Roll Call May 2014

Lasallian

Roll Call May 2014

A PUBLICATION FOR THE DE LA SALLE COLLEGE COMMUNITY — MALVERN

Contents

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Principal’s Column Commissioning VCE Success ACC Champions Academic Honours Time and Space On the Road to Balgo Tom Parsons’ Erratic Patterns Books and films Coolies MAD Milestone 50 Year Reunion Class of 1958 Reunion Class of 1974 Reunion Old Collegians news

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Where Are They Now? Vale Br John Mitchell

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Letters to the Editor Dear Editor, I refer to page 22 of the last issue of Roll Call and the photo of the College footballers. I was a student at De La from 1926 to 1933 and remember them well. I think it would have been about 1930. I can name some of them.

Best wishes Frank Toohey, Malvern

Back Row: John Bolger, Dermot Rice, John O’Connell, Bernie Meagher, Dick Brenchley.

Centre Row: Percy Salmon, Carl Hatters, Jack Hogan, Jim Will, Jack Cummins, Ed Evans.

Front Row: Des Fagan and Dick Caples.

Welcome to the May issue of Roll Call. As always, the issue is brimming with stories about the varied and interesting lives of some of our Old Collegians.

Of interest to all our readers will be the news of the commissioning of our new Principal, and the first lay Principal in the 101 history of the College, Mr Peter Houlihan. We welcome Mr Houlihan to Roll Call with his first Principal’s column opposite. Earlier in the year, I had the pleasure of meeting Dr Val Noone who has been honoured by the National University of Ireland. Val, along with news of the academic honours bestowed upon Justice Tony Pagone by the University of Melbourne, is featured on page 9. There is also news of the triumphant 1st XI Cricket team and the Swimming team who both took out ACC Pennants. We also have news of several reunions, most significantly the 50 year reunion, which was held at Caulfield Racecourse earlier in the year. Don’t forget to see if you recognise any of our Old Collegians pictured in the From The Archives photo on page 22. I hope you enjoy the issue.

Dear Editor, I do know one name. The fellow sitting in the centre of the middle row with the serious look is Jim Will senior. Jim’s wife Bobbie died only in the last year or so and she worked in the office at the College for many years. Jim joined the Brothers when he left school and was with them for some years but then left to get married. Their son Jim junior also joined the Brothers and was with them for many years but left and was teaching in Queensland until he passed away. Jim’s daughter, Helen Classon lives in Malvern with her husband Michael and are members of the Malvern Bowling Club. Jim’s brother John Henry Will joined the Brothers and became Br Baptist. He became the first Australian-born Provincial in 1958 and remained in that role until the late 60’s. He eventually retired and died only several years back in his 90’s.

I am told that Br Baptist was to boys of a certain period at DLS Ashfield in Sydney what Br Jerome Foley was to boys of the 30’s and 40’s at Malvern.... that is, they were stuff of legend!

Michael Bohan Camberwell Editor’s note: Well done Frank and Michael on your excellent recall. If any of our readers can name the remaining players please contact us.

Editor: Kerry Martin Production: Jonathan Hewett Cover Photo: Commissioning of the new Principal of the College, Mr Peter Houlihan with the College Captain, James Benton and Primary Captain Brock Augustynski.

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From the Principal innovation and accountability. Staff, students and parents must work together to instil a passion for learning, an atmosphere of mutual respect and acceptance, a culture of service, and a commitment to social justice.

The next few years promise to be an exciting period of change and innovation at De La Salle. The initial stages of the development of our four-year Strategic Plan will provide clarity and direction for exactly what sort of school we aim to become. This will inform a Master Plan as we look to renovate and build at Tiverton to create contemporary learning spaces capable of accommodating and promoting learning in which De La students build 21st Century skills as a matter of course. The recent release of an innovative ICT Strategic Plan provides renewed emphasis on the use of technology as a vehicle to drive improvements in pedagogy and learning outcomes. A focus on staff professional learning is central to this and promises a bright future for our College.

Thank you to all Old Collegians for your ongoing interest and support of our great school and I look forward to working with you all as part of the wider De La Salle community.

Peter Houlihan Principal

It is an honour and a privilege to write my initial contribution to Roll Call as the first lay Principal of De La Salle. The Old Collegians are an integral element of any school and in particular, here at De La Salle, where the traditional school spirit and tremendous friendships endure for many years beyond graduation.

After once again being immersed in the Lasallian world after my time here in the 1990’s, I am thrilled to see that the camaraderie, spirit and loyalty among the Old Boys remains an integral strength of the College.

This could be no more evident than at the 50 Year Reunion from the Class of 1964 which I attended in March. The renewing of old friendships and reminiscing with 1950’s and ’60’s staff Br Gerard Rummery (1959–70) and Br Calixtus Cusack (1951–1964) was wonderful for a new Principal to observe. As such, I hope to meet as many of you as possible at the various functions we organise.

I’d like to write briefly about my vision for the College and where I see us heading in the short to medium term. De La Salle is a fine school with a proud tradition and tremendous staff, students and families. We must now be strategic and be able to make decisions about what traditions should be preserved but have the courage to create the future of our choice.

We are first and foremost a Catholic school in the Lasallian tradition, and this underpins all we do and all we stand for at De La. In an increasingly secular world, the culture, traditions and messages of our Catholic faith — the transmission of gospel values in our Catholic education system — must remain relevant to our young men, but it certainly demands a deliberate and tactical strategy to keep it relevant and meaningful.

I plan to see De La Salle reaffirm its position and reputation as the pre-eminent provider of a quality Catholic, Lasallian boys’ education in this part of Melbourne. I operate on a platform of high standards and high expectations, ongoing improvement,

The Principal, Mr Peter Houlihan with special Anzac Day Ceremony guest of honour, Major Simon Grace (1986), and above addressing the Mothers’ Day Breakfast.

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The Commissioning of the De La Salle College Principal The College Board, members of the De La Salle Brothers, College Leaders and members of the De La Salle community gathered at St Joseph’s Church, Malvern on Wednesday, 26 March for the commissioning of the new Principal, Mr Peter Houlihan. Fr John Sherman OMI, celebrated the Mass before a congregation of invited guests, including members of Mr Houlihan’s family and College staff.

During the Mass, the official commissioning took the shape of a symbolic handing over ceremony in which, The Acting Provincial of the De La Salle Brothers for the District of Australia, PNG, New Zealand and Pakistan, Br Christopher Gorringe and student leaders Brock Augustynsk, James Biviano and the 2014 College Captain, James Benton sought Mr Houlihan’s commitment to the position of Principal.

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Transcript of the official Commissioning of the College’s first lay Principal, Mr Peter Houlihan: Br Chris:

Peter, The De La Salle Community warmly welcomes you. We pledge our support and commitment in working with you for the good of the students, staff, parents and friends of De La Salle College.

Br Chris:

Will you read and reflect upon these writings, take them to heart, and endeavour to live them in your relationships with teachers, staff, students and parents?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Br Chris:

Are you prepared to lead through worship, vocation and action, embracing the mission of the church and the Lasallian tradition?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Br Chris:

Will you promote the spiritual well-being of the members of the De La Salle community, passing on the Lasallian traditions; acting wisely and with discernment?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Students: Will you strive to ensure a quality of learning that makes a real

difference in the lives of the students and the world?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Students: Will you be kind and compassionate toward the whole De La Salle

community — teachers, support staff and students: by consoling,

encouraging, admonishing and communicating as the situation

requires, and thus celebrating the whole life of the community?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Students:

Will you live and behave in such a way that whatever you want the De La Salle community to be, you model it first yourself?

Mr Houlihan: With God as my Leader, I will.

Students:

Mr Houlihan, accept this candle and embrace its symbolism. ‘You are the light of the world’, leading and lighting the path for others. May this candle be a constant reminder that like the Christ light that shines out through the darkness, you too will be a beacon for the De La Salle community.

Fr John:

I now invite the De La Salle Brothers present tonight, to stand and join with all the students in extending their hands over Mr Houlihan and pray together the Blessing prayer.

De La Salle Brothers and students:

Lord God, You sent your son amongst us to serve, not to be served.

May the Holy Spirit, who led and sustained the Lord in his ministry and

who guided St John Baptist de La Salle in all his decisions, lead,

sustain and guide you as you give your life in service to the De La

Salle Community. We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Mr Houlihan: Amen.

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VCE Success The College celebrated the fine achievements of our Year 12 students of 2013 at our Investiture of College Leaders and Academic Awards ceremony in February. Our top achievers in each subject and 90+ students were acknowledged for their outstanding results. The Dux 2013 College Dux was Stephen Ciavarella who achieved an ATAR of 99.9. Stephen received a perfect score of 50 in Unit 3&4 Further Mathematics. Notable results included: • 22 students (13.6%) achieved an ATAR above 90 • 39 students (24.1%) achieved an ATAR above 80 • Eight students achieved an ATAR over 95 • Two students had a perfect score of 50 (VCD and Biology) Such wonderful results are the culmination of many years of effort on the part of committed and hard-working students, the support and encouragement of parents, and the dedication of teachers and support staff. The College community can feel proud, collectively, of the outcome.

Stephen Ciavarella, Richard Buckley, Mr Peter Houlihan and Tom O’Dwyer

College Dux 2013

Richard Buckley 99.5

Stephen Ciavarella 99.9

Richard, who is enrolled in the Bachelor of Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne, was accepted in the University’s Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholars Program in Year 11. During his time at the College he was involved in the Chess team and enjoyed Specialist Maths. Outside of school he has a Black Belt in Karate and tutored other students throughout his time at school.

He went to St Joseph’s in Malvern and started at De La in Year 4. Richard wishes to pursue a career in medicine. He said he always knew that he wanted to be a doctor. “At a very young age I convinced my grandmother to give up smoking after learning of its health risks in a science class at school. I guess my conviction was enough to make her change her habit.” Richard’s philosophy for success is to set clear goals. “I always set goals and I have always been aware of what I needed to do to achieve them.”

Stephen, who won a Premier’s Award for his perfect score in Biology, is studying Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne and is a recipient of the Melbourne National Scholarship, a part of the Chancellor’s Scholars Program.

He went to St Anthony’s Primary School in Glenhuntly and started at the College in Year 7. While he was at De La, his favourite subjects were Maths, Science and Italian. He was a member of the College Chess Club and played violin for the College String Ensemble. He is enjoying university life and says he is suited to its independent learning style. Stephen believes that if you want to do well you will know deep down in your heart what you have to do to succeed. “I knew from the beginning of my final year that I needed a 99 to get into this course and because I wanted it so badly, I made it happen.”

Top Achievers 2013

Standing: Will Agar, Daniel Anastasio, James Curwood, Andre Lew, Gihan Boteju, Tom Wilkes, Nathan Evans, Adam Bell, Michael Patane, Aiden Atkin, Lewis De Stefanis, James Koulousias Seated: Alex Di Medio, Christian Lymbouris, Jerome Lugo, Richard Buckley, Michael Ciavarella, Mr Peter Houlihan, Tom O’Dwyer, Zane Hutter, Stephen Galgani, Chris Zisimopoulos

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Tom O’Dwyer 99.35 Tom is enrolled in the Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical Eng/Design Industrial Design) at RMIT. He was in the debating team in Year 12 and Rock Eisteddfod in Year 8. He would like to work in industrial design, perhaps transport design. He plays piano and referees basketball. He said organisation is the key to VCE. Tom achieved a perfect score of 50 for Visual Communication Design.

2013 VCE Subject Award Winners Rohan D’Souza (Year 11)

Accounting

William Agar

Business Management

Peter Pepes (Year 11)

Business Management

Liam O’Malley (Year 11)

Business Management

Lewis De Stefanis

Economics

Thomas Brasher (Year 11) History: Revolutions

Alex Di Medio 98.3

James Delaney (Year 11)

Software Development

Alex is studying Biomedicine at the University of Melbourne. He started at De La in Year 4 and was involved in the College debating team until year 12. Throughout his time at the College Alex excelled at Athletics and was the Captain of the Athletics Team in 2013.

During his VCE year he participated in Nationals in Perth in the 400 metre hurdles. Alex, who trains four nights a week with the Doncaster Athletics Club, recently won a Bronze medal at the Nationals in Sydney in the same event. His goal is to win Gold at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast.

He hopes to do Medicine and specialise in Sports Medicine.

John Buchanan (Year 11)

Legal Studies

Cameron Roberts (Year 11) Mathematics (Further) Andre Lew

Music Performance

Christian Lymbouris

Physical Education

Lewis De Stefanis

Australian Politics

Thomas Wilkes

Psychology

James Liu

Studio Arts

Nathan Evans

Sport and Recreation

Daniel Wijaksono

Indonesian (Second Language)

Adam Bell

Literature, Legal Studies, Media

Stephen Ciavarella Biology (50), Chemistry, Mathematics (Specialist), Mathematics (Methods)

2013 Top Achievers

Richard Buckley

Gihan Boteju 90.15, Daniel Anastasio 90.15, James Liu 90.20, Daniel Wijaksono 90.30, William Agar 90.60, James Koulousias 91.30, Christopher Zisimopoulos 91.35, Stephen Galgani 91.60, James Curwood 91.60, Aiden Atkin 92.40, Zane Hutter 93.05, Thomas Wilkes 93.10, Andre Lew 93.15, Michael Patane 94.70, Lewis De Stefanis 95.50, Adam Bell 96.10, Christian Lymbouris 96.15, Jerome Lugo 98.10, Alexander Di Medio 98.30, Thomas O’Dwyer 99.35, Richard Buckley 99.55, Stephen Ciavarella 99.9

Chemistry, Mathematics (Specialist),

Mathematics (Methods) Thomas O’Dwyer

English, Legal Studies

Visual Communication Design (50)

Hamish Curtis

2013 Senior VCAL Award

College Leaders 2014 The 2014 College Leaders were officially inducted into their role by the new College Principal, Mr Peter Houlihan – a proud moment for the College which was shared by the many parents and guests who were present.

Back Row: Stephen Athaide, David Kelly, Edward Cheesman, Luke Brownhill, Liam O’Callaghan, Thomas Brasher, John Buchanan Front Row: Michael Hoareau, James Yossifidis, Ben Stafford, Peter, James Benton, Christian Di Donato, Matthew Swinnerton

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ACC Success on the pitch and in the pool

was high and great patience and poise was required for a De La Salle victory.

Fifteen balls later, after some fine stroke play and sensible batting from both Elliot and James, De La Salle reached 7/97 and a sweet victory against a talented and gritty opposition who ensured that our boys had to win the match.

Elliot Bradley finished unbeaten on 18 and this match highlighted the value of having a team that has so much batting depth.

Congratulations to Marty Rhoden as Coach of the 1st XI and Peter Larsen (2nd XI Coach). The passion and enthusiasm they bring to the Cricket program at De La Salle is of great benefit to all concerned.

The De La Salle First XI Cricket Team took out the ACC 2014 Trophy with a three wicket victory against Salesian earlier this year.

Salesian won the toss, batted first and were restricted to 96 runs from 35 overs after a very disciplined and relentless bowling and fielding performance by De La Salle.

Josh Tyquin was the best of the bowlers with 2/12 from 6 overs, however, all De La Salle bowlers were both economical and accurate.

With a steady start to our run chase from Josh Tyquin and Noah Korkolis at 0/15, we quickly slumped to 4/40 and all of a sudden the winning target of 97 appeared a distant goal. Our premiership hopes began to fade at 6/60 with Salesian now full of confidence and the momentum had definitely swung their way. We were faced with a huge challenge. With Dean Krelle and Elliot Bradley at the crease, we were in desperate need of a strong partnership and these boys delivered. Dean was dismissed for 17 runs from 24 balls and had successfully put De La Salle back into a winning position in a short time.

James Cooke strode to the middle to join Elliot with De La Salle needing 17 runs from the remaining 36 balls. This might sound rather easy but with the ebbs and flows of this match, the pressure

Success in the pool Similarly, the De La Salle Swimming Team won its ACC Division in emphatic fashion at MSAC in February.

Salesian led the Carnival after the first Division event but from then on it was a De La demolition.

As well as winning the Division Two Aggregate by a staggering 160 points, we also won the Junior, Intermediate and Senior Cups along with every Age Group from Under 13 to Senior.

It was a truly remarkable performance from our De La Salle Swimmers, and a worthy reward for their time, dedication and effort which began not long after the 2013 ACC Carnival.

As well as the dominant team effort, there were many outstanding individual performances on the night. The Swim Squad trained long and hard throughout the holidays and their success is a credit to their dedicated coaches, Chris and Gabriel Windley.

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Old Collegians’ academic honours The National University of Ireland has conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters on Dr Val Noone (1956) “for his contribution to Irish studies in Australia”.

Val, who is one of only three Australians to receive an Honorary Degree from NUI (the others being Tom Keneally in 1994 and Cardinal Gilroy in 1950) was conferred by the Chancellor of the University, Dr Maurice Manning, at the Royal College of Physicians in Dublin.

Val has long been a champion of Irish history and cultural studies in Australia, and has held several key roles including the chair of the Melbourne Irish Famine Commemoration Committee and founding editor of Tain, the magazine of the Australian Irish Network.

Left to right: Chancellor NUI Dr Maurice Manning, Professor Nollaigh MacCongail Registrar of NUI, Dr Val Noone and his wife Mary at the Royal College of Physicians, Dublin.

Before retiring, he lectured in Modern Irish History and Irish Migration at The University of Melbourne, where he is currently His latest book, entitled Hidden Ireland in Victoria is about the a fellow in the School of Historical and Philosophical Studies. words, songs, stories, poems, prayers, conversations, gestures In 2009, he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for and accents of the Irish language and culture, as well as all the his services to education and to the community. associated ideas, events, monuments and more.

Mr Noone said the Honorary Degree was a great honour. “In “My concern about the history and future of the Irish tradition accepting with pride and gratitude the honour of a Doctorate of springs from two main sources. Firstly, people who have Irish Letters from the National University of Ireland, I do so on behalf ancestors are trying to recover the history and the memories of the many people I have worked with over the years. I want that have been lost. Second, the Irish Australian culture matters to thank especially the members and officials of the community because the human species benefits from having a variety of groups of which I have been part. Moreover, I am grateful for cultures. The search for roots and meaning is not a fad, it is not the secondary education which De La Salle College, Malvern, nostalgia, but it is a way of resisting the pressures for global provided.” sameness.”

Val started at the College when he was 10 after he was awarded a scholarship from St Paul’s, Bentleigh. “That year, under the guidance of Br Julian Watson, many of us won a further four-year University of Melbourne Honours Justice State Government scholarship to put us through to Year 12.

Tony Pagone

“In accepting with pride and gratitude the honour of a Doctorate of Letters from the National University of Ireland, I do so on behalf of the many people I have worked with over the years. I want to thank especially the members and officials of the community groups of which I have been part. Moreover, I am grateful for the secondary education which De La Salle College, Malvern, provided.”

The Hon. Justice Tony Pagone, (1972) was awarded the degree of Doctor of Laws (LLD) at the recent graduation ceremony at the University of Melbourne.

The conferral of the degree, which was the highlight of the graduation of 100 law graduates from the Faculty of Law, was for Justice Pagone’s published work on anti-avoidance provisions, including his book on Tax Avoidance in Australia. A professorial fellow in the Law School and a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, Justice Pagone is a central figure in the Law School’s tax specialisation and chairs the Advisory Board for Tax studies. He teaches several subjects in the tax program including, in 2014, Tax Avoidance and Planning.

The University warmly congratulated Justice Pagone on this very significant achievement.

I have not forgotten that ninety per cent of my contemporaries did not have that opportunity and, as a rule, I have tried during my life to use the advantages I gained for the common good. De La Salle also gave me an opening to learn about magazines, writing, editing, printing and distributing. I was part of a group who worked on The Lyre, an official monthly school magazine.”

Val completed undergraduate studies in philosophy, scripture and theology at Corpus Christi College, the Melbourne diocesan seminary 1957–1964. In 1988 he returned to study, completing a doctoral thesis at La Trobe University, which was published as Disturbing the War: Melbourne Catholics and Vietnam.

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Some Time and Space with Bill Jennings We did a version of Noel Coward’s Hands Across the Sea with some girls from the then Kildara College.”

“There were so many great teachers at De La. “In 7 Green we appreciated Chas (Chuck) Thompson organising a weekend camp for our class in a year where the Year 7 Camp was not on for some reason. He made it happen in his own time. Chuck was a brilliant teacher.”

“I remember one of the conductors on the Glenferrie Road tram who would do tricks with his hat. He could flip it multiple times and tell jokes…we were always rapt when we got on the tram and he was working.”

Bill particularly recalls the lessons he learned from the De La Salle Brothers. When he failed his first attempt at HSC, he spoke to the Principal at the time, Br Peter Smythe, to ask if he could repeat. “Br Peter asked ‘What’s the worst mistake you can make?’

I responded ‘Failing your HSC?’ ‘No Billy’, Br Peter replied, ‘The worst mistake you can make is not to learn from your mistakes.’

I haven’t forgotten that life lesson and it is something that can be applied to all of life.”

Bill’s recollections highlight how much society has changed in 30 years. “I remember my Year 6 teacher lighting up a smoke each day as soon as the last bell rang — times have changed.”

Nowadays Bill is busy running Time and Space programs which evolved from a Father and Son program he ran in schools in the 1980’s. “I was running a father and son camp at one school and asked by a group of mums there – ‘what are you doing for us?’

Out of that, a session later called Mother and Sons evolved.”

“At one school in Tasmania we ran the Mother and Sons night and over 75 per cent of the boys in that year level rolled up with their mum. I still take that program to that school in Hobart each year.

In 2006, I started Time and Space as a business, and in 2010 made the jump to full-time work.

Bill now also runs sessions for staff, like the ‘Our Treasures of Education’ event he conducted at the College at the end of last year. Bill was touched to see that some of his old teachers were amongst the group. He also runs the programs for young people and their parents around Australia, and for the first time in the UK. “Overall my De La memories are ones that evoke a lot of gratitude to some brilliant teachers. Br James Taylor (RIP) always said, ‘The staff are the key to a good education.’ They encouraged creativity; allowed you to make mistakes and learn from them, and always encouraged a disposition to care for those not going so well.”

Bill Jennings (1985) recently returned to the College to conduct a personal development session with staff as part of his Time and Space program. The program is the culmination of his life long journey through boys’ education. Bill generously agreed to talk to Roll Call readers about his work with parents and young people and his memories of the College.

After Bill completed his initial teacher training in 1988, he did a volunteering stint with a community for young adults in Sydney. “At one organisation I was making coffees and toasted sandwiches in a community coffee shop that was set up as a service to the transgender prostitutes who work in Kings Cross.” “It was an eye opener and a year of learning that people like to be dignified with the name they choose for themselves.” He then went on to teach in Sydney and later the UK before he married Lisa, with whom he has two children, Amber 20 and Jack, 17.

Subsequently Bill has held a variety of teaching roles including leading special programs at Xavier College. One of those programs evolved into the offerings for young people and their parents that became Time and Space. He made this the focus of postgraduate research. Bill undertook his thesis component as part of the internationally acclaimed Educating Boys Masters program run by the University of Newcastle.

During his time at De La Bill excelled in the arts and drama. “I loved the humanities and recall the late and great Barry Dyball who taught English, Literature and European History saying “Enjoy the exam gents”.

“I would get involved in any drama activity. Josephine Pappalardo and Kathy Schneider were great supporters of a troupe of De La boys who entered the Catholic Schools Drama Festival every year. I loved being part of that and in 1984, we were the first student production (Warwick Tiernan, now head of marketing at the ABC in Melbourne, was the student director) to make the final.

Bill Jennings with Mrs Christine Thompson and Ms Emma D’Angelo

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On the road to Balgo Hills Late last year, Tom Buick (1965) and his wife Liz travelled to the remote Aboriginal community of Balgo in Western Australia for a two-month stint as volunteers at the Brother’s Luurnpa School. In this issue, Tom shares some of his experiences of his trip with our readers.

It was our sixth trip to Balgo and, as before, we were anxious about the onerous 900 kilometre journey via the Tanami Track. It’s dangerous, dirty and never easy.

On the way up to Balgo we lost our roof rack. Due to the ingenuity of our friend John, who joined us for the trip, we managed to secure it back onto the roof. However our efforts were short lived. We lost it again and were forced to hide it by the side of the road behind a termite mound, with a Qantas bag on top to mark the spot. It was still there when we returned but we lost a windscreen and a mirror on route after an ill-fated meeting with a big red kangaroo.

Our trips to Balgo are a highlight for us. Liz is a retired primary school teacher and she enjoys tutoring the students, many of whom already have three or four indigenous languages, while I get a chance to use my handyman skills. I am always kept busy with repairs to the buildings which deteriorate quickly in the extreme weather conditions.

Tap fittings are quickly corroded and blocked with a thick coating of minerals. Hoses need constant repair, sewers unblocking, and doors and locks mended. Graffiti removal is one of my talents.

tomatoes and a great tobacco product. Wood is collected to take back for “Sorry Camp” and an attempt is always made to catch a goanna or bush turkey. This process usually involves setting fire to the surrounding desert while we stand by watching. Their skills are extraordinary and we always returned with a good harvest from this harsh environment.

On one trip, a walk down a dry creek bed produced two buckets of frogs which they dug out of the dry mud and took back to Camp.

The frog meat is saved for the “Sorry Camp” as only white meat can be eaten at this time.

During our trip we were invited to join a school excursion to a Sacred site where we saw some rock art drawings dating back 30,000 years. The local children guided us to the site along a very rough creek bed, leading to a small gorge with a permanent water hole.

Attendance is an ongoing issue at the school and the staff is often busy with duties outside the curriculum such as providing breakfast and lunch and washing the students’ hair once a week.

A small swimming pool, built from funds raised by students at De La Salle, Malvern and La Salle College in Perth provides a luring incentive for students to come to school, especially during the hot season where the temperature is in the high 40’s.

My wife and I are extremely privileged to have the opportunity to work in this community and we thank the De La Salle Brothers for giving us the chance to share in such an ancient culture.

We would encourage anyone who wishes to assist the Brothers in their work at Balgo to do so.

Tom has worked at De La Salle Malvern for six years where he is an invaluable member of the Maintenance Team.

The students are very friendly and they delight in “knocking off” my precious tools and have me chasing them in (what they think) is a game. One of my favourite pastimes is avoiding a resident death adder on the verandah of our hut where we sleep. On weekends we sometimes make short trips into the desert and stop at amazing places to observe bird and animal life around permanent waterholes or Lake Gregory.

Often children and elders from the local community join us and show us how to harvest food products such as bushnuts,

The Challenge Program: Balgo (WA) is available for men interested in exploring the De La Salle Brothers’ life and work: November 16-26, 2014. Cost: your return airfare to Alice Springs.

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Tom Parsons’ Erratic Patterns Melbourne artist, Tom Parsons (2009) current exhibition Erratic Pattern at the Seventh Gallery in Melbourne plots slapstick conventions by testing them through objects and space. Tom took time out of his studio to talk about his art and his time at the College.

If I am to reflect on my back catalogue of early memories, I can recall that I was always making, always drawing, and later on always painting.

I remember being totally engrossed by a set of wooden blocks I had as a kid and the countless forms I could achieve by arranging them in different ways. Before I reached my teenage years, when we went out for family dinners I always carried a pad and pencils to draw with. A little bit shy back then, I think I found a nice place to retreat, drawing as I sat back and watched the world. It was probably not until midway into my time at De La that I realized that it was indeed a passion that I had for art and the visual arts, and that this passion and the motivation it gave me each day could be honed and pushed, and possibly lead towards the beginnings of what I hoped would be a life-long career.

De La was integral to helping me choose the direction I wanted to go with my artistic inclinations. I clearly remember in Year 8 Mr Happ praising me for a painting I did on paper of a cherry blossom tree. I was so thrilled by this encouragement that I think it may well have been one of the sparks that pushed me to keep at it. I was encouraged to take part in the Rock Eisteddfods which really opened my eyes to the breadth of possibilities the visual arts had to offer and how I could be a part of a larger like-minded community.

After graduating from De La, I decided that while there were many avenues in the visual arts, from design to photography, I wanted

to make a go of it as a painter. I took up an offer to study a Bachelor of Fine Arts majoring in Painting at Monash University’s Caulfield Campus, a decision that I never once regretted. The art school experience is second to none, challenging and fascinating. Through the first three years, students in the painting major are given a dedicated studio space and have an allocated set of tutors/ mentors who visit and offer advice, discussion and criticism. During the three years of the undergraduate degree, there were many great opportunities to be had. I took part in running the student gallery and went on a three-month trip to Monash’s campus in Prato (Italy) where our group of Fine art students lived together and were granted the opportunity to make art in the centuries old buildings in the 12

ancient city. I followed this with a few months of solo backpacking through Eastern Europe.

After graduating in 2013, I took up the offer to do a further year of Honours which I have just completed. It was a highly intensive and very rewarding year that saw me spending five to six (sometimes seven) solid days a week in my studio making work leading towards an end-of-year graduate exhibition.

My art practice primarily explores the relationship between the delimited or framed spaces of painting and video. Through video, installation and painting I aim to provoke a series of tensions; the more immediately present visual tension between delineating two-dimensional and three-dimensional spaces, and also a tension that is aroused by the fruitless action of tirelessly hand making, positioning, and then disassembling or disrupting objects within a composition. My work takes the formats of painting, video, and sculptural installations and blends the distinct elements into a unified whole. Recently, I have taken the genre of the still life as the anchor point for the exploration of these ideas, utilizing objects of daily use positioned within space to create video sequences that oscillate between moving image and paintings.

Other artists inspire me, giving me the confidence that a career as a visual arts practitioner is a viable option. I always find myself taking significant things away from viewing works by particular artists. I am also inspired by the idea that through making and showing my work maybe someone will take something from my work, maybe even just a nuanced detail that stays in their mind. That inspires me and drives me on.

Since the presentation of my work in my first graduate exhibition in 2012 quite a few exhibition opportunities have come my way. Some were awarded to me by various Melbourne-based galleries, others have been curated group shows.

Tom’s Upcoming Exhibitions Hatched, Perth Institute of Contemporary Art, Perth, until 29th June Vignette, Platform Contemporary Artspace, Melbourne, 27th June–18th July Innovators 2, Linden, Melbourne, 27th June–3rd August

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200 Grams of fun

The spice of life Adrian Briones’(1999) book What the heck is Filipino food? has been awarded Best Asian Cuisine Book in Australia at the 18th Annual Gourmand World Cookbook Awards.

Adrian’s book also made it into the top 10 out of 171 countries competing in the international category. Adrian, who flew to Paris for the ceremony, said it was the best day of his life.

“I’m still in shock that it was even considered,” Adrian said. “It is the first cookbook in Australia solely based on Filipino food.” Currently it is on the Book Depository and Amazon Best Sellers lists.

In addition to his passion for cooking, he writes and publishes his own food blog, Food Rehab, which he started in 2009. The popular blog chronicles his, Cafe Hopping series, where he ran around Melbourne devouring as many breakfasts as possible within a 48 hour period. Another feature of Food Rehab is the Chat series where he interviews culinary greats and charity-driven entrepreneurs changing the landscape of Melbourne. “I’m really passionate about Shane Pereira, who creates 5000 meals a month for the hungry. The Reading Room Cafe not only serves the best French Toast in town but also gives back to the community.” He said he has always been a self starter and was motivated by his Industry and Enterprise classes at De La Salle to embark on his own endeavours.

200 Grams Soup du Jour Productions Reviewed by Graeme Lawler 200 Grams, the story of two elderly Italian grandmothers, is the first feature film by Dominic Billings (2003) and Vincent Moloney (2003). The film, which recently premiered at the Cinema Nova, is a tragic comedy about two “nonnas”, brilliantly portrayed for comic effect by Dominic Billings and Robert Breda (2004). The two characters trade grievances and mutual interests in fluent Italian throughout the film, highlighting their mutual respect and jealousy.

The musical score and long silences, at key points, creates a sense of forbidding, and a harbinger of the climactic tragedy.

As the story unfolds, the two women engage in friendly rivalry over the day-to-day concerns of their restricted lives. A salami curing session, where jealousies between the two are played out, is particularly amusing. Their rivalries come to a head at a combined nonnas’ luncheon where they scoff down each other’s fare, with one trying to outdo the other in various degrees of gorging. The meal comes to a climax, when the jealous nonna, played by Dominic, becomes the butt of a practical joke by the other when she leaves an ice cream wrapper in the other’s letter box.

While the film is essentially a comedy, the audience is left with a feeling of sadness at the end for the loneliness of the two elderly characters, and their respective fates provokes a sociological insight into the authentic experiences of ageing migrant women.

As the story concludes we see both women prostrate on the floor in physical and emotional repose, illustrating the inevitable decline of the human condition. 200 Grams is an inspired work of art which lingers long in the memory.

Dominic is working on a new project film Jahasra, with younger brother Joseph (2007). It tells the story of a Septuagenarian Maltese emigrant who divides a life between living with his mother in Melbourne and an annual sojourn to his laundrysized apartment in Malta — the comic anxieties and tensions of domesticity leading to his trips contrasting with his faux-playboy lifestyle abroad.

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Coolies — a little touch of Chennai in the night The Coolies experience is pretty full-on! Talk about the deep end.

Assaults on your understanding and your senses come in fast and furious. India delivers its first punch very early. Stepping from Chennai airport, in the middle of the night, there is little chance to appreciate the hot, humid environment before we are assailed by dozens and dozens of touts, drivers and porters all eager to help. Our driver finds us and leads us to a distant car park, and our path through the many sleeping families along the various walkways delivers another punch. The 15 new arrivals, all with backpacks, have to squeeze into a minibus designed for far fewer. But such is India. We adopt pretzel-like configurations and manage to fit.

The transit through the busy streets with headlight-illuminated smog provides an eerie, hazy atmosphere through which we experience our first dose of the craziness of Indian road travel. Road work diversions and hoardings add to the chaos of it all. Cars, scooters, auto rickshaws, bicycles, buses, trucks, pedestrians, just don’t seem to realise it’s really late at night! Can you believe it? We’re only a couple of hours in!

Surprises, contradictions, new experiences continue and don’t seem to settle down that much. But you do learn to roll with the punches. It’s not like we weren’t prepared. We’d signed up for this months ago, been to heaps of meetings, convinced sponsors of the worth of this project, sold chocolates and sizzled sausages.

We’d been briefed on the subject of Indian life and culture. Yet when it’s in your face is just so different! What an experience.

What a ‘growth spurt’ it was for all of us.

We were headed for the Lasalle Secondary School in the fishing town of Tuticorin, where we would spend the next month. The Brothers gave up their house to accommodate some of us and the rest bunked in together in shared rooms of three or four. The cooks ‘blanded’ down the food for us, cutting back on curry and

chillies. Still, there were a few of us nursing stomachs that often threatened to misbehave. Time passed quickly as we ‘manned up’, to compensate for the lack of tools or machinery, and carted bricks, stones, sand and concrete during our three shifts of one and a half hours each weekday. We thought we were pretty good too, until some local female ‘coolies’ were brought in on a couple of the really busy days — they showed us what wimps we were by comparison. Nonetheless, we took great solace from the knowledge that we brought forward the completion date of that floor of classrooms we were working on by several months.

The stay gave us time to mix with hundreds of students, many of whom were orphan boarders. To the many interested students we were like ‘celebrities’ on tour The region is very poor and these lower caste people look to God and education to raise them from their lowly lot. Nevertheless, the acceptance, optimism and good humour the students and locals display is palpable.

Our last fortnight in India gave us the chance for a little more train travel and to visit another couple of south Indian cities. The placid backwaters are the antithesis of much of what one finds in this chaotic country. Many of us adopted the local garb, with one or two taking on a Gandhi-like appearance with shaved heads and dhotis. Goa’s beaches, a Cochin Christmas, and a Hampi New Year all provided rich memories and a greater appreciation of what India is all about.

The Coolies of 2014 returned home enriched. Though tired out from the work, we were uplifted by the experience, appreciative of what we have here, and delighted we’d done some folk some good.

Mr Larry Evans Coolies Leader 2013

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Photographs by James Eracleus (2013)

$100,000 — a walk in the park!

Thank you to the College community for an unprecedented commitment of $103,660 for the College’s annual Mission Action Day walkathon held last month. This is a phenomenal achievement and one that will make a difference to hundreds, if not thousands of people’s lives, around the world where the De La Salle Brothers are carrying out their mission to serve.

The Chair of the MAD Committee, Mr Ian Oliver, said this was a truly outstanding achievement and one which the students and their families could be proud of. “This is the first time that MAD has raised in excess of $100,000, once again demonstrating the strength and generosity of the De La Salle community.”

Of particular note are some of the Homerooms which achieved staggering results. Congratulations to the Year 7 boys who topped the Year level tally with $20,721, with 7 Roland raising $4,308.

Similarly at other year levels there were a number of records broken with several Homerooms raising more than $3,000 including: Year 8 Hegarty $4,050, 9 Miguel $3,643 followed closely by 9 Dunstan with $3,384 and 12 Solomon raising the highest amount for senior campus with $3,093. A totally MAD achievement for De La Salle College, Malvern.

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50 Year Reunion In March at the Caulfield Racecourse some 40 sprightly Old Collegians met for a 50 year reunion. Gracing the occasion along with College chaplain Mrs Joan Ferguson, Roll Call’s Ms Kerry Martin and Jonathan Hewett and newly-appointed Principal Peter Houlihan, were two of their former teachers, Brs Calixtus Cusack and Gerard Rummery. Br Cal, veteran of many years of work with the aboriginal community of Balgo Hills and now resident at the Brothers’ retirement community at Mentone, was more than competent in handling his personal motorised transport. Brother Gerard, who came from his Sydney community to be present, was judged to appear much younger than some of his former pupils.

In the formal opening of the occasion, Br Gerard used the opening Grace as an opportunity to recall the memory of the strong support the Brothers’ community always had from the parents of many of those present. He expressed his gratitude for the support the community had in those years before there were any forms of government financial assistance, pointing out that the present High Street residence of the community was heavily funded by the College’s auxiliaries.

Mr Peter Houlihan, the first lay Principal, gave a brief account of his years as a teacher at De La Salle, presented an overview of the College as he saw it today and invited all those present to ‘drop in’ whenever they wished to view De La Salle as it begins its second century.

While some of the old Collegians present had met at the Centenary dinner in 2012, others were meeting for the first time after 50 years and came to this meeting expressing their regret for having missed the Centenary celebrations. It was a time for catching up and finding out what various men had done in their lives; for sharing stories of children and grandchildren; for inquiries made about the Brothers who had taught them; for expressions of gratitude for the education they had received.

In conversations with individuals, I was privileged to hear stories of discreet financial support from various College Principals when families encountered difficulties; of career paths that opened up and could be taken because of the education received; of an enduring sense of a ‘school spirit’ that was almost tangible; and overwhelmingly, deep gratitude to the teachers of 50 years ago.

No conversations really ended. I wasn’t surprised to note that towards the end of the evening addresses and phone numbers were being exchanged and there seemed to be a general agreement that all wanted to meet again without having to wait another 50 years.

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20 Year Reunion While the storm clouds gathered outside, inside the Mt Erica Hotel in Malvern, crowds of fresh-faced Old Collegians gathered for their 20 year reunion. Many had not seen each other since 1994 so there was much to catch up on. As the night progressed the old “war stories” started to flow.

1958 Reunion On 19 February, fifteen Old Collegians of 1958 vintage gathered for a morning coffee and chat. Some renewed friendships with those they had not been in contact with for more than fifty years, and all enjoyed the opportunity for some reminiscences and updates on people’s doings.

Pictured below: Left: Fr Brendan Dillon, Bradley Finn, John Murphy Middle: Doug Owen, Tony Fenelon, John McDonell, Kevin Kelton, Michael Madden, Chris Quin, Rodney Morgan Right: Adrian Ryan, Chris Bright, Rob McGuinness, David Mitchell

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30 Year Reunion In November the Class of 1983 met at the Malvern Bowls Club for our 30 year reunion. It must be said that more than once during the night there were a few jokes flying around concerning the inspired choice of venue, given that we’re now all approaching 50 years old! The pubs, the trendy restaurants and Caulfield racecourse, the venues of our past six reunions, were replaced with the promise of a more age appropriate night of ‘twilight barefoot lawn bowls’.

As it turned out we didn’t end up bowling but, not surprisingly, chatted into the wee hours of the morning. Given our history of frequent well-attended reunions, for many of the guys it was a chance to hear the next chapter in a 30-year ongoing story. For others who attended for the first time, they were welcomed back like long lost brothers who’d finally come back to the fold. It was wonderful to see them again. People came from overseas and interstate. Our Principal from 1983, Br Peter Smyth, dropped in

to say hello, and stories were shared about the good (and not so good) times we’d had at school and the journeys we had taken since leaving. While it’s probably fair to say that most of us are no longer in our prime, the bond between the blokes in our year level just seems to improve with age.

Our sincere thanks go to the group of guys who have been so diligent in organising our reunions over the years and, of course, thanks to De La for giving us the opportunity to have come together in the first place.

Geoff Martin

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New Coach for Old Collegians It has been an active pre-season at the De La Salle OCAFC and it was a new look team that took the field in the first round of Premier ‘A’ football against Old Scotch at home.

The club is delighted to have secured the services of new coach, Paul Satterley. Paul joins the club with a most impressive curriculum vitae, which includes coaching experience in the AFL, VFL, TAC Cup and local football. Paul has spent the past two seasons at the Melbourne Football Club in a variety of assistant roles. In 2011, Paul was Senior Coach at Werribee in the VFL where he took the club from 13th to a preliminary final. He was Head Coach at Northern Knights in the TAC from 2006 to 2008 and prior to that coached Hoppers Crossing to a WRFL Premiership. Paul also had a decorated playing career.

He was drafted by the Western Bulldogs and was a listed player between 1992 and 1994 before moving to VFA side Werribee in ’95 and winning the Liston Trophy for Best and Fairest player in the competition.

On the playing side, 2009 Woodrow medallist, Matt Fieldsend, returns after four years at Casey and Port Melbourne. 2011 Best and Fairest Sam Williams is back after two seasons at Collingwood VFL, while promising young ruckmen, Ant Forato joins us from Frankston VFL. Tom Curry, captain of the College 1st XVIII in 2007, is back from Huntly, bringing with him big man Charlie Thorpe. Josh Slade, a young midfielder from country Victoria, has been recruited after spending 2013 with Sandringham VFL. Matt Moore, Luke Williams and Dan Close are back after missing large parts of 2013 due to injury.

The big story is the number of players with senior experience returning from travel, work commitments or other absences. The list includes Tom McMahon, Ben Oakley, Josh Oakley, Tyson Parker, Aaron Kneebone and Ed Murphy. Joel Mattiske, Jordan Bull, Hamish Ramsay, Aaron Wheatley and Sefton McGraw

head a list of current or graduating U19s likely to press for senior selection. They join Charlie Haley, Liam Wood and Michael Stizza as Under 19s who played regular senior football last season. The new additions will complement the talents and leadership of the established top line senior players such as Tom Humphrey, Tim Kovess, Tom Moloney, Luke Jarvis and others Departures are mainly to country leagues. Sam Pickett, Jack Vickers and Al Roberts join Bairnsdale, Matt Hine to Mansfield, Nick Roberts to Meeniyan-Dumbalk and Luke Semmel to Rye. Sam Haslem has moved interstate for work and will play in Queensland while Hugh Nicholson, Brendan Close, James Hansen and John Griffiths have joined EFL clubs.

In addition to a few retirements Justin Baxter, Damien Hale, Sam Brooks and Brad Wilson are amongst a number of senior players travelling for varying lengths of time. We hope to see them all back at some stage. 2013 Woodrow medallist and club Best and Fairest, Jake Williams is trying his luck in the VFL with Collingwood but will still play at De La when free of his VFL commitments. So in summary, a fantastic new coaching appointment, some ‘boom’ recruits, and all the familiar faces.

Simon Humphries

ANZAC Chair Visits

August 2014 marks 100 years since the commencement of the First World War. Across the globe, the Anzac Centenary will be marked by millions of people, in places of special importance and in ways personally meaningful to them. In Victoria, local communities will have the opportunity to plan their own commemorations and to share in the stories of those who served.

Former Premier of Victoria and MLA Member for Hawthorn, The Honourable Ted Baillieu, addressed the Year 9 boys about his work as Chair of Victoria’s ANZAC Centenary Committee and its focus on the sharing of stories to preserve our ANZAC legacy for today’s and future generations, to honour the sacrifice of our war veterans and those who loved them, and to make and mark the connections between those ANZAC veterans and their descendants.

Interested in an Old Colls Aths Club Reunion?

For information contact

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Jack di Giantomasso jackodigi@gmail.com Maurice Gaul Mauriceg@bigpond.com Lou Ferrari Lou.Ferrari@aurecongroup.com Peter Sherman petersherman45@gmail.com

Where Are They Now? Francis Duke (1978) lives in Sao Paulo, Brazil and is married to Paulistana and has two boys, 10 and 6 years. Francis had a long and distinguished career in the oil and gas industry which took him to many parts of the globe.

Anthony Pagone, Justice (1972) was conferred with an LLD from the University of Melbourne in March for his thesis “The general anti-avoidance rule in Australian taxation law”.

Dr Val Noone (1955) The National University of Ireland recently conferred the honorary degree of Doctor of Letters on Dr Val Noone “for his contribution to Irish studies in Australia”.

Dr James Meyer-Grieve (1989) is working as a senior child and adolescent psychiatrist at Monash Health and has recently completed a term as the acting Unit Head of this department.

Brian W. Fish (1963) has recently retired after a long and distinguished career as a teacher of violin for the Department of Education and independent schools. Brian completed a Bachelor of Music at the Melbourne University Conservatorium of Music and lives in Blackburn South. He and his wife Christine recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have two children and three grandchildren.

Dr Luke Murtagh (1994) (on right) is an anaesthetist specialising in perioperative pain management.

Australia Day Honours Fr Kevin Dillon (1961) received an award (AM) in the recent Australia Day Honours. Kevin is the brother of Old Collegians John (1955) and Fr Brendan (1958). Kevin is recognized for his significant service to the Catholic Church in Australia, to health and social welfare support services and to veterans.

Kevin was previously awarded the Centenary Medal in 2001.

Mr Anthony Mack (1975) was awarded (AM) for his significant service to the performing arts, particularly theatre for young children and youth. Anthony was formerly the Vice President of the International Theatre for Children and Young people.

Corey Maynard (2009) having recently completed his final year of a $US50,000 Basketball Scholarship at Bryant University in Rhode Island, has been signed up by the Skytrans Cairns Taipans. Corey completed four US College basketball seasons, where he averaged 13.3 points, 4.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.3 steals in his senior year. The coach said that Maynard’s mental toughness had piqued the Taipans’ interest in him.

Dominic Billings and Vincent Moloney (2003) have produced a feature film entitled 200 Grams.

Justice Bernard Teague (1953) has been appointed by the State Government to head up the enquiry into the Hazelwood Mine Fires.

David Rosemeyer (1978) is one of the Protective Officers at the Shrine of Remembrance as a PS 1 in the Victorian Protective Services. He is married with three daughters and one son.

Vince Moloney and Daniel Gould (2003) are working as literacy teachers at Parkville College, a new innovative college operating within Melbourne Youth Justice Centre.

Dominic Farrell (2002) works as a teacher at McKillop College, Darwin.

Benedict Farrell (2008) works for the Shop Distributive Association in Melbourne.

Terrence Farrell (1996) works for BHP on Groote Eylandt, the largest island in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

Sam Jamieson (1994) came third in this year’s Stawell Gift. He won the event in 2008.

Tom Parsons (2009) exhibition, Entry Exit Point, is currently on at the Glen Eira Town Hall gallery, Melbourne.

Trevor Hilton (1964) After a long career in science and project management at the CSIRO and Commonwealth Government, Trevor retired to the South Coast of NSW. He coaches tennis and has been active working behind the scenes in building a school in Cambodia with the Tabitha Foundation.

Major Simon Grace (1986) is posted to the Land Simulation Centre in Puckapunyal. He was recently the guest of Honour at the College’s Anzac Day Ceremony.

Tim, (1985) Jonathon (1999) and Michael Stinear (2002) all competed in the recent Auckland Marathon.

1984 Year 12 30 Year Reunion

Calling all members of the Defence Forces Roll Call would like to hear from you for a forthcoming series.

If you are currently serving or have served in any of the armed forces please contact me at kmartin.delasalle.vic.edu.au

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The Year 12 class of 1984 will be having a reunion on 14 August 2014. The venue will most likely be in Camberwell.

In order for us to send out further information, please contact any one of the people below to confirm your contact details.

Anthony Klarica aklarica@eliteperformance.com.au Jeff Gooden goodengrant@iinet.net.au Vincent Pellegrino v.pellegrino@alfred.org.au Andrew Holden andrewlholden@hotmail.com

Letters (Continued) A spinner would have been slogged back then, or so we thought.

Truth is, we were all scared of a good ‘leggie’ or off-spinner. We dissuaded them from throwing it up in the air and giving it a tweek.

So, what a surprise to know Ashton Agar turned the ACC on its ear with his spinners and Test cricket with the bat. And that he was from De La! I got so pumped, I told his Trent Bridge innings to anyone who would listen in half a dozen pubs in the Motor City.

Despite an overall ignorance of the great game, they were mightily impressed.

So, well played young Ashton from an old (very old) De La boy, and I wish Barry and I had you in the College team in 1965-67.

You would have gotten a few overs for sure (well, maybe, mate), and we may have won that elusive premiership. Just couldn’t seem to beat those b------s from St Bede’s.

Hopefully one day I’ll drop in to watch De La crush those Mentone lads. Or shake your hand, Ashton, wherever the game takes you.

Michael Brudenell Michigan, USA

Dear Editor, I read with great interest and delight the story in the Lasallian Roll Call (September 2013) on former De La student, Ashton Agar. For the record, his exploits with the bat in the second Test at Trent Bridge during the Ashes Tour in England is now folklore in Detroit.

Let me explain. As a former De La Salle student at Malvern who graduated in 1967 — ­­ well let’s say who left the school then — I have resided most of my adult life in America, visiting her shores for the first time in 1973 and marrying a beautiful young woman named Maureen in 1975. We have returned to Melbourne on a couple of occasions since to live. My son Marten attended De La in the mid-’90’s for three years. But, alas, I’ve seen much more baseball in the Detroit area than cricket Down Under, or anywhere for that matter.

As a sports writer, I feel I’ve missed a great chunk of Aussie sporting history in being away — cricket and footy, the disciplines I’ve craved for most.

Learning by way of the Roll Call that Ashton Agar was a member of the 1st XI at De La was a terrific revelation for me — 10,000 miles away from Stanhope Street and the Malvern Oval where I trained Friday afternoons following school as a College 1st XI player.

And discovering Agar was a spin bowler who could bat a wee bit was even more interesting to me. When I opened the bowling for De La with Barry Lyons, the Old Collegians footy legend, there were virtually no slow bowlers in the ACC competition — or they just weren’t welcome. It was fast or medium pace all day.

Editor’s Note: Michael was a De La Salle student at Malvern from 1959-67. Michael was a senior athlete at De La in 1966 before he was injured in 1967. He competed in ACC football, cricket, athletics and swimming. His late brother Paul was perhaps the most gifted athlete ever to go through De La Salle. His U/14 College/ACC 100 yard dash record has survived for almost 50 years (1964) and his U/15 220 yard (he competed in the event as a 13- year-old in 1964) record was only beaten in 2012.

From the Archives If you can identify any or all of the singers please contact the Editor. kmartin@delasalle.vic.edu.au

A big thank you to our Old Collegian who sent in this photo of the College Vesper Choir of 1935. By our reckoning the volume would have been off the decibel scale.

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Vale Br John

Lasallian Volunteer Programs 2014

Br John Mitchell fsc (1937–2013) In the early hours of Friday 2nd November, 2013, Br John passed away after a very short illness with cancer. A very fit active walker of recent years, Br John was diagnosed in early July with Stage 4 cancer and given only 6–12 months.

Fortunately he had time to email all his friends and compile his autobiography which was also a valuable therapy as he prepared for his last days.

John was blessed with enormous energy and a wonderful memory. He was a ‘must have’ in all quiz teams. His energy was never more evident than in the classroom, as many a young trainee Brother could testify to following Br John’s lessons in the nearby Oakhill College primary school where he taught. His voice was loud, but fair, and his singing could not to be matched by any student. Even the Brothers could not match the power of John’s voice when he sang with us in the chapel. We thank God for his good pitch!

During his 60 years with the Brothers he served in many schools throughout Australia including St Bernard’s, Katoomba, Casimir Catholic College, Marrickville, Oakhill College, Catholic Primary school, Derby, WA, St John’s, Dandenong, and De La Salle, Malvern. In 2011, he returned to Malvern and to semi-retirement where he frequently assisted the office personnel with organization and sorting tasks, which kept him busy and was greatly appreciated.

Br John took a great interest in De La Salle. The eldest of five boys, he gained his entrance to De La Salle by being awarded a place in the Scholarship class in 1949. He had earlier studied at St Anthony’s, Glenhuntly and always remembered fondly his association with that parish. In 1953 he joined the Brothers at their training college at Oakhill.

His four brothers followed him in De La Salle — Peter (1956), Paul (1965), David (1970) and Mark (1973). Br John developed a strong link with his extended family and they speak fondly of his love and concern for them throughout the years.

John Mitchell was a wonderful man. Though he suffered for many years with macular degeneration, he never complained of the problems associated with impaired sight. John was not a person to complain about anything to anyone. Rather, he had a strong empathy for anyone he knew was suffering in any way. He took a fond interest in all those with whom he had worked, including their families. And his email list is a testimony to the many people who had touched his life and, no doubt, vice versa.

Br John was a man of God. He was devoted, as a Brother, to prayer and work: living and praying with the Brothers and teaching and working in schools where the sole purpose was the human and Christian education of young people. He was humble, modest and always enthusiastic about anything asked of him. When he was told that he had a limited time to go, his faith and courage stepped in and he responded as a faithful servant of the God whom he had served so well all his life.

He left this life as he had lived it: with courage and a strong faith. We always enjoyed his company but we now have a wonderful intercessor in heaven. He was a true man of God.

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The Hermitage Retreat, Mittagong (NSW) on the theme of "Hope": July 6-11, 2014. Facilitated by Br Ian Cribb SJ. $600.00 (all inclusive) Challenge Program: South Auckland (NZ) for men interested in exploring the De La Salle Brothers' life and work: September 14-21, 2014. Cost: your return airfare to Auckland Retreat: Santa Teresa Spirituality Centre, Ormiston (QLD) on the theme of "Hope": September 28 October 3, 2014.

Facilitated by Br Ian Cribb SJ. Cost: $600.00 (all inclusive) Challenge Program: Balgo (WA) for men interested in exploring the De La Salle Brothers' life and work: November 16-26, 2014. Cost: your return airfare to Alice Springs Volunteer Lasalle: Cambodia: December 28 January 15, 2015. Cost: $300.00 (plus your return airfare to Phnom Penh, two nights hotel accommodation & spending money) For further information or to register your interest, please contact Br Tony Cummins, Director of Lasallian Vocations: anthonycummins@delasalle.org.au

‘Class of 2004’ 10 Year Reunion Friday 20 June

‘Class of 2013’

Year 12 Revisited Reunion Friday 5 September

Rest in Peace Julian Billings 1969 Richard Billings 1961 Frank Breen 1963 Alex Bressan 2006 John Campbell 1948 Thomas (Tom) Canty 1947 Francis (Frank) Dixon 1950 Kath Donegan Honorary Daniel (Dan) Faulkner 1950 Barry Frisby 1954 Jill Kendall Teacher 1984-1991 Francis (Frank) King 1942 Anthony (Tony) Malbourne 1959 Brian McCann 1949 Kyran Meldrum 1963 James (Bob) Miller 1948 Sam Minogue 2008 Br John Mitchell 1953 Laurie O'Toole 1954 Desmond (Des) Payne 1958 John Reeve 1945 Gerald Sculley 1960 Peter Slate 1947 Edward (Ted) Stokes 1951 Garry Thompson 1961 William (John) Weston 1957 Marian White (Teacher) 1975-80’s Ernest (Ern) Williams 1964

De La Salle College Malvern