The Trinity Grammarian - July 2021

THE TRINITY

GRAMMARIAN Vol 36 No 2 | July 2021

In this edition:

4

From the Principal

6

From the School Council

7

VCE Season of Excellence

14 Music across the School

20 From the Parents’ Association 22 Financial Report 24 From the Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association 26 Reunions

16 Trinity Trophies – Part Two

8

Outdoor Education

28 OTG Clubs 18 Annual Giving Appeal

31 In Memoriam 32 News of Old Boys

10 Harambee Sundee

34 The Tunga Society – Bellarine Peninsula Lunch

11 Our Community of Learners

19 National Champions

35 Back Page Interview

12 From the Junior School

Front cover photograph: Year 10 students, Justin Kwong, Toby Gill, Taj Vishnoi, Daniel Sun, Jamie Blackburn and Sam Lillie, enjoying the natural environment in Freycinet, Tasmania

2 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

Back cover photograph: Members of the First XI Hockey team relax post-match Many thanks to the staff, students, parents and other members of the Trinity community who provided photographs used in this publication.

Editor: Siobhan Latham e: lathams@trinity.vic.edu.au OTG News: Sharon Kendall e: kendalls@trinity.vic.edu.au Admissions: Kathy Byrne e: admissions@trinity.vic.edu.au

Welcome to the July 2021 edition of The Trinity Grammarian!

Robust numbers at our OTG reunions, some of which were re‑scheduled from 2020, demonstrate the importance of the Trinity community to our students, even when they have left the school. This is supported by the interest in the OTG clubs; there are opportunities for OTGs and others to play football, hockey, soccer, water polo and cricket for Old Trinity.

In this way, they can maintain their connection with school and their friends, and also connect with members of the wider community.

Getting off to a great start at House Athletics!

It was remarkable how quickly and efficiently school activities returned to (almost) normal! There were onsite classes; there was music; there was sport; there were even interstate camps. In the pages of this magazine, you will see images and hear stories from members of the Trinity community which convey their joy at being able to participate in these activities and connect with one another once again. Of course, at the time of writing, Melbourne is just emerging – tentatively – from the latest lockdown. We hope, while making sure everyone is safe, that it won’t be long before our school is full of its usual colour, movement and happy, productive noise once more.

At the end of April, Year 10 students scattered far and wide as part of the resoundingly successful revamped Outdoor Education program. In Term 1, Year 8 students also managed to get their camp experience when they travelled to the Gippsland Lakes. In this edition, our Director of Outdoor Education, Bill Cleary, speaks to the values and vision driving Trinity’s Outdoor Education program. There are also articles about our F1 in Schools success, Harambee Sundee, Music events this year, and Trinity students who featured in the VCE Season of Excellence.

If you would prefer to read this magazine online, please let us know by emailing trinity@trinity.vic.edu.au You can keep up to date with all things Trinity at: trinity.vic.edu.au (where you can also access the digital version of this magazine) trinity.grammar @trinitygrammarkew We hope you enjoy reading this edition of The Trinity Grammarian.

Siobhan Latham Editor

Queen’s Birthday Honours We congratulate those members of the Trinity community who were recognised in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Past parent, the late Ricardo Krauskopf, father of Bradley (OTG 1995) and Martin (OTG 1997) received an OAM for service to the community through a range of roles.

Past parent Linda Weatherson, mother of Edward (OTG 2010), received a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to social welfare initiatives in Victoria.

Linda is part of Trinity’s Stakeholder Member Group.

Sue Woodward, mother of Angus and Eric (OTG 2007) was awarded an AM for significant service to the not-for-profit sector, to fundraising, and to the law.

Dr Richard John Leaper (OTG 1965) and his wife, Jennifer Duggan Leaper, received OAMs for service to aged welfare. John is a regular attendee at the Gold Mitre Lunch.

Dr Laurence ‘Larry’ Roddick (OTG 1967) was awarded an OAM for service to paediatric medicine.

Larry also attends the Gold Mitre Lunch.

The Honourable Mark Birrell (OTG 1974) was recognised with an AM for significant service to the infrastructure sector, and to business. Mark’s father, Jim Birrell (OTG 1944), and his brother, Rodney Birrell (OTG 1971), also attended Trinity. Mark is a member of Trinity’s Gallery of Achievement.

Aboriginal Elder Reg Dodd will be familiar to the many members of the Trinity community who accompanied former staff member Jenny Poore on the Arabunna Trip. Reg was awarded an OAM for service to the Indigenous community of Marree.

July 2021 | 3

From the Principal I was struck by a somewhat strange realisation recently. In a counterintuitive way, I have been fortunate in my first 18 months at Trinity to see our community under stress. While of course I would not wish the pandemic on anyone or any organisation, and the wide‑ranging impact has been awful to witness, I have been given a window into the character of Trinity as we have negotiated a way through the messiness of COVID. Amidst all of the reorganising of schooling, the shift of mindsets, the loss of dearly‑held events and opportunities, and the uncertainty of everything from the calendar to the economy, our community revealed its character in a way that has helped me understand more clearly our purpose. But more of that later.

1903 was a remarkable year in history as it was in December of that year that the Wright brothers made enough progress with their powered flying machine to travel – to fly – 37 metres in their first successful attempt.

Theirs was a long and committed journey to reach this extraordinary achievement. By the end of that day, they had flown a few more times, including their final effort which saw the plane travel 260 metres. Their progress was rapid on that day and, ever since, the progress of flight has continued to evolve rapidly. NASA’s Ingenuity helicopter is currently on Mars and demonstrates quite remarkable advances in technology, and the ability of humans to imagine and to innovate. In a nod to flight’s

During the Learning Journeys program, Mr Farrer put his trust in the Year 8s

4 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

pioneers, Ingenuity carries a patch of material from a wing of the Wright Flyer, the brothers’ plane, despite the whole craft weighing less than 2kg. Ingenuity’s flights have mirrored Wright Flyer’s in a way, with impressive gains each try and brand-new possibilities coming as a result.

It must have taken enormous vision for the Wright brothers and all of the others trying to achieve flight.

It would also have taken faith, money and a good deal of hard work!

So too the founders of Trinity Grammar, Kew would have needed these elements to get the school ‘off the ground’. Interestingly, it was in the same year, 1903, that our school community met

Due to COVID, the Gala Concert was livestreamed, but it was still a spectacle to behold!

as a school for the first time. Just over 20 students and a few staff members started our long journey in the parish hall of Holy Trinity, Kew. I suspect that there was not a lot of money, but there was hard work, faith and vision.

individuality and personality more.’

These assertions align with what our parent body tells us about why they chose Trinity: for our emphasis on the development of sound morals, beliefs, values and attitudes.

The vision for our school is tied firmly to its character.

Not too long into Trinity’s story, then Headmaster, Frank Shann, wrote, ‘Trinity differs from other independent schools chiefly in one particular. The aim has been to emphasise the value of moral training as distinct from merely intellectual.’ Though that was in 1929, it is fundamentally true of Trinity today and reflects the deep connection to our Anglican origins. What is also readily apparent to me is the value we place on each person.

Indeed, our former archivist and historian Dr Jane Carolan OAM said about Trinity people that, ‘They don’t aspire to be the largest, the wealthiest or the most prestigious school.

While they value achievement and distinction, they value

Amongst all the challenges that COVID has offered, I have seen our community’s character revealed.

I have witnessed a commitment to outreach – driven by the students – that reflects our values entirely.

I have watched staff embrace vulnerability and retrain (or be redeployed) swiftly to conquer new ways of educating so we can ensure our students thrive. I have seen our students guide each other through the difficulties by connecting in innovative ways across year levels and the school.

I am aware of the many families who helped prop up others when the financial reality struck.

In short, I have witnessed a true community’s character in action.

As we embark on the next step for our school in our strategic planning process, the underpinning of our values and redefining of our future will absolutely be guided by the great work of our long, and more recent, history. I feel fortunate that I have been offered such a clear line of sight already, and I look forward to engaging further with our community as we seek to shape our plans and future for the school. Since 1903, the impressive gains that occurred quickly and then over time, have ensured that we are now a gathered community of Trinity people sure-footed in our purpose and ready to continue to fulfil our enduring vision in a contemporary setting.

Adrian Farrer Principal

Amongst all the challenges that COVID has offered, I have seen our community’s character revealed.

July 2021 | 5

From the School Council Those who know me well also know that I have always been a fan of the 20th century poet TS Eliot, and, I will frequently return to his work to gain perspectives on current events.

In Journey of the Magi, Eliot reflects on the way significant events in our lives can subsequently impact how we see and interpolate the world around us. Journey of the Magi relates the radical shift in view that the Magi – the ‘three Wise Men’ – have as a consequence of witnessing the birth of Jesus.

Returning home to Babylon, they are no longer comfortable with their old way of seeing things, with their old, familiar beliefs: We returned to our places, these Kingdoms, But no longer at ease here, in the old dispensation.’

As I write this article, we are once again slowly surfacing from lockdown – yet another period when we have suspended our normal routines and regular existence for a different and limiting regularity.

These interruptions, whilst deemed important and necessary from a public health perspective, have also provided us with many other opportunities to reflect and consider what is valuable and critical to us so that we may live full and fulfilling lives. In so doing, they have also allowed us to consider those things that are unnecessary and potentially dispensable. Perhaps most importantly, they have taken the familiar predictability of our lives pre‑COVID, taught us new ways of seeing and being, and given us permission to challenge our ‘old dispensation’.

The Russian artist and writer, Viktor Shklovsky, who was a contemporary of Eliot, described the function of the artist as ‘defamiliarising the familiar’ –

6 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

that is, repositioning our perception of the things around us that we take for granted. Similarly, the extended and challenging experiences of the pandemic cannot help but cause us to see our old lives differently.

Against this context, and all that we have learned about learning (remote and otherwise) over the past year or so, we have a wonderful opportunity as a community to reflect on Trinity’s future as we engage with shaping the school‘s strategic plan. We have also had the chance to confirm what is most important and valuable about Trinity and its culture and what we would most wish to maintain as a thriving 21st century learning community.

Without question, this is a complex but immensely exciting process and will form the centrepiece of Council’s work throughout 2021.

As a consequence, the school has sought to source the best facilitator that we can to assist us in the development of our strategic thinking. I am very pleased on behalf of Council to inform you that the school has appointed Christina Franklin of AdValore Partners. Christina has had extensive experience in both the corporate and for purpose sectors and has assisted a number of independent schools in both NSW and Victoria in strategic conversations.

As I mentioned at the Community Forum, mapping the strategic direction for the future is the first step in a process of determining the infrastructure and facility needs that will enable its implementation.

In other words, the Master Plan for the built form becomes the second step once clarity is brought to the strategic plan for teaching and learning. This does not preclude necessary development work

of existing facilities, but it does understandably slow the pace around determining major capital projects. Nevertheless, under the guidance of the Buildings and Grounds Committee of Council, preliminary work has begun in determining the scope of the master planning process and the necessary skill set and experience of appropriate consultants.

Whilst at this stage Council has not committed to a final timeframe, it is envisaged that the development of the strategic plan, with both two‑year and five-year time horizons, will be concluded by October this year. Without question, the next few months will be a fully engaged period for both Council and the School Leadership Team.

We have begun 2021 with a sound foundation that positions us well as we embark on the exciting prospect of collectively envisaging the next chapters in Trinity’s ever‑evolving narrative.

We do so with a keen understanding of who we are as a community and what matters to us. We look to the future with a rich understanding of our past. And as we do, we will rediscover once again what is particularly special about this unique school.

I leave the last words again to Eliot, drawn from his poem Little Gidding, first published in 1942: We shall not cease from exploration And the end of our exploring Will be to arrive at where we started And know the place for the first time.

Simon Gipson OAM Chair of School Council

VCE Season of Excellence The VCE Season of Excellence is a five-month annual festival showcasing outstanding work created by VCE students as part of their studies. We congratulate Jesse Ash, Sejune Park and Kevin Wang on being included in this celebration of talented students who completed their VCE in 2020.

Jesse’s creation for Product Design and Technology was exhibited at the Melbourne Museum, while Sejune and Kevin were recognised at a concert for Top Class Music at the Melbourne Recital Centre earlier this year. The Recital Centre didn’t have an organ, so Kevin recorded his

performance beforehand at St Paul’s Cathedral.

In 2020, I completed Units 3 and 4 of VCE Music Performance on the Viola. Following my Year 12 examinations, I undertook an audition to perform at the Top Class Music concert. I was lucky enough to be selected and performed Blues For Benni by Eduard Putz.

Having the opportunity to perform

at the Melbourne Recital Centre while also meeting a wide range of other musicians on the night was an amazing experience. None of it would have been possible without the help of my teachers, Ms Stanic and Mrs McCoppin, as well as my accompanist, Mr Jones.

Such were the words of my teacher. Painful, but true. I had let my practice turn into a passive twiddle of fingers, and instead of creating music, I was merely playing notes. Bitter, but determined, I went home, this time following my teacher’s recommendations to a tee.

It was hard, and excruciatingly boring to work on ten bars for an hour, but eventually, I found the music. In fact, that same teacher

now refers to me as one of her ‘success stories’.

My VCE experience was Product Design. I spent every lunchtime and spare period in the D&T lab working on my project – whether that involved designing parts on CAD, operating the laser cutter, or nailing it together. During lockdown, when the product was at home with me, I became absorbed with

improving it. Over the third‑term break, the last few weeks of crunch before it was due, I was putting in 12 to 16 (and one 26!) hour days.

I was proud once it was done, of course, but never more so than when it was selected for Top Designs.

We asked these three students about their experiences during the VCE and what it was like to be selected for the VCE Season of Excellence.

Sejune Park

Kevin Wang

‘I can recommend you another teacher, but if you don’t do what they say, I doubt they’ll be very happy either.’

However difficult, or hopeless it may seem at some points, working hard, but more importantly doing so correctly and consistently will yield results. And while those words were painful to hear, and despite the crushing disappointment I felt, they were necessary for me to get back on track, learn from my mistakes and reap the rewards.

Jesse Ash

July 2021 | 7

Outdoor Education ‘Cherish the journey’ is a mantra that Trinity’s Outdoor Education Department really takes to heart.

How we define the journey varies from individual to individual and may involve: • The student journey from primary to upper secondary • The journey from child to adult • The journey of life • The spiritual journey • The journey of environmental stewardship in a world challenged by climate change, resource depletion and ecological destruction • The journey of self‑understanding and personal growth However you perceive the notion of ‘journey’, the Trinity Outdoor Education program aims to foster elements of each of these ideas and embed them in the learning students experience in the outdoors. Our boys develop in confidence, levels of independence and then leadership as they progress through the program.

Physically and emotionally, they develop as a result of their experiences year on year;

Year 10 students sea kayaking in Tasmania

8 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

thus, the program should not be viewed as a series of individual trips, but as a sequential set of learning opportunities that expands and develops every year.

The Outdoor Education program tailors activities to the agespecific abilities of the students and intends to push them to go beyond their comfort zones, but within their ability, to challenge them and consequently promote the greatest learning. Our Year 7 students are introduced to activities and supported by older Year 10 student leaders. They undertake tasks that expose them to the natural world through bushwalking, sailing, canoeing, abseiling, and camping. Then, within a few years, these same Year 7 students develop into the Year 10 Leaders, capable of supporting others and returning service back to the school community.

In 2021, Outdoor Education at Trinity implemented a variety of initiatives that will help our students on their journey. In Term 4, the Year 7s will travel to Lake Nillahcootie for their first foray into the Senior School Outdoor Education program.

During Term 1, our Year 8 boys embarked on a new program at the Gippsland Lakes. They sea

kayaked across Lake Victoria, sailed through Lake King, and bushwalked along the Ninety Mile Beach.

This new coastal environment bolsters the program and allows students to range from mountain to sea. Travelling north along the Macalister River, our Year 9 students experience the sub-alpine terrain of Licola in the winter months with rafting and bushwalking. Finally, the progression to Year 10 allows students for the first time to select the environment and type of activity they would like to undertake. In April, Year 10 students set off on journeys to the Northern Territory to hike the Larapinta Trail; other groups went sea kayaking, hiking, and climbing on the Freycinet Peninsula in Tasmania; while another cohort embarked on a canoeing journey along the Murray River to the Barmah Forest and an extended sailing and sea kayaking journey across all three of the Gippsland Lakes.

Over his four years of the Senior School Outdoor Education program, each Trinity student is immersed in at least 25 days of learning in the outdoors. If students elect to take part in the Outdoor Leaders program at Year 10 or in Trinity’s various other outdoor co-curricular offerings as they journey through

Year 8 students, including Michael Wu, Uwaez Aguss and Bobby Christensen, sailed the Gippsland Lakes

One group of Year 10s hiked the Larapinta Trail

the school, this number increases considerably. This is very much a journey of progression as students reflect on prior learning and look to the future with their newfound skills and confidence.

The importance of social connection and the need for students to access activities that engage them socially, connect them to people and embed them in the natural environment

was surely heightened by the experiences of 2020, when, due to COVID, students were denied their Outdoor Education experience.

Unfortunately, the devastating impact of the pandemic continued into 2021 with a set of Year 8 camps needing to be rescheduled due to a snap lockdown in February.

Then, in June, some of the Year 10 trips were also impacted. Despite the difficulties these lockdowns pose, the school is committed

Watching the sun rise on the Freycinet Peninsula

to the learning achieved in the Outdoor Education program and will continue to strive for every student to have an opportunity to participate.

The journey continues and, hopefully, every Trinity student will embrace the opportunities that Outdoor Education provides.

Bill Cleary Director of Outdoor Education

Some of the Year 10s in the Northern Territory

July 2021 | 9

Harambee Sundee

Co-Captains of Outreach, Matthew Clayton and Archie Shaw, with staff member, Brett Stewart

Even Harvey Peanut, the school’s therapy dog, got involved!

It is clear from the images on this page that the inaugural Harambee Sundee event was a resounding success! On this special day, the diverse elements of the Trinity community – students and staff from across the school, OTGs, parents, siblings and Ruyton students – came together in a whole school event. They exercised, listened to student bands and DJs, and enjoyed the wonderful catering available to help those on the margins of our society by raising funds and support for the Harambee ministries.

Junior School boys, including Sam Bingham and Brian Gu, joined in the fun

The organisers of this successful day paused for a photo, while Mr Farrer and Charlie Shaw kept working hard on the treadmill!

10 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

Our Community of Learners In 2019, the ELC introduced an exciting new Intergenerational Program with CaSPA Care Nursing Home.

The idea of intergenerational care and learning is founded on the notion that old and young can bring new energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm to each other’s lives. The elderly people and the young children spend time sharing activities together and developing relationships.

Our Intergenerational Program provides opportunities for different generations to share experiences, knowledge and skills that will be mutually beneficial for the children and residents.

Our intention is to foster positive relationships built on trust, kindness and compassion, and develop connections and relationships within our community.

Research has proven that these interactions can have fantastic benefits for each generation, with children having a better sense of who they are and where they have come from, and older participants showing an increase in positivity in their lives, as well as improvements in health.

The Intergenerational Program sits within the Early Years Learning and Development Framework (EYLDF) to support the principles, practices and outcomes that guide our program at the ELC. Over the past 12 months, we have been unable to meet our residents face to face. Instead, we shared letters, drawings and zoom calls.

Just recently, our Kangaroo children enjoyed a zoom call with our aged-care residents. The children took great interest in how old the residents are. Pat, who is 94, and Eadie, who is 90, were proud to

share their age. The children also learned that they like cups of tea, pumpkin soup and crafts. There were lots of questions at the end of our zoom meeting!

The nursing home delivered nine teddy bears that had been handmade by the residents.

Each bear arrived with a name, hobbies and interests and a birth certificate. All are now part of our Kangaroo Room.

We are using the bears to build our connection with the aged-care residents. The teddies are helping us build our central idea around our community of learners. We will begin by helping the children develop the personalities of the individual teddies. Then we will roleplay social scenarios with the bears and model conflict resolution, and the language around being a good friend in order to build our emotional and social intelligence. Finally, we will share our learning journey with our aged-care residents and ask them questions around what makes a good friend.

We are looking forward to many adventures with our teddies: Eric, Benji, Cindy Lou, Morris, Kevin, Bonnie, Warren, Rachael and Jimmy, and to making further connections with our intergenerational friends.

The ELC students have set up ‘letterboxes’ in their classrooms for each resident, and are writing letters and creating drawings and paintings for them. A volunteer from CaSPA Care visits the ELC and collects the children’s drawings and letters to share with the residents.

Our Intergenerational Program is a highlight of our Early Years Program, and it is heart-warming to see how much joy our students bring the residents and vice versa.

Now, our ELC children are waiting patiently to connect face to face

The aged-care residents, such as Pat, love their Trinity teddy bears!

Bonnie is a compliant model for Jaymie Li

with our residents. This journey is an exciting one, full of wonderful connections between the generations. The smiles on all the faces of young and old are testament to the wonderful opportunity that this program offers us all.

Naomi Wright Director of the ELC

‘We don’t stop playing because we grow old.

We grow old because we stop playing.’

– George Bernard Shaw

July 2021 | 11

From the Junior School

Creativity and Collaboration in the Owen Library The Junior School boys have focused on creating book reviews to promote their favourite stories. They have demonstrated their ability to apply the PYP Learner Profile Attributes to their reading choices, including being knowledgeable about introducing new titles to our collection, being open-minded

12 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

and risk‑takers when they try new genres, and being principled in the way they care for the resources in the library.

The boys continue to use the library space to collaborate with their peers, to read and to play games. The LEGO tables provide a wonderful resource for boys to share their creations and cooperate with each other.

The Junior School students take great pride in their library and show appreciation for the wide range of resources available to them.

Making our actions count!

One of the inquiry units at Year 5 is concerned with how people’s actions may affect the lives of others. Students focus their efforts on learning about different charities and how they support the lives of either humans, animals or the environment. As part of the unit, different guest speakers are invited to share information about charities with which they are involved.

Learning from Movember’s Jeff Morgan

This year, we were privileged to welcome Jeff Morgan, program manager for Movember, who spoke to the boys about how the charity began, its ideals and mission, and how it aims to continue to bring about positive change in people’s lives.

Year 5 was also fortunate to hear from Archie Shaw and Matthew Clayton, Year 12 Co-Captains of Outreach, who discussed their involvement with Harambee, the school’s outreach program, and the

amazing work it does with different charities. Many Junior School boys took part in Harambee Sundee and were particularly interested in how this will impact many lives in Africa.

The boys in Year 5 were inspired by these talks. They are currently working on creating their own charities and are developing mission statements, logos, advertisements and websites for their charity. It is fantastic to see our boys developing their ideas about care, respect and service.

Sport A large number of students from the Junior School had the chance to compete in both the AGSV and SSV Cross Country competitions, producing strong individual and team performances.

At the SSV South Yarra District event, Trinity won the boys’ school competition for that district. In swimming, a team from the Junior School competed at the SSV State Swimming Championships. AGSV and SSV carnivals provide another wonderful forum for our boys to test their skills against students from other schools and to gain a sense of perspective.

A Place for Everyone

William Cao, Marco French, Yuvin De Silva and Harvey Lie after swimming the 11 Years 4x50m freestyle relay at MSAC

The images on these pages illustrate the range of activities both curricular and co-curricular on offer in the Junior School. Students have the opportunity, and are encouraged to try everything from cross country running to chess, from crafting mission statements to constructing LEGO creations. We hope that each student will find something he loves, and that this can be nurtured and extended during his time at Trinity.

July 2021 | 13

Music across the School Music is truly an international language; it is an art form which can be enjoyed throughout an entire lifetime.

He holds leadership roles within the Symphony Orchestra and Senior Strings. James is a fine singer and is also a member of the School Choir.

Our 2021 Co-Captains of Music have already gained a wealth of musical experience, and I know that they will continue to make and enjoy music throughout their lives.

Kai has undertaken eight years of oboe study with Anne Gilby, and he is a leader in both the Symphony Orchestra and Symphonic Wind Ensemble. He enjoys chamber music and is a senior member of the Awesome Oboes and the Woodwind Trio. Kai is also an accomplished pianist, formerly studying with Maureen Mahon, and currently with Chiah Quah.

James Greenwood and Kai Wong are outstanding ambassadors for Music at Trinity and in the wider community.

James has studied the violin for 12 years and is currently under the tutelage of Moirsheen Kelly-Keesing.

These two fine young men have strong interpersonal and

Trintones at Jazz at the Courthouse: Charlie Shaw, Lachlan Morrison, Daniel Marcou, Andrew Zhang and Harry Johnson

Michelle Stanic conducts the Symphony Orchestra at the Gala Concert

14 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

time management skills, they understand the art of negotiation, the influence and impact their behaviour has on peers and younger students, and the wider benefits of engaging in music making. Below are two excerpts from their Gala Concert speeches to the wider community with reflections on ‘togetherness’ and ‘rising to the challenge’.

Michelle Stanic Director of Music

James Greenwood 2021 Co-Captain of Music ‘So, what is togetherness in music? Some may believe that togetherness in music is simply staying in time or with your respective orchestra, band, or choir in those hard pieces which we all at one point or another have struggled with.

However, coming together to play music as a group or ensemble, whether small or large, requires more than just that.

Togetherness in music is about community. Although playing together and experiencing what

Therese McCoppin conducts the Senior Strings at the Strings Concert

it is like to be part of a musical collective is an extremely important part of community, it is also the small things that we do in our ensembles and groups to support each other that truly build up this community. Whether it is annotating music for yourself and your desk mate or simply helping to pack up the stands and chairs at the end of rehearsal, these actions contribute to the positive environment in the Music School, enabling us to work together to prepare the many wonderful pieces you have heard tonight. This togetherness has contributed to the success we have had in terms of the concerts this past year and will no doubt continue to bring success in the many events still to come.’

Gregory Whittenbury and Raphael Columbine at the Courthouse

Kai Wong 2021 Co-Captain of Music ‘Of course, quarantine music was not without its high points.

The occasional breaks from after school and early morning rehearsals were much appreciated, and the creativity and ingenuity of some individuals was put on full display. The clever use of technology in the stitching together of parts, along with with the power of editing, simultaneously highlighted the hard work of many of the ensembles who did not have the chance to perform, and also the talents of those editing and organising these projects.

The final results always sounded amazing and highlighted how,

Kevin Nimalraj, Year 12, at the Courthouse

even in a difficult year, Trinity’s musicians will always be heard and appreciated for their hard work.

Which brings us to tonight, a somewhat normal concert and, for many of these ensembles, the culmination of almost two years of hard work. Through it all, we have gained a new appreciation for our fellow musicians, but also for the importance of lessons and ensembles. We will never take after school rehearsals for granted again. Of course, we still miss having parents and friends sitting in front of us. That will be the final step between our COVID-normal and truly being back to where we were a couple of years ago. Enjoy the concert tonight, and we hope to see you all live, soon.’

Junior Jazz with Tiger Yan, Jake Alexander, James Chu, Jonathan Moutsios, Derek Qian and Sam McDonald

July 2021 | 15

Trinity Trophies – Part Two Tradition plays an important role in a school and at Trinity, over the course of 118 years, many traditions have been started, some of which continue today. Of course, it is also important that there is room for change and modernisation in a school and not everything should be how it was years ago.

Some trophies and prizes are presented at Assembly by the Principal while others are held over until Presentation Night at the end of the year.

J N Watson Shield

John Neil Watson (no relation) commenced as a teacher in the Junior School in 1966 and later became the Deputy Head.

The Watson Shield is named after John Neil Watson.

Original Honour Boards The original Honour Boards hang in the new Arnold Hall and they have been duplicated to record the Captain of the School, Rhodes Prize and School Council Prize for Dux of the School.

This Shield is presented annually at the Junior School Final Assembly to the overall winner of the House Competition. The four Junior School Houses, Friend, Henderson, Inglis and Summers, compete in House sporting events during the year and Houses can also gain points for schoolwork. There have been two John Watsons at Trinity.

William John Phillips Watson was a teacher in the Junior School from 1937 to 1974 and became Head of the Junior School. The Watson Building (Wing) is named after him.

Lachie Adams and Alby Mahony with the JN Watson Shield

16 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

The original Honour Board

You will notice from the photograph that there were Captains of Cricket and Football in 1903, and in 1904, Trinity had its first Rhodes Prize winner. The first School Captain was Colin Friend in 1909 and Kenneth Henderson won the Rhodes Prize three years in a row.

This has only happened once since with Peter Barclay.

In years gone by, boys would often come back to school for a ‘second year Matric’ or Year 12.

These students would also become the School Prefects and student leaders of the school.

Year 12 students Harrison Preiss, Angus Plowman and Tom Walker holding (l-r) the Nigel Kendall Cup, the Mitre Trophy, the Kennedy-Carroll Cup and the Bates Trophy

W H S Dickinson Prize This Prize is for the Dux of Humanities. In 2020, it was presented to Stephen Mack, who was also the Editor of The Mitre.

William Henry Schorey Dickinson was a student at Trinity from 1931 to 1940 and sadly died in 1941 at the age of 16. His brother, Ron Dickinson, and Ron’s son, Richard Dickinson, both attended Trinity and became doctors.

The award for Dux of Humanities was originally named after Leonard Towns, School Captain in 1918, and it was likely changed after the death of W H S Dickinson.

The Peter Crone Award for Design and Architecture A more recent prize was donated by Peter Crone. Peter was the architect who designed the Chapel of the Holy Trinity, and also completed the renovation of the Junior School and the Peter Crawley Centre for the

Arts. In addition, he designed the Science, Design and Technology Building. Crone changed the landscape of Trinity and the Peter Crone Award for Design and Architecture was first presented in 1995. Sadly, Peter, who was a student at Camberwell Grammar School, passed away earlier this year.

The Mitre Cup and the Nigel Kendall Cup These trophies were initiated reasonably recently. The Mitre Cup was introduced in 2006 by our Principal, Adrian Farrer, when he was coach of the First XVIII Football at Camberwell Grammar School, and Stephen Maus, who was Head of Year 11 and coach of the First XVIII at Trinity.

The Cup was intended to celebrate the First XVIII game between Trinity and Camberwell, as they are both Anglican Schools and close neighbours. The competition between the two schools for the Mitre Cup now encompasses football, soccer and hockey in winter and then cricket, basketball, tennis and volleyball in summer.

The tally of wins decides the winner

of the Mitre Cup (which is actually a shield) for that year.

The Nigel Kendall Cup is awarded to the winning side in a First XI Cricket match between Ivanhoe Grammar School and Trinity.

Nigel was the Deputy Headmaster at Ivanhoe and Chair of the AGSV Sports Coordinators for many years. Disappointingly, the 2021 game was washed out.

Trinity retains the Cup as a result.

Rohan Brown

The Mitre ‘Cup’

July 2021 | 17

Brothers Jun (on left) and Andy Kim with Jeremy Duffield

Annual Giving Appeal For almost 30 years now, Trinity Grammar School, Kew has reached out to the community to seek donations as part of our Annual Giving Appeal.

Over the years, the scholarships program at Trinity has changed the lives of many young men, giving them the benefit of an outstanding education. This year, through the Appeal, we are again proud to focus our attention on scholarships.

Scholarship recipient and Trinity Annual Giving Patron Jeremy Duffield (OTG 1972) attests: ‘Trinity made a real difference in my life and I want others – whose families may not be able to afford it – to have that same life-changing experience. Scholarship support is a way to make that happen.’

18 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

The 2021 Annual Giving brochure, which would have landed in your mailboxes in June, highlighted the stories of two of our outstanding Old Trinity Grammarians, Jun Kim (OTG 2016) and Andy Kim (OTG 2019), who both received scholarships to attend Trinity.

Now in his final year of Medicine at Monash University, Jun says, ’Without receiving a scholarship, neither my brother Andy nor I would have been able to attend Trinity. My parents had already sacrificed plenty when they immigrated to Australia from South Korea. They wanted us both to receive an excellent, well‑rounded education – there’s no doubt that Trinity provided this.’

Demonstrating true Trinity spirit, Andy, a second-year Biomedicine student, reflects on how his Trinity experience influences his desire to pay it forward: ‘I understand how privileged and fortunate I was to receive this scholarship…and the significance of six years of such an empowering education. I hope to be able to use this for the benefit of the wider community in the years ahead.’

For the donor community, a gift towards a scholarship is truly the gift that keeps on giving.

We hope that you will take the opportunity to support one of the scholarships offered and make a positive difference to the Trinity community and beyond.

To donate please go to trinity.vic.edu.au/donate

A Small Car on a Grand Scale Five students create a car, about the length of a shoe, that accelerates seven times faster than gravity.

The F1 in Schools program at Trinity encompasses so much more than impressive engineering feats – but they are still pretty remarkable.

in the aerodynamic analysis and streamlining of the car.

F1 in Schools is an advanced global STEM competition. The cars, designed by students from more than 50 countries, travel down a 20-metre track and accelerate to speeds of 100km/h in less than a second. Trinity’s F1 in Schools program boasts a range of tools and mentoring resources which have enabled Trinity teams to become the most successful in the world.

Cars are primarily manufactured using Computer Numeric Control (CNC) routers, a subtractive machining process which removes material from a balsa wood block to create the intended design.

The front and rear wings are created through various 3D printing techniques, including Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) and stereolithography.

Professional Class teams also have full control over their wheel system and as such, can use advanced engineering plastics such as PEEK and Ertalyte TX.

Participants use industrystandard software to design, test and manufacture their car.

Computer‑Aided Design (CAD) programs are used to precisely design and model intricate car features whilst Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software is applied

To utilise these advanced manufacturing techniques, as well as to obtain funds to be as competitive as possible, teams are challenged to create a brand identity and market themselves to industry. Our team, Hydron, has worked with many companies

and we were fortunate to visit the facilities of four of our sponsors, including Ford’s Vehicle Research and Testing facility in Geelong.

Teams compete in three main disciplines – engineering, enterprise and marketing. They are challenged to produce 20,000‑word portfolios, a trade display, a team uniform, a 10-minute verbal presentation, and of course, race cars, all of which are presented to a panel of industry judges.

Earlier this year, three teams from Trinity competed at the 2021 Australian National Finals.

Two of the teams, Sokudo (the Year 9 team) and Seido (the Year 10 team), placed 7th and 5th respectively in their competition classes, and our team, Hydron (made up of students in Years 10 and 11), took out the title of overall National Champions. We won 11 of the 13 available category awards – the most of any national finalist in the history of the competition.

Following our team’s success, we have been invited to compete at the 2021 F1 in Schools World Finals.

The learning opportunities which have come from participating in the competition have been invaluable, and our team will treasure them forever.

Ben Noonan Ben is a student in Year 10 and a member of Hydron, one of Trinity’s F1 in Schools teams. This is an edited version of his article which was originally published in Trinity’s student-led magazine The Trinity Inquirer.

Team Hydron, Alexander Liu, Tim Crichton, William Johnson, Ben Noonan and Andrew Yeang, with their medals, in the Design Technology lab at Trinity

July 2021 | 19

From the Parents’ Association As all students have returned to school after the June lockdown, I would like to thank and congratulate Adrian Farrer and his team on the school’s response, which ensured our students continued learning online. All households navigated lockdown in their unique way; however, all parents and guardians should congratulate themselves on supporting the transition to Distance Learning.

In May, the Junior School and Year 7 Mother’s Day traditional breakfasts were beautifully delivered by a wonderful committee of parent volunteers.

The two Mother’s Day Breakfasts enabled the students to celebrate their mothers and female guardians.

The Junior School breakfast had record numbers and was a fantastic morning with roving performers and a speech from Mr Nalder.

Thank you to the JS Committee of Melissa Gallace, Desiree Sutrisno and Kelly Tomietto. The attendees at the breakfast for the Year 7 cohort were privileged to have Trinity School Captain, Will Toner, and his mother, Tracey Toner, speak to them in an intimate setting about their journey at Trinity. Thank you to Maria Butler, Lisa Williams, Cecilia Wu and Rachelle Liosatos, the Year 7 Mother’s Day Committee.

Throughout the first semester, the Class Reps from the Junior and Senior Schools organised over 20 events for our parents and guardians. These provided opportunities to participate and connect within the Trinity community. I would like to thank all the Class Reps for their dedication and for giving their precious volunteer time to plan, arrange and host events in 2021.

The Secondhand Uniform Shop has moved to the newly refreshed 64 Charles Street. These lovely new premises will also be used by the other sub-committees for storage.

Kylie Oliver, Annette Dal Sasso and Renata Jenkins (Co-convenors) along with the maintenance team, Community Engagement office and a tireless parent volunteer group packed up and unpacked the uniforms in the new location.

An enormous thank you to all involved who, at short notice, ensured the new shop was open on time for our Trinity families.

The Junior School Mother’s Day Committee, Desiree Sutrisno, Kelly Tomietto, Heidi Pfeffer and Melissa Gallace, with their sons

The new Secondhand Uniform Shop

The children enjoyed the Mother’s Day Breakfast as much as their mothers!

20 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

All mothers received gorgeous plants at the Year 7 Mother’s Day Breakfast

The Parents’ Association Committee with Adrian Farrer and Lucy Cohen Back row (l-r): David Palfreeman, Peter Dokolas (Secretary), Ash Sachdev Middle row (l-r): Edward Griffiths (Vice-President), Kylie Oliver, Diana Nelson (School Council Nominee), Deborah Griffiths, Johanna (Boe) Dale, Alice Wong, Josephine Lee Front row (l-r): Luis Silva (Treasurer), Hasanga Hendehewa, Heidi Pfeffer (President), Lisa Williams, Angela Gill, Catherine Mann, Lucy Cohen (ex officio Director of Community Engagement), Lynette Hall, Adrian Farrer (ex officio Principal) (Absent: Jie (Zoe) Zhou and Gregory Lovrich)

In August, the Trinity Kayaking Supporters group is celebrating 50 years of kayaking at the school.

OTGs, special guests and current families will celebrate at Studley Park Boathouse. Contact the Parents’ Association for more details.

The Cowey Club hosted the End of 2019/2020/2021 Rowing Season event at Green Acres Golf Club in Kew. Parents, staff and 170 rowers attended the evening which was a great celebration of the past two seasons. The OTG rowers, who are now coaches, attended to receive their Jack Adams Rowing Medals.

The events also included an auction of the boats for the Cowey Cup parents’ rowing event to be held in October this year.

In March at our AGM, the Parents’ Association (PA) voted in an energised committee for 2021.

Trinity is incredibly fortunate to have a committee of dedicated parents working behind the scenes for the benefit of the Trinity community. The PA meeting details are included in the Trinity newsletter, email notifications and on the desk calendars.

I warmly invite you to join us either online or in person as the current environment allows.

Our meetings always include an update from the Principal and information about the events at the school. The volunteer opportunities at Trinity are as diverse as the community, so please contact us to learn more.

Friends of Kayaking celebrates 50 years as a PA sub-committee

Recently, the new Parents Resource Hub, located on MyTGS, was launched. Put together by the school, the information covers relevant topics to equip and empower parents and guardians.

The PA has dedicated funds to the Parents Resource Hub and I encourage all in the Trinity community to utilise this fantastic parenting resource.

I look forward to your participation at the events organised for Semester Two, 2021, and hope that you and your loved ones stay well at this time.

Heidi Pfeffer President of the Parents’ Association

Ethan Westerman, Hugo Thatcher and Harry Osmond (from the Class of 2020) received their Jack Adams Rowing Medals at the Cowey Club event

July 2021 | 21

Financial Report The 2020 Financial Year was a challenging period noting the significance of the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic had on schools right across the country. Like many businesses, with lockdown restrictions changing the way the service had to be delivered, it resulted in the School (company) having to address how to recognise the delivery change and impact on students, staff and families.

Trinity Grammar School is a company limited by guarantee and operates as a not-for-profit institution. The School’s macro approach to the fiduciary responsibilities is based on the financial discipline of income exceeding operating expenditure, with the imperative that we strive to continually develop and improve our academic and extensive co‑curricular program and facilities.

The School Council endeavours to keep school fees as affordable as possible for parents and is conscious of the great sacrifice made by many parents to enable them to send their children to Trinity.

The completion of another year has enabled a review of the financial position of the School.

The School prepares annual Financial Statements in accordance with Accounting Standards and the Corporations Law, and these are externally audited.

These statements were recently adopted by School Council and endorsed by all Company Members at the May Annual General Meeting.

Within income, tuition fees account for 85% of total income each year, with Federal and State Government grants providing approximately 10% of total income per annum.

The largest expense was direct educational expenditure on staff salaries and teaching resources

22 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

which accounted for 58% of total expenditure. The greatest effect on quality teaching and learning for our boys is the quality of staff.

The School Council will continue to invest in the future in our wonderful teaching and support staff.

During the course of the year, the School Council rebated in excess of $5 million of tuition fees to families to recognise the changed circumstances of learning and to support families impacted by the pandemic.

A commitment to supporting all staff throughout this period was also given and seen through.

The Council also reached the decision to hold 2021 tuition fees at 2020 rates to provide further support to families. This decision was achieved with the proactive support of the staff who sought no change to their salary position for the 2021 school year.

Giving consideration to the impact of COVID, the School has achieved a positive operating cash surplus for the year, primarily due to strong enrolment numbers and tight cost control. Any surpluses are reinvested in the continuing advancement of the School.

Over the past three years, the School Council has acknowledged historical instances where Trinity failed in our duty of care to students. The School has created non-cash reserves to develop appropriate restitution processes and services to support past students and staff affected.

Over the past ten years, the School has invested significantly in improving land, buildings, IT infrastructure and equipment.

Such capital expenditure is funded by a combination of operating surpluses, donations and debt.

A summary of the financial position of the School, along with comparative information with the previous year.

Income

2020

2019

$49,960,000

$49,295,000

Grants

$6,115,000

$6,330,000

Other income

$2,900,000

$895,000

$58,975,000

$56,520,000

2020

2019

$26,906,000

$25,008,000

Education expenses

$5,497,000

$7,726,000

Scholarships and bursaries

$3,028,000

$3,151,000

Depreciation (non-cash)

$4,887,000

$4,494,000

Maintenance, cleaning and grounds

$4,355,000

$4,300,000

Administration expenses

$5,091,000

$4,588,000

Significant one off and non-cash items

$6,903,000

$4,537,000

$314,000

$346,000

$1,994,000

$2,370,000

$58,975,000

$56,520,000

Tuition fee income

Expenditure Academic salaries and on-costs

Finance and other costs Retained for capital development

Significant one-off and non-cash items – 12%

Finance and Other Costs – 1%

Administration – 8%

Direct Educational Costs – 58%

Maintenance, Cleaning and Grounds – 8%

Depreciation – 8% Scholarships and Bursaries – 5%

Expenditure Through prudent financial management and responsible fee increases, the School continues to ensure that quality teaching facilities are maintained. The establishment of such reserves will allow for the implementation of the new Master Plan which is expected to be developed over the next 12 months.

In addition to the income noted in the table above, the School is grateful for the continued

financial support of the Parents’ Association and OTGA, and the Annual Giving Appeal, capital donations and bequests from parents and past students.

The School’s Community Engagement team is developing a philanthropic strategy that will support the new Strategic Plan and Master Plan. The 2020 Annual Giving Appeal had a focus on supporting COVID-impacted

families. The School was pleased to allocate support to over 70 families who required assistance due to business downturn or employment loss. We were grateful to the many families who made donations or offered their fee rebate credits back to the Hardship Fund. This was a wonderful example of the strong community that exists here at Trinity.

Mark Glover Director of Business

Copies of the Audited Financial Statements can be obtained from the office of the Director of Business.

The Naming Wall

July 2021 | 23

GR A

M

MA S

V I R I L I T E R A G I TE

N

LD

RI A

TRI N

I

TY

From the Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association

O

A key element of the school’s new constitution is to conduct the TGS Community Forum which was held in Arnold Hall on 24 March.

It was fantastic to hear such an in-depth and insightful update from our Chair of School Council and Principal on the school’s current position and strategic plan. It was also useful to be able to provide the Trinity community with an update on the activities of the OTGA alongside the Parents’ Association. The level of positive engagement facilitated by the Forum will undoubtedly hold the school in good stead as we navigate the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic and the years ahead.

As part of the OTGA update, I provided an overview of activities aligned with our strategic pillars of Community, Connecting, Careers and Clubs. These have certainly kept the OTGA and other OTGs busy in recent months.

To support the Career aspirations of our OTGs in tertiary education, we held the OTGA Careers Evening on 26 April. This was well attended virtually by a number of OTGs and our friends at the Old Ruytonians’

Association. We were fortunate to have two excellent speakers in Chris Braithwaite (Senior Partner PWC, TGS School Council Deputy Chair and current parent) and Natalie Perks (ANZ Institutional Graduate Program) who shared their knowledge and unique insights into what makes a university student successful in the job market. Many thanks to Mike Azarnikow (OTG 2011) for his efforts in making the event a success and for facilitating the discussion.

We hope the Careers Evening will return as an annual event and complement the participation of OTGs in the school’s annual Career Expo (to be held this year on 21 July).

From a Community perspective, I had the pleasure of meeting with Tom Purcell (Director of Outreach) and Nick Molnar (OTG 2020) during the term to hear about the fantastic outreach and community service programs of Harambee and the plans for the Harambee Sundee event (please turn to page 10 for more on this event). Nick is the OTG representative for Harambee and it is always impressive to see passionate OTGs dedicate their time and efforts to worthy endeavours; it is fantastic to see the strong OTG

Alexander Hasiotis and Andrew Kyriacopoulos with Blake Meadows at the 2011 10-Year Reunion

24 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

connection with the school on this important program. The OTGA believes the ongoing involvement of OTGs in school life is an important part of Trinity’s history and culture, and we were pleased we could contribute to the fundraising and be part of the successful event with a number of OTGs hitting the bikes, treadmills and table tennis tables late on the Sunday afternoon.

Another important aspect of the OTGA involvement with the Trinity community is through the Stakeholder Member Group. We were pleased that Ryan Landgren (OTG 2009) was confirmed by School Council as the second OTGA Nominee, which formalises the OTGA representation on this important element of the school’s governance structure.

Ryan is a valued member of the OTGA Committee where he shows a high level of engagement and dedication and a true love for the school. We are confident he will be a valuable contributor to School Council.

Term 2 is always an exciting time for the OTG Clubs as the winter season kicks off, even more so in 2021 after an interrupted 2020 season.

Najee Siddiqui, Gabriel Ng and Jonathon Monasso at the Class of 2001 20-Year Reunion

Timothy Cheong, Will Darlington, Simon Shaddick, Paul Clemson and James Ellis at the Class of 2000 20-Year Reunion

There has been a lot of excitement and activity, particularly given the re‑establishment of the OTGA Hockey Club and the development initiatives of the OTGAFC which added a new team and achieved record player registrations.

On 26 May, we held the OTGA, TGS and OTG Clubs meeting, attended by representatives of the clubs, the school and the OTGA. It was a highly engaging meeting during which a number of important topics were discussed, including the impacts on Bulleen of the North‑East Link, fundraising objectives, social media, and engagement with outgoing Year 12s. The level of collaboration and goodwill was

I

N

IT

M

TR

AR

EN O F OM W

Y GRAM

The Women of Trinity Grammar (WOTG) enjoyed a lovely social afternoon at Sidedoor Wine Bar, Kew, in early May. Spoiled with a perfect autumn day, everyone relaxed and enjoyed one another’s company, revelling in being able to engage socially without facemasks.

There is always plenty to chat about and there were some

Ted Mitchell, Andrew Coughlin and Dom Tyson at the 2011 10-Year Reunion

pleasing and further discussions on certain topics will continue over the coming months.

Connecting OTGs with each other and the school is a key priority for the OTGA and the Kew Business Breakfasts make a very welcome return in 2021. Having such high‑quality speakers in Professor Michael Kidd AM (OTG 1977) on 16 July and Leigh Clifford AO on 10 September means they are events not to be missed!

In June, Eddie Gibbons (OTG 1994) focused our Men’s Health Initiative on the 2021 Push-Up Challenge, when OTGs, students and staff

came together to get fit, learn more about mental health and connect with each other. It was fantastic to see so many motivated members of our community get active for such a worthwhile event. On page 35, Eddie interviews Jon Gillies (OTG 2005).

Please take a moment to follow us on our social media platforms.

We welcome members of the community who may be able to assist in practical ways getting in touch with us at otg@trinity.vic.edu.au James Brown (OTG 1992) President

similar shared stories and experiences about teachers, camps and projects and, of course volunteering at the Fair, the canteen and the uniform shop. The underlying sense for all was that their time at Trinity was extremely special, evoking fond memories.

– WOTG is designed to offer an avenue for communication, networking and support.

We hope to arrange a day visit to an olive grove or vineyard (or perhaps both) in the not too distant future, so please consider joining the group to receive your invitation.

Each month, our group continues to grow. To further assist with making connections, we have created a Facebook page – please search ‘Women of Trinity Grammar’ and request to join.

Please note that this is a private group for eligible members only.

Please use this link surveymonkey. com/r/women_of_trinity_ grammar to register your contact details and join WOTG. There is no joining or membership fee.

The Victorian lockdowns have had a profound impact on everybody

Liz Beasley and Sue McNally, Patrons

Donna Cameron and Carolyn Crouch, Co-Convenors

July 2021 | 25

Reunions

At the Class of 2010 10-Year Reunion

In the first half of the year, we were most fortunate to proceed with the Year Level Reunion program, not only for those scheduled in 2021 but those postponed in 2020.

We introduced a different format to the evenings with a stand‑up cocktail event (for the one, five, 10, 20, and 30‑year reunions), giving those in attendance more opportunity to connect with others. We are grateful to everyone who was able to attend.

We are especially appreciative of staff member Rohan Brown who came to each reunion and kindly provided archival memorabilia and updates.

At the Class of 2011 10-Year Reunion

26 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

2010 10‑Year Reunion

2011 10‑Year Reunion

The 10‑Year Reunion for the Class of 2010, a 2020 casualty of COVID‑19, was finally held in April. The timing was perfect, allowing some attendees to travel from interstate. Thank you to all present, especially those who came from afar. On the night, we were joined by approximately 70 of the Class of 2010 and current and former staff. Our special thanks go to Simon Le Plastrier, Head of the Senior School and Deputy Headmaster in 2010. Simon shared some special memories with us.

Thanks also to Rohan Barmanray, 2010 School Captain, who travelled from Sydney and provided a thoughtful reflection.

The Class of 2011 gathered for their 10‑Year Reunion at the end of April. Just over 60 OTGs and staff were in attendance – many thanks to those who travelled to Kew for this event.

Ed Plant, 2011 School Captain, who had travelled from Darwin, spoke to the group. Current staff members, Blake Meadows, John Cavanagh and Rohan Brown, shared their reflections and wise words. Our thanks also go to Simon Le Plastrier and then Headmaster Rick Tudor for joining us on the night.

At the Class of 2000 20-Year Reunion

2000 20‑Year Reunion

2001 20‑Year Reunion

2021 Reunions

In May, the Class of 2000 returned to Trinity. On the night, memories were recalled such as the first ever soccer premiership (along with the subsequent founding of the OTGA Soccer Club) and the obsession with Y2K and the new millennium.

The Class of 2001 had their 20‑Year Reunion in May, when we welcomed back approximately 50 OTGs, along with staff who were able to join us on the night.

We continue to plan for the 30, 40 and One‑Year reunions later in the year, keeping in mind potential implications of COVID‑19.

Please expect to receive an invitation by post and updates via email. For that reason, it is important the school has your current postal and email addresses. Please notify us of any changes to these at otg@trinity.vic.edu.au or contact Sharon Kendall, Alumni and Community Coordinator on 9854 3668 or by email kendalls@trinity.vic.edu.au

School Captain in 2000, Ruban Ambikaipalan, who had recently returned to Australia from the UK, spoke about the inclusive culture of the year level.

Ruban was the first School Captain appointed by Rick Tudor, so it was most pertinent for Rick to provide his reflections and fond memories.

Thanks to all who were able to attend, especially those who travelled from interstate and former members of staff, Bob Hillman, Sue Clarke, Doris Nigro and John Visentin, who were also in attendance

Chris Amiconi (2001 School Captain) recalled some special memories and friendships, while Bob Hillman (former Head of Year 12) reflected on the year level and some of the characters and characteristics which made it memorable. Ironically, Chris is now Head of Year 12 at Trinity!

It was wonderful that Bob and his wife Sue Clarke came across from Mount Gambier for both 20‑year reunions and it was also great to see current and former members of staff, Noel Boys, Jon Carnegie, Kate Hall, Chris Leadbeatter, David Mansour, Noel Stevens, John Visentin and Rick Tudor at Trinity on the night.

1990–1991 30‑Year Reunion – Canapés and Drinks Friday 6 August

1980‑1981 40‑Year Reunion Dinner Friday 20 August

2020 One‑Year Reunion Wednesday 6 October

At the Class of 2001 20-Year Reunion

July 2021 | 27

OTG Clubs OTG Cricket Changing of the Guard A delayed start to the season due to a global pandemic only prolonged suspense and further whet our appetites for what promised to be another enthralling 13 rounds of leather on willow.

After a host of names synonymous with Trinity cricket – think Tyson, Balme, Yeoman, West and Randles – decided to spend their summers away from the hallowed turf of the Hudson, it was with great delight Old Trinity welcomed fresh blood to the Club.

In fact, 10 youngsters across the Firsts and Seconds made their Club debuts over the course of the season. Out with the old, in with the new: for the first time in as long as Dave Cowley (OTG 2008) can remember (a very long time for those wondering), we had a group excited to train on Tuesday evenings, and even practise fielding.

With vast change to both teams’ best XI, expectations were tempered.

The Firsts began their campaign with two wins from as many rounds, and the realisation of

possibly losing a tenth consecutive semi‑final quickly became a reality. With Captain, Seb Nicolosi (523 runs @ 65.38, 2x 100s, MCC League Batting Award), at the helm, and cameos from Arthur Nitsopoulos (214 runs @ 35.67) and Myles Scott (11 wickets @ 15.55), the Firsts won their final three matches to prize a deserved finals berth. Unfortunately, grim weather reigned supreme, eroding any glimpse of causing a semi-final upset against top‑of‑the‑table Old Scotch.

Finally, congratulations to the following players on their selection in the 2020/21 MCC League Team of the Year: Seb Nicolosi, Myles Scott, Adrian Johnson, Matt Keys (215 runs @ 26.88, 6 wickets @ 19.33).

The Seconds first win came in Round 2, a masterful victory thanks to final-ball-of-the-innings heroics from Vice-Captain, Nick Galbraith.

But the young group, led by first-year skipper Adrian Johnson (274 runs @ 34.25, 4x 50s), would be made to wait until Round 12 for its second: a narrow victory against MCC for the annual David Hooper Trophy, in honour of the former Old Geelong cricketer who sadly lost his battle with mental health seven years ago.

OTGAFC is experiencing its strongest participation year with over 270 players playing and living the Trinity way. The castle that is the Bulleen Playing Fields has never been busier with two U19s and an U23 team forming the Speros Beasley Development Squad.

In addition, there are two female teams in the Premier VAFAW and three Senior men’s teams. 2021 is all about ‘the VIBE’ and we are keen to ensure that anybody in the Old Boy and OTG/ORA community that wants a game of footy can get one.

In a tradition initiated by MCC Captain, Roly Imhoff, and former OTG Cricket President, Hugh Krantz, the yearly fixture aims to encourage discussion and facilitate awareness around men’s mental health. It is a game the Club is honoured to play, and a tradition we are extremely proud to maintain.

Old Trinity Second XI retain the David Hooper Trophy

28 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

OTG Football

Adrian Johnson (OTG 2014) and Seb Nicolosi (OTG 2012) President

OTG Football

The VAFA competition is providing its unique challenges for our Senior men’s and women’s teams as they ‘future-proof’ under the respective coaching leadership of James Francis/Terry Mason and Stephen Maus/Damian

Harrison. Our U23s, coached

by Chris Amiconi (OTG 2001), sit mid-table and both our U19s sit in top-four spots under coaches Dean Peters and Clinton Wright.

All in all, it’s a great place to be and we encourage the Trinity community to get down to Bulleen any Saturday afternoon and watch some high grade, local footy. Ask for Neil Bowman or Jeff Hooper (OTG 1977) – one of them will buy you a pie.

Off the field, we would like to encourage you, your friends, family and colleagues to attend our famous Business Lunch at Crown Casino on Friday 9 July at 12.30pm. It’s a great opportunity to connect with fellow OTGs while listening to a host of big names from the AFL industry who will be speaking at the event. For more information please email us at oldtrinityfc.secretary@gmail.com

Finally, the OTGAFC would love to welcome new members and sponsors to the Club. To view the different options, sign up and to join our weekly newsletter, please head to www.oldtrinityfc.com.au Neil Bowman President

like to join us or attend a training session, please contact me on 0447 754 486.

Steven Payne (OTG 2016) President

OTG Soccer To the delight of our Club members, the 2021 football season was able to begin in March without any difficulty, and our teams approached it with substantial enthusiasm. Whilst early in the season results have been varied, the men’s Seniors/Reserves teams continue to train hard, and this has shown in more recent results. This year, we are pleased to have two additional teams, with both playing in the Football Victoria Metro division (Sunday).

These teams consist of numerous OTGs, and their camaraderie and passion for the game has been displayed on the pitch – we look forward to seeing where they take their football journey. Additionally, we also welcome a new sponsor to the Club, ‘Science in Sport’, who are eager to become part of the OTGSC story – we are grateful for their wonderful support.

In early July, the Club will be hosting its second event for the year, the ‘OTGSC Games Night’. Through this event, we hope to connect our teams to build new relationships and interconnect the OTG community.

With two new groups of players on our list, this will be a particularly

exciting event and we look forward to learning about our new members.

Details will be available on our Facebook and Instagram pages in the coming weeks.

The OTGSC is currently supporting four teams: Senior/Reserves Men (State League 5) and Sunday Thirds/ Fourths Men (Metropolitan League 6 and 9). As always, if you are interested in joining one of our teams, or keen to get involved in another capacity (team manager, coach, etc), please contact Jeremy Neylon for more details on 0407 580 045.

Jeremy Neylon (OTG 2013) President

OTG Otters (Water Polo) The Old Trinity Otters Water Polo Club has begun the Winter 2021 season well, fielding a 15-strong side in the State League 3/4 competition at MSAC. Led by team captain Sam Bennett (OTG 2019), a 9-8 win against Monash Uni was achieved in the first and only match of the season so far. Water polo can be hard to enjoy in winter with the cold, but enthusiasm has not been dampened due to a warm social atmosphere and indoor swimming pools. Overall, the Club is headed in a positive direction and new players are always welcome.

Ed Smith (OTG 2017) Treasurer

OTG Hockey Whilst season 2021 has had some disruptions in recent weeks, we are excited to be back!

We welcome any OTGs regardless of ability to come and be part of our extraordinary culture and community as we continue to build.

We are based at Bulleen and have two teams in the Metro levels of hockey in the Eastern/ Central competition. If you have any questions or if you would

A great save from Josh Robertson (OTG 2013)

July 2021 | 29

In Memoriam

In Memoriam We were saddened to learn of the recent passing of the following members of the Trinity community and we offer our condolences to their families and friends.

Professor Maxwell Cooke OAM (OTG 1931–39) died in April this year at 97 years of age. Max was a most accomplished and decorated musician and academic, who had an outstanding career teaching many generations of students. In June 1998, Max was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for ‘service to music education, especially pedagogy and the development of music students’ – an award richly deserved and acclaimed. Max is also a member of Trinity’s Gallery of Achievement, having been inducted into our Gallery in its inaugural year, 1997.

Max Cooke (image from Geelong College)

30 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

John Hoerner (OTG 1950–54) was a regular attendee at the Gold Mitre Lunch. The extract below is from an obituary provided by his family and written by author and journalist Lawrence Money.

A Living Wake – ‘Cocktails from the Departure Lounge’ by Lawrence Money ‘Cocktails from the Departure Lounge’, promised the invitation.

But this was a function with a difference. The ‘Lounge’ was the South Yarra home of John Hoerner, a stylish and innovative bloke whose mounting health problems in the past few years had finally become terminal. Yes, it was John who was departing, shuffling off this mortal coil, and I felt truly privileged to be among 30 close friends who gathered on Saturday at the home he shared with wife Alison Waters. She dubbed it a ‘living wake’, a tribute to John’s life while he was still around to hear it. And there were many reasons to salute him.

John was an automatic choice in a book I wrote some years ago on extraordinary Aussie blokes. I called him ‘the blind photographer’ for that is what he became after a stroke in

2003 destroyed the life he had previously known.

Trained as an electronic engineer, John Hoerner in the 1970s and early 80s had been immersed in the art world with galleries and a big framing business in Glenferrie Road, Hawthorn, called Framemaker.

An ideas man, an innovator, John had at various stages, pioneered a unique ‘solar village’ at Cape Otway, developed high-fidelity amplifiers, founded an annual race for solar and electric cars (decades before the current push), devised a new reel for surf fishing and founded an ‘automotive architecture’ company that tailored Range Rovers to order…

John Hoerner

After the stroke that robbed John of most of his eyesight, it was not long before he realised he could use the panoramic viewfinder of a digital camera to expand his field of vision – so he began taking photographs at the same time. He became a ‘blind photographer’ and had several exhibitions. He even won a photography award for one of his portraits.

Chris Martin (OTG 1954–60) was an enthusiastic regular at our Gold Mitre Lunches and will be missed by his many Trinity friends. Chris died in April this year and his service took place in the school’s Chapel of the Holy Trinity. Digby Nancarrow (OTG 1960) delivered a wonderful eulogy and one of Chris’ proteges, Chris Williams (OTG 1974), sent a beautiful message from the United States.

Chris was a manager and senior executive in the insurance business.

He spent many years abroad, mainly in the UK, before returning to Victoria and the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne. At school, he was an excellent cricketer in an era when Trinity was very strong at sport. He maintained great friendships at OTG Tennis and the DRUTS. Sadly, many years ago, Chris was hit by a truck on Beaconsfield Parade and lost the use of an arm.

Despite great pain, he never lost his sense of loyalty and friendship.

Marcus Ryan (OTG 1937–46) We were contacted by Marcus’ daughter, Elizabeth, who informed us that Marcus had passed away earlier this year at the age of 91.

Marcus Ryan

Marcus graduated from Trinity in 1946 and fondly recalled school activities, in particular Scouts. He enjoyed attending Trinity events – he is pictured on a return visit looking at his name on the Honour Board for the Dux of the Form Remove.

Frank Sadler OAM (OTG 1946–48), who died in November 2020, aged 90, had happy memories of his time at Trinity and maintained an interest in the school. A boarder for two years, Frank represented the school in the 1948 AGS premiership teams for both cricket (as opening batsman) and football (full forward).

He enjoyed a strong bond on and off the cricket field with Kelvin Emmett, who was to become his best man and lifelong friend (they ‘replayed’ many a match over the years).

cricket continued, but a love of golf overrode any post‑school involvement in football.

Frank was dedicated to community organisations, including Apex and Rotary. In 2015, his work was acknowledged when he was awarded an OAM for outstanding contributions to the community of Benalla. His honourable life reflected the values of loyalty, persistence in spades, and a quiet satisfaction in achievements. He is survived by his wife Robin, their four children, seven grandchildren and two great‑grandsons.

We are grateful to Frank’s daughter, Alison, for providing these details.

The Rev’d Geoff Simondson (OTG 1935–37) was our oldest living Old Boy up until his passing in December 2020 at the age of 99.

After Trinity, Geoff served with the RAAF 36th Squadron during World War II. He was a pilot, flying to destinations in Australia, New Guinea, and the Pacific.

Frank Sadler and his wife Robin

As a boarder, Frank endured the cold showers and bland food, but he respected the discipline of the school, enjoyed his successes and friendships, and greatly appreciated the values the school imbued. He regretted that his sons were unable to attend Trinity due to the lack of boarding facilities in the early 1970s.

After leaving Trinity, Frank returned to Benalla and began farming, with particular interest in soil conservation, prime lamb, and later, fine merino wool production. His passion for

Later, Geoff graduated from Ridley College and, in 1950, was ordained in Melbourne as a deacon. He entered the priesthood in 1951 and went on to serve at the Melbourne Diocesan Centre, and then at Hastings, Doncaster, St John’s Heidelberg and St James Glen Iris. After his retirement in 2014, Geoff continued to serve the Diocese with a Permission to Officiate.

Geoff maintained a link with Trinity for some 86 years and now his much-loved grandson, Daniel, continues this connection.

Daniel is in Year 7 and a member of Merritt House, just like his grandfather; his great-uncles, Philip (OTG 1937–39 dec), Eric (OTG 1942–44), Neil (OTG 1945‑47); and others in the extended Simondson family.

In Memoriam compiled by Rohan Brown and Sharon Kendall

July 2021 | 31

News of Old Boys It is always wonderful to hear from our Old Trinity community. If you would like to submit any News of Old Boys for a future edition or wish to update your details, please email us at otg@trinity.vic.edu.au It was great to hear from Simon Moss (OTG 1995–00) who was unable to return to Australia for his 2000 20-Year Reunion. Simon’s organisation, Global Citizen, recently ran America’s first large‑scale concert since COVID in Los Angeles, Vax Live, with an audience of fully vaccinated health and frontline workers. The concert was aired on Channel 10 in Australia.

As a result of the campaign around the show, 26 million doses of vaccines for low-income countries and US$300 million was donated to the international effort to get everyone, everywhere vaccinated as soon as possible.

James Hopkins (OTG 1994–01) was unable to travel from London for his 2001 20-Year reunion, but he has news!

After 13 years of independence, his business, The London Cocktail Club, is being floated on the London Stock Exchange in a bid to develop the company from its current 10 bars to 40 in the next three years. James and his partner, Wendy, are also very excited to announce they are expecting their first child in August.

Congratulations to Todd Goldstein (OTG 2001–06) and his partner, Felicity, on the birth of their baby boy, adding to their growing family.

Todd is an AFL player with the North Melbourne Football Club.

32 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

Many Old Trinity Grammarians would have been interested to read an article in the Herald Sun on 16 May about our very own David Mackay (OTG 2001–06).

David is a ‘one club’ AFL player with the Adelaide Crows. Drafted at the end of 2006, he has played more than 235 games, placing him in the top-10 players in terms of games played at that club. David is married with three children. In the article, David speaks about the great moments, but also about how those times of adversity and challenge make the good times really great.

Jack Cuthbertson (OTG 2005–10) sent his apologies as he was unable to attend the 2010 10-Year Reunion.

Jack is a doctor and is currently living in the Czech Republic with his Czech-born wife, Anna.

Andrew Rodger (OTG 1996–01) has been based in London since 2013. Andrew lives in North London with his partner, Daria, and their one-year-old son, Alexander.

Unfortunately, Andrew was unable to return to Australia for his 2001 20‑Year Reunion.

Our best wishes to Adam Tomlinson (OTG 2006–11) who recently suffered an ACL injury. Adam is a key defender at the Melbourne Football Club, and we wish him a speedy recovery.

Welcome to the world, Alfie Donald Stockdale, born on the Gold Coast in April 2021. When his family takes up residence in Melbourne, Alfie will be a third generation Stockdale to attend Trinity. He is pictured with Grandpa Stuart Stockdale (OTG 1959–68) and proud father Cameron Stockdale (OTG 1997–06).

Congratulations to the Stockdale family.

Stuart and Cameron Stockdale with baby Alfie

Andrew Rodger and his family in London

In late-2020, Ryan Hillas (OTG 1995–05) and his wife, Shalaini, welcomed their second child, Kaia Skye, a little sister to Tate.

After VCE, Timothy Walsh (OTG 1979–89) completed his Bachelor of Business in Accounting at Victoria University and later qualified as a chartered accountant.

Moving to London in early 2000 was a great opportunity to travel and work in various consulting roles (mostly in insurance and investment banking), before returning to Melbourne in 2019.

He has retrained and is working as mortgage broker at the ‘Aussie Home Loans’ franchise in Moonee Ponds. Tim would welcome hearing from anyone in the Trinity community needing assistance and can be contacted on 0432 771 193 or by email at timothy.walsh@aussie.com.au

Connor Gillard (OTG 2014–19) is involved in fashion design and welcomes the opportunity to meet with like-minded people in the industry. If you would like to get in touch with Connor, please reach out to the Community Engagement Office at Trinity.

On recent travels, members of our OTGA Committee, Tom Hudson (OTG 1994–06), and Ryan Landgren (OTG 2004–09) enjoyed catching up with Barrie Armfield (OTG 1956–62) while taking in some golf on the Sunshine Coast.

Tom Hudson and Barrie Armfield

John Woods (OTG 1943–52) has lived in the Blue Mountains of NSW since his retirement in 2002.

He has recently written a book His Presence Could Not Be Hidden, about cross-cultural work in the Middle East from 1860–2006 by the Middle East Christian Outreach organisation. John and his wife, Robina, served in Eritrea at a small rural hospital. John can be reached by email at bejow@hotmail. com and his book is available from Eider Books (eiderpress@gmail.com).

Many thanks to John for providing our library with a copy of his book.

Thanks to Richard Ireland (OTG 1944–46) who took the time to email us to let us know he enjoys reading The Trinity Grammarian. Richard remembers his time at Trinity well, in particular Alfred Bright (Headmaster) and John Watson (Head of the Junior School). He recalls Trinity being a comparatively modest

establishment (as were most of the suburban grammar schools back then) and that he travelled by train and bus each day from Heidelberg.

Richard moved to the UK in 1979, married and has remained there ever since. He is now retired from school teaching and keeps in touch with Brian McFarlane OAM (former staff).

Congratulations to Tom Scodellaro (OTG 2005–09) on his marriage to Steph Giles in December 2020.

Congratulations to Nick Twomey (OTG 2001–09) on his engagement to Amelia Barker in March 2021.

Philipp Kistler (OTG 1998) was in Year 10 in 1998 when he attended Trinity as part of an exchange between Bavaria and Victoria, and he is still in contact with his host family, the Goddards! Unable to attend the 2000 Reunion as he now lives in Germany with his family, he reflects: ‘I am blessed with two daughters and if we were to live in a parallel universe with two boys and within a reasonable distance to Trinity, I would not walk but run to enrol my children at Trinity.’ He believes the community, facilities and lessons learned during his time at Trinity made a difference to his view of the world. He sends special greetings to past staff members

Philipp Kistler and his family in Germany

Andrew Ferguson and Peter Wei (OTG 1963–64). Philipp now works as an actuary and would be happy to speak to any of our students considering actuarial studies.

John Edwards (M’Kenzie) Hall (OTG 1931–34) was recording his memoirs when he died in 2018, but thanks to some finishing touches by his son James M’Kenzie-Hall, John’s book has come to fruition. We sent a copy of the book to Douglas Beer (OTG 1931–42), who was at the Junior School at the same time as John.

Doug reports that ‘the whole account of John’s TGS days have kept my mind in top gear for many days’. He was especially fascinated

by John’s account of saving the life of Prince Philip and the great illustrations. Our 1942 School Captain, Doug is a Gold Mitre Lunch regular. Many thanks to Doug for sharing his thoughts and to James M’Kenzie-Hall for sending us a copy of the book for our library.

Noel Boyd (OTG 1958–64) got in touch with us from the UK. It’s coming up to 50 years since he disembarked in Southhampton and he is also approaching his 75th birthday. Noel let us know that he enjoys reading The Trinity Grammarian and has many great memories from his Trinity days.

He looks forward to a time where a reunion can be held in London once again. He also maintains close friendships with a group of school friends – lasting over 50 years – and recalls the teacher who had the greatest impact on him was Brian McFarlane OAM. Noel is passionate about cheetahs and has worked with the Cheetah Conservation Fund in Namibia.

Friends of Kayaking Trinity Friends of Kayaking will be celebrating their 50-Year anniversary on Saturday 14 August and invite all past kayakers, who are members of the Old Trinity community, to join them in their celebrations.

For further details of the event and to ensure you receive your invitation, please contact Sharon Kendall kendalls@trinity.vic.edu.au

July 2021 | 33

Standing (l-r): Trinity Director of Business, Mark Glover; Director of Community Engagement, Lucy Cohen; Phil Anderson OAM (OTG 1975); Damian Waldron (OTG 1996); Ian Friend (OTG 1972); Tom Oldfield (OTG 2003); Harold Armstrong (OTG 1965); former staff member, Tom Delahunty; Peter Russell (OTG 1965); David Langley (OTG 1961); former staff member, David Mansour (OTG 1971); former staff member, Noel Stevens; Andrew Kennedy (OTG 1969) and Advancement Manager, Kathy Hines Seated (l-r): Ian Armstrong OAM (OTG 1960); Dr Murray Verso, Patron (OTG 1966); Principal Adrian Farrer; Mary Armstrong and Christopher Hense (OTG 1959)

The Tunga Society – Bellarine Peninsula Lunch Each year, we have the pleasure of hosting Tunga Society lunches on the Bellarine and Mornington Peninsulas. These are opportunities for us to thank and celebrate our Tunga Society members.

On these occasions, we learn more about this very special group and meet other Trinity alumni who also live in these regional areas and are passionate about staying connected to their old school.

On Friday 21 May, Dr Murray Verso (OTG 1966), Tunga Society Patron, welcomed guests to the annual

34 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

Bellarine Peninsula Lunch held at the Barwon Heads Golf Club.

Our Principal, Adrian Farrer, was our guest speaker and provided those present with an update about the school. He answered questions about his journey at Trinity to date, including leading the community through the COVID crisis, and also about future plans for the school.

It was wonderful to see familiar faces, as well as a new cohort of younger OTGs from the Geelong region.

Our Tunga Society members look forward to welcoming you to our next event, which will be held in Mornington on Friday 22 October (venue to be advised). Invitations will be sent closer to the time.

If you would like to discuss leaving a gift in your will as a legacy to help provide life‑changing opportunities for future Trinity students, please contact Kathy Hines, Advancement Manager, at hinesk@trinity.vic.edu.au or 9851 9498

Back Page Interview

Jon Gillies (OTG 2000–2005) As part of ‘Beyond the Uniform’, a men’s health initiative by the Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association, in partnership with Trinity Grammar School, in this Back Page Interview we hear from Jon Gillies (OTG 2000–2005). Many thanks to Eddie Gibbons (OTG 1982–94) for asking the questions.

Jonny, you were School Captain in 2005, in 2006 you spent your gap year at a boarding school in the UK, then you completed the Bachelor of Medicine at Monash University. Where have your life adventures taken you since?

I completed a five-year undergraduate Bachelor of Medicine at Monash University, which was a progressive and exciting course, and a great time in my life.

I then worked at Monash Health, completing an internship and two general medical years before entering general practice, where I’ve been since 2015. Since gaining my specialist registration as a GP in 2017, I’ve worked in Aboriginal health, addiction medicine, public health, with the Richmond Football Club’s men’s and women’s VFL and AFL teams, as well as at my main GP clinic in Richmond.

You are the club doctor for the Richmond VFL team – what does this involve?

It has been a fantastic and privileged experience to work at

Richmond Football Club for the past five seasons and to get an insight into how a truly elite sports club operates. I’ve been the men’s VFL doctor since 2018 but I have also done a handful of women’s games and some of the men’s AFL, alongside a terrific team of physios and other doctors. Succinctly put, it’s the respect and care for every person either in or outside the club which really permeates into the work ethic and the end product with on-field success. For me, if everything is going well (which mostly it is at Richmond!), then I really take a back seat. Although I need to be dependable and present if things go wrong, I’d like to think I’m hardly noticeable. At the end of the day, the players are young adults who want clear, consistent advice and a relatable person to deal with, which I hopefully deliver.

In your role as a GP, what are some of the trends you have been seeing and assisting patients with over the past 12 to 18 months?

At my Richmond clinic, the working‑from-home phenomenon, coupled with the rise in health awareness has meant we’re busier than ever. It’s undeniable there is an incredible burden of mental ill-health continuing to emerge, predominantly related to the way the pandemic has disrupted our lifestyles.

A lot of people who have never suffered significant mental ill‑health have struggled with a sudden and unexpected loss of connection and certainty. Essentially, it’s a rational and expected response to a tough situation, but the duration and severity here in Melbourne has caused suffering. It’s nice that GPs are often the first port of call, and we can often help, even just by listening and validating those feelings, then strategising together what to do about it.

What are the key men’s health risks and what are some of the effective steps that could assist in a man’s life journey?

A complex question, but the first things are recognising that something doesn’t seem right and knowing that it’s OK to get help when you feel that way.

That sounds simple, but those two steps – recognition and acceptance – are often the most difficult.

I often talk about the bio‑psycho‑social model of wellbeing because it helps frame the approach to these issues and opens conversations. There might be something in a person’s genetics, or their psychological view of themselves or the world, or something going on in their environment, that is affecting their mental health. Or it could be a bit of all three. It’s OK to talk with someone about this if you care for them, and just listen for a while. If it’s severely affecting your loved one, friend or family member, then it’s also fine to suggest they get help, just like you would recommend if they felt short of breath or had a swollen leg. The best thing you could do is support them to access help, and just be there, loving and consistent.

They’ll appreciate that.

What are the next phases or steps in the Jonny life story?

I am currently the Public Health Medical Officer with the Victorian Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (VACCHO), which has been fascinating.

I think I’ll see where that path leads – like a lot of people, I’m aiming to just get through the pandemic then I’ll reassess. richmondmedical.com.au/ dr‑jon‑gillies/

July 2021 | 35

Friendships born on the field of athletic strife are the real gold of competition.

Awards become corroded; friendships gather no dust.

– Jesse Owens

TRINITY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, KEW 4 0 C h a r l e s S t re e t , Ke w VI C 3 1 0 1 +61 3 9854 3600 | trinity.vic.edu.au

36 | THE TRINIT Y GRAMMARIAN

This magazine has been printed on FSC (Forestry Strewardship Council) Certified paper utilising vegetable based inks. It has been produced using a Clean Green Print process which means all the processes involved with the manufacturer of this item are guaranteed to have minimum impact on the environment.