Dominating the front page of The Canberra Times on this day 51 years ago, was an article about the ups and downs of school life. Those "ups and downs" weren't referring to problematic issues, but that of the humble yo-yo.
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"Spaghetti, sir" yelled one young pupil, when it looked as though '"Mayhem" McGee had run out of tricks. So, quick as a flash, Sir pulled the string up towards his mouth and with a flick of the wrist wound it on to the yo-yo.
Mayhem, Mr J. McGee, the deputy head at Queanbeyan High School, had just completed four of the five tricks required in the school's yo-yo competition. Although Mayhem turned on a polished act, a pupil, known as "Fenominal" Chris Foudoulis, was too good for him.
The odds were against Mr McGee. Although Mr McGee got a big hand in the quad, his "walking the dog, shoot the moon, and around the world" could not match the "rocking the table" and other tricks from Chris.
More than 450 pupils paid 2c to see the performance which raised $15 (including donations). The money was divided among charities.
See trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/110328783
