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Sean Cowan (00) has a long association with Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School. Sean met his future wife Christa at the School where they were Class of 2000 Head Boy and Head Girl. His parents, Andy and Cherry Cowan, are long time teaching staff and Sean is now involved with the School as a mentor.
After completing Year 12, Sean took a gap year before heading to university in Perth to study physiotherapy. Sean graduated from Curtin University in 2005 and started his physiotherapy career in the public system, initially at Royal Perth Hospital and then overseas at Christchurch Public Hospital in New Zealand where he also spent a lot of time snowboarding and fishing. On returning to Western Australia, he began working in two private practices, one specialising in the treatment of neck and back pain, and the other dedicated solely to treating hand and upper limb injuries. Sean and Christa married in 2011 at the Hawter family farm in Balingup and relocated to Bunbury in 2012 after realising that while cities are cool, the country was cooler! In 2016, Sean became the sole owner of Koombana Physiotherapy—an
experience he finds both rewarding and challenging.
Sean has vivid memories of attending Outward Bound in Year 9 and 11 and to this day still shares stories with school mates about the camps. The teachers at Bunbury Grammar had a significant impact on him as a student. Mr Chris Gibbs is remembered for his unbridled enthusiasm for life, science, pyrotechnics and bonfires. Dr Bruce Matthews provided guidance as a mentor to Sean when he was on the Year 12 Student Executive and this in turn laid the foundation for Sean as a small business owner and now as a mentor himself in the School’s Medical and Allied Health mentoring program. “I have loved the opportunity to be part of a program that encourages a health career pathway, particularly for country students. We are lucky to enjoy an excellent standard of health care here in
Australia, and encouraging country students to become tomorrow’s health care practitioners is one way of ensuring that this continues. I also remember being quite confused about which career to pursue in mid-secondary school and would have loved the opportunity to chat to professionals already working in health at that time.”
Outside of work, Sean is a keen hockey player, as well as a runner and cyclist in the off-season. He has more recently found a passion for distance running, which has given him regular personal experiences of running related injuries! During down time, he loves nothing more than spending time with his wife and their three small children George (6), Annie (4) and Max (2). Ambitious as ever, Sean’s future aims include running a marathon and nailing a work-life balance!
Ms Danielle Hean :: School Community Co-ordinator
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Wedding Belinda Guelfi (08) 2 married Ben Crane in March 2019 at Caves House in Yallingup. The bridal party included Class of 2008 alumni Hannah Archer nee Kay and Gabrielle Golding.
Birth
Harry Kim (97) and wife Aleisha welcomed their second child, Victoria, on 29 July 2019. Victoria joins big sister, Olivia 5 , and the family business, South West Taekwondo Academy.
Emma Herceg nee Breidahl (02) (p 61) and her husband Gabor welcomed their first child, Izabel Marie, on 4 July 2019. Two days prior they got the keys for their dream home, a farm in Argyle, and they are now enjoying life as a family, back in the South West. Kate McNamara nee Oliver (10) and husband Timothy welcomed
their first child, Theodore James McNamara 6 , into the world on 12 April 2019. Kate has been performing around Perth with ensembles such as the St George’s Cathedral Choir and Consort, WASO and the Giovanni Consort. Kate is the Director of Music at St Mary’s Anglican Church in South Perth and has been undertaking conductor development programs with Perth Symphony Orchestra.
Snippets
Dr Rick Newby (75) 10 retired in 2015 as Associate Professor from the School of Accounting and Finance, University of Western Australia. Rick also taught at Edith Cowan University’s Churchlands and Bunbury campuses during his academic career. Rick is living in Bunbury and enjoying being a grandfather following the arrival of grandson, Jonathon.
Bruce Harkness (83) has spent the past twenty years building a successful international career in the field of human resources, leadership development and executive coaching. Bruce has utilised his corporate experiences to write a book called Performance Matters: The Ultimate Career Survival Guide.
Masayuki Yuguchi (00) wrote recently to say thank you for his wonderful experience at the School and in boarding. Masayuki works for a Japanese company and is currently based in London with his family.
Lee Wilson (00) 9 married Chantal in 2017 and welcomed daughter, Liliana, in May 2018. Lee works in procurement and is active in community theatre. He was musical director for a production of Avenue Q and composed and arranged choir pieces for a locally written production.
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Peta Byrne nee Kirke (01) 3 and husband Matthew live in Dardanup with their trifecta of little ladies - daughters Sophie, Katie and rainbow baby Rylee. Peta is currently studying and due to complete her Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) degree in 2020.
James Kouzinas (03) 8 spent 12 years with the National Australia Bank before branching out on his own to start a corporate advisory company. In 2019 his company signed a joint venture with an investment fund from Sydney which led to the creation of Nebula Ventures. James lives in New York with his wife Katy and son Milo.
Jess Burgar (03) registered as an architect in Perth before travelling, which included a ski season in Canada and two years working on superyachts in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. Jess is now based
in the UK and works as property development manager for a large retail business.
Ruben Wills (07) and Ashleigh Sharp (07) 7 recently relocated to Albany after being in the Goldfields for five and a half years. Ruben has a new job at the Museum of the Great Southern as the Operations Manager while Ashleigh is taking a break from her teaching career to look after their 14 month old son, Milo. The family are enjoying the Albany lifestyle and beautiful scenery.
Emily Graham (18) 4 has achieved Gold level in the Duke of Edinburgh International Award. As part of her program, Emily completed a one month exchange in France and attended the ALCOA/Nature Bridge Scholars Program in the Yosemite National Park. Emily is now on a gap year, backpacking around Europe.
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In Memoriam We have been saddened by the loss of the following people from our School community. Our thoughts and prayers are with these families.
Toby Williams, former staff member, husband of Susie. Dianne van Rhyn, mother of staff member Nikki van Rhyn.
Derek Littleton, brother of staff member Ros Malone.
Roger Lindberg, father of Susan (80) and Steven (86). Val Gilmour, former staff member and mother Ian (77) and Jean (80).
Frank de Munck, father of Carlene (87)
Let's Catch Up
Reunions!
Boarder Reunion
Saturday, 14 December 2019
10 Year Reunion Class of 2010
Saturday, 21 March 2020
20 Year Reunion Class of 2000
Saturday, 21 March 2020
30 Year Reunion Class of 1990
Saturday, 21 March 2020
40 Class of 1980 & 81 40 Year Reunion Saturday,
20 March 2021
Join us at THE Combined 40 & 41 YEA R Reunion
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