Grammar News no 102 Aug 2010

grammar news Print Post PP344276/00024

Number 102 – August 2010

Above: From the first bounce to the final siren it was a nail-biting Cordner Eggleston tussle at Edwin Flack Park on 23 July. The throaty roar of the supporters, young and old, kept our players buoyed and focused. The scores narrowed and the very air filled with a deafening crescendo that threatened to shake the pillars of the West Gate Bridge a few kicks down the road. As the final minutes ticked away it was tightrope stuff: fast and furious for the players and defibrillator-level anxiety for many spectators. Suddenly it was all over, beautiful numbers on the scoreboard revealing Melbourne Grammar 16.10.106 to Scotch’s 15.6.96. With that, the Cup returned to Melbourne Grammar School.

Arguably no one was more pleased than Peter Beaumont (OM 1965), who watched from the sidelines, quietly confident of victory. After the game and with Headmaster Roy Kelley looking on, Peter proudly awarded the inaugural Peter Beaumont Medal to Steven May, who bagged nine goals for our boys in blue. Two days earlier the Peter Beaumont Medal (for Melbourne Grammar’s best player) was officially launched at a breakfast, hosted by the Marn Grook Club and the Old Melburnians Football Club, in the MCG Members’ Dining Room.

Peter Beaumont and his six children attended Melbourne Grammar; his five sons played, or are current players, with the Old Melburnians Football Club. Not surprisingly Peter has been a keen supporter of football at MGS and at the Old Melburnians Football Club. Peter is a current member of the School Council and has served as President of The Old Melburnians. He was Chairman of the Sesquicentenary Celebrations Steering Committee, Founder and first Chairman of the Marn Grook Club and is an Old Melburnians Football Club Grounds Committee member.

Front Cover: Nick McLardy, one of many Melbourne Grammar students who take part in a special community service program to make life a little easier for the children living in inner suburban housing estates. Most are refugees or from disadvantaged backgrounds. Story: Page 12

Grammar News is published for the Melbourne Grammar School community.

Published by: The Lodge, Melbourne Grammar School, 355 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004.

Telephone: (03) 9865 7555 Facsimile: (03) 9865 7577 Email: newsletter@mgs.vic.edu.au Editor: John Allin Layout & pre-production: Drew Gamble Photographs by: John Allin, Harry Allen (12 Wy), Dan Church, Sarah Collins (Page 7 Mulan), Commonwealth of Australia (Department of Defence), Laura Fitzgerald, Drew Gamble, James Grant Photography, Tony Keech, Daniel Lawson (11Dn), Paula Ransom, Kylie Witt

Melbourne Grammar School respects the privacy of its community members and is bound by the National Privacy Principles under the Commonwealth Privacy Act. For a copy of the School’s Privacy Policy please visit the School’s website at www.mgs.vic.edu.au or contact the School on +61 3 9865 7555.

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In This Issue 4 From the School Council 5 From the Headmaster 6 Grimwade House 8 Wadhurst 10 Senior School 12 Cover story: Community Service 15 Music 16 News 18 Sport 20 Drama 21 From the Archives 22 The Old Melburnians 24 Branches & Reunions 26 Friends of Grammar 28 Community News 30 Cordner Eggleston Victory 2010

About this issue Acts of selflessness, caring, giving and philanthropy are part and parcel of leadership at Melbourne Grammar School.

Examples of tangible community thoughtfulness are evident from the younger grades in Grimwade House, through to the most senior of our VCE students. This is the theme of this issue of Grammar News. Our cover shot of Nick McLardy, one of many MGS students who regularly kick the footy with refugee children and youngsters from disadvantaged backgrounds, gives us a pictorial glimpse of the community service ethic that exists within our School.

Other stories in this issue portray different kinds of service and concern for others; these include the boys who went to Vietnam and left that country with their own special legacy (Page 16) and the Year 11s who once again left a positive mark on the people of Cambodia (Page 20). In the September holidays, Mr Michael Shaw and Mr Tim Morris will lead a group of sixteen Year 11 students from MGS and MGGS to Papua New Guinea on the fourth “Project Holy Name” trip to provide medical and educational aid to schools and villages in the Milne Bay Province. Our visits to PNG actually date back to the 1970s, with service and friendship underpinning each trip. December’s Grammar News will carry pictures and a report.

Students at Wadhurst and Grimwade are also engaged in service projects. The challenge is to embed this philosophy so that the act of giving becomes automatic, a way of life and an exemplar. With luck it will become contagious; with more luck it will become a pandemic so that Grimwade House students like Joe, Tildy, Marcus, Mishka and Olivia (pictured, right, at play) can enjoy a more connected world.

Welcome to the 102nd edition of Grammar News.

John Allin Editor Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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From the School Council The rewards of giving back of a healthy lifestyle, music, art and literature, all of which may contribute to a full and rounded life. And for all those fortunate enough to experience opportunities such as those presented by Melbourne Grammar, I would expect them to leave the School with an embedded sense of gratitude for the opportunities that they have had and a commitment to give back to the community in return.

Professor Richard Larkins

Let me commence this article, my first in Grammar News as Chair of the Melbourne Grammar School Council, by acknowledging the superb work of my predecessor Sandy Clark.

He provided wise counsel to two Headmasters, oversaw the demanding, but ultimately very successful, task of finding a worthy successor to Paul Sheahan and provided good humoured but highly responsible leadership to the School Council. He was a very visible and supportive representative of the School Council at countless functions within and outside the School, including the demanding schedule of the outstandingly successful celebrations of the School’s Sesquicentenary. Sandy gave of his time selflessly because he was, and is, immensely proud of the School and what it is doing to benefit not only the students fortunate enough to attend it but, indirectly through the efforts of those students in later life, the wider community.

I share with Sandy the conviction that high quality education is a key pillar of a civil and just society. It is essential that there are educational institutions that aspire to provide the highest quality of education in the broadest sense.

By the term “broadest sense”, I imply much more than transmission of information and its conversion into knowledge and more even than the capacity to think creatively and to solve problems. I include a set of enduring moral values, the self confidence to stand up for and defend those values and to reject narrow, self-interested views and all forms of prejudice. I would also include cultivation of a broad array of interests such as sport and other aspects

The nature of giving back to the community may vary and one of the things which gives me greatest pride in being asked to Chair the School Council is the contributions made by so many Old Melburnians in many different fields, which have benefitted the welfare of the community. The emphasis the School has recently placed on the development of broad leadership skills in all students will ensure that our old boys and girls will continue to serve the community in many different ways.

A particular way in which members of our school community can give back is to provide philanthropic support to provide more scholarships to allow students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds to experience an MGS education. Widening the intake of students will ensure greater acceptance from the community and governments, which will in turn lead to support for schools such as ours in allowing more able students from all backgrounds to achieve their full potential.

Although I regard supporting more scholarships as a very high priority, it is also important that the School is able to provide a modern and relevant educational experience in all areas. Our enormous environmental problems, including our long-term need for clean energy and adequate water and the threats of new and re-emergent infectious disease along with other health problems, can only be solved by scientists and engineers. In Australia the number of students studying science and mathematics at Year 12 has been declining dramatically. We must teach these subjects in modern, exciting and interactive ways. Our science teaching facilities are outdated and it is a high priority to raise sufficient funds to renew and modernise them.

Philanthropic giving is rewarding and worthwhile when we recognise that its outcome is to provide generations of Old Melburnians with the knowledge, skills and values not only to lead personally fulfilling lives, but also to make a real difference to the community, country and world in which we live.

Richard Larkins Chairman

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From the Headmaster A gift for life A most remarkable school exists in Auckland, New Zealand, but it is relatively unknown in terms of its unique charter and success. Dilworth School celebrated its 100th year in 2006.

Dilworth was founded with an amazing bequest in 1894 from a married, but childless, farmer named James Dilworth.

He left in his Will his entire farm and property holdings for the purpose of creating a school for ‘orphans or the sons of persons of good character who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances’. The school is situated on the former family farm site of 27 hectares of land in one of the most affluent suburbs of Auckland. The funds bequeathed have been astutely invested so that the bequest is considered one of the largest seen in any school context around the world.

No other school that I am aware of provides as much for its students as does Dilworth, although Christ’s Hospital School in London comes close.

Today, Dilworth School has more than 550 boys, all of whom must board. Every student receives a full scholarship/ bursary which covers all tuition fees and amenities including uniform, books, computers and even standard toiletry items, each year of their time at Dilworth. Dilworth operates from primary to secondary levels and some students spend their entire school years boarding there. The School’s charter states that if a family’s financial situation radically improves, the boy must leave (unless he is in his last year of school) to stay true to their ‘raison d’être’. Accordingly, there are strict annual means-testing requirements. As a quirky, but delightful, practice, the graduating boys still receive funds to buy themselves a suit to enter the wider world once finishing at Dilworth. Boys who graduate to university can apply to the Dilworth trust for a scholarship bursary to allow them to continue their academic studies.

Melbourne Grammar School has also been the beneficiary of a number of very generous bequests, highlighted by the extraordinary gift from Old Melburnian, Mr Jack Morrow. Whilst this fund continues to grow through astute investment, it has made, and continues to make, an enormous contribution to the School’s operations. The Morrow Room in the Lodge building at MGS serves as a tribute to the wonderful contribution made by this most generous man and his family.

Philanthropy is essential for all private schools. Having recently visited two independent schools in the USA, I am aware of the huge difference in endowments that exist between our two countries. One school leader bemoaned to me that her school’s endowment had been adversely affected by the GFC, as their funds had fallen from $1 billion to $860 million! One could ask why would, and why should, schools require such large amounts of reserved capital? In

Roy Kelley

this case the school argued strongly that its capital works bill was extensive and it highlighted that over half of its student body received large scholarships and bursaries.

Diversity is one of Melbourne Grammar School’s core values and it is reflected in a number of our programs, including enrolments. Currently more than 200 of our students receive some form of financial assistance, either as scholarships or bursaries, to attend the School and many OMs have been recipients of such help over the past 152 years. The MGS Council strongly supports the notion that such funds are created to allow people, who normally could not afford to send their sons or daughters to MGS, the opportunity to do so. Recently, the Federal Government changed the tax laws in Australia to allow deductions for donations to scholarships/ bursaries in schools. Previously, only donations to capital building funds received such allowances.

The MGS Foundation has set the ambitious, but crucial, aim to grow our scholarship and bursary fund by three times its current amount to enable us to meet our philanthropic ideal.

There is undoubtedly a long way to go, but the intent and the purpose is admirable. We may not have reached the unique status of Dilworth School in Auckland, but we fully intend to follow in its footsteps in providing the best quality education possible for the wide range of people who make up the Melbourne Grammar School community.

Roy Kelley Headmaster

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Grimwade House Back to primary school with a real mission

Aria, Ryann, Jem and Harry thoroughly enjoyed the day the big boys came to Grimwade. Here, it’s story time – courtesy of James Roscoe, Joel Wise, George Dowling and Oscar Hosking.

I hear and I forget. I see and I remember. I do and I understand.

The words of Confucius may be more than 2000 years old now, but for Year 11 Psychology students they are as real today as they were back then – as they discovered when they paid a visit to Grimwade recently.

The visit, part of the students’ Unit 1 Psychology program, was designed to gain a deeper understanding of the concepts involved in Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development – and it was achieved by interacting with the Preppies! (Piaget, a famous Swiss psychologist, proposed that children progress through a series of cognitive developmental stages).

When the boys entered the classroom they towered over the little ones, but within a few minutes they were down on the floor at their level chatting, asking questions, reading stories, sharing drawing books and conducting ‘experiments’ which the Preppies saw as fun games. These were centred on conservation, reversibility and abstract thinking.

One such experiment entailed Year 11 students pouring an amount of water into a beaker, and then into a narrow glass tube, and asking the Preppies to guess which had the greater amount of liquid. The older students then noted the responses.

Teacher Phillipa Hurley describes the learning as unique.

“Rather than just learning about psychological theories, 6

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

why not test them out? The students found the experience particularly valuable. They were entirely responsible for the investigation – from writing consent forms for Prep parents, to producing the materials for the investigation,” Ms Hurley said.

For one of the Year 11 students, James Roscoe, it was a nostalgic visit back to Grimwade. “It was odd going back there... everything was so big back then, but now everything has shrunk, like the lockers and the size of the rooms and the corridors... odd but rather nice and nostalgic. We all really enjoyed the interaction with the kids and conducting the various tests.”

Ms Hurley was full of praise for her students. “As a teacher, it is wonderful to observe the interaction between Year 11 and Prep students. The Year 11 boys were keen observers of the behaviour displayed by the younger students, and the young Preps seemed fascinated and appreciative of the interest shown by the Year 11 boys.”

Ms Hurley said: “We will always remember those smiles and the giggles that echoed throughout the classrooms.

I think every student, no matter what age, enjoyed the afternoon.

“I am very proud of the students and very grateful to the Grimwade staff – in particular Prep teachers James McGeorge, Olivia Toms and Laura Morris – for their support.”

John Allin

Hilarious and spectacular – a treat of a play

After five weeks of intensive rehearsals, audiences were treated to three wonderful evening performances of the Year 6 musical Mulan Jr.

Each student in Year 6 had a stage role in the musical. The large cast consisted of the lead characters, Mulan’s family and ancestors, the dreaded Hun and the villagers and soldiers.

Mulan Jr takes the audience to ancient China where the main character, Mulan, runs away from home and dresses as a boy to join the army. Due to the fact that Mulan will be killed if her secret is discovered, her ancestors send a misfit dragon to teach Mulan to act like a soldier. The hilarious musical was superbly guided and managed by the talented musical director, Bronwyn Pierce, and choreographer/director Samantha Bevan.

Each of the performances highlighted the incredible talent of many of the Year 6 students. Not only were there fabulous singers, dancers and actors, but many students had behindthe-scene roles, vital to the smooth running of each show. It was terrific to see the audience’s enthusiasm and appreciation of all the hard work that went into every show.

Donna Gordon Year 6 Teacher •

Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

New building works are well underway The plans have been drawn up, the old building is partially torn down and construction has started on Grimwade House’s old tuckshop site.

The project involves the internal refurbishment and extension of what is now building 214, which was formerly home to two classrooms, the tuck-shop, a bookshop and a Pastoral Care Centre.

The school has included many environmentally sustainable design aspects based upon the ‘green star’, an education pilot rating from the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).

Construction began at the end of May 2010 and is due for completion by March 2011.

The existing building dates back to the 1960s and it has been refurbished on a number of occasions but is now undergoing an overhaul with help from the Federal Government’s Building the Education Revolution (BER) program.

“The two Year 1 classrooms will be retained and there will be some changes to the stairwell and staff resource areas, as well as the extension which will provide accommodation for two general classrooms for Chinese language studies,” said Head of Grimwade House Andrew Boyd.

“The ground level will also host an out-of-hours care facility, including a student activity room, parent reception and interview room, staff workroom, kitchen and tuckshop facilities,” he added.

Head of Grimwade House Andrew Boyd and Property Manager John Phillips show the plans to twins Eliose and Thomas

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Wadhurst From a little model to a beautiful building Wadhurst’s $2.6 million Design Technology and Sports Centre was officially opened by immediate past chairman of Council Sandy Clark on 14 July. Students and members of the school community attended the event, which marked the start of an exciting new era for middle school students.

For Design Technology teacher Dr Phillip Hingston, who was instrumental in various parts of the design and even made a concept model for the architects, it was a red letter day.

With 286 square metres of indoor recreational exercise area upstairs and abundant Design Technology space and stateof-the-art equipment below, both Dr Hingston and Head of Wadhurst Mr Greg Caldwell were clearly delighted.

Paying tribute to the architects, Mr Caldwell said the building was flooded with natural light during the day and glowed like a lantern in the evening – “a real beacon for middle school learning”.

Mr Caldwell said that Mr Simon Angus, the newly-appointed Extension Studies Co-ordinator, had a brilliant teaching and learning space where he could interact with students.

“I hope that many boys take the opportunity to be involved in a range of different topics such as model building, computer simulation, robotics, astronomy, cooking and other special interest areas suggested by the students.

“The new Sport Centre has a sprung wooden floor and this will certainly be appreciated by students as they engage in many sporting activities. This centre is in use from early morning for basketball practice and throughout the day for Physical Education classes,” he said.

“Student-generated and organised games such as dodgeball, indoor cricket and indoor soccer will operate at lunchtimes,”

One of the features of the new facility is the flow of natural light

Mr Caldwell said. “Our Director of Sport, Mr Paul Jubber, is keen to promote student leadership and encourages students to plan, organise and conduct many sporting competitions.

“This is a brilliant facility which superbly meets the many needs of a very busy middle school,” he added.

Dr Hingston, a former RMIT research scientist, said the centre would be a wonderful addition to the curriculum at Wadhurst.

“The architecture, whilst constrained within its location, was inspired by visits to schools both in Victoria and interstate,” Dr Hingston said. “It is a great opportunity when one can visit other schools and, seeing them in action, utilise the best of what is now available.

“Nevertheless there are definite limitations to what can be incorporated into a building of this type. The decision was made at an early stage not to utilise brazing, vapours, heat or grinding in the centre. The architects wanted to know how the students would interact in the space with the various activities that they might be expected to engage in. For example, what size tables, where do they put their computers and where are materials moved to and from. The answers to these questions all ride on adherence to strict safety procedures.”

Dr Hingston added that to “make dialogue with the architects more helpful”, he created a three-dimensional computer model that people could ‘walk through’ and explore how the machinery would be optimally located.

Buildings and Grounds Committee member Peter Beaumont (OM 1965) and former Chairman of Council Sandy Clark open the facility

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Full story/pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Master artist leads Year 8 team to create a legacy The bashing of hammers on copper sheets by Wadhurst Year 8 students has been music to the ears of Dr Anton Hasell, one of Australia’s most respected artists and sculptors.

while a boarder drew the Luxton Dining Hall. Music, sport, the three Houses and many more personal interpretations of the busy life at Wadhurst also were incorporated.

The activity was all part of a special project, created by Art Coordinator Trish Langton, which tells the story of the students’ journey through Wadhurst – the memories, the feelings and the environment.

The drawings were photographed and put into an AutoCAD Rhinoceros, where the images were refined and laser-cut in stainless steel. The shapes, said Ms Langton, were riveted onto a frame that works like a topological skeleton, mapping the rise and fall of the land and journey, in an abstract way, through Wadhurst.

The end result is a 3D model of Wadhurst World, a sculpture that in due course will hang on the wall in the Wadhurst amphitheatre.

The idea came about when Ms Langton saw Dr Hasell deliver a keynote address at an art conference in Bendigo.

“He talked with such enthusiasm about his work and his involvement with a school project that I thought he was just the artist we needed to create a permanent sculpture with Wadhurst students,” Ms Langton said.

“We talked about ideas and materials and came up with the thought that the art work should map the journey the boys make through Wadhurst, embracing experiences that explore their personal connection to the fabric of Wadhurst.”

“Finally the Wadhurst map was bolted to a sheet of copper which will be hung on the wall in the Wadhurst amphitheatre. In 20 years time the boys involved will be able to come back to school and say: ‘I was involved in making that sculpture...I have made my mark!’” said Ms Langton.

For Dr Hasell the project has been a labour of love. “All the digitised work was cut and nearly all the panels fitted, where they matched the frame, to the sculpture.

Dr Hasell is best known for his work, ‘Federation Bell Carillon’ in Birrarung Marr Park.

John Allin

The boys loved the idea. Working in small groups, they put down thoughts and ideas. The Number 8 tram that so many Wadhurst students catch every day featured prominently,

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Full story: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Wadhurst students show their metaphorical ‘journey’ to Headmaster Mr Roy Kelley, Head of Wadhurst Mr Greg Caldwell and Art Coordinator Ms Trish Langton. From left (with Dr Anton Hasell): Lachlan Horne, Adam Johansen, Connor Schomburgk and Lewis Harding Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Senior School Cat’s eye for detail etched on boardroom walls

Head of Creative and Performing Arts Cat Poljski and CEO of Irwin Consult Phil Gardiner at the opening

The influence and talent of Melbourne Grammar School staff extends far beyond the classroom – as artist Cat Poljski demonstrated recently when a specially-commissioned collection of her works was unveiled in the boardroom of a leading city design engineering firm.

Cat, who is Head of Creative and Performing Arts at MGS was asked by Irwin Consult in East Melbourne, to complete a suite of etchings that represented her interpretation of selected buildings designed by the firm. Some of the buildings can be seen from the boardroom where Cat’s works of art now grace the walls.

The collection was unveiled at a special ceremony at Irwin Consult on 22 July. Welcoming the VIPs, the firm’s managing director Phil Gardiner said that he and his colleagues were won over after seeing Cat’s work at Jenny Port Gallery.

“The thought of having her interpret some of the buildings we have worked on, in her style, became an imperative,” Mr Gardiner said. “Jenny and Cat soon convinced us that not only could it be done, but that they were also excited to work with us to give us something unique and relevant.”

Irwin Consult’s buildings include the Melbourne Olympic Pool (1953), Myer Music Bowl, Parliament House, Canberra and Melbourne’s new Royal Children’s Hospital. Mr Gardiner described Cat’s works as “fabulous”.

“It’s not only the works that we love. The process was exciting as well. I think we were inspired by Cat’s enthusiasm for the commission. This was all new for us.

Purchasing art was a rare occurrence; commissioning it was a quantum leap. Having done it once, we look forward to doing it again, hopefully long before our next office move.”

Clearly Cat, who is an established Melbourne artist who exhibits from Melbourne and Sydney to New York and Beijing, is proud of her collection. Typically though, she shuns the limelight. “The emphasis in my work is on architecture, curving geometries and randomly-positioned prints that are fragmented and make up spaces that were once empty.

“Irregular tracery, the actual inking and printing of the plates vary and characteristics emerge that are assembled in disparate parts to fill a void (the paper).”

Cat said that the prints begin to take effect once they are suspended onto a white wall or enclosed inside a boxed frame.

“The sensation of experiencing space is entirely based on how it is viewed…this becomes the optical reaction.”

John Allin • •

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Visit www.catpoljski.com Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Premier recognition for our 2009 VCE achievers

From left: Douglas Tjandra; Jamie Rankin; Daniel McCoppin (VCE Coordinator); Daniel Le; Richard McIlwraith; Xin Tao Ye; Edward Quine; Premier John Brumby; Christopher Hamer; Fred Mora; Alex Mattingly; James Lu; Oliver Raymond. Absent: Yuhang Guo; Charles Chambers

Melbourne Grammar School students featured prominently at the Premier’s VCE Awards in July with 19 individual awards being presented.

Fifteen students received recognition for their outstanding results in last year’s VCE with three, Yuhang Guo, James Lu and Douglas Tjandra, all receiving acknowledgement for being the Top All-Round VCE High Achievers.

The school’s recipients for the Premier’s VCE Awards were, Yuhang Guo, James Lu, Douglas Tjandra, Charles Chambers, Vincent Chiang, Christopher Hamer, Daniel Le, Alex Mattingly, Richard McIlwraith, Edward Quine, Lachlan McNamee, Frederick Mora, Jamie Rankin, Oliver Raymond and Xin Tao Ye.

“We were thrilled with the 2009 VCE results achieved at Melbourne Grammar School and the impressive number of Premier’s Awards announced yesterday represents a wonderful epitaph for this talented cohort of students,” said Headmaster Roy Kelley.

Premier John Brumby (OM 1970) looked at home among those Melbourne Grammar students who were able to make it to the event held at the Palladium Room at Crown Casino.

“VCE is often a stressful time for students, so it’s important we recognise and applaud some of the outstanding results achieved,” Mr Brumby said. “A study score of 40 or above is regarded as a great achievement – so for 28 students to manage scores of 46 or higher in five subjects is simply outstanding,” he added.

Chris Bisogni

Sayonara Australia, hello Japan The Melbourne Grammar School Symphony Orchestra will tour Japan in December. There are three performances in the schedule. The first is to be held in conjunction with Soai University, Osaka, on 12 December. The following day sees the Orchestra presenting a concert in Gamagori Citizen’s Hall in Aichi Prefecture.

This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Sister State relationship between Aichi Prefecture and the State of Victoria and the concert will be attended by representatives from both governments.

The final performance on 15 December will be held in Okuma Auditorium, Tokyo – one of the most historic and celebrated halls in Japan. MGS has received invaluable assistance in the organisation of this concert from its sister school in Tokyo, Waseda High School.

The MGS Symphony Orchestra has a long tradition of regular touring and this year’s participants are eagerly looking forward to the excitement and challenge of the 2010 Japan Tour.

Mark Drummond Director of Symphony Orchestra

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Community Service The noble art of giving: an MGS tradition three years ago. “These kids love our boys,” Dr Richards said. “As soon as the bus pulls up, they run up and take them by the hand and it makes it all worthwhile just to see the looks on their faces.”

Nick McLardy, Year 11, described the program as “definitely the most significant type of community service I have done at the school.” Nick is pictured on the cover of this issue of Grammar News.

“This is not only because football is something I love participating in, but also because we actually get to witness the benefits first hand rather that just giving money to a foundation and not knowing exactly what happens with it.

“I feel it is helping new people to Australia, particularly the younger age group. It helps these young kids not only to gain confidence with Australians but also to make friends. For us there is definitely a sense of friendship with the kids – and the more you go there the closer the friendships become.”

Lloyd Miller finds a level playing field with a new buddy

Community service, philanthropic deeds and acts of giving back have been part and parcel of Melbourne Grammar School’s culture for decades.

Examples can be seen at all levels – from the servicemen who gave their lives in the various wars through to students who today visit elderly folk, raise money through fun runs, take underprivileged children to AFL games and who bring smiles to the faces of refugee kids simply by kicking the footy with them.

In a word we’re talking about selflessness – and all the Houses in the three Schools embrace the philosophy in one way or another.

For a few years, Rusden House has been involved in Richmond Football Club’s Community Service program, called the Three Towers Auskick. MGS students become mentors and coaches to the children who live in the housing estates in Fitzroy, Richmond and Collingwood. Mostly the youngsters, aged between five and 12, are either refugees or from disadvantaged backgrounds and there are always squeals of delight as the Melbourne Grammar bus arrives around 4pm and our boys disembark to join the local Victoria Police volunteers and the Three Towers trainers. For the next hour (invariably 90 minutes), it’s warm-up, handball, running, jumping, marking and ball skills – but best of all, having fun.

The Head of Rusden House, Dr Marcus Richards, pays tribute to Hermione Skadiang, who started the program

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Nic Sloan, Year 10, agreed. Nic has missed only one session with the kids at Fitzroy and Collingwood this year. “There is a very special connection,” Nic said. “For example there’s one little Sudanese boy who waits for us to arrive, grabs my leg and then we play footy. When they mark they go crazy... they are excited and so eager to learn!

“It really is a humbling experience to do something like this for these children, some of whom have been through some very tough times... just to give them a chance.”

Henry Hunt, Year 11, volunteered for the project because “it sounded like a real opportunity to help out some kids who haven’t had the privileges and chances that myself and others at MGS have been able to have”.

Henry says he was a little bit nervous as to whether his footy skills would pass muster. “However as soon as we kicked off the program I realised this wouldn’t be a problem and that there was more to it than just the football side of things, such as being role models for the kids.

“I don’t really see this project as ‘giving’ my time. The experience...the joy you get from the kids and the thought that you’re acting as a kind of role model for them…is really satisfying. I think I will always remember this project and look back at it with really cheerful memories.”

John Allin • •

Visit www.richmondfc.com.au Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

To Vietnam, with love (and some tins of paint) Preliminary planning has already begun for the 2011 Fred Hollows Foundation visit to Vietnam for students in Year 10.

This year’s trip – the fourth for Melbourne Grammar – was an outstanding success, which capped off a great effort by 16 boys who raised more than $20,000, all earmarked for the Foundation’s work to combat cataract blindness in Vietnam.

History teacher Tim Morris and Head of Personal Development Paula Ransom led the 10-day tour which started in Hanoi in March. One of the most significant challenges for the group, said Tim Morris, was crossing the streets between “millions” of motorbikes.“We soon learned that it was their job to dodge us, not the other way around.”

The visit also included Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) and Da Nang, where the students met their hosts from the Fred Hollows Foundation. This was followed by two days at a hospital in Hue, where they painted over water damage caused by monsoon rains and flooding.

Shortly after this group shot was taken, the boys hit the Dulux tins and painted the walls

“We also had the opportunity to witness cataract surgery, a simple and cheap procedure which restores sight to thousands of Vietnamese people each year,” Mr Morris said.

For Josh Wright, Year 10, it was a moving experience.

“Disfigurement still affects hundreds of thousands of children whose parents or grandparents were sprayed with dioxins such as Agent Orange during the war,” he said.

Rupert Middleton finds a new buddy at the Da Nang Orphanage which is home for many Agent Orange victims

“Birth defects are said to go on for around seven generations and organisations such as the Fred Hollows Foundation are donating time and effort to make the lives of these children the best they can be. In particular, the Foundation is focused on eliminating the unnecessary disability of cataract blindness. For just $25, sight can be restored in one small half-hour operation, one of the many experiences which we were fortunate enough to witness.

“Before the trip we raised nearly $22,000 to take with us, along with many bags of clothes, hats, footwear, games and toys, which we gave to disadvantaged families, hospitals and orphanages. Even though the orphanages may have seemed confronting, the amazing and cheerful personality of everyone was overwhelming. It marked a definite highlight for our trip as we played with the children and gave them the toys, clothes and other things we had brought.”

• •

Visit www.hollows.org.au Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Tim Marshall, Hamish Jones, Charlie Pie and James Richards meet a patient at the Hue Eye Hospital Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Community Service Our boys give hope to Cambodian children A return trip to Cambodia in December is now well into the planning stage as part of Melbourne Grammar School’s Values in Action program.

Last year’s visit by fifteen Year 11 students and two staff was described by the boys as a life-changing experience.

They capped off their 12-month voluntary course in social entrepreneurship by putting their fundraising and planning preparatory work into action.

In the nine days they were in Cambodia the boys accomplished many tasks, including: • purchasing rice, watering cans and books for the villagers • providing funding for a mother of five to go to Phnom Penh to get a much-needed operation to mend a broken leg • working with over 50 villagers to clear, prepare and plant a communal vegetable plot • installing solar-powered lights in 20 village huts.

Above: Matt Jarman and Charles Everist work with some local friends on the vegetable garden they made at Ta Tray village. Below left: Knee deep in the HfCC orphanage’s rice paddy are Sam Yoo, Bill Robinson and Jamie Rankin in the blue t-shirt. The boys are helping to move a crop to another area.

In Battambang the boys worked with OMs (2004) David McAuley, Fergus Linacre and James Newton at the Hope for Cambodian Children Centre (HfCC). The Centre is an orphanage set up by the McAuley family and run by David for the last two years. Here the group: • put together furniture transported from Grimwade in a container provided by parent Paul Little (Toll Holdings) • built a fence to prevent small children from the Centre wandering into an adjacent irrigation lagoon • helped run classes in music and reading in the library • played ‘international’ sport – Cambodia vs Australia in the yard.

For student James Rankin the orphanage was a highlight of the visit. “They were so happy to see us,” James said.

“Each of us travelled with a suitcase which was half filled with our own clothes and the other half reserved for gifts for the kids, like footballs, volleyballs and clothes. It was amazing to witness how much joy a simple thing can bring to a child.

“It gave me a new perspective on life. For example, if I want an Xbox now, I’d think twice about it, and if I really wanted it I’d work and save up for it. I think about the tour guide who is starting a not-for-profit organisation to provide education and opportunities for impoverished people in Cambodia.

“The experience took me out of the environment that we know as Australia. As a result I feel I now have a responsibility as a global citizen – a responsibility to help,” said James.

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Visit: www.hopeforcambodianchildren.org Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Music Maestro-in-the-making launches his own CD Kevin Kanisius may only be 15 years old, but he already has a CD to his name and is described by his famous teacher as an outstandingly talented and exciting musician. By all accounts the plaudits will last.

The gifted pianist is a boarder in Year 10, but he has already achieved international recognition. In April he played Piano Concerto No. 1 (Chopin) to a capacity audience at the brand new Aula Simfonia in Jakarta. It was an experience that he described as “brilliant”, not just because he was playing in the country of his birth but also because he was playing Chopin. “Chopin was an amazing, romantic composer who created beautiful music for the whole world,” says Kevin.

“But I enjoy them all – Beethoven, Mozart, Liszt – they all contributed so much.”

Kevin is studying under the celebrated musician and teacher, Professor Max Cooke, who said: “I have some outstandingly talented students and one of the most exciting is Kevin.”

Kevin Kanisius Suherman plays Schimmel Konzert 213 is available at music stores or by contacting Kevin.

Kevin Kanisius: world of music at his feet

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Full story: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Lots of spirals and a beautiful sound When he was a young boy, Julian Zheng, Year 11, spotted a shiny French horn in a shop window. You might say that it was love at first sight, but in any event a sighting that set him on a course that today sees him as a most promising musician.

“I remember it looked really cool,” said Julian. “It was gold and it had a lot of spirals; what more could you want? I was like a boy infatuated with candy. That ultimately made my decision to play the horn.“ The first four months were tough. Julian was aged ten and in Year 4. He figures it may have been one of the worst decisions of his young life because playing was so hard.

But Julian admits to “enjoying a good challenge”. After a couple of years he began to appreciate his own sounds and techniques and he realised he was indeed mastering the instrument.

Earlier this year Julian successfully auditioned for the International Horn Society’s Premier Soloist Competition.

He was the only Australian to move to the next round.

Then in July he competed in the 42nd International Horn Symposium in Brisbane, where he came equal fourth – and also celebrated his 17th birthday. Interestingly, the judges did not award a first or second place.

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Full story: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Julian Zheng: going from strength to strength Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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News SLIC acts raise the roof…and funds as well

Jack Watts

James Ahearn

Once again the biennial MGS LIVE was an outstanding success, with the School community packing the Memorial Hall in April to enjoy a night of rare and wonderful entertainment – at the same time raising money and awareness for the environment.

Year 9 student George van Veenendaal, with the support of Michael Gu also Year 9, won the Rising Star Award with his moving interpretations of Let It Be by The Beatles and Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. The Best Band Award went to The Three Flats, paradoxically consisting of not three but four Year 12 boys (Chris Tass-Parker, Andrew Worthington, Daniel Le and Andre Ricardo). Simone Colayco, also in Year 12, took out Best Act for his hip-hop dancing of Justin Timberlake’s My Love.

But it was Triple J, with Year 11 students Jack Watts on guitar, James Legg on bongos and James Ahearn on vocals, which took out the Overall Winners Award for their superb rendition of Hotel California. It was so well received that they were asked to perform it again at Senior School assembly.

The four judges were sourced from both ‘Grammars’ – Year 12 Nick Elliot and Douglas Tjandra (OM 2009 and former head of MGS SLIC – Sustainable Living Improvement Committee), Anna Ryan (Year 12 Melbourne Girls Grammar School) and Georgia Davis (Vice Captain of MGGS).

MGS LIVE, which was hosted by Jake Foster (Year 12 MGS) and Stephanie Hubble (Year 12 MGGS), is a SLIC initiative.

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James Legg

The entire event saw a capacity audience enjoy 15 student acts of music, dance and comedy.

More than $12,500 was raised for future student-driven green initiatives. This will help SLIC strive to make MGS more environmentally sustainable. Safe, sustainable, stainless steel MGS water bottles are next on the agenda.

The organisation of the event was entirely student driven, with Jake Foster, Max Porritt and a team of SLICers (as they have become known) preparing the performance space, sequencing the lighting and, of course, selling tickets. The committee is student-run, with a guiding presence being offered by staff members Daniel McCoppin, Kirsten Walker and Sonia Wilson.

The committee thanks the night’s sponsors (Resolution X, Sports Ears, Carbon Planet, Bruce Whittaker, French Par Bake Supplies, Davies Bakeries and Tickets On Demand) as well as SLIC members, Jamie Brennan and the MGS Catering Department, also John Phillips and Doug Eastick from Property Services.

Given the success of MGS LIVE 2010, it is clear that the next MGS LIVE in 2012, will be an event not to miss.

Charles Vaughan, Year 11 •

Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

I bid you g’day, Your Majesty, says Oscar Oscar described the visit as a “fantastic opportunity” which even enabled him to bid a polite “Hi” to the Queen. “I was at Windsor Castle with my host family and there was a horse show going on,” Oscar recalls. “The Queen was watching it all with a lot of men around her. I was quite close to her so I just said ‘hi’. She didn’t say ‘hi’ back, but she sort of nodded.”

The exchange included a visit to the World War I battlefields in Belgium. “Seeing all those graves really made us think about the sacrifices the Australian soldiers made all those years ago,” he said. “It was sad and it was also confronting – which was a good thing in a way.”

Oscar said the curriculum was slightly out of synch with Victoria, the Maths being easier and the Science being more advanced. While the three were in England they were emailed assignments from MGS, to ensure they kept up with their schoolwork.

The boys did their best to correct some of the perceptions of the locals. “They thought all Australians were called Cheryl or Bruce, that there were kangaroos everywhere and that we had barbecues every night,” Oscar said.

“They noticed our accents,” he added. “We thought they’d bag us, but they were pretty good. I played cricket there and tried to teach them AFL but they didn’t get it. They kept trying to kick the footy like a rugby ball.”

The three boys agreed that the exchange was an unforgettable experience which taught them many things – but, especially, the meaning of independence.

Home again after an “unforgetable experience”: Oscar Johnstone, Christian Boffa and Joseph Sitch

When Woodbridge School was founded in 1577, Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne of England, her father Henry VIII had died (having beheaded a couple of his wives), William Shakespeare was just entering his teens and the Great Fire of London and the Great Plague were yet to happen.

Given it dates back to the days of yore, it’s not surprising that Melbourne Grammar students with a thirst for travel and history should put up their hands for the Year 9 MGSWoodbridge exchange program.

“I would recommend this experience to any Year 9 students who want to broaden their horizons,” said Joe. “You are learning so much while you are there and when you return you have great memories and the ability to see things differently.”

Christian agreed, saying the visit was a “worldly experience” in the true sense of the phrase.

John Allin •

Visit www.woodbridge.suffolk.sch.uk

This year, three MGS boys – Oscar Johnstone, Joseph Sitch and Christian Boffa – went to Woodbridge, 130 kilometres north-east of London, in Term II and shared classes with the local students.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Sport Cordner Eggleston Cup returns to Grammar One of the highlights of the winter season sports calendar is the Melbourne Grammar versus Scotch College 1st XVIII match, also known as the Cordner Eggleston Cup. This year the Cup has returned to Melbourne Grammar School following a tight match against Scotch College at Edwin Flack Park on 23 July.

Melbourne Grammar won 16.10.106 to Scotch’s 15.6.96, with Steven May awarded the inaugural Peter Beaumont Medal as best player for Melbourne Grammar, after an impressive nine-goal haul.

Melbourne Grammar led at every change and withstood a spirited Scotch comeback in the final term, with the visitors outscoring their hosts 5.1 to 1.2. But a late goal to Melbourne Grammar, with less than a minute remaining, proved to be enough.

Melbourne Grammar’s win was its third for the season. It was the sixth time the School has won the Cordner Eggleston Cup since the inaugural Cup “game in 1989.

Both schools were well represented off the field with the cheer squads in full voice.

Chris Bisogni • •

Victory picture spread: pages 30-31 Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

The big men fly: Jackson Paine goes for the hit-out while Will Thompson (1) and Nic Daish (6) are ready to crumb

Winter sport impressive with numbers growing I have been impressed with the level of commitment for our AFL, Soccer, Basketball, Hockey, and Rugby programs.

Our numbers in the first three sports continue to grow while Hockey and Rugby numbers remain consistent.

At 1sts level, our Hockey team finished the season in 3rd position with 7/2 win/loss ratio. Up until the last couple of games they were a real threat to win an APS premiership.

Soccer finished the season in 7th position with 3/2/4. Basketball finished the season 5th with 5/6. Football finished the season in 7th position with 4/6. Cross Country had another great year finishing 3rd. Rugby, not being an APS sport, played off in the finals for 3rd spot. They drew with Xavier College to finish equal 3rd for the season. The APS surprise this winter season is Wesley College which won APS Premierships in AFL, Hockey and Basketball.

Our 10A Soccer team was undefeated for the season; they are regularly providing the 1sts with two or three players. I am impressed that the best performing MGS 1sts team is our Hockey boys. Credit must be given to the coach and

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Teacher-in-Charge who made the brave move of selecting a young squad in 2009.

Parent groups are actively supporting their sport and it is encouraging each week to see the positive way in which our parents and boys represent the school from the sidelines.

We had a number of other activities during the mid-year holidays. A USA school water polo team stayed with MGS, two rowing crews went to Henley (see story next page) and the Rugby boys are played touring teams on our Main Oval.

I congratulate all players, coaches, managers and parents for their participation and support. Our main issue for the season was the lack of grounds especially for Rugby. It is difficult, catering for three football codes in the one season. The Steele Memorial Ground’s synthetic surface has been great and we look forward to the re-establishment of the Wadhurst Oval.

Nick Gibbons Director of Sport

Euro athletics tour

Top squad at Henley

The recent European Athletics Tour to Germany and Switzerland proved to be a successful one with many boys recording personal best times. The squad competed in three major athletic championship events, two in Berlin and one international meet in Bern, Switzerland.

Of particular note was the performance of Year 12 student Ned Donohoe who broke the School open 1500m record by an impressive three seconds with a time of 3:57.49.

The group spent 16 days in Berlin, training with the Charlottenburg Athletics Club and being exposed to the history and culture of Germany. The boys gained valuable insight into the training methods and approach of European coaches, as well as forming solid friendships with members of the Charlottenburg club.

A particular highlight for the boys was a tour of the Berlin Olympic Stadium, where they were amazed by the facilities and the historical significance of the stadium since the 1936 Games. The tour concluded in Switzerland, where the boys attended the Diamond League Athletics Grand Prix in Lausanne. They saw Usain Bolt, the fastest man on earth, run 9.82 and also received a ‘high five’ from the world and Olympic champion!

A great row for our boys, 17,000 kilometres from home

Two members of Melbourne Grammar’s 2009 1st XVIII crew are the toast of the rowing world having won the Fawley Challenge Cup on Henley at the recent Henley Royal Regatta in England.

A squad of 17 Victorian rowers, including 12 from Melbourne Grammar, recently returned from the UK, having competed in what is arguably the world’s most famous rowing regatta.

Our squad comprised: a Melbourne Grammar eight, which, was made up of seven members of this year’s 1st VIII, (Charles Willey, Tom Watson, Jordan Hooper, Charles Risbey, Ed Robinson, Will Thompson and Harry Allen) and two from this year’s 2nd VIII (Harrison Bongiorno and Ed Northrop), two quad sculls; a Melbourne Grammar/Xavier composite crew comprising two members of this year’s 2nd VIII (Jon Benjamin and Tom Bongiorno), one member of this year’s 3rd VIII (Jack Robinson) and a member of this year’s Xavier 1st VIII (Jason Izydorczyk); and the Fawley Challenge Cup winners, the Banks Rowing Club/Melbourne University composite crew, comprising former MGS rowers Tim Masters and Ben Coombs, a member of this year’s Xavier 1st VIII (Simon Keenan) and a member of this year’s Geelong Grammar 1st VIII (Henry Meek).

At the IOC Olympic Museum: Tony Keech, Harry Roubin, Haddon Dixon, Michael Merakis, Taylor Righi, Ned Donohoe, James Smith, Kieran Thompson and Nelsia Hermann (IOC Museum, Lausanne)

In Lausanne the boys also visited the IOC Olympic Museum, where the group presented MGS’s Sesquicentenary Book.

This magnificent book, of course, features Edwin Flack (OM 1890), who won two gold medals at the 1896 Olympics.

Tony Keech

The MGS eight overcame Monkton Combe School and Monmouth School to advance to the quarter-finals against St Josephs Prep, where they lost to the USA Scholastic Champions. The MGS/Xavier quad started its race well but was outdone by a popular local crew from Upper Thames RC. Director of Rowing Dan Church spent countless hours organising this trip; it was a great experience for all.

Nick Lloyd Coach

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Drama The accent’s on energy and talent – by gum lad!

Much confusion, soul searching and tension in the classroom in more ways than one – and not just among the students

This year’s Senior School August Production was Alan Bennett’s The History Boys, which premiered in London in 2004 and was later turned into a very successful film featuring the original stage cast, including the larger-than-life Richard Griffiths.

The play proved to be a very popular choice: 45 boys auditioned for the 12 male roles (as well as eight girls for the one female role). It was thus a highly select and talented cast that ultimately took to the Memorial Hall stage on 11, 12 and 13 August. Their dedication to the task encompassed twice-weekly rehearsals throughout Term II, followed by an intensive week before the start of Term III and successive Sundays leading up to the performances.

With such a small cast, this was a genuine ensemble experience for all involved. Creating the world of a 1980s Yorkshire Grammar School brought a variety of challenges, not least developing credible “north-country” accents: something that was made all the easier thanks to the work of our voice coach, Dorothy “Dot” Connor, who spent many hours with the cast.

The play offered great opportunities for our young actors, eight of whom played the “history boys” of the title: young men returning for one final term at school to prepare for their “Oxbridge” entrance exams. They include the selfconfident Dakin, suitably portrayed by Melbourne Grammar School stage veteran Nick Elliott, pianist and occasional narrator Scripps (Vincent Chiang), and Dakin-obsessed, lonely Posner, sensitively played by Edward Perin. Others in this group are the pushy Timms (Cam Venus), anxious and selfdoubting Rudge (Tom Singleton), outsider Akthar (Tom Li),

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cheeky Crowther (Edward Langley) and chirpy Lockwood (Hugo Monotti).

One of the dominant presences in the play was that of soon-to-retire English teacher, Hector, played with great energy and character by another MGS stage veteran, Adam Freeman. His challenger, in the eyes of the boys at least, is the much younger, recent graduate Irwin, skilfully performed by Nick Langford. Moderating the influence of both men is the play’s one female character, Dorothy Lintott, perfectly captured by Melbourne Girls Grammar School’s Steph Hubble, while overseeing them all is the Headmaster, “enemy of culture in the school”, effectively realised by Peter Lioufas. Completing the cast were the three TV personnel and school porters, Josh Tinner, Winston Dzau and Michael Vuckovic.

The cast were thoroughly dedicated to their work and brought Bennett’s complex play to convincing life. Audiences were entertained by the many witty lines and situations and were also challenged by the play’s exploration of some serious and significant issues about education, adolescence and the journey of life. For the first time since the Memorial Hall’s re-opening after renovation in 2005, the raked seating was brought closer to the stage, reducing the auditorium space and creating a more intimate atmosphere.

All involved, onstage and backstage, deserve to feel very proud of what they achieved.

Dr Tim Scott Director •

Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

From the Archives Our MGS men of steel are never forgotten Among the 55,395 British casualties at the First Battle of Ypres (19 October – 22 November, 1914) was Old Melburnian Captain Frederick Steele (OM 1903). Frederick, who had joined the British forces, was the first Old Melburnian to lose his life in World War I. He was the eldest of four brothers who all served. Two of them, Philip (OM 1906) and Norman (OM 1915), were also killed during the First World War. The Steele Memorial Ground, on the former Wilderness site at MGS, was named in their honour after a gift from their mother, Mrs P J Steele, and their surviving brother, Cyril Steele OM (OM 1909).

Rupert Steele (OM 1974) and other family members who are descendants of Cyril Steele were guests of the then Chairman of School Council, Sandy Clark, and the Headmaster, Roy Kelley, on Remembrance Day 2009 to re-dedicate and bless the Steele after its most recent development.

After the ceremony, the School was very fortunate to receive a number of items which belonged to Frederick and Norman Steele. The School is indebted to Mr Philip Ironside, who graciously agreed to lend these items to the Melbourne Grammar School Archives.

Held in the MGS Archives: Mentioned in Despatch Certificate award to Frederick Steele (OM 1901)

The items belonging to Frederick Steele include a presentation box containing the British War and Victory Medals and a results sheet for the Competitive Examination of Colonial Candidates for Commissions in the Regular Forces, which indicated that Frederick Steele was indeed a talented young officer. Other items include a Commemorative Scroll that was sent to relatives of those who had fallen after the cessation of hostilities and the accompanying memorial plaque that came to be known as a ‘Death Penny’. The plaques were cast in bronze and were approximately five inches (125 mm) in diameter. It is interesting to note that no rank for the fallen was recorded, as the intention was to show equality in their sacrifice.

The two Mentioned in Despatches certificates that Frederick Steele was awarded indicate what a remarkably talented and gallant officer he was. Mentioned in Despatches (MID) is a military award for gallantry or otherwise commendable service. A dispatch is an official report from a senior commander, usually to his superiors, detailing the conduct of military operations. During the First World War these reports were published in the London Gazette. If a subordinate officer or soldier performed a noteworthy action included in the report, they were said to have been ‘mentioned in despatches’. Soldiers who were ‘mentioned in despatches’ received a certificate and were entitled to wear a bronze oak leaf on the ribbon of the service medal issued to soldiers who served in a conflict.

Also in the MGS Archives: Presentation case containing the British War and Victory Medals belonging to Frederick Steele, including the memorial plaque that came to be known as the ‘Death Penny’

Stewart Brook Alumni /Archives Manager Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Old Melburnians Spotlight Major task in a country looking for peace significant amount of planning, preparation and rehearsal before every mission.

“While the security situation in Baghdad has improved since 2006, the city remains a dangerous place.”

Allan treasures his nine years as an MGS student and remembers in particular Mr Kelso, “a superb form teacher and a complete gentleman”. He misses the rugby. He hung up his boots a few years ago, but did some coaching of the MGS 1st XV with Rob Shields and Scott Worsfold while he was posted in Melbourne in 2006. “Shieldsy can tell you more about my rugby prowess!” he laughs. Without a doubt his best rugby moment was the MGS vs GGS grand final in 1993, which he remembers as “a superb bunch of close mates triumphing over a tough GGS team to win the trophy”.

Major Allan Hamley: “Right now I am looking forward to bringing my men home to Australia safe and sound.”

While most of us look both ways before crossing the road, Allan Hamley (OM 1994) has one or two other considerations in mind – like roadside bombs, suicide bombers, rocket fire and snipers.

There are only about 100 Diggers left in Iraq nowadays and Major Hamley is in command of them all. Is it surprising that Allan should be living in one of the most dangerous places in the world? Not really. Allan was the Senior Cadet Under Officer in his final year at MGS and won a scholarship to the Australian Defence Force Academy the same year.

For Allan, who had always wanted to join the Army “ever since I was a young boy”, it was not just a dream come true but ignition for an action-packed career serving his country.

Allan managed a flying visit back to Australia a couple of months ago when his wife, Sophie, gave birth to their first child, Lachlan. The trip was all too quick and the saddest moment was saying goodbye when he boarded the flight back to Baghdad in May. Life in Baghdad is no easy ride, especially for a devoted family man with a dedicated wife and brand new son living on the other side of the world. Allan is commanding officer of the 100-man Security Detachment known as SECDET XVI. This special team, housed at the Australian Embassy, provides tailored security for the diplomats and staff, effectively allowing the Ambassador and his staff to carry out official business in the hostile city of Baghdad.

“This means,” says Allan, “wherever the Ambassador or his staff go, we go also, ensuring his safety 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The days are long and we do a

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“Like my initial officer training at ADFA and Royal Military College, Duntroon, I look back on my days at MGS with a lot of happiness. MGS gave me the pillars of education from which to grow and develop in my adult years.

“It gave me a first class education and lifelong mates.

Importantly, the School values leadership development in its students and the House system gave a sense of community and teamwork,” says the former Captain of Miller House and 1994 School Prefect.

Allan says the MGS Cadet Unit taught him leadership skills, self-discipline, self-reliance and initiative – “all values that are consistent with the School’s aims”. Moreover, cadets gave him and several mates, who are also now in the ADF, the chance to experience Army life prior to committing to a career.

Baghdad is not Allan’s first overseas posting. He has previously been deployed to East Timor and, later, to Israel, Syria and Lebanon as a UN military observer.

Clearly the Army has presented Allan with highlights and lowlights. Among the former he rates his graduation from Duntroon after four years of study and hard training – and later completing his master’s degree in project management.

And on the opposite end of the scale? “Farewelling mates who have made the ultimate sacrifice,” he says with sadness.

“Right now I am looking forward to bringing my men home to Australia safe and sound,” says Allan.

John Allin •

Full story: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

The Old Melburnians Council

Simon Derham

It might be the depths of winter, but there is plenty of optimism and certainly no Shakespearean discontent in the Old Melburnian community. Camaraderie, fellowship and fun continue to underpin the branch functions and reunions this year. Now, at the time of writing, we are heading towards the 132nd Old Melburnians Annual Dinner on 20 August.

The strong bond that old boys maintain with each other and the School never ceases to amaze me. Having attended branch functions and several reunions, it is clear that age does not matter. It is great to see the easy way that old boys and their families mix and discuss the past shared experiences, irrespective of the year they left the School. In the case of the Riverina and Western District branch functions, the weather (or more particularly whether or not we can expect rain) was obviously a common topic of conversation.

I have recently represented the Old Melburnians at the Old Caulfield, Old Scotch and Old St Kevin’s dinners and it is interesting to observe the ties that exist among the participating old boys. All have a distinct ‘flavour’ and heritage. All are great schools with which we have much in common – but one cannot help but feel the warmth and particular style and behaviour that go with being an Old Melburnian at an Old Melburnian function.

I recently attended the 1970 year reunion of school leavers.

I was quite daunted to be in the presence of the senior boys of my first year in the Senior School. Having got over my initial awe, I found them to be human and just like all other years: welcoming, friendly, happy to reminisce and poke fun at each other and themselves.

The Old Melburnians Council wishes to particularly recognise changes in the School community over recent months, the first being the retirement as Chairman of School Council of Sandy Clark. Sandy has been an outstanding Chairman, tireless and always giving of his time and counsel. He has been a true friend of The Old Melburnians Council; we thank

him and take this opportunity to acknowledge him as a great Old Melburnian.

Another great OM of course is Professor Richard Larkins AO, our new Chairman of School Council. Richard is, in every sense of the word, a distinguished old-boy. His career in medicine, scientific research and academia (in particular as Vice Chancellor and President of Monash University) is well documented. On behalf of the OM Council, I congratulate Richard on his appointment.

Michael Joyce recently resigned as Director of Development.

Michael served the School with distinction and has been a major force in a myriad areas and activities. In particular, his salient advice and ongoing assistance to several Old Melburnian Presidents and their Councils has been untiring, freely given and well received. We will miss him and wish him well.

The Old Melburnians Council would also like to take this opportunity to welcome Peter Day, who earlier this year took up the role of Director of Advancement at the School. Peter has already created an easy working relationship with The Old Melburnians and we look forward to working closely with him.

The work of the Council goes on, with keen interest in several different areas including a mentoring program, ongoing review of our activities and efforts to assist various old boy groups and the School. With that in mind I would like to thank my fellow Old Melburnian Councillors and other very hard-working and always cheerful members of The Lodge, Stewart Brook and Judith Mein.

At the time of writing we are looking forward to the Annual Dinner on 20 August at the RACV Club, where the Cordner Eggleston Cup victory will no doubt be a hot topic!

Simon Derham President Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Branches & Reunions Sydney Community Function – The Australian Club 1

Sam Mehr (OM 1992); Host and Sydney Branch Convenor Nicholas Guyatt (OM 1965); Susanne Mahady

2

Stuart Brooke (OM 1960); John Loughnan (OM 1959); Ron Mattiske (OM 1960)

3

Marcus Elsum (OM 1984); Michael Fritz (OM 1985); Jeremy Davis (OM 1986)

4

William Hauserman (OM 1992); Sandy Purbrick (OM 1988)

5

Cameron Murphy (OM 1997); Alex Speakman (OM 1998); Nicholas Speer (OM 1997)

6

Andrew Dempster (OM 1999); Jonathan Pruden (OM 1999); Joshua Knuckey (OM 1994); Duncan Stewart (OM 1999)

7

Graeme Russell (OM 1947); Headmaster Roy Kelley; Shirley Russell

8

Ted Blamey (OM 1963); David Corbett (OM 1967); Host and Sydney Branch Convenor Nicholas Guyatt (OM 1965)

Toorak RSL ‘Heroes’ Luncheon 9

1960 Fifty Year Reunion 10 Max Garfield; Hartley Hansen 11 Ross Ansell; John Loughnan; Chris Derham 12 Hugh Prentice; Nicholas Alexander

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Nigel Peck (OM 1945); Tony Street (OM 1944)

5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Friends of Grammar Senior School As the year speeds by, Friends of Grammar have continued with their friend-raising and enjoyed another round of Year Level Cocktail parties, all of which were incredibly well attended and enjoyed.

Our most exciting achievement is the funding for the fit-out of the Year 12 Study Room, which is now operational. A space such as this has been on the Wish List for many years now and we’re very happy that all current and future year 12 boys will now have their own space for study and group meetings.

We are working on some fabulous events for the second part of the year, so watch the portal and weekly newsletters for updates and booking details. On Monday 30 August, James Hird will be guest speaker at a Father/Son breakfast.

We will conduct a trip to the NGV Masters exhibition in August, and we will launch the Melbourne Grammar Cookbook, Sharing Food, on Friday 15 October. Please continue to join in and enjoy our community efforts.

Katie Dewhurst President FOG Senior School and Executive

Wadhurst Life at Wadhurst has settled into a happy routine, with the boys being busy with their studies, winter sports, music performances and practice for the end-of-year play.

The Wadhurst Breakfast is always a popular event and again this year attracted an impressive crowd, with around 340 people attending. Cappuccinos and tea for the parents and hot chocolates for the boys were enjoyed, along with croissants, various pastries and other delicious treats. Every year this is a great opportunity for parents to mingle with their boys and other Wadhurst families, at the same time enjoying a deliciously decadent breakfast. The boys love this morning event and always seem keen to attend with their parents.

The Year 12 Study Room is a boon for students. Top: With exams only a few weeks away, Max Porritt and Oliver Sims take some quiet time out. Below: Max and Oliver catch up on some study notes with Khuzair Rehan, Will Marshall and Gus Young

Friends of Grammar Wadhurst has also run other events during the term to make parents feel welcome and to be part of the School community. These have included movie mornings, coffee mornings and lunches – held mostly in House groups.

The Mother’s Day stall is always a fun day, watching the boys carefully choose what they think their mum would love to receive on the big day. Both mothers and boys seem grateful to have this available to them.

All Wadhurst FOG events are advertised in the School newsletter.

Major events for the boys in Term III are the Wadhurst Music Concert on 18 August and the Father-Son Trivia Night on 9 September. These are great events and we hope to see you along to one, if not both, nights.

Caroline Robinson President FOG Wadhurst

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Grimwade House the smallest Prep through to the tallest Year 6 boy deliberate over just the right thing for their Mum. Later in May, the Prep and Year 3 levels welcomed their Grandparents and Special Friends on consecutive days, and guests enjoyed wonderful morning teas, provided by Class Reps and parents, followed by concerts in the Alfred Felton Hall. Judging by the smiles all round (and the lack of leftovers), a very good time was had by all.

Paula McCall and Sandra Leung ‘manning’ the barbecue at the Year 3 Father/Child Night

The Grimwade community has been a busy one in the first half of the year, and everyone welcomed the mid-year holidays for a well-earned rest!

All seven year levels have now held their Year Level Cocktail Party and thanks must go to our hard-working Class Representatives whose efforts made these events such a success. We are also grateful for the generosity of our hosts at all year levels for offering their beautiful homes as venues – having these functions in a family home always gives the evening a warmer, more relaxed atmosphere and is a lovely tradition at Grimwade.

In April, a special assembly was held at Grimwade House to celebrate the 50th birthday of Wayne Starkey – our popular and much loved caretaker. Seven hundred cupcakes (in Richmond colours) were baked and iced by the FOGG Committee to add to the fun. The children were very happy to share in Mr Starkey’s ‘birthday cakes’, but none of the FOGG Committee will ever make yellow icing again!

Our annual Year 3 Father/Child Night was also held in April, with over 200 fathers, children, class reps and helpers enjoying a barbecue and an evening of team-based challenges culminating in the awarding of the Year 3 Father/ Child Cup to the winning team. Activities included water bomb throwing, jelly and spoon racing, lolly and chopstick grab, ‘Toxic River’, and the popular (with the children at least) ‘Mr Grimwade House’ pageant – won this year by the very good-humoured Rob Cave.

May brought us to Mother’s Day and our annual Mother’s Day stall was as popular as ever, and thanks again to Natalie Mullin for her careful buying and stock control. It is one of the most enjoyable days on the FOGG calendar, watching

The tuckshop moved into the FOGG kitchen towards the end of Term II, in order to vacate Building 214 during its renovation. While sharing this area is not without inconvenience to both sides, a great spirit of cooperation has made this transition relatively smooth. Particular thanks to Andrew Boyd, John Phillips, Jamie Brennan and the Grimwade Maintenance Staff for their assistance and advice during this period.

Best wishes to all for a happy second half of the year.

Amy Jasper President FOG Grimwade House

Food, glorious food!

A most exciting FOG initiative is about to grace the kitchens of the Melbourne Grammar community, their friends and, indeed, anyone who loves fine food. In another words, Sharing Food is about to hit the press!

What started as an idea for an MGS community-inspired cookbook turned into something much greater. More than 550 recipes were submitted. Now Sharing Food will become a great addition to any kitchen library.

Divided into terms and seasons, Sharing Food is a wonderful snapshot of what it means to be part of our brilliant MGS community. The book looks beautiful and we believe you will not only want to try all the recipes over time but also give a copy to all your family and friends.

The recipe submissions were chosen, tested and tasted.

Mark Chew’s photography and the skills of food stylist Caroline Velik were added to the mix to create a great cookbook which every Masterchef would be proud to have on the kitchen bench.

Caroline Robinson can help you with any queries on: 0439 818 310. To order your copy of Sharing Food, go to the events page of the Melbourne Grammar School website.

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Community News Weddings Congratulations The Grammar community is pleased to congratulate the following couples who recently celebrated their marriages in the Chapel of St Peter:

15 May 2010 Ben Cooper (OM 1993) & Elizabeth Moffatt

22 May 2010 Alexander Danne (OM 1997) & Karyn Lister

Sesquicentenary Book There is still time to order the special Melbourne Grammar School Sesquicentenary Book.

This limited edition book is an amazing photographic record of the events and activities held during our remarkable Sesquicentenary Year. It also includes details on the 150 Old Melburnians who have made such a significant contribution to the School, the state and the nation. A must have for all those who hold the School so dear.

Order online at: www.mgs.vic.edu.au or via email: jlhawksworth@mgs.vic.edu.au or phone: 9865 7533.

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Robert Lewis (OM 1950) writes that he retired from the farm at Heywood in 1999 and presently lives with his wife Morna on a four-hectare block in a beautiful bush setting on the edge of Portland.

Robert’s interests are his church, sailing and boat building. Robert and his wife have three grandchildren and they celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

Court of Australia. Con says all that was an apprenticeship for his present occupation of jardinière. Accordingly, Con now enjoys reading and listening to classical music and planning the work in and philosophy of tending the ‘potager’ (kitchen garden) at home. The most important thing that Con has discovered is that Mozart, played gently, helps tomatoes grow!

Bruce Heron (OM 1950) reports that after an eventful career, he has retired to paint in oils and watercolours. For a number of years he had successful exhibitions in Melbourne and a number of country centres which were reported in several newspapers and a national magazine.

Donald McLean (OM 1950) still plays bowls with The Old Melburnian Bowls Club and encourages Old Melburnians to join him.

Ross Macfarlan (OM 1950) is now very much retired and occupies his time with golf, the Garden Society and ‘grey nomad’ travel around Australia.

Bob Birrell (OM 1950) moved to a large garden in the town of Leongatha in 2002 having retired from paediatric practice in 1998. Bob joined South Gippsland Legacy in 2004 and has been involved in advocacy work for Legacy War Widows in their claims against the Department of Veteran Affairs. Bob and his wife Jan have eight delightful grandchildren.

Con Nikakis (OM 1950) completed a Bachelor of Laws from Melbourne University. Con entered the legal profession and eventually specialized in family law. He was later appointed a Judicial Registrar of the Family

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Peter Hunt (OM 1955) writes that he moved to Western Australia in 1978 and now resides in Claremont. Peter was involved in Real Estate residential sales until 2006.

He is now the manager of the St Louis Retirement Village, which according to Peter is the premier village in Perth’s Western Suburbs.

Peter remarried in 2008 and he and his new wife have recently taken a number of cruises which they very much enjoy.

Peter Sewell (OM 1955) owned a trucking business in the Bacchus Marsh area for some years before operating a machinery business specialising in the sales and service of pumps and ride-on mowers, as well as other equipment.

Several years ago Peter and his wife Lyndy retired to the Bellarine Peninsula at Wallington. They built a new house on a 0.4-hectare block with plenty of garden to look after. Four years ago, Lyndy sadly passed away and since that time Peter has been involved with the

Wallington CFA where he is the Apparatus Officer. Peter reports that he has three wonderful grandchildren.

Richard Heron (OM 1982) Works in risk management / information security and has completed further study.

Richard is married with one child.

Ian Gardner (OM 1983) is a ManagerAsset Management for engineering firm Wood & Grieve Engineers. Ian has two children, Hugh (OM 2003) and Phoebe.

Benjamin Wade (OM 1986) After University, Benjamin travelled the world for two years before settling in London. He worked as an IT contractor for 10 years, mainly in Finance, and is now at Morgan Stanley. Ben recently completed an MBA and has a baby son, Guy. Cameron Smith (OM 1986) is working and living in London as a partner in the energy, transport and infrastructure group of Ashurst (formerly Ashurst Morris Crisp), a law firm in London. Cameron married in October 2003 to Sara Hannell and they now have a daughter Phoebe.

James Maclellan (OM 1987) runs a cattle farm in the Buckland Valley near Bright. James is also involved in Consulting Technology in Melbourne.

Annick Cable (OM 2000) writes “leaving my brothers behind to enjoy Wadhurst, I finished school across the road at MacRobertson Girls High. In more recent years, I’ve been living in Europe, working at The Economist and at the European Commission. I now work as an EU public affairs

consultant in Brussels.”

Annick is keen to catch up with old classmates and with expat ‘old girls’.

Pattie Wright advises that her three sons Ramsay Wright (OM 2001), Bart Wright (OM 2007) and Mackenzie Wright (OM 2009) are all doing well and like to keep up to date with activities and events at the School. All are at The University of Melbourne.

Mackenzie obtained a bursary to Ormond College and is studying Arts, Bart is finishing his final year of Agriculture and Ramsay is back studying a Masters in Town Planning.

Obituaries

Queen’s Birthday Honours On behalf of the Grammar Community we extend our congratulations to the following people who were recognised for their work in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours:

James Alexander Angus (Past Parent) Officer of the Order of Australia AO Citation: For distinguished service to biomedical research, particularly in the fields of pharmacology and cardiovascular disease, as a leading academic and medical educator, and as a contributor to a range of advisory boards and professional organisations both nationally and internationally.

The School has learnt of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy and understanding is extended to their family and friends.

Appleby, S S (OM 1920) Baird, D C (OM 1940) Bell, A T J (OM 1929) Blanshard, J (OM 1946) Bott VRD, W (OM 1933) Cameron, J (Past Staff) Candy, C R (OM 1934) Christian, I K (OM 1949) Cohen, B E (OM 1944)

Michael Sydney Cohen (OM 1948)

Connard, A B (OM 1940)

Medal of the Order of Australia OAM Citation: For service to the community through a range of Jewish organisations.

Downs, J T C (OM 1949) Fuller, A (Community Member) Graham, H M (OM 1953) Graham Q C, D (OM 1957) Hankin, M L (OM 1949)

A touch of aviation and theatre A successful Retired Staff Association excursion to the RAAF Air Museum at Point Cook was followed by the RSA Annual General Meeting and luncheon held at Leonda by the Yarra on 3 June. About 80 members attended.

At the AGM the following were re-elected to the Committee; Tim Sullivan (President), Kathy Howell (Vice-President), Kathleen Comery (Secretary), Brian McKittrick (Treasurer), Peter Valder (Editor of our newsletter Dino-News) and Lesley Gorrell (Committee). Hard working Committee member Sally Wallis retired and was replaced by Ann Wilhelm.

After the luncheon Chris Bradtke, Head of Teaching and Learning at Melbourne Grammar School, spoke on his other major areas of interest, stage direction and set design. Over time many of our group and members of the wider Grammar community have enjoyed Chris’s musical productions

Houghton, E (Friend of the School)

through CLOC (The Cheltenham Light Opera Company) and Whitehorse Players.

This talk was not only interesting; it also highlighted the careful attention to detail required to plan and present a major theatre performance. The post-luncheon entertainment was further enhanced by VCE student Ed Perin, accompanied by Director of Music Philip Carmody, presenting a number of musical items including the Anthem from the musical ‘Chess’.

Houghton, P H (OM 1953) Hunter, J (OM 1933) Isaacs MBE, J A (OM 1932) Johnson, R B, (OM 1942) Kerr, W H D (OM 1937) Kimpton, S (Community Member) Laing, C R (OM 1933) Matheson, T I (OM 1954) McDowell, I (OM 1944) Macmeikan, R T (OM 1961)

Three more member functions are set down for the remainder of the year. These include a lecture and film on microbiologists Louis Pasteur and Robert Koch, a day trip to the Bendigo Art Gallery and our Spring Picnic at Dromkeen near Riddells Creek.

Morgan, B A (OM 1948)

Tim Sullivan President Retired Staff Association

Smithwick JP, R V (OM 1931)

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Purcell, M S (OM 1959) Ralph, A W (OM 1955) Renton AM, N E (OM 1948) Schildberger, M J (OM 1954) Webb, W C (OM 1936)

Pictures: www.mgs.vic.edu.au/grammarnews

Wilson, S (Community Member) Woodward AC OBE QC, Sir Edward (OM 1945)

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Cordner Eggleston Victory 2010…

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MGS 16.10.106 def Scotch 15.6.96

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Melbourne Grammar School 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne Victoria 3004 Australia T +61 3 9865 7555 F +61 3 9865 7577 mgs@mgs.vic.edu.au www.mgs.vic.edu.au ABN 61 004 453 829