Personal Notes

(Number in brackets is the alumni year)

Jim Cox (54) I left Barker in Year 10 to undertake the three year agriculture diploma course at Hawkesbury Agriculture College. After successfully completing the course I spent the next nine years in PNG as an agricultural officer assisting locals at village level producing and processing crops such as copra, rubber, cocoa, coffee, tobacco and dryland rice. I then returned to Queensland working briefly in the sugarcane industry before moving to Tasmania to produce strawberry runner plants supplying growers Australia-wide. Starting with one tractor and one cool-room we had expanded to three tractors and three cool-rooms at time of selling out. We retired to Devonport where life is good. My wife, Val and I are members of the local Country Club where we have taken up croquet, playing in social and pennant matches. Our second son David lives next door and joins us in our happy hour sessions playing Chinese chequers - lots of fun. Still retain vivid memories of Headmaster W S Leslie (aka The Boss) who was always strict but fair.

Arthur Hunt (58) and his wife Laurel recently completed a 7,000 km return trip from Yeppoon in Queensland to Tasmania. The trip enabled Arthur to attend the 1958/59 reunion lunch in Sydney in February. The story of their trip has been published in the Clean Technica newsletter https://cleantechnica. com/2023/03/08/charger-problem-so

Begbie brothers – Ian (58), Graeme (63), Malcolm (60) and Hugh (67) After a five year gap, in April the Begbie brothers were at last able to meet for a much desired and long planned family reunion in Sydney. Ian and Graeme are now both retired in Sydney, but still volunteering in their retirement villages. Hugh travelled down from Queensland where he lives, leaving a locum to join us. Malcolm came from Hong Kong where he serves with his wife Sally as Founding Directors of Crossroads Foundation, an international Hong Kong based, non-profit organisation serving global need. Monthly internet chats not-withstanding, they and their families all agreed nothing beats being physically together again.

Left to right Graeme, Ian, Hugh & Malcolm

John Robins (67) and his son Josh Robins (16) visited Barker in March. Josh is based in LA and was visiting in Sydney for a friend’s wedding. They enjoyed meeting staff and touring the Rosewood Centre, admiring the facilities available for current students.

Ian Somerville (73) and Philip Barrie (73) discussed their upcoming 50 year reunion over breakfast on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ian was an accountant and worked for many years for BHP Engineering (Sydney, Perth and ultimately settling in Melbourne with his wife and five children) and prior to “retirement” was CEO of BHP Credit Union. Post retirement, Ian returned to his love, as demonstrated in many of the Barker drama productions, to the theatre and is still a Financial Consultant to the Entertainment industry working with Global Creatures which have been responsible for Broadway Musicals Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding as well as King Kong and Walking with Dinosaurs.

Philip Barrie, now Head of Regional Safety – Asia Pacific at CAE, worked previously as Manager Pilot Training at Etihad Airways, previous a 747 Captain for the Bahrain Royal Family, an Instructor/Captain for Gulf Air and a 747 pilot for Singapore Airlines.

Tim Strong (79) has been the Dean of Medicine at University of Tasmania since August 2021. Previously he was Staff Specialist Anaesthetist at Launceston General Hospital between 2001 and 2021. He is married to Dr Jane Strong with four sons aged 29, 27, 26 and 21.

Tanya Moore (05) and Jason Bryan finally celebrated their wedding on 8 March 2023. It was a long time coming after the proposal in 2019 and having planned to be married in October 2020. Unfortunately, with the pandemic they had to postpone the wedding twice but after a patient wait, they were able to finally have their celebration in beautiful Bali with all their closest friends and family! A lovely ceremony attended by several Barker Alumni. Takaya Honda (05) as a Bridesman, Alex and Matt Williams (05), Joel O'Brien (05) and Kate Stevenson (04). Tanya’s brother Sean Moore (08) sang at the wedding.

Tanya has many great memories from her time at Barker. She played in the 1st XI Girls Soccer Team, was the first girl to play in the 1st Volleyball squad, was Cha Cha in Grease the Musical, played Puk in the Year 12 play Midsummer Nights Dream and received an Art Express nomination.

Emilia Richards (07) visited Barker in May to donate two copies of her debut novel Weyward before returning to London. She writes under the pen name Emilia Hart and her book is already a New York Times bestseller. Emilia acknowledged her English teacher, Althea Halliday in her book and shared how much she loved her time at Barker and the excellent teaching and pastoral care which had a huge impact on her.

Piper Duck (19) became the youngest ever Super W Captain when the Waratah’s opened their season in March and in late May was named the Wallaroos Captain.

Georgie Oldham (20), Natalie Sawyer (20) and Ben Peden (20) were awarded AgriFutures Australia Horizon Scholarships for 2023/24. This is an incredibly well deserved recognition and a very exciting opportunity for each of them. The sponsors they will work with are: Ben - AgriFutures evokeAg (Ag/Tech), Natalie - Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), Georgie - Cotton Research & Development Corporation (CRDC).

Alana Kavanagh (21) was recently awarded player of the tournament at the U21 National Hockey championships (NSW took out the championship) and has recently been named in the Australia A team to play in the Hockeyroos against India in an upcoming series in Adelaide.

Lachlan Hooper (22) and Ned Slack-Smith (21) were selected in the Junior Wallabies Training Squad. Lucy Barden (22) was awarded the S&S Creativity Unlimited Award at the TEXStyle HSC Exhibition for her beautiful work entitled ‘Katniss’. The TEXStyle HSC Exhibition is an annual event, designed to showcase excellence and promote Textiles and Design in both the education and wider communities.

Baptisms in the Barker Chapel

19 February, Robert David Steel, son of Sylvia and David Steel (04, current Junior School Teacher)

12 March, Tahlia Annette Tong, daughter of Ashley and Nicholas Tong (06)

2 April, Cruz Robin Walter, son of Jarrod and Laura Walter (Hayter 09), Xander John Hayter, son of Steve and Nicole Hayter (Tracy 06)

16 April, Sadie James Hunter, daughter of Mitchell Hunter (08) and Lauren Hunter

Weddings in the Barker Chapel

22 May, Daniel Chua (Staff Member, Maths) and Pinysia Supahdi

Joanna Kong (22) Tom Vercoe (22) attended the Legal Studies Association of NSW Top 20 evening early March which recognised their success in their Legal Studies HSC exams. Tom was 1st in State, and Joanna came 9th.

13 May 2023 Chris Bradbury (11) married Aria Grace (11). Several alumni attended the wedding, including Nicole Fagen (11) and Nick Bradbury (11) in the bridal party. It was a very special occasion for all, particularly Aria's parents, Sandra and Richard Grace (78), who were married in the Barker Chapel in 1987.