Department

The Physical & Health Education Department was somewhat of an anomaly as its program spanned all the semesters instead of taking place over specific ones. As games instruction needed to be incorporated into this area, the time required was greater than for other disciplines. The compromise arrived at, was that one afternoon per week, would be a sports afternoon, based on the activity rather than normal class groupings. Games taught included golf, squash, tennis, badminton, gymnastics and basketball. Students were required to learn the rules for each of the areas studied in order to be able to run these activities within the school. PE classes also encompassed dance, cricket and football and were largely unsegregated, except for body contact sports.

The Physical & Health Education was also responsible for a number of activities surrounding College camps at Poinr Peron and Rottnest. Activities at the camps included dancing, games, canoeing and water sport.

Initially, Physical Education took place under basic conditions, firstly at Subiaco and then in the early days of MLTC. At MLTC students used the change rooms adjacent to the car park and undertook activities at the park across the road from the College. They also used the Inglewood swimming pool as a place to ensure that students would know how to rescue someone from the water.

Sports clubs were set up in men’s and women’s International Rules basketball, men’s and women’s hockey, women’s netball and men’s night hockey as well as football.A number of canoe trip were conducted and students were involved with the Royal Life Saving Services carnival at Beatty Park.

In Health Education there was emphasis on providing first aid for simple problems that may occur in a school setting and were trained in responding to emergencies and bandaging.

Programs

  • Swimming and lifesaving
  • Games instruction
  • Physical Education
  • Health Education
  • Skeletal System
  • Muscular System
  • Immunisation and communicable diseases
  • Social problems

Staff

Brian Churchward (HOD)


Brian Churchward graduated from Claremont Teachers College in 1953.

He pursued other qualifications in part-time mode working as a teacher in health and physical education in high schools for 13 years.

Brian became the inaugural Head of Department of Physical and Health Education and remained in a tertiary role for 20 years at the tertiary level, including two years
overseas at Port Moresby Teachers College. A further 3½ years of part-time duties at the Mt Lawley campus of ECU enabled him to phase into full
retirement in 1992.

Brian is a member of the Australian Council of Health, Physical Education and Recreation; the Institute of Educational Administration amongst other representational roles.

Addy Hayes (Carroll)


Addy was one of the energetic ”Phys-Edders” who helped to shape the College, encouraging students in their own physical development, giving them skills for working as Physical and Health Education teachers, and working with student teachers in the notorious college camps.

Addy went on to become a leading figure in the promotion of health in this state, as the original Director of Healthway, and a leader in the state’s management of smokefree environments. She also worked as a consultant to the World Health Organisation, and has published in both academic journals and WHO Manuals.

For her efforts she was subsequently awarded an AM “For service to community health, particularly through the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway) and the National Heart Foundation of Australia”.

Bruce Sinclair

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Sandra Mohlmann

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Malcolm McKercher

Christine Barnetson

Christine was selected as a member of the Australian swimming team for the 1964
Tokyo Olympics when she was just 16 years old. It was not surprising therefore that
Chris went on to graduate from UWA with a Bachelor of Education and Diploma of Physical Education (and
later a Masters in Education Administration from the University of New England, Armidale) as well as
being awarded a University “Blue” for her outstanding sporting contribution and representation of UWA.

Christine then went on to teach firstly in the WA government sector and later took up an academic
role at WACAE (later Edith Cowan University) which subsequently led to her working in the fledgling
Overseas Students sector.

In the 90’s Christine retired from academic life to support her husband Kim in his various business
interests but as her illness advanced Chris enjoyed spending more time at their Gingin property. In fact
Chris used to say that, the country gave her great solace and she was never happier than working with her cows and creating her vegetable patch which was pretty well a market garden!

Robyn Arnott

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Sue Fawcett (Hyde)

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Rod Ellis

Rod Ellis graduated from Bunbury Senior High School. He studied at UWA and became a P.E. teacher. After several years out in the field, Rod lectured at Claremont Teachers College. He came to ECU as a Heath and Physical Education teacher and later taught multimedia.

Sandra Piowczyk-Kruk

Studied at Claremont Teachers College.

Linley Smith (Campbell)

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Ken Spencer

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Ray Colliss

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Barry Gibson

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Tom Odgers

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Marian Tye

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