Today, the retired Scotch College teacher looks back fondly on his time at Nedlands from 1942-48 as it celebrates 100 years since opening in 1913.
‘Our days at Nedlands were very happy ones for me and my brother Neil,’ Mr Courtney said.
‘During the war years at school we had frequent air raid practice, where we would all run out of the classrooms and dive into slit trenches.
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READ NOW‘This was normally regarded as great fun, although sometimes we would be somewhat sobered by a rumour that the (Japanese) really were coming this time.’
After leaving Nedlands primary and completing further education, Mr Courtney went on to have a successful teaching career at Scotch and was on the school’s payroll for 50 years, where he also worked as an archivist.
Nedlands PS officially opened on January 25, 1913 with a total of 33 students, the first of whom was 13-year-old Alvin Mitchell.
Since then the school has educated thousands of students and been part of historical events including the Prince of Wales visit in 1920 and Queen Elizabeth’s visit in 1953.
Well known Nedlands alumni include jeweller Craig Rosendorff, former ABC newsreader Peter Holland, model Gemma Ward, Channel 7 reporter Alison Fan and Premier Colin Barnett.