Launceston Church Grammar School 2016 News from Grammar

News from

GRAMMAR

ISSUE 60 | JUNE 2016

CONTENTS Message from the Headmaster Strengthen us in all goodness

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Science and the Single Parent Lady Heather Rossiter

Board

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Drama No restrictions

27

OLA

4

Off to Neverland with Peter Pan

27

On Rowing Monica Murcott and Mrs Emma Batten

5

Three Brothers George, Nick and Will Davies

28

Scholarships

6

Mathematics: for everyone

30

The Gift of Education

7

Jordan Poland Maths gets a guernsey

31

Lucy Hosken An electronic interview

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Teaching into the future Nick Clements’ commitment

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George Bailey The constants: family, cricket and creating tradition

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Graeme Hetherington Poet

33

Broadland House Old Girls Association Annual Report

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Boarding

34

Campbell Lowe The Mulchman, still a boy at heart

13

Languages

35

Quentin Crombie Returning to Australia

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The Art House Mural

35

The Careers Centre Assisting students to prepare for life beyond Launceston Grammar

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Nick Foster The agency of physical education

36

Take the music with you

18

Brian Roe ‘Anywhere at any time’

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Jade Kerber New interfaces & the International Jazz Community

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Houses

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Brad Green The ultimate ‘all-rounder’

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In Memoriam

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The Community Hub

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Sara Strong The Beatitude Windows

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Rylton Viney Establishing Art at Launceston Grammar

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Junior Sport

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Celina & Ced A cross-generational exchange

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Leonie McNair

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Nepal

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Sony Foundation Children’s Holiday Camp

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Reunions Upcoming events for 2016

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STAY IN TOUCH The new Grammar Community Engagement Team would like to hear more of the lives, work and activities of our past students. As people move beyond school, we urge you to stay in contact as we endeavour to maintain and strengthen relations with all sections of the Launceston Grammar family.

One aspect of our outreach is publication of our monthly Alumni e-newsletter. With the benefits of social media, there has never been an easier way to stay connected with each other. Please send your news and let us know about significant events, both personally and professionally via Alumni@lcgs.tas. edu.au or the school’s Facebook page, facebook.com/launcestongrammar.

We look forward to sharing and celebrating together as we maintain and strengthen our networks.

CREDITS Editorial Team Kim Nielsen-Creeley, e: KNielsen-Creeley@lcgs.tas.edu.au Brigid Rawlings, Director of Community Engagement, e: BRawlings@lcgs.tas.edu.au Ben Clark, e: BClark2@lcgs.tas.edu.au

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Photography – Rob Burnett Design – Halibut Creative Printing – Foot & Playsted

STRENGTHEN US IN ALL GOODNESS A message from the Headmaster As I write the world celebrates the 400th anniversary of the life of probably it’s most influential writer, William Shakespeare, who died on 23 April 1616 (aged just 52).

Here at Launceston Church Grammar School we are about to celebrate our 170th birthday. How does one celebrate a 170th birthday? Indeed how does one cope with being 170? Such a question presents an uncommon challenge but, as Launceston Grammar first opened its doors on 15 June 1846, it is now our duty as the current custodians of the school and its traditions to give honour and do justice to those who have gone before us. It is also an occasion at which it is equally as important to look forward with optimism, as it is to look back with pride.

The phrase ‘Strengthen us in all Goodness’, taken from the Service of Holy Communion, not only provides us with a reference point for what has gone before us at this School but also an exhortation for how we should proceed now, and into the next 170 years. Strong educational institutions such a Launceston Grammar are based on firm ethical foundations. Seeking and strengthening goodness continues to be one such firm foundation, a most commendable and enduring aim for our educational community of shared high expectations for all its people.

The word goodness combines many elements including; what is right and honest, acting properly, commendable behaviour, correctness, excellence, kindliness, and a marvellous German word Freudenfreude, which is the action of genuine rejoicing in others’ good fortune. It is also worth noting that Goodness is just one letter away from Godness.

There are multiple priorities in any school programme but as well as all the academic imperatives of each year at school, it is our intention, and I contend our obligation, that all these listed aspects of goodness are ones which receive equal if not even greater exposure with our students.

This edition of News from Grammar illustrates this central directive to strengthen us in all goodness.

This is revealed in the reports and interviews which shed light on the people who make up our community, and in the challenges our students face as they make their way in the school and ultimately in the world beyond. The words of the contributors and the various Alumni who are featured also draw attention to what it is that strengthens us.

Another distinctive point of celebration is the genrosity of individuals who strengthen our School by giving. This has been achieved by donating time, assets, ideas, funds, initiatives and resources to the School. In 2016 we are blessed to have two beautiful and well equipped Campuses as well as many other assets. Everywhere you look one finds much loved buildings and other features which invariably have been kindly donated to the School.

“

Seeking and strengthening goodness is the most commendable and enduring aim for our educational community of shared high expectations for all its people..

”

In the centre of this edition of News from Grammar readers will find out about our major building project, the Community Hub and the way in which it is possible for all of us to make a difference and continue to build and strengthen our School. I commend this project to the whole School community and encourage your support for it.

From Julius Caesar, ‘it is not in the stars to hold our destiny but in ourselves’.

From King Lear, ‘mind your speech a little lest you should mar your fortunes’.

From Hamlet, ‘this above all; to thine own self be true’.

Stephen Norris

Our first Headmaster Rev HP Kane (Cantab) 1846-1860 ran evening classes for the general community offering the Classics and other topics. Kane was the Secretary of the Launceston branch of the Royal Society, Secretary of the Patriotic Fund and of a committee of Launceston ladies who raised funds to help the wounded in the Crimean War. This Committee, and the Launceston Philharmonic Society met in the old Elizabeth Street school.

1846-1860

I conclude with these words from the Bard of Stratford, writing on integrity and wisdom in our thoughts, words and actions:

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OLA

BOARD REPORT

OLA President’s Report

From the Chairman of the School Board

Once again the Old Launcestonians’ Association started the new school year by organising and delivering one of the most successful Fun and Food Fests to date, raising over $5000 for our School. Under the capable direction of Mrs Georgie Eastaugh (Class of 1988), the event featured a variety of delicious foods from around the world, along with quality entertainment for students, parents and friends who enjoyed the day.

A highlight for me during the year was attending my first Elizabeth Street Chapter luncheon as president of the OLA. The event was held in the dining room at the senior Campus. The afternoon commenced with chapel service, followed by a tour of the campus and culminated with a delicious lunch, with outstanding catering

by Darryl and his team at the Boarding House.

The Headmaster led the traditional roll-call for the Old Boys and John Scott did a marvellous job as key speaker, proposing the toast to the School.

Friday 17 June at 6pm has been confirmed as the date and time for this year’s OLA cocktail party and AGM. The venue for this popular and enjoyable event is Launceston’s newest bar and restaurant, Henry’s in Cameron Street (formerly the Northern Club). I encourage former students, parents and friends of the School to come along for an evening with friends in this fantastic new venue for our city. Thank you to Nick Dakin and the team at Henry’s for assisting with what I’m sure will be a memorable night. More details will follow soon, but please put a note in your diary now.

It was also my pleasure during May to attend the North West Coast reunion luncheon for past students of Launceston Grammar and Broadland House. Held at The Beachway Motel Restaurant in Ulverstone, the evening attracted a big gathering of old scholars from both Schools.

Special thanks go to the organisers Vivienne Locke (Class of 1968) and Sue Quinn (Class of 1966); and also to Launceston Church Grammar School’s Deputy Headmaster Nick Foster and Alumni and Events Officer Sally Cunliffe for attending.

My best wishes

Simon Wood 4

As we approach the remarkable landmark this year of Launceston Church Grammar School’s 170th anniversary, I am pleased to report that the School is in a strong position. The year has seen a steady increase in student numbers and the Board’s focus has been to manage our financial position prudently in order to deliver the School’s strategic plan and achieve our strategic vision.

Key projects completed The Five-Year Strategic Capital Works Programme has delivered a number of key priority projects, notably on the Junior Campus, with the completion of two new classrooms and the redevelopment of the hall. The Board, staff and students all look forward with anticipation to the official opening of the facilities later in this anniversary year.

There have also been developments on the Senior Campus, where improvements have included new toilets and change rooms, new Grade 7 toilets and an upgraded canteen with a covered area for students, to commence shortly.

A Hub for the Launceston Grammar family A significant infrastructure investment currently under way is the new Launceston Church Grammar School Community Hub. The vision for this exciting development is to create a multi-purpose, contemporary student learning area and meeting place, incorporating Café 175 and The Space, which will showcase significant historical assets from the DV Gunn Archives. Planned for completion by 2018, the Community Hub will connect and reconnect old and young members of the Launceston Grammar family and will be a focal point of celebrations during our 175th anniversary year in 2021.

With the whole community in mind Over the past five years, with the support of the Headmaster Mr Stephen Norris, Campus Heads and management teams, the Board has prudently managed the School’s finances to ensure future financial sustainability. We will continue to focus on this strategy, which means that we intend to build the Community Hub without borrowing funds to complete the project.

A key objective in our Strategic Plan states ‘We must act with the whole community in mind’. With its welcoming and versatile spaces designed to be used and enjoyed by all, the Community Hub will be a clear expression of this goal.

Members of the Launceston Grammar family have always assisted the School through generous personal donations and the Board seeks your further support as we move closer towards the successful completion of the Community Hub. It is a landmark project in our long and proud history – we ask you to help us realise the vision by giving generously.

To read more about this exciting investment and to give your support through a donation, please refer to the centre spread on pages 22 and 23.

A significant milestone Launceston Grammar celebrates the School’s 170th Anniversary this year. To mark the 170th milestone, the School will host a twilight cocktail party in late October. I invite you to come along and celebrate our anniversary with other members of the Launceston Grammar family. We will be providing more information on this event in our weekly School eNewsletter and monthly Alumni eNewsletter over the coming months.

Young voices, fresh ideas Last year I noted that in order to strengthen the connection between the Board and our student body, we invited the School Prefects to attend Board meetings. Engaging in person with the young leaders of both our Senior and Junior Campus’ has been a mutually-rewarding initiative. The constructive communication that occurred between Board members and Prefects has resulted in some thought provoking ideas as well as practical outcomes, particularly as we progress our exciting plans for the Community Hub. To conclude, the Board and School remain committed to nurturing, challenging and inspiring our students and to providing them with the framework and environment to become all that they can be, throughout their education and in their future endeavours.

Michael Bennett

ON ROWING Monica Murcott and Mrs Emma Batten School Rowing Co-Captain Monica Murcott has been competing since Grade 8 and wants to row into the future, post-graduation. Before coming to Launceston Grammar in Grade 7 her family had been together on a yacht sailing around the world, experiencing other cultures and working as team Murcott. Her father tried rowing just once, and now Monica is starting a family tradition. Launceston Grammar was ‘so welcoming’ when she arrived and as for rowing, ‘it’s not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle. You spend so much time with your girls, we are more than friends, going through the same trials and hardships and working together’.

This season started in November 2015 and finished in April 2016. The Launceston Grammar senior girls squad consisting of the U16s and Open girls saw all of their crews in small and large boats perform at a very high level. The U16 girls quad won their event at the Head of the River and the School Girls Eight were very competitive winning the Tasmanian All Schools Regatta at Lake Barrington and the Home Reach Trophy at the 177th annual Launceston and Henley Regatta in March. ‘We have had some very close races all year with The Friends School. We’ve competed against them all season, unfortunately they beat us by only 6 seconds in the Head of the River.’

The commitment to row begins at 5:45am for two hours four mornings a week before school, three after school gym sessions with ergo and general fitness work. The girls go to the gym together to attend spin classes on Thursdays. The Open Eight consisted of Ebony Colson (Cox), Amelia Dowling (Stroke), Josie Atkins (7), Amelia Chilcott (6), Monica Murcott (5), Grace Elliott (4), Breanna Stuart (3), Amelia Wickham (2) and Georgie Ayers (Bow).

For the layman, each position is important in a unique way. The cox has be ‘light and bossy, the stroke and seven seat control how fast we row and how the boat feels, they are the brains and call the shots, the middle four are the power house and the bow two have to be technically tidy’.

Rowing began at Grammar in 1887 when the long established Tamar Rowing Club provided boats and coaching. The following year The Bourke Challenge Cup for schools began, named for Old Boy and Tamar Rowing Club member Thomas Harrison Bourke who offered a silver cup for the competition. The competition resulted in enduring, intense competition between Launceston Grammar and Launceston High School. The race was originally rowed from Charles Street to the Cataract Bridge. (Blue Black and White)

Everyone is thriving in the sheds in a supportive boat club environment.

There are some strong girls and boys crews that are coming through the ranks, with a boys eight graduating from the successful Under 16’s. The U15 boys are having yet another very successful season and the U14 girls are showing some true determination and strong performances in their races. These are certainly crews to keep an eye out for in the future of Grammar rowing. Monica is keen to acknowledge Co-captain Angus McGlashan and his successful season winning the Head of the River in the open singles, his quad came third at the Nationals and he is rowing in the Tasmanian Youth Eight.

Monica ‘just loves it, it’s such a good sport. To win is not a fluke, there is a mental and physical force and a determination to go out on the water with a mind set to win’. At the end of the season, no matter the result of their races, every rower from all of the schools demonstrate their sportsmanship and celebrate the new friendships that have been created.

1987

Father and daughter coaching team Mr Timothy Whyte and Mrs Emma Batten bring many years’ experience as rowers and as volunteers to the

School. Monica says coaches give up so much. ‘Mr Whyte is in the three seat from the front of the boat (April photo) in this year’s school calendar and has been involved for 50 years plus with School rowing. He has passed on his love of rowing to Emma and they donate so much of their time… they are out there in the tinny every morning analysing the technique of every rower in the senior girl’s squad’. Emma was in the winning Open Eight Head of the River crew in 2005 and says it was amazing, ‘it’s a race that that no one forgets’. The friendships she made then are strong today, and past rowers come to Lake Barrington to support and motivate the crews in this very traditional race. ‘I don’t think it will ever change… it’s an amazing atmosphere’. Her father has a wealth of knowledge and has been involved with many successful crews that have gone through the Grammar Boat Shed. ‘I’m so grateful to have the opportunity to learn from him and have his knowledge passed on. Every session on the water I learn something new from him, it never seems to end’.

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SCHOLARSHIPS A time for reflection, a hope for the future 2016 marks an important milestone for Launceston Grammar. This year we celebrate our 170th Anniversary and will, throughout the months to come, reflect on all that has been built and achieved during our long history. Launceston Grammar will acknowledge the contributions of generations of dedicated educators, and will celebrate the diverse and powerful achievements of Launceston Grammar and Broadland House Alumni.

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I am inspired by the generosity of those who support our School in many and varied ways..

Stephen Norris – Headmaster

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What Launceston Grammar does best is equip students with confidence and the skills to think creatively. Launceston Grammar is focussed on enabling as many young people as possible to attend and join our community of compassionate, considerate global citizens. Whatever they might do and wherever they might be in the world, Launceston Grammar graduates contribute to society and achieve great things thanks to foundations laid during their school years.

We hope that in this, our 170th year, the Launceston Grammar community will demonstrate its strength and generosity through continued support for scholarships. Scholarships, for many, are the mechanism that enables them to attend our great School. Over the last two years, over 80 students have benefited from scholarships made possible through gifts to the School’s Annual Fund. Each contribution to the School’s Scholarships Fund directly supports the educations of bright young people.

Students in their primary years and those in secondary school alike are eligible for scholarship support.

Each child has the right to an education, but a Launceston Grammar education is truly a gift capable of unlocking individual potential for the benefit of us all.

RIGHT: Amy Watts, Indigenous Scholarship Recipient

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THE GIFT OF EDUCATION The G.L. Stubs Educational Trust Geoffrey Lewis Stubs attended Launceston Grammar from 1935-38.

Throughout his life, he remained grateful for the opportunity to attend the School thanks to support from a scholarship. So inspired was he by the generosity of those who enabled his education, he made provision in his will for the establishment of a trust to fund scholarships at Launceston Grammar.

The generosity of G.L. Stubs now enables 6-8 students per year to attend the School. The opportunities for young people these scholarships present reflect the power of giving. One man’s philanthropic instinct has, in just a few short years, opened the door to a Launceston Grammar education for many young people who would otherwise not have been able to attend the School.

Amy Watts – Indigenous Scholarship Recipient funded by the G.L. Stubs Educational Trust ‘Launceston Grammar offers diversity and a wide range of experiences outside of a standard education, from music to cultural exchanges. Last year I was fortunate enough to go on a music tour to Perth, Western Australia and this year I am going to Germany on a language and cultural exchange.

These are experiences I would not have had otherwise. A well rounded Launceston Grammar education made possible by others makes a real difference. Teachers go out of their way to not only support you but also challenge you. This has allowed me to reach my potential.’

THE DIFFERENCE TO BE MADE The link between access to scholarships and student success is widely acknowledged. Educational institutions and governments across the globe invest in scholarships because the difference they make to individual lives drives social change for the better. Whether awarded based on merit or financial need, scholarships allow students to focus and to achieve.

Scholarships foster a sense of commitment and pride in those fortunate enough to receive them. Lifechanging opportunities are created, multiplying the value of gifts to support scholarships far beyond dollar amounts.

is the natural progression to imagining what our ‘What excites me most when considering our past, I our School celebrates diversity and individuality. future might hold. I am deeply proud of the way ed Launceston Grammar community, and I am inspir marvel at the strength and sense of caring of the our for er chapt next The l in many and varied ways. by the generosity of those who support our Schoo School will be an exciting one’.

Stephen Norris – Headmaster

To donate to scholarships, and change a life for the better, please go to the centre spread on pages 22 and 23.

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LUCY HOSKEN An electronic interview Lucy Hosken (Ikin, Class of 1994) founded Nearly Nude, the Australian underwear label in 2015. http://www.nearlynude.com.au/page/our_story/

“

Tassie is a place where we can relax and spend lots of time outdoors and the kids can have huge amounts of freedom..

”

You say that you and Stewart have grown up together. What happened in the year following Grade 12? Did you have a plan for the future? When to have children... Moving away from Tasmania... When did you set up your Sydney base?

Yes, how lucky were we to find each other at school at such an early age. We were always great friends then got together in Grade 12. We decided to go to uni in Hobart. I enrolled in a Bachelor of Arts/Commerce at the University of Tasmania majoring in Marketing and Sociology and Psychology.

After three years in Hobart both Stew and I had the year away working and travelling overseas. I was a nanny in London and Stew had various roles. We talked about what we were going to do when we got back and realised there were limited jobs for me. We moved to Sydney to try our luck! We both loved Tasmania but knew Sydney would be a fabulous opportunity. 17 years later we are still here and loving it. In ‘98 I was offered a junior marketing role at ACP Magazines, so I jumped at the opportunity staying for ten years working in various roles across various publications. Developing my creative and marketing and sales skills provided a wonderful opportunity to lay the foundations for my future with Nearly Nude.

We always knew we wanted to have children but it was just working out when and how many!!! We had Millie who is now 8 and William who is now 7. We are super lucky to have two gorgeous little people.

Is Stewart involved in the fashion business? What is his profession?

Stew is a Futures Broker at Icap and has been in the finance industry since we moved in 1998. He has had various roles at JP Morgan, Bells and Man Group. I could not have done it without Stew and his enormous help with Nearly Nude – an incredible support, fabulous mentor, my CFO at Large! He is a super business whizz.

How often do you visit Tasmania and what does Tasmania mean to you personally and as a family?

Lucy, Stewart, William and Millie holidaying in Greece in 2015

In 1994 two Tasmanian teams reached the national finals of the Tournament of the Minds and Future Problem Solving, both from Launceston Grammar under the leadership of teacher Mr Bruce Fairfax. Bruce produced Oliver with 90 on stage and a 24 piece orchestra. The Senior Debating Team won a Commonwealth Parliamentary Shield and Plate and Alexander Sangston (Class of 1995) was captain of the Tasmanian student’ debating team.

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We come to Tassie every eight weeks or so to our farm in Hagley that we own with very close friends.

We love it because it gives our children a chance to experience the fabulous things about Tassie that we both had growing up. We of course love coming down to see family. Tassie is a place where we can relax and spend lots of time outdoors and the kids can have huge amounts of freedom.

How do you celebrate family events, get together with your extended families, and stay in contact?

We always come back for Easter and Christmas and then other family celebrations. My older sister Edwina has recently moved back to Launceston from Sydney so we really miss her, but we get back regularly to see her and the family. Thanks to FaceTime we all talk a few times a week and remain a very tight knit family.

Do you have friends from school days and what does that mean to you and your husband?

Yes we absolutely do, we made lifelong friends at school and we are so grateful for that. A few of them are in Sydney now and many back in Tasmania, so we definitely try and see them as much as we can.

What were the highlights of your education?

I think the wonderful Outdoor Education Programme at Launceston Grammar, rowing and the friendships we both made. I have wonderful memories of the school grounds and also the Art programme at school.

What has made your marriage and family life solid, and how do feel about sharing your story in the media? Is there a balance between the curiosity the people have about your label and you as a person?

To be honest there is no magic secret its simply that we have loads in common, get along famously, and have the same values. I think all of these things are really important to a happy, life long relationship. We don¹t try hard at it, it¹s just easy and always has been. I am happy to share this as it¹s something I feel is normal and natural to us, we are very lucky I suppose. I don¹t know if people are really that interested but if they were maybe they wondered why I was crazy enough to run a full on business at the same time as having two small babies!!! And now I look back on that and I also wonder how on earth I did it. Maybe it was pregnancy hormones!

You have talked about being determined. Where does that determination come from and in what ways does it manifest?

I think it¹s just in me, I was born with it. I also see it now coming through in both our children. I think for me once I know I want to do something, I set my mind to it and actually do it. Stewy also has this in a much bigger way than me!

Two hours after your daughter Millie was born you were on the Blackberry emailing people about work. Your Nearly Nude underwear label had been in existence for 18 months. In the Gracetales interview you talk about balancing family life and a successful international business. When did you consciously separate family and working life? Was there a moment?

I think it was as they got older and needed me more emotionally I realised I could no longer sit and work till all hours, I needed to put them first and spend time with them and that is all that counted.

Many people talk about the serendipitous events, the lucky breaks – what are some of your moments?

Yes I think in business I have had many and the things along that way that really helped set Nearly Nude up. Celebrity endorsement in the early days was a key factor and we had many people wearing Nearly Nude like Oprah, Kate Hudson etc. It made such a huge difference and really put Nearly Nude on the map internationally. I have also met some key people at International Trade Shows that have changed the landscape of the business.

The Nearly Nude brand: after the sale of the international side of your business have you a new freedom to expand? You now have a business partner. How important was it to find the right person to move forward with new ideas, to delegate and trust other people when you were the driving force, working from home at the very beginning of your venture?

Yes absolutely. I ran it on my own for ten years and had complete autonomy and freedom, but now I have a team of people down in Melbourne that I work closely with each day that have to also make decisions and sometimes have different ideas. I have had to let my creative hold down a bit to make for a smooth working relationship. I do feel very fortunate to have found a fabulous partner who has the logistical and financial backing that we needed to grow here in Australia.

The Grace Tales website:http://thegracetales.com/the-tale-oflucy-millie-william-hosken/

1994

Launceston Grammar was approaching it’s sesquicentenary when Lucy Ikin was graduating. The School was looking to the future whilst engaging proudly with its history. Tom Room (Class of 1925) passed away that year. He had started as a student in 1924, had been secretary of the Board for thirty years (1935-65) and Chairman in 1974-75 and donated to the Building Fund. He had coached the First XI cricket team for years with great success.

I couldn¹t set up the same business and do it all over again now as it required hundreds of sleepless nights, working all weekend every weekend for years. That just wouldn¹t be possible these days. I also love spending time with the kids so I wouldn¹t be prepared to forgo that.

No Bridget Jones: shapewear shows how to lift the bottom line: http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/no-bridgetjones-shapewear-shows-how-to-lift-the-bottom-line-201105251f43s.html

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GEORGE BAILEY His name is inscribed on the Savigny Bat twice - ‘the pinnacle as far as batting went’.

The constants: family, cricket and creating tradition.

George Bailey (Class of 2000) was enrolled at Launceston Church Grammar School in Grade 7 and describes boarding school life as fantastic. ‘A number of my closest mates are guys I boarded with’. Awarded numerous leadership awards, sport and academic prizes he was Co-Captain of School Cricket in 1999 as well as Cricket and Football in 2000. With access to facilities before and after school ‘…it felt like almost a privileged position’. With a focus on team sport he reflects on the advantages of leading teams and growing up with huge array of personalities. The boys were ‘united’, and now as they get older ‘the stories get better and better’.

Immediately after Grade 12 he moved to Hobart under the secret banner of attending University, then sport took over when Cricket Australia introduced rookie contracts that year. As an understatement this ‘changed my focus a little bit’ and he did have ambition, and wanted to play football or cricket at the highest level.

Returning to tertiary study, George is slowly making his way through an MBA at UTAS, as well as juggling an international career. Cricket has been the one constant in his life, the love of the game ameliorating the dysfunction of travel and the need for the constancy of family. With partner Katie Upton baby Annabel arrived in December. Is she a good baby? With his signature understated humour and warmth his reply is ‘Well we have nothing to compare her with so I guess we’ll have to keep her’. After the luxury of looking after himself for so many years becoming a parent raises the bar.

International cricket is accommodating for families these days and they will travel together. A babe in arms and new parents are now on the road together.

Travel is tarnished when you miss ‘significant chunks’, the important times for celebration and hardship with family and friends when ‘you should be there helping’. George really loves being at home, reconnecting with friends and family. Between hemispheres he can stay over the summer with the Hobart Hurricanes. In our winter he’s in England with County Cricket or ‘wherever the tour takes us’.

In 2015 he captained Australia in the opening match of the World Cup, played in the Indian Premier League for the Kings XI Punjab, also for Sussex in the English County Championship and in Australia’s one day international series win over England. For the cricket tragic the colourful prose of cricket writer Geoff Lemon describes his style and partnership with Steve Smith at the WACA One Day International in January 2016. ‘Accumulation is their jive. Timing their forte. Slotting gaps then running hard their point of difference as senior players in this Australian team’. Lemon describes Bailey as a devastating striker, a beautiful a stroke-maker …’ one of the cleanest straight hitters I have seen: late in the innings when he digs a full delivery back into the sky, he doesn’t strike the ball, he crushes it. You expect to see it returned looking like a stomped beer can’. (1)

1867—1923

Photograph courtesy of Angela Casey

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John Horatio Savigny (1867-1923), son of Headmaster Rev W H Savigny, was educated at Launceston Grammar with his brother William Henry (Beau). He was an all-round cricketer, coached for the School and played 13 First Class matches for Tasmania. His highest score was 164 not out.

Off the field JH and brother Beau were involved with The Dramatic Muffs, a local theatre group, along with Old Boys HG Crombie Gilmour, RM Collins, GE Harrap, RA McEacham, EH Ritchie, PH Richie, TN Collins and H Edgell.

Cricket is in George Bailey’s DNA, and his family has a long association with Launceston Grammar.

His name is inscribed on the Savigny Bat twice ‘the pinnacle as far as batting went’. His father John won the bat at school and coached his son in the First XI and their close association at school means a lot to him. Looking back his Great Uncle George Keith Brooke Bailey first came on the historic radar at Launceston Church Grammar School in 1894. He was the son of George Herbert Bailey, George’s Great-Great Grandfather, known for his fielding prowess and participation in the historic tour of England and North America in 1878 with the Australian Team. In the Boarding House and at School traditions and history, including admiration for those playing ahead ‘affect those guys coming through and draws us together’.

As for life post cricket it is hard to answer and an athlete ‘can never be sure’ when it will all end.

He suspects that for the majority the end comes quickly, but life is about balance. Reflecting on the tenuousness of life after the loss of Philip Hughes in 2014 with reporter Peter Newlands (2) he took stock and came back to enjoying the game, the training, the lifestyle, the mateship it provides. He was a leader at school and is a leader now and the responsibility to a hungry public is part of the territory.

We thank him for taking time during a short stay at home to share some of life’s personal milestones and insights.

New From Grammar Issue 58 2014 featured an article about George Bailey the school boy cricket player and captain, his career highlights and leaderships skills written by Ian Fraser, First XI manager. Issue 47 2006 Out & About section– includes details of his winter at Cricket Australia’s Centre for Excellence in Brisbane, co-captaining of emerging players in a six match tour of Kenya & Zimbabwe. Issue 56 2012 Long Time Launceston Church Grammar School cricket coach John Bailey with Danielle Blewett

(1) h ttp://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-01-13/georgebailey-proves-his-worth-to-australia-againstindia/7085516

Photograph courtesy of Rick Smith

(2) h ttp://www.themercury.com.au/lifestyle/ tasweekend-george-bailey-is-leading-by-example/ news-story/7357c39407c530a28fe37d70688f4a98

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BROADLAND HOUSE OLD GIRLS ASSOCIATION Annual Report Dear friends, As always our annual events are well attended. In November 2015 we hosted an afternoon tea, celebrating the 90th birthday of Faith Layton AM. Faith compiled An Establishment for Young Ladies BROADLAND HOUSE, was a past President of BHOGA, student, teacher and Deputy Headmistress of Broadland. Her service to the community and education reflected in those honoring her on her birthday.

Broadland Old Girls hold close the ties that have bound us now and throughout our years on the Broadland Campus. Much has changed, but memories of Miss Rooney in her office (now the Administration Block), remain along with the tennis court near Bifrons Court.

Being part of the Launceston Grammar’s 170th celebrations will again remind us of ties that bind.

We welcome all new acquisitions to our Memorabilia Room including recently uncovered photographs celebrating tennis at Broadland. Many descendants of the Old Girls in this photograph now attend Launceston Grammar. My sincere thanks to those who have donated photos and memorabilia over the past twelve months.

Dona Bradley (Drake, Class of 1961) kevendona@bigpond.com 75 Salisbury Crescent, Launceston 7250.

ABOVE: Launceston Girl’s Grammar School 1915-1922. Kathleen Castley, Lisle Cook and Phyllis Featherstone are amongst the ladies who were later enrolled at Broadland House LEFT: Peggy Williamson, Rhoda Law, Nancy Smith, Mary Hall, Marjory Newman, unknown, Dorothy Frankland. (Reverse - ‘To Mary with love & best wishes for a happy Xmas & New Year’). Donated by Jonie Cocker.

TOP LEFT: 1941 – Collegiate v BHS tennis teams: Janet Humphries, June Smith, Margaret McIntyre, Val Green, Faith Docking. Donated by Faith Layton.

Current Grade 11 students Chloe Fisher and Amelia Youngman examine Broadland memorabilia.

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CAMPBELL LOWE The Mulchman, still a boy at heart Campbell (Class of 1991) was in Grade 8 when the Stannard-Clarke technology building opened at Launceston Grammar with teachers John McCure, Bill Rostron, Steven Cootes and Nick Hansson.

‘It was a massive thing to get that technology centre’, it became ‘my passion in life, I was there at lunch-time, even before and after school’. A group project in Grade 8 was to bring in a lawnmower to strip and reassemble the motor. In cahoots with then best mate Chris Chalmers a Holden six cylinder engine arrived and the boys taught the teacher how to rebuild the motor. Campbell learns by doing. ‘We had been pulling engines apart from the time we could walk. We are still mates’.

Chris is in Queensland where he is a Service Manager with Brown and Hurley, Kenworth and DAF service agents throughout Queensland.

Spoilt with love but not material things, Campbell lived in town with his mother during school years whilst his father lived on the farm. Both his parents greatly influenced the business model he keeps today, practical but still never afraid of stepping out on a limb... and taking out a bigger loan ha ha!

In the year after graduating Mechanical Engineering Campbell and his future wife Ainsley backpacked through Europe. It was the ‘best thing I ever did’ shoring up perspective and life skills for their future together.

Aged 21, he took a punt and bought a new tractor, then designed a Reach Arm slasher unlike anything available on the market and then went and found the work, figuring this could be a nice little niche in Tassie ‘I decided to design and build my own slasher, which no-one else had done before’. Then the Mulchman got serious and started to build mulchers too.

He works on a contractual basis and there is ‘never any security as such. And you are only as good as the job you are on. It’s up to you to make it happen’. Mulch Management Pty Ltd specialises in contracting mechanical vegetation control for TasNetworks state-wide and now manufactures purpose built slashers and mulchers marketed throughout Australia.

A lot of peers moved away but Campbell stuck by Tasmania, managing the business and a current fulltime workforce of six men. His project management skills have manoeuvred the business into a healthy position, enough to confidently secure the future for his family.

“

It was a massive thing to get that technology centre. . . it became my passion in life..

”

Campbell and Ainsley have a long awaited and cherished daughter George now 5, named after Ainsley’s dearly beloved grandfather. ‘Ains has loved being a stay at home mum and working part-time in the tourism industry. We were just so lucky that George got to meet her Grandmother Helen, who passed away after suffering from ten years of brain traumas that greatly changed all of our lives forever’.

Now with instilled recognition of ‘life’s too short’, this year the family is holidaying overseas with best mate Scott Jansen and family. The kids are best friends too. They will be staying at Scott’s brothers (Dubai based Heath Jansen) place in France. Heath is one of Lowie’s close friends from school days.

Campbell feels lucky to have had a Launceston Grammar education. He rowed in the 1st VIII and the outdoor-education programme was ‘spectacular’ despite the privations of four days torrential rain on Maria Island and the biggest snow on record at The Walls of Jerusalem. In Grade 6 he even abseiled at Mount Arthur.

Headmaster Strong addressed a dinner for Old Boys in Melbourne in the early 1980s and Stan Clark attended. Later visiting Launceston Grammar, he gave generously to the Building Fund resulting in improvements to the Boarding House, the building of The Stannard Clark Technology Centre, The Henrietta Cooper Music School and the Sinclaire Trust Auditorium and Tower Building. Another generous benefactor was Sir Lindesay Clarke, and his gift resulted in the building of the Sir Lindesay Clark Administration Centre and the Winfred Monds Music School at Broadland. This period of expansion was also supported by many others in the School community in period of rapid growth.

1980s

His mantra is ‘a hard lesson is a good lesson’. After losing the family farm in his high school years and focussing his business acumen in after school years, he is still a boy at heart. All his cars have been modified. He drives a HSV GTS, the fastest car ever manufactured in Australia, and has recently acquired a twin turbo Porsche and still asks himself ‘What am I going be when I grow up’. From his holiday home at Orford he takes his boat to Maria Island to relive the memories of the school camp.

Recently ‘I heard someone say ‘I think that’s where the tents were in Grade 7’. He put his thumb up and said ‘Grammar boy’ and he can ‘still bust out a war cry every now and then’. He feels comfortable but is conscious of raising a respectful daughter whose early life lessons don’t have to be as tough as his own.

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QUENTIN CROMBIE

“

Returning to Australia

. . . like everything in life, timing is everything.’

Quentin Crombie (Class of 1991) returned to Australia in 2014 with his wife Karen and two young sons after living in Paris since 2008. The family are settled in Melbourne but there is still a super-commute to Paris and Geneva required. Thankfully this year it has been cut back from ten to four trips as he settles into a rhythm with his two roles, Secretary General for the FIA Institute for Motor Sport Safety in Paris and the General Manager Administration for the Global Institute for Motor Sport Safety in Geneva.

”

Curiosity and an element of nostalgia have motivated Quentin and he recently made contact with a number of old school mates from Launceston Grammar. After nearly 20 years, they caught up and ‘really hit it off’ and he’s hoping to organise a local reunion with as many of the Class of 1991 as possible. Looking back, it wasn’t easy when he commenced in Grade 8, ‘those first years were tough for me’, but he found his stride and his network of friends by Grade 10.

Thanks go to his parents who unselfishly invested in his education, for which he is forever grateful.

His education was a bequest from his grandfather’s estate, with Quentin’s parents wanting the best possible education for their son. Initially failing, he turned things around, won the Geology prize and later graduated from UTAS with a Degree in Economics with 1st Class Honours. Hockey was his game at School, playing with the 1st XI team and captaining the 2nd XI. It was a ‘fantastic bonding experience, forging some terrific friendships’, and he enjoyed the game.

Leadership, teamwork and competition are companions in sport. ‘I am a competitive person, definitely a Type A personality!’, but he believes in fair play. Competition is something to embrace in the ‘right spirit’, it ‘drives us forward, I love it, it helps us achieve things we wouldn’t ordinarily achieve’. It is one of the reasons he turned himself around academically, and it is the instinct that has driven him along ever since.

Hockey was described as the underdog of the 1950s and by the 1990s Launceston Grammar was fielding many strong and enthusiastic teams.

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1990s

Quentin’s work in sports organisations began with international consultancy firm Accenture, a company that works across a range of industries. In the role, he was seconded to Cricket Australia for a time, ‘I didn’t play cricket at school, but I enjoyed it… I thought, this is a great opportunity and I have to take it’, and ‘like everything in life, timing is everything’. He started competing in motor sport

Launceston Grammar weathered the recession of the early 1990s and enrolments grew. Funding was cut to state schools , class sizes were rising and parents reacted, enrolling their children in independent schools.

Launceston Grammar’s excellent reputation, programmes and caring philosophy continued to attract new students.

in his early twenties and fortuitously met the Chief Executive of the Confederation of Australian Motor Sport. The organisation was looking for someone with his skills to help develop their strategic plan. The contact was significant, paving the way to his future international career.

Currently he is focussing on motor sport safety, and the organisation for which he works is always striving for better outcomes. ‘Safety is a journey that will never end; there is no finishing line, no chequered flag’. The modern day Formula One car is light-years ahead in terms of safety of the cars raced 20+ years ago and a testimony to the work done in recent years. He says ‘many of the crashes we see today, with the driver walking away relatively unscathed, would have been fatal in more recent eras. There is still more to do, particularly in the wake of some of the recent fatalities in Indycar and Formula One’. One of the next big challenges he says, will be to ‘take some of the relevant safety developments and help transfer them to the road’, where he says, ‘there are 1.25 million fatalities annually and between 30 to 50 million injuries, with the cost to society enormous and unacceptable’.

Colleagues from France and Switzerland recently attended the Formula One Grand Prix in Melbourne, and luckily his French, which is ‘terrible’, wasn’t required as he has been able to conduct most of his European business in English. Quentin’s wife Karen made a real effort to learn the language when they lived abroad, ‘she did a tremendous job and I was so proud of her’. Reflecting on his time in France, Quentin says he drove his Grade 8 French teacher mad at Launceston Grammar and he is sure she

would find it ironic that he ended up spending nearly six years living in Paris.

A young family, ongoing involvement with two European-based organisations, significant amounts of travel and the shaping of his own consultancy business means a busy life. He now hopes to grow his Melbourne-based business further, and has some new projects in the pipeline, both at home and abroad.

Two teachers who stood out for him at School were Mr Moran (English) and Miss Pitt (Social Psychology). Teaching staff were ‘fantastic and being at Launceston Grammar helped me significantly. I don’t know whether I would have achieved what I have done without the School or without those teachers, and I will be forever grateful’.

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THE CAREERS CENTRE Alannah Gall (Class of 2015), visited Launceston Grammar in April this year, while on mid-semester break during her first year of a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery at UTAS. The purpose of this visit was to catch up with Fiona Symons, one of Launceston Grammar’s Careers Advisors. In 2015 they worked closely together as Alannah went through the rigors of testing and the university application processes, which included researching medical courses throughout Australia. The obvious warmth between them is testament to their close working relationship throughout that year. For the Careers Centre team, advising students means staying up to date with course changes and knowing how to access accurate information. Whilst supporting Alannah in her chosen pathway, ultimately Fiona believes that Alannah was responsible for her own success. ‘Alannah researched the universities, undertook UMAT testing, wrote scholarships and accommodation applications and only sought support with proof-reading and understanding the more complicated aspects of the university application process’. Self-motivation is an important life skill which the Careers Centre works to foster in students from their first interaction with the team.

Future plans for the Careers Centre include working collaboratively with the Community Engagement Team to bring together Launceston Grammar Alumni and current students for a mentoring programme.

Careers Advisor, Fiona Symons with Alannah Gall (Class of 2015)

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For Alannah, after a three day orientation at UTAS it was straight in to the lecture theatre in January.

Adjusting to an eight hour day, plus study, she has built up the stamina for revising and self-directed learning. ‘It would be easy not to study because of all the extra activities that living in a college offers, but you have to remember how hard you have worked to get to the point you are now’. The days are very long, so the first year can be a real struggle at university for some. Small nurturing classes at Launceston Grammar morph into a lecture theatre filled with 120 bodies. ‘The point is you are really happy to be doing what you want to do, and the challenges are part of the journey beyond Launceston Grammar’. Walking back into school felt strange at first and several teachers stopped to say ‘hi’.

Observing the debriefing between Fiona and Alannah was heart-warming as they shared again the experience of Grade 12 in 2015.

Fiona agrees with Alannah that the first year at university is a big transition point for all students, and something the Careers Centre addresses with students as they prepare for life beyond School.

Prior to commencing at Launceston Grammar, Fiona worked at UTAS and is now pursuing further postgraduate study with the objective of gaining her Graduate Diploma in Careers Education and Development. Fiona is a wonderful example to our students of the benefit of life-long learning and is always willing to share her life journey with the students. In 2015, Fiona joined Carol Bennett in the

Assisting students to prepare for life beyond Launceston Grammar Careers Centre and the two provide a wide range of advocacy, counselling and education services, particularly for Grade 10 - Grade 12 students. Launceston Grammar Careers Centre programs include one-on-one counselling; Morrisby Profiling which offers comprehensive reporting on aptitudes, attributes, strengths and career options; Grade 10 Futures Week, a fulfilling week of scheduled activities initiated by Carol with guests speakers from the community; and a series of visits throughout the year from representatives of universities, the Defence Force, Tasmania Police and past students talking about their career journeys. Carol and Fiona also assist with gap year, scholarships and accommodation applications and resume and cover letter writing. Future plans for the Careers Centre include working collaboratively with the Community Engagement team to bring together Launceston Grammar Alumni and current students for a mentoring programme, aimed to both inspire and assist students to achieve their goals. The Grammar Careers Centre is open every day and aims to support every student on an individual basis.

History of the Launceston Grammar Careers Centre – many Alumni will remember Dr Cathy Hughes Cathy Hughes began teaching Secretarial Studies at Launceston Grammar and realised the importance of teaching staff getting involved in co-curricular activities. Her pathway is an illustration of the need to seek out and create your own opportunities in a constantly changing and uncertain world of work. ‘As it turned out, career development is my passion and had I not been at a school such as Launceston Grammar that encouraged staff to use their initiative and be creative in constructing their own career, then perhaps I would not have found my passion’.

Cathy volunteered for careers work after Steve Brown (Technology) retired in 1987 and grew her own job description. When she left in 1995 career services work had grown to 0.8 FTE (Full-time equivalent).

She organised the first careers expo at Launceston Grammar, developed a paper-based career library and assisted students to explore post-school course and career options. In the footsteps of Stephen Coote (Woodwork) Cathy organised work experience placements for all Grade 10 students. ‘I completed two post-graduate courses in career development while employed at Launceston Grammar, which shaped the nature of career services immensely. Career education classes, visits to the University of Tasmania, Australian Maritime College and TAFE, guest speakers, mock job interviews, career conferences for Grade 11 and 12 students and visits to the Youth Access Centre which was a careers library in the Launceston CBD were introduced. ‘No doubt the career education programme at Launceston Grammar has evolved significantly since these early beginnings’. She says the internet is a marvellous tool for Career Practitioners today, with information that was difficult to source in the 1980s and 1990s now instantly available. Cathy has contributed to the ease of access to relevant career information by publishing a website for Australian school communities. Added to this, she has published an ebook to support the work of career practitioners in Australian schools.

The Careers Centre continued to flourish and grow under the guidance of Mrs Gill Frain until 2012.

During her time at Launceston Grammar, Gill was known for her warmth and approachability and absolutely loved the special relationships she built with the students. Gill accepted a role at the Dorset Trade Training Centre in a different role altogether and has now returned to a careers guidance position as a Career Development Officer at UTAS where Launceston Grammar students will once again interact with her.

Cathy Hughes’ comprehensive careers website, Grow Careers, is available at: http://www.growcareers.com.au/

Local products, World class results 48 Brisbane Street Launceston TAS 7250 Phone: 03 6332 6400 Email: office@harrisonhumphreys.com.au

harrisonhumphreys.com.au

Gordon Humphreys 1961

Robert Harrison 1971

Ben Humphreys 1987

Nick Oliver 1995

Tom Harrison 1998

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TAKE THE MUSIC WITH YOU.

Launceston Grammar Music Staff: Sherryn Arneil-Hepher, Robert Deavin, Christine Clarke, Sue Patterson, Mark Saunders, Meg Blackley, Daniel Wahl, Peter Westbrook, James Walker.

Music is about us, it is a part of our lives.

The music team are dedicated to working strange hours, have an openness in communication and share a goal and a vision. In a world where everything needs to be quantified, their world defies a number – it is about the synergy of the group and the enticement of qualities of communication that carry people through life. Everyone can benefit in many ways from the acceptance, culture and community of the music programme. Music is about us, it is a part of all our lives. In the music community, you are safe to be yourself, and express yourself across all grades.

Head of Music Mrs Sherryn Arneil Hepher hails from an inter-generational family of teachers. Every woman in her family is or was a teacher. Her teaching focus is building trust and openness. As a conductor the strength of that trust is knowing that ‘they can do it’, and the young musicians trust her to guide them.

At Launceston Grammar, music is timetabled on a line and students can choose it as an elective.

There is a holistic approach across campuses with the Grade 5, 6, 7 programme. Grade 5 students start an instrument which they take on to the Senior Campus. This requires close collaboration with all music staff. Part of Sherryn’s role is facilitating learning, so she can find that bagpipe and harp teacher. Co-ordinating specialists, all qualified music teachers, is a big job on both campuses and this includes many vocal and instrumental lessons with male and female teachers. Mrs Sue Pattison and Mr Mark Saunders co-ordinate activities on the Junior Campus. Mr Daniel Wahl has a Grade 1 violin programme, Grade 6 students catch the Launceston Grammar bus every week to join ensembles at Mowbray and Mrs. Christine Clarke visits once a week for the Grade 5 -6 programme. Every grade has a choir and there are two Junior productions every year.

1956

What is happening at the Henrietta Cooper School of Music? The Fella’s, Ellavoce, 7-10 Choir, Senior Vocal Ensemble, The Lads, Senior Orchestra, the Junior and Senior stage bands, the string, flute clarinet, brass, percussion Ensembles, the Intermediate Concert Band, the Musical orchestra... and that is this week. Bands and choirs have visited Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Perth, Melbourne, Brisbane and Hobart. In 2015, the Fella’s attended the 13th Barbershop Harmony Australia National Convention at the Melbourne Concert Hall. Launceston Church Grammar School have been reciprocal hosts for visitors.

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2015 Inaugural Peter Sculthorpe Alumnus Award recipient, Stephen FitzGerald (Class of ’56) recalls teacher Mr Karl Metzger playing classical records for the boys during long French lessons in the original Brock Memorial Library. This may have been the first time music played in the now Brock Room, now incorporated into the Henrietta Cooper School of Music.

JADE KERBER New Interfaces & the International Jazz Community Interviewing young jazz fusion musician Old Boy Jade Kerber (Class of 2012) opens new horizons for music lovers. After working in Canada for a gap year working in outdoor education Jade was ready to decide between pursuing music as a career or hobby. In 2015 he completed a Bachelor Degree of Music at the Australian Institute of Music majoring in composition and music production. He has set up a small production company to produce music scores for film in the local Melbourne scene and is studying a post graduate degree at the University of New England. His dissertation is about musical interfaces – technology and new equipment for creating and performing music. Life is exciting. He has travelled to London, on invitation, to Abbey Road Studios where he has accessed, learned and used some of this innovative technology.

“

Life is exciting. I’ve travelled to Abbey Road Studios and used their innovative technology .

”

What is his music about? There is no straight answer. Since he was very young it has been normal to play and write. His music is virtuosic in a sense, but also collaborative. He likes to write music that the whole band enjoys performing. Square One, his first jazz recording is finished and awaiting final mixing and mastering before release. Western Australian born international jazz trumpet player Matthew Jodrell is featured on the recording amongst a line-up of internationally recognised Australian artists.

This exciting opportunity has been afforded through the mentorship of Daryl McKenzie, Head of the Contemporary Performance Department at AIM, and the support of his teacher and mentor Gene Shill. Earlier mentoring came from piano teacher Mr Chris Murray and in classroom music where Jade studied music composition launching him into the High Achiever Programme at UTAS. Music at Launceston Grammar was really good. He was a Fella, he played piano, French horn, alto saxophone and was involved in performances. Jade is currently listening to artists like soloist Christian Scott and bands Gogo Penguin (Manchester) and Snarky Puppy, a New York-based band originally from Texas. His ability to work and meld, listen, create, collaborate, explore musical possibilities and look for opportunities is a testament to himself, to family and his extended community. With sights set on the international jazz community ultimately, he is enjoying local music venues in Melbourne such as Bennetts Lane Jazz Club, Bird’s Basement (partnered with New York’s famous Birdland) and performing with the AIM Big Band as well as other ensembles and artists. The city has a rich music scene. In the meantime he is also writing and recording his second album, set for release at the end of this year, with session musicians and international guest performances to be announced.

He has a lot on his plate, ‘most musos do’.

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BRAD GREEN The ultimate ‘all-rounder’ Launceston Church Grammar School has produced many great sportsmen and women in its 170 year history. Brad Green (Class of 1998) was a gifted all-round sportsman and during his schooling excelled in cricket and soccer. The 1998 Launcestonian reads: ‘We do not often see a student with enough ability in a specific sport to make it all the way to the top. It is even rarer when that student could make it in two, let alone three different sports.

And so when someone with the all-round talent of Brad Green appears, it might be described as a once in a life-time event’.

Brad is modest and gracious about his achievements. From an early age his parents instilled the values of respect and honesty, underpinning his time at school, career as an elite athlete and his family life.

“

Enrolling in Grade 7 he faced early mornings and late evenings on the bus from his home in George Town. Friendships developed quickly and the Maria Island camp was a solidifying experience for the Grade 7 cohort. School was ‘fulfilling’. Highlights included outdoor activities and camps, the Walkathon, being a Prefect in Grade 12, as well as House Vice-Captain for Wilkinson. Natural leadership qualities were apparent at an early age, holding him in good stead for the future Captaincy of the Melbourne Football Club in 2010.

Sporting highlights from school include captaining the 1st XI cricket side in which Australian cricketer George Bailey also played. The two champions still speak from time to time. In Grade 11 Brad started taking his footy more seriously after school mate Troy Stewart asked him to come out for a kick. Over two consecutive years he played in Launceston Grammar State Premiership sides with the 2nd and 1st XVIII. These are memories he ‘holds dearly from his school days’. When asked if he took to footy naturally Brad remembers his father playing when he was a kid and he knew how to kick and handball but had never really played the game.

Faced with a decision that would shape his future ‘it came down to the enjoyment factor, and what I loved, AFL footy was that’. Brad was drafted in 1999.

To the current generation of budding sportsmen and women his advice is to do all it while you can. He does sometimes ponder other sporting pathways ‘...if I went down the cricket path I do wonder what T20 cricket would be like’.

Playing multiple sports, training and travelling a significant distance to and from George Town each day; it

Brad understands the importance of having balance in life, particularly when faced with the cycle of modern sport..

Brad’s career demands attention. 254 games at the Melbourne Football Club for 350 goals. In 2010 he won the club’s best and fairest award and was the leading goal kicker and was selected in the All Australian side. In 2011 Brad was named as Melbourne captain; and he represented the Australian International Rules Football Team in 2004 and 2010 and captained the side in 2011.

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Photograph Courtesy of Digital Media Management, North Melbourne Football Club

After a series of defeats the team ‘made up our mind to win the 1950 state premiership’. With captain Robin Hood (Class of 1950) and coach Max Burke there was extra training, the team was fit and determined. In front of a crowd of two thousand spectators with many schools enjoying a half day holiday for the game, Launceston Grammar defeated St Virgil’s in a tough game, winning the first premiership since 1932. ‘That was a wonderful day’. (Blue Black and White, p173)

1950

”

IN MEMORIAM

would have been understandable if Brad had left his academic work behind. He was ‘not a Rhodes scholar by any means’ but was realistic about the longevity of a sports career. ‘I always knew I would have to do something else... and study to the best of my ability’. Keeping options open through university, he is currently completing a Masters in Business Management.

Appreciative of 16 years in AFL he says it is not always an easy ride, ‘it certainly was mentally and physically draining at times’. In his first season in 2000 with Melbourne he played in a Grand Final. Melbourne would not have a great deal of success during a 254 game career, however he feels lucky to have played the game he loved for so long and fortunate enough to walk away feeling ‘good physically’.

Coaching began as an assistant at Carlton for three seasons and then a move to North Melbourne in 2016. ‘As a player you want to stay in the game as long as you can, this was the next step’. Though part of him still wants to run out there on the weekend he prefers to be able to run around with his two young boys Oliver and Will.

Brad understands the importance of having balance in life, particularly when faced with the 24/7 cycle of modern sport. Brad explains that he is in the entertainment business. ‘Melbourne is outrageous for its footy fanatics... it’s on the radio in the car ride home, on the TV ... your friends and family want to talk footy’. He believes family is the key to having a balance and enjoys spending time with his wife Anna, also from George Town, and his boys.

Coming back to Tasmania several times a year, he enjoys catching up with family and friends, including a handful of close Launceston Grammar friends, particularly at Christmas time when friends from interstate are also home. He would love to spend another three or four weeks during the holiday season driving around and seeing places he hasn’t seen for a while, ‘getting outdoors in Tassie is amazing’.

Brad, humble, calm and relaxed is determined.

Achieving the ultimate success in AFL football is what drives his coaching career. Deserving every success on and off the field, he is an excellent example to our students. Hard work, determination, strong values, humility and thankfulness have all contributed to his success.

Armitage, David Leonard – Class of 1945

Hirst (Adam), Janferie Anne – Class of 1960

Bardenhagen, Fiona Jane – Class of 1985

Holloway, David Tasman – Class of 1949

Baines (Turner), Claudine Phyllis – Class of 1934

Ingram, Susan Joan – Class of 1988

Butler, Dulcie – Class of 1934 Carter, James Robert Watson (Robin) – Class of 1950 Chamberlin, Jennine (Jenni) Elizabeth – Class of 1953 Chugg, John Richard – Class of 1945 Coogan, Philip John – Class of 1968 Cox (Shennan), Lorraine Letitia – Class of 1942 Daley (Bryant), Ella Joan – Class of 1929 Dawson (Ross-Reynolds), Judith (Judi) Ross – Class of 1953 Dowse, Bruce Trezise – Class of 1954 Dennis, Bruce Maxwell – Class of 1958

Lade, Stuart (Bill) Blair Stanley – Class of 1943 Lovell, Robert Edward – Class of 1952 McIntyre, Edgeworth (David) – Class of 1942 McKercher, Ian Thewlis – Class of 1956 Macleod, Henric Nicholas – Class of 1946 Mann, Bruce David – Class of 1952 Matthews (Baker), Patricia June – Class of 1943 Nixon (Gee), Margaret – Class of 1951 O’Halloran (Hope), Prudence (Prue) Virginia – Class of 1965 Pease (Grinrod), Margaret Eileen – Class of 1944

Duff, Bruce Harvey – Class of 1944

Phillips (Bennell), Joyce Warring – Class of 1935

Dunstan, Brian John – Class of 1952

Pitt, Philip Bernard King – Class of 1957

Farmilo, Trevor John – Class of 1941

Poxon, Richard John – Class of 1955

Fitze (Coles), Patricia Mary – Class of 1940

Reed (Cameron), Fiona Anne – Class of 1976

Freeburgh, Scott David – Class of 1990

Stephens, Rex Arthur – Class of 1949

Freeman, Lewis William – Class of 1939

Stewart (Crawford), Lois Alicia – Class of 1946

Gandy, John Raymond – Class of 1936 Gollan, John L – Class of 1959 Gorringe (St Hill), Elizabeth (Beth) – Class of 1928

Swan, Ian Hume – Class of 1946 Tabor, Belinda – Class of 1997 Taylor, John David (David) – Class of 1963

Goss (Gee), Margaret Nixon – Class of 1952

Thomas, Judith Kerkwood – Class of 1933

Grierson, Robert (Bob) – Class of 1955

Trethewie, Henry Roy – Class of 1942

Jones (Field), Barbara Elaine – Class of 1952

Wadsworth (Piercey), Wendy Jessie – Class of 1958

Hadden, Desmond Frederick – Class of 1939 Hardy, Geoffrey Robin (Rob) – Class of 1946 Headlam (Vickers), Nadine Vere – Class of 1941 Heyward, Nigel J – Class of 1948

Wardlaw, Timothy James – Class of 1961 Wherrett, Benjamin Charles Blanchard – Class of 1960 Wilson, Catherine (Cate) Hardy – Class of 1965

Whilst the School makes every effort to make itself aware of the deaths of past students, it sometimes happens that information is incorrect. It is appreciated when advice is received on the passing of former students so they can be remembered.

The School regrets any distress such an omission may bring to families and loved ones.

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BRINGING OUR GRAMMAR

The Community Hub For one hundred and seventy years, our school has been making its unique and valuable contribution to independent education in northern Tasmania.

FUNDRAISING TARGET 2017 target

$400,000

2016 target

$200,000

Money raised

$22,495

Today, as we look ahead five short years towards our 175th anniversary, we’re planning a major project to commemorate this remarkable milestone in our School’s history – and we invite you, as a member of the Launceston Grammar community, to be involved.

The final stage of our Five-year Strategic Capital Works Programme will be the creation of the new Launceston Church Grammar School Community Hub. This will be a warm and welcoming space for the school community to come together and enjoy in the present – and at the same time, a place that will link the traditions of our School’s rich past with our bright future.

Set in the heart of the school, the Community Hub will be a multi-use, light-filled, contemporary student learning space, incorporating Café 175 and The Space, which will display items from the DV Gunn Archives. To complete the vision, the project includes future stages that open the space to a sheltered platform overlooking the sports field. Our plan is to open the Community Hub in 2018, in advance of our 175th anniversary in 2021.

The Community Hub, with its appealing and integrating spaces, will reconnect old and young members of the Grammar Family.

STUNNING ART The Katie Woodroffe Art Award is given to an outstanding art student. In the future a retrospective of former student winners will bring many people together in the Community Hub and continue to honour Katie and the positive energy she infused at Launceston Grammar; creating a culture of nurturing, encouragement and teaching in the studio and gallery spaces of our School.

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CAFÉ 175 Extending and integrating the archive space, Café 175 will offer community members an informal space for students, staff and visitors to enjoy a vibrant and light-filled café and dining experience. The café end will include an exhibition space to showcase the work of our current art students and staff.

Café 175 will be open for business during school terms and other times by negotiation. School functions and events will be hosted within the whole precinct.

R COMMUNITY TOGETHER

A place that will link the traditions of the past with a bright future.

The Community Hub, with its appealing and integrated spaces, will reconnect old and young members of the Launceston Grammar family. We are a community that has a long record of generosity and philanthropy, through personal donations that have often become the stone and timber, the bricks and mortar, the steel and glass that create the growing physical fabric of our school.

The Board is now asking for your support to realise the next vision – the Launceston Church Grammar School Community Hub, a vital initiative that will celebrate another landmark in the history of Australia’s longest continually-operating school.

Michael Bennett, Chair, School Board

Please give generously – and as you do, we invite you to look forward to the day in 2018 when you can meet Launceston Grammar friends in the new Community Hub and reflect that, along with others who love our School, it was your generosity that helped make it possible.

s Three generations of the Crawford family examine a Wilkinson sword from the DV Gunn Archives

DAVID YOUNGMAN David (Class of 1950) was attracted to the sportsmanship of boxing. Speed balls, skipping ropes, sit ups, floor exercises and heavy punching bags are used in surf life-saving and boxing. ‘Dad was a surf life saver’. Sgt (Nutty) Robinson taught boxing at Launceston Grammar but David learned at home, working out with the speed ball attached to a beam in the loft of the family business, The Orient Hotel.

Borrowing Bill (Spud) Murphy’s green boxing shorts, David won the Ratten Belt in 1950.

Younger boys boxed, ‘They were safe, and it was all they could do to lift their gloves up’. Having it out in the gym sometimes happened after a scrap in the yard. A Master would take you down to the gym if there was agreement. After three rounds the boys would shake hands. David says at Launceston Grammar ‘You held your friendships’.

He regularly meets with mates from School.

THE SPACE The Space will be a permanent and dynamic facility to showcase the school’s significant historical assets from the DV Gunn Archives. Like all members of our community, you’ll have a personal and emotional connection to the Launceston Grammar story. Perhaps you remember treasure hunts for significant places, buildings named for past benefactors and architecture associated with our Chapel. Our Sschool story enlarges year by year, as we continue to be the custodians of significant memorabilia – items that resonate with individual identity and history.

ABOVE: The Ratten Belt 1926-1953, a boxing prize donated to the school by Dr Victor Ratten, parent of John (Jack) Ratten and William Ratten, boarders in 1920’s. Both boys boxed in competitions in the gymnasium. David Youngman won the belt in 1950.

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SARA STRONG

“

The Beatitude Windows

After Paul’s window was put in other people followed?..

”

On December 9th, Rt Rev Dr RS Hay formally dedicated and opened the Grammar Memorial Chapel. He was assisted by five other clergymen during the service. Historic stones were gifted from the most famous public schools of England.

Mathew 5: 3-10 Mrs Sara Strong has gifted preliminary artwork to the School collection by David Wright created in the preparation for the Chapel window, dedicated to her son Paul (1967-1995). ‘Chris (Headmaster Strong) had long wanted to put a window to the beatitudes in the Chapel’. The family engaged David Wright as the artist to create a window to Paul’s memory after some research and a visit to Cabrini Hospital in Malvern, where windows by Wright are installed. Mrs Strong said ‘I was moved to tears by the circular windows at Cabrini; the vivid colours were stunning’.

The Wadley family lost their son Brett Kelvin Wadley (1968-1996) and sponsored the second window.

The third window was sponsored by Richard Miles, a descendant of the Wilkinson family in memory of the Rev CG Wilkinson, his wife Florence and their family. The fourth window is for Headmaster the Rev WH Savigny, Sir Philip Fysh and Isaac Sherwin and was the gift of Elizabeth Savigny Godfrey-Smith (Fysh) and the estate of the late Philip John Savigny Fysh and Ann Fysh (Sherwin).

RIGHT: Original watercolour by David Wright

Headmaster, Christopher Strong and wife Sally visited Alumni around the world. They stayed with many Old Boys and Old Girls. At that time the oldest Old Boy was Colonel K.W. Merrylees (aged 97) who with wife Diana invited them to their uniquely beautiful 15th Century home in the village of Lavenham in Suffok. Kenneth Merrylees’ army career was in the Royal Engineers and much of it in service in Pakistan.

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1992

LEFT: Mrs Sara Strong

RYLLTON VINEY Establishing Art at Launceston Grammar German teacher Rolf Hennequel (Henkl)* was an art teacher at Launceston Grammar when Ryllton Viney (Class of 1962) was a student. He taught in the old Germanic tradition of drawing accurately from Classical plaster casts. In the last two years of his school life Ryllton won the art prize; books that still hold a valued place on his bookshelves. Ryllton remembers the classes were noisy with some misbehaviour but he remained attentive because of his interest in art history and because of this man. ‘He was encouraging; he saw that I had some native talent that was worth developing. So I was interested in understanding more about this intriguing man. My mother and father invited him to dinner. I recall that the night was a little awkward. My parents were accommodating but did not understand his view of the world’. Today, Ryllton is grateful to Rolf Henkl as an early mentor for his passion for art and art related fields of endeavour.

Ryllton was also deeply influenced by artist Bea Maddock who encouraged enquiry and introduced him to art criticism, first at The Launceston Teachers’ College and later at the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education and still later at the Victorian College of the Arts. Joining the Launceston Grammar teaching staff Ryllton’s next mentor was Head of the Junior School Denys Walter, who he later approached to introduce art classes at the Junior level. It soon became apparent how worthwhile these classes were so it was Denys’ suggestion to extend art classes through to Grade 12. ‘I was overjoyed and proceeded to enrol at Art School so as to convert my existing qualifications to secondary art teaching’. Over the next six years Ryllton developed art classes throughout the School whilst being a part-time student. After ten years at Launceston Grammar with ‘mission accomplished’, Ryllton moved to Wesley College in Melbourne as Head of the Department of Visual Arts at the St Kilda Road Campus. The National Gallery of Victoria was a ten minute tram trip from the College, so visits became a regular routine particularly for his senior students.

After nearly 30 years in Melbourne, Ryllton returned to Tasmania now as an experienced artist, teacher, Curator of the Wesley College Cato Collection, designer of the Coates memorial windows of the College Chapel and having held successful exhibitions in that city. He is pleased to still be in contact with some of his former students including renowned artist Philip Hunter. Ryllton speaks of a sense of enquiry and his interests in the Humanities extend to theology, philosophy and language.

Before he embarks on any body of new work in the studio he researches extensively. For example, a recent work at Gallery Pejean in Launceston evolved from his reading of the French Revolution.

Skilled in traditional techniques he sometimes makes rabbit skin glue for mixing gesso and works in egg tempera in the tradition of Russian Icon painters. In 1982 he received a scholarship to travel to Russia visiting many orthodox churches and icon schools in such places as Novgorod, Suzdal and Vologda. Ryllton’s main output today is largely modernist stylistically and content wise, based on historical events. His days are spent happily in his studio in pursuit of the elusive better painting – a sense of purpose and direction that is life enhancing.** *More about Rolf Henkl http://www.qvmag.tas.gov.au/qvmag/?c=141&langID=1 **Ryllton exhibited this year at Poimena Gallery at Launceston Grammar in a curated group show of Tasmanian landscape painters

TOP RIGHT: Ryllton Viney MIDDLE RIGHT: Ryllton Viney texture detail BOTTOM RIGHT: ‘The Surgeon’

by Angela Casey

History in the making – Head of Art at Launceston Grammar, Paul Snell, former teacher Helene Weeding, current technician Angela Casey and 2015 graduating student Georgia Stewart are all finalists for the Bay of Fires Art Prize.

2016

LEFT: Carbon pencil on paper 150 x 100cm by Georgia Stewart

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Heather Rossiter (Class of 1950) is a prolific writer and has shared as yet unpublished words about her school days at Broadland House School. She is the author of serious history and non-fiction works; a tougher deal she says than writing fiction or nonfiction lite.

SCIENCE AND THE SINGLE PARENT Lady Heather Rossiter ‘Up until 1992 my CV can be summarised as a lifetime working in Science with an active involvement with the Arts on the side. In 1961 a promising career with atomic energy research bodies in the UK and the USA, researching the removal of Strontium 90 from the human body was abandoned for a geographically unwise but happy marriage to Old Launcestonian John Steer MHA; after his death in 1968 it was resumed in Sydney. This too was abandoned when I realised it was impossible to be two parents and a researcher simultaneously. So to Sydney University for a Dip Ed and my career in teaching began. This ended in 1992 after 17 years as Science Master at Sydney Grammar School’.

Broadland House School ‘I received an excellent education and the more I travel the more I realise how broad it was… it gave me the skills to learn and survive, gave me a world picture into which experiences and later-acquired knowledge could be fitted’. Heather Rossiter was Dux of Broadland in 1950.

Teachers

“

My books are for posterity, even though it was never meant to be.’

”

Heather Rossiter’s articles, book reviews and travel pieces have appeared in Australian and international publications.

She was the research consultant for Mawson Life and Death in Antarctica (screened on ABC TV and BBC TV in 2000).

Mawson’s Forgotten Men The 1911-13 Antarctic Diary of Charles Harrisson was published in 2011.

Other publications are noted on her website: www.heatherrossiter.com

Miss Rooney (Headmistress at Broadland House 1932-63) was…’a distant and respected presence…

She created an atmosphere where intellectual things were valued and ensured that the full panoply of cultural life was at least sampled’. Broadland boarders ‘marched in crocodile’ to symphony concerts in the Albert Hall, heard visiting international artists on the ABC concert circuit and went by tram to ‘a dreadful old flea pit out at Invermay to see foreign films in languages we didn’t understand (except French). Miss Clark, a missionary in Inner Mongolia ‘made us all want to become missionaries’ and raised awareness of impoverished people outside of ‘wet, green, small, comfortable Tasmania’.

Miss Street taught English Expression. ‘In my present career as writer, author and reviewer I quite often hear those teeth clack-clacking behind me when I am about to split an infinitive or confuse the subject of a sentence (or use that instead of who!)’.

Liesl Penizek taught Science. ‘We had some grand battles, but she taught me logic and rationality and by instilling an excellent foundation of scientific theories and facts showed me how the world worked. I respected Miss Penizek and to her I concede my earlier international career as a researcher in nuclear medicine’.

On writing

Image of Heather Rossitor courtesy of Merinda Campbell.

‘In 1992 after a severe illness resulted in retirement I began scribbling. I was free to write, it wasn’t physically demanding. It was fortuitous that I struck Herbert Dyce Murphy (Lady Spy, Gentleman Explorer 2001); my mind was open and everything proceeded from there.’

Reflecting on the recently published Sweet Boy Dear Wife Jane Dieulafoy in Persia 1881–1886, the story of a fascinating woman, a history of Persia and a guide book for today’s tourist to Iran: ‘Jane took over my life, absolutely. I spent a month plodding through the ruins of Persia and “found” Jane Dieulafoy in Susa, a city built 2500 years ago. With her husband, Jane Dieulafoy had excavated the huge site in 1884-86 and discovered the extraordinary enamelled-brick friezes I had seen in the Louvre. It took 14 years and there were a lot of difficulties, not least that I was still working on Antarctica’.

On travel Heather is a passionate traveller. When her grandchildren finish their HSC she takes them off to a place where they haven’t been and where they wouldn’t take themselves. ‘Travelling can be testing and I really get to know them as people; we have formed wonderful bonds.’ She has eight grandchildren and so far two grandsons have accompanied her to Greenland and Iceland, one granddaughter to the Caucasus and another to Russia.

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DRAMA No Restrictions Lou Peters, Head of Drama, began working life at Launceston Grammar in the now Artist’s Residence below Poimena. It was as hot as a shearing shed in summer and in winter time staff donned some fur coats from the costume room to keep warm, tucked away without a phone. Teaching occurred on the hall stage and in one of the small rooms to the side, and productions were performed in the Auditorium.

As Drama and Dance has grown in prestige many students have enrolled at Launceston Grammar because of the programme and the purpose built facility The Tom Room Building, now the home to Drama and Dance. Drama develops communication skills, including the attributes of co-operation, and team work. These lifelong skills feed into many areas of endeavour. Lou is proud of our Alumni who have over the years gone on to work in such a variety of areas, including the media, journalism, event organising, theatre, film and television, choreography, entrepreneurship, medicine and law. She is also proud of each and every production and the team behind it.

Lou’s current Senior Campus Production Team includes Jeffrey Clarke assistant director and ‘assistant everything’, Christine Clarke (musical director), Fiona Hickman (choreographer), James Walker (set design and building), the stalwart backstage crew led by Nick Hansson, and Pushpa Kunasegaran (producer), the costume room team Janelle Scott and Ena Rigney. Each year parents work behind the scenes making costumes, assisting with make up, set construction, props and catering. We thank also the late Mrs. Chris Oliver for her years of support.

Many of our students feed into community productions; current students such as Rhiannon Bone (Grade 10) assumed the lead in Annie along with twenty one other Launceston Grammar students and staff in this Encore Theatre Production of 2013. Abbey Hansson (Class of 2013) played The Mistress in Evita (2014), Elle Woods in Legally Blonde (2015) and the title role in Mary Poppins (2015). She received an Errol award for her lead role in Mary Poppins in the 2016 Tasmanian Theatre Awards Musical Theatre section.

Lou has directed every production since Man of Steel. She is immersed in the local theatre scene, acting, adjudicating and working behind the scenes as Vice-President and also Convenor of the Drama Committee for the Launceston Competitions. Launceston Grammar students participate strongly in the Competitions every year. She would like to acknowledge colleague Marcus Bower with whom she has written, produced and acted in an annual sell-out political satire show, The Off Show, for over 30 years at The Royal Oak Hotel.

OFF TO NEVERLAND WITH PETER PAN

by Mark Saunders A highlight of the Grade 6 year is the musical production. Every student is involved in this extraordinary singing, dancing and acting spectacular. There is an outstanding amount of support from the community, be it from Encore Theatre Company, Tasmanian Academy of Dance, Tapestry Dance Studio or inviting both current and former students to become part of the pit orchestra. The fact that we have live music for the production is an exciting and important dimension to how we approach the musical: Grade 6 students are able to experience first hand both the discipline and freedom that a pit orchestra allows, adding extra depth and energy to the play. Support for the play closer to home has included the outstanding dedication we have received from parents and staff: an impressive array of experts and helpers have volunteered their time generously by helping with costumes, set-making, painting, make-up and ticketing.

As an educational tool, the musical spans many disciplines, in addition to honing life-skills such as team-work, independent learning and just being downright brave.

We look forward to presenting Peter Pan, the musical, at the end of the term, where you will be spellbound by the energy, dedication and maturity of our Grade 6 students as they take us on the greatest adventure to Neverland.

Photos from the launch of this year’s production Crazy For You, a Gershwin romantic musical. Production scheduled 27 - 29 July 2016.

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THREE BROTHERS OPPOSITE PAGE (from top): Nick with his daughter Poppy; Will and his wife Felicity with daughters Maggie and Lily (in stroller) BELOW: George with his daughter Ruby MAIN IMAGE: The Davies boys

Three brothers: George, Nick and Will Davies George and Nick boarded for most of their secondary school education and Will was attending as a day student when their mother, Barb Davies started teaching at School in 1990. She retired as Head of Information Technology in 2014. They are the great, great grandsons of Sir George Davies, one of Launceston Grammar’s first enrolled students.

George (Class of 1991) George has been working as a Director with NeXT Security in Victoria, a new division set up 12 months ago. NeXT delivers electronic security and building automation solutions to commercial businesses and government with new clients including VicRoads and Yarra Trams. George says the electronic security industry has evolved significantly over the last decade via the proliferation of connectivity and technology.

George loves and revels in change, ‘it’s probably the engineer in me, tending to look for a different or better way to tackle things. Business, people, products, processes; everything can be done better… I don’t accept the status quo’. He cites Netflix and smartphones, ‘it is a common misconception that people don’t like change’, it just needs to be couched in a way that people can see the benefits, and ‘then you can take people with you. Driving change can be difficult, but the things that are worth doing usually are’. This search for change and innovation lead George to do a combined MBA and MEI (Master of Entrepreneurship & Innovation) at Swinburne University which focusses on Technology.

At Launceston Grammar, George was a boarder and admittedly was anxious as a young boy starting Grade 6. During the following years he experienced great change in a positive direction as the old school traditions of the senior and junior pecking orders were challenged in the Hawkes/Savigny House, and improved for those following him. He attributes much of that change to the leadership of Boarding House Master David Martin. It is for this reason, when younger students came into the Boarding House George took on a mentoring role, making the transition between home and school easier. George is still close with many of his old boarding and school mates and values these friendships.

The Stannard Clarke Technology Centre opened during his early years; ‘a real privilege after the cold, and decrepit woodwork room down by the original pool’. This helped form his passion for technology.

He enjoyed an academically successful Grade 11 and 12 with a focus on the sciences and maths, had a win with the Open Fours in the 1991 Head of the River and went on to UTAS to the Engineering Faculty, studying electronics and computing.

After university, George worked in Hobart before transferring to Melbourne with Inner Range, a company specialising in the development and manufacture of electronic security and building automation. From here he was sent to London to set up Inner Range Europe, a role he greatly enjoyed for six years building up a strong team, wide client base and traveling across Europe, the Middle East, USA and Africa. It was here that he met his wife Alison, originally from Hobart. Eventually the pull of Australia was too strong and they return to Melbourne to settle down and start a family.

George enjoys being a hands on father to Max (3) and Ruby (7) and learning to deal with all the laughter and tears that these age groups experience in a day! He also enjoys catching up with his brothers and they have enjoyed some great boys own adventures together such as rafting the Franklin or skiing in Austria. But now it is more about the three families spending time together with each other and their parents, John and Barbara. These are usually more family friendly action packed affairs with six young children and involve boating, skiing and singing along with John (Bear’s) ukulele.

The most recent of these was last Christmas at Stewarts Bay, near Port Arthur.

Nick (Class of 1993) Nick is working in the high voltage power industry; an industry that is rapidly developing, ‘particularly in the last ten to fifteen years - the workforce can barely keep up. It is an interesting space, with lots of innovation and opportunities’. Nick approached RBD Electrical & Instrumentation, a business in Devonport, three years ago with a proposal to help expand and set up a Hobart office. He is now a director and manages 28 employees in Hobart ‘Our business has tripled in size with over 90 personnel’. Nick has grown too and has learned about good leadership as a company director ‘from knowing what your personal values are, aligning your business with those values, and communicating them with your people so they understand, their behaviours then align with those core values’. It is an exciting time to be in energy; the way it is produced, consumed and managed. ‘People are concerned about where energy comes from and how much they use’.

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With two young children, Poppy (5) and James (2½), Nick and his wife Larni enjoy the outdoors. ‘We have a boat and stay overnight in secluded places, there are so many of them. You can find yourself on a beach where no else is, or take little bushwalks within a half hour drive’.

At school Nick loved sport. He rowed in the 1st VIII for two years, trained and worked hard. Gavin Wakefeild and Ralf Hobbs were great coaches with high expectations. He played football in winter and in Grade 12 was exempted for snow ski training and racing in the Tasmanian Junior Ski Team. ‘I skied every weekend, which I loved. Our parents took us to Canada twice, when I was 14 and 15 for six weeks over the school summer’. Nick has skied on the Mainland, in New Zealand and Europe multiple times and has had three trips to Wyoming in the US. The whole family skis and tries to catch up every year. All the brothers and their families went to Mount Hotham together last season.

School felt like home to Nick. The family lived on the farm and he went home on weekends. He was a boarder when the swimming pool was next to the Chapel and lived in the pool after school. The bonds and friendships in boarding are formed with older and younger students, not just your year group. David Martin was Housemaster, ‘he was great and built values with high expectations around behaviour. If you weren’t meeting those expectations, that was made very clear’. Recently retired teacher Don Schumacher was a favourite in Ag Science and when he became a day student Don was his tutor; ‘he was straight down the line’.

After Grade 12 Nick went to University for two years enrolled in Agricultural Science and Commerce. ‘I didn’t finish after a tough two years. I wasn’t in the right space’. He returned to Launceston and became an apprentice electrician, worked as tradesman for three years, went overseas, travelled and lived in the UK working for himself in England. He believes in making your own luck, working hard for whatever it is you want to do and knows that there are many ways to get to where you want to be. Nick has moved into a management role in an industry that is on the agenda with the current energy situation, and he is looking to a sustainable future. ‘When you break it down good values, a social conscience, care for the environment and a good work ethic matter’.

Will (Class of 1997) Will is currently the Project Director for the Hobart Airport Runway Extension. His work involves managing the project from the planning through to completion; this includes the development of design, budgeting and land acquisitions, negotiating contracts and reporting project status to the CEO and Board of Directors.

His previous role was with Melbourne Airport managing construction of a multi-level transport interchange and car park that facilitates 10,000 vehicle movements a day at Tullamarine airport. He says challenges that are faced on all projects, such as stakeholder coordination, performance management and changing requirements, all disappear when the project is completed. ‘When I visit Melbourne Airport I feel a sense of pride in what the team were able to achieve in such a challenging environment’.

What of his next career move? Having relocated back to Tasmania with wife Felicity and young daughters Maggie (4) and Lily (2) to work on his current project, Will intended to return to Victoria upon completion of the project, but the lifestyle change has been very rewarding for the family being closer to long-time friends and the beautiful Tasmanian environment. School friendships are also still strong and there is a large group he is still in close contact with.

The ability to find the next project in Tasmania is part of the deal, ‘the work is dynamic’ so we are watching this space.

Personally Will is enjoying his young family. ‘The girls are a delight, a complete change from growing up in a testosterone charged household’. The competitiveness of three young brothers has evolved and they have settled into their careers. ‘We enjoy each other’s company, we get the same jokes and share the good times. Our wives all get along splendidly and with six cousins under seven we are enjoying a new phase of life as fathers and uncles’.

At School he embraced the competition of rowing and the camaraderie of the Walkathon. In Grade 10, 11 and 12 Will rowed in the 1st IV, ‘rowing was an especially rewarding aspect of school life which culminated in winning a National Championship in the Junior Men’s Quad scull with Anton Ostberg (Class of 1997), Richard Williams (Class of 1998) and Charles Millen (Class of 1998). Jim Chalmers (’84) invested a lot of time in the rowing programme and me’.

Academically Nick Foster was a great influence as the Senior Leadership Co-ordinator, and his years with Bill Rostrum from Grade 8 to 10 were good, he enjoyed the challenges that the Technology Centre offered. ‘I was a prefect and my contact with Headmaster Peter Welch was invaluable, offering insights into life – how to be a good person, striving for more’. In 1998 Will spent a gap year at St Stithians College in South Africa, ‘a fantastic opportunity to broaden experiences and build independence’; again, good friendships were made. On his return he completed a double degree at Monash in Business Marketing and Business Management.

Will has taken those influences into the world personally and professionally and strives to always improve and his motto, be better, is firm.

Sir John George Davies (1846-1913), known as George enrolled at Grammar prior to the official register. He was the proprietor of the Mercury Newspaper in Hobart with his brother Charles Ellis Davies, founded by their father John Davies. Sir George devoted his time to journalism, public life (local and State government), the military, horse racing, cricket and other sports. Awards: Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, Knight Bachelor.

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MATHEMATICS: FOR EVERYONE Maths skills contribute to life skills, fostering a critical mind and the ability to analyse in many ways including the world of finance. David Coulson PHD, Head of Launceston Grammar Maths understands that mathematics itself won’t change a lot at school for our students.

For those that choose to go on after an honours degree the world of pure research offers unknown possibilities – a world of new discoveries in the ‘stratosphere’, which may or may not impact on our everyday lives. Pursuing a desire to be stretched mathematically, David, a self-confessed maths nerd, has lived in that world undertaking a PhD at Monash University.

From Tasmania originally, he has returned with his young family to head up the Department where he has been blessed with specialist maths teachers across the range of grades.

How has mathematics changed? Whilst the basic tenets of mathematics have not altered a lot over the past 50 years, for most students, accessibility to the basic skill set that mathematics offers has.

Students with big picture understanding who may not have the same level of algebraic skills as those in the past, gain a level of confidence using CAS calculators to perform algebra and achieve results. The ability to use this tool means that study and career choices are more open.

Teachers use short video clips, which assist visual learners. Our students are also confident and responsive with eBooks.

This year was a year of achievements in all academic and sporting areas. Channel 9 Melbourne filmed Launceston Grammar as one of four Tasmanian schools deemed ‘special’. David Gibson (Class of 1994) and Ian Millen (Class of 1995) represented the School in the Australian Mathematic Olympiad team that year.

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1993

The maths staff, Richard Wirsu, Selwyn Church, Terry Sheehan, Paul Townsend, Sue Shimmin, Bill Rostron, Jami Lane, Brent Colgrave, Katie Duncan, Emma Batten, Monique Austen and Grant Suttar group students up according to aptitude and are dedicated to a long running after school tutoring programme in our Learning Hub. Those students get more help with fundamentals and enrichment to extend.

MATHS GETS A GUERNSEY Jordan Poland (Class of 2014) A gap year as a trainee in Outdoor Education at St Andrew’s Cathedral School in Sydney consolidated Jordan Poland’s future plans. As a lover of the beauty of the natural world, he is enrolled in a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in maths and physics, and has his eye on a future teaching career. How does that work? Reflecting on his education at Launceston Grammar, experiences in Sydney showed him there are many ways to solve problems. The first instinct might not be the best solution and there is a lot of enjoyment in discovering new pathways. Maths means thinking around a problem and he has always enjoyed how the discipline allows you to manipulate situations. Being outside, working closely with students and their various responses to physical and mental challenges activates that same analytical response. As for teaching, the seeds were sown in his own education when he helped his peers with mathematics, in his own way, to foster understanding. A teacher in the making and the year outdoors consolidated his enjoyment of ‘the whole nurturing that comes through education’, challenging and inspiring others.

Always passionate about outdoor activities and bush walking with his family, Jordan embraced outdoor education activities at Launceston Grammar. The camps on Maria Island, Freycinet and Mt Cameron were augmented by white water kayaking on the Arthur River. Outdoor activities were not compulsory in Grade 11 and 12 but he went on them all, including rock climbing and white water rafting.

Teacher Richard Wirsu was a mentor ‘through my connection with him in maths’. They ‘got to know each other a bit over the years’, sharing a deep interest in outdoor education. John McLaine (Jmac), heads up orienteering and Jordan participated throughout high school years, ‘he was also my tutor, and we were able to have good conversations’, sharing a similar interest in the outdoor world.

If you were wondering why Jordan is on this path of seemingly disparate disciplines, including his hobby of creative wilderness photography, he says looking after the environment and teaching other people to look after it is part of outdoor education. Connecting with the wilderness means caring for the natural world. From a leaders perspective he appreciates the work that goes into an outdoor camp. Analytical skills and problem solving are all in the equation, pardon the pun, and he now feels confident nurturing and leading groups, consolidating his decision to make education a career. In a pragmatic way he wants to complete a degree, is enjoying communicating with mathematically inclined brains and wishes to diversify his skill set.

A teacher in the making and the year outdoors consolidated his enjoyment of ‘the whole nurturing that comes through education’, challenging and inspiring others.

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TEACHING INTO THE FUTURE Nick Clements’ commitment

“

It satisfies my childish desire to make a difference in the world.

”

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Causby/Blue Cork

Nick Clements’ love of teaching, history and learning arose through adversity. He was a restless kid and ‘a bit of a ratbag at school’, leaving at 15 to work in a woodchip mill. He travelled overseas with a backpack at the first opportunity, spending a year by himself in North America. Aged 21, just four months after returning home, he broke four vertebrae on a 45 metre cliff dive, changing his life forever.

With a titanium cage in the place of a shattered vertebrae there would be no more manual labour and his mother insisted he begin tertiary study. Dismissive at first ‘I hadn’t written an essay in my life’, Nick enrolled in philosophy, psychology, history and aboriginal studies at UTAS Launceston. ‘Not expecting to enjoy it, let alone pass, I reluctantly waddled to my first lectures in a full-body brace, but to my surprise it was love at first sight. I found something within me I never knew was there’.* Graduating with 1st Class Honours in History in 2007, he took a year’s sabbatical to travel through South East Asia and then solo around Europe on a motorbike, returning in 2009 to begin his PhD. Nick won a scholarship to access a private collection of material on Tasmanian Aborigines at the QVMAG and to study under the eminent Historian, Henry Reynolds. His friendship with Reynolds in part stems from deep admiration of his mentor. ‘It was a great privilege to work under Henry, who is easily Australia’s most renowned and impactful historian, having written some twenty books and still publishing’. Nick admits, ‘I knew basically nothing about Tasmania’s Aborigines or the Black War. I had heard about the Black Line, and thought I knew a couple of things about the conflict, but all that turned out to be wrong. It was enlightening but also deeply disturbing to discover the truth, particularly as my own ancestors turned out to be among the killers’.** At the conclusion of study Nick’s book The Black War: fear, sex and resistance in Tasmania was published, selling 5000 copies. It has short-listed for at least three major awards. ‘Although no event has ever been as significant to Tasmanian History, the Black War has received no official acknowledgment or memorialisation. One day this will change, and we’ll all feel ashamed that it took so long. The War all but wiped out the Aborigines, and more white Tasmanian’s died per capita than during World War Two’. The Black War approaches our difficult history in a very novel way, with each chapter split, half from the whites’ perspective, and half from the blacks’. This, Nick says, was to force readers to empathise with both sides and to realise it was not simply a battle between good and evil.

Old Boy Graeme Hetherington (Class of 1955) is also a good friend of Henry Reynolds and has read and responded with poetry to The Black War, a book which he admires deeply. His poem The Perpetuation of Our Shame is published in this edition of News from Grammar. Nick and Graeme have now exchanged correspondence and those cross generational connections enrich and build our community.

Insatiably curious with a deep love of learning Nick regrets he was never able to express this at the school he attended, where fighting and mucking up carried far greater social currency. As a lecturer and tutor at UTAS he discovered a passion for teaching, which is how he ended up at Launceston Grammar. ‘It satisfies my childish desire to make a difference in the world’, he says, ‘and it has allowed me to become a generalist, rather than an expert in one area’. At Launceston Grammar ‘learning is cool’ and students thrive in an environment where curiosity is nurtured. Despite his accident, or perhaps because of it, learning and teaching has given Nick a second chance at life, and he couldn’t be happier with where it has taken him. He is also looking forward to fatherhood as his first child is due as this publication goes to press.

*Nick won the prestigious Order of Australia Bursary in his first year at University and later other scholarships

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1918

1912

**Nick is an 8th generation Tasmanian whose convict ancestor was with Col. Paterson when he settled on the banks of the Tamar River in 1804

GRAEME HETHERINGTON Poet (Class of 1955) I was born in 1937 and my first 13 years were spent on the West Coast of Tasmania in the mining towns of Rosebery and Renison Bell. It was understood to be isolated and backward in those times, and its harsh, raw, rugged look given by the mountains and dense bushland set upon by wild rainy weather have been retained by my mind’s eye and still play their part in my poetry. Life in the school playground in Rosebery was too rough and tough for my sensitive self to incorporate successfully and I was only able to look on in nervous apprehension as boys upended the girls in the war-time trenches. Does domestic violence in adult life, I sometimes wonder, have its beginnings in childhood behaviour of this kind?

In 1950 I became a boarder at Launceston Grammar. Even though the regime was rather Spartan, with a cold shower at seven each morning, the school environment was, generally speaking, more refined than what I’d been used to. It seemed to be a school for the sons of wealthy midland’s graziers and prominent business men, and initially I felt like the proverbial fish out of water as a working class boy, to the extent that I was uneasy at perhaps having betrayed my origins. I remember Trevor Sorell, the Housemaster, a Tasmanian establishment figure if ever there was one, telling me that I was doing well considering I came from the West Coast, where his ancestor the governor William Sorell had established the Hell’s Gate’s prison for convicts! Despite the twist given to my psychology by this conflict between my background and my new circumstances, I’m to this day grateful to teachers like Reverend Mortimer-Tanner, Eric Charlton and ‘Johnny’ Moyes, for having interested me in English Literature and History. They had much to do with my going on to the University of Tasmania in 1955.

THE PERPETUATION OF OUR SHAME (For Nick Clements’ ‘The Black War’)

(1) In Rosebery’s new communal hall Folk watched old Billy hammered blind And threw him change for hanging on.

A punch-drunk full-blood from up north,

And so one thing led to another. At the university I did well enough to be appointed as a Teaching Fellow in the Classics Department in my early twenties, and by 26, after a year as a Research Fellow at Birmingham University in England, I stopped off in Greece for five years, unable at this stage to return to Tasmania, having just escaped, and also wanting to flesh out subject matter that was only a pale abstraction in the antipodes. Fortunately, the University of Tasmania forgave me my truancy and I re-joined the Classics Department in 1969. I say fortunately, because it was then, aged 32, that I met James McAuley and Gwen Harwood, who set me firmly on the path of poetry.

King-hit for life he earned his keep, Crouched low and let all comers break The savage in a spotlit ring, His friend his shadow on the floor.

ABOVE RIGHT: Graeme Hetherington one of four poetry anthologies

(2) Found in the scrub at Truganini Park And fixed on rock by ragged slats of steel, A lump of grey-black iron serves to commemorate Her life, like chewing gum stuck out of sight.

BELOW LEFT: Graeme Hetherington with poet Gwen Harwood

1968

1962

1945

The 80th Anniversary edition of the Launcestonian published rousing original poetry, a reflection of the time, titled The School (1846-1926) by JWB and Come to Tasmania by LMS and The Heads by Anon about every Headmaster to date. Each ‘in spite of cane and rod’, turning out ‘true men’.

1926

My knuckles test and sound the hollowness As others too have tried this drum of shame: Already the inscription’s polished smooth, Rewritten with the fingerprints of crime.

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BOARDING Insights into a life in boarding Terry and Allison Sheehan are in their 13th year at Launceston Grammar after 18 years at Hutchins in Hobart and Saint Ignatius College in NSW. Thousands of students have been in their care and the Sheehan’s reflect on’boarding becoming home’.

Terry says much has changed in boarding over the years but many things have stayed true, including the use of language. Prep, short for preparation, is still the common term used amongst boarders and staff for homework time. ‘Day rats’ commonly used by Launceston Grammar boarders in reference to non-boarding students goes back a long way. They strongly identify themselves as boarders, perhaps even feeling slightly superior to the ‘day rats’.

Allison is fascinated by nicknames that stick for life, especially among the boys, who are still affectionately known by their school nickname.

Some are very clever and some terrible’.

Craig and Nadine Slavin were appointed to the position of Co-Heads of Boarding in September 2015. They are enthusiastic about promoting ‘a boarding house that students are proud of and nurtures them in all aspects’.

Their passion to do the job comes from a love for education and experience working with and caring for children. They are committed to ensuring the Boarding House is a home away from home.

They aim to build on an atmosphere that is ‘an extension of home that caters for an individual’s needs both pastorally and academically’. The Slavins understand that being away from home is not easy and aim to extend the comradery of boarders by offering more activities and broadening experiences. Weekend activities, movie nights, games and rotational seating arrangements for dinner, Dorm and whole House activities have provided good bonding experiences and ways to strengthen relationships.

Planned outdoor activities, including bike riding, exploring beaches, rock climbing and strawberry picking, acknowledge the beauty of Tasmania’s unique environment and natural resources and provides a benefit and attraction to students. Offering a Tasmanian experience is particularly important for international boarders.

They have exciting plans, including giving the Games Room a facelift with a new air hockey table, foosball table and beanbags to relax in. Other projects include a cardio room, mountain bike track around the grounds and the utilisation of existing facilities. Craig explains ‘the Campus is their backyard’. Boarders have everything they need at school; great food and service from Darryl and Marie Strickland, friends around all the time, access to the swimming pool, oval, gymnasium and music centre. This allows them to plug into their environment and look beyond their screens.

With strong relationships forming, a new group of well-trained tutors, a focus on academic achievement and plenty of fun activities ahead the future of Boarding at Launceston Grammar looks strong.

Working in boarding is a privilege and when Terry attends reunions he is reminded of the impact it has. ‘In an era of just do it for yourself, boarding is not that’. Parents acknowledge the positive changes, often after six months. Terry recalls one boy who went home in the holiday break and remodelled his bedroom after his room in the Boarding House.

Boarders learn a congruence of values from tolerance to independence, and like a scout, collect metaphorical badges along the way.

A wider view of society sets them up as world leaders. A Hawkes House Captain spoke eight years ago; ‘everything we do makes a difference.

We must leave the place better than we found it’. The speech still resonates with Terry and around the Boarding House to this day. This kind of leadership and attitude is what the Sheehan’s have worked to instil. ‘Nobody owns Launceston Grammar, they just borrow it for a bit’.

After 30 years as Residential Coordinator in the Boarding House, Yvonne Cook is in her ninth year hosting international students during school holidays. Relationships with ex-boarders endure and she still receives phone calls, texts, cards and visits. She has been invited to numerous weddings and birthday parties of former students.

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LANGUAGES Indonesian with Umi Quor The Australian Curriculum now emphasises Australia’s engagement with countries in the Asia Pacific; we are part of the most populous region in the world with enormous influence globally and at home.

Umi Quor started teaching Indonesian at Launceston Grammar in 1996 and from June 2011 has taught solely at the Junior Campus. Her connection to Asian language and cultural networks throughout Australia and overseas, and her work at the Junior Campus particularly has impacted on many levels.

The Junior Campus teachers and students are engaged with the Bridge Programme supported by Umi’s language skills, insights, knowledge and cultural understanding. The Programme fosters an exchange between Australian teachers, students and school communities working with their counterparts in Asia.

Learning does not stop in the classroom and every opportunity to immerse in South East Asian culture is utilised within the integrated curriculum, including a cultural festival week, school plays, hosting diplomatic visits, music, dance and cooking. Head of Junior Campus Jane King worked as a founding staff member of the Tanjung Bara International School in Kalimantan Timor, Borneo creating a curriculum that catered for the needs of students from a variety of educational systems.

Jane believes we have a lot to learn from other cultures, for example the way South East Asian cultures treat and learn life skills through grandparents and the elderly. Umi and Jane share a belief in the role culture and language can play in teaching respect, building life experience and a passion for exploring the world. Skills that are more important than ever in a global society.

TOP RIGHT: Mrs Umi Quor and Mrs Jane King – Multicultural Day organised by Umi RIGHT: Indonesian Assembly for our Indonesian visitors

THE ART HOUSE MURAL with Laura Watts As you enter the gate off Elphin Road at the Junior Campus, you may have noticed an evolving mosaic mural. Clay figures smile at you and bluebirds fly through the sky. Rain clouds water flowers and trees and from them the word ‘Nurture’ has grown. This artwork is a collaboration across a number of classes from Grades 1-6. It is nearing completion, the final tiles are being glued into place and it is awaiting some sunny weather for the finishing touch of grout.

In WWII Peter Clare, wrote home ‘Tell Mr (Quim) McIntyre that all his French teaching was not absolutely in vain’, for he could make himself understood at a French mission station near his camp.

In 1968 Launceston Grammar pioneered a new subject in Tasmania, when Miss Kal Bandara taught Indonesian, with some students from other schools also joining classes.

1968

The mural is a true reflection of our work in the Junior School Art House in a number of ways. We aim to share our artwork with each other and the Launceston Grammar community, by putting it on display. Collaborate to allow ideas to grow. Exercise patience, sometimes the most rewarding projects take the longest to complete. Try new things, to discover new talents, passion and challenge ourselves. Most importantly, we ‘Nurture’ our creativity so that we can learn to express ourselves, our beliefs and our ideas.

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NICK FOSTER The agency of physical education

. . . hopes, dreams and aspirations are the same as those of years ago but students today know more about the world and are exposed to more in than their forebears.

”

RIGHT: Sir Lindesay Clark and Mr Tom Room ‘Learning the Ropes’ on the occasion of the opening of the TD Room Gymnasium on 19 September 1972 BELOW: Charlie Edis in the gym today

In 1996 Head of Senior Campus Nick Foster had started teaching at Launceston Grammar and was Master in Charge of Athletics. His memory is acute and all the names of the students that became involved in his athletics team that year come easily to mind. Voluntary training began in the winter months and he filled the school Land Cruiser, then the school bus and by the end of winter had a coach load of students. He taught all the skills - hurdles, throwing, jumping etc. In the spirit of interschool competition the Open Boys relay team had a coveted win over Hutchins that year. They were Andrew Joyce, Lee Pilgrim, Jeremy Britton and Matt Godfrey and a black baton from the race was engraved in celebration.

Nick recalls vividly the gymnasium, a reflection of post WWII calisthenics with vaulting horses, climbing boards and mini trampolines for a style of physical fitness training reminiscent of a drill sergeant in action. The old boxing gloves were still in storage and as everything cycles around in a dynamic world the new Gym offers boxing for fitness with a speed ball, weights, bags and new gloves.

He speaks of the better rounded person and fitness for life. Launceston Grammar is a marketplace of choice now and into the future and he has witnessed that change. In the 1960s football, cricket, track and field, rowing and field hockey were the main contenders. Now we offer so much more. Our School and students are also involved with sports bodies in businesses in the broader community and are leaving with a capacity to find what they need as well rounded people. They work out in gyms, know about nutrition and exercise and are aware of the issues of drugs and sport. He says their hopes, dreams and aspirations are the same as they ever were but they know more about the world and are exposed to more. Sport at Launceston Grammar might be mountain bike riding, softball, equestrian, sailing, soccer, track and field, orienteering, badminton, basketball, netball, table tennis, canoeing and exercise through games.

Well documented studies link physical activity and academic achievement too. Nick believes in the spirit of individual and team sport, and how that energy contributes to the soul of the school.

Olympian and two times Commonwealth Games swimmer, Broadland Old Girl Audrey Youl (Moore), Class of ’82, was the first Tasmanian to achieve in the pool, winning a bronze medal at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane. She was the national titleholder in the 100 metres backstroke in 1983. Audrey said ‘winning or losing does not make you a good or bad person – there’s so much more to sport than that’.

(Diverse Lives)

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1982

“

BRIAN ROE OAM ‘Anywhere at any time’ In 2016 Brian was awarded an Order of Australia medal for his services to sport including with AFL Tasmania, but particularly athletics as his influence has been far reaching nationally and internationally in that sport.

In the early 1990s a colleague enrolled Brian Roe (Class of 1973) in a course about this new thing called electronic mail and he notably remarked that it would never take off. Today his on-line presence and electronic footprint is extensive and enthusiastic. Doctor_Roe@twitter describes himself as a sports administrator, event organizer, sometime lawyer, journalist, alleged sports guru, aspiring cook and gardener and so far failed politician. Embracing new technology from the beginning and growing with it, he says social media and technology instills flexibility into programmes, ‘it’s a Godsend’ and without it sports organizations cannot be as effective with volunteer and professional programming.

Athletics Tasmania send zero by paper and the website, email and Facebook reach all their members with any communication.

Academically gifted Brian completed the Higher School Certificate in Grade 11 and had to wait a year before starting a degree in law and arts at the Australian National University. Obsessed with coming to school he would have to be very sick to miss a day, as there was always something new to learn. He stayed on for Grade 12, and it was a great year without any pressure. In the leadership roles of School Captain and House Captain there were more useful things to do. He was ‘unable to hammer a nail or draw a vase of flowers’ but sport was supreme.

In a busy life Brian has never forgotten the mentors and supporters in his life. His mother and maternal grandfather were both great volunteers for sport. Frank Nott, Graeme Briggs and Noel Ruddock supported young people such as him. He sees it as his role now to encourage and mentor younger administrators, just as he was. Athletics is the basis of all sports and has implications for health and fitness. He would like to see it take a higher priority in all schools. In his public life Brian has always taken a stand, about sport, politics and ethical behavior. As for politics, ‘never say never’ and in all matters ‘it is important that you stand up and speak up and have that strength of heart’. Some people don’t have that opportunity, and he feels that he represents those people as well.

Athletics was encouraged at Launceston Grammar – it was prestigious to be invited to try out for the team. The School won the State Athletics Championship. Headmaster Selth was obsessed with athletics, and had been an announcer at the 1956 Melbourne Olympic Games. Sports Master Tony Winder introduced a subject called The Theory of Physical Education. ’Athletics is the basis of all sports’ and Brian would like to see the profile lifted in all schools, as it was when he was a young student.

He approves of a Term 1 and 2 focus because the academic diversions at the end of a school year consume so much energy and time.

In 1974 there were no courses in sport administration. An arts law degree gave Brian a background for clear thinking and processing, whilst his forlorn hope was to replace Norman May as sports commentator on the ABC. (Interestingly his mate who went to Scotch and lived two doors down Granville Street actually did!)

Opportunity came through serendipitous events in 1983. Rupert Murdoch got caught in a traffic jam in Rome during a marathon. He called Athletics Australia and proposed that the marathon come to Sydney with his financial support. Brian became the first events person in Australia to direct a run that closed the Sydney Harbour Bridge for the first time.

School Captain Ken Hutton ran 100 yards in the record time of 10.4 seconds. He also excelled in mathematics and science and went on to win the Stawell Gift in 1941.

1938

In 1985 the International Association of Athletics Federations asked Athletics Australia to allocate someone to look after their officials when they came to Canberra for the World Cup. As ‘nobody else wanted to do it’, Brian put his hand up. Propelled into an international organisation, he has grown with it through expansion and current controversy. He took a leadership role with Athletics Australia heading the Ethics and Integrity Unit overseeing the application of the sport’s Member Protection, Illicit Drugs, Match Fixing and Anti-Doping Policies amongst other things. His advice is be well educated on these subjects and don’t feel as though you have to cheat, because you don’t. There will always be people who do the wrong thing, but they will eventually be caught.

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HOUSES

FRASER

Fraser House has definitely had an exciting and busy start to the year.

With the Annual House Chapel and Swimming Carnival very early on in the term we hit the ground running. ‘The Fraze’ was spread throughout all aspects of the School, it has been so inspiring to watch such a close community of students and staff succeed and most importantly spread the house spirit in all areas. Being a part of Fraser is really something special and this bond was especially shown on the recent Walkathon.

Throughout the tough 24 hours our Grade 12s pushed through the hardest mental and physical challenge most of us had ever participated in. There was constant support from our small group of Grade 12s and from the House as a whole. I know we are excited for what is to come for Fraser.

Written by Co-captain Zoe Down

SAVIGNY

Life in Savigny is feeling like you’re part of something bigger. Knowing that you have tutors and fellow friends in your House to talk to and participate in activities – a great sentiment.

Being able to mingle with people from a variety of grades through the House system allows for social cohesion and a sense of understanding. Savigny has a light-hearted nature and Period 3 activities on Friday are never short of a good laugh. Savigny students prides themselves on participation, acceptance and commemorating the achievements of our fellow House Members. Our focus as House Captains isn’t necessarily on winning, but doing the best for the house and the relationships within it.

Written by Co-captains Joe Crawford and Lily Leighton

WILKINSON

It has been a bright start to 2016 for the whole House that has seen many great achievements being awarded for our efforts as a whole.

The year kick-started with the Swimming Carnival in Week 3 where our amazing participation rate and high effort from all members of the House was rewarded with a victory in the Carnival and our new House cheer was chanted with great enthusiasm. Wilkinson has had a successful summer season with extra-curricular and sporting success. Hard work and determination was on display in the 2016 Walkathon. Our Grade 12s ably represented the values of our motto ‘without fear, without reproach’. Recently the whole House proudly worked together to clean up the School grounds during Period 3. We look forward to more collaborative and rewarding projects in the year ahead.

Written by Co-captains James Sexton and Priya Reeves

JUNIOR SPORT Christian Zantuck worked alongside teaching colleague Ann Green for 18 months and inherited her blueprint for the Junior Campus Physical Education and Sports Programme. Apart from two years teaching mathematics and other subjects in the United Kingdom, 15 years has passed by and children are involved in more activities inside and outside of school. Administrative time has increased; four classes are involved in the Perceptual Motor Programme and there are five Early Learning programmes. Touch football, basketball championships, soccer, all schools Triathlon challenges, and cricket are played and both Christian and Lou Wigan are involved in rostering for some of these sports. Swimming and water safety, Northern Independent Junior School Sports Association events for cross country, athletics and swimming competition also require co-ordination and communication. T20 Blast cricket for boys and girls aged 7-12 is growing and more girls than ever participate, 30 from our School. Prep-2 and Grades 3-6 are also involved in the Northern Primary Dance event held every second year at the Silverdome. Many children are involved in community clubs and organisations. It is a busy life for Christian and Lou, the young students and the supportive parents and grandparents, keeping it all together.

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GILLETT ‘Everyone knows red is the fastest’ – Matt Cox, 2016.

To initiate the year Gillett attended our annual Commencement Chapel. This gave students and families the opportunity to introduce themselves to Gillett House Head, Mrs Fiona Hickman, Tutors and House Captains. Each Gillett Tutor Group elects a Tutor Captain. Every Friday we meet to share achievements, to distribute awards and participate in a weekly challenge set by a designated group.

Tutor points accumulate and the group with the most points at the end of the year wins the Tutor Cup. Gillett House is like a big family, everyone encouraging and supporting each other.

Written by Finn Bailey and Millie Jetson

ROFF Roff has had a huge Term 1, kick starting the year with a House chapel and barbeque to bring the family together and discuss our initial ideas. We all decided house spirit would be our major focus in 2016. After seeing the results of this at the swimming carnival, we created Simba, our new mascot, to support and build our enthusiasm in competitions. We chose Whitelion as our major charity, and once again the spirit and support from inside and outside our House leads us to reach our goal. Each week, a tutor challenge is conducted; being a great way to have fun and bring the House together. Roff has also managed to clean-up areas of theSchool to do our bit for Clean Up Australia Day! Written by Co-captains Sarah-Eliza Cook and Makonnen Brown

HAWKES The Boarders, a combination of membership from all Houses Hawkes feels like an extended family. We spend every day together and we share different challenges together. We are learning to be independent and become responsible for getting ready for the school day. The younger students look up to the older students as role models. We participate in activities like games of softball, rock climbing, trampolining and a trip to the raspberry farm.

Written by Co-captains Felicity Hall and Joe Crawford and Co Vice-captains Lily Leighton and Francis Foster

1958

As Co-Captains and Vice Captains we help organise activities outside the Boarding House and like to be there for the Juniors, like a big brother or sister.

The earliest houses at The Preparatory School in High Street were Emu, Koala and Wallaby for boys up to Form III. By 1958 there were two houses, Nightingale and Stubs, named for former Headmistresses.

1977

We support each other in our chosen sports and Catherine Kerr is mentor for music – opening the music building after hours so we can go and practice our music. The tutors are usually working towards a teaching degree, are very helpful and offer support. We like our Common Room and have movie nights and fondue, birthday cakes and mini parties. We like playing table tennis and pool together in the Games Room.

The Junior Campus Houses are named for significant educators and benefactors of Broadland House School, Buesnell-Rooney (blue and mauve), Lyttleton-Hewton (red and green) and Maxey-Middleton (gold and brown). Colours changed over the years until Maxey-Middleton was formed in 1977.

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CELINA AND CED A cross-generational exchange

“

I chose what I was interested in and wanted to explore colouring every decision I made..

”

An edited letter from Celina Ernst After five years of volunteering with the Peter Hewitt Care for Africa Foundation, I knew that volunteering was going to be an important aspect of my gap year in South America in 2014. Beginning in Peru for three weeks in February, I landed in La Senda Verde Animal Refuge in Bolivia to volunteer for ten weeks as a surrogate mum for university the next five to six months baby howler monkeys. Desperately wanting to return before a tea party and trivia night at my local involved working multiple jobs and fundraising, including as a volunteer co-coordinator, and cafe. I was back in La Senda in October until Januar y 2015 with the other co-ordinator we managed! after a few weeks I was a monkey mum again. Working lor of International Development at La Back in Melbourne in February and enrolled in a Bache Humanities Faculty were cancelled Trobe University the course and many others within the a Bachelor of Arts majoring in because of staff cuts, forcing a rethink and enrolment in unity I’m off to -Mexico for at least one Sustainability and Development. With a scholarship opport r university. semester and then maybe I will stay there or choose anothe larly complicated answer. I chose what I Thinking about why I am on this path, it’s not a particu decision I made. At school in Grade was interested in and wanted to explore – colouring every that I had enough maths to get by for 11 and 12 I chose subjects that interested me, figuring both been strong advocates for the instance, leaving room for those choices. My parents have climate issues, which is why sustainability environment, influencing my thoughts on environmental definitely opened my eyes up to issues is an interest of mine. Volunteering with Care for Africa Development. I believe every choice I of development and now I am studying Sustainability and make will lead me down the right path.

An update from Barry McG Scott (Class of 1951) Founder and Past Chairman of the Australian Koala Foundation. A century ago, there were millions of koalas in Australia and now many local areas face extinction. Initially the organisation’s work focused on research into disease-related problems, but as the mysteries of the koala’s survival were unlocked, it became obvious that habitat was the key to the koala’s future and we moved to advise local Government leaders to adopt the approach of greater habitat retention. The Australian Koala Foundation is now heavily promoting the Australian Koala Act to be introduced into Parliament soon, to preserve essential habitat and trees and assist in the recovery of our iconic animal species. www.savethekoala.com

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Images of Celina by Tracey Buyce, Photographers Without Borders

1986-2016

Celina Ernst (Class of 2013) cares passionately about the future, human rights, international development and the possibilities for understanding across cultures. Solutions are possible with consideration between peoples. Her parents are environmental activists and as a ‘Monkey Mum’ she has become even more aware of habitat loss, poaching and what this means for threatened and endangered species. Her desire to achieve academically is being fulfilled at university satisfying a sense of enquiry, a deep interest in concepts and ideas and exploring all viewpoints.

“

LEONIE MCNAIR

Apart from the advice to follow your passions, I would add:, make sure you have a strong guiding framework to anchor your endeavours .

”

A Note from New Zealan d: Ced to Celina It’s great to learn about you ng people following their passion. It reminds me of Steve Jobs’ speech to Stanford students (https://www.ted. com/talks/steve_jobs_how_to _live_before_ you_die). I’ve been driven by mine all my life (and was really lucky to have indulgent teachers at Launceston Gra putting up anti-war posters mmar). I remember at school during the Vietnam War, which confused some elected to stay on in army cad because I ets following the two years that were compulsor y at the a university student I was invo time. As lved in environmental and pol itical protests, but it was a pas for education that led to ten sion years’ teaching in Hobart. Dur ing that time I became a me Amnesty International, promp mb er of ted by a childhood wondering how the public became bystan widespread torture and gen ders to ocide. As national president I would sometimes leave the on a Friday afternoon, jump classroom on a plane to Europe for a me eting and walk into class to having come straight back from teach the airport on Tuesday mornin g.

My concern about the disappe arance of student journalism (having been editor of Launce Grammar’s magazine and stud ston ent newspaper) led me to wor k with another Old Launceston to develop an academic fram ian ework to suppor t student new spapers as mini-enterprises secondary colleges. at senior Eventually I star ted full-time work for Amnesty which wou ld see me based in London, Wellington over twenty years, Sydney and working with others at a tim e which saw dramatic growth human rights movement and in the huge changes in Africa, Eas tern Europe, Latin America and Asia.

I’ve come back to education in the last decade, having exp erienced others’ struggles to democracies and realising how establish vigilant we must be to mainta in and renew ours, and reflect on how complacent we hav ing e become about human righ ts at home. So now I work with principals and teachers to bet sch ool ter honour our obligations in international law to ensure people have an education bas young ed on human rights, to develop their personality, talents and abilities to fullest potential, and to enable them to becom e effective global citizens.

Apart from the advice to follo w your passions, I would add : make sure you have a stro framework to anchor your end ng guiding eavours (for me it’s human righ ts, the only internationally agr framework for global citizens eed hip), and develop and mainta in a strong network of friends professional colleagues to sup and por t your work, which while it is fulfilling, can at times be and tough. isolating

Leonie McNair (nee White) (Class of 1977) is an educator and believes we are all the product of our family and school. She speaks about having roots, being anchored by history. Her mother moved around a lot as a child and wanted stability for her children.

The White siblings are closely connected to Launceston Grammar and Broadland as Old Boys and Girls and as the great, great, great grandchildren of W. Stewart Johnstone who was enrolled in 1858 prior to the existence of an official register. His son W. S. Johnstone and his grandson (Leonie’s father, Graeme White) followed. Leonie’s mother, Zerlina White (nee Levy) also attended Broadland House for a couple of her primary school years. Leonie approached the DV Archives personally to donate items of uniform and copies of school publications.

The strength of education, history and family networks is important to her and contributes to her choice of career as a teacher. Leonie graduated from Broadland in 1977, was an outstanding scholar and is Co-Principal of The Launceston Preparatory School.

Some of her charges come to Mowbray in Grade 7. She is happy to report that her brother David is working in London as Chief of Media for Largardere Unlimited, Zara works as a Systems Analyst in Hobart and John runs his own landscape architecture practice in Western Australia.

Leonie is the direct descendant of W Stewart Johnstone, one of the first recorded enrolments at Launceston Grammar.

After leaving school he began his lifelong association with the well-known mercantile firm Messrs Johnstone and Wilmot. Apart from his business interests and company directorships he was an early cyclist, motorist, yachtsman and golfer.

Ced Simpson (Class of 1973)

Ced Simpson is Director, Human Rights in Education Trust, Wellington and Honorary Research Associate with the Massey University Institute of Education Richard St George Cedric (Ced) Simpson features in Diverse Lives: marking the achievements of fifty four past students (p54), written and compiled by Thomas Gunn

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NEPAL In December 2015, after completing their examinations, eight intrepid Launceston Grammar students spent three weeks on an expedition to the Solukhumbu district of Nepal. Current Grade 12 students Lucy Bell, James Roberts, James Smallwood and Dominic Nguyen and 2015 Alumni Sam Strong, Ella Johnson, Ellie Wivell and Celsey Adams trekked to Gokyo Ri, a 5300m high summit close to Mt Everest. During the trek they confronted a variety of challenges including altitude sickness, overnight temperatures as cold as -12°C and gastro-intestinal problems. However, the unsurpassed mountain scenery; interaction with the Sherpa people and their culture; and the camaraderie they developed with their group members more than compensated for the challenges.

Interested in travelling to Nepal? Contact the expedition leader, and Launceston Grammar teacher, Mr Doug Grubert who will lead two separate expeditions to Nepal in 2017. One for Grade 11 and 12 students to the Everest region and another, for families with primary-aged children, to the Annapurna region in western Nepal. To find out more visit the expedition website at https:// expeditionclass.com/nepal.php

SONY FOUNDATION CHILDREN’S HOLIDAY CAMP Launceston Grammar is proud to be the only school in Tasmania that hosts an annual Sony Foundation Camp in December, and has been doing so for eleven years. Throughout the weekend the school community works for a common goal: hosting a fun, safe three day residential camp for children with special needs, giving much needed respite to the families. Sixteen campers live onsite under the care of Grade 11 and 12 students, who step up as 24/7 personal companions with the assistance of their peers, the staff and community members. Six months in the planning, our student volunteers undergo a rigorous selection and training programme. Special mention must be made of the ‘Granny Brigade’ in 2015 who worked tirelessly behind the scenes with our wonderful cook, school parent Marlene Goss.

If you are interested in supporting or being involved in this immensely rewarding camp please feel free to contact Mrs Elizabeth Poland, Camp Director epoland@lcgs.tas.edu.au

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REUNIONS Upcoming Events for 2016 Class of 1986 – 30 Year Reunion

Saturday 24 September 2016

Launceston Grammar 170th Birthday Cocktail Party

Saturday 29 October 2016

Remembrance Day Service

Friday 11 November 2016

Melbourne Alumni Reunion

Friday 18 November 2016

BHOGA Communion and Breakfast

Thursday 8 December 2016

Class of 2011 – 5 Year Reunion

Friday 16 December 2016

Class of 2006 – 10 Year Reunion

Saturday 17 December 2016

Sydney Alumni Reunion

TBA

Brisbane Alumni Reunion

TBA

Adelaide Alumni Reunion

TBA

For further information on any of these events please call the Community Engagement Team on (03) 6336 6060.

TOP RIGHT: Class of 2010, 5 Year Reunion MIDDLE RIGHT: Class of 2005, 10 Year Reunion BOTTOM RIGHT: Remembrance Day 2015 TOP LEFT: Lyttleton Street Chapter Luncheon 2016 BOTTOM LEFT: Elizabeth Street Chapter Luncheon 2016

BURLEIGH & DEAN CONSTRUCTIONS PTY. LTD. (Incorporated in Tasmania)

Master Builders & Joiners

Building Better Communities.

Contact Craig Burleigh 0417 131 976

Launceston Church Grammar School Button Street, Mowbray Heights 7248 Tasmania Australia P: 03 6336 6000 F: 03 6336 5980 E: senior@lcgs.tas.edu.au www.lcgs.tas.edu.au

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