Grammar News No 108 Aug 2012

grammar news Print Post PP344276/00024

Number 108 – August 2012

Above:

OFF WITH THEIR HAIR: It wasn’t a hair salon but Wadhurst’s Crop-A-Kid Day. This year the Wadhurst students & staff, with a lot of help from Friends of Grammar Wadhurst, raised over $24,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, bringing the total raised to more than $140,000 over the last eight years

Front Cover: ACTION: (left to right) Babette Buddle, Andrew Argyrou, Cayla le Gear & Rigby Gray in a scene from the Grimwade House production of ‘Rainmaker’ Opposite:

REMEMBERING FROMELLES: Zachary Ellis & Captain of Melbourne Grammar School, Ed Langley, lay a wreath during a moving service to commemorate the 96th anniversary of The Battle of Fromelles

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: Chris Bisogni Sub Editor: Jenny Rowe Layout & pre-production: Drew Gamble Photographs by: Chris Bisogni, Stewart Brook, Adam Cawood, Peter Day, James Grant & Heath Sheridan 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 News 8 Grimwade House 10 Wadhurst 12 Senior School 14 Boarding 15 The Foundation 16 The Arts 18 Winter Sports 20 Outdoor Education 21 Careers 22 The Old Melburnians 24 Community News 26 Branches & Reunions 28 Friends of Grammar 30 Archives 31 ANZAC Day

About this issue Welcome to Grammar News, Issue 108. In this issue the focus is on the Arts at Melbourne Grammar School and the various forms this can take across our three campuses. There has been plenty to celebrate and acknowledge in the Arts in recent months at MGS, with Grimwade House’s Rainmaker production in June, the achievements of a number of Wadhurst students in the Moran Photography Awards and the second annual Arts Week which was held at Senior School during Term II. We look back on the winter sports season and how our sports teams fared. You can read about the achievements and news from a number of Old Melburnians, see what the Friends of Grammar have been up to and also catch up with those in the Careers Centre who are having a very busy Term III. We congratulate the VCE students from 2011 who were recognised at the Premier’s VCE Awards in July and acknowledge a number of special visitors to the Senior School campus during Term II. I welcome your comments and feedback and hope you enjoy the latest issue of Grammar News.

Chris Bisogni Editor Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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From the School Council Exploring boundaries through Art questions can be asked of MGS. Why should the School devote precious time and resources to the Arts?

A unique characteristic of the human species is its ability to create beautiful or expressive artistic work. Humans have evolved beyond the qualities they need to survive and reproduce so that they also have an ability to create and appreciate fine artistic expression in all its forms – writing, music, drama and visual arts. There are those who are sufficiently gifted to be able to create works of beauty and expression. For most of us, if we can learn to appreciate fine artistic creation, our lives are immensely enriched.

Professor Richard Larkins

Previous editions of Grammar News have been devoted to some elements that add to the traditional components of school education. We have spoken of the development of leadership and its various dimensions, outdoor education and languages as an entrance to understanding cultures and human diversity. Additionally, we appreciate the role that sport plays in developing character and adding to the richness of life. It has always been a celebrated and prominent part of the life of Melbourne Grammar School and I trust that it will always remain so.

This edition of Grammar News is devoted to the Arts. The Headmaster and others will describe various activities at the School which demonstrate the immense pool of artistic talent we have and the initiatives we are taking to help all our students to achieve their potential in this important element of life.

There is a recurrent debate in our community about the value which should be placed on the Arts and the extent to which Arts organisations should be subsidised. Should Opera Australia, the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra or the National Gallery of Victoria be able to support themselves if they are valued by the community? Are they not pandering to the social elite with little appeal to the wider public who contribute the majority of the taxes? The same type of

Picasso in his succinct way said “Art washes away the dust of everyday life” and Rodin, “Art is contemplation. It is the pleasure of the mind which searches into nature and which divines the spirit of which Nature herself is animated”. To the extent that the School can help our students to enjoy the creative arts, we will have added an element which will enable them to achieve their full potential as rounded and complete members of a civil society.

I have previously emphasised that although high rankings in the ATAR at VCE are an important target for the School and although we love to win sporting competitions, our success or failure as a School resides much more in our ability to allow each individual student to achieve his or her maximum potential as an individual. In the current context, this is not only the extent to which the School encourages talented students to excel. It is also the extent to which each student develops an ability to appreciate artistic excellence and creativity.

There could be no greater condemnation of any educational institution than in an attempt to transmit more information, it suppressed initiative and creativity. Education is not about filling minds with reservoirs of information.

The more students are encouraged to explore boundaries, reflect, think and create for themselves, the more likely they are to appreciate the richness not only in the wonders of the natural world, but also in the fruits of the creative geniuses of the past and present.

Education at MGS must include instilling the ability in all our students to appreciate beauty and creativity in all its forms and the nurturing and development of artistic talent.

Richard Larkins Chairman

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From the Headmaster Art for Arts sake There is a story told about Pablo Picasso standing outside his house, looking around his yard. A rusty old bicycle resting against the porch caught his attention. Picasso focussed on the metal frame of the bike and noticed the handlebars resembled the horns of a bull. Removing the handlebars from the bike, he proceeded to his studio and created his famous sculpture of a charging bull. Picasso tapped his creative imagination to turn the ordinary into something dramatic, something for which he became famous. Such is the beauty of the Arts.

The Arts are a fundamental part of any school, as all students need an outlet for the expression of personal emotions and feelings. It was the American academic Kurt Seidel who, when commissioned to research the effect of the Arts on education stated, “The Arts teach selfdiscipline, reinforce self-esteem and foster the thinking skills and creativity so valued in the workplace. They teach the importance of teamwork and cooperation. They demonstrate the direct connection between study, hard work and high levels of achievement”. These are values which are held in high regard at Melbourne Grammar School and help to explain our clear intention to ensure the Arts flourish here.

In my first three years at MGS, I have been most impressed to observe the quality and diversity of the Arts programme at the School. Whether it is reflected in the courage to produce a controversial play such as the History Boys in 2010 or the confidence to allow nine student orchestral conductors to compete in this year’s Geordie Zhang Cup in the MGS Concerto Concert or the challenging themes on display in the student VCE artwork exhibition, there is no doubt that the Arts are thriving at Melbourne Grammar. The ability to participate in and/or appreciate artistic creativity is of great importance to this School.

For the last three years the MGS Chapel Choir has been selected to perform with the Brandenburg Orchestra in the Melbourne Recital Centre. At Wadhurst this year, Year 7 and 8 boys submitted photographs to the Moran Photographic Competition – one of the largest in the world. One Wadhurst Year 7 boy’s entry made the final list of 20 and a further seven students reached the semi-final stage, a remarkable achievement as more than 10,000 entries in this division were submitted from across Australia. At Grimwade House, the Artist-in-Residence programme has been in place for several years, with recent projects involving: Aboriginal artist, Lee Darroch; choreographer, Chris Barratt; sculptor, Pamela Irving and Photographer-in-Residence,

Roy Kelley

Viki Petherbridge. Each of these opportunities adds to the aesthetic appreciation of our students, to their development of creativity and to an understanding of the diverse skills involved in the Arts.

In 2010, MGS Senior School student leaders organised the inaugural Arts Festival Week. Such was the positive reaction to this venture, it was repeated this year with extended activities including a variety of individual and ensemble musical items, theatre sports, rap dancing, street theatre and a variety of other improvised activities being scheduled for morning break and lunchtime each day. In addition, an open visual art canvas was set up in the Quad on which every student could make an artistic contribution, while movie marathons and a teachers’ art exhibition were keenly attended. There is no doubt that Arts Festival Week will be a feature in the MGS calendar for years to come.

As you will read more about on page 15 of this Grammar News, an MGS Arts Committee has been established.

Initially, the Committee wishes to develop a system to catalogue, record and display all existing forms of artwork owned by the School. This will assist with the asset development at MGS and, most importantly, provide students with direct access to quality works of art. Further, the Committee is in the process of establishing a sculpture walk across Wadhurst and Senior School, consisting of a series of commissioned and thought-provoking sculptures which will become a feature of the MGS landscape. I look forward to reporting more on this exciting venture in due course.

Roy Kelley Headmaster

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News Teaching in the 21st Century

Dr Ron Ritchhart

In February 2010, Melbourne Grammar School began work with Dr Ron Ritchhart, from Harvard University’s Project Zero team, to promote and further develop a better understanding of teaching. Dr Ritchhart spoke with Grammar News Editor, Chris Bisogni.

with (renowned mathematician) David Perkins and (Professor of Cognition and Education) Howard Gardner on a project called ‘Teaching for Understanding’. My dissertation research focused on how teachers promote thinking and create thoughtful classrooms for all students. There was interest in these ideas from funders and I have been lucky enough to stay at Harvard to continue my research work. I became a Fellow at Melbourne University in 2010 and have been able to continue my work with colleagues there.

Please describe how your work with MGS staff has developed over time.

Your special interest is ‘Cultures of Thinking’. Please expand on that and explain what this means.

For the past two and half years (Melbourne education consultant) Julie Landvogt and I have been working with MGS staff on various ways to promote students’ thinking, make it more visible, enhance understanding and generally challenge and engage students in their classes. This year we have four Professional Action Groups that meet every fortnight. These groups share the work that teachers are doing in their class, read research on effective teaching and the psychology of learning and practice new teaching techniques.

In my dissertation research, sponsored by the Spencer Foundation, I found that classroom culture was key to promoting students’ development as thinkers and learners.

It is through the culture of the classroom that students learn what it means to think and how to learn. Although there is a tendency to think of group culture as a mystery, my initial study of classrooms identified eight forces that shape organisational culture: time, modeling, opportunities, language, interactions, expectations, environment and routines.

What has been exciting this year, is to see how the various techniques and strategies have spread and deepened across the School. It’s been fascinating to see how teachers are using the strategies and making them their own. As a result, the level of professional conversations that have emerged just keep getting deeper. Increasingly, teachers are stepping forward to lead the sessions, so that eventually these groups will be self-sustaining at the School.

In 2005, I was able to take these ideas forward into new research conducted at Bialik College with the support of Abe Dorevitch (OM 1946) and his wife Vera. For five years we worked with teachers on how to use the eight cultural forces to create classrooms where thinking was valued, visible and actively promoted as part of the students’ day-today experience. That is the definition of a culture of thinking.

This work was written about in the recently published book, Making Thinking Visible. We are now extending this research further at MGS by looking at students’ awareness of the thinking demands of classrooms and how teachers promote thinking through class discussion.

You are from Harvard University’s Project Zero team.

What exactly is that?

Project Zero is one of the oldest research and development groups in education in the world. In reality we aren’t a single project, but consist of somewhere between 10 to 20 different projects at any one time. Some projects work with schools, others with business, museums or communitybased organisations. The common thread is that our work focuses on issues of learning, creativity and thinking.

What is your background in terms of education and profession?

I taught at schools for 14 years at both the elementary and secondary levels. While teaching Maths, I became very interested in how students come to understand Maths and learn to think mathematically. This led me to pursue a doctorate in cognitive psychology at Harvard and to work

What to you is the best practice for teaching at a school such as MGS? Around the world there is a focus on teaching 21st Century skills. While this means different things to different people, it always includes the development of students as powerful thinkers and learners and not just effective test-takers. While curriculum, content and performance on tests will continue to be important, knowledge alone is insufficient. Students also have to have the ability to think with, about and through that information in creative and innovative ways to solve problems. The challenge for schools such as MGS is to not let themselves be overly constrained or defined by test scores alone, but to set the bar even higher so that they can say, “We don’t just prepare students for tests, we prepare them for life”.

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Lest We Forget ANZAC Day was recognised once again at MGS, with 51 Old Melburnians welcomed back to the School to remember.

The annual service is one of the most important on the School calendar.

The day included a service in the Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall, followed by lunch in the Luxton Dining Hall.

President of the Old Melburnians Council, Ameet Bains (OM 1995), delivered a timely reminder to the Senior School students about the importance of ANZAC Day as part of his address.

More than 3,000 Old Melburnians have served in war. At the School’s 2012 ANZAC Day commemoration, 19 Old Melburnians who had served during World War II, were able to attend.

Frank Macindoe (OM1943), David Weigall (OM 1962) & Colonel David Lawrence AM (OM 1953). More pictures page 31

Further honours for Edwin Flack

EDWIN FLACK BRIDGE: An artist’s impression of how the Edwin Flack Bridge will look once it is in place at Melbourne’s sports precinct

A bronze statue depicting Australia’s first Olympic gold medallist, Edwin Flack (OM 1891), is being commissioned by the School and will stand on display at the MGS sports precinct that bears his name, Edwin Flack Park.

Renowned sculptor, Louis Laumen, best known for the statues surrounding the MCG in the ‘Parade of Champions’, has been contracted to create the sculpture. It is expected to be completed by 2013. The School recognises the commitment and foresight of Nigel Peck (OM 1945), for his initiation and support of the project.

Meanwhile, the Victorian Government has announced that a new footbridge from the MCG to AAMI Park is to be named after Edwin Flack. The Edwin Flack Bridge will connect with the new Eastern Plaza public space, under construction between Hisense Arena and the new National Tennis Centre.

Flack won two gold medals at the 1896 Athens Olympics, in the 800 and 1500 metres track and field events. He also won a bronze medal in the Tennis doubles event. He also competed in the Marathon event but despite leading for most of the way, he collapsed at the 36-kilometre mark, due to exhaustion.

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Grimwade House Curtain comes down on Rainmaker

WHAT A SHOW: Colourful sets & costumes were a feature of the Grimwade House Year 6 production of ‘Rainmaker’

Grimwade House’s Alfred Felton Hall has hosted some important, memorable and colourful events in its history, but the 2012 performance of Rainmaker would have to be up there among the best. The Hall was transformed into a South American jungle for the three evening and two matinee performances of Rainmaker, which follows a group of children in a drought-ridden country, looking to find the Lord of Rain.

Rainmaker is an inspiring and much-loved children’s musical featuring lyrical and inspiring melodies, complemented by singing toucans and parrots, giant anacondas, thunder gods and even a crazy fruit-eating bear. All Year 6 students were included in the production in various singing, acting and dancing roles, in what was a highly theatrical and engaging story.

The story follows a group of children from a drought-ridden village as they set out on a quest to find the legendary Rainmakers. Learning secrets about power and ‘medicine’ from animals of the rainforest, our young hero Chep (played

by Rigby Gray), discovers his own true colours as he helps the Lord of Rain (Chris de Jong), recover the rainmakingcapes and overthrow the evil Kongan Hab (Harry Molnar).

Rainmaker was directed and choreographed by Christine Barratt (who returned to Grimwade House following her success last year with A Matter of Hats), with support from Grimwade House’s Head of Music, Catherine Baillie, who directed the musical aspect of the production. Toby McIlrath

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(Head of Upper Primary) assisted with the organisational efforts of putting on such a large-scale production, which is one of the many highlights the Year 6 students appreciate in their final year at Grimwade House.

Rainmaker was a challenge for the cast, who perfected the choreographed scenes over a six-week period. It was evident that the students gained much from the experience and their enjoyment was translated into first-class performances in front of packed houses.

“It was great to observe the students attempt something very different in their learning and overcome their anxieties and build confidence throughout the process,” said Catherine. “The success of the Year 6 musical is directly related to the Grimwade community coming together to assist in all aspects of the production.”

Rainmaker was well-supported by staff from all areas of Grimwade House, many of whom worked after hours to create sets, organise logistics and plan for the evening performances. There was also incredible support from the parents of the Year 6 students, who assisted with photography and costuming. Each performance highlighted the collective talents of the Year 6 students.

Congratulations to all the students involved and also to staff members Catherine Baillie, the Year 6 teachers, Toby McIlrath, Damien Lyons, Edwina Lanham and Donna Gordon, the Art Department’s Jan Rizzo and Maryanne Nairn, eLearning’s Rod White and the many volunteers who helped with the props, staging and costume design.

Happy days for these buddies

BUDDIES: Tim Brend, Jessica Tabain, Harry Ross, Ruby Hyatt & Elliott Spee show the true spirit of Grimwade House’s Buddy/Mentor programme

The success of the Grimwade House’s Buddy/Mentor programme is best measured by meeting a sample of those involved in it. The programme matches Prep and Year 6 students, who spend time together and help each other out.

Year 6 students, Elliot Spee and Harry Ross, are the proud mentors of Ruby Hyatt, while Tim Brend mentors his buddy, Jessica Tabain. Sitting with them on a cold Friday afternoon, you can see five lively and engaged students who simply adore each other’s company.

“Friends forever!” yells Jessica of her mentor, Tim. “They help me make the right decisions and are always very funny and fun to be around,” says Ruby, referring to Elliott and Harry.

The group eagerly await their weekly Friday meetings, when they get to spend time together. Of course there are other interactions during the week, but it is Friday that they look forward to the most.

“I love playing with Ruby. She is so much fun and despite the age difference she teaches me as much as I teach her,” says Harry.

The mentors all agree that they have seen the development of their relationships grow as the year has progressed.

“Jessica was fairly shy at first but in time she has become very chatty and it’s been great for me to able to spend that time with her,” says Tim.

leadership opportunities for the Year 6 students in their final year of primary school.

“I will miss Ruby, but I can remember my mentors from when I was her age, so for me it is good to know that she will hopefully remember me. Fridays won’t be the same, but we have a lot more to enjoy before then,” says Elliott.

Open House Mark Thursday 13 September in your diaries. It is the date of ‘Grimwade House Open House’, when all that Grimwade House has to offer will be on show.

The 9.15am – 11.00am event will give attendees the opportunity to hear from the Headmaster, Roy Kelley, and the Head of Grimwade House, Andrew Boyd, as well as have a tour of the campus led by senior primary students.

Classroom and extra-curricular activities will be the focus, providing a first-hand account of just what life is like as a Grimwade House student.

Traditionally a very popular event, anyone interested in attending should call the Admissions Office on (03) 9865 7570 and book their place at Grimwade House Open House.

The programme forms a key part of the Grimwade House’s pastoral care approach to its students and also provides

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Wadhurst Their pictures are worth a thousand words Wadhurst students have dominated the Moran Photography Awards, with eight boys having their work nominated for the finals in the prestigious international competition’s school section. A total of 12 entries were deemed worthy of consideration and made it to the semi-finals, with Harry Goodman’s photo ‘Texture’ making it into the final.

The Awards aim to promote contemporary photography and excellence in all forms of still photo-based artwork. Entrants were asked to interpret ‘Contemporary Life in Australia’, with an emphasis on Australians going about their day-to-day lives within their environment.

There were several hundred thousand applicants across the Open and schools section. In all, 20 entries were selected as finalists in the Years 7 and 8 section and 250 entries selected for the semi-finals. The Moran Photography Awards offer one of the biggest art prizes in the world, giving more than $300,000 dollars to artists.

Wadhurst Art Coordinator, Adam Cawood, says that reaching the final stages of the competition is a reflection of a lot of hard work and creative input from his charges.

PICTURE THIS: Wadhurst Art Coordinator Adam Cawood with the Moran finalists & their award-nominated works of art.

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“Just to see the boys go out and have the eye for such creative pieces is a great testament to them. I am really proud of the results and look forward to seeing their work in years to come,” he said.

The students’ achievements in the Awards are a reflection of the Wadhurst art programme, which continues to grow from strength to strength – and photography is a core part of the programme. There is a common sight around the Wadhurst campus of students taking to the streets with cameras and diaries in hand. Choosing themes and capturing images and ‘moods’ are just some of the tasks put to them.

The entries submitted for the Moran Photography Awards have given the boys great confidence and provided food for thought for Adam when he assesses their work.

“As part of the curriculum, I ask the boys to produce a series of A4 photographic textured stills in portrait form of themselves, based on a number of themes including identity, stereotypes, adolescence and character,” Adam said. “To be assessing nationally recognised works of art is something I will now have to take into account!”

FINALIST: Harry Goodman’s photo ‘Texture’

Education among trees Wadhurst‘s life stories The range of activities at Wadhurst’s Robert Knox Camp, or ‘Woodend’ as it is more commonly referred to, continues to grow. The School’s Outdoor Education Programme Manager, Michael Milnes, has designed the Woodend programme to include an educational, adventurous and fun experience for the Year 7 students.

English classes at Wadhurst have taken on a personal touch, thanks to the work of professional writer, Simon Dalton, who has partnered with English teachers Nick Dawe and Martin Leslie. A core part of the English curriculum focuses on biographies and specialist classes are regularly held that teach boys the art of writing stories about others.

This year, Woodend has hosted six groups, a total of 180 students. “Safe to say the experience for the boys has evolved significantly since the Camp first opened in 1973,” says Michael.

Activities include navigation, bushwalking and camping in the Wombat State Forest, mountain biking on the world-class Wombat Track, rock climbing and abseiling at Camel’s Hump, team building activities and solo reflection time. It all finishes with a big camp debrief and discussion. A live reptile show on Wednesday nights is one of the highlights, allowing the boys to get up close and personal with some of the area’s natural inhabitants.

“We are on 200 acres of bush that backs onto approximately 68,000 hectares of the Wombat State Forest so, as you can imagine, it’s definitely an opportunity for the boys to really enjoy the vastness of the area,” Michael says.

The boys are expected to take responsibility for their own wellbeing while on camp while also tending to the fires and heating throughout the campsite, keeping their rooms clean and preparing and cooking some of their own meals.

Keeping the site warm is not to be understated, given the unpredictable nature of the area’s climate. Woodend does share Melbourne’s unpredictable weather patterns. Groups can experience warm sunny days and mild nights, sleet and rainy days or frost and ice-covered nights.

STORYTIME: Nicholas Foster gets to work on a biography under the watchful eye of Simon Dalton

Simon, who also works at Old Melbourne Gaol as a Programmes Development Manager, has plenty of experience writing stories and is only too happy to share his knowledge.

Now in its fifth year, the workshops with the Year 8 English students include identifying the subject of the biography and then telling the story.

“Some of the challenges include setting up the interview, how long you spend with your subject and the environment in which you conduct the interview and of course, what sort of questions you ask,” Simon says. After that, the boys structure their stories and put pen to paper.

The constant message to students is that the work they are doing is not just an assignment, but could also have a significant impact on their local communities.

HEADLINE ACT: John Stuckey & unnamed lizard with Angus Donald during one of Woodend’s live reptile shows

“People of an older generation tend to undervalue their stories. When they see their stories on paper and the trouble the boys have gone to write them, they feel really happy about their lives and are often surprised by their legacy,” Simon says.

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Senior School The Creative Arts peers to think about their own engagement with the Arts. To this end, they instigate a number of creative programmes to entice curiosity and to inspire visual thinking.

This year a committee of students was formed to organise the annual ‘Arts Week at MGS’, which took place during Term II. The committee consisted of Oliver Breedon and Patrick Li (Co-Art Captains), Kevin Kanisius (Music Captain), Tom Rogerson, Edward Howard, John Sandford, Patrick Rutecki and Victor Cromb-Wagner. The group organised the content of the daily programmes, before producing eye-catching promotional material using the graphic flair of Patrick Li. There was great anticipation in Senior School for Arts Week.

Events such as the ‘Open Canvas in the Quad’ (where anyone could contribute) became a part of the visual thinking process. This canvas now hangs in the Motorworks as part of the permanent collection. ‘Paint the Duck’ was an Inter-House competition. Each House had to turn a rubber duck into an imaginative art form. Special mention must go to Hone’s Liam Ratliff, who turned the rubber duck into a robot with legs; Bromby’s Josh Lye, who transformed the duck into Darth Vader; and Deakin’s Oliver Breedon, who created a non-edible Peking Duck. However, it was Deakin House which was crowned the winners thanks to their collaboration of a water drinking-fountain (Aqua Duck) with a rubber duck trapped inside. Other events included ‘Corner Music Performances’, ‘Quad Pictionary’, ‘Street Theatre’, ‘Rap Dancing in the Quad’ and ‘Theatre Sports’, which all combined to make this year’s ‘Arts Week at MGS’ one of the most popular and vibrant ever staged.

SUM OF ALL ARTS: The Open Canvas in the Quad provided the students with a creative output combining the artistic talents of many in Senior School

The study of Art, Studio Arts, Visual Communication and Design, Drama, Media and Music at Melbourne Grammar School represents an exciting journey, an adventure that for many of our students develops into a life-long passion.

Art Captains were first appointed at Senior School in 2010.

These students take on a leadership role to encourage their

It was perhaps no surprise to learn, that a selection of Year 10 boys has been selected to participate in the Grand Final of the Victorian Schools Theatre Sports Challenge and we wish them every success in their endeavours.

Ensemble performances held in the Coleman Room, where Year 11 students performed emotional stories based on the Black Saturday bushfires, ceremoniously celebrated the introduction of VCE Drama in 2012. Their strength in re-telling the stories of hope and despair was a moving experience for the audience, as was their ability to maintain effective transitions between characters and stories. The material was handled with integrity and respect and the evening was an enormous success.

Our aim at MGS is to develop creative approaches to visual expression and to refine the skills needed to enable our students to realise their ideas in a variety of visual media.

Cat Poljski Head of Creative and Performing Arts

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Premier performances Six Old Melburnians were recognised for their outstanding achievements in their 2011 VCE studies at the Premier’s VCE Awards ceremony, held in June. A total of 317 awards to 283 students from throughout Victoria were presented.

Colin Liu, Walter Myer and Cameron Venus were each presented with the Top All-Round High Achiever Award, which was given to those students who achieved scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE subjects. The three were among just 26 recipients of the award across the State.

In addition, Andrew Belyea-Tate was recognised for his outstanding results in Classical Studies and Philosophy, Fergus Peace for Latin and Philosophy and Edward Pennington for Philosophy. Walter Myer was also recognised for his achievements in English.

Victorian Premier Ted Baillieu (OM 1971), congratulated the students on achieving such exceptional results in their final years of schooling. “Completing your VCE is challenging and you should be very proud of your fine results,” the Premier told the awardees. “Today is a day to celebrate the

WORTHY AWARDEES: 2011 MGS students (pictured left to right) Andrew Belyea-Tate, Walter Myer, Cameron Venus, Fergus Peace, Edward Pennington & Colin Liu proudly display their Premier’s VCE Awards following the ceremony on Wednesday 27 June

outstanding achievements of these committed and talented students who, through their drive and determination, have excelled in their VCE.”

Experience beyond the classroom Senior School students were fortunate to have a number of visitors during Term II who were able to impart their knowledge and experience, the type that can rarely be taught or found in any text book. Victoria Cross recipient Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, former Prime Minister John Howard and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans were among the many visitors to the School who addressed awe-struck students.

Rounding off what was a special term for special visitors, Wallabies coach Robbie Deans addressed the Years 8 and 9 Rugby squads. Mr Deans told the boys the importance of learning from adversity – something he is constantly reminded of as the coach of the Wallabies.

The first Assembly for Term II turned out to be a poignant one for Senior School students, with special guest speaker Corporal Ben Roberts-Smith, VC, MG, offering his personal insight in the lead up to ANZAC Day. Corporal Roberts-Smith, an Australian soldier in the SAS Regiment and recipient of the Victoria Cross, spoke with great candour to the boys in The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall.

“I think ANZAC Day is more important than ever now because of the generation gap between the first ANZACs and today. There is a real thirst for knowledge and today’s generation really want to understand what soldiers and families went through all those years ago,” he said.

Meanwhile, former Prime Minister, John Howard, provided Year 11 and 12 Politics students with an insightful personal view on modern Australian politics, comparing the Australian and US political systems. Mr Howard then welcomed questions from the boys and true to his word, answered any and every question.

FINE COMPANY: Bob Forrest, Edward Howard, John Howard & Politics teacher Heather Lacey following the former Prime Minister’s address to the Year 11 & 12 politics students

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Boarding Formal Dinner

Parents Network

FORMAL FUNCTION: The inaugural Headmaster’s Boarders Formal Dinner provided the Year 11 & 12 boarders with the opportunity to polish up their formal dining etiquette

GOOD COMMUNICATORS: 2011-2012 BPN Secretary Robyn-Jane Ross & President Alice Hill with Julian Burnside AO QC (OM 1966).

Louise Armit is the new President & Mary van Stekelenburg has been nominated as Secretary of the BPN 2012-2013

House ties were dispensed with and more formal attire was in order as the Year 11 and 12 boarders attended the inaugural Headmaster’s Boarders Formal Dinner on Sunday 17 June. Advice on appropriate dining etiquette was provided by the Heads of House and House Tutors before the evening and the Dinner gave the boys the opportunity to put into practice what they had learned.

The Luxton Dining Hall provided the ideal backdrop with the School’s catering team putting on a three-course meal. The Headmaster, Heads of House and House Tutors, together with their partners sat at the head table, while the boys dined in small groups around the Dining Hall.

It was pleasing to see that the boys knew how to behave during Grace, followed by their seamless progress through the meal when faced with silver service cutlery. After the Headmaster’s official address, Captain of Perry House, Mitchell Hawkins, thanked him and then followed a Toast to the School from Captain of School House, Josh Benson.

There was added incentive for the Year 12 boys to perfect their formal dining ‘qualifications’ with the School Year 12 formal being held later in the week.

Due to the distance between their homes and Melbourne Grammar School, the 115 boarding families face a number of challenges when sending their sons away to board, including the ability to take part in School events. The Boarders’ Parents Network (BPN), was created to help the boarding community overcome those challenges. It brings boarders’ families and guardians together to support the Boarding Houses and the School; to facilitate communication and mutual support within the boarding community; and to address issues of general concern to boarders’ families.

For example, the BPN works with the MGS Executive and FOG to ensure that significant events like Parent/Teacher Evenings and Year-level Cocktail Parties are scheduled so that boarding families are able to travel to Melbourne and participate.

The BPN meets at the beginning of each term and is made up of parents and guardians, the Boarding House Staff, Heads of Houses, the Headmaster and his Deputy.

Members of the School Executive are also invited, so that parents and guardians have the chance to meet them and hear about their work. At the July meeting the Director of Advancement, Peter Day, reported on the results of a parents’ survey addressing Boarding House communications.

The Headmaster’s Boarders Formal will be a biennial event.

BPN meetings are coordinated with the boarders’ parent social functions such as the Family Service and BBQ in Term I and the Term III dinner with the Year 12 Boarders.

Julian Burnside AO QC (OM 1966) was the guest speaker at this year’s dinner. He generously shared his knowledge of the asylum seeker issues, the stolen generation, the Arts and also emphasised the wisdom of not planning your entire life in Year 12.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Foundation Witherby Tower Society During Grimwade House’s performance of Rainmaker in May, Kelvin Griffith (OM 1948) was proud to see one of his grandchildren on stage. Kelvin’s six grandchildren who attend Grimwade House are fourth generation Melbourne Grammar students, and nothing makes Kelvin prouder than seeing them in action at his old school. Kelvin’s father, Justinian (OM 1905), brother Nigel (OM 1946) and son Tom (OM 1982) all attended MGS. “If my grandchildren can get as much out of the School as I did, then I will be happy,” he says. “I recall my days at MGS with great affection, and after I matriculated I was accepted into Commerce at Melbourne University, however I joined International Harvester. I then established my own business.

I continue to maintain an active interest in the School. I was an active member of the OMs Athletics Club for many years

and of course I have had a son and now my grandchildren at the School,” Kelvin says. “I still have a group of friends from my days at MGS and we regularly catch up for lunch.”

Kelvin is proud to be a member of the School’s bequest society, the Witherby Tower Society.

“As clichéd as it may sound, the School has done so much for my family and me and to give something back, beyond my days, is something that I am proud to be able to commit to.”

For more information on joining the Witherby Tower Society, please contact the Director of Development, Rachael Henshilwood via email at rjhenshilwood@mgs.vic.edu.au or telephone on (03) 9865 7683.

FAMILY AFFAIR: Kelvin Griffith (OM 1948) on the steps of Harleston House with his son Tom (OM 1982) & six grandchildren

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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The Arts Wadhurst – Moran Photography Awards finalists Ben Tunbridge

Nich Ekkel

Louis Muhlen-Schulte

Harry Collins

Morgan Galea

Cameron Lucas

Jack Whappett

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

More images: www.mgs.vic.edu.au Grimwade House Year 6 Musical – Rainmaker

Senior School – Arts Week

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Winter Sports Wrap Grimwade House The cold and wet weather has not discouraged Melbourne Grammar School’s youngest sportspeople from getting into the ‘Olympic Spirit’ during their winter sport season.

Grimwade fielded teams in Football, Netball, Cross Country, Volleyball, Sport Aerobics and Snowsports this season and with Basketball, Hockey, Soccer and European Handball in full swing during Term III, it certainly spells a busy time for everyone at Grimwade House.

Our Football teams began the season competitively, but fell away towards the second half of the season. Our A teams won several games, but struggled at times against strong opposition – although the scores remained close (within three goals) for all defeats. Our B teams spent much of the season developing and improving their skill levels and learning about the game. Volleyball was a popular option for many students and our teams achieved mixed results

In other sporting spheres, Grimwade continues to maintain a profile of excellence. All of our Aerobics teams – eight in all – competed in the August State Aerobics Championships, with an incredible five teams making it through to the National Championships in Brisbane. Grimwade House provided the State Swimming Championships with two gold medalwinning relay teams – our 10-year-old Girls and 11-year-old Boys teams winning their final in front of a huge crowd at the Melbourne Sports and Aquatic Centre.

Our Snowsports team – 60 students – will head to Mount Buller in pursuit of more wonderful results as MGS maintain its strong profile on the mountain.

Andrew Parkes Head of PE & Sport – Grimwade House

Wadhurst A very successful Wadhurst Winter Sports programme has just been completed. Our boys certainly represented MGS with enthusiasm and vigour in 24 teams across seven sports. Our Hockey teams remain dominant at both Year 7 and 8 levels. Football and Soccer had mixed results and our Basketball programme was boosted this year with some fantastic performances on the back of some really hard work. Cross Country was again solid.

ALL SMILES: The Grimwade House Aerobics team following their successful State Aerobics Championships earlier this month

throughout the term. Netball continues to be a successful APS Sport at Grimwade. Our teams all performed well and won almost every game. Our staff coaches mentioned often that our skill level and strategic awareness was of a high standard and it was pleasing to learn that when our teams won games, they accepted their victory in a gracious manner. Our Cross Country Squad often ran in quite demanding conditions and several of our Cross Country runners were selected in the Eastern Metropolitan Region event, with Brian Brennan (Year 5), gaining selection for the State Cross Country Championships.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The highlights of our Winter Sport season were again our Rugby and Hockey programmes. For the very first time, Rugby has generated sufficient student interest for three teams. Credit must go to Greg Hughes for his continued outstanding service to MGS Rugby, with 54 boys listed to play Rugby this season. Both the 7A and 8A teams remained undefeated for the season. The 8B Development Squad mainly consisted of boys new to Rugby this year.

Hockey has enjoyed continued success. Both the 7A and 8A teams won all games but one. This is an outstanding achievement. Jen Pratten has certainly moulded the coaching staff and, consequently, the boys and formulated a very successful culture.

Football saw mixed results this season. Our Year 7 and 8 programmes consisted of six teams and contained very good talent, with the boys and coaches working on developing some depth for next season. The A and B teams at both year levels shared a very healthy win/loss ratio this season.

Our 7C and 8C teams battled manfully, often against bigger and stronger opposition. Teachers Evan Coventry and Tim Habben and their fellow coaches have toiled tirelessly in cementing a positive brand of football into the Wadhurst teams.

Senior School At the end of what has felt like a slow, cold and wet winter, we look back on what has been a mixed season of sport for our Senior School teams. Our First XI Hockey team secured the APS Premiership for 2012 with seven wins, one loss and one draw. That makes it back-to-back premierships for our Hockey boys. New coach, Marten de Man, has achieved a great result in his first year of coaching with Melbourne Grammar School.

Our relatively young First X1 Soccer team finished in seventh position with four wins and six losses. We need to convert our narrow losses into wins in order to force our way up the ladder. Carey won the APS soccer with seven wins this season.

LEARNING CURVE: Wadhurst’s Rugby Development side 8Bs against Trinity Grammar

I am sure many would regard our Soccer season as challenging. Three teams at each year level proved our numbers are strong and interest high, while Nick Dawe and Tim Heinze and their coaching panel have instilled a steely resolve and positive work ethic into the boys. While the lack of success was a disappointment, it was pleasing to see the teams work hard during games.

Basketball was probably our most improved sport this season. Like Football, they shared mixed results but their improvement and determination saw a marked turnaround in performances. Shannon Boyer brought some renewed vigour to the programme, his mentoring has certainly provided our boys with a wonderful base from which to build. The 7C team remained undefeated!

Our First XVIII Football side finished in equal fifth position (with Carey and Scotch), with five wins and five losses.

Coach Michael Ford believes the side could have finished higher. Basketball got off to a flyer this season under new coach Tom Chambers, winning their first five games. Losses to Carey, Caulfield and Wesley resulted in our boys finishing third on the ladder behind Carey and Caulfield, who shared first place.

Cross Country running has had a very consistent season finishing in fourth position. Our First XV Rugby side had a great win against Trinity Grammar School to secure a spot in the VSRU final.

Nick Gibbons Director of Sport

Cross Country saw only a handful of competitors represent MGS. Each week four boys trudged around many a muddy course to perform admirably this season.

Term III again sees us with four Water Polo teams and, naturally, an enormous Athletics squad. A very special thank you must go to all boys for their sustained efforts over the colder months and for the improvement and endeavour they showed. Thank you must also go to the coaches who provide wonderful mentoring to our boys. The value of Saturday sport can only be defined by the relationships that are built between student and coach, relationships that are born and nurtured outside the classroom can only assist inside the classroom.

Paul Jubber Director of Sport, Head of PE – Wadhurst

WET FOOTBALL: The MGS First XVIII in action against Scotch College in the 2012 Cordner-Eggelston Cup

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Outdoor Education The countdown is on Beyond the Gates, Melbourne Grammar School’s Year 10 Outdoor Education programme, will officially begin in Term IV. Judging by the mood of the 204 students who will be undertaking it, Beyond the Gates cannot come soon enough.

The boys have already been placed in their individual groups and participated in a number of meetings in preparation for the programme. The main focus to date has been organising equipment and supplies and discussing the routes they will be taking.

“There is a great excitement among the boys and they are really looking forward to the programme and being involved in such an amazing journey,” says Melbourne Grammar School’s Director of Outdoor Education, Nick Gibbons.

“There is some apprehension about the unknown, particularly being away from home comforts for 21 days.

However, this is typical and nerves are part and parcel of the lead-up experience. Many individuals have mentioned that being able to finish and succeed as a group on the BTG programme will be a very powerful and positive experience.”

Given the width and breadth of the programme, which lasts for 21 days, beginning at the Melbourne Grammar School Gates and finishing at the top of Mt Kosciusko, the School is leaving nothing to chance. There will be specific briefing days for the students that will focus on the key issues, including a two-day workshop at the end of Term III.

This workshop will cover first aid, clothing and equipment, safety and risk management, hygiene in the outdoors, route planning, venue knowledge and group dynamics.

“Such sessions will go a long way to addressing concerns of students and providing them with lots of information prior to departure,” Nick added.

The School is partnering with the Outdoor Education Group (OEG) to run Beyond the Gates. Throughout the year staff from MGS and OEG have been meeting with the boys, developing trust, familiarity and strong links between all involved.

As for the boys themselves, it appears the white-water rafting on the Mitta Mitta River is the activity which is the most hotly anticipated, while the overall challenging nature of the programme is raising the most concern.

“The boys recognise that this programme will be a test for each and every individual on a personal, social and environmental level. Many are relishing the opportunity to be given the chance to push themselves in all these areas to show growth and development. Students are also looking forward to the adventure activities on the programme,” Nick says.

The first of the 17 groups will depart for Beyond the Gates on 20 October.

OUTDOOR TYPES: Outdoor Education Group’s, Ben Lovell, MSG Director of Outdoor Education, Nick Gibbons & teacher Tim Angus have spent considerable time preparing themselves & the students for Term IV’s Beyond the Gates programme

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Careers Making a Career of it

CAREER MAPPING: Hermione Skadiang & Frank Thompson discuss careers options with Year 12 students Ben Rogers, George McIldowie & Felix Garner Davis

Melbourne Grammar School was one of the first schools in Victoria to appoint a full-time Career Adviser to assist students with their choices beyond school. That was in 1972 when the then Headmaster, Nigel Creese, appointed Alan Eustace as Careers Master. Today, it is Director of Careers Development, Frank Thompson and Careers Advisor, Hermione Skadiang, who work together to assist students and parents to make informed choices on VCE subjects, tertiary choices and career options. The Careers Centre is a key component of the School’s pastoral care system.

Term III is a particularly busy time for the Careers Centre.

Students in Years 10 and 11 are contemplating their VCE choices, while Year 12 students are considering and applying for courses in higher education, vocational education or employment. In addition, Year 11 students are preparing for work experience placements and the Year 10 students have just completed a number of career exploration sessions, using the Career Voyage software. These sessions are valuable for a number of reasons, not least for the opportunity they provide for students to meet the careers staff and familiarise themselves with the resources of the Careers Centre.

The work of the Careers Centre is constantly evolving as the range of options open to young people continues to expand.

Increasingly, students are looking to explore options in overseas study and exchange. In recent years, the numbers of Year 12s applying to UK and US universities, in particular, have grown considerably and the Careers Centre now has well-established procedures to assist students with overseas

as well as local and interstate options. The Director of Careers Development, Frank Thompson, recently returned from the UK where he attended a conference for overseas advisers dealing with the UK university application system (UCAS). He is now looking forward to sharing the knowledge with colleagues, as well as being better able to assist the students who are looking at the UK as a study option for their post-school lives.

“One of the particularly satisfying aspects of our work is the opportunity to work with Old Melburnians. Following up with students who have left the School but are looking for new opportunities gives us the chance to renew acquaintances and assist with making new decisions and contacts,” says Frank. “A recent example, where a young man came to enquire about a possible change of career direction, meant that we could work together to define goals and target possible employers. Exploring contacts through the Grammar community led to an offer of employment which has been taken up.”

Frank also acknowledges the strength of the broader School community, which he says is extraordinarily supportive of the work that the Careers Centre does. Many OMs and parents have generously given their time to present at Careers Expos and lunchtime sessions, as well as providing opportunities in work experience and visits to work sites.

The Careers Centre welcomes enquiries from all members of the Melbourne Grammar School community.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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The Old Melburnians Council

Ameet Bains

It is suddenly August and the business end of the school year is rapidly approaching. At the time of writing, the London Olympics are in full swing. I’m tempted to make some bold predictions now that can be assessed in time, but will save myself any embarrassment and instead focus on our own Olympic links.

The Old Melburnians have a proud Olympic history, with 38 OMs having represented Australia at the Olympic Games. As many will know, this dates all the way back to 1896 with Edwin Flack (OM 1891) competing in Athletics, Tennis and the Marathon at the inaugural games in Athens.

Flack’s name lives on prominently in the School and wider community and will continue to do so, with the pedestrian bridge that will be built connecting AAMI Park to the MCG to be named the Edwin Flack Bridge.

In London, three OMs continued our great Olympic tradition.

David Crawshay (OM 1997) attended his third Olympic Games and had hoped to emulate his success in Beijing, where he captained the men’s rowing team and won a gold medal in the double sculls. Although falling short of this aim in recent days, David’s achievement of three consecutive games is a success in itself. Karsten Forsterling (OM 1997) joined David, his former MGS 1st VIII crewmate, in representing Australia in rowing. Karsten rowed in the quad scull in his first Olympics and was mighty to say the least. Rowing the race of their life in the Finals, Karsten and his crew secured a bronze medal, surpassing all but the powerhouse German and Croatian crews. A wonderful effort! Finally, Henry Frame (OM 2007) also makes his Olympic debut, forming part of Australia’s track and field team as a triple jumper.

The OMs Council and broader community wish each of these men well in their pursuit of Olympic success and congratulate them on representing our country.

Closer to home, the OMs Athletics Club has also enjoyed great success in recent times, winning the Frank Dyson Memorial Relay around The Tan in May. The race is named after Frank Dyson (OM 1929), a long-time OMAC member who lost his life during the Second World War. It is just the ninth time the OMAC have won the event and the first time in 44 years. Keeping with the theme of OM sporting achievements, congratulations are also extended to the following OMs who made their AFL debut in season 2012 – Jackson Paine (OM 2011), Collingwood in Round 1; Shaun Edwards (OM 2011), Greater Western Sydney in Round 4; Sam Dunell (OM 2007), St Kilda in Round 15 and; Fletcher Roberts (OM 2011), Western Bulldogs in Round 20.

The OMs Council is keen to continue its support of the various groups and sporting clubs who congregate and perform under the Old Melburnians banner. To this end, a meeting was held in May to meet with and hear from representatives from a number of these groups and clubs to better understand the issues they face.

Looking forward, the OMs Council is seeking to provide increased support and guidance to our groups and clubs to help each operate in a more sustainable manner and, with luck, produce the next crop of OM high achievers in both sporting and non-sporting endeavours.

I encourage all OMs to keep in touch through any or all of our online sites, these being OMs Online: www.oms.org.au, our Facebook and our LinkedIn pages.

Ameet Bains President

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Old Melburnians Memories that keep rolling on At School reunions, Tim Morell’s (OM 1956) party trick is to recite the 1953 School House roll-call.

“Answer your names please boys: Anderson, Andrews, Beer, Broome, Brown, Brownlow, Bryson, Bucknell, Callaway, Campbell, Clapham, Clarke D, Clarke W, Corney, Cresswell, Cuming I, Cuming S, Cuming J, Dunbar, Everist, Hall, Henderson, Houston, Johnson, Jones, Lawrence, Lewis, Lewellyn, MacKean, Macquie, Michie, Millear, Moon, Morell…”

Sixty years on, it rekindles memories of his nine years boarding at Grimwade House and Senior School.

“My parents were going abroad. My father, (Rodney Morell OM 1929), had boarded at Grimwade and the family was keen for me to follow in his footsteps. I enjoyed it so much they allowed me to stay on until matriculating in 1956,” he says.

Tim’s association with the School has been ongoing. His two sons, Antony (OM 1990) and Richard (OM 1994), attended MGS as day boys in Bromby House. He has been a regular speaker at careers guidance evenings and more recently, he was actively involved in the School’s Sesquicentenary celebrations.

However, it is those days in the boarding houses that continue to influence him.

“Boarding school has been a big influence on my life; the characteristics, lessons learnt and experiences, including tidiness, punctuality, shiny shoes, hospital corners making the bed, eating too quickly (to get the ‘seconds’), but importantly being able to mix and cope with different personalities. If you were incompatible you were soon ‘the odd one out’,” he recalls.

“The ‘old Bluestone’ buildings were our home and as boarders, we saw more of each other than our own families.

It was a fraternity that has fostered ‘brotherly’ lifetime relationships.”

Tim’s first day at Grimwade House is one he remembers very well. It was February, 1948 and he was in Kath James’ 3B class. He sat next to Barlow Telford (OM 1957). Twenty years later Barlow was Tim’s best man at his wedding and 65 years on they are still the best of friends. His first day at Senior School, Tim was greeted by Stuart Cuming (OM 1956) and they enjoyed a lifelong friendship until Stuart’s passing in July of this year. At Kath James’ retirement in 1987, it was Tim who proposed her farewell toast.

MATES: Tim Morell (OM 1956) with the late Stuart Cuming (OM 1956) & Barlow Telford (OM 1957)

Since leaving school, Tim gained a Diploma in Accountancy at RMIT while working for chartered accountants Wilson, Bishop & Henderson. The next 20 years were spent in advertising, working in London, Toronto and New York and then as Managing Director of Foote Cone & Belding in Melbourne. In 1980 he was appointed Victorian Chairman of the Advertising Federation of Australia. In 1981 he joined the public relations firm Royce Communications and was made an Equity Partner. He retired in 2010.

Tim was a keen choir singer in his days at Grimwade House and recalls most of his performances with fondness. Though one such memory stands out, for all the wrong reasons.

Tim’s mother arrived for a Sunday chapel service to hear him sing a solo. “Disaster! Mum was sporting the latest Dior hat with a long feather. Muffled Indian war cries could be heard from the choir stalls. I was rubbished for weeks,” he recalls.

Just like the roll-call that lingers on, there is a common bond whenever Tim and his friends from School meet… “… Nash J, Nash D, Officer, Paynter, Pearson, Pennington, Petty, Phillips, Pinches, Rees, Reeves, Richardson, Richards, Reinbeck, Simmons, Simpson, Taylor CR, Taylor W, Uren NC, Uren FE, Watson, Wheeldon, Wilson JW, Wilson HC.”

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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:

14 April 2012 David Maloney (staff) & Briony King

!6 June 2012 Simon Angus (staff) & Emily Linehan

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Space Expedition Curacao announced earlier this year that Nigel Peck AM (OM 1945) will be the first Australian to be travelling into space with them.

Nigel, who is the founder of NHP Electrical Engineering Products, a manufacturing and distribution company employing 900 people, will be among the first and most likely oldest Australian astronaut ever. Nigel Peck will become part of both space and Australian history.

Andrew Ramsden (OM 1952) writes that he married Anne Jeffery in 1958 and they have three children and six grandchildren. Andrew is proud of the fact that he has two grandsons in the Senior School and they are the sixth generation of the family to have attended Melbourne Grammar School. Andrew became a Chartered Accountant in 1958 and was a partner with Guest and Bell Stockbrokers from 1960 to 1973. Andrew has been involved in horse racing for 46 years and has had success in Melbourne Cups, Caulfield Cups and recently the Sydney Cup. He served on the Victorian Racing Club Committee from 1983 to 2004, was Vice Chairman and Treasurer 1990 to1998, Chairman 1999 to 2003 and then Chairman Australian Racing Board 2004 to 2006.

Andrew also served on the Cancer Council of Australia for 20 years in a variety of positions. He was also a member of the 1957 State Surf Lifesaving Team in a surfboat and served as Chairman of the SLSV Foundation 2005 to 2008.

Andrew played with the Old Melburnians Football Club (OMFC) from 1955 to1957, when the Club won

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

the A-Grade Premiership in 1955 and coached the OMFC from 1959 to 1961.

Barry King (OM 1952) writes that he graduated with a MBBS from the University of Melbourne in 1958 before travelling to the United Kingdom, gaining a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons in1966 and a Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Surgeons in 1968. Barry practised as a vascular surgeon at Prince Henry’s Hospital and then the Western Hospital in Footscray. Barry served as Secretary of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Vascular Surgeons from 1988 to 1992 and was President 1995 to 1997 and Vice President of the International Society for Cardiovascular Surgery 1997 to 1998.

Brian Davie (OM 1952) writes that he was the Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon at Prince Henry’s Hospital from 1979 to1990 and was then the Chief Orthopaedic Surgeon at the Monash Medical Centre from 1990 to 1994. Brian is married to Val and they have three daughters and one son Michael (OM 1978).

Brian enjoys gardening, football, travel, reading and time spent with his 11 grandchildren.

Neil Murray (OM 1952) writes that he graduated with a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from the University of Tasmania before heading to Cambridge University to complete a MA. Neil worked for the Shell Company, Hay Consulting and Trans Australia Airlines before choosing a life in farming. Neil is married to

Frances and they have three children. He was awarded Life Membership of the Australian Sheep Breeders Association.

Professor Peter Attiwill AM (OM 1952) is currently Professor and Principal Fellow in Botany and Senior Fellow at the Australian Centre at the University of Melbourne. Peter was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009.

Nigel Jackson (OM 1957) writes that he retired after 41 years as a secondary teacher. He is now a freelance writer and house husband. Nigel is currently working on a long poem The Dryad and the Faun based on D H Lawrence’s Lady Chatterley’s Lover and the three films from it. Nigel wrote a poem especially for his recent 55-year reunion which was very well received by all who attended the celebration.

Tim Kendall (OM 1957) reports that he is very busy in retirement. He is actively involved with St Georges Anglican Church Red Hill where he is the Vicar’s Warden. Tim is also involved with the Peninsula Music Society. He and his wife Margaret have developed a close relationship with the Crossroads Foundation in Hong Kong whose principal activity is to collect donated goods and distribute them to those in need both locally in Hong Kong and abroad.

Tim and his wife work as volunteers one month each year in Hong Kong.

Vic Teasdale (OM 1957) retired as a General Practitioner in Clayton and the Monash Medical Centre after 40 years. Recently his DNA was used to help identify his uncle, Alfred

George Tuck, who was Vic’s maternal grandmother’s brother who was lost at the battle of Fromelles in 1916.

Alfred Tuck was one of the last soldiers to be identified this year. Vic also assisted other family members coordinate the content of Alfred Tuck’s headstone inscription. Vic and his family will visit Fromelles in September this year.

Historian and former Royal Australian Air Force Intelligence Officer Hugh Dolan (OM 1980), was reported in the media recently on his findings that the intelligence regarding the landing at Gallipoli was far more robust than previously thought. Hugh examined a number of maps and documents from the Australian War Memorial, the Imperial War Museum, London and the Public Record Office, London and they indicate that the intelligence gathered before the landings was considerable.

Rather than being ignorant of the Turkish Peninsula,

aerial intelligence surveys conducted in the weeks before the Gallipoli landings indicated that the terrain was harsh and showed the location of Turkish trenches, camps, artillery batteries and roads. There is little to suggest that all of the information contained in the intelligence reports was effectively conveyed to the troops involved in the landing.

Brian Hopkins (OM 1961) forwarded a photograph (above) to the School.

Pictured are Ted Barnard (OM 1961), Weston Bate OAM and Brian Pyman (OM1961) at the 50 year reunion dinner held by the 1961 School Officers in Melbourne during October last year which also acknowledged and commemorated the 50th

anniversary of Deakin and Miller Houses. The 1961 School Officers hold a reunion every five years.

Special guests at the event were the immediate past Chairman of the School Council Sandy Clark (OM 1962) and the inaugural Housemaster of Deakin House Professor Weston Bate OAM. Erik Brandt (OM 1991) writes that he is still teaching English in St Paul in Minnesota (USA), where he also serves as the School’s International Baccalaureate co-ordinator.

He and his wife have three children and an old dog.

Erik still records music and tours around the United States and is hoping to visit Australia again soon.

Simon Abrahams (OM 1999) formerly Executive Producer of Polyglot Theatre, announced that he is leaving the organisation to take up a new position as Program Manager Artistic Development at the Arts Centre Melbourne.

Have you served?

• Have you been on active service?

• Have you served in the Military since 1945?

If so please contact the School The School is currently updating its records, particularly those relating to military service.

This service may relate to active service since 1945 including Korea, Malaya Borneo, Vietnam, Cambodia, Kuwait, East Timor, Bougainville, Afghanistan or Iraq.

You may have been a National Serviceman in the 1950s or 1960s or served in Citizens Military Forces or the Naval, Air Force or Army Reserve.

If you have served in the military at any time since 1945 would you kindly contact Stewart Brook on 03 9865 7681 or email sdbrook@mgs.vic.edu.au

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

Akamatsu, E (OM 1937) Bennett OAM , J C S (OM 1943) Campbell, C C (OM 1935) Court, R M (OM 1949) Dickie, V O (OM 1936) Duckett , P W OM (1941) Dugdale, J P (OM 1957) Fisher, A P (Current Parent) Forster, R W (OM 1964) Graystone, R H (OM 1952) Green, F B (OM 1950) Hardy, D F (OM 1950) Harman, B D (OM 1947) Hawkins, E W (OM 1940) Hosking , D R (OM 1948) Jennings OBE, V E (OM 1945) Jordon, A S (OM 1950) Journeaux, P M (OM 1960) Kiddle, J B (OM 1968) Larritt, J C (OM 1943) Laycock, K J (OM 1937) Lemaire, J E (OM 1936) Lie, H L S, (OM 1942) Lorimer. J S M (OM 1943) Marks, R (OM 1968) Marshall, I P (OM 1951) Masterton, L M (OM 1930) McKittrick, D C (OM 2004) Milne,B J (OM 1957) Nicholson, L (Past Staff) Potter, W R (OM 1938) Pritchard, A L (OM 1958) Rhoden, P (Past Parent) Russell, R McR (OM 1938) Sandic, D (OM 1975) Scott AO, D H F (OM 1941) Skilbeck, M (FOTS*) Spring, E E (OM 1934) Staley, M L (OM 1942) Thornton, A G, (OM 1944) Tiong, K K T, (Past Parent) Trouchet, A P (OM 1952) Wenzel, G C (OM 1944) *Friend of the School

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Branches & Reunions North Eastern Function 1

Host Mary Paul with Margaret Parkes & the Bishop of Wangaratta, John Parkes

2

Samuel Goddard (OM 1940) about to enjoy a camel ride at ‘Bontharambo’ the home of John (OM 1959) & Mary Paul

2002 Ten Year Reunion 3

Sam Catchlove & George Nedovic

4

John Riordan, Fiona Hutchings & Tahir Baig

1952 Sixty Year Reunion 7

Adrian Smithers, Race Matthews & Warren Kemp

8

Brian Davie , David Lawrence & Neil Murray

9

Barry King & Jim Walker

Legal Community Function 10 Tim Freeman (OM 1995), President of The Old Melburnians Ameet Bains (OM 1995), Robin Forster (OM 1995) & Peter Thomas (OM 1998) 11 Ross Nankivell (OM 1961) & Michael Shand QC (OM 1970)

1957 Fifty-Five Year Reunion 5

John Hayes & Bill Gillard QC

OM Bowls Club End of Season Luncheon

6

Roy Francis, Vic Teasdale & Ian Taylor

12 Denis Vance (OM 1951) receiving the Alen Eilenberg Trophy from President John Edmonds (OM 1950)

1 2

3 4

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5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

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Friends of Grammar Events Grimwade House The Annual Grimwade Lunch and Tennis Day was held on Friday 27 April at the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club.

More than 180 people attended this very special day. Our two guest speakers, medical researcher Jason Tye-Din and current parent Mimi Tang, presented an update on the latest research into some important children’s health issues. It was a very successful day for catching up with old friends and making new ones.

The Mothers’ Day stall was held on Friday 11 May, with more than 35 class representatives assisting the FOGG Committee on the day. There was a lovely spirit with everyone working together, and seeing the excitement of the children made this a special day for us.

The Year 6 Class Representatives provided supper prior to the performances of Rainmaker in May, with a special lunch for the Year 6 students capping off a successful and busy week.

The Prep Grandparents’ Day was held on Friday 1 June.

More than 200 grandparents and special friends attended.

They were treated to morning tea provided by the Prep Class Representatives. The term ended with FOGG providing hot chocolate for all of Grimwade House on Friday 15 May. Lynne Rees FOG Grimwade House President

Wadhurst Our Mothers’ Day Yum Cha lunch at Ripples Chinese Restaurant was a fabulous event with more than 100 Mothers attending. The next two days we were on the deck at Wadhurst setting up our Mothers’ Day Stall. The boys spent a lot of time trying to select the right gift, so we hope that the Mums were happy on the Sunday morning.

The term was filled with additional events organised by the class representatives, such as luncheons, coffee mornings and drinks nights. ‘Tuckerbox’, the Wadhurst tuckshop, is open at least once a term and the boys give this their full support, with all profits going to their House-nominated charity.

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Senior School The aromas of coffee and egg and bacon rolls have met the parents and hungry boys during a very busy winter season of sporting fixtures at Flack Park. With renovations to the Kiosk now complete, it is fast becoming the place to be on chilly winter Saturday mornings. The Kiosk has been ably managed

by Nicola Minchin and Maria Ricardo and the FOG girls, with barista Andre Ricardo (OM 2010) at the helm of the coffee machine when he is not at University.

The FOG girls provided a BBQ during the 2012 CordnerEggelston Cup on 25 May. As anyone who was there will recall, the warmest place to be was around the hotplate where we cooked 300 sausages.

This year’s focus for our Committee has been community involvement and we were pleased to have huge response again to the Winter Coat Drive. We thank the MGS community for their contributions. The FOG girls and class representatives volunteered to support the Year 11 and 12 boys participating in the Winter Breakfast Programme at the Prahran City Mission, organised by Nathan Jessup. It was an amazing experience for the boys and for the parents.

The Wadhurst Family Breakfast had a record attendance this year. More than 360 parents, teachers and children piled into the Hall to enjoy the delicious spread catered for by FOGW. We were also honored to be able to help with Crop-a-Kid on the last day of Term II. We nervously cut 80 heads of hair but luckily we had professionals on hand to look after any repair work! I look forward to our next big events for Term III, including the Wadhurst Music Concert, Fathers’ Day Stall and our Father/Son trivia night.

We are busy with the preparations for the MGS Boys Big Breakfast with guest speaker Forensic Pathologist, Dr Noel Woodford, who no doubt will be an engaging and interesting speaker.

Kim Monk FOG Wadhurst President

Sam Douros FOG Senior School & Executive President

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The second annual Springtime Lunch will be held on Tuesday 30 October at the Myer Mural Hall. In keeping with our theme this year of ‘Food, Family and Tradition’ we will have Stephanie Alexander as our guest.

Fundraising Grimwade House Our major fundraising activity for the year is the FOGG Annual Lunch and Tennis Day. This was held in April and raised over $9,500. The Grimwade Swap Shop is another major source of funds and this year we received the proceeds from 2011 which totalled $13,480.

Each year we receive a list of requests from Grimwade House and we will be looking at acquiring a speaker system and AV equipment for the Chapel Hall, crates for the Science garden beds, an iPad trolley and blocks for the Junior Primary School. To date, we have supported Grimwade House through the acquisition of school badges and catering, providing icy poles on the warmer days and hot chocolate during the cooler months.

Wadhurst Each FOG event contributes in a small way to our annual total. Raffles at lunches and the Father/Son Trivia night, our annual cake stall at the Wadhurst Athletics Day, the Second Hand Uniform Shop and the Springtime Lunch, all help us to achieve our goal of supporting the School and the boys.

Each year Head of Wadhurst, Greg Caldwell, collates a ‘wish list’ from teachers of educational items that are not included in the School budget that would enhance the learning experience of the boys at Wadhurst. Last year, one of many items donated was the Digital SLR cameras for the Art Department. This year we are expanding on this equipment for the Art Department and will supply studio backdrops and a light boom. We are also supplying electronic balances for the Science labs and were thrilled to be able to provide $800 worth of professional hair clippers that will be used each year for Crop-a-Kid. We also use our funds to supply interval supper at Music concerts and morning teas throughout the year at School.

COFFEE ANYONE: Andre Ricardo (OM 2010) with Maria Ricardo, Nicola Minchin & Sam Douros at the Flack Park kiosk

assistance tutorials, by matching them with 20 MGS students. FOG funds will go towards the transport costs from Richmond to MGS, learning materials, stationery and an after-homework BBQ. We are also currently considering an annual bursary for a student to participate in the Values-InAction programme.

FOG Senior School provides $5000 annually to Director of Leadership, Nathan Jessup, for his Community Speaker Series and also a $6000 teacher’s bursary allocated for the enhancement of the teaching staff.

Senior School This year’s FOG Senior School ‘wish list’ is very diverse, Head of Senior School, Peter Tooke, has asked for new collapsible music stands which will serve our musicians well when on tour and at school. We will also donate new Hymn Books for Chapel that will be leather bound and will be a welcome addition to Chapel services. These items have been granted and will cost $9,200 from funds raised by the School community.

High on the wish list are funds for the Trinity Learning Club, one of three homework clubs run by MGS. The Trinity Learning Club provides 20 local Year 5 and 6 students from disadvantaged backgrounds, with weekly homework

WE ARE FAMILY: More than 350 people attended the Wadhurst Family Breakfast on the final day of Term II

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Archives A history of fine artists Melbourne Grammar School has been very fortunate to acquire a drawing by respected artist, John Brack, who was an Art teacher at the School from 1952 to 1962. Brack is famous for a number of paintings such as Collins Street 5pm (1955) and The Bar (1954). The School has a number of other works by John Brack, including a large portrait of the former Head of Wadhurst, Thomas Plummer (1916-1963), which hangs in the Ricketson Room.

John Brack’s drawing, which was recently secured at auction, has as its subject the then schoolboy Roger Dunn (OM 1957). Roger and his sister were invited back to the School recently to view the acquisition. Roger remarked on how pleased he was that the drawing was now back where it belonged at the School. He also spoke of the talent of Brack and the foresight and vision of Headmaster (19501970), Sir Brian Hone, in encouraging students to study and be involved in Art and in employing staff such as emerging artist, John Brack.

Melbourne Grammar School has produced a number of students who have made a significant contribution to the visual arts. These include painter, Derwent Lees (OM 1900) and print artist, Victor Cobb (OM 1893).

Derwent Lees is considered amongst Australia’s finest landscape painters. He studied art at the Slade School which was affiliated with the University of London. An outstanding student, he won 15 art prizes while at Slade. Lees was appointed Drawing Master at Slade while still a student, which was unprecedented. Lees’ work was selected for the highly esteemed Armory Show, alongside that of European contemporaries, Gauguin, van Gogh, Monet, Matisse and Picasso. His work was also included in the 20th Century Art Review Exhibition in London in 1914. Lees’ works can be found in public galleries in Australia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Canada.

Victor Cobb was one of Australia’s first print artists and his works capture the splendour of Melbourne and its surrounds. Cobb was a student at the National Gallery School and initially learned his craft in oils and water colours.

Cobb was eager to develop his interest in etching, an area in which there was little Australian tradition and no technical facilities. Along with others, he experimented with handmade tools and ingeniously developed etching presses. He produced his first print in the mid-1890s. Cobb undertook artist commissions, including the design of menus for the Prince of Wales’ visit to Adelaide in 1920 and a series of etchings of Coombe Cottage, for Dame Nellie Melba. In 1925 he began work as Science Artist for the National Museum of Australian Zoology. There Cobb produced detailed anatomical drawings of Australian marsupials and reptiles. He also drew the skulls and skeletons of aborigines and notorious criminals including Ned Kelly.

FAMILIAR FACE: Roger Dunn (OM 1957) & the John Brack portrait of himself, with Headmaster, Roy Kelley

Cobb is especially remembered for his etchings portraying the attractive architecture of Melbourne’s colleges and churches, the city landscape, foreshore and countryside.

Many of his works are displayed in Australia’s State Galleries.

Cobb did a number of etchings of Melbourne Grammar School, some of which are on display at the School.

Stewart Brook Archivist

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

ANZAC Day On 26 April, the School welcomed back many Old Melburnians who have seen military service, for an ANZAC Day lunch & service

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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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 CRICOS No. 00977J ABN 61 004 453 829