DescriptionThis interview consists of one audio recording. Peter Thompson was interviewed on 1 December 2012 at the Whitlam Library, Cabramatta by Pru WirthInterview SummaryPeter was born in Wakefield, England. In 1963, he migrated to Australia with his family. They spent time at the East Hills Migrant Hostel before moving to Panania. He attended Revesby South Public School followed by Picnic Point High School. After school he did a Science degree in Technology at the University of New South Wales.
Peter’s teaching career began at Birrong Boys High School. He then transferred to Cabramatta High School. In 1987, Peter was asked to move to the then in-planning Bossley Park High School. Peter helped develop school policies along with the rest of the staff. In the early years of the school Peter taught subjects as diverse as science, P.E. and maths. His speciality was industrial arts, and over his 24 years at Bossley Park High School Peter greatly developed the Industrial Arts faculty.
Bossley Park High School has a woodwork program in which students make cabinets. The school has an extensive metalwork program, and for a brief time the school taught leatherworking. Bossley Park High School’s Drawing Rooms were among the first high schools in NSW to include computers. The school teaches engineering, and many students go on to receive tertiary qualifications in that field. Other students enter trades.
Peter is proud that Bossley Park High School includes disabled students in its industrial arts program. The industrial arts classrooms include doorways wide enough for wheelchairs and there are push buttons to enable visually impaired students to use equipment.
Peter believes that Bossley Park High School has the best technological facilities of any school in NSW.
At the time of the interview, Peter is moving to a position in the Department of Education as an inspector for technology in schools.
Peter Thompson Oral History. Fairfield City Heritage Collection, accessed 07/04/2026, https://heritagecollection.fairfieldcity.nsw.gov.au/nodes/view/2554
