Eagles' Wings Summer 2023 by Churchie

SUMMER ISSUE 2023

Indigenous jersey | International tours Illustrator in residence | Finding Nemo Gala Concert | CART awards

Key dates 31 Jan

2 Feb

15 Feb

1 Mar

9 Mar

Founder’s Day Service

Headmaster’s Welcome to Parents

Academic Celebration Assembly

GPS Swimming Championships

GPS Head of the River

28 Mar

24 Apr

25 Apr

1 May

2 May

Interhouse Swimming

Senior School Musical

Churchie Anzac Day Ceremony

Open Day

Bands Concert

9 May

4 May

6 May

16 May

Choral Concert

The Churchie Ball

Churchie Boarding at Beef Week

GPS Cross Country Championships

Strings and Guitars Concert

24 May

31 May

1 June

4 June

Old Boys’ Long Lunch

Vintage Vikings Morning Tea and Lunch

Prep School Cocktail Party

Churchie Boarding at Muttaburra Stock Show

Churchie Boarding at FarmFest Toowoomba

4 June

13 June

20 June

22 June

Churchie Boarding at ICPA Townsville

Interhouse Track and Field

Prep School Billy Cart Grand Prix

Churchie Boarding at AG-Grow Emerald

Churchie Boarding at Roma Rugby Races

Anglican Church Grammar School Oaklands Parade, East Brisbane 4169 Queensland Australia Tel +61 3896 2200 www.churchie.com.au Cover image: Ryan Mullins, Zachary Stumer and Conor Jamieson performing in Finding Nemo Jr, The Musical. Photo: Michael Warrington Photo credits: Katerina Down, Michael Marston (ePixel Images), Dionne Pettingill, Aaron Tait Photography, Michael Warrington Photography, staff, students and Old Boys of Churchie Editorial team: Matt Hade, Katie Trappett, Thomas Bird Graphic design: Deb Winfield, The Layout Place Visit churchie.com.au/eagleswings to update your subscription details and view past issues of the magazine.

Contents

02 04 06 07 HEADMASTER’S MESSAGE

INDIGENOUS JERSEY

BOARDING LEADERS

CAPTIVATING CAM

08 10 12 13 INTERNATIONAL TOURS

PREP MUSICAL

ILLUSTRATOR IN RESIDENCE

LITERATURE CIRCLES

16 18 20 24 GALA CONCERT

CART AWARDS

COMPASSION FOR REFUGEES

CHURCHIE FOUNDATION

26 28 30 32 OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

REUNIONS AND EVENTS

IN MEMORIAM

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Global learning

experiences

Years 10 and 11 students visiting Granada, Spain

F R O M T H E H E A D M AST E R

In 1947, the School’s Founder, Canon Morris, wrote, ‘As he grows up, a boy’s province is the universe.’

One imagines that the Founder knew that boys were consistently fascinated by the ways of the world, enthralled with the opportunities they imagine lay awaiting for them and prepared to travel far and wide to pursue their dreams. In other words, their dreams and ambitions were boundless, when founded on a great education. Churchie has always been very ambitious for its students to explore the world to make meaningful contributions to local, national and global communities. It has long been recognised that our graduates will spread their wings and travel to lead and serve in all manner of vocations throughout the world. Recently, I had the pleasure of meeting Churchie Old Boys who live and work in Southeast Asia and the Middle East. They were raising families, contributing to their adopted communities. I was very pleased to hear the plans to eventually return to their homeland to pursue a Churchie education for their sons. This edition of Eagles Wings reveals how

international experiences enrich the lives of today’s students and awaken the calling of the ‘universe’ to which the Founder referred in Sons of Magnus. From our younger students who tour New Zealand for cultural and sporting experiences to the older students who collaborate with some of the world’s most able young people in Oxbridge courses in the UK, the world is certainly opening up once again. An immersive language education experience in Spain this year greatly enhanced our students’ command of communicating in Spanish and their understanding of one of Europe’s oldest and most revered cultures. On our iconic service tour to Samoa, our boys can contribute to, and receive from others, a deeper understanding of the peoples and cultures of other nations. Exciting plans are in place for our international service programmes to be extended to Timor Leste in 2024. Such experiences promote greater tolerance and empathy towards the development of strong international communities.

Of course, one does not have to leave home to better understand the lives and experiences of people from other lands. In Year 7 English, students were visited by Bishop Daniel Abot and Director of News for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland Michelle McDonald to learn more about people from other lands who come to settle in Australia and the challenges incurred in moving across the world as a refugee. This was a deeply enriching, intercultural awareness-raising opportunity for our students. I commend these global learning experiences to our students, both now and in the future, as Churchie students continue to live the Founder’s vision of embracing the universe in which they will continue to lead and serve. Dr Alan Campbell Headmaster

Year 12 students teaching in Samoa

Culture

takes the field Churchie’s 2023 Indigenous rugby jersey and Indigenous round celebrated Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.

In a display of unity and a celebration of heritage, Senior School Indigenous students Kye Boland and Emil Willie-Jawai, along with Prefect Toby Wilson, collaborated to create a memorable Indigenous round to conclude the 2023 rugby season. They designed a captivating Indigenous jersey that bridges cultures, honours heritage and promotes inclusivity. The design draws inspiration from traditional Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island art processes, illustrating the power of art to convey knowledge and stories across generations. The artists, Kye and Emil, noted, ‘This jersey is more than just a uniform; it is a narrative woven from threads of connection to the land, history and community.’ The jersey’s design is divided into two halves, each telling a unique story. The central motif features the Dhari headdress worn by men during dancing. Within the Dhari, a five-pointed star symbolises the five

major island groups and their navigational significance. The right sleeve depicts the Torres Strait, with triangles in the centre representing totems from the top-western islands and Emil’s family heritage. The other side of the jersey celebrates Kye’s Aboriginal culture, emphasising its deep connection to the land and waterways. This design depicts two people meeting in a new landscape, sharing knowledge and raising awareness in a fresh community. It includes traditional Aboriginal art symbols, including footsteps and corroboree symbols. The central piece of this design is the symbolic sun, intricately connected to the Dhari, visible in the centre of the Aboriginal flag. The 2023 Indigenous round was held on Saturday 9 September, with Churchie facing Gregory Terrace at home in the final round of the GPS Rugby season. The Churchie First XV proudly donned the 2023 Indigenous jersey, and Churchie’s

Indigenous students led a ceremony before the game. The match itself was also memorable, ending in a thrilling victory that secured a second-place finish for Churchie’s First XV season (tied with Toowoomba Grammar School). The jersey and the Indigenous round not only showcased the players’ unique identities, but also served as a powerful testament to the spirit of inclusivity, heritage and unity at Churchie.

Boarding leaders Year 11 boarders are developing a broad range of skills and knowledge in a boarding leadership programme to prepare them for their role as senior boarders in 2024 and leadership opportunities beyond school.

The programme begins in Term 3 each year and aims to develop young men who are strong in character, consistent, reliable and fair and who make a difference in the lives of everyone they encounter. Throughout the course, boys explore a variety of topics including what is good leadership, boarding leadership expectations, problem-solving skills, preparing to lead and emotional intelligence. Director of Boarding Jason WynneMarkham said the programme is designed to maximise the potential of all students who board at Churchie. ‘We are now seeing the results come through at a senior level, with students going into Year 12 equipped with the necessary tools to engage within their world, both at a school level and across the wider community,’ Jason said. ‘These young men learn to develop high-level communication skills that will ultimately provide the world with future leaders.’

Early in Term 4, Year 11 boarders put their leadership skills into practice as they welcomed a group of new students due to commence boarding in 2024. Feedback from the future families was very positive, with one parent commenting, ‘The senior students were extraordinary and were the first contact with the School on the day, and they farewelled my son at the end of the weekend. Please thank them for making my son’s first contact with boarding at Churchie a memorable one.’ The leadership potential of our current boarders is clearly evident in the 2024 Churchie Student Leadership Group. The School Captain for 2024 is boarder Noah Monahan, while fellow boarders Max Blanch and Rohan Seeto are prefects. Max is also Captain of Rugby, while Campbell McIntyre is Captain of Cross Country and Benjamin Donger is Captain of Tennis. Along with Head Boarder George Ward and the boarding house leaders, the 2024 senior boarders will strategise, collaborate,

inspire and lead Churchie’s class of 2024 in a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to develop their leadership skills in a nurturing environment. The image above features the boarding leaders of 2024: Campbell McIntyre, Kasper Tammela, Edward Russell, George Ward, Rory Butler, Jock Lloyd, Oliver Marcovich, Angus Stinson, Rohan Seeto, Marcus Pearce, Max Blanch and Noah Monahan (not pictured: Benjamin Donger).

Captivating CAM Tom O’Neill, Dr Darren Paul Fischer, Hugh Cotton, Bill McCart and Thomas Dwyer

The 2023 Churchie Awards in Media (CAM) captivated attendees with a spectacular array of short films at the Coorparoo Dendy Cinemas.

this year. Dr Fischer was highly impressed by the depth of talent at Churchie, noting that several finalists’ creations were on par with the quality found at a university level.

This annual event celebrated the exceptional talent of Film and Television students from Years 9 to 12, once again leaving the audience in awe of the creativity and dedication displayed by the School’s media students. The evening’s festivities began with a hilarious spoof entitled Ian Jones and the Dial of CAM. This imaginative creation seamlessly blended the iconic Indiana Jones series with Churchie’s foundational tales. It portrayed Canon Morris’ quest to harness the power of the ‘Dial of CAM’ to boost school spirit. The film starred the School’s very own version of Harrison Ford, Housemaster Ian Jones, and included a series of impressive cameos from notable Churchie staff, including the Headmaster and the school marshals. The audience erupted in laughter as hosts Tom O’Neill and Thomas Dwyer successfully retrieved the ‘Dial’ from the clutches of ‘William Henry Bartholomew Shackle III’ with just one minute remaining, saving CAM and drawing thunderous applause.

CAM highlights Ben Andrews and Stephen Taggart

CAM showcased a wide variety of media works, spanning suspenseful dramas, comedic mockumentaries, personal documentaries and experimental films. Head of The Arts Stephen Taggart said, ‘The innovation, storytelling prowess and technical expertise on display were a testament to the outstanding mentoring of the School’s media teachers and the undeniable passion of the students.’ Dr Darren Paul Fischer, Head of Film, Screen and Creative Media at Bond University and an accomplished screenwriter, producer and director, took on the role of adjudicator for the awards

Click here to watch two highlights from CAM: • Drive by Year 11 student Ben Andrews was awarded Best Documentary and praised by the judge as ‘industry-standard’ in terms of its direction and cinematography. • Innovations from Vaara Corp by Year 11 student Bill McCart won the Experimental Film category, with the judge greatly impressed by the wit and innovative visual style.

Return to

international tours International tours have returned to Churchie, and boys are relishing the chance to expand their education beyond our shores. A basketball tour to the USA at the end of 2022 heralded the resumption of international tours following a pause during the COVID-19 pandemic. As we go to print, more exciting tours are underway, including a cricket tour to New Zealand, a football tour of England as well as a music tour in Japan.

USA Basketball tour Fifty Churchie Basketball students embraced the opportunity to compete against US schools in a 20-day tour of the USA in December 2022, inclusive of San Francisco, Los Angeles and Dallas. From NBA, NCAA college and high school spectating, games against some of the best high school basketball programmes in America, as well as cultural experiences in each city, the boys cherished the experience and created lifelong memories. St Mark’s School of Texas have hosted Churchie Basketball teams since the tour’s inception in 2011, and all five teams took on St Mark’s, with the boys enjoying the opportunity to stay with families of the school while in Dallas. Another highlight was the final tournament of the tour, where boys competed in the Texas Regional Bank Classic in the small town of Krum, culminating with our JV team, comprising Years 10 and 11 A players, being crowned champions of the JV Division. The basketball tour served as an excellent springboard to further solidify the gameplay, standards and mateship that the Churchie Basketball programme fosters. We look forward to taking another group of basketballers on this amazing experience in 2024.

The Cambridge Tradition Years 10 and 11 students experienced the Cambridge lifestyle in July, embarking on a trip to the UK to take part in The Cambridge Tradition, an Oxbridge Academic Program offering students the chance to study a range of subjects including Espionage, Engineering, Astrophysics, Zoology and Global Business. Accompanied by Careers and Guidance Counsellor Beth Gilpatrick and Senior School Teacher John Collins, the boys arrived at Jesus College, Cambridge, on a Sunday and commenced classes the following day, forming friendships with students from around the world. The courses included excursions to places such as the Churchill War Rooms, the Imperial War Museum Duxford and Bletchley Park. These beyond-the-classroom experiences are known as ‘super-curriculars’ and are highly regarded in applications to UK universities. We look forward to taking another group of high-achieving students on this culturally enriching academic experience in 2024.

Service in Samoa After a five-year hiatus, Churchie’s Samoa Service Tour recommenced in June, with Year 12 students, Head of Senior School Rod Olsen and Housemaster Wayne Gore visiting Alofi-O-Taoa College and Letui Primary School on the island of Savai’i. Churchie has maintained a relationship with Alofi-O-Taoa College in Savai’i for over 20 years, and our boys worked with local teachers to deliver lessons in mathematics and English. The college’s students were eager to learn, showing their appreciation through continual acts of kindness. Each Churchie boy billeted with one of the college’s students, allowing them to tutor the extended families at night and experience traditional Samoan culture. Service tours such as this provide a wonderful opportunity for Churchie students to develop leadership skills and give back to the wider community.

Prep New Zealand sports tour The Prep School’s New Zealand sports tour was an adventure our boys will remember forever. Thirty-six boys and seven staff travelled across the ditch in June to partake in some friendly competition against Saint Kentigern College, Dilworth School and King’s School in Auckland, as well as enjoy some sightseeing and a variety of cultural experiences. Boys played either basketball, rugby or football. Our basketball team enjoyed a trifecta of victories, winning against all three schools. The rugby boys scored wins against Saint Kentigern College and Dilworth School and experienced their first-ever game on an artificial rugby pitch against King’s School. Our football team also played well, celebrating a win against Dilworth School. A highlight of the sporting competition was watching the Dilworth boys perform their school haka. Our students represented Churchie well while on tour, showing good sportsmanship. They thoroughly appreciated the opportunity to broaden their horizons and immerse themselves in another country’s culture. We thank the parents and staff accompanying the boys for their support and encouragement.

Spanish study tour Years 10 and 11 students studying Spanish, led by teachers Jesus Bergas Paz and Carole Berry, embarked on the trip of a lifetime to Spain during the September school holidays to enhance their language skills and enrich their understanding of Spanish culture. During the trip, the boys stayed with local host families, allowing them to practise their Spanish language skills in real-life situations and delve into the heart of Spanish culture. They also took part in immersive language classes tailored to their proficiency levels. Beyond the classroom, the tour included weekend trips to Barcelona, Granada and Toledo and an exciting football showdown between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. In 2024, language study tours will continue, with trips to France and China planned for the end of the year, providing boys studying French and Chinese with an opportunity to enhance their language skills beyond the classroom.

Just keep

swimming The Prep School embarked on a remarkable journey to honour the 20th anniversary of the heartwarming tale with a sensational musical adaptation of Finding Nemo Jr, The Musical. The success of Finding Nemo Jr, The Musical was a testament to the hard work and dedication of both students and teachers. The production not only provided a platform for the boys to showcase their talents, but also fostered camaraderie and new friendships among the cast and crew.

Illustrating nature Creativity flourished when Prep School students were treated to a two-week illustrator-in-residence programme with Brisbane-based illustrator Ingrid Bartkowiak as part of this year’s Book Week celebrations.

Ingrid was nominated for the 2023 New Illustrator award by the Children’s Book Council of Australia for her illustrations in the book Naturopolis. Over the two-week illustrator-in-residence period, she worked with boys across all Prep School year levels to create their own botanical and zoological

images. She also explored the important relationship between words and pictures with the boys, helping them develop their visual literacy. Ingrid showed our Reception and Year 1 boys how to use clay to make leaf imprints.

Year 2 boys also used leaves to create gorgeous cyanotype prints, which are made by placing an object on a lightsensitive surface before exposure to the sun. Years 3 and 4 students sketched animals and plants and made specimen tags with information on the back, just like the tags in the Naturopolis illustrations. Ingrid showed the boys how to use fine liner pens and watercolour paints to finish their drawings. The boys learned a lot about illustration and received first-hand instruction in developing their art techniques. Later in the term, Ingrid returned to Churchie to paint a mural onto the glass windows in the Prep School library using artwork by our Years 5 and 6 boys.

Ari Matthews (Year 4)

Henry Xing and Calvin Chan (Year 1)

It was wonderful to have Ingrid visit the School and help our students explore a range of visual responses to their local environment.

Loving literature Ryan Kim, Rex Lipinski, Sam Stobie, Huxley Callianiotis and James Valentine

Weekly literature circles are supporting our Years 4 and 5 students to develop a deeper understanding of the books they are reading in class.

Literature circles are student-centred activities that provide boys with an opportunity to read, reflect, discuss and respond to books in an authentic and natural way. They are facilitated by our wonderful parent volunteers, who give their time each week to support the boys in their reading.

We asked some of our students to share what they have enjoyed most about participating in literature circles.

Each week students read an allocated section of a text and complete a related reading activity. They then meet with their literature circle group to discuss the text, with each student assigned a different role within their group, including discussion director, connector, illustrator, passage picker, summariser, word master and inference illuminator.

‘I enjoyed being word master because it was very fun finding out about new words.’ Caiden Dastoor

The main goals of literature circles are to encourage students to develop a deeper understanding of texts through structured discussions and to foster a love of reading.

‘I really enjoyed the whole experience of literature circles.’ Rex Lipinski ‘I like the conversations I had with my group.’ James Valentine

‘I like answering the questions that the discussion director asked each week.’ Harry Edwards ‘My favourite part was being the discussion director because I got to make interesting questions to ask my group and I got to be the boss!’ Cooper Goodwin

Mud camp

adventures In the early hours of a Wednesday morning during Term 4, the Year 4 cohort, full of anticipation and excitement, packed their bags and embarked on their journey to Emu Gully in Helidon Spa.

This three-day adventure, affectionately referred to as ‘mud camp’ by the students of the Prep School, promised to be an unforgettable experience. At mud camp, the boys delved deep into the exploration of core values such as

courage, mateship, sacrifice and perseverance. These values were not only discussed in theory, but were actively practised through a series of physically and mentally challenging activities. The students also had the opportunity to hear moving stories about the heroic acts of the

Anzacs, adding a historical and emotional dimension to their learning. During their time at Emu Gully, the young adventurers faced an array of physically demanding challenges. They navigated through dark tunnels, gracefully balanced themselves on commando cables, cautiously crossed swinging logs, and even simulated the delivery of supplies and the rescue of injured soldiers on tiny boats. Of course, no mud camp would be complete without the quintessential experience of trudging through waist-deep mud while conquering obstacle courses that tested their resilience and teamwork. On the final day of mud camp, the Year 4 cohort headed home with a profound sense of accomplishment and pride. They returned with exciting stories to share with their families and friends, demonstrating this unique experience at Emu Gully had left a lasting impact on their hearts and minds.

CHURCHIE NEWS

Chess success

Theatresports premiers

Churchie Chess continued its successful run in 2023, securing the GPS premiership for the fourth consecutive year, a full two wins ahead of our closest competition.

Churchie’s Senior A Theatresport team, comprising Lachlan Mills, Bill McCart, Joseph Oxenford and Thomas Dwyer, showcased their creativity and quick thinking to emerge as champions of this year’s Youth Theatresports Competition in the senior category. Coached by Old Boy Charlton Lee-Jones (2021), the boys used their excellent improvisational skills and team synergy to take out this year’s championship.

Congratulations to our Premier team comprising Sravan Renjith, Jayden Ooi, Nicholas Bond and Ryan Liaw. Of the 500 players who competed in the GPS Chess season, only nine remained undefeated all season, with four of those representing Churchie: Sravan Renjith (Year 10) Board 1 Premier team, Ryan Liaw (Year 11) Board 4 Premier team, Santi De Leon (Year 8) Board 2 Open B team and Owen Shen (Year 5) Board 2 Open A team. This is an exceptional achievement for these students and is reflective of the strong chess programme at Churchie. Chess continues to grow each year at Churchie, with 59 students representing the School in the GPS competition this year. Twelve of these students were in the top 50 overall and 20 were in the top 100 of the GPS competition. Thank you to Director of Chess Max Condon and our talented coaching staff, who continually give their time to improve our chess players. The 2023 coaching staff comprised Associate Professor Dr David Smerdon GM, Alex Wohl IM, Henry SlaterJones FM, Maximillian Windsor, Dashiell Young, Oscar Pollack and Vincent Wu. Next year is shaping up to be another great season for Churchie Chess, with most of this year’s team returning to represent the School.

The Youth Theatresports Competition is a programme encompassing 140 different schools and organisations across South East Queensland. Three Churchie Theatresports teams competed in junior and senior grand finals in August, following participation in single-round knockout events since April. Having all three teams reach the grand final showcased the dominant force of the Churchie Theatresports programme. Performing in a variety of time-restricted games, each team exhibited valiant efforts in what had been an exceptionally challenging event. Thank you to the staff, students, coaches, Old Boys, parents, family and friends who have supported these students on their journey and have played an instrumental role in achieving these outstanding results. As the curtains draw to a close on this year’s theatresports competition, we eagerly anticipate the return of this captivating event in 2024, which promises to be bigger and better than ever. The laughter, creativity and camaraderie exhibited by the Churchie Theatresports teams serve as a testament to the enduring spirit of theatrical excellence. 15

Soundtrack

spectacular An impressive array of video game theme music was performed at this year’s Gala Concert, Video Games 2, in a spectacular finale to Churchie’s Signature Concert Series.

Our music ensembles took to the stage to showcase some of the best gaming repertoire, from the wonderful themes of Minecraft to the menacing themes of Bounty Hunter and ‘Lion’s Pride’ from World of Warcraft, and a stirring performance of ‘Dawn of a New Time’ from Battlefield 1. The finale item was a sight to behold, with over 100 students on stage for a specially commissioned arrangement of Titanfall 2 and Skyrim. Morris Wind Symphony, Symphony Orchestra and Senior Voices created a most sonorous sound that captivated the audience, leaving them in awe of the sheer enormity of the project.

CART creativity Guest judge Debbie Taylor Worley with CART 2023 award recipients

The opening night of Churchie’s art show was abuzz with creative, technical and conceptual talent from the boys in Years 7 to 12, leaving our guest judges in awe of the exceptional student artworks on display.

Guest judge Debbie Taylor Worley, 2023 recipient of the prestigious ‘the churchie’ emerging art prize Special Commendation Prize, was impressed by the diverse expressions showcased by the students and observed a shared commitment to environmental awareness. Her chosen

Andrew Rowan Memorial Art Prize: Attire by Louis Beatty (Year 12)

David Stephenson Memorial Art Prize: Pound for Pound by Milton Pyres (Year 10)

award winners embodied the essence of ‘head, heart and hand’ in their works. Old Boy James Laube (2019) judged the Vintage Packers Prize and the Old Boys’ Association Prize. Year 12 IB student and winner of the Andrew Rowan Memorial Art Prize Louis Beatty also went on to receive a commendation award in the Queensland Creative Generation Excellence Awards in Visual Art for his work Attire.

Vintage Churchie Packers Prize Year 10: Chaos in Colour by Treyvon Pritchard

Vintage Churchie Packers Prize Year 11: Fear by Oscar Derrick

the churchie emerging art prize award Year 10: The Viral Image by Hamish Donkin

CART Excellence Award Year 11: The Stakeholders by Charlie Auchter

the churchie emerging art prize award Year 12: Swarming Struggles by Hugh Murray

Old Boys’ Association Prize: Dendos Chronos by Oscar Brown (Year 12)

Compassion

for refugees Year 7 students learned about what it’s like to be a refugee, hearing from former refugee Bishop Daniel Abot and Director of News for the Anglican Church Southern Queensland Michelle McDonald.

Bishop Daniel spoke to the boys about his experience as a refugee from South Sudan and Michelle discussed her role as an editor and journalist with a specific focus on law and politics concerning

refugees. Michelle also works on the ground to help support refugees. Students were keen to learn more about refugee rights, the laws regarding refugees and refugee experiences following their

study of the novel The Bone Sparrow, by Zana Fraillon, in English classes. The novel focuses on a young refugee growing up in an Australian offshore detention centre. We thank Bishop Daniel and Michelle for giving generously of their time to share their insights with our students. Senior School Teacher Emily Bullow said Bishop Daniel and Michelle were incredibly insightful and spoke with great passion and sincerity. ‘By hearing from the speakers in person, the hope was to encourage greater empathy and intercultural awareness, and allow the boys to connect with social justice issues within our global community,’ Emily said.

Sebastian Behrens, Bishop Daniel Abot, Michelle McDonald and Cooper Ladewig

Student reflections Maison Cory I was most shocked by the everyday experiences of refugees in their attempts to seek freedom. From having nothing to do each day in the Kenyan refugee camp, facing starvation and becoming prey to wild animals, it shocked me that Bishop Daniel is still alive to tell his story today. I also felt saddened for those who are unable to tell their stories—those who lost their lives and those who are still in refugee camps. This presentation reminded me of the importance of being accepting and supportive of refugees in their fight for awareness and human rights. Whether it be protests, social media posts or fundraisers, we can all fight for refugees and welcome them to Australia.

Sebastian Behrens Michelle and Bishop Daniel’s discussion about the importance of refugees in communities and their valuable contribution to multicultural Australia was fascinating. Bishop Daniel’s story was moving and personal and made us deeply connect with refugees’ stories of both sadness and hope. I was shocked by the lengthy process experienced by people seeking refuge. Bishop Daniel not only expanded my understanding of being a refugee and a person seeking asylum, but also inspired me to get out there and help those in need. The presentation reinforced the value of refugees, who add to the richness of our multicultural country with diverse religions, languages, cultural traditions and cuisines.

Ashley Marshall This presentation clarified my perception of refugees and people seeking asylum and gave me a new perspective on it as it was a first-person account. Hearing from Bishop Daniel reinforced the hardship experienced by refugees. I learned the owners of the camps can kick refugees out at any time. I found this shocking because I didn’t know they were allowed to do that. I think it is important for us to hear directly from people of refugee backgrounds because it can give us a clear understanding of the struggles and pain they go through. I also thought it was interesting to hear about how Michelle has helped refugees and people seeking asylum.

Learning

in the field

Year 11 students studying Science in Practice and Agricultural Science have taken their studies into the field, gaining practical insight into what they have learned in the classroom.

Science in Practice students toured Wivenhoe Dam, observing water testing to determine the water temperature, examining the pH levels and assessing the turbidity of the water. They were also shown how water is made drinkable using a process called ‘floc’ and learned about various operational tasks that are critical to the dam’s success. Agricultural Science students explored a variety of agricultural productions around the Brisbane area, including the Australian Country Choice (ACC) abattoir in Cannon Hill, Wellington Point Farm strawberry plantation, FlyFarm, Moira Farms Cotton, UQ Gatton campus and Koala Farms lettuce plantation. These excursions gave students a better understanding of how these productions operate in the real world.

C H U R C H I E F O U N DAT I O N

From the Chairman of the

Churchie Foundation

With such a long and rich history of giving, the positive outcomes for the lives of our young men have been enormous. To celebrate this community and the impact of giving, we have been investing in many exciting new strategic initiatives this year.

along with Governor and Senior Patron level members. It was also an opportunity to unveil and showcase the new Foundation honour boards on the mezzanine level in Morris Hall, featuring Governor, Senior Patron and Patron level members.

Craig Spencer (1975) Churchie Foundation Chairman The inaugural biennial lunch for Yalari donors was held in Brenan Pavilion to coincide with the home round rugby match against Toowoomba Grammar School. We look forward to hosting and developing this event in future years. Under the Foundation Constitution, there is provision for an Advisory Council, whose purpose is to provide general advice on matters of interest to the Directors of the Foundation, and for our senior members (Governors and Senior Patrons) to receive updates in relation to the affairs of the Foundation. The inaugural meeting of this Advisory Council was held on the mezzanine level of Morris Hall on Thursday 19 October 2023. In attendance were Board Directors 24

The next exciting strategic initiative, while still in its development phase, is the launch of a website for the Churchie Foundation. This dedicated online presence will increase awareness and better inform our community of the objectives and role of the Foundation and will also serve as an effective communication medium for a half-yearly newsletter to our members. It is planned for this to be officially launched at the beginning of Term 1 in 2024. I am delighted to announce that a capital campaign for the School’s next major project, the Performing Arts Complex (PAC), is being developed. Incorporating a 550-seat concert hall, Black Box theatre and state-of-the-art music and drama teaching facilities, the PAC will provide a wonderful addition to our campus and our arts programme. There will be many donor recognition opportunities and fundraising activities that we look forward to sharing with you over the coming months. On behalf of the Board of the Churchie Foundation, I wish to extend my sincere thanks to you for your investment in the spirit of Churchie. If we can be of assistance at any time, please contact me or David Miles, Director of Engagement Foundation and Old Boys.

Craig Spencer, Glenda Walker and Sydney Walker

Don Home and Anna McCartney

Dr Albert Ting, Dr Alan Campbell and Dr Steven Ting

C H U R C H I E F O U N DAT I O N

Foundation membership

Bequests

The strength of Churchie lies in the spirit of its community. Our long and rich history showcases our unwavering willingness to support each other and demonstrates our commitment to future generations. This is born of the shared innate understanding that a Churchie education is transformative.

At Churchie, we value and appreciate the significant personal commitment of a bequest and the lasting legacy of support it provides to the school community and generations of Churchie students.

This same spirit has seen countless generations of Old Boys, parents, staff and the broader school community generously support the Churchie Foundation. Membership of the Churchie Foundation is an opportunity to invest in the spirit of Churchie and leave a lasting legacy. Cumulative contributions can be made through donations of $5,000 or more. Level

Range

Governor

$300,000 or more

Senior Patron

$200,000–$300,000

Patron

$100,000–$200,000

Fellow

$50,000–$100,000

Associate

$5,000–$50,000

Please note that all levels of membership of the Churchie Foundation are subject to approval by the Churchie Foundation Board.

Bequeathing to the Churchie Foundation keeps the Churchie spirit alive while providing tangible benefits to the School, thus enabling it to continually maintain its high standards of excellence and remain at the forefront of educational and administrative innovation. Since Churchie was founded in 1912, the spirit of giving back has had a significant impact on the progress and enhancement of our school. The 1912 Society was established to acknowledge and honour those who have confirmed their intention to include Churchie in their Will. This enduring tribute of loyalty and generosity will help ensure that Churchie can continue to keep its spirit alive and leave a legacy for future generations. Of the thousands of Churchie Old Boys who have walked the boards of School House, many have returned to the school that was so formative in their lives—as parents or as generous supporters of our school. We acknowledge the historical contribution of those donors who have been instrumental in the development of the School as it stands today. Many of our buildings and facilities bear their names and their legacy lives on.

Invest in the spirit of Churchie:

Learn more about making a bequest:

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O L D B OYS ’ AS S O C I AT I O N

From the President of the

Old Boys’ Association

As the end of the calendar and school year approaches, we look forward to welcoming 205 new Life Members from the cohort of 2023 and wish those young men every success in their studies and their journey ahead.

The end of the year is also an opportunity to reflect and report on our activities in the second half of this year and provide a preview of the year ahead.

Andrew Fleming (1979) President

The OBA’s signature achievement this year was the official launch of the Viking Careers – Mentoring and Job Search Initiative at our Long Lunch in May. We are fortunate to have a sub-committee of energetic members who are building the functionality of this initiative and, to date, have built a panel of over 80 mentors to offer advice to our younger members as they negotiate study, training and/or their early working careers. This initiative has made a modest start, however, it is anticipated that in years to come it will be a potent form of engagement in our blue and grey community.

On Friday 8 September, the second OBA Invitational Golf Day was held at The Brisbane Golf Club, with an enthusiastic group of over 100 Old Boys and friends enjoying an Ambrose competition. A team of four from the 1983 cohort, represented by Andrew Cooper, Andrew Lee, Warwick Oxenford and Steven Pitt, took out The Old Boys’ Shield. The surplus from this event is being applied to supporting our new Viking Careers – Mentoring and Job Search initiative. Over the past few months, we have also hosted many well-attended cohort reunions. On Saturday 9 September, three of those cohorts kicked off their celebrations at Churchie on Old Boys’ Day for the last home round of GPS fixtures for rugby and basketball, followed by dinner at the Norman Hotel. For the remainder of the year, there have been four events on the calendar. On the evening of Thursday 2 November, Old Boys Manager David Miles and I hosted a reunion of Old Boys in Melbourne at the InterContinental Hotel, the first in Victoria since the COVID-19 pandemic. On Monday 20 November, the Annual General Meeting of the Association for 2023 was held in Darnell.

OBA Golf Day

On Sunday 26 November, the Churchie Chess community played in the second OBA Invitational Chess Tournament for The David Smerdon Shield. This is a unique event as it is conducted virtually and is

O L D B OYS ’ AS S O C I AT I O N

Achievements

and honours open to chess players of all levels from the Old Boy community, current students and Churchie parents. As we go to print, on Monday 11 December, the OBA Invitational Tennis Tournament, in which participants will be playing for The John Millman Shield at the David Turbayne Tennis Centre, will be held. This is a social round-robin doubles competition concluding with an informal barbecue. For more information on any of our events or activities, please contact the OBA at oba@churchie.com.au or phone 07 3896 6462. The OBA continues to develop ways to foster engagement with and between our members. In 2024 the committee looks forward to relaunching the Churchie Business Network (CBN), which seeks to stimulate interaction between Old Boys in all types of business and with the wider Churchie community. Our association has much to be proud of over the past several years. This has largely been the result of the collective efforts of the OBA secretariat, David Miles, Casey Ouston and Sophie Mitchell, and the engaged and enthusiastic committee and sub-committee members who have worked selflessly and collaboratively to advance the objectives of this association. This is my last Eagles Wings report, as, after eight and a half years on the OBA Committee (three as President), I am not seeking re-election. It has been an honour to play a small part in the evolution of the Churchie Old Boys’ Association. It is in good hands, and I wish next year’s committee every success in its journey ahead.

We proudly acknowledge the following Churchie Old Boys for their achievements.

Australian awards James Arnold (1977) has been awarded the Australian Intelligence Medal for distinguished service to the National Intelligence Community.

Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Business Awards Bob Menzies (1960) and his son Grant Menzies (1988), who own the family business Adina Watches, won the Platinum Award and the Small Business Award. Trevor Lee (1966), with sons Anthony Lee (1997) and Michael Lee (1998), who own the family business Australian Country Choice (ACC), won the Business Transformation Award. Adam Flaskas (1993), the founder of Howard Smith Wharves, won the Better Brisbane Award.

Jordan Courtney-Perkins (2020) was a member of the Sydney FC team that won The Australia Cup, which is the national soccer knockout cup competition in Australia. Max Craig (2021) has signed with the Queensland Reds. Isaac Tarabay (2016) played halfback for Brothers Rugby Club in their grand final win over Wests in the 2023 Queensland Premier Rugby competition.

General Tony Osborn (1942), our oldest living Old Boy, turned 100 years of age on Thursday 7 September. Billy Jeremijenko (2018) was acknowledged in The Australian as one of the top 100 innovators in Australia.

Sport Adam Walton (2016) claimed his maiden Challenger title in the Atlantic Tire Championships in Cary, North Carolina USA. Zac Stubblety-Cook (2017) won two silver medals at the World Aquatics Championships in Fukuoka, Japan, in the Men’s 200 m Breaststroke and the Mixed 4x100 m Medley Relay. Kalyn Ponga (2015) won the 2023 NRL Dally M Player of the Year and Fullback of the Year. 27

O L D B OYS ’ AS S O C I AT I O N

OBA reunions

and events

Richard Arnold, Ian Campbell, Trevor Best and Ronald Moss, 1948 cohort 75 year reunion

Nick Houston and Blake Bendall, 2013 cohort 10 year reunion

Graham Early, Peter Fry, Bruce Schmidt and Peter Burton, 1963 cohort 60 year reunion

Anthony Davis, Andrew Stephenson and Dugald Scott, 1993 cohort 30 year reunion

Patrick Gibney (2014), John Millman (2006), Ash Holmes (2014) and Nick Black (2014), OBA Golf Day

Greg Overton and Kurt Olsen, 1973 cohort 50 year reunion

O L D B OYS ’ AS S O C I AT I O N

Bruce Duncan, Jim McLeod, Tom Braddock, Gresham Dobson, John Young and Don Cameron, 1958 cohort 65 year reunion

Charlie Perry (1999), Christopher Ellis (former Churchie Headmaster) and Rodney Wetherell (1961), Melbourne reunion

1958 cohort 65 year reunion

1973 cohort 50 year reunion

Brett Emmerson and John Linnane, 1973 cohort 50 year reunion

IN MEMORIAM

Ray Reynolds (1955) Widely known as ‘Sugar’ Ray Reynolds, Ray grew up in Bundaberg where he rode to school on his horse. The family home was on the Fairymead Sugar Mill site in Bundaberg. He went to Bundaberg State High School before commencing as a boarder at Churchie in 1952. His peers describe him as an incredible leader and unsurpassed sportsman of his time. In his final year, Ray was School Captain, Goodwin House Captain, Captain of the Cricket First XI, Captain of the Rugby First XV and Captain of Boxing. Ray was selected into the Cricket First XI from Sub-Junior (Year 9) in 1952 and the Rugby First XV from Junior (Year 10) in 1953. He also captained the GPS All School teams in rugby and cricket, won a GPS Blue in both sports and captained the Queensland Colts cricket team while still at school. His phenomenal school batting record of 1,489 runs over four years at an average of 57 (including seven centuries, five of those not out) is arguably the most eminent cricketing record of any student ever at Churchie, probably never to be equalled.

Vale We respectfully acknowledge the passing of the following Old Boys. To help ensure Old Boys are recognised appropriately, please send notifications to oba@churchie.com.au.

After being selected to play for the Queensland Sheffield Shield cricket team while still at Churchie, Ray made his first-class debut for Queensland in the 1955–56 season. He played 53 matches from 1955 to 1964, averaging 46.48, which included 12 centuries and 13 fifties. His highest score was 203 not out at his favourite ground, the Adelaide Oval. He also played Lancashire League cricket in England 1961–62, and, on returning to Australia, scored runs and did very well. However, he was overlooked for the 1964 Ashes tour, so, at the age of 27, he retired from cricket and went back to Bundaberg to take up cane farming with his brother Norm. In 1979, when the farm was sold, he moved back to Brisbane. From 1979 to 1985 he served as a Queensland selector and as coach of the Queensland Sheffield Shield team from 1985 to 1988. Ray later retired to the Gold Coast where he kept fit by running marathons. He is survived by his wife Melva, his two children Dean (1984) and Melissa, and five grandsons, three of whom have or are attending Churchie in Casey House: Old Boy Jack Wilkins (2022) and his two younger brothers Sam and Max, who are currently in Years 11 and 9 respectively.

Name Donald Stewart Angus (1947) Glenn Roydon Ascott (1981) Earle Wilfred Bailey (1959) James Ross Bennett (1947) Robert Ian Blair (1980) Rodney Vaughan Cole (1946) Brian Leon Crase (1953) Garth Roydon Davies (1950) Andrew Paul Derrington (1985) Kenneth John Foots (1958)

Years at Churchie 1944 – 1946 1977 – 1981 1954 – 1959 1943 – 1947 1973 – 1980 1942 – 1946 1950 – 1951 1947 – 1948 1981 – 1985 1956 – 1958

IN MEMORIAM

Dick Gordon AO (1951) Dick Gordon was born in Brisbane and attended Churchie from 1948 to 1951 as a day student in Grenfell House. With his many contributions to medicine and science, Dick was recognised as a pioneer and world leader in all facets of hypertension, including research, clinical practice, and public awareness and education. He published around 300 scientific papers in peer-reviewed journals and 24 chapters in texts. He completed an MD thesis in 1966 and a PhD thesis in 1981. Notably, Dick also demonstrated the salt-sensitivity of a new syndrome of familial hypertension and hyperkalaemia, which was named Gordon’s Syndrome in recognition of his work.

world-renowned Hypertension Unit at Greenslopes Hospital. The Greenslopes unit has achieved a reputation for meticulous diagnostic procedures, attracting referrals from throughout Queensland and other Australian centres. Dick also served on numerous councils and committees and founded the Queensland Hypertension Association, a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to education and research in the fight against high blood pressure. He was a member of the inaugural Executive Committee of the High Blood Pressure Research Council of Australia, and a member of the Endocrine Society of Australia, the Endocrine Society and the International Society of Hypertension. In recognition of his service to medicine in the field of endocrine causes of hypertension, Dick was honoured as an Officer (AO) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the 1994 Queen’s Birthday Honours. Dick passed away after a brief illness, aged 89. He is survived by his wife Sue, daughters Susie, Sara and Chrissy, and son Michael (1980).

As an endocrinologist, Dick’s training included research fellowships in Melbourne, Adelaide and Nashville (Tennessee). Following these fellowships, he returned to Brisbane in 1970 to head the new section of The University of Queensland (UQ) Department of Medicine at Greenslopes Hospital. He established endocrine units at Greenslopes and Princess Alexandra Hospitals and the now

Name Richard Douglas Gordon (1951) Robert Douglas Gunn (1963) Arthur Neville Harvey (1955) Lloyd Standish Hassell (1951) Ross William Hielscher (1968) Peter Michael Logan (1956) Gary John Edward Lynch (1953) Thomas Alexander Moran (1956) Rajendra Nath (1960) Anthony John Neilson (1959)

Years at Churchie 1948 – 1951 1960 – 1963 1952 – 1953 1950 – 1951 1964 – 1968 1953 – 1954 1950 – 1953 1950 – 1954 1959 – 1960 1956 – 1957

Name Alistair Ellersleigh Nixon-Smith (1958) Peter Manuell Pierce (1949) Trevor James Pitts (1957) George Raymond Reynolds (1955) Paul Edwin Rogers (1953) Christopher Michael Seymour (1966) Stuart William Spenceley (1951) Graham Arthur Thomas (1958) Harold William Westaway (1948) Ian Brownlie Wilson (1946)

Years at Churchie 1955 – 1957 1946 – 1949 1954 – 1955 1952 – 1955 1948 – 1949 1960 – 1966 1947 – 1949 1955 – 1956 1945 – 1948 1943 – 1946

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