AUTOMOTIVE MARVELS OF MONTE OF LONG AGO
One of the proud moments of the school was acquiring a brand new four-wheel drive Land-Rover in the late fifties. As a young student at Monte I remember admiring this automotive marvel with extreme awe and wonder with its 4WD drive power train ideal for the hills. Prior to that the school had a brown-colour Austin Van. These vehicles were mainly used to get food supplies and other necessities for the school on a daily basis from the Mapuça Market and for other general administrative work and emergencies. It also served as a mode of transportation for the foot-ball and hockey teams to Mapuca and Panjim during school tournaments besides hiring local buses. On a lighter and humorous note the old brown van was fondly known as “gongurlo" in Konkani (meaning beetle in English), probably referring to its brown colour, revving engine and slow motion up the hill. It had perhaps seen better days in its past and hard days in its later life trying to make it up and down the hill. It was easily recognized by the distinct drone of its engine. Towards its final days before being put into retirement it was not an uncommon sight to see the very football or hockey team that it provided transport for in its hey day, pushing it up the hill. Also many a time the “Matric Class Big Boys” would quickly be summoned up at very short notice, even when class was in session, to help it up on its way or put a stone to chock the rear wheels and prevent it from rolling down. The big boys would always be proud of having been called to try their strength. Those were indeed the days.
Tony Fernandes (Ex-student - Class of 1964)
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