PAUL MUNSLOW

Class of 1991

I am honored to write this article. Here are my recollections and thoughts as a student 1983-1991 and beyond.

Even before I set foot in the school, the family connection was strong. My beloved Mum was at the school opening in 1954 as a 10-year-old and it’s alleged a time capsule exists inside the statue of Mary, and Mum signed it! One for the serious school historians to validate. My uncle attended the school from 1970 to 1975. So blue and white runs deep.

As a nine-year-old from a small primary school, I felt very much like a tadpole in a large ocean full of sharks! My earliest memory was the time of the terrible Ash Wednesday fires in February 1983 – the sense of school community was evident by way of fundraising and prayers in the hall – the space felt gargantuan, and the Year 12 students seemed like hulking beasts with a lot of swagger. You clearly didn’t want to look at them the wrong way!

Memories of primary school centered around sport. Most notably being plucked out of class to be a ball boy for Ricky Stuart and David Furner on Owens Oval for their kicking practice – it was a boy’s own adventure on steroids! Perhaps I was the most enthusiastic or annoying, but I was incredibly lucky to be picked by the Harlem Globetrotters in the gym to be taught a few tricks, kicking off an interest in basketball.

A few facilities stand out from my younger years that some may not be aware of. The outdoor trampolines outside the common room and the outdoor pool located indoors at the bottom of the building opposite Owens Oval. Whilst these facilities were fun back in the day, I can only imagine the school’s risk exposure in the litigious world we live in!

Whilst respecting and loving the tradition and proud history of rugby at St Edmund’s, Australian Rules football should be acknowledged and celebrated too. The most famous alumnus is the godfather of VFL/AFL, Alex Jesaulenko. I was fortunate enough to meet him in 2018 and he spoke very fondly of his time at our school. Many former students contributed heavily to the success of what was known as the ACTAFL in the halcyon days of local football.

In secondary school, by far my best memory was representing the school in the blue and white vertical stripes. The boys born in ’73 and ’74 enjoyed incredible success winning many premierships and unearthing a few who made it to the big time. Our team (’74) was a tight unit going through seasons undefeated, and the trips to Kilmore to test ourselves against Victorian school powerhouse Assumption College were filled with great times and memories.

Nowadays, the brotherhood of the mighty class of ‘91 is as strong as ever. We love talking about memories of our time in the great blue and white institution. We love banter and even to this day it has a way of keeping you grounded as it did at school, but supporting each other in times of need is the important stuff. As we charge towards our 50’s, we all have different life challenges. I know this firsthand, having recently lost both my parents in consecutive years and having the support of men whom I’ve known for over 40 years. This is incredibly special - one could say this is the positive part of social media!

To this day, I regularly think about those in the school community who we lost way too soon –they will never be forgotten and will always remain part of our tribe.

Since leaving school, with a great sense of pride, I have followed and continue to follow happenings at the school along with current and former students. Outside of the obvious, many have done amazing things in many fields (too many to mention). It’s been a long-held belief of mine that a public facing Hall of Fame showcasing the wonderful contributions students have made would be a great opportunity to reflect on the role the school has played in young men’s lives and to society in general.

More broadly, the brotherhood and sense of belonging has been enhanced by the splendid work of the Old Boys & Friends Association. Matt De Jongh (classmate of ’91) has done and continues to do, with many others, an amazing job building the community with a single common interest –‘Eddies’. I attend as many functions as possible, which are getting bigger and better each time. Hairs still stand up on the back of my neck when hearing the school song sung at various events with as much gusto by a bunch of old boys as back at school!

In my view, the growth experienced by the Association in the last five years would not have happened without the support of Principal Joe Zavone – thanks Joe. I urge anyone with a connection to the school to get involved via the school website.

An indication of what the school means in my world was the memorial service held for my Mum at school chapel in 2021. Mum’s funeral was held interstate and due to the sudden nature of her passing and COVID restrictions, the family wanted to do something to honour her in Canberra. My immediate thought was that the school chapel would be fitting given the history. I then contacted Joe Zavone out of the blue and from that initial contact, I felt connected with the school more than any time since ’91. The service was beautiful, and I know Mum would have been as proud as punch - thank you Joe and to Assistant Principal Michael Monagle.

Since leaving school over 30 years ago, I have predominantly worked in technology in both the public and private sectors and continue to study, most recently, at the MIT Sloan School of Management. Some of my former teachers may be very surprised!

I left the leafy inner south of Canberra in 2007 for Melbourne, amongst other things, to follow my lifelong passion – for better or worse, the Carlton Football Club. I am married with 2 kids – I hope the kids have the same strong sense of intangible connection with their schools one day. The only thing I had to give up by living in Melbourne was the fact my son won’t be able to follow in my footsteps and grow up to be an ‘Eddies boy’.

In closing, going through this writing process has reminded me just how special the school is, and how it nurtured and shaped me whilst I was going through less than ideal circumstances as a student, and for this, I will always be grateful and will do whatever I can to help continue to build the school and help it reach its glory.

My message to current and future students is simple: be proud, understand and embrace the tradition and history, but most of all, write your own pages of history and take the school forward and make it something you can be proud of 30 years after your journey is over.

These lyrics say it best…

“Who shall dare to stain our glory?

Who shall mock our noble story?!

Let our song be forever more!

Edmund’s to the Fore!”