Some Early Memories

When the school held its first class on 10 November 1974, I was privileged to be the President of the Assyrian Australian Association. I was also privileged to be the schools first teacher. I wrote the brief history of the Assyrian School in the booklet titled The Assyrian School-10 Years of Achievements 1974- 1984, which was published by the Assyrian Australian Association 20 years ago, on the 10th of November 1984 on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the foundation of the school. A few extracts from the early history should be of interest to the readers.

The first class commenced on the AAA property, the side of the present Niniveh Sports and Community Club at 673-683 Smithfield Road Edensor Park (in those days it was part of Bonnyrigg) on Sunday 10th November 1974. It was a bright sunny and warm day, and we held the first class in the shade of the 2 palm trees which stood outside of the old fibro cottage. I was the teacher and the students of the first class were: Ashur Bet Mirza, Sabrina Bet Mirza, Ramsina Daniel, Rawina Daniel, Sargon Daniel, Fred David, Suzy David, Suzy Dinkha, Ahur Mirza, Emmanuel Mirza, Alfred Petros, Domarina Shalalo, Majdoline Shalalo, Albert Youkhana, Ashur Youkhana. Before the end of 1974, malpana Arsan Shalalo joined the school as the second school teacher.

Early in 1975, the old fibro Cottage was converted by the AAA Committee into 3 classrooms.By the time the school re-opened for the start of the 1975 school year, the word of the opening of the school had spread rapidly within the small Assyrian community in Sydney and enrollments increased, so that the end of 1975 we had about 85 students. Increased in enrollments meant we needed more teachers. Three additional teachers joined Arsan and I: Malpanta Sophia Kanna, Malpana Albert Oshana, and Malpana Philip David.

The year 1976 brought more enrollments and more teachers the number of students reached 146. The students were divided in 6 classes which were held on Sundays on 10.30 am to 1.00 pm. Two new teachers jouned us the start of the year: Malpana Shamasha Albert Kiwarkis and Malpana Shmoel Shalalo. We soon realised that conditions on the AAA property were too cramped and no longer suitable so we had to find better accommodation. That prompted us to approach the late Mr. Ray Eastcott, the Principal of fairfield Public School on Smart Street, Fairfield. Mr. Eastcott offered us 6 classrooms. We commenced coducting classes at smart street on Saturdays afternoons from 3.00 pm to 4.30 pm. Before the end of the year, two additional classrooms were placed at our disposal and more teachers joined us: Malpana Nellie Youkhanan, Malpana Youkhanan Avanes, Malpana Shamasha Gabriel Odisho, Malpana Moshi Youkhana Moshi, Malpana George Zakaria, Malpana Jacob Miraziz, Malpana Gewargis Gewargis.

The 1977 school year brought some more students and teaching staff. New teachers who joined us that year were:Malpanta Rapkha Rohan, Malpana Adam Azzo, Malpana Elia Khoshaba. In the same year, we opened a branch of the school at Randwick High School, in response to teachers: Malpana Pious Sarkis, Malpana Youtam Ashurian, Malpana Shamasha Shawil Talia, Malpanta Allina Oshana.

Also in 1977, Dr Albert Tatar David commenced a special class in Mathematics for Assyrian High School Students who needed help and guidance with their day school.

In 1978, the new teachers who joined us at Fairfield were: Malpanta Nora Jouda, Malpana Zaia Kallo, Malpanta Joan Amirchamaki.

Another branch of the School was opened at Dawson Public School , Mount Druitt on 14th October 1978, with 15 students and one teacher, Malpanta Jenny Amirchamaki. Another teacher who helped at Mount Druitt was Malpanta Alice Badaloff.

In 1979, teaching time at Fairfield was increased from 1.5 hours. However, classes at Randwick and Mount Druitt were discontinued due to drop in attendances. New teachers who joined us at Fairfield that year Malpana Younatan Antwanian, Malpana Sargon Kako.

Additions to our teaching staff during 1980 were: Malpanta Lena Soro, Malpana Hormiz Joudo, Malpana Karim Tailo, Malpana Shmoel Yawanis, Malpana Nicola Oram (Assyrian dances instructor), Malpana Sargon Nissan, Malpanta Yonia Zaia. In 1981 new teachers who joined us during the year were: Malpanta Rosa Simon, Malpana Ninos Kako. New teachers who joined the same year were: Malpanta Virginia Baba, Malpanta Linda Azad, Malpanta Christina Mirza, Malpanta Janet Oshana.

Renewed appeals from parents living in the Hillsdale area prompted the AAA Committee to commence classes at the Matraville High School in Hillsdale on 19th February 1983 with Malpana Emmanuel Kanna as the branch head and teacher.

In the same year we moved from Fairfield Public School to Fairvale High School After being advised by the Principal of Fairfield Public School that a number of the classrooms used for Assyrian language classes would be demolished or removed due to a drop in the overall attendance at the daytime classes.

All of the textbooks used at our School were those of the late Malpana Koorish Benyamen of Tehran Iran. Malpana Koorish and I were in constant communication with each other, and he provided me with moral support and advice.

The above are just a few brief extracts from the history of the first 10 years. The booklet which was issued on the occasion of the 20th anniversary contained more historical recordsof achievments. Another ten years, in 1994, the school published another commemoration magazine for the schools 22nd Anniversary and now you are reading this 32nd Anniversary publication.

It must be remembered that the school in its 32 years has made big strides and has achieved much. Its excellent fruits can be seen all over among all assyrians in our new teachers, choristers, church clergy, broadcasters and better educated Assyrians. We may not have achieved all that we wanted but we most certainly have contributed consideralby to the advance of our language and culture. May the diqlat School continue for much longer in its service to our Assyrian community in Australia.