Tim Mercer (M/L’77), who died in September 2010, was the son of Peter Mercer (M/FB’39) and his wife, Angela, daughter of the Honourable James Fairbairn MHR (M’15; Chairman of GGS Council 1937-40), who while Minister for Air was killed with other leading Australians in 1940 in an air crash near Canberra, where Fairbairn Airport commemorates him. Tim inherited a tradition of involvement in the pastoral industry, a high sense of public duty (Fairbairns have been members of Australian parliaments in four generations), a keen sense of humour, and a love of rowing (he was in the School’s second eight and coached its eighth to victory). As a School Prefect he had the affectionate nickname Mum for his kindly care of juniors. Having worked in New Zealand and graduated with a Diploma of Agriculture from Lincoln College, he returned home to Wagra Creek near Euroa and helped Peter with the sheep, cattle, and cropping – eventually running it – while also, with his own truck, carrying hay bales throughout Victoria, working as a wool buyer, and managing a friend’s property at Ruffy. In 1988 he married Erica Sudlow, a pharmacist, with whom he had Emily and Edward (M’10). Work with the local stock agent led to the formation in 1995 of a partnership whose name, OMH, reflected the surnames O’Dea, Mercer, and Harrington. Far beyond the call of duty, Tim helped clients who became an ever-widening circle of friends. He was a volunteer at Creighton’s Creek Country Fire Authority, and when fire threatened Timbertop in 2006 he rallied friends to defend it if necessary. His memorial service at Euroa was attended by hundreds, and he is greatly missed. The Honourable Georgie Crozier (Je’81), as a result of the State election of November 2010, became a Liberal MLC for Southern Metropolitan Region in the Victorian Parliament. Her father, the Honourable Digby Crozier (M’44), served in the Legislative Council as Liberal Member for Western Province from 1973-85 and in the Legislative Assembly as Member for Portland from 1985-88 (holding successive Ministries: State Development, Decentralisation, and Tourism 1976-79; Local Government 1979-81; and Minerals and Energy 1981-82). Emily Humphries (Cl’81) received the 2010 Artegiro Artist Residency Award in Italy, the Galleria Artegiro at Montefiascone presenting a solo exhibition of her work entitled “Ecstasies: In and Out of the Sublime” Emma Zipper née Niall (Ga’86) is the General Counsel and Company Secretary of the Bupa Australia Group of companies, which won the title of Australian Corporate Lawyer Association Legal Team of the Year for 2010. She herself was shortlisted as one of three for Australian Corporate Lawyer of the Year. 38
Drew Berry (M’87) was awarded one of the 2010 MacArthur Fellowships – the only one outside the United States. Fellows, of whom in the past two decades there have been 828, must be either American citizens by birth or resident there, and awards are made (with “no strings attached”) to “talented individuals who have shown extraordinary originality and dedication in their creative pursuits and a marked capacity for self-direction”. There are normally more than 100 nominators for the Fellowships, each of which carries a stipend of US$500,000. Drew is a Biomedical Animator “enhancing” (as described in the award) ”our understanding of a wide range of biological processes and systems by synthesizing data from a variety of fields into scientifically accurate, aesthetically rich visualisations”.
two at Timbertop, and 30 at Corio. He is gratefully remembered by many pupils and colleagues, particularly for his devoted and typically unobtrusive service over 20 years as head of the Audio-Visual department and for his involvement and leadership in the Yacht Club. But his contribution to life at GGS was a wide one and included tutoring successively in six Houses, coaching no less than five sports (Australian Rules football, rugby, cricket, hockey, and particularly sailing), and teaching Geography, History, Social Studies, and Business Principles. In all his roles Peter was a tower of quiet strength who, by his dedication, cheerfulness, and transparent humility influenced our community for good. Our loving thoughts are with Jan and their children, Sally (A’84) and Andrew (A’89).
Portia de Rossi (Hi’87 as Amanda Rogers) has written of her life in Unbearable Lightness: A Story of Loss and Gain (Atria, New York, and Hardie Grant, Melbourne, 2010), described by Augusten Burroughs as a “rich, layered book of remarkable courage, power, and significance”.
Emeritus Professor Mollie Holman AO (Council 1981-90), who died in August 2010 aged 80, was Professor of Physiology at Monash University from 1970-96 and internationally known for her pioneering work in neuro-physiology.
Lucy McEachern (Ga’99) has produced limited-edition bronze scupture that, with hand-coloured lino-cuts by Vida Pearson, after exhibition at Yering Station Vineyard in Victoria, is to be shown in Roma, Queensland, from 29 April to 5 June and at the Purple Noon Gallery in the Blue Mountains, New South Wales, from 11 June to 31 July. In the exhibition, entitled “Cut and Formed on the Plains”, are 13 birds ranging from small owls to a life-size pelican. Norman Maggs (Staff 195966), who died on 22 October 2010, was a Welshman who taught Mathematics, Technical Drawing, and Art, tutored in Connewarre House, and coached rugby enthusiastically at GGS before going on to 20 years’ service at the new Yarra Valley Church of England Boys’ Grammar School where he established an Art and Craft department and became a housemaster, head of Middle School, head of Outdoor Education, Senior Master, and in 1980 Acting Headmaster. Their Maggs Rugby Field commemorates him, and in retirement he assisted with their Past Students’ Association. In the words of Les Christie (Staff 1964-69), his colleague at both schools, “his cheerful disposition, Welsh accent, and keen interest in all his many friends will be sadly missed.” Our fond thoughts are with Patricia and their son David (T’77; Assistant at Timbertop 1981). Peter Graham (Staff 196098), who died on 16 January 2011, was a New Zealander born on 13 November 1937. He taught for seven years at Bostock House (in Newtown before the move to Highton in 1962),
BIRTHS Joanna and Sam Austin (Cu’87), a daughter, Camilla Eleanor, on 10 March 2011 Louise Baker and Jason Patton (FB’90), a son, Armond (Baker-Patton), on 1 May 2009 Sarah and James Boothby (M’93), a daughter, Sophie Elizabeth, on 6 January 2011 Danielle Calder (Staff, Toorak, 2007-) and Jacob Caine, a daughter, Jeannette Ella, on 3 February 2011 Samantha and Christopher Darling (A’93), a daughter, Jemima, in August 2010 Claire and Alex Dobson (Cu’94), a daughter, Georgina Frances Anne, on 24 January 2009 Lucinda and James Earl (M’96), a daughter, Margot Constance, on 11 June 2009 Erica née Stevens (Cl’96) and Scott Easton, a son, William Timothy, on 19 November 2010 Sandra and Nicholas Fairfax (M’89), a daughter, Amber Rose Vaccaro, on 13 June 2010 Kerstin Zander and Stephen Garnett (FB’72), a son, Christopher Merlin, on 19 January 2011 Sarah née Cole (Cl’95) and Andrew Gaussen (M’95), a daughter, Fleur Elisabeth Amherst, on 5 February 2011 Nicole née Copulos (Ga’04) and Matthew Georgiou, a son, Alexander Matthew, on 2 November 2010 Serena nee Bromell (Je’88) and Andrew Gleeson, a daughter, Millie Serena, on 5 December 2004 Fiona née Bayles and Peter Gowers, twin son and daughter, Oscar James Peter and Scarlett Safia Fiona, on 29 January 2011