Michael Alston
I transferred to Swinburne after Form 4 and completed the 4 year Diploma of Applied Chemistry at the end of 1964. The Applied Chemistry course had a very practical orientation with a high level of laboratory work, both in organic analysis and synthesis and inorganic quantitative analysis. Classes strictly 9 to 5 daily with some practical sessions in the evenings. The theoretical basis was not as developed as the degree course at the University of Melbourne but the change from Balwyn High was definitely the right move at the time.
Like all those with birthdates in 1945, I was in the first National Service Ballot but not chosen. The anti conscription movement was just developing during the period I was the University of Melbourne but never ran as hot as Monash.
In 1965 I obtained a position as a Chemist where my main area of work was monitoring corrosion of asbestos cement test samples suspended in the Geelong Outfall Sewer, a good reality check after being a student. This job was a great lesson in what other people did in the way of “dirty Jobs” that made a modern society work. I have a fund of stories from that year.
Exemptions were available at the University of Melbourne toward a B.Sc. although were limited to a few 1st Year subjects so I picked up Geology I in 1965 and Pure Mathematics I in 1966. These two subjects were available as 5.30 to 6.30 pm lectures so could be undertaken whilst working full time. In 1967 I took up a mature age fully funded place and enrolled full time in Chemistry and Pure Mathematics.
Following completion of the B.Sc. a position as Mill Chemist became available in 1970 at the “Burnie Board” (Masonite) factory in Ipswich, Queensland. This was the commencement of nearly 36 years in the wood panel industry in a CSR owned business at factories at Ipswich in Queensland, Pyrmont in Sydney, Oberon & Tumut NSW, Bacchus Marsh,Victoria (twice), making Masonite, Caneite, Pyneboard and Structaflor. Progressively the roles held moved from technical support to operational management and then factory management with a commensurate change in focus to the financial aspect of the business.
Michael Alston
July 2015
(Click here to be re-directed to Michael's recollections of life at Balwyn High School)
I transferred to Swinburne after Form 4 and completed the 4 year Diploma of Applied Chemistry at the end of 1964. The Applied Chemistry course had a very practical orientation with a high level of laboratory work, both in organic analysis and synthesis and inorganic quantitative analysis. Classes strictly 9 to 5 daily with some practical sessions in the evenings. The theoretical basis was not as developed as the degree course at the University of Melbourne but the change from Balwyn High was definitely the right move at the time.
Like all those with birthdates in 1945, I was in the first National Service Ballot but not chosen. The anti conscription movement was just developing during the period I was the University of Melbourne but never ran as hot as Monash.
In 1965 I obtained a position as a Chemist where my main area of work was monitoring corrosion of asbestos cement test samples suspended in the Geelong Outfall Sewer, a good reality check after being a student. This job was a great lesson in what other people did in the way of “dirty Jobs” that made a modern society work. I have a fund of stories from that year.
Exemptions were available at the University of Melbourne toward a B.Sc. although were limited to a few 1st Year subjects so I picked up Geology I in 1965 and Pure Mathematics I in 1966. These two subjects were available as 5.30 to 6.30 pm lectures so could be undertaken whilst working full time. In 1967 I took up a mature age fully funded place and enrolled full time in Chemistry and Pure Mathematics.
Following completion of the B.Sc. a position as Mill Chemist became available in 1970 at the “Burnie Board” (Masonite) factory in Ipswich, Queensland. This was the commencement of nearly 36 years in the wood panel industry in a CSR owned business at factories at Ipswich in Queensland, Pyrmont in Sydney, Oberon & Tumut NSW, Bacchus Marsh,Victoria (twice), making Masonite, Caneite, Pyneboard and Structaflor. Progressively the roles held moved from technical support to operational management and then factory management with a commensurate change in focus to the financial aspect of the business.
Michael Alston
July 2015
(Click here to be re-directed to Michael's recollections of life at Balwyn High School)
