A school’s story is told through the journeys of those who were there. As Hurstville Public School celebrates 150 years of education, we look back with pride at generations of students who took their very first steps toward leadership, community, and service right here on our grounds. Through their personal reflections, we celebrate the traditions that defined their school days, the teachers who inspired them, and the diverse paths they have walked since graduating.

Neville Douglas Smith (Class of 1960)

Neville attended Hurstville Public School from Kindergarten through to Year 6, building a strong foundation before continuing his education at Hurstville Boys High School for Years 7 to 10. Raised in his family home on Cronulla Street, Carlton, Neville enjoyed a warm, happy childhood in the local area. As the youngest son of Sydney Wilfred and Eileen Ellen Smith, Neville shared a close bond with his older brother, Kevin John Smith. The core values of hard work, integrity, and family instilled by his parents during his upbringing in Carlton shaped the man he would become.

After completing his education, Neville embarked on a long and dedicated career working on the railways at the historic Eveleigh Railway Workshops. It was during his time at Eveleigh that he met his wife. Together, they built a life founded on commitment and family, purchasing their first home in Engadine, where they raised their three daughters. Neville worked tirelessly throughout his career to provide a loving and secure home for his family.

Beyond his professional and family life, Neville demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to helping others. For 42 years, he generously gave up his weekends to volunteer at the Matthew Talbot Hostel, supporting those in need with kindness, compassion, and humility. His four decades of selfless service reflect the strength of his character and his deep belief in giving back to the community.

Now retired, Neville loves spending quality time with his three daughters and grandchildren, creating lasting memories with the family he treasures most. Demonstrating his ongoing devotion to his roots, he continues to care for his childhood family home in Carlton, a place rich in history that stands as a lasting legacy for future generations.

Max Knight (Class of 1964)

Max attended Hurstville Public School from 1957/58 to 1964. Max’s time at HPS spans a distinct and memorable era in the late 1950s and 1960s. During his enrolment, the school was structured as three distinct hubs forming a triangle: the co-educational Infants School (Kindergarten to year 2) along Orange Lane, the Boys Primary (Year 3-6) along Forest Road (north-east), and the Girls Primary (Year 3-6) facing Forest Road (south-east). Reflecting on his foundational years, Max shares:

"Hurstville Public School provided me with an excellent learning environment and gave me very solid foundations for my future education and ultimately working career. I have a number of fond memories of my days at HPS. In addition to the formal education that HPS provided me, it was also a fun place, and I always looked forward to ‘going to school, learning and playing.’ Amongst my friendship group at HPS there was a lot of rivalry and competitiveness, but there also was a great deal of camaraderie."

After graduating from HPS, Max was selected to attend Sydney Technical High School, where he completed his HSC in 1970. His strong academic foundation carried him to the University of New South Wales (UNSW), where he earned a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Economics under a prestigious BHP Steel Scholarship.

Max enjoyed a stellar, long-standing career with BHP, rising through various commercial leadership roles to serve as General Manager of three overseas steel manufacturing operations across Taiwan, Indonesia, and New Zealand.

Teachers, Classroom Life & Daily Traditions

During his primary school years, Max was guided by a dedicated group of educators who left a lasting impression on him, beginning in Kindergarten with Mrs Morton, a wonderful teacher who taught at HPS for about two decades. As he progressed through primary school, he was taught by Mr Hillier in Year 3, Mr Grogan in Year 4, Mr Larkin in Year 5, and Mr Ward in Year 6, all under the leadership of the school’s principal Mr Lake.

Life in the classroom was very different in the late 1950s and early 1960s:

Discipline: The cane was often used, even for minor indiscretions.
Writing Tools: There were no ballpoint pens or biros. Students wrote with old "nib" pens dipped into inkwells built directly into the heavy timber and steel double desks (which had attached folding seats). This often led to messy work with accidental ink blots, requiring plenty of blotting paper to soak up, and drawing the wrath of both the teacher and his mum if ink got on his shirt!
Mental Arithmetic: Calculators were not yet available, so students did all arithmetic the long, hard way, which forced them to sharpen and hone their mental arithmetic skills.
Heating & Cooling: Classrooms had no air conditioning or fans. In summer, windows were opened wide, letting in dust and noise—particularly on the Forest Road side which make rainy days quite uncomfortable. In winter, classrooms were heated by coal-fueled fires. Every morning, two pupils from each class carried a large basket down to the coal pile near the boundary with Hurstville Boys High School, filled it, and lugged the heavy load back to class. Being selected as a "coal carrier" was a great honour and provided daily bragging rights!
Morning Tea Milk: Small glass bottles of milk were supplied at "play lunch" (morning tea) but with no school refrigeration, the un-refrigerated milk was warm and tasted ghastly, especially in summer.
The Tuck Shop Treat: The school didn't have its own canteen; instead, students used the Tuck Shop on the other side of Forest Road near the north-eastern corner of Lily Street. Before school, students wrote their lunch order on a brown paper bag. Tuck Shop staff collected the bags, prepared the lunches, and returned the filled bags to school by lunchtime. Ordered usually once a week as a treat, Max's favorite was a salad roll with onion.

Sport, Rules & Competition

Sports were a major part of HPS culture, especially during the legendary era when the St George (Dragons) Rugby League team achieved their record reign of 11 consecutive premierships. Being in the middle of the St George district, Rugby League was hugely popular.

Academic Rules for Sport: Friday afternoon was sports afternoon. In Year 6, Mr Ward had a strict rule: the final subject before sports was dictation (a spelling test). If a student misspelled more than 5 words, they missed sports, staying behind in class to write out their misspelled words until the 3:00 PM "go home" bell.
Representative Teams: Max was fortunate to be selected for both the school’s representative Cricket team and Rugby League teams. Weight-restricted Rugby League teams included 3 teams: Under 4 stone 7 pounds (28.5 kg), 5 stone 7 pounds (35 kg), and 6 stone 12 pounds (43.5 kg).
Inter-House Competitions: Weekly inter-house sports featured four houses (recalled as potentially Banks, Cook, Phillip, and Solander).
Venues & Events: Inter-school cricket and rugby league matches were frequently played at Penshurst Park, while the Annual Athletics Carnival was held at Hurstville Oval. Max also recalls having swimming lessons at Ramsgate Baths.
Annual Fete Boxing Tournament: For at least one year during primary school, Sports Master Mr Curry arranged a boxing tournament exclusively for HPS students, held at the school in conjunction with the Annual School Fete.

A Proud 3rd-Generation Heritage

Max’s ties to Hurstville Public School run deeply through his family tree, representing three generations of proud HPS students:

Richard Sydney Swanson (Grandfather): Attended c. 1899–1907. An exceptional athlete who competed at first-grade and representative levels across three football codes, cricket, lacrosse, and sprinting.
Shirley Elizabeth Swanson (Mother): Attended c. 1932–1939.
Max Knight: Attended ~1957–1964.

Gordon Blair (Class of 1972)

Starting Kindergarten at Hurstville Public School in 1965, Gordon admits his very first day began like many others, with a few tears upon walking in, before quickly making new friends.

Reflecting on his personality during primary school, he describes himself as a bit of a "loner" who preferred stepping outside the usual playground routines. Rather than joining in on ball games, he often spent lunchtimes talking to Herb, the school garbage man, over by the incinerator. While he didn't play sports himself (after every attempt seemed to result in a minor injury), he enjoyed watching classmates play handball, which gave him an early appreciation for the concept of teamwork.

Gordon's food preferences evolved along with the school's facilities. He held a definite aversion to the cold meat pies from the old Forest Road tuck shop. Once the on-site school tuck shop opened, his favorite treat soon became a sausage roll on a bun— a unique combination he discovered after spotting another student eating one.

Inspiring Educators: The Legacy of Mrs. Dunn

Among all his years at HPS, his standout memory belongs to Mrs. Dunn, his 4B teacher in 1969, whose progressive and practical approach left a lifelong impression. Mrs. Dunn taught the boys how to knit, guided the girls through traditional builder/maker tasks, and taught the whole class basic cooking, including making butter and jam. She instilled a strong sense of personal hygiene and self-respect through her famous Monday morning inspections—checking for clean, trimmed fingernails and freshly polished black shoes.

This early emphasis on personal grooming and posture directly paid off when he joined the Air Training Corps (ATC) Cadets at Sydney Technical High School. He credits Mrs. Dunn as his very first influence outside his family who taught him how to dress well, take pride in his appearance, and stand fully upright.

Witnessing History from the HPS Playground

During his time at HPS, two major global events stood out vividly:

The 1969 Moon Landing: Like everyone at HPS in 1969, he vividly remembers watching Neil Armstrong take the first steps on the Moon. The school had purchased several black-and-white televisions mounted on wheeled trolleys, ensuring every single child had access to watch history unfold.
The Concorde Flight (1972): On June 17, 1972, students gathered on the North Block playground to watch the iconic supersonic airliner Concorde fly out of Mascot Airport directly over Botany Bay—a spectacular sight clearly visible from the school grounds.

Pathway to Service, Higher Education & Career

After completing his repeated 6th-grade year at HPS in 1972, his mother advocated for his admission to Sydney Technical High School in Bexley, where he studied through 1977 and reached the rank of Cadet Sergeant in the Air Force Cadets (ATC).

Following high school, he initially enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and served in Western Australia before deciding to pivot his career path. Returning to New South Wales, he completed his HSC at Kogarah TAFE, earned a Diploma in Nursing from Wollongong University, and went on to work as a Registered Nurse. While working, he completed a Bachelor's degree and a Graduate Certificate, later earning two Master's degrees (in Behavioural Science and Mental Health Nursing) from Wollongong University. He dedicated 26 years of service to NSW as a Registered Nurse. Alongside his nursing career, he dedicated 25 years as a volunteer with the SES, RFS, and St. John Ambulance, ultimately earning five medals for service before retiring from formal volunteer roles.

Message for Current Students

Today, Gordon is semi-retired and operates his own self-employed rideshare business, enjoying the freedom to set his own schedule without the strict rosters of his hospital days. Beyond work, he continues to support friends navigating mental health challenges.

Looking toward the future of Hurstville Public School, he offers this message to the current generation of students:

"The history of the school is the past. We know the past is fixed. However, the future is within all of us, to change poor procedures, to advance towards best practice. I hope today's students strive to be the best they can be, in this changing world. HPS will continue to advance."

Michael Hatzinikolis (Class of 2001)

Starting primary school in 1995 as the youngest student in his entire year group, Michael considered his early start a blessing in disguise. Walking through the HPS gates as a former preschooler, everything felt larger than life—but rather than feeling intimidated, Michael was instantly in his element, eager to run around the playground, make new friends, and dive into fast-paced games.

Canteen Delights, Waratah Spirit & Playground Action

“HPS was a place where I felt completely comfortable being myself, allowing me to make amazing, lifelong friends.”

Michael’s primary school years were defined by active playground energy and strong school spirit:

The Playground Hub: Recess and lunch were packed with intense handball tournaments, soccer matches, tips, and classic games of bullrush.
Canteen Memories: His ultimate school lunch memory remains writing orders on classic brown paper bags and collecting the class crate from the canteen—especially for the famous chicken schnitzel roll with mayo.
Waratah Pride: Competing in athletics carnivals and team sports as a proud Waratah house member laid a foundation for his lifelong passion for fitness, teamwork, and soccer (a passion that later took him overseas for trials in England and Germany).

A standout educator during his HPS years was his Year 3 teacher, Miss McDermaid, whose fun, caring nature made him feel comfortable to be himself, while her firm guidance kept his high energy grounded.

From HPS to Entrepreneur: The Academic & Career Journey

After graduating from HPS, Michael headed straight across the field to Hurstville Boys High School before completing Years 11 and 12 at the Oatley Campus. Knowing he wanted to work with timber, he secured a Joinery apprenticeship, where his strong educational foundation enabled him to fast-track and complete his trade early before transitioning into Carpentry.

At age 23, Michael took a bold entrepreneurial leap by founding his own company, Volar Screens, combining his joinery background with retractable screen products.

“Looking back, even the foundational classes I took in maths, English, and science at HPS have a massive impact on how I manage and grow my business every single day.”

Thirteen years later, Michael continues to run Volar Screens, alongside investing in property, writing a book, and expanding into the food industry.

Playground Lessons & The 150-Year Legacy

Reflecting on his journey from HPS student to business owner, Michael credits primary school routines—from roll call and lining up to team sports—with instilling the discipline, structure, and collaborative skills necessary for running a business today.

Looking back as Hurstville Public School celebrates its 150th milestone, Michael hopes the school never loses the sense of safety, comfort, and community that shaped his childhood.

“The teachers left a profound, lasting impact on me while beautifully instilling the true HPS spirit—a spirit that has stayed with me through every chapter of my life since.

Serena Ho (Class of 2023)

Entering Hurstville Public School in 2022 after being accepted into the Opportunity Class, Serena remembers feeling a mix of nervous energy and pure excitement walking through the school gates for the first time. Stepping into a brand-new environment without knowing anyone felt daunting at first, but the welcoming smiles of teachers and classmates quickly reassured her that she had found a place to grow, learn, and lead. Serena went on to serve as HPS School Captain in Year 6, laying the foundation for a lifelong journey in student advocacy.

Serena’s time at HPS was defined by vibrant community spirit, lasting friendships, and iconic school traditions:

The Recess Spot: Recess and lunch were routinely spent gathered on the silver benches with friends, often spilling over into massive, cross-year-group games of “Cops and Robbers.”
Canteen Classics: Her ultimate HPS treats were hot potato gems on crisp days and frozen Nippy’s juice cups to beat the heat on summer afternoons.
Schoolwide Fun: The single most memorable event during her time at HPS was the 2022 Colour Run—her first experience running through paint stations alongside students and teachers alike, all drenched in vibrant powder.

Debating, Mentors and State-Level Advocacy

Serena’s passion for public speaking and debating took root during her time on HPS’s Premier Debating Team in Years 5 and 6. Guided and encouraged by Mr Renshaw, Serena honed her skills in formal argument, refutation, and thinking under pressure, culminating in her selection for the regional Sydney team at the Primary Schools State Debating Championships.

Her academic and leadership journey was equally shaped by two standout educators. Ms Daniels, who looked beyond report cards to instill deep leadership confidence, believing in Serena’s potential before she fully saw it in herself. Ms Southall, who equipped her with practical digital presentation and study skills, fostering the academic resilience required for high school workloads.

After graduating from HPS, Serena transitioned seamlessly to Sydney Girls High School. Building on her primary school leadership foundation, she went through a competitive state selection process and was appointed to the Minister’s Student Council (DOVES) for 2025–2026, advocating for students across New South Wales at a state level. When she isn’t balancing her studies with debating, volleyball, dance, table tennis, and figure skating, Serena nourishes her creative mind through crocheting and sewing.

The 150-Year Legacy

Reflecting on her time in leadership, Serena credits HPS with teaching her that true leadership isn't built on grand gestures, but on daily consistency and genuine trust.

As Hurstville Public School celebrates its 150th Anniversary, Serena hopes HPS always maintains its vibrant cultural diversity and its student-first philosophy—giving student leaders real autonomy and working with them rather than at them, just as School Principal Mr Steed and the teaching team did for her leadership group.

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