THE TRINITY
GRAMMARIAN Vol 37 No 2 | July 2022
In this edition:
4
From the Principal
13 The Gala Concert
23 Annual Giving Day
6
From the School Council
24 OTGA and WOTG
7
From the Early Learning Centre
27 Reunions
14 Clubs and Societies 16 Financial Report
8
29 OTG Clubs
From the Junior School
31 News of Old Boys
11 In praise of inefficiency
34 In Memoriam
18 TLC Group 20 From the Parents' Association 12 Introducing the new Director of Music
22 Green and Gold Ball 35 Back Page Interview
Front cover photograph:
Back cover photograph:
Trinity’s new Director of Music, Jan Blazejczak, conducts the school choir and orchestra at the Gala Concert.
Year 7 students Will Sando and Grady Peck having fun at House Athletics
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
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Welcome to the July 2022 edition of The Trinity Grammarian!
Ball and the Founders’ Day Fair are used for a diverse range of projects, all of which benefit our students.
In this edition, you will see that things are almost back to normal at school. Almost, because schools are a microcosm of society and student and staff numbers were impacted by the illnesses which affected the wider community.
have such a dedicated and generous
Nevertheless, we managed to hold the first Senior School assembly – for all year levels and in-person (albeit masked) – which was certainly a milestone. The parent community turned out in force to celebrate at the Green and Gold Ball, one of the major fundraisers for the year. In her article, Heidi Pfeffer, the President of our Parents’ Association, outlines some of the ways the funds raised through the
We are very fortunate at Trinity to parent body. This generosity and dedication is exemplified in the TLC Group, whose practical kindness has buoyed many in our community over the past two and a half years. Read about the work these wonderful volunteers on Pages 18 and 19.
Also featured are our regular columns, including, of course, all our Old Trinity Grammarians’ news. Learn about the new digital alumni platform – OTGO – which James Brown, President of the Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association, introduced in the April edition of this magazine. This is the 40th edition of the Grammarian I have edited since taking over from Rohan Brown in
Our new Director of Music, Jan Blazejczak, is introduced on Page 12. Even though we are only halfway through the year, our musicians have had numerous performances opportunities, including the impressive Gala Concert, which was held in May at the Melbourne Recital
2011. The fact that a teacher – of
Centre.
will be in the capable hands of the
History and English – was given the chance to broaden her experience and skills in other areas is, I believe, indicative of the opportunities available at Trinity – for staff and students. I will be on leave for the next edition and the Grammarian Communications team. Thank you to Jamie Spassopoulos (OTG 2012), our new graphic designer, for his wonderful layouts. As always, 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) @trinitygrammarkew @trinitygrammarkew We hope you enjoy reading this edition of The Trinity Grammarian. Siobhan Latham Editor
Benjamin Silva and Joffre White of Year 9 engage in some friendly competition for their Houses July 2022 | 3
From the Principal I wonder how many people reading this remember the
Trinity offers a particular choice amidst a very dense
Choose Your Own Adventure books that rose to popularity
market for independent schools, let alone schools in
in the 1980s and 1990s. It was a nifty idea, giving the
general. This edition of The Trinity Grammarian reflects a
reader agency, and meant that the book lived a few lives
busy, involved and broad community. There is lots to do,
and had a spray of possibilities. I distinctly remember
and there are many pathways available for Trinity people
trying to outplay the author, finding the quickest way to
to find or flex their passions. All of this is done within a
a conclusion at times, or the longest at others. I was not
framework of a values education. Character is important.
always successful…
The way that we act and interact is important. The things that we emphasise and that we support are important.
Life’s more challenging moments for adults include some of the major decisions with which we are faced. For many,
During Term 2, amongst the maelstrom of our first
marriages, mortgages and having children all rank as
‘approximately normal’ term in my time at Trinity, a number
significant, as well as choosing the right car, it seems.
of our senior students embraced our conversation
Some spend a lot of time choosing a car. Somewhere
regarding a contemporary interpretation of our motto,
amongst these is the education of our (society’s) children
Viriliter Agite. For a long time in our history Act Manfully
and the situation which has increasingly become common
was the accepted translation, and it undoubtedly has
– that of a child’s role in the choice of their school being
been held up over time as an ideal for our young people
amplified. Melbourne claims education as a key part of the
to strive to meet. An equally valid translation, according
fabric of our community. It is well understood that Victoria
to history as well as the Latin Department here at TGS,
boasts a significant number of independent schools to
is Act Courageously. Long a stated value of our school,
complement the Catholic and state school settings.
courage is an asset to all young people as they negotiate
For families, there is a lot to consider, and it is notable
their way through contemporary society, and particularly
that our families tell us repeatedly that it is our values that
one somewhat addled by the reach of the pandemic of
matter the most.
late. Courage takes many forms and, applied well, enables individuals and organisations genuine agency and choice.
Standing together at Trinity's Pride Round First XVIII match against Mentone Grammar
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Adrian Farrer with Year 12 students after losing his locks for the 'World's Greatest Shave' fundraiser event
The conversation regarding Act Courageously has had
At Trinity, our students have always had the chance to
many iterations and outcomes already. Significant among
choose from an impressive array of subjects, and to
them was the initiative of our Year 12 School Leaders
benefit from a host of activities, sport and cultural pursuits
to create a Pride Round, highlighted by the distinct
on offer. As we step more and more intentionally towards
messaging regarding inclusion that attended a First XVIII
creating opportunity for our maturing young people to
Football game against Mentone Grammar. They undertook
exercise guided agency in all aspects of their schooling,
an important and courageous project in holding the game,
they will curate their own pathways through and out of the
but the courage of some individual students in telling their
school. They will not always be successful in their choices.
stories and challenging our community to be better was
They will need to revise, review and recast their thinking.
profound indeed.
They will benefit from that, of course, as they shift through the many and varied vehicles for engagement we offer.
Those of us who went to school some years ago can
They will enjoy a Trinity education, a values education that
reflect on the memories of our time and can probably
asks them to Act Courageously, and an adventure of their
assess with some accuracy those things that we
choosing.
understand to matter. We probably have peak memories that are not necessarily the content of our Mathematics
Viriliter Agite
and Geography classes as much as, for instance, the human stories and personalities that we encountered.
Adrian Farrer
We probably remember those that took a stand and
Principal
created a legacy. Our students this year are likely to have such memories in their future.
July 2022 | 5
School Council Byrne, bicycles, East Germany and trust At the centre of School Council’s role is the need for it to operate in a manner deeply connected to the values which sit at the core of Trinity’s culture. And integral to School Council’s work is the implicit understanding and trust that all in the community embrace the same, commonly understood values framework. As I was reflecting on this notion of trust and shared values, I happened to be reading Bicycle Diaries by David Byrne, former front man for the 1970s’ New Wave band Talking Heads. The book, as the title suggests, is not about Byrne’s life as a former rock star, but is a collection of essays in which he reflects on the different cities that he has explored by bicycle as he travelled the world as a musician and artist. In one chapter, Byrne describes a visit to Berlin and contrasts it with his first in the 1970s, long before the reunification of Germany. Then, Berlin, like the whole country, was physically and ideologically divided: on one side, the freedoms and democracy of the West; on the other, the constraints and restrictions of the totalitarian regime of the East. Byrne’s evocative descriptions recall Stasiland, the 2002 work by Australian journalist Anna Funder. Stasiland details a number of stories from East Germany, perhaps one of the most perfected surveillance states of all time. The Stasi was the East German secret police, the agency by which the government kept control of the people: Its job was to know everything about anyone, using any means that it chose. It knew who your visitors were, it knew whom you telephoned . . . it was a bureaucracy metastasised through East German society: overt or covert, there was someone reporting to the Stasi on their fellows or friends in every school, every factory, every apartment block, every pub.
Trust is what holds communities together
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By extension, Funder declares that East Germany was a society fundamentally built on mistrust: everyone was seen as an informer on everyone else; every act or word witnessed as ideologically unsound would be rapidly reported to the Stasi. As a consequence, no one could trust, and no one could be trusted. East Germany was a state in which power was sustained by ensuring that the population was in fear of itself. Inevitably, a nation and an ideology constructed on principles of systemic mistrust cannot survive, for it simply crumbles from within. An essential component of all effective communities is trust: trust in others and being trustworthy ourselves. To be trusting requires a confident understanding of a shared set of positive beliefs and frequently articulated values. At Trinity we strive, through our focus on the importance of community and our commitment to upholding the values that sit at our core, to develop within all members of the school an understanding of the need to be responsible and responsive to others. And, this in turn breeds a real sense of responsibility and an understanding that trust is not simply an imposed obligation. Trust arises out of a deep connection and set of relationships and from an understanding of the moral and ethical glue that cements the structure of good community. Most importantly, trust arises from a confident commitment and involvement with and within the community and all that it offers. And, as I say, it is this that guides the work of School Council as we seek to ensure Trinity continues to evolve as we move inexorably into the 21st Century. Being a social creature, living in community with others, is, as Byrne concludes, ‘part of what it is to be human’. And trust is what holds communities together. Simon Gipson OAM Chair of School Council
From the Early Learning Centre Numeracy at play The first statement of our ELC philosophy is ‘Educators hold a strong image of each child, believing they are capable, competent, curious and full of potential. When designing our flexible, collaborative and inquiry-based learning programs, we recognise and appreciate each child’s level of creativity, as well as their uniqueness and individual capabilities.’ There are many benefits of students engaging in hands-on learning in the early years. It is essential for children to have opportunities to engage in kinaesthetic learning where they can absorb themselves in activities and gain a comprehensive understanding of concepts. When teachers facilitate such activities, they are creating engaging and exciting ways for children to master concepts and develop deeper understandings. Within the ELC there are many opportunities with open-ended materials that encourage counting and exploring mathematical concepts, including sorting trays, numerals, counters and large black markers. With these open-ended experiences children are learning and developing concepts of sorting, classifying, estimating , more and less discussions, labelling, counting and pointing, counting in groups of 10 and 2s, finding totals, and one to one correspondence
'It is not an imposition on children or an artificial exercise to work with numbers, quantity, classification, dimensions, forms, measurement, transformation, orientation, conservation, and change, or speed and space, because these explorations belong spontaneously to the everyday experiences of living, playing, negotiating, thinking and speaking by children.’ – Loris Malaguzzi, founder of Reggio Emilia’s educational philosophy
Numeracy goes beyond counting and arithmetic to encompass the capacity to use mathematical understanding and skills to solve problems in the complex social settings we encounter daily in life. Numeracy has to do with spatial sense, making sense of data, understanding patterns and sequences, and seeing where mathematics can be applied to solve a problem. Educators act alongside the children to embed mathematical concepts and understandings authentically within the program. We used measurement as a tool after planting our vegetable garden, and one of our students created a painting of ‘the largest carrot’. The students then asked the question ‘What is the size of the largest carrot in the world?’ Inspired by our conversation and inquiry into finding the length of the largest carrot recorded, the children measured with steps, rulers, tape measures and 1m wheels to see how long the carrot was. These concepts were quickly incorporated into our outdoor session and so many numerals were discussed and measured. The biggest carrot recorded was 6.4 metres! That’s longer than our slide, taller than our trampoline and it is now recorded with masking tape in our playground.
We also used the concept of data handling as a tool to gather and interpret data. We did this by voting for books to read, games to play or for our favourite football team. We also tallied up how much money was raised for the Reconciliation Week fundraiser we held in the ELC. Mathematics and language are tools for inquiry, communication and reasoning, and the understanding of each informs the other. Children naturally use both of them as they learn to ‘decode’ the environment around them and make sense of their experience with their teachers and peers. Naomi Wright Director of the Early Learning Centre July 2022 | 7
From the Junior School At Trinity, we nurture a culture that embraces individuality and values community. This is celebrated in the Junior School through the many programs that operate alongside the classroom curriculum. These additional out-of-the-classroom experiences enrich our students’ lives at school and may even inspire them to be more curious, courageous, and collaborative.
Co-curricular activities After school, our older Junior School students attend a range of clubs. The activities on offer range from chess to robotics to sports. The time spent engaged in these activities affords our students the opportunity to have a go at something they may not have tried before – and they might develop some new skills and make some new friends while doing so. Much fun was had this term and excitement is already growing about the Term 3 offerings.
Getting crafty after school!
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Chess is held in the Junior School Library
The cross-country team at a Round Robin
Sport Always popular amongst the student body are the many sporting activities on offer. One of the most popular and perhaps the most physically demanding is House Cross Country. Although this event provides an opportunity for our more skilled runners to shine, the focus of the event is on everyone ‘giving it a go’. Every student is encouraged to run the course and the effort each one makes is a great source of pride. The House spirit and support that The McIntyre Gym is a great venue for sporting activities
the students provide one another is equally impressive and another highlight of the day. This term also saw the reintroduction of Round Robins. Students in Years 4, 5 and 6 had the opportunity to engage in a variety of winter sports against PEGS and Camberwell Grammar School. The competition was fierce but ultimately many friendships were formed.
These students are geared up to play some futsal
July 2022 | 9
Reconciliation Week
The Buddy Program
Chapel
During Reconciliation Week, our
The Junior School Buddy program is an integral part of the Student Wellbeing program, reinforcing the friendly and caring environment and culture that is inherent at Trinity. Over the course of the school year, students build a unique bond with their buddy. For many, it is one of the highlights of their week.
Another way in which students
students led the way to help make change as they listened and learned about one of the oldest civilisations. Students in Years 3 to 6 participated in a variety of activities run by Didgeridoo Australia, which included creating art with ochre, clay and charcoal. Students also had the opportunity to play an Indigenous instrument. Our Prep to Year 2 students took part in an Acknowledgement of Country and a Smoking Ceremony, both of which were held in the Roberts House Playground area. The Ceremony provided an opening for collaborative storytelling and our Prep to Year 2 students are preparing to preform Dreamtime stories as part of their class plays in Term 3.
Through this program, students develop so much more than friendships with boys from outside their own year levels. Indeed, they can enhance their social skills and sense of empathy, as well as learn to value difference and develop trust. The Buddy program even extends beyond the Trinity gates and, over the course of the year, students from Prep to Year 6 at Ruyton and Trinity are given the opportunity to build friendships with others outside their immediate school community. The students greatly enjoy engaging with their Ruyton buddies. This program is an important element of student wellbeing and helps our students to flourish.
Chapel services are inclusive and interactive
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from Prep to Year 6 get involved in Trinity life outside the classroom is by attending Chapel. This weekly service aims to equip them with the tools to live virtuous lives and enable them to develop into well-rounded people who flourish in the modern world. There is never a shortage of students who volunteer to read from the Bible or to write and lead our weekly prayers. Boys are also included in services – they might answer questions, ring the bell, or even be a willing volunteer in one of Ms Fairlie’s interactive homilies! Singing is also an important part of our worship and the students come to Chapel well prepared to sing God’s praise after weekly singing practice with their music teacher, Ms Searle.
Samara Madden Deputy Head of the Junior School
In praise of inefficiency
Dr Levey with his Year 12 class
I like to walk most places. If I had time to walk all the way to work, I would. I’m not particularly passionate about fitness and nor do I walk because I’m any more environmentally conscious than the next person. If I’m honest, I walk because it’s inefficient, and we have so little time these days to do what the rest of life is pressuring us not to that it feels indulgent, a luxury. Sure, I could drive my car to school and save myself a few hours of walking and riding the trains, but I would miss out on a lot: the people-watching, the podcasts, the music, the chance to look cool while reading Shakespeare on public transport…
There’s a particular poem I used to know off by heart. It’s called ‘The Snow Man’ and it’s written by an American poet named Wallace Stevens. I don’t know all of it anymore, but the opening stanza goes:
Another ‘inefficient’ thing I like to do is read poetry. No one needs to read poetry, no matter what English teachers like to tell you. Does the activity produce anything of value? No. Does it make the world a better place if you parse a few stanzas over breakfast? Nope. In fact, it probably makes the world a bit worse given that poetry is printed on the pulp of dead trees. Nevertheless, to me it’s one of the most valuable parts of life.
Even in this first stanza there are different arrangements possible. Is the poet arguing that a wintery mind will only find wintery things to dwell upon? Or is he offering, instead, a message about empathy? Does having a mind of winter, getting down on its level, allow you to empathise with the beauty of
One must have a mind of winter To regard the frost and the boughs Of the pine-trees crusted with snow I like the poem because it’s akin to a puzzle. How you interpret certain punctuation and phrasing later in the poem can alter its whole meaning. Arrange the emphasis differently in your mind and everything changes.
the cold things that others might not value? About what about that title, ‘The Snow Man’? This is not a snowman that Stevens wants us to
think of, that heap of snow shaped to mimic a human form; it’s a man defined by the qualities of snow. A Snow Man. What might that mean? … And here’s that inefficiency again. Wouldn’t I be better off setting my brain to work on something more useful than thinking about poetry? I could be marking essays, sending emails, reminding my students to write their speeches. There is plenty for me to be doing. But my point is that not everything has to be done for a reason. Sometimes it’s just okay to do something because you enjoy it. This is not the same as procrastination: the world wants you to waste time scrolling on your phone and watching YouTube. Don’t do that. Do what’s difficult instead. Try to enjoy doing things that the world is pushing you not to. Walk to school. Concentrate. Memorise a poem. Get all your work done, of course, but enjoy the space in between. Dr Nick Levey Head of English This article was originally published in the student-led weekly newsletter ‘Roxeth’.
July 2022 | 11
Introducing our new Director of Music Welcome Jan Blazejczak The year certainly got off to a flying start for Trinity’s new Director of Music, Jan Blazejczak, with intensive rehearsals for the much-treasured House Performing Arts Festival beginning almost immediately. He admits that nothing could have prepared him for this complex, multi-faceted event, but he greatly enjoyed the cross-pollination and collaboration between Music, Drama and the Houses. In an interview he did for the weekly student newsletter 'Roxeth', Jan addressed the most common question on his students’ lips: ‘Where does your name come from?’ His response was ‘…from the country of the best chocolates and the No 1 ranked soccer team in the world (well, this can be contested) – Belgium.’
Jan began his career in Belgium, teaching in Bruges after university. His interest in Australia had been piqued, however, by a Rotary exchange to Melbourne in 1990. He had loved this experience and determined to return. The opportunity arose as a result of his thesis choice for his Masters studies: Music education in Victoria! Melbourne University and the VCA beckoned; then, after teaching at schools around Victoria, Jan arrived at Trinity. This year, he replaced Michelle Stanic who retired after 35 years at Trinity. During his first six months, in addition to the House Performing Arts Festival, Jan experienced the Strings Concert, Trinity Jazz, the more intimate Scholars Concert and also the Gala Concert, which was held at the Melbourne Recital Centre in May.
Jan Blazejczak conducting the orchestra at the Gala Concert
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He has greatly appreciated the welcome he has received and reveals that meeting the students and the wonderfully supportive music and administrative staff has been a highlight. Jan relishes a new challenge and, having taught at all-girls’ and co-educational schools, he was keen to work in an all-boys’ environment. He was aware of Trinity’s reputation and the importance of music in the curriculum and co-curriculum. As a child, he gravitated to music; he was self-motivated and learnt piano. His parents, while not particularly musical, were very supportive of his interest and talent. For Jan, it is key that the Music School continues to provide a supportive environment, with interesting programs and nurturing, talented teachers to encourage the talent and creativity of Trinity’s students.
Charlie Lockyer, Tom Ruljancich and Lachlan Morrison on trumpet
Daniel Chong on vibraphone
The Symphony Orchestra
Jacob Lai, David Luo and George Koutrouzas on violin
Jamie Ransome conducts Stage Band
Suzuki Strings
July 2022 | 13
Clubs and Societies ‘Students who participate in high school activity programs have better educational outcomes, including higher grades, higher achievement test scores, and higher educational expectations beyond high school.’ – National Federation of State High School Associations
BARBZ (Boys and Ruyton Beats Zociety) Club
To promote, enhance and enrich the academic culture of the school, one of the major roles of the Academic Co-captains, Enda Han and Tim Le, is to encourage a rich culture of student-led clubs and societies, which meet weekly and are supported by staff who may have similar interests or are willing to offer their time to support student leaders in the running of a club. Such clubs and societies allow
Our aim is simple: to ensure every person who attends a meeting will leave feeling just little bit better. And before you ask, yes, Zociety is with a ‘Z’, because we aren’t like any of Trinity’s other clubs. We hold having fun as utmost importance. We strive to achieve this by cultivating a relaxed environment that allows our members to take their minds off
students to develop their interests and passions and to share these with like-minded peers. Students have fun and enjoy learning from each other. This experience can assist in their development as independent learners and allow them to experiment with a subject or potential career path within the safe environment of the school. Currently there are seven clubs operating and as the year progresses students have the opportunity to start others too. In this article, the student leaders of these clubs provide an insight into what their respective clubs are about, what motivated them and what they hope to achieve.
Chess The Chess Club aims to get students loving chess, being enthusiastic about improving their game and competing in competitions. We want students and even staff of all abilities to feel welcome to come and challenge themselves. Chess player Aleksei Khamatgaleev, who has played at the highest level, coaches our members on a weekly basis. We have also started a TGS tournament, and we look forward to challenging ourselves in the Victorian schools competitions. By being part of this Chess Club, we aim to improve our logical thinking, creativity, problem solving and collaboration with other students. Matthew Lo (Year 9) Student convenor of Chess Club
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the stresses of school life and spend time with their friends. Over the course of many meetings, we have been engaged with many styles of dance and music, as diverse as K-Pop and R&B. Alvin Doan, James Fox and Ben Zhou (Year 12) Student convenors of BARBZ
Coding Club
adventures. It provides a fun and exciting environment for newcomers and experienced players alike through shared roleplaying game experiences!
interesting-yet-underappreciated branch of science.
Fergus Warren Smith (Year 10) Student convenor of the Dungeons and Dragons Club
F1 Appreciation Society
STEM Club
The Coding Club allows inquisitive students to explore computational avenues of academia. We aim to develop students’ skills in algorithmic thinking such that they might find imaginative solutions to problems that are often too large to solve by hand, and to provide an environment for students to develop their experience in programming. Every year, we work towards partaking in prestigious competitions such as the Computational and Algorithmic Thinking Competition, the Oxford University Coding Challenge as well as the Australian Informatics Olympiad. At Coding Club, creativity is encouraged as the club also acts as a forum for those seeking programming help within their own personal projects. Winston Zhang (Year 12) Student convenor of Coding Club
Dungeons and Dragons (D&D) Club Dungeons and Dragons is a story-telling game whereby students create characters, take part in adventures and grow and cooperate with others. Through strategy, teamwork and a little luck from the ‘Dice-Gods’, students will see their characters grow both as individuals and as part of a team, ready to tackle more challenging hurdles and enemies. The Dungeons and Dragons Club enables students to create and run their own
STEM Club exists for the purpose of propagating the importance of scientific pursuit among its student participants. The club’s leaders seek to fashion an ambience à la the Socratic classroom: a place of open discussion, encouraging students to create and validate hypotheses in a constructive environment, among friends and cross-age peers. Victor Li and Cale Martin (Year 12) Student convenors of the STEM Club
Trinity’s Academic Society of Astronomy (TASA) In the first term of this year, TASA meetings consisted of presentations on astronomy topics, including extra-terrestrial life and the universe. Recently, we joined the Australian Space Design Competition (ASDC), for which we are required to plan and design a settlement on a foreign celestial body. We have selected Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and the second largest in the Solar System, as the location for our settlement. By doing presentations and competitions, we hope to educate more students about astronomy, an
William McDougall (Year 9) Student Convenor of TASA
Through the F1 Club, passions have been strengthened and, in some cases, realised. Each week, we spend time together appreciating classic races and classic drivers such as Michael Schumacher and Pastor Maldonado. We grieved the loss of Ayrton Senna, Jules Bianchi, and Antoine Hubert. We basked in the glory of Nicholas Latifi and Lance Stroll. The F1 Appreciation Society is not just a club but a way of life. Each member is handed the commentary transcript of the last lap of Abu Dhabi 2021 – this is the holy scripture of the F1 Appreciation Society. Watching the sport, learning about the sport, and appreciating the sport of F1 are all components of our great club. Dex Kelly (Year 12) Student convenor of the F1 Appreciation Society These clubs and societies are just a snapshot of the type of student-led programs and opportunities on offer at Trinity. Students can also pursue their interests and develop their talents through their involvement in activities such as Harambee, debating, House, drama, outdoor education, music, sport and student leadership programs, as well as the plethora of academic subject competitions and enrichment programs which are also based on students' interests and strengths. Angela Kotsiras Academic Extension and Enrichment Programs Coordinator
July 2022 | 15
Financial Report The 2021 School/Financial Year presented a number of challenges with the continuation of prevailing Covid-19 pandemic implications. Our School even endured its own Covid-cluster and the entire school community was forced into a 14-day quarantine period. The distance learning practices and disciplines that evolved throughout 2020 were quickly re-established in 2021 such that there was no time delay transition unlike other peer schools, and no disruption to the quality of delivery of Trinity’s core education product. The school community continued to work proactively and responsibly together and significant programs were implemented to support families and staff in need. Noting the impact on the students’ ability to participate in the richness of the full life of the School, the School Council resolved to provide fee rebates to all families in recognition of this reality. The 2021 financial support provided to our community totalled a reduction in fee revenue of almost $1.2M. Over the two-year period of lockdowns and remote learning, the School provided over $6M in financial relief to families, including bursaries, payment respite and payment plan offerings. Whilst financial relief was not the only support provided to families, with correlated access to counselling, care packages and vaccination access offered, amongst other activities, it was a significant metric in School Council and management monitoring the support required for our community. The Trinity Staff cohort also approached the School in the latter months of 2020 to request that no indexation be applied to their 2021 salaries, in recognition of the hardship being faced in the community and acknowledging the support of the School for their work and security. School Council again would like to formally recognise
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A summary of the financial position of the school follows, along with comparative information for the previous year.
Income
2021
2020
$50,674,000
$49,960,000
Grants
$6,468,000
$6,115,000
Other income
$4,972,000
$2,900,000
$62,114,000
$58,975,000
2021
2020
$26,919,000
$26,906,000
Education expenses
$6,286,000
$5,497,000
Scholarships and bursaries
$2,855,000
$3,028,000
Depreciation (non-cash)
$4,809,000
$4,887,000
Maintenance, cleaning and grounds
$4,109,000
$4,355,000
Administration expenses
$5,274,000
$5,091,000
Significant one off and non-cash items
$1,519,000
$6,903,000
$351,000
$314,000
$9,992,000
$1,994,000
$62,114,000
$58,975,000
Tuition fee income
Expenditure Academic salaries and on-costs
Finance and other costs Retained for capital development
the commitment of the Staff cohort across all aspects of our operations and the professional and dedicated manner in which they did, and continue to, undertake their roles and impact the young people in our care. Over the past four years, the School Council has acknowledged historical instances where Trinity failed in its duty of care to students. Such behaviour is abhorrent, and the school has created non-cash reserves to develop appropriate restitution processes and services to support past students and staff. The North East Link Project operated throughout the year impacting on 20% of the Marles Playing Fields at Bulleen being temporarily lost to the State Government as a construction site. The School was able to negotiate financial compensation from the State to relocate and construct eight tennis courts, 16 cricket practice wickets, an archery range
and various minor infrastructure improvements. The funding agreement will also result in further improvements to the Marles Playing Fields property including the new southern boundary roadway and parking (just completed), new changerooms, and relocated maintenance compound and caretaker’s residence.
Expenditure
Further funding for the latter projects will be received in 2022 and 2023 whilst lease payments are set to be received for at least the next five years. School Council has resolved to reinvest such funds into the Marles Playing Fields and support the completion of the existing Master Plan for the site. The chart on this page details the comparative fundraising income that has been generated by the School. The decline in donations over the past two years is indicative of the pandemic’s impact on operations and the revised focus on Covid-19 fee relief, TLC support and other wellbeing and community engagement activities. With the impending new Strategic Plan, Master Plan, Giving Day and normal activities resuming, the Community Engagement team looks forward to regenerating fundraising and philanthropic efforts over the course of this year. In accordance with the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority registration requirements, the School is obligated to also provide business performance information to the community on the Early Learning Centre and Boarding operations. The School operates boarding services for local and international students in Years 9 to 12 in the senior boarding residences located south of the Birrell Oval, on Charles Street and College Parade. In 2019, the School Council resolved to cease boarding operations at the end of the 2022 school year. This decision has meant the Boarding House numbers are declining as no new enrolments are being accepted. The Houses are managed by our Director of Boarding, Ian Lundie, together with a team of residential tutors. Some 17 boarders were enrolled during the 2021 school year, reducing to the final six for 2022. The School also operates an Indigenous boarding house called Dadirri House. Chris and Vanessa Johnson manage this program at the dedicated residence at 49 Wellington Street.
Four Indigenous students can be accommodated with the Johnson family each year.
Donations Donations 450,000 400,000 350,000
The move to and from distance learning impacted significantly on the boarding operations and the boarders themselves. Despite the challenges, the boarders remained upbeat and enthusiastic about their situation and our departing Year 12 boarders all performed very well in their VCE. The School also operates a Registered Early Learning Centre with three-year-old and four-yearold kindergarten services being provided. Both programs were fully enrolled in the 2020 school year with 22 spaces approved for each room. The program is led by our ELC Director, Naomi Wright, and the team of ELC teachers and coeducators. An externally-managed and registered out-of-school-hours care program operates on the ELC site after school each day during term. The ELC operations also sit within the School’s (Company) single entity financial reporting framework and are subject to annual external audit. The program receives direct government recurrent grants for kindergarten programs. No other recurrent grants are used for ELC purposes with the program operated by the School using ELC fees and school funds. The ELC program is subject to formal review and regulatory audit by ACEQA/Department of Education and the most recent audit saw the School achieve ‘exceeding the standards’ ratings for the majority of categories. All Boarding and ELC operations are governed by the School Council and managed on a day-to-day basis under delegation to the Principal. The programs are funded via specific fees and school funds. No government recurrent grants apply to the financial operations of the boarding programs. Staff are employed directly by the School and the services operate from schoolowned properties.
300,000 250,000 200,000 150,000 100,000 50,000 -
2018
2019
2020
2021
Both the Boarding and ELC services have recently been recognised within the School’s Constitution to also ensure compliance with changes to the Education Training Reform Regulations by the Victorian Government. Their operations sit within the School’s (Company) single entity financial reporting framework and are subject to annual external audit. Whilst we will acknowledge the conclusion of senior boarding services at the end of the 2022 school year, we look forward to continuing to enhance the Indigenous Support Program and Dadirri House in the years ahead. The School’s direct work with the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) will aid the continued success of our program. The School’s overall financial position remains strong and continued healthy enrolment demand places the organisation in an excellent situation to respond to the impending strategic and development plan major goals and actions. Thanks to the School Council, the Finance and Risk Committee and the Finance team for their support and continued diligence and efforts during the past financial year period.
Mark Glover Director of Business Copies of the Audited Financial Statements can be obtained from the office of the Director of Business.
July 2022 | 17
TLC Group A little TLC goes a long way At any given point throughout the year in the kitchens of Trinity families, an extra tray of roast veggies or a spare batch of cookies is being whipped up and set aside. These additional meals and sweet treats are made with love for those in the community who might be in need of a little extra ‘TLC’. The TLC Community Support Group or 'TLC Group' was established in May 2020 as a subcommittee of the Trinity Parents’ Association. Led by Co-Convenors Alice Noonan and Angela Gill, it is a collective of parent volunteers who cook meals and snacks to be stored and distributed by the school’s Community Engagement team to those in the Trinity community who might be going through a challenging time. Members of the Trinity community also donate funds for items such as meal delivery vouchers, supermarket gift cards and hampers. Essentially, if a parent or staff member is aware of a family which might be dealing with a tough diagnosis, the loss of a loved one or an otherwise generally difficult time, they can reach out to the Community Engagement team to discreetly send some Trinity love their way. ‘At the end of the day, we are so grateful for the opportunity to contribute in a positive way to the community around us,’ Alice and Angela said. ‘The support provided by the volunteers is simply amazing, and their homecooked goodies are always prepared with such thought
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TLC volunteer Desiree Sutrisno (left) and her cooking assistant, aka her Dad
and care. Their willingness to help and generosity is truly humbling, and without them this service to the school community couldn’t be provided.’ The group continues the long history of members of the Trinity community providing support for each other in many and varied ways. Since the initiative began, a dad
who perfected the art of baking sourdough during lockdowns has provided loaves of bread, a mum who works for a publishing company has provided a selection of children’s books, and another Trinity parent who owns a honey farm in Tasmania has kindly donated boxes of honey. There was also a donation of vouchers to a local takeaway store and discounts for beautifully curated hampers at a local greengrocer. During the two-week mandatory isolation period that students, parents, staff and families went through in July 2021, the TLC Group also facilitated support for families to shift from home-cooked meals to gift cards, vouchers, hampers and online deliveries. ‘We all go through ups and downs in life and need a little help sometimes. Problem is, we’re not that good at
asking,’ Ilse du Toit, Trinity parent and TLC Group volunteer, said. ‘The TLC group has a way of caring in such a practical, behind-thescenes way. I really treasure this! Who would not feel loved when they receive a batch of muffins or a chocolate brownie? Great group to be part of.’ The TLC Group is extremely grateful for all contributions. If you would like to join the roster or the list of volunteers and/or make a donation, please feel free to get in touch via pa@trinity.vic.edu.au And, if you are aware of anyone who needs some ‘TLC’, please get in touch with Lucy Cohen, Director of Community Engagement (cohenl@trinity.vic.edu.au) or your son’s Head of School, Head of Year or Form Teacher.
Angela Gill and Alice Noonan
‘I chose to be involved because any one of us can unexpectedly find ourselves in a situation of need. For our children, a meal is part of the normal routine and during times of difficulty, maintaining such a routine is comforting for them.’ – Andrea Bee ‘TLC allows me to extend support in a respectful way ensuring the community remains connected. I can easily double my cooking to provide a meal for another family.’ – Heidi Pfeffer ‘I enjoy the connection between families in the TGS community and ensuring those in need feel supported.’ – Louise Wilkie
‘What I enjoy most about being involved with the TLC Group is being able to help members of our community who are having a tough time by making some favourite home recipes at a time that suits me. I'd encourage others to give it a go – you don't have to be a MasterChef!’ – Fiorina
‘I enjoy being creative with the meals I prepare and feeling thankful I can do something to help.’ – Anonymous ‘What I enjoy most about being involved with the TLC Group is knowing that we are helping other families within the Trinity community and that my boys are learning the value of sharing and giving.’ – Desiree Sutrisno ‘I enjoy being part of the group. My grandson attends the school
and that is why I help. It is a great school and I admire the community feeling. Keep up the kind work; we all need a hand at times.’ – Helenjane Norton-Baker ‘I love that such a simple thing like a meal can make such a difference in a time of need. That simple meal says we’re here to help, we’re thinking of you, we’re sending you a little TLC. I also love that the boys see this in action and hope that when their time comes as adults they too will be inspired to do small acts of kindness towards others in times of need.’ – Lisa Williams ‘I contribute for a few reasons: It’s nice to look after another family! We’ve all been there – maybe there’s a new baby at home, or a family member in hospital, or an illness. There any so many things that can challenge us, and if a meal helps that family, and takes one stress off the table, then I’m happy to help. We’re a community, and we’ve been very challenged by Covid-19 and social distancing. Hopefully these meals ‘chip away’ at the distance we have between us. I enjoy it. I see my own family sit down together for a meal, and I see the same meal packed up and ready to go to another family. It’s a great feeling.’ – Anonymous July 2022 | 19
From the Parents’ Association Reach out, connect, encourage On 21 May, the sold-out Green and Gold Ball took place. This event, a highlight of the Trinity calendar, enabled the community to enjoy a fantastic evening together for the first time since 2019. In 2023 the event will be held at a larger venue to ensure everyone can attend. This year, I also had the honour of being the Ball Convenor and I would like to extend a warm thank you to the committee, Suzanne Smith, Melanie White, Sally Childs and Felicia Trewin. With the support of the Trinity Community Engagement staff, Lucy Cohen and Felicity Quilty, we worked together to organise the event. Please see some wonderful images of the night on Page 22. Of course, imperative to our fundraising success is the support of our community through generous donations, bidding and purchases of the Silent Auction and Live Auction items. We offer a very sincere thank you to all who attended and supported the fundraising element of the Ball. Funds raised from the Ball and the annual Founders’ Day Fair are used to provide ‘Small Grants’ back to our school, benefitting students currently at Trinity. In 2021, the PA Committee allocated funds to various areas of the school, including to portable goals for lunchtime play, a riverside shelter for the Friends of Kayaking, a smart bike trainer, rugby training equipment, and a double bass and flute for the Music program.
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Initially in 2021 and again this year as part of the Small Grants allocations, the PA provided funds for the purchase of Indigenous artwork. This is to ensure a visual representation of the commitment to Reconciliation and because these artworks are valuable teaching resources for staff and students across the curriculum. The collection will be called the Parents’ Association Collection. One of these artworks, by Hayley Millar Baker, is pictured opposite. In March this year at our AGM, the PA voted in an energised committee. Trinity is incredibly fortunate to have a committee of dedicated parents working behind the scenes for the benefit of the school 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. Our meetings always include an update from Trinity’s Senior Leadership Team and information about events at the school. The volunteer opportunities at Trinity are as diverse as the community so please contact us to learn more. One PA volunteer group integral to the school community is the Class Representatives. Their role is twofold: to plan and organise opportunities for parents to connect, and to disseminate information from the school that is helpful for parents as they support their sons through their Trinity journey. We currently have close to 50 Class Reps for the Senior School, and 30 for the Junior School and the ELC. Some of the Class Reps cover multiple classes as their sons started one after the other at Trinity. Last year, the Class Reps performed a vital connecting role during the Trinity quarantine period by disseminating information and also representing parent concerns for resolution.
Melissa Gallace, Class Rep Coordinator for the Junior School, describes the Class Rep role as ‘a great opportunity to support your son in his early schooling days. Being a Class Rep is an indirect way to be part of your son’s educational journey.’ Lisa Williams, Class Rep Coordinator for the Senior School, adds ‘If you need information, advice, or have queries to solve, become a Class Rep – you get to learn so much!’ Recently, at the Senior School Class Rep meeting, Rachelle Liosatos, currently a Class Rep for Year 8, but an experienced one having been volunteering in this role since 2008, summed it up beautifully when she explained that Class Reps are a vital part of the Trinity community: ‘They reach out, they connect with parents, they encourage others to volunteer, and in doing so, events are organised, fundraising efforts are supported and lasting relationships are built.’ A big shout out to all our Class Reps for being the superglue that binds the community. Over the course of the year, through email, year level WhatsApp groups and the fortnightly Trinity News, parents and guardians will be sent details of class and year level events. Looking forward to whole school events later this year, please mark your calendars for the Spring Luncheon on 21 October and the Founders’ Day Fair on 13 November. Heidi Pfeffer President of the Parents’ Association
Hayley Millar Baker, Even if the race is fated to disappear, digital photographic montage on paper
Cross-cultural artist, Hayley Millar Baker (Gunditjmara), is a research-driven, contemporary artist based in Melbourne. Utilising her mediums of photography, multimedia, and research, Millar Baker examines human experiences of time and memory, resulting in monochromatic photographic works — often in series that divulge her storytelling methodology. By digitally assembling photography and archives, she is able to construct complex visual insights into past, present and future realms. Sarah George, Art teacher
July 2022 | 21
Green and Gold Ball
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Giving Day The Trinity community comes together to give back on first-ever Giving Day On Thursday 16 June, our first-ever Giving Day, over $180,000 was raised by members of the Trinity community, helping us to establish the school’s inaugural means-tested scholarship. This new means-tested scholarship will give a student who otherwise wouldn’t have the financial means the opportunity to experience a Trinity education, in a reflection of the generosity, care and commitment to service that characterise the Trinity community.
Our Giving Day was made possible by our generous match donors and we would like to take this opportunity to thank each of them: •
Anonymous
•
Prof Don Campbell (OTG 1972)
•
Rodney Cruise and Jeff Chiang
community who joined
•
Jeremy Duffield (OTG 1972)
together to support this
•
Laurence Law (OTG 1967)
initiative,’ - Principal Adrian
•
Greg and Ruth Toland
‘I am humbled by the generosity of the more than 280 members of the TGS
Farrer said.
‘This Giving Day was a wonderful example of how the Trinity community really steps up to help when there is a need,’ Director of Community Engagement Lucy Cohen said. ‘I am so grateful to everyone who contributed as they have recognised the profound importance of ensuring a Trinity education is accessible to all.’ On behalf of the Community Engagement team, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to the Trinity community for the support shown towards this exciting new initiative.
July 2022 | 23
From the Old Trinity Grammarians' Association As we enter the second half of 2022, it has been fantastic to see a return to many of the activities, increased connections and faster pace that were part of our lives prior to COVID-19 entering our world. Whilst in some ways we are still adjusting to the new normal across workplaces, school, physical activities and social settings, the benefits of more frequent face-to-face interactions to learning, relationships, collaboration, health and wellbeing are clear. Throughout Term 2, the OTGA took advantage of this opportunity with a number of our meetings moving to in person and our OTGs attending various important school events and functions.
It was fantastic to see the strong engagement, discussion and collaboration between members of School Council, the Principal and senior staff, the Stakeholder group, the Parents’ Association and the OTGA. The Community Forum continues to be a key element of the school’s constitution and an effective mechanism to provide the community with visibility and greater awareness of activities happening across the school and key stakeholder groups. It was great to be able to share an update on the continued focus of the OTGA in supporting our Old Boy community and the school through our activities around Connecting, Community, Careers and Clubs.
On 29 March, the TGS Community Forum held in Arnold Hall was a chance for all parts of the school community to come together to hear about the progress of the strategic planning process and receive an update on the operations and financial health of the school.
The 2022 winter sporting season kicked off in April for our OTG Clubs with great anticipation for an uninterrupted season of fixtures. On 10 May, we held our annual OTG Clubs meeting which was attended by leaders of each of the sporting clubs, members of the
OTGA and senior representatives from the school. It was a very engaging meeting where Mark Glover (Director of Business) and Lucy Cohen (Director of Community Engagement) provided an update on the North East Link construction works at Bulleen and led a discussion covering a range of topics relevant to the successful management of clubs and associations including governance, sustainable growth, finance, insurance, fundraising and social events. Our OTG Clubs are run by a group of passionate and impressive volunteers who not only encourage participation in sporting endeavours for OTGs but foster strong cultures. It was clear from the meeting that our clubs are in good shape coming out of Covid-19 with good numbers and a renewed focus on social events. Each year, 1 June marks the start of a recent Trinity tradition of participation in the Push-Up Challenge. This was created to
Tyler Petersen, Patrick Kendall, Noah Campbell, Matt Walker, Chris Walker and Charlie Emery at the OTGAFC Business Lunch
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promote awareness and encourage positive mental health through setting a goal of completing 3,139 push-ups over 24 days and raising funds for mental health charities. The objective of the challenge is to get fit, learn about mental health and have fun through connecting with OTGs and others in the community. The OTGA assembled a dedicated team to take on the challenge and join a number of groups across the Trinity Community including the current Year 12s and other year levels. The Push-Up Challenge is a favourite within a calendar of events that the OTGA promotes or participates in as part of our Beyond the Uniform strategy spearheaded by Eddie Gibbons (OTG 1994). The vision for Beyond the Uniform is to
For more information go to www.thepushupchallenge.com.au
support healthy individual OTGs and a healthy OTG community, underpinned by the shared pursuit of Viriliter Agite and the realisation of being a good son, a good mate, a good partner, a good father – a good Trinity man. The key elements of the strategy recognise that men encounter different challenges to their health across ages and stages of life: youth mental health, middle years social isolation and later years physical health checks. A key aspect of the strategy is to raise awareness of targeted initiatives throughout the year with well-known organisations such as RUOK?, Movember and Dry July. Another exciting initiative during the term was the soft launch of the new OTGO (Old Trinity Grammarians Online) digital alumni platform powered by Graduway which is the leading alumni community software platform used by more than 2,000 schools across the globe. OTGO will help OTGs connect with fellow OTGs, see what they have been up to and stay in touch through a directory and feed, in addition to providing details of upcoming events and photo boards. It also provides a number of tools to expand OTGs’
We recently got together socially to celebrate Mother’s Day with a
EN O F OM W
I
AR
IT
M
TR
N
delightful afternoon gathering at
Y GRAM
The Women of Trinity Grammar (WOTG) membership continues to grow and we look forward to welcoming new members. WOTG is an informal social and networking group for women to join to retain friendships and connections, after their son (or youngest son) has graduated
Side Door Wine Bar. It was really lovely to catch up with everyone. We are delighted to advise that two members have offered to organise our next catch-up around October to which you will all be invited. Watch this space! Another member has also kindly volunteered to organise a WhatsApp group for communications so we can stay in touch more informally.
professional networks through a business directory, jobs page and mentoring hub. A big thanks to Lucy Cohen for driving this initiative which we believe will significantly improve the way we stay connected with OTGs and assist them to stay connected with each other. Also, keep an eye out for the OTGO logo which was designed by our very own OTG, Antony Bernadou (OTG 1992).
WATCH: James Brown introduces Old Trinity Grammarians Online (OTGO)
Please check out OTGO at otgonline.net and sign up today! James Brown (OTG 1992) President
If you have not yet joined, and would like to do so, please use the link below to register your contact details. Please note there is no joining or membership fee involved and new ideas and suggestions are always welcome. Please use this link surveymonkey.com/r/women_ of_trinity_grammar to register your contact details and join WOTG. Donna Cameron and Carolyn Crouch, Co-Convenors Liz Beasley and Sue McNally, Patrons
from TGS.
July 2022 | 25
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Reunions On Friday 13 May, we welcomed our 40-year leavers back to the Richard and Elizabeth Tudor Centre for Contemporary Learning, (also known as the Tudor Centre). We had good representation from the 1980, 1981 and 1982 year levels who were happy to come together having had their reunions postponed in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19. Thanks to all who came along and, in particular, to Alister McNab (OTG 1975-81) who provided some reflections on what Trinity was
Alister McNab, Bruce Ashley Cooper, Andrew Johnson and Andrew Lockwood
like 40 years ago.
Andrew Allibon, Trevor Norman, Peter Dowdney and Stephen Taylor
At the 40-Year Reunion
Adrian Farrer with Anthony Seyfort
July 2022 | 27
Leavers from 1980, 1981 and 1982 enjoyed catching up
Upcoming Reunions 2012 10-Year Reunion
Sydney Gathering
Geelong Gathering
Friday 5 August
Thursday 4 August
Friday 4 November
6.30pm – 8.30pm
Timing and venue to be advised
Timing and venue to be advised
Mornington Gathering
Interstate and regional gatherings are currently being put in place. To ensure you receive an invitation, please make sure the school has up-to-date details for you. Update them at otg@trinity.vic.edu.au
Kew Campus 2002 20-Year Reunion
Friday 28 October
Thursday 18 August
Timing and venue to be advised
6.30pm – 8.30pm Kew Campus
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OTG Clubs OTG Cricket Since my last update, a number of players have been recognised for their outstanding performances last season by being selected in their division’s Team of the Year. Well done to the players listed below: • • • • •
David Cowley (OTG 2008) (Div 1) Daniel Speake (OTG 2014) (Div 1) Jack Cooper (OTG 2019) (Div 1) Jakob Kann (OTG 2018) (Div 3) Sam Pilkington (OTG 2019) (Div 3)
Looking forward, the OTGCC is gearing up for another big year of fun and frivolity (and the odd game of cricket) in season 2022-23. With teams in both Division 1 and Division 3 of the MCC Club XI competition, we are the perfect destination for passionate/semi-interested/ disenchanted cricketers alike. We provide opportunities for players of all abilities to rekindle (or establish) the special love-hate relationship that we all have with the sport.
We play in a wonderful competition that emphasises the importance of ‘the spirit of cricket’ and provides us access to some of the finest facilities in Victoria. Sure, we play to win and certainly celebrate our on-field success (not that there has been a whole lot of late), but the identity of the OTGCC is firmly entrenched in the ideals of community, mateship and simply having a go. We are a great club to be involved with if you want to maintain a connection to the game without having to commit to pre-season training in the depths of winter (we usually kick off proceedings in late September) whilst also being part of a tight-knit, fun-loving Old Boys community. If you are tempted to have a hit or roll the arm over this season, please don’t hesitate to get in contact with me (sebnicolosi15@gmail.com) or anybody else you may know at the club. We will welcome you with open arms! Seb Nicolosi (OTG 2012) President
OTG Otters (Water Polo) The Old Trinity Otters Water Polo Club has been thoroughly enjoying 2022. After finishing a disappointing 5th out of seven teams in the shortened summer 2022 State League 3 competition, the players were keen to improve. Strong training and game attendances and the return of more players post-lockdown resulted in a hot 3-0 start in the winter competition in State League 3. We are currently sitting on top of the table. Led by captain Sam Bennett (OTG 2019), the team has played well together, with strong in-game contributions from a variety of players. Out of the water, the club hosted its first social event of 2022 at the Fitzroy Bowls Club which was a resounding success. New players (OTGs or even current students) are always welcome to join our positive and friendly community of water polo enthusiasts. Edward Smith (OTG 2017) President
Josh Mannix (OTG 2016) talks the team through one of the few catches he didn’t drop!
July 2022 | 29
OTG Football We are now at the halfway mark of the season and results have been quite mixed – there is a lot of tough competition out there. Thursday night post-training dinners have been a major success, and on most Thursdays we feed 80-100 hungry men and women from all the teams. The positivity around the club is palpable, and we’re striving for more. This season, we were lucky enough to celebrate some of our players’ significant game milestones: Brett Barratt’s (OTG 2009) 100th game, Cal Pohl’s 200th game, and the most amazing one, Luke Pacconi’s 250th game. These are significant numbers which show what a great honour it is to pull on the Green and Gold! Congratulations Brett, Cal and Luke, and thank you for your service to our club. Also this season, we held our School First XVIII luncheon at the Bulleen Playing Fields, then watched our Seniors take on Old Melbourne. Off the field, we had the reverse raffle, cocktail night and the Business Lunch, all of which were major successes. Fingers crossed, a few of our sides will be part of the finals action. See you at a footy field! Tony Mulcahy President
OTG Soccer The beginning of winter marks the halfway point of the 2022 FFV soccer season, and to date our teams have recorded mixed results. Our Seniors had a strong start to the season and are currently sitting 4th on the ladder, only four points off the top position. Our Reserves team sits in 6th place, prevented from being further up the ladder by a couple of close results. These strong results are a reflection of the commitment from our players, as well as the
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Brett Barratt (OTG 2009) (on left) and Luke Pacconi (on right)
consistent efforts put in by our coaching staff, Murray Ovens (Senior Coach) and Tony Briggs (Reserves Coach). Our Sunday teams have had mixed results; however, spirits remain high. The Division 3 team led by Andy Kim (OTG 2019) had a tough start to the season, however the results have been consistently close, with only one or two goals separating most games. Our two Division 8 teams are sitting 4th (led by Bailey Beamish (OTG 2018)) and 9th (led by Lucas Morritt (OTG 2015)), with only seven points separating both teams. The club commends the involvement and dedication of all players in these teams, and encourages them to keep making the most out of the opportunities presented. This year is an important one for the club as it marks 20 years since its formation. We will be hosting a number of events throughout the year, which will be advertised through the Grammarian reports, social media and on the club’s website – if you are keen to be a part of these events, please get in contact via the details below! The OTGSC currently supports five teams: Senior/Reserves Men (playing Saturdays in the State League 5 division), and three Sunday teams playing in the Metropolitan League (Div 3 and Div 8).
Finn Mould (OTG 2018)
If you are interested in joining one of our teams, or becoming a part of the club in a different capacity, please contact Jeremy Neylon on 0407 580 045 or email jeremyneylon1@gmail.com Jeremy Neylon (OTG 2013) President
News of Old Boys David Patterson (OTG 1990-97) is enjoying running marathons. He recently competed in the Coburg 24-hour Championship and came 3rd after running 163.5km in 24 hours!
David Patterson
Jonathan Thomson-Settle (OTG 2000-13) graduated from the Australian National University in 2020 with a Bachelor of Development Studies and a Bachelor of Law (Honours). He now works for The Palladium Group, an organisation that works with
governments, businesses and investors to solve the world’s most pressing challenges. He lives in Braddon, in the ACT. Benjamin Andrews (OTG 201015) has completed a Bachelor of Nursing and Paramedicine at ACU Ballarat. Ben was one of only eight in Victoria to gain a position in a partnership graduate program between Ballarat Health Services and Ambulance Victoria, which he commenced in February 2022. Andrew Dix (OTG 1966-73) was invited to join the Board of NBN Co in 2021 and is also Chair of their Audit and Risk Committee. Andrew’s other Board appointments include Swinburne University of Technology, the Victorian Farmers Federation and Western Leisure Services. He assists the Board of Anglicare Victoria in finance, risk and assurance matters. Andrew also served a term as the president and chair of the Institute of Internal Auditors in Australia.
Now that lockdowns are behind us, he and Kristina, his wife of 39 years, are planning to spend more time travelling. A keen sailor, Andrew recently competed in the Victorian Sabre State Championships at the Blairgowrie Yacht Squadron in a field of 91 boats. During the season he regularly sails at Indented Head on the northern Bellarine Peninsula, where he has a holiday house and is a member and treasurer of the local Yacht Club. Congratulations to Luke Dixon (OTG 1992-97), who was recently recognised with a Lifetime Membership Award by Camberwell Showtime. Luke’s contributiton spans more than 25 years as a key contributor, particularly in the Technical Team and training the younger members in all technical aspects so they can develop their own skills. Luke also received the Silver Wattle Service Award from Scouts Victoria for his outstanding service.
Luke Dixon with other award winners
July 2022 | 31
Congratulations to Joel Thompson (OTG 1991-96) who married Carolyn Spencer at Ashburton Baptist Church in April 2021. They were overjoyed to welcome the safe arrival of baby Amelie Grace in January 2022. It was great to hear that Jeff Hooper (OTG 1972-77) arranged an impromptu gathering Noelene Kwong, Vince Kwong, Graeme Bulgin, Geoff Stone, David Webb and Bruce Hotton
of his year level to meet up with their former History teacher, Maxwell Allen, while he was visiting Melbourne from his home in the UK. Max was on staff at Trinity from 1970 through to 1982. Thanks to Craig Angelatos (OTG 1979-81) and his family who have donated many items to the School Archives. These wonderful mementos of Trinity’s past date from the 1950s through to more recent times.
Geoff Stone (OTG 1951-55)
Many Old Trinity community members will remember Leigh Attwood who was on staff from 2002 to 2016. Leigh now runs the Backwoods Distillery in Yackandandah (backwoodsdistilling.com.au) and welcomes members of the Trinity community to call in and visit if they are in the area.
caught up with old school friends in Wodonga recently. The group is pictured above. The second photo includes Barry O’Neill (centre). Congratulations to Dr Tim Tran (OTG 1989-99) who is a senior pharmacist. Tim’s PhD thesis included six published manuscripts, and his research is driving improvements in prescribing and medical management for surgical inpatients. Tim Tran
Attention Class of 1972! – Thanks to Gary Adler (OTG 1972) who has formed an organising group of 1972 Leavers who are reaching out to members of the cohort. They plan to hold a function later in the year to celebrate their 50 years since leaving Trinity. If you would like more information and for us to pass on your email details to Gary, please email otg@trinity.vic.edu.au
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Leigh Attwood
Seb Adinata, Thomas Hondrakis, Dougal Konstantopoulos and Nikita Varelas
In between studying and working, Seb Adinata, Thomas Hondrakis, Dougal Konstantopoulos and Nikita Varelas (all OTG 2019) found the time to support the Firsts Soccer team in their home game against PEGS. Ben Ely (OTG 1994-99) and Ken Doery (OTG 1992-99) still enjoy catching up over a game of dodgeball in the Trinity gym. This is an activity they have been doing with a group of friends since leaving school in 1999. Criton Kasby (OTG 1960-63) graduated in Medicine from Monash University, then undertook his post-graduate and specialist training in Southampton in the UK. In 1981, he returned to Australia to take up a specialist post in Western Sydney until his retirement in 2021 from Obstetrics/Gynaecology. In his role as Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney, Criton played a key role in developing the obstetric/gynaecological module for the undergraduate medical course. In retirement he is enjoying gardening, reading, painting, languages and entertaining his nine grandchildren.
Ben Ely and Ken Doery in the McIntyre Gym
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In Memoriam
In Memoriam We were saddened to learn of the passing of the following members of the Trinity community. On behalf of the school and the Old Trinity Grammarians’ Association, we offer our condolences to their families and friends. Our thanks go to those who have submitted articles and images for publication. Ivan Backman AM (OTG 195056) sadly passed away on May 12 aged 82. He is survived by his wife Yvonne, his son Cameron (OTG 1983-88), daughter Simone and their families. At the memorial service, which was held at Trinity, Cameron related ‘Backie’s Story’ – how he started at Trinity as a St Paul’s Chorister, before embarking on a teaching vocation which took him to country Victoria, where he met his wife, Yvonne. Ivan then entered the world of logistics, holding many senior positions including managing director at Linfox. Simone read a poem she wrote for her father on his 60th birthday called ‘Larger with Life’, which resonated strongly with those in attendance.
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In 2012, Ivan was awarded an AM for service to the transport and logistics industry through his roles with the Australian Logistics Council as an advocate and mentor. Ivan is a member of Trinity’s Gallery of Achievement – he was inducted in 1998 as a leader in his field. He also served on Trinity’s School Council from 2000-08, during which time he held various roles, including deputy chairman, and participated in sub-committees concerned with acquisitions, fundraising and reviewing the school’s outdoor education program.
Tom Wood-Grant (OTG 2011-16) passed away tragically while on holiday in May 2022. He was a much-loved member of the 2016 cohort and a member of Hindley House who will be sadly missed by all that knew him. Our condolences go to his family. Neil Baudinette (OTG 1939-44) passed away in March this year after suffering from Alzheimer’s for some years. Neil often spoke of his time as a Cathedral Chorister and as a student at Trinity and this period held special memories for him. After Trinity, Neil became an outstanding teacher and high school principal. He also sang tenor in local and church choirs. He is survived by his wife Pat, four daughters and seven grandchildren. Ted Holmes (OTG 1930-31) passed away peacefully in May 2022. Even though Ted attended Trinity for only a short time, he kept in regular contact. We were honoured to be invited to visit Ted for his 100th birthday in 2021.
Ivan Backman
Sharon Kendall Alumni and Engagement Coordinator
Back Page Interview lieutenant (12 years) and eventually captain (four years). I fought fires in Sydney in 2000, then the Campaign fires of 2003, 2006 and the Black Saturday fires of 2009. I was also involved in fighting the Harrietville fires of 2011 and 2013 and the devastating 2020 Black Summer fires. Tell us about your involvement in the Bushfire Royal Commission.
Colin and Elisa Bertuch on their farm in the foothills of Mount Buffalo, which they have since sold.
Colin Bertuch (OTG 1972)
Tell us about Mt Buffalo Olives.
Tell us about your time at TGS. What kind of student were you?
We started Mt Buffalo Olives with vacant farmland and a vision. Elisa and I bought a bulldozer and terraced 10 acres of north sloping land and planted 900 olive trees of 10 different varieties. We pruned trees, managed pests, harvested, stored, bottled, labelled and marketed extra virgin olive oil (EVOO). I took over the management of four other abandoned groves to ensure supply.
I consider myself to have been an ordinary student without fanfare, staying in the background and out of trouble. I passed most subjects, sometimes with some extra tutoring to get through. I finished Year 11 with the minimum subjects required – English, General Studies, Indonesian, Choir, and maybe Craft. I also thoroughly enjoyed hiking, canoeing, hockey, combined school choir performances, scouts and pottery. What did your journey look like post-graduation? I started a career in banking and stayed for 11 ½ years after which I bought a chainsaw and lawn mower to start self-employment in 1983. This self-employment evolved into a tree contracting company in 1988, culminating in my company providing arboricultural services to government departments as well as the private sector. I went on to attain an Advanced Certificate in Arboriculture from NMIT and entered local government as the supervising arborist for the City of Wodonga and then the Alpine Shire.
There is a great deal of satisfaction in overseeing a program from inception to maturity. We had a great loyal following of return customers who often started by buying 100ml samples but progressed to taking home fresh 20 litre drums at harvest. We successfully produced an internationally accredited EVOO against the odds on a shoestring budget. How did you become involved with the CFA? As we settled into the Porepunkah community, I wanted to join in on community-based activities. The CFA seemed the most obvious and was not too demanding on time. That changed over the years as I took on the roles of firefighter,
A phone call from the Phoenix Task Force in 2009 started a threeyear journey of involvement in the litigious world of legal advice. Victoria Police wanted to know why a tree had fallen near the origin of the 'Library Road’ fire near Beechworth in February 2009. I gave evidence, based on my observations of the scene, to the Bushfire Royal Commission hearing in Myrtleford. The following day, I was secured by a legal firm to be their expert witness in a case against the power companies. As you reflect on your journey, are there any particular lessons you learnt from TGS? I have had some very low points in my life but the great basic education that Trinity afforded me has allowed me to also reach great heights. I understand geography, appreciate classical music and can recognise renowned art. I learnt to challenge traditions and problem solve. My school science basics sit well with me now and I could approach agriculture/horticulture knowing about pH and salinity. As I considered the swinging Nm value of a falling ½ tonne branch attached to a 16mm rope, I often wished I had paid more attention to Physics. Will it break?
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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
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