Bill Coutts reflects warmly on his childhood, school years at Carey, wartime service, and later life. Born in 1918, he began at Carey as a four-year-old, frequently suffering pneumonia and often being sent to the country to recover. He grew up in Kew among several local families (Spicers, Piesses, Retchfords, Moores, Eadys), forming friendships that lasted a lifetime.

School Life at Carey (1923–36)

Carey in the 1920s–30s was, in Bill’s words, a close-knit “family school.” Relationships across year levels were strong, and boarders—mostly tough country boys—lived in Laycock House. He recalls the Chinese market gardens near Sackville Street, early school facilities such as the stables used as change rooms, one concrete play area, and only a single tennis court. Parents helped fund and even physically contribute to building the oval.

Bill speaks highly of the Headmaster, HG Steele, a strict but fair leader whom he believed “looked after” him. Bill became a prefect and later Vice-Captain of the school, earning four sporting colours and captaining the athletics team when Carey first won the Associated Grammar Schools Championship. He also read Bible passages at weekly assemblies in Raymond Hall, coached beforehand by teacher Hedley Sutton.

Other teachers remembered include Bunny Gramlick, Les Trewin, Marion Metcalfe, and several young female staff who interacted warmly with students. Discipline was strict, but Bill remembers his school years as some of the happiest of his life.

Friendships and Community

Bill emphasises how Carey friendships remained strong for decades. He recalls many classmates—Treloar, Retchford, Moore, the Tyquins, and others—and how former students would always stop to talk if they passed one another in the street.

Wartime Service

Bill and his close friend Bill Tyquin enlisted together and served in the same Army artillery unit. After training in Australia, Bill was deployed to New Guinea in 1943, serving near Lae and in the Markham Valley. After the Americans withdrew, he was sent to Bougainville. He mentions several Old Carey Grammarians who served, including Air Force friends who survived captivity.

Life After Carey

Bill came from a stable family background—his father was a metallurgist at Ruwolts—but his father died young. Through Carey connections, he found early employment in customs and shipping with the Clarke family before the war. After returning from service, Carey networks again helped him secure work, housing, and financial support.

He later worked for Watkins Products in Moorabbin, eventually managing a warehouse. When the company closed, he found further work at McEwans through another ex-Army connection. He describes a life where goodwill, work ethic, and community support—particularly from the Wilcox family—ensured he was “always looked after.”

Overall Tone

Bill’s interview is full of humour, warmth, and gratitude. He reflects that his 10–12 years at Carey were among the best of his life, shaped by strong friendships, supportive families, and a school culture that “looked after everybody.”