adelaide High School. He was able to pass two subjects (English and Geometry) in the University Higher Public Examinations.

In 1917 he was promoted to a Junior Teacher (4th Grade) at Norwood and in 1918 he gained a place at the Teachers Training College, an indication that he was seen as a teacher of great promise.

Early in 1917, he purchased and registered a Lewis motor cycle as a mode of transport for himself around Adelaide and to visit his family at Chain of Ponds. He was also the Superintendent of the Chain of Ponds Methodist Sunday School and previously before acquiring the motorbike had travelled from Adelaide each weekend on a bicycle. At the time he was still living at Palm Place, St Peters.

As a Teachers College student Wybert also was able to enroll in the Faculty of Arts at Adelaide University, however War service intervened and he did not complete any subjects. In May 1918 he did receive a Pass in Blackboard and Memory Drawing at the SA School of Arts and Crafts.

World War 1 Service

Wybert had been a member of the Army Cadets for four years and had also joined Lunn's Citizen Force and had spent three years with them and at some stage was attached to the 50th Army Medical Corps. He had wanted to enlist during 1917, but with two brothers already serving overseas his mother refused to give her permission. Being under 21 years of age he required his mother's permission. His oldest brother had attempted to enlist but was rejected, possibly being required to manage the Chain of Ponds Farm. As a member of the Citizen Forces, by Law, he was unable to serve overseas. During his time in the Citizen Forces, Wybert would have to undergo periods of training (usually 24 days a year) and be available for home service when required.

Wybert was among the many who responded to the continued calls for reinforcements for the Australian Imperial Forces in France and Belgium. Even though during 1918, the tide of the War in Europe was starting to turn in favour of the Allies, there was still active recruiting going on and more men enlisting and going into training camps in Adelaide. There was still a need for men to replace the dead, wounded and sick. There was still a job to be done and it was definitely not a time to pull back. Fortunately, for later recruits, they would not have to see the front line hostilities.

Putting his studies on hold and now with his mother's permission, Wybert enlisted on May 1st 1918. He reported to the Mitcham Camp for his medical and at 20 years and 5 months, measuring 5 feet 6 inches tall and weighing 135 lbs, Wybert was assigned to the 4th General Reinforcements. While still in Adelaide, he underwent further rushed training, learning mostly about regimentation and reacting to orders. While in camp he made some new friends and they were allowed to get leave passes to venture out as a group into the city or individually to keep in touch with family.

Prior to being sent overseas he was able to spend some time at home. On Tuesday 30th July 1918 Wybert attended a farewell social in the local Chain of Ponds Hall. He was presented with a safety razor by Mrs. Belcher his former headmistress at the Millbrook School. The following Sunday at a special Sunday School service at the Methodist Church, Wybert was presented with a money belt on behalf of the students.

As Wybert departed Chain of Ponds along the new road to Adelaide to head off for active service overseas, he would have looked back and seen the rising water of the new Millbrook Reservoir which had now started to engulf the Chain of Ponds cricket ground, once the pride of the district, where he had spent many hours of his youth. The Sunning Hill Bridge on the old road was now under water as was the site of the former Millbrook Hotel.

Wybert embarked with the 4th General Reinforcements on the HMT "Gaika" on 6th August, departing from Outer Harbour and proceeding to England via Cape Town. At a further stop at Sierra Leone, Private Symonds assisted with the loading of coal needed for the final leg of the journey. Sailing up the Thames and disembarking at the Port of London on 13th October 1918, Wybert was soon transported to the 9th Training Battalion Camp at Fovant in south west Wiltshire, where he would spend three months. He just missed seeing his brother Claude who had been at the Fovant Camp after recovering from a gunshot wound to the thigh sustained the previous month. Unfortunately he had only just returned to France on 1st October 1918 with the 15th Australian Field Ambulance. Brother Harry, who had been gassed in France in November 1917, had already been repatriated to Australia in September 1918 after spending time in hospital and convalescence.

With the Armistice signed on 11th November 1918, thankfully there would be no dreaded posting to the front lines. The level of training (and discipline) at Fovant Camp diminished and there were opportunities to get leave and visit some of the nearby towns on bicycles and see the sights on the Salisbury Plains which included a hiking visit to Stonehenge some 20 miles away. For Wybert there was little hope of returning to Australia quickly as those who had served the longest ("Last in Last Off" directive by Lieutenant General Sir John Monash) or had been ill or wounded were given priority. It was not all fun as there were still jobs to be done and on 28th January 1919 Wybert was sent to France to assist with the post-Armistice campaign. His duties were mainly ordinance in nature, covering the movement of goods returned from the front lines and the difficult task of supervising the stocks of cigarettes and liquor. He also had guard duties overseeing Chinese workers who were performing some of the laboring tasks. He was disillusioned somewhat, seeing a lot of wastage of food and equipment, but saw it as a good lesson all the same, learning much about tolerance and compromise. Wybert had lived a fairly sheltered life before the War and rarely had his values been tested as they were during his term in the A.I.F. The experience however, broadened his outlook on life and this would serve him well in later as a teacher and headmaster.

On 20th April 1919 he was promoted to the rank of Temporary Corporal; probably on merit and in some measure replacing superiors who were fortunate to get their orders to return home. Along with a variety of postings including one to the POW camp near Calais in the north-east of France, there was also time available to visit nearby French towns. He spent time down at Port-Vendres on the Mediterranean coast near the Spanish border and at Condrieu, in the wine region in the south-east on the Rhône River.

The A.I.F. and Y.M.C.A also arranged social and a variety of sporting activities to help pass the time and assist with fitness. He remained in France until early June 1919 and on returning to England, a Private again, he was now essentially a tourist in uniform until getting notice for his own return home.
This was a great opportunity for Wybert to see more of the United Kingdom, although he did consider entering University in England and delay his return to Australia. The Australian servicemen were free to travel anywhere in the UK. Sightseeing was far better than staying in the Camps and wearing the A.I.F. uniform opened many doors.

It was a great chance to visit Cornwall, the County where his family had 70 years earlier departed from to seek a new life in South Australia. After a visit to Land's End, Wybert and his friend Lorne Cameron travelled north to Inverness, Scotland and after some time in Edinburgh, headed further north to Dundee. Wybert had met friendly locals along the way, some of whom offered accommodation. In Dundee, he stayed with Charlie Ilse, a friend of the family and was introduced to the game of golf. He also played in a game of cricket. Wybert and Lorne also made a ferry trip from Holyhead to Dublin. This was a few years after the opportunistic 1916 Easter Rising and only months after the 1919 Declaration of Independence by the Irish Republicans. Ireland was still very much on edge which would see the outbreak of civil war in 1922.

On 5th September 1919, after his five weeks of travel and soon after returning to the Salisbury Plains, Wybert received his orders to return home. After embarking in England aboard the HM Plassy on 13th September 1919, he headed to Australia via the Suez Canal. There were some opportunities for shore leave along the way. A stop at the port of Colombo (Ceylon/Sri Lanka) and a trip inland to the capital Kandy, left Wybert with less than pleasant memories when some men were subjected to harsh disciplinary measures, referred to as "sandbagging". He finally disembarked at Outer Harbor on 23rd October 1919 and was formally discharged on the 7th November 1919 almost a year after the Armistice.

Post War Family Tragedy

In December 1919 only a month after being discharged, Wybert was soon back at Adelaide High School, not yet resuming as a teacher, but helping out officiating as a timekeeper at an athletics meeting.

Harry Francis Clifford Symonds (1895 - 1921)
Wybert's older brother Harry returned home early after being exposed to mustard gas during the War. Soon after he resumed his study at the Teachers Training College and later was appointed to the staff at Adelaide High School. In December 1919 Harry passed two subjects (Latin and English Language and Literature) towards an Arts Degree at Adelaide University and the following year in November 1920 he passed 2nd year Latin. Sadly for the Symonds family Harry, weakened by his wartime experience, died in early 1921 from an associated illness.

Re-enrolment at Adelaide University and Teachers College

At the beginning of 1920, after two lost years of study, Wybert re-enrolled at Adelaide University to complete some Arts subjects, however in 1923 he switched from Arts to Science, for reasons that will become apparent, and proceeded to study for a BSc degree in Forestry. In 1922, now 25 years of age, Wybert also returned to Teachers College to complete his two years of training. At this time, Teachers College had just become independent of Adelaide University.
He continued to get around on a motor cycle, however by now had purchased a "Red Indian" with sidecar. Unfortunately he met the ire of the police on a couple of occasions for not having an effective muffler. One of the offences happened when he was riding down Rundle Street.

W.M.C. Symonds - Adelaide University Examination Results
1920 Passed
• History of the United Kingdom
• Education
• Pure Mathematics

1921 Passed
• English Language & Literature
• Modern History
• Applied Mathematics
• Physics

1922 Passed
• Biology

1923 Passed
• Physical Chemistry
• Geology I
• Plant Physiology

1924 Passed
• Forrest Botany
• French (Matriculation Level)
• Surveying (Short Course)
• Geology II
• Forest Entomology
• Organic Chemistry
• Agricultural & Forrest Geology
• Forestry A & B

Wybert had completed his course of subjects by the end of 1924 and had his Bachelor of Science Degree conferred in April 1925.

While enrolled at University, Wybert played football and cricket. He also expanded his social links by joining the Student Christian Movement and was President for one year. He was also a keen old scholar of Adelaide High School and continued to assist at athletics carnivals and play in the old scholars football matches. By 1922 he was back on the staff at Adelaide High School.

In addition to his teaching duties, attending Teachers College, studying Biology at Adelaide University, he was also assisting in the running of the Adelaide High School Cadet Unit.

Kuitpo Forest School - Change of Direction

From early 1922, during the warmer months (November - March), Wybert was spending time teaching groups of high school lads forestry and basic surveying at the new innovative Kuitpo Forest School. Originally the Director of Education, Mr. W.J. Adey (the founding headmaster at Adelaide High School from 1908 - 1919), had offered the position to his older brother Harry. After his sudden death however a replacement was needed. Wybert was then asked to take on this pioneering role and this was the reason for the radical change in his course of study from Arts to Forestry Science. Having grown up at Chain of Ponds, Harry and Wybert would both have been ideally suited to teaching the lads about the practical skills needed in a forest environment. Mr. Adey had come from the same area of the Hills and knew the Symonds family well.

In 1912, Adelaide University had been the first tertiary institution in Australia to offer subjects proceeding to a BSc degree in forestry within the Science Faculty. One difficulty Wybert faced was that he had not studied chemistry or the biological sciences at Adelaide High School. This deficiency was later evident in his desire to see changes to high school curriculum which would provide a broader base of subjects prior to matriculation.

Adelaide University Sport - Football

While at Adelaide University, Wybert continued with his sport and played for both the cricket and football clubs. He played football from 1920 to 1922 taking out the A1 Premiership each year. They were very successful times both for the team and personally. The following season reviews are from Adelaide University Football Club History booklet .

Adelaide University Sport - Cricket
Wybert played for the Adelaide University Cricket Club from 1920/21 until 1922/23. A genuine all rounder he was a fine medium pace/off spin bowler and hard hitting batsman who could fill in any position in the batting order.

In his first season Wybert scored a fifty in the match against Adelaide in November 1920 and in the December Intervarsity match in Melbourne he took 6 wickets with his medium pace bowling. His highest score was 56 not out in 1921/22.

One of Wybert's good friends was George Rayner Fuller who had also attended Adelaide High School before WW1 and was a team mate both at AHS and in the University cricket team. Fuller, after gaining an Honours BSc degree (majoring in Physics), became a demonstrator (1921 - 1926), lecturer (1927 - 1949) and senior lecturer (1950 - 63) in the physics department and would spend over forty years (1921 - 1963) at the University of Adelaide. Fuller would later play a mentoring role for a member of the Symonds family.

Wybert played both A and B Grade for the cricket Club. His most successful season was in the 1921/22 season when he averaged 27.6 runs per innings with the bat and headed the bowling averages with 7 wickets at 19.7 runs per wicket. He was a member of the 1920 and 1921 Intervarsity Teams playing against Melbourne and Sydney Universities respectively.

By the 1922/1923 season he was finding it harder to find spare time for his beloved summer sport and only managed to play a couple of matches in the A Grade side.

Marriage

Wybert first met Daphne Jean White (Jean was her preferred name) at Adelaide High School in 1914 where she had also attended as a pupil/teacher. She was the daughter of Joseph Hills White, a carpenter and Mary White (née Lloyd).

In 1914, 15 year old Jean was a Junior Teacher at the Hindmarsh School. In 1916, she was the girls head prefect and Wybert, the boys head prefect. There had been very little chance for interaction between the girls and boys during school hours as walls separated them. Some lads however, would meet and walk with the girls and perhaps offer to carry their school bag after school. Some early friendships started this way, however Wybert was apparently a shy individual and was not game enough to approach any of the girls.

Finally, after an Old Scholars social in the School Hall, they were waiting at the tram stop and Wybert finally plucked up the courage to approach Jean and asked if he could accompany her home. The answer was YES; despite the fact that another lad had also been keen on Jean that evening. That single question and positive response changed the course of both their lives and so began a wonderful lifelong relationship.

In 1917, while attending Teachers College and on the staff at Adelaide High School, Jean also studied music (singing). She attended Adelaide University in 1918 and 1919 passing some subjects in the Faculty of Arts. This all became too demanding for her and eventually Jean discontinued her study towards a degree. A period of separation from Wybert followed when he enlisted and embarked for overseas service. It was a testing time for both.

After Wybert returned from WW1, the relationship blossomed further and they became engaged in 1921. During the courtship he often took Jean in the sidecar of the Red Indian motor cycle up the North East Road to the family home at Chain of Ponds.

Jean and Wybert were separated again for a while in 1922 when she was posted to Riverton High School, however at the end of the year she resigned her position and returned to Adelaide. She had been a highly regarded member of the staff.

On the 30th December 1922 Wybert and Jean married at St Mark's Church, Maylands.

Kuipto Forest School

The years 1923 and 1924 were extremely busy for Wybert. Jean, having resigned from the Education Department to get married was able to provide him with invaluable support. In addition to teaching duties at Adelaide High School and University studies, during the summer he continued running the courses at the Kuitpo Forestry School. He also was often away from home having to spend a lot of time as part of his practical work in forestry. This experience added to his expertise in conducting the 10 day forest school courses for High School students.

The Symonds welcomed a son (John Lloyd Symonds), born at Maylands, South Australia prior to Christmas in 1923.

Wybert continued in his role at Kuitpo for several years and in 1925 wrote an article for the Register Newspaper.

Norwood Football Club

After having been an outstanding footballer playing for University from 1920 - 1922, it was not surprising that a league club would be after his services. In 1923, after playing in the Norwood B team early in the season, he was promoted to the league team after only a few matches.

Remarkably he played in a premiership in his first season when Norwood defeated North Adelaide in the Grand Final. Wybert was in the best players on the wing for the Redlegs.

In all Wybert played 98 games for Norwood including two premierships (1923 and 1925) and was awarded a Player Long Service Certificate in 1927.

After finishing playing cricket with Adelaide University, Wybert resumed playing for the Spicer Memorial Church team in the Churches Competition. In the 1924/25 Season, He made 490 runs at an average of 49.

On 29th July 1925 the Symonds welcomed their second child, a daughter (Rachel Jean Symonds).

In the summer months, Wybert was still involved with the Forest School at Kuipto and Jean, John and the new baby joined him there, accommodated in a little cottage nearby. Sometimes he oversaw some harvesting of trees, providing a great experience for the lads. On occasions, Wybert and the students were visited by Government officials and during one course, the famous Antarctic explorer and Geologist, Sir Douglas Mawson addressed the boys. Altogether Wybert ran the Kuipto courses for six years (1922 -28).

During his University years studying forestry, Wybert was required for five weeks in his summer holidays to travel to forest plantations all over Australia. In addition, the ten days at Kuipto added pressure on Jean who was spending time on her own with the two young children.

In 1924 Wybert and Jean purchased a 32.5 acre property at Mount Gambier for £70. The opportunity presented itself during a visit by a school inspector to the Kuipto Forest School.The gentleman had previously been a headmaster at Mount Gambier High School and mentioned that there was land for sale in an area suitable to grow pines. Although it left the family almost penniless, the purchase began a lifelong interest and hobby in a profitable pinus plantation. Over the years when the pines reached maturity, it would then provide the Symonds family with additional revenue to supplement the meager income paid by the Education Department. It periodically gave them the means to afford a few more amenities and ensured their children could be provided with better opportunities in their educational pursuits.

After the War, Wybert had continued with his strong commitment to the Church as an officer of the East Adelaide Sunday School and a preacher (on trial) in the Kent Town Circuit. He also was instrumental in organising groups of young men who met on Sundays as a study group and formed a club that gathered in the city on Monday evenings.

In September 1926 Wybert was one of the staff members who accompanied the Adelaide High sporting teams to Victoria for the annual contests against Melbourne High School. In the 1926/27 season he resumed playing cricket in the South Australian Cricket Association competition for East Torrens in B Grade. In November he also gave a talk on "Forestry" to the 1st College Park Scout Group.

By 1927 Wybert was continuing to find it difficult to continue with all his sporting activities, but was still actively involved with the football team at Adelaide High School.

After 1928 the Kuipto Forestry School was discontinued due to a lack of funding as the Great Depression started to take hold. Wybert was offered a position with the Department of Forestry, however both he and Jean favoured "growing young students than growing young trees". Continuing his career in education (with the valuable support of Jean) was the pathway they chose. So began their journey together, which would see them at five country high schools before a return to city life.

Kapunda High School

Wybert's teaching and sporting career would change significantly when in December 1928 he was appointed to be the headmaster at Kapunda High School for the New Year. The school's homestead style building and substantial grounds had been donated to the Education Department in 1921 by Sir Sydney Kidman - "The Cattle King".

By early 1929, the Symonds family had departed from their comfortable Jarrett Street Maylands home and travelled by train to Kapunda. Jean was now expecting a third child and on arrival they found that the headmaster's accommodation left a lot to be desired and was in need of substantial repairs. Later they were able to move into a much nicer home which had formerly been the Kidman manager's residence.

The 60 student Kapunda High School provided the first four years of secondary education and only had positions for a headmaster and one other teacher. The school currently lacked any specialised teacher to adequately prepare students through to Leaving (Matriculation) standard. The only other permanent staff member taught commercial subjects, so Wybert was required to be a very hands on teacher as well as attending to his headmaster duties. At least the broad range of subjects that he had studied at high school and university gave him a competency level to teach most of the required arts and science subjects.
With the Education Department purse strings now even more constrained by the impact of the "Great Depression", Wybert found his salary cut by 22½%. Further additional teaching resources were also unlikely, but fortunately Jean volunteered to give un-paid help to students with their Maths and Latin. She also became the driving force behind the formation of a Parents and Friends Association. Jean would continue to provide great support to Wybert in school and community activities throughout his career. Wybert and Jean knew how important it was to knit the school and community together. Their involvement with local Church and sporting clubs was very beneficial to foster this connection. It also helped make important contacts in the town and surrounding districts.

The Norwood Football Club was still keen for Wybert to continue with them for the 1929 football season; however coming down each weekend from Kapunda to play football was not practical and did not last. Wybert retired from league football for Norwood early that season, with his last game being against West Adelaide on 25th May 1929. He was just two games short of 100 games, but there were other priorities now.

The Symonds family soon became respected members of the Kapunda community, participating in many church (Wybert as a Lay Preacher), sporting and social activities. After finishing with Norwood early in 1929, Wybert continued to play football for Kapunda and helped them win that season's premiership. He also played cricket and in the 1929/30 season Wybert had headed both the team batting and bowling averages, with the team also taking out the Barossa and Light Association title.

Another daughter (Ruth Caust Symonds) was born on 27th June 1929 during the family's first year in Kapunda.

Although the results from the students were sound, coping with all the teaching demands was extremely difficult with a very heavy responsibility falling on Wybert. Fortunately a request to Mr. Adey, the head of the Education Department, was looked upon favourably and later in the year a competent Maths and Latin teacher was provided to take over from the less qualified member of staff. The new teacher, Miss Eleanor May Slade had been taught previously by Jean at Adelaide High School. The school also had assistants who taught woodwork and cooking. By 1931 Kapunda High School had a permanent full-time teaching staff of three in addition to the headmaster. A very competent teacher, Ivan Coward joined the staff in 1930 and he would later become a headmaster at Norwood High School.

After three years as Headmaster of Kapunda High School, Wybert was transferred to Renmark Agricultural High School. Mr. and Mrs. Symonds were given a farewell social. The years at Kapunda had been an initiation to a new way of life and good preparation for the future which would include several more country appointments. The moves were a challenge for the children, being uprooted and needing to make new friends each time.

Renmark Agricultural High School

Prior to moving to Renmark, the family decided to take a holiday to the beach in a rented house at Seacliff. The pleasant conditions by the seaside became a stark contrast to the weather endured during their train trip to the Riverland. On through the Murray Mallee, the temperature reached an official high of 116 degrees Fahrenheit (46.7 degrees Centigrade), but was probably higher inside the coach. It was the worst journey the family had endured. On arriving exhausted at their destination, they found their furniture and other possessions had still to be collected from storage; having been previously shipped from Kapunda to Renmark. Also there was no cot to be found for infant Ruth. Fortunately their new neighbour, the local Methodist Minister, kindly invited the Symonds in for an evening meal.

It had been an unpleasant journey to the Riverland, but the next day was worse, when the temperature reached 120 degrees Fahrenheit and there were no luxuries such as a refrigerator to provide a cooling drink. The two days of extreme heat were followed by a swirling red dust storm and then by the predictable thunderstorm that produced a deluge of "red mud".

The tales of woe continued when they found themselves sharing their house, corridors and bathroom with strangers; boarders who the owner had previously let rooms to. During the Depression there were many itinerant fruit pickers in the area trying to make a go of it. Accommodation was in demand, but it was not fair that the home provided for the headmaster would be used as a boarding house to all sorts. One hot day after riding his bike home from the school and finding one of the lodgers using the bathroom, it all came to a head and after a confrontation Wybert gave them notice to leave within a week. Thereafter the family would have their home and privacy to themselves. The following year the family moved into a new brick house with ample space and water on tap in the summer to be able to raise a nice garden.

Sport in the Riverland

Wybert's sporting reputation followed him to Renmark and his prowess was in demand. He was now in his mid-thirties, but had kept himself very fit by continuing to play sport and riding his bike. Soon be became involved with the local football team and was appointed captain/coach. This brought immediate success to the club.

The Renmark "Rovers" had been a struggling team, but under Symond's guidance they improved during the season and won the 1932 premiership. It would be the team's last premiership until taking out the title again in 1950.

Wybert also continued playing cricket in Renmark performing very well for the High School team which participated in the Upper Murray competition. His all-round batting and bowling performances saw him high in the batting and bowling averages in each of the four full seasons he played. In 1934, 1935 and 1936 he won the association trophy for the best all round performances (1934 - 32 wickets @ 9.2, 332 runs @ 43.7; 1935 - 32 wickets @ 10.3, 485 runs @ 48.5; 1936 - 27 wickets @ 8.78, 420 runs @ 52.5). One example of his all-round performances in 1934 was match figures of 12 wickets for 40 runs and 67 not out with the bat.

In addition to playing for the Upper Murray in inter-association matches, in 1936 he was chosen to be vice-captain of the combined team that played against a South Australian Cricket Association side. The team, captained by Don Bradman, was too good for the locals, however Wybert had the thrill of getting the great batsman out. This feat became embedded in family folklore over the years.

In Renmark, Wybert and Jean were also quick to involve themselves in church and other community activities. In August 1932, he gave a prepared lecture on the attributes and shortcomings of the League of Nations.

Wybert now had a reduced teaching load at Renmark so was able to be more productive in terms of curriculum development. He based this on analysis of the different needs of the children, both in terms of career paths to meet the requirements of the Riverland community and also those who may be looking towards vocations needing further technical or tertiary study.

The Renmark Agricultural High School had, like other fruit growers, its own substantial blocks to look after. The agricultural teachers and students were responsible for this care, including at allocated times opening the irrigation channel to source their periodic quota of River Murray water. The appointment to an agricultural school created some issues for Wybert as the curriculum had been biased towards agricultural and horticultural pursuits. However, he saw a need to provide a balance of subjects that could prepare girls and boys for other vocations also. It seemed to him that too much time was being spent by the students looking after the school's large blocks of vines, fruit trees and farm animals.

Wybert believed that a number of smaller experimental plots under the supervision of a senior agricultural teacher with a science background would serve the students better.

Family Heartbreak

A tragedy struck the Symonds family when on 28th July 1934 their daughter Rachel passed away from meningitis in the Renmark Hospital. It was the day before her 9th birthday.

Despite the heartbreak, Wybert, Jean and Rachel's brother, John and sister Ruth continued stalwartly on with their lives and they would continue to make their own individual marks on society.

Wybert battled on with his curriculum development and only a month after Rachel's death, in August 1934, he pushed to advance the programs at Renmark Agricultural High School. Initiated by Wybert, Agricultural Master V. A. "Aubrey" Prider and supported by the school committee, they set up the first research projects on the experimental plots. The initial research projects covered a comprehensive range of experiments on commercial grape varieties grown in the area.

Wybert's term as headmaster of Renmark Agricultural High School was at the height of the Great Depression, so the school always seemed short of funding for any additional resources. Jean however, was instrumental in organising fund raising activities and Wybert, together with some close contacts in the Education Department, was able to provide some additional items of equipment for the school.

Port Lincoln High School

In December 1936, Wybert was advised of a promotion and transfer to Port Lincoln High School. It was decided that the family first needed to have a holiday at the beach for a "well earned rest", before the start of the new school year. The family by now had purchased a second hand motor vehicle for their journey to Adelaide. As Wybert, Jean, John and Ruth departed Renmark, there would have been mixed emotions from the memories of their five years there. Much had been achieved and many friends made, but moving on was the way of life for a country headmaster and his family.

Ahead of them during the heat of January was the long 440 mile journey from Adelaide to Port Lincoln. The 200 miles to Port Augusta was on a sealed road and after a hot unpleasant night at Port Augusta they continued the journey. There were many unsealed country roads in the 1930s, so it was a tedious and dusty journey, negotiating corrugations, pot holes and patches of bulldust from Port Augusta to Port Lincoln. They eventually made it safely to their destination and the beginning of a new challenge after the "rib-shaking" journey.

On arrival, they were pleasantly surprised to find their accommodation to be a very nice home with a fine view overlooking the harbour and Boston Island. This was in contrast to their initial experience at Kapunda and Renmark.

Unlike the Riverland, Port Lincoln was more of an old fashioned country town and the best way of being accepted was to participate in community activities as soon as possible. The people of the West Coast, because of their relative isolation, were fairly set in their ways and possibly not readily amenable to any changes initiated by newcomers. Wybert had the wisdom and experience to meet the challenge.

Before long, Wybert became involved with local sporting clubs and other organisations. In the winter of 1937, less than a year after arriving, he accepted the coaching role for the Port Lincoln Centrals Football Club. It would have been a challenge but he knew, sport as previously, provided him with an avenue to gain respect from a section of the community. Also Wybert's participation in religious and cultural activities, earned him the respect of others. It was therefore only a matter of time before Wybert and Jean were considered socially accepted.

Wybert's connection to the Church and sport were shown in August 1937 when he as one of the coaches of the local teams involving their players and supporters in a service at the Port Lincoln Methodist Church. The famous former Norwood footballer and local Methodist Minister, Reverend Charles "Redwing" Perry was coach of the "Waybacks" at the time. The Symonds and Perry families became close friends.

Wybert also joined the Port Lincoln Literary and Arts Club and was soon participating in a debate where he took on the case that the "Cinema has been detrimental to the community". The debate was chaired by Reverend Perry. Wybert would often in the future express the view that activities that had no intellectual, artistic or social merit that perhaps discouraged personal interaction and discussion were a bad influence on society.

Wybert also joined the Port Lincoln Golf Club; he had previously played in the AIF Golf Days held at Renmark (off a handicap of 22).

Sadly, in September 1937, Jean received news that her father had passed away at the age of 68. He had been working with the Municipal Tramways Trust for many years after starting out his working life as a carpenter.

Wybert was now at 40 years of age, but he was still playing cricket, representing the High School in the local competition. He had not lost any of his touch and in a characteristic aggressive display in November 1937 he scored 159 with three sixes and 22 boundaries. In the 1937/38 season he was the best all rounder in competition with 539 runs and 27 wickets.

There was an unusual situation at the school in 1938 when Port Lincoln was visited by a German "training" ship. It was not an uncommon occurrence as many German vessels called into the ports of Spencer Gulf loading grain at Port Lincoln, iron ore at Whyalla and base metals (including tons of lead), from the smelters of Port Pirie. On this occasion Wybert invited the young German sailors and officers to the school so they could be entertained by the students and have some recreation. They organised a soccer match on the school oval and apart from a "Hail Hitler" to begin the match, Wybert saw them as a clean, wholesome group of young men. He often wondered how many of them survived the 2nd World War or as submariners sunk allied ships. No doubt many of the visiting ships would have taken back details of harbours, coastline routes and other naval information. With trouble brewing on the other side of the world, Wybert's knowledge of international affairs and beliefs, would have meant that it was not a naive decision to give the invitation to the young sailors, but one solely of goodwill to them.
The world was still in depression and the West Coast families may have been land rich but were money poor.

Wybert had sought scholarships for his country students from the Education Department but none were forthcoming.

It was a common practice for country high schools to have annual exchange visits to other country schools. In September 1938, Wybert accompanied a party of students, with support from other teachers, to the Clare High School. After an official welcome on the Wednesday evening, the students went with local host families to their homes. Over the following days there were keenly fought contests with the victorious school taking home the trophy. The Thursday athletics contest saw the Clare girls and the Port Lincoln boys successful. In the evening a debate on the subject "That machinery had not benefited mankind" was won convincingly by Clare. The next morning the students visited Mintaro Slate Quarries followed by a scenic tour back to Clare. In the afternoon the football match saw a big victory to Port Lincoln. The final contest was the girl's basketball on Saturday morning and in a closely fought match Port Lincoln were winners by two goals. The overall trophy was won by Port Lincoln High School and after the trophy presentation, Wybert acknowledged the hospitality that had been shown to them.

The topics of discussion at the Literary and Arts Club "International Evening" in late September 1938 related to the unfolding international unrest. Wybert's presentation centered on "Japan and problems of the East".

In 1938 Wybert, as President of the Port Lincoln Cricket Association, led a deputation to present a case to the Council for the laying of a turf wicket on the new town oval. It was approved to go ahead and would hopefully be ready for the 1939/40 season.

In April 1939 at the conclusion of the annual West Coast Cricket Carnival a dinner was held for members of visiting teams. In Wybert's speech it was announced that the local Association was striving to make a big success of the coming visit of a South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) team. The new turf wicket would be used for the match and in future it would be an attraction to all West Coast cricketers. Wybert along with others had done the work on the new turf pitch themselves, under expert guidance of Adelaide Oval Curator Mr. S. Williams. The SACA had arranged (free of charge) the shipment of black Athelstone clay to complete the turf wicket project.

In 1939 he was elected captain of the Port Lincoln golf Club.

Wybert had previously expressed his views on the futility of Wars and at another of the Literary and Arts Club meetings he was involved in the discussion on "That War is unjustifiable".

Coinciding with Port Lincoln's Centenary celebrations and prior to the start of the 1939/40 cricket season, Wybert was leading the organising committee which arranged a visit by a South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) side led by Don Bradman.
In October 1939 the new wicket on the new Port Lincoln Centenary Oval was ready for play for the SACA match.

Included in the visiting SACA team, were Clarrie Grimmett, Merv Waite, Jack Badcock, Ken Riddings, Charlie Walker and Adelaide University cricketer, Jack Tregonning. Vic Richardson travelled with the team in his role as a journalist. The team also visited the High School where Wybert gave them a warm welcome.
Although Wybert was still playing well for the High School team until the 1939/40 season, he did not play for the Eyre Peninsular representative team, probably as he was too much involved in the organisation of the event. Pity that, as he did not have a chance to dismiss Bradman for a second time!

Special trains were arranged to bring distant West Coast folks to Port Lincoln to watch the match.

Despite inclement weather, matches were played on the Thursday and Friday (see match reports). On the Thursday evening, the Port Lincoln Cricket Association put on a dinner at the Pier Hotel, followed by a Ball at the Civic Hall.

On the Friday morning, pastoralist and benefactor to the State Library, University of Adelaide and Waite Institute, John Mortlock , entertained the SACA team at his Coffin Bay property.

In 1939 Wybert gained his Diploma of Education from Adelaide University. This followed his submission to examiners of a paper based on a study he conducted while headmaster at Renmark. His research followed the vocational pathways his students took after completing their secondary education. His report detailed statistics on all his students' career paths. It showed that, although a high proportion remained working in the Riverland, a significant number of bright young students pursued further education and careers in the city. He referred to this as "Talent Erosion", but of course his own policies on curriculum fostered the choice of vocations. He ensured there were choices; a range of subjects suiting those who wanted to remain to work on family properties or find work in the local businesses and also subject choices that prepared students for higher education and professional careers elsewhere. Throughout Wybert's time as headmaster of country high schools he continued to keep statistics on the career pathways his students followed.

Wybert and Jean were now also being recognised for their service to the local Church. In particular for their "splendid influence among the young people of Port Lincoln and district" and Wybert becoming a "very acceptable local preacher".

Staffing at High Schools around the State became a little more difficult during the War Years, but fortunately Port Lincoln High School had very good senior staff. They were needed, as by April 1940, Port Lincoln High School had also seen an increase in student numbers. This was assisted by Wybert's initiative in seeking local accommodation for students from distant regional areas so they could continue to complete their secondary education.

Based on the increase in student numbers, the school was raised to a higher classification and with that, Wybert also gained a promotion.

While at Port Lincoln High School, Wybert's son John completed his Intermediate examination in 1938 passing with credits in Maths I and Physics and in 1939 he passed the Leaving (matriculation) examinations with a credit in Physics. Following in his father's footsteps, he would now go to Adelaide High School to study for Leaving Honors during 1940 and passed Physics, Chemistry and Maths. While in Adelaide he boarded at Wesley Theological College at Wayville. John would then go on to Adelaide University to study for a science degree after gaining a cadetship in the Physics Department.

In the 1939/40 cricket season Wybert played some matches with John in the High School Team. In December 1940, having completed his Leaving Honors exams in Adelaide, he returned to Port Lincoln and again they played cricket together, this time for the parents and friends against the students.

Daughter Ruth loved her time by the sea in Port Lincoln while attending the local Primary School.

In the 1939/40 cricket Wybert was still in good form and was again member of the Port Lincoln inter-association cricket team. He also continued on as Chairman of the Port Lincoln Cricket Association and was also a Vice-president of the Port Lincoln District Tennis Association.

To contribute to physical fitness of the children of Port Lincoln, Wybert continued to ensure that they had access to suitable venues to play at their favourite sports. In August 1940, he was again involved in a Literary and Arts Club debate on "Science v Religion". For Wybert, the scientist and preacher, it must have been difficult a scenario, but he had to put the case that religion had done more for humanity than science. His team lost the debate - Science won.

In October 1940, Mrs. Symonds was elected a Vice-president of the Port Lincoln Hospital Auxiliary Committee at their annual meeting. Wybert and Jean also enjoyed the membership of the music society, which often arranged performances by visiting singers and musicians. Long-time friends Alec and Mary Paull, then living at Bay Road Port Lincoln, were also members. Alec was then the Education Department District Inspector of Schools.

After the School Sports Day in September, Wybert thanked those who had assisted his staff in running the event. During the school holidays Wybert and Jean visited Mount Gambier while Ruth stayed with the Rev. Charles Perry and his family who were now back in Adelaide.

Wybert and Jean were living on the grounds of the High School and had a house guest after returning from the long vacation in early 1941. Elizabeth Perry, the daughter of the Rev. Charles Perry stayed with them at the end of the long summer vacation. Rev. Perry was an Army Chaplain in Palestine during WW2.
At the triennial meeting of the Port Lincoln High School Council and Parents and Friends' Association, Wybert gave a presentation titled "Education - Past Present and Future". In it, he expressed his concerns about the educational handicaps facing country children, in particular those on Eyre Peninsula. His points of view were supported by statistics that he had collected. Although Wybert had done a great deal to rectify the situation the presentation was given only weeks before the announcement of his pending transfer to the new Glossop High School. So it would be for others to continue the good work.

Prior to leaving Port Lincoln for Glossop, there were a number of farewell events planned for Wybert and Jean.

The Symonds family was given a public send-off in the Port Lincoln Civic Hall. During the farewell event, numerous speeches were made, all praising the broad contributions Wybert and Jean had made to the community during his five year term as headmaster. On a separate occasion the High School staff and students representing the various grades organised a farewell social. Wybert was presented with a leather golf bag. On both occasions Wybert paid tribute to the cooperation and help he had been given by many and by no means least the support he had been given by Jean.

Glossop High School

The Symonds family moved to the Murray river town of Glossop in May 1941. Travelling by motor vehicle during the month of May was in contrast to the family's journey by train to Renmark 10 years earlier in the extreme heat of the Summer of 1932. Unfortunately, there was another housing dilemma and at first they had to stay in temporary accommodation while the new headmaster's house was being built near the school. Coming from Port Lincoln where they had many friends, it again took time for the family to adjust. For Ruth, now 11 years old, she would be changing to her third school in six years and have to make new friends again. Her Primary education would be completed at the nearby Barmera Primary School.

Wybert had been specially invited to be the headmaster of the new Glossop High School. It had been built to provide convenient secondary education for the youth of the Barmera, Berri, Cobdogla, Kingston on Murray and Monash districts. Wybert, from his experience during his time as headmaster at Renmark, was well aware of the desperate need for the new well located high school. Previously the students from these areas had to travel by an early morning train to arrive at Renmark for the first lesson of the day. Parents who remembered Wybert from his days at Renmark High School, had fought tenaciously with the Education Department to have the school built at Glossop, in a central position in this Upper-Murray region. They were particularly pleased to have Wybert accept the position as its first headmaster. The invitation had been accepted, but it was done without any incentive of promotion!

In April 1942, a year after their move to Glossop, the Symonds finally moved into their new home and they were given a surprise house warming visit by members of the Glossop High School Council.

The challenge of heading a new school was made a little easier because of the excellent backing of the Education Department, the parents and the regional organisations as a whole. Wybert was very pleased that the school was provided with an excellent group of senior staff and intelligent young teachers. The facilities in the new buildings were excellent, however with World War 2 raging and still suffering from the tail-end of the Great Depression, money was tight. Many additional resources necessary to fully equip a new school were hard to come by. For example; for a time they had a very nice library with empty shelves.
Wybert had always been an active member of the R.S.L. after his return from WW1 and on Anzac Day 1942 he invited two local members to address the school assembly.

In the midst of WW2, Wybert was appointed as Officer in Command of the Berri Air Training Corps. He had previously had an association with the R.A.A.F while still in Port Lincoln. He had offered instruction (3 month courses) in mathematics and physics to R.A.A.F Reservists as evening courses at the Port Lincoln High School.

Sadly, on September 19th 1942, Wybert's mother Amelia passed away at the age of 88 years.

During the War years Jean was involved with fund raising for the school and also other activities supporting the Australian Forces at home and abroad.

As with his previous headmaster appointments, Wybert was seeking additional funding from the Education Department to cope with increased enrollments. Additional sporting facilities were also planned, but a lot of this depended on local fundraising activities as money was tight during the War years. Some of the School's sporting facilities were able to be built at little cost using the labor of Italian migrants who had been held at the nearby Cobdogla Internment Camp.
Jean again had played a very important role in engaging with the parents and friends. When money was tight she did much to organise significant fundraising activities to enable the acquisition of additional resources for education and recreation.

Wybert's role with the Air Training Corps at Glossop/Berri was to facilitate the education of potential recruits to the R.A.A.F. and these included correspondence courses for lads who were not able to attend training centres.

An event in aid of the "Miss Red Cross" fund raising competition was a Burlesque football match in which Wybert (now in his mid-40s) participated. Captain of the "Berri Veterans" team was W. "Harold" Oliver (the legendary Port Adelaide footballer) who had a fruit block at Berri.

Even during the War years, Wybert continued to raise issues around the special education needs of country students.

Another issue raised by him was the "leakage" of students who failed to complete their education after reaching the legal school leaving age of 14 years .

In June 1945, Wybert attended the 21st Anniversary of the Renmark High School.
In June 1945, as the outcome of WW2 was moving in favour of the Allies, his appointment in the R.A.A.F. was terminated.

Following the surrender of Japan on 15th August 1945, the Riverland celebrated with unprecedented gaiety and in Berri, Wybert was one of those who addressed the students of the district who had marched to and assembled on the local oval.

On 26th August 1946, the Prime Minister of Australia, Ben Chifley, visited Berri along with the State Premier Tom Playford. Wybert was asked to welcome them and after sitting down next to him, Chifley said in a characteristic gruff voice, "I am going to give these kids a full day's holiday" and with a smile continued, "I know it is unconstitutional, but if Tom Playford makes a fuss about it, you tell him I will cut off supplies"

Following soon after, on 13th September 1946, the school children from Glossop High and Primary Schools were among the 3,000 at Berri Oval who welcomed the Duke of Gloucester (Prince Henry, 11th Governor General of Australia) on his visit to the Riverland. During the official Ceremony, Wybert being the most senior headmaster in the Riverland, had the honour of being seated next to the Duke. At one stage, just as Chifley had done earlier, he turned and whispered to Wybert, "I am going to give the children a full day's holiday. Don't you agree"? Wybert replied "Well I am sure your Royal Highness that they will agree with you". This brought a loud roar of laughter from him. So in the space of a couple of weeks, the Riverland schoolchildren had received the bonus of two extra holidays without prior consultation and approval of the Education Department or headmasters.
In December 1946 Wybert presented a detailed report analysing the pathways followed by the students of Glossop High School after they had left school.

At the Speech Night, Wybert gave an interesting reply to a parent's criticism of the High Schools homework policy.

In April 1947 Wybert made arrangements for 52 students from Glossop High School to visit Mount Gambier. Another 25 girls attended the National Fitness Camp at Mylor.

Wybert was Chairman of a meeting of representatives from Riverland towns that favoured the development of adult education services in the region.

In November 1947, Wybert addressed a regional teacher's conference held in Berri on the subject of "Teaching as a Profession"

Wybert now aged 54, was playing lawn bowls (very well). He and his Berri Bowling Club partner were successful by winning the State four-ball pairs.

In June 1948, Wybert presented a paper concerning the loss of young talent from country districts. This material on which the presentation was based, was probably the culmination of the research and collection of statistics that had started 16 years earlier when headmaster at the Renmark Agricultural High School.

Wybert addressed a Country Women's Association Conference in September 1948 on the impact the broadcast of some radio serials was having on children's study at home.

In July 1949, the sad news was received of the passing of Jean's mother, Mary, aged 83 years of age.

In 1950 Wybert celebrated his 10th year as headmaster of Glossop High School which had opened in May 1941. Starting the school from fresh enabled him to introduce many new ideas. One of his innovations was the introduction of General Science I and II subjects to Intermediate students, to prepare students better to tackle physics and chemistry in Leaving and Leaving Honours. It also was good background for those who were to move into the biological and agricultural sciences or those students who just went back to their family blocks and were able to apply better science to their vineyards or orchards.

Wybert, with the cooperation of the headmaster of Mt Gambier High School, Lance Carthew, arranged school exchange visits. Lance had much in common with Wybert, both having also attended Adelaide High School and Adelaide University and playing both cricket and football. Lance also played league football for Sturt a few years before Wybert at Norwood.

Wybert's participation in community activities in 1950, among many, included Chairman of the Upper Murray Educational and Arts Association he was also on the Berri War Memorial Community Centre Committee.

Wybert presented his final end of year headmaster's report in December 1950. This was prior to a transfer to Port Pirie High School. During his time at Glossop High School, he had been able to maintain a first class staff and his students had performed very well overall in the Public Examinations Board (PEB) examinations. There were some outstanding students and Ruth was one of those who excelled. She would have been awarded a Leaving Bursary, if not for the fact that Wybert's salary as a headmaster just exceeded the income threshold. At the time, the Education Department wages for teachers, senior staff and headmasters were still fairly modest, so this aggrieved Ruth's father somewhat!

Setting high standards at Glossop High School during his time as headmaster, maintaining discipline and encouraging the students to work hard, were the basis for his students excelling and it was noticed and appreciated by the community. Wybert was very proud of his teachers and students whose PEB examination results compared very favourably with other country and city high schools and colleges. He was very interested in following the lives of many of his former students as they progressed through higher education and into their careers both in the Upper Murray and further afield.

Wybert and Jean were given several farewells prior to their departure. In one of the events at the Berri Methodist Church, their contribution to community activities was recognised. Wybert and Jean had been very closely associated with the Church, involving themselves in a wide variety of activities. Wybert served as a lay preacher on the Berri Circuit for many years.

Port Pirie High School

His stay as headmaster of Port Pirie High School would only be a short one, but both he and Jean again were quick to participate in community affairs. Wybert's sporting interests were now confined to golf and lawn bowls. He was soon out on the golf course and in the long years that had passed, since he was first introduced to the game in Scotland at the end of WW1, he had brought his handicap down to single figures.

He continued his lay preacher role with the Risdon Park Methodist Church and he and Jean joined the local music club.

Wybert found his time at Port Pirie the hardest of all his appointments to country schools. It was a bigger school with a larger staff, which were capable but not up to the standard he had put together at Glossop, so he saw many immediate challenges. Soon after arrival, he also identified weaknesses in the school's administration systems, which tested him. He would have liked to initiate numerous changes, but coming into an established school, he knew he would have to move slowly and in the end had little chance to do much.

In the year of his arrival (1951), the town was celebrating its 50 Year Jubilee and Wybert oversaw the school's very successful participation in the celebrations. In conjunction with the Technical School, they put together a series of floats for the main Jubilee Parade which represented the different eras in education and life in the town. Unfortunately, later in the year, criticism from the Port Pirie Jubilee Committee stung Wybert; enough for him to take the unusual step to answer the critics in a letter to the local newspaper.

In a "Letter to the Editor" in October 1951, Wybert responded to criticism that school children had not been allowed to participate in the Labor Day Procession. Of course Port Pirie was a Union and Labor Party stronghold and it was expected all segments of the community should participate in the day's activities.

In addition to his golf, Lawn bowls was also a form of exercise and relaxation for Wybert in his spare time.

Wybert completed his term at Port Pirie High School in May 1952 to take up the position as Principal of Norwood High School. He had been a headmaster in South Australian country High Schools continuously since 1929.
Wybert's successor at Port Pirie was his old friend, Lance Carthew, whom he had known for many years and who had been previously at Mount Gambier High School which had an annual exchange visit with Glossop High School.

On his departure he made an appeal for the parents of children attending Port Pirie High School to take an active interest in their child's education and support the endeavors of High School Council. One of the interesting gifts Wybert left with the Port Pirie High School was his "investment" in two Hans Heysen paintings, depicting the Flinders Ranges, which he purchased for the equivalent of $13 each!

Norwood High School

While his time at Port Pirie was challenging, the experience was of value. The 18 months at the larger, somewhat overcrowded Port Pirie High school, probably prepared Wybert for the move to a bigger city school.

Wybert commenced his duties at Norwood High School in late May 1952. For him, it was a return to the heart of the Norwood Football Club territory, where in the 1920's he had been one of the very popular league players. Even though he loved sport and encouraged sporting participation by the students, he still believed that it should not dominate the mind-set of students and be only secondary to educational and intellectual pursuits. Wybert's tasks at Norwood High School were made easier because of his popularity as a former Norwood footballer. He also inherited very good staff, administrative support and had invaluable help from his old friend and current deputy headmaster, L. P. "Perce" Johncock. They had been at the teacher's training college together in the 1920s. Perce had similar views to Wybert in regard to the need for students to readily accept the discipline of hard work to achieve their best possible outcome, irrespective of individual ability. With a competent deputy and group of senior staff, he had an effective structure which enabled delegation of many tasks that he would have previously taken on. For the first time in 23 years, administrative roles, such as staff rosters, were no longer his tedious, often after hours, responsibility.

Norwood High School was in those days located at Lossie Street, Kensington Park, a highly residential area and the school had no room for sports grounds or a school hall large enough for assemblies. Apart from outside assemblies, the only way the headmaster could get his message through to students was through a very supportive staff who worked very openly and cooperatively with him to apply Education Department and School policies.

Wybert was a participant in an umpiring and coaching school for teachers run by the Education Department and sponsored by the SA Football League in October 1952. When the teachers visited Norwood High as part of the program, Wybert demonstrated some of his coaching methods gained from his years of experience.

On his return to the city, Wybert renewed his connections with the Methodist Church circuit in Adelaide and in October 1952 he was the guest speaker at an anniversary meeting of the men's fellowship group at Glenelg.

At the Senate meeting of the University of Adelaide In November 1953, Wybert was elected to the University Council. Dr Ivan Jose, who had played cricket and football for University and also served in WW1, was also elected. Wybert would hold this position on the University Council for 14 years. For much of this time he was a lone voice representing public secondary schools. The Council was very much dominated by Adelaide University Academics and graduates who came through the private school system.

In July 1954 Wybert submitted a rare "Letter to the Editor" to correct a misunderstanding in an article published in the Advertiser. It was in response to an article written by Gordon Schwartz on the selection of a Norwood High Schoolboy in an SA Under 14 Carnival team.

Wybert's stay at Norwood High School was enjoyable, but short lived, however he was able to introduce changes that benefited students by giving them greater subject choices. As an example, two of his senior science masters had recently completed the text book for General Science 1 & 2. These two subjects, introduced at intermediate level, gave students the choice to do General Science or elect to do Physics, Chemistry or other biological sciences as individual subjects. The options taken by students depended on whether or not their academic inclination was to pursue higher education. Students who were intending to proceed to Adelaide University needed to meet the strict matriculation standards of the compulsory subjects like physics and chemistry. Choosing the pathway to these compulsory subjects at intermediate level prepared them better for Leaving (Matriculation) and Leaving Honours. Excellent results in Leaving Honours were important if a student wanted to enroll in a faculty where quotas applied.

At the end of 1954, acting headmaster "Perce" Johncock paid tribute to Wybert, who in a short time had overseen a considerable broadening of the school curriculum and improved the amenities for students and staff.

Later in the 1960s, after Norwood High School had moved to its new spacious location on the Norwood Parade at Magill, Wybert was invited back on occasions to conduct the induction of Prefects at school assemblies. The new school by then had expanded to 2000 students, with ovals and a large capacity school hall. He had been invited by the current headmaster, his old friend, Ivan Coward. Wybert had appointed Ivan, as a much needed, young intelligent teacher, at Kapunda in 1931. Looking over the large gathering at these special assemblies must have been a stark contrast to their time together at Kapunda, which only had 60 students. Ivan had continued to raise the education standards at Norwood High School, meeting the needs and ambitions of the eastern suburbs students whose parents were unable to afford to give their children a college education.

Adelaide Boys' High School

In August 1954, after just over two years at Norwood, it was announced that Wybert would succeed Alfred Ernest Dinning as headmaster of Adelaide Boys' High School (ABHS). Dinning had held the post for five years and in 1951 had overseen the move of the boys from Grote Street to the new school on West Terrace, leaving the girls at Grote Street. Wybert and Jean, as old scholars, head prefects and teachers at Adelaide High School were very pleased and proud of the appointment.

At Adelaide Boys' High School, Wybert was fortunate again to have an excellent Deputy, Tom Brown (Thomas Roderick Brown), who had started at Adelaide High School, Grote Street, 36 years earlier and had wide ranging experience at the School and so was going to be a great asset. He had risen from an office clerk to Deputy Headmaster and apart from brief appointments as a senior master at Port Pirie and Norwood High School, had been at Adelaide High School ever since.
Back in 1918, during the term of the first headmaster Mr. William J. "Plugger Bill" Adey, Tom Brown, then a 16 year old, was first appointed by the Education Department to Adelaide High School as a cadet. He had passed his Senior Commercial Exams in 1917 and was awarded a John Creswell Scholarship to study Commerce at Adelaide University. While working at Adelaide High School, he completed Commerce subjects part time, gaining his Associate Diploma in Commerce (A.C.U.A) in 1923. He saw several generations of boys pass through the School and outlasted four headmasters. He virtually held every possible position on the staff from assistant teacher through to special senior master, sports master through to acting headmaster.

In the confines of the City in Grote Street, the original Adelaide High School had never had its own sports facilities. One of the early tasks for Wybert and Tom Brown at the new Adelaide Boys' High School was to continue to oversee the development of sporting fields at the new West Terrace site begun by Mr. Dinning. Timely action was necessary as the SA Olympic Council also had its eye on the land for its own international sports park.

There were 30 acres of barren parklands available for development and the Adelaide Boys' High School held the lease so were in an advantaged position for their own development. Vice-Principal, Tom Brown, was a driving force and after gaining Adelaide City Council development approval, promptly organised land-fill from city demolition sites. Ironically, one of the main sources of material was from the demolition of a building in Grenfell Street, formerly owned by Benjamin Mendes DaCosta, who had bequeathed it to St Peter's College. The college financed the construction of the eleven stories DaCosta Building, Adelaide's first post-War "skyscraper" at a cost of approximately £1m. During the 1950s there was a boom in City development and building companies were very happy to have a dumping ground close at hand. Rubble was also sourced from the new Advertiser, National Mutual and MLC building sites. This facilitated the site preparation for two main ovals, hockey and baseball fields and thirteen tennis courts. With foresight by Mr. Dinning's predecessor, Mr. R.A. West, funding towards AHS sporting fields had started to be raised as early as 1937; this was even before the final site and building design had been chosen. Then in the early 1950s with some assistance from the Education Department, a sum of £30,000 was spent on completion of the project. Additional landscaping, including a tree planting scheme followed. In recognition of his work the grounds were aptly named the "Tom Brown Playing Fields". Following a suggestion from Test cricketer, Bill Woodfull, the headmaster of their "brother" school, Melbourne High, Wybert introduced a £10 levy on students to assist further development and maintenance of the sporting facilities.

For the first time, these quality sporting fields gave the School home grounds where they could contest football and cricket against some of their preeminent traditional rivals. Adelaide High School and now Adelaide Boys' High School had historically been the only high school that had competed in sports against Adelaide's private schools. Wybert, when a student at Adelaide High School was captain of the football team in 1916 which defeated arch rivals St. Peter's and Prince Alfred Colleges.

Wybert was always an advocate of "hard study" and that school work including homework should be a priority ahead of any social activities or other distractions.

He was also quick to engage with the Parents and Friends' Association at their Christmas supper on the 8th December 1954.

Speaking at his first Speech Day in the Adelaide Town Hall in December 1954, Wybert emphasised the need for the education systems to recognise and foster high ability students and in particular in the sciences.
Wybert had a highly qualified staff of senior subject teachers who ably supervised and advised the younger teachers. During his years at ABHS, examination results were consistently high, with perhaps 1956 leading the way with the highest number of honour positions in Leaving (Matriculation) subjects.

Fostering of science at ABHS may have been a paramount aim; however Wybert's love of the Arts shone through as well. He was especially pleased, when later in the School history, it became a special language school where students could come from all over the State to study a much wider range of subjects than just French and Latin.

With a wonderful modern school hall (with balcony), which could seat 1200 students and a stage of proportions that could accommodate the full staff at assemblies, it was ideally suited for students stage productions, orchestral and choral performances. More importantly the assemblies were a wonderful tool for the Principal to get his messages across to all the students. Wybert had many and varied contacts, in particular through his association with Adelaide University and he was also able to arrange a wide variety of eminent and interesting guest speakers for school assemblies.
Mr. Dinning had, along with very accomplished musician, Alan Tregaskis as the music teacher, already established a small orchestra and Wybert was keen to foster it further.

A month before Wybert's arrival at ABHS, one of Mr. Dinning's final acts was in August 1954 when the beautifully designed and spacious library was opened. The "Memorial Library" honoured the School's old scholars who served and fell in the two World Wars. The bookshelves had already been suitably filled with books thanks to a £10,000 fund from donations from Old Scholars. This was in contrast to the situation regarding the library at the Glossop High School when Wybert had first arrived there in May of 1941. There were of course, no old scholars to help out and little chance of government funding.

Wybert ensured the library continued to be well resourced with the regular addition of new reference books, literary works, magazines, journals and pamphlets. The Library was under the care of full time librarian, Mrs. Tomaszewski with assistance at the desk from 2nd and 3rd year boys who were in training to be members of the Library Committee. Fitted out with Queensland Maple library furniture and expansive Australiana wall murals overhead, it provided a great environment to study. By 1962 (Wybert's final year), the library had acquired a record number of books (18,957).

1958 marked the 50th anniversary of the founding of Adelaide High School. There was a week of Jubilee celebrations, with a dinner for 3000 guests held at Centennial Hall Wayville, being the major event. Present were a majority of the 1200 current students, parents, old scholars, present and former teachers and many dignitaries including the Premier, Tom Playford and the long serving Director of Education, Evan Mander-Jones (1946 - 1967) and the Minister of Education, Baden Pattison (1953 - 1965). After Wybert gave his address and welcomed the guest speakers, the Premier held the floor for so long that Mr. Pattinson had to cut short his speech. The whole week of events was well reported which highlighted the significant contribution Adelaide High School had made to secondary education in South Australia and to the welfare of the State and beyond.

The end of the Jubilee celebrations was punctuated by a great victory by the rowing "eights" in the annual Head of the River contest. The win over St Peter's College was the first since 1926 and Wybert gave great credit to the coaches Bob Lewis and Phil Read, who had brought out the best in the rowers for this important year. Sadly it was also the last success by Adelaide High School to the present day. Thirty-two years earlier, Wybert was a teacher at AHS, so had now witnessed both wins.

In 1959, Wybert was a member at the Founder's Convention for the Australian College of Education which was held in Victoria during May. He was later made a Fellow of the Australian College of Education (F.A.C.E.) in 1964.
It was not all smooth sailing during his years at ABHS and he had faced one particularly difficult situation. It was brought to his attention that a gang of twelve students were found to have been methodically stealing items (toy mini-cars) from the city retail stores and bringing them back to school to sell to other students. When they were eventually caught, Wybert alerted the police, but with their agreement and that of the store owners, handled the situation internally in the hope of avoiding bad publicity for the school. Wybert tackled the situation head-on and had the boys and their parents appear in his office. They received a firm dressing down and a suggestion to make restitution for the thefts. The boys were suspended with the approval of all but one of the parents. Fortunately, the Education Department did not have to get involved, and the School escaped attention from the local newspapers. Much later in 1983, Wybert reflected on this incident: "There is a thin line between a headmaster and his authority as headmaster in loco parentis and that of parent authority". He thought that it no longer could have been handled as he did then, without the wrath of the parents and contact from their lawyers".

Wybert, at music teacher Alan Tregaskis's request, was pleased to have the school host the May 1962 National Music Camp. The following is a copy of the letter of appreciation from Professor John Bishop , Director of the National Music Camp Association.

"The Music Camp … has been a very exciting success, and on behalf of the Association I write to express our warmest gratitude to you in having made it possible. The [ABHS] has been a splendid site for this first May Music Camp, and I look forward to such an Annual Camp being held in Adelaide. This time some 80 youngsters gained an experience which they might not otherwise have had, and this I find really rewarding. I should be grateful if you would convey to … your Staff … our appreciation. Mr. Tregaskis has been a first-class assistant."
By 1962, his final year at Adelaide Boys' High School, the orchestral ensemble had grown to 40 instruments. At the December Speech Day, held in the Adelaide Town Hall, the orchestra performed several items. Along with a choir of about 200 students , the performance of the Hallelujah Chorus bought the plaudits of the guest speaker, Minister of Education, Sir Baden Pattinson.

Wybert and Jean were given a special and emotional farewell at this final speech day. Wybert concluded that for him and Jean, who had both been head prefects 46 years earlier, the final 9 years at Adelaide Boys' High School had been "the most significant and happy years of our lives".

He was very proud of his years at ABHS and in particular, proud that many of the boys who had passed through the school, went on to have successful careers in their various fields and make valuable contributions to society.
During his term as Principal, the School Council was helpful and cooperative, as were the Parents and Friends Committee. Jean, due to ill health, was no longer able to take a more active role at either Norwood or ABHS but still was able to show an interest by attending meetings. Wybert was always invited to give an address on School activities at each of the monthly meetings.

Wybert had seen a lot of changes to education in the 33 years that he had been headmaster at seven different country and city high schools.

In the valedictory address (reproduced from the ABHS Magazine of 1962) given by Vice-Principal Tom Brown he succinctly summed up Wybert's career in education and his achievements in establishing much of the facilities and resources in the early years of the West Terrace campus.

Retirement

There was little chance that Wybert would drift off into a quiet and melancholic retirement. Family, Church, friendships, a pine plantation, golf at Kooyonga, lawn bowls with the Walkerville Club, travel and an ongoing appointment on the Adelaide University Council would make sure of that.

For details of his involvement in the following (see document)

Member of Adelaide University Council

Secretary of Churchill Fellowship Trust

Commonwealth Scholarship Counselor

Australian College of Education

Welfare Department Board

Mount Gambier Pine Plantation

Many more details of Wybert's final years are included in the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project document.

Wybert's one deep regret was that Jean in her lifetime was not able to gain more of the benefits of the financial returns from the pine plantation, which mostly came just after her death on May 21st in 1968.

Wybert later married Mary Paull and they would spend eight and a half happy years together, which included two very enjoyable overseas trips. The trips taken in 1971 and 1974 were comfortably financed by the return from the felling of pines at the Mount Gambier plantation.

Wybert passed away at Flinders' Medical Centre on 4th August 1984 aged 86. He was survived by his children John and Ruth and their families and his eldest sister (Bessie - aged 97) and older brother (Claude - aged 90).

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project (in the period 2015-2019) please see the document attached.