1969: 40 Year Timbertop Reunion The Timbertop Reunion for the class of 1969 was a little like finding the answers to a 40-year-old mystery. Beau Kuok flew in from Hong Kong via the United States, Guy Cameron from New Guinea, Peter (Des) Yencken materialised after 20 or more years in the United States, and at least several came from each of the mainland states, helping to solve the riddle of the intervening years. The weekend on September 19 and 20 started with a lively Friday night in Merrijig’s Hunt Club Hotel. Suitably fortified, it was on to school on Saturday for morning tea and a talk by Timbertop Headmaster Roger Herbert. Lunch in the newish dining hall showed an improvement in both architecture and food. Activities included a walk around the school, which although it has retained the same basic style, is much larger with nearly twice as many students. The day involved a walk to one of several nearby destinations or, for 18 people keen to show their fitness, up Mount Timbertop. Half an hour on top of the mountain was memorable and for a few such as ACE Hardy, who couldn’t make it in 1969 because of back problems, a coveted first. The afternoon’s exercise was the perfect preparation for dinner in the dining hall. A showing of rare, historic photos of his year at Timbertop by Marcus von Moger brought back many memories. The reunion finished on Sunday with a church service in the beautiful Chapel of St John the Baptist, followed by morning tea. The weekend was a moving experience with many friendships renewed. Hopefully the 50-year reunion will be just as successful.
1
2
3
Nigel Austin (FB’71)
4 1. L to R: Richard Graham (Cu’72), David Shuter (TI’69), David Toyne (A’71) and Stephen Cross (Ge’71) 2. L to R: Andrew Hawker (M’72), Guy Cameron (M’71), Chris Commins (FB’71) and John Turnbull (Cu’71) 3. L to R: Tony Gowing (P’71), Doug McIntosh (M’71), Linden Hope (M’71), Simon Moore (M’72) and Tim Moran (M’71) 4. L to R: Allan Bawden (Ge’71), Lew Officer (FB’71), Richard Mackinnon (M’71), Sandy Hunter (M’71) and Simon Jackson (Li’72) 5. L to R: Beau Kuok (P’71), Marcus von Moger (M’72), David Shuter (TI’69), Ken Davis (Cu’71) and Philip Martin ((M’71)
26 18
5