John Howard: Canterbury Boys’ High School hall to be built in his name

He is one of Canterbury Boys’ High School’s most famous ex-pupils — and now former prime minister John Howard has his name on a new hall to prove it.

He is one of Canterbury Boys’ High School’s most famous pupils and now former prime minister John Howard is to have an assembly hall built in his honour.

The multimillion-dollar upgrade will enable the southwestern Sydney school to avoid having to hire out the local RSL to hold its formal gatherings or crowd into the library.

The funding approval followed a request by local member Sophie Cotsis — who also suggested the name — to Treasurer Dominic Perrottet, with Mr Howard also throwing in his support for a new hall at the school where he said he had “learned how to debate”.

Visiting the school grounds on Friday, Mr Howard acknowledged a lot had changed since he left in 1956.

Former PM John Howard visits his old high school Canterbury Boys’ High, where a new hall will be named after him. Picture: Toby Zerna

Teachers taught Latin, there was no social media to deal with and students were definitely not considering future studies in “mechatronics” — as one volunteered to Mr Howard when asked about his future plans.

“Can you please explain that?” he replied.

As for entering university, Mr Howard said the requirement to study law was five subjects, “one of which had to be English”.

John Howard as a student circa 1956. Picture: Toby Zerna

But the avid rugby player and debater who also had participated in the school choir — “I wasn’t that good” — said school life was not necessarily easier when he was at school.

“In some respects it was easier, in other respects it was harder,” he said.

“You don’t want to overdo the comparisons.

“To succeed in the environment you’re living in, the opportunities are as you make them.”

Mr Howard, who grew up in Earlwood as the youngest of four boys, said he had fond memories his local area, especially playing cricket and soccer in the local ovals.

His father Lyle’s service station still exists in nearby Dulwich Hill, “but it’s now more motor repairs”.

Mr Howard was selected to attend Canterbury Boys’ when at Earlwood Public, with students sent to the high school regarded as having the academic abilities to one day enter university.

In his final year, Mr Howard considered becoming a journalist before settling on law.

“They were the two things that I was very, very interested in my last year but like a lot of people, I didn’t make my mind up until my leaving certificate,” he said.

John Howard (front row second L) as a member of the Canterbury Boys’ High School debating team in the mid 1950s.

But in his advice to the students, Mr Howard was keen to stress: “Not everybody has to go to university.”

Mr Howard was the first Liberal prime minister entirely educated in the public school system.

Canterbury Boys’ High School principal Ross Dummett said past and present staff had been lobbying for a hall since the early 1960s.

“This is great news,” Mr Dummett said.

“We won’t have keep hiring out Canterbury-Hurlstone Park RSL Club.”

John Howard was the first Liberal PM to be entirely educated in the public school system. Picture: Toby Zerna

Mr Perrottet said the hall would be funded as part of a four-year $6.7 billion school infrastructure program, with the building expected to be completed by the end of 2022.

“We want to give kids the best start in life and this new multipurpose hall will do

just that,” he said.

MORE NEWS:

Former PM John Howard out of hospital after emergency surgery for appendicitis

Peter Dutton steals the show from Scott Morrison and John Howard with gentle roast of Tony Abbott