Throwback to 1996...

Today I was chatting with my class and we came up with the topic of me in primary school. One of my kids moved to our school late last year, and he just so happened to go to the same school I went to when I was in primary school. I told the kids about our principal (who, over 20 years later, only left the school last year after over a 30 year stint in the job!) used to walk around the school so briskly his tie flapped over his shoulder, and he used to walk around with his tie over his shoulder for most of the day! My students always love hearing stories about me, because I'm sure I'm some person with no life unless they actually hear about it. That's why they're obsessed with my wedding (they all want to come) and were obsessed with guessing Derek's name, guessing every 'D' name in the book, (even suggesting 'Dragon'), before finally figuring out it was Derek.

I told the kids I stated school in 1990 and finished grade 6 in 1996. "Whoa, that's a LOOOONG time ago!" one of them said. Yeah, thanks. I'm 27, not 107!! I guess these kids don't register dates in the 1900s. It did get me thinking about back in the day, when I was in primary school, and thought I'd do a little throwback to 1996...

Me on my 11th birthday, February 14, 1996

Me in 1996
-I was in grade 6. I had a weird teacher who we plotted to throw in the pool on grade 6 camp. We didn't succeed.
-I went on a plane for the first time, to visit my uncle who had moved to Tasmania with his wife. I stayed two weeks.
-It was my last year of primary school. I got way too excited about going to high school the following year.

The world in 1996

John Howard became the new Prime Minister of Australia. Little were we to know that goofier Prime Ministers would eventually follow. At the time it didn't seem possible!

The Port Arthur Massacre occurred in Tasmania, killing 35 people. A national ban on rifles followed soon after.

Dolly the cloned sheep was born.

Martina Hinges was the youngest person to win Wimbledon at 15 years of age.

The Olympics were held in Atlanta, GA, USA.

Bill Clinton won his second term as President of the USA.

Jagged Little Pill, Alanis Morissette, was the top album in Australia for the year.  EVERYONE owned this CD. I felt like such a badass owning a CD with three swear words in it.

Macarena, Los Del Rio, was the top single in Australia for the year. People still know all the actions!

Sabrina, The Teenage Witch begun...

...as did 7th Heaven...

...and a show that is still one of my favourites, Everybody Loves Raymond.

Independence Day,

Twister, (flying cows, anyone?),...

...and Jerry Maguire were all big movies.

Mariah Carey collaborated with Boyz II Men on the super-hit One Sweet Day.

Spice Girls took over the world with Wannabe.

Australian band Crowded House broke up.

Matchbox 20 released their debut album Yourself or Someone Like You. I didn't like Matchbox 20 for a few years after this album was released, then came to my senses around 1999.

North Melbourne defeated Sydney in the 1996 AFL Grand Final.

I hope you enjoyed your trip down memory lane! Where were you in 1996? What were you doing? What do you remember? Any big events or memorable favourites from the time?