3 4
6 7
8 9 sequence in reverse after JRD: a longish time under Tommy Garnett of restlessness, new ideas, and change, reflecting the 1960s, and then a sadly short but highly effective regime in which Charles Fisher – not the son of his father for nothing – tidied things up and carried through into its fullness what had been Tommy’s last and greatest innovation, the introduction of girls). After his teachings at Charterhouse, “the three great influences in James Darling’s life...were, of course, the School (including many individuals – boys, colleagues, parents), Australia (to which he gradually came to belong in spirit, except during Test matches), and – most of all – Margaret and their family: ever-evolving influences, all three, through the next sixty-six years… Timbertop will probably remain his most famous innovation – one that I believe he could only have got away with, against all the difficulties, because Geelong Grammar School was from its early days the sort of school it is: quite traditional in some respects, quite radical in others, with “wellordered liberty” at its heart; balancing the needs of the community with those of the individual by which Bracebridge Wilson had set such store as early as the 1860s... Certainly it is one to whose soul and lifeblood the immense contribution of James Ralph Darling is both well acknowledged and (the ultimate tribute) largely taken for granted: but, like all great lives of which records or memories exist, his will bear, indeed demand, regular discussion, fresh illumination, and ever deeper understanding in just such ways
as this series of James Darling Memorial Orations invites.”
1. Jonathan (brother of Michael) and Georgina Persse, Susi Phillips, William Cook (Cu’06), Juliet Cook née Robinson (Cl’82; niece of Michael)
Following a standing ovation and in thanking Michael, Jeremy Kirkwood (FB/L’80), Chairman of the School Council, said that on the three previous occasions he had appeared on stage it was to speak following Michael, and this was a difficult and nerve-racking thing to do. Jeremy told us that Michael had asked him earlier in the evening to be honest about his speech and acknowledge if it was not satisfactory.
2. Libby Fairfax and Jane Gray
In promising to do this Jeremy praised Michael in saying that Michael had taken us on a trip through 200 years of influences on JRD’s life. This journey had been entertaining, enlightening, educational, serious and funny. In conversations with OGG, Jeremy found there were three main memories they had of their time at School: first Timbertop, secondly the food, and thirdly Michael. They spoke of their fondness for Michael and their thankfulness for continued contact with him. This was reflected in the number of OGG from across more than half a century who attended the dinner.
3. L to R: Reece Burgess (FB’56), Anne Breadmore, Julia Burgess and John McInnes (Cu’58), former Chairman of Council (1997-2004) 4. Bill Mackinnon (M’57), Jeremy Kirkwood (FB/L’80; Chairman of Council), and current parents Andrew Cannon, Sarah Kirkwood and Clare Cannon 5. Mark Vickers-Willis (FB’94) and Michael Collins Persse (Staff 1955-) 6. Standing L to R: Don McGauchie (P’67), Peter Hay (FB’68), Charles Henry (FB’67), David Hudson (Ge’68), Graeme Harvey (Cu’67), Michael Hansen (FB’67), Rob Clemente (FB’67). Sitting L to R: Geoffrey Hammond (FB’67), David Baulch (FB’67), Michael Griffith (P’68), Tom Cooper (P’67) 7. Sir James and Lady Darling’s family. Standing L to R: Elspeth McNeil, Andrew Shearer (grandson), Sara Darling (daughter-in-law), John Blanch, Penny Gray, Robert Gray (son-in-law), John Killip, Peter Gray (P’85; grandson), Michael Gray (P’88; grandson), Fiona Blanch, Charlie Sutherland (P’86; grandson), Ivan Sutherland (Staff 1950-93; son-in-law), Ben Shearer (son-in-law). Sitting L to R: John Darling (P’64; son), Jane Gray (daughter), Alison McNeil (sister of Lady Darling), Liza Sutherland (daughter), Caroline Shearer, Caroline Shearer (daughter) 8. Standing L to R: John Fairfax (M’60), Tony Blazey (P’59), Maria Hamilton. Sitting L to R: Sir David Hay (Cu’35), Dame Elisabeth Murdoch (Cl’26) 9. Elin and the Rev’d Canon Donald Johnston (Cu’46), Henry Speagle, Liza Sutherland, Jean Speagle
Jeremy then made an analogy, that we have our own internet. In this era of the World Wide Web, Google and Wikipedia, Geelong Grammar with Michael, has its own version of internet. There is no way that Microsoft could come up with MCP Version 1! Jennifer Wraight Fundraising Manager 19