Reunions

KEY REUNION DATES FOR 2019

3 May - 2017 (2 year) Reunion – City Cite

18 July - Sydney Luncheon

19 July - Queensland Luncheon

5 October - Gala Reunion.... 1979 (40 year), 1989 (30 year), 1999 (20 year) and 2009 (10 year)

10 November - 2014 Reunion (5 year)

13 December - 50+ Luncheon (1969 peer year to be inducted)

FIVE YEAR REUNION

The Class of 2013 had a relaxed afternoon catching up with one another and some staff members at the Lake View Hotel in November 2018.

Sam Hooper, James Ryan, Maddie Meek, Matthew Elliot, Alexander Hynes.

Angela Brain, Shanae Delahunty, Poppy Saxon , Isabella Close.

James Kirkpatrick, Mark Gillam, Lachlan Linsdell, Martin Chadderton, Bardia Mohammadsaeedi, Abbey Connell, Conor Lynch.

Matthew Nevett, Travis Hewat, Jess Whiteside, Joshua Draffin, Angus Wright.

James Kirkpatrick, Joshua Clough, Timothy Finger, Harrison Baker, Matthew Johns, Mitchell Johns.

Georgina Morton, Hannah Wise, Katherine Hammond (holding Hannah’s son, Rex) Jill Coote, Caitlin Headon.

Caitlin Headon, Keitha Theodore, Deb Eldridge, Georgina Morton, Marley Downey, Angela Brain, Isabella Close.

Matthew Tunbridge, Louis Stevens , Phillip Vivian, Cameron Slattery.

A TIME TO CELEBRATE

QUEEN’S OLD GIRLS’ REUNION

On Saturday, 13 October 2018, fifty years since the 1968 Celebrations, the Queen’s community gathered at Manifold House, Australian Catholic University – Aquinas Campus, to honour the old school, share memories of times past and renew acquaintances.

The day was extremely successful with more than 120 “Old Girls” gathering to enjoy morning tea upon arrival, followed by a School Assembly, group photographs, lunch and a guided tour of the campus. Some gathered with their partners for an informal dinner the night before at Oscar’s Hotel and Café Bar.

The Headmaster, Mr Adam Heath, addressed the group sharing stories and history of Queen’s. It was wonderful to see so many of those in attendance proudly sharing their personal memorabilia.

We apologise that we do not have the names of all those in these photos of the Queen’s event, but please enjoy these wonderful pictures, which reflect a beautiful afternoon shared together celebrating The Crimson, the Blue and the Gold!

L-R: Janee McEvoy (Carthew, 1980), Susan McLean (Carthew, 1974), Margaret Cutter (Thomas, 1951), Barbara Carthew (Buckland, 1950), Anne Tunstall (White, 1964).

Thank you to Rose Bygrave for supplying the majority of these photos for the enjoyment of Boomalacka readers.

GALA REUNION

A great evening was had by all who attended the Gala Reunion for peer years 1978, 1988, 1998, and 2008.

1988 – Fiona Love (Brown), Joanna Manderson (Cole).

Some of the 1998 crew! Back row: Beau Sparks, Hugh Stephens Middle Row: Elizabeth Daniel, Emily Wilson (Gilfillan), Pip O’Donoghue (Watts), Kristen Brooks (Cook), Michelle Toose (Dimond), Jonathan Miller, Catherine Chibnall. Front row: Sally Tkatchenko (Pullin), Sally Phillips (Grinham), Liz Drever (Todorovic).

1978 - Andrew Grasby, Paul Gardner, Brett Lewis, Paul Barclay.

2008 – Hannah McMullin, Stephanie Porter, Phoebe Venables, Caitlin Christie.

It was a great afternoon to catch up with peers and reminisce about school days.

Brett Lewis and Rupert Butterworth.

2008 – Sue Hinchliffe, Amelia Cossins, Catherine Pitson, Stephanie Porter, Brittany Kirby, Sarah Lahy.

On arrival, chatting with Headmaster Mr Adam Heath.

1978 - Kaye Jones (Pickering), Susan Heath (Crothers), Nola Squire.

1988 – Olivia Hazledine, Nicola Stephens, Tristan Forrest.

1978 - Christine Deeprose (Russell), Sue Doull, Rupert Butterworth, Heather Downey.

50+ LUNCHEON

On 11 December 2018, the Inaugural 50+ Luncheon was held for former students of Queen’s CEGGS and Ballarat CEGS whose peer year is 1968 or earlier. The Luncheon is an addition to the Ballarat and Queen’s Old Grammarians’ Association’s program of events with the aim to renew friendships and rekindle memories of school years.

We were thrilled to welcome 160 past students of the Schools and their partners from across Australia. Many apologies were received expressing disappointment at not being able to attend.

The program was informal, with the Headmaster, Mr Adam Heath, engaging the crowd with questions about memorabilia; hats and caps were modelled by some of the newly appointed Guardians (the title we now use for the School Student Leaders), who also presented the specially minted 50+ badges to the eligible attendees. The Queen’s girls sang a joyful rendition of The Crimson, the Blue and the Gold and the Grammar boys sang Serva Fidem with gusto. Besides catching up with old friends, reminiscing, telling stories about old times and undertaking tours of the School, one of the highlights of the day was hearing the “Old Boys” deliver the Boomalacka war cry with energy, spirit and enthusiasm.

The day was an outstanding success. Many very positive emailed comments were received including…”what a thrill to be able to stand and proudly sing the School Song”…”I talked and talked and laughed - just terrific”…”I found it heart-warming”. Therefore the Ballarat and Queen’s Old Grammarians’ Association will hold the 50+ Luncheon annually.

After careful consideration of the complexities of the extraordinarily busy School year and the attendant administrative requirements, it has been decided that the 2019 Luncheon will be held on Friday, 13 December. Mark the date in your diaries now! The 1969 peer year students will reach the 50+ milestone this year; they will be honoured and inducted into the illustrious 50+ cohort at the Luncheon.

L-R: Jill Salathiel (McRae, 1963), Nina Allen (Clappison, 1962), Josephine Dowd (Willis, 1962), Patricia Clark (Walter, 1961), Dorothy Kemp (Gordon, 1962), Robyn Edwards (Paine, 1960), Denise Anderson (Edlund, 1961), Roslyn Smith (Whitworth, 1962), Audrey Aspeling (Nixon, 1962), Alice Knight (1962), Jenny Haymes (Faull, 1962), Judy Comley (Keens, 1963), Barbara Fleay (Ward, 1962), Kay Blake (Tucker, 1963).

Josephine Dowd (Willis, 1962), Negley Aspeling, Audrey Aspeling (Nixon, 1962), Peter Cram (1950), Dorothy Cram.

Ralph Leutton, Felicity Crowley (Hewitt, 1965) Margaret Leutton (Johnson, 1966).

David Fawell (1954), Jim Hinton (1951), Grant Hinton (1958), Adrian Harris (1959), Wayne Hinton (1951).

Bill Martin (1955), Nanette Martin, Ann Fawell, David Fawell (1954)

Lloyd Linsdell, Angus Le Marshall, Laura Le Marshall (President of the BQOGA), Dorothy Linsdell (Wilson, 1949) Laura’s Great Aunt.

Roslyn Smith (Whitworth, 1962), Jill Salathiel (McRae, 1963), Beverley McRae (Pilgrim, 1960), Tony Fleay, Barbara Fleay (Ward, 1962) and Judy Comley (Keens, 1963).

David Rowan (1966), Alice Knight (1962).

2019 Guardian Ruby Mulcahy and School Captain Stephanie Hancock model some Queen’s hats.

Geoff Oscar AM (1950) thoroughly enjoyed the 50+ Luncheon. We enjoyed his letter of reflection to the Headmaster and the President of the OGA, and have taken the liberty of publishing some of that letter here....

Please accept these belated but warm thanks for your hospitality in providing such a memorable 50+ Luncheon. In my case, make that a 68+ Luncheon. It was made all that more enjoyable by sharing the occasion with the thirteen contemporaries met on the day. I had not seen Dr Geoff Oddie since leaving school, so it was great that he had made the trip from Sydney to attend.

As you will know, my Ballarat Grammar was very small indeed, with Jack Dart as Headmaster. It is with pride that I think of the magnificent achievements of my fellow Matriculation year students – quite outstanding for any sized school. I think it was that because we were so small, we were bonded together to collectively achieve the very best we could.

I had ‘Bounce’ Hatfield as my teacher for Chemistry, Physics, Pure Mathematics and Applied Mathematics. We were joined in some subjects by Elaine Hall, Kira Mather and Lorimer Waddy who cycled from Queen’s to join us. On a snowing winter’s day, having run the last gauntlet down the longish drive from the front gates, pelted mercilessly by snowballs on the way, it was off to Matron’s room to dry off in front of the fire before joining us in the Lab.

Living close near the Botanic Gardens, in the heat of the summer holidays, I would get a call from the Headmaster to enquire if I was willing to help dig up his prized potato crop. That was to be the time that, over lunch in the residence with Jack and Mrs Dart, one saw the other side of a rather self-contained, patrician-like figure.

Great and formative days that have stood me well in later life, inspired by the simple credo, Serva Fidem. - Geoff Oscar