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The Melbourne Grammar School Community Magazine
Billy-carts for Charity
Thirty-four billycarts were designed, built and then test driven by Year 6 students in a billy-cart derby at Grimwade House in December before being placed under the Anglicare Christmas tree, along with toys collected by the School.
Photograghs by Amanda Louey
The billy-carts were the focus of Science/ Technology and Visual Arts projects for Year 6 girls and boys who learnt about design and built the carts in teams. Linking in with English, students also made booklets that explain how to build a billy-cart. The project, while being educational has also helped reinforce the importance of doing something for someone else.
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In this issue From the School Council 4 From the Headmaster 5 2004 Victorian Certificate of Education 6 Out & About at Grimwade House 8 Out & About at Wadhurst 10 Out & About at Senior School 11 Learning Strategies 14 Innovation in Action 15 Centre for Learning and Leadership 16 Curriculum Initiatives 18 Boarding 19 The Old Melburnians 20 Branches & Reunions 22 Community News 24 Grammar Community 26 The Grammar Foundation 27 Friends of Grammar 28 Community Noticeboard 30 Welcome to the Grammar Community 31
Out & About at Grimwade House
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is published three times a year for the Melbourne Grammar School community
Innovation in Action
Published by
Our front cover: Boarders Yannick Harris, Sandy Robinson and Angus Anderson jog in the Royal Botanic Gardens near the boarding precinct. This image features on the cover of the new boarding marketing booklet.
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From the Editor Welcome to the new school year. Melbourne Grammar has many ways of helping students to settle into life and study at MGS. Preps are introduced to Grimwade House in the year prior to starting with various familiarisation activities such as meeting with Prep teachers and an orientation day. At the start of the school year Preps and other students new to Grimwade House ease their way into school life with a brief morning introduction a day before other students. Similarly Year 7 and Year 9 students start a day prior to other students. There is also a new parent cocktail party in the first week to welcome new parents to the School. With the academic year ahead students and parents can receive assistance with study techniques and curriculum and careers advice. In this edition of Grammar Newsletter there is an article about how to help your child become a better student and news of VCE results and tertiary destinations. At Wadhurst students are engaged in a daily reading program in a strategy to promote adolescent boys’ interest in reading. Our centre feature for this edition looks at plans for the development of a Centre for Learning and Leadership. This ground-breaking centre will complement the many other innovative learning opportunities available at MGS.
Kirrily Johns
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.
Grammar Newsletter
Centre for Learning and Leadership
Development Office Melbourne Grammar School 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne 3004 Telephone: 9865 7555 Facsimile: 9865 7577 email: newsletter@mgs.vic.edu.au
Editor Kirrily Johns
Desktop Publishing Drew Gamble
Printer GT Graphics
Mailing & Distribution Data Connection
Photographs
16 Friends of Grammar
29 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.
Mark Annabell Stewart Brook Michael Chesterman Mark Coleman James Grant Kirrily Johns Amanda Louey John Plowright B Probyn Jan Rizzo Michael Shaw Thanh Truong Alex Turner Rod White and others
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From the School Council School Council
Sandy Clark
School Council President The Most Reverend Peter Watson Archbishop of Melbourne
Chairman Sandy Clark
Deputy Chairman Ian Vaughan Peter Beaumont Graeme Blackman Peter Danne Barbara Fary Vince FitzGerald Stuart Gooley Sandy Massina Lelde McCoy Bruce Parncutt
Headmaster Paul Sheahan
Secretary to the Council David Temple (Bursar)
I would also like to pay tribute to my predecessor, John Hasker, who has served the School with great distinction over some 24 years. John was President of the Old Melburnians Council in 1982-83, and a Member of the newly constituted School Council in 1984-85, before his work took him to Adelaide. On his return to Melbourne, in 1988, John rejoined the School Council, and was its Chairman for the past six years. He was also a Member of the Old Melburnians Council from 1988 to 1995. John was farewelled by the Grammar community, at a formal function, in December last year. He recounted, with modesty and great humour, some of his experiences, while others spoke of the magnificent contribution John has made. The School owes John an enormous debt of gratitude and we wish him, and his wife Jenny, a long, happy and healthy retirement. I am honoured to have been invited to lead the Council, and have been very encouraged by the support, and dedication, of Council Members and the enthusiasm, and commitment, of our Headmaster Paul Sheahan. Recent Newsletters have highlighted the progress of our building campaign. There has been wide praise for our excellent sporting facilities at Flack Park, while the renovated Memorial Hall is now back in use. The School orchestra has a spectacular new rehearsal space, in keeping with its reputation. At our last Council meeting we were shown a short video of the orchestra’s recent visit to the United Kingdom. It was a showcase of the remarkable talent that has been nurtured and developed by our music staff at the Senior School, Wadhurst and Grimwade House. I have been very impressed by the positive way in which staff, parents and students have responded to the School’s new Vision. Our aim is to create the best possible teaching and learning environment for students, and, to this end, the construction of a Centre for Learning and Leadership is planned to start early next year, on the site of old School House and the Headmaster’s House on Domain Road.
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Photograph by Kirrily Johns
On behalf of the Council I welcome all new students, staff and parents who have come to Melbourne Grammar in 2005.
Senior School students experience the first assembly for 2005 in the refurbished Memorial Hall
Welcome Sandy Clark It is with great pleasure that we welcome and introduce Sandy Clark who has been appointed Chairman of the School Council following John Hasker’s retirement towards the end of 2004. Sandy brings a wealth of experience and expertise to the position and he will be well known to many members of the MGS community. He is an Old Melburnian (1962) and he completed an impressive School career as a prefect, cadet under-officer and triple colour recipient having represented the School in cricket, football and athletics, the latter two of which he was captain. He also gained selection in the representative APS teams for both cricket and football. Sandy graduated with a Commonwealth Scholarship and completed a Bachelor of Commerce degree at University of Melbourne before proceeding to further studies in Agricultural Economics at Reading in the United Kingdom. He has a wide range of business and charitable involvements including directorships of public companies Southern Cross Broadcasting and Select Harvests Limited. He is Chairman of Aviva Australia Holdings Limited and The Myer Family Office Limited and is a Director and Trustee of the Myer and Buckland Foundations.
I commend this Vision to you and, in particular, its central plank, ‘A Positive Sense of Self’. As parents, we understand very early that children are motivated in many different ways. If Melbourne Grammar can provide the infrastructure so that all students have the opportunity to achieve their full potential, we will have gone a long way towards cementing our position as one of Australia’s pre-eminent schools.
Sandy had a long involvement with the Brotherhood of St Laurence from the early 1990s and was Chairman for over three years through to November 2000. Sandy has recently been involved as Chairman of the St Paul’s Cathedral Restoration Campaign. He is married with one son, Tom, who is in Year 7 at Wadhurst and two daughters who attend Lauriston Girls’ School. Sandy has maintained a close involvement with Grammar over many years and has been a longstanding member of the Finance & Planning Committee prior to joining Council and being appointed Chairman. We all wish him well as he takes on this important role for the School.
Sandy Clark
David Temple
From the Headmaster A Positive Sense of Self In putting together the Vision Statement for Melbourne Grammar in 2003 for the succeeding five to eight years, we thought long and hard about the values that underpin both the School and the education it offers. In the end we settled on a matrix of nine, at the centre of which was ‘A Positive Sense of Self ’. This was deliberate because we believe strongly that all achievement flows from a healthy selfesteem, a feeling that our existence matters and we have worth as individuals and as members of a community. When I pondered that idea, I was reminded of the story of Socrates who met two travellers on the road to Athens. Both had come from small villages quite a distance away from the metropolis. He said to the first: “And what do you hope to find when you reach the great city?” The response came: “The people in my home town are enthusiastic, outgoing and friendly but there is a lack of opportunity, so I am going to Athens in the anticipation that the Athenians will be similar but I will have the chance to expand my capabilities.” “I don’t think you’ll be disappointed,” replied the great man. To the second traveller came the same opening question. He replied: “The people in my home town are miserable, introspective and pessimistic, so I’m going to the big city but I don’t expect to find much different, just a bigger place to hide.” “I think you’ll find the Athenians much the same as the people in your home town,” came the response from the master philosopher! Same context, totally different outcomes. Attitude to life that flows from self-esteem will, to a large extent, dictate what path life takes.
Paul Sheahan
‘A Positive Sense of Self’ is a key value at Melbourne Grammar
to keep ourselves and our assumed importance in perspective but also to keep our feet on the ground. That is why the latter is also one of our nine prized values. At times, perhaps because the teaching profession is geared to assessment and critical analysis, we look for the things that are wrong and try to correct them, occasionally overlooking the things that are right and that need affirmation. Someone once said: “Words are like fire: sometimes they warm, sometimes they burn.” We must continually remind ourselves that student performance is very much geared not just to their own self-esteem but to the students’ assessments of us as people – whether we are interested in them as individuals, whether we are willing to help them above and beyond the call of duty, whether we take note of their achievements when we might not be expected to – and teaching, therefore, becomes as much a battle to gain the genuine affection of those we teach. If we do gain that affection then the outcome might well be for the student to “achieve the unimaginable”. Paul Sheahan
The Headmaster & 2005 School Leaders: Senior School Vice Captain Chris Venus & Captain Kenny Velos, Grimwade House Co Captains Henry Hunt & Lara Jobling, Wadhurst Captain Alexander Mattingly & Vice Captain Duncan Thomas
We all know that it is much more energising and uplifting to work with and for someone whose attitude is positive and engaging. Those characteristics of positivity and engagement are very much the by-product of a healthy assessment of oneself, so ‘A Positive Sense of Self ’ is crucial to the teaching profession and to the student in continuing to see a pathway through problems rather than being defeated by them. There is, however, a fine line between a healthy sense of oneself and one’s capabilities and an unattractive arrogance and contempt for other people. How often do we hear the dismissive remark: “I’d like to buy him at my price and sell him at his?” Developing ‘A Positive Sense of Self ’ and developing ‘A Sense of Community’, therefore, go hand in hand and help not only 5
2004 Victorian Certificate of Education
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
Photograph by Michael Chesterman
Top Results Much celebration took place when six of our VCE Year 12 students achieved the highest possible ENTER (Equivalent National Tertiary Entrance Rank) for 2004. This was unparalleled in the history of the VCE at the School and the top scorers can reasonably expect to bask in the glory of such an extraordinary year. It is interesting to note, however, that the press was relatively indifferent to our persistent attempts to publicise this success. Given the dominant role that independent education and, in particular, schools such as Melbourne Grammar play in producing the country’s highest achievers, their indifference may very well have been a political gesture.
Photograph by Mark Annabell
It is, however, certain that the reporting and manipulation of statistics can be highly deceptive and at times erroneous. MGS was wrongly omitted from a published chart listing schools with top percentages of Study Scores above 40. The reason? A reporter’s error. The use of unscaled Study Scores in itself allows scant reference to the level of difficulty involved in some subjects. Indices that produce ranking lists are often based on tiny gradations which, upon amplification, distort the differences. Such is the minefield when we rely too heavily on statistical analysis without the balance of sound educational practice.
Top: On the orchestra tour at the time of VCE results 99.95 scorers Simon Walter, Daniel Yim & Peter McInnis meet the Australian High Commissioner Michael L’Estrange at Australia House in London Middle: 99.95 scorers Ivan Kwong, Lucas Annabell & Jack Wang celebrate results day in Melbourne Bottom: All together in Melbourne the six top scorers celebrate from left: Ivan Kwong, Daniel Yim, Peter McInnis, Lucas Annabell, Jack Wang & Simon Walter
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In celebrating them, and also just as importantly, we congratulate those students who achieved
personal bests, quite often above their expectations. At this the glamour end of secondary education, while we celebrate the excellence of the students’ achievements in Year 12, we equally celebrate the journey which has brought them to that success. The class of 2004 owes much to their education in previous years. Many of the teachers, coaches, tutors, Heads of House, etc. in earlier years have made significant contributions to the success they have enjoyed. The School’s program, both academic and non-academic, is a powerful skill builder from which these students have benefited. They in turn have responded to the opportunities offered to them and have rightly earned our heartiest congratulations.
2004 Results Summary • 52.1% of our students are in the top 10% in the state/nation with an ENTER of 90 or above. • 33.7% of students attained an ENTER of 95 or above. This means that 64 of our students are in the top 5% in the state/nation. • 28 students attained an ENTER of 99 or above. Therefore 14.7 % of our students are in the top 1% of the state/nation. • The Melbourne Grammar School median ENTER for 2004 is 91. • 6 students achieved the maximum possible ENTER of 99.95. Special congratulations to Lucas Annabell, Ivan Kwong, Peter McInnis, Simon Walter, Jack Wang and Daniel Yim. This score places them in the top 20 (approximately) in the state. • 16 students achieved 19 Study Scores of 50 out of 50 in 9 individual studies. Congratulations go to the following students: Lucas Annabell – English, Desmond Chiam – English, Malcolm Crang – English, William Farrer – Legal Studies, Ivan Kwong – English, David McAuley – Literature, Peter McInnis – Classical Societies & Cultures and English, James Newton – English, Michael Phillips – Maths: Mathematical Methods, Jason Rerksirathai – Physics and English, Christopher Schodde – English, James Shackell – History: Revolutions, Piers Van Zandvliet – Design and Technology, Simon Walter – English, Jack Wang – Physics and Chemistry, Daniel Yim – English. Chris Bradtke
Student Destinations The excellent results achieved by the Year 12 students of 2004 have presented them with opportunities to pursue a wide range of further education options. Whilst our students overwhelmingly choose to continue their education in Victoria (with a strong preference for metropolitan Melbourne) increasing numbers are showing a willingness to look at interstate options, particularly in the case of highly competitive courses with rigorous selection criteria. This was certainly true of the strong cohort of students who were seeking places in Medicine courses. Many of the students applied to courses throughout the country, often involving travel for interviews. Most of these students also applied for ‘Bonded CSP’ Medicine places, recognising that by being prepared to commit to working in ‘areas of need’ post-graduation, they increased their chances of gaining places in Medicine courses. The post-secondary education system continues to experience change, particularly in the area of the cost of education. Most Victorian university courses were subject to increase in the student payment under the Commonwealth Supported Places (HECS) scheme and the number of universities offering full-fee places to local students expanded for 2005 entry. In addition, The University of Melbourne gave students applying for a double degree (e.g. Commerce/ Law) the opportunity to apply for a CSP place in one component of the degree whilst applying for a fee-paying place in the component which traditionally demands a higher ENTER score. This is a development which we can expect to see as part of the application process for other universities in the years to come. The University of Melbourne was once again, the most popular destination for our students with 80 accepting or deferring offers for 2005 but, as can be seen from the graphs, Melbourne Grammar School is represented on most campuses of Victorian universities and at a wide range of TAFE and private institutions. For the first time, the number of students undertaking courses in the Arts/Humanities field is greater (but only just) than the number undertaking Business related courses. Of course, as in previous years, large numbers of students have taken up offers in combined or double programs and many of those in the Arts/Humanities area are studying
Offers by Institution 2
Australian Catholic University 2
Australian National University 13 Deakin University 2
LaTrobe University 38
Monash University
21 RMIT University 6
Swinburne University
80 University of Melbourne 4 3 4 10 8
Victoria University Interstate Universities
Private Colleges
TAFE
Other Destinations
in other areas simultaneously. Nevertheless, the large numbers can be seen as reflecting both an interest in a broad liberal education and an understanding that employers value graduates with good generic writing and research skills as well as more strictly vocational skills.
Offers by Type of Course Agriculture/Horticulture
5
Architecture/Building/Planning
13
Arts/Humanities
64
Aviation Business/Commerce Computing/Information Technology Dental Science Engineering Health Sciences
1 61 9 1 20 5
The offers made to our students Hospitality 4 of 2004 are summarised in the Landscape Architecture 4 table (right). Where more than Law 23 one offer was made, I have Medicine 7 included only the offer which (I Nursing 1 believe) was accepted. In some cases, where more than one Physical/Outdoor Education 1 offer was made, (e.g. both CSP Physiotherapy 1 and fee offer or a first round Psychology 2 and second round offer) not Radiography 1 all students responded on the Science 14 VTAC system and I have had to make certain assumptions as Visual & Performing Arts/Design 15 to which was accepted. For the Note: Many students are commencing courses that span more than purposes of this report, deferred one academic discipline. In the published figures, both areas of a double degree/dual award are included. Consequently, there may offers are treated the same as appear to be a discrepancy between the total numbers of offers by accepted offers as they reflect institution and the total numbers under areas of study. the likely eventual destination of the students concerned. In compiling the figures I have relied on information provided by the Victorian Tertiary Admissions Centre (VTAC) and personal contact with students. Frank Thompson
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Out & About at Grimwade House
Photograph by Kirrily Johns
Tsunami Shoe Box Challenge
Year 4 students display their shoe boxes full of goods for tsunami victims in Sri Lanka, from left: Maddy Guest, James Batt, Ranald Macky & Sarah Udovenya
Shoe boxes, which could be easily transported to Sri Lanka, were filled with baby bottles, baby toys, pencils, books, shoes and clothes. It was pointed out to them that it would be difficult for very young children and babies to replace what they had lost in the floods. It was fantastic to see how enthusiastic the students were about this challenge and how generously they filled their shoe boxes, in many cases giving away their own treasured soft toys and personal possessions to others more needy. We should not underestimate the depth of sentiment felt by young children and this practical solution has provided them with tangible evidence of how they can contribute to our community. Nigel Masters
Festival of Trees
Photograph by Jan Rizzo
Year 5 students during the making of Grimwade House’s tree for Save the Children’s Festival of Trees from left: Luciana Darling, Annabel Thomson, Kate Thomason, Ali Kendall & Laura Burnside
Students in Years 3 and 4 have shown how concerned they are for those less fortunate than themselves by participating in a tsunami shoe box challenge. Even young children are surrounded by and subject to the messages the media present and may be affected by the plight of others, feeling powerless to do anything about it. By taking up this challenge, students were able to provide necessary help for other children who are victims of the recent tsunami disaster.
Capturing the spirit of Christmas last November the four Year 5 classes worked together to design and decorate a Christmas tree for an exhibition in the atrium of Federation Square. Save the Children (Victoria) invited participants from schools and industry to create trees which would send a Christmas message to Melbourne and indirectly raise money for Save the Children by being auctioned. The Grimwade House tree was displayed alongside others decorated by fashion designers, artists and corporations.
were the words “Joy, Love, Peace”. The mirrors were decorated with glass paint by each class with images of Christmas trees. The mirrors both engaged the viewer with multiple images of enthusiastically detailed, decorated trees and reflected beautifully the sunlight and the evening lighting in Federation Square. Around the circular base the children decided to include a message which read: “A Christmas wish for Peace on Earth from all the girls and boys of Grimwade House, Melbourne Grammar School”.
Our tree design was based on a tall four-sided pyramid, each triangular side containing seven ever-diminishing rows of square mirrors positioned on their diagonals. Between the rows
It was exciting to see that many children took their family and friends to Federation Square to see our tree, either before or after the Grimwade House Christmas Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral. Jan Rizzo
New MGS Staff During 2004 or at the start of 2005 we welcomed the following staff to Melbourne Grammar School, back row, from left: Marie Hardwick, Julie Austin, Julie Tillyer, Polly Flanagan, Shane Castricum Stuart Jamieson, Rodney White, Simon Cowell, Luke McCormick, Claire O’Halloran & Headmaster. Front row, from left: Leonie Tamblyn, Lee Thistlethwaite, Hayley Scarr, Rianna Lopez, Meghann Cannon, Polly David, Linda Collins, Jill Parker, Cheryl Walker, Joanna Boer, Sally Johnson & Indrani Perera
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Starting School Leonie Tamblyn, Grimwade House’s new Head of Junior Primary, explains how Grimwade House prepares children for Prep.
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 educational facilities of each campus.
Grimwade House Small group tours of our coeducational junior campus are held on a regular basis. Further information and bookings can be made by contacting the Grimwade House Office on 9865 7800.
Wadhurst
Starting school is a significant event in a child’s life. They move from one pathway to the next on their journey of lifelong learning.
Wednesday 15 June 2.30pm Wednesday 31 August 9.30am Thursday 10 November 2.00pm
The exciting transition from kindergarten to school has an impact on all members of the family and schools need to offer their full support to help all concerned feel at home in their new environment. When to start school varies from child to child. At Grimwade House our teachers, in consultation with kindergarten teachers, help parents determine their child’s readiness for school. Consideration is given to chronological age, ability to concentrate and stay on a task, physical development and relationships with peers. Our Prep teachers visit the children in their kindergarten settings, observing children at work and play to ensure they make an informed recommendation. Starting school challenges a child’s adaptability. It requires the ability to feel at ease in new surroundings, to trust a new group of adults, to make new friends, to feel comfortable in a new and larger environment. At Grimwade House we believe that the experience will be successful if the children feel connected to their new school. We aim to make the transition as seamless as possible. Well before the first day of school our Ready Set Go program has started. Interested parents are invited to join early learning educational experts for information sessions about preparing children for school. All children and parents are invited to meet Andrew Boyd, Head of Grimwade House, and are presented with a colouring book with pictures of the school facilities and play areas. They are welcome to visit classrooms and see other children happily at work.
Senior School Thursday 12 May 2.00pm Wednesday 1 August 9.30am Tuesday 25 October 2.00pm
Prep students start school a day earlier than other students to familiarise themselves with the classroom, teachers, playground & new play mates
In Term IV children, together with their parents attend an interview. Parents have the opportunity to share relevant information about their child and the children have some one on one time with our Prep teachers where some informal assessment begins. This important information is useful when determining class groups for the new year.
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.
The day to meet the class teacher and new Prep friends finally arrives. Every effort is made to ensure this is a positive experience. Children attend after the rest of the school has finished for the year so that the experience is not overwhelming. The children have time to explore the playground, meet their teacher and play with their new class mates. Like all new children to Grimwade, time is set aside the day before school commences to refamiliarise themselves with their new school and teacher. By the time the first day of school arrives our Prep children are more than ready for this wonderful new stage on their journey of life long learning. Leonie Tamblyn
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Out & About at Wadhurst Reading for Life It is probably true to say that reading is central to our lives. Whether it be reading for knowledge or reading for pleasure, at no other time in history has reading been more important than it is today. The information age is well and truly upon us, shaping our lives, and it is being shaped by the way that we contribute to knowledge and progress through learning and discourse. The Premier’s Reading Challenge was recently announced in the media and is an excellent initiative by Premier Steve Bracks to heighten community awareness of reading for young people today. Reading is important for all Victorians, young and old, for work and for recreation. Mr Bracks has challenged all children in Years 3 - 9 to read twelve books by 16 August this year, ten of which are to be chosen from lists of recommended reading for different age groups. Year 7 students enjoy free reading in the Wadhurst Library, above: Charles Willey & right James Baillie
At Wadhurst we are wholeheartedly embracing the Premier’s Reading Challenge; students are enrolling in the Challenge and we are stocking up on our own copies of the Premier’s recommended reads. We are also proud to say, however, that excitement about reading is not new to Wadhurst. Reading is an intrinsic part of curriculum and life here and has been promoted and supported by some important initiatives over the years. In the most obvious context, reading is part and parcel of the English curriculum. At each year level the study of novels, short stories, poetry, journalism and other forms of written language forms a huge part of a boy’s English work. At Year 7 boys also take part in the RIBIT program (Reading in Bed, It’s Terrific) which encourages them to read routinely and to explore the many literary genres. Each boy chooses his own books and maintains a log of his reading. He may even be given recognition for his achievements with
certificates and prizes for how many books he reads! One in six English lessons is given over to reading for RIBIT. This practice continues in Year 8, although the program is simply a wider reading program without the acronym. In a broader curriculum context, Wadhurst makes a statement about the importance of reading in the fifteen minutes reading time that occurs each day of the week (except Wednesday which is a shortened day to allow for sport turnouts). Immediately after lunch, boys proceed to their Period 5 class, to which they must also bring their reading books to spend fifteen minutes in silent reading before Period 5 actually begins. As with RIBIT and the wider reading programs, boys are encouraged to read widely and for enjoyment. At Wadhurst the statement is being made strongly to the boys that reading is central to our lives and we must provide a regular time for it to occur. It is expected that boys will make regular time for reading at home. Suffice to say, we love to read at Wadhurst and it is our hope that all boys will go on to maintain a love of reading throughout their lives. Mark Leslie
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Out & About at Senior School Harkness Table Melbourne Grammar School has had the first Harkness table in Australia and the largest in the world since January last year. Starting with the Business Studies department, the school now has three tables with another to come this year, as a result of a generous donation from the Arthur Gordon Oldham Estate, formed to support new educational initiatives in Australia. Developed at Phillips Exeter Academy and now used in many other prestigious American schools, the Harkness approach is based on students preparing in advance for classes so that their learning is drawn out and reinforced or challenged through directed discussion over the table. The method values initiative, contribution and listening. By interacting with their peers this way they explore options that did not occur to them initially and develop a maturity in valuing discussion and debate, as well as research. MGS has added to the method by incorporating wireless internet connections so that new information can be accessed and included immediately in the discussion. With the Harkness method, as a teacher you can appreciate immediately which students have grasped a concept and those who have not. The teacher can guide and intervene in the discussion when needed, for example when the interests and ideas the students bring to the classroom have not been drawn out enough, so that the material the teacher demonstrates has meaning and significance. Discussion encourages students to think for themselves, to read with understanding, to evaluate their own ideas, to persevere with difficult problems, to listen and learn from others, to explore options and move beyond initial impressions.
Topics of discussion have included IVF, police powers and a discussion with special guest extreme explorer Peter Bland on the issue of government funding for rescuing failed explorations. We also had a visit from the Associate Dean of the Education Faculty of the University of Melbourne, Professor Brian Caldwell, who was extremely impressed with the new pedagogy.
Year 9/10 Commerce class debates around the Harkness table
A survey of students who used the method in 2004 has given us some interesting results. Ninety-two per cent of boys rated the Harkness method a four or better out of five as a learning tool. Some of the comments made by boys include: • “It gives you a better understanding of the topic.” • “Classes are more enjoyable and interesting.” • “Everyone is free to voice an opinion.” We look forward to even greater success as the Harkness program expands and develops in 2005. Matthew O’Meara
PNG Connection For many years Melbourne Grammar School has supported the Martyrs’ Memorial School in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea. MGS has offered valuable scholarships to students from PNG to attend and board at Senior School for the past 14 years and our second hand bookshop sends proceeds from the sale of student books to aid the school. I visited Papua New Guinea on behalf of MGS in December 2004 to visit Martyrs’ Memorial School and another Anglican school called Holy Name. At Martyrs’ I inspected projects to which Melbourne Grammar contribute through the book sales organised by Dr Ronald Noone and some of the MGS houses. At Holy Name in Dogura we looked at the possibility of establishing a mutually beneficial relationship between their school and ours.
A reunion of students who had taken part in the MGS scholarship program was held at Port Moresby and attended by six Old Melburnians and their families. The reunion with the old boys demonstrated that our scholarship program has worked wonders for the young men who are currently holding positions of influence and will, with time, fulfil our aim of education; young men poised to make a difference. I also met with representatives of three major universities in PNG and discussed enrolment problems experienced by our PNG boarders fundamentally due to a time interval between national university selection and the availability of VCE results. The universities have accepted an enrolment mechanism which will now ensure our PNG scholarship boys will not be disadvantaged when seeking a place. Martin Bishop
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Out & About at Senior School UK Orchestra Tour
The Melbourne Grammar Symphony Orchestra performs at the Royal Academy of Music
Major public concerts were presented in St Giles’ Cathedral (Edinburgh), Greyfriars Kirk (Edinburgh), Wellington College (Crowthorne, Berkshire), the Parish Church of St Laurence (Ludlow, Shropshire) and the Royal Academy of Music (London), which was attended by a large number of Old Melburnians. Apart from concerts the party found time to visit Edinburgh Castle, the Royal Yacht Britannia, Windsor Castle, Eton College, Oxford, the Tower of London and many other places of interest. A highlight was the visit to Australia House where the High Commissioner gave an official reception to the entire party. Two of the most famous musical alumni of MGS performed with the orchestra. Geoffrey Simon (OM 1963) conducted a memorable performance of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony at the final concert. The last time he had directed the work was with the London Symphony Orchestra. A review of the concert by Robert Matthew-Walker in the Leslie Howard (OM 1964) is the March/April edition of Musical Opinion stated: world’s leading exponent of the The first movement of Rachmaninov’s Second Concerto music of Liszt, having produced was played by Reuben Lipohar with the second and third movements by Mark Chu. Each of these 15-year-old pianists 95 CDs of the piano music of was outstanding, but the coup de grace was when both that composer. He performed of them, after sharing the final applause, took up other the solo part of Liszt’s Second instruments, Lipohar the double-bassoon and Chu the double-bass, joining the orchestra to end the programme Piano Concerto with the orchestra with two short martial works by Havergal Brian, very well at the concerts in Wellington played, after which your correspondent left the Duke’s Hall and London. Two Year 10 boys, suitably astonished. Reuben Lipohar and Mark Chu, were outstanding soloists in the two performances of Rachmaninov’s Second Piano Concerto. Leslie Howard included this comment in a recent letter to the school: “It was a pleasure and honour to work once again with the MGS Symphony Orchestra. This is a school orchestra without peer, certainly as far as the UK is concerned.” Martin Rutherford 12
Photograph by Thanh Truong
Photograph by Alex Turner
On 9 December last year the MGS Symphony Orchestra of 85 players, accompanied by staff and a large cheer squad of parents and friends, flew to the United Kingdom where concerts were given in England and Scotland. The orchestra has undertaken a concert tour every December since 1982 and this, the 23rd tour, was significant in a number of ways: the party involved the largest number of participants at 140, the orchestra was away for the longest period at 17 days and the distance travelled was the furthest of all tours.
Walk Against Want
MGS students participate in Oxfam’s Walk Against Want
Sunday the 6 March 2005 saw a large contingent of students from Deakin House, led by House Captain James Smith, support the annual Oxfam Walk Against Want. In an effort to give a sharper focus to community service within the House, and in particular to make it easier for Year 11 students to meet their community service obligations, the House has decided to forge an ongoing link with one organisation. Our involvement with WAW is the first step along this path and we look forward to a continuing association with Oxfam as the year progresses. In all thirty-one Deakin students completed the walk. A pleasing feature was the support from senior students, nine Year 12 students gave up their time; their efforts at a busy time of year being greatly appreciated. Peter Dick
A Summer of Sport Once the school year finishes sport at Melbourne Grammar School does not stop. Both the 1st VIII rowers and the 1st XI cricketers played in the annual Tri Grammar Series between Sydney Grammar School, Brisbane Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School. In late December the rowers were hosted by Brisbane Grammar School and rowed in three events on the Brisbane River and at Wyvanhoe. Our boys won the two kilometre time trial. The cricketers went to Sydney in January this year, defeating Sydney Grammar School and losing to Brisbane Grammar School. While all this was happening, our swimmers headed north to Queensland for their annual training camp. Wadhurst and Senior School swimmers lived in at the Southport School, swimming four hours a day and completing an average of 50 kilometres for the week. All this activity greatly assisted Melbourne Grammar School for the current summer season of APS sport. We will host the Tri Grammar rowing in December 2005 and the cricket in January 2006. This will be an opportunity for us to return the hospitality shown to our boys while on tour. Nick Gibbons
Creating a Better Student The following hints are strategies recommended by the School in collaboration with the Counselling Department to help your adolescent achieve his full potential. Your child should be encouraged and assisted at home to develop a disciplined approach to the diverse demands of life at MGS if he is to achieve his full potential at the end of Year 12. Judicious time management, efficient organisation and development of self discipline are essential features of a successful student. A few students have the maturity to impose these standards on themselves but most students acquire these skills along the way. The adolescent will learn from examples set at home, at school and by his peer group. These are not innate skills and are learned from experience and especially from modelling by the important adults in his life. Management of homework, co-curricular commitments, together with the all important emerging social life, are essential elements in the formula for success. The following hints to develop a successful student are written as a guide for parents: • A regular time for homework and study should be set aside each day. • Homework time should be a quiet downtime in the household when television and other distractions are turned off. • This time applies to each school day and some time over the weekend, whether or not your child has homework. It is a quiet time to be used for reading, organising folders or simply thinking. • Set habits in place at the start of the year and ensure that they become a consistent part of your son’s life. • Ask to see what your child has achieved at the end of his homework time. This is not to check up on him but rather a chance to discuss any successes or difficulties he might be encountering. • Use of music is a vexed issue and is an individual choice. As a rule of thumb loud heavy metal music is inappropriate for tasks requiring concentration. Research indicates that Baroque music, Mozart and Pachelbel’s Canon do enhance concentration and learning. • Computer games are addictive and should be used only as a self reward when homework is completed. • Television and computer use should be a reward after homework time is complete. Research evidence shows that a small amount of television viewing is positively associated with academic achievement. Note that the
‘small’ amounts which correlate positively with achievement are one hour per day for 13 year olds and half an hour per day for 17 year olds. Your son needs to know these figures. • Mobile phones have emerged as the Generation X distracter. They do not mix with homework schedules and should be turned off and left in a public place during homework time so the temptation to chat with friends is avoided. • Your child will need his own desk with appropriate lighting. This might be in his bedroom or in a quiet part of the house. Not all students prefer to work in the isolation of their own room, some preferring to work in a family space. This is appropriate so long as distractions such as television are turned off.
Year 12 student Narthana Epa studies in a quiet space
• Sleep patterns should be established and controlled by parents. Research indicates that adolescents need eight to nine hours of sleep daily for optimal brain functioning. Sleep patterns are habitual and once disturbed need planned management to re-establish appropriate sleep cycles. • A breakfast high in protein and low in carbohydrates promotes concentration and learning. A balanced diet of three meals a day rich in protein and vitamins and low in fat promotes a healthy and active young person. When problems occur, which happens in every family from time to time, address one or two most important issues at any given time. Attempts to transform every facet of your child’s behaviour at one time are a recipe for power struggles and unhappy family relationships. He will feel discouraged, victimised and quite unmotivated. A motivated student is one who feels loved by his family, whose strengths are acknowledged and who knows clearly the boundaries and limits to his behaviour. Your Head of House, the Director of Counselling Ms Elaine Hosie or the Director of Students Dr Tim Scott are available to discuss these issues with parents. Elaine Hosie 13
Learning Strategies Individual Differences and Student Engagement Current educational practice places major emphasis on teachers’ abilities to understand the individual needs of students and their particular learning styles. Ironically schools struggle to develop structures which facilitate these practices. There is considerable tension between the pedagogy and the reality.
Photograph by Amanda Louey
Educators know the benefits of one-on-one time with students, they do not disagree that knowing a student well helps the teaching and learning, they are well aware of the benefits of analysing individuals’ dispositions, backgrounds, priorlearning, emotional states, even the effects of diet. Although these principles are firmly established, the historical development of schools, along with the economic rationale that drives them to deliver education to groups rather than individuals, provides a challenge.
Above: Prep teacher Penny Daish helps Prep students with a Maths activity Top: A German class practises German with their Teacher Kylie Witt & Language Assistant Birte Hornberg in one of their regular Kaffee und Kuchen (coffee & cake) sessions Middle: Wadhurst students are designing and building a solar car as part of the Talent Development program, from left: Henry Coats, James Welch, Chris Hamer, Will Penington (seated), Teacher James Brown, Fergus Maclachlan & Alex Wickett
Those who argue for school structures which allow teachers to develop closer relationships with students, especially in the early years of schooling, would target class sizes. This is an easy fix, a glib response to a complex issue. Smaller class sizes may very well provide some of the answers for effective teaching. Schools exist to educate students effectively according to the societal, political and ethical climate of a particular group of people at a particular time in history. Currently we value educators who use a wide range of delivery styles, who recognise the visual, auditory and kinaesthetic needs of learners, who teach skills that lead to independent learning, who encourage problem solvers, critical thinkers; teachers who understand their pupils and value their uniqueness. Having said that and perhaps somewhat surprisingly, I am unconvinced that small class
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sizes are necessarily the best means of addressing the needs of individuals. Schools such as MGS have not lagged behind in educational thought. They have been proactive about providing for changed pedagogy. Interestingly, some of the structures or activities that we would see as exemplary have developed almost imperceptibly. They are the product of the efforts of teachers who have recognised a need and assessed the chances of successful implementation in a school structured traditionally to cater for large groups physically, administratively and financially. Schools like MGS rarely undergo revolutionary change, they evolve. Successful establishments are often fearful of quick responses to new ideas. They resist rapid change unless there are strong drivers. This does not mean that they are necessarily impervious to change. The original grammar school model at MGS is almost unrecognisable in this the first decade of the twenty-first century. It does not rely entirely on mass instruction in overcrowded classrooms, nor does it cater to a homogeneous social elite from established families of the recognisably well-to-do. Its structure and predominant pedagogy encourages, as far as it is possible in most schools, the growth of abilities in each student. Without denying that smaller class sizes can be helpful in the brave new world of catering to individual differences, let us not lose sight of the pedagogical goal and how it can and is achieved in a variety of ways. A school that relies only on small classes as the means of developing individual student talents is short-sighted. “…class size is only one factor that affects learning. Others are the school’s curriculum, pedagogical approach and resources, and students’ backgrounds”¹. To this I would add a most important ingredient, teacher quality, and in doing so would emphasise the essential element of student engagement. When students are engaged in their learning they learn. It follows that schools should look to the way in which they can best engage their students. MGS does this most successfully not only through activities that involve large numbers of students interacting with small numbers of adults but through a staggering number of activities where students can develop their potential by interacting in small groups with small numbers of adults, teachers, tutors or mentors. The classroom is one of the learning opportunities. Important as it is, it is not the only one and we would be unwise to ignore the learning that takes place elsewhere in the School. The photos accompanying this article give a tiny insight into the number and range of activities currently offered to students from Prep to Year 12. ¹ ‘Size Matters’, Margaret Cook, The Age, 21/06/04
Chris Bradtke
Innovation in Action eLearning Vision eLearning refers to the effective integration of a range of technologies across all areas of schooling to support student learning. These technologies encompass a range of media, tools, environments and resources, including rich, interactive, online resources. eLearning creates engaging learning opportunities and, when effectively implemented, acts as a catalyst for authentic, meaningful learning experiences.
Students at Melbourne Grammar School are natural users of new technologies. They are highly connected through many forms of media – television, the internet, mobile phones, chatrooms, news-groups and many other even newer forms of technology – and in many cases have more years of experience as users than their teachers. They are citizens of a changing world and as such need to be flexible and adaptable. Their skills and understandings need to be easily transferable to new learning situations. One can now see many good examples of the sound educational use of technology across the entire School, not simply where one would expect to find it, in the traditional high-tech subjects of Information Technology with its web development and programming or Design Technology with its computer aided design software where students use the power of their notebooks to create virtual 3D models of objects to be machined. For example Year 5 and 6 students at Grimwade House make full use of the portability of their notebooks by easily accessing the wireless connections around the School. In Mathematics they make use of the power of LOGO Programming in Microworlds to create highly professional art animations. They use Sybelius and Band-in-a-box software to compose and play highly original pieces of music and make extensive use of their notebooks to create posters and to integrate literacy programs. At Wadhurst, students use their notebooks to organise their thinking and map complex concepts in Science, Geography and History using the power of visual mind mapping tools such as Inspiration. In Geography they use geographic information systems such as ArcView to construct meaningful answers to real problems in their immediate physical environment. They practice speaking and listening in French, not by simply repeating others’ utterances, but by creating their own original dialogues and recording their own
Photograph by Rod White
In our ongoing efforts to offer every student a range of opportunities to develop high levels of technological fluency, which they are then readily able to apply effectively in any situation, the School has developed an ‘eLearning Vision’ as a direct outcome of the MGS Vision.
voices directly on their notebooks, which they then share with the rest of the class through the School’s network. At Senior School the MGS portal is used by groups and classes to share learning materials and to collaborate online. In Politics and Business Studies for example, students use threaded asynchronous online discussion boards as additional ways to engage in ongoing discussions on topics that are far too interesting to be simply left behind in class. In English, students made use of the discussion boards to discuss their fantasy reading, to share expertise and interests and to help write book reports. Students submit their reports online through virtual ‘submission boxes’ and then engage with others, agreeing or disagreeing with them about their books, asking questions, suggesting other reading, or simply expressing appreciation and interest. This is an excellent way of exchanging views, not to replace class discussion, which is very vigorous, but to allow a more reflective and personal interaction between the class members and their teacher ‘anytime and anywhere’.
Above: Year 5 students Ryan Pereira, Madi Bolton & Charlotte Knight create posters about Ned Kelly using their notebook computers Top left: Year 7 students Luke Glen & Ari Armstrong use a computer microscope in their Science class Bottom left: Year 10 student Simon Hoy works in the Mac lab as part of a Visual Communications lesson
Students in Health and Physical Education use the power of Movie Maker and other video editing programs on their notebooks to create short video-clips to illustrate their understanding of important concepts of healthy living. Videoclips are increasingly being created by students and teachers in History, Earth Studies and Sport to more clearly illustrate specific points and then distribute through the portal. Alberto Rizzo 15
CENTRE FOR LEARNIN The Centre for Learning and Leadership will be our students’ gateway to information, knowledge and the world. This development is central to Melbourne Grammar School fulfilling its Vision: to enable students to look beyond the possible to achieve the unimaginable. By its nature, shape and form, the Centre for Learning and Leadership will facilitate teaching methods that are forwardlooking and innovative, that integrate technology so as to move students and staff effortlessly from the local to the global. The Centre for Learning and Leadership will enable students and teachers to develop new learning partnerships that will shape Melbourne Grammar as a leading learning organisation where every member of its community is actively engaged in continuous learning.
ADMIN. LOBBY SEMINAR
DOMAIN ROAD
Facilities
Old School House and Headmaster’s House will be redeveloped to build the Centre for Learning and Leadership, creating an epicentre for the South Yarra campus which brings Wadhurst and Senior School together. The Centre for Learning and Leadership will contain: • Centralised library and resource centre for Wadhurst and Senior School • Centre for leadership • Lecture theatre and seminar rooms • Information technology hub • Multi-media centre • Gallery and exhibition space
GALLERY
MULTIMEDIA MANAGER
Learning Outcomes
Learning: The Centre for Learning and Leadership will be a social pl Senior School students and staff gather to share information, explore
Leadership: The Centre will be the launch pad for our leadership pro new position to co-ordinate and implement programs across the scho them to lead others in everyday life situations as well as preparing the Collaboration: Working in teams is powerful and the Centre’s spaces fostering collegiality, role modelling and mentoring.
Knowledge: A key transition from secondary to tertiary education is to be well equipped in sourcing, analysing, synthesising and referenci and Leadership will be an environment which provides students with confidence.
Technology: The School has a splendid education computer program approach to learning. This innovative facility will draw on world’s be of information through technology to create new learning opportuni
Innovation: The Centre of Learning and Leadership will be organic in surround them with an inspirational space that provides them with e learning designed to motivate young independent thinkers to take th
Participation If you are interested in contributing to the Tomorrow’s Leaders Today fundraising campaign in support of the Centre for Learning and Leadership please contact Michael Joyce, Director of Fundraising, on 9865 7683 or email <mdjoyce@mgs.vic.edu.au>.
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NG AND LEADERSHIP LIBRARY + MULTIMEDIA OFFICES
READING + RELAXATION TERRACE
GEN. READING
STAIR CIRCULATION DESK BAG STORAGE
THE LOUNGE
FOYER CLOSED BOOKS
THEATRETTE
Architecture
lace, where learning is mixed with life; a place where Wadhurst and e ideas and discover knowledge through collaborative inquiry.
JOHN WARDLE ARCHITECTS
ograms and activities developed by the Director of Leadership – a ool to ensure all students have training and experiences that enable em for higher level leadership positions in the future. will be flexible and provide for co-operative work practices
the shift from directed to self directed learning, students need ing information to build knowledge. The Centre for Learning h the skills and experience to transition to tertiary education with
m with notebooks for all students from Year 5 and a technology-rich est practice in the provision of technology, enabling the harnessing ities for students and teachers.
n its ability to accommodate the changing needs of learners. It will easy access to leading-edge facilities and resources. It is a hub of he initiative and be responsible for their own learning.
John Wardle Architects has been appointed to design the Centre after responding to a design brief prepared by a broadly based committee of staff and students chaired by Council member Ian Vaughan. John Wardle Architects has won many Royal Australian Institute of Architects awards and recent and current projects include QV1 Tower at the former Queen Victoria Hospital site, residential Dock 5 at Docklands and buildings at University of Sydney, University of South Australia and RMIT University. The Centre for Learning and Leadership will be environmentally designed, embodying a sense of strength and solidity that will complement and connect, both visually and physically, with its surrounding architecture. The frontage to Domain Road will provide a new entrance to the School and the Luxton Dining Room will be integrated into the Centre. The building will have spaces that are functional, flexible, light, airy, open, visually connected and attractive.
Making it Happen
The designs for the Centre for Learning and Leadership are being finalised and building will commence in early 2006 subject to fulfilment of fundraising goals. Central to the building of this Centre is Melbourne Grammar’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today fundraising campaign. For the School to open this facility in 2008, its sesquicentenary year, we must secure commitments of $8 million from within the Grammar community by the end of 2005, increasing to $10 million by the end of 2006. To date the campaign has been well supported by leading members within our community and has achieved $6 million in donations and pledges, which leaves a further $2 million to be raised by the end of this year for construction to commence in 2006. School Council and in particular the Building and Grounds Sub-Committee have undertaken an exhaustive review and planning process to determine the optimum educational environment to realise the Melbourne Grammar Vision for learning and leadership. As in the past and into the future it is a time for the Grammar community and those committed to the advancement and support of education to come forward and enable our Vision to become a reality. Kirrily Johns
Plans courtesy of John Wardle Architects © 2005
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Curriculum Initiatives
Photograph by Amanda Louey
Learning Leading to Understanding
Year 5 students Bob Forrest and Natasha Hiscock investigate learning and the human brain
The Melbourne Grammar School Vision and its nine core values underpin much of the curriculum at Grimwade House. Teachers have been working together designing units of work that challenge the children and ask them to think about big ideas.
In Term I, students in Years 1, 3, 5 and 6 have been looking at ‘learning’; they have looked at themselves as learners and in collaborative partnerships. Year 1 students have looked at how their learning styles differ from each other. Year 3 students have investigated learning communities
and their role within them. Students in upper primary are keeping learning journals in which they reflect on their learning and pose questions to investigate. School wide changes include a change to the daily timetable with the morning block lengthened to allow for extended periods of uninterrupted learning time. We have introduced a ‘fruit snack’ whereby the children ‘refuel’ during the morning session, but continue working until recess. It is hoped that the work undertaken now, and the development of skills and strategies, will prepare the students for life long learning. Glyn Howitt
Photograph by Mark Coleman
Scientists at Work
Year 8 students Will Gort & Nick Journeaux test Yarra River water quality
Last year the Ithaka Project prompted Science staff at Wadhurst to identify the behavioural characteristics of an effective scientist. Characteristics include curiosity, an ability to use all the resources at his disposal, to work efficiently as part of a team, to show interest in authentic learning tasks, to use discussion to further understanding and to place theory in an appropriate social/historical context. During Term I this year, a small trial group of students participated in a brief program requiring the collection of data relating to the
This enabled the boys to perform field work in an area of current social interest. With links to aspects of the existing Year 7 and 8 curriculum and allowing the participants to display the characteristics as defined by Ithaka, the project facilitated the authentic use of the students’ notebook computers for data analysis and communication. Mark Coleman
Portal 24/7 Visiting the MGS portal should be a regular activity for all senior students. Every class has a dedicated homepage on the portal with the capacity to allow students rapid access to resources, instructions, news, assignments, the submission of completed work, discussion forums and resources - all posted by their subject teacher. This capacity for communication underpins the MGS portal as an essential part of the MGS educational experience. Students can access the portal via the internet from anywhere. This is especially valuable for students who might find themselves away from school due to extra-curricular, travel or other reasons. Constructing learning experiences
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quality of water in the Yarra River. The boys were exposed to sophisticated equipment and were guided in their work by Alison Mitchell, a scientist based in Wodonga working in this field with the CSIRO Murray Darling Water Research Facility.
which make the most of the portal and ICLT (Information, Communication and Learning Technologies) resources broadens the range of strategies available for both addressing individual needs, especially when used in combination with email, and the nature of learning tasks undertaken in class. Former MGS students frequently comment that a substantial part of their studies at tertiary level are conducted on-line or in an ICLT environment. Streamed lectures, audio recordings, discussion forums, mock legal processes and even medical procedures are all part of the tertiary ICLT experience. David Coales
Boarding Meet our Nurses and Housemothers Caring for students, our nursing staff are always on call. Two nurses live in Melbourne Grammar’s boarding houses as housemothers, looking after boarders, as well as the health care of Wadhurst and Senior School students, both day boys and boarders. There is also a nurse at Grimwade House, first aid staff at Wadhurst and a doctor on call. Our nurses provide health care to Melbourne Grammar students and staff, encompassing promotion of healthy behaviours, health education, illness prevention and addressing acute and ongoing health related conditions. Preventative health is important, with the coordination of an immunisation program as well as preventative health care programs such as flu shots and mouthguard fittings. Our nurses are kept busy throughout the year with a wide variety of illnesses and injuries. Winter terms see an increase in colds and flu as well as other viruses. Winter sports deliver sprains, strains and occasionally fractures and other injuries. Summer terms bring hay fever and seasonal allergies. Towards the end of each term the nurses generally see an increase in illness as students become rundown and more susceptible to ailments. Every Saturday during term the School’s Health Centre is open to look after sporting injuries. The nurse on duty is often consulted to evaluate sports related ills and treat and refer to appropriate health care facilities. On certain occasions, such as the athletics day, the nurse on duty will attend the event and co-ordinate first aid. The bulk of the work done by our nurses is related to the boarding house. Co-ordinating the health care of 120 adolescent boys is a huge job! The nurses are also housemothers for the boarding houses and as such provide a much-needed female presence in the male dominated environment. The pastoral care role of the nurse/housemother is important in the provision of a safe and supportive home away from home for our boarders. The housemothers provide a caring role for the boys, for example making birthday cakes when they are in the boarding house during school term, providing a sounding board for their feelings, concerns, and complaints, cheering them on in their house sports, showing them how to iron shirts and giving advice on personal hygiene. Psychological welfare and emotional well-being is very important as boarders leave the comfort of home at a young age and our nurses provide appropriate support and foster a sense of belonging for boarders at all times. Wendy Chandler, Kirrily Johns and Kylie Pollard
Meet Wendy Chandler
Nurse and Perry Housemother Wendy Chandler has been at Melbourne Grammar for ten years. With a background in school nursing Wendy has been in-charge of a boarding house at a girls school, an occupational health nurse and co-ordinator at a child care centre.
Boarding Information Day Friday 29 April 2005 at 2pm See page 30 for details
Likes about the job?
“I like the job because of its homeliness and the type of contact you have with the boys which gives you a chance to see the whole person. You see them grow from being somewhat apprehensive young boys when they arrive to being mature young adults when they leave and you know you have helped shape them into the person they have become.” Unusual moments?
“A fire alarm went off early one morning because one of the boys had burnt toast. At the same moment one of the boys was in the shower when a spider dropped from the vent above him and bit him on the neck, so I had fire alarms going off with firemen trying to locate a fire, a near naked boy running around screeching about a spider bite on his neck and all the other boys trying to vacate the boarding house in various states of undress and sleepiness causing mayhem in the Quad.”
Meet Kylie Pollard
School Nurse and School Housemother Kylie Pollard has been at Melbourne Grammar for two years. She has worked as a secondary school nurse for the Department of Human Services and has a background in paediatric nursing at the Royal Children’s Hospital. She also spent several years working in the USA for a summer camp, working in program design and implementation. Likes about the job?
“I love working with adolescent boys. I feel privileged to work with them during these exciting and formative years and to watch them mature into capable young men.”
MGS Nurses & Housemothers Kylie Pollard & Wendy Chandler outside the Health Centre
Unusual moments?
“Perhaps the most unusual moment this year has been finding several kangaroo skins in the tanning process on the verandah of the boarding house during Term III. I didn’t know we had city dwelling roos!”
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The Old Melburnians Council From the President With 2005 now well under way, The Old Melburnians welcome all new Members, especially those who were 2004 school leavers, and other young men and women from that same peer year. We also extend to the School’s leadership group, in particular Kenny Velos (School Captain) and Chris Venus (School Vice Captain), our best wishes as their busy year progresses. David Field
The Old Melburnians Council has three new Members this year, Jack Hawkins (OM 1972), Campbell Kennedy (OM 1994) and Malcolm Crang (2004 School Vice Captain), and I look forward to their contributions to a range of Council’s activities. Our Immediate Past President Jonathan Roberts (OM 1972), along with David Blackburn (OM 1968), retired from Council at the end of 2004, and I would like to record my thanks to them for their outstanding contributions over the years. The Society is continuing to strive for maximum ‘reach’, and to establish communication links with as many OMs as possible, wherever they may reside. Key to this is making optimum use of electronic, rather than print, media, and I invite all OMs to visit and explore the Old Melburnians’ website <oms.org.au>, which includes calendars of events, contact details, and the opportunity to catch up with friends and former classmates via OMs Online. In addition, periodic update information will be emailed via the OM Update to all OMs for whom an email address is held. Our branch and year group convenors are currently working hard on behalf of the OM community. Two very successful reunions have already been held this year, for the 1955 and 1965 year groups, and the Bellarine Peninsula branch has held a most enjoyable function at the home of Brian Davie (OM 1952). The 2005 annual dinner in Melbourne will be held on Thursday 28 July, in the newly redeveloped Memorial Hall. This promises to be
OMs Online Catch up with friends and former classmates at OMs Online
www.mgs.vic.edu.au Over 1,000 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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an outstanding event: our Guest Speaker will be the Federal Treasurer Peter Costello and all OMs will, I am sure, enjoy the opportunity to revisit their former ‘spiritual home’ and to tour the new music and drama sections of the complex. Full details, including booking arrangements, are provided in an insert with this Newsletter; please note that, should this dinner become sold out, a strict ‘first come, first served’ policy will apply. As flagged in previous Newsletters, The Old Melburnians have been continuing to hold CBDbased business lunches for OMs and their guests. Following two most successful functions last year with Graeme Samuel, Terry McCrann (OM 1964) and Greg Hywood as guest speakers, another lunch was held in March, featuring Chip Goodyear (CEO BHP Billiton Ltd). Further business lunches will be held this year, and publicity regarding these events will be disseminated via email and will also be available via the OM website. I am delighted to report that four Old Melburnians received awards in this year’s Australia Day Honours list: Stephen Cordner (OM 1970) - AM, for service to forensic medicine; Kenneth Marks (OM 1940) - AM, for service to the judiciary and the law; Rupert Myer (OM 1975) - AM, for service to the arts and through philanthropic and service organisations; and John Gall (OM 1963) - OAM, for service to rural and regional Australia. We congratulate these fine OMs on their achievements. Coinciding with the formal launch of the School’s Tomorrow’s Leaders Today campaign, I encourage all OMs to reflect on their relationship with the School, and the value it has brought for them and their families. This is a crucial time for OMs individually and collectively to support the School as it pursues the goals and plans incorporated within its Vision Statement, and flowing from its learning and leadership credo. The campaign is critical to the development projects which will support these activities, and I urge OMs to give careful consideration to providing generous support during the year ahead. David Field
The 2005 Old Melburnians Council, back row, from left: Campbell Kennedy, Malcolm Kennedy, David Gutherie & Nigel Thompson, middle: Nick Batrouney, Peter Ansell, Jack Hawkins, John Batistich & Stephen Gibbons, front: Simon Derham, Malcolm Crang, David Field (President), Paul Sheahan (Headmaster) & Simon Wilson
The Old Melburnians Soccer Club
Cricket Club
Founded circa 1997 The Old Melburnians Soccer Club has enjoyed a meteoric rise into a competitive league (provisional league division 2) and grown into a club that pulls from a diverse, extensive and enthusiastic group of members. As year 2005 closes around us, OMSC has taken early steps forward that are ensuring a strengthening club culture and further successes.
Under the new youthful and energetic leadership of Chris Walker and Andrew Dixon the OM Cricket Club began its 2004-2005 season positively, scoring convincing victories in the first half of the season to find the club in unfamiliar territory; near the top of the table at the Christmas/New Year break.
This season the club has attained the exceptional services of rookie coach and current parent Ghadir Razuki, and his immediate influence has seen a positive shift in attitudes. Ghadir is providing a more professional and organised training regime that has brought about immediate results. Two weeks into the preseason competition both the 1sts and 2nds were undefeated, and there is an optimistic feel leading into the new season. It seems that for the first time, OMSC is catering for both the social and serious soccer player, and this is set to take the club forward. As the kick off for season 2005 proper approaches, a collective group of players is pooling together and looking forward optimistically. We are unique in that we are a club that shares our game with backgrounds as diverse as Venezuela, Denmark and Saudi Arabia. We also possess a dedicated committee and coach that are ensuring we reach a common goal for this year and for the years to come. Matthew Pember
Lodge The Old Melburnians’ Lodge has had a very busy, interesting and entertaining year under the leadership of Ian Kinross Hunt (OM 1948). Ian started the year by outlining his plans in detail and he has had to admit that they were too ambitious. The Lodge initiated one new member Dr James B Ramsay and conducted four other degree ceremonies. Three Past Masters joined during the year, Dr Ian M Eilenberg (OM 1964) a former Member and Master in 1979, Stanley M (Mac) Fergusson (OM 1959) and Trevor A Watts (Old Camberwell Grammarian). In April we received an official visit from the Old Scotch Collegians’ Lodge. We will be returning that visit on Thursday 2 June 2005. Freemasons who are members of other Lodges are most welcome to join us in visiting Old Scotch at Camberwell. On a sad note, the Lodge lost its oldest and much loved member Jack Stansfield-Smith (OM 1929) and Past Master, known as ‘Stainless’ by his golfing and steel industry friends, who passed to the ‘Grand Lodge Above’ on 9 August last.
Unfortunately the latter half of the season was not as successful as the first half with three consecutive losses running into the finals, resulting in the team narrowly missing the finals by one point and finishing in fifth position. Regardless, the season was widely viewed as a success by all, with numbers and talent returning to the club after some years of absence, reflected by John Venizelakos and Marty Kennon being selected to represent the MCC touring XI. Another great success of this season was the inaugural Old OMs vs Young OMs match played on Christmas Eve. This year saw the young side victorious by 17 runs on a most enjoyable and entertaining day.
OM Sporting Clubs 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.
Many thanks to John Batistich, Jonathan Charlton and in particular Chris Walker for their tireless efforts throughout the season, and I encourage all school leavers with a desire to carry on their cricket after school to contact Chris Walker on 0411 147 177 or Andrew Dixon on 0402 909 294. Andrew Dixon
The social events were highlighted by the Jazz at Main Ridge day on 5 December. The members travelled down by coach and were entertained by Ian Williams’ seven piece jazz band. The charitable works continued with the Lodge not only supporting our regular causes, the Prahran Mission and the Royal Freemasons’ Homes of Victoria, but also raised funds to donate to the Russian School Disaster Relief Fund and the recent Tsunami Disaster Appeal. Freemasonry Victoria’s Benevolent Fund has donated $50,000 and aims to raise a further $50,000 from constituent lodges. The busy year left many of Ian’s plans incomplete and the Lodge has decided to let him continue those by voting him Master-elect for 2005-6. Ian Hunt and Simon Derham (OM 1973), Old Melburnians Councillor, will continue to develop the program to achieve closer ties with the School community. For further information about the Lodge or freemasonry please contact the Lodge Secretary, John Plowright on 9866 4059 or <johnplowright@ozemail.com.au>. John Plowright
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Branches & Reunions 1
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Sydney Community Function 1 The President of The Old Melburnians David Field with Merrill and Al Rowlands (OM 1955) at the Sydney community function held at the University and Schools Club 2 Enjoying the evening in at the University and Schools Club are Rowan Russell (OM 1973), David Nolan (OM 1976), Peter Smith (OM 1968) and Stephen Harper (OM 1978)
Mornington Community Function 3 Deputy Headmaster Peter Tooke with Mornington Branch Convenor Wilson Brown (OM 1959) and the Senior Vice President of The Old Melburnians Simon Wilson QC (OM 1968) 4 Enjoying the opportunity to catch up are Bette Macindoe, Richard Atkinson (OM 1952), Ken James (OM 1948) and Frank Macindoe (OM 1943)
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5 Judy and Richard Nutt (OM 1941) enjoy the surrounds of the Solair Restaurant at Arthurs Seat, the venue for the Mornington community function
Community Business Lunch 6 Andrew Treloar, Peter Jansen and Terry Mc Crann (OM 1965) catch up at the MGS community business lunch 7 Nigel Peck (OM 1945) and Richard Uglow (OM 1973) at the community business lunch
Old Boys Function 8 John Plowright (OM 1949), Geoff Rickards (OM 1947) and Bruce Barlow-Barker (OM 1944) at the Old Boys function at Edwin Flack Park at Port Melbourne 9 Members of the Class of 1931 gathered once more at Edwin Flack Park: Peter Acton with President of
the Old Melburnians David Field (OM 1965), Dick England and Philip Opas 10 Graeme Mollison (OM 1947), Peter Macdougall (OM 1943), Peter Siminton (OM 1945) and John Bolton (OM 1946) enjoy the facilities at Edwin Flack Park
1974 Thirty Year Reunion 11 Mark Spring, James Bedford and David Eilenberg enjoy catching up at the 1974 reunion 12 Stewart Moir, John Campbell, Peter Coben and Glenn McBride discuss days in the Quad at the 1974 reunion 13 Peter Shephard and James Macdougall enjoy the 1974 reunion 14 Tim Margetts with Myron Rogers and Vice President of the Old Melburnians Simon Derham (OM 1973) enjoy the 1974 reunion
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Photographs by Stewart Brook
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Community News
Obituaries The School has learnt of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy and understanding is extended to their family and friends. Alcock, D N R (1955) Bartlett, S P (Past Parent) Bawaro, A (Current Parent) Brett, B (Friend of the School) Brooksbank, M (Past Staff) Clark, J H C (1932) Connell, L L (Current Student) Dobberstein, F (Past Staff) Evans, D G (1946) Gallagher, W G (1932) Haisman, R G (1942) Hilf, J A (1950)
The Reverend Geoffrey Morrison Browne (OM 1929) writes that it has been 76 years since he and his brother The Reverend Archie Lynn Browne (OM 1929) (dec) were forced to leave the Bluestone due to the effects of the great depression. Both Geoff and Lynn later returned to study and were ordained in the Anglican ministry. Their brother Keith Henry Browne (OM 1927) (dec) completed his schooling in 1927 and went on to become a grazier. Geoff’s son Peter Browne (OM 1974) also attended MGS. Geoff this year celebrates 58 years as an ordained Anglican Priest. Peter Charlton (OM 1955) is the Prime Minister’s representative on the APEC Business Council and has been re-appointed for a further term of three years. Peter has also accepted an invitation from the United Nations to become the Australian Member of the United Nations Advisory Council for East Asia and the Pacific.
Hunt, J A (1945) Macmillan, D (Friend of the School) Markham, D E (1999) Massina, W S (1936) Nettelbeck, P D (1994) Nicholls, J L (Past Parent) Ramage, D J (1955) Smith, M (1930) To, S T (Current Parent)
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Barrie Edwards (OM 1955) has retired after 24 years at the Geelong College in their Music Department. After completing his studies at MGS, Barrie entered the University of Melbourne to study Law before leaving to become a professional musician. He toured Calcutta in 1959-1960 with an Australian quartet. Returning to Melbourne he continued working as a musician in the studios of the ABC, Channel 9, Bill Armstrong and the Broadcast Exchange to name a few. He was in London from 1969 to 1971 and moved to Anglesea upon
his return. He entered the State College of Victoria at Geelong (later Deakin University) for teacher training and commenced at Geelong College in 1978 as a primary teacher. Barrie Completed a Bachelor of Education degree in 1980 and transferred to the Geelong College Music Department in 1984. Barrie continues to give music performances in the Geelong area and Melbourne. Allan Mawdsley (OM 1955) has retired after thirty years of full time public sector work in child psychiatry, most of it as Director of The Alfred Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. Allan has also given 50 years service with the St John Ambulance, including a three year period as Victorian State Commissioner and is currently the Deputy Chairman of the St John Council for Victoria. Allan’s other voluntary work includes being President of the Mental Health for the Young and their Families – Victorian Chapter. Allan’s son David Mawdsley (OM 1998) is undertaking a Post-Doctoral Fellowship at Vanderbilt University in Nashville Tennessee. Peter Zoller (OM 1965) recently worked on contract for the British Government in India following retirement from Australian Diplomatic Service in 1998. He returned to Canberra in July 2002 for eighteen months to work as a consultant on development and trade and will move to Kazakhstan in 2004 on a contract to the World Bank.
Tim Thwaites (OM 1969) is self-employed and trying to put science and technology into everyday language. Tim writes for magazines, research institutes and organisations, government, and private companies. His major client is the magazine New Scientist. Tim talks about things scientific on radio many times a week on various stations all over Australia. Rowan Galbraith (OM 1971) and his wife Libby were travelling through North Wales recently and stumbled across Harlech Castle. The MGS Games Song comes from the corresponding Welsh tune and famous song about the tough men of Harlech who repelled many an invasion. Rowan reports that you need “sinews tough as cords of leather” to climb up to the castle. John Reeve (OM 1973) is Senior Lecturer in history at the University of New South Wales, Australian Defence Force Academy, Canberra. Cambridge University Press has just reissued John’s book Charles I and the Road to Personal Rule in paperback. His most recent publication (co-edited with David Stevens) is The Face of Naval Battle: The Human Experience of Modern War at Sea published by Allen and Unwin. Peter Bucknell (OM 1984) will resign from his Professorship at the State University of New York this year to focus on chamber music concerts across the United States and tour with his wife, Israeli mezzosoprano Rinat Shalam.
Nicholas Platts (OM 1988) has now left the RAAF after 10 years service, his highlights include being Aide-de-Camp to General Cosgrove in 2003 and participating in the rescue of French and English yachtsmen in the Southern Ocean rescues of 1996. Nicholas has now moved to the UK and was married in June 2004. He has left his professional flying career behind and has embarked on a commercial career. Nicholas Power (OM 1988) has been working in London as a lawyer since 2001, initially in the IT/ Communications department of Baker & McKenzie Lawyers and more recently in the Global Outsourcing Division at IBM. Nicholas is also playing a lot of cricket. Maheswaran Pillai (OM 1992) was studying and working in India for seven of the last ten years. For the last three years he has been living in New York. Jonno Power (OM 1993) writes that he and Nerida Heyman were married at the Royal Melbourne Yacht Squadron on 20 November 2004. We wish them all the very best. Louise Broadfoot (OM 1995) who is a member of the Victoria Spirit upset favourites New South Wales Breakers by 50 runs earlier this month to win the bestof-three Women’s National League cricket finals series at Sydney’s Bankstown Oval. The win was the Spirit’s second title, having defeated NSW also in 2003-2004 with these two sides contesting
the past four finals series. Louise top-scored for Victoria with 29. Louise has since been selected to play in the Women’s World Cup in South Africa later this year. Marc Goldberg (OM 1995) is working in London with PricewaterhouseCoopers. Marc is getting married in July 2005. Andrew Gray (OM 1995) is working as a pharmacist on the weekends but during the week he is doing a PhD in Pharmacology, studying drug dependence. Andrew is expecting to finish in early 2005. Andrew has had a great time going to conferences in San Francisco, Brisbane, Sydney and New Zealand. He now has the travel bug and hopes to get a round-theworld ticket in 2005. Hamish Ramsay (OM 1996) is still based in Norman, Oklahoma, where he is working on his Doctorate in Meteorology, researching tornadoes and severe weather, and following them whenever he gets the chance. He had the opportunity to present some research at a conference in Cape Cod last October. Jonathan Lontayao (OM 1999) having taken some time out from Melbourne since leaving school Jonathan has wound up in the vibrant city of Canberra, doing a BA at the Australian National University. He followed this by a stint at the University of Canberra doing a Graduate Diploma in Marketing Communication. He should complete his Masters in Marketing Communication by mid 2005. Jonathan has
been staying at Bruce Hall at the ANU for the last five years (named after the same Stanley Melbourne Bruce from Bruce House at MGS). Jonathan is now in Sydney working as an Advertising Federation of Australia Graduate Trainee with Clemenger BBDO for 2005. David Dixon (OM 2002) is currently Studying Information Systems at Melbourne University. Lizzie Alder (OM 2003) completed Year 12 at Geelong Grammar School and did a GAP year at Ashford School in Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom. Ashford is a weekly boarding school. Lizzie had the opportunity to travel in Europe and found time to catch up with her brother Edward Alder (OM 1996) who is working in London. Lewis McMenamin (OM 2003) was awarded a Department of Health Sciences scholarship to study Radiation Therapy at RMIT. Nick Stogdale (OM 2003) was in England last year completing a GAP year at Beaudesert Park School and returned home to commence a Commerce/Law course at Deakin University.
Weddings Congratulations The Grammar Community is pleased to congratulate the following couples who recently celebrated their marriage in the Chapel of St Peter:
November 20 Piers Canty (1993) & Kate Laidlaw
November 27 Jeremy Tymms (1992) & Sonja Scudds
December 11 William Birrell (1994) & Kathleen Brand
January 29 Benjamin Swinnerton (1991) & Petina Lanigan
February 5 Thindika Amarasekara (1991) & Amanda Sinn
February 6 James Ross (1985) & Sarah McEwing
February 26 James Banks (1992) & Annabel Kemp
Compiled by Stewart Brook
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Grammar Community Past Parents Chapter
Buried Treasure
Parents within the MGS community enjoy opportunities to meet a wide variety of people, many of whom become lifelong friends. Eventually, all parents become ‘past parents’ and whilst moving on is the natural course, maintaining a link with the past has benefits. Past parents enjoy a function at Edwin Flack Park in late 2004, from left: Anna Denton, Lucille Payne, Peter Payne & Winnonah Cunningham
It was with this in mind that a group of past parents representing each year from 1990 onwards formed what is now officially known as the Melbourne Grammar Past Parents Chapter (MGSPP). All parents whose children have left the School are welcomed to be a part of this organisation. The purpose of this organisation is to foster and further friendships amongst the school community and to maintain links with the school. Since 2000 there have several very happy occasions, including one held recently to view the newly opened MGS Sports Complex, Edwin Flack Park. As many past parents had contributed so generously for this facility it was a wonderful opportunity to see this venue. A function for 2005 is tentatively planned for Thursday 8 December – details to follow in the next Grammar Newsletter. Why not make this a get together date for some of your year group? Information about MGSPP and future activities can be gained through: the School website, Grammar Newsletter and the MGS Community Secretary at the Development Office.
The note said: “This container was placed here when the chemistry laboratory was rebuilt 1957/1958. J K Maddern-Wellington School House 54-57.” The accompanying athletics sports program of 26 October 1957 was filled in with winners and times and the coins included a 1953 three pence and another badly damaged coin. Past student John Maddern-Wellington, now retired from veterinary practice in Victoria, has a farm at Glenisla, north of Hamilton and is currently the veterinary surgeon at the RSPCA of Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby.
I look forward to the evolution of what I feel will be a very worthwhile addition to the already rich and diverse Melbourne Grammar community. Winonah Cunningham
Kirrily Johns
1985 LGR Reunion In early January this year, the 1985 LGR Hiking Society group leaders reunited for a weekend hike in the high country near Mt Howitt. Organiser and logistics wizard Tony Mangelsdorf managed to wrangle Rob Chapman, Julian Elliott, Gregor Brown, Steve Worboys, Phil Pearn and David Guthrie away from their domestic commitments for a weekend of reminiscing and anecdote oneupmanship. Only Dave Barnard was unable to make the trip, and was duly sledged in absentia.
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A 1/3 pint milk bottle filled with a handwritten note, an athletics sports meeting program from 1957 and two coins was discovered by builders within the slate roof of the Quad South building which was being stripped and renailed.
John had this to say about the discovery: “In my last year at school, I moved to School House from Witherby. I had always admired the school, and boarding gave me the chance to explore the secrets of the structure itself. I confess to having been to most corners of the buildings, and the renovations of 1957 were an open invitation to me to tour the ceilings beneath and the roofs above. I left the bottle to mark my point of exit from the ceiling to the roof, and also as a sort of time capsule. I had assumed it was found and thrown away by the builders at the time.”
Please register your current mail and email addresses with the Records Department <records@mgs.vic.edu.au> to ensure an invitation to future events.
1985 LGR group leaders reunion from left: David Guthrie, Gregor Brown, Rob Chapman, Julian Elliott, Steve Worboys, Tony Mangelsdorf & Phil Pearn at Breakfast Creek camp
A little bit of history has been discovered in a milk bottle during routine maintenance work at Melbourne Grammar over the summer holidays.
With packs full of the traditional LGR fare – Fray bentos, fresh foil sausages and Big Sister selfsaucing puddings – the group met at the Breakfast Creek camp for a quick dip in the Wellington before proceeding to Gantner’s car park for a very chilly Friday night. On Saturday we traversed the Crosscut Saw in superb weather to spend the night on Mt Buggery, with a day trip to Mt Speculation, before returning to Melbourne on Sunday. David Guthrie
The Grammar Foundation 30th Anniversary Over Melbourne Grammar School’s long history each generation of Grammarians has provided philanthropy to enhance and enrich the teaching and learning environment through leading facilities and programs. Throughout the School there are numerous examples of this benefaction and community support including Grimwade House, Witherby Tower, Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall, Myer Music Centre, Strickland PE Centre, Wadhurst, Handbury Family Cafeteria, Nigel Peck Family Careers Centre and Alfred Felton Hall. For the past thirty years the advancement of Melbourne Grammar School has been supported by the Grammar Foundation. In November 1974 School Council ratified the constitution of the Grammar Foundation. A year later the inaugural meeting of the Grammar Foundation members, then numbering 294, was held on 27 November 1975. Today the Grammar Foundation has more than 1,100 members, has raised in excess of $20 million and has secured endowments totalling more than $40 million. In his opening address to Grammar Foundation members in 1975 inaugural President of the Grammar Foundation Free Strickland set forth a vision that continues to be realised: “Tonight marks the culmination of more than 18 months of detailed planning and action, during which the concept of the Grammar Foundation has been developed from a shadowy vision to a practical and active entity. A private enterprise force, ready to stand behind the School Council and to marshal the goodwill of all members of the School family; through this to develop and maintain Melbourne Grammar School in the forefront of independent Schools in Australia … As has been said many times during these last months, our School is at a cross-road. If it is to maintain its traditional standards and its independence, if it is not to become a place only for the financially privileged, then we must – all of us, old boys, parents, staff, friends – become actively involved in the struggle. The Grammar Foundation provides the opportunity for this to be accomplished.” Thirty years on we are indebted to Free Strickland and those that supported the establishment, growth and success of the Grammar Foundation. The Grammar Foundation was established as a direct result of the success of the Centenary Building Campaign chaired by Lewis Luxton CBE (OM 1929). Launched in June 1958 the campaign aimed to raise £500,000 (equivalent to $11 million today) supporting ten capital
The Grammar Foundation AGM Please join us for The Grammar Foundation’s AGM on Wednesday 18 May at 6pm at The Lodge. Guest speaker will be Professor Richard Larkins AO, Vice Chancellor and President Monash University (OM 1960).
A Centenary Building Campaign committee meeting in 1958 from left: Sir Fred Thomas, Free Strickland & Lewis Luxton
Details will be mailed in early May.
development projects across the School. Vice Chairman of the Campaign Ross Shelmerdine (OM 1937) said at the time of the launch: “Not only is this campaign of considerable consequence to the School, but it is unique in Australia; it is the biggest single campaign ever undertaken by a school in this country and could well be unequalled in the British Commonwealth.” He went on to close with an observation that still holds true today. “The School has been a mother to many of us. She has helped formulate the Australian way for life based on the Christian concept of freedom, courage and initiative, that supremely Australian virtue mateship.” In May 2005 Melbourne Grammar School will launch the public phase of its current campaign Tomorrow’s Leaders Today. We currently have $6 million committed to our campaign target of $10 million. Our objective in 2005 is to take commitments to $8 million by the end of 2005 to enable the $20m Centre for Learning and Leadership project to commence in early 2006. As we have in times past we will call upon our community to support the advancement of the School for the benefit of current and future generations to come. For further information about the Grammar Foundation please contact Michael Joyce on 9865 7683. Michael Joyce
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Friends of Grammar Senior School The new parents welcome drinks was a perfect opportunity to individually meet new parents to the School. At Edwin Flack Park the canteen is up and running for service on Saturdays when the teams are playing. The facility is fantastic for early starts on the weekend (filtered coffee), and great for light snacks and cold drinks for the hungry, thirsty sports people. The Quad Play Macbeth in mid March was supported by the drama auxiliary. The supper they provided enhanced the overall atmosphere of the evening and as always was a great social occasion.
Friends of Grammar 2005 Presidents from left; Karen Skillington (Senior School), Sally Dane (Wadhurst) & Glenda Ralph (Grimwade House)
Welcome to the School community for 2005. The Senior School Friends of Grammar Committee look forward to you participating in one, some or many of the exciting functions we have planned for the year. Early in the term, we spent much time planning the calendar for Friends of Grammar. Finding suitable times for events is extremely challenging and we endeavour to offer a variety of activities A large number of parents visited Swap Shop around the beginning of Term I. The frenetic pace in the shop demonstrated how quickly children grow over the summer school holidays, and also how parents love to catch up with each other!
In April, we are looking forward to presenting a garden design talk to be followed by lunch at The Lodge. Our special event, a family/fair type occasion will be held on Saturday 19 November. The open forum meeting held in March has allowed for as much input from the School community, where possible, in regard to its creation. In the past, the year level senior school dinners have proved to be very popular. These are scheduled to resume in Term II at the Student Centre. We hope your busy schedule this year provides sufficient time for renewing old acquaintances and making new friends in the context of the
activities we have on offer.
I would like to thank all Friends of Grammar for their suggestions, contributions and assistance and I wish you all the very best for a happy and productive year ahead.
Karen Skillington
Friends of Grammar Wadhurst serve Year 7 students barbecue treats on their first day of school
Wadhurst 2005 heralds yet another action packed and fun filled year at Wadhurst. The Friends of Grammar Wadhurst Committee has been elected, the Year 7 and 8 class representatives, appointed and the planning of events for the year is underway. The support from the Committee, class reps, staff and parents has been wonderful and I thank them all. The transition from primary to secondary school for the Year 7 boys was marked by the annual 28
sausage sizzle on the Wadhurst oval on day one. The balmy weather made a welcome change; icypoles were in great demand and the behaviour of the boys was a credit to them and their parents.
and communication between parents within the framework of the Grammar community. Your support of Friends of Grammar Wadhurst is greatly appreciated.
The Headmaster’s drinks for new parents, the new parents’ coffee morning and the Year 7 and 8 information nights provided parents, both old and new, with an opportunity to meet and also renew friendships and acknowledge or re-affirm their membership of the Wadhurst community. The Year 7 cocktail party, held on the Wadhurst Deck, was a most convivial evening; enjoyed by all present. At the time of writing this report, the Year 8 cocktail party is upon us and house coffee mornings have been organised by the class reps.
My thanks go to the Immediate Past President Cathie Vickers-Willis and the retiring members of the Committee for their enthusiasm, hard work and commitment during 2004. The Wadhurst Committee for 2005 is Annie Cleaver, Jane de Fegely, Elinor Graham, Janie Habla, Anne Rundell, Gabrielle Lade, Cynthia Masters, Jenny Ridgeway, Phillipa Risbey, Kirsty Russell and Lucinda Scott.
Term II brings a ‘Wadhurst Evening’, the Mothers’ Day stall for the boys and culminates in the one and only Wadhurst breakfast for all boys and their families on Wednesday 15 June. Subsequent activities will be posted in the next Newsletter. These serve to engender friendships
On behalf of FOG Wadhurst, may you, your sons and the staff have a wonderful Wadhurst year full of fellowship, pleasure and success. We look forward to meeting you all over ensuing weeks. Sally Dane
Grimwade House The new school year has commenced with enormous enthusiasm. The children and parents seem to have settled in well. Traditionally, the first term is very busy at Grimwade House. The class representatives and the Friends of Grammar Grimwade House Committee have enthusiastically organised refreshments for the year level information sessions and the specialist information session. All the evenings have been very well attended. The specialist information evening showcased the wonderful range of educational opportunities available to the children at Grimwade. The majority of these sessions have been held in the Junior Music Room due to the inclement weather experienced at the start of the school year. The weather has not however dampened the friendly atmosphere and excitement that characterises life at Grimwade. The co-ordinators and class representatives have already organised year level cocktail parties and many morning teas in private homes and restaurants to welcome parents to the new school year. The much-anticipated new FOGG kitchen, located at the rear of the Junior Music Room, is complete and is the source of great pride. The FOGG Committee has purchased new
crockery and supplies to ensure we can cater for all functions with ease for many years to come. The close proximity of the kitchen to the function venues has meant that we have dispensed with our old wheelbarrow that we used to carry supplies across the Grimwade campus. The community is looking forward to the completion of the Grimwade Hall, which will provide a venue for the range of functions that are held on the campus. Discussions have been held in relation to the main fundraising event for 2005. It is intended that this event will be an inclusive activity and ensure that the Grimwade community can be fully involved. The FOGG Committee organised a successful and well-attended tennis day in early March. The venue this year was Edwin Flack Park, Todd Road. Grimwade parents, who had not yet had an opportunity to see this marvellous facility, were able to view the playing fields and associated buildings during the function. I would like to thank the FOGG Committee, class representatives and the year co-ordinators for so generously offering their time and talents. We are looking forward to a busy and enjoyable year together. Glenda Ralph
2005 Committees Senior School President
Karen Skillington
Vice President
Joan Cumbrae-Stewart Carolyn Barraclough Fiona Breedon Debra Catchlove Kerry Holdsworth Kristin Hoy Kerry Lawson Edwina Le Maistre Beverly Lindstrum Edward Lipohar Sue-Virginia Mackay Virginia O’Dwyer Cate Robinson Lauren Sanford Sarah Tricks Angela Velos Carol Venus
Wadhurst President
Sally Dane
Vice President Elinor Graham
Annie Cleaver Jane de Fegely Jane Habla Gabrielle Lade Cynthia Masters Jenny Ridgeway Phillipa Risbey Ann Rundell Kirsty Russell Lucinda Scott
Grimwade House President
Glenda Ralph
Vice President Sally Russel
Samantha Douros Alexandra Grimwade Mandy Jackson Annemaree Jones Georgina Leigh Franca Rao-Hardaker Caroline Robinson Belinda Thomson Rita Varma
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Community Noticeboard Motor Works Gallery 2005 EXHIBITION CALENDAR 2005 Di Crawford Saturday 26 Feb – Sunday 6 March
The Reverend Adrienne Simondson Memorial Fun Run/Walk – Sunday 15 May 2005
Humane Society International – Asia Fundraising Art Auction Wednesday 16 March – Friday 18 March
MGS Art Staff Exhibition Opening: 5.30pm Thursday 21 July Friday 22 July – Friday 5 August Year 9 and 10 Exhibition Opening: 5.30pm Tuesday 16 August Wednesday 17 August – Friday 27 August Wadhurst Exhibition Opening: 5.30pm Thursday 1 September Thursday 2 September – Tuesday 13 September VCE Art, Studio Arts and Visual Communication & Design Exhibition Opening: 5.30pm Monday 7 November Tuesday 8 November – Friday 18 November
2005 Reunions Reunions are planned for the dates listed below. Each reunion is generally organised by a small committee of volunteers. Those willing to help are asked to contact Stewart Brook on 03 9865 7681 or email <sdbrook@ mgs.vic.edu.au>. 1955 Fifty Year Reunion Thursday 3 March - Luxton Dining Hall 1965 Forty Year Reunion Friday 1 April - Royce Hotel 1975 Thirty Year Reunion Friday 18 November -Royce Hotel
Four OMs from 1994 assemble in the boarding precinct prior to the start of the 2004 Adie Simondson Memorial Fun Run/Walk. From left: Alex Planinsek, Jonathon Charlton, current student Angus Whittle, Rob Cooper & David Whittle
Photograph by B Probyn
Photograph by Michael Shaw
Charles Newton Opening: 6.30 – 8.30pm Tuesday 3 May Wednesday 4 May – Saturday 21 May
Jacqueline Marshall, the latest recipient of the Adie Simondson Memorial Scholarship at the Diocesan School for Girls, Grahamstown, South Africa
Staff, boys, parents, friends and particularly Old Melburnians are invited to gather in memory of Adie and to take a jog or walk around the tan. Afterwards a barbecue lunch will be held in the boarding quad (BYO drinks) and we welcome all Fun Run/Walk participants and their families to stay on. 10.00am Chapel service in the Chapel of St Peter 11.00am Run/Walk registration at the Boarding House, 140 Domain Street South Yarra 11.30am Run/Walk commences Entrance donation: Adults $14.00 Students $7.00 (Cheques payable to: Melbourne Grammar School)
Proceeds from the day will go to the Adie Simondson Memorial Fund. This fund maintains the student scholarship with the Diocesan School for Girls, Grahamstown, South Africa, and has contributed to the annual Ethics Prize in Adie’s memory. For further information contact: Michael Shaw on (03) 9865-7508 or <mgshaw@mgs.vic.edu.au>.
Matinée Dinosauresque – Sunday 29 May 2005
1985 Twenty Year Reunion Friday 7 October - Royce Hotel 1995 Ten Year Reunion Friday 2 September - Student Centre 2000 Five Year Reunion Friday 6 May - Student Centre 2004 One Year Reunion Friday 2 December - Max Hotel
Boarding Information Day Boarding is an outstanding formative experience and there is no better place in which to enjoy it than at Melbourne Grammar School. Come and visit our outstanding boarding facilities on Friday 29 April 2005 at 2pm.
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Donald Britton, Melbourne Grammar School Director of Music 1954-74
‘Three Dinosaurs in Concert’ will present a free program of song, impression and reminiscence in the new MGS Memorial Hall Music Studio on Sunday 29 May at 2:30pm. The three ‘dinosaurs’ (former members of the MGS staff) are Jim Lawry (1956-1973), Tony Morton (1969-1997) and Donald Britton OAM (Director of Music 1954-74). The program will consist of: • Donald Britton Piano, Impressionistic pieces • Tony Morton Songs, French and German • Jim Lawry MGS songs of years gone by [Includes an unauthorised version of The Gendarmes Duet]. Refreshments will be provided at the conclusion of the concert.
This is a special opportunity for interested parents and students to tour the boarding facilities and meet staff and students.
This Matinée Concert will form part of the opening season of performances in the refurbished and expanded MGS music facilities, and round off the amazing story of the establishment and early growth of the MGS Music School.
For bookings or more information about boarding contact the Director of Admissions Kathy Howell on 03 9865 7570 or <enrol@mgs.vic.edu.au> by 27 April 2005.
Further information about the performers and the concert may be obtained from the School’s web site: <www.mgs.vic.edu.au>.
Welcome to the Grammar Community
New parents at Melbourne Grammar were welcomed to the Grammar community at a cocktail party in the Wadhurst Hall on 3 February 2005. The evening was a terrific opportunity for over 200 new parents to become acquainted with the School and to meet each other, the Headmaster, Heads of Campus, School Captains, staff and Friends of Grammar representatives.
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First Day 2005
Preps and other students new to Grimwade House eased their way into school life with an orientation morning on 31 January 2005. Students were able to discover their classroom, meet their teacher and new class mates and familiarise themselves with the playground in the presence of their parents and prior to other students beginning the next day.
Year 9 and new students to Senior School were also welcomed a day before other students to enable them to become acquainted with Senior School.
First Day 2005
Year 7 students joined Wadhurst a day prior to Year 8, and were treated to a lunchtime barbecue by Friends of Grammar on 31 January.