LightBlue December 2011

Issue 85 December 2011

lightblue

CONTENTS

Building bridges Director of Community Relations School Council From our Principal In The Light of Eternity School Captains Positive Education Toorak Campus Bostock House Middle School Timbertop Senior School Visual Arts Lorne 160 Sport Reflections Foundation OGG President OGG Gatherings OGG Reunions Tower Luncheon OGG Sport HOGA COGA OGG in focus From the Curator Event Calendar

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2 3 4-5 6 7 8-9 10-11 12 13 14 15 16 -17 18 19 20-21 22-23 24 25-27 28-29 30 31 32 33 34-35 36-39 40

I was in Tasmania at the end of November with Michael Collins Persse and Neil Robertson (FB’72) for two meetings of the Biddlecombe Society (our Geelong Grammar Foundation bequest society). Over sixty people gathered at two locations for addresses by Michael (President) and Neil (Chairman). Between the meetings we drove through the town of Ross and stopped to admire the bridge across the Blackman River. As you can see from the photo below, it is strongly and beautifully built, well known for its design and historic value, and above all, still doing what it was built for. Building bridges is our theme for this edition of Light Blue, and while stone bridges last well and speak of the past and point sometimes to the future, so do the bridges we build between ourselves and other people. Hardly knowing it at the time, a young student forms respect for a teacher, and a bridge between generations is built. Our Principal, Stephen Meek, speaks to parents and prospective parents, to staff and alumni, embodying the purpose and life of the School and showing everyone the future that awaits us as we bridge the gap between now and then.

In this School and beyond it, we are building bridges with new knowledge, new adventures and new relationships – from the past to the future, and from family to wider community.

We are bridging gaps in learning, experience, vision and personal expectations.

We are putting in place relationships that work and go on working; growing in strength and beauty. We are given much as we begin our journey. It is good to help others with their bridge building – when the time is right.

Tony Bretherton Director of Community Relations

In November over 350 people gathered in the Dining Hall to celebrate Michael Collins Persse’s 80th birthday, and other bridges were in evidence – the ones that memories recreate as we travel back to times past.

Editor Brendan McAloon Design Claire Robson Printing Adams Print Photography Ann Badger, Peter Bajer, Sarah Bell, Bob Bickerton, Tony Bretherton, Mark Elshout, Drew Ryan, Steve Solomonson Website www.ggs.vic.edu.au Email lightblue@ggs.vic.edu.au

SCHOOL COUNCIL

Connecting our community Term 4 is a busy one at GGS – but then which term isn’t? As academic focus shifts to end of year exams and sport to summer, the smell of spring and cut grass seems to permeate through the School. With the recent rain and excellent maintenance of all of our campuses, I do think our grounds are looking quite magnificent and welcoming.

Speech Day is arguably the most important event for the School and I was delighted that the current Australian of the Year, Simon McKeon, accepted our invitation to be our guest of honour on Sunday 23 October. He spoke personably to the 1,000 or so students, parents, friends and staff that were there with meaningful personal reflections. He also came to the Leavers' Service held in the Chapel of All Saints that morning. The Chapel was full to the rafters and we experienced a really uplifting service with beautiful choral music. The Principal’s sermon was impressive; profound and full of strong relevant messages for the students and, indeed, us all.

I recently opened the last phase of the redevelopment of our Toorak Campus with the completion of the classrooms above the Administration area and a bridge linking this area to the Glamorgan Centre. We have named the new area the McWilliam Centre, continuing to honour Horace McWilliam, who was Housemaster at Glamorgan from 1947 to 1961 (the classroom block which was previously named in his honour was lost as part of the redevelopment of the campus).

We were able to complete these most recent improvements with the assistance of the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) programme for which the School is grateful. During my speech at our low-key but formal opening (as required by the Government), I was surprised to see one of the Year 1 students hold up his hand to ask me a question. After answering his question adequately (which was directly on point) I reflected that this is exactly what we encourage at our School – enquiring minds and courage to ask questions. I just hope this isn’t a precedent that a Year 12 student takes to Speech Day. That might completely stump me!

Although the opening of the new area at Toorak was my first at opening a bridge, it was not my, or indeed most Old Geelong Grammarians, first experience of the importance of connecting people – and there is no greater connector in the Geelong Grammar School community than Michael Collins Persse. He recently celebrated his 80th birthday and a cocktail party was held on Thursday 10 November to celebrate this milestone and launch his latest book, In The Light of Eternity. There were around 350 people there for a wonderful evening and we were reminded of the power of the pen and Michael’s amazing ability to connect people.

I think it is fair to say that Michael is our most significant “bridge” – happy birthday Michael.

On behalf of the Council I wish all our VCE and International Baccalaureate students the very best for their results. Whatever they are and wherever they lead to, I hope that their time at Geelong Grammar School was happy and fulfilling and has prepared them well for the exciting times ahead. I would also like to take this opportunity to wish all our community a merry Christmas and a safe and fun holiday ahead.

Jeremy Kirkwood (FB’79) Chairman of Council Main picture: Head of Toorak Campus, Garry Pierson, with Janis Coffey, Teaching and Learning/ PYP Co-ordinator, Jeremy Kirkwood (FB’79), Chairman of Council, Diane Dunn, Toorak Campus Business Manager, and Stephen Meek, Principal

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FROM OUR PRINCIPAL

From our Principal This year we see our first Indigenous students graduating from Year 12 and, as I write, they are awaiting their VCE results, which will be their pathway to tertiary education. Our theme for this edition of Light Blue is building bridges and I am delighted that we have built bridges with a number of Indigenous communities over the last six years. As our first Indigenous graduates leave, so we are in the process of welcoming further Indigenous students next year, bringing our total in the School in 2012 to 20. Amongst our new entrants there will be two day students who come from the local Indigenous community, the Wathaurong people. It is very good that these two Year 7 students will help us to build bridges with our local Indigenous community. We have been very fortunate that one of these students has been funded by a very generous scholarship provided by the Gailey Lazarus Foundation and I appreciate the support which we have received.

The important point about a bridge is that it allows the passage of people, ideas, 4

etcetera in both directions and just as we have helped some Indigenous students fulfil their potential, so they, in turn, have helped us to broaden and deepen our understanding of Indigenous culture.

Nowhere has this been more evident than in the way some of our Indigenous Middle School students have worked with Year 4 students at the Toorak Campus to make a possum skin cloak. This has been a most marvellous collaborative venture guided by a Kirrae Whurrong/Gundjitmara Indigenous artist, Vicki Couzens, and the Toorak Campus Art Co-ordinator, Sarah Bell, and supported by the Carnegie Fund.

The resulting cloak is a remarkable piece of work and we hope that some of our Indigenous students may be able to wear it, in the future, at appropriate moments in their Geelong Grammar School career.

Throughout the year, we have again held Positive Education Visitors’ Information Days. We have so many teachers from other schools who are interested in what we are doing in Positive Education, that we now host two days a term when teachers can

visit the School and hear all about what we do from the Head of Positive Education, Justin Robinson, and a number of other key staff, such as Charlie Scudamore, the Vice Principal and Head of Corio. Last Friday we held the last Visitors’ Information Day of the year and amongst the 34 visitors, we welcomed nine teachers from our local state school, Northern Bay College in Corio.

We trained a number of teachers from that school in Positive Education in 2009 and it was very good to hear how they have been using it in their school. I am delighted that Positive Education has enabled us to build bridges with our local state school and I hope that we can build upon this even further in 2012.

Other connections with our local community have continued this year through a number of different fundraising projects which the students have been very keen to support. The most notable example, once again, has been this year’s Lorne 160 campaign where 20 Year 11 students ran to Lorne and back at the end of Term 3, after having spent the term

SENIOR FROM SCHOOL OUR PRINCIPAL

Above: The 2011 Middle School Play, Euroquest, was full of surprises, including a cameo from our Principal, Stephen Meek

encouraging students and staff to donate generously through a number of special events. They raised the wonderful sum of $45,000 for Kids Plus, a local Geelong based charity, and the full account of their great effort is on page 18. This was just one charity activity this year amongst a total of at least 23 different charities which the students have supported.

So far, over $100,000 has been raised, with three further fundraising events taking place before the end of the year. It has been a remarkable year.

The Richard and Janet Southby Visiting Fellows Programme continues to be a wonderful way of building bridges to ideas and events which are going on in the world outside of the School. As Charlie Scudamore makes clear in his article on page 15, we have had a tremendous group of speakers visit the School this year. What has been particularly pleasing has been the

insightful and probing questions which the students have asked of the speakers at the end of the talks. It is an enriching experience all round. I am very grateful to Anthony Strazzera for his great work in arranging the speakers and organising the visits and I know that he has already lined up a very good programme for next year. I am even more grateful to Richard and Janet Southby for their generosity in sponsoring this programme and enabling us all to hear from some remarkable and interesting people.

We do, of course, have some remarkable and interesting people who are already members of our community – and none more so than Michael Collins Persse. Over 350 people gathered in the Dining Hall earlier this month to wish Michael a happy 80th birthday and to celebrate the launch of his new book In the Light of Eternity, a collection of his writings over the last 50 years. As can be seen from the account on page 6, it was a very happy evening, with part of the Dining Hall reconfigured to look like a Library. The strength of the numbers attending and the warmth of their feelings towards Michael were testimony

to the tremendous impact which he has had upon so many people over the years.

In the course of the evening, I heard stories about Michael as a scholar, teacher, friend, football coach, author and, above all, connector of people. I have never met anyone with such a phenomenal memory for people, their families and their lives.

It is an astonishing gift and one which everyone reading this article will already have experienced first-hand. He has built bridges galore between the School and families and between families and families – sometimes when they did not know that such connections existed. He is a bridge builder, par excellence.

I have no doubt that one of the strengths of the School is the way that it reaches out in all directions, looking for new connections, reaffirming old connections and building bridges wherever it can.

A strong community makes a strong school and strong bridges bind it all together.

Stephen Meek Principal

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MICHAEL COLLINS PERSSE

In The Light of Eternity More than 350 people gathered in the Dining Hall at Corio on Thursday 10 November to celebrate Michael Collins Persse’s 80th birthday and launch his latest book, In The Light of Eternity.

Michael joined Geelong Grammar School in November 1955 and has served the School in many capacities during the past 56 years, including 24 years as Head of History. He has also edited the School journal, The Corian, and was appointed Curator upon his retirement from formal teaching in 1993, maintaining the School’s biographical records and contributing regularly to Light Blue (see From the Curator on pages 36-39). In 2005 the Michael Collins Persse Archives Centre was opened to commemorate him as “historian, teacher, tutor and friend”.

Our Principal, Stephen Meek, honoured Michael with a heartfelt and humorous speech, celebrating his 80th birthday and the strong connections he has nurtured within the wider Geelong Grammar School community. Stephen said the strength of Michael’s many relationships was illustrated by the range of generations who had gathered in the Dining Hall to mark this significant milestone. “It is difficult to imagine anyone who has given as much to an institution as he has,” Stephen said.

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Michael’s most recent book, In The Light of Eternity, was launched by one of his former pupils, Neil Robertson (FB’72), who recalled Michael’s important and lasting influence as a teacher of History.

The book is a collection of Michael’s writing, ranging from obituaries and essays to poems and speeches. The book includes a foreword by another of Michael’s former pupils – His Royal Highness The Prince of Wales (T/Cu'66).

“The articles in this book all attest to Michael’s abundant capacity for true humanity and compassion – qualities that have gained him so many friends and admirers over the years,” Prince Charles writes.

“His immense contribution throughout his lifetime to scholarship and humanity will long be remembered, and will no doubt act as an inspiration and a beacon to those who follow in his footsteps.”

In The Light of Eternity: Selected Writings

by Michael Collins Persse is now available for sale from the GGS Shop.

Above: Our Principal, Stephen Meek, joined Michael Collins Persse to celebrate Michael’s 80th birthday and launch his most recent book, In The Light of Eternity. Below: More than 350 people gathered for the occasion, including John Somerset (M’61), Marion Somerset, Peter Hose (Cu’61) and Tom Carty

SENIOR SCHOOL SCHOOL CAPTAINS

Our new School Captains We are delighted that George Vickers-Willis (Yr11 FB) and Xara Kaye (Yr11 He) have been chosen to represent our school in the role of School Captains for 2012. As we farewell our 2011 School Captains, Blake Nielsen (Yr12 Fr) and Liv O’Hare (Yr12 Fr), Light Blue spoke to George and Xara about the year ahead.

Some people liken Geelong Grammar School to a journey. What has been your journey at the School?

George: I have been at this school since Prep. Therefore, I feel that I have grown up at this school, and I definitely feel that it has shaped me to be the person I am today.

Has there been any one stage of the journey that has been particularly significant or memorable?

Xara: For me, as I’m sure it is for many, a memorable part of my journey would have to be Timbertop. The challenges that that year in the bush put me through changed my perception not only of the tasks at hand, but also of myself, and how I could push myself.

Another significant moment for me was the decision to continue at GGS after Timbertop (Xara joined the School in Year 9). It was a tough choice for me to decide between returning home (Canberra) or staying here and keeping all the great relationships I had built. In the end GGS had me hooked; I have no regrets about that decision and I wouldn’t change it for anything.

How did you feel when you were chosen as School Captains?

George: I was quite surprised. The possibility of leading the whole school community didn’t really sink in and I’ve only just started to come to terms with it upon the announcement of the rest of the School Prefects. Now the idea of our year group being leaders of the School is becoming more of a reality.

Do you have any goals or a vision for you what hope to achieve in 2012?

Xara: The two of us feel it is very important the whole of Year 12 is looked on as a leadership group; the year level has the ability to shape the School and we are all a part of setting that example. After our first meeting as a School Prefect cohort, we came up with a series of things we wanted to focus on for 2012; mainly relationships and the atmosphere of our campus.

With such a lively bunch of prefects we’re all ready to bring an element of fun to next year, whilst looking at bridging the gap between Middle School and Senior School, building school spirit and community awareness.

We have lots of different plans about how to initiate this, but for them to work we can’t tell you yet! All we can say is get excited because our vision for 2012 is of new relationships and new levels of entertainment (with some time left over for work too).

Have you received any advice from anyone about the role of School Captain?

George: Upon accepting the position, my brother Charlie (who was School Captain in 2010) did not give me too much advice on how to best fulfil the role. He did however do his best to make me worry about embarrassing myself upon its announcement, his major piece of advice being, “Don’t fall over”. Insightful words.

But since then Charlie has also taken the time to give me some good advice on just being myself and not changing to fit the role as we are selected based on the kind of person we already are. Xara and I both look forward to bringing what we can to the role and learning from the advice of our predecessors.

What do you think makes Geelong Grammar School so unique?

Xara: I think something really different about GGS is its focus on more than academics and grades, but also on an all-round education. The major tenets of the School encourage us to be involved in our academic work, sports, music and countless co-curricular activities. Something emphasised in our school programme is Positive Education, which I had never heard of until coming here. It is a concept that sets us apart, and despite its often sceptical reception, it teaches us emotional intelligence and how to harness all of our qualities. Being predominantly a boarding school, we have an enhanced sense of community. The relationships between students and staff are different to those I have experienced in other schools, and the mutual respect that exists between the two is something that I believe is very special and unique within GGS.

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POSITIVE EDUCATION

Relationships, meaning and purpose Positive Psychology encourages us to build bridges through our relationships with others and the way in which we connect to the wider world to find meaning and purpose in our lives. Relationships play a critical role in human happiness and flourishing. A focus on relationships recognises that child and adolescent development does not occur in isolation and that social context has a powerful impact on adaptive and healthy growth (Urie Bronfenbrenner, 2005). A core aim of Positive Education at GGS is to help students develop social and emotional skills in order to create and promote strong and nourishing relationships with self and others.

There is an abundance of evidence that suggests social support is integral to wellbeing and mental health. Social isolation is a risk factor for depression, substance abuse, suicide, and other symptoms of mental ill-health (Craig Hassed, 2008).

Family and school connectedness is protective against adolescents’ emotional distress, suicidal thoughts, and violent behaviours (Robert J. Resnick, 1997).

Similarly, social support has been found to provide a buffer in times of stressful and adverse life events (the buffering hypothesis) thus contributing to coping and resilience (Cohen and Wills, 1985).

In addition to benefits for mental health and wellbeing there is substantial evidence that social support is good for physical health by increasing the desire to care for oneself, encouraging healthy behaviours such as good diet and exercise, and increasing positive emotions that have a beneficial impact on bodily systems (Sheldon Cohen, 2004). Overall, feeling connected to others is believed to play a key role in good physical and mental health throughout the lifespan.

Active Constructive Responding (ACR) is one specific skill that we help students to develop in Positive Education to nurture and support positive relationships. Research

by Shelly Gable, Gian Gonzaga and Amy Strachman from the University of California suggests that sharing good news contributes to wellbeing beyond the impact 8

of the good event itself. In an observational study of 79 couples, partners’ responses to good news was found to be more predictive of relationship satisfaction and commitment over a two month period than partners’ responses to negative events. This supports the importance of encouraging students to take the time to be genuinely and sincerely supportive of the accomplishments of their family members and peers (Gable, Reis, Impett and Asher, 2004).

Feelings of meaning and purpose in life are a powerful contributor to wellbeing.

Understanding, believing in and serving something greater than oneself and deliberately engaging in activities for the benefit of others is intrinsically valuable. In addition to being worthy in their own right, there is evidence that doing things for others and having a sense that life has purpose and meaning contributes to psychological and physical health.

Purpose is defined as the identification of valued, overarching goals which provide fulfilment and help people to grow and attain their potential (Kosine, Steger and Duncan, 2008). It provides people with a central mission or vision for life and a sense of directedness (Ryff and Keyes, 1995) and often involves a pro-social or altruistic intent, such as a commitment and passion for helping others or improving the world (Hill, Burrow, Amanda and Thornton, 2010).

Purpose in life is important for physical health. A sense of purposelessness is a risk factor for depression, risk taking behaviours, somatic complaints and poor social relationships (Damon, Menon and Bronk, 2003). Feeling life is purposeful also provides benefits for psychological health. A study of purpose in life with three age groups; adolescents, emerging adults and adults aged over 25, found that having an identified purpose in life was associated with high life satisfaction in all three age groups (Bronk, Hill, Lapsley, Talib and Finch, 2009). Additional findings were that searching for purpose was associated with high life satisfaction for adolescents and emerging adults but not for adults over the

age of 25. This suggests that actively exploring sources of purpose may be developmentally adaptive for adolescents and young people; but individuals who reach adulthood with unresolved questions about their life direction and purpose may be less satisfied with their lives.

Life meaning provides an important path to purpose. Meaning is defined having a sense of where one fits in the world (Steger, Kashdan, Sullivan and Lorentz, 2008).

People experience meaning when they: (1) understand and accept themselves, (2) understand the world around them, and (3) understand where they fit within the world and with others.

In Positive Education we conclude our Year 10 programme with a focus on meaning and purpose. Students are asked consider the question: “Why are we here?” They are asked to identify something larger than themselves and to reflect upon what ‘service’ means. They are then asked to commit to two actions in the next week and in the next year that would add meaning and purpose to their lives.

Education is about building bridges with our students to new knowledge. In Positive Education we do that through a focus on relationships, meaning and purpose.

Justin Robinson Head of Positive Education

POSITIVE EDUCATION

Positive Education in action

Above left: Non-teaching staff attended a threeday Introduction to Positive Psychology course in September. Above: Camille Nock (Yr12 EM) and Ellie Carless (Yr12 EM) instigated ‘Cranes for Japan’ week

STAFF TRAINING

VISITORS’ DAYS

MINDFUL REMEMBERING

In the recent September holidays we conducted a very special three-day Introduction to Positive Psychology staff training course. It was particularly special for two reasons. Firstly, the vast majority of attendees were non-teaching staff members representing each of our four campuses.

Secondly, it was the first training programme to be conducted exclusively by our GGS Positive Psychology training team. It is significant that we have now trained over 300 GGS staff members in multi-day Positive Psychology courses and we are thrilled that non-teaching staff now have the opportunity to benefit from the skills and knowledge that our teaching staff have received over recent years. Our training team comprised ten GGS trainers and it was a pleasure to work with such a committed team. The feedback from our colleagues has been wonderful. We currently have almost 100 staff members – teaching and nonteaching – enrolled in our next three-day Introduction to Positive Psychology staff training course, which will be held in late January.

Due to the high demand levels from schools and organisations wanting to visit GGS to learn more about our Positive Education programme, we host a Visitors' Information Day each term. This year we have had over 100 people attend our Visitors' Days. Our guests have travelled from all corners of Australia and from government, Catholic and independent schools. They hear from our Principal, Stephen Meek, and Vice Principal, Charlie Scudamore, about our journey with Positive Psychology. They also receive an overview of our Positive Education programme from our Head of Positive Education, Justin Robinson, as well as a snapshot of the GGS Positive Institution Project from our Positive Psychology Project Manager, Paige Williams.

Following lunch and a tour of the School, our guests then hear from our Director of Learning, Debbie Clingeleffer-Woodford, who provides an outline of our explicit Year 10 programme, and our Director of Student Welfare, John Hendry, who describes in detail the character strengths of kindness and forgiveness as the foundation of our positive community. We are pleased to be able to share our programme with so many passionate teachers and we continue to hear many exciting stories of how aspects of Positive Education are being embedded in other schools and having a meaningful impact on staff and students.

During Term 3, our Chapel Captain, Ellie Carless (Yr12 EM), and Charity Captain, Camille Nock (Yr12 EM), suggested a Mindful Remembering activity as part of our Senior School tutorial programme. Their goal was to provide students with an opportunity to purposefully reflect upon the ongoing challenges facing the affected regions of Japan devastated by the earthquake and tsunami earlier this year. An information page was designed by Ellie, a presentation was given to all Senior School students in assembly, and tutors were instructed in how to make paper cranes. More than 600 students and 60 tutors produced more than 3,000 cranes during the ‘Cranes for Japan’ week. The cranes were then displayed in our Chapel before being sent to three different primary schools in Japan. It was meaningful for the students to take the time to consider a different community still undergoing so much pain and suffering and to communicate in our way that our thoughts and prayers were with our global neighbours.

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TOORAK CAMPUS

Establishing connections From the cover of this issue of Light Blue you will see a bridge has been built in every sense of the word. Connecting the old with the new has given a sense of seamless transition from one learning environment to another, supporting the children as they progress through the campus. The opening of the McWilliam Centre completes a major five-year redevelopment of our Toorak Campus – including the building of the Glamorgan Centre, the refurbishment of the Sutherland Centre, the tennis courts, new play areas, the administration and reception, the newly opened McWilliam Centre and connecting bridge.

The collaborative nature of the Primary Years Programme of the International Baccalaureate (IB) allowed our students to work with Indigenous Scholars from Middle School.

But building bridges is a very appropriate theme in a number of other ways too.

It allows us to share two very important aspects of the journey and give an insight in to some of the wonderful work that takes place at the Toorak Campus. Firstly, through our Leadership Conference, Year 5 and 6 students have a unique opportunity to share their experiences together. Year 6 students pass on the mantle of leadership to Year 5 students over two days of workshops and practicals that help them to discover the fundamental qualities that leadership requires and that the roles they will play in living this out in their final year.

It is a very empowering process.

The possum cloak that was created, together with the book that was written, An encounter between a possum skin cloak maker and Geelong Grammar School, marks a place in the history of the School and establishes the respect and acknowledgement of events past, creation of items in the present, and traditions for the future.

Secondly, Year 4 students have been working on a Unit of Inquiry, ‘The Things We Believe’, learning about the values and beliefs of different cultures.

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This was a wonderful moment for everyone involved and the process and outcome spoke volumes for the richness of the programme and the depth of individual learning.

As a community and whole school, we are better for building bridges and establishing connections that together, make for a better and more respectful future.

Garry Pierson Head of Toorak Campus

LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE It was just under a year ago when Mr Pierson first announced that I was to be one of the two School Captains for 2011.

My first thought was that I wouldn’t be able to rise up to the expectations of being a School Captain. I’d never seen myself as a leader and couldn’t imagine how I was going to fill such big shoes. It was a scary thought. I had learnt a lot about leadership over the nine years I had been at Geelong Grammar. But I couldn’t make a picture in my mind as to how I was to put some of those skills and ideas into practice. And then the year began – suddenly I had to stop worrying and just start doing the things I was expected to do.

The most important thing I realised early on was that, while I could draw on others for advice and learn from theories of leadership, I needed to lead in a way that was right for me. I remember listening to a radio interview of a young AFL player, who said that the best advice he ever got in footy was ‘to play to your strengths’. At the time, I didn’t really know what he meant.

But then I thought about it and how I could use this idea in my leadership role. I had to find what my leadership strengths were and use them to the best of my ability.

Gus Emmett (Yr6) School Captain, Toorak Campus

TOORAK CAMPUS Far left: Toorak Campus captains, Gus Emmett and McKenzie Leyden, with Year 1 students.

Above: The completed possum skin cloak. Below: Shanii Flemming (Yr8 Cn) with Indigenous artist Vicki Couzens

I believe that to be a successful leader you need to acquire and demonstrate five main building blocks. These five building blocks are Organisation, Confidence, Team Skills, Responsibility and Public Speaking.

Organisation means that you know what has to happen and you manage your time well to complete the task at hand. Applying confidence is when you are sure of yourself and your decisions. I think that confidence is not only a vital leadership skill but a vital life skill. Using team skills is when you work together as a group, listen to each other and tolerate each other’s ideas to achieve a result. Responsibility is about being able to take on roles independently and in a group.

You need to know what you have to do to succeed and acknowledge that it is your job to do. Public Speaking is big part of leadership because many leaders speak publicly to get a message across. I have found that you mainly need to use confidence to speak publicly. You don’t have to have a title, such as being a School Captain or even a captain of your sport team, to be a leader. For example one of the girls in Year 6 volunteers at an aged care home. Nobody told her to spend her time at the aged care home; she simply came across it and decided that it would be a good way to volunteer and help others.

McKenzie Leyden (Yr6) School Captain, Toorak Campus

POSSUM SKIN CLOAK PROJECT We completed the Possum Skin Cloak project as part of our Unit of Inquiry ‘The Things We Believe’. We were learning about the values and beliefs of different cultures. This project was important because it made us more aware and appreciative of indigenous culture. Making a possum skin cloak was really special.

Yasmin Swann (Yr4) We all feel great about how the cloak has turned out. It is an amazing feeling because we all participated in the project.

We used all of our ideas to design it – Year 4, Ms Bell, Vicki Couzens, Middle School students, Sharona Bishop, Esther Kirby and Lucy Haigh. It feels great to be able to contribute something to the School. The indigenous scholars will be able to use it in graduation ceremonies and also we can display it in exhibitions.

Hannah Fox (Yr4) We learnt that you need to have lots of patience because the project was a long process from the beginning discussions through to the final burnings. We also had to be open-minded when we were adding all our ideas together. We also had to show respect for other people’s values when we were discussing our ideas.

Andrew May (Yr4)

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BOSTOCK HOUSE

A bridge of understanding When one talks about “building bridges” it is usually about repairing relationships or solving disputes and misunderstandings.

However, at Bostock House “building bridges” is more about increasing understanding and building empathy and respect in order to broaden our perspective, open our minds and enhance our life experiences while helping others.

A good example of this type of bridge building is the relationship that we have recently developed with Scope; a not-for-profit organisation providing disability services throughout Victoria.

Scope’s mission is to support people with a disability to achieve their potential in welcoming and inclusive communities, encouraging us to “see the person and not the disability”.

We encourage all of our children at Bostock House to do the same. Seeing the person applies not only to people with a disability but to all people that children might perceive in the first instant to be different. The Scope message rings just as true when it comes to racial, religious or cultural matters. Our Year 4 children have chosen to adopt Scope’s “see the person” message and impart it to others on our campus:

Our children first became interested in the work of Scope through our Year 4 Community Leaders programme. The entire Year 4 class was then invited to take part in a Scope Young Ambassadors Conference at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne. During the one-day conference the children met and were mesmerised by people who had overcome quite marked disabilities to achieve at the highest level in all sorts of areas. They met, among others, a television chef, an Australian representative in wheelchair basketball and a talented landscape artist who paints with a brush attached to a band worn around his head. They learnt how these people had overcome their disability to achieve great things but more importantly they learnt that, despite their first impressions, the people that they met were just like them.

Since the conference we have had disabled visitors attend assembly and have started to develop a working relationship with Scope in Geelong. However, Scope is not the only group that the Bostock House children have sought to help and gain a greater understanding of over the years.

As part of the Service component of Positive Education and as a consequence of the innate desire of young children to help others, the children have always expressed an interest in the welfare of those around them and in the broader community. At this time of year we have traditionally built bridges between the youngest and oldest members of our community by visiting Aged Care Homes to sing Christmas Carols and play music for the residents. We also take part in The Hermitage Old Girls Association (HOGA) Christmas celebrations, thereby maintaining the bridge between these two great schools. The children and their families also place gifts for less fortunate children under the Christmas tree at school each year, and in an indirect but meaningful way, help to build bridges between the fortunate and less fortunate members of our local community through the good work of the Salvation Army.

They enjoyed the day and left with a far greater degree of understanding and empathy for people who, on the surface, might appear to be different to them.

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• We listen to understand • We see the potential • We recognise how you do things and what you achieve • We take personal responsibility • We build excellent relationships

Throughout each and every year the children choose community groups that not only would they like to help, but would also like to come to understand better.

Through their work to raise money or to donate needed goods to various groups, they gain a greater understanding that all people have common needs and beliefs.

Understanding invariably leads to better and more meaningful relationships. This means that building bridges or connections between groups of people must surely be valuable and worthwhile.

At Bostock House we see ourselves as part of our local community and the wider world, and we will endeavour to continue to build bridges with those around us in a quest to help our students become good citizens who are inclusive and believe that they can make a positive contribution and difference to our world.

Daryl Moorfoot Head of Bostock House

Below: Scope ambassador Brett Reynolds was born with cerebral palsy. Bostock House Year 4 students were so inspired by Brett’s bravery and persistence that they bought one of his paintings for the School.

MIDDLE SCHOOL

The Middle School journey In the penultimate week of the school year, our Year 8 students participate in ‘The Journey’, choosing between a nine-day Paddle/Hike and the Great Victorian Bike Ride (which the School has participated in since 1994). ‘The Journey’ represents the culmination of each student’s individual journey through Middle School, but is also a tangible journey in its own right – the actual trip itself, whether travelling by bike or canoe – and students need to meet the challenges that each journey presents.

This year our Paddle/Hike group travelled along the Glenelg River. Amidst some hot weather and torrential thunderstorms, students and staff navigated the longest river in Western Victoria, which stretches from the foothills of the Grampians to Nelson, a small fishing village near the South Australian border. The entire group was split into four smaller groups.

Each group was completely self-sustaining; carrying all food, belongings and cooking equipment in their canoes and backpacks.

Group involvement allowed each student the opportunity to develop team work and a sense of resilience.

This year’s Great Victorian Bike Ride commenced in Swan Hill. Riders traversed east and west through Kerang, Echuca and Boort, while gradually heading south towards their final destination of Castlemaine, some 590 kilometres away.

Some hot and windy weather, punctuated by strong headwinds and 40-degree heat, made for a challenging ride. Students pedalled in small ride groups, accompanied by staff and adults.

Upon arriving in each country town, riders set up camp on the local sports oval.

Team work, resilience and leadership were vital ingredients for a successful journey.

Tony Inkster Head of Middle School

POSITIVE EDUCATION We have been learning about kindness and character strengths. We learnt how kindness is contagious – if you are kind to someone then they with be kind to others and how it keeps on growing. We have also enjoyed Mindful Meditation and are grateful to Janet Etty-Leal for teaching us so many wonderful skills that we will keep with us for life.

Annabelle Arton-Powell (Yr5 Ot)

PUBERT Y PROGRAMME Mrs Parker came to teach us about puberty through the Puberty Programme. Of course we all thought we knew everything there was to know about puberty, but this proved to be wrong. The programme provided fantastic information and it made us comfortable to discuss such matters, but it also confirmed that some of us knew nothing at all about what was happening to us. We were all very grateful to have Mrs Parker come in and teach the whole class.

Mia Grant (Hi Yr5)

SUPER 8 CRICKET On Tuesday 25 October some Year 8 cricketers travelled to Kardinia Park to play Super 8 Cricket; a shortened version of the game with eight players and eight overs. In each match we hit a boundary off the first ball. We won our first two games and lost the third, narrowly missing out on the final.

The highlight of the day was two catches – one by Luke Walsh (brilliant dive) and one

by Henry Brayshaw (amazing grab).

JOHN LANDY SQUAD The John Landy Squad is an elite squad comprising the best track and field athletes at GGS. We competed against other schools at Landy Field on Saturday and at the combined APS Competition in Melbourne – this was a great day and GGS performed well. The John Landy Squad was a good learning experience and a time to interact and make new friends.

Trent Scheirs (Yr8 Bb)

MIDDLE SCHOOL PRODUCTION The Middle School Production was an amazing time, which included hard work, discipline and much commitment. It was all worth it because it was so much fun for all involved. With 150 students all working together, we developed a sense of cooperation and team work.

William Morphy (Yr8 Hi)

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION On Tuesday 8 November three Year 8 classes travelled to Melbourne to further our studies in religion. We started by visiting two famous cathedrals – St Paul’s and St Patrick’s.

After lunch we visited the Australian Jewish Museum and Synagogue. In the museum we learnt about Jewish traditions, everyday life and the history of the Jewish people and their religion. In the synagogue we observed the differences and similarities between the different places of worship.

Laura Lewis (Yr8 Cn)

Hugo Bienvenu (Yr8 Ot) 13

TIMBERTOP

Timbertop’s lifelong bond “Friend: One who knows all about you and loves you just the same” – Elbert Hubbard Relationships formed at Timbertop last a lifetime. These deep long-lasting friendships bring tremendous pleasure and comfort but also provide invaluable support in certain crucial times of need later in life. At least twice a year Timbertop holds reunions for old boys and girls. The familiarity and camaraderie that exists between these past students has not been eroded by time. Some past students have not seen each other for at least 20 years but they are still very much at ease in each other’s company. This is unique. After talking to these select groups I know that if one of their friends had a life threatening crisis then all of the others would willingly drop what they were doing in order to support their friend in need.

This is what relationships are all about.

So in many ways current students at Timbertop are now building strong relationships today which may be relied upon for support tomorrow.

These very strong relationships grow by sharing many different and challenging experiences. Relationships formed by sharing challenging experiences generally are the strongest. Timbertop provides a rich environment for good, positive, long-lasting relationships to be formed by providing a series of genuine challenges.

For example, the feeling of togetherness generated in a hike group who arrive at Fry’s Flat late at night after walking all day battling the heat and the mountains is a memory never forgotten.

This, followed by the kindness shown by another student in the same hike group who generously cooks dinner for the rest of the group at the end of such a long exhausting day, provides a very powerful and strong positive memory. These shared experiences occur at all levels at Timbertop and they are very powerful and long lasting. Due to the tremendous bond created during the year the hardest part for many students is leaving at the end.

Two girls this year, Sarah Rosenberg and Caroline Roe, have tried very hard to express their feelings in words about how they feel now that their Timbertop year is drawing to a close. What they are yet to understand is that they have a lifetime of memories to reflect upon with their friends about the amazing year they have just completed.

Roger Herbert Head of Timbertop

Now I Dread the Day We Leave I didn’t change the mountains but, boy, did they change me It’s taken me a term or two, but now I clearly see This place it brings resilience and shows you who you are Now I dread the day we leave, when I drive off in my car No-one else can understand, speak the language of this place It takes time to learn that every run, isn’t just a race Who knows but us what ‘Unit’ means, who knows the love we share Now I dread the day we leave, it’s giving me a scare I’ve lived this year with 13 other girls I’d never met From Singapore to Bali, to one with a ferret as a pet I know them all by the way they laugh, they smile and walk Now I dread the day we leave, when we can no longer talk We know it’s not the destination, but what counts is the journey Through ups and downs, toils and snares, the world it keeps on turning We’ve been pushed so hard and fast, in no way has it been breezy Now I dread the day we leave, it’s not going to be easy The friends we’ve made, the jokes we’ve shared, I’m smiling all the time I’ve never laughed so hard before, seen humour at its prime And as the year draws to an end, tears fill all our eyes Now I dread the day we leave, when we have to say our goodbyes

By Sarah Rosenberg and Caz Roe

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SENIOR SCHOOL

Left: Ben Fu (Yr11 FB) with Reverend Professor Gerald O’Collins. Above: Major Jim Molan.

Below: Indigenous elder ‘Uncle’ Bob Randall

To broaden and build Throughout the year the Corio community has welcomed a number of outstanding people to the School all of whom engaged in tremendously meaningful interactions.

Back in 2005, the year Geelong Grammar School celebrated its Sesquicentenary, the Richard and Janet Southby Visiting Fellows Programme was initiated. In 2008 Geelong Grammar School was fortunate to have Professor Martin Seligman and his family live at Corio for six months. This attracted to the School many of the world’s leading experts in the field of Positive Psychology, including Dr Barbara Fredrickson, whose ‘Broaden and Build Theory of Positive Emotions’ inspired many. Barbara’s theory suggests that: “positive emotions (e.g. enjoyment/happiness/joy) broaden one’s awareness and encourage novel, varied, and exploratory thoughts and actions. Over time, this broadened behavioral repertoire builds skills and resources. Because positive emotions positively broaden and build one’s thought-action repertoires they lead to increased resources and more satisfied lives.”

The success of the Southby Visiting Fellows Programme and the Positive Psychology initiative resulted in invitations to people who have contributed significantly to society in a variety of ways. The calibre of the people accepting these invitations has been outstanding. Those who visited in 2011 continued this trend: Major Jim Molan AO DSC, The Reverend Professor Gerald O’Collins SJ AC, Indigenous elder ‘Uncle’ Bob Randall, Associate Professor Andrew McGowan (Warden of Trinity College at the University of Melbourne), Alexandra Richards QC and Dr Rufus Black (Master of Ormond College at the University of Melbourne). The Visiting Fellows stay at the School for a day or more; attending classes, meeting students and staff and holding workshops before concluding their visit with an evening lecture, which is open

to all members of the Geelong Grammar School community. They tend to inspire through seeming to be such ordinary ‘every day people’ who have done and continue to do extraordinary things.

As well as the Visiting Fellows, in 2011 the Corio Campus hosted an Inter-faith Chapel Series (see page 20), educators from India, Thailand and Kenya, and the Honourable Frank Callaway, who engages our students in deep intellectual discussion through a Philosophy Club. Musicians, academics, guest speakers, Old Geelong Grammarians, athletes, authors and artists have also added to the rich diversity of visitors. Most did not have a direct link to the ‘formal’ education programme.

It could be argued that their visits were not essential in it would be difficult to prove that by attending any of the sessions one’s academic results improved. Nevertheless, none of the students who attended these sessions would consider their time wasted.

Many would have been inspired by what they had seen and heard. Many would have experienced positive emotions: their thoughts were challenged, novel and varied possibilities were presented, and this undoubtedly ‘broadened and built’.

This was a very powerful educational lesson. This is at the core of what it means to be a good citizen. It is the message given on a daily basis within Geelong Grammar School’s privileged setting. Students and staff are reminded during assemblies, chapel services, in the classroom, on the playing field, on stage, in music rehearsals and while in involved in charity events, of their responsibility to help others, to work in teams, to be considerate, to empathise, to accept and to be good citizens. By helping others we provide hope for those in need. Education is about hope. One hopes that they will be successful in life. One hopes that they will lead a meaningful life. One hopes that they will make long and lasting relationships.

One hopes that they will accomplish something worthwhile.

Charlie Scudamore Vice Principal/Head of Corio

The one thing that links all of the visitors who have shared their time, knowledge and wisdom with Geelong Grammar School in 2011 is their desire to use their talents and strengths in the service of others.

Their lives have been dedicated to serving a cause, a vision, their country, their community.

Those who were fortunate to have been in the presence of these visitors innately knew that all were good people; morally strong and focussed on something bigger than themselves.

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VISUAL ARTS

Visual focus Over the last couple of years, multiple times, I have been asked the same question in regards to teaching the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme – IB? What is it? Until very recently my standard response comprised of a well-versed excerpt that sounded like the IB mission statement posted on its website: “…it is a two-year academically challenging and balanced programme of education for senior students... etc.” While this of course is all true, I don’t think my listeners were able to fully grasp the fact that IB is a student-focussed curriculum designed to engage kids in a self-directed and in-depth study. Thus lately, instead of giving a slightly impersonal, but still accurate response, I talk about my experience with my Visual Arts students…

It all started last year. After introducing my students to various basic art skills and techniques, some fine arts theory and studio practice, I have set them an open ended task suggested by one of my colleagues. The then Year 11s were to respond to the ‘24 Hour Challenge’. They were to notice the things that command their attention as they move through time during their study break: people in transit terminals, billboards or road signs flashing through a window of a moving vehicle, or traffic lights at an intersection. They could study movement of their parents, family members in their home, or stillness of their own room.

They were to remain aware of their responses and external stimuli, make notes and research what other artists have done with the concept of ‘Time’ and ‘Perception’.

Their challenge was illustrated by a rather quirky example of a response to this theme – ‘Sliding mirrors: 24 Hour Embrace’ by New Zealand-based Korean artist Young Sun Han. His performance, staged in 2010 at the Centre for Contemporary Asian Art in Sydney, involved sustaining a hug with a stranger for 24 hours.

Right: ‘Sarcastic Smiles’ by Taa Visudhipol (Yr12 P). Opposite page, clockwise from top: ‘Truva (Troy)’ by Bella Cameron (Yr12 EM); ‘Disintegration Reformation’ by Jess Cheung (Yr12 He); Camille Nock (Yr12 EM) working on ‘Raccolta di suoni (Collection of sounds)’, a series of paintings each done while listening to a different type of music

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Students responded well. While some took it literally and tried to capture their 24 hours on film, others attempted to encapsulate a sequence of hours or the same hour over 24 consecutive days.

Still others tried to record their visceral response to 24 hours in their life. On 24 Polaroid photos, for example, Bella Cameron (Yr12 EM) recorded as many sleeping hours of her friend. Jess Cheung (Yr12 He) tried to depict a spiritual rollercoaster she went on during her holiday. Another two of my students decided to observe changes of physical appearance of objects during the same period. Using photographic lens Camille Nock (Yr12 EM) decided instead to capture 24 uncommon images of everyday life. Sarah Howse (Yr12 EM) turned her attention to links between time, ageing and mortality.

The task did not stop then. After returning to school the students were asked to examine their discoveries. For many what started as a largely instinctive reaction, absorbed them for the rest of their candidature. The task evolved into a subject of their investigation and stimuli for their creative responses.

Thus, Bella’s sleeping friend opened her fascination with ‘invasion of privacy’, portrayal of abstract and realistic, modern and mythical understandings of this theme. Observation of changes of physical appearance of objects helped Taa Visudhipol (Yr12 P) to create a series of captivating artworks based on the theme of decay. Using his micro-lens, Taa was able to capture the beauty of decomposing objects, mould and fungi.

Inspired by Damien Hirst, he also created several pieces in which he tried to halt decomposition, preserve perishable items by immersing them in resin. Alia Tun-Ismail (Yr12 Ga) on the other hand, saw challenge in reflecting inner, hidden emotions. Stimulated by sketches of Polish artist Magdalena Abakanowicz, Alia’s work culminated in a self-portrait magnifying her disposition rather than exterior appearance.

Religiousness and spirituality or its decline in the modern Western society has preoccupied Jess. In her final project, Jess created a ‘spiritual’ self-portrait, piece focusing on examining her beliefs.

The interest in spontaneity lead Camille to fusion of music and painting, and later, through the inspiration of Kandinsky, Oskar Fischinger and Ludwig Hirschfeld Mack, to examination of synesthesia – a neurological condition in which two or more bodily senses are merged so that the detection of each is mismatched.

As for Sarah, her investigation led her to the discovery of the hidden beauty of naturally aged objects. Inspired by the works of Candy Jernigan, Jacques Villeglé, Raymond Haines and Robert Rauschenberg, Sarah created a series of collages and assemblages in which she brought to life, both metaphorically and physically, previously discarded items.

All in all, over the last two semesters my students took full ownership of their learning. The focus was solely on them and their investigations.

Although at times such learning – working with a group of students simultaneously engaged in black and white photography, etching, computer manipulation, ceramics, painting, assemblage, and/ or working with resins – demands a lot from a teacher, it is invaluable to students’ development. It allows them to fully engage in a self-directed and indepth study. As I often communicate to my curious friends, it expands students’ critical-thinking skills and a sense of open-mindedness.

Dr Peter Bajer Head of Visual Communication and Design

VISUAL ARTS

Primed exhibition The 2011 PRIMED Exhibition again hosted an excellent cross-section of work by Geelong Grammar School’s Year 12 Visual Communication and Design, VCE Studio Arts and IB Visual Arts students. This year’s imaginative cohort had raised the bar, presenting a broad range of creative explorations in traditional, contemporary and digital practices, with all students achieving significant results. The exhibition spread across three different venues and represented the work of more than 70 students. The presentation of artworks in the Sinclaire Centre alone produced a very

cohesive and united exhibition of well resolved and conceptually challenging pieces. It presented a broad range of mixed-media, video, audio/ visual and three-dimensional artworks seldom seen within the context of a secondary school environment.

To the students’ credit, each artwork was very individualistic, allowing the exhibition to display a rich variety of mediums and concepts.

Rick Price Head of Art

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LORNE 160

Lorne 160 A group of Year 11 students completed the 21st annual Lorne 160 on Thursday 22 September to raise money for local children’s charity Kids Plus Foundation.

The 20 students completed the epic 160 kilometre relay run, from Corio to Lorne and back again, in under 16 hours despite strong headwinds on the return leg from Lorne. Along the way, the students raised more than $45,000 to support Kids Plus provide intensive therapy for babies, children and teenagers with cerebral palsy in the Geelong region. The Foundation receives no government funding and depends on the generosity and commitment of individuals, community and businesses to provide this essential service. “Our priority is babies and younger children as well as children from families in low socio-economic situations,” Kids Plus Foundation executive officer Sarah Olliff explained. “There is no cost to families for our services and the contribution from Geelong Grammar School will make a real difference in assisting us to support more children, helping them reach their potential and live as independently as possible.”

The annual run, dubbed the Lorne 160, was initially undertaken in 1991 and has a strong tradition at the School, raising money for a wide range of charities over the past 21 years.

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“Each year the Lorne 160 team discusses and decides on the local charity that it will support,” Vice Principal Charlie Scudamore explained. “This year’s group chose the Kids Plus Foundation and have consequently undertaken a number of fundraising initiatives prior to the run that have engaged the whole school community, raising both awareness and money.

“It is a very valuable lesson for our students about service and giving something back to the wider community.”

Lorne 160 co-ordinator, Ross Featherston, said this year’s group had displayed outstanding commitment, humour, teamwork and spirit. “They conducted various fundraising initiatives throughout Term 3 that ranged from sheep lotto, hosting a hypnotist, selling chocolates and conducting a silent auction at the Athletics Day,” Ross said. “Many thanks to all involved from the Geelong Grammar School community who contributed to this fundraising – it has been a pleasure working with an excellent organisation that is Kids Plus.”

SENIOR SPORTSCHOOL

Trading places Multi-talented Year 12 students Meyrick Buchanan (Yr12 FB) and Devon Smith (Yr12 A) have chosen different sporting paths. Meyrick turned his back on the AFL draft to sign a four-year contract with Cricket Victoria on Thursday 17 November, while Devon was recruited by the Greater Western Sydney Giants with pick 14 in the AFL National Draft the very next week.

The two Sport Scholarship students were team-mates in the School’s 1st XI Cricket and 1st XVIII Football teams. Both were invited to attend the AFL Draft Camp in September, with Meyrick choosing to relinquish his place in an Australian under-19 cricket tour of India in favour of impressing AFL recruiters at Etihad Stadium. At the eleventh hour, with an AFL career beckoning, Meyrick committed to cricket, which included signing a two-year deal with new Twenty20 franchise, the Melbourne Renegades.

“I had a couple of weeks to think about it, but with the Twenty20 franchises I just think the cricket opportunities are too hard to ignore,” Meyrick explained.

“I spoke to about six (AFL) clubs, but it’s tough and there are no guarantees in football. I’m happy to go down the cricket path and I’m excited about the prospect of playing for the Renegades.” Captain of our 1st XI, Meyrick was a brilliant school cricketer, scoring an unbeaten 151 runs against Carey in February. He captained the Victorian under-17 team at the National Championships and won selection in the Australian under-19 team for a series against the West Indies in Dubai in April.

“Meyrick is a very good footballer, but he has the potential to be an exceptional cricketer,” Meyrick’s older brother Liam Buchanan, a former Victorian batsman, told The Age newspaper.

Conversely, Devon is a very good cricketer – he took 10 wickets for our 1st XI in a virtuoso performance against St Kevin’s last season – who has the potential to be an exceptional footballer. While Meyrick

was opening the batting in the Renegades debut Big Bash match at Adelaide Oval, Devon was sweating it out on a suburban Sydney football oval under the watchful eye of master coach Kevin Sheedy.

An attacking midfielder, Devon has been rated as good as Brownlow Medallist Jimmy Bartel at the same age and is expected to make his AFL debut in 2012.

“I rate him very highly,” Geelong Falcons regional manager Michael Turner said.

“Was he as good as Jimmy Bartel at the same age? Yes he was. He’s the best small I’ve had in the Falcons system and I’ve been doing it for 17 years. He’s got a big, big future.” Giants list manager Stephen Silvagni said he was “delighted” to have recruited the 18-year-old.

“Probably this year he didn’t have the best year because he had some injury coming into the season,” Silvagni said. “He really missed the first half of the season, but we’re delighted to have him – a small forward/midfielder who’s got some real talent.”

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REFLECTIONS

A child who built a bridge to God ‘Reflections’ was a fortnightly column Sir James Darling wrote for The Age newspaper from 1980-1994. He produced 319 essays in total on an incredibly broad range of subjects – the very last, entitled ‘The Business of Humanity’, was published on his 95th birthday.

I

n 1993 Sir James Darling wrote a Christmas reflection for The Age newspaper entitled ‘A Child Who Built a Bridge to God’. This metaphor sums up so eloquently the doctrine of the Incarnation: through the Christ-child, born of Mary, we are graced with unimagined access to the most-high God, the creator of the universe.

But the child’s bridge does not only take us into the mystery of the divine; this bridge to God connects us with our neighbour as much as it does the heavens. To quote Sir James once more: “To love our neighbour... demands that we should put the interests of others above our own. If we are to get anywhere near being good it is essential to keep our conscience alive and open to the continuing revelation of truth through the Holy Spirit. A conscience that is not open to change and enhancement can easily become mere prejudice.”

In 2009 a group of Geelong Grammar School students built a bridge. They ran to Lorne and back, and gave the $40,000 they raised to the local Karen refugee community through Anglicare. The money enabled the establishment of a homework

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club and a community garden, and over the past two years literally hundreds of our Senior School students at Corio have travelled to and fro across this bridge making friends with our Karen neighbours.

For a displaced people, fleeing persecution in their homeland of Burma, these simple acts of friendship, hospitality and educational support have truly been a bridge to God. Last year we saw the first homework club ‘graduate’ take up a place at RMIT to study nursing. Several days of the week our Karen friends cycle or even walk to the Corio campus to tend the community garden and take home vegetables for the evening meal.

Children and young people have an innate ability to build bridges. This year’s Charity and Chapel Captains have made an outstanding contribution to the worshipping and philanthropic life of the School. The committee has overseen and supported the fundraising of more than $100,000 for a wide range of charities: Queensland Premier’s Disaster Relief Fund, Melbourne Anglican Foundation, Japan Appeals, Christchurch Cathedral Rebuilding, Murdoch Institute, Red Cross, UN International Women’s Day, Relay for Life, Greatest Shave, Pink Stumps Day, Salvation Army, Cancer Council, Amnesty International, Beyond Blue, Hope Cup, Sustainable Schools, KOTO Vietnam, World Vision 40 Hour Famine, Somalia Appeal and Kids Plus.

This group has also undertaken the vital task of building bridges between people of different faiths. In 2011 we ran the inaugural Inter-faith Chapel Series which was the brainchild of one of our Muslim students, Aninda Sulistioputri (Yr12 He).

The series of speakers included world renowned Catholic theologian, Reverend Professor Gerald O’Collins, Jewish storyteller and peace advocate, Ms Donna Jacobs Sife, Muslim lay-preacher and radio broadcaster, Nuim Khaiyath, Tibetan monk and founder of Drol Kar Buddhist Centre, Geshe Sonam Thargye, and founder of the Asha Foundation working with slum children in New Delhi, India, Dr Kiran Martin.

Another significant bridge-building initiative of the committee, under the leadership of Charity Captain, Camille Nock (Yr12 EM), and Chapel Captain, Ellie Carless (Yr12 EM), was the ‘Cranes for Japan’ week. Students across the entire Corio campus were taught how to make origami cranes and encouraged to write in them a prayer for the people of Japan following the devastation of the tsunami and radiation leaks. The response was overwhelming as more than 3,000 paper cranes were lovingly made and brought into the chapel. Mr Kentaro Matsui, a language assistant from Japan, came up to me quietly after one of the chapel services that week and said: “What is it about this school? I don’t understand.

Everyone is so kind.” Many bridges were built that week.

As you enter once again into the frantic busyness of the Christmas season, do take the time to stop and reflect when you can.

Why not drop into a church after you have finished at the shopping mall this weekend?

Pause for a moment and spare a thought for “a child who built a bridge to God”.

Rev’d Dr Hugh Kempster Senior Chaplain

REFLECTIONS

A critical evaluation

M

y academic training and practice is based on an approach to creative literature developed in the University of Cambridge in the early part of the Twentieth Century. It proclaims itself “literary criticism” and the second word of its nomenclature would seem anathema in today’s world so vulnerable to the often self-promotional immediacy of advocacy. Literary criticism sought to cultivate “discrimination” not in any simplistically limiting sense, but to open up possibilities of meaning and to evaluate upon the basis of explorative complexity. The “best” literature avoided myopic exclusivity in advocating a response to the world and its human negotiations, it relished sensitive nuance rather than bold statement, it sought its material beyond the merely conventional (because that can be easily rehearsed) and if, finally, it confirmed those values, it was as the result of vigorous confrontation.

Central to the notion of “Signature Strengths” (values in action) is the fundamental interplay between realistic self-appraisal and the acknowledgement of qualities (often different but nevertheless complementary) in others. Difference can become the foundational basis of the enabling community and central to this is the out reaching mind, one that broadens as it processes diverse and challenging in coming information in arriving (a continuous process) at an authentic self. One is productively in a state of flux and, returning to my original focus, the most engaging literature disciplines as it radically explores this crisis. The recent shift in emphasis in Positive Education practice would see its principles tested and validated in response to an active engagement with all that living entails, not as some reductive formula to sanitise the challenges of life and its rich possibilities.

The Cambridge approach has had a profound effect on the teaching of English around the world and its assumptions remain the fundamental criteria of assessment in IB English and VCE Literature. Sensitive analysis of how a writer employs language to create reader response, which must then be disciplined into logical, substantiated argument, ideally demands an independence of thought responsive to subject matter (not wilfully imposed from without) and the necessary discipline (itself the consequence of good teaching) to shape that response for the consideration of others. The model is of independence and group responsibility, of dialogue that recognises broad outline and values often innovative individual contribution. The received opinion and its often resultant complacency have no part in this model, and in many ways, the insistent immediacy of this habit of mind can be effectively destructive to its ideals.

So much in today’s world (and sadly “education” is not immune to this) seeks to deny this model of being human.

The easy access, often at some financial cost, to received response and the pressures to conform to that which (it is hoped) will give immediate reward and perhaps a narrow sense of belonging, is seductive and insistent.

Advocacy, and its emotional manipulation, is the prevalent opponent of critical, sensitive evaluation. It depersonalises what should be essentially a human act and its presence can be felt in every avenue of endeavour.

In co-ordinating the Richard and Janet Southby Fellowship Programme I have been conscious of the need not to promote anyone who is merely selling a message, so menacingly conjured in my mind with the roving microphone, the role play, the audience adulation and the slick cliché.

Those who have formed the Fellowship share expertise, most often a product of knowledge based on sensitive critical evaluation, and the passionate desire to initiate young people into this habit of mind with its resultant consequences for their community. I can still remember English classes in which students would passionately defend a hard won personal point of view and readily muster the evidence upon which their reading was based. I need to believe that young people have not changed greatly and that the “bridges” which link us all in being fully human will be stronger and more vital than ever.

Anthony Strazzera

Anthony Strazzera has been awarded the 2011 Australian National University (ANU) Prize for Excellence in Secondary School Teaching. ANU awards this prize by asking students who will graduate in 2011 to nominate inspirational teachers who helped shape their lives. Anthony was nominated for the prize by Anna Koestenbauer (Fr’06), who he taught in Years 11 and 12. He was presented with the prize by ANU Chancellor, Professor Gareth Evans, on December 15, when Anna graduated with a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws.

Top: 'Anthony Strazzera' by Caroline Fieldus (Yr12 EM)

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FOUNDATION

Biddlecombe Society I am delighted to report that the Biddlecombe Society had 64 members when the Melbourne Luncheon began at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club on the November 23, and 65 by the time events had concluded for the day. Hartley Mitchell spoke about why he has decided to leave his estate to the Geelong Grammar Foundation to establish a scholarship in perpetuity, and again what he said was inspiring. Many of us had already decided to honour Hartley’s contribution and leadership by giving his scholarship a kick start when it was first announced, upon his retirement as Head of Manifold at the end of Term 4 in 2009. Having now raised the funds for Hartley’s scholarship, it will soon be awarded for the first time – thank you again to all those who donated. Hartley spoke from the heart about his motivation for making a bequest and Michael Collins Persse underlined the theme. He also has left a bequest to the School, and he leads our bequest society – the Biddlecombe Society – as President. It was the right time and so I announced that I and my family would also be making a gift via the Biddlecombe Society, and making a bequest that will establish the Ranken Scholarship in perpetuity.

I am very grateful to Biddlecombe Society President, Michael Collins Persse, Chairman Neil Robertson (FB’72) and Committee members, Ros Adams (Ritchie, Cl’76) and Fiona Ratcliffe (Je’77), for their leadership and energy. This year the Society has held luncheons in Sydney and Melbourne and receptions in Tasmania.

Our Chairman has underlined that for a community of our size, 64 members for our bequest society is below what we should expect, and that our initial aim must be to secure 100 members. I can but agree and pledge my support.

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The Geelong Grammar Foundation has three key programmes and one of these is the development and growth of the Biddlecombe Society. Janet Biddlecombe is the source of the Society’s name. Janet was deeply committed to the School and when the School was established at Corio, she gifted six houses to the School. They now stand in the Avenue that also bears her family name.

The Biddlecombe Society is not just about very large bequests to the School, though they are, of course, welcome.

Every gift matters and the School and its Foundation values all bequests large and small.

As I write this, in November the Foundation was made aware that an Old Geelong Grammarian had made a bequest in favour of the Foundation in the amount of $10,000. This is a kind and generous gift by someone in our community and we are very grateful.

Bill Ranken (M’72) Chairman, Geelong Grammar Foundation Correction: The image from the Equestrian Centre Dinner in the August edition of Light Blue was hosted by David and Bibi Wilkinson (Aickin, Cl’76) in South Yarra.

Top left: Biddlecombe Society committee members, Fiona Ratcliffe (Je’77), Michael Collins Persse, Neil Robertson (FB’72) and Ros Adams (Ritchie, Cl’76) at the Melbourne Luncheon, where Hartley Mitchell was guest speaker. Above: Bill Ranken (M’72), Chairman of the Geelong Grammar Foundation, has established the Ranken Scholarship

FOUNDATION

The best education requires investment The following is an edited extract of Hartley Mitchell’s address to the Biddlecombe Society’s Melbourne Luncheon at the Royal South Yarra Tennis Club on Wednesday 23 November.

I suppose I should explain that having no direct descendants, and the likelihood of that changing at this point of time being pretty remote, and my rejection of giving anything to charities that chew up vast sums before affecting their intended beneficiaries, made me a little perplexed about what I should do with half of my father’s hard earned treasure. In the end I looked to Geelong as my beneficiary because I felt a debt of considerable gratitude for my twenty years of gainful employment at Corio. The satisfaction I achieved from working with students in classes, in houses and with what must have been the most disabled tennis teams ever to participate in APS competition was what I hope every teacher might experience in their professional lives. To regularly feel that you were adding to the self respect and skills of young people so they could contribute to their own development and to the wellbeing of those around them was a remarkably rewarding way to live. So that was my motivation, a way of saying thanks for the good times I had been given.

But if you will bear with me for a couple of minutes I’d like to say something more about giving money to Geelong Grammar School. On the face of it doing so is a little odd. After all, it is a relatively rich institution in a world of deprived schools. Meeting the budget may be a tricky exercise on the banks of Corio Bay but the schools of East Timor or Yuendumu or even next door Corio don’t have the luxury of balancing very much at all. Despite this difference I still believe it would be a good thing if GGS was even richer. Bill Ranken has expressed his vision of raising one hundred million for the

Scholarship Fund. I hope that one day the School can boast of a capital fund several times that amount. I do so because I believe it is the kind of resource necessary for GGS to contribute, as it should, to its students and to the nation.

I believe many students at all schools do not discover how to use their talents in a way that will benefit both them and their communities. While there is much more emphasis on the individual needs of students than in the past, the emphasis is greater in the literature about education than what happens on the ground. It is all very well to know about the idiosyncrasies of this or that student but if there isn’t the imagination, the understanding, the resources, the curriculum and the time to respond thoroughly to what is needed then that knowledge comes to very little. This is a waste for the individuals and it a waste for their society. The more resources available to Geelong Grammar School, the more I am sure it will show the way of ensuring every student has the resources and the teaching required for him or her to flourish.

The ratio of teachers to students must increase to allow more time for individual tuition. The curriculum must widen to accommodate the huge variety of student strengths. Where they live must be an environment that captures the right balance between community and individual development. Of course none of this will be of any use without a staff that can make the best use of such resources. Recently GGS has invested a great deal in the professional development of its staff to teach to the strengths of their students. This is a difficult exercise because, as any Principal will tell you, developing a school staff is a bit like herding cats – they spend far too much time in front of largely compliant audiences to want to take notice of anyone else. Nonetheless, such development is

fundamental to the best education being offered at GGS and far more investment will be needed before the best possible teaching, one that builds the realistic selfesteem of all students, is achieved.

GGS does remarkable things for many, many students. I suspect Timbertop is at the heart of that work and there speaks of my last and perhaps most important reason for GGS having very large resources at its disposal. Timbertop was a bold experiment by a very independent educator.

Being able to emulate that bravery, being able to do what you think is best for your students, depends on that independence.

If the market dominates one’s thinking then it can be difficult to be different, and sometimes being different is just what is required to be particularly good. I hope that GGS can become more and more financially independent because that would create the best foundation for continuing the kind of innovation it has been known for in the past. I believe in the massive possibilities contained in every young individual and I am sure it will become a matter of real expectation, rather than rhetoric, that these possibilities be effectively developed at school in years to come. This will happen more surely and more quickly if the great schools of the world show how it can be done and, with the appropriate resources, Geelong Grammar School can continue to be one of those schools.

Hartley Mitchell

Top left: Hartley Mitchell in discussion with Boz Parsons (M’36) at the Biddlecombe Society's Melbourne Luncheon. Top: Jeremy Kirkwood (FB’79) and Lorie Lie (FB’44) also attended the luncheon

23

OGG PRESIDENT

Left: OGG President Peter Chomley at the Tower Luncheon at Corio in November. Above: At the OGG Deniliquin Luncheon in September are Michael and Claire Bull (McCulloch, Cl’94), Wizz McCulloch (Bayne, Cl’66), Andrew Bayne (FB’59) and Sam McCulloch (M’63)

OGG President As OGG President, I have been more exposed to the day-to-day life and organisation of the School. Elisabeth Murdoch House has allowed me the honour of joining them at the last two Founders Day dinners, and I have had the opportunity to meet students and some of the members of staff, both academic and administration, at Corio, Timbertop and also Toorak. Recently, Stephen Meek spoke about passion and the willingness of people involved in the School to engage.

He exampled Frank Callaway, a retired Supreme Court Judge, who after being a Southby Visiting Fellow has returned to the School many times to lead discussion groups on philosophy and participate in other conversations. I had the opportunity to talk to Frank recently and his enthusiasm and willingness to engage was infectious – a great example of Stephen’s “passion”.

The OGG Association is 110 years old and represents a community of 10,000+ members, so the willingness of members to engage and to exhibit this “passion” is very important and the measure that ensures the longevity of the OGG community. Community can describe a geographical area; a group of people living in a particular place, and also as an area of common life. This interpretation is well supported both at Corio (soon to celebrate its 100th year) and Timbertop, where many staff and students live in close association. Community is also a 24

value used to bring together a number of elements (e.g. solidarity, commitment, mutuality and trust). Here, identity and selfhood play an important role – a sense of shared identity. The reality of community is in its members’ perception of the vitality of its culture, our “social capital”.

for you now, without expecting anything immediately in return and perhaps without even knowing you, confident that down the road you or someone else will return the favour”. 3. Trust – the confident expectation that people, institutions and things will act in a consistent, honest and trustworthy way.

Our members have something in common with each other and that commonality distinguishes us in a significant way from the members of other possible groups.

Community, thus, implies both similarity and difference. Sometimes these boundaries may be seen in very different ways, not only by people on either side but also by people on the same side, and these aspects are fundamental to gaining an appreciation of how people experience communities. We are all contemporaneous members of different communities or networks and the nature of the relationships between people and the social networks help us to build a sense of self and individuality. These informal relationships also enable us to navigate our way around the demands and contingencies of everyday living.

These values allow people to cooperate and to develop, to build strong communities, to commit ourselves to each other, and to knit our social fabric.

Trusting does not entail suspending our critical judgment – some people will be worthy of trust, some will not.

Stephen Meek spoke recently about the “flourishing index” survey that the School and staff participate in and the values he spoke of – resilience, meaning and engagement – resonated with me as values we espouse for our OGG community. We strive to provide ways in which fellow OGG members can engage with each other more fully. The case for community, the cultivation of social networks and the associated concern with reciprocity, trust and tolerance is strong. Working “collectively”... through you, our OGG community will endure.

The quality of life within a particular community can be measured by three linked aspects: 1. Tolerance – an openness to others, curiosity, perhaps even respect, a willingness to listen and learn. 2.

Reciprocity – described as: “I’ll do this

Peter Chomley (Ge’63) President, Old Geelong Grammarians

OGG GATHERINGS

Diary Dates OGG V OGC GOLF DAY FRIDAY 2 MARCH 2012

QLD OGG BRANCH FUNCTION FRIDAY 2 MARCH 2012

1972 TIMBERTOP REUNION

SATURDAY 31 MARCH, SUNDAY 1 APRIL 2012

2002 TEN YEAR REUNION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

GGS ANZAC DAY SERVICE FRIDAY 27 APRIL 2012

NSW OGG BRANCH GATHERING SYDNEY WEDNESDAY 2 MAY 2012

OGG AGM

OGG Gatherings

TUESDAY 22 MAY 2012

LONDON OGG DINNER THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2012

DENILIQUIN BRANCH LUNCHEON Di Whittakers (Moore, Cl’63) and David Gove (M’53) – ably assisted by their spouses John Whittakers and Muffi Gove – organised another successful Deniliquin Branch luncheon for members of the OGG and Geelong Grammar School community in the Deniliquin region on Saturday 10 September. More than 40 people gathered in the Conargo Hall, ranging in age from grandparents of current GGS students to the small children of past students.

Christine and Stephen Meek, Principal, along with Tony Bretherton, Director of Community Relations, attended from Corio and were chuffed to head into the Conargo Pub afterwards to get a mandatory sticker to mark the trip. Stephen spoke to the group about current GGS happenings and future plans. Many thanks to Di and David for organising the lunch but a note to all – David has issued a challenge to the younger generation of OGG in the region to take on the organising for the next Deniliquin event scheduled for 2013.

CHRISTCHURCH GATHERING Henry Santipongchai (FB’75) organised the first small OGG gathering in Christchurch on Friday 22 July, where he was joined by Bill Perry (A’80) and Jane Kelman (Lamb, He’70). Tragically, Bill died suddenly a week later from a meningococcal infection. He is sadly missed by the Geelong Grammar School community.

RIVERINA AND NORTH EAST LUNCHEON Stephen Finaly (P’63) and wife Susie organised a wonderful lunch at Lindenwarrah, Milawa, on Sunday 11 September. Around 30 members of the OGG and wider Geelong Grammar School community heard Stephen Meek, Principal, speak about the School. Eileen and Dan Connell (Cu’44) who are past parents and current grandparents of GGS students, travelled from Cobram to attend both the Deniliquin Branch lunch the day prior and the Riverina/North East Victoria event. Others travelled from around the region, from Wagga Wagga, Mansfield and Khancoban. Thank you to Stephen and Susie for another terrific, country OGG event and thanks to everyone who attended.

Top: Susie Finlay and Stephen Meek, Principal with Eileen and Dan Connell (Cu’44) who had attended both the Deniliquin and Milawa functions. Above left: The late Bill Perry (A’80), Jane Kelman (Lamb, He’70) and Henry Santipongchai (FB’75) met in Christchurch in July. Above right: Greg Maroney, Robert Peardon (M’65) and Tony Bretherton, Director of Community Relations at the Riverina and NE OGG Branch function in September.

1992 20 YEAR REUNION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

OGG/GGS CAREERS DAY SUNDAY 29 JULY 2012

HOGA OLD GIRLS’ DAY

SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2012

JENNINGS/THE HERMITAGE HOUSE REUNION AND RE-OPENING SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2012

SA OGG BRANCH FUNCTION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

1962 TIMBERTOP REUNION

SATURDAY 6 AND SUNDAY 7 OCTOBER 2012

ACT OGG BRANCH FUNCTION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

OGG GOLF DAY

FRIDAY 2 NOVEMBER 2012

1982 30 YEAR REUNION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

1959 TIMBERTOP REUNION SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2012

TOWER LUNCHEON

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2012

OGG MOTORING EVENT

SATURDAY 10 NOVEMBER 2012

TASMANIA OGG BRANCH FUNCTION DATE TO BE CONFIRMED

25

OGG GATHERINGS

OGG The 50 year reunion of the APS Cricket Premiership teams of 1961 and 1962

OGG Gatherings FIFT Y YEAR REUNION OF CRICKET PREMIERS On Saturday 3 December at O’Connell’s Hotel in South Melbourne, the 50th anniversary of a very special event in the life of GGS was celebrated. Fourteen cricketers, coach Don Marles and two assistants reunited to celebrate the 50 years that had elapsed since GGS won the first of two back-to-back APS Cricket premierships. Back in 1961 this event had a special flavour as the last previous outright premiership had been won in 1916 – a gap of 45 years. Most who attended came from Melbourne or nearby country areas, but there were four who travelled from interstate and two from overseas. Those present included Michael Fraser (M’61; 1961 Vice Captain), Graham Teal (Cu’61; 1961), Michael Richardson (Cu’62; 1961, 1962 Captain), Gary Clark (FB’62; 1961, 1962 Vice Captain), Andrew Hay (Cu’62; 1961-62), Tom Healy (Cu’62; 1961-62), John Molesworth (M’63; 1961-62), Nigel Murch (P’62; 1961-62), Bill Tunbridge (M’63; 1961-62), Chris Codrington (P’63; 1962), Ian Hopkins (P’62; 1963), John Lewisohn (P’62; 1962), Rick von Bibra (Cu’62; 1962), Cam Smith (FB’62; 1962). Two members of the 1961 side, Michael Landale (P’61; 1961 Captain) and Peter Laing (Ge’61) are deceased, while Gerald Robinson (Cu’61; 1961) was unable to attend.

26

The team’s coach, Don Marles, was joined by two assistants, Tim Murray (P’53) and Daryl Wraith (Cu’57). Special mention was also made of Ted a’Beckett (Gl’47), who spent time living at Corio and provided first class assistance with coaching. Ted died on 27 May earlier this year.

APS Cricket Final 1961 GGS: 149–Laing 49, Robinson 23,

Hay 23 MGS: 109 – Teal 5/30, Fraser 4/26,

Landale 1/4 APS Cricket Final 1962 GGS: 9 dec for 272 – Tunbridge 110

not out, Clark 35, Richardson 24 Carey: 145 – Murch 3/51, Hay 2/6

Hopkins 3/22, Clark 2/38,

SYDNEY YOUNG OGG TENNIS DAY The Sydney OGG Branch recently hosted a tennis day at the Maccabi Tennis Club in Paddington. The day was a mix of sausages, lamb skewers and a hard fought double’s round robin. The teams with the most wins progressed to the final where a heated centre court match took place. The winners of the day were Seb McCallum (FB’05) and Lockie Rosengreen (T’05), who took home the inaugural Sydney OGG Tennis Cup. It was also a very legitimate excuse for a bunch of Geelong Grammar Sydneysiders to catch up, have a beer and pretend to know what to do with a tennis racquet.

INAUGURAL OGG MOTORING EVENT 33 classic cars participated in the inaugural Old Geelong Grammarians’ Motoring Event, navigating from our Toorak Campus to Corio on Saturday November 12. The field featured a wonderful range of classic cars, dating from the early 1920s through to more recent models. Crews navigated from Douglas Street in Toorak to Corio via Little River, the You Yangs, Balliang East, Anakie and Lovely Banks. Only two crews completed the journey with a clean sheet: car #12, an Austin Healy Bug Eye Sprite driven by Mark Denniston (FB’62) and navigated by Murray Little (Li’75); and car #9, a 1951 Land Rover 80 inch driven by Ian Waller (A’85) and skillfully navigated by Lisa and Rhiannon Waller.

The People’s Choice Award in the Pre 1950 category was shared between past parents Alistair and Rowena McArthur’s fabulous 1921 Ballot 2LS and Bill Ronald’s (M’70) very pretty 1929 Hupmobile. In the Post 1950 category it was a landslide win for past parents Peter (P’66) and Jane Strauss’s beautiful 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC.

OGG GATHERINGS

Richard 'Stan' Siede (P'61) and brother Peter Siede (P'67) drove a rebuilt 1966 Hillman Gazelle from Bathurst to Corio for the inaugural OGG Motoring Event

The OGG Perth Dinner was held in the Hackett Dining Hall at St. George's College

John Inverarity, Warden of St George's College, Christine Meek, Stephen Meek, Principal and Rory Argyle (FB’54), President of the WA OGG Branch at the dinner in Perth

OGG Tennis players in Sydney

PERTH DINNER

OGG MALAYSIA LUNCHEON

Rory Agyle (FB’54), President of the Perth OGG Branch, selected the charming venue of the Hackett Dining Hall, St George’s College for the biennial Perth Dinner.

Around 70 guests joined our Principal, Stephen Meek, his wife Christine and Tony Bretherton, Director of Community Relations, at the dinner on Friday 4 November. The Warden of St. George’s College, John Inverarity, and his wife Jane were also present as was the Secretary of the Perth Branch, Andrew McMillan (M’77), and his wife Sally. Many thanks once again to Rory for organising another memorable event in Perth.

Monday 28 November was a public holiday in Malaysia on account of the Muslim New Year. The Malaysian OGG Branch used this as an excuse to throw a lunch party, which was organised almost entirely on Facebook. Attendance included a good mix of ages, ranging from the venerable Dr Abu Bakar Suleiman (M’62) to babes in the woods like Suleyman Tun-Ismail (FB’10). The next event in Malaysia is the New Year’s Luncheon on Monday 2 January, 2012. Details will be updated on the Old Geelong Grammarians Malaysia Banch’s Facebook page.

Tariq Kamil (FB’84), Asgari Stephens (Cu’78), and Sulayman Tun-Ismail (FB’10) at the recent Malaysian OGG Branch luncheon in Kuala Lumpur 27

OGG REUNIONS

Left: The 30 year reunion committee. Top right: Murray Fantella (A’81), Kim McDonald (Griffin, Fr’81) , Andrew Parrott (A’81) and Bronwyn Sizer (A’81) Middle right: Jo Moore (Sutherland, Cl’81), Jacqui Cato (Scott, Cl’81), Belinda Stewart (White, Fr’81) and Deb Maddison (Lempriere Hogg, A’81).

Above: Mandy Awramenko (Goldsworthy, A’81), Mick Michael (A’81), Justin Baulch (FB’81) and Julie Robilliard (Warren, Fr’81)

OGG Reunions 1981 30 YEAR REUNION

1971 40 YEAR TIMBERTOP REUNION

1961 50 YEAR REUNION

On Saturday 5 November the 1981 school leavers held a memorable 30 year reunion at the Metropolitan Hotel in the Melbourne CBD. We had a record 113 acceptances, with seven people coming from abroad (UK, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and New Zealand) and 23 coming from interstate. This was an outstanding effort which set the tone for an excellent night – we had many people turning up before the advertised time, a sure sign that it was going to be a good party! We had a good range of photos from our time at GGS together with a selection of music from the 70s and 80s which got everybody into the groove. The night was an excellent way for us all to re-live those still surprisingly strong memories of our school days, to re-acquaint with many that we don’t see and find out what people have been doing for the last 30 years!

On the second weekend of October, 38 past students came all the way from the UK, USA, Asia and throughout Australia to celebrate the 40 year Timbertop reunion. We gathered at the Merrijig Pub for an informal dinner on the Friday night and then all assembled at the school on Saturday morning to be welcomed by the Head of Timbertop, Roger Herbert. The food was superb, the guided tour around the units and buildings was very interesting and specific excursions to Darling Huts and up Mt. Timbertop made the day a great success. Many of us remarked that while the physical Timbertop campus had not changed much, we all realised that the 21st century brings with it necessary constraints that do indeed create a vastly different experience of Timbertop.

While the setting was perfect, it was seeing fellow students again, hearing their life stories of the past forty years and cowering with embarrassed laughter as others reminded each other of our misadventures that was most important.

We thank the School for allowing us the privilege of retrospect.

The 1958 Timbertop year group has become known for having relatively frequent reunions and has to date held three gatherings at Timbertop. The majority of the 1958 Timbertop year group left Corio for the last time at the end of 1961 making 2011 the opportunity to celebrate 50 years since leaving the school. With the encouragement, support and able assistance of Alumni Manager, Katie Rafferty (Spry, Ga’84), a committee comprising Balcombe Griffiths (M’61), Bill Dobson (P’61), Peter Williams (FB’60) and Jack Carty (Cu’60) made arrangements for a celebratory function on Remembrance Day 2011 at the recently upgraded Royal South Yarra Tennis Club. The 1958 Timbertop year produced a cohesive group who enjoy one another’s company. This reunion was no exception and we were privileged to have Michael Collins Persse, who has been at all of our reunions, as our special guest again. The function was made more memorable by those who made the effort to travel considerable distances to be there including a strong contingent from Sydney and remote parts of New South Wales. 50 years is a significant milestone and all who attended look forward to many more.

Andrew McFarlane (M’81)

Richard Druce (P’73)

Balcombe Griffiths (M’61)

28

OGG REUNIONS

Mick Gray (Cu’72), David Kemp (M’73), Clive Steele (P’73), Tim Young (FB’73), Chris Gadsden (FB’73), Richard Barclay (M’73) and Neil Rattray (M’73) walk to the Darling Huts at the 40 year Timbertop reunion

Top: Rupert Cavendish (TI’71) and Tim Young (FB’73) Above: Former Timbertop staff member and student Ross Manning (P’73) with Dejvit Santikarn (Cu’73) and Lum Southey (FB’73)

At the 40 year Timbertop reunion, facing the camera were (L to R) Chris Gadsden (FB’73), Nick Ranken (M’73), Clive Steele (P’73), David Kemp (M’73) and David Elder (M’73)

Top: Bill Bray (Li’73), Jonathan Billing (P’73) and Jim Lowe (M’73) at the 40 year reunion Above: Tony Fenton (P’61) and Anthony Crichton-Brown (P’61) at the 50 year reunion in Melbourne

Top: Peter Williams (FB’61), Bill Dobson (P’61), Balcombe Griffiths (M’61) and Tony ‘Jack’ Carty (Cu’60) Above: Balcombe Griffiths (M’61), Ed Burston (M’61) and David Whyte (FB’61)

50 year reunion attendees John Murnane (Cu’60), Peter Gunnersen (FB’60) and Peter Williams (FB’61)

John Rennie (P’60) and Jonathan King (M’60) at the 50 year reunion

50 year reunion attendees Ross Weber (P’61) and Peter D’Abbs (M’61), both sons of former GGS staff members Ian ‘Irky’Weber and Peter D’Abbs) 29

TOWER LUNCHEON OGG

Tower Luncheon Award-winning author, historian and adventurer, Dr Jonathan King (M’60) was guest speaker at our 12th Tower Luncheon on Saturday 12 November.

Dr King is the author of 25 books on Australian history, including the Gallipoli Diaries and Mary Bryant, and has produced and presented more than 20 documentaries. However, he considers his live re-enactments of historical events as his greatest achievement – including the epic bicentennial re-enactment of the First Fleet’s voyage from London to Sydney with a fleet of 11 square-rigged tall ships in 1988. Dr King told the audience of more than 130 Old Geelong Grammarians, Clyde Old Girls and The Hermitage Old Girls, that his passion for bringing history to life was inspired by his history teacher at Geelong Grammar School, Michael Collins Persse. In a wide-ranging address, Dr King reminisced about his school days and his plans for the 2014 centenary of World War I. The 12th Tower Luncheon was held in the Dining Hall at Corio in recognition of all Old Geelong Grammarians, Clyde Old Girls, and The Hermitage Old Girls who finished school in 1961 or earlier.

The luncheon saw Jo Breadmore (FB’55) and John McInnes OAM (Cu’58) inducted as Old Geelong Grammarian Fellows for their outstanding service to the School.

Jo joined the OGG Committee in 1975 and was OGG President from 1980 until 30

1981. He joined the School’s Council in his own right in 1983 and became Chairman of Council in 1990, a position he held until 1997. Jo was a member of the Geelong Grammar Foundation Board from early 1980 to May 2001, serving on the Executive Committee from 1984-90 and as Director from 1988. John also served on the School Council (from 1991 until 2004) and was Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee and the Strategic Directions Committee before being appointed Chairman of Council in 1998.

John oversaw the appointments of two Principals, Nick Sampson and Stephen Meek, and was largely responsible for the planning and implementation of several major developments, including the refurbishment of the Fisher Library, the establishment of the Archive Centre, the redevelopment of the Toorak Campus, the new Music School at Timbertop and the philosophy of wellbeing, which led to the eventual building of the Handbury Centre for Wellbeing.

Main picture: Guest speaker Dr Jonathan King (M’60) Top left: Jo Breadmore (FB’55) receiving his OGG Fellow award from OGG President Peter Chomley (Ge’63) Bottom left: Bob Joyce (P’54), Robin Delves (Cu’50) and OGG Fellow award recipient John McInnes OAM (Cu’58)

OGG SPORT

Left to right: Harry Sleigh (M’07) marks strongly for Old Geelong; Ben Long (Fr’07) in action for Old Geelong; Women’s Masters Coxed Four crew racing in the 2011 Melbourne Head Regatta on the Yarra River on November 19; Women’s Masters Coxed Four crew of Maree Planner (Simpson, Fr’86), Ann Walker (Cu’75), Deb Cole (Je’76) and Julia Bayliss

OGG Sport FRANK COVILL CLUB

OGG GOLF DAY

The Frank Covill Club continues to offer a range of social and competitive rowing opportunities for OGGs, parents and friends. Throughout the winter months we have had several parents come along to our monthly Sunday morning social row, held the last Sunday of each month on the Barwon River. Not only have they discovered a new skill but also a new respect for their children’s rowing prowess and an opportunity to discuss with them the subtleties of this fine artistic sport.

We have just completed the time trials for the Head of the Barwon and Melbourne regattas, both over 4.5 kilometres, and our Women’s Masters Coxed Four of Ann Walker (Cu’75), Deb Cole (Je’76), Julia Bayliss and Maree Planner (Simpson, Fr’86) acquitted themselves capably in both races under the steerage of Jacqui McKendrick (He’08). We did not field a men’s crew but club stalwarts Michael Cahill and Ray Mundy represented the club in composite crews. Why not come along, either to renew old connections and relive the glory days of school rowing (and chinwag with Frank), or to have a try at this sport that until now you have only watched with curiosity from the bank. We also have a few members rowing regularly on Albert Park Lake. Contact: Ann Walker (Cu’75) on 0410 592 312, or James Drury (P’74) on 0416 136 611.

An intrepid group of 36 players assembled at Barwon Heads Golf Club on AFL Grand Final eve for the annual OGG Golf Day, with golfers representing The Hermitage and Clyde schools equal in numbers to OGGs. The event was hard fought and Michael Palmer (P’68) prevailed to win the Boz Parsons Cup with a score of 5 up. The women’s event was won by Sandy Taylor (Cl’76), who collected the Tommy Garnett Trophy with a score of 2 up. We were grateful that Boz Parsons (M’36) could join us for the presentations. Our thanks also to the various sponsors who supported the event, including Charles Baillieu (M’71) and Eynesbury, David Duff (Ge’61), Quest Launceston and Barnbougle.

OLD GEELONG NETBALL CLUB The Old Geelong Netball Club continues to grow while also achieving successful results in multiple Melbourne competitions. There were five OGs teams competing in the 2011 Prahran and Albert Park competitions, with new teams increasing the diversity of ages involved throughout the club. This has been great to see – especially the enthusiasm of recent school leavers. Alex Chirnside (Cl’05) captained the OGs to their only premiership in 2011 (winning in the last few minutes by 3 goals), while 2011 best and fairest winners included Sam Wilson (He’03), Lizie Brown (OGC’07), Annie Middlemiss (OGC ’10), Rosie Wilson

(He’09) and Emma Wallace. The first of two seasons in 2012 will commence in early March 2012. New players, members and supporters are very welcome. Contact: Ginnie HopeJohnstone on 0422 188 808 or ghopejohnstone@elitesports.com.au.

OLD GEELONG FOOTBALL CLUB The Old Geelong Football Club has appointed Essendon premiership player Frank Dunnell as senior coach for 2012.

Dunnell has a long and successful coaching career in the VAFA with St Bernard’s, North Old Boys, Old Essendon and Old Melbournians under-19s, and his appointment is a huge recruiting coup for the club. Pre-season is already underway with the club having full access to the lush fields of Como Park for the first time in many years. The club has completed a first class refurbishment of its clubrooms and is completely debt free thanks to the hard work of its Board and Committee.

Rebuilding the under-19s (which won the premiership in 2009 and made the preliminary final in 2010 before suffering from a shortage of numbers during 2011) continues to gather momentum, ensuring the future of the club. Contact: Jimmy O'Hare (Fr'02) on 0400 083 652

31

HOGA

The Hermitage Old Girls’ Association OLD GIRLS' DAY How lovely to see so many Old Girls in the Darling Hall on Saturday 3 September. We had a short Service with the lesson read this year by Ruth de Fégley (Beggs, He’49). Our Annual Meeting followed and the only change to the Committee was that Ruth Thompson (Timms, He’60) retired as Treasurer and was replaced by Zoe de Vries (Cain, He’57). Our President, Deidre Griffiths (He’68), thanked Ruth for her years of service to The Hermitage Old Girls’ Committee. Fortunately the weather was kind to us and we were able to have drinks outside, before a lovely lunch was served.

102 Old Girls attended and were so fortunate to hear a wonderful address and photo presentation by Anne Waterhouse (He’71), who is the doctor at Mawson Station in Antarctica. Her photography was quite outstanding and her stories had everyone quite spellbound. She mentioned that it was particularly fitting that we were in the Darling Hall, “across the quad from where it all began”. “Phil Law, at the time the Director of Australia’s Antarctic Programme, had come down to Corio to tell us about Antarctica,” Anne explained. “He and John Bechervaise gave an inspirational talk about Antarctica and life in that extraordinary environment. I was hooked, though it took me 30 years to get there.” It makes Old Girls' Day so memorable when we find Old Girls who have achieved different careers and are willing to speak on this day.

GOLF DAY The weather was appalling – it rained ALL day – but despite this many of the 36 golfers who had come to play managed to complete some holes. One group completed 11 holes, most 9 holes, some less and a few decided that bridge would be far more suited to the day! The individual stableford was won by Naida Hutton (Glen, He’68), who managed 32

11 holes, so was rewarded for her endurance as well as skill. Equal second were Barb Bruce (Brown, He’55) and Julie Morgan (He’69). The team with the best score were Naida and her sister Jenny Bade (Glen, He’70), along with Jan Koch (Campbell, He’68) and Jan Curtain (Schofield, He’73). Longest drive was won by Robin Spry (Bell, He’62) but although there were three NTPs, only one player, Sue Reilly (West, He’67), managed to get onto one green! The food and friendship of the Hermitage Old Girls, combined with a glass or two of wine, all helped prevent the weather making a dent in our day. I would like to thank all those who came, either alone or with friends, for contributing to the wonderful comradeship and warmth that permeates the dining room. Next year the HOGA Golf Day will be held on Monday 22 October. Enquiries: Lib Nicholson (Calvert, He’68) on 0419 398 067.

HISTORY OF THE HERMITAGE While we have had a good response to information for the book, please do not delay in returning the questionnaires, written pieces, photographs, book orders and sponsorship forms. We still need MORE. The author, Melanie Guile, has already begun writing the book, so we need all information sooner rather than later. Remember, you all created The Hermitage and now we need your help to create the book.

CHANGE OF EMAIL ADDRESS All correspondence by email send to hermitagegirls@gmail.com or contact Ann Tyers (Fairley, He’68) on 03 5250 4055 or 0448 504 055. Just wonderful that so many girls are now using email to send requests or information. There is a link on the HOGA web page (www.ggs.vic.edu.au/Alumni/HOGA) to Cooeegrams so they can be emailed in future, along with change of address notification.

Top left: At a HOGA gathering in Canberra, (back row) Peronelle Windeyer (Hutton, He’57), Mary Boardman (Shepherd, He’47), Margaret Graham (Drysdale, He’63) and Wendy (Spec) Deane (Hopkins, He’56) (front row) Sallie Ramsay (White, He’56), Carole Flood (Henderson, He’61) and Diana Exon (Henderson, He’59) Top right: At the Old Girls' Day were Sue Callahan (Holmes, He’71), Meralyn Jackson (Barr, He’71), guest speaker Anne Waterhouse (He’71) and Isobel Oliver (McDonald, He’71). At the HOGA Golf Day were: Above left: Peg Spittle (Philip, He’48) and Joan Gibson (Philip, He’42) Above right: Ginny Palmer (Carty, He’68), Di McCann (Searle, He’61), Lib Nicholson (Calvert, He’68) and Kristeen Hunter (Horne, He’66)

HOGA

Diary Dates WEDNESDAY 16 MAY 2012

AUTUMN LUNCH

Dromoland House, 258 Pakington Street, Geelong West.

Time: 12 for 12.30 pm. Tickets available from Jenny Jordan on 03 5344 0145 SATURDAY 1 SEPTEMBER 2012

OLD GIRLS’ DAY

Darling Hall, Geelong Grammar School SUNDAY 4 NOVEMBER 2012

50 YEAR REUNION, 1962 YEAR GROUP To be held in Barwon Heads. More details to follow closer to the event. Please contact Susie if you know of girls who are not on the Old Girl List. Enquiries: Susie Austin (Wall) on email: seaustin44@gmail.com General HOGA event enquires to Ann Tyers via email: hermitagegirls@gmail.com or 03 5250 4055 or 0448 504 055 or Jenny Jordan on 03 5244 0145.

History Book enquires either use email or phone Kristeen Hunter on 03 5221 1001.

COGA Top left: Margie Gillett (Cordner, Cl’71), Michael Collins Persse, Ros Adams (Ritchie, Cl’76), Hilary Blakiston (Heath, Cl’44) and Rosemary Weatherly (Russell, Cl’45) at the Tower Luncheon Above: The Clyde 40 year reunion Far left: Clyde 40 year reunion organiser Sally Hudson (Mercer) with Angela Lyon (Rouse) Left: At the Clyde 40 year reunion, Gill Holyman, Jill Ritchie (Officer) and Sally McKay (Pearce)

Clyde Old Girls’ Association COGA AGM AND OLD GIRLS’ DAY

GOLF RESULTS

On Sunday 16 October around 50 Old Girls attended the COGA Annual General Meeting and lunch at the new Prahran Mission function rooms in Chapel Street. The guest speaker was Virginia Llewellyn-Jones (Rouse, Cl’73), who was crowned Miss Victoria in 1976 before embarking on a career as a photographer, scriptwriter, film producer, director and designer of fashion clothing and jewellery. The Prahran Mission catering staff and trainees provided a hearty lunch, while Mary Champion de Crespigny (Bartram, Cl’42), donated a potted tree for sale – a “great-grandseedling” of the original Clyde fruit-tuck tree (an American buttonwood), along with cuttings from her garden.

The mighty Clyde golfers have been victorious again. The Clyde team strode away with the Fun Cup trophy for the third year running at Barwon Heads Golf Club on Monday 17 October. Players in the team were Sandy Taylor (Dalrymple, Cl’76), Judy Emmerson (Shaw, Cl’60), Leslie Griffin (Vincent, Cl’60) and Sue Schudmak (Sproat, Cl’64). Sandy also won the Tommy Garnett Trophy at the OGG Golf Day at Barwon Heads on September 30, where Julie Cole (Baird, Cl’68) and Deb Calvert (Moore, Cl’65) registered the best combined score. Congratulations also to Anne Stoney (Peardon, Cl’62), who won the Barwon Heads Golf Club’s B Grade Championship. The next Interschool Challenge Cup is at Peninsula Golf Club on Monday 2 April 2012 (see Diary Dates).

Di Whittakers (Moore, Cl’63) was welcomed as a new member of the COGA Committee.

Di is Secretary of the OGG Deniliquin Branch and joins fellow committee members for 2012: Katrina Carr (Moore, Cl’75), Elizabeth Landy (Manifold, Cl’60), Cathie Mahar (Cl’66), Sally Powe (Douglas, Cl’73) and Annette Webb (Cl’62). The 2012 committee is led by President, Margie Gillett (Cordner, Cl’71); Vice President, Fern Henderson (Welsh, Cl’59); Secretary, Trish Young (Cl’75) and Treasurer, Peta Gillespie (Cl’69). Coopted assistants to the COGA committee include: Archives Co-ordinator, Jackie Mackinnon (Kelly, Cl’69); Database and Mailing List Co-ordinator, Sue Schudmak (Sproat, Cl’64); Golf Representative, Anna Tucker (Kimpton, Cl’71); and Jumble Sale Coordinator, Jane Loughnan (Weatherly, Cl’70).

40 YEAR REUNION On Friday 7 October many members of the Class of 1971 gathered together for a delicious lunch (including a huge chocolate bark cake!) at the Alexandra Club in Collins Street. The club was a perfect venue; casual and comfy like the Senior Sit, but the impeccable service and elegant furnishings reminded us we had grown up at last. Classmates met again, some for the first time since school, and the easy camaraderie of old was instantly revived. Thank you to cousins Anna Affleck (Durham, Cl’71), who hosted us at the club, and Sally Hudson (Mercer, Cl’71), who managed to contact almost everyone from the 1971 year group. Together they organised a truly memorable reunion.

Thank you also to Shaen McDonald (Whittaker, Cl’71), who organised a follow-up lunch on Saturday 8 October at Quaff in Toorak Village.

THE CLUTHAN Cathie Mahar (Cl’66) has been appointed editor of The Cluthan for 2012, which will be distributed in September.

Please contribute articles, photographs or notices to Cathie before July via email: cathie.mahar@gmail.com or phone: 03 5250 1952.

COGA

Diary Dates MONDAY 2 APRIL 2012

INTERSCHOOL CHALLENGE CUP GOLF Peninsula Golf Club Enquiries: Anna Tucker (Kimpton, Cl’71) on 0408 540 252 or email: annatucker@owendavies.com.au.

THURSDAY 28 JUNE 2012

ANNUAL CLYDE JUMBLE SALE St John’s Church Hall, corner Orrong & Toorak Roads, Toorak Depot for donated goods: 19 Turner Street, Malvern (after Easter). Contact: Lou Robinson on 9571 6230. Enquiries: Jane Loughnan (Weatherly, Cl’70) on 03 5264 1628 or 0417 535 862.

33

OGG IN FOCUS

OGG in focus PHOEBE WYNN-POPE (née FRASER) Co-education came to GGS in the early 1970s, at first gradually but with quick acceleration. Five years before Phoebe Wynn-Pope (Fraser, Cl'83) entered the School in 1981, girls already formed nearly 40 per cent of its population at secondary level. In September 1961 the liberal James Darling (Headmaster 1930-61) was succeeded by the even more liberal Thomas Garnett (1961-73), who for nine years had been head of Marlborough College in England where in 1968 under his successor, John Dancy, girls began to be accepted in the senior form. At GGS Tommy Garnett achieved a step radical at the time – for which at Marlborough he had helped pave the way: the beginnings of co-education.

The first step at Corio was tentative. In 1970 and 1971 senior girls studying at The Hermitage subjects for which better provision was made at GGS went by day for all their classes to Corio, but remained members of their own school. In 1972 The Hermitage pulled out of the experiment, but GGS, heartened by an initial experience of girls at this level (Glamorgan had long had little girls in the Kindergarten), began admitting girls as full members of the School at senior Secondary levels as well as extending co-education from small beginnings in the Primary years.

In 1974, under a new Head, Charles Fisher (1974-78), it was decided to close the gap and have girls throughout the School. Invitations were issued in 1975 to The Hermitage and Clyde (the other girls’ school with which GGS had strong family connections) to amalgamate with Geelong Grammar School. In 1976 – swollen on our four sites from 1,000 to 1,600 pupils – the post-amalgamation GGS (strictly GCEGS until 1988) embarked with little fuss on working out the implications of being not only fully co-educational but also a much larger school. The nurturing of individual talents, interests, and personality remained paramount despite the much greater population.

34

Phoebe thus, in her three years at Corio, where she was in Clyde House, experienced a School that was settling into the sixth year and beyond of its new pattern (in Senior School terms the end of a second and beginning of a third generation) and a House that cherished its continuity with the 66 years of Clyde School before 1976. Indeed, she had strong family links herself not only with Clyde but also with The Hermitage and Geelong Grammar School.

While her father, the Right Honourable Malcolm Fraser AC, CH, was for a time at Glamorgan before its incorporation into GGS in 1947, he later attended Melbourne Grammar School. Her mother, Tamara Fraser AO (Beggs, He’53), is a Hermitage Old Girl. Her maternal aunts – Eda Ritchie AM (Cl’59) and Christina Hindhaugh (Cl’61) – are Clyde Old Girls, both of whom married Old Geelong Grammarians, Robin Ritchie (Cu’54; Chairman of Council 1973-78; Chief Executive 1979-80) and Christopher Hindhaugh (Cu’59). Her maternal grandfather was Sandford Beggs (P’24) and maternal uncle Hugh Beggs AM (M’55).

Phoebe became vice-captain of Clyde House, vice-captain also of the School’s first netball and girls’ athletics teams, and a member of the girls’ first tennis team.

She showed versatility – as chorister, debater, sub-editor of The Corian, athlete (setting new records as a hurdler), and scholar, matriculating with distinction and going on to a successful Arts course at the University of Melbourne. Her father was Prime Minister of Australia through most of Phoebe’s school years, but already she was her own person. Known and respected at Corio for herself, she was – as she remains – somebody of independent views, strength of character, courage, high intelligence, modesty, and altruism. Her subsequent relief work for CARE Australia in troubled areas of the world did not surprise those who knew her in her schooldays.

It is the sort of work that many Geelong Grammarians have undertaken, and the School can be counted an influence. But so can family tradition. Phoebe’s heredity is as mixed in its national elements, and as charged with energy, as almost anybody’s. Her paternal grandfather, Neville Fraser, was a son of one of Australia’s first Senators, Sir Simon Fraser, of ScottishCanadian background, and Bertha Collins, member of an Irish family of pastoral pioneers in Queensland and the Northern Territory (my own maternal ancestors).

Her paternal grandmother, Una, was a daughter of a Perth accountant, Louis Arnold Woolf, of Jewish ancestry, and Amy Booth, whose sister married the Sydney merchant and philanthropist Samuel Hordern. Her paternal aunt, Lorri, widow of Bertram Whiting (P’41), is a distinguished abstract artist long resident in Italy.

Sandford Beggs was a Victorian grazier with Anglo-Irish antecedents (both professional and gentry), while his wife, Helen Karen Seeck, Phoebe’s other grandmother, came from an Adelaide family of Russian ancestry. Hugh Beggs is a merino stud breeder who has been chairman of both the Australian Wool Corporation and the International Wool Secretariat. His three sisters have long made notable contributions to the national life: Tamie as Prime Minister’s wife, President of the Australian Open Garden Scheme, and much else; Eda as president of the Victorian Branch of the Liberal Party and of the Port Fairy Music Festival, and in other ways; Christina in combining a busy life on the land with highly entertaining authorship, not least of a biography of Tamie. Phoebe grew up among talented and creative people – and became one herself.

If some elements predominate in this knot of roots, they are the land – with the down-toearth practicality it breeds – and a sense of responsibility for others.

Having joined CARE Australia independently of each other, Malcolm Fraser – long its chairman – and Phoebe both found in it a way of helping the suffering and the deprived. CARE took Phoebe to Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Iran, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Somalia (where she set up an important food-distribution programme), and Rwanda (where she directed relief work after terrible massacres). By 1994 emergency response director for CARE Australia, late that year she married Rhodri Wynn-Pope, of CARE International. They have two sons, Harry (CuYr10) and Hamish.

The School is especially proud of OGGs who – often in almost hidden ways – have devoted much of their lives to the care and service of others. Phoebe’s own generous and purposeful dedication to such service has been exemplary and inspiring.

Michael Collins Persse

OGG IN FOCUS

GUY’S BIKE JOURNEY On a sunny Friday in early September, Guy Moodie (A’97) and his partner Frederike cycled down Fellows Road in Point Lonsdale, arriving in the driveway of his parents’ home and thus completing an epic 16-month, 18,168 kilometre bicycle journey from the UK to Australia. “It was difficult to grasp it was actually the end, but it was an end we were ready for,” Guy confessed. “We had completed what we set out to do, so there was a great sense of achievement and elation, but of course there was an element of sadness that the adventure that had become our lives was to end.” Guy and Frederike had set off from London on a beautiful spring morning in May 2010, beginning with a leisurely 12 mile ride from Ealing to the City, past St. James’s Park, across Westminster Bridge, and then on towards Dover via Dartford. The intrepid couple continued their ride through France, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Romania, Bulgaria, Greece, Turkey, Iran, the United Arab Emirates, India, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore en route to Australia.

They documented each stage of the journey on their fantastic website (www.abikejourney.com), raising awareness and funds for the SOS Children’s Villages charity – the world’s largest orphan charity, which cares for more than 78,000 children.

The inspiration for Guy and Frederike’s epic journey was sparked during a holiday to Cambodia in 2003, where they spent a few days riding bicycles around the ruins of Angkor Wat. “We were instantly taken by the freedom – we could go anywhere we pleased and we found that the local kids got a real buzz out of a couple of foreigners on bikes,” Guy recalled. “It helped bridge the divide.” More cycling holidays ensued, to Land’s End and through Provence in the south of France, and Guy began dreaming of the ultimate cycling adventure.

“At bicycle speed you live, breathe, hear and smell every kilometre of the journey,” he explained. The epic ride from London to Point Lonsdale lived up to Guy’s expectations, highlighted by warm hospitality at almost every stop along the way. “The hospitality that we received virtually everywhere we went, from cups of tea at remote fuel stations in Turkey to family stays in Iran, was constant and at times almost overwhelming. When you are given so much by people that have so little, you have experienced true kindness.”

TORI’S AFRICAN ADVENTURE Tori Cavanagh (Cl’05) has spent the past two years living and working in the Southern African city of Lusaka for the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). While Tori had previously travelled through parts of Africa, she admitted that living in the Zambian capital had been a “rollercoaster ride” – she recently spent a week in a rural hospital in Botswana after picking up a parasite. “I had romantic perceptions of Africa but quickly learnt that things aren’t always straightforward here,” she said. “The water at my house constantly goes off so I never know whether I’m going to be able to shower and often have to sneak into a nearby hotel to use theirs. My internet connection drops out during most Skype conversations, and every time I need to buy something I really, really need, it has sold out. (But) Lusaka is a city that is growing and changing rapidly.

There are several new shopping centres, housing developments, restaurants and bars, which means I can now find soy milk, sourdough bread and underwear that fits!”

Tori was recently appointed head of WFP’s communications unit in Zambia, which involves close contact with WFP’s head office in Rome, but she said that the best part of her job was the field trips to remote African villages. “That’s when I’m reminded of why I’m here,” she said.

“Despite some daily frustrations, I constantly find myself laughing out loud at how Zambians have the ability to fix absolutely anything and make it somehow usable, and I love how they are so friendly.

Life in Africa is a rollercoaster ride, (but) one that I hope to continue enjoying and learning from.”

35

FROM THE CURATOR

(President from 1937-43 of the Australian Council of Employers’ Federations) and Roma Clarke (a great-granddaughter of the Honourable William John Turner Clarke MLC, known as “Big Clarke”), his initials were ABC; he was followed by a sister, Michael Collins Persse DEF, and brother, GHI – Gerald Harrison (P’45), who died at the School on the day war ended in August 1945. At GGS Brian became a School Prefect and Captain of Perry House, Assistant Scoutmaster, and a Lieutenant in the Cadet Corps, leaving school in August 1940 to join the Australian Army. Later in the war, having volunteered for the Australian Independent Companies Barbara Brown née Beggs (He’31) died, (commando forces), he served in operations aged 97, at Bowral in New South Wales in against Japanese bases on the island of October 2011. She was a daughter of Robert Halmahera in the Dutch East Indies, and in Gottlieb Beggs and his second wife, Amy Borneo. Demobilised at the rank of Captain, Elizabeth Ricardo, and sister to Arthur CBE he went up to Trinity College, Cambridge, (P’25), Ralph (P’26), who died on active where he rowed at 5 in the University boat service in 1943, Helen (He’27), and George that in 1948 broke by 13 seconds the Boat (P’29). In 1936 she married Martin Brown Race record with a time of 17 minutes 50 (M’25), youngest son of the Reverend Dr seconds, which remained unbeaten for Francis Brown (Head Master 1912-29) and decades (he was not the only OGG to have his wife, Ada. Martin died, also at 97, in won a Blue at Cambridge despite not having 2004, and she is survived by their children, rowed in the School’s first eight). His descent Robin (Ge/FB’54), Sandra Alsop (He’46-), from Hezekiah Haynes, one of Cromwell’s and Rosanne Darling (He’50-), and their generals, resulted – also in 1946 – in families including Suzanne Brown (Ga’89), his inheriting from the widow of a distant Christopher Darling (A’93), and Jane Darling Emeritus Professor David kinsman Copford Hall, near Colchester in (A’95). Barbara was a strong, influential, and Caro AO, OBE (P’39), who Essex, where his mother in particular, after much-loved member of both the Beggs and died in August 2011, aged the tragedy of Gerald’s death, was anxious the Brown families, and her death brings 89, achieved distinction that he settle and become the squire. This to a close the lives of Dr and Mrs Brown’s as both a physicist and a Brian most honourably and successfully did immediate family, spanning almost a century university administrator. He (expanding the Copford holding from 70 to in Australia where they and their children was co-author of Modern Physics (1961) 260 hectares) while nevertheless returning arrived from England at the Old School in and, while Professor of Experimental Physics to Australia for quite lengthy periods and January 1912, two years before the move to (1961-72) and head of the School of Physics retaining his Australian loyalties and interests Corio in 1914. at the University of Melbourne, designed one – later, mainly farming and banking ones of the world’s first variable-energy cyclotrons. in Western Australia; he became a director After five years as Deputy Vice-Chancellor of the Commercial Bank of Australia and of Iain (Jock) Mackay (M’37), (Research) at that university, he was ViceWilliam Brandt & Sons, and was a member of who died in October 2011, Chancellor of the University of Tasmania from the Victoria Promotion Committee in London. aged 92, went from GGS, 1978-81, Vice-Chancellor of the University A loyal OGG, he regularly attended the annual where he became a House of Melbourne from 1982-87, Chairman of dinner of the United Kingdom branch. In Prefect, to read History the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee 1955 he captured by 550 votes from Labour at Sidney Sussex College, (precursor to Universities Australia) from the marginal seat of Maldon in the House of Cambridge, in whose very successful second 1982-83, Interim Vice-Chancellor of Northern Commons, which he held until standing down crew he rowed, only to enlist, immediately Territory University from 1988-89, and for conscientious reasons (concerning the on the outbreak of war in September 1939, Chancellor of the University of Ballarat from development of a third airport for London) in the 5th Survey Regiment of the Royal 1998-2004. A wide and generous range of in 1974. Between 1955 and 1960 he was Artillery. He was disappointed not to achieve other public service included membership of Parliamentary Private Secretary to John Hare a transfer to the Royal Air Force in gliders, but the boards of both the Tasmanian Theatre in the latter’s successive posts as Minister went on to serve in North Africa and Europe, Company and the Melbourne Theatre of State at the Colonial Office, Secretary latterly in Austria, until his discharge with Company, and the vice-presidency of the of State for War (during the Suez crisis in the rank of Major in August 1946. In 1942, Royal Melbourne Hospital. In 1954 David 1956), and Secretary of State for Agriculture. in London, he married Janette Walker, of married Fiona Macleod (Cl’49), sister of his In subsequent elections he increased his Sydney, with whom he had three daughters, GGS contemporary Torquil Roderick Macleod majority – in that of 1970 (when Edward Kirsty (Altenburg), Morna (Winter-Irving), (P’38), The Macleod of The Lewes (and 15th Heath led the Conservatives back to power) and Fiona (Winter-Irving) (M’73). Their lineal representative of Macleod of Raasay); to 6,272. He was appointed High Sheriff grandchildren include Matilda Altenburg they had a son and a daughter. of Essex in 1979, and Deputy Lieutenant (Cl’93) and Francesca Altenburg (T’94). In in 1980. Having organized expeditions 1946 Jock acquired the pastoral property to Nepal with the University of Western Mona, near Braidwood in New South Wales, Brian Harrison DL (P’40), Australia, he was co-author of two books, where he remained for most of the rest of his who died in England, aged The Cumulative Effect of High Altitude on life – a well-known and popular figure and 89, in August 2011, was for Motor Performance: A Comparison between the epitome of a gentleman, as was his older a time the only Australian Caucasian Visitors and Native Highlanders brother, the late Donald Mackay (M’28). (though not the only OGG) (1985) and Entrainment of Respiratory in the House of Commons.

William Griffith (M’38), who died in February Frequency to Exercise Rhythm During The elder son of Brigadier Eric Harrison 2011, aged 90, came to GGS in 1934, Hypoxia (1987). He was a keen swimmer and

From the Curator

36

after two years at Toowoomba Prep and three at The Southport School, leaving – by then a House Prefect – in November 1938 to enter the Royal Navy, first on the list of Australian entrants. Passing out (fifth of 88), he was appointed as war broke out to the cruiser HMS Dunedin as a Midshipman.

Bill’s service in cruisers and aircraft-carriers included the loss of all his gear except for an attaché case and his papers when his ship was torpedoed off the coast of Africa in December 1942. A Lieutenant by the end of the war, he continued his naval service until 1961, having sailed six of the world’s seven seas: the exception was the Pacific, but he was stationed in Australia for two years from 1948. In 1950 he married Pamela Hall, with whom he had four daughters, now Susan Norfolk, Gillian Hodgson, Penny Griffith Pinkerton, and Emma Griffith. On retirement he brought his family to Australia to settle in Wollongong, and he worked until 1983 as personnel manager for the Australian Iron and Steel Works at Port Kembla. The elder son of the Reverend Maurice de Burgh Griffith by his first wife, Marie Stuart, he was followed at GGS (and is survived) by a halfbrother, Christopher Griffith (M’47).

Peter Oyston (Mi’48), who died in October 2011, aged 73, was described in an obituary in The Age of 19 October by his former wife (and biographer of his mother) Helen Martineau as “an internationally respected drama teacher, theatre director, and artist”. The son of Captain Roger Oyston, an Englishman killed during the June 1944 D-Day landings in Normandy, and the Australian actress Sheila Florance, daughter of James Florance (Staff 1912-13), he was at GGS, aged 10, in Minnows, a short-lived House for Year 5 in Junior School during 1948, going on to Prahran Technical School and Melbourne High School. He taught art in schools, directed plays, and made a feature film, The Kings, before going with Helen in 1964 to England, where their children, Dominique and Ben (who survive him, with four grandchildren) were born, and where he taught at the London Film School and directed plays at the Mermaid Theatre. A fine production of Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot at the Century Theatre led to his appointment as artistic director. After further work in England, in 1975 he became the first director of drama at the Victorian College of the Arts, where he was highly influential.

Later he developed his bush block at Bend of Islands into “an extraordinary haven where he painted dream-like evocations of the bush” which were exhibited there and in London and Paris. In the 1990s, during his marriage to an English actress, Noreen Kershaw, he worked in Australia (as artistic director at the Playbox Theatre), England (with annual work at RADA and directing at the Liverpool Playhouse, Birmingham Repertory Theatre, and the Royal Court), Japan, and the United States (directing in both those countries). His final position, before cancer claimed him, was as artistic director (in theatre) at Monash University’s Academy of Performing Arts. “He had no time for mediocrity,” wrote Helen, “yet he valued down-to-earth people and was a deeply loyal friend.”

Robert (Roddy) Ritchie (P’49), who died in August 2011, was the second son of Robert (Bob) Ritchie (P’21) and Sylvia née Greene (He’22) and a grandson of Geoffrey Ritchie (OS’81), who in 1902 acquired Delatite, the historic and beautiful property near Mansfield where Roddy and his brothers, Geoffrey (P’46) and David (P’52), grew up. At GGS (1941-49) he gained School Colours for both Cricket and Football, was a School Prefect and Captain of Perry House (a post held also by his father and his second son), served

as Chapel Secretary, was a Sergeant in the Cadet Corps, and developed a love of Greek and particularly Roman history that remained lifelong (another field in which he displayed knowledge amounting to scholarship was that of firearms). Jackarooing near Seymour was followed by studies in England at the Royal Agricultural College at Cirencester, where he played excellent rugby. Back at Delatite, just as Timbertop was being established with the help and support of the Ritchie family, he quickly made his own personal connection with that important branch of the School which came to include instruction and guidance in fly-fishing and long service on its Advisory Committee. In 1957, at Christ Church, South Yarra, he married Vivienne Knox-Knight (Cl’53), with whom he became a parent of Rosalind (Adams) (Cl’76), Stuart (P/L’75), David (P/L’81), Andrew (who died as a baby), and Charles (P/L’87). Farming the Beolite portion of Delatite, he began with Vivienne to establish there a vineyard which soon produced grapes of high quality, processed at first by Brown Brothers at Milwala and then, from 1981, in their own Delatite Winery with Rosalind for some 25 years its distinguished winemaker and now David as manager. Roddy’s oversight, hard work, and expert knowledge were fundamental to this development, as was Vivienne’s enormous contribution. Together they ran not only a highly professional business but also a house noted for its warm hospitality, wonderful conversation, and sense of fun. A much-loved man, Roddy was a great contributor to his community including the Mansfield Anglican parish, very much in the Ritchie family tradition but also in a way all his own, full of wisdom, insight, dry humour, and acceptance of others of every kind. He and Vivienne have been important mentors to many young people in need of understanding and loving help.

Minister Asquith and imperial politics, represented Oriel (his father’s College) at cricket and played for the University (though not against Cambridge, thus missing a Blue), and revived the Bryce Society. A teaching career included times at All Saints’, Bathurst, and Mentone Grammar, but was mainly combined with research at university level, at Murdoch University in Western Australia and at the ANU’s Research School of Pacific Studies, where he was a Visiting Fellow.

In Washington he did research on the anthropologist Margaret Mead. He made several documentary films of distinction including “Lempad of Bali” (about the funeral rites of a legendary master craftsman), “Below the Wind” (about Indonesian fishermen), and “The Healing of Bali” (a year or so after the bombing at Kuta). Living for some years in Bali, which he loved, he wrote The ABC of Bali and was co-author with Hans Rodius of Walter Spies and Balinese Art. He married twice: in 1981 Diana Gude, an American; in 1999 Sara Medhurst – daughter of Dr Colin Douglas-Smith (Ge’37) and granddaughter of Dr Kenneth Aberdeen (OS’07) – to whose children, Danielle and Toby, he became a devoted stepfather. John was deprived by long illness of sustained professional fulfilment, but his achievement was nevertheless impressive in quality and for the gallantry of his refusal to be bowed by ill-health. He is remembered by many as a dear and loyal friend whose conversation was always stimulating in a way reminiscent of both his parents, combining as he did much of the questing intellect and lively humour of his father with his mother’s sweetness of temperament and keen interest in the lives and characters of other people.

Ian (Octa) Wilson (P’51) has, with the late Graeme Richmond (FB’50), been inducted into the Richmond Football Club’s Hall of Fame. Ian was the Club’s president from 1972-84, and Graeme its secretary (196468), treasurer, vice-president, and football manager. The combination of the two was a force behind the Tigers’ triumphant years in the 1960s, ’70s, and early ’80s.

HRH The Prince of Wales (T/Cu’66) is the author of Harmony: A New Way of Looking at Our World (Blue Door, Harper Collins, London, 2010), with Tony Juniper and Ian Skelly advising. It is presented as telling “the story of how our disconnection from Nature has contributed to the greatest crisis in the history of mankind, and how seeking balance in our actions will return us to a more considered, secure, comfortable, and clean world”.

John Darling (P’64). who died in November 2011, was the only son – with three older sisters, Jane Gray (He’42), Liza Sutherland (He’45), and Caroline Shearer – of the late Sir James Darling CMG, OBE (Headmaster 1930-61) and the late Lady (Margaret) Darling. Leaving school with Colours in Cricket and Athletics, and a House Prefect, he won an Australian National University scholarship for historical studies, writing his thesis on “Dr Bromby [the first Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School] and religious controversy in Melbourne, 1869-89”. At Oxford he worked on Prime

FROM THE CURATOR

water-skier. In 1952 Brian married Elizabeth (Betty) Hardie, of Oatlands in New South Wales, who survives him with their son, Michael, and daughter, Susanna.

Jim Brockman (Ge’65), who died in September 2011, was a member of one of Geelong’s great musical dynasties and himself in our debt for his long and faithful service in tuning the School’s pianos.

The Reverend Russell Trickey (Bo’69) is Vicar of Christ Church, Geelong, the oldest Anglican church in Victoria outside Melbourne, which from 1858 until 1913 was the parish church of the Old School, situated opposite it across McKillop Street after its briefly-occupied earlier sites in Villamanta Street (1855-56) and Skene Street (185658), and before its move to Corio. A famous predecessor as Vicar was Canon George Goodman, who was a member and honorary secretary of the School’s Board of Trustees and then Council for its first half-century, virtual Chaplain to the School, and historian of the Diocese of Melbourne during the 37

FROM THE CURATOR 38

episcopate of Charles Perry (Bishop of Melbourne 1847-76 and senior Founder of the School). Russell’s name has been added to the board – given by the family of the Venerable Randal Deasey (P’34; Council 1969-86) in Randal’s memory – which in our Chapel of All Saints at Corio records the names and dates at the School of the so far 66 OGGs known to have been ordained as Christian clergy. A companion board bears the names of Chaplains to the School at Corio – and those, including Canon Goodman and our other clerical Founders, who ministered similarly to it during its years in Geelong before 1914.

Peter Jardine (Staff 196193), almost universally known as Jards, died in September 2011, aged 76, after more than eight years of incapacity due to Tom Luckock (Fr’92) is teaching in Beijing. a severe stroke – a cruel fate, especially in He married Yue, daughter of Fung and Yao its deprivation of the ability to speak, for one Zhang, and the birth of their daughter is who so loved to see and talk with his friends. recorded below.

In his last years he lived at Costa House, Paul O’Brien (M’92) is Food and Beverage the aged-care centre of the Brotherhood Manager at King’s Canyon Resort in the of St Laurence in Lara. He had joined the Northern Territory.

School staff to teach Woodcraft in May 1961, thus overlapping at Corio by one term with Oliver Wilkinson (M’03) is training in Haute Sir James Darling (Headmaster 1930-61), Couture at Yves St Laurent in Paris. who had interviewed him for the post and Karen Middleton (L’72), who in the 1990s inspired him by taking him into the Chapel wrote often in The Age on the Australian to see its marvellous woodwork as well as to Herbert Eyre-Walker (Staff political scene, is the author of An explain that here was the School’s heart – a 1952-79), known to some Unwinnable War: Australia in Afghanistan moment, and a man, that he never forgot. as Bertie but to most of us (MUP), which was reviewed by Derek Parker His craft he taught to a very high level: his as Eyre, died in September in The Spectator Australia of 15 October pupils frequently won awards at the Royal 2011, aged 94.

He was a 2011. Published to coincide with the tenth Melbourne Show, and many homes carry lovable and idiosyncratic, anniversary of the 11 September 2001 tables, cabinets, and other furniture made yet highly effective, teacher of Mathematics, attacks on the World Trade Center in New by them in the old Carpentry Shop, now particularly to the old Third Form – now Year York, when she was travelling with John part of the Technology Centre. There were 9 – at Corio before the transition from Fourth Howard, then Prime Minister, and they at least annual exhibitions of their work at to Third (Year 10 to Year 9) at Timbertop over were “worryingly close to the flight path of the School, the most impressive of which, the two years 1975 and 1976. Fun, banter, the plane that crashed into the Pentagon”, in 1991, commemorated after 50 years the and the promise – followed by the provision the book is informed by the “better rebuilding of the Carp Shop by boys and – of culinary reward complemented his understanding of the depth of American staff who gave up a week of their holidays instruction, only thinly disguising the great feeling over the attacks” that her personal to do so after it had been accidentally burnt and wise love for his pupils that lay behind experience has given her. down in 1941: that exhibition was a largely them. He coached cricket and football in a Esther Fiona Francis née Gregory (Ga’85), retrospective one that showed not only the similar spirit, handling all situations adroitly who was known mostly as Fiona but to some (I remember particularly his discovery, early in quality of 30 years’ work in the Shop but as Esther, died in August 2011 after suffering an Under-14 interschool football match, that also the personal loyalty and affection which for some 12 years from multiple sclerosis.

Jards inspired, so willing were his past pupils the opposing school had 20 players on the The daughter of David Gregory and his wife, field – I was called in to check his counting, to support him in celebrating the occasion.

Marigold, née McLean (who later, as a widow, and told at first that he thought there were 19 For some two years from September 1972 married Edwin Maclean), she grew up at he was on leave in England, at first assisting because he feared that I would not believe Longerenong Homestead, near Horsham, the Reverend Dr Philip (Tubby) Clayton CH him if he revealed the true total –and then and after seven years at GGS graduated from his delay in revealing this dastardly tactic to (founder of Toc H) as his ADC, and then, after the Australian Nanny School and worked as a the umpire until three-quarter time, so that, Tubby’s death, helping – with one of his best nanny for some years and then as a nurse. In with numbers reduced and morale shaken, pupils, Charles Blake (P’70) – the eminent 1995, in the School’s Chapel of All Saints, she the seemingly invincible team lost its entire sculptor Cecil Thomas to fashion Tubby’s lifemarried Brett Francis, who survives her with size effigy for a tomb in his London church of score to date and was in the last quarter their daughters, Isabella (born in 1997) and All Hallows-by-the-Tower: a fruit of this, in the trounced). After living in Francis Brown Charlotte (born in 2007), as does her mother. House for 17 years as its resident Tutor (and Chapel garden at Corio, is a bronze replica She then lived and worked on a family producing some notable House Plays, always of the figure of Tubby’s dog Chippie Mark IV property at Beech Forest, and later near sculpted by Peter as a supporter for Tubby’s spirited and amusing), in 1969 he acted as Terang. Her courage and her loving nature feet. Jards coached football and particularly Housemaster of Fraser House (then for the were reflected in the tributes at a memorial athletics (he founded and was the longFirst Form, or Year 7) during the long-service gathering and in the multitude who attended serving secretary of the John Landy Club) leave of Ivan Sutherland (Staff 1950-93). A it. She had an old connection with GGS with passion and expertise, and his love of all most happy sequel to that was his marriage through one of its very early boys, her greatthings military found expression in his service to the Matron, Jennifer Atkinson (Matron great-grandfather John Burslem Gregory as Lieutenant Jardine in the School’s Cadet 1968-69), and the births of Jane (Parisi) (OS1850s), barrister and civil servant, who (Fr’88), Peter (Fr’90), and John (A’91); all four Corps until its disbandment in 1983, its 100th among other services to the community was survive him, and several grandchildren. In his year. At any one time there were probably at responsible for the setting aside of Wilson’s retirement he continued for at least 20 years least 30 or 40 boys in the School for whom Promontory as a nature reserve, and with he was a crucial mentor and inspiration. as a tutor in Mathematics at the School to a some of whose memorabilia her parents The deep regard and affection in which he succession of lucky individuals. He and his enriched our Archives. was held have been shown by many tributes slightly older sister, Nona Eyre-Walker (Staff since his death, as they were in his funeral 1955-78), who taught at Bostock House (in Alison O’Brien (Cl’89) is General Counsel at service in our Chapel of All Saints. An everNewtown and, from 1962, at Highton), and the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office who died in 2005, aged 89, came to Australia memorable and larger-than-life character, Samantha Smorgon (Je’90), who graduated from India, and it was greatly to the benefit of Peter Jardine – an only child and a bachelor BAppSc in Health Promotion, Family Studies, Geelong Grammar School that they did so. In – found personal fulfilment in Geelong and Exercise Science, and has Certificates III retirement they lived as neighbours in North Grammar School, whose community has and IV in Fitness, has worked in the areas of been enriched in many ways, both tangible Shore. Eyre combined the beautiful qualities mental health and corporate health and as and intangible, by his devotion. of dignity and humility in a character of rare a cardiac technician within General Practice, charm and grace. and been employed part-time as a fitness instructor. In 2008 she became “Project Officer, Quality Assurance and Continuing Professional Development, RACGP, with QA & CPD”.

Mary Britten née Herring, who died in August 2011 at 97, was the wife of the Venerable Mervyn Britten (Chaplain 1946-49; Council 1959-61). She was warmly hospitable to the School community during their Corio years; and one of their three daughters, Elizabeth Britten (He’49), was the last Headmistress (1968-75) of The Hermitage and in 1976 a member of the GGS Staff, assisting the Head Master after the amalgamation of the two schools and Clyde. Mary, who was a trusted confidante of many in the Anglican world, whether clergy or lay, was well remembered in a memorial service at St Paul’s Cathedral, Melbourne.

BIRTHS Meredith Cox and Ross Abraham (Fr’97), a son, Oliver Bryson Cox, on 13 April 2011 Jo and André Bertrand (P’95), a daughter, Ivy Molly, on 19 April 2011 Emma and Edward Bostock (M’94), a daughter, Nellie Victoria, on 14 July 2011 Sarah Bugg (Ga’92) and Garry Hatcher, a daughter, Lily Annie Matilda (Bugg), on 24 August 2011 Megan Curphey and James Cornell (M’91), a son, Oliver Gavin, on 27 July 2011 Amy Fleet (A’88) and Michael Day, a son, Thomas Hartley Fleet, on 20 February 2011 Susan née Little (Cl’89) and James Edmondson, three daughters: Felicity on 30 June 2003, Alexandra on 5 January 2005, and Isobel on 5 May 2007

Laura and Phillip Ingle (P’97), a daughter, Alexandra Braxton, on 28 July 2010 Nicole and Justin Kristiansen (Fr’89; Staff 2011-), triplets, Sara Eliza and Jakob Joshua and Hannah Eliza, on 19 February 2008 Yue and Thomas Luckock (Fr’92), a daughter, Donna, on 23 September 2010 Annabelle née Finlay (Cl’96) and James McDonald, a son, Samuel Alexander, on 17 October 2011 Michelle née Coutts (Cl’96) and Michael Mottee, a daughter, Phoenix Rene, on 12 May 2011 Louise née Mann (Cl’99) and Clayton Oldfield, twin sons, Lachlan Shane and Jack Edward, on 24 August 2011 Marnie née Bremner (Fr’93) and David Roberts, two daughters, Claire on 21 December 2009, Alyse on 25 February 2011 Trina and Sam Thawley (FB’87), a daughter, Alix Joy, on 16 August 2011 Christine Michael and Hugh Wallace Smith (A’90), a son, Oliver Hugo, on 25 March 2010

MARRIAGES Demelza Adams (Cl’04) married Mel Belrose on 17 September 2011 Marnie Bremner (Fr’93) married David Roberts on 8 March 2008 Andrea Burke (Ga’01) married Monty Hanger on 22 October 2011 John Colley (A’92) married Nadeeka Aramabella on 20 May 2011 Michelle Coutts (Cl’96) married Michael Mottee on 5 March 2011 Cristina (Crissie) Elliott (Fr’02) married Gavan Wright on 20 August 2011 Alice Finlay (Cl’02) married Andrew Landale (P’01) on 16 April 2011 Rowena Hammon (Ga’96) married Joe Calvert on 2 April 2011

DEATHS (2011 unless otherwise noted) Lesley Ann Arthur (former GGS Shop Assistant) on 31 August Alastair Ian Bayles (1952-59) on 21 August Babette Booker née Sinclair (The Hermitage 1937-39) on 25 June

FROM THE CURATOR

Audrey Mason (The Hermitage Staff 197375; GGS Staff 1976-89), who died on 14 October 2011, the day after her 82nd birthday, is fondly remembered by pupils and colleagues as a warm and vital personality who taught French with scholarly passion. She had won dancing championships in her native England before settling in Australia. There was deep sympathy for her when, having long cared for her invalid husband, Ronald Mason, who died in 1988, she suffered the great sorrow of the death in a road accident in 2005 of their only child, Paul (Fr’85), a talented linguist and fencer, and a worker for the Peace Boat, Amnesty International, and Red Cross. She is survived

by Noah, born in 2000, the son of Paul and Sarah-Jane Mead.

Russell Richard Briers (1941-45) on 17 July Gweneth Mary Britten née Herring (widow of The Venerable Mervyn Britten [Chaplain 1946-49; Council 1959-61]) on 26 August James William Neil (Jim) Brockman (1958-65) on 6 September Barbara Brown née Beggs (The Hermitage 1925-31) on 26 October Edward Peter Owen Capper (1946-50) on 17 August Walter Malcolm Stuart Carter (1936-39) on 8 August 2010 Alan Wilfred Preston Cordia (1928-33) on 13 September John Austin Campbell Darling (1952-64) on 26 November Herbert William Eyre-Walker (Staff 1952-79) on 11 September Esther Fiona Francis née Gregory (1979-85) on 22 August William Stuart de Burgh (Bill) Griffith (1934-38) in February Alastair Brian Clarke Harrison DL (1931-40) on 21 August Ian Edward Hayne (1942-52) on 25 October Peter Edward Josep Jardine (Staff 1961-93) on 20 September Rosemary Lowing née Millear (Clyde 193741) on 3 April Iain Leslie Farquhar (Jock) Mackay (1930-37) on 4 October Ian Lester Mair (1953-59) on 9 August Audrey Mason (The Hermitage Staff 1973-75; GGS Staff 1976-89) on 14 October

John Andrew McHarg (1932-38) on Richard Hawker (M’99) married Freya Pescott 7 September (T’97) on 19 February 2011 Peter Graeme McIntosh (1935-38) Stephanie Hoessrich (He’99) married Philipp on 27 September Rabut on 4 June 2011 Angela Morse née McMillan (The Hermitage Justin Kristiansen (Fr’89; Staff 2011-) married 1952 and 1960-64) on 21 September Nicole Aisha on 24 September 2006 Margarette Joyce (Margaret) Moodie Amanda Lipman (Je/He’93) married Darrell (former Tuckshop Assistant; wife of Hamlyn on 15 April 2010 Ian Moodie [former Head Groundsman]) on 30 September Louise Mann (Cl’99) married Clayton Oldfield on 21 June 2010 Jocelyn Ogilvie Nilsen née Noall (Clyde 1942-47) on 1 June Sarah Parker (Cl’99) married Michael Clarke on 9 April 2011 Peter John Oyston (1948) on 9 October

Claire née Spraggett (Cl’93) and Mike Garrett, Alex Ross (Staff 2011) married Kirsty a daughter, Jemima Elisabeth Avril, on 1 Bennett on 17 September 2011 September 2011 David Sacks (FB’92) married Georgina Barker Amanda née Lipman (Je/He’93) and Darrell on 14 March 2010 Hamlyn, a son, Philip Louis (Pip), August 2011 Lachlan Scully (A’95) married Averil Besier Abbey and Anthony Hammon (M’00), a son, on 26 November 2011 Wally Henry, on 31 July 2011 Mury Susanto (FB’95) married Lily Yohanna Georgia née O’Shea (A’87) and Roly Imhoff Suwandi on 17 September 2011 (Cu’95), a son, Albert James Victor (Bertie), on 19 September 2011

Hugh Michael O’Dell Raymond (1935-47) on 11 November Rebecca (Bec) Reed (1982-84) on 7 September Irving John Reid (1951-55) on 31 October John Louis Warrington Studderd (1933-39) on 22 September Nowell Bernard Voss (1951-62) on 9 November Eric Maxwell Young (1948-50) on 1 October 39

Upcoming Events SATURDAY 28 JANUARY

SUNDAY 26 FEBRUARY

THURSDAY 9 FEBRUARY

FRIDAY 2 MARCH

WH PINCOTT BARWON REGATTA TOORAK PARENTS’ ASSOCIATION COCKTAIL PARTY FRIDAY 10 FEBRUARY

FRIENDS OF BOSTOCK HOUSE COCKTAIL PARTY

GGS DRESSAGE AND SHOWJUMPING DAY OGG V OGC GOLF DAY FRIDAY 2 MARCH

OGG QLD BRANCH FUNCTION, BRISBANE

SATURDAY 18 FEBRUARY

YEAR 10 PARENTS’ DINNER SUNDAY 19 FEBRUARY

FAMILY DAY, CORIO

For further event information and bookings please visit www.ggs.vic.edu.au