Robert Vincent YHS 1954 Miss Williams was my teacher for grade 5 and 6, in 1952 and 1953 respectively. My moderate success in life can be greatly attributed to Miss Williams and her excellent teaching. My parents and various teachers in the Yallourn Technical School/College also played a significant part, but Miss Williams provided the keystone in my learning processes. One of her attributes was the respect she showed for each pupils. We just knew that we had a special teacher. So, I went to the Tech. School and created few waves, I even plodded most of the way through a Diploma Course in Mechanical Engineering. At least that got me into the Technical Teachers' College at the age of 24y/o (Jan 1966) in Genbervie Road, Toorak ('Bonehead College'). Five years of Tech School Teaching followed, with constant night school to finish off the Diploma in Mech Eng. By the end of 1971 I was married to Vivienne (a teacher, hiker, caver, alpine climber). I was qualified with a DipMechEng and a Trained Technical Teachers' Certificate and ready to seek my fortune on the 'Hippy-Highway' through South East Asia, India and overland to the UK. The first delay was 12 months spent working in PNG and a further 3 months travelling around PNG (1 month walking in the highlands). Twelve months, less two days, Vivienne and I travelled from Darwin, Oz, to Dover, UK, with the intention of staying 12 months in the UK. We stayed 5 years and returned to Oz with 2.6 kids following a three month camper-van tour through Europe. While in Wales I worked as a surveyor & draftsman (3 years) followed by a designer & draftsman (2 years). On our return to Oz I worked at the Loy Yang Power Station Construction Site for almost two years before being 'head hunted'. That is how I finished up as the Resident Engineer at the Yulara Power Station Construction Site (Ayers Rock) for 1981 and 1982. Daughter number 4 was born in August 1983 when we had come to rest in Beechworth, Vivienne's home town. After 4.5 years of being a house-husband and raising kids while studying for and passing a Degree in Mech Eng by external studies. I returned to work as a design draftsman, doing 'fullon' engineering work for fifteen years, 1988-2003. The offer of a Voluntary Redundancy Package, too good to decline, changed my course in life. We still live in Beechworth, though in separate houses, and the 4 daughters have moved on; tertiary studies having taken a toll on the off-spring of yet another country house-hold. Vivienne produces gift cards for an income and I do Casual Relief Teaching at the Beechworth Secondary College, averaging one day per week. I also offer my services as a Maths Tutor; my only student passed year 12 Maths for which I am proud of my input. As a point of interest you may recall that your brother Richard, David Apps and I were presented with our Queen Scout Awards at the same ceremony (1959 or 1960). In the middle of the High School Choir photo (see Jan 2005 edition of Yoga) my sister Anne Vincent (Annettia was later abbreviated her name to 'Anita') is the shortie with plaits. Annettia died in NZ, 1981 and is buried in the Yallourn Cemetery where our parents are now buried
