Austral Magazine

 

"Austral" - The Magazine of RAAF School


The first edition of Austral was published in 1960.

Austral was the magazine of RAAF School. From the beginning it was seen to be not only a record of the school's activities, but would also serve as a "souvenir for each child; a lasting impression of his stay in Penang". Its purpose was to record the life of RAAF School Malaysia and harness some of the spirit of the school. To this end the magazine was produced annually with the aim of harnessing these objectives. Credit goes to the NSW Staff Inspector, Mr AW McKibbin, visitor to the school in 1959, who initially put forward the idea of a school magazine.

The magazine was a glossy publication of generally around 150 pages which represented a broad cross-section of school life, including headmasters and teaching staff photos, civilian staff photos, examples of students' literature, art, sporting results, excursion photos, candids, school productions, articles on Penang and Malaysia, reports and messages from officials and visitors. Colour was introduced in the 1966 issue, although the covers had been printed in colour previously. Also, when the logo was introduced in 1963 it was printed in colour in the facing pages.

The last Austral was published in 1987. Information on this site relating to 1988 is courtesy of Mr B. Boyle from his publication The RAAF School, Penang. Details were provided to him by Margaret Cronin, David Eden, Paul Loxley and Graeme Whitby.

> addresses
> magazine


Addresses

Random selection of official addresses from the Austral Magazine


1986
Squadron Leader Drake
. The last paragraph of his address is poignant.

1966 - Air Commodore W.E. Townsend, Officer Commanding, RAAF Base Butterworth
1972 - Air Commodore I.S. Parker, Officer Commanding, Air Base Butterworth

1972 - Group Captain G.S. Zantuck, Principal Education Officer RAAF
1974 - Air Commodore P.F. Raw, Officer Commanding, Air Base Butterworth
1975 - W.B. Booth, Staff Inspector, NSW Department of Education
1981 - Air Commodore B.J. Reynolds
1984 - Air Commodore R.W. Bradford, Officer Commanding, Air Base Butterworth
1985 - Air Commodore R.W. Bradford, Officer Commanding, Air Base Butterworth
1986 - Squadron Leader B.J. Drake. Senior Education Officer


School Magazine

Shown below are the front covers of each of the Austral magazines.

Contributors

To all those who have loaned their Austral magazines to me - a big thank you. I have put the names of those who have helped in this way beneath the respective magazine.


1960
Sandra Wright


1961

Michelle Harvey


1962
Allan Wilson


1963
Chris Howitt

1964
Chris Howitt

1965
Chris Howitt

1966
Len Mezzina


1967
Dave Neilen


1968
Cynthia Matuschka

1969
Cynthia Matuschka


1970
Cynthia Matuschka


1971
Michelle Harvey


1972
Kym Felton


1973
Chris Hays


1974
Derek Dobson


1975
Derek Dobson

1976
Craig Cooper

1977
Tania Wilkes

1978
Russell Cole

1979
Russell Cole

1980
Haley Jones

1981
Haley Jones

1982
Haley Jones

1983
Karren Svensson

1984
Kirrily Welsh
 

1985
Juliette Meade

1986
Mr Wayne Thomas

1987
Melissa Scharper


 


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O'er the ocean flies a merry fay,
Soft her wings are as a cloud of day.
As she passes all the blue waves say
"Marianina, do not roam,
Whither, whither is your home?
Come and turn us into foam.
Marianina, Marianina
Come, O come and turn us into foam."

O'er the mountains when the day is done,
There the clouds are gathering o'er the sun.
While they weeping, whisper one by one
"Marianina, come again,
We have tried to dance in vain,
Come and turn us into rain.
Marianina, Marianina
Come, oh come and turn us into rain."
(Marianina from RAAF School song book)