Eagles' Wings Summer 2020

SUM ME R ISSUE 2020

ASM programme | Aspiring leaders | Discovery space St Magnus history | Churchie Aquatics | Study skills TEACHX awards | GPS success

Key dates 27 Jan

2 Feb

5 Feb

11 Feb

5 Mar

First day of Term 1

Founder’s Day Service

Headmaster’s Welcome to Parents

Academic Celebration Assembly

GPS Swimming Championships

13 Mar

27 Mar

31 Mar

25 Apr

28 Apr

Head of the River

Prep School Cocktail Party

Senior Formal

Anzac Day Ceremony

Open Day

30 Apr

2 May

5 May

8 May

14 May

Generations in Jazz

Beef Week, Rockhampton

Brisbane Jazz Club Performance

The Churchie Ball

Vintage Vikings Lunch

14 May

20 May

20 May

20 May

1 Jun

Inter-House Carnival

Senior School Musical

Churchie Choral Concert

GPS Cross Country Championships

ICPA Queensland Conference, Cunnamulla

17 Jun

24 Jun

22 July

23 July

28 July

Prep School Billy Cart Grand Prix

Ag-Grow Field Days, Emerald

Churchie’s Best Solos

Prep Inter-House Carnival

ICPA Federal Conference, Longreach

Anglican Church Grammar School Oaklands Parade, East Brisbane 4169 Queensland Australia Tel +61 3896 2200 www.churchie.com.au Editorial enquiries: eagleswings@churchie.com.au Cover image: Year 12 war cry in Magnus Quad in October

Statement of Commitment Anglican Church Grammar School supports the rights of children and young people and is committed to ensuring the safety, welfare and wellbeing of students. Churchie is committed to responding to allegations of student harm resulting from the conduct or actions of any person, including that of employees.

This commitment includes the provision of a safe and supportive living and learning environment for all students and requires all employees, volunteers and visitors to model and encourage behaviour that upholds the dignity and protection of students from harm. In support of this commitment, Churchie is dedicated to its Child and Youth Risk Management Strategy, which includes having relevant policies, procedures and training in place to effectively address the safety and wellbeing of students in their care.

Contents

02 04 06 08 HEADMASTER ’S MESSAGE

CHURCHIE NEWS

LIFELONG LEARNERS

ASPIRING LEADERS

12 12 13 14 'THE CHURCHIE'

AMT WINNERS

DISCOVERY SPACE

SPORTS SUCCESS

16 18 20 22 CHURCHIE AQUATICS

CHURCHIE FOUNDATION

MAKING OF MAGNUS

GOING VIRTUAL

24 25 26 28 OLD BOYS’ ASSOCIATION

OLD BOYS’ REUNIONS

IN MEMORIAM

PLATINUM SPONSOR

Visit churchie.com.au/eagleswings to update your subscription details and view past issues of the magazine.

F R O M T H E H E A D M AS T E R

Message from the

Headmaster

5B Football team

There will be a great many experiences, thoughts and recollections that occupy our minds long after 2020 has concluded. The disruption and subsequent adjustments wrought across the world

by COVID-19 remind us that we can respond to hitherto unforeseen challenges in spirited and innovative ways.

Despite the challenges of 2020, this issue of Eagles’ Wings is filled with stories that show a year filled with meaningful experiences brought about by pragmatism, creativity and dedication from staff and parents. Amidst lockdowns, amendments, cancellations and setbacks, a great deal has been achieved as a school community.

To farewell staff at the conclusion of Term 4, I sought to represent the year 2020 with a single image. Unsurprisingly, it was very difficult. Distilling an extraordinary year into one moment risks missing the countless pivotal events and emotions that this passage of time evokes.

So it was that I found not one but two images, each representing distinct ‘moods’ in the life of the School this year.

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One image presents a lone trumpeter faithfully playing the Last Post and Reveille on his driveway at home, joining millions of fellow Australian and New Zealand citizens as they observed Anzac Day 2020. We were a long way from the School’s usual service, where thousands gather on The Flat to commemorate this special day each year.

There were no marching bands or cadets on parade. No Australian flags could be placed for each Old Boy who has made the ultimate sacrifice. Nonetheless, the trumpeter did his duty, alone, while hundreds of boys, staff and parents stood on their driveways at dawn.

This was the mood of the final weeks of Term 1 and first half of Term 2. For several weeks, our staff worked from their classrooms and offices, keeping students connected and

George Forrest

engaged via email, telephone, the School’s learning management platform (Schoolbox) and video-conference (Zoom). We worked, separated by distance, but connected as a team. The staff knew their work was essential to reassuring our families as they sought to bring some order to a disordered world.

The other image is joyfully uplifting, ushering in a new mindset and representing the elation of students returning to school and being reunited with friends and teammates.

Heralding in a renewed mindset, this post‑lockdown image of young footballers celebrating the sheer joy of the contest, of mateship and of working together, highlights the optimism with which the community overcame many challenges this year.

I have no doubt that students, staff, parents and guests all felt a sense of joy and relief when we could resume on-campus activities.

Amidst all the typical lessons of a school year— the curriculum units, tests and assignments— perhaps the most salient lessons from 2020 will be those based on resilience and the importance of connectedness. We have a heightened self-confidence in our ability to find new ways to solve problems in the face of rapidly changing and unexpected events, and we have a renewed appreciation for our community.

Warm regards Dr Alan Campbell Headmaster @ChurchieHM

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Teaching

excellence Senior School Visual Art teacher Ben Hugheston-Roberts has been recognised for excellence in teaching with a shortlisted nomination for the 2020 TEACHX Awards.

The Queensland College of Teachers’ TEACHX Awards is a prestigious accolade for teachers across all schooling sectors in the state. Ben received a nomination in the ‘Excellence in Beginning to Teach Award’.

Ben received his nomination for the ways he creatively demonstrates passion for and promotes the value of Visual Art education.

His notable contributions are using engaging ways to advocate the value of arts education, cultivating a network of connections in the arts community to provide students with professional guest-learning experiences, fostering an emerging artists community as vice chair of the churchie emerging art prize and extending his practice by undertaking a Master of Educational Leadership course.

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Head of Visual Arts Suzie Thomson commended Ben on his nomination, stating, ‘Ben is an exemplary teacher. He brings enthusiasm, confidence and passion to work every day. He genuinely wants to foster a love of lifelong learning in his students and models this on a daily basis. His passion for teaching and learning is infectious.’

We asked three Year 10 students what they liked most about Ben’s teaching.

Liam Tan said, ‘Mr Hugheston-Roberts makes us feel supported in our creative choices and reinforces the importance of creativity as part of a well-rounded academic pathway.’

Rory Easton said, ‘He spends extra time with each of us discussing and unpacking our individualised interests in relation to each task.’

Henry Lake said, ‘Mr Hugheston-Roberts assists each of us through the creative process and provides us with thoughtful and personalised feedback that allows us to expand our own thoughts and ideas.’

Congratulations, Ben, for an exemplary start to your teaching career.

The first

of many Year 12 student Noah Smith is Churchie’s inaugural recipient of the Lloyd McDermott Medal.

This award was established in honour of Churchie Old Boy Lloyd McDermott (1957), renowned for his trailblazing success as the first Indigenous Australian barrister and a member of the Australian Wallabies rugby team. In this sense, Noah is the first of many Churchie students who, inspired by Lloyd’s legacy, will find unique ways to achieve, lead and serve others.

Noah commenced Churchie in Year 7 as a boarder and Yalari scholar. He grew up in Cairns and is descended from the Gubrun people in Western Australia and the Batjala people in Queensland.

Noah excelled in the world of opportunities available to him at Churchie.

‘I found a keen interest in robotics and programming, and I was heavily involved with a robotics club in Years 10 and 11. I also played rugby, and, with service, I volunteered at Hillsong Brisbane Downtown Campus as a part of their stage crew for two years,’ Noah said.

Noah also excelled academically, completing the IB Diploma Programme in Years 11 and 12. His academic achievements, balanced with his co-curricular and service activities, led to him being the first recipient of this new award for all-round excellence at Speech Night in October.

The Lloyd McDermott Medal is awarded to an outstanding Indigenous student who has achieved academic standing and contributed to the life of the School. The recipient must be a role model and a leader, involved in service, co-curricular and spiritual awareness activities. Following Lloyd’s example, he also must demonstrate integrity and humility and a commitment to learning and the advancement of Indigenous engagement at the School.

Noah encourages future boarding and Yalari students to have an open mind and take the time to learn and adapt to the new environment.

‘To future Yalari students, I say trust your SSO and trust Waverly. They’re there to help you.

Work to achieve whatever you can. If you do, you’ll find yourself happy and successful at school,’ Noah said.

Through the Churchie Foundation, the School community supports Yalari scholarships. In 2020 there were 13 Yalari scholars at Churchie.

We congratulate Noah for being an exemplary Churchie young man, making the most of his opportunities and having a positive impact on those around him—a well-deserving recipient of this new honour.

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Lifelong

learners The Churchie Research Centre is continuing world-leading research into the study skills of high school students and the science of learning, working with leading universities to empower students to be lifelong learners.

The initial project, Making Effective Learning Strategies Stick, saw the development of learning strategies based on cognitive and educational psychological principles pertaining to information retention and memory. The learner’s toolkit was developed and taught to provide students with effective study techniques for revision and exam preparation.

Commencing last year, the Academic Skills and Mentoring (ASM) programme has broadened the School’s study skills curriculum. With regular mentoring, explicit scaffolding and guided planning, ASM targets Year 7 to 12 students, helping students to develop effective study strategies at different stages of the learning cycle in each subject—a coherent programme promoting excellence in learning across the Senior School.

Visualisation techniques help students with knowledge retention and allow them to connect ideas more effectively. Flashcards, particularly for science and languages, are also highly

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effective, especially when used over a stretch of time, helping to develop long-term memory and better enabling higher-order thinking.

The project continues to partner with the UQ Science of Learning Research Centre and has added UQ’s School of Education and the Psychological and Brain Sciences department at Washington University.

The focus of the research continues be the development and evaluation of learning behaviours and study skills. The aim is to produce lifelong learners who move from high school into the tertiary environment and beyond, in a motivated, self‑efficacious and resilient way.

Year 11 students Thomas Rosengren and William Harris were the leading scholars of the IB and QCE cohorts respectively. In Year 9, they completed the effective study skills programme and were introduced to the toolkit of learning strategies that continue to help them today.

Thomas and William share the lessons they have learned and their tips for successful study.

William Harris

Thomas Rosengren

What has had the most significant impact on your success this year?

Describe your weekly planning process balancing study with your other commitments.

My success has been due to organising my co‑curricular and academic commitments with a day-by-day study planner.

At the beginning of every week, I write out all my co-curricular commitments to visualise the week and plan when I’m going to study. I list subjects and rank them in order of importance.

I then allocate time for each subject accordingly.

Describe your weekly planning process balancing study with your other commitments.

On Sunday afternoons, I use a Microsoft Word template to insert training times, social commitments and appointments. By reading through my lesson timetable and exam schedules, I identify where larger study sessions or homework tasks will be needed for particular nights. By doing so, I can prepare myself early in the week to fill in any spare time-periods where academic and sporting commitments clash.

What is your best study strategy?

I use the quick review method throughout the term as it allows me to quickly retrieve information from previous weeks and, hence, refreshes me on older content to gain a more solid understanding of the topic. I believe the strength of this strategy is its ability to spread work evenly throughout the term. It then becomes easier to focus on my weaknesses and harder questions prior to an exam.

When have you ‘failed’ at something, and what did you learn from the experience?

A recent injury prevented me from participating in a lot of sport this year; I failed at being able to compete at my best. The experience did give me a lot more time and, with this, I learned how to effectively manage my study, while allocating time for rest and recovery.

What is the ‘one thing’ that you have learned about study that you wish you knew earlier?

It may be difficult, but starting assignments or revision as early as possible allows me to break these things into manageable pieces to avoid cramming near due dates.

What is your best study strategy?

The main strategy I use across multiple subjects is identifying and focusing on my weaknesses. I do practice questions on those topics.

This helps me cover the content efficiently, as I focus on a topic until I fully understand it and feel confident about it.

When have you ‘failed’ at something, and what did you learn from the experience?

I failed a diagnostic chemistry test in Term 3 because I didn’t take it seriously enough. While it didn’t count towards a final mark, it was still disappointing, and I realised I should be taking study more seriously. I learned that it is in my best interest to study from the beginning rather than wait until the important exams.

What is the ‘one thing’ that you have learned about study that you wish you knew earlier?

I wish I knew earlier the importance of studying throughout the course. In the younger grades, cramming got me through my exams.

However, this was not the case in Year 11, particularly in the IB, where there is two years’ worth of content to cover. It is important to stay on top of it all and not leave it until the week before the exam.

How do you motivate yourself to study?

I am easily distracted. So, to motivate myself, I give myself something to look forward to, such as a social event. This means that I know there is something fun to do afterwards. It also helps to put away all sources of distractions, such as phones.

How do you motivate yourself to study?

I remind myself that if I don’t do the work now, my workloads will only increase later.

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Aspiring

leaders A new initiative for aspiring future leaders brought together 100 students from Churchie and St Margaret’s to learn about the values and principles of leadership.

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For aspiring leaders, a compelling element is exploring why they wish to lead.

This requires in-depth thinking about their values, worldview, personal qualities and attributes. It also requires an overwhelming intent to be of service to others.

The new Aspiring Leaders Programme in Year 9 has been established to lay the foundation for our future leaders. The programme was developed by Head of Year 9 Natassja Dasios and Goodwin Housemaster James Thorpe.

‘Year 9 is a pivotal stage of development in our young men. This programme was developed to further enhance leadership opportunities and experiences during this time,’ Natassja said.

During weekly Pastoral Learning classes, housemasters guided students through a range of activities to: • identify personal leadership values (understanding of self) • enhance students’ ability to effect positive change (improving interactions with others)

The programme also drew on Churchie’s extensive Old Boy network to find inspirational accomplished people to present to the students.

Following the coursework, an extension opportunity was provided in the form of a one‑day summit in Term 4. The summit required boys to apply, with five successful candidates chosen from each Senior School house.

On Thursday 22 October, 55 Churchie boys were joined by 45 St Margaret’s girls for the summit, which included a keynote presentation, workshops and a panel discussion. The summit featured the expertise of special guests drawn from the alumni communities of both schools— Churchie Old Boys Stuart Waddington (1983), Rhys Ibbot (2005) and Nick Marshall (1994), and St Margaret's Old Girl Olympian Brittany Elmslie OAM.

Two Year 9 boarders provide some reflections on the Leadership Summit.

Tim Chandler, Gerald: I thought that the summit was very useful and interesting.

I took notes on many of the techniques used by the leaders on the day. I especially liked Rhys Ibbots’ breathing and meditation techniques. All the leaders supplied good advice. It taught me that leadership is about refining your craft and is an ongoing process. I also enjoyed working with the St Margaret’s girls, who were helpful in offering new perspectives in group discussion.

Students were challenged to explore how they modelled leadership qualities on the day, including providing and seeking feedback and encouraging others in teamwork settings.

• explore leadership in action (how to lead successful and diverse teams).

Josh Lord, Goodwin: Each and every one of us discovered new and valuable ideas and suggestions which would benefit the way in which we manage ourselves and serve others. It was also a great opportunity for the boys and girls to socialise and work together in group discussions with people they had previously not known. The most notable takeaways were that one should always be prepared for more challenges to overcome than first expected, that successful leaders must remember to have the 3Cs (care, connections, communication) in all aspects of life, to constantly strive for set goals, and that consistency is more important than perfection. I enjoyed listening to all the guest speakers and taking mindful notes.

The speaker who left the greatest impression on me was Rhys Ibbot, a passionate yoga instructor and founder of Wave to Wellness, who teaches people to first try to control themselves by tackling weaknesses before looking to serve others.

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Aspiring Leaders Summit organisers and guests: Shendelle James, Nicole Walker, Rhys Ibbot, Brittany Elmslie, James Thorpe, Natassja Dasios, Stuart Waddington and Nick Marshall

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CHURCHIE NEWS

Emily Parsons-Lord, Standing Still (with practice, one may learn to accept the feelings of groundlessness), 2020, HD video, 00:04:00. Photo: Maiara Skarheim

Maths champions Eric Zhang, Garry Chen and Quan Nguyen

Standing Still

Maths medal winners

Congratulations to Emily Parsons-Lord, the emerging artist and major prize winner of the churchie national emerging art prize for her large-scale video work, Standing Still (with practice, one may learn to accept the feelings of groundlessness).

For the second time in three years, Churchie students are state mathematics champions.

Emily’s piece explores climate change-induced cleaving and crumbling, and its residue as a site of extreme physical and emotional destruction. The work unmasks the tenuousness of our foundations, both physically and emotionally, as compounding heat-stress buckles infrastructure and the affecting experience of watching the world crumble perturbs the human psyche.

Judge Tarun Nagesh (Curator, Asian Art, QAGOMA) commented, 'Parsons-Lord’s gripping performances and interventions revel in the ability to invoke a feeling of wondrous possibility while gesturing toward an impending sense of loss. Through ethereal encounters, underpinned by rigorous intellectual and environmental enquiry, she appeals to our most instinctive bodily reactions and fundamental human concerns.'

A special commendation prize was awarded to Nabilah Nordin and two further commendation prizes to Marina Pumani Brown and Georgia Morgan. Thank you to prize money sponsor BSPN Architecture and principal sponsors Fardoulys Constructions, Madison Cleaning and Chartwells.

Established in 1987, ‘the churchie’ has sought to identify and profile the next generation of contemporary artists from across Australia.

A virtual gallery can be viewed online at www.churchieemergingart.com.

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Quan Nguyen, Garry Chen and Eric Zhang won the state finals of the Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers Year 7/8 Maths Quiz.

After winning their two qualifying rounds, the boys contested the final over Zoom with academics from The University of Queensland and over 20 schools from across the state.

The quiz is organised into five sessions: estimation, speed, written problems, individual questions and general maths knowledge.

Following a challenging start in the estimation and problem-solving rounds, the students looked out of contention with the team from Matthew Flinders Anglican College taking a compelling win.

Fortunately, Quan’s outstanding mathematical general knowledge and an excellent performance in the individual round from Garry helped the boys to bridge the gap and secure Churchie’s second state championship in the last three years.

‘The best part of the competition was, undoubtedly, the moment we realised we had the lead over Matthew Flinders,’ Garry said. ‘We were so joyful and happy and cheered each other.’

‘There were many great teams in the final, and being able to compete (and win) against them was stressful and enjoyable at the same time,’ Eric said.

A space for

discovery With the completion of the new Prep School building imminent, Head of Preparatory School Mark Wyer discusses how an exciting new concept will ignite the creative and scientific interests of our boys.

At Churchie, boys explore their values and establish foundations for making responsible decisions. They explore their own definition of self, who they are and what they want to become. They learn to forge healthy relationships. They step out of their comfort zone to explore their full potential. This will prepare them for their roles in a globally connected world.

Churchie’s latest educational facility places these ideals and our mission, the making of men, at the centre of boys’ education.

The School has invested in a purpose-built building that will accommodate one of boys’ great interests and passions—technology.

In addition to being home to our Year 3 precinct, the building will also include a creative precinct and an exciting new concept, which we have named The Hive, to allow boys to actively cultivate their creativity, learning culture and personal growth while learning transferable lifelong skills. It will teach our boys how to take risks and, in turn, become more resourceful, innovative, enterprising and capable.

The Hive will be tailored to boys’ learning.

Boys need to be excited and challenged, and they need to be connected to their learning experiences to be inspired and engaged.

The new space will use technologies such as Ozbots, Spheros and WeDo 2.0 to introduce boys to the worlds of coding, science, engineering and design, with 3D printers to turn ideas into reality.

They will write code for drones and discover the mechanical innards of electronics.

A green-screen space will enable our boys to weave a narrative through audiovisual storytelling, catering to different learning styles through sight, sound, motion and emotional expression. Boys will discover new levels of creativity, collaboration and inspiration in this exciting new space. They will also be developing and refining skills that will prepare them for an ever-changing future.

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Play on This has been a year with many disruptions to our co-curricular programme.

Despite the delays and restrictions, Churchie students have accomplished outstanding performances across the co-curricular sports and activities.

This year has been particularly strong for Churchie’s sports and activities, with five GPS premierships across the sports—the highest number of any GPS school in 2020.

Rounding off the Term 1 achievements was the First VI tying with Brisbane Grammar School and Gregory Terrace for the GPS Volleyball premiership.

Our Prep School students kicked off the accolades, earning first place in the Junior GPS Swimming Championships in March.

The boys participated with total focus and commitment, supported by the strong team spirit and sportsmanship from our Year 6 spectators.

With sports and training suspended in Term 2, the boys were excited to hear that football, cross country and tennis would still run, alongside rugby, chess and basketball in Term 3.

Strong performances by all rowers at Head of the River in Churchie’s 100th year of rowing saw Churchie secure the Old Boys' Cup for the second year in a row.

Our debaters also performed very well, with the Senior A team winning the GPS Debating premiership for the first time since 2012. This same team was also undefeated in the 2020 QDU competition.

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Once again, Churchie put in a stellar effort.

With COVID-19 restrictions limiting spectator numbers, many games were live-streamed.

Also, thanks to a collective effort from artHub students, the ‘stronger together’ banner stood in for the BOC army at select home games.

In this bumper term, the First V won GPS Basketball for the second year in a row and the Premier Chess Team secured the premiership with 16/16 points, making Churchie the reigning GPS, Queensland and Australian Schools chess champions.

At GPS Cross Country, our Prep School athletes shone once again, taking out second place in the junior championships.

In the Senior School, Archie Ridgway won the Under 15 GPS Cross Country event, a well‑deserved achievement after working hard and coming very close in previous years.

Churchie Track and Field produced an outstanding 43 personal bests, with Henry Hardcastle, Cameron Tyne, Blake Stieper, Archie Ridgway and Cameron Philip achieving first places.

Congratulations to all boys who took part in our co-curricular programme this year.

Whether or not you won a medal or achieved a personal best, the hard work, commitment and dedication to doing your best in sport will stand you in good stead for many future endeavours.

First VI Volleyball

GPS Junior Swimming

Senior A Debating

2020 GPS results

2020 key stats

Activity

ACGS

BBC

BGS

BSHS

GT

IGS

NC

TGS

TSS

Cricket

8

2

9

6

1

3

5

7

4

Rowing

4

6

1

7

3

N/A

5

N/A

2

Snr Swimming

6

5

2

3

7

9

1

8

4

Jnr Swimming

1

3

5

9

4

7

2

6

8

Volleyball

1

4

1

7

1

8

6

4

N/A

Debating

1

4

5

3

2

8

6

N/A

7

Football

5

9

6

8

2

4

3

7

1

Snr Cross Country

7

2

5

1

3

3

9

8

6

Jnr Cross Country

2

6

5

5

3

4

1

7

8

Tennis

4

1

2

5

6

7

4

9

3

Rugby

4

1

9

5

5

5

2

8

2

Basketball

1

5

9

4

2

8

7

6

3

Chess

1

4

2

3

7

9

8

6

5

Snr Track & Field

5

2

7

4

8

1

3

6

9

Jnr Track & Field

2

4

6

9

5

3

1

8

7

229 TEAMS

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TO P-T H R EE FI N I S H ES

12 G PS S P O RTS

5

GPS PREM I ERSH I PS

96%

O F S EN I O R S C H O O L B OYS PA RT I C I PAT ED I N A G PS S P O RT O R AC T I V I T Y I N 2020

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Introducing

Churchie Aquatics Swimming at Churchie is engrained in the foundation of the School. From the first year at the East Brisbane campus in 1918, all Churchie boys were expected to learn to swim.

The Viking Test was a 120-yard return swim across Norman Creek. Once the student could swim back and forth four times, he became a 'Pocket King'.

In the ensuing decades, investment in swimming saw several pools built. In 1920 a 30-feet square cement box, filled with creek water, was the first pool. One hundred years later, The Barry McCart Aquatic Centre is considered one of the best private facilities of its kind.

In the GPS competition, Churchie is proudly the school with the most premierships (21) and the first to win dual junior and senior premierships in 2014. We value swimming for its heritage and positive impact on physical growth and wellbeing, and we love swimming for the excitement of competition and its unique community.

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Continuing this proud swimming heritage today is a new concept: Churchie Aquatics.

This school-owned entity is the new home for the many services offered at The Barry McCart Aquatic Centre—GPS Swimming, squads (high performance and developing), Churchie Swim Club, learn to swim and external bookings.

Churchie’s Director of Swimming Ben Allen oversees Churchie Aquatics. He is working to strengthen and expand the ways Churchie Aquatics serves the community.

‘We have such a strong swimming culture at Churchie, both historically and in recent years.

The focus is on continuing our GPS Swimming programmes while offering numerous additional pathways for keen swimmers through the Churchie Swim Club.’

The club, squads and learn to swim programmes are open to all, which has seen a growing community of boys and girls from the local area and school community.

‘It’s been heartening to see new families seeking out Churchie Aquatics. They may be at Oaklands, future Churchie students or hear from a friend. People are impressed by the breadth and quality of our facilities, which is the largest private aquatic centre in the city area.’

To find out more about Churchie Aquatics, visit www.churchieaquatics.com.au.

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C H U R C H I E F O U N DAT I O N

From the Chairman of the

Churchie Foundation Cliffy came to Churchie as a boarder at just eight years of age in my father’s cohort.

He loved boarding, loved Churchie and played two years in the First XV. After school he set up a very successful automotive electrical parts business.

Churchie was the place where he made his lifelong mates and learned the lessons and values that gave him such a happy life.

He stayed connected to the School until his final days.

As a successful businessman, Cliff decided to give back to his school and has, over the years, helped almost 30 boys finish their education when their parents fell on hard times.

Russell McCart (1974) Churchie Foundation Chairman and School Council Member

Cliffy’s legacy

I am proud to have known Cliffy and eternally grateful for his support of Churchie students through his generous bursary.

Contributions such as his, along with the many contributions from parents and Old Boys, shape our school for the better.

Churchie has been created in this way.

Future generations, perhaps your future generations, benefit from this generosity.

One of these boys recently said, ‘Thanks to Cliffy taking me on board, I got to play football in the US, complete my Bachelor of Finance and go to Harvard Business School. None of what I’ve done would have been possible without him. I’m so grateful, always will be.’

We recently lost a great Viking. After a brief lung cancer battle, Churchie Old Boy Cliff Ashdown (1950) passed away aged 87.

The Churchie Foundation works with our many benefactors, past and present, like Cliffy, to assist Churchie financially and see that our ability to grow good young men remains undiminished.

Cliff’s life story exemplifies, and adds real meaning to, the making of men and why our school produces young men who don’t just succeed in life, they help create a better world.

This assistance manifests often in the form of new buildings and facilities, but there are other significant impacts in areas such as scholarships, bursaries and sporting and arts gifts.

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Our work is valuable. If you are a parent now, your sons are enjoying the generosity of 100 years of benefactors, such as Cliffy, who saw value in supporting Churchie’s young men.

Cliff Ashdown

Prep School update With COVID-19 restrictions limiting visitors to the campus, many parents and Old Boys will be surprised upon their next visit to the School.

Two fabulous new buildings are nearing completion on a new Viking Café building in the Senior School and the Year 3 and specialist teaching area building in the Prep School.

The Prep School building has benefitted from contributions totalling $603,000 from 78 Churchie families and Old Boys, including 59 new donors. I sincerely thank those parents and Old Boys who have purchased bricks and tiles, or secured their Churchie legacy through naming rights for zones and classrooms.

Your contributions have ensured that our youngest Churchie boys will receive the very best facilities. There are still opportunities to give to this wonderful project. Please contact Stuart Fitzpatrick, Director of Philanthropy, on 0439 749 010 or Stuart.Fitzpatrick@churchie.com.au.

The 1912 Society The Churchie Foundation is proud to have introduced an exciting new initiative, The 1912 Society, named in honour of Churchie’s foundation year. This is a dedicated group of individuals bound by one goal—to help the School remain at the forefront of education for boys.

Alis aquilae (on eagle’s wings) has been the motto of our school community for over 100 years. These simple words have provided the foundation for our strong collaborative community spirit, enabling us to be a world‑class provider of education for boys.

This same spirit has seen countless generations of Old Boys, parents and staff, generously support the Churchie Foundation to continue our vision of providing a world-class education for young men.

To leave behind a legacy is more than money or material things; it’s the ability to have your name and what you stood for etched into the minds of your community, and for them to understand and be inspired by how you have made a difference. This is what previous Old Boys have achieved through their legacies to Churchie.

The Churchie Foundation has formed The 1912 Society as an exclusive club for those who wish to bequeath to Churchie in their Wills.

A legacy of sp

irit

An exclusive invita tion to join The 1912 Society by Will and helpin including Churc g the School remai hie in your n at the forefront of education for boys.

We invite you to consider leaving a bequest to show your commitment to your Churchie community, joining the ranks of other great Churchie philanthropists who have made a difference to our school in years past, in the present day, and into the future.

For further information about The 1912 Society, visit the website to read the brochure.

Alternatively, contact the Churchie Foundation.

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Making of

Magnus

Ian McIntosh (1974) is a Churchie Old Boy and proud member of Magnus House, now a pilgrimage scholar at Indiana University. Ian has provided some insights into the life and legacy of St Magnus, Churchie’s patron saint.

Churchie was founded in 1912 by Canon William Perry French Morris as St Magnus College, with the famed Viking as patron saint. When I started my Churchie life in 1970, I joined Magnus House and had many classes in Magnus Hall, one of the grand old school buildings. Today there is a beautiful statue of Magnus in Magnus Quad.

Our campus overflows with Viking references. There is the Viking Cafe, The Viking yearbook, crossed Viking battleaxes in the school crest, Vintage Vikings Old Boys and, most strikingly, the ceiling of the chapel is reminiscent of an overturned Viking longboat. Our youngest boys begin their Churchie ‘voyage’ here.

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Forever remembered for beseeching his lads to ‘finish hard’, Canon Morris was inspired by the strong and independent Viking spirit personified by St Magnus.

In training both mind and character, Morris saw Magnus’ leadership and example of nonviolent sacrifice as an ideal. Churchie boys would never flee from a challenge but, rather, rise to it on eagles’ wings.

Magnus Erlendsson of the Orkney Islands (1080 – 1117 CE) features prominently in early Norwegian history, being the second saint, after St Olav. Beginning in the 800s CE, the Orkneys, now a part of Scotland, was a Norwegian outpost and a base of Viking raids throughout the British Isles. By the time of Magnus’ coming of age, Orkney Vikings controlled both the Shetland Islands and Caithness (or Pictland) in northeastern Scotland.

But who was Magnus and why would Canon Morris have chosen a person of Icelandic and Norwegian ancestry as patron saint instead of a saint associated with the Church of England or Scotland?

Unlike other saints, the historical Magnus is well known, but, when we consider his legacy, it is to the hagiographies—and the process of invention associated with sainthood—that we are drawn.

His story is compelling, but also misleading.

Magnus, which means 'great' in Latin, was not a pacifist as commonly perceived. He was a warrior king. However, there is an overlooked dimension to Magnus’ story, beyond the miraculous, that separates him from his peers and magnifies his legacy.

His dynasty, and that of his young nephew St Rognvald, represented a major turning point in Orkney history. In taking a stand against Viking violence, Magnus would go down in history as the ‘last Viking’.

The Orkneyinga Saga (~1200 CE) describes the feuds that arose between the families of two brothers who shared power in the Orkneys, leading eventually to conflict over succession and ultimately the martyrdom of Magnus.

A Viking raid in Anglesey in Wales was critical in determining the fate of our patron saint. He refused to participate in a brutal attack led by his king, Norway’s Magnus Barelegs, because he had no quarrel with the Welsh. Strong family alliances with church leaders across Scotland, Britain and Wales precluded Magnus’ involvement and so, unprotected from the spears and arrows that the Welsh rained down on him, Magnus sang from his psalter, unharmed.

This moral stand against unprovoked aggression was the first miracle attributed to Magnus. The next would change the Scandinavian world. The key element in the story is the betrayal of Magnus by his cousin Hakon, his rival for Orkney leadership. Hakon and Magnus had cooperated in wars against the Shetland Vikings, but Hakon longed to be sole ruler. On the island of Egilsay, in what was to be an opportunity to discuss peace and power sharing, Hakon laid a trap for Magnus and had him murdered.

The betrayal of Magus occurred during Easter, and the Orcadians were quick to draw a parallel between Jesus’ death and resurrection and Magnus’ untimely demise.

He, too, would rise as a figurehead of the newly established Viking church. To add legitimacy to this claim, beautiful white flowers bloomed and a powerful perfume arose from the barren rocky ground of Magnus’ martyrdom.

Magnus’ nephew, Rognvald of Norway, sought to restore Magnus’ lands and his uncle’s rightful place at the spiritual helm of the nation. After conquering the Orkneys, Rognvald had a cathedral built in Kirkwall to promote Magnus’ good Christian values and devoutness, and he actively endorsed Magnus’ canonisation. The saint’s gravesite in the cathedral, like the previous location of his mortal remains, became a major place of pilgrimage with many miracles reported.

Legend tells us that Magnus achieved sainthood because he was a good man who was unjustly condemned and met death bravely, accepting his fate full of forgiveness and peace. In reality, his quarrel with his cousin Hakon was probably based on self‑interest.

Following his demise, however, political support for Rognvald and the cult of Magnus went hand in hand, unifying the large and scattered diocese that included a good chunk of Scotland and the Shetland Islands, helping to create a growing sense of national identity. Magnus and his nephew Rognvald had left an indelible mark on Orkney history. As the sagas describe, the ‘throne of the devil’ was driven out of the northern parts and the ‘tabernacle of the almighty’ was confirmed.

Subsequently, many Old Boys served valiantly on multiple fronts, exemplifying Magnus’ spirit of staying true to one’s beliefs and principles.

Reference: Haki Antonsson (2007).

St. Magnús of Orkney: A Scandinavian Martyr-Cult in Context. Leiden: Brill Stay tuned: This article is the first in a two-part series about St Magnus. In a future issue, fellow Churchie Old Boy Rowan Porter will present a first-hand experience walking St Magnus Way, a new pilgrimage trail created in 2017, which has become one of the leading attractions on the Orkney Islands.

Facial reconstruction of St Magnus created in 2017

The sacred geography of the Orkney domain soon reflected this dramatic shift, with the narratives and deeds of Magnus now emblazoned in the landscape, such as where he turned a serpent to stone.

Similarly, ancient Pictish monuments, with their own unique significance, were now viewed through a Christian lens.

In this regard, there is no comparable saint to Magnus in Great Britain or Ireland—save for the fifth century Romano-British Christian St Patrick. Even though Magnus was a warrior and not a missionary, Canon Morris was indeed inspired in his choice for Churchie's patron saint. Churchie began its life in the World War 1 era, with Canon Morris initiating a cadet programme to emphasise our duty of responsibility to king and country.

Icon of the Holy Martyr Magnus of Orkney

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Going

virtual COVID-19 restrictions and social distancing required new approaches to school activities and events in 2020. Fortunately, technology provided ways for the community to come together. Here are a few ways we celebrated key events and activities this year in new digital formats.

Churchie’s approach during School at Home was to maintain schedules as much as possible to provide a sense of normalcy for the boys. As such, Headmaster’s Assemblies and Prep School Assemblies retained their Thursday and Friday timeslots, with presenters broadcasting from Morris Hall into the homes of Churchie students in Brisbane, Australia and the world.

To avoid large gatherings when students returned to campus mid-Term 2, assemblies continued to be broadcast live into classrooms. This practice continued throughout the year, including for Awards Assembly, with award recipients and their parents attending the event in Morris Hall while the remaining students and staff livestreamed from their tutor groups. Similarly, Speech Night was live-streamed on YouTube for parents and students to watch at home.

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In the Prep School, the annual Prep School Billy Cart Grand Prix was streamed via Facebook, with only students allowed to spectate on Oaklands Parade. For the first time, parents tuned in from home and work.

Although the atmosphere was not quite the same, the event reached a wider audience of parents, Old Boys and extended family, who enjoyed cheering on their teams via the comments.

Music and art found new ways to engage students and audiences.

During lockdown, 130 instrumentalists and vocalists from the Prep and Senior Schools diligently learned parts and recorded themselves performing Beethoven’s masterpiece, An Ode to Joy Festival.

The result was an outstanding compilation video celebrating the power of music to connect.

The video can be viewed on the Churchie website (www.churchie.com.au/odetojoy).

The Visual Art department took the annual Churchie Art Awards (CART) online with a virtual exhibition hosted on the Churchie website and shared via Churchie Art Instagram. Viewers can walk virtually through the Hayward Midson gallery, pausing to see more detail in the work and descriptions (www.churchie.com.au/CART).

Creating virtual campus tours and Open Days were crucial to help new families discover Churchie.

With Open Day needing to be cancelled due to the lockdown, Churchie’s admissions and marketing teams explored ways to showcase

Churchie through video. A short video was produced for Registrar Scott Huntington to show interested parties through the campus, and to replace Open Day, a live-streamed, interactive event in Term 4 was held.

While live-streaming events this year led the School into new territory, requiring additional planning and creative solutions, the experience ensured parents, students and the broader community maintained their connection to each other and the School. While we hope our beloved events return to normal soon, we have valued the opportunity to explore how virtual elements can add value to future events.

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O L D B OYS ' AS S O C I AT I O N

From the President of the

Old Boys’ Association We have also continued with our long-term projects and initiatives, such as promoting the OBA centenary publication, A Pictorial History of Churchie, which is now sold out.

Furthermore, new merchandise and strong sales of the OBA watch have assisted in enacting our plan to improve our financial reserves against future contingencies.

Churchie Old Boys continue to excel in many areas.

The second half of this year has continued to be subject to COVID-19 restrictions.

Unfortunately, that means our annual dinner, all interstate reunions and some cohort reunions have not been able to proceed.

The OBA committee, however, has remained active with several key goals achieved, which included: • a new, simplified constitution • a comprehensive online platform (via ToucanTech) that links all of our online services with a central database and site • the first Mental Health Forum to discuss how the OBA can support members in this area.

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Louis McAfee (2013) won the Queensland Open Cross Country Championship for the fourth year in a row. The last person to achieve this feat was fellow Old Boy Peter Fardoulys (1950), who achieved a record five straight titles from 1950 to 1954.

Rear Admiral Jaimie Hatcher AM RAN DSC (1985) was invested with his Distinguished Service Cross.

Jordan Courtney-Perkins (2020) was named Hyundai A-League Breakthrough Player of the Year for the Brisbane Roar FC. Jordan was a member of the 2019 First XI who made history by winning Churchie’s first GPS Football premiership.

Dadi Toka (1995) was recognised in the PNG Queen's Birthday Honours 2020 with a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) for services to community and cancer advocacy.

Jaydn S’uA (2014) made his debut for Queensland in the first match of the 2020 State of Origin series. Jaydn currently plays in the NRL for the South Sydney Rabbitohs.

Angus Scott-Young (2014) was recognised as Sportsman of the Year at The University of Queensland Alumni Awards.

The OBA offers its congratulations to the current students for their outstanding co-curricular success. Churchie won premierships in GPS Volleyball, Debating, Chess and Basketball and was awarded the Old Boys Cup at the Head of the River.

Furthermore, the Prep School students won the Junior GPS Swimming Championships.

Many of these teams have been coached by Old Boys. Impressively, these premiership successes and other strong performances culminated in Churchie finishing first overall in the GPS competition.

Churchie’s sports and activities have produced so many accomplished sportsmen who have become role models for all young men. This year we recognise the passing of two of our great Olympian Old Boys, Tony Blue and Charles ‘Chilla’ Porter, and acknowledge their contribution to their respective sports.

This is my final report as OBA President.

I believe it is important for the association that there be a regular turnover of committee members. I have enjoyed my time over the last seven years supporting the association and Churchie and am proud of the achievements of the committee over that time.

Simon Pattison (1984) Old Boys’ Association President

OBA Reunions Due to COVID-19, cohort reunions occurred at the end of the year. At the time of printing, photos were available from 30 Year and 50 Year Reunions, both held at the Norman Hotel on 20 November. The 5 Year and 40 Year Reunions followed in late November. Thank you to the Old Boys who attended these reunions.

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IN MEMORIAM

Cliff Ashdown (1950)

Graham McNamara (1946)

Charles ‘Cliff’ Ashdown, a proud Goodwin House boarder, participated in cadets and competed in rowing and rugby, playing in the First XV in 1949 and 1950. The Ashdown Carter Cup is played each year between the Churchie and Nudgee College First XVs.

Graham was a member of Grenfell House and cox of the First IV. He completed a civil engineering degree and subsequently supervised the construction of the Bremer River Bridge and specialised in rural road works for the Department of Main Roads.

Cliff became a successful businessman, initially running his father’s service station, The Beacon, at Redcliffe. He later co-founded Ashdown Enterprises, importing auto electrical spare parts. The business grew to be the largest of its kind in Australia with branches in every state and territory.

Now Ashdown Ingram, it continues to be an industry-leading business.

In 1960, Graham partnered with fellow Old Boy Ian Cameron (1946) to establish Cameron McNamara, which became one of the pre‑eminent engineering consultancies in Australia. He was engaged on developmental works in marine environments, particularly estates from Labrador to Sanctuary Cove and around Noosa. He developed the more economic technique of excavating the canals in the dry, avoiding the need for costly dredgers. This success expanded across many areas of engineering, including marine foreshore and marina developments.

Cliff was a generous benefactor to Churchie, The Glennie School, Vision Australia and many other worthy causes. He made positive impacts on so many lives, always generous with his time, guidance and humour. He was a keen angler, crab fisherman, golfer and football follower. However, for Cliff, family always came first. One of Cliff’s philosophies well sums up how he lived his life: Nothing is a problem; it’s a challenge.

Cliff passed away on 5 October 2020, aged 87. Adored husband of Leslyn (deceased), he is survived by daughter Gayle.

Graham was active in community committees and as a lecturer at tertiary level. With his advice and knowledge of modern engineering practice, he was a great mentor to young engineers starting their careers. In 2011, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to engineering in Queensland, he was inducted into the Queensland Engineering Hall of Fame.

Graham passed away on 14 September 2020, aged 91. He is survived by his wife Margaret and children Chris, John and Annie, ten grandchildren and ten great-grandchildren.

Vale We respectfully acknowledge the passing of the following Old Boys.

To help ensure Old Boys are recognised appropriately, please send notifications to oba@churchie.com.au.

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Name Peter Leslie Alchin Charles Clifford Ashdown Walter Samuel Grono Bateman Anthony Arthur Crampton Blue Wesley Andrew Burrows Clement Edwin Culverhouse Edward Dagwell Allan Thomas Faragher Mackenzie Ross Finch Barry Howard French Bruce William Gargett Keith Alan Grantley Wayne Henderson Richard Percy Higham Hill Robert William Jackson

Years at Churchie 1967 – 1971 1942 – 1950 1950 – 1953 1949 – 1953 1982 – 1986 1954 – 1957 1959 – 1960 1947 – 1948 1953 – 1958 1951 – 1953 1945 – 1946 1960 – 1963 1966 – 1970 1953 – 1954 1952 – 1956

Tony Blue (1953)

Charles Porter (1954)

Tony Blue was born in Dubbo in 1936. His parents, along with his brother Harvey, moved to Brisbane two years later. His primary school years were spent at Ascot State School before commencing at Churchie.

Tony excelled both academically and athletically. In his senior year of 1953, he was a prefect, Grenfell House Captain, cross country champion and member of the firsts teams for both cricket and rugby.

A middle-distance runner, Tony won three national 800 metre titles, broke national records, and was a semi-finalist at the Rome and Tokyo Olympic Games for that event.

In 1962, Tony achieved his best result, finishing third to secure the bronze medal at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in Perth.

In his professional career, Tony was an orthopaedic surgeon.

He obtained bachelor degrees in medicine and surgery from The University of Queensland in 1959, and, following intern training and residencies in the city, spent three years in the United Kingdom.

On his return to Brisbane in 1968, he secured a senior registrar position at the Royal Brisbane Hospital until his retirement in 2000.

Tony passed away on 1 October 2020, aged 83. He is survived by daughter Lucinda and sons Christopher and James.

Name Daniel Richard Jones Peter Thornton Kerr Clarence Guy King David Eliot Hilton Lewis Llewellyn Eric Lloyd-Apjohn Geoffrey Lawson Luke Neil Rowley Maclean Peter John McBaron Stanley Michael McDonnell Russel Hugh Wood McLellan Robert Graham McNamara Barry Mollenhauer Peter Kenneth Morris Parker Robert Nelson Ross Atherton Nye

Years at Churchie 1960 – 1968 1957 – 1960 1943 – 1945 1950 – 1954 1947 1963 – 1968 1946 – 1949 1955 – 1963 1950 – 1953 1949 – 1957 1943 – 1946 1952 – 1955 1972 – 1979 1959 – 1962 1939 – 1943

Charles ‘Chilla’ Porter was a prefect of the School and competed in cross country and swimming. However, it was in high jump that he made his mark, securing both the GPS high jump record and Australian junior high jump record in 1954. He won seven consecutive Australian high jump titles from 1955 to 1961, held the Australian record for six years and was the first Australian to clear 2.10 metres.

As an Olympian, Chilla won the silver medal for high jump in Melbourne, in what remains to this day as the longest field event in Olympic history. He also competed at the 1960 Rome Olympics and won the silver medals at the British Empire and Commonwealth Games in 1958 and 1962.

Chilla retired after the Perth games and became a successful businessman and a prominent Liberal Party administrator. He served as state director of the Liberal Party of Australia (Western Australian Division) and was chairman of the Western Australian Institute of Sport (WAIS), 1995 to 1996. In 2000, Chilla was awarded the Australian Sports Medal and, a year later, was bestowed with the Australian Government’s Centenary Medal, again for service to sport.

In 2011 he was inducted into the Athletics Australia Hall of Fame.

Chilla passed away on 15 August 2020, aged 84. He is survived by his wife Nerida, daughter Shani and son Christian.

Name Ronald Hubert Oudolf John Norris Parker Frank Douglas Paull David Brian Phillips James Telford Phipps Charles Michael Porter Peter Ronald Rowland Edwin John Sedgwick Glenville Francis Seymour Philip Alan Stocks David Ross Tait Anthony John Ure Ian Edward Westaway Andrew Stewart Woods

Years at Churchie 1959 – 1962 1943 – 1944 1957 – 1959 1940 – 1945 1946 – 1947 1949 – 1954 1946 – 1949 1952 – 1953 1951 – 1955 1978 – 1985 1948 – 1951 1951 – 1952 1979 – 1986 1983 – 1990

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P L AT I N U M S P O N S O R

A message from Churchie's

platinum sponsor

Porsche Centre Brisbane has enjoyed another year as Churchie’s platinum sponsor.

While 2020 was very different to years passed, we were pleased to see the return of the Churchie Rugby and Cricket Luncheon, and we look forward to being involved with the Churchie community moving forward.

As we see a return to normality around the state, now is a great time to plan a day trip with your Porsche on some of Brisbane’s best driving roads. Here are some of the team at Porsche Centre Brisbane’s favourite day trip spots.

Mount Mee Mount Mee is a 45-minute leisurely drive north of Brisbane. The drive itself makes it worthwhile as you pass through the countryside. Upon arrival, you’ll see stunning views of the surrounds, and plenty of bush walks are available.

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Mount Nebo Located 45 minutes out of Brisbane and away from the hustle and bustle of the city, this quaint little town sits 550 metres above sea level and offers the feeling of being inside a forest. Mt Nebo is home to a variety of Australian wildlife—a great place to get back in touch with nature.

Mount Glorious Just past the town of Mount Nebo and through winding mountain roads, you’ll find yourself at the top of Mount Glorious. Sitting 680 metres above sea level, you’ll enjoy crisp mountain breezes and beautiful views of the countryside.

Porsche Centre Brisbane wish the Churchie community a safe and happy end to the year and look forward to a bright 2021.

It’s like driving a Porsche, and somebody has added even more Porsche.

Life is exciting, we always want more of what we love. This isn’t irrational, excessive or self-indulgent but simply resolute. When our favourite song comes on, do we turn it up or down? Few people have ever said “stop!” when having a good time. The same applies to the experience of driving a Porsche. Being pressed into your seat, while dashing past the scenery, accompanied by powerful engine noise.

You love that as much as we do, don’t you? This too can be enhanced.

More of what you love.

The new Macan GTS. Now at Porsche Centre Brisbane.

Porsche Centre Brisbane 147 Breakfast Creek Road Newstead QLD 4006 Tel: 07 3867 6911 porschecentrebrisbane.com.au

www.churchie.com.au