Roll Call - May 2009

LasaLLian RoLL CaLL

Contents

Editorial

Welcome to the May issue of Roll Call . This issue has something for everyone. With the 2009 AFL Season underway, footy fans, especially Carlton supporters, will delight in our interview with Andrew Carrazzo. Car lovers will be pleased to read that Roll Call was recently track side at Sandown Raceway, talking V8 SuperCars with Mason Nicola. Culture buffs will appreciate Redmond Casey’s short story, “We’ll all be Ruined” and there’s also news of our recent VCE achievers and the latest Coolies’ trip to India. There are photos of the College’s new teaching facility and the recent 50-plus reunion, by our intrepid photographer, Jonathan Hewett. Also in this issue we welcome new contributor Alexander Hay, who will be reporting on the Old Coll’s footy club. Alexander, who is a current student at the College, takes over from Colin Glover who has been a loyal contributor to Roll Call over the years. On behalf of all the readers, I would like to thank Colin for his regular columns, and wish him all the best for the future. And last, but not least, we feature a farewell to Br Bill who leaves the College for Sudan in July. He will certainly be missed, and we look forward to his news in future issues.

Soon to Sudan

Br Bill attended De La Salle as a student from 1951 to 1961, taught here in 1972 and 1973, and has been Principal since 2005. In July, he will conclude his work at De La Salle and prepare to leave for Southern Sudan. The present Deputy Principal, Mr Peter Riordan, will become Acting Principal, and the College Board will soon announce the appointment of the next Brother to be Principal from March in 2010. Br Bill talks here about his next calling.

“Did you really volunteer for Sudan?” I have been asked many such questions. “How do you feel about leaving De La Salle and going to Sudan?” Even, “did you do something wrong that ‘they’ are punishing you by sending you to Sudan?”

Late year, Brother Ambrose Payne, Australian Provin cial, informed the Brothers of a project called ‘Solidar ity with Southern Sudan’. He outlined the situation in Malakal, where the project is heading up a consortium of twenty religious congregations in the establishment of a Teachers’ Training Centre. He said that the Supe rior General of the Brothers, Brother Alvaro Rodriguez, had written formally to the District of Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, inviting them to take up the challenge.

“I write to you to make a formal invitation to consider the sending of one or two Brothers of your District to the Inter-Congregational project of Solidarity with Southern Sudan... it is important to start raising aware ness in your District … and finding volunteers to take this challenge with enthusiasm and hope.”

The date proposed was September 2009. When I read this general invitation to take up ‘this challenge with enthusiasm and hope’, I recall thinking not much more than “Southern Sudan — sounds a long way away.” My focus was fully on De La Salle College.

Some time later, however, at a Provincial Council meet ing, Brother Ambrose reported that there had not been a rush of volunteers. I responded quietly that I would be happy to volunteer. A few weeks later, he said to me: “Would you go?” My response was simply: “I said I would go. I’m happy to go”. There was no earth shat

Cover: Bronze sculture of John Baptist de la Salle by Anthony Russo

tering decision to leap in the dark — just fidelity to the vow I made when I joined the Brothers “to go wherever I may be sent and to do whatever may be required of me”

The De La Salle Brothers give priority to respond ing to those most in need. Ambrose told me Sudan is regarded as one of the poorest countries on earth, devastated by 21 years of civil war. Since 1974, I have been Principal of three city schools interspersed with work for the very needy at BoysTown. Now it is my turn to use my talents and acquired skills, in a less comfort able situation, assisting the innocent victims of colonial domination and civil war to build a new future.

Where exactly in Africa is Sudan, I wondered? I now know that Sudan is the largest and one of the least known countries of Africa, just below Egypt, with an es timated population of 40 million. The mighty Nile rises in Southern Sudan and flows through the north into Egypt. Sudan is a predominantly Muslim country but with significant numbers of Christians living in the south. The statistics speak for themselves: 92% of the popula tion live below the “poverty line”; the illiteracy rate in Southern Sudan is almost 85%; only 22% of children go to school; 2.3% complete primary school; one girl in a hundred completes primary and only 7% of teachers have had any kind of training.

The Comprehensive Peace Agreement, signed in January 2005, granted autonomy to Southern Sudan, a region the size of Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and Burundi combined, with a population in the vicinity of 10 million and a secular government. A referendum is scheduled for 2011 to decide whether or not Southern Sudan secedes from the north where there is an Islamic Shari’a government. That could be a critical time as the south is the source of vital oil and mineral resources. There is no Australian Embassy in Sudan but there is one in Egypt. Some people have spoken to me about perceived danger. In fact the Australian Government website bluntly advises one not to go there and, if you are there, to get out fast! Never one to lack confidence, I remain, nonetheless, quite at ease. I now find myself often quoting Albert Camus: “What doesn’t kill me makes me stronger”.

The Bishops Conference of Southern Sudan appealed to the leaders of Religious Institutes in Rome for help. In collaboration with other Religious Institutes, the Brothers have committed to establishing a distance learning programme of teacher education, based at Malakal in Southern Sudan and served by a network of satellite centres in each of the eight dioceses. The first

phase of the operation will be to teach English language skills to existing teachers. The Government of Southern Sudan has recently mandated for all schools to move from an Arabic pattern of education to an English pat tern.

In preparation for my trip I have addressed sundry questions to a Salesian Sister currently in Malakal. When I asked whether or not I needed to take anything warm, she responded:

‘I do not think any woollens are needed but just in case of an emergency you may carry at least one. But do come prepared for the rainy season (and especially the wet clay soil). During the dry season, it is hot and humid, the temperature goes up to 50oC.”

Travel by road is difficult. There are only 73 kilometres of sealed roads in the whole country. I asked which bank would be most convenient to use. The reply left me thinking I would need a large pair of socks filled with money:

‘In Malakal there is a bank. Money transfer is done through the North and hence is a long process and takes months — at times a year — for the money to arrive. It could be Euros or US dollars. I would suggest you carry all that you think is required. We are permit ted to move out of Sudan every year. So you could well open an account either in Ethiopia or Kenya that is the only and best option…

Regarding credit cards, in Southern Sudan, credit cards are not used, only cash, either in dollars or local cash. I just want to inform you that if you are carrying US dol lars in southern Sudan only 2006 notes are accepted, and the same is in Kenya, if I am not mistaken. The rate of exchange is US$1 = 2.2 Sudanese pounds. Addi tional information regarding the cost of living in south Sudan — the cost of 2 eggs is 1 Sudanese pound — almost half a dollar.’

Several times the need for a torch with rechargeable batteries has been stressed. I am thinking a batterypowered fan would be helpful for sleeping on the hot nights without electricity. She added the following help ful hints:

‘It would be advisable to get a bath towel and small face towels to keep wiping the sweat from your face.... We shall provide bed sheets but not toiletries...soaps are available in the market US$1 for two pieces of bath soap, shampoo US$5 ... ‘

The challenges in Southern Sudan are obviously great and perhaps it would be good to be younger in under taking this task. On the other hand, age liberates one from fear of the future. I have already had a great life.

Top of their Class

2008 was a very successful year for VCE at De La Salle College with the best ENTER results in almost a decade. Twenty-nine students received an ENTER over 90; eleven over 95. Three boys received a perfect score of 50 in Maths and English, making 2008 the most successful year for VCE excellence in almost a decade.

More than 90 per cent of the 200 students who completed VCE last year received a tertiary offer in Round One, with the remaining 10 per cent gaining employment or travelling overseas for a GAP year. Twelve of the 200 completed the Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL), progressing into traderelated employment or further training. The most popular course options amongst the top-achieving students were Science, Engineering, Arts, Architecture, Commerce and Film & Television.

Dux of the College for 2008 was Peter Selwood with an ENTER of 99.6 and Proxima Accesit was Andrew Scott, with an ENTER of 98.3. With their College days behind them and the next chapter of their lives underway, Roll Call caught up with the top five VCE achievers of the class of 2008.

Peter Selwood (99.6) was awarded a Dean’s Scholarship to study Science at Monash University. Peter, who attended Holy Family Primary in Mt Waverley, said he was strongly influenced by his older sister who is doing a PhD in Science. Peter says

he eventually wants to go into research and work overseas. During his College years, Peter was very active in a range of endeavours, playing club football and cricket, ACC Hockey, playing guitar and working part-time.

Andrew Scott (98.3), who was awarded a full ViceChancellor’s Scholarship to study Civil Engineering at Swinburne University, says his father, also an engineer, was an inspiration during Year 12. Andrew attended Glen Iris Primary School and during his time at De La was involved in a range of extra curricular activities including ACC Soccer and table tennis. He also tutored younger students in Maths. Outside the College, Andrew both played and refereed indoor soccer.

Daniel Esposito (98.1), who is studying Science at the University of Melbourne and hopes to specialize in Engineering, attended Christ Our Holy Redeemer Primary in Oakleigh. At the College, Daniel was involved in music and played guitar in the College Ensemble. He stills plays guitar and eventually hopes to travel to Italy.

Mitchell Robertson (98) is studying Arts at the University of Melbourne. He was a College Leader in 2008 and took part in the “Coolies 08” trip to India. (see page 11) Mitchell’s reputation, as a contemporary music aficionado, was consolidated when he appeared as a contestant on SBS’s Rockwiz program last year. He attended Glenhuntly Primary and hopes one day to study law. He said that the India trip had a huge impact on his life and he wants to put his skills towards helping people less fortunate than himself.

Justin Calache (97.85) has ambitions to travel overseas when he finishes Dentistry at the University of Melbourne. Justin, who already speaks fluent French, taught himself to speak Japanese over the holidays, although he admits he still can’t read Japanese. As well as studying at Melbourne, he is also working there part-time to help pay off his anticipated HECS debt. Justin attended St Benedicts Primary in Burwood and was involved in Public Speaking and the College book club, “Ric Rac” during his time at De La Salle.

Students with a VCE ENTER score 90 and above in 2008

Thomas Dobson 90.2 David Gonzales 90.35 Joseph La Delfa 90.4 Michael Raymond 90.5 Jack Peterson 90.55 David Murphy 90.6 Luke Rana 90.7 Joshua Porozny 90.9 Zachary Attard 91.25 John Di Natale 91.5 Benjamin Hausler 92.05 Matthew Warr 92.5 Nicholas Kyriazis 92.75 Ben Nethersole 93.15 Jack O’Halloran 93.35 Guy Ripepi 94.05 Jack Murray 94.1 Kieran Ellis 94.3 Sheldon Oski 95.15 Thomas Donaghey 95.6 Jeremy Baker 95.95 Aleck MacNally 96.8 Redmond Casey 97.7 Vaughan Stedman

Justin Calache

Mitchell Robertson 98 Daniel Esposito

Andrew Scott

Peter Selwood

New building opens

This month a new $3.6 million building opened on the Kinnoull Campus. Designed by Melbourne-based firm Latitude Architects, the new building houses a 230-seat state-of-the-art theatre, a new canteen and seating area, and two classrooms.

The new facility will provide a new purpose-built performance space and extra classrooms long needed at Kinnoull.

“The Kinnoull Campus has been very tight for teaching space. The occupancy rate of the rooms is over 90%, much higher than on the Tiverton Campus. So this new building essentially increases teaching space,” Principal Br Bill said.

The building also includes a fully-equipped theatre, named the St Miguel Theatre, with back-projection facilities, and stage lighting for theatrical performances and film screenings.

Br Bill said the St Miguel Theatre would also provide a dedicated space on the Senior Campus for school assemblies and a venue for guest speakers.

“The Theatre provides an excellent assembly venue, which has previously been lacking on the Kinnoull Campus, and it opens up increased possibilities for guest speakers and presentations by staff,” Br Bill said.

In the tradition of naming the College facilities after great Lasallian educators and scholars, the new theatre is named in honour of Br Miguel Cordero.

“Br Miguel, who was born in 1854 and became the first Ecuadorian

to be canonized, was a gifted teacher and wrote extensively on literature and the natural sciences. It is only fitting that, as a great scholar and teacher, his name will grace our new theatre,” Br Bill said.

The new building, with its stunning copper-wrapped facade abutting the Malvern Cricket Ground, provides a significant visual street frontage for the Kinnoull Campus.

“This is an iconic building which ‘advertises’ De La Salle to the wider community,” Br Bill said.

Part of the Kinnoull development included refurbishing the surrounding courtyards with extra seating and improved playing areas.

“By redeveloping the courtyard we have also been able to improve access to the Old Collegians building and to the staff room and give the central quadrangle a fresh and unified appearance. We have also opened up the courtyard to take advantage of the open space provided by Malvern Oval,” he said.

“Good students need a healthy environment. The resurfaced top courtyard provides active recreation space while the quadrangle is designed for passive recreation. There is a good a balance in meeting the

various needs of the students.”

Br Bill said the Kinnoull Campus’ new facilities will set the College up for the future, and represents a coming of age for De La Salle as it approaches its Centenary.

Plans for the proposed new chapel are still going ahead with the aim of having it in place for the Centenary in 2012. “We are still planning the chapel but need to raise more funds. The economic downturn means that the fund-raising appeal is on hold, low interest rates, on the other hand, make it easier to fund such a project through loans,” Br Bill said.

“We would like to mark the centenary with the completion of a chapel of St John Baptist De La Salle, which would make strong statement of the enduring priorities of this Catholic College.”

Making the wheels

By Kerry Martin

For someone who doesn’t drive a car, Mason Nicola certainly knows a lot about them. So much so in fact, that he is currently the lead mechanic for a Melbournebased racing car team. The PowerPlus 98 Team, has had more than moderate success since Mason joined them three years ago, winning top races and taking

first time and a passion for fast cars was ignited and has since led him on a remarkable career path.

“When I was 13 years old, I went to Phillip Island Race track and I met up with a family friend who was involved in Go Karts — I just loved it. After that I got a part-time job as a Senior Track Marshall at Auscarts Indoor Go Kart Centre the following year and started to teach myself about cars”. In Year 10 at De La, I did a VET subject at Box Hill TAFE studying motor mechanics. After that I moved on to Kangan Batman TAFE in Richmond and did a Schoolbased Apprenticeship as part of De La’s VCAL program.

out thousands of dollars in prize money. Recently, Roll Call caught up with Mason at Melbourne’s Sandown Racetrack, where he recounted his success since graduating from De La Salle in 2006.

Growing up in inner-city Windsor, public transport was usually the best option for Mason and given that he still lives there, it is not surprising that he doesn’t own a car. As a young boy he walked around the corner to Our Lady of Lourdes Primary and later caught the tram up High Street to De La Salle. However it was a surprise to learn this young 21-year-old, who spends his whole life around cars, still doesn’t drive a car himself.

Mason’s love of cars started when he was very young. His father took him to the Phillip Island Track for the

“When I finished, I studied with the Kangan Batman Automotive Race team and learnt all the motor sport skills. While doing my Apprenticeship I was a member of the pit crew on a V8 Supercar with the HSV Dealer Team.”

“Now I am with PowerPlus 98 team based in Braeside which is part of the Shannon’s International Series.”

The cars under Mason’s care are worth as much as $300,000 and drivers can earn as much as $10,000 a race. Shane Price is the team’s current driver, who previously drove with the Jack Daniels team.

Mason hopes to eventually end up in Europe with a team like Le Mans, but in the meantime he would like to further his experience working with a Series One V8 Super Car Team.

“I am trying to move into Level One V8 Super Cars and gain experience with them. Ultimately I would like to end up in Germany or Italy. Those guys earn serious money and have a lot of fun.”

wheels go round

Maintaining a racing car is a full-time job for two mechanics and, when we met Mason at Sandown, he and his off-sider Mark were pulling the car apart looking for a problem in the pistons. Mason assured me it would be ready in time for the race that weekend. When he is not working on fast cars, Mason looks after his pet python and seven turtles and spends time with his girlfriend Jessica who he met at on a Custom Spray Painting course three years ago. Unlike Mason, Jessica didn’t pursue a career around cars and is now doing a Food Sciences Course. Fortunately for Mason, Jessica likes spending time at the track. Next month Mason is finally going for his licence, so we may see him behind a wheel one day. In the meantime he is happy to have his head under the hood.

Homeless World Cup

Our Founder in bronze

A five metre high bronze sculpture of the College Founder is a feature of the recently opened building on the Kinnoull Campus. An image of St John Baptist de la Salle has been cast in bronze and mounted on the building’s eastern facade facing the main courtyard. (See cover)

Sculptor Anthony Russo said the sculpture borrowed from the Founder’s true features while capturing an image of today. “I have used some abstraction to engage the viewer to the spiritual side of John Baptist and the work of the De La Salle brothers,“ Mr Russo said. “I have combined a classical approach with contemporary technologies, such as laser cutting and contemporary steel fabrication.”

The image of the Founder features a steel arc. “The arc, in polished stainless steel, symbolizes the curve of the olive branches in the College crest.”

Crowds packed Federation Square in December to view the final day of the 2008 Homeless World Cup. Representatives from more than 50 countries were joined by school children from all over Melbourne, including our very own De La Salle dance troupe, delighting the crowd with their choreographed moves and urban art.

Mr Russo, whose other work includes significant public and contemporary liturgical sculptures, said the commission for the Kinnoull building was both challenging and rewarding. “The most practical challenge faced when working on an artwork of this scale is to create a piece which works with the architecture and is complimentary to the materials and forms used in construction.”

Coolies ’08

This year Mitchell Robertson (2008) commences an Arts Degree at the University of Melbourne. Recently returned from the Coolies ’08 Trip, Mitchell shares his experience with our readers.

Immediately following our final VCE exams, a group of 10 students from the Class of 2008 volunteered for an experience, which changed our lives forever. Our job was to finish a building at a Lasallian school in the small village of Keesara, Andhra Pradesh, in India. The school caters for children of all religions from pre-school to university age. The new building would provide classrooms, a girls’ hostel, and an assembly hall. Construction of the new building had stalled due to lack of finances. But with the $40,000 our group raised during the year, the project was resurrected.

Nothing can really prepare the first-time visitor for India. We were both shocked and mesmerised by what we saw. There was certainly a great deal of poverty everywhere, which was shocking, but we could still see the beauty of the landscape and the people, who despite having so little, were still so happy. We were warmly welcomed at the school by both the Lasallian Brothers community and the students.

The construction work was hard, although to see the progress that was made and the smiles on the faces of the children made it definitely worth every second and every drop of sweat. Known as “Coolies”, or unskilled workers, our group carried large loads of bricks (our average was around 600 each per day!), bagged and carted sand (to be used in the concrete) and moved other building materials, such as sheets of metal, wooden planks and scaffolding. As the month passed, it was rewarding to see the building take shape. At the end of our fourweek stay it was sad to leave what had become our new “home.”

After the hard work was over we spent two weeks travelling to many beautiful and wonderful places around India, such as the World Heritage listed forts in Hampi and the bustling city of Bangalore. We also experienced Indian trains, an unforgettable experience! Christmas was spent in Mangalore, where we’d met up with a group of girls from Star of the Sea College, who were working on a similar project in Tamil Nadu.

Despite being a long way from home, it was great to see how different cultures celebrate Christmas.

Coolies ’08 was an experience which each of the us will undoubtedly carry with us forever. I know personally that it taught me so much – about myself and about life - and it was truly something that I will never ever forget.

By Mitchell Robertson

De La Salle staff, Br Denis Loft and Mr and Mrs Thompson, led coolies ’08. Coolies ’09 will depart Melbourne in November.

Keeping the Blue alive

By Alexander Hay

Andrew Carrazzo graduated from De La Salle in 2001 and now plays for Carlton. Current De La student and aspiring sports journalist, Alexander Hay, talks to Andrew about life as an elite football player.

What influence did De La Salle have on your career?

“The College was very supportive of my football ambitions. In particular, Mr Matt Breen, who was a teacher at the time, really helped me improve my fitness. He taught me how to make the most of opportunities. He recognised my football abilities and pushed me to reach my potential.”

Was sport a big part of your life at De La Salle? “Sport was a big part of my life at De La. I played basketball and ACC Cricket and football in Years 11 and 12. That was really the last time I got to have fun and play sport with my mates, which really is what it’s about. As you get older you have to make choices. I remember in Year 12, I chose not to play in a game against Parade College to conserve energy for an important Victorian Team game two days later. I knew that there would be lots of AFL Scouts at that game and I really wanted to give it my best shot. I remember it was not a popular decision with the De La Football Coach at the time.”

When did you first realise you wanted to play for the AFL?

“When I was younger I always played basketball — that was my passion. But around 16, I started to improve my football game. I was playing ACC and getting selected by local football (Representative) teams. This made me realise I could have a chance to try out for the AFL.”

In 2002, you were drafted into Geelong. What effect did that have on you at the time?

“I was extremely happy to be drafted into the AFL. It was a very happy day for me personally — I was over the moon. I was disappointed, however, that I would have to leave Melbourne. I had been training with Carlton for a while and was hoping I might get to stay in Melbourne. But I was just so happy to be drafted it didn’t matter.”

Andrew Carrazzo’s Football Career

Graduated De La Salle College

Drafted to Geelong in the Rookie Draft

Played VFL for Geelong

to Carlton in the pre-season draft.

his

place at

for the

20

You certainly had more success at Carlton than you did at Geelong, why do you think this was the case?

“I was given more opportunities at Carlton. At Geelong I didn’t come off the Rookie list or play a senior gameso I couldn’t prove myself. I think being given a second chance by the Blues made me determined to do well.”

How did you cope with being dropped from the team in the same year as you achieved an amazing 51 disposals?

“I had been going up and down for weeks, (being dropped back to the Seconds and put back up into

in the

Blue and Gold

the Seniors) but then I was given a real “kick up the bum” by one of the coaches associated with the Club. He said to me ‘you are much too good to be playing in the Seconds. You need to work harder and get yourself back up into the Seniors.’ That day I got 51 disposals and never looked back.”

After winning the 2007 Carlton Best and Fairest Award and averaging 26 disposals a game you are now recognised as an elite player. How does that feel?

“Well, I certainly don’t think I’m an elite player. I just try to reach my next set of goals, which I set every couple of weeks. This year my goal is to play my 100th game.”

Do you sometimes find yourself in awe of some of the players around you?

“I definitely do, but one can’t get caught up in it. I often see players like Gary Ablett Jr or ‘Buddy’ Franklin do something amazing and think wow, that’s incredible. In my mind, I tell myself I’m as good a player as they are, not in an arrogant way but just as a confidence boost. It helps to deal with it when I come up against them.”

What advice would you give to anyone striving to play AFL?

“Enjoy your footy while you’re young, but if you get an opportunity, take it and make the most of it. Take in as much information in as possible. If you get a chance to speak to anyone with experience, for example someone like Kevin Sheedy or Robert Harvey, listen and try and turn it into a positive.”

Photograph courtesy Carlton Football Club

In 2008 Redmond Casey graduated from De La Salle College with a perfect score in English. Redmond’s article, We’ll all be Ruined, written in the form of a letter, was published in the Melbourne University anthology “Selected Stories” late last year. The letter speaks of the pain and hardship of drought, a sombre wakeup call in light of the recent “Black Saturday” bushfires.

Dear Sis,

Hope all is well in Italy. I can’t imagine how much fun you’re having! Everyone’s well back home, however, the state of affairs on the farm is pretty grim. Time can do awful things and I regret to tell you the farm hasn’t been taking it well of late. The rain is yet to come and the dams are nearing empty. Things are looking pretty dire. Granddad continues to keep the faith. What optimism! Mine is less inclined. I’ve only ever seen drought and the land’s a bloody dustbowl now. It’s surely the worst ever; even mum thinks so. Granddad says ‘no way’ and talks of his father faring far worse from the droughts of 1914. I tell him he must be pulling my leg. I tell him the gum-trees are drying out, but he always has some positive spin. Apparently red gums are great firewood. I mean I love a sunburnt country as much as the next man, but surely this is too much! There’s something insidious about this drought. Yesterday it thundered all day, but not a drop of rain. How cruel!

You know, I’ve never seen Three Mile Creek run. I can’t imagine it flooding its banks up to the front of the house, as mum describes it doing when she was a child. She’s still frustrated about her olives. ‘Ten years,’ she says, “and there’s never been a crop.” Her watering has kept them alive though and they’ve done better than the willows she bought for Granddad. Remember planting them? Well there’s nothing left of them now. I took a walk to the dam the other day and there’s not even a dead stick to indicate where they were! Granddad’s stopped growing his garden too. As things died off he just let it go. Mum complains that there’s no quince to make jelly. I don’t even remember quince jelly. Do you?

James wants to follow Granddad into the business and become a farmer. Trouble is he’s going to need an alternative source of income; the future of full time farming is so bleak. He’s been concentrating on uni so he might get a local job in town. Who knows, it might be down to me someday. Mum jokes about Granddad being ‘Hanrahan’ from that John O’Brien poem she loves. She goes about saying “we’ll all be

ruined!” I think she’s being unfair. She doesn’t see the way Granddad goes about the day’s work. I’ve been working with him everyday since the school break and I see the streaks of optimism, the undying hope in his eyes, even if I can’t bring myself to agree. But then I didn’t see the droughts of the 70s. He tells me they once moved down to Melbourne because things were so bad. It got me thinking, where will we be in ten years time? It would be nice to think that nothing will change but that would be naive I know. Maybe I’ll be studying in Italy like you, living the life! For now I’m still working and riding on the back of the Ute when it’s not too dusty. Granddad says he reckons the rabbits are coming back. All good signs he says. How ironic that the onset of pests is cause for optimism! It’s bad he admits, but there’s a gleam in his eye as if he can sense rain; even smell it!

You know, we’re almost up to 150 years of settlement on this land. First it was vineyard, then mixed farming and now merino stud. Everybody’s been talking about what we should do, you know, the future and all. Uncle Chris wants alpacas, mum’s keen on olives of course, while dad wants goats. Mum asks if you’ve got your exam results back yet. She keeps talking about you being home for Christmas! Maybe when you come home it might be green like they all say it once was. Mum might get her first batch of olives and then we might have quince jelly together for the first time next autumn! I hope Granddad’s right. He’s seen it all – floods, fires, and drought. Maybe Huxley was right when he said, ‘from age to age nothing changes and yet everything is completely different’. We’ll see you back home in a few months. Love from Red and all the family.

Photograph by Julius Kellar

Conway’s Maverick Way

Ron Conway came to De La Salle in 1955. Mrs Campbell and Mrs Mitchell were already teaching in the primary section but Ron was the first lay teacher to take senior classes. The Brothers could not cope on their own with the rapid expansion in numbers in the post-war “baby boom” from a College roll of approximately 500 in the early fifties which grew to 900 by 1960. Recently Ron Conway, celebrated author and intellectual, passed away at 81 years.

Former Head of Religious Broadcasting for the ABC, Paul Collins wrote a Eulogy for Conway, which was published in the latest edition of Eureka Street. An abbreviated version of his Eulogy is reprinted below.

An Australian book with sales figures of more than 70,000 copies is considered a best seller, especially when it is by an unknown author. This success is compounded when the book is a psycho-historical analysis of the Australian character with the dull subtitle: An interpretation of the Australian way of life. But it was the title that grabbed readers: The Great Australian Stupor. First published in 1971, the book gained instant fame and was often given to distinguished overseas visitors to Canberra as a kind of guide to the Australian ‘soul’.

Born on 4th May 1927, Ronald Victor Conway was an only child who grew up in a religiously divided family. His mother was Catholic, his father a Protestant agnostic who converted to Catholicism on his deathbed. His grandfather had been a well known cricketer, footballer, journalist and manager of the first Australian cricket team to tour England in 1878.

Conway’s parents were not well-off. Not baptised until he was nine, he was educated in state and Catholic schools. He left school at 15, worked in a bookshop, joined the RAAF in late 1944 and, after demobilisation matriculated and went to Melbourne University. Here he was caught up in the Catholic activism characteristic of those years. This centered on the ‘Movement’ and Bob Santamaria, the Campion Society (which Conway joined), the Newman Society, the Jesuits at Newman College, and the Catholic Worker Movement. Even then Conway leaned more to the right than to the left, but he always maintained a somewhat maverick stance in Catholic ideological struggles.

He studied for a combined psychology-history degree. His psychology supervisor was Professor Oscar Oeser,

a rather sour South African. Conway also enjoyed acting in comedies of manners of the Sheridan variety, and he joined the Saint Patrick’s Cathedral Choir.

After graduation, Conway became a teacher and, from 1955 to 1961, taught history and English at De La Salle College, Malvern. In 1961 he began to practise as a psychologist at St Vincent’s Hospital: ‘a great stretch of more than 25 years in dealing with intimate human difficulties lay ahead of me, like a horizonless Nullabor Plain’, he writes.

At Saint Vincent’s he met his patron and friend Dr Eric Seal, who launched Conway into private practice as a psychologist.

It was on the basis of his clinical experience that a decade later he published The Great Australian Stupor. A provoking book, Stupor’s portrait of the Australian male as inadequate and often with covert homosexual tendencies, is devastating. ‘In the modern absence of a horse, his car has to become a man’s best friend.’

The book is daring, even over the top. In my view it doesn’t succeed because it is too jaundiced. Historical reality and psychological theory, too, are awkward bedfellows. But as Conway says it was favourably reviewed, except by two left-wing Catholics.

Conway followed Stupor with The Land of the Long Weekend (1978), The End of Stupor (1984), Being Male (1985), Conway’s Way (1988) and The Rage for Utopia (1992), described by David Tacey as ‘a fabulously rich and entertaining book which covers enormous spans of history in search of the origins of our contemporary obsessive-compulsive behavior’. Conway loved the theatre and the media. He was a film reviewer, broadcaster, playwright and journalist. Always independent, some would say ‘contrary’, he could be snobbish, pretentious and fastidious, and very ‘Melbourne’.

But he was also one of that rare breed in Australia, someone who stood against the prevailing climate of thought which ignores the really important questions of faith, spirituality and human experience, and focuses on the boringly conventional and politically correct.

Although he was disillusioned with much that happened after Vatican II, and was very interested in other faiths — he called himself a ‘Sufi mystic’ — Conway remained deeply rooted within Catholicism. He died on 16 March and was buried from Saint Patrick’s Cathedral.

Thank you to Paul Collins and Eureka Street for allowing Roll Call to use this Eulogy.

50 year+Reunion

More than 140 Old Collegians from all over Australia gathered at the College recently for 50+ Reunion. Before adjourning for a leisurely lunch in the Performing Arts Centre, the Old Collegians, who graduated from the College between 1927–1959, toured the College with current College leaders. Past and current students mingled in Science laboratories, technology workshops and Religious Education classes sharing stories of the early years of De La Salle. The oldest guest on the day was Mr Albert Higgins from East Malvern, (pictured, top and bottom right opposite page) who will celebrate his 100th birthday in November. Mr Higgins started at the College in 1917 and graduated in 1927. He was delighted to receive an award for Oldest Collegian from College Principal Br Bill Firman. Many of the brothers were present; including current principal, Br Bill, former Principal, Br Tim Peter and teaching brothers, Br Stanislas Carmody, Br Julian Watson, Br Lawrence King, Br

Finian Allman and Br Gerard Rummery. Br Paul Smith and Br Pat McCarthy from the Lasallian Foundation were also present.

Monsignor William Mullins, who opened the Reunion with a blessing, was welcomed by Deputy Principal Mr Peter Riordan. Mr Riordan read a special message from Old Collegian Peter Craig, who had penned some of his recollections from the “old days” to set the scene.

“Do you remember?

The De La Salle uniform when it was navy blue and then in 1936 changed to grey?

Brs Jerome, Peter, Oswald, Stanislas and Ignatius?

The Dr Percy Jones Choir Master of the Australian Boys Choir.

Cadets marching up Stanhope Street with broom handles for guns.

Marching in uniform up Bourke Street on St Patrick’s Day, waving at Dr Mannix. Marching to Spencer Street Station to catch a train to

the Watsonia Army Camp. Sports Carnivals at the Fitzroy Football Ground. Swimming Sports at Richmond Baths.

Digging trenches in the school grounds during war time School Concerts in Malvern Town Hall. Having school work sent home in large envelopes during the Polio epidemic.

End of year picnics to the Hills in a char banc,” (for those readers under 70, a char banc is a horse-drawn carriage for carrying large groups of people).

Tim East, College Vice-Captain for 2009, who addressed the gathering, spoke of the traditions that have been established by the Old Collegians. He remarked on the mateship and closeness which the Old Colls seemed to share. “This exemplifies the strength of the De La Salle community,” Tim said. “The spirit of De La Salle today owes much to the traditions and strength of previous generations.”

“I am filled with pride when I am reminded of just how great the reputation of De La Salle is amongst the wider community. While we, as present students, are responsible for maintaining this reputation, we thank you for attaining the status for this great school.”

John Bolt (1956) said he was impressed with the number of people who travelled long distances to attend. “I caught up with John Teague, Peter Lightfoot and Noel Tobin from Sydney and Mick Cogan, Kevin Boundy and Max Palmer from the ACT,” Mr Bolt said. “Talk seemed to centre on “have you heard from?” and “where is so-and-so now? The atmosphere in the hall was great.” Three of the Mullaly brothers, John, (1944) Peter (1953) and Kevin (1956) all attended the Reunion. Their grandsons are currently at the College. There will be an extended interview with Bert Higgins (our oldest Old Collegian) in the September issue of Roll Call.

Farewell Br Bill

Brother Bill Firman took up the position of Principal of De La Salle College at the beginning of 2005. As a former student and College Captain, he brought with him more than 40 years experience and knowledge in education and administration.

His extraordinary energy and enthusiasm was immediately evident. During his tenure, Br Bill’s expansive brush swept through all aspects of the College; ethos, academic standards, staff welfare, financial management, as well as maintenance and capital works.

We all came to recognise Br Bill as a big thinker who was also able to focus on the detail. He expanded the College motto to include Deo Duce, ‘Doctrina Luce’ - ‘learning is our light’. His vocation of service to those in need, was seen through the expansion of the Mary MacKillop Enhancement Centre, which provides additional education support for students.

We will all remember Br Bill’s unique public addresses, always peppered with a Latin quotation, drawing on the collective wisdom of the great thinkers of the world.

Br Bill always looked for the goodness in others revealing much about the man — a Brother, educator, leader, financier, builder, entrepreneur, philosopher and protector of the prophets.

His door was open to everyone.

When he started at the College he gave up a large office to enable a boardroom to be established. In a much smaller space behind the reception, Br Bill set up his office.

A door opened onto the playground and during recess students were free to wander in and have a chat or get a ball to play with. Many important discussions with the Principal were

interrupted by a student anxious to retrieve a tennis ball from his desk.

During his time at the College it was evident that Br Bill was very committed to social justice, and he dedicated his time, College resources, and his exceptional energy to educating our young men in the service of others. It is in this latter area that his mark as a true “Lasallian” educator will be indelibly imprinted on the hearts of those who have learnt under his administration and those who have worked with him.

Brother Bill’s willingness to volunteer himself to work in a volatile area such as Sudan highlights his unquestioning faith at this point in his life, and mirrors the commitment of the early brothers under St John Baptist de la Salle who, in the face of adversity, believed in the providence of God. We wish him our grace and blessings as he embarks on the next stage of his life.

Joan Ferguson College Chaplain

A man of many hats Br Bill on the scene at the many events that make up the College calendar, always armed with his ubiquitous camera.

Why fear any future discomfit? The poignant wisdom of fourteen-year-old De La Salle student, Daniel Lagastes, whose life was unexpectedly cut short when he died in 2006 — ‘no regrets’ — reminds us all to grasp each moment as a privilege, to see each challenge as an opportunity.

Each of us has one life and one chance to make it count. There is no greater satisfaction in life than to use one’s talents as well as one can. I have found that wherever I have been, I have been happy. Yes, I have enjoyed the privilege of being Principal of the school I proudly captained as a boy, but I know De La Salle College is in excellent shape with a great staff and very positive students. The need in Sudan for what I can do is greater.

Inspired largely by the initiative of Brother Denis, who will be joining me in Sudan at the end of 2009, De La Salle has become a beacon school for social justice with outstandingly generous responses from students, their families and staff. Mission Action Day, ‘Coolies’ aid to India, adult and student working bees to PNG, teacher assistance to Balgo Hills, St Vincent de Paul groups, are only some among the many social action activities at De La Salle.

All men and women are our brothers and sisters with whom we should share our gifts and talents. A key part of our Lasallian tradition is to become unselfish, caring ‘men and women for others’, people with consciences who value work rather than laziness, who offer genuine love rather than lust, who place sharing before greed and selfishness and who are filled with hope rather than futility. Happiness is not the same as a life of ease and comfort.

I have enjoyed being part of the vibrant community of De La Salle Malvern but I also give thanks for my life as a De La Salle Brother that frees and enables me to go to Africa at a time when others my age may begin to feel unwanted or ‘finished’. For me a whole new chal lenge awaits.

I have much to learn about African culture in general and Southern Sudanese culture in particular. I am to be principal of a new Teacher Training College. I can claim some expertise in secondary schooling but tertiary education and developing a four-year teacher training programme based on a distance learning model is a whole new challenge. As far as I know my health is good. So, Deus vult, I am viewing this as a five to ten year appointment. I believe it is important to stand with the Sudanese people in solidarity over a longer term and not just for a year or two.

Bishop Oscar Romero stated: “Aspire not to have more but to be more.” Wonderful advice! There is so much in life that is really a test of our inner strength, of the determination of our minds, of the resolution of our wills, of the faith and hope in our hearts. It is time for me to put my hand up to be counted. ‘Example is the school of mankind’ wrote Edmund Burke ‘and they will learn at no other’. I shall miss seeing the current boys complete their personal journeys to graduation, but I can offer them more light by my actions than my words. We teach more by what we do than what we say.

At the end of second term, I am passing the principal’s baton to Peter Riordan, my close partner in the recent years of leadership of De La Salle. We have developed an excellent team to lead this College and there is now a Board in place to provide sound governance. Peter Riordan will be Acting Principal from July 1, 2009, until March, 2010 with Steve Young as Acting Deputy Principal. Sally Buick will become Acting Head of the Kinnoull Campus with Tim Ford taking over as Year 12 Coordinator. Peter and I have worked very closely and harmoniously together. I shall be leaving De La Salle with total confidence that the College will be led very well by Peter and his team.

Although I shall be flying to Sudan, the metaphor of the Galilee Song takes on a new personal significance for me: ‘So I leave my boats behind, on familiar shores, cast myself upon the deep, follow you again my Lord’. May God bless this College and all of its alumni, wher ever life’s journeys may take us.

Br Bill

Old Colls’ Football Club

The 2009 Football Season promises to be a bumper one for the De la Salle Old Collegians Football Club, with a gruelling pre-season boot camp and some new faces in the coach’s box. Club Coach, David Madigan said the team is working well together. “The pre-season camp at Jan-Juc was a huge success and really brought the team together,” Mr Madigan said. Madigan has been reappointed for his third year at the helm of the Club. “The pre-season camp was run by newly appointed Assistant Coach Robert Bonnici, who did a fantastic job organising and putting together a challenging program for the boys,” Mr Madigan said. “The team really jelled and everyone was able to get to know all the new faces.”

The Old Collegians has once again recruited well on both the field and in the coaches’ box. Dan Meade, Michael Davidson, Chris Kavanah and Rob Gamble are all new players at the Club. The Club also welcomes back Leigh Harrison, Ben Oakley and Nick Stewart. The coaching box has some new faces, with Sydney Swans player, Tony Morwood, taking on the job of Senior Assistant Coach. Mark Parker, after an extended period of time with St Kilda Football Club, has been appointed Chairman of Selectors and Director of Coaching and former player, Dominic McInerney, will be Reserve Coach.

Other new appointments will further strengthen links between the Club and the College, De La’s Director of Sport, John Edgar, will be the Under 19s’ coach and Rob Bonnici, former Club Captain and Best and Fairest winner, is both the new Fitness Advisor as well as Senior Assistant Coach.

“The work rate at training so far this year has been outstanding and the team is very fit,” Mr Madigan said. “In preseason training and practice matches, we’ve seen a very good looking side.” With the season fast approaching and everyone getting ready for another big yeari, we wish everyone at the Club, especially the new players and coaches, all the best for 2009. The Old Collegians home ground is Waverly Reserve East Malvern. Everyone is welcome.

Mr Alexander Hay

De La Salle Old Collegians Football Club Fixture 2009

Date Opponent Location

18/4 Old Xavs Toorak Park, Armadale 25/4 Uni Blues Home 2/5 Old Scotch Home 9/5 Old Ivanhoe Chelsworth Park, Ivanhoe 16/5 Old Essendon Essendon Grammar 23/5 Collegians (Wesley) Home 30/5 Marcellin Marcellin College, Bulleen 13/6 Old Brighton Home 20/6 St Bedes Mentone Brindisi St Oval, Mentone 27/6 Old Xavs Home 5/7 Old Ivanhoe Home 11/7 Old Scotch Camberwell Sports Ground 26/7 Collegians (Wesley) Sportscover Oval, Elsternwick 1/8 Old Essendon Home 8/8 Uni Blues Melbourne University Oval 15/8 Marcellin Home 22/8 Old Brighton Brighton Beach Oval 29/8 St Bedes Mentone Home

Where are they Now?

Billy Dwyer (College Vice-Captain 2003) has completed Arts/Law at Monash and commences his articles with Clarendons Lawyers

Matt Clancy (College Captain 2001) completed First Class Honours and has been selected into The Australian Youth Ambassadors Program. He will be based in Bangladesh.

Brendan Kennedy (1976) has been appointed Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at the University of Sydney. Brendan. His wife Cath and two daughters live in Newtown.

Simon O’Brien (2003) was awarded “The Sword of Honour” when he graduated from The Royal Military College of Australia (Duntroon) last year. Simon is temporarily stationed in Malaysia but will be permanently stationed in Darwin.

Justice Bernard Teague (1953) former Supreme Court Judge has been appointed Chair of the Royal Commission into the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.

Colonel Ken Hill retired (1945) lives in Canberra.

Simon Brown (2006) has been accepted into a pilot program for VCAL students in the Bachelor of Education (Primary) program at Deakin University.

Nathan Roberts (2006) was nominated for Apprentice of the Year in 2008. He is with Allen Henderson Plumbing.

Rest In Peace

Frank Joseph D’Arcy

John Cahill

Thomas Shillito

James Vandergriff

Wilding

Rankin

Beggs

Brennan

Ron Conway (teacher)

Brendan Moloney

Robert Gullife

Rocco Serena

Henry Rey (teacher)

Brendan Hoy (1988) and his wife Anne Marie recently celebrated the birth of a new daughter Rose, a sister for Bridget, Grace and Lucy.

Matthew Curtain (1992) is CEO of the Australian Weightlifting Federation.

John Bolt (1956) is assisting with the management of the Old Colls database.

David Lee (1972) and his wife, Elizabeth, have returned to Malvern after living in the USA for more than 30 years.

Damian Giacomantonio (1993) married Rachel Muscat, at St Mary’s in East Malvern.

Tony Smith (1960) is the Chair of the Lasallian Foundation.

Terrence Farrell (1996) married long-time girlfriend Kelly in 2008. They have returned to live on Groote Eylandt, in the Gulf of Carpentaria, where they have been working in the mining industry for some time.

Fr Tom McCarthy PE (1938) recently celebrated his 61st anniversary of ordination.

Michael Devola (1970) is the Honorary Secretary of the Victorian Banjo Society.

Letter to Readers

Dear Old Colls, “I was thrilled to read the eulogy for Br Ned Gehrig in the last Roll Call. I was in the training college with him and followed his career with interest until I got to Malvern again when he was the boss. After I left the Brothers, I was lucky enough to get a spot on the staff at Oakhill College as French Master and Neddy was on the staff there too and an inspiration to one and all through his gentleness and kindness, to say nothing of his mathematical expertise.

I keep in fairly regular contact with Br John Hanson (Little Tone) who is still at Southport. He looked after Ned for ages when they were sent north. I retired in 1990 after 40 years of teaching and we moved to the Central Coast. I lost my wife to cancer in 2004 and since then my main interests locally have been bowls and the local conference of the St Vincent de Paul Society which has an enormous role to play in this area. I am the secretary/treasurer for the Old Boys Association of St Bernard’s Katoomba where I was stationed for 11 years before Malvern. I do hope that your work with the OCA of De La keeps forging ahead” John Walch “Big Tone” (1947)

MISSION ACTION DAY 2009

The work