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Joan Rapley (whose married name was Cooley) was in Vm in her final year. She fell out with our History teacher, T.A. (Tom) Staples. As a result, instead of being in the class for History, she had to study alone in the hall.
In the photo on the right she is among a group at a reunion in 1995. The organiser of the reunion, Ellen Reid (Boyle) is front right, with host Janet Holmes à Court (Ranford) behind her.
Sandy White recalls: "Joan Rapley was a lively, clever classmate in Vm. In our final year she was banished from our history class by our teacher, Mr Staples. Joan may have been challenging in class. Once banished, she taught herself by getting the curriculum from the education dept. Subsequently Joan went on to win the Exhibition in History for the state. Joan was an excellent golfer throughout her life. Sadly, she died of pancreatic cancer around 2002/2003."
In the lovely photo on the left Joan is seen at the school's front door in 1960 with our German teacher, Vera Wrightson, with Bronwyn Mumme (Denness) between them.
That photo was taken on the same occasion as a group photo, in which Joan is just behind Mrs Wrightson, with Lex Watson, a good friend, on her left.
Joan was in the school tennis team in both fourth and fifth years, and was the captain of the latter.
After school, Joan started a Science degree with Janet, Sandy tells me, but became a stewardess (flight attendant) with MMA, MacRobertson Miller Airlines (later Ansett WA). She married Ernie Cooley and they adopted two children, a girl and a boy. In latter years her partner was John Nelson and they lived at the Ellenbrook development around the golf course. Finally they moved to Churchlands.
Garry Gillard | New: 3 December, 2020 | Now: 20 April, 2022