A Fort Street High School student, deputy principal Grahame Steigler-Peters and acting principal Anne Ross have a laugh with Deborah Hutton (second from right) as she reminisces about her school days.

Love and laughter remembered

By Kerri Carr

Back to School Day brought Australian personality Deborah Hutton back to Fort Street High School on May 16.

After a tour of the school she had morning tea with a group of students.

Ms Hutton attended the school in the early 1970s and recalled "students had to keep at least six inches away from the opposite sex".

"At recess and lunch we would get out our rulers and sit next two whoever was really cute.

"It was really funny," she said.

She remembers the school was "very strictly run".

"I tried adding a bit of style to the uniform, which was really challenging," she said.

Ms Hutton said English was her favourite subject at school.

"To this day I reckon I was a sub-editor in a former life."

She said she also liked art.

"I liked to get in there to splash the paint around and have some fun," she said.

"I remember a cute geography teacher.

"I think that was the only reason I did geography."

She also recalled her four year romance with a boy at the school.

Ms Hutton said she felt pride in coming to the school.

"I had a good experience here until I did not want to play the game anymore," she also said.

Ms Hutton said she was in 5th form when someone from outside school suggested she give modelling a go.

"I had photos done and got told I had potential."

Her first job was the cover of Cosmopolitan magazine in October 1978.

"I left home and I left school, aged 16. Mum was mortified."

"Sometimes you have to take a few risks," she said.

"I'm glad I did what I did, but I certainly got a few lucky breaks.

"I don't suggest people should throw everything in the air."

Ms Hutton worked in New York, Milan and Germany.

By age 22 Ms Hutton had "had enough" and started a belts and bags accessories business.

"My biggest break was when I became the Grace Bros girl," she said.

Ms Hutton was also the fashion editor for the Women's Weekly for four years and now contributes to the magazine's home pages.

"I love to style."

She currently has a homewares range.

In recent years Ms Hutton has worked for Channel 9 on programs such as Location Location and Amazing Homes and Celebrity Overhaul. She will soon start filming on a new program.

"I think the reason why I am mildly successful is that I've given it everything," Ms Hutton said.

"Give 100 per cent.

"The more you put in, the more you get out."

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