ALUMNI NEWS - HAVE YOU HEARD?

HATCHED & MATCHED

Congratulations to all our alumni below who have celebrated major announcements.

Weddings!

Save The Date 2023

Business Directory

Our alumni Business Directory, created in 2022, presents a wonderful opportunity to reach, connect and support our business community. We are delighted to acknowledge the following businesses which have registered with our business directory. Further information and registration details can be found at www.oldivanhoe.com/business-directory

IVANHOE Hotel Collingwood

Our calendar for 2023 social gatherings is shown below. However, all dates are subject to change, so please refer to the website, Facebook, and Instagram for details of all OIGA activities.

Friday 28 April

TRC 40 Year Reunion (Class of 1983)

Friday 12 May

Plenty Campus 20 Year Reunion (Class of 2003)

Friday 19 May

Brisbane Reunion Drinks

Saturday 20 May

Brisbane Reunion Luncheon

Friday 2 June

TRC 30 Year Reunion (Class of 1993)

Friday 14 July

Plenty Campus 5 Year Reunion (Class of 2018)

Tuesday 25 July

Adelaide Reunion Luncheon

Friday 28 July

Plenty Campus 10 Year Reunion (Class of 2013)

Friday 4 August

TRC 10 Year Reunion (Class of 2013)

Friday 1 September

TRC 5 Year Reunion (Class of 2018)

Friday 20 October

TRC 20 Year Reunion (Class of 2003)

Wednesday 29 November Buckley/Brown Luncheon

One of the features of the annual Buckley Boys/Brown Luncheon is the presentation of awards by the Principal to those who have achieved age milestones during the year. While these luncheons were cancelled in 2020 and 2021, the 2022 event welcomed three new members to this illustrious group. We are delighted to provide a snapshot of our latest ‘Living Legends’ who celebrated their 90th birthdays over the last three years and the contributions they have made to the School.

Gregor McGregor (‘47)

Gregor was born in 1930 and attended the School from 1944-46 as a boarder. Following the early death of his father, his mother considered boarding school the best place for him while she earned a living teaching the piano. His prior knowledge of the School had been through his uncle King Sedgfield (’27) and cousin Peter Bethell (’39) a former School Captain.

His first term in middle dormitory, which had been recently reclaimed from the army, was quite a shock for an only child accustomed to living with his widowed mother in an apartment. ‘Queues for short hot showers and long cold ones, plenty of fresh air(!) in the open dormitories, and stones littering the North Ground which were in part cleaned by up by the boys as punishment for minor misdemeanours.’

Gregor’s lasting memory, apart from his school mates, were of the junior masters for the wellbeing of the boys during those difficult post-war years. Encouragement, empathy and discipline were all required, but above all, fairness was the prominent characteristic of those times.

For Gregor, Ivanhoe Grammar School was a life-changing and confidence building experience. He later built a successful international career in sales and marketing for which he believes the School played a prominent part.

Gregor married Natalie and raised two daughters, is a Life Member of the OIGA, and a donor to School fundraising programs.

Michael Hellstrom (’50)

Michael was the son of one of Australia’s most distinguished soldiers, Major General Albert Harold Hellstrom

CBE, who in 1946, was appointed Director of Ordnance Services with the rank of Brigadier. Michael attended Ivanhoe Grammar School between 1946-1950. He matriculated with honours and following university, became a chartered accountant. Michael has been a regular attendee at school events for many years including the celebrated 2008 Buckley Boys Reunion, and throughout his adult life, has been a magnificent supporter and significant donor to the School. Michael and wife Jane had three daughters and four grandchildren.

Ken Snodgrass (’49)

Ken was unfortunately unable to attend the Buckley Boys/ Brown Era Luncheon in December (due to COVID-19) Born in 1932, Ken grew up in Avenel (near Seymour), a township synonymous with Ned Kelly’s early years (and where Ned’s father ‘Red’ was buried). Ken’s father and Howard Purcell’s father were first cousins and while he only attended the School (as a boarder) for two years (1947-48), he has left a remarkable legacy. Ken is married to Judy and his son Bill (’78) and grandsons William (’11) and Cam (’16), and granddaughters Ally (’12) and Pip (‘18) also attended the School. Ken is a ‘bowls tragic’ and is a regular attendee at school reunions.

Annual Appeal 2023

2022 was a landmark year for Ivanhoe Grammar School with the first recipients of our First Nations Scholarships beginning their journey at our School.

The School has welcomed the collaboration with Andrew and Cara Taylor from the Gladys Nicholls Hostel in bringing this initiative to fruition. The School provides six fully paid scholarships, uniforms, learning materials and other incidental expenses while the Taylors provide a home away from home for these courageous students in a culturally safe space.

Our focus for the Annual Appeal this year will be on building our First Nations Scholarships program with the hope that in the future, more First Nations students will have the opportunity of an Ivanhoe education.

We launched our Annual Appeal with a dinner hosted by the Principal and the Chairman of the Board, Daniel Proietto (’96) with a dinner on 5 April in the Watts Foyer. The guests enjoyed a presentations from Andrew and Cara, as well as Paul Briggs (’01) on all aspects of our hopes for this program and the importance of education. The important message is to foster our relationship and understanding of First Nations people and see beyond the separateness of our cultures. It is an opportunity for our scholars, students and school family to change the narrative and shape the future. It is time to dream, to share our knowledge, to deepen our connection.

When approached in Term 2, please consider supporting this initiative in the most practical way possible. If you have any queries, please contact Geoff Brown, Development Manager on 9490 3423 or via email to geoff.brown@ivanhoe.com.au

Annual IB Arts Exhibition

The Annual IB Visual Arts Exhibition ran at the Glen Eira Town Hall until 12 March. We were delighted that five of our students from the Class of 2022 - Rosie Pettenon, Christian Arnel, Mia Wilson (in photo above) together with Tom Pringuer and Giselle DeFazio were accepted into this year’s exhibition. The exhibition featured a range of innovative artworks from the 2022 International Baccalaureate Diploma Program (IBDP) across themes including personal and cultural identity, urban environment, climate change, social issues and the natural world. Numerous students and staff attended the opening night of the exhibition to help celebrate the outstanding achievements of our arts students.

School Leaders 2023

The new School Captains (and Prefects) for 2023 were inducted at a special Oath Signing ceremony held in November 2022. Together with Principal Gerard Foley and Heads of Campuses, they were then introduced formally to the School community at special assemblies across all campuses, where they each outlined their vision for the year ahead – together with highlights of their time at the School to date. Congratulations to Jessica Hooker and Vangelis Matheou (Ridgeway) and Avriel Das and Angus Dillon (Plenty) for their appointments, and best wishes for this exciting and challenging year ahead.

School Kayaking Team

Congratulations to the School Kayaking Team on placing 2nd at the Australian Kayaking Schools’ Championships that was held in Tasmania over the recent school holidays. This largely new team, led by captain Luca Faelis finally experienced some competition after six months of interrupted water levels.

With growing numbers in our junior ranks, this group of young, dedicated, and talented paddlers will be a competitive force for years to come.

Theatrical Events

The Ridgeway Campus School Musical for 2023 was

First Nations – First Year

It has been a memorable first year for our First Nations Scholarship students who were warmly welcomed to Ivanhoe Grammar School in 2022. Each has contributed much to our school community and their return this year has been eagerly anticipated. This year, we welcomed our sixth student – a girl in Year 11 – and we look forward to seeing the scholarship program grow in the future. Interstate relatives visited during the last week of Term 4, 2022 to help celebrate the end of the year. Our gratitude to Cara and Andrew Taylor for their care of these students and for providing such a wonderful supportive environment for them.

‘Oliver’, the stage production with music and lyrics by Lionel Bart and based on the 1838 novel by Charles Dickens. Over four nights at Buckley Hall, the the show was a huge success and showcased the amazing talents of the students. Congratulations to everyone involved with the production but particularly Shaun Murphy, Director of Performance, Musical Director Patrick Vaughan (’19) and Assistant Musical Director Patrick Suiter (’21), and to the cast, crew, alumni, parents and volunteers who have worked since last August to bring this production to life.

Meanwhile, the 2023 Plenty Campus production of Footloose the Musical hits the Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention centre later this month. Running from 27 - 29 April, tickets can be purchased at https://pracc.com.au/tickets.

Volleyball Success!

Six volleyball teams across junior, intermediate and senior levels represented the School at the Australian Volleyball Schools Cup (AVSC) on the Gold Coast in January … and what a hugely successful week resulted! The tournament brings together the best school volleyball teams in Australia and is the biggest junior sporting event in the Southern Hemisphere! With two gold medals, one silver and one bronze, these achievements demonstrate the development of the School’s volleyball program, and will further contribute to its ongoing success at AGSV level. Congratulations to all students and support staff involved with this event.

Aspiring Triathlete

Congratulations to Year 9 student Bentley Crisp who travelled to Canberra during the holidays as a member of the Victorian State Triathlon Team. Racing was held across six events over four days against the best Youth and Junior triathletes in the country. This was followed by a Performance Camp hosted at the Australian Institute of Sport (AIS). Bentley had a fantastic week, finishing the six Grand Prix races with enough points for 5th place overall in Youth Males. This included achieving 8th place in the Australian Youth Super Sprint Championship and first Victorian Youth Male.

Award Winner

Model Citizen

Year 10 student Ethan Liddy received the Mitchell Shire Australia Day Award for Young Citizen of the Year. He was nominated for his continued commitment to what he calls his ‘bin run’. After watching a Hay Mate fundraising concert in 2018, Ethan, then in Year 5, offered to take neighbours bins out for payment and to donate all the money to the ‘Buy a Bale’ campaign to support rural farmers. After four years, he has donated $4,445 which is close to his target of $5,700 which was the value of a full truck of hay when he started his journey. Ethan has set a wonderful example of great community service.

Energy Breakthrough

Since 1991, The Energy Breakthrough event has provided opportunities for students, teachers, parents and local industry to work together to design and construct a vehicle, machine or innovation in technology that will represent an ‘energy breakthrough’. In November 2022, the Ivanhoe Grammar School team participated for the first time and worked throughout the year to attend the Energy Breakthrough camp in Maryborough (Vic) in the category of ‘Human Powered Vehicles’. The program encourages participants to examine and use the latest technology while considering its impact on the environment and the way people live locally and globally. The camp was a wonderful experience for all participants, and will become an inspiring STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics), Sustainability and Leadership program at the School in the future.

Congratulations to Plenty Campus Careers Advisor Narelle McFadden who recently received the Australian Centre for Career Education (ACCE) Fellowship Award in recognition of her long-term professional commitment to career education in Victoria. In addition to these awards, the ACE Committee of Management recognised Narelle for Life Membership, to mark her long-time work as a career practitioner who has made a significant contribution to the ACCE Committee of Management.

Captains Lunch

In what is now a traditional early year event, on Monday 6 February, past School Captains were welcomed back to The Ridgeway Campus for assembly and lunch, and to meet the new school captains. Some 34 past captains were in attendance including Graham Hawke (‘44) who flew down from Brisbane for the occasion and has been a great supporter of the School over many years. Daniel Proietto (‘96), Stephanie Hardy (‘99), Jack Pead (‘06) and Ruby Marslen (‘15) represented alumni captains in a forum that gave current students insights on study techniques, ‘life after school’, career paths, leadership and staying connected. During lunch former Plenty Campus School Captain and OIGA President, Michael Bacskos (‘09), addressed the group and welcomed them into the fold.