Grammar News No 111 Aug 2013

grammar news Print Post PP100007326

Number 111 – August 2013

Above:

Equipped with special eyewear, the Year 6 Science class took advantage of a rare opportunity to witness a solar eclipse on Friday 10 May 2013

Front cover:

Jack Foulds & Max Double (Year 8) at work on Wadhurst’s new Black O artwork, inspired by artist-in-residence Kerrie Poliness

Opposite:

Wadhurst students hone their practical skills in Design Technology classes

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: Peter Davies Layout & pre-production: Drew Gamble Photographs by: Stewart Brook, Adam Cawood, Peter Davies, Jerry Galea, Drew Gamble, James Grant, Amanda Masters, Jessica Rottura, Heath Sheridan, Simon Target 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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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

In This Issue 4 From the School Council 5 From the Headmaster 6 News 12 Grimwade House 14 Wadhurst 16 Senior School 18 Values in Action 20 Sport 22 The Old Melburnians 24 Community News 26 Branches & Reunions 28 Development 29 Friends of Grammar 30 Archives 31 Around the School

About this issue In this issue, we look at the concept of community. It’s central to the School’s values, and doubtless an important part of life at Melbourne Grammar School. At the heart of any discussion about community is the idea of engagement – we’re all members of communities, but it’s the way we interact with the other members, how we connect, that really makes a difference.

While working on this issue, I came across some fascinating examples of students engaging with various communities. There were students tapping into global communities through competitions in mathematics, biology and dance (pages 12 and 17). There were sports teams travelling abroad to meet with, mentor and learn from local communities (page 21). There were groups of students giving their time and energy to community service via Values in Action initiatives (page 18).

One of the most positive results of this engagement is a sense of ongoing connection. The dedication of our many Old Melburnians and Friends of Grammar, who all give so much to the School, is testament to this fact.

Elsewhere in this issue, you’ll find examples of excellence in the arts (page 11) and success on the sports field (page 20). We also report on this year’s Anzac Service of Commemoration (page 9) and Reconciliation Week (page 10).

I hope you enjoy this issue.

Peter Davies Editor Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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From the School Council Our community I made the point in the last edition that, although we are proud to be an Anglican school upholding Christian values, we welcome students from many different religions and social backgrounds. Clearly, neither religion nor social status are defining elements of the Melbourne Grammar School community.

Some years ago, the School defined a set of core values which provided guiding principles to inform all areas of the School’s operation. These values are excellence, creative thinking, learning leading to understanding, integrity and moral courage, leadership, diversity, compassion, a sense of community and an appreciation of the world.

Emeritus Professor Richard Larkins

In the last edition of Grammar News, we spoke of the diversity that we are proud to say is an important characteristic of our student and staff body. It might seem paradoxical, therefore, that in this edition we highlight the things that we hope bring us together as the Melbourne Grammar School community.

From the time men and women came out of their caves and started to live together, the concept of community has been important to the survival and development of our species. Early men and women recognised that they needed to organise themselves into groups which would provide shelter and mutual support to withstand the harsh environment, to hunt and gather sufficient food and to withstand hostile attacks from neighbouring groups. Ever since, the strength that has come from the shared efforts of groups of people defined by geography, culture, occupation or beliefs has been a defining element of human existence.

The term community is used in several different ways, and there are corresponding definitions of its meaning. For our purpose, the relevant dictionary definition of community is “a social, religious, occupational or other group sharing common characteristics or interests and perceived or perceiving itself as distinct in some respect from the larger society within which it exists”.

Although we would like to think that these values are unique to our School, most similar schools would have a very similar set of expressed values. The strength of our community comes not from our aspirations but from the degree to which our students, staff, parents and alumni are able to work together to support these values.

In the short time that I have been reacquainted with the School since leaving its hallowed Bluestone in 1960 (before all the students and most of the staff and parents were born), I have been enormously impressed by the strength of the Melbourne Grammar School community.

The students lie at the centre of the community, and I have been astounded by their scholastic, musical, theatrical and sporting achievements and, even more importantly, by their demonstration of commitment to help others and to lead by example.

Equally, I have been inspired by the passion of the staff.

Teaching is a vocation in the true sense of the word, and the commitment shown by staff at all levels – not only in the classroom but also in co-curricular activities – is remarkable.

The parents of our students and the Old Melburnians provide further evidence of the strength of our community. The Friends of Grammar do a remarkable job in harnessing the energy of the parents in supporting the School. The OMs are also very supportive, and their sporting clubs and their new mentoring programme provide further dimensions for the Melbourne Grammar School community.

I and my fellow Council members are proud to be part of this community which contributes so much to the wider community that we all share.

Richard Larkins Chairman of School Council

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

From the Headmaster All for one and one for all I am always pleased to note the achievements of Old Melburnians who have been awarded very significant awards, such as the Order of Australia, for their outstanding service to the community. This year, the Honourable Justice David John Ashley (OM 1959) was appointed a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia for his significant service to the judiciary, the law, and to the beef cattle industry. Mr John Graham Rogers (OM 1958) was also recognised as a Member (AM) for his significant service to medicine in the fields of clinical genetics and paediatrics. A Medal (OAM) in the General Division of the Order of Australia was awarded to Mr Edward Richard (Rick) Tudor (OM 1966) for service to education and to the community; and to Mr William (Bill) James Collett (OM 1951) for his service to the community of Portland and the Shire of Glenelg.

Role models such as these four fine men are important to the entire Melbourne Grammar School community and, especially, the current students. The concept of a community is one which is acknowledged by MGS students, even from an early age. In Term 2 this year, I visited a Grimwade House Year 4 class in which this topic was being explored. The students clearly understood that a community is one in which a group of people have similar interests and identity and often share a common location.

When I explained to them that the MGS community is very large, given that it contains over 1,800 students, more than 3,800 parents and in excess of 12,000 Old Melburnians, their eyes bulged at the scale of the organisation in which they are an important cog.

The stated Melbourne Grammar School values include a clear vision about “a sense of community”. It states that students are “expected to participate and collaborate to achieve a common goal, make friends, build networks, show care and support each other and become responsible community members. Students will engage in activities directed towards reconciliation with Australia’s Indigenous community and reject bullying and other antisocial behaviours.” They are also asked to appreciate the contributions made to the School by their parents, Old Melburnians and friends. It is this final concept of community service and “giving back” that is sometimes overlooked.

The research of renowned psychologist Martin Seligman, the creator of Positive Psychology, suggests that altruism and acts of kindness provide a deep sense of personal happiness and fulfilment which is long-lasting. This is not surprising, of course, for over seventy years ago Mahatma Gandhi stated, “The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the

Roy Kelley

service of others.” Many MGS students and families enjoy privileged lives, meaning that having the opportunity to help those less fortunate is crucial in developing empathy, respect and deep understanding.

The School’s Values in Action programme has been created to engage students with the concept of helping others.

Whether it is through the work done by our students in orphanages in Cambodia, the Holy Name School in Papua New Guinea or assisting young refugee students with their studies in Collingwood and Richmond, in collaboration with The Smith Family organisation, the notions of gratitude and giving back reside strongly in MGS students. I was thrilled to learn that in the last week of Term 2, in the middle of School examinations and hectic sports training, three MGS boys turned up for their regular mid-week homework club responsibilities in Richmond because they did not want to let their young charges down.

Living and being part of a community forces people to be less self-absorbed and to think about the lives of others, their aspirations and their needs. Important values of trust and respect are enhanced through community understanding and participation. The American philosopher William James once wrote, “The community stagnates without the impulse of the individual. The impulse dies away without the sympathy of the community.” It is my hope that the individual and the community will always be in harmony at Melbourne Grammar School.

Roy Kelley Headmaster

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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News Luxton Dining Hall reopens The daily ritual of meals in the Luxton Dining Hall has resumed this term, with a comprehensive refurbishment of the space completed throughout Semester 1. During that time, the Dining Hall underwent a significant renovation, with an upgraded kitchen, reconfigured servery, improved access and increased capacity. The result is impressive – a light, bright space well equipped to feed hungry students and staff.

The refurbishment follows recent updates to the LOTE Centre and the creation of new Drama facilities. Each day, the Luxton Dining Room hosts breakfast, lunch and dinner for boarding students, as well as lunch for staff. It is also used throughout the year as a venue for House dinners and other School functions.

Originally opened in 1978, the Luxton Dining Hall is named after Lewis Luxton (OM 1929). Following his time at Melbourne Grammar School, Luxton studied at the University of Cambridge and went on to become a celebrated rower, competing for Great Britain in the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics. He was also involved in organising the 1956 Melbourne Olympics and later became a member of the International Olympic Committee. From 1950 to 1983, he served on the School Council, including a period as Chairman, Finance and Executive Committee, from 1966 to 1972.

PE Centre complete A significant upgrade of the Conditioning and Cardio Rooms has been completed at the Strickland Physical Education Centre. Emphasising wellness and performance, the facilities are designed to help students to achieve their physical and lifestyle goals.

The Cardio Room has been updated with high-quality spin bikes featuring performance consoles. This technology gives students feedback on their routine and their level of effort.

Next door, the Conditioning Room is a flexible space that helps hone the functional movements required to develop essential physical competencies. The room is equipped with various weight machines and exercise stations to help students develop efficient, consistent movements.

“The Wellness and Performance programme is about engaging students in the positive contributions that being physically active has on human development,” says Mr Nathanael Coull, Head of Health and Physical Education.

“The improved physical resources in the Conditioning and Cardio Rooms is an investment in physical activity that is capable of producing value through increased wellbeing and educational achievement.”

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

A changing approach to leadership Developing a leadership programme for Melbourne Grammar School has been a challenging process, characterised by balancing a range of complementary and competing demands. One of the School’s strengths is its broad-based liberal arts education which instils deep knowledge across a range of disciplines, whilst encouraging the development of skills and dispositions which transfer beyond School. Every student at the School has access to such an education, as well as the associated opportunities which exist as part of, and outside of, the formal curriculum. The leadership programme is designed to sit within and alongside this curriculum, hence the School’s aim to “foster excellence through learning and leadership”.

Given our explicit focus on leadership development, one of our commitments is to keep up to date with contemporary thinking, understanding and practice. An emerging trend is a shift in focus away from the “leader” as a figure sitting above and commanding others in an authoritative manner.

Notions of power and influence are gradually shifting between leaders and followers. In this way, leadership becomes a dynamic relationship whereby the position of leader and follower changes depending on the specific context. The importance of followers in this relationship is also why the School places an emphasis on civics and service learning through our Values in Action programmes.

Despite these changes, there should continue to be a place for students to learn about leadership from a position of responsibility. In the past, much of the spotlight at Melbourne Grammar School has been on the School Prefects. However, the heightened attention on this group often casts a shadow over other students, many of whom have similar aspirations and interests in leadership development.

Over the past eighteen months, the Senior School Head of House Committee has been exploring how to open up more opportunities to a greater number of students. This is not about creating more positions, but a clearer sense of how students can meaningfully contribute. The result is a new student leadership model which will be implemented at the start of 2014.

Rather than a group of Prefects, there will be a smaller Student Leadership Council comprising the School Captain, Vice Captains and House Captains. Position descriptions are being devised for each role, along with a modified application and voting process which honours previous performance and commitment rather than popularity and future potential.

Instead of a small group of autonomous portfolio Prefects, a number of student committees will be responsible for various initiatives which contribute to the life of the School.

These committees will encourage open membership, but

will be led by senior students who are mentored by a staff member.

Another significant associated change will be to the uniform.

Rather than a select group of Prefects wearing a white shirt, all Year 12 students will be invited to wear one. This will recognise the Year 12 cohort as the senior students in the school and, hopefully, heighten their awareness of the important role that they fulfil in their final year. To mark their transition into the Senior School, Year 9 students will wear a striped shirt. This will be worn through to the end of Year 11.

Those in elected leadership positions will still be recognised, but in a more subtle manner.

There is an array of other structural and symbolic changes which accompany this model. These have been outlined in a Senior Student Leadership Handbook which will be available on the School website. Every student in the Senior School has also been briefed in their House groups about this new model, and a letter has been sent to all current parents.

Nathan Jessup Director of Leadership

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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News Confirmation Service

Twenty-nine students participated in the Confirmation Service with the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier

Each year, a group of students affirm their faith through confirmation. In preparation for the Confirmation Service, students participate in confirmation classes, learning more about the Anglican faith and spirituality.

This year twenty-nine students were confirmed, ten of whom were also baptised as part of the service. Students and their families gathered on Friday 31 May 2013 at the Chapel of St Peter. The Archbishop of Melbourne, the Most Reverend Dr Philip Freier, also attended the service, which was conducted

by Reverend Hans Christiansen, Senior Chaplain, and Reverend Malcolm Woolrich, Wadhurst Chaplain.

Congratulations to the following confirmands:

The Archbishop of Melbourne offers communion to the confirmands 8

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Year 7: George Black, Harrison Campbell, Max Everingham, Maxim Fisher, William Hornor, William MacPherson, James Maddox, Charles Nadenbousch, Blair Nuske, Thomas Ormiston, William Ormiston, Jack Royle, Thomas Sutherland.

Year 8: Thomas Baring, James McIntosh, Jode Moorthy, Robert Morrison, Hugo Watkin. Year 9: Bassett Hornor, Hugo Mainland, Eric Nelson. Year 10: Dylan Casey, James McLennan, Leonardo Monichino. Year 11: Max Kinross Hunt, Peter McIntosh. Year 12: George Colman, Ranald Macky, Oskar Watts.

Lest we forget

Leo Lazarus QC (OM 1938) delivers his address during the service, with Lieutenant Colonel Allan Hamley (OM 1994) at far right

Steeped in military tradition, there is something mournful and compelling about The Last Post. That iconic piece of music signifies both the end of the day’s activities and also the laying to rest at military funerals. As always, it was a poignant moment in this year’s Anzac Service of Commemoration at Melbourne Grammar School.

Anzac Day remains a day of special significance at the School. The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall was erected to commemorate the 221 students who died while serving in World War I. This group represents almost half the students who left Melbourne Grammar School from 1914 to 1918 – an incredible loss. Over the years, Anzac Day has come to represent more than just those young men who died in the Great War; it also remembers those have served and died in subsequent wars, conflicts, peacekeeping missions, disaster relief activities and humanitarian assistance projects.

The ceremony on Friday 26 April 2013 was Melbourne Grammar School’s 85th Service of Commemoration. The address was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel Allan Hamley (OM 1994), who spoke passionately about not just the significance of Anzac Day in Australian history, but also his own experiences in military service. He spoke of loss and its impact on Australian communities at the time.

One of the most touching moments of his address considered the nature of duty. Here is an excerpt:

“Duty recognises three truths – Firstly, we cannot stand alone from our actions or the actions of others – how anyone acts affects others around them. The sense of duty that the Anzacs felt when they volunteered for war service and fought at Gallipoli recognised that we are basically bound up with each other. And when the freedoms of others are threatened or trampled on, our freedoms are compromised; when injustice, tyranny or oppression is tolerated then our own security is battered as well.

Duty recognises a second truth – we are forever indebted to our forefathers for the freedoms we enjoy and for the benefits that peace and security brings today. Duty recognises that these freedoms were, and are not free; and that great determination has been displayed, and continues to be needed, if we are to preserve protect and, if necessary, restore them wherever, and whenever, they are threatened.

This sense of duty also recognises a third truth – our obligation is not only to the living today, but also to the future. It is characterised by a commitment to build a better future for our children and their children. When freedoms and the peace and security of people are threatened, a failure to resist also betrays the efforts of previous generations who strove in their time to build a future free from such abuses.”

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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News Reconciliation Week It’s not every day that smoke billows from the Quad. And not just any smoke either, but smoke rich in scent and symbolism, rising from a small pile of leaves – black wattle, manna gum and cherry ballart. In Indigenous tradition, the smoke from these leaves together has the power to cleanse. This was the opening of Reconciliation Week for 2013.

A Smoking Ceremony opened this year’s Reconciliation Week

Uncle Lionel Lauch works on a special artwork with Year 11 students Basil Alokaka & Hugh Goddard

The dates of Reconciliation Week each year are not incidental. The opening date, 27 May, coincides with the 1967 referendum which saw over 90 per cent of Australians vote to give the Commonwealth power to make laws for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and to recognise them in the census. The closing date, 3 June, recognises the date the High Court of Australia handed down the Mabo decision in the historic Native Title case in 1992.

with his time and his storytelling. He participated in Chapel Services throughout the week, recounting his family history and explaining Aboriginal weapons and cultural objects. He also completed a beautiful artwork showing a river scene, working with senior students to complete it by week’s end.

Bookended by these important dates, the schedule of activities at Melbourne Grammar School invited students, staff and the School community to participate, to learn and to share experiences. The week commenced with the raising of the Indigenous flag and a smoking ceremony conducted

by Uncle Lionel Lauch, a Gunditjmara Kirrae-Wurrung man from the Mornington Peninsula. Uncle Lionel was generous

Experiences during the week were rich and varied. At Monday’s assembly, six of the School’s Indigenous students spoke about their histories and experiences. On Tuesday and Thursday, two groups of staff participated in a guided Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens, learning about the history of Melbourne’s Indigenous people and the significance of local plantlife in Indigenous tradition.

On Wednesday, the 10A football team played against Worowa Aboriginal College in Healesville.

Beyond Indigenous history and culture, the programme also sought to explore contemporary issues facing Indigenous youth. On Tuesday evening, the School hosted a special dinner in celebration of Indigenous education. The dinner drew together an extraordinary group of Indigenous leaders.

Auntie Joy Murphy Wandin, Senior Wurundjeri Elder, provided a touching Welcome to Country. The centrepiece of the dinner was a panel discussion comprising Professor Ian Anderson from the University of Melbourne; Adrian Appo, CEO of Ganbina; Jim Williams, rugby legend and Indigenous mentor; and Deborah Walsh, former Executive Director of the Indigenous Leadership Network Victoria. It was an incisive, challenging and forward-looking forum, chaired by Eddie McGuire. The School’s first Indigenous Prefect, Patrick Heenan (OM 2009) also spoke, sharing memories from his time at the School and where life has taken him since.

Tour guide Den Fisher leads a group of teachers on an Aboriginal Heritage Walk through the Royal Botanic Gardens 10

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Arts Week A heady mix of art, design, drama, music and creative passion characterised this year’s Arts Week. Over five days, students from across Senior School danced, drummed, drew and improvised in a range of creative activities.

African drumming & dance in the Quad

In the lead up to this year’s event, Art Captains Jack Martin and Josh Lye formed a committee, with representatives from music, drama, media, IT, graphic design and the arts. Meeting regularly at lunchtime, the Arts Committee developed a bountiful programme of events that showcased the creative talents of the student body.

If you happened by the Quad on Wednesday, you might have witnessed some high-energy African dance and drumming. Armed with djembe drums, students learnt traditional rhythms, before practising their shimmies and shakes in an African dance lesson. In another corner of the Quad, staff and students put pen to paper, sketching

portraits on the fly. The results were wide and varied, from the exquisitely realistic to the downright cartoonish.

Motorworks, the hub for the School’s creative arts endeavours, hosted an exhibition of 2D and 3D artworks from Year 9 and 10 students. Artist talks were also on the schedule, with Andrew Clapham (OM 2010) returning to talk to classes about his experiences at School and beyond.

That unassuming grass triangle alongside the Student Centre played host to the week’s Corner Music programme. With sun glinting off their finely polished instruments, the String Quartet treated the casual passer-by to a wide-ranging songbook, from classical standards to more contemporary fare.

Elsewhere, there were improvised sessions in the Coleman Room and art-themed film screenings in the Higgins Theatrette.

“Arts Week was fantastic,” says Ms Cat Poljski, Head of Creative and Performing Arts. “We wanted to create an atmosphere, rather than just showing off or promoting what we do. It’s not about promotion; it’s about engaging with what happens here, and getting the kids involved artistically.”

Lunchtime “improv” in the Coleman Room

“Every day there was something going on,” Ms Poljski says.

“That’s why Arts Week is so important – because it’s all student-driven.”

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Grimwade House Asia-Pacific Maths Olympiad

Dance Excellence Awards

If you finished school some time ago, the thought of participating in a Maths Olympiad may strike terror into your heart. For Year 6 student and Grimwade House School Captain Ben Solomon, it was a much less daunting undertaking.

Thirty dance schools from around the world competed in this year’s Dance Excellence Awards, held in Los Angeles.

Among those competing was Grimwade House Year 6 student Ashley Evans, proudly representing her dance school, Theatre De La Danse. Comprising fourteen dancers, Ashley’s team was one of only two Australian dance schools invited to perform at the awards.

Competing dancers took part in a busy programme of dance classes and performances. Ashley’s troupe performed jazz, lyrical and contemporary dance routines, taking home an Excellence Award for their jazz routine (equivalent to first place) and a High Commendation for their contemporary routine (equivalent to second place).

Ben was selected as the only Australian representative for the Asia-Pacific Mathematical Olympiad for Primary Schools, which took place in Singapore in June. This second invitational round of the competition brought together 237 students from Brunei, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea, New Zealand, Taiwan and the Philippines.

Ben travelled to Singapore with his mother and stayed at the Hwa Chong Institution, an independent boarding school which hosts the event. “I spent most of my time at the boarding school, but we had a day for sightseeing,” Ben says. “We went to the zoo and the Singapore Science Museum. The museum was quite cool, particularly the illuminations and videos.”

The Mathematical Olympiad seeks to generate interest in mathematics at primary school level and to improve children’s problem-solving skills. “It was challenging, but they were the sort of questions that suited me. You have two hours to answer six questions,” Ben says. “It takes a long time to answer each one, but it gives you time to consider each possible answer.”

Ben was awarded an Honourable Mention for his performance, a terrific achievement in this competitive regional competition.

Ben has also been awarded an academic scholarship to attend Wadhurst and Senior School, commencing in 2014.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

“I learnt from the competition that it is not just about your dance troupe; it is also about making new friends and encouraging others,” says Ashley. “The highlight of the competition was being with friends and being able to perform at Disneyland!” Following the awards, Ashley and her mother travelled to San Diego, where they visited the acclaimed San Diego Zoo and celebrated Ashley’s twelfth birthday.

Ashley has been dancing since she was two years old and has been honing her skills for a future on stage. “I would like to continue with my dancing in jazz and classical ballet and to one day perform in a musical theatre production,” she says.

Year 6 Production: Wizard of Oz

This year marks the 113th birthday of the Wizard of Oz, that archetypal story about a young girl in a mystical land recognising her own strength and that of her new-found friends. Over three nights, the two casts delivered sparkling performances, both dramatically and musically. Each Year 6 student took part in the production, performing on-stage and back-of-house roles. The end result was a terrific demonstration of successful teamwork and collaboration.

Having two casts created more opportunities for students to develop their acting skills, and the actors took to their roles with gusto. Sharing the role of Dorothy, Olivia Craig and Camilla Neville-Smith conveyed a real sense of wonderment as they discovered the Land of Oz. The Scarecrow (Caelan Hua-Ratanavan and Richard Wylie), Tinman (Benjamin Wallace and Joshua Long) and Lion (Jack Finlay and Walter Edwards) brought soul to their performances, and the Wicked Witch (Charlotte Argyrou and Jasmine Cash) had certainly perfected that trademark cackle. The costumes were sensational, the sets were dazzling and there was a very real sense of fun in each performance.

Beyond the shows themselves, the production was the basis for in-depth classroom work. As explained by Mr Simon Cowell, Humanities Coordinator and Year 6 Teacher, and Ms Catherine Samuel, Deputy Head – Teaching and Learning, the musical stimulates students to consider how the arts can be used in different ways and how they communicate evocative ideas.

“The Year 6 musical provides a backdrop for an immensely rich and engaging learning opportunity,” Mr Cowell and Ms Samuel explain. “In addition to the social and emotional growth that students experience, this year has seen the introduction of a new inquiry unit. It provides the opportunity for students to experience first-hand the interplay between different art forms, and enables them to engage in and explore further an area of the arts that is of interest to them.”

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Wadhurst Science with Dr Deane People of a certain age may recognise the face of Dr Deane Hutton. For many years he was a fixture on Australian television, as the resident science expert on Hey, Hey, It’s Saturday and as one of the enthusiastic hosts of the Curiosity Show. His trademark “lo-fi” approach to science involved an array of experiments that could be readily replicated by the amateur scientist using common household items.

Though they might be unfamiliar with Dr Deane’s illustrious media career, Year 7 students still enjoyed his inventive approach to science. The focus of his presentation was environmental issues. He explored ideas around air pressure and movement, tectonics and volcanic activity.

TV scientist Dr Deane demonstrates air pressure & movement

What characterised his presentation was his playful explanation of scientific concepts. An inverted table atop brightly coloured balls became an earthquake simulator; a modified rubbish bin and a smoke machine combined to explain the way air moves; and a bubbling test tube became a miniature volcano. It was an energetic session, sure to inspire the students to take a hands-on approach to science.

Artist-in-residence Observant visitors to Wadhurst might have noticed a new artwork taking shape during Term 2. Artist-in-residence Kerrie Poliness worked with the Year 8 boys to create the dramatic geometric Black O artwork on the wall outside the staff room.

A long ruler, a black texta and a steady hand were the required tools. Students worked on individual pieces with Mr Adam Cawood, Coordinator of Art at Wadhurst, before tackling the collaborative project. The work begins as an empty circle with regular intervals marked around its circumference. Lines are drawn to connect each point, creating an abstract geometric shape. Small irregularities contribute to the intrigue of the piece and its threedimensionality.

Based in Melbourne, Ms Poliness is a PhD candidate at the Centre for Ideas at the Victorian College of the Arts.

Her work has been exhibited throughout Australia and internationally. She is currently working on a project called Volcano Dreaming, funded by the Environment Protection Authority, looking at the ecosystems of the volcanic plains between Melbourne and the South Australian border.

Back row, left to right: Oliver Argyrou, Oliver Hart, Wez Lovegrove, James Anderson-Nunn Middle row: Kerrie Poliness (artist-in-residence), Thomas Garnett, Max Howitt-Ross, Stephen Kritharides, Jika Lovett, Lachlan Fergusson Front row: Tommy Hayes, Lachie Jaboor, Lachlan Barber, Ben Hoskins, Basil Kloufetos

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations The flights of fancy of a teenage dreamer are at the centre of Ernie’s Incredible Illucinations, a whimsical British play selected for this year’s Year 8 production. The Coleman Room hosted two performances on Monday 29 and Tuesday 30 April 2013.

Written by Alan Ayckbourn in 1969, the play tells of Ernie and his long-suffering family who are continually beset by his subversive imaginings coming to life. In one scene, a busker morphs into a spangly cabaret singer, belting out a few verses of Tom Jones magic. In another, Ernie’s father becomes embroiled in an unseemly rumpus in a library.

There are “goth” girls on the radio, soldiers on patrol and a confused doctor enlisted by Ernie’s family to help rein in his runaway imagination.

Year 11 student Miles Glaspole adapted the script, transposing the action from 1960s Britain to present-day Australia. Much of the humour was updated too, with topical references to Margaret Thatcher and drugs in sport.

“The original script is very funny. A lot of it can be applied to now,” Miles says. “I’m a massive Anglofile, so the Britishness of the script did appeal to me.”

Harrison Smith (Year 8) stars as the imaginative Ernie

Miles also worked closely with Mr Mark Brady and Mrs Belinda Annan, Drama Teachers, in the role of assistant director. They encouraged the cast – a mix of students from Melbourne Grammar School and Melbourne Girls Grammar School – to develop their own characters.

“The characters are pretty faithful,” Miles explains.

“Compared to the original script, Ernie is a bit more sarcastic and dry. All the characters are a little bit snarkier, which was part of that modernisation.”

Medieval Day Year 8 students exchanged their uniforms for weapons and armour at this year’s Medieval Day. It has become something of an annual tradition at Wadhurst, with the crew from Medieval Education visiting to provide practical experience of life in the Middle Ages.

The students began with a lesson in medieval armour, designing their own crests and shields as they learnt about heraldic traditions. They also gained insights into how people entertained themselves in medieval times.

Archery lessons were next on the agenda. Lined up along the Wadhurst Oval, students practised their skills and came to understand how the English longbowmen had triumphed at the Battle of Agincourt. In another session, a heavily armoured knight challenged the students in hand-to-hand

Alexander Savage (Year 8) hones his swordsmanship at Medieval Day

combat. Despite the students’ best efforts and a collection of swords and maces, the knight was a force to be reckoned with, and the students were swiftly defeated.

Medieval Day is tied closely to units of study in Year 8 History, covering the Crusades and the making of medieval artefacts. “The Medieval Day is an important and practical part of students’ exploration of the medieval period. It assists them to better understand why certain aspects of society developed as they did and is an excellent support to classroom activities,” says Mr Alan Bliss, Coordinator of History at Wadhurst.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Senior School Think Pink “I was very proud to see so many boys and staff at Melbourne Grammar School publicly support such a worthwhile venture. Bringing an issue such as breast cancer to prominence is to the community’s advantage, and it will help many Melbourne Grammar School families now and in the future.” — Roy Kelley Headmaster

The First XVIII football team donned pink socks to support the Breast Cancer Network Australia

Many people remark on the School community’s readiness to answer a “call to arms”, and Saturday 11 May 2013 was a very clear demonstration of this solidarity. Edwin Flack Park was blushing pink to support the Breast Cancer Network of Australia (BCNA).

Motivated by news that another School family had been touched by breast cancer, Melbourne Grammar School’s football teams asked players, spectators, umpires and coaches to “Think Pink”, with all donations going directly to the Breast Cancer Network. Cross-country, hockey and rugby teams joined the cause, donning pink socks to show their support.

“Even the Headmaster was in a pink baseball cap for the day!” says Mr Nick Gibbons, Director of Sport. “To make the day even better, Melbourne Grammar School’s First XVIII defeated Brighton Grammar School in a tight contest. Away from home, our First XI hockey team and First XV rugby team wore pink socks and were victorious.”

While the number of women in Australian Rules Football is small, they play an important role. The testosterone around the Bluestone can be palpable at times, but I am always impressed by our boys’ sense of chivalry and respect for the female influences in their lives. It is the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, sisters and girlfriends who taught our boys this respect, and it is these same women who are most vulnerable to this insidious disease.

Every day in Australia, forty women are diagnosed with breast cancer, and seven will lose their lives. I have been blessed to get to know so many gorgeous mums through my involvement with football at Melbourne Grammar School. Amongst us on the day were survivors and fighters; we came together to share love and money in support of this important cause. With the help of Mary-Anne Nunan, Friends of Grammar, Marngrook, Melbourne Grammar School Football and the Associated Public Schools (APS), we were able to raise close to our $3000 target. Of course, continued donations are always welcome – go to bcnapinksportsday2013.gofundraise.com.au/page/MGS to show your support.

The Second XVIII football team also supported the cause

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Jessica Rottura Assistant Coach, 1st XVIII

Biology Olympiad

Liverpool soccer clinic

Year 12 student Andrew Coote travelled to Bern, Switzerland, in July to compete in the 24th International Biology Olympiad.

A group of Year 11 soccer players spent a cool July morning working with vision-impaired children in a special soccer clinic in conjunction with Liverpool Football Club.

Running from 14–20 July 2013, the Olympiad saw teams from sixty-five countries compete for gold, silver and bronze medals. Students completed challenging practical and theoretical exams focused on molecular and medical biology.

Six Liverpool coaches, in town for a game against Melbourne Victory, coached forty-four children with vision impairments, helping them to improve their soccer skills on the Steele Oval. The coaches were assisted by eight players from Melbourne Grammar School’s First XI soccer team, who helped mentor the visiting students.

Comprising four students, the Australian team was announced at a special ceremony at Parliament House in Canberra. Andrew was joined by Hugo Saunders from University High School, Louis Lan from North Sydney Boys High School and Mendel Castle-Kirszbaum from McKinnon Secondary College.

Andrew achieved an impressive result, receiving a silver medal and ranking 54 from 240 participants. He was the highest ranked Australian in the competition.

As preparation for the competition, Andrew attended the Australian Science Olympiad Summer School at Monash University in January. Sixty-seven students participated, with thirteen students selected from this group to compete in international Olympiads in biology, chemistry and physics.

Lachlan Fong (Year 11) helps mentor a young soccer fan at the Liverpool soccer clinic

In the second half of the clinic, Melbourne Grammar School students took part in a short training session, followed by a ten-minute match with the visiting Liverpool coaches.

Year 12 student Andrew Coote (right) competed in the International Biology Olympiad in Bern, Switzerland. He is pictured with team mate Hugo Saunders (left) from University High School

The clinic was a joint project between Insight Education Centre for the Blind and Vision Impaired, Liverpool Football Club, Standard Chartered Bank and the Fred Hollows Foundation. Melbourne Grammar School has worked with the Fred Hollows Foundation for a number of years and was proud to host the event.

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Values in Action Supporting the community It is a challenge for any organisation to make its values “real” – to transform the philosophical objectives into tangible actions. Under the banner of “Values in Action”, students from across Melbourne Grammar School have opportunities to be involved in a range of philanthropic and community service activities.

within the broader community,” says Mr Nathan Jessup, Director of Leadership. “This provides valuable service learning opportunities for our students and useful resources in the form of volunteers and fundraising for the various community-based organisations with which we partner.”

To deliver the programme and ensure its effectiveness, the School partners with various charitable and community support organisations, including Uniting Care, the Australian Red Cross Blood Service and Cancer Council. Over the years, the School has established strong connections with many of these partners.

Whether local or international, participation in Values in Action programmes encourages students to think about their place in the world and the situation faced by other people who might not be so fortunate. “We encourage all of our students to regularly give their time to serve others, both within and beyond the Melbourne Grammar School community, through our VIA programme offerings,” Mr Jessup adds.

“Our Values in Action programmes place an emphasis on engaged action and mutual benefit. We seek partnerships with organisations who can provide our students with opportunities to directly connect with issues and people

Here we look in more detail at three Values in Action programmes underway this year.

Learning Clubs – The Smith Family Each week, groups of students act as volunteer tutors at “learning clubs” operated by The Smith Family. The clubs provide a supportive out-of-hours learning environment for primary school children. Volunteer tutors work with the children, helping with homework, doing activities, playing games and role-modelling the importance of learning.

Melbourne Grammar School students participate in three after-school sessions throughout the week. On Mondays, students travel to the Atherton Gardens housing estate in Fitzroy. The Tuesday session takes place at a housing estate in Richmond. On Thursdays, Melbourne Grammar School hosts a learning club in the Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership, with students from Trinity Catholic Primary School in Richmond.

“I joined the programme with some of my mates and all of us continue to do it today,” says Justin Ha (Year 11).

“The most enjoyable aspect of the programme is easily the relationships that are built with the children you tutor. As I have been lucky enough to tutor the same kids all year long, I have been able to witness their academic development and their increasing confidence in their skills. Sometimes my role simply involves relieving any anxieties they have about high school or the next year. The programme is truly fulfilling.”

James Hupert (Year 10) works with Robert at the Richmond Learning Club

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Anton Leschen (OM 1983), General Manager – Victoria at The Smith Family, says there are enormous benefits for both the children and the volunteer tutors. “I think a bonus for these Melbourne Grammar School student volunteers is the surprise they get in what they learn and what they get back from being tutors,” Mr Leschen says. “So many of our volunteers sign on thinking that it will be a one-way street, where it’s all about giving their time and talent. Then they realise how much they’ll also gain – greater empathy for others, worldliness and fellowship with students they might not have otherwise met.”

Four hundred students walked in support of this year’s UN Walk for Women in May

Ben Sagar (Year 8) has his head shaved at Crop-a-Kid Day, to raise funds for the Make-a-Wish Foundation

UN Walk for Women – UN Women

Crop a Kid – Make-a-Wish Foundation

The plight of women in developing countries spurred over four hundred students from various schools to participate in this year’s UN Walk for Women on Friday 3 May 2013.

Each year, Crop a Kid Day raises much-needed funds for the Make-a-Wish Foundation, an Australian charity that grants wishes for children suffering life-threatening illnesses. In the lead up to the event, students enlist friends and family to sponsor them trading their hair for a tidy “buzz cut”.

The walk is a collaborative project organised primarily by students from Melbourne Grammar School, Ruyton and Trinity Grammar. This year, Jackson Koop (Year 12) and Charlie Weeden (Year 11) played key roles in coordinating the event, which drew representatives from Camberwell Grammar School, Camberwell Girls’ Grammar School, Carey Baptist Grammar School, Fintona Girls’ School, MLC, Scotch College, Strathcona Baptist Girls Grammar School and Xavier College.

This year’s walk sought to raise awareness about pandemic violence against women in parts of Papua New Guinea.

“The UN Women assist in establishing safe houses for women experiencing violence,” says Charlie. “It gives them somewhere safe to go and provides valuable support services. Their work aims to promote gender equality.”

The afternoon commenced with a cake stall in the Quad and a short documentary from Al Jazeera about violence against women. Following the documentary, students gathered near the National Herbarium to begin their walk around the Tan. Charlie says, “It was great to see four hundred people in different uniforms walking for a cause. Members of the public asked what we were walking for, so it raised awareness in the community, as well as helping the students participating to understand this important issue.”

Taking over the Wadhurst Drama room on Friday 21 June 2013, Friends of Grammar Wadhurst wielded the clippers, ably assisted by a professional hairdresser. The ritual clipping was accompanied by morning tea, and Melbourne Football Club players Neville Jetta and Joel McDonald were on hand for moral support.

This year, ninety Wadhurst boys took part, raising over $16,000 through sponsorship. One of the wish recipients was nine-year-old Josh, who is in remission from acute lymphatic leukaemia. He and his family will travel to the Gold Coast for a holiday and time at the theme parks.

This is the ninth year that Wadhurst has supported the event. “Wadhurst has raised $169,000 over the last nine years with its annual Crop a Kid Day,” says Mr Matt Houniet, who coordinates the Community Awareness programme at Wadhurst. “In the process, we have granted twenty-one wishes to seriously ill children, including a new swimming pool, trips to Disneyland, family holidays and a meeting with Nathan Buckley.”

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Sport The Cordner–Eggleston Cup

What does the Cordner–Eggleston Cup mean to a student?

It’s hard to know where to begin. The Cordner–Eggleston itself is a game of football where twenty-one young men represent Melbourne Grammar School, striving to beat a long-standing foe, Scotch College. But those four quarters are just one aspect that makes the game so special.

Even the build-up to the game is special. The players are treated like gladiators readying themselves to go into battle.

The Quad buzzes with talk of the game, who to look out for from both schools, and who may or may not be playing.

Since that first game in 1858, the Cordner–Eggleston Cup has gathered together Melbourne Grammar boys, both present and past, to support the players and their School.

When I was in Year 9, I couldn’t tell you one thing about the Cordner–Eggleston Cup, aside from the unfortunate fact that we lost that year. I barely watched the game. I was star-struck watching the older boys chanting battle cries

with their broken, manly voices – and there I was, a young boy wedged in the sea of Melbourne Grammar School men.

I was in awe of the power of the united Grammar Army.

Being a part of that is something I will forever cherish; the feeling is unbelievable. The passion is exuberant, overwhelming. It’s amazing that a game of football can create such a sense of connection with your school and schoolmates.

The rivalry and tradition of this year’s game seemed bigger than any other I’ve witnessed. The winner of the game would be in pole position to take the APS premiership.

Players, coaches and the entire School understood the importance of this long-standing battle.

The game itself was awesome. The Grammar Army was fantastically led by “Sudo”, or Captain, Charlie Hodge (Year 12), who led chants that supported and motivated the players, as well as stirring the Army. Both teams threw everything they had at each other but, in the pivotal moments towards the end of the game, Melbourne Grammar players stood up when they needed to, giving the boys in dark blue a narrow four-point win. It was truly special to watch – every student took great pride in the efforts of the players and the hard work they put in throughout the game. The final score was Melbourne Grammar School 10.12.72 against Scotch 9.14.68. The Peter Beaumont Medal, recognising Melbourne Grammar School’s best on ground, was awarded to JD Hayes (Year 12).

The Cordner–Eggleston is so much more than a game to students. It creates a brotherhood between schoolmates, connects boys to their school and gives students pride in this fine institution. May the tradition continue!

Tom Nelson Year 11

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Rugby Trip to Samoa Besides the three games, the tour also gave the students a true experience of Samoan culture and hospitality. Two School families – the Sa’aga family in Apia and the Toeta family in Mulivai – hosted dinners to make the players feel welcome. “Their hospitality was humbling and left the boys feeling quite emotional,” says Mr Rob Shields, Head of Rugby.

This year’s pre-season Rugby Trip saw thirty-five students and their coaches travel to Samoa. The tour took the group first to Apia in the north, then down to Mulivai in the south, before heading across to Tufifufi in the east.

The team experienced mixed fortunes in their three games against local teams. In the first game, Melbourne Grammar School (12 points) defeated Samoa College (10 points). In the second game, Melbourne Grammar School (12 points) were beaten by St Joseph’s College (20 points). The final game against Chanel College was a draw, with both teams scoring 20 points. Lochie O’Donnell was named Player of the Tour, and Darcy Lechte was commended for his consistent and outstanding contributions. The games were selected by Melbourne Grammar School parent Rika Sa’aga, who played for Manu Samoa in the 1980s.

Lochlain O’Donnell (Year 12) & James Little (Year 11) in action

The boys also had the opportunity to participate in community service activities.

In Apia, they presented supplies, including dressings, thermometers, glucose meters and blood pressure monitors, to Samoa’s Minister of Health, the Honourable Leao Tuitama. They donated funds to Mulivai Primary School and also provided clothing and sports equipment to support the village, still recovering from Cyclone Evan in December 2012. Throughout the trip, the boys also conducted rugby clinics for three local primary schools, while a group of visiting fathers, supporting the boys on the tour, helped out with painting and maintenance works.

Another highlight was the boys’ meeting with Samoa’s Prime Minister. “Prior to our last game, we met with the Prime Minister of Samoa, the Honourable Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, and spoke at length about climate change, politics and rugby. Meanwhile, important officials from the UN and World Bank waited in the foyer!” says Mr Shields.

Year 11 students Daniel Target & Harley Stephens meet local players

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The Old Melburnians Council Community

Ameet Bains

The rapid progress of time is a sentiment echoed every year, but nonetheless it is hard to believe it is already August.

Spring will shortly be upon us and another Year 12 cohort will be gazing keenly towards their graduation.

As this edition of Grammar News addresses the concept of community, it is timely to reflect on the vital role the Old Melburnians play within the wider Melbourne Grammar School community. Since its inception in 1895, the OMs has been the body representing the alumni of Melbourne Grammar School. While over the years the nature of this support has evolved, the role of the OMs has remained just as important.

Be it through more recent initiatives, such as the Fellowship or the mentoring programme, or our ongoing support of the broad spectrum of affiliated clubs and sporting groups, the OMs strives to keep the School’s alumni connected to its peers, the School itself and the School community.

Another key part of this connection is the reunion programme. Stewart Brook, Judith Mein and the team at The Lodge do a fine job of coordinating year group reunions and bringing together many OMs to reflect on their time at the School. So far this year, successful year group reunions have already been held to celebrate year groups that left the School 10, 20, 30, 50, 55 and 60 years ago.

In a similar vein, the Old Melburnians Annual Dinner serves as the yearly occasion on which OMs from across generations can catch up together. This year’s dinner promises to be extremely topical: with the federal election imminent, we are delighted to have Michael Kroger as our guest speaker. Michael will no doubt provide a typically insightful perspective on the political state of the country.

The Annual Dinner will be held on Friday 23 August 2013 at Kooyong Lawn Tennis Club. Unsurprisingly, bookings have

been very strong, so please purchase your ticket quickly if you are yet to do so!

As a Council, we are always keen to celebrate the individual achievements of OMs in the community at large. A school such as ours, which provides an extensive, dynamic and innovative education to a rich and varied student body, will always produce its share of community leaders.

As Mr Roy Kelley mentioned earlier in this issue, we are delighted to acknowledge the contribution to the Australian community of four OMs, as recognised in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours List. We congratulate the Honourable Justice David Ashley (OM 1959) and John Rogers (OM 1958) who were both recognised as Members (AM) in the Order of Australia in the General Division. We also congratulate Bill Collett (OM 1951) and Rick Tudor (OM 1966) as recipients of the Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division. We are always pleased to hear about the achievements of OMs, so please let us know if you have any news to share.

Finally, applications are now open for the 2013 Old Melburnians Fellowship. As many of you will know, the Fellowship awards a bursary to a young OM to undertake travel, study and/or a project that provides for both selfdevelopment and community benefit.

We have been fortunate to have very worthy winners each year since the Fellowship was first awarded. I strongly urge those considering a worthwhile venture to apply through the OMs website at online.oms.org.au.

As always, please stay connected through OMs Online, where you can also connect to our Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn pages.

Ameet Bains President

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The Old Melburnians James Legg – and all that jazz It is nudging 8.30 pm on a chilly Monday night in Melbourne and the doors are about to open at Bennetts Lane Jazz Club.

For James Legg (OM 2011), it’s an opportunity to perch for a couple of hours and watch one of the Australia’s best drummers do his stuff.

The jazz is creative, improvised, fast and, at times, brilliantly confused. Timing is impeccable. The drummer’s sticks fly.

The beat is palpable, stitching double bass, piano and drums so that nothing unravels. James leans forward, brow slightly furrowed. He is listening. Watching. Absorbing the music. He is, he says, on a great learning road – one he hopes will take him to Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachusetts.

The ninteen-year-old has a deep respect for his teachers and mentors and admits he has been fortunate to have rubbed shoulders with some of the best. Tonight, at Australia’s best jazz venue, it’s Allan Browne, Chair of the Melbourne Jazz Co-operative, Patron of the Stonnington Jazz Festival, drummer extraordinaire, and recent recipient of an Order of Australia Medal. But Melbourne Grammar School, says James, was a magnificent custodian of knowledge that helped open his eyes to the world of jazz. At Senior School, teachers Mr Colin Doley and Mr Rob Glaesemann taught and encouraged. At Wadhurst it was Mr Reg Walsh and, back in Grimwade days, tutor Ms Cindy Taylor who inspired James.

It all began in the kitchen at home. “My mother’s saucepans served as a makeshift drum kit and ignited my love affair with percussion when I was about three,” he says. “But more than that, I realised that I could produce controlled tones and textures which, at that age, appealed to me on a basic aesthetic level.”

At nine, James took drum lessons at Grimwade House which he continued through his primary and secondary years; in Year 11, he and three schoolmates formed The Bluestones. They played gigs at fetes, the Wallis and Ed bar, the Hotel Windsor and even Bennetts Lane. Later James joined Beth King and the Hemingway Collective, playing at special events including the Nannup and Port Fairy folk festivals.

Today James is a drummer arguably ahead of his years due to his strict practice discipline. James teaches younger students at home, and he currently plays with two bands: Groove Syndicate (a Melbourne-based groove/jazz/funk band specialising in musical dexterity and sensitivity) and the jazz/ fusion trio Caramel (formed at the Victorian College of the Arts and Monash University).

He owes much to his father Bruce (OM 1965) and mother Maria, who have been “drum/gig taxi” for more than a decade. With no pretensions that the road ahead will be

easy, James is working towards a place at Berklee, the world’s largest independent college of contemporary music.

James never studied Latin but he understands Berklee’s motto: Esse quam videri – “To be rather than seem”. He sees it as aspirational and honest. “I live by a foundation of honesty – honesty in myself, honesty with my loved ones and, especially, honesty in music.”

Find out more about James’s music at www.jamesleggmusic.com.

John Allin

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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:

4 May 2013 Rylan Dawes (OM 2001) & Rosie Bean

14 June 2013 Jonathon Deague (OM 1999) & Ella Thomas

The Old Melburnians Bowls Club plays in the Public School Old Boys Association tournament each year, competing against eight other schools.

This year, the game was won by Xavier College, with Melbourne Grammar School just beaten by Scotch into fifth place.

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Tim Austin (OM 1953) recently attended the 1953 Sixty Year reunion which was held in the Morrow Room at The Lodge. Tim told of how he gained a commission in the Royal Australian Artillery in 1956.

While in the army and thanks to the lessons he learned under the tutelage of boxing master Joe Fryers (staff member, 1939–1968), he won the Battalion and Brigade light heavy weight boxing championship at Puckapunyal in 1954. Tim toured as a member of the Australian Country Cricket team which toured the United Kingdom in 1961.

Tim and his wife, Judy, celebrated their golden wedding anniversary this year. Tim was known the world over for his kelpie breeding and was elected as one of the 150 Old Melburnians in the

Not the best result for us, however, a great day was had by all, with lots of reminiscing and good fellowship.

If you would like to join our club, please contact Malcolm Chestney, Secretary, on 9592 6965 or via email chesco@bigpond.net.au.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Challenging Traditions exhibition as part of the School’s Sesquicentenary in 2008. Tim has produced a number of films including Kelpie – The Legend in 2012.

Trevor Batrouney (OM 1953) writes that he has had a varied academic career, commencing with his role as a Principal Lecturer at the Hawthorn Institute of Education, a Research Manager at the Australian Institute of Family Studies and as an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University. He has published a number of books including The Lebanese in Australia, Unravelling Identity and Beyond the Death of a Child. Trevor has also been the author of many chapters in various books in fields such as migration, cultural diversity, histories of ethnic communities and organisations.

Ed Cherry (OM 1953) and his wife still live in the forest outskirts of Marysville, despite the 2009 fires. On Black Saturday, they stayed to fight. When the fire arrived at 5.55 pm, the forest exploded and they were surrounded by an inferno. Their house survived (although damaged), but the one acre garden ceased to exist.

Four years on, the new garden is developing nicely.

Ed retains a professional interest in electronics. He reviews manuscripts for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and the Institution of Engineering and Technology.

He occasionally publishes some of his own research and he is also working on another book.

Ian Capp (OM 1953) writes that he retired in 2011 and

is now living in the iconic Eureka Tower building with his wife, Lorraine. Since his retirement, he and Lorraine have managed to undertake extensive overseas and interstate travel. Ian and Lorraine have six children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

Jim Dickson (OM 1953) gained entry to the Royal Australian Naval College as a thirteen-year-old Cadet Midshipman in January 1950, having left Melbourne Grammar School at the end of 1949. Over the following forty-one years, Jim served as a Seaman Officer in the Royal Australian Navy, rising to the rank of Commodore.

Jim specialised in navigation and was Fleet Navigating Officer from 1970–1972. He saw action in the Malayan campaign, the confrontation with Indonesia and the Vietnam War. Jim served extensively with the Royal Navy and the United States Navy. Jim now lives on the Mornington Peninsula and delights in resuming contact with the School. Jim was awarded an MBE in 1968 and was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 1988.

Peter Maffey (OM 1953) writes that he is actively involved in the National Boer War Memorial Association and is involved in fundraising for the Boer War Memorial, which is to be sited in Canberra.

Peter would be interested in hearing from other Old Melburnians who are descendants of Boer War participants. Peter describes the Boer War soldiers as “our first and forgotten Anzacs”. Peter can be contacted via the Development Office at The Lodge.

Peter Nelson (OM 1955) who lives in Wangaratta likes to keep fit by riding his bike and managed to clock up a mere 17,081 km last year! He has been keeping a log of his rides since 1966 and has covered some 684,577 km and has managed to ride at least 16,000 km every single year. It all started when Peter’s late wife, Margery, purchased a bike in 1966 and asked him to ride it home. He has never looked back, as it were. As a retired CSIRO weatherman, Peter has become Wangaratta’s resident weather expert and lives for statistics.

Queen’s Birthday Honours Member (AM) in the Order of Australia in the General Division The Honourable Justice David John Ashley (OM 1959) For significant service to the judiciary and the law, and to the beef cattle industry.

Mr John Graham Rogers (OM 1958) For significant service to medicine in the fields of clinical genetics and paediatrics.

Medal (OAM) of the Order of Australia in the General Division Mr Edward Richard (Rick) Tudor (OM 1966) For service to education, and to the community.

Mr William (Bill) James Collett (OM 1951) For service to the community of Portland and the Shire of Glenelg.

The Victorian AttorneyGeneral Robert Clark announced in March the appointment of Peter Couzens (OM 1963) as a Judge of the County Court and the new President of the Children’s Court of Victoria. Peter was the Regional Coordinating Magistrate for the Grampians region, based in Ballarat. Peter has more than four decades of experience in the law and brings considerable and varied legal experience to the role. He gained his law degree from the University of Melbourne in 1969 and joined the Bar in 1976. As a barrister, he specialised in common law, personal injury and family law before being appointed as a Magistrate in 1990.

Tom’s grandfather, who took command of a group of twenty-nine Royal Australian Air Force men stranded on Japanese-occupied Timor for fifty-eight days in 1942.

All the men suffered terrible privations, three men eventually dying of malaria and one dying of snakebite.

After two abortive attempts to evacuate the group by flying boat, an American submarine was dispatched to carry out an implausible rescue. Due to the classified nature of this rescue, the story of their daring escape was previously untold.

Information on the book can be found at tomtrumble.wix. com/tomtrumble.

Tom Trumble (OM 1998) has published his second book, Rescue at 2100 Hours: The Untold Story of the Most Daring Escape of the Pacific War (Penguin, June 2013). The story chronicles the wartime adventures of Flight Lieutenant Bryan Rofe,

Joshua McLeod (OM 2007) was recently awarded the Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop Scholarship and Recognition Award from Swinburne University for his outstanding academic achievements and commitment to community service. Now in the final

stages of a double degree of Bachelor of Engineering (Robotics and Mechatronics) and Bachelor of Applied Science and Software Engineering, Joshua has achieved a High Distinction average throughout his six years of study. His hard work also saw him receive the Vice Chancellor’s Scholarship in Engineering and the Freemason’s Tertiary Support Scholarship.

Nick Pearce (OM 2008) has opened a successful coffee business in Varsity Lakes, on the Gold Coast.

Blackboard Specialty Coffee has become the go-to caffeine destination for Bond University students and staff, offering an allday menu and lovingly selected coffee blends.

Nick has recently expanded the business, with the Blackboard Local Grocer.

The business also hosts functions and events, provides catering and offers professional barista training.

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

Ballantyne, WBA (OM 2010) Bennison, SJ (Past Parent) Bond, GA (OM 1975) Bossinakis, A (Past Parent) Bridgeford, RAC (OM 1952) Brown, J (FOTS) Byers, FJ (OM 1945) Clark, HB (OM 1944) Dignan, CG (OM 1942) Ferguson, A (Future Parent) Gallagher OAM ASM, DG (OM 1952) Hardham, AB (OM 1937) Harkin, HCF (OM 1947) Hattam, RF (OM 1937) Holdaway, JA (OM 1945) Howie, DS (OM 1960) Humphris, PWL (OM 1955) Hyams, BG (OM 1936) Johns, BM (OM 1952) Kulpa, DM (OM 1951) Larkins, SG (OM 1962) Lee, JF (OM 1958) Locke, GC (OM 1939) Machin, CR (OM 1946) Mackinolty, JG (OM 1944) Madder, PG (OM 1933) McKittrick, MC (Past Parent) McLean, JG (OM 1953) Mohr, LH (OM 1937) Newton, S (Past Parent) Ogilvie, VJB (OM 1965) Price, K (Past Staff) Pugh AM, RO (OM 1944) Reed, SH (OM 1956) Reynolds, RJ (OM 1972) Rickards, JE (OM 1942) Sargood, DN (OM 1948) Schneeberger, IC (OM 1950) Smith, PJI (OM 1955) Starey, RJ (OM 1998) Stephens, FD (OM 1930) Stooke, G (OM 1956) Sweetnam, JR (OM 1939) Tartakover, RM (OM 1955) Tonge, JI (OM 1928) Wallace-Mitchell, M (OM 1943) Withers, WJM (OM 1951) Wriedt, HA (OM 1944)

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Branches & Reunions

OMs Bowls Club End of Season Luncheon

2003 Ten Year Reunion

1

Bruce Hall (OM 1949), Margaret Grenness & Peter Berman (OM 1962)

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Heather Marks, Georgie Walker, Jennifer Matthies & Kimberley Wolknow

2

Former staff member John Keogh with Alan Eilenberg Trophy recipient Russell White

8

James Gregson & Aditya Chibber

New Parents Welcome Dinner 3

School Captain Henry Gardiner with his parents Sophie & Tim Gardiner

4

Blandine O’Neill & Sean O’Neill (OM 1982)

1953 Sixty Year Reunion 9

John Hayes & Ian Capp

10 David Kennon & John Osborne 11 Tim Austin & Michael Hilditch 12 Jim Dickson & Kel George

1993 Twenty Year Reunion 5

Cameron Spittle & Sam Tarascio

6

The Class of 1993 celebrate twenty years

1 2

3 4

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5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

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Development New Director of Development

A polymath & philanthropist Born in 1917, Malcolm McKeown (OM 1935) was a successful Melbourne radiologist, artist and art collector.

Throughout his life, he was impassioned by art, music, gardening and all things Scottish. McKeown was a long-time supporter of the School, a regular contributor to the Annual Appeal and a founding member of the Witherby Tower Society.

On his death on 23 September 1997, McKeown left a generous bequest to the School comprising around five million dollars and a substantial art collection, including some of his own works. McKeown’s gift was put to good use funding the then-new Art School at Wadhurst, which was subsequently named in his honour.

Philanthropy has always been a central part of the culture at Melbourne Grammar School. Over the years, many students have benefited from the generous gifts and bequests left to the School by members of the School community.

For more information on leaving a bequest to the School, please contact the Development Office on 9865 7596.

This month, Melbourne Grammar School welcomes Josée Pinsonneault as Director of Development.

Originally from Canada, Josée brings with her fifteen years’ experience in philanthropy. Most recently, she was Philanthropic Relations Director in the Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences at Monash University. Prior to this, she held fundraising roles at Canada’s University of Victoria and the University of Regina. Josée has also worked as a consultant for DVA Navion, an international fundraising consultancy, and the MS Society in Canada.

Josée will be working closely with the Foundation to raise support for the Four Pillars and, in particular, the forthcoming Science and Technology Centre.

A bequest from Dr Malcolm McKeown (OM 1935) funded the Wadhurst Art School 28

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Friends of Grammar Industrious as ever Throughout the first half of the year, FOG committees at each campus have been busy with diverse fundraising and support activities.

Grimwade House In Term 2, the FOG Grimwade House committee and eighty class representatives worked together to support many School events, including the Year 3 to 6 cross-country, morning teas for grandparents of Prep and Year 3 students, and the Year 6 Wizard of Oz musical performances, attended by students and families from across the School. Another major event was the annual Mother’s Day stall, which sold over 1200 carefully selected gifts to children across all year levels.

A highlight of Term 2 was the Grimwade Tennis Day Lunch, held at the Royal South Yarra Lawn Tennis Club.

The guest speaker was Dean Bowen, artist-in-residence at Grimwade House during Term 1. The event makes a valuable contribution to the School’s fundraising, says Maureen O’Keefe-Anders, FOG Grimwade House President 2013: “Thanks to the generous donations of the Grimwade community, the event raised $16,000 from raffles and auctions held on the day.”

Wadhurst The inaugural year of Japanese being taught at Wadhurst inspired our venue choice for this year’s Mother’s Day lunch.

Mr Greg Caldwell, Head of Wadhurst, and Ms Yoshiko Take, Japanese Teacher, joined seventy Wadhurst mothers at Tokyo Teppanyaki in South Yarra for a delicious lunch.

FOG Wadhurst also held a Mother’s Day stall before this important day. Class representatives worked with FOG Wadhurst to provide a wide range of gifts so the boys could make a suitable choice for their mum. “We witnessed an array of selection processes, from the slow and considered

FOG Grimwade Tennis Day Lunch at Royal South Yarra Tennis Club

to the quick and impulsive,” says Danielle Podolak, FOG Wadhurst President 2013.

Two key FOG activities took place at the end of Term 2. The annual Wadhurst Family Breakfast was held in the Wadhurst Hall on Thursday 20 June 2013. Around three hundred people attended, and it was a great way for the community to catch up with old and new friends and celebrate the half-way mark for the School year. The next day, the annual Crop-a-Kid event took place. Armed with clippers, the FOG Wadhurst team sheared more than eighty boys. “We are proud to be associated with an event that benefits so many sick children,” says Mrs Podolak.

Senior School Saturday mornings have been a peak of activity for FOG Senior School: they have been braving brisk winter mornings each weekend to operate the cafe at Edwin Flack Park, ensuring both players and spectators are well fed and watered.

FOG Senior School has also been involved in the School’s Values in Action programmes. They have been coordinating the Off Your Back Winter Coat Drive, providing pre-loved winter clothing to those in need. They also coordinate parent rosters for Ronald McDonald House, the weekly learning club at Trinity Catholic Primary School, and the Prahran Mission breakfast programme.

The remainder of the year promises to be just as busy.

“Our big focus this term is the Springtime Lunch for 2013, on Thursday 14 November in the Mural Hall at Myer,” says Claudia Holt, FOG Senior School President 2013. “Planning is well underway, and we are particularly excited about this year’s guest speaker, Ita Buttrose, 2013 Australian of the Year.” Tickets will go on sale on Friday 11 October 2013.

It is an ideal occasion for current parents and the wider community to catch up over a special lunch.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Archives A century of note This year marks the centenary of the Chapel organ which was installed in the Chapel of St Peter in 1913. The organ was a gift of Mrs Sherwood, in memory of her son, Clifford Burrell Adams (OM 1909), who passed away in March 1909.

However, it was not the first organ to grace the Chapel of St Peter.

When the Chapel opened in May 1893, the School, like the rest of the community in the 1890s, was in the firm grip of a depression. As such, there was little in the way of funds to fit out the new building. While a pulpit and lectern were forthcoming through the generosity of members of the School community, the item most needed in the Chapel was an organ.

As luck would have it, a pipe organ built some six years earlier for the Roman Catholic Church in Wagga Wagga became available in 1893. The builder, George Fincham of Richmond, agreed to sell it to the School for the sum of 325 pounds and generously agreed that payment could be made through instalments.

One of the limitations of the Fincham organ was that it was hand-blown rather than electrically driven and required the services of boys on a duty roster. It was hardly a riveting job and, to pass the time, the boys scratched their names on the wooden panel containing the slot for the bellows handle.

Sadly, many of the names are those of Wadhurst boys who were later to lose their lives in the First World War. The fate of the Fincham organ was sealed with the appointment in 1906 of the renowned organist Arthur Nickson to the School staff. Nickson became frustrated with the limitations of the organ, and his view gained support from the newly appointed Chaplain, Francis Tubman, in 1912. Later that year, Nickson was sent to England, where he commissioned the Norman and Beard instrument that has served the School so well over the intervening hundred years. Norman and Beard were well regarded and were endorsed by the Royal College of Organists as one of the premier organ builders in the world.

The organ arrived at the end of September 1913 and was erected and installed throughout October. The new organ was first used on Sunday 2 November 1913 and was solemnly dedicated by the first Archbishop of Melbourne, Henry Lowther Clarke, on 11 November at a service attended by the whole School. The first recital using the new organ was held on the 29 November 1913 to a capacity audience, and the full range of the organ’s capabilities was exhibited to great acclaim.

A century later, we celebrate the foresight and wisdom of the School in its selection of such a wonderful musical instrument that adds so much to each and every service held in the Chapel of St Peter.

Stewart Brook Alumni & Community Manager

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Around the School

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