OBGS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE
OBGS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE P O S T
a leader in the Australian car industry
Leigh Hendra (1999) chalks up 200 games for the “Tonners” Leigh Hendra’s team mates chair him off the ground after playing his 200th game for the Old Brighton Grammarians’ Football Club. The team produced four quarters of their best football in Round 9, and joined Old Trinity at the top of the Premier B table, after downing the ladder leaders by 27 points in a high class match at a muddy South Road.
His career path started after graduating from Brighton Grammar in 1968, when he attended Melbourne University where he obtained a Degree of Bachelor of Commerce in 1972, majoring in Economics and Company Law. Richard then joined the Ford Motor Company Graduate Program and during the next ten years with Ford held several managerial positions in Sales and Marketing. Ford gave him the opportunity to purchase Jarvis Ford in Adelaide. It was 1984, he sold the family home in Balwyn and moved his family to South Australia. When he arrived in Adelaide he declared to his new staff that Jarvis (then the smallest Ford dealership in Adelaide) would become the state’s largest. His staff all laughed at him, however not only did he achieve this but within 10 years Jarvis Ford was in the top five dealerships in Australia. Nearly 30 years later, the Jarvis Group employs over 300 staff, sells in excess of 7,000 new and used vehicles each year and services over 38,000 vehicles between his Ford, Toyota and Subaru dealerships. The key to the success has been a dedication to customer satisfaction and the adaptability to change. Richard was asked to join the board of carsales.com.au at its first inception. Today the company is in the top 100 listed on the ASX. He holds the position of Deputy Chairman of the board.
OBG Soccer Club
He has always worked on the philosophy that it’s one thing to grow and expand a business, but it’s also important to support charities and worthy causes. Over nearly 30 years, Richard has donated generously, most prominently to “Variety - The Children’s Charity”, “Animals Asia” whose goal it is to save the Moon Bears and other mistreated animals in Asia and “The Green Gecko Project” – helping homeless children in Cambodia. Richard believes his days at Brighton Grammar have been very influential in how he has led his life on both a business and personal level. He still maintains a close friendship with his old classmates, Ron Curtain, Drew Owens and Derek Butler, all from the Class of 1968.
The Old Brighton Grammarians Soccer Club have commenced season 2013 newly promoted into the FFV State League 4 Southern Division after a promotion-clinching 2012 season.
Home games at the Brighton Beach Oval are always most enjoyable with a fine lunch put on by the Club prior to the game. For booking information or in fact any details on the OBGFC, go to their website: www.obgfc.com.au.
OBGSC is seeking expressions of interest from potential Sponsor Partners and new players for the current season and next. Please get in touch with Marshal Sayer, OBGSC Treasurer and 2001 BGS Old Boy, via marshal.sayer@gmail.com or 0404 460 610 if you would like to discuss becoming a new club member or if you would like to find out more about OBGSC Sponsorship packages.
Living every man’s boyhood dream Peter De Garis (1973) as well as being a master sculptor and expert on fine art, has lived the boyhood dream of becoming a “Steam locomotive driver”. During Peter’s time as a student at BGS, his classmate David Wymond, whose father was president of the Puffing Billy Association, asked Peter if he’d like to come along with he and his dad to the Puffing Billy museum at Menzies Creek. It was there that Peter’s love affair with steam locomotives began.
More than 20 BGS Old Boys are plying their trade at OBGSC this year across our three teams. There is never a dull moment at Dendy Park, whether it’s our busy social calendar or the outrageous skills on the park electrifying our Saturday afternoons.
In 1987, Peter re-joined the Puffing Billy Preservation Society which supports this iconic narrow gauge historical steam train which runs through the Dandenong Ranges.
Above Matt Cameron (2006) shooting for goal
The OBGS Rugby Club was re-launched recently with a small but enthusiastic group headed by Russ Bate OAM (1965) and John Wilson (1976).
Driving a locomotive such as Puffing Billy requires a huge range of skills including train handling and a detailed knowledge of the Westinghouse airbraking system.The final step was a full day of examinations both practical and theoretical, which after emerged a fully-fledged train driver in 2011.
Media Gang.
It is inspiring to see the successful life and career of one of our old scholars, Richard Collins (1968), now a leading figure in the Australian Motor vehicle industry and has an incredible record of philanthropy.
Boykett, Gascoigne Scott Club
LEFT Peter De Garis with the winning runners of the ‘Great Train Race'
C A R D
Photo courtesy of Louise Graham,
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Puffing Billy is one of Victoria’s premier tourist attractions and one of the world’s most popular heritage railways running between Belgrave and Gembrook every day of the year except Christmas Day.
In 1993, Peter signed on as an engine cleaner in the workshops with such tasks as assisting the fireman, starting the fire in the loco (always started with wood, and coal is introduced later) and maintaining the working parts of the engine as well as cleaning the engine after the daily run. 1998 saw him become a fireman, a task he performed for 11 years. The job of fireman, one would assume, is simply a matter of shovelling coal into the firebox to keep the steam up to the engine. Nothing could be further from the truth! The skill of the fireman in keeping the correct amount of heat and fire going, cannot be understated as too much fire will damage the boiler and too little or poorly formed fire will seriously affect the way the train runs. Peter began the process to become a driver in 2008 requiring 1000 mile (1600 kms) of supervised driving. Each round trip is 34 miles (55 kms).
The club was named after two pioneers and one great stalwart of the club. The pioneers were David Boykett, the first Rugby Coach at Brighton Grammar and the late Paddy Gascoigne who was the second Rugby Coach at BGS. Douglas Scott, former Vice Principal was the man who supported and prospered the BGS Rugby with total commitment and utter devotion during his time at the School.
The whole train has a mass of between 74 and 90 tonnes depending on the number of passengers and despite the relatively slow maximum speed of 15 mph (24 kph) 2 to 3 times the length of the train are required to bring it to a complete stop. A close eye on the level crossings is critical to the safety of motorists, pedestrians and passengers alike. In May, Peter was the driver (there are around 25 drivers) given the honour of driving in the annual “Puffing Billy Great Train Race” where around 3200 runners raced the train to Gembrook with Peter De Garis at the throttle.
Thus these three great men make up the name of the re-launched Old Boys Rugby Club and of course, it was no coincidence that the three initials give us B.G.S. – Boykett, Gascoigne Scott! Right Rugby enthusiasts at the launch of the new club
Vale It is with sadness that we advise the names of Old Brighton Grammarians and their year of leaving who have passed away. Our condolences to their families. Anderson, Ross
(1970)
Macmichael, Peter
(1942)
Saunders, William
(1932)
Bottrill, Robert
(1947)
Peachey, Robert
(1956)
Singleton, Gordon
(1932)
Carr, Roger
(1950)
Reiss, Robert
(1963)
Tasker, David
(1975)
Dawes, Connor
(2012)
Rouch, Peter
(1956)
Whitaker, Howard
(1940)
Gillies, Don
(1951)
Royston, William
(1949)
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