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OBGS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE

Staff News ELC teacher Mel Perks and Jay Salter are the proud parents of a beautiful baby girl Ella Julie born on 26 April.

Mel Perks and baby Ella

In addition Amy Greaves (School Counsellor) and her husband Alex Sylvan (Head of Hancock and English teacher) welcomed their second son in 15 months, gorgeous Harry, and Katrina and Dick Bartlett (Head of Rowing) welcomed darling Annabel. BGS double bass teacher Nick Tsiavos had a solo concert at the Melbourne Recital Centre in May. He also has been awarded an international travel grant from the Australia Council for the Arts to perform in eight concerts in Greece and Estonia in July.

Nicholas Tsiavos

Congratulations to Jason Bain and his finance Caroline who married on 22 June in Melbourne. Jason is the BGS BELOW link with PNG and he has Jason and escorted many groups of staff Caroline Bain's and boys there over the last Melbourne and five years. As a consequence PNG weddings Jason has placed in the unique position where he has been formally accepted as a ‘family member’ in the beautiful community up there. This special status resulted in the privilege of having a second full blown village wedding ceremony in the week following their Melbourne wedding.

Court of Companions In the early 1980s, Headmaster Robert Rofe and Chairman of Council, the late Robert Sanderson established the ‘Court of Companions’ to acknowledge and honor BGS Staff members who had given 15 or more years of service. Initially confined to the teaching staff, the Court of Companions now embraces all BGS staff. We have 93 living members of our Court of Companions including a number of current staff. The Court of Companions Annual Dinner will be held later in the year when we will welcome three new members - Dwi Ariantono from maintenance, ESL teacher Cat Rossiter and double bass teacher, Nicholas Tsiavos.

News of retired members Barrie Johns

In 2011, I was asked by the BGS Learning Strategies Department to act as a teaching aide for two days per week for a BGS boy. It was wonderful to be back in the classroom. I’ve continued to work part-time and now I help as an assistant for some Senior School maths and science classes.

Where am I now? Not far from where I have been ever since coming to Brighton and BGS in 1969, that is I’ve relocated from Willansby Ave to Asling St. I now live at ‘The Brighton on Bay’ Retirement Village, a move of about 250m.

The technical changes in the education which have occurred during my absence from teaching are staggering. Where are the Kaye & Layby Four figure log books?

I’ve not regretted this move for a moment, freeing me from the burden of houseownership and placing me in a delightful community of congenial co-residents, yet retaining an independent life-style within the area that has been home turf for the better part of my life. The greatest bonus is my daughter, Jessica, has acquired the old family home and is enjoying its convenient location to BGS, where son Nate is in Year 7, and Firbank, where daughter Elena is a Year 9 student. Jessica has just qualified as a psychotherapist.

Sue Rocco For fifteen years from 1986 to 2001 I taught English, History and RE at BGS. Happy years: at Rosstrevor initially and then at the Senior School. While there was no drama in the curriculum, for many years we put on musicals and dramas including a couple of Shakespeare productions and a memorable Brecht.

I started teaching in 1962, with neither teaching nor academic qualifications. In 1963, at Lilydale High School, I was teaching a Year 10 science class, taking prac work with 45 students and no laboratory assistant. In 1964 I gained a scholarship to Mercer House to complete a one year Junior Secondary teaching certificate.

Now, twelve years into retirement, I am still busy. Apart from my parish activities, I am involved with the amateur photography community at club and state level. Recently I helped organise a convention which took place at the Senior School.

1985 saw me join BGS. It was a Christian, boys’ school and a single campus school. This last point was most important. Retirement came in 2002. I taught for 40 years and all but one had been enjoyable. One year there was a cantankerous Year 10 Maths class!

I have travelled and had my ‘trip of a lifetime’ in 2007 when I had several weeks in Rome, Florence and Venice indulging in a lifetime interest in art. This year I will visit Scotland to catch up with Jane Zachariah whose father Harry is part of the history and mythology of BGS!

Prior to retiring I became a tour guide at the MCG. This is a voluntary job which gives me immense pleasure. I have guided Junior School groups for many years. Just to watch the facial expressions of the young guests as they see for the first time the enormity of the “G” is priceless.

Barbara Cramer

My son, John, and partner Allison are now living in New Norfolk, Tasmania, both working in the education and integration of intellectually handicapped teenagers. They love their 200 year old house, ‘The Old King’s Inn’, located in the beautiful Derwent Valley. As for me, time flies in the pursuit of many interests: the intensive study of French, as well as a fascinating course in ‘Theatre Through the Ages’, playing chess and mah jong, keeping fit, managing contact with friends and family on three continents and travel. In August/ September I’ll realize a long-cherished dream to spend a solid month in Paris.

I loved the School and teaching there; I have lasting memories of great colleagues, students and parents.

• Barbara was secretary to Headmaster Robert Rofe.

TOP Barrie Johns MIDDLE Sue Rocco BOTTOM Barbara Cramer

Near and Far Steve Kent (1990) is currently Head Golf Professional at Settlers Run Golf and Country Club at Cranbourne South. Steve has been with Settlers run for the past six years. Edward McCowan (2000) finished a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree at Monash University in 2004. He volunteered for and went to Tonga in 2005 as an Australian Youth Ambassador for Development, working as the Australian Football Development Officer for the Tongan Australian Football Association (TAFA).

He has achieved a great deal in this role as he will be coaching the Tongan National Team playing Samoa later in the year. Chris Dawes (2006) announced his engagement recently to Paige Rawlinson (Firbank 2006). Chris is currently playing for the beleaguered Melbourne Football Club following a stellar stint with Collingwood which saw him play in three AFL Grand Finals, one of which they won in 2010. Paige’s two younger brothers are BGS Old Boys – Brock (2008) and Kieran (2011) Jensen Overend (2002) has been appearing in the Melbourne production of “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang” as his stage career goes from strength to strength! Johnathon Davey (2000) completed a Bachelor of Science double degree, majoring in Marine Biology and Aquaculture as well as completing a Masters in Applied Science / Fisheries Science in Tasmania. He is now working for the Australian Government in Canberra managing Australia's international fisheries engagement.

Drake WorkWise specialises in the delivery of Human Capital Solutions for Corporations and Government. Guy’s specific area of responsibility is Organisational Psychology, Employee Assistance Programs and Trauma Management Response. Dr Sam Walsh AO (1967) (Pictured above) BGS Hall of Fame inductee, was appointed CEO of Rio Tinto Limited in January and now leads the world’s fourth largest listed mining company.

Sam had headed up the iron ore division of Rio Tinto since 2004 during which time he oversaw successful mining operations and expansions in Pilbara, Western Australia. During his tenure, the lucrative Pilbara iron ore business grew to account for more than 80% of Rio Tinto’s net earnings. Sam is now based in the London Head Office of Rio Tinto. David Kay (1983) is the owner of Design Enterprises Limited, a Hong Kong based innovation and entrepreneurial company. Design Enterprises Ltd. project manages concepts to completion by taking ideas to market.

They recently invented, designed, developed and patented the S2B smart shower that is a new luxurious walk-in shower that simply and effectively converts into a bath when needed. This is an innovation perfectly suited for units, high-rise, hotels, aged-care and residential premises where space and usability are a major issue. Guy Robbins (1976) took up a role in November 2012 as Manager Client Relationships (Southern Australia) with Drake WorkWise, a business division of Drake International Australia.

David Matthews (1983) is married with two sons and lives on the Victorian surf coast. He is teaching sailing in Geelong, surfing lots and describes himself as a passionate long suffering Richmond supporter. Joseph Buccheri (1988) is currently working as a Melbourne-based Domestic and International commercial lawyer. Philip Allchin (1939) is currently living in Duncraig (a suburb of Perth WA). Patch Clapp (2012) is working at a US summer camp called Camp Augusta. He will travel around the US and Canada and then fly to Beijing to board the Trans Siberian Railway. Daniel Mulcahy (2005) left school in Year 11 for a carpentry apprenticeship which he loved. Later on he undertook a Bachelor of Property and Sustainable Development. Chris Mulcahy (2001) undertook an Arts Degree at the University of Melbourne and then worked for APN Outdoor (billboards.) He later completed an MBA at Bond University and started working for Google in Sydney in mid 2012. Simon Bolles (1978) is currently a member of the University of Melbourne Faculty Business and Economics Alumni Council networking regarding Non Executive Director roles in 2013. Zhi Low (2012) left BGS and moved from Melbourne in 2000 to live in Los Angeles. He graduated from La Canada High School in May this year and in August will be going to

Cornell University in Upstate New York to study Engineering (like his dad!). His younger brother Zhiyou (who was in a pram in the BGS days) is currently in Year 9 at La Canada High School. The boys and their mother Jenny recently re-visited BGS with cousin Stephen Lam (2009) while on a trip to Melbourne. Stephen is currently in fourth year of Commerce Law at ANU in Canberra. Chris Biggin (1996) Mt Buller was the stunning setting on Saturday 23rd March for the marriage of Chris to Allison Knight.

The Bridal Party consisted of Maid of Honour Bree Rankin from Canberra, Bridesmaid Kate Nankervis from Bendigo, Best Man and Groomsman, Tim Cross and James Bellerby respectively both also from the Class of 1996. The Ceremony at Mt Buller Chapel and the Reception for 100 guests was held at Mt Buller Chalet’s Black Cockatoo Restaurant. After their Honeymoon in Hawaii the couple returned to their home in Bentleigh.

BELOW L to R James Bellerby, Bree Rankin, Chris and Allison Biggin, Tim Cross and Kate Nankervis.