Figure 1.--This is a view of the students in the secondary section of the RAAF in 1963. They are the participants in the school choir.

The RAAF initially had a limited commitment at Butterworth Field. There were only a small number of dependants. The younger children attended the the RAF Primary School at Butterworth or the British Army Children's School (BACS) at Penang. Secondary pupils attended either the British Secondary School at Cameron Highlands or at Singapore. The Australian Army was moved to Malacca and the British Army and RAF reducedtheir personnel at Butterworth. When the RAAF incrased deployments at Butterworth, the BACS filled up and it became clear that a RAAF School was needed at Butterworth. Wives of servicemen who were ex-school teachers initially worked to provide schooling on a temporary basis. An Interim School was established in a vacant home (August 1958). The school served children from infants to secondary level. The secondary students worked on correspondence courses. The first Principal was Mrs. Dawson, an ex-graduate school teacher and wife of the then Civilian Financial Advisor. The staff of female teachers was recruited from wives of servicemen - mostly RAAF but some Army wives as well. The school quickly had 150 children (September 1958).

Created: 4:18 AM 7/2/2004
Last updated: 4:18 AM 7/2/2004