EVENTS
Francis Brown House Reunion and Re-opening More than 300 people celebrated the re-opening of Francis Brown House on Saturday 6 August. The boys’ boarding house was officially re-opened following a major refurbishment which has transformed the building – the refurbishment followed the template provided by Elisabeth Murdoch House, creating single study/bed rooms for all Year 11 and 12 students while also satisfying the broader requirements of privacy, study, play, functionality and pastoral care. Chairman of Council, Jeremy Kirkwood (FB’79), said the refurbishment complemented EM House in setting a new standard for boarding school accommodation. “It creates appropriate privacy for residents as well as providing communal spaces which are inviting and functional for 60+ teenage boys in a modern, light and attractive space,” Jeremy explained. He joined our Principal, Stephen Meek, and FB House Captain, Tim Vickers-Willis (Yr12 FB), in re-opening the house.
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“Although the physical changes to FB, with many new rooms, kitchens, and accompanying facilities, have made a
significant improvement to the aesthetics of this great house, we have found that the benefits of the renovation surpass a mere physical attraction,” Tim said. “The fact that all students in Year 11 and 12 now have a single room means that they have an improved space in which to study and sleep, uninhibited by others around them... The environment within the house has become more productive and welcoming. The renovations have not only vastly improved the facilities of FB, but enriched the boarding life of the students within it. In spite of all the changes that have occurred, I can say that the core culture, or fabric of FB, is still well and truly intact. With this in mind, it is clear that a boarding house exists as more than just ‘bricks and mortar’, and is instead defined by the life and breath of the adolescents who live within it.” The culture of FB is not confined to present students – the boarding house celebrates its 75th anniversary in 2012 and 170 past students and staff returned to Corio on August 6 to attend a Reunion Dinner. “Seeing all the Old FB boys return, from those who had finished in the ‘40s up to last year, certainly prompted a realisation
that the FB community far exceeds that of the current students and staff,” Tim said. “The surprising number of people who returned for the reunion and to celebrate the re-opening highlights the significance that FB still holds in their lives.” The re-opening ceremony was followed by tours of the refurbished house and an afternoon Chapel Service, which was well attended by FB old boys and featured a reading from 1945 House Captain, Denys McCullough (FB’45). The Reunion Dinner was a lively affair, with tables arranged in chronological order so year groups mixed and mingled. Penelope Jaffray, the grand-daughter of the first Housemaster, W.N. Jaffray (1937-56), joined more recent Heads of House, including Glen Bechly (1978-87), David Parker (1994-98), John Hendry (1999-2004), Dean Dell’Oro (2005-08), and current Head, Martin Beaver (2009-present). Reverend Michael Graham (FB’64) offered Grace and a slideshow of archival images provided by past students was on display.