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The Melbourne Grammar School Community Magazine
The Alfred Felton Hall – Foundation Stone Unveiling
In a moving ceremony 800 students, parents, donors and friends gathered to witness the Chairman of The Felton Bequests’ Committee, Sir Gustav Nossal AC CBE, unveil the Foundation Stone for the Alfred Felton Hall on 18 March 2004. The Hall was made possible by a leadership gift from The Felton Bequests’ Committee and strong philanthropic support from the Grammar Community during the Building Tomorrow’s Tradition campaign. The Hall reflects the long-standing deep friendship and business partnership between Frederick Sheppard Grimwade and Alfred Felton. Most fittingly, Olivia Grimwade, the youngest current member of the Grimwade family at Melbourne Grammar, assisted Sir Gustav in unveiling the plaque and the guests included four generations of the Grimwade family in front of Harleston. The Hall is scheduled to open in the second half of 2005.
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In this issue From the School Council 4 From the Headmaster 5 Out & About at Grimwade House 6 Out & About at Wadhurst 8 Out & About at Senior School 9 Extending Students 12 Curriculum Initiatives 14 MGS Sports Complex 15 Day & Boarding Houses 19 The Old Melburnians 20 Branches & Reunions 22 Community News 24 Archives 26 Community Noticeboard 27 Friends of Grammar 28 The Grammar Foundation 30 ANZAC Service 31
Out & About at Grimwade House
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is published three times a year for the Melbourne Grammar School Community
Extending Students
Published by
Our front cover: Year 11 student Harry Webster in the Morris Library. The library facilities for all students from Years 7 to 12 will be transformed with the development of the Centre for Learning and Leadership.
From the Editor From sport to theatre, art and academic excellence, it is all part of life at Melbourne Grammar School. The School certainly offers diversity of experience to challenge students and give them the opportunity to pursue their passions.
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Fostering Learning and Leadership Melbourne Grammar School fosters the pursuit of excellence by offering an educational experience ranging across intellectual, social, cultural, spiritual and physical pursuits.
Editor Kirrily Johns Ann Badger Stewart Brook Jane Lee Gordon Sargood (Chairman)
Desktop Publishing Drew Gamble
Printer GT Graphics
Mailing & Distribution
15 ANZAC Service
The Old Melburnian Community is just as busy with ANZAC services, sports clubs and reunions, as is Friends of Grammar with a diverse range of exciting events. There is something for everyone – students and Grammar Community alike.
Kirrily Johns
Development Office Melbourne Grammar School 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3004 Telephone: 9865 7555 Facsimile: 9865 7577 email: newsletter@mgs.vic.edu.au
Editorial Board
MGS Sports Complex
This edition of Grammar Newsletter looks at just some of these opportunities. The MGS Sports Complex in Port Melbourne opened this year and is providing students with first class facilities to develop their sporting skills (see pages 15-18). A curriculum extension program enables gifted students to extend themselves academically (see pages 12 &13). Students can also participate in various competitions such as the Theatre Sports Competition. There are visiting speakers, excursions, and even Eastern blue tongue lizards and roaming budgies living in Grimwade House’s science lab.
Grammar Newsletter
31 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.
Data Connection
Photographs Stephen Boltzmann Stewart Brook Gwen Delves James Grant Stephen Harman Andrew Hasker Hyatt & Associates Sarah Jessup Kirrily Johns Michael Joyce Patricia Langton Mark Leslie Caroline Long Amanda Louey Danny McCoppin Viki Petherbridge Helen Petropoulos Cat Poljski Cathy Robbins MGS Archives and others
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From the School Council Strategic Planning
John Hasker
School Council President The Most Reverend Peter Watson Archbishop of Melbourne
Chairman John Hasker
Deputy Chairman Graeme Blackman
Peter Beaumont Sandy Clark Peter Danne Barbara Fary Vince FitzGerald Stuart Gooley Sandy Massina Lelde McCoy Bruce Parncutt Ian Vaughan Catherine Walter
Each year the Council and School Executive take time out from the busy schedule of regular Council and subcommittee meetings to dedicate two days to focus on key strategic issues. Last year we worked primarily on the MGS Vision – Learning and Leadership. This year each Head of School (Peter Tooke, Paul Wilhelm and Andrew Boyd) and the Director of Teaching and Learning (Chris Bradtke) presented on emerging trends, issues and directions for their specific areas particularly in relation to students, staff, learning and implementing the MGS Vision. The Council then looked at the business plan supported by philanthropy which will underpin the teaching and learning facilities required to implement these initiatives and the MGS Vision.
Facilities for Learning
Work continues on two major projects – The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall and the new Alfred Felton Hall at Grimwade House for which the foundation stone was laid on 18 March (see page 2) by Sir Gustav Nossal in a moving ceremony attended by 650 Grimwade girls and boys and many members of the Grammar Community. The Mem Hall renovations to significantly improve the music and performing arts facilities are nearly complete. Work is progressing on the major addition of an orchestral rehearsal space and the relocated driveway. The Bromby Street driveway will align with the Witherby Tower to provide a far more attractive entrance to the School.
Headmaster Paul Sheahan
Secretary to the Council
Led by Council member Ian Vaughan, over the past 12 months there has been a rigorous process to articulate a conceptual design brief for the Centre for Learning and Leadership, conduct an architectural competition and then select a design which encapsulates the elements of this innovative project. We will announce details of the preferred design, architect and timeline in the next Grammar Newsletter. The Centre for Learning and Leadership will combine our existing library and information technology services and also house the Centre for Leadership for both Wadhurst and Senior School. It is central to preparing our students for work and life in a global environment.
Car Park for South Yarra
With our inner city location and constrained site, it has become evident that it is essential to provide an underground car park in order to realise our future plans for facilities at the South Yarra campus. The car park will provide many wider benefits to students and the Grammar Community including improved safety, enhanced aesthetics for our historic site as well as increased space for passive and active recreation for students. The car park will also be available to parents and the Grammar Community for MGS functions and events. During the construction phase of about 12 months, the Steele Ground and St Kilda Road entrance will be impacted. We will use the new wider Bromby Street driveway in this period.
David Temple (Bursar)
The new Bromby Street driveway will align with the Witherby Tower
The Alfred Felton Hall at Grimwade House starts to take shape
The orchestral rehearsal space next to the Memorial Hall under construction
The Steele Ground will then be re-laid with a much improved playing surface made up of water saving granules mixed through a sand base to provide a safer playing area for students and an ecologically sound water retention system.
Award for Teaching
Congratulations to Director of Teaching and Learning Chris Bradtke who has recently been made a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators. Chris received this award for outstanding contributions to teaching and learning, especially in the field of languages, both in the classroom and through professional policy making organisations. 4
John Hasker
From the Headmaster Leadership Leadership is crucial to the wellbeing of society and to the setting of a clear direction for its people. Many shy away from it in the belief that they do not have the necessary qualities and yet we all know of others who have stepped into the breach at times and been splendidly successful. Leadership is a difficult concept to define but one of the most common threads is that leaders are powerful at creating both the vision and the interpersonal relationships that are essential to achieving the vision. Harvard Professor of Education Howard Gardner of Multiple Intelligences fame says this: “Leadership is a transaction that occurs within (and between) the minds of ‘leaders’ and ‘followers’. A ‘leader’ is an individual who creates a story—a mental representation—that significantly affects the thoughts, behaviours and feelings—the mental representations—of a significant number of persons (termed ‘followers’).”
Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes and is not necessarily conferred by status but comes about through influence in a given position. Mahatma Gandhi, Jesus Christ, Florence Nightingale and Steve Waugh have all been leaders in their context but could not be more different in personality. However there are common characteristics that underpin their leadership capacities. It is one of the aims of our leadership initiative to uncover those characteristics and embed them in a course of study for all students at the same time as giving staff an opportunity to learn more about what leadership means to them.
Paul Sheahan
Although the aphorism might have it that leaders are born and not made, it is clear that there are many aspects of leadership that can be taught: clearly leadership is a function of experience and personal attributes. Undoubtedly there is a potent
Laotan, a Chinese philosopher, is also often quoted: “A leader is best when people barely know he exists, not so good when people obey and acclaim him, worse when they despise him. But of a good leader, who talks little, when his work is done, his aim fulfilled, they will say: ‘We did it ourselves’.” Dr James Sarros and Oleh Butchatsky in their book entitled Leadership – Australia’s Top CEOs: Finding out what makes them the best, present an alternative: “Leadership is the purposeful behaviour of influencing others to contribute to a commonly agreed goal for the benefit of individuals as well as the organisation (or the common good).” Communities and societies thrive on leadership. Two examples might suffice: where would South Africa be today, in a social sense, without the remarkable influence of Nelson Mandela, and would Victoria’s finances be in such a sound state without the strong leadership that former Premier, Jeff Kennett, provided in the 1990s? The type of leadership envisaged in Melbourne Grammar’s initiative of appointing a Director of Leadership is, in the first instance, small ‘l’ leadership—leadership at any level of activity—and management of one’s own life and development. At School there are opportunities to captain teams, take lead roles in music and plays, become a peer support leader with younger students, be a class captain, lead an expedition or hiking group, anchor a debating team, take leadership roles in the Cadets, and so the list goes on, but learning about oneself and incorporating that knowledge into the way one interacts with other people is an important growth experience, too.
catalyst that brings those forces together but the experience factor in the formula must allow for education to play a part. That is why I think it is paramount that all students must undergo some formal education in leadership.
Year 11 students Harry Webster, Adam Tran & Paris Velissaris
For students there will be formalised education in theories and research related to leadership, starting at Year 5, with the main thrust at Years 9 and 10, and exploring the important differences between leadership (the ‘art’ of management) and management (the ‘science’ of leadership). We hope that our program will find expression in community leadership but it is also linked very much to the two values mentioned in the MGS Vision: A Positive Sense of Oneself and A Sense of Community. What we hope is that eventually the skills and talents of MGS students will be brought to bear for the ongoing wellbeing of society. Paul Sheahan 5
Out & About at Grimwade House Students at Grimwade House have created artwork inspired by renowned Australian artist John Brack’s painting Children Play in the Quadrangle with their own versions of this image of children playing, with the help of artist in residence photographer Viki Petherbridge.
Photograph by Viki Petherbridge
After analysing the Brack painting in terms of its colour, composition, content and history, four Year 5 classes each made a collage of their own photos of class members playing in their favourite parts of the school grounds. Groups and figures in the photos were cut out and glued against a similar backdrop on each collage. This backdrop was painted in the same colours and used the composition of the original work. As an accomplished practising artist, Viki Petherbridge spoke to the students about her own
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
Brack Inspires Artwork
Year 5 students Tina Lofitis & Henry Hunt admire their work with Helen Brack & artist Viki Petherbridge
work, explained how cameras and digital cameras work and how black and white film is developed. Viki took the students around the school grounds, explaining how the best photos are often taken when people don’t look at the camera and how to photograph moving figures. “I liked working with Miss Petherbridge because I learned how photos are developed and how to dye black and white photos with tea. I also liked using cameras and posing for photos was fun too. The end results rock and I loved the project,” said Year 5 student Jack Norton. John Brack was an art teacher at Melbourne Grammar School from 1952-1962. John Brack’s widow Helen visited Grimwade House to view the students’ artwork in April. Kirrily Johns & Jan Rizzo
A Kidsummer Night’s Dream This year’s Year 6 Grimwade House Musical, A Kidsummer Night’s Dream, was presented over three nights in June. The show, based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, had simplified language as well as catchy musical tunes and songs.
Fairies in the Musical, from left – back: Annabelle Jeffries, Emma Hoy, Iliana Keskerides, Edwina Strange & Pippi Margetts, front: Rebecca Selth, Genevieve Alison & Sophie Hoy
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Photograghs by Amanda Louey
Athenians in the Musical, from left: James Jesson, Sophie McLeod, Sam Scott & Adam Freeman
Owing to the building of the Alfred Felton Hall the show was staged in a marquee which added to the overall effect of the production enjoyed by over 500 audience members. The 60 cast members were Athenians, workers, fairies or forest folk and they looked resplendent in their costumes as they acted, sang and danced under colourful lighting. It was the culmination of three months work by students, staff and parents – a true community effort for the benefit of our students. “It is an incredible feeling when you stand on the stage. The marquee was a good setting, as it captured the atmosphere of the magic forest and was charged by the audience’s presence. The important thing about being in a production is to focus on what you are doing and to listen carefully to what is happening… Being part of the show proved to me that magic can really come to life on stage,” said Year 6 student Nicholas Elliott. Brad Whittle
Animals Alive As part of a learning environment which encourages students to develop compassion, empathy for others and leadership, the girls and boys at Grimwade House partake in science lessons in a lab filled with animals. Budgies, fish, hermit crabs, axolotls, stick insects, Eastern bluetongued lizards and the occasional visiting pet fill the room with liveliness and noise. Apart from the obvious fun we have with the animals, and the interest the students have in both observing their behaviour and attending to their needs, the animals play an important role in both the curriculum and in developing students’ understanding of creatures who are dependent on humans.
Students are also given roles of leadership in relation to the pets. Science Captains are given the task of helping to maintain the pet enclosures, and in caring for the pets’ welfare. The feeding, cleaning, weighing and measuring of some of the pets are performed routinely by the Science Captains.
Year 6 student Sophie McLeod with the pet Eastern bluetongued lizard
The budgies are somewhat infamous in the Grimwade House science lab. Three budgies are released each morning to fly freely around the room and explore as they please. This also means that students need to be careful because the budgies do sometimes land on heads, shoulders, tables and pencil cases. It is interesting that the budgies choose to explore (and chew on) the pencil cases or perch on the shoulder of quieter students! The budgies have been trained to return to their cage at 3.30pm for their dinner and a quiet night of sleep. “Everyone at our school loves the budgies and all the other animals we have in our science lab and they are just a tiny part of our science curriculum,” said Year 6 student Sophie McLeod. Amanda Louey
Ready Set Go
Grandparents’ Day
Smoothing the exciting and most important transition to starting school is an important focus for Grimwade House. As part of our ‘Ready Set Go’ program, various sessions exploring aspects of school readiness are held each year. This year educational experts Jeanette Harrison, Doug and Barbara Clark addressed parents on two topics: Preparing for Prep and Magical Maths. These sessions are also an opportunity for parents to meet each other and our junior primary staff who will be working with their sons and daughters.
Grandparents enjoyed tours of Grimwade House, a concert of singing and dancing by prep students and classroom activities including comparing food through the ages and pasta necklace making at the prep grandparents’ day. “We did some songs for our grandparents and they liked them. I think they liked the Harleston Song,” said prep student Samantha Leigh.
Prep student Heidi DuthieHillebrand with her grandfather Mr Hillebrand at grandparents’ day
Photograph by Caroline Long
The animals are used for exploring nature. The stick insects are prime examples of how some creatures are able to use camouflage to evade predators. Some students spend much time trying to locate the stick insects in their enclosure! The axolotls have spawned successfully during the past two years and students have been given the opportunity to observe and participate in the care of their eggs and of the young axolotls. Unavoidably, some of the young do not survive, and this issue is discussed in relation to reproduction numbers, care conditions and ‘survival of the fittest’.
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Out & About at Wadhurst Inspiring Guest Speakers At Wadhurst Monday 17 May was a day when the boys’ learning was further enriched by a number of visitors who made significant contributions to our programs and to the students’ understandings of the wider world.
Photographs by Patricia Langton
The day began with an excellent illustrated talk from lawyer Alexander Danne (OM 1997) who was a special guest at weekly assembly. The brother of David Danne in Year 8, Alex had learned of the boys’ studies in English classes of issues regarding refugees worldwide and, having last year spent four months working in the area of legal development with the Sudan Peace Fund, he kindly offered to provide some firsthand information concerning the problems facing that troubled region. One of the declared strategies in the School’s Vision Statement is that we seek “to encourage students to want to contribute to the broader community when they leave school”; thus, it was important also that Alex spoke of the various opportunities for rendering assistance to people in such areas.
Top: Guest speaker at Wadhurst Alex Danne (second from left) pictured with Wadhurst English Co-ordinator Mark Leslie & Year 8 students David Danne, Charles Shaw & Nat Phillips Above: Guest presenter Renae Kerr works on study skills with Year 8 students from left: Will McNamee, Robert Peake & Billy Lofitis
Year 8 students Will Scott, Alex Hall & Tom Richardson with Wadhurst’s Science Coordinator Mark Coleman prepare for stargazing with the Wadhurst telescope
Later that morning all Year 7 students were enthralled by the career experiences of two young female engineers, Kathryn Levey and Kim Hahn, who hold double degrees respectively in Engineering/Science and Engineering/Law. Among other sites, their work has taken them to Bass Strait oil platforms and they spoke enthusiastically of life in these communities, illustrating their talk with colourful slides and cheerfully answering a wide range of questions from the boys, who are studying geology as part of their General Science course. Again, in seeking to fulfil the School’s stated goal of providing “the best possible learning environment for each student”’, the importance of meeting with personnel from other fields of endeavour cannot be underestimated. For Year 8 students the day delivered for each individual class group a most valuable and tightly focussed session dealing with study skills, in preparation for several mid-year tests and a major examination period at the end of November. Andree Leigh and Renae Kerr, from the ICS Learning Group, led the boys through a self-assessment of their current study habits followed by practical instruction in note-making, summarising and effective studying. The strategic engagement of relevant external expertise can be most effective in complementing school-based programs and this latest input should help the boys to approach their examinations with greater confidence.
Astronomy Observed
Photograph by Cathy Robbins
On 8 June we witnessed, for the first time in our lifetime, the passing of Venus between the earth and the sun. This relatively rare ‘transit of Venus’, which last occurred in 1882, was of particular interest to Wadhurst’s Year 7 students as it relates to their studies in Science and future studies in History.
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Thus it was that through late May and early June this year all Year 7 class groups undertook an excursion, sponsored by the Royal Society of Victoria and including a lecture explaining the transit, which had significant impact on early navigation. Appropriately, the lecture was followed by a tour which included Cook’s Cottage. Cook’s charting of Australia’s east coast was undertaken following his opening of secret orders from the Admiralty after a mission to Tahiti to observe a previous transit. To complement these heavenly studies Wadhurst’s Science Department and members of the Astronomical Society of Victoria are preparing for two evenings of ‘stargazing’ on the Wadhurst Oval. Paul Wilhelm
Out & About at Senior School Premier’s VCE Awards
The outstanding results of our 2003 Year 12 students have been recognised through the awarding of a number of scholarships and prizes.
Students from Melbourne Grammar School were once again well represented at the recent Premier’s VCE Award presentation ceremony held at the Regent Theatre in May this year. The Premier’s VCE Awards, now in its tenth year, pay tribute to young Victorians who have completed their years at school with distinction.
Five students were awarded Australian Students Prizes for 2003. Ian Berryman, George Heriot, Nicholas Kozeniauskas, Rowan Minson and Sern-Wei Yeoh were amongst the 127 Victorian recipients. The Federal Minister for Education Dr Brendan Nelson announced the awards on 12 June. The Australian Students Prizes are based on performance in state based Year 12 assessments and recognise outstanding overall results. Recipients receive a Certificate of Excellence and an award of $2000 to assist with further study. Privacy considerations have meant that universities no longer inform schools directly of the award of scholarships to former students and we are reliant on feedback from students and parents. We are aware that Rowan Minson has been awarded a University of Melbourne Arts Faculty Scholarship and Sern-Wei Yeoh a University of Melbourne National Medicine Scholarship. Sam Daish and Alistair McKay were offered places in the Dean’s Scholar Program of the Arts Faculty at Monash University. Jonathan Teh was the winner of the Melbourne Grammar School/Bond University Scholarship and has commenced his studies in Law. We offer our sincere congratulations to all scholarship winners. The Careers Guidance Department would be grateful to hear of any scholarship winners who are not mentioned in this article so that we can ensure that they are given due recognition in the next issue. Frank Thompson
Photograph by Danny McCoppin
Scholarships and Prizes
Five Melbourne Grammar students were awarded six Premier’s Awards this year. The following students were presented the awards for studies completed in 2003: Nicholas Kozeniauskas – Mathematics & Physics, William Lugg – Environmental Science, Michael Seng – Geography, Sern-Wei Yeoh – Literature, Daniel Yim – Music Performance. These students were ranked in the top five in the State in each study. Sern-Wei Yeoh was also one of 25 students who received a Top All-round VCE High Achiever Award. This is presented to students who achieved study scores of 46 or higher in at least five VCE studies.
Premier’s VCE Award recipients with Min Yim, Senior School Mathematics teacher & parent, from left: Daniel Yim, Nicholas Kozeniauskas, Michael Seng & William Lugg. Absent from photo: Sern-Wei Yeoh
Danny McCoppin Environmental Science students learn about the effect of water borne pollutants on the environment
Pollution Probe
Danny McCoppin
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
In early Term II Environmental Science students from MGS and MacRobertson Girls High School simulated the movement of water-borne pollutants through the environment using a model set up on the Steele Ground. The catchment model helped students understand how certain activities in urban and rural areas contribute to contamination of aquatic environments further downstream. The exercise complements the Year 11 focus on monitoring water quality in the Yarra River and the Year 12 study of pollutants.
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Out & About at Senior School Reconciliation Week
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
From left Captain of Football Luke Batten, Andrew Thompson (OM 1990 & St Kilda footballer), former AFL footballer Derek Kickett & Vice Captain of Football Xavier Leslie participate in Reconciliation Week activities
Reconciliation Week commenced on Monday 24 May with our Annual Eucharist Service in the Chapel of St Peter at 7.45am. The guest preacher was Ron Murray, an Aboriginal from the Wamba Wamba people of Swan Hill Victoria. Ron regularly conducts Indigenous Cultural Awareness training and spoke about his personal history and that of his people over the last 60,000 years. Doreen Garvey Wandin performed the official Welcome to Country during the Quad Assembly
and, as the Aboriginal Flag was raised on the Witherby Tower, she invited all the boys to take a leaf from a bunch of gum leaves she had brought with her as a symbolic gesture of oneness and community. Year 12 student Richard Watson then encouraged the student body to take part in the lunchtime activities that had been organised by the Student Aboriginal Reconciliation Committee of which he is Chair. These included Aboriginal poet and radio presenter Dennis Fisher speaking to the students on Thursday and Lou Glover introducing a special screening of her short film on Friday. Ex-AFL star Derek Kickett came in the following week to chat with the boys in the Year 9 & 10 Football Program about his experiences as a young Aboriginal football player in the late 80s and James Newton and Richard Watson both shared their thoughts on reconciliation at their respective House Chapel Services. As an annual event on the school’s calendar our celebration of Reconciliation Week certainly fulfilled its intention of raising the awareness and profile of Indigenous Australia. Natalie Charles
Photograph by Helen Petropoulos
On Thursday 6 May the Bell Shakespeare Company’s Theatre-in-Education team ‘Actors at Work’ performed The Things We Do For Love for Year 10 students. The actors Ryan Gibson, Huw McKinnon, Amy Spruce and Georgia Thorne performed their show based on Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Romeo and Juliet. Using scenes from these plays the Actors at Work team introduced students to the humour, passion and pain of some of Shakespeare’s finest characters. The team’s method of exploring language, character and situations is designed to make the works of William Shakespeare as fresh, relevant and broadly informed by contemporary realities as they would have been in his own time. As they explored the comic and dramatic potential of the scenarios they encouraged our students to identify with them and recognise that one of Shakespeare’s greatest and lasting legacies was his ability to tell great stories which still relate to our lives today. Shakespeare’s works are often challenging to our students unused to his poetic voice, but these challenges to the contemporary ear are balanced by the richness and vitality of his fertile imagination. This world of imagination is at the heart of the Actors at Work program. The Year 10 students have studied both plays and Actors at Work successfully engaged and interacted with the students. Their show encouraged our students to experiment with
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interpretation and meaning when studying Shakespeare. The performance offered different opportunities for student participation and the Bell Shakespeare’s visit was enjoyed by both students and staff. Robyne Grundy
Theatre Sports Winners
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
Things We Do For Love
The Bell Shakespeare Company performs for MGS students
Melbourne Grammar School won the inaugural Inter-School Theatre Sports Competition on 17 June 2004 outperforming Carey, MLC, Kingswood College & Melbourne Girls Grammar. Our talented team won the competition with their hilarious & entertaining scenes, from left to right - back: Will Cooper & Tom Moir, front: Patrick Doube, Nick Masters & Jarryd Martin
Photographs by Cat Poljski
Passage to India If you have never ridden a camel before, India’s Rajasthan Desert is definitely the place to initiate this unique mode of transportation. As part of a school tour to India in April the brief introduction to camel riding consisted of, “trust him, relax and sway with the forward movement of the camel.” With this in mind, the views are picturesque, the temperature 45 degrees and the experience (along with our travelling musicians and a ‘snap’ sandstorm) was definitely incredible. India is a land of immense contrast; from the red forts and the Maharaja’s palaces, temples, abandoned cities, Hindu holy men and Buddhist monks to the deserts of Rajasthan and the mayhem of India’s cities such as Delhi, we were confronted with images of grandeur and shock. And let’s not forget the first sighting of the Taj Mahal at sunrise. To all those who have seen it we now understand what the fuss was all about. It really does need to be seen to be believed. A spectacular surprise. Cat Poljski
Just some of the fascinating sites of India
Learning from Leaders Leaders come in many forms. Leaders utilise a range of leadership styles depending on circumstance. Sometimes leaders are required to ‘lead from the front’ while at other times they lead best by stepping back and encouraging someone else to guide the group through a particular situation. As a follow-up to their leadership training seminar the current School Prefects were asked to select a particular leader whom they admired and to reflect upon their selected hero’s personal qualities. A selection of their nominations includes Sir Winston Churchill, Rosa Parks, R M Williams, Oskar Schindler, Edwin Flack, Jesus Christ, Augustus Caesar, Thomas Jefferson, John F Kennedy and Nelson Mandela. Notable quotes from some of these leaders which inspired the students include: “Love thy neighbour as thyself ” and “whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also.”
“Never give in—never, never, never, never, in nothing great or small, large or petty, never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.”
Winston Churchill
“Let us never negotiate out of fear. But let us never fear to negotiate…together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths and encourage the arts and commerce.”
John Fitzgerald Kennedy
“No man is born hating another person because of the colour of his skin, or his background, or his religion. People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
Nelson Mandela
We hope our student leaders learn from these examples and as a result hone their own leadership skills for the benefit of our community. Peter Tooke
Jesus Christ
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Extending Students Talent Development
In this way the activities offered vary from year to year and from student to student. Not all activities focus exclusively on the talented, given that we recognise that learners learn from each other and that there is much to be gained by modelling, mentoring and observation. The Talent Development Program at Wadhurst and Senior School provides educational experiences and support for students who excel in a range of academic and non-academic areas. Students are encouraged to explore their interests, ask questions and challenge their assumptions. A wide array of students participate in deliberately inclusive studies, encouraging success often well beyond their own expectations. Extension studies activities range widely and include writing workshops with well-known authors, philosophy, the examination of state-ofthe-art brain research, mechanical engineering, astronomy, New Scientist discussion group, chess, military history, multi-media, computer building, biotechnology and British parliamentary debating. Students work with a wide range of outside agencies such as The University of Melbourne, CSIRO, Victorian Arts Centre, RMIT, Monash University and international universities. Arising from emerging talent, some students may be offered the opportunity to augment or replace selected classes with individually tailored units designed to foster academic excellence and leadership. Many students have courageously risen to the challenge, displaying outstanding talent.
Year 8 student Daniel RodgersPryor & Year 7 student William Penington build a computer
Many students at Melbourne Grammar School seek to extend themselves by going beyond the regular curriculum. These students are frequently prominent in co-curricular activities and regularly distinguish themselves through the many academic awards they earn in the many competitions they so eagerly enter. In our efforts to offer every student a range of opportunities for success, self-discovery and leadership the School provides a highly successful Talent Development Program. With careful guidance by experts such as Dr Julie Landvogt, Mr James Brown and Mrs Adrienne English all three campuses identify the talented and offer them a range of activities designed to extend their particular talents. Our program consciously avoids acceleration preferring to extend these students within a framework of expressed interest.
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A mentorship program at The University of Melbourne enables Year 10 students to work individually with a PhD student to explore a common academic passion. This year two students are involved with genetic research and philosophy under the guidance of their mentors. This requires many hours spent at university and a substantial research document presented to peers in midOctober. At Grimwade House, our co-educational primary school, the curriculum provides flexible enrichment and extension programs for talented students which include special ability groupings in the key learning areas of English and Mathematics. Student selection is reviewed at various times in the year depending on the nature of the units being offered and the students’ progress in general. Examples of units currently offered include a Year 4 mathematics project focused on geometry and the mathematics of architectural design. Other mathematic projects include Year 6 participation in the Mathematics Challenge for Young Australians which targets the top 10 per cent of primary students in Years 5 & 6 and the Maths Talent Quest which is designed to promote interest in and increase awareness of mathematics.
School Tours Why not join one of our regular tours to see what Melbourne Grammar School has to offer? Tours are held during the school day and are particularly designed for families to view the educational facilities of each campus.
Semester II 2004 Year 10 students Lindsay Parkhowell & Oliver Waters are working with PhD students from University of Melbourne on research projects
Grimwade House Small group tours of our co-educational junior campus are held on a regular basis. Further information and bookings can be made by contacting the Grimwade House Office on 9525 9051.
As part of a language project Year 4 students are reading The Hobbit by J R R Tolkien and studying its characters, story mapping, the use of language and the author’s style of writing. Year 5 students are participating in a Community Problem Solving Program. Students work in groups to investigate a real-life concern from their school, community or country and use a variety of research tools to research the topic, then apply the findings of their research to a six-step problem solving process. They actually put their best solution into effect and in doing so make a significant contribution to their community.
Wadhurst Wednesday 1 September 9.30am Year 7 students Chris Pennington & Will Gort study mechanics
The Talent Development Program at Melbourne Grammar School is enhanced by the co-operation and support of talented students, parents, staff and members of the wider community within and beyond Melbourne. A strong sense of community is thus fostered, including a diversity of local, national and international perspectives. In addition to the student activities provided, staff are also engaged in the Ithaka Project which involves them undertaking action research into intellectual character and styles of thinking, thus enabling them to further support students to extend their talent. Chris Bradtke, James Brown & Adrienne English
Year 8 students including Bill Stephenson learn debating with a mentor from Senior School
Thursday 11 November 2.30pm
Senior School Wednesday 11 August 9.30am Thursday 28 October 2.00pm Bookings are essential and may be made with the Admissions Secretary on 9865 7570. These tours leave from The Lodge 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne.
Boarding Precinct Tours of the boarding precinct are organised on request. To make a booking please call the Admissions Secretary on 9865 7570.
Year 5 students Chloe Sanford & Emily Boal undertake their Community Problem Solving project
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Curriculum Initiatives Testing Times In August this year all Year 7 boys at Wadhurst will be involved in Achievement Improvement Monitor (AIM) tests in English and Mathematics. These tests are part of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority’s state-wide testing program which tests students in Years 3, 5 and 7 in all government and independent schools every year. Parents receive an individualised report on their son’s performance with the school’s reports at the end of Semester II. Boys at Wadhurst have taken these tests since their inception; indeed, Wadhurst boys were involved in trialling the on-line version of the tests. This was an interesting process for all concerned, although not without its frustrations! Wadhurst boys have consistently achieved results well above the state average in all topic areas
(English is divided into Reading, Writing and Spelling and Mathematics into the five strands of Measurement, Chance and Data, Space, Number and Algebra). In 2003 boys did particularly well in the strands of Number and Measurement; in Mathematics overall more than half (57%) were performing at the level expected of boys in Years 9 and 10, while in English over 40% were performing at this level. Staff at Wadhurst are becoming increasingly aware of the value of statistical analysis and how best to use the information gathered to improve teaching and learning. The AIM testing is one of several diagnostic tests used to build a profile for each student. Armed with this information teachers are better equipped to understand the particular needs of individual students benchmarked against Melbourne Grammar School, state and national standards. Roger Peake
Fit For Life
Fitness testing results are used to identify individual talent & sports which best suit students’ abilities
Obesity is the biggest health issue Australia is facing. The incidence of lifestyle diseases such as Type two Diabetes and Cardiovascular disease are increasing at alarming rates in children. Fitness testing of Year 9 and 10 students in Term I is an important tool in providing information about student progress in relation to health and sports related fitness. The fitness testing results are used to: • Assess student achievement • Evaluate the effectiveness of programs
• Develop students’ understanding of the benefits of fitness • Identify individual talent and provide counselling about sports their physical abilities best suit • Inform sports coaches of student’s capabilities in order to allocate playing positions • Provide coaches with a team profile of fitness qualities in order to design training sessions Students received their fitness evaluation sheet early in Term II and are encouraged to take time to set fitness goals for the future and monitor their progress. Nathanael Coull
Poetry in Building Works
Year 3 students Sam Perkins & Becky Rothfield with their Big Book which records the building of the Alfred Felton Hall
At the beginning of the year I stepped into my new classroom in the Middle Primary area and saw the huge hole in the ground outside our windows! The building of the new Alfred Felton Hall was about to begin with all the machinery, noise and builders that go with such a site. This presented a wonderful opportunity for my writing sessions with my Year 3 students. As they arrived at the start of Term I they all went straight to the windows for a good view. We decided to record the events in a ‘Big Book’ by taking photos of the progress and writing about the activities outside. The ‘Big Book’ grew and grew with the enthusiasm of all the students. They took photos and wrote articles and drew the most amazing images of the building works. It is part of our daily life at school and we are so proud of what we have been able to produce. Marg Dreyer
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Extract from 3D’s Big Book Big, orange, monstrous machines scraping up mountains of rock and dirt. Sturdy, steel, strong, flashing trucks. Smashed cement and mud going to waste. Scattered rocks from the noisy jackhammers outside our classroom window. Deep holes in the ground full of dirty water. Big, muddy caterpillar wheels noisily moving along the sloppy, mud-covered ground. An octopus-like machine sprouts tentacles to spray cement. Giant rocks crash into dumpers. A little blue terrorist excavator in the corner waits for its turn to destroy the ground. James Permezel
MGS Sports Complex Healthy mind, healthy body The establishment of the Melbourne Grammar Sports Complex at Todd Road in Port Melbourne emphasises the important role sport plays in the all-round development of young people. Since time immemorial humans have devised games, first as a means of competition and filling in time and then, as we discovered more about the beneficial outcomes of activity, as a means of keeping healthy and, especially through team games, of developing character and integrity. The old adage—and Carlton Football Club’s motto—mens sana in corpore sano (a healthy mind in a healthy body) rings very true! There is now such strong evidence that a healthy body leads to all sorts of improvement in intellectual activity and output. It could be said that codified sport developed in the nineteenth century in the English Public Schools as a response to the need for an outlet for boys’ energies (the Devil makes work for idle hands!). That is part of the reason, in an era before mass travel, why so many different brands of football developed in the nineteenth century. Each school had its own ‘invention’: Winchester developed Winchester Football, Eton developed both the Wall Game and the Field Game, Rugby developed rugby (which caught on worldwide), and so on. The Headmasters of that era would hardly recognise how structured and organised school sport has become, however. We promote the playing of team games in the strong belief (for which there is plenty of evidence) that participants learn all sorts of admirable lessons about courage, commitment, teamwork, self-esteem, leadership, trust, resilience, selflessness, responsibility, and, perhaps above all, the ability to “meet with Triumph and Disaster
and treat those two impostors just the same”, as Rudyard Kipling put it. It sits very happily, too, with one of our nine core values, that of building a Positive Sense of Self. There is also the admirable by-product of teaching respect for and adherence to properly constituted authority. The ideal is that a player should do his/her utmost for the team and the School but should never transgress either the law or the spirit of it. For many boys, particularly, sporting heroes are immensely important as role models, even though we have been given cause recently to doubt the integrity of some of the men who play our football codes. In my view, however, that is as much a product of professional sport, without another occupation, as it is of sport per se. Deakin University senior lecturer in education, Dr Christopher Hickey, author of Where the Boys are and co‑author of the forthcoming Boys, Balls and Bonding, asserts that sport can be a very positive experience for boys, especially those who struggle to develop their self‑esteem in the classroom. The friendships they develop through their sport are a strong influence in shaping their lives and giving them an understanding of what qualities are necessary to succeed in life. There are two main dangers in the promotion of competitive sport: sometimes, the desire to win overrides the broader aim of development and fun, and the other is that it can help to promote a false sense of values that sees the participant look for adulation and self-glorification without understanding that the ‘good of the game’ transcends all other considerations. Clearly, though, sport is an integral part of the way of life for an Australian and we aim to offer it in the best possible conditions. Melbourne Grammar has a proud record over the years and we cherish the thought that this record has been established honourably. Paul Sheahan
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“The MGS Sports Complex will help develop our sporting culture across the three campuses. The facilities are first class, providing MGS and other APS schools with an opportunity to play on some of the best surfaces available. To have our own quality home venue for hockey, soccer, football and cricket will only enhance sport at MGS.”
Nick Gibbons Director of Sport Senior School
Sporting activities foster teamwork, a sense of fair play and fellowship, promote physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle, help students to face challenges and strive against the odds, give students the opportunities to think and act tactically, help develop qualities such as self discipline, perseverance, selflessness, leadership and build self esteem. They also learn the art of winning and losing gracefully. For many students the bonds forged on sporting fields in training and games last a lifetime and help forge their character. Given the role of sport in helping to develop the MGS core values, particularly a positive sense of self, it is important that our facilities are first class and support students and coaches. “Sport is one of the important things in my life and I am sure the new Sports Complex will make sport at school a lot better.” Tim McLardy 9A Football
Melbourne Grammar’s strong commitment to all-round student development in and out of the classroom and our highly constrained inner city location led Council to seek an appropriate site for sporting facilities within easy access of the School.
“Sport is an important part of life – it creates new fr stepping stones in life.”
The Site This challenge was met by the purchase of a 6.9 hectare 19 acres site, which is slightly larger than the South Yarra site of 15 acres, in Port Melbourne in 1998. The site is conveniently located at 20 Todd Road Port Melbourne easily accessed via the Todd Road exit on the Westgate Freeway. “In a way the new sports complex is like the ugly duckling. From the ugly waste land to the classy sports complex it is today.” Will Yencken Year 10 Hockey
The land, which was a sand mine and then a tip, was tested rigorously to ensure all environmental issues were identified and able to be addressed. Remediation was undertaken through an isolation strategy whereby the site was levelled and capped using layers of heavily compacted clay and a geo-textile membrane. In addition, any remaining gas emissions are collected, controlled and released through valves away from the playing fields. It was essential that remediation was thorough and effective.
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• A multipurpose field primarily for soccer but also able to be used for junior football and cricket • An international competition standard hockey field with full lighting. This area also has nine north/south tennis courts for use in summer sport “The new facility has made a huge difference to school hockey – it has allowed us to play better and more skilful hockey than we ever could on grass.” Jack Garner 9A Hockey
“I was lucky enough to christen the new complex… the tennis courts are up to a high standard…” Alexander Armstrong 9A Tennis
While the synthetic surfaces have been in use since the start of this year by Wadhurst and Senior School hockey and tennis teams, the grass fields will be in top playable condition for the start of Term III. Carefully planned lighting enables training in evenings and the hockey/ tennis facility is lit to competition standard enabling night matches.
riendships, is good for fitness and provides great Ingemar Lindstrum 10A Tennis
Careful consideration was given to appropriate landscaping to enhance the site and surrounds. Lombardy Poplars are the signature tree at the complex and line the entrance. Just as the Norfolk Pine forms the foundation tree at South Yarra, so does a mature Plane Tree at the Sports Complex. Much of the planting is indigenous species that are well suited to the salt air environment and prevailing weather conditions.
Sporting Facilities “The new complex is great with state of the art facilities.” Jonathan Lugg 1st X1 Hockey
“I like the Sports Complex because we finally get to play on our own synthetic hockey pitch.” Sam O’Callaghan Year 8 Hockey
With philanthropic support from the Grammar Community including Old Melburnian Annual Giving in 2002 and 2003, the site has been extensively developed to provide: • A premier football ground planted with legend couch over a sand base. This field, a full AFL size, is also suitable for senior cricket with a turf wicket table for five wickets
“Sport plays an important role in Wadhurst life and the boys, their coaches and I are very much enjoying our use of the MGS Sports Complex, which offers first class facilities which will further enrich our sporting program. With weekly training sessions plus House and Inter-school sport being held at this excellent venue, Wadhurst is establishing a significant presence at the complex.” Tim O’Shaughnessy Director of Sport Wadhurst
The Pavilion The pavilion embraces the notion of sport action in both its design and the materials used. It has two main areas – a central clubhouse and support facilities. The clubhouse is the centrepiece of the complex with glass walls overlooking the sporting grounds. It has a feature wall of bluestone, a pergola and viewing areas. This area provides an entertainment area supported by a catering kitchen and a Friends of Grammar kiosk to provide those welcome hot drinks during winter sport. The support facilities in the pavilion include change rooms for home and away teams, a seminar/coaches room, toilets and a first aid area. The two areas of the pavilion are linked by a centrally located loggia designed to provide expansive viewing areas both of the playing fields and Westgate Bridge as well as protection from prevailing winds and weather.
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Other Facilities The complex includes storage zones, car parking for at least 60 cars and four buses, maintenance support areas and an on-site caretaker. On a day-to-day basis three ground staff with experience in sports field maintenance support the complex.
Expert Design Young Consulting Engineers, who are specialists in sports field construction, undertook the main design and construction management of the MGS Sports Complex.
Students travel to and from the complex in buses for after-school sports training and house events.
Recent work includes several sites at Homebush for the Sydney Olympics, Flemington Racecourse and ‘The Gabba’ in Brisbane. Akron Roads Pty Ltd undertook all the works onsite except for the buildings which were designed by Bligh Voller Nield Architects and constructed by Buildcorp Pty Ltd.
“It is easy to get to and from School and the team spirit is built as we travel there on the bus.” Sam Baines Year 8 Hockey
Another feature of the MGS Sports Complex is the environmentally sensitive development with a wetlands area and three settlement ponds in the northwest corner. Whilst there is no EPA requirement, water on-site is treated to ensure there are no cross contamination or nutrients from the run off.
The finished product, and the synergy between the pavilion’s shape, form and materials and the surrounding outstanding sporting grounds, reflects the calibre of the design and its successful construction.
The three ponds work in conjunction to settle the water, naturally strip the nutrients and so ensure that pure water leaves the site and flows into Melbourne’s water system and eventually into Port Phillip Bay. This area is already attracting bird life.
Ann Badger
Photograph by Stephen Harman
Photographs by Stewart Brook & Kirrily Johns
Cordner-Eggleston Cup
The annual 1st XVIII football match between Melbourne Grammar School & Scotch College occurred on 14 May 2004 for the 15th time as the Cordner-Eggleston Cup & 146 years since that first famous clash. Melbourne Grammar 12 12 84 defeated Scotch College 11 9 75 in a close contest.
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Day & Boarding Houses Melbourne Grammar School is both school and home for our boarders. After the school day is finished what do our boarders do? All students have sports training twice a week until dinnertime. On other afternoons boys can relax in the boarding houses playing pool or table tennis, visit the local shops or play games. Senior students are able to leave the boarding houses unsupervised with permission from their Head of House or Tutor on Duty. Year 9 and 10 students are required to travel in groups of two or more unless with parents or guardians. All Year 7 and 8 boarders at Creswick are constantly supervised both after school and on weekends. Boys often enjoy a brief session of television watching after dinner before homework time begins at 7.00pm. Tutors are always on hand to assist students with homework queries. Around 9.00pm most students enjoy supper together which they make themselves in one of several modern lounge/kitchenettes spaced around the boarding precinct. Often students phone or email their parents before turning in to bed from 9.30pm to 11.00pm depending on year level. On the weekends most boys have Saturday sports commitments which keep them busy until lunchtime. Following sport many head off on
Creese House A concern for the individual welfare and wellbeing of all our students is fundamental to the House system. Ably assisted by the staff allocated to each House as House Tutors, the Heads of House carry the burden of responsibility for all matters relating to all students in their House. The larger the Houses grow, the more difficult it becomes to carry out that responsibility successfully. Earlier this year it was decided that the best way to ensure continued quality of pastoral care for all students and maintain reasonable workloads for Heads of House and House Tutors would be to expand the number of Day Houses from nine to ten, thus reducing the average House from 75 or 76 students down to about 70, and ensuring vertical Tutor Groups (with a mixture of students from Years 9-12) of around 14. The establishment of a new House is an exciting and challenging time. The last such event was back in 1979 when Hone House was born. As was the case then, the new House will carry the name of a much respected former Headmaster, Nigel Creese, who was Head from 1970 until 1987. Its colour will be a distinguished silver/
weekend exeats with family, guardians or friends to enjoy the many facilities and activities Melbourne has to offer. Those who stay in the boarding houses for the weekend often go to the movies, football, shopping or relax around the boarding houses or use the School’s sporting facilities. Various weekend activities are organised for Year 7 and 8 boarders such as city shopping, cycling along the Yarra or movies at the Jam Factory. Photograph by Patricia Langton
After Class
Optional activities are organised for all boarders on Sunday afternoons such as Luna Park, major sporting events, theatre outings or indoor rock climbing. Upcoming excursions include a ski trip to Mt Buller and a go kart adventure day.
Creswick boarders on a Saturday afternoon outing in the Botanical Gardens, from left: Wynn Chariote, Donald Ip, Tony Hu, William Johnson, Anton Grimus & Baxter Lindeman
Given the busy nature of the school week, weekends offer the boys the opportunity to have a rest, sleep in, watch a bit of TV, catch up on school work, ring home and tidy their room. Melbourne Grammar’s boarding houses strive to enable boarders to live normal lives in their home away from home. Nick Bates, Gerald Moylan & Michael Shaw
grey. The inaugural Head of House will be Ms Anne McKane, currently acting Head of Deakin House. The process of selecting students to form the first Creese community will begin in earnest at the start of Term III. Students currently in Years 9-11 will be given the chance to nominate to transfer to the new House: as with the allocation of students to Day Houses at any time, consideration will be given to the need for a balance of different talents and skills within the House. Tim Scott
Inaugural Head of Creese House Anne McKane with a portrait of former Headmaster Nigel Creese
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The Old Melburnians Council From the President
David Field
The highlight event for The Old Melburnians during the second quarter of the year was the ANZAC Day Service, again held in the School Chapel, owing to the redevelopment of the Memorial Hall. The address was given by Rear Admiral Simon Harrington (OM 1962). His messages regarding leadership and recognition reverberated strongly for the absolutely ‘packed house’ of OM ex-servicemen and current students alike – it was a most memorable and moving occasion. The next major event on the Old Melburnian calendar will be this year’s Annual Dinner to be held at the Melbourne Museum on 27 August, with Dr Stephen Cordner (Professor of Forensic Medicine, with experience in recent years in many of the world’s trouble spots) as guest speaker. All OMs from Melbourne and beyond are warmly invited to attend. Booking details are provided in the notice on this page, via OMs Online and have been emailed to all OMs who have provided the School with a current email address. (Over 2,500 OM email addresses are now held and addresses can be lodged or changed very simply by the opening page of OMs Online.) In addition, The Old Melburnians are reviving the holding of CBD based Business Lunches for OMs and their guests.The first in this occasional series in July featured Graeme Samuel (Chairman,
Old Melburnians AGM Notice is hereby given that the 2004 Annual General Meeting of The Old Melburnians will be held at The Lodge 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne on Tuesday 30 November 2004 at 6pm. 1 To receive and consider the report of the Council 2 To receive and consider the statement of accounts and the Auditor’s Report thereon
OMs Online Catch up with friends and former classmates at OMs Online
www.mgs.vic.edu.au Over 1,200 OMs now online – it must be time to visit! For further information contact Stewart Brook in the Development Office on 03 9865 7681.
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3 To re-elect Directors: Nominations for election to the Council are invited. No nomination is valid without the consent of the nominee. A nominee must be a Life Member. The date fixed for the close of nominations is noon 26 November 2004. Forms for nominations can be obtained from the registered office at the above address 4 To elect office bearers 5 Subscriptions 6 Any other business
ACCC) as guest speaker. Invitations and publicity for future lunches will be disseminated via electronic means. I am delighted to report that this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours list included three Old Melburnians: Nigel Peck (OM 1945) AM for service as a business leader and to the community; Nick Renton (OM 1948) AM for service to the insurance and securities industries; and Tony Kosky (OM 1959) OAM for service to the development of business links with China and to the community. We congratulate these distinguished OMs on their achievements. As reported regularly in this Newsletter, The Old Melburnians are represented by a large number of sporting clubs. All of these clubs have in common a majority representation of OMs and they provide an excellent option for young and not so young OMs to pursue their sporting interests and to maintain and foster the links they have established during their school days. Both Hockey and Tennis Clubs are now utilising the outstanding facilities at the School’s new Sports Complex at Port Melbourne. Direct links to information on all these clubs can be found on the opening screen of OMs Online. As we pass through the middle part of the year many OMs have already given generously to the School’s 2004 Annual Giving program. I encourage all OMs to consider responding to this opportunity to support the School’s current and future development plans and, in particular, to consider a gift towards the redevelopment of the Memorial Hall, which can carry naming rights for seats in the Hall. David Field
OMs Annual Dinner This year’s OMs Annual Dinner will be held in the Australia Gallery of the Melbourne Museum with Guest Speaker Dr Stephen Cordner talking about forensic medicine. This is a great opportunity to catch up with friends and former classmates. Guest Speaker: Dr Stephen Cordner, Professor of Forensic Medicine at Monash University & Director of the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine Date: Friday 27 August 2004 Venue: Australia Gallery, Melbourne Museum For further information or to download a booking form go to <www.oms.org.au> or ring 03 9865 7688.
The Old Melburnians Football Club Our pre-season recruiting program resulted in securing some promising young players, which gave the Old Melburnians Football Club a good foundation for the start of the 2004 football season. Justin Pickering started his second year as senior coach and was awarded the VAFA ‘Coach of the Month’ at the end of last season. The Club had a most unfortunate run of injuries last year with our captain Toby Roberts being injured early in the first game of the season. As a consequence the team struggled to remain in A Grade. However with some great wins towards the end of the season we managed to avoid relegation. This challenge was beneficial to the players as it emphasised the importance of determination and the experience formed a sound base for our plans in the 2004 season. We have four teams in 2004 – seniors and reserves in A Grade, Under 19s and a Club XVIII who are
also known as the All Stars. At the halfway mark of the draw the All Stars are on top of the ladder and the seniors, reserves and Under 19s are in the middle of the their respective competitions. James Beaumont was recently selected in the Victorian team and was judged best on ground in the match against Western Australia. In another highlight we recently retained The Australian Rules Football Cup in our annual match against Old Scotch Collegians. The Club has a program of social activities which gives those leaving school the opportunity to continue their football careers with their friends. The OMFC is a keen supporter of the Marn Grook Club and our senior players attended the recent breakfast at Federation Square. The next major event is our annual Dinner Auction at Crown Casino on Wednesday 18 August and anyone wishing to attend would be most welcome. Please call Anne Holme, 9868 7290 (BH) or 9882 4958 (AH), for table reservations. Gavin Henderson
Bowls Club
Photograph by Stewart Brook
Our active membership is stronger than at any time in recent years and during the season we welcomed three new players to the Club.
Interested in joining an Old Melburnian Sporting Club? Visit the Grammar Community section of the School’s website: <www.mgs.vic.edu.au> to contact the various clubs.
Brian Reynolds, Chairman George Kemter & Secretary Bruce Hall at the OM Bowls end of season luncheon presentation of the Alen Eilenberg Trophy
The 2003/2004 bowling season concluded in April and it was another successful and happy season for The Old Melburnians Social Bowls Club. We played a total of ten games, more than in any previous season, winning eight games for a total of 198 shots up. Our effort in the Public Schools Old Boys Bowls Tournament was the Club’s best ever result. With three other schools we won eight of the 12 tournament games and finished third after a count back on shots.
OM Sporting Clubs
The OM Bowls team at the 2004 Public Schools Bowls Tournament
Congratulations to Brian Reynolds, the winner of the 2004 Alen Eilenberg Trophy which is awarded each year in recognition of attendance and performance at our games. Special thanks to John Franklin who retired in April after five years as our Chairman. Next season will be the Club’s 24th year since formation. The first game will be against Old Scotch on Thursday 28 October 2004. All Old Melburnians who are lawn bowlers are welcome to join us to share in the fun of social bowls. Contact Secretary Bruce Hall on 9836 3196. Bruce Hall 21
Branches & Reunions 1
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1954 Fifty Year Reunion 1 Jim Fairchild and James Grimwade with Bruce Coles who made the trip from the United Kingdom to be at the 1954 Fifty Year Reunion held earlier this year. 2 Pulteney Malcolm enjoyed catching up with Reynold Robinson at the 1954 Reunion. 3 The 1954 Fifty Year Reunion Committee – Jim Fairchild, Pulteney Malcolm, James Grimwade and Edward Millar.
Riverina Community Function 4 Well-known local medico Dr Bas Harper (OM 1933) with Principal of Melbourne Girls Grammar Christine Briggs and Headmaster Paul Sheahan at the Riverina Community Function. 5 Dallas Hawkins (OM 1974) with President of The Old Melburnians David Field (OM 1965) at the Riverina Function.
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ANZAC Day Service 6 Host Andrew Burge (OM 1972) with School Council member Sandy Massina (OM 1971) at the Burge property ‘Prairie Home’.
11 Past President of The Old Melburnians Grahme Dixon (OM 1956) with Peter Macdougall (OM 1943) who read the Ode.
7 Andrew Burge, President of the Old Grammarians Jan Wilson, Louise Burge, President of The Old Melburnians David Field, Principal of Melbourne Girls Grammar Christine Briggs with Headmaster Paul Sheahan at the Riverina Community Function.
12 Norman Dobbie (OM 1942) and Murn Ponsford (OM 1942) enjoy catching up at the ANZAC Day Service.
1999 Five Year Reunion 8 President of the Old Melburnians David Field (OM 1965) with Andrew Mellett at the 1999 Five Year Reunion. 9 Charles Yip and Lawrence Yencken discuss what they have been doing since leaving MGS. 10 Sarah Rist, Genevieve Barnes and Amber Stanley enjoy the opportunity to catch up with friends and former classmates.
13 Phil Braddock (OM 1932) and Horace Tucker (OM 1932) at the ANZAC Day Service. 14 Noel Deschamps (OM 1926), School Vice Captain Malcolm Crang and President of The Old Melburnians David Field (OM 1965) in the Luxton Dining Hall after the ANZAC Day Service.
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Photographs by Stewart Brook
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Community News
The School has learnt of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy and understanding is extended to their family and friends.
Allen, A M (past parent) Buckland, J C (1937) Butterworth, D R (1954) Cowen, M J (1969) Davis, P H (1933) Davis, W J (1950) Dick AO, WA (1939) Hallamore, R A (1929) Kneale, B L G (1942) Lapin, A A M (1937) Laurys, L F (community member) Loveridge, A E (1951) Lynch, A (1924) Minifie, R L (1940) Minson, W G aâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;B (1959) Morgan, B A (1948) Smith, N R (1937) Spencer, W R (1938) Tegner, M E (past parent) Vawser, B F (1947) Wilmoth, J A (1928) Wincer, C (past parent)
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Pictured with special guest Ron Barassi at the successful Marn Grook Club Breakfast were the President Peter Beaumont (OM 1968) and Treasurer Steve Wilmoth (OM 1969). Marn Grook is the MGS support group for football. Keith Farfor (OM 1948) wrote recently that in May he had the pleasure of spending some weeks in France and during that time he had made contact with the Dard Family whose boys had all been to school at Melbourne Grammar. Charles Dard is running a very successful business in garden and site planning for a variety of developments and his work takes him to Brittany in the west of France, Italy, Pakistan, India, and also to the United States but he is planning to visit Australia and renew friendships some time in the next year. Dieu-Donnee Dard is now a senior pilot with Air France and is based in the southwest of France in Bordeaux. Florian Dard has a successful IT/computer business and is thinking of moving with his wife and family to South Africa in the near future. Florian paid a visit to the school in 2001. Raphael Dard is pursuing further studies in Planning and Technology at the University in Paris. All are well and all have fond memories of their brief stays at Melbourne Grammar. Robert Moran (OM 1951) as the president of a national anticancer support group (Multiple Myeloma) is involved in letting those affected by Myeloma know that there are many ways of seeking help for this condition in addition to that provided by oncologists and haematologists. Richard Hopkins (OM 1963), after more than 20 years of working for state health departments in the United States, has returned to the Centre for Disease Control in Atlanta where he works on public health surveillance and informatics. From
1990 till last year Richard and his wife Gayle lived in Tallahassee, Florida where they plan to retire. Their son Asa is a graduate student in physics at CalTech, in Pasadena CA. All three of them visited Melbourne in 1997 and had a wonderful time visiting old friends. He would love to return the favour by hosting passing OMs. Andrew Johnston (OM 1964) has been practising as a vascular specialist on the Mornington Peninsula for 22 years and regularly teaches at the College of Surgeons. Andrew has developed an interest in hiking and walking that may well stem from his time at MGS and meets with a group of fellow medical practitioners each year for walking tours and trips. This year Andrew is heading to Margaret River for a walk which will be combined with a little wine appreciation as well. He is travelling to France mid-year for a golfing vacation. Andrew and his wife Claire have two sons Adam (OM 1997) and Matthew (OM 2001) who were both in Perry House.
Photograph by Stewart Brook
Obituaries
Photograph by Stewart Brook
Congratulations to Harold Down OAM (OM 1944) who was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for services to the Community through Lions International in the Australia Day awards.
Simon Turner (OM 1967) pictured above is Professor of Research in the College of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences at the University of Colorado and was back in Australia recently to catch up with family and friends and visited the School during his brief but very busy stay. Simon is progressively endowing a scholarship for senior students interested in a career in veterinary science. James Righetti (OM 1972) is General Manager and Operations Manager of a business developing and selling Database Migration Software globally. The product suite is called 2BDB2 <www.2BDB2.com>.
Ewen Downie (OM 1978) relocated to Auckland in November 2002 to take up a position as General Manager of Greenstone Technologies, a software house specialising in application development for the travel industry. Jonathan Morton (OM 1979) is a member of Pot-Pourri, the musical ensemble of Music Theatre Australia, which makes opera and music theatre appealing to a wide audience. Pot-Pourriâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s program is a mixture of serious operatic moments, plenty of Lloyd Webber and other Broadway hits and a sprinkling of other popular classics. Angus Trumble (OM 1981) is Curator of Paintings and Sculpture at the Yale Centre for British Art in the United States and was in Melbourne recently to begin pre-publicity for his book, A Brief History of the Smile that examines the history and contemporary representations of smiling. As part of his research Simon studied the concept of the smile in art and believed that he would find little evidence of smiles beyond the iconic smiles of the Mona Lisa and The Laughing Cavalier. His research, however, has proven that his initial assumptions were wrong and he has uncovered a wide range of smiles. A Brief History of the Smile is published by Allen and Unwin. Nick Fisher (OM 1982) who left MGS after his first year at Senior School to return to the UK has recently been in contact with the School and is interested in catching up with friends and fellow classmates from his time at Grimwade, particularly those who are living in the UK or are regular visitors to London. Nick can be contacted through OMs Online. Timothy Smith (OM 1986) moved to Brisbane after completing a building degree in 1992 and then moved to Ireland on a contract in 2000. Tim returned from Dublin towards the end of 2002 to take up a position as a Contract Administrator for Baulderstone Hornibrook located on the Gold Coast in Queensland. Tim is married to Jodie and they have two children Antonia and Lochlann. Christian Bennett (OM 1986), following a posting to Washington and stints in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Office of the Foreign Minister, was appointed Australian High Commissioner to Brunei Darussalam on the 16 February 2004.
Photograph by Stephen Boltzmann Photograph by Stewart Brook
Old Melburnians James Brooks (OM 2000), Charles Doube (OM 2000) and Jehan Ratnatunga (OM 2000) above were joint winners of the 2003 Orica Design Prize. The prize is awarded to the outstanding student or students within the year long third year design subject in the Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering at the University of Melbourne. The award is based on project work performance. Heli Simpson (OM 2004) who plays Veronica in ABC TV’s children’s series The Saddle Club was interviewed recently in The Sunday Age magazine where she spoke of her interests and her experiences.
Wallabies coach Eddie Jones was special guest at the Rugby Parents Supporters function at Wadhurst recently. Eddie presented all rugby teams with their jerseys which was both a thrill and the highlight of many rugby careers to date. Eddie is pictured above with Headmaster Paul Sheahan and Head of Wadhurst Paul Wilhelm.
Compiled by Stewart Brook
Athens Bound The Melbourne Grammar Community wishes the very best to the following OMs who will be representing Australia at the upcoming Olympic Games in Athens. Olivia Bunn (OM 1996) Equestrian (Eventing) David Crawshay (OM 1997) Rowing (Quad Scull) Lachlan Milne (OM 1996) Canoeing (C2 Canoe Slalom)
Weddings Congratulations
London Branch Council Chairman John Hasker (OM 1956) was guest of honour at the 2004 London Branch function during June. Branch organiser Shayne Dunlap (OM 1985) had planned the evening at the impressive Liberal Club in Whitehall. As it is occasionally, London went into meltdown with a temperature in excess of 32°. Fortunately the delightful terrace garden of the Liberal Club was available and it was a superb venue under the circumstances. John, together with wife Jenny, were thrilled to be involved and particularly to catch up with classmate Leyland Ridings (OM 1955), former workmate John Whittington (OM 1979), Ian Creber (OM 1966) and past President of The Grammar Foundation Geoff Hone (OM 1962) and his wife Anthea. Part of the enjoyment of John’s holiday was to catch up with his younger son Andrew (OM 1992). Contact was also made later in the week with Michael de Crespigny (OM 1970).
The Grammar Community is pleased to congratulate the following couples who recently celebrated their marriage in the Chapel of St Peter:
5 March Simon Harris (OM 1992) & Michaella Collins
20 March Andrew Broadfoot (OM 1993) & Kim Baxter
2 April Andrew Ashton (OM 1984) & Jane Hazewinkel
3 April Ashley Slee (OM 1993) & Belinda Moffat Nicholas Peace (OM 1981) & Alexandra Smalley
Photograph by Andrew Hasker
Ian Speechley (OM 1987) is currently managing critical IT outages and leading technical resolution teams with CSC for Nortel Networks globally. Ian is still living in Melbourne with his wife Michelle and is the proud father of two children - a daughter Gabrielle aged two years and newborn son Ronan. The first Australian entry to the prestigious Chelsea Flower Show in London, the Olympic Games of the gardening world won second prize. Jim Fogarty (OM 1988) of Melbourne based Fleming’s Nurseries and Semken Landscaping won the silver gilt for ‘Fleming’s Australian Inspiration’. The instillation which took 300 hours to design used more than 1200 plants. Ji-Soo Woo (OM 1988) is currently receiving language training in preparation for commencement of duties as a diplomat at the Australian Embassy in the Republic of Korea. Featured in a recent edition of Delicious magazine were Tobie Puttock (OM 1992) and Matt Skinner (OM 1992) who have established and operate celebrity chef Jamie Oliver’s first restaurant, Fifteen. After they left MGS Tobie became an apprentice chef while Matt worked at the local bottle shop. They would meet after work and dream about working together with Tobie cooking and Matt looking after the wine. They never imagined, however, that they would run London’s hottest restaurant, with a three-month waiting list for its coveted seats. Both were back in Melbourne recently for Matt’s wedding. Tom Hodgson (OM 1993) recently rowed for Old Cambridge in the Old Cambridge-v-Old Oxford boat race. Chris Guest (OM 1996) has been working in Real Estate for the past four years and is a senior consultant with RT Edgar. Ben Rubinstein (OM 1998) has completed a BSc in Pure Maths and BE (Hons) in Software Engineering at the University of Melbourne, is now completing a Master of Computer Science and in August will be starting a PhD at The University of California Berkeley in Computer Science as a University Fellow. His girlfriend (from year 12!) is also starting her PhD in the same department!
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Archives Senior School Halls of Fame May thy blessing and protection, O Lord, be upon us this day… With this prayer the first headmaster, Dr Edward Bromby, opened the School on 7 April 1858 in the presence of five masters and 77 pupils. The ceremony took place in Big School, the single storeyed assembly hall on the south side of the Quad.
Big School on right
Big School – Speech Day
Millear Hall
Memorial Hall – competition winner
Big School – gymnastics
Millear Building
Millear Hall – house boxing
Memorial Hall – 11 November 1928
This hall became the setting for assemblies, all manner of ceremonies ranging from vice-regal visits to Speech Day, from concerts and ‘pastimes’ to dramatic productions. It continued in these roles until burgeoning enrolments rendered onestoreyed buildings in the hub of the School an unsustainable luxury, leading to its demolition in 1921. Although hostilities in Europe had not yet ended The Old Melburnians Council resolved in August 1918 to erect a Memorial Hall. Subscription lists were opened and an architectural competition conducted. The cost of the accepted design by John Barr of Sydney for a hall to seat 1500 people, however, far exceeded the funds raised. Consequently OM architect Hugh Peck was commissioned to design the present Memorial Hall. Various sites were considered including the Domain Road frontage but in the end the Bromby Street site won out. The foundation stone was laid on Armistice Day, 11 November 1927, by the Governor of Victoria, Baron Somers and the hall was opened a year later by the GovernorGeneral, Baron Stonehaven. The seven year gap between the demolition of Big School and the opening of the Memorial Hall was filled by the Millear Hall, the upper storey of the new building on the site of Big School. This hall was designed as temporary quarters capable of subdivision into classrooms at a later date. The ceiling beams to this day reveal the hall’s structure and the honour boards on its walls found a ready home in the Memorial Hall. Originally the dining hall had been a one-storey building on the north side of the Quad but in 1886 a second storey was added and the dining hall went upstairs where it remained until 1976. The vacated hall was then revamped into the Coleman Room, a small assembly hall capable of seating an entire year level, staging house plays and conducting exams. The School eagerly awaits the completion of the extension and renovation of the Memorial Hall later this year and the great boost it will give to the performing arts. Gordon Sargood
Memorial Hall
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Dining Hall – now Coleman Room
Community Noticeboard Nominating MGS Notables Melbourne Grammar School was founded on 7 April 1858 and therefore the School will celebrate its sesquicentenary in 2008. The Sesquicentenary Committee has been meeting for some time to plan the events for this most important year of celebration of the School’s history. The Committee believes that it is important that the Grammar Community celebrate the achievements of Old Melburnians since the School’s foundation and during the sesquicentenary year it is proposed to announce 150 notable Old Melburnians. The essence of MGS is its past students and the Committee is looking for nominations of notable Old Melburnians from all walks of life since the School’s foundation.
New Telephone Numbers As outlined in the last Grammar Newsletter, we are progressively updating our communications and implementing a new telephone system across the three campuses. The School will have telephone numbers in the range 9865 7500 through to 9865 7999. The main indial number for the School will become 9865 7555 (Lodge Reception). There will be a transition period wherein both the old and new telephone numbers will operate concurrently but by the end of 2004 we expect to be fully converted to the new numbers. A more detailed list of numbers will be circulated to the community in campus bulletins, on the MGS website and in other publications as they come into operation.
Regular displays are held at the School’s Archives Gallery situated at the rear of The Lodge 355 St Kilda Road. The Gallery is open each day during term time and visitors are most welcome.
Term III The School and Sport
Term IV Senior School boarding, Wadhurst and Grimwade House
From July 2004:
Therefore the Committee is seeking input from the Grammar Community to assist us to ensure that no worthy candidate is overlooked.
Melbourne Grammar School Reception
9865 7555
Melbourne Grammar School Facsimile
9865 7577
Admissions
9865 7570
Development Office
9865 7682
Headmaster’s Office
9865 7503
Finance Office
9865 7538
Senior School Reception
9865 7504
Wadhurst Reception
9865 7700
All names submitted to the Committee will be considered; however, the Committee will make the final determination of who is included in the final list of 150 notable Old Melburnians. I therefore ask you to submit your nominations for consideration by the Sesquicentenary Committee on the Notable Nomination Form available from the MGS website <mgs.vic.edu.au> or from the Development Office telephone 61 3 9865 7682.
Archival Gallery
From September 2004: Grimwade House Reception
9865 7800
The Committee looks forward to receiving your nominations for our early consideration. Peter Beaumont
A sophisticated evening of fabulous food, wine and entertainment, Friday 8 October 2004 Venue:
The International of Brighton
Dress: Formal Cost:
$175 per person
Tables:
Tables of 12
Tickets:
On sale from 2 August – Via booking sheet mailed with invitation
Enquiries: Jane Lee 9865 7688
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Friends of Grammar Senior School As the days and weeks fly by with alarming speed I am always astounded by the diversity of the school calendar and the associated dedication and commitment of the teachers, students and parents at Melbourne Grammar. Participation is clearly the MGS way.
Photograph by Gwen Delves
The commencement of Term II saw our large number of class representatives meet at the new Sports Complex at Todd Road, where they were able to listen to Property Manager James Burton speak of the massive undertaking which led to our now complete and pristine Sports Complex. As we sipped our coffee in the elegant pavilion it was hard to imagine that we were seated so comfortably on the site of the old Port Melbourne recycling centre. The boys certainly enjoy their new home and the Friends of Grammar, with the help of the Hockey Support Group, have been able to offer hospitality to visitors and our own school community.
President of Ikebana International Julie Ireland with parent Jackie Mackinnon during the Ikebana lesson
Photograph by Patricia Langton
Year 9 student James Kiel won the Presidents’ Choice Award at Grammar Idol
Our Auxiliaries are busy supporting various facets of school life. In May the Drama Auxiliary catered for the inaugural Year 9 production of Oedipus the King. The Art Auxiliary organised a well attended tour of our own Barak Gallery, while the Music Auxiliary operates in a seamless fashion to support the extraordinarily busy music calendar. In addition to the mid year concerts, do not forget the hugely popular Jazz in the Coleman Room on 25 and 26 August.
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The Senior School Committee has organised a number of smaller events at The Lodge. We enjoyed an evening with Julie Ireland, President of Ikebana International and a member of our Committee, as we tried our hands at Japanese floral art. In June, we were thrilled to have the opportunity to listen to Warren Joel discuss antiques and collectibles and to appraise several of the submitted treasures in his inimitable style.
Later in the year we plan a visit to the gardens of Beverley Sutherland Smith. The Year Level Dinners, which we have introduced this year, have proved to be very successful and well attended. The work of the class representative coordinators and the Student Centre staff is much appreciated. Planning for our major fundraiser The Golden Sipper is in full swing, and we thank the community for their ongoing support in the planning of this event. We look forward to a fabulous night. Join us at this, or any of the other events planned, and have a great time while enjoying the company of other parents and friends. Pauline Musgrove
Wadhurst Oh what a night! The Grammar Idol Picnic is gone but certainly not forgotten. Will Wadhurst ever be the same? With such a start to the year we knew that good things lay ahead. Fresh into Term I, I was privileged to be invited to the School’s ANZAC Day celebrations; a moving service and the company of some inspiring Old Melburnians made the day particularly memorable. Mothers are important at Wadhurst and our annual Mothers Day stall was as popular as ever. The colour coordinated, cellophane wrapped gifts and the raffle were the hard work of our Main Events Rep Sarah Shutt. Our Wadhurst canteen (near the tog rooms) has continued to flourish this year under the expert guidance of Kerry Boulton. It is certainly a hive of activity on a cold Saturday morning. From the class representatives we hear that Year 8 held a well attended coffee morning at the home of Jennifer Shaw. Year 7 had a successful drinks evening at the Karen Woodbury Gallery in Richmond and early in May, our class representatives meeting toured the Creswick Boarding House. They were then treated to a Golden Sipper PowerPoint presentation in the Wadhurst Hall by Mandy Mandie and Elinor Graham and were certainly blown away by the enthusiasm generated from the ‘Sipper Centre.’ On a very chilly winter’s morning in mid June the families of Wadhurst were to be found in the hall enjoying croissants, fresh fruit and cereals, and partaking in Max’s wonderful coffee. He estimates that he must have served at least 300 cups. Not bad for 1½ hours of work. Many thanks go to Milly Cameron and Jane de Fegely and to all the Committee and representatives who helped with the breakfast.
On 23 June FOG Wadhurst invited us all to ‘The Ladies Luncheon’ at the home of Jane BadlerHains. The ladies gathered, the food arrived on skewers and with delicious wines, we waited in anticipation; Jane Badler-Hains entertained us with spicy songs accompanied by our Wadhurst maestro Julian Cairns and band, and comedian Mandy Salomon amused with her low-cal laughs. So, as you can see, the world is still wonderful at Wadhurst.
Photograph by Mark Leslie
During last term FOG Wadhurst has reorganised their FOG kitchen in the hall. We can now cater for up to 200 people with new cutlery, crockery, glasses, etc. all thanks to the generosity of the FOG Executive. We have been given the go ahead for new Honour Boards to be struck for the Music and Drama Captains and a data show projector has also been allocated for the History Department.
Wadhurst parents Jennifer Shaw, Jane Payne, Fiona Dickson & Dallas Squillacciotti at the Wadhurst Mothers Day stall
Cathie Vickers-Willis
Term II was expected to be a fairly quiet term but proved to be anything but! Term began with successful and well attended cocktail parties where the feeling of belonging and unison of parents at Melbourne Grammar was quite evident. Year levels have continued to organise morning teas and lunches further creating a welcoming environment. The Mothers Day stall was yet another huge success with the wrapping day working bee becoming a highlight on the Term II calendar. Any opportunity to chat and wrap! The stall itself had over 1,200 beautifully wrapped gifts and the children were thrilled to choose a gift for their mummy. The parent education evening with Dr Helen McGrath was both informative and entertaining. Parents were pleased to be given the opportunity to attend such an evening and the feedback was all very positive. FOGG is currently planning a parent/teacher art exhibition for Term IV. We have a plethora of talent among our community and we would love to hear from all parents and staff at MGS (all campuses) interested in being part of the exhibition. Please call Grimwade House office to leave your details in my mailbox. We are also in the process of organising a cooking demonstration lunch in Term III. Preparation for the Fathers Day stall in September is well under way as is the Grimwade House staff ‘Christmas in July Lunch’ to show our appreciation to the staff for all their dedicated work.
We have also had a number of requests to hold simple evening functions to allow working mothers to attend. We will endeavour to do the best we can and we have begun by slotting in a wrapping for Fathers Day session with supper in the Loft – keep an eye on the bulletin. Term II saw many friendships develop (along with new hobbies!) during the lavender wand, handmade chocolate and soap wrapping working bees. It is often during such activities when one gains a great deal, the sharing, the chatting and the laughter always seems to warm one’s soul.
Photograph by Patricia Langton
Grimwade House
It is in fact this sense of community and sharing that upon reflection is what Friends of Grammar is all about. I thank the community for all their support during my recent family illness.
Year 3 students Tilly Downie & Taylor Fletcher perform Friends Forever at Grammar Idol
I wish you all much joy and happiness and, for those who have been touched by sadness, may your family be surrounded by a blanket of strength, warmth and kindness. I look forward to you all joining in our joyous and celebratory events at Grimwade House that our fabulous class representatives and hardworking FOGG committee organise for us. Come and be a part of our wonderful community. Rosalba Renzella
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The Grammar Foundation Recognising our Donors
Photograph by Michael Joyce
Photograph by Stewart Brook
As strong supporters of Melbourne Grammar School, Witherby Tower Society members were invited to a pre-opening function at the new MGS Sports Complex. Bursar David Temple is seen here showing members the facilities at the complex Top: Headmaster Paul Sheahan, guest speaker Jim Cousins & Grammar Foundation President Ross Adler at the recent Foundation AGM
2003 was a year of significant building activity – all made possible by the support and philanthropy of the Grammar Community. The MGS Sports Complex was completed (see centre feature), the significant refurbishment and renovation of Mem Hall progressed and the groundwork for the construction of the Alfred Felton Hall (see page 2) was undertaken.
More than 80 people attended the Foundation’s AGM on 17 May to receive the 2003 Annual Report from President Ross Adler and to hear guest speaker Jim Cousins AO (OM 1961) speak with warmth and passion about the importance of leadership and philanthropy. Jim urged us to ask and give proudly for Melbourne Grammar.
T
Witherby Tower Society members gather for afternoon tea in the Pavilion at the MGS Sports Complex at the pre-opening function
Tomorrow’s Leaders Today
Much of the work of the Foundation and Development Office is centred on advancing the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today campaign. Strongly led by Chairman Bruce Parncutt, current activity is focused on consolidating and securing the leadership and major gifts which will enable us to develop the innovative Centre for Learning and Leadership. This centre will incorporate the library from Wadhurst and Senior School, information technology facilities and a leadership centre. It responds to the new information era in which teachers and students will increasingly need access to information and knowledge mediated through technology. A series of functions including breakfasts, lunches and briefings are being held to give many members of the Grammar Community the opportunity to promote awareness about the centre and to discuss how it will impact on teaching and learning for students from Years 7–12. Director of Fundraising Michael Joyce is working closely with Council and Board members to advance the campaign within the Grammar Community.
ake a seat in Mem Hall…
Annual Giving
The Annual Giving programs for both Old Melburnians and parents are an opportunity for every member of our Community to demonstrate their commitment to the School by making a modest gift. Parents are being asked to give a voluntary gift of $200 per family which will be included with the Term III accounts. A gift from every family will serve to further enrich and advance our teaching and learning program directly benefiting current students. 30
Photograph by Michael Joyce
Thank you to each of our 1,600 plus donors whose names appear in the 2003 Grammar Foundation Annual Report included with this edition of Grammar Newsletter. The Report details the Foundation’s programs, activities, financial results, volunteers and, most importantly, lists and acknowledges the many generous donors who invested in the future of the School last year.
Old Melburnians have a special opportunity this year to support music and performing arts by supporting the provision of seating in the renovated Mem Hall. Donations of $500 or more will endow a named seat – a unique way to signal your commitment to Grammar in a very tangible manner. Take this opportunity to show your support for Melbourne Grammar and help ensure the School remains at the forefront of education in Australia. Ann Badger
ANZAC Service
â&#x20AC;&#x153;Let us accept that Australians have chosen ANZAC Day to be the principal day upon which to remember all those who have given their lives in defence of their country, no matter when or where. Let us also accept that the Spirit of ANZAC pervades all those who have taken up arms for Australia to commit their lives to defend all that Australia stands for before, during and since the Gallipoli campaign. ANZAC Day is to remember the sacrifices made by those who gave up so much in the belief they were doing so to protect their nation and all that it stands for.â&#x20AC;?
Photographs by Stewart Brook & Kirrily Johns
Extract from the address by Rear Admiral Simon Harrington (OM 1964) at the MGS ANZAC Service, 26 April 2004
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Co-education at Grimwade House
Places for Girls in 2005 & 2006 Our Grimwade House girls and boys enjoy the many benefits of coâ&#x20AC;&#x2018;education in their all-important primary years. For 2005 and beyond there are a limited number of places available for girls at Prep. For more information please contact the Director of Admissions Kathy Howell on 9865 7570 or email <enrol@mgs.vic.edu.au>.