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High Distinction: Dr John Menzies OAM
Boat Christening
Saturday 10 November
1. David Caithness’s family had the honour of christening the boat named in his honour 2. Colin Carstairs Bell’s family was also present to help celebrate the life of the Old Collegian (OGC 1921) who was a five-time 1st VIII member 3. The Roger Smith, David M Caithness and
Colin Carstairs Bell were unveiled at the College Boat
Christening
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2
4 3
Albert Bell Club Dinner
Friday 15 March
1. The 1969 1st VIII crew 2. The 1999 1st VIII crew 3. David Koch, Wally Koch and Simon Cole 4. Jon Arrigo, David Caithness, Louise Monotti and Hannah Arrigo
High Distinction
Dr Stanley John “Bob” Menzies OAM
In the 2019 Australia Day Honours, Dr “Bob” Menzies was awarded Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the general division for service to the communities of Western Victoria.
Bob attended Geelong College from 1963 to 1966. He was a School Prefect, Mackie House Captain, Swimming and 1st Baseball Captain, Athletics Vice-Captain, a Cadet Corps Sergeant, and awardee of the Dr Gus Kearney Memorial Prize for all-round ability and service to the College.
The country boy loved his time boarding in both Warrinn and Mackie, with its welcoming faces and many opportunities to play sport at weekends. His children, Rob, Nisha, Karensa and Bindi, also studied at College and his wife Carolyn served on the College Council from 1986 to 1994.
He met Carolyn when she was at the Hermitage and graduated from Melbourne University and married within a few weeks. They worked in Tasmania for a year before buying a farm in Camperdown. Bob focused on being a GP in south-west Victoria and still practises at the Robinson Street Medical Centre, which he set up in 1978. Bob has held numerous board positions, while contributing to education at the Melbourne, Monash, Deakin and Flinders universities.
Bob said he had enjoyed the chance to work in small country hospitals and being involved in the community. His greatest satisfaction has been his role as Rural Workforce Agency Chairman in the late ‘90s – contributing to rural health policy, establishing teaching in rural settings and helping to set up the Australian College of Rural and Remote Medicine. Bob received the Peter Graham Cohuna Award in 2013 for outstanding advocacy and medical service.
Bob’s contributions also extend to numerous community clubs and associations around the region. He is a member of the Warrnambool and District Pipe Band and was the official piper at The Geelong College and Geelong Grammar Albert Centenary Dinner in France in 2017.
