↓ SECTION 01 — —NAME INTRODUCTION OF SECTION GOES HERE
During the past two years, we have been making a series of subtle changes to Light Blue, whilst also refining and updating the School’s visual identity, including School, Foundation and OGG logos. Our website will be relaunched in Term 2 to reflect these changes in our style of presentation, as well as featuring improved functionality. I hope you like the new look Light Blue. Please email me at lightblue@ggs.vic.edu.au and let me know what you think. This edition of Light Blue reflects something of the ‘character’ of our School community. Our character has evolved as succeeding generations discovered and lived our inherited values and attitudes. In the first few years of our history we might have thought more about survival than about innovation or forgiveness, but as the years have passed we have matured and become more aware of the traits that define us. In 2011 a significant number of us reflected on our character, beliefs, spirit, focus, challenge and purpose. Others have reflected on the life of the School before us, and no doubt still others will do so again in the future, but we were looking for the words that seemed to best describe the nature of our School and its challenge and purpose. We described our character as being ‘authentic, courageous, dedicated, forgiving, inquiring, loving, optimistic, passionate, resilient and trusting’.
Editor Brendan McAloon Design Claire Robson Photography Bob Bickerton Tony Bretherton Mark Elshout Linda Hartskeerl Georgie Imhoff (O’Shea, A’86) Chanel Irvine (Yr11 EM) Peter Lemon (FB’64) Katie Rafferty (Spry, Ga’84) Drew Ryan Steve Solomonson
It is good to think of the stories and educational adventures that reveal our character to ourselves and others. We become more confident and hopeful and sure of our steps through such a process. It helps us to know who we are as we strive to continue our traditions and seek to inspire our students towards exceptional futures. Tony Bretherton Director of Community Relations
Website www.ggs.vic.edu.au Email lightblue@ggs.vic.edu.au CRICOS 00143G
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FROM OUR PRINCIPAL
22 - 23
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A WONDERFUL YEAR
Meet John Badgery (Yr11 Cu) and Kate McGeoch (Yr11 Ga)
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A GIFT HORSE
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SCHOLARSHIPS
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A LASTING TESTAMENT
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OGG PRESIDENT
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TOWER LUNCHEON
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OGG NEWS
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OGG SPORT
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REUNIONS
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HOGA
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COGA
OUR 2013 SCHOOL CAPTAINS
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DAYLIGHT SECOND
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IN BRIEF
6 - 19
OUR CHARACTER
We focus on our character strengths and how they resonate with our School community
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MAKING ART
The 2012 Primed Art Exhibition
20 - 21
HERMI SETS A NEW STANDARD
The Hermitage House opens its doors after a major refurbishment
44 - 51
FROM THE CURATOR
A tribute to Richard William (Bill) Lester and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch
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This edition of Light Blue focuses upon those 10 words and the character of the School – and I hope that these words resonate with you and the School that you know. It is very important that they do, for the character of the School is the essence of how we live our daily lives here and is what helps to mould the characters of the students in our care. We have asked members of our community to amplify the meaning of one of the words and to explain why it resonates with them as being part of the character of Geelong Grammar School. The 10 words provide a powerful message and tell prospective students and staff what they can expect if they join the School. If you know who you are and what you stand for, you clearly have a much stronger chance of being able to achieve it. I think “Our character” gives us that chance. Part of the character of the School is the history and heritage which we enjoy, since its founding in 1855. Honouring that history and maintaining the heritage are the responsibility of the Council, Principal and staff, and nowhere is that more important than in honouring those who gave their lives in wars around the world, that we might be free and our culture and way of life preserved for future generations. This year we have restored the War Memorial Cloisters which were a gift from the Old Geelong
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Grammarians after the First World War to commemorate the sacrifice of those who had given their lives in that war. The refurbished Cloisters look magnificent with the new stone glistening in the sun and the bronze plaques commemorating the names of those who gave their lives in the various wars of the twentieth century, burnished to shine as they did at the time of their first installation. The overall result is tremendous and, if you have not seen the Cloisters in their new glory, I recommend that you visit the School to see them. The Hermitage is also looking magnificent after its recent face-lift. In line with our plans for all the Senior School boarding houses, the Hermitage now has single studies for all the students in Years 12 and 11 and dormitories of four for students in Year 10. It has been a very successful refurbishment of the House and we have taken the opportunity also to upgrade the bathrooms and to ensure that there is central heating in all parts of the House. We had a very successful re-opening of the House in September which was well attended by former students of the House, members of the Hermitage Old Girls’ Association, as well as by current students and their parents. It was very good to have that blend of experience and encouraging to hear nothing but praise for the way that the works had been carried out. You can read about the re-opening of the Hermitage on page 20. Every year, I am reminded just how strong our creative arts are when I attend the Primed Art Exhibition which showcases the work of the Year 12 students from the IB and the VCE. At the heart of any good art exhibition is a range of creativity and imagination and the technical ability to deliver a final piece of quality. This year’s Year 12 students showed once again just how much talent there is in the Art School and I was very impressed by all that I saw at the Exhibition. You can see some examples of the Exhibition in the article on pages 26-27. Talent of a different sort is on display in the Bostock Family Kitchen cookbook. It is a production of real quality and I was delighted when I started to read through it and discovered so many recipes from all members of the Bostock House community. Details of how you can get a copy of this beautifully illustrated cookbook can be found on page 25.
The end of the School year would not be the same without the wonderful Middle School Play and the Prep-Year 2 Production at Toorak Campus. The Middle School Play once again had a cast of over a hundred, with acting dancing and singing on display. I do not know how Annabel Meek is able to conjure up such magic year after year. This year’s production at Toorak also featured some magic, with a magical mirror transporting some of the Year 2 students to other worlds, such as the maritime world which they visited under the sea. The costumes were quite remarkable once again and the army of helpers too numerous to mention, but not too numerous to be thanked. Term 4 also features the annual APS Athletics competition in Melbourne. Our students did us proud this year with our best placings for many years. Other individual achievements can be read about on page 24, but the overall team performance was fantastic. We have a very dedicated staff who coach athletics, led by Dean Dell’Oro the TiC of Athletics, and I thank them all for their dedication, commitment and passion for the sport. Lastly, the end of year also finishes with the appointment of the new School Captains for the following year. The announcement of their names before a joint assembly of the whole of the Senior School and the whole of the Middle School is one of the great occasions in the School year. The applause which the new School Captains receive is so affirming that it carries them through the rest of the year. You can meet them on page 22. These featured events of the past few months indicate the ongoing activity within the School and the vibrancy which exists at every campus. They also feature, as it happens, aspects of “Our character”, with actions which are courageous, authentic and passionate, to choose just three. “Our character” reflects the School we are and who we seek to be. Stephen Meek Principal
Principal, Stephen Meek, makes a cameo appearance in the Middle School Play, Retroactive Rebooted, alongside Harry Weller (Yr8 Bw)
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It is estimated that currently there are about 1,000,000 words in the English language and about 616,500 of them appear in the Oxford English Dictionary. Thus when we started to look for words to describe the character of the School, we had a very large number from which to choose. One of the joys of the English language is that there are many words with fine shades of meaning between them. To find just 10 words to describe the character of the School was thus a demanding task and we had an enjoyable, but at times intense, debate last year when we tried to find the 10 key words which defined the character of the School. No doubt some of you will think that a key word is missing but, before you write to let me know, let me also explain that we did omit some words if they appeared elsewhere in the overall document, but under a different heading such as “We believe”. Taking the document as a whole (as it appeared in the May edition of Light Blue), we felt that we had covered all bases. I hope that you agree.
↓ SECTION 02 — OUR CHARACTER
trusting Trust, for me, is something that is fundamental in a friendship. I look at the girls in my House and how much our friendships have grown in the past two years and can say that I trust each of them whole-heartedly. It is clichéd but when I think about it, I trust these girls to act in my best interests and to support me when needed. It’s not a conscious thing that I think about and have to act on, but it’s something that is just there. Danielle Davidovits (Yr11 He)
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courageous Geelong Grammar School has long shown itself to be a courageous organisation. Some may question whether an organisation can have courage but I believe our School has a culture of making courageous decisions and creating an environment for our staff to do so. The obvious manifestations of our courage include the relocation of the School to Corio in 1914, appointing James Darling as Headmaster at the age of 30, creating Timbertop in the early 1950s, becoming co-educational in the early 1970s and merging with The Clyde and Hermitage schools in 1976, removing Years 7 and 8 from Glamorgan/ Toorak campus in the 2000s, and the more recent introduction of Positive Education throughout the School. In addition to these significant steps in developing the School, there are many other examples of courage being displayed in our approach to education. We are a forgiving school where children are given opportunities to show that they can be trusted members of our community. Our students embark on some great adventures, such as the Great Victorian Bike Ride, Lorne 160 and expeditions to Antarctica by sailboat and Himalayas by foot to name a few. The Middle School Play is often full of irreverence, political incorrectness and bawdy behaviour – and great fun. We encourage our students to take risks and experience new things in an environment that is supportive and caring.
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Two years ago we completed building a new fire refuge at Timbertop. This was designed and constructed before new codes could be introduced following the Royal Commission into the devastating Black Saturday fires. School management and Council believed that it was more important to ensure we were doing all we could to provide a safe and functional refuge for our community at Timbertop than to wait and see what new building codes or other regulations may come out of the Royal Commission. Such a decision took courage as we had no template or guidelines to follow and we charted our own course. Earlier this month that building won the Design and Construction division of the annual Fire Awareness awards conducted by the CFA. There is always so much going on at GGS and as 2012 draws to a close I am sure that our staff and students are looking forward to some rest and relaxation. I wish our Year 12s the best of luck for their VCE and IB results, which will come out in December and early January respectively and, in particular, that they are able to choose a path for the next phase of their lives that fills them with excitement, satisfaction and wonderful experiences. I wish to thank my colleagues on Council, Foundation and OGG Committee for their dedication and service to the School over the past year and hope that all our community enjoys the Christmas and New Year break safely and happily. Jeremy Kirkwood (FB’79) Chairman of Council
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passionate “Nothing great in the world has ever been accomplished without passion.” - Georg Wilhelm Friedrich Hegel
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One of the defining aspects of passion is that, more than simply having a great love for an activity or placing significant value on it, it is in some way tied to one’s identity. And so, a person who has a passion for rowing, singing or painting, does not just ‘do’ these activities, they are ‘rowers’, ‘singers’ and ‘painters’. Geelong Grammar School has been passionate about the education and wellbeing of young people for more than 150 years – it is in our blood; it defines who we are. Positive Education is just one way that we bring that to life everyday at every campus. Our passion for Positive Education comes to life through the exciting and innovative classes that are taught in Years 7, 8, 9 and 10. This passion for teaching skills for wellbeing will result in explicit Positive Education classes also being taught in Years 5 and 6 from 2013. Our passion is also evident in the spirited discussions and warm relationships that develop through the Positive Education themed Senior School tutorials and in the creative way in which teachers at our junior campuses bring Positive Education to life by embedding it throughout their curriculum. In the Positive Education department we are passionately curious; to explore, to understand, to learn and to share our learning with others. We have lived this passion every day on our journey with Positive Education thus far – by opening our 2008 training with Martin Seligman to a number of local government schools, in running Australia-wide Positive Education conferences in 2009, by welcoming more than 500 visitors to the School to share our experience and learn from our journey and, earlier this year, by releasing our Model for Positive Education and the empirical evidence base that underpins it.
Our passion to help other schools, teachers and our wider school community discover and explore their own Positive Education journey will progress as we develop a Positive Psychology training programme that will be available to the GGS parent community early next year and to teachers from other schools later in the year. Exciting progress has also been made on a manuscript for what is hoped will be the first in a series of books that will chart the GGS journey, share our experiences and provide teachers with resources to bring Positive Education to life in the classroom, with an anticipated publication date for the end of 2013. Also, at the start of Term 1 we will begin a significant three-year research project with the University of Melbourne and Monash University to measure the impact of our Year 9 and Year 10 Positive Education programmes. Using the latest research techniques, such as experience sampling methodology and physiological measures, the project will examine whether skills and knowledge taught throughout the Year 9 and Year 10 programmes lead to changes in behaviour that are sustained through Years 11 and 12. We passionately believe that student wellbeing needs to be at the centre of education in order for the student, the School and ultimately society to flourish. We also believe that the skills for wellbeing can be taught and are working to provide a robust evidence base to support this belief. We are committed to enabling and supporting others to experience the impact of ‘learning’ Positive Education. In the Positive Education department, our passion is learning to flourish; we live it every day and we encourage as many people as possible to do the same – we hope you are able to join us! Justin Robinson Head of Positive Education
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inquiring “Learning is a process of constructing, testing and reconstructing theories, constantly creating new knowledge.” - Carlina Rinaldi and Peter Moss
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There are many moments in your teaching practice that stay with you forever. One of those moments was when Rhiannon had discovered the formula for calculating the area of a two-dimensional shape. I say, ‘discovered’ because, for her, this was unchartered territory. It was a warm day outside and the children were busy in Year 2 working out how many one centimetre squares it took to cover a range of different sized rectangles. I noticed that Rhiannon had not covered the entire space, but rather only made two lines across the width and length of the shape with the miniature blocks. I asked her what she was doing. She looked at me with pure satisfaction, knowing she had just made a profound mathematical finding: “If you multiply the number of blocks along both sides, it gives you the total area!” I had not taught Rhiannon how to calculate the area of a rectangle that day. She had discovered it herself. I merely put the tools in her hands, ensured she had the right resources and asked her the right questions. This is the role of a teacher in the inquiry classroom. Educational researcher, Professor Erica McWilliam, is a firm believer that teachers need to take on the role as ‘meddler in the middle’ rather than just being the ‘sage on the stage’ or the ‘guide on the side’. Of course our students can learn a lot from us and we are there to support them along their learning journey. But we are also there, in a sense, to agitate the learning process. We provoke students with engaging experiences or ideas. We inspire them to want to know more. Questions are posed to ignite thinking.
Inquiring is a way of approaching learning. An inquiry teacher asks herself, “How will my students discover new knowledge today? What experiences can I provide them so that they formulate new understandings?” Teachers listen carefully to their students and document where they are in their learning. This is a vital part of the process that helps teachers plan and prepare for the next chapter. Students in inquiry schools discover the curriculum. It is not delivered TO them by their teachers. Learning in this way is meaningful to students. And we know that when there is meaning or understanding, the learning is embedded. Inquiry classrooms foster creative and critical thinking skills where students are making and testing theories. Explicit teaching of skills is done ‘just in time’. They are taught exactly when students need them, there and then. This is contrary to the traditional sense of teaching skills ‘just in case’ where students are taught sets of skills disconnected from one another and without real-life application. The ‘one day you may need to know this’ approach to teaching skills fails to engage the learner who is unable to make sense of it in their own world. Without applying the understandings and consolidating the new knowledge through practical experiences, students remain disconnected from the learning. As for Rhiannon, she continued to test her theory with other shapes. We looked at squares and triangles and other polygons. The students worked together to refine their thinking and made new discoveries. We tested algorithms and used calculators to check our sums. I think of that classroom not as a space where students came to learn, but as our laboratory for thinking. Janis Coffey Head of Teaching & Learning, Toorak Campus
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authentic Reliable, genuine, real, actual, bona fide, true, legitimate… One of the joys of being a chaplain in an Anglican school is facilitating and leading worship for the school community – whether it likes it or not! As a school whose character is founded in the Anglican Christian tradition, Geelong Grammar School has always required all students to attend Chapel as part of their broader education. Since becoming a School Chaplain, I have regularly been asked how such compulsory worship could possibly be authentic, or even helpful. My response is always that, as a gathered community, schools such as Geelong Grammar School celebrate their collective life through the Anglican Christian tradition and this enables a diverse community to come together as one, sharing an authentic identity. So by coming to Chapel, each individual in the School, regardless of their culture or background, is embraced into the tradition of the Christian faith which is offered as a gift – one that shapes us as a whole. At the same time, there is a clear recognition that each person also has the freedom to be who they are in matters of faith.
Geelong Grammar School is a delightfully eclectic community that welcomes students from a range of faith backgrounds, alongside those who would claim no particular religious affiliation. Participating in Christian worship in no way overrides the freedom of the individual; what it does is give the opportunity to be part of the character of the whole. Students who practise religions other than Christianity are often better at recognising this than students from atheist backgrounds as through their own spirituality they are better equipped to see value in faith practices – whether or not they mirror the rites of their own religion. It is the sign of an authentic community and authentic worship when the students who contribute to each service through readings, serving and ushering at Communion, carrying candles and the cross, leading prayers, singing hymns and joining in with the words of the liturgy, are willing to do so first and foremost because they are a part of Geelong Grammar School – a school whose identity has always been grounded in the Anglican Church. What we do in Chapel then is both authentic Christian worship and an authentic coming together of the community we share at the School. We become, as a worshipping community, something greater than the sum of our parts, for matters of the Spirit always transcend simple addition. The Rev’d Eleanor O’Donnell Senior Chaplain
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forgiving Positive Education initiatives are promoting a greater exploration of the education of the young at Geelong Grammar School. The wellbeing of students is essential to learning and life management. Empathy promotes the understanding of others and the development of more positive relationships. Pastoral care at Geelong Grammar School is constructed upon love and the establishment of positive and enabling relationships. Love of course is built upon empathy; the capacity to value another beyond the level one values oneself. Relationships are constructed on the contribution one can make to the other, not on what advantage one can gain from the relationship. Empathetic relationships are natural and define humanity. Neuroscience is showing us through the research of mirror neurons that empathy is innate and one has to consciously override this to harm another. The intention to act without empathy must be a deliberate and learned, therefore practised response. Geelong Grammar School, through Positive Education, is promoting empathy. The School is promoting what it is to be human and is developing in all students the intuitive strength responses of kindness, forgiveness and the allied strengths of awe, gratitude, leadership and the capacity to love and be loved. The empathetic strength of forgiveness deserves special attention. Desmond Tutu states:
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“Forgiveness gives us the capacity to make a new start… And forgiveness is the grace by which you enable the other person to get up, and get up with dignity, to begin anew. In the act of forgiveness we are declaring our faith in the future of a relationship and in the capacity of the wrongdoer to change.” Forgiveness renews life by finishing unfinished business; even an unsuccessful attempt at forgiveness has the considerable power of intention. We cannot force forgiveness because it closes the heart, but we can explore its possibilities, its capacity to heal the forgiver, and sometimes the forgiven. To forgive, one has to purge oneself of revenge and the want to harm. One’s emotional response is driven by the actions of the other person. One must forgive oneself for the emotional response in order to then have the capacity to forgive the other. This is simple once one practices forgiveness. However, it is tough going at first as we are emotional beings. We are hardwired to be kind. Forgiveness is showing mercy. It is an act of self-compassion. Forgiveness is not transactional – it is transformational. It does not remove what has happened, but it does remove the destructiveness of the impact of what has happened for all parties as best it can. It is enabling. It allows all to “move on”. It is found in every faith as the underpinning enabling ethic of behaviour. It is an act of the heart as opposed to the mind. It is about love in every sense.
Forgiveness prompts the employment of the Golden Rule (to treat others as you would like to be treated) and life is again made enabling for all. It releases us from the overbearing burden of lasting suffering and self-destruction. The Lord’s Prayer does get it right, (and in the right order): “Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us”. We are, as humans, obliged to forgive if we are to conserve humanity. Without forgiveness there cannot be peace. Without peace there is destruction. The wonderful book on the Golden Rule by Ilene Cooper states: “It all begins with me”. We are obliged to take the initiative. The heart must rule for the mind to forgive. Forgiveness permits life to thrive and relationships to be positive. It is based on the belief that all are kind and can be kind. It is fundamental to the health of individuals, families, communities and societies and importantly, to evolution. Without forgiveness contentment is not truly possible. Without forgiveness good decisions cannot be made. Empathy for another is defined by the innate capacity to forgive. John Hendry Director of Student Welfare
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dedicated Being asked to list the ten character traits reflecting the recent Middle School Play, Retroactive Rebooted, is difficult when each trait is demonstrated faithfully by the whole ensemble. In any theatrical piece, there must be authenticity and there will certainly be courage, forgiveness, inquiry, love, optimism, passion, resilience and trust; all are integral to the process and the final product. Year 7 and 8 students elect to be involved in the production. There are no auditions; quite simply, anyone who would like to be involved can be. Emphasis is placed on discipline, commitment and teamwork. We have high production values, but the process and learning in our journey are more important. In 2012, 130 students made the commitment to rehearsals after school and on weekends. Approximately 30 Senior School students were also involved through directing, choreography, assisting with hair and make-up or being in the band. Academic staff helped supervise rehearsals and support students during an intense five-week rehearsal schedule. Parents organised their lives around rehearsal drop-offs and pick-ups, scouring op-shops and the back of the cupboard for costumes to wear to the performances. This is dedication. But the experts on dedication and the Middle School play are our students:
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“What is dedication? Dedication is waking up every day knowing that school is on your doorstep scratching to get in, that there’s a test and you haven’t studied – so you spend your bus ride cramming. It’s knowing your role, getting cramps in your feet from dancing, remembering lines that seem to never end, or flying over the ocean to see a play you wrote. Dedication is the backstage crew, the painters, the lighting techno, the cast, Miss Meek’s rages and the fun times. It is the mothers with their helping hands, the band and their magic ways with songs, the costumes and the ripped seams, the stains and the tears. Dedication is persistence, trying something new, learning from mistakes, never stopping even when you know you want to, working so hard you think you have nothing left to give. It is the seniors who give up weekends, stressed-out parents and bike rides; the answer to ‘describe the play in one word’. Dedication IS the Middle School play.” – Bella Temple (Yr8 Hi) “Term 4 is an extremely busy time and it can be very difficult to juggle all your commitments, from the Year 8 Journey to play rehearsals, sport and academic work. This is when the true meaning of dedication really comes into play. To me dedication is not just saying you are going to do something, but actually doing it. In the Middle School Play, everyone works as a team and pulls together to reach a common goal. This co-ordination requires great dedication, not only from Year 8 students, but from everyone involved, whatever part they may play in achieving a great performance.”
“Being part of the Middle School Play has taught me a lot about being punctual and dedicated – otherwise everything can go pear-shaped. You may think that it’s just the students dedicating their time, but the show wouldn’t happen if it weren’t for people like the lighting crew, the band, the mothers helping with make-up, the Senior School volunteers and, most of all, the parents driving in and out just so their kids can practise. This great experience has been about everyone taking part in something bigger than themselves to reach the same goal.” – Olivia McFarlane (Yr8 Hi) The week after the production, Father Howard talked in Chapel of Zacchaeus and the choice he had to make when faced with a challenge: to give up, or do something by overcoming his apparent disadvantages. Hopefully, the Middle School Play ensemble has learned not only about theatrical performance but that, when faced with a challenge or difficulty, if we dedicate ourselves to the task and refuse to give up, we will find success. Annabel Meek Middle School Drama Teacher and Head of Highton House
– Tom Grills (Yr8 Ot)
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resilient We can’t always control what happens to us… but we can control how we respond.
You are neither born with nor without resilience. Resilience develops as people grow, as they move through life experiences, as they develop more accurate thinking and self-awareness skills; more knowledge. Resilience is the ability to ‘bounce back’, to grow and thrive in the face of adversity. Resilience is comprised of a set of characteristics, abilities and core competencies, many of which are teachable. One could argue that resilience is the end product of intuitive application of Positive Psychology to the management of personal adversity. Resilient people are those individuals who display “the capacity to remain well, recover, or even thrive in face of adversity” (Hardy, Concato & Gill, 2004). Through the study of Positive Education in Middle School we are teaching our students, both explicitly and implicitly, practices to enhance their resiliency. Specific teaching is one approach; allowing students to experience adversity enables a practical application.
The following are student reflections where they have identified how the ability to be resilient helped them complete their journey. Tony Inkster Head of Middle School “On day four of the bike ride it was raining and cold. We had a hill climb. Half way up my hips started to hurt and I began to get emotional. I thought I was never going to make it but I was resilient by changing my thinking and talking to an adult about my favourite food.” – Harriet Hacon (Yr8 Cn) “Resilience was the character strength I used most on the bike ride. Having the resilience to keep going when the hills were steep was hard. When it was tough I needed resilience and perseverance. I kept telling myself that there were going to be harder things in my life (like Timbertop). The GVBR was a hard but rewarding experience.”
In the penultimate week of the year all our Year 8 students participate in The Journey. Students select either the Great Victorian Bike Ride (GVBR) or a Paddle/ Hike trip along the Glenelg River. This year 72 GVBR students rode 591 kilometres from Lakes Entrance to Phillip Island in nine days. Students rode in teams, with each team accompanied by staff and adults. They climbed above 800 metres altitude on one day, rode to sea-level on another, and endured extreme heat and powerful headwinds to achieve their goal.
– Max England (Yr8 Bw)
The Paddle/Hike groups trekked with full backpacks over 20 kilometres per day, paddled up to eight hours on other days, were completely self-sufficient and lived in small teams directly accompanied by staff and two professional outdoor education guides. They too experienced the extremes of weather, including a massive thunder and lightning storm.
“During the Paddle/Hike there were many times when I had to be resilient and optimistic. Whether it was walking up the seemingly never ending hills, tackling the headwind on the last three kilometres of the paddle or trying to sleep while your tent was being battered by the rain and wind, you had to show great amounts of resilience and optimism.”
“I had been quite sick for the majority of the paddle and on day three, the 40 degree day, we had to paddle 12 kilometres before hiking another four. After the paddle I was so physically drained I didn’t think I could do it and I just wanted to give up. I showed resilience by not stopping even though I really thought about quitting. I knew I didn’t want to stop and just had to keep pushing on.” – Elizabeth Hains (Yr8 Cn)
– Martin Anderson (Yr8 Ot)
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loving When we think of the word love most of us immediately think of our partners, family and friends; the relationships we have with those people and the wonderful times that we spend together. From the moment we are born we are part of a family; our immediate family and our extended family made up of grandparents, uncles, aunties and cousins. The ultimate sense of love and belonging comes from being part of a family. However, the sense of belonging that one derives from being part of a friendship group or community is arguably just as vital to one’s well being. As children grow older they become part of another family; a family of friends and of communities like Bostock House and Geelong Grammar School as a whole. This term the Friends of Bostock produced the Bostock Family Kitchen cookbook. Their goal was to produce a cookbook that would inspire and enhance meals and celebrations for families and friends. The cookbook not only turned out to be a virtual treasure trove of delicious treats for all occasions but also somewhat of a primer for Positive Education. Positive Education teaches us that the Meaningful Life, the Pleasant Life and the Good life all go together to make for the Full Life. The Full Life is one in which one savours positive feelings from experiencing positive emotions about the past, present and future, while deriving abundant pleasure from using one’s signature strengths and using those strengths in the service of something larger than one’s self.
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Meals with family and friends encourage us to take the time in our busy lives to focus on and savour those special relationships that are vital to our wellbeing and happiness. We take the time to concentrate on the important people in our lives while enjoying wonderful camaraderie and laughter; memories of years gone by, the present, and the promise of the future. We indulge all of our senses and are very much aware of our blessings and good fortune when we sit down with our families and friends for an everyday meal or on a special occasion. Meals together make for stronger relationships, better communication and a sense of identity and belonging. The notion of the cookbook fits perfectly with the philosophy of who we are at Bostock House. Love is the most basic and essential element of what we do and it is infused in all aspects of our everyday lives. Loving relationships, kindness, a sense of belonging, forgiveness and a genuine concern for the welfare of others is fundamental to cultivating the community we wish to maintain and foster at Bostock House. I am sure that over the holiday period that a great many Bostock families and their friends will be sitting down to a scrumptious meal from the cookbook and enjoying the epitome of quality time. Daryl Moorfoot Head of Bostock House
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optimistic “It’s snowing still,” said Eeyore gloomily. “So it is.” “And freezing.” “Is it?” “Yes,” said Eeyore. “However,” he said, brightening up a little, “we haven’t had an earthquake lately.”
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This extract from A. A. Milne’s much loved classic Winnie-the-Pooh could conceivably be a conversation between two Timbertop students walking up a steep spur somewhere in the Victorian Alps. On the first hike of this year many students did not make it to the summit of Mt Timbertop, not from a lack of effort but because a summer hail storm producing lightning and golf-ball sized projectiles chased the would-be hikers off the mountain. Rather than being the exception, this weather event seemed to set the tone for what was to follow. On subsequent hikes students experienced wind so strong you could lean into it and not fall over, thunder so loud it was deafening, snow so deep that they had to take it in turns breaking trail, cold so bone chilling that boiling water had to be poured over freezing tent pegs before they could be liberated from the ground, and rain… oh the rain! It wasn’t until the second last hike of the year that this year’s Timbertop students experienced a hike where their standard issue red raincoat stayed in their packs. It is difficult to survive and be comfortable in the outdoors when you have never done it before. It is particularly difficult when the weather is inclement. Often one of the key characteristics that distinguish those students who just ‘survive’ from those who ‘thrive’ in the outdoor programme is their ability to say, as Eeyore did, “Well, it’s snowing and freezing, but at least we haven’t had an earthquake lately”. Optimism is a choice but for some it seems to be an easy one. For those with hope, optimism and future-mindedness high in their list of signature strengths, seeing the silver lining in every cloud seems effortless, as easy as inhaling and exhaling. For the rest of us, who perhaps find it more difficult to see the absence of an earthquake as a blessing, we need to keep in mind that our character strengths are all about putting things into action. And optimism is indeed something that can be cultivated. LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
As in the world, we see both types of people all the time in the outdoors at Timbertop; people demonstrating optimism, naturally, effortlessly, and others cultivating optimism because they have learned that it works. By this stage most students have learned that lamenting the torrential rain will not make you more comfortable or dry, but will only serve to keep one’s focus on the water dripping off your nose and down your legs. Far better to imagine what it will be like when the sun finally comes out, perhaps in an hour or a day or two, and dries everything out again. Most have learned there is no point in dwelling on the steepness and ruggedness of the spur, or on the fact that the track has become so overgrown that it is not discernible from the thick undergrowth. It is far better to thank your lucky stars you have a compass and some gaiters and get on your way. It would be stretching the truth to say that negativity or pessimism does not exist in the outdoors at Timbertop. There will always be moments when even the most naturally optimistic become frustrated, tired and beaten. However it is heartening to see how often students choose to be positive and courageous when they are pushed out of their comfort zones and find themselves in situations that many adults would find difficult to cope with. It is heartening to see how often they choose optimism. Incidentally, there was one earthquake this year at Timbertop. The majority of the students were in the Dining Hall and didn’t feel a thing. For the most part they were sorry to have missed it. Sarah Hedger Director of Girls’ Student Welfare Timbertop
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HERMI SETS NEW STANDARD Geelong Grammar School continues to set the benchmark for boarding school accommodation in Australia following a major refurbishment of The Hermitage House. The girls’ boarding house was re-opened on September 1 as part of the ongoing renewal of the School’s boarding facilities, designed to satisfy the different requirements of privacy, study, play and pastoral care in the modern age. Principal, Stephen Meek, said the refurbishment programme reaffirmed the School’s commitment to boarding. “Most schools in Australia which have boarding at all are cutting back on their boarding provision,” Stephen explained. “We have expanded the number of boarding places through the construction of Elisabeth Murdoch House (which was opened in 2010) and are now modernising our other boarding facilities.” He said that the recent refurbishments of both The Hermitage and Francis Brown boarding houses set a new standard for boarding school accommodation, combining modern design features with state-of-
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the-art technology whilst also providing single study/bed rooms for all Year 11 and 12 students. “The houses are in good condition, but refurbishment will ensure that our facilities remain up to date and appropriate for the 21st century.” The Hermitage House captain, Gretel Sharp (Yr12 He), said current students were extremely grateful to have the opportunity to live in the refurbished boarding house. “Not only have the transformations improved studying amongst us all, they have enhanced the relationships between the three year levels (Years 10-12),” Gretel said. “We as a house feel extremely lucky to have been here to witness and experience these new privileges and developments. And while some may be concerned that the building’s new physique could destroy the core of what we all consider Hermi to be, let me assure you – a Hermi girl will always be a Hermi girl.”
More than 300 people attended the re-opening, including more than 100 past students of The Hermitage, Geelong Church of England Girls Grammar School, which amalgamated with Geelong Grammar School in 1976 and provides the girls’ boarding house with its current name (it was called Jennings House from 1976-93). A re-opening ceremony and afternoon tea was followed by a Reunion Dinner in the Hawker Library.
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OUR SCHOOL CAPTAINS We are delighted that John Badgery (Yr11 Cu) and Kate McGeoch (Yr11 Ga) have been chosen to represent our school in the role of School Captains for 2013. As we farewell our 2012 School Captains, George Vickers-Willis (Yr12 FB) and Xara Kaye (Yr12 He), Light Blue spoke to John and Kate about the year ahead.
Some people liken Geelong Grammar School to a journey. What has been your journey at the School? Kate: I started in Year 7 having left a primary school with less kids in the whole school than I now have in my year level. It was very different to what I was used to, not just in the numbers but also in the diversity of people. It honestly opened my eyes up to realising that we are all so very different and that individuality is our strongest tool in life. I’m not sure when or how I made the decision, but ever since coming here I have relished being involved in as many activities as I could get myself into, which encouraged me to explore my strengths. I have definitely grown up at this school and learnt things that have changed the way I think and act. I have no hesitation in saying that I would be a different person had I not come to GGS. John: I joined Geelong Grammar School from Brisbane Grammar School at Timbertop in 2010. I have enjoyed my time here at the School immensely. The School has triggered in me such a wide range of interests – I love the way the school caters for such a broad diversity of curiosities and encourages everyone to broaden their palate of experience.
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Has there been any one stage of the journey that has been particularly significant or memorable? If so, what was it? Kate: I loved Timbertop. I will never forget my experiences during that year. However, in saying that, I think sometimes that the life of a boarder challenges you more than a steep 200-metre ascent. The thing I love most about GGS – and what sets it apart from other schools – is the way in which we can all work together to achieve and that we are all supportive of each other. John: Although I am sure there have been events that will be of more significance long-term, the most memorable and close to my heart was being a part of the School’s production of Little Shop of Horrors. The production was something I have never done before and will always remember fondly. It sounds clichéd but being a part of such an enormous collaboration was another experience. This edition of Light Blue explores the School’s ‘character’. How would you describe the School’s character and what do you think makes the School so unique? John: To me the School’s character is one of action and trust. The School is constantly moving forward with new activities and ideas. This momentum for constant improvement and change is made possible by the strong foundations of trust upon which relationship between students and teachers form. For me, the School can be characterised by change and improvement, and the strong sense of trust which enables this to occur.
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Do you have any goals or a vision you hope to achieve in 2013? Kate: During our recent visit to Timbertop we, the School Prefects, got the chance to consider our aims for the School. One that we are focussed on working towards is striving to make the School environment even more inclusive than it already is and to develop a stronger sense of familiarity between year levels and campuses. We feel that in doing this the School will become a more comfortable place in which we can help students become more actively involved in pursuing their passions. Personally, one thing I have always been passionate about is doing what I can for people who are less fortunate than I am. I believe that charity is a major part of the School because it strives to educate its students in playing a role of service to others. Hopefully next year we can work to further develop this sense of fulfilling roles of service as this is something that will not only benefit the GGS community, but something that students can take with them beyond the School.
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DAYLIGHT SECOND Athletics captain Deluca LawsonMatthew (Yr12 M) spearheaded one of the School’s most successful APS Athletics Carnivals in 30 years on Saturday 27 October. Deluca streaked the field in the Open Boys 400m (pictured below), finishing almost 20 metres clear in a personal best time of 48.23 seconds to win the School’s first individual Boys APS Athletics title in nine years. “I don’t think I really felt the pressure of being in the hot seat until 20 minutes before the race,” Deluca confessed. “Not to undermine the achievement but after the race I was more relieved than ecstatic.” GGS won six individual titles and one relay, but Teacher-In-Charge of Athletics Dean Dell’Oro said that it was the volume of school records broken at the carnival that most impressed.
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“The team broke 12 school records and the boys reached eight A finals – the most since the 1980s,” Dean said. The day was littered with excellent performances, including Lydia Mackinlay Campbell (Yr12 A) winning the Open Girls High Jump – the sixth consecutive year that Lydia has won her age division of the high jump at APS level. Other winners on the day were Xenia Brookes (Yr9 J Unit) in the U16 High Jump, Catherine Qian (Yr10 He) in the U16 Shot Put, Sophie Sharp (Yr10 He) in the U17 Shot Put, Annabel Rafferty (Yr10 A) in the U17 800m and the U17 Boys 4x400m relay team of Hamish Baylis (Yr10 M), Edward Keach (Yr10 M), Sam Parsons (Yr10 P) and Sam Reiser (Yr10 FB).
After completing his International Baccalaureate (IB) exams, Deluca continued his athletics season with a runner-up finish in the Open 400m at the 2012 Zatopek at Lakeside Oval on December 8. Hamish Baylis and Sam Reiser also finished the year on a high note at the Australian All Schools Athletics Championships in Hobart on November 30-December 2. Stepping up to the Under 18 division, Hamish finished 4th in the U18 800m and Sam finished 6th in the U18 400m.
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BOSTOCK FAMILY KITCHEN
GEORGIE SHINES
LORNE 160
Our primary school campus at Bostock House has published a family cookbook to support Jamie’s Ministry of Food Geelong. $5 from every Bostock Family Kitchen cookbook sold will be donated to The Good Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation delivering Jamie’s Ministry of Food Geelong, which promotes good health and nutrition. You can purchase the Bostock Family Kitchen cookbook from the School’s Uniform Shop, for $30 (incl. GST) plus $12 postage and handling. Contact the Uniform Shop on +61 3 5273 9329 or email: uniformshop@ggs.vic.edu.au.
Georgie Sheridan (Yr11 He) was awarded 3rd prize in the 5th annual World Hanyuqiao Competition in China in November. Georgie teamed with Sydney’s Max Silk to finish just a few decimal points behind teams from the USA and Russia in the Chinese speaking and cultural performance competition, which was contested by 50 teams from 45 countries. Georgie’s podium finish earned her a scholarship to study at Southwest Normal University in China in 2014.
A group of Year 11 students completed the epic 160 kilometre relay run from Corio to Lorne and back again on Thursday 20 September to raise money for local charity SecondBite. This year’s Lorne 160 team completed the journey in under 15 hours and raised a record $67,000 to support SecondBite redistribute surplus fresh food to community food programmes in the Geelong region. It is the biggest single contribution that the charity has received and will enable it to provide an additional 150,000 meals.
BOSTO
Bostoc k Famil y Kitch en A TRE AS
CK HO USE GEELO
URE T ROVE
OF DE LICIO
NG GR AMMA
US RE CIP
R SCH O
OL
ES FO R ALL OCCA
TOP: The 2012 Lorne 160 team arrives back at Corio LEFT: The Bostock Family Kitchen cookbook is available for purchase from the School’s Uniform Shop OPPOSITE: Georgie Sheridan (Yr11 He) celebrates success at the Annual World Hanyuqiao Competition in China (pictured right)
SIONS
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Artworks by Lily O’Shea (Yr12 He) (inset) and Louise Lui (Yr12 Cl) (opposite)
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MAKING ART The 2012 PRIMED Art Exhibition showcased an outstanding cross-section of work by the School’s Year 12 Visual Communication and Design, VCE Studio Arts and IB Visual Arts students. Haytham Chernov (Yr12 Cu) said the exhibition was the ideal way to present the rich variety of traditional and contemporary artwork created by Year 12 students during their final year. “Exhibiting work completes the process of making art – the exhibition is the vehicle which allows the viewer to enter into a relationship with each piece,” Haytham explained. The exhibition was officially opened by Richard Ferguson (FB’75), Development and Business Manager at the Geelong Gallery, who challenged the students to embrace their passion and to be open to change. Head of Visual Arts, Dr Peter Bajer, said the exhibition had been highly successful, attracting visitors to the Hirschfeld Mack and Sinclaire Centres since opening on October 25. “We had huge crowds through the exhibition on Speech Day, whilst the quality of the work on display has impressed our visitors no end,” Peter said.
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↓ SECTION 04 — FOUNDATION
A WONDERFUL YEAR
Thank you to all those members of our community who have invested in the Foundation and the School this year. The Foundation received philanthropic gifts amounting to more than $3.2 million in 2012 and more than $4.9 million has also been offered in early pledges towards our new Exceptional Futures campaign projects. The building of the School’s new Equestrian Centre has commenced whilst the War Memorial Cloisters have been renovated. Both are important projects that have benefitted from numerous gifts from our community. I think this is a terrific result. We have four new and large-scale named scholarships – the Lee Hysan Foundation Scholarship, John Peter Alston Wallace Scholarship, Smith Family Scholarship and our Annual Giving Scholarship. Thank you again to all our generous benefactors and investors. I believe scholarships are one of the best ways to invest in the School and in the wider community. The Biddlecombe Society, our bequest society, has held functions in Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne to keep in touch with and brief its members on developments at the School. My thanks to Michael Collins-Persse and Neil Robertson (FB’72) and their team (including Fiona Ratcliffe (Archer, Je’77), Ros Adams (Ricthie, Cl’76), Hartley Mitchell and David Endean). John Simson (Cu’73) gave an inspiring speech at the most recent lunch in Melbourne. John and his wife Belinda have endowed The Smith Family Scholarship, which will start next year, and have left the School a most generous bequest. On your behalf I would again like to extend to them our thanks for their leadership and generosity.
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Members of the Mason and Bull families presented the inaugural Patricia (Mason) Bull Trophy to Licia Yeo (Yr10 EM) at the 5th Annual Equestrian Dinner (FROM LEFT) John Bull, his wife Anna, Sophie Bull, Beverly Mason (Cl’54), Cliff Yeo, John Bull Snr, Licia Yeo (Yr10 EM), Jennifer Wraight, Karen Ng and Sally Bull
As most of you know, we have begun the initial phase of our new campaign, Exceptional Futures, with a range of transformational projects, including: - Centre for Creative Education, with leadership from Ian Darling (P’79) - Toorak Wellbeing Centre - Scholarships, with leadership from John Simson (Cu’73) - Positive Education These projects (and others) can only proceed with strong financial support from our community. In due course you will be invited to help make these projects a reality. I hope that when you see what we are planning you will be inspired to get involved. We are providing foundations for Exceptional Futures.
Please do not hesitate to contact the Community Relations team if you would like to help or need further information. Finally, our new Constitution was adopted at this year’s Annual General Meeting and now, amongst other changes, we have a Nominations Committee to encourage and consider new Board Members for the Foundation. Please do let me or Tony Bretherton know if you are interested or if you know of someone who may like to discuss joining the Board. Finally please accept my very best wishes for a joyful Christmas and a prosperous New Year. Bill Ranken (M’72) Chair, Geelong Grammar Foundation
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A GIFT HORSE The form of the new Indoor Equestrian Centre is now visible as people drive up School Road. Costing $2.4 million, the Centre will be completed in Term 2. The Geelong Grammar Foundation secured over $1.5 million towards the Centre, with the balance coming from a school contribution and a levy enabling users of the Centre to contribute over the years ahead. Congratulations again to our Equestrian Centre Fundraising Campaign Committee, especially Penny McBain, Marina Oman (Levy, Je’76), Jennifer Weight and the many generous people who made this possible.
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The new Centre will include a world class all-weather arena suitable for elite level equestrian events with seating for 200 people. It will also include a classroom, demonstration/ instruction area, kitchen and servery, and expanded float parking. It will be a wonderful addition to the School’s growing equestrian programme, which recently established the Patricia Bull (Mason, Cl’59) Equestrian Trophy for the student who achieves the most Victorian Equestrian Interschool Series (VEIS) points. Donated by the Mason and Bull families in memory of Patricia’s love of horses and riding, the inaugural trophy was presented to Licia Yeo (Yr10 EM) by John Bull Snr at the 5th Annual Equestrian Dinner on Friday 19 October.
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INVESTING IN OUR CHILDREN’S FUTURE John Simson (Cu’73) is Chair of the Scholarships Committee, which is one of the four initial projects of the Foundation’s comprehensive campaign, Exceptional Futures. The following is an edited extract of his address to the 2012 Biddlecombe Society Melbourne Luncheon at the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club on Thursday 22 November.
welfare, so this is a scholarship that will absolutely change a young person’s life. It is our hope that in their adult life, because of the choices their education has provided, they will be able to offer inspiration, understanding and tolerance to those around them and give back to their community.
The School develops young adults with great character, independence and resilience. That is why Bindi and I want to invest in the School; to allow young people whose families could not afford a Geelong Grammar School education to benefit as we have. We have become members of the Biddlecombe Society by making a $1.4 million bequest that will provide a full boarding scholarship in perpetuity for a student who excels in the Visual Arts and or comes from a family that derives the majority of its income from primary industry. Bindi and I believe it is so important that students from all backgrounds, cultures and religious beliefs learn to live together, understand each other and respect those that are different to themselves. We do not believe in a school of just children of wealthy parents. Diversity of cohort helps give all students normalcy as they prepare to enter the real world.
When I first presented the case for a Scholarships Campaign to the Principal, Stephen Meek, he asked what my motivations were. There are four parts to this. The first of these is that Bindi and I believe a parent’s role is to teach their children so that they have the tools to improve on what has happened before them. We hope that our actions will provide them with a positive attitude towards helping others that have not had the same opportunities. The second of these is a simple thank you. In the mid1970s, with the rural community in crisis after the worst drought in a generation, prices for wool and meat collapsed. Like many families on the land, my parents could no longer afford to send me to Geelong Grammar School. Mum and Dad were not alone and the School offered very generous terms for many rural students to finish their education.
THE SMITH FAMILY SCHOLARSHIP
We also wanted to make a contribution in our lifetime and so we have created a partnership between Simson Cards and The Smith Family to enable a child from a local Geelong family to attend the school from Years 7-12 on a full day boarding scholarship, starting in 2013. This scholarship will include all tuition, excursions, uniforms and books. This investment of nearly $200,000 over the next six years will come from the sale of The Smith Family Christmas cards. Augmented by some school funding, The Smith Family Scholarship is being awarded to a family on government
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MOTIVES
The third part was that my entrepreneurial interests that have allowed us to be philanthropic today were borne here at the School. I was encouraged to run all kinds of micro businesses, from restoring and selling bikes left behind by students in Middle School to running a 100 bottle a week non-alcoholic ginger beer brewery… well, until the mass of exploding bottles blew off all the masonite locker doors of the Cuthy tuck room. Then I was out of business! The final part is that Bindi and I believe that as an elite school we have a community obligation to help those around us that have not had the opportunity to maximise their potential.
SO WHY DOES THE SCHOOL NEED A SCHOLARSHIPS CAMPAIGN
Scholarships have played a consistent role at Geelong Grammar School. Currently more than 20% of all students, for merit or need, receive some level of financial support from the School during their education. We all hear the negative reports in the press about the level of government assistance to private schools, especially to elite schools like Geelong Grammar School. What the press never discloses to the public is that Geelong Grammar School allocates the equivalent of 106% of the amount of all government funding to scholarships and bursaries for students who could not otherwise attend the School. Current government funding would fully support the equivalent of 94 boarding students at Geelong Grammar School. If future governments increase funding to the School by only the CPI inflation rate and school fees continue to increase at current educational inflation, then within 25 years government funding will support only 55 students. Our 4% dividend stream from the current Scholarship Fund equates to 3% of current government funding. No one knows what the future holds for government funding. Our initial target for the current Scholarship Campaign is $14 Million. I ask that you join Bindi and I and help break the cycle of disadvantage through education and make an ongoing positive difference to young lives. John Simson (Cu’73) If you would like to discuss investing in scholarships with John, please contact him on 03 9316 0700 or via jsimson@ simsoncards.com.au
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A LASTING TESTAMENT
The School’s War Memorial Cloisters were rededicated on Remembrance Day, Sunday 11 November, following an extensive $1 million restoration. The School’s Senior Chaplain, Eleanor O’Donnell, rededicated and blessed the Cloisters, formally acknowledging the work that had been performed to restore the Cloisters memorial,were which was The School’s War Memorial in the 1920s in memory of Old rededicated oninstalled Remembrance Day, Sunday Geelong Grammarians and staff killed 11 November, following an extensive $1 during World War I. Rev million restoration. The School’s SeniorO’Donnell said the ceremony also acknowledged the Chaplain, Eleanor O’Donnell, rededicated importance of the Cloisters, which had and blessed the Cloisters, formally been “beautifully and sympathetically acknowledging the work that had been restored… representing a lasting performed to restore the memorial, which testament to service, honour and hope.” was installed in the 1920s in memory of Old Geelong Grammarians and staff killedDesbrowe Melbourne architect Harold during World War I. Rev said Annear hadO’Donnell been commissioned to the ceremony design also acknowledged the the Cloisters in 1922 and official importance of war the artist Cloisters, which had sculpted the George Lambert Bronze – a pair of works that was been “beautifully and Group sympathetically dedicatedaaslasting the School’s War Memorial restored… representing testament by the Archbishop to service, honour and hope.” of Melbourne, Dr Harrington Clare Lees, on 24 June 1927, the 70th anniversary of the laying of the School’s Foundation Stone in Geelong.
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“Despite the great respect with which our Cloisters have always been treated (silence is still observed within them), nearly nine decades’ natural erosion of the fabric necessitated a major project of restoration,” the School’s Curator, Michael Collins Persse, explained. Heritage Building Services spent more than six months restoring the eroded stonework and replacing all of the coping stones. The bronze plaques bearing the names of all those killed in World War I and II have been burnished, whilst further plaques are planned to commemorate those who died on active service in other conflicts, including the Korean and Vietnam Wars – much of this research is being conducted by the Old Geelong Grammarians Association with the assistance of James ‘Bim’ Affleck (Cu’67). The Cloisters remain a focal point of the School, linking the Chapel and the Main Quadrangle. “Their atmosphere of timelessness and serenity are a beautiful and evocative feature of the School,” Michael reflected. We thank all those who donated so generously to the Cloisters restoration, including the Old Geelong Grammarians Association.
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↓ SECTION 05 — ALUMNI
TRUE CHARACTER
Often when we describe an object, we talk about its characteristics. Is it large or small, light or heavy, of value or useful? We use similar concepts when we describe a person – what is the character of a person; are they short or tall, light or heavy, fair or dark? These descriptors are often based on our first perceptions and do not give full meaning to the character of a person. The real characteristics of a person should be measured more in terms of passion, dedication, courage, resilience and trust. When a person is described as having “tried to make the world a better place” or having acted “without fear or favour”, then you know the character of that person is one that we should all aspire to. With the recent passing of Frank Austin (M’33), Dick de Fégely (FB’46) and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (Greene, Cl‘26), we realize that we have lost friends of true character. In my role as President of the OGG Association, I have had the opportunity to meet OGGs from outside my usual circle; many of them from different age groups, different nationalities and backgrounds and all having different sets of experiences. It is this diversity, and how we can learn from it, that brings richness to our personal knowledge and values.
In researching the forthcoming history of the OGG Association, interesting historic points are emerging, like the role of the association in the decision to move from Geelong to Corio. Over time, many OGGs have been passionate about the School and its changing role over time. To that tapestry, we can now add the strands of both Clyde School and The Hermitage, and that courageous decision to merge the three schools and to become the co-educational environment that GGS is today. In my own research for the OGG history, I found a menu for an OGG reunion dinner (together with the Old Geelong Collegians) dated 7 July 1917 and held in France during World War I. On the back of the menu are names and regiments of the OGGs and OGCs who attended that dinner, including my grandfather, Rupert Chomley, and his future wife’s brother, Percy Douglass. So even during those war-torn days, the friendships, the optimism and resilience built from school days shone through. When the School Chapel was consecrated on All Saints Day in 1915 a Memorial Service was held to remember those OGGs who had died up until that point of the war. Unfortunately, many more OGGs were killed as the war continued and in those that followed, included World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
In addition to the recent refurbishment of the War Memorial Cloisters, the OGG Association is in the process of updating the memorial plaques in the Cloisters to include the names of those who had previously not been recorded, particularly those who died in combat since WW II. James ‘Bim’ Affleck (Cu’67) is bringing his recognized research skills to our aid in this project. While on the OGG Committee, I have had the opportunity to meet students at both Corio and Timbertop. I have also been honoured to play a minor role at Speech Day. I constantly encounter students who are confident, passionate and articulate in discussing a wide range of topics. The character traits that we value and celebrate are emerging from childhood and are being nurtured in the safe yet challenging environment provided by the School’s dedicated and authentic staff. It is this true character of the School that becomes the common thread that runs through our history and is demonstrated in the lives of OGGs, from those named on our War Memorial Cloisters to those who attended our recent Tower Luncheon, as well as current students. Peter Chomley (Ge’63) President, Old Geelong Grammarians
LEFT TO RIGHT: Bill Parsons (M’66) with his father Boz Parsons (M’36), Tony Colman (P’65) (son of David ‘Frosty’ Colman (P’35)), Barbara Parsons and John Hutton (P’65) (son of former staff member Barney Hutton)
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TOWER LUNCHEON
More than 180 guests attended the 13th annual Tower Luncheon at Corio on Saturday 10 November. The Tower Luncheon is held in recognition of all Old Geelong Grammarians, Clyde Old Girls and The Hermitage Old Girls who finished school 50 or more years ago – and this year’s lunch welcomed 33 OGGs and six Clyde/The Hermitage Old Girls who completed their schooling in 1962.
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A number of guests had travelled long distances to attend, including Simon Bonython (FB’61) from Thailand and Lord Alec Broers (Cu’55) from the United Kingdom. The guest speaker was Clive Blazey (P’62), the founder and CEO of The Diggers Club, an Australian mailorder seed company which specializes in heirloom vegetables, cottage flowers and fruit plants. Over the past three decades Clive has helped popularise the benefits of edible gardening, building The Diggers Club into Australia’s largest
gardening club. He also maintains two historic gardens – the heritage-listed Heronswood in Dromana and the Garden of St Erth in Blackwood, established by former Headmaster Tommy Garnett. As tradition dictates, a bottle of wine was presented to the five attendees over the age of 90. Special mention was also made of regular Tower Luncheon guest, Frank Austin (M’33), who passed away in his sleep on Monday 5 November.
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DIARY DATES
OGG NEWS
OGG LOS ANGELES DRINKS GATHERING Thursday 17 January 2013
GGS VS. OGC GOLF DAY Barwon Heads Friday 15 March 2013
1973 TIMBERTOP REUNION Merrijig/Timbertop Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 April 2013
OGG NSW BRANCH COCKTAIL PARTY Sydney Wednesday 1 May 2013
OGG WA BRANCH FUNCTION Perth Thursday 16 May 2013
OGG UK BRANCH DINNER London Thursday 27 June 2013
CUTHBERTSON HOUSE RE-OPENING AND REUNION Saturday 24 August 2013
OGG DENILIQUIN BRANCH FUNCTION Saturday 31 August 2013
OGG RIVERINA AND NE VICTORIA BRANCH FUNCTION Sunday 1 September 2013
50 YEAR TIMBERTOP REUNION (1963 Timbertop Group) Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October 2013
OGGASIA 2013 Singapore Saturday 9 November 2013
OGG RIVERINA AND NE VICTORIA BRANCH FUNCTION Sunday 1 September 2013
50 YEAR TIMBERTOP REUNION (1963 TIMBERTOP GROUP) Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 October 2013
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HISTORY OF THE OLD GEELONG GRAMMARIANS ASSOCIATION
The OGG Association, in conjunction with Third Millennium Publishing, are producing a fully illustrated, visual history of the Old Geelong Grammarians Association. Material is being collected to review for the publication. Do you have any memorabilia which might be considered for inclusion in the book? Letters, photographs, menus, event programs, anecdotes and short accounts (no more than 100 words) from when you were involved with the OGG Association which you feel may be of interest to others would be welcomed. Please note that not everything submitted can be included in the final book. Please include a stamped, self-addressed envelope so your items can be returned. And lastly, your material will not be covered by our insurance so please be willing to mail it to us at your own risk. If you have material to contribute, please contact Katie Rafferty in the Alumni Office for further information on tel: +61 3 5273 9338 or email katier@ggs.vic.edu.au
OGG BRANCH NEWS
Two long-serving OGG Branch Presidents, Laurence Eu (Cu’76) from the Malaysian Branch and Steve Santikarn (Cu’75) from the Thailand Branch have stood down after many fine years of hard work organising functions to keep OGG and the wider GGS community members in those countries connected. The Old Geelong Grammarians would like to thank both Laurence and Steve for all their work during their presidencies. Shafiq Saiful Aznir (Cu’07) and Dejvit Santikarn (Cu’73) (pictured below) have now become Presidents of the Malaysian and Thailand* branches respectively. Shafiq Saiful Aznir (Cu’07) was elected President of the Malaysian Branch with Fong Thong (Ga’85) elected Vice President and Seth Tun-Ismail (FB’07) Secretary. As such, Seth will act as the correspondent for anyone looking for a Malaysian OGG or who might be visiting Malaysia. Dejvit Santikarn (Cu’73) (or เดชวิทย์ สัน ติกาญจน์ in Thai) is married to Nuntiya Santikarn (นันทิยา สันติกาญจน์) and has two sons; Sivakorn Santikarn (Cu’11), who is currently at Melbourne University, and Sukhum Santikarn (Yr11 Cu). Dejvit completed a Bachelor of Mechanical Engineering/ Ph.D. (Industrial Engineering) at Melbourne University and has worked for Thai Shell Exploration and Production and Design 90. He currently works for Bangkok-based property developer Housing Development. *A correction to the last edition of Light Blue that stated Charlie Chanarat (Cu’75) was the new President of the Thailand Branch. This was incorrect. Charlie is a member of the Thai committee but Dejvit Santikarn (Cu’73) is the new Branch President.
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OGG SPORT
NETBALL
GOLF
FOOTBALL
The consistency of OGS Black saw them once again feature in the finals of the Albert Park competition, coming very close to taking out their second premiership for 2012. The girls played exceptionally well all season, finishing 3rd on the ladder. But sadly, a different story for OGS Red and OGS Blue, who found the competition in Divisions 1 and 3 at Prahran respectively tougher than previous years. Both teams were also hit with injuries. OGS Blue lost key player Rosie Wilson (He’09) to an ACL injury in the first week of the season, which provided new players Annie Salter (He’06) and Caz Atkins (Cl’06) a chance to get amongst the action through the centre and defence. If you would like to join the OGS Netball Club in 2013, please contact incoming President, Bella Anderson (OGC), at bella@murrnong.com.au or on 0400 193 285.
Around 60 players competed at the annual OGG Golf Day at Barwon Heads on Friday 2 November. Julie Cole (Baird, Cl’68) won The Tommy Garnett Cup and John ‘Sam’ Newman (P’63) won the Boz Parsons Cup, which was presented by the man himself (pictured above). Sam teamed with Ian Stewart (M’61) to win the Men’s 4BBB and Andy Wall won the Parent’s Trophy. Special thanks to OGG Vice President, Andrew Ramsay (Cu’69), who organised another spectacular day before handing the reins to Simon O’Brien (A’94). Meanwhile, Sam continued his good form at the APS Golf Day at Royal Melbourne on Wednesday 12 November, finishing in fourth place overall on count back. Sam was ably supported by Anthony Darling (M’73) and Bill Forwood (FB’64).
2012 will be a year that the Old Geelong Football community will look back on fondly for years to come. Whilst the Senior team was one win shy of playing off for the ultimate prize, premierships to other three sides (Reserves, Under 19s and Club XVIIIs) made 2012 one of the most successful in the club’s 59-year history. For the committee, coaches, players, sponsors, members and supporters, it was just reward for a lot of hard work that has been injected into the Club in recent times. Of most excitement was the resurgence of the Under 19 side (pictured below), which had folded only 12 months earlier due to a lack of players. The leadership of Andy de Fégely (FB’10), Rupert Kemp (M’10) and Rupert de Crespigny (Cu’10) brought the side back to life, further bolstered by cameo appearances from current Year 11/12 GGS footballers. It was a big year off the field, with Garth Manton (P’48), Michael Gretton-Watson (OGC) and Peter Lemon (FB’64) inducted as the inaugural Club Legends. With the building blocks now firmly in place at the Club, it is time appears ripe to make an assault on the higher grades of the VAFA competition and renew rivalries with many other APS schools. FRANK COVILL CLUB
Past parents Ray Mundy and Michael Cahill joined Rod Edwards (FB’74) representing the Frank Covill Club in the Head of the Yarra on Saturday 24 November, tackling the 8.6 kilometre time trial in 34-degree heat. The club is always keen to welcome “old” rowers; past students and parents, beginners and experienced alike. You can contact Club President, Ann Walker, at awalker888@ gmail.com or via Facebook.
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↓ SECTION 05 — ALUMNI CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Kat Harris (He’06), Ji-Han Loong (P’10), and Katie Boyle (Cl’10) in London; OGG SA Branch President, Bill Seppelt (M’64) with Edward Wright (Cu’47) in Adelaide; as were Peter Nicholls (FB’52) and Bas Seymour (FB’55); Shirley Hesketh, Margaret Hickinbotham and Robert Hesketh (Cu’54); David Little (P’70), Jacqui Seppelt, Jo Peters (P’70), Tamsin Wendt and Tim Wendt (FB’74) RIGHT: Vintage and classic cars on display at the 2nd annual OGG Motoring Event
OGG ACT BRANCH DINNER
OGG SA BRANCH DINNER
OGG MOTORING EVENT
More than 40 guests attended an ACT Branch Dinner at the Ivy Café in Canberra on Saturday 8 September organised by ACT Secretary, Claire Sullivan (GA’93), and ACT President, Peter Crowley (Ge’60). OGGs ranged in age from 2005 leavers Bobbie Adams (Ga’05) and Benjamin Adams (M’05) to the most senior attendee, retired diplomat Michael Wilson (FB’46).
More than 80 Old Geelong Grammarians, current and past parents attended the OGG South Australian Branch Dinner in Adelaide on Friday 19 October. A broad range of age groups was represented, from 83-year-old Edward Wright (Cu’47) to more recent leavers, including Rosie McBain (Ga’06) and Merinda Edwards (Ga’05). It was also lovely to see so many family groups attending the dinner together. Congratulations to SA President, Bill Seppelt (M’64), and Secretary, Ruth Vagnarelli (Hickinbotham, Cl’82), for a wonderful evening.
The classic Australian utility took centre stage at the 2nd annual Old Geelong Grammarians Motoring Event on Saturday 10 November. The ute was the feature vehicle but it was ultimately upstaged by the immaculate red 1989 Porsche 944 S2 Cabriolet driven by Bruce Ellis (Cu’58) and navigated by Bill Metcalf, which was the only vehicle to navigate from South Yarra to Corio whilst completing a quiz and matching a list of quotes with their author. Thanks go to David Henry (FB’70) for organising another successful event.
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CLOCKWISE (FROM LEFT): Will Mawby (Cu’97), Julie Steward (Grills, A’87) and Jane Darling (A’95) in London; Kat Harris (He’06), Will Mawby (Cu’97), Andrea Fitzgerald (He’95), Elizabeth Ho (He’08) in London; Yuko and Cameron Wood (Cu’84) with Christine Meek in Los Angeles; Francois Tetaz (A’88), Stephen Meek, Charlotte Duplay (Ga’96) and Carolyn Tetaz in Los Angeles; Sandy Peake (A’74), Matthew Cliff (Cu’93), John Vagnarelli and Simon Haigh (Cu’75) in Adelaide
OGG USA EVENTS
OGG LONDON MINGLE
OGG TASMANIA BRANCH FUNCTION
A number of Old Geelong Grammarians gathered in Los Angeles for drinks coinciding with the Principal’s visit to America in September. Marina Batliwalla (Je’83) and Mark Vickers-Willis (FB’94) organised a wonderful venue for the LA function. Stephen Meek, his wife Christine and Director of Community Relations, Tony Bretherton, went on to meet more OGGs at functions in both San Francisco and New York.
Around 30 OGGs attended an informal London Mingle at the Old Bank of England Pub on Wednesday 21 November. Organised chiefly by Chris Gatenby (M’02), in conjunction with OGG UK Branch Secretary David Hudson (Ge’68), the London event provided OGGs with a chance to catch-up with old friends prior to Christmas.
The OGG Branch Function in Tasmania was held aboard the MV Cartela on Saturday 24 November thanks to the organisation of Scott Ashton-Jones (M’71). OGG Tasmania Branch President, Roderic O’Connor (P’75), and his wife Kate travelled down from Connorville to attend the function, as did OGG Vice President, Andrew Ramsay (Cu’69), and partner Caroline Russell (Cl’73), having recently relocated to Launceston from Melbourne.
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20 YEAR REUNION
More than 100 members of the Class of 1992 met for their 20 Year Reunion at West Beach Bathers Pavilion in St Kilda on Saturday 10 November. Attendees travelled from across Australia and around the globe, with a very social gathering extending into the early hours of the morning at Mothers Milk on Chapel Street. “I work in Hong Kong now days and it took some effort for me to attend, but it was totally worth it,” Holly Chan (Je’92) said. “To come back and meet all my good old buddies from school, knowing how everyone is doing, seeing familiar faces, each reminding us of different stories from our school years… nothing can describe the joy and anticipation of seeing childhood friends. After all, we all basically grew up together at GGS.” Danielle Gaymans (Je’92) said that any pre-reunion nerves were quickly dispelled by “so many happy and familiar faces”. “Our year group has always been very close,” she said. “Time flew by so fast, but the memories will not.”
CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Tom Seymour (P’92), Brendan Hawker (P’92) and Campbell Taylor (Cu’92); Al Foletta (FB’92), Katherine Reid (Cl’92) and Andy Page (A’92); Sian MacPherson (Mortimer, Je’92), Claire Molesworth (Thomas, Cl’92), Melissa Bergin (Colless, Cl’92), Liz Migliorini (Walsh, Je’92) and Holly Chan (Je’92); Sam Campbell (FB’92), Tim Whitehead (Cu’92) and Dimmity Abbott (Hi’92); Ben Edwards (M’92), Linda McNaughton (Cl’92), Andy McElhinney (A’92) and Jill Bovaird(Ga’92)
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30 YEAR REUNION CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Petile von Bibra (Je’82) and Simon Wilkins (M’82); Jen Clarke (Ryan, Je’82) and Duncan Bennett (M’82); Cameron Hodge (FB’82), Cameron Reyntjes (A’82) and Robert Lofven (P’82); McGregor Harvey (A’82), Nick Heath (Cu’82), Tony Dawson (A’82) and Adam Collins (A’82) all of whom began at Bostock House; Sally McKillop (Capper, Cl’82) and Kalpana Watson (Ghorpade, Cl’82); Alan Friday (M’82), Alex Gilks (Fr’82) and Philip Szepe (P’82);
The Class of 1982 celebrated its 30 Year Reunion at Byblos Restaurant on Saturday 13 October, with a private function room creating an Arabian Nights-inspired vibe overlooking the Yarra River. People came from all over Australia and overseas, including quite a few who hadn’t been to a school gathering since leaving school. A slideshow of photos provided a fun trip down memory lane, whilst the 1980s music transported many back to their old ‘Jardi Hop’ days. In a modern twist, Facebook lit up with post-reunion comments: LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
“I’ve lost my voice from talking so much. What a cracking night.” “Thank goodness for name tags – it has been a long time.” “I feel so lucky that my parents were able to send me to GGS for the experiences, but more importantly for all of you as I landed in such a fantastic year group.”
“It was a little like speed dating (I’m imagining!). I tried to make contact with as many people as I could, albeit briefly at times. I left with a weird mixed feeling of completion and gratitude that I was one of the privileged ones to go to GGS.” “Can’t believe I’m saying this but I can’t wait until the next one!”
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50 YEAR REUNION
31 members of the Class of 1962 gathered at the Music School at Corio for a Breakfast Reunion on Saturday 10 November. Many friendships were renewed over bacon and egg rolls and ‘brocktails’, followed by a Chapel Service and culminating with the Tower Luncheon, joining other past students from GGS, Clyde and The Hermitage. Many travelled great distances to attend, including Simon Bonython (FB’62), who made the trip from Thailand, Tony Oxley (Cu’61) from Sydney, Michael Cockayne (Ge’62) from Canberra, and Peter Latreille (Cu’62), who arrived in style in his 1923 Vauxhall 30/98. The School’s Principal, Stephen Meek, used his sermon to draw attention to the fact that friendships formed at school were a very special type of friendship as they were based on what each person was as an individual and not on their status or success in life, which came well after school. Clive Blazey (P’62) gave an articulate and inspired address during the Tower Luncheon, using as his theme the fact that the 50 years since leaving Corio just about ‘bookended’ the sex life of the average Old Geelong Grammarian. Richard Bowen (FB’62)
CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Gordon Alderson, Deryk Stephens, John de Steiger and Andrew Chapman; Simon Bonython and David Schoeffel; Joe Crosbie, Ken Davidson and Reg Bright enjoyed pre-lunch drinks; Peter Hudson, John de Steiger and John Buckley; Michael Cockayne and John Lewisohn; Andrew Chapman and Tim Bingley
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50 YEAR TIMBERTOP REUNION A half century in cricket is satisfying, 50 years in a schooling lifetime is significant. As 62 dedicated and determined members of the 1962 Timbertop brotherhood descended on the campus on October 5-7, everything but hell broke loose. The weekend started at The Hunt Club at Merrijig, where memories were tested by names, appearances, unit occupancy and how many bottles of wine one ordered. Saturday was morning tea in the Timbertop Dining Hall and rain did not deter campus tours, unit visits and a BBQ lunch. A bus ferried us from Mansfield to Timbertop for dinner and Nick Scott (M’64) muttered: “This cannot be our bus… it’s full of old buggers!” Boz and Barbara Parsons were the guests of honour, while a lovely letter from Ian Collier was read out to much delight. The speeches were outstanding and Bruce McGorlick’s (Ge’64) superb cheese platter capped off a memorable evening. Sunday was a soul lifting Chapel Service and morning tea to farewell the band of brothers, reflecting upon the warmth generated from getting back together again. Please mark Corio 2015 in your diaries now – a significant moment in history. Adrian Bell (Cu’65) with Bruce Lawrence (Ge’63) CLOCKWISE (FROM TOP): Bruce Forster (P’64) and Brian Oliver (FB’63); David Garrott (Cu’65) and Cam Aurel-Smith (Ge’65); Steve Gubbins (M’64), Sandy Russell (M’65), Tony Martin (M’64) and David Wilson (M’65); Steve Gubbins (M’64) and Roly Mortimer (P’65); David Gooch (P’65), Jock McPherson (FB’65) and John Bellgrove (Cu’65); Denis Renowden (Ge’64), Michael Graham (FB’64) and Bruce Lawrence (Ge’63); Tim Hannah (FB’64), David Rush (P’64), Richard Davies (FB’65) and Peter Reid (Ge’65); Rob Mactier (Cu’64), Richard Chauvel (M’64), Graeme Houghton (P’65) and Pat Sanderson (Ge’64); The organising committee: Michael Hayne (P’65), Stuart McGregor (P’65), John Plummer (P’65), Adrian Bell (Cu’65) and Bruce Lawrence (Ge’63) LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
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DIARY DATES AUTUMN LUNCH Wednesday 15 May 2013 Dromoland House, 258 Pakington Street, Geelong West. Time: 12 for 12.30pm Tickets: Lesley Robinson (Donaldson, He’52) tel: 03 5221 1207
50 YEAR REUNION, 1963 YEAR GROUP Friday 6 September 2013 In Melbourne 12 noon. More details to follow closer to the event. Enquiries: Jenny Jackson (Bingley, He’63) tel: 03 9827 3658 email: jjackson@bigpond.net.au or: Patricia Roberts (Knappstein, He’63) tel: 03 6331 9809 email: sapmroberts@bigpond.com
OLD GIRLS’ DAY Saturday 7 September 2013 Darling Hall, GGS at 11am
GOLF DAY AT BARWON HEADS Monday 21 October 2013 Enquiries: Lib Nicholson (Calvert, He’68) tel: 0419 398 067
CHRISTMAS MORNING TEA Monday 2 December 2013 All Saints Hall, Newtown at 10.30am
General HOGA event enquires: Ann Tyers (Fairley, He’68) email: hermitagegirls@gmail.com tel: 03 5250 4055 mob: 0448 504 055 History Book enquires: Kristeen Hunter (Horne, He’66) email: hermitagegirls@gmail.com tel: 03 5221 1001
THE HERMITAGE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION
AGM & OLD GIRLS’ DAY
HOGA GOLF DAY
Just wonderful to have 100 Old Girls to help celebrate 103 years of The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association on Saturday 1 September. The weather was perfect and Corio Bay had not even a ripple. Our AGM followed a short service in the Darling Hall (where our Sanctuary from Pakington Street is), with Judy Llewellyn (Purnell, He’57) reading the lesson. HOGA President, Deidre Griffiths (He’68), presented Desiree Cohen (Horne, He’68) with a gift for nine years of service, having stepped down as Vice President in November 2011. Jenny Jordan (Gray, He’52) has also retired from the role of Secretary after nine years but is staying on the Committee. Ann Tyers (Fairley, He’68) has agreed to take on the role of Secretary, along with being Vice President. Libby Nicholson (Calvert, He’68) has also been appointed to the Committee. The AGM and Old Girls’ Day coincided with the Re-opening of The Hermitage House, and it was so good to see lots of new faces, particularly quite a number from 1963, 1966 and 1968.
Yet another successful HOGA Golf Day was held at Barwon Heads Golf Club on Monday 22 October. The individual winner this year was Casey Macleod (Whitehead, He’65) with a great score of 43 points followed by Jenny Jackson (Doak, He’67) with 38 points. Casey, Judy Chirnside (Sanders, He’67), Rosie Garner (Landlands, He’66) and Celia Gubbins (Dennis, He’66) won the team event and Trish Taylor (Bingley, He’70) and Jan Vincent (Murchison, He’61) won the two NTPs. Next year’s HOGA Golf Day will once again be held at Barwon Heads on Monday 21 October. HISTORY BOOK UPDATE
The writing of The History of The Hermitage is progressing well, with historian Melanie Guile speaking about her research at the HOGA Golf Day. However, we do not have many photos of the school at Highton and definitely need more for the book. Could the girls who attended Highton please check your school photographs? Can you please mail these photographs to Kristeen Hunter (Horne, He’66), 3 Nicholas Street, Newtown, 3220. Kristeen will scan and return the photos to you.
LEFT: Mary Eve Thomas (Fairley, He’63), Patricia Roberts (Knappstein, He’63), Karen Porter (Gordon, He’63) RIGHT: Ruth Cleminson (Elliott, He’72), Angela Worthy (Campbell, He’72), Sarah Tallent (Calvert, He’72)
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DIARY DATES INTERSCHOOL GOLF CUP Monday 8 April 2013 Woodlands Golf Club Enquiries: Anna Tucker (Kimpton, Cl’71) email: anna@chepstow83.com tel: 0408 540 252
ANNUAL CLYDE JUMBLE SALE Thursday 27 June 2013 9am (sorting); Sale 10am-12 noon. St John’s Church Hall, corner Orrong Rd & Toorak Rd, Toorak. Depot for donated goods, contact Lou Robinson, 19 Turner Street, Malvern tel: 03 9571 6230 (please call before delivering goods). Enquiries: Jane Loughnan (Weatherly, Cl’70) email: ejloughnan@gmail.com tel: 03 5264 1628 or 0417 535 862.
COGA AGM & OLD GIRLS’ DAY
COGA’s AGM and Old Girls’ Day lunch was held at Clyde House on Sunday 21 October. A special purpose of the day was to honour Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (Greene, Cl’26), acknowledging her lifelong involvement in the Clyde community and dedicating to her a young buttonwood tree planted at the entrance to Clyde House (the tree is a seedling nurtured from an original tree on the fruit-tuck lawn at Clyde School, Woodend). The event was attended by 45 Old Girls and four GGS staff members, including Head of Clyde House, Kirsty McCartney. Dame Elisabeth was well represented by her grand-daughter Judy Paterson (Handbury, Cl’74) and her great-niece Ros Adams (Ritchie, Cl’76), who was the first captain of Clyde House in 1976. Dame Elisabeth first joined the COGA Committee in 1929 and for over 80 years has contributed to every aspect of the Clyde community. She became a parent, grandparent, great-aunt and now great-great aunt to Clyde girls, including three School Captains. Dame
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Elisabeth was delighted to know that the tree will provide a connection between Clyde School and Clyde House, “bringing the community from old to new, giving strength and hope to the future”. A pen and ink portrait of Dame Elisabeth by accomplished artist, Jane Poulier (Cl’75), was also on display for Old Girls’ Day. Jane donated the print to Clyde House, which is signed by Dame Elisabeth. Formerly employed as an artist engraver by the Reserve Bank of Australia for note printing, Jane is currently working on a series of key line portraits of well-known Australians as well as an oil painting of Dame Elisabeth (pictured above). COGA PRIZE FOR ENGLISH
Congratulations to Lauren Solomonson (Yr12 Fr) who was awarded the COGA prize for English in 2012.
COGA GARDEN TOUR Wednesday 23-Friday 25 October 2013 A spectacular three-day itinerary in the Mornington Peninsula region. Cost: $560, includes luxury accommodation, most meals, access to gardens, and return bus transport from Melbourne. Enquiries: Fern Henderson (Welsh, Cl’59) email: davhendo3@bigpond.com tel: 03 5989 2664 or: Dizzy Carlyon (Clapham, Cl’58) email: carlyon2@bigpond.com tel: 03 5989 2118
FUN CUP GOLF Monday 11 November 2013 Barwon Heads Golf Club
COGA COMMITTEE 2013
At the AGM, Margie Gillett (Cordner, Cl’71) was re-elected as COGA President, with Fern Henderson (Welsh, Cl’59) as Vice President, Peta Gillespie (Cl’69) will continue as Treasurer and Trish Young (Cl’75) as Secretary. Committee members include Katrina Carr (Moore, Cl’75), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold, Cl’60), Cathie Mahar (Cl’66), editor of The Cluthan, Sally Powe (Douglas, Cl’73), and Di Whittakers (Moore, Cl’63). Anna Tucker (Kimpton, Cl’71) is the golf representative, Jane Loughnan (Weatherly, Cl’70) will again coordinate the Jumble Sale in 2013, Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly, Cl’69) will oversee the Archives, and Sue Schudmak (Sproat, Cl’64) will liaise with School’s Data Analyst, Dougal Morrison, on the Database.
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CLYDE OLD GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION
↓ SECTION 06— CURATOR
FROM THE CURATOR by MICHAEL COLLINS PERSSE
Frank Austin (M’33), who died in November 2012, was the eldest of five brothers who were sons of Frank Austin (Old School 1909) and his wife, Agnes Margaret Sanger, and great-grandsons of the pioneer pastoralist James Austin who in 1839 had taken up Avalon, across “the Lagoon” (Limeburners’ Bay) from the School after its move to Corio in 1914. Parts of that historic property, where Frank’s fifth (and only surviving) brother, Richard (Dick) Austin (M’44; GGS Council 1955-68), was the last of them to live, are now in the possession of GGS (the homestead block being leased out to Avalon College). The second and third brothers, John Sanger Austin (M’35) and James Austin (M’37), died on active service with the RAAF in World War Two, and in their memory Frank and his wife, Alison, gave the Austin Library at Bostock House in 2005 (appropriately there since the brothers’ paternal grandmother was Alice Emily Bostock). The fourth of the five brothers was William Brent Austin (M’42). They belong to the second-largest GGS family connection, more than 100 of the descendants of the pioneer James’s parents, John and Elizabeth Austin (themselves immigrants to Australia), having attended the School. After seven years at GGS, Frank jackarooed and managed Goonambil Station, near Corowa, for his family. Briefly in the Light Horse, he served with distinction in the RAAF through the war, including a time at Strategic Air Command, South-East Asia, privy to the whole war effort (with a security clearance greater than that of the Chinese Commander-inChief) and personal pilot to the Supreme Commander, Lord Louis Mountbatten (later Admiral of the Fleet Earl Mountbatten of Burma). He was discharged in 1945 with the rank of Squadron Leader. From Goonambil he continued flying and played a leading part in the affairs of Riverina graziers. Frank was a man of exceptional kindness, modesty, straightforwardness, and generosity. He and Alison – herself the sister of three OGG Simpson brothers from Nowranie, near Oaklands – had two
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daughters and two sons, Jamie (M’69) and David (M’71), the latter being the father of Alastair (M’07), Duncan (M’07), and Tim (M’12). Also OGGs are the children of their daughter Joan, Anna Whitehead (He’97) and Hugh Whitehead (M’00). Peter RossEdwards AM (Cu’39), who died in November 2012, was parliamentary leader of the Victorian Country, later National, Party for a record 18 years (1970-88) and MLA for Shepparton for 24 (1967-91). Born in July 1922 at Corowa, where his father, Canon Rupert RossEdwards, was the Anglican rector from 1920-52, he followed his brother, Selwyn (Cu’32), who died in 1997, to GGS in 1937 from the Intermediate High School there. Their sister Joan Bailey (He’34) died in 2006, and their sister Margaret (He’44) in 1988. Peter went on to Trinity College in the University of Melbourne for a Commerce course. Called up from the RAAF Reserve in April 1942, he qualified as a Sergeant wireless operator and air gunner. Posted to England early in 1943 for further training, including a radar course, and in November to RAF Coastal Command in the Middle East, he joined 8 Squadron, flying Wellingtons east of Aden. After service at Tobruk and in Sicily, he returned to Australia late in 1945 with the rank of Flying Officer. Further university studies, in Law, were interrupted by tuberculosis, confining him for more than 18 months to Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital. He graduated LL.B in 1953 and joined the Shepparton law firm of P. V. Feltham, practising “across the law” as a solicitor and going on to become a partner. That year he also married Joy Elizabeth Perry – sister of Jim Perry (P’45; GGS Council 1978-88) – and he is survived by her, their daughter Sarah, their sons David (FB/L’72; OGGs President 2002-03) and Richard (Cu’76), and five grandchildren including Emma Ross-Edwards (He’06); their son John died
of cancer, aged six, in 1966, and their son Timothy (Cu/L’73) was killed in a car crash in 1984 when about to be married. In 1967 Peter won the new Legislative Assembly seat of Shepparton with 51.9 per cent of the vote, and in 1970 won it again narrowly, but thereafter held it comfortably. Because there was no coalition government in Victoria between 1948 and 1992, he had no opportunity to be a minister, but – as Brian Costar wrote in an obituary in The Age (12 October) – “his intelligence and political acumen would have made him a good one.” Described there as a mellow conservative, he improved the National Party’s relations with the Liberals, and he easily survived several leadership challenges. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1989. A quadruple bypass operation followed a heart attack in 1991, in which year he resigned from Parliament and was accorded a rare vote of thanks for his contribution to Victoria. He later (1994-2001) served as chairman of the Goulburn-Murray Rural Water Authority. Professor Costar described him as “a man of integrity and high principle” with legendary political astuteness: “he wasn’t called ‘The Possum’ for nothing.” Judy Schroder (He’45), who died in September 2012, joined her family in Adelaide on leaving school and graduated Bachelor of Science at the University of Adelaide, majoring in Anatomy and Histology, the subjects in which from 1950 until 1994 she worked in the Medical School there as a lecturer – sometimes teaching up to three generations of medical practitioners in the same family. Music was a great love: she sang in several choirs and presented a wide range of fine music as a regular broadcaster for 5MBS. A very active Christian, she supported many charitable organizations, especially the Christian Medical College of Vellore in India, the YWCA, the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship, and the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra. A much-loved member of her family, she was also a lifelong friend to many including some from her time at The Hermitage.
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he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate for services to it and the community. Dick was a great citizen, a dear man (beloved of family and a host of friends), and a loyal and distinguished Geelong Grammarian. Ronald Thompson (FB’53), as the Actor Ronald Falk, worked for MTC (Melbourne Theatre Company) with Robyn Nevin in 2011 in Apologia and in 2012 in Elling (both at the Melbourne Arts Centre), as well as working on the Jack Irish series and House Husbands for ABC TV and Channel 9 respectively. Ron started recording Audio Books in 1965, including The Bull from the Sea and The King Must Die. His was the voice on the award-winning “Natural Gas” commercials, and he recorded the ABC Science Show for 20 years. George Lucas directed him by telephone as Dexter in Attack of the Clones – lip-syncing some very big lips! His voice “can take on the character of your loving grandfather, that governmentdepartment worker that doesn’t really want to help, or a ghost you really don’t want to meet”. He has moved to Lara. Paul Hopkins (Ge’58), who died in September 2012, graduated in Architecture from the University of Melbourne. Later he worked on the Sydney Opera House with Utzon and in the well-known Japanese architect Tanaka’s office in Tokyo. After a Master’s Town Planning degree course in Edinburgh, he returned to Australia and worked for several years for the Government Architects’ Office in Sydney before moving to northern New South Wales and finding part-time work with the University of Queensland. Over the last 20 years Hoppy became increasingly involved in environmental issues while maintaining his love of architecture and design. His health declined, but that passion did not; nor did his enthusiasm for the “Cats” and for the wellbeing of Geelong. He is survived by his partner and three children. Peter Gunnersen (FB’60), who died in August 2012, was the younger son of Harvey Gunnersen (P’32) and Joyce née Wittman, and the brother of Thorry Gunnersen AM (FB’58; GGS Council 1973-83) and Helen,
mother of Peter Lovett (FB’94). After seven years at GGS and having graduated from the University of Melbourne as a Bachelor of Building, he worked for a year in a timber company in Vancouver, was employed for a time by ABC Building Components in Melbourne, and then followed Harvey and Thorry into the family timber firm, Marbut-Gunnsersen Pty Ltd (now Gunnersen Pty Ltd) and became a leading figure in the Australian timber industry. He took responsibility for “Marbut”, the sawmilling and processing side of the business, until it was finally sold. He was also chairman of GAM Steel Pty Ltd, the family steel business, until it was sold in 2011. As Thorry wrote of him, Peter “loved work in the bush (and) enjoyed bush people, the logging and transport contractors and the company’s own management people, not to mention the myriad of timber workers in the mills.” A product of his Marbut work was the formation of Midway Limited, selling woodchips to the Japanese pulp and paper industry. In 1969 he married Julie Greig, who survives him with their children – Katrina, wife of Simon Bromell (P’86), and Andrew (FB’91), Christian, and Thomas – and five grandchildren. They lived in a succession of houses designed by Peter, who latterly had one built at Portsea for Julie when he knew he could not live much longer. A bad car accident in 1973 had deprived him of a foot and permanently injured his other leg. With great determination he kept physically active through swimming, golf, boating, and cycling; and at one reunion of his yeargroup he even climbed Mount Timbertop. At various times, among other involvements, he was president of the Victorian Association of Forest Industries, vice-president of the Timber Merchants’ Association, chairman of Monash University’s “Glass Log” research project, chairman of the Gottstein Trust (funding education), and a trustee of the schooner Enterprize, Victoria’s Tall Ship. In the phrase of his nephew Nils Gunnersen (Cu’85), Peter was a “fierce negotiator”; but he was also affable, witty, a generous host, and much loved by a wide circle of relatives and friends. David Schoeffel (P’62), writing as The Shovel, is the author of Old Matey Over There: Poems from Lightning Ridge (Aus2010). tralian Opal Centre, Lightning Ridge, 2010). John Schofield (Ge’63), who died in April 2012, was born in October 1946, the elder son of the late Victor Schofield MBE (Ge’35) and Anna Elizabeth Whiteside – sister of Marjorie Whiteside (Staff, Glamorgan, 1924-64) – and the brother of Elizabeth Morgan (He’60), Robert (Ge’65), Margaret Lawrence (He’67), Ruth
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The Honourable Richard de Fégely (FB’46), who died in November 2012, recorded his own history amid his family’s in his book Fegeli, de Fégely, 1341-2008: Fribourg to Ararat (2009). He was the only son of Laura née de Nully and Albert Gervase Riddell (Bob) de Fégely, 8th Baron de Fégely in a line long established in the Canton of Fribourg in Switzerland and ennobled in 1692 by the Emperor Leopold I. Dick, though proud of his ancestors, did not use the title himself, but from 1985, as Member of the Legislative Council for Ballarat, was designated “the Honourable”, retaining (for distinguished service) the honorific after retirement in 1999. His sister, Eleanor Anne, known as Pat or Trish, married Ian Kilpatrick (Cu’41), who also died in 2012 (the September issue of Light Blue carried a tribute). Dick grew up at the family property, Quamby, near Ararat, and had four years at GGS, becoming a House Prefect in Francis Brown. At Ararat High School (1941-42), after Correspondence School at home, he had proved a talented athlete, but in 1943 (missing the last term as a result) he contracted meningitis – not, as so often, fatal in his case because of the diagnostic skill of Dr de Crespigny, of Ararat (father of four Geelong Grammarians), but highly debilitating. Though he had to learn to walk again, Dick went on to play in the School’s tennis and second football teams, and rowing helped build up muscles in a withered leg. In 1946 he stroked the first eight. From 1947 he helped his father run Quamby, and in 1953 he married Ruth Beggs (He’48; now OAM), daughter of Arthur Beggs CBE (P’25) and his wife Elsie née Shaw. She became his great support in all that he undertook, and a leading figure herself in the community. Their three sons are OGGs – Charles (FB’72), Rob (FB’74; OGGs President 2009-11), and Philip (FB’78) – as are six of their ten grandchildren. Dick went on to a very active life in public affairs, both locally – as secretary of the Ararat branch of the Australian Primary Producers’ Union, captain of the Rural Fire Brigade, president of the Chalambar Golf Club, chairman of the Ararat branch of the Graziers’ Association, etc. – and from 1976-84 served on the Federal Council of the Australian Superfine Woolgrowers’ Association. Then came his parliamentary years which included service as Opposition Whip (1989-92), Government Whip (1992-96), and Secretary of the Parliamentary Party (1996-99). When the University of Ballarat began in 1994, he was selected as Liberal Party representative on its Council; shortly before retiring in 2006,
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Clubs (Newtown and Chilwell, and later Torquay), was the Jan Juc Surf Lifesaving Club, where he achieved legendary status (and, in the words of their tribute to him, was “widely regarded as the best big-wave sweep in Victoria throughout the 1970s and ’80s”). His hobbies – usually helping others – were numerous, and he would normally read several books a week. Shanti Harris née Underwood (FB/L’74), who attended GGS in the early years of coeducation when the previously (and subsequently) all-boys’ Senior Houses included girls, is married to the Dean of St Alban’s Cathedral at Griffith in New South Wales and has three grandchildren – the twins and a recently-born son of her daughter Caroline. (He’69), and Janette Curtain (He’73). At GGS (Bostock House 1955-59; then Geelong House except for 1961 at Timbertop) he obtained his Leaving Certificate and won House colours for a range of sports. His father’s death, aged 44, when John was 15 precipitated a sense of responsibility for the family and its many obligations. He was generous, compassionate, and “first on the doorstep”, as Elizabeth said at his crowded funeral in the School Chapel, “if there was drama, sickness, or death”. The six children had 36 close cousins and a childhood full of picnics, fun, and adventure. He studied textiles at the Gordon Institute in Geelong to continue a Schofield association with the Returned Soldiers’ Woollen Mill, which had been started as a co-operative in 1922 with his grandfather as founding manager, followed by his sons George (Ge’32) and Vic (who had been one of the Australian Army’s youngest lieutenant-colonels). John worked at the Mill until it closed in 1970, and then for 36 years with Huyck, making paper machine clothing for the paper industry, successively in design, manufacturing, and marketing – the last involving extensive travel in Asia, especially Thailand and Malaysia. An early marriage was shortlived, and in 1983 he married his great love, Jan Nelson, whom he had rescued from a rip-tide at Jan Juc in 1969 (“on return to the safety of the beach,” said Elizabeth, “she ran off down the sand, terrified of her lifesaver – a wild young man!”). Thus he acquired two stepsons, Jason and Romney, and a son, William – all of whom, greatly if undemonstratively loved by John, spoke eloquently at his funeral (he had died the night after returning from a month staying in Perth with Will, who – to John’s great pride – has played since 2007 with the West Coast Eagles). John was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and uncle (he adored children, and they adored him). His other great love, apart from his Football
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Mark Thompson (M’75) is Senior Satellite Engineer with National Broadband Network (NBN). Garry Thomson (Fr’77), who is a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology, is General Manager of Clinical Services for On the Line, formerly called Crisis Support Services, a suicide call-back service (1300-651-251). William Alstergren (M’78) is Vice-Chairman of the Victorian Bar Council. Dr Penny Allen (Fr’80), a vitreoretinal surgeon, in May and July 2012 performed the world’s first two operations to implant bionic eye prototypes. An article by Mandy Squires in the Geelong Advertiser of 27 November (followed by a more detailed one in that paper’s “Weekend Extra” issue of 1 December) explained that the “pre-bionic eye bypasses damaged cells in the retina to send electrical impulses along the optic nerve to the brain, where they are interpreted as images. To work, recipients must have seen before, making the device suitable for people with two of Australia’s leading causes of blindness, retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration.” Penny, who works at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear and Alfred hospitals, was warm in her praise of the recipients: they “shared an amazing sense of optimism and willingness to ‘have a go’. They were also very altruistic. To make the leap of faith to decide to have an operation that no one else has ever had before … you can imagine what sort of people they are. The patients in this trial have had no expectation of getting anything functional for themselves; they want to help other people.” The switch-ons some weeks after the operations did, in fact, enable them to see splinters of light and shade and a range of shapes.
Tim Westbury (Fr’90) who graduated MA with first-class honours from Monash University, works in a senior role with the United Nations’ Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) and is based at its Pacific area office in Suva. His work involves devising and implementing programmes for sustainability and the reduction of poverty as well as helping island states adapt to climate change. He has enrolled in a Master’s course in Environmental Law at the University of Sydney, so will visit Australia more frequently. He and his wife, Apinporn (Janey) Nalinchaiyasit, are the parents of Nonney and Jemma. Jono Wilson (P’91) has been living and working in Thailand, at Koh Samui, for seven years and has many business interests including a holiday villa rental company called Go Samui Villas. Sam Robinson (M’92), who married Roubini Fardis, is Corporate Director of Finance at RBS Morgan’s. Stephen Minas (Gl’93) is working for the Premier of Victoria, the Honourable Ted Baillieu MLA (Gl’64), advising on trade and international engagement after study and work in the United Kingdom and China, including Hong Kong. William Mercer (M’06) and Hugh Landale (P’07) each graduated from Marcus Oldham College as a Bachelor of Business (Farm Management) in 2012, as did Hugh Cox (M’08) with a Diploma (with Credit) of Agribusiness. Kurt Langenegger (Catering Manager 1967-91), who died in November 2012, served the School as Manager for Nationwide when our catering was first outsourced, and then directly when, for a time, we resumed it. Swiss by nationality, though born in Germany in 1925 while his father was a Lutheran Pastor there, he came to Melbourne with his wife, Anne, and their first two children, Armin and Esther, in 1956 as a Chef for the Olympic Village. Ten years’ work in Melbourne followed, as a Chef in various hotels, restaurants, and hospitals, except for ther winter of 1960 when he and Anne ran a restaurant at Mount Buller. Twins, Ralph (Catering Manager 1992-95) and Pierre, were born to them in 1958. Responsible through 25 years for the catering at all four branches of the School (an enormous task at Corio alone with the provision of up to 3,000 meals a day during term), Kurt made many friends and became LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
↓ Chunlian (Gian) and James Hornabrook (M’88), a daughter, Isabella Rose, on 20 December 2011
Robyn Brook née Fry (Staff 1992-95), who died in October 2012, co-ordinated Japanese at Timbertop for four years before pioneering work at Avalon College (see the first paragraph in this Curator’s section) where she became a wonderful tutor, friend, and mentor to many young international students learning English – and about Australia. Her great spirit inspired many, and our deep sympathy has been with her husband, Jeffrey Brook, and their daughters, Stephanie, Cassandra, and Annabelle.
Sylvia and Angus McMullen (P’93), a son, George, in February 2007 and a daughter, Harriet, in September 2009
Megan and Charles Mackinnon (P’97), a son, Robert Hugh Geoffrey, on 27 February Bianca Durose-Curtis (Fr’06) and Mark McCormack, a daughter, Harper Willow, on 6 June
Samuel Slaney (A’02) married Sarah Anderson on 3 November 2012 Zachary Smits (A’03) married Sarah Melton on 15 October 2011 Abby Wall (Fr’00) married James Irwin (P’96) on 11 February 2012 Josephine (Josie) Wilson (He’03) married Alistair McKendrick on 13 October 2012
Ildiko and Thomas McGrath (Fr’98), a daughter, Charlotte Emilia, on 16 April
Stephanie née Smedley (Fr’96) and Andrew Miles, three daughters: Leslie Shea on 25 March 2007, Riley Annie on 2 September 2009, and Milla Esther on 26 July Helena and Rodney Morgan (M’98), a son, Eric Gregorio, in August
DEATHS (2012 unless otherwise noted) John Bracebridge Garrard Adair (1945-51) on 22 June Judith Enid Appleton (The Hermitage 1954-) on 4 August Frank Austin (1927-33) on 5 November John Niel Black (1945-53) on 4 November David Edwin Blackie (1947-48) on 25 July
Jessica Lang (He’94) and Anthony Mulcahy, a son, Patrick Angus, on 17 November
Geoffrey Stewart Brown (1950-54) on 12 September
Holly and Toby Osborne (FB’92), a daughter, Sofia Elizabeth Victoria, on 5 Novenmber
Michael Roy Sydenham Clarke (1956-60) on 14 February
BIRTHS (2012 unless otherwise noted)
Emily and Cameron Rahles-Rahbula (FB’02), a son, Archie, in January
The Honourable Richard Strachan de Fégely (1943-46) on 27 November
Paris and Alexander (Lex) Batters, a daughter, Caroline Louise Room, on 22 November
Honor née Woodhouse (Cl’95) and Hugh Rahles-Rahbula (Cu’99), a son, Max, in July
Robyn Anne Fry (Staff, Timbertop, 199295) on 2 October
Jo-Ann née Robinson (Je’90) and Nicholas Beck, a daughter, Bella, in December 2006, a son, James, in February 2008, and a daughter, Milly, on 15 July 2011
Catherine and James Yencken (P’86), a son, Henry Leonard, on 9 June
Robert Bruce Gardiner (1951-64) on 15 September
Sophie and Marshall Yencken (P’87), a daughter, Zara, on 13 April 2011
John Leoville Gordon (1944-49) on 31 January
Claire née McCulloch (Cl’94) and Michael Bull, a son, George Henry, on 24 April Lucy née Knox-Knight (Cl’91) and Tony Clemenger, a son, Hugh Frazer Gipps, on 28 October Susan and Hamish Cole (M’94), a daughter, Clementine Hawthorne Hobill, on 19 September Alexandra née Finlay (Cl’98) and Christopher Curtain (Hi’95), a daughter, Rosemary Elizabeth Finlay, on 26 July Elska Sandor (Ga’87) and Marcus Duckett (M’91), a daughter, Isobel Marion, on 9 October Olivia née Dobson (Ga’92) and Angus France, a son, Jack Lucius James, on 6 October
MARRIAGES Ryan Andrews (M’02) married Sarah Baklien on 1 September 2012 Claire Bingley (He’01) married Stuart Timms (A’01) on 20 October 2012 Simon Campbell (M’03) married Natalie Webber on 3 December 2011 Davina Carlile (Cl’02) married Mark Geels on 18 August 2012 Ian Cochrane (Staff 2008-) married Julia Hu on 28 September 2012 Laura Dunn (Fr’97) married Alexander Wilkinson on 1 September 2012 Chris Ellinger (A’99) married Diana Johnston on 23 October 2010
Fiona née Bayles (Cl’91) and Peter Gowers, a son, Archie Jack Peter, on 12 November
Sheena Henderson (He’04) married Zac Dawson on 13 October 2012
Jane Andrew and Nicholas Graham-Higgs (Fr’81), a son, Joseph Montego, on 30 September
Tim James (P’92) married Anna Bautista on 8 November 2012
Lisa née Rymill (He’93) and Michael Gruetzner, a son, Josh Rymill, on 24 February Holly Keane and Nicholas Heine (FB’98), a son, Alfie, in March Juliana and Adam Hesketh (A’96), a son, Henry Edward, on 19 April
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Sarah Latreille (Ga’98) married James Scanlan on 3 November 2012 Angus McMullen (P’93) married Sylvia Cuming on 23 September 2005 Anthony Nicholson (M’95) married Koo McDonald (Cl’98) on 10 March 2012 Ruth Reark (Ga’95) married Mark Allen on 29 September 2008
Michael John Hall AM (1936-46) on 3 December Edward Paul Hopkins (1948-58) on 5 September John Ilijevic (1975-77) on 3 October Dr Jeremy Bryan Mark Jowett (1975-80) on 28 September Richard William (Bill) Lester (1935-43; Staff 1952-85) on 16 September Alexandra (Sandra) Maclellan née Anderson (The Hermitage 1937-43; Clyde 1944-47) on 8 July Richard Malone (1942-45) on 19 February 2010 William John Donald (Bill) Moffatt (194450) on 22 May Dame Elisabeth Joy Murdoch AC, DBE née Greene (Clyde 1922-26) on 5 December Peter Ross-Edwards AM (1937-39) on 10 October Judith (Judy) Schroder (The Hermitage 1934-45) on 5 September The Reverend Norman Jordan Smith (Staff 1965-68) on 25 July Edward Lax (Ted) Willcox (1934-40) on 24 April Jean Yule OAM née Ward (widow of The Reverend Alexander Yule [Staff 1940-41]) on 13 October
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well known in our community. Elected an Honorary Life Member of The Old Geelong Grammarians, he became also a prominent citizen of Geelong, serving from 1986-93 as a Councillor with the former City of Newtown, including two terms as Mayor (1988-90), and as President of the Rotary Club of Corio Bay, of which he became a Paul Harris Fellow. We remember him and Anne and their family fondly and gratefully.
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RICHARD WILLIAM LESTER
B
ill Lester, who died on 16 September 2012, was one of many Old Geelong Grammarians who have returned to serve the School on its teaching staff. His times at Corio from June 1935, when as a nine-year-old he joined Junior School, to 1985 when he retired from teaching, spanned half a century of which he wrote with characteristic perceptiveness and humour in a memoir that was published (at his request, instead of the conventional valedictory tribute) in The Corian of November 1987. His service was particularly gallant and he occupies a special place in the regard and affections of a multitude of pupils, colleagues, and other friends.
near Mansfield. Marjorie died in 1945, and Hugh later married Eileen Kellaway (née Scantlebury), the mother of Frank (GGS 1934-41; died 2012), Bill (GGS 1936-44), and Michael (GGS 1940-44). In retirement Bill wrote Do 30, Dad! Sketches of a 1930s Childhood at Mansfield and Geelong Grammar School (Harlequin Press, Melbourne, 1999), which he dedicated to his children and in memory of his brother Flying Officer Geoffrey Hugh (Tim) Lester (1922-1943), with whom he had shared his childhood. It is a wonderful memoir (I know no better evocation of
somebody’s early years): one which makes one wish he had written more; it is clearsighted, amusing, and beautifully written. The title, incidentally, refers to the speed (in miles per hour) which the boys were egging their father on to reach in the family Dodge along the Dueran lane. It ends with Bill still in Junior School, where he was a member of Barrabool House from 1935-39 with Doug Fraser MC as his housemaster. Bill went on to Perry House from 194043, and in his last year was a School Prefect. In 1943 he was also Captain of both Football and Athletics. He was first in the High Jump at the APS Combined Sports in 1942, with a height of 5 feet 10 inches (1.76 metres), jumping scissors on to sand; and in 1943 he won both Jump events at the School Sports, achieving 20 feet 1 inch (6.09 metres) in the Long Jump. He was also selected in the Victorian schoolboys’ football team. A Sergeant in the Cadet Corps, he failed the eye test for RAAF Aircrew and enlisted in the AIF in January 1944, training at Cowra, Wagga, and Kapooka before joining the 2/13th Field Company Engineers attached to the
Bill was born on 2 July 1925 in Shanghai, where his father, Hugh Lester, an Englishman (son of John Beaumont Lester and Rose née Freyberg), represented an English trading company, Dodwell and Company, for which he had worked there since 1904. His mother was Marjorie, a daughter of Geoffrey Ritchie (GGS 1881), of Aringa, Port Fairy, and (from 1902) Delatite, Mansfield, and his wife, Antoinette Lempriere née Aitken. His parents had met during the war at the Swedish Hospital in London, where Hugh’s sister, Monica Patton-Bethune, was matron and Marjorie a nurse. Both world wars took a heavy toll on both families: Hugh’s two younger brothers, John and Peter (formerly Eric) were killed in the first, and so in the second were Monica’s son Michael and son-in-law Ian Liddell VC as well as Bill’s brother Tim. Bill was the youngest child of Hugh and Marjorie. Their first son, John (GGS 192938; died 1999), was born at Mansfield in 1919, and their other children in Shanghai: Jean (Clyde 1935-38) in 1920; Tim (GGS 1933-40; died 1943) in 1922; and then Bill. In 1928 the family moved from China to a property, Dueran, on the Broken River, RIGHT Bill Lester high-jumping for Oxford, White City, 1947
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It was at Oxford, in 1948, that Bill contracted poliomyelitis, which confined him to hospital for two years – and meant that he never walked again. Back in Australia, where farming seemed a possibility (his book shows a view of the land at once practical and poetic), he was offered a post at GGS by his former Headmaster, James Darling, and Doug Fraser. Brian (Brac) Coulter was a mentor as he learned the ropes. His own account of his first lesson must be quoted: I remembered that Room 3 was just one of several classrooms where I had heard Jenno [Reginald Gellibrand Jennings], the Master of Junior School in my day, read what must have been his favourite poem: Tennyson’s “Morte d’Arthur”. Jenno was a romantic and devoted to the idea of chivalry. If he’d painted pictures I am sure he would have been a Pre-Raphaelite. It was his dearest hope that we should all become twentieth-century Sir Galahads, taking our hats off to ladies and gallantly serving the British Empire by living our lives as we played our cricket, not arguing with the umpire or appealing when we knew it wasn’t out, not making excuses or complaining but, above all, keeping our honour intact and our ends up, however bumping the pitch or blinding the light. He was fond of Newbolt too. So, partly for old time’s sake, I decided to read “Morte d’Arthur” to [the class] S1B. When I had finished reading it through they were too polite, I suppose, or unsure of me, to say they loathed it. But, judging by the number of rulers and pencils that had kept falling on the uncarpeted floor, they were very bored indeed with King Arthur and Excalibur and whatever the bold Sir Bedivere had or hadn’t been up to. As for the arm, clothed in white samite, mystic, wonderful, that rose
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above the bosom of the lake and caught the sword: that, they obviously thought, was just silly. Anxiously I tried reading it again and then asking questions. (Brac had said to do that.) “Does anybody know what samite is?” I asked, desperately searching a sea of blank faces for a glimmer of understanding. There was still a quarter of an hour to go and I was beginning to panic. It crossed my mind that perhaps I should give notice, go back to Mansfield to try my hand at farming, buy a Land Rover and get cattle-grids put in all the fences. Then, mercifully, from the back row came a reassuring Canadian drawl: “Ain’t it a kind of ray-arn?” Greatly relieved, I said: “Yes!” but wondered at the same time if synthetic fibres might not be out of place in the court of King Arthur. “That’s it, a kind of rayon.” This promoted a healthy discussion on textiles, and the bell for Recess seemed to go quite soon after that. So, for the time being at least, I gave up the idea of being a farmer. It was GGS’s great good fortune that he gave it up permanently. He went on to teach – mainly in Senior School, mainly History (also English, Art, and Asian Studies), and for a time Japanese. A man ahead of his time, it was Bill who convinced Tommy Garnett (Dr Darling’s successor) in 1964 of the importance of teaching Asian languages. Although Bill’s preference would have been Chinese, the decision was taken to teach Japanese. Taking time out to study Japanese intensively over the summer of 1964-65, Bill kept enough ahead of his class to nurse it on to the timetable; he is still remembered by some of his earliest students of Japanese for his prescience. In due course Miss Takako Machida from Japan and later Robert Newson would take on the teaching of Japanese, now a vital part of the school curriculum. As one of his former students has written since his death, he was a gentle man with graceful insight and his teaching lives on through all his pupils. In 1961 Bill married Harriet Cook, sister of John (GGS 1957-66). Their children grew up with all the camaraderie of the families of staff for whom there is little distinction between school and home: Richard (GGS 1967-79), Eve (GGS 1977-82), Tom (GGS 1972-83), and William (GGS 1973-86). One of the cherished sights around the School was of Bill in motion, covered in children who had joined him on his chair.
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26th Brigade in the 9th Division. After further training in North Queensland and on Morotai, the unit took part in the invasion of Japanese-occupied Tarakan on 1 May 1945, going on, after bombing and shelling, and until the island was fully occupied, to remove bombs and shells with which the Japanese had mined the roads and parking areas, mending roads, and setting up explosive devices to hamper infiltration at night. Bill was discharged at the end of the war in time to go up to Brasenose College, Oxford, to read History. There he rowed for Brasenose, represented the University in the High Jump, was awarded an athletics Half-Blue, and graduated Bachelor (later Master) of Arts.
His own four all spoke tenderly at his memorial service in Chapel - with a sensitivity, a lightness of touch, that reminded the large congregation of their father almost as much as the words they spoke. Bill and Harriet’s home in Biddlecombe Avenue was a heart-warming and mentally stimulating place, alive with dry wit and wonderful intelligence, warmed by his benign wisdom, a haven of friendship, a place of lively joy. Bill’s motorised wheelchair gave him mobility, and he had a car fitted with hand-controls – and he even flew an aeroplane for a time that was similarly equipped. He neither sought nor expected special treatment, and the legacy he leaves is, as much as anything, the quiet and understated way in which his wheelchair was integral yet merely incidental to the way in which he got on with everything. He played the full part in school life that was expected of all masters (as we were called through most of his day: “teachers” came in with the girls in the 1970s): tutoring till all hours in the Houses, being on Duty, officiating at the Sports, and coaching – in his case rowing. He loved that, and it seemed that his many crews were grateful for his insight on technique and inspired by the classical music that sometimes flowed from a megaphone hooked up to the radio in his car. An enthusiastic amateur ornithologist, he also took groups of students bird-watching in such places as the You Yangs. From 196370 he was Honorary Secretary of The Old Geelong Grammarians, organizing events, keeping records, writing about Old Boys in The Corian, a focus at the School of loyalty and support. He also served as Secretary of the W. H. Pincott Club from 1975-85. We remember Bill with the deepest admiration and gratitude, and our loving thoughts are with his family, especially Harriet who to such a large extent supported his great contribution to the School for so long. Michael Collins Persse
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DAME ELISABETH MURDOCH AC DBE
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lisabeth Joy Greene, who became Mrs Keith Murdoch (at the age of 19) in 1928, Lady Murdoch in 1933, and Dame Elisabeth Murdoch in 1963, was born in Melbourne on 8 February 1909 and died, aged 103, at Cruden Farm, near Langwarrin, in the evening of 5 December 2012. The words “philanthropist”, “much-loved”, and “sense of duty” echo through the obituaries and streams of tributes in the newspapers. They reflect the importance of Dame Elisabeth to innumerable individuals and institutions (she gave active support to more than 100 charities). Many are mentioned in the two excellent biographies (both published by Pan Macmillan of Sydney) Elisabeth Murdoch: Two Lives by John Monks (1994) and Garden of a Lifetime: Dame Elisabeth Murdoch at Cruden Farm by Anne Latreille (2007) – the latter with a multitude of marvellous photographs. At the heart of so much responsibility, so much achievement, such great resources, was a woman – the mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and great-great-grandmother of now 77 descendants – living comfortably and frugally in the home that had been hers for 84 years, and the beauties of whose garden she had shared with countless thousands. But it was really three lives that she lived. John Monks ended the first of his “two” with the death of her beloved husband, Sir Keith, in 1952 – after which, for his sake and that of their four children, she set out resolutely to lead a life of ever-expanding service through what became 60 years of widowhood. But it was her first 19 years that formed her essential character, before her marriage (against much opposition, though parental support) to a man not only well into his forties (he was born in 1885) but possessed of international fame (in 1919 he had refused the knighthood offered by both the British and Australian
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Prime Ministers). The marriage then gave her scope for service, not only in the 24 years until Keith’s death but ever after. Her character, blossoming in marriage and as she learned constantly in the demanding role in public life that she had taken on, had grown from a combination of family influences and her school. Her parents were both from good Anglo-Irish stock, and Australian-born. Her paternal grandfather, William Greene, an engineer, had migrated to Australia in 1853 and married Fanny Govett from a family of pastoralists. Their son Rupert (1873-1949), a wool valuer and a man of great charm, was feckless and a gambler; but his fluctuating fortunes were to some extent stabilised when, in 1914, friends (he had many) secured for him the role of official starter for the Victoria Racing Club (he then officiated at every Melbourne and Caulfield Cup for 31 years). In 1899 he had married Marie de Lancey Forth (1879-1971), known as Bairnie, whose brothers were both Geelong Grammarians: Nowell Barnard de Lancey Forth, DSO and Bar, MC, a soldier whose courage and humanity in the Australian, British, and Egyptian Armies (in the Great War he commanded a Battalion of the Imperial Camel Corps) gave him an influence among the Arabs not unlike that of Lawrence of Arabia; and Jack Ware de Lancey Forth, a wool-broker and fieldnaturalist. Bairnie was the family rock; Rupert the tide that ebbed and flowed – both much-loved, but Bairnie rather taken for granted (until her old age when Elisabeth cared for her devotedly). Their great-grandfather Nathaniel Parker Forth had run a secret intelligence network to frustrate the French during both the American and the French Revolutions (“Forth does wonders,” said King George III; “he is like a light sent from Heaven”), and had raised vast sums of money to get the Prince Regent out of debt. His son Frederick was serving
in the Army in Van Diemen’s Land (later Tasmania) when Bairnie’s father, Robert, was born in 1834. Robert married Anne Ware (1855-1950), whose father, Jeremiah, was among the early settlers who crossed from Van Diemen’s Land to the Western District of what in 1851 was to become Victoria. Jeremiah’s wife, Anne Young McRobie, was a granddaughter of Anne Young who, aged 63 and twice widowed, had brought five children to Van Diemen’s Land in 1822 – the year in which Jeremiah Ware’s father had himself arrived there. Thus all four of Elisabeth’s grandparents had lived in Australia, and along one ancestral line she was a sixthgeneration Australian. She was the youngest of the three daughters (there were no sons) of Rupert and Bairnie. Both her sisters became much-loved aunts to her children. Marie (1900-1980), after whom Alister Clark named one of his roses, married an English naval officer, John Durnford, who became a vice-admiral and later mayor of Chelsea (many people “charged their batteries through Marie”, said Elisabeth, who had flown to London to be with her in her last weeks). Sylvia (1903-2000) in 1926 married their cousin Robert Geoffrey (Bob) Ritchie (1902-1982), of Delatite Station, Mansfield, who had been Senior Prefect at GGS and Captain of Perry House in 1921. The Ritchies were to become influential in the establishment of Timbertop—and have now a fivegeneration connection with GGS. Both sisters, after being taught by a governess at home, were boarders at The Hermitage, Marie from 1917-19, Sylvia from 1919-22 (she was regarded by Elsie Morres, the founding Headmistress, as the outstanding girl of her, or perhaps any, generation for both character and intellect). Their home – when not leased out during hard times – was Pemberley, a comfortable but not grand single-storey house in Toorak with an ample garden containing trees that Elisabeth loved to climb. Bairnie was long-suffering, always dignified and outwardly serene, even when Rupert would work himself into a rage (and sometimes decamp to the Melbourne Club, vowing never to return – but he always did). If Sylvia was scholarly, Elisabeth was sporty and musical. She came into her own as a boarder at Clyde between 1922 and 1926, after lessons at home with a governess and two years as a daygirl at St Catherine’s. She became captain of baseball, was in the top teams for hockey, tennis, and basketball,
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Cruden Farm was Keith’s wedding present to his young bride – a simple place in 1928 compared with its later glories. Harold Desbrowe Annear as architect and Edna Walling as garden designer were employed during the Murdochs’ absence overseas to improve it, with results (such as the pillared front and the walled garden) by which Elisabeth was surprised and even affronted, though she came gradually to like the nobler appearance of the house and to exercise her own developing talent as a gardener, especially when the 1944 fire, however destructive of some of the trees (though regenerative of others), gave her fresh scope. Her life with Keith was intensely busy, geared to his as he built up Australia’s largest “media empire” (to use today’s phrase) – a prototype of Rupert’s later world one. They maintained large establishments at both the cattlegrazing farm and, with a big staff (until 1942, when it was effectively relinquished to the United States military), Heathfield in Toorak. In due course properties were added in New South Wales, especially Wantabadgery (between Wagga Wagga and Gundagai) of which the family have fond memories, mainly from winter stays. Keith, from a more modest urban background (his father, Patrick Murdoch, brother of the scholar and essayist Walter, was a leading minister of the Presbyterian LIGHT BLUE - GEELONG GRAMMAR SCHOOL
church in Melbourne), enjoyed becoming a country gentleman, an elegant rider, and a princely host, just as, earlier he had overcome shyness and a crippling stammer to become a brilliant journalist and proprietor. Between 1929 and 1939 the children – Helen (Handbury; posthumously AO), Rupert (AC), Anne (Kantor), and Janet (Calvert-Jones; AM) – were born. There was lengthy travel overseas, particularly to London, where – as in Australia and America – Elisabeth met many leading and powerful citizens. Keith suffered a first heart attack during an over-strenuous game of tennis in 1933, and took time to recover most of his strength. From early in Rupert’s life his father was concerned to involve him in an understanding of the business and responsibilities that he was likely to inherit. At GGS (1942-49) and Worcester College, Oxford (1950-53), Rupert showed his mingled independence of mind and loyalty to his parents (at the State Memorial Service for his mother in Melbourne, he spoke movingly of his debt to them both). As on her daughters, so on him Elisabeth had a deep influence flowing from love, trust, and understanding.
Keith’s sudden death in October 1952 was devastating. Janet was only 13. Elisabeth’s responsibilities from then on were immense. It is all the more remarkable, then, that with such deep commitment to family, employees, and many friends she simultaneously embarked on more and more work for the public good. Most important for many years was the Children’s Hospital to whose committee of management she was recruited by Lady Latham in 1933. As the latter’s successor in its presidency from 1954 to 1965, she led the way to achieving a much larger and better equipped hospital on a new site. On the day of its opening in 1963 by the Queen – who bestowed on it the prefix Royal – Elisabeth, already a Commander (CBE), was created a Dame of the British Empire (DBE). She became founding
chairman of the Hospital’s research foundation, and later won Rupert’s agreement to a munificent family gift towards establishing the Murdoch Institute for research into birth defects. Another major undertaking was work as a trustee (1968-76) – the first woman to be so – of the National Gallery of Victoria (later a trustee emeritus): a continuation of Keith’s deep interest in its development, which itself reflected his love of art and finesse of artistic judgement. She endowed the Keith and Elisabeth Murdoch travelling scholarship for an art-school student, the Elisabeth Murdoch Sculpture Foundation, and a chair of Landscape Architecture at Melbourne University. She was a founding member and chairman of the Victorian Tapestry Workshop and a trustee of the McClelland Regional Art Gallery. She helped to fund Braemar College on the site of Clyde School. And there was so much more, including patronages (always very personal and active) of theatre, ballet, opera, and the arts. In 1982 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University of Melbourne; in 1989 made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) for her patronage of the arts; in 2000 elected a Fellow of Trinity College in the University of Melbourne, and in 2010 a Fellow of The Old Geelong Grammarians; in 2003 presented with the Keys to the City of Melbourne and in 2012 made a Freewoman thereof (“what does it mean?” she asked); named Victorian of the Year in 2005, and Victoria’s Senior Australian of the Year in 2006. In 2004 the Langwarrin Secondary College was renamed Elisabeth Murdoch College in recognition of her work in the local community. In 2009 Geelong Grammar School initiated Elisabeth Murdoch House to honour her outstanding and selfless service in so many enterprises of great worth; she attended and spoke at its opening, and welcomed successive parties of girls and staff to Cruden Farm Her daughter Helen – wife of Geoffrey Handbury (AO) and with him and their son Paddy (OGG and deputy chairman of the School Council) a major donor of what in their honour was named our Handbury Centre for Wellbeing – died before her (an enormous sorrow), as did her grandson Tom Kantor and her great-grandson William Paterson (at home, though at the time, 2009, in Year 12 at GGS). Of her direct descendants, 22 have been at Geelong Grammar School. She had the interests of the School always at heart, and like so many others we are grateful. Michael Collins Persse
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played golf, and accompanied many assemblies (though shyly) on the piano. Her habit of almost ceaseless activity, hurrying from one thing to another, developed. She loved Clyde – its mountain beauty and eucalyptus forest, its occasional rigours, its ordered but friendly community – and gave it her lifelong devotion. She served on the Clyde Old Girls’ Association committee from 1929, and for the next 83 years there was no major Clyde or COGA activity in which she was not involved. When she was COGA treasurer and in 1944 bushfires threatened Cruden Farm, she rushed home and went straight to her bedroom to rescue the COGA papers and cash from under her bed. She served influentially on the School Council, distributed the prizes in 1975 at the final Speech Day, supported Clyde House at Corio from 1976, and wrote the foreword to Melanie Guile’s Clyde School, 19101975: An Uncommon History (published in 2006). At 101 she attended the Centenary lunch. Her interest in the Children’s Hospital can be traced to her knitting of jumpers for sick children in her schooldays. Her daughters went to Clyde, where Helen and Janet were each dux (Helen twice) and school captain. She embodied the Clyde motto, Spectemur Agendo – Let us be seen, or known, by our deeds.
www.ggs.vic.edu.au