13 minute read
Co-curricular activities
from 2017 The Girtonian
years
NOT OUT
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Over the years, Mr Montgomery has harboured thoughts of becoming a builder and creating environmentally friendly ski chalets in Colorado. He also once considered getting a pilot’s licence so that he could bring wealthy executives by seaplane from Chicago to Canada to fish on an island in the Kenora Lakes District of Ontario. What eventuated in reality was a career in education, ranging from classroom teaching, to Sports Master, Bursar, Registrar and Boarding House Master, in Geelong, NSW, Alice Springs and finally, Bendigo. Nevertheless, the dreams of fishing and skiing were not as far from reality as might be expected, given that Mr Montgomery and his brother own an island in the Kenora Lakes District of Ontario. “My brother and I purchased an isolated island many years ago and I have since spent many memorable summers living and working as a fishing guide for wealthy Chicago businessmen who flew in from the States on seaplanes to ‘max out’ their fishing permits in a short period of time. I made more money each summer as a fishing guide than I did in a whole year of teaching, and I got to fish, stalk bears and watch the moose dining out on the wild rice on the shores of the many glacial lakes nearby,” Mr Montgomery said, which explains why many people assume he is Canadian. A mistake easily made given the now legendary tale he has told to students over the years about a close encounter with a bear in Ontario.
Mr Montgomery moved to Australia when he was young but returned with his family to the United States for University education and was subsequently drafted into the navy during the Vietnam War. Following active service, he received a telegram from the Headmaster of All Saints’ College in Bathurst, asking if he would like to return to Australia to teach at the school where he had himself, once been a pupil. This was the crossroads moment. “I was preparing to settle into a Canadian winter. The lakes were getting cold and the water was about to ‘turn’ and freeze. I stockpiled food supplies and wood on the island before being trapped in for the winter. I was to be like Jack London in ‘Call of the Wild’. I had to make a quick choice. I decided to take up the opportunity to return to Australia to teach,” Mr Montgomery said. But not before being selected to play rugby for a mid-western US Rugby team in a border tournament against Canada. “I had declined to play as I thought with my luck a scrum would collapse on me and I would break a leg. I did not want to travel to Australia for my new job as a Sports Master with a broken leg. My coach assured me that would be very unlikely to happen. Consequently, that is exactly what happened, and I hobbled to Australia with my leg in a cast,” Mr Montgomery laments.
Over 22 years, Mr Montgomery has had a range of roles within Girton Grammar School, his single longest career appointment. Initially employed as the Head of Boarding and living with his wife, three young children and 45 boarders, he has also been a teacher of VCE Geography and occupied a range of Senior staff roles including involvement with various building projects such as the Gymnasium, Morey Building and Londonderry Oval. Over the last ten years, Mr Montgomery has developed and overseen the Careers Department at Girton Grammar known as Student Futures. “Student Futures offers a comprehensive three-year support program that helps students to make choices about their future that are founded on genuine strengths, relevant skills and realistic personal preferences. Much has been developed over the past 10 years; curriculum, VCE General, tutoring, VCE Conference and DAT testing, all helping students pursue their future pathways.
Our Girtonians seem to go out into the world to do wonderful things and I believe most of them are good citizens.
They know what is right and wrong and have a good sense of community. They leave Girton with good moral values; values they picked up in class, in community service, from our student wellbeing programmes, assemblies, Foundation Day, Speech Night, etc. Many of our students work overseas and really try to make a difference being involved with NGOs and other organisations. I am very proud of all of our students,” he said. Mr Montgomery has many memorable moments from his time at Girton inside and outside of the classroom but his love of the outdoors has forged memories from various camps that will stay with him well into retirement. “When I was teaching VCE Geography Ms Kurrle and I used to take the students over to the High Country near Mansfield. We would do some field studies up on Mt Buller and river studies on the Delatite River. “We stayed with the Stoney family in the Howqua Valley (Stockyard Creek) and went horse riding for two and a half days to learn the ways in which people utilise the mountains. It was a terrific way to get to know the kids. “I’ve also been up to Mittagundi about 6 times and I really enjoyed it. Even though it can be somewhat cold and wet, and staff used to sleep in the hike store which was a bit chilly, we had some fantastic times and memories. We used to take the kids up to McNamara’s Hut and stay a couple of nights and ski at Strawberry Saddle. That was a lot of fun,” Mr Montgomery fondly recalls. One of the more tangible legacies that Mr Montgomery will leave behind at Girton is the oak tree in the Performing Arts courtyard, which was not originally included in preliminary drawings for the new Performing Arts Building. “I can remember taking the architect and the Headmaster, Mr Jones, up into the M18 classroom which overlooked the houses and backyards which have now become the Performing Arts Building. I stressed to them the importance of the oak tree and how it could actually be of significance to the Senior School, just as the Peppercorn tree is to Junior School. We discussed the value in having this oak tree as part of the PA courtyard. Thankfully it was agreed the tree would remain,” Mr Montgomery said.
Since 2000, Mr Montgomery and his wife have lived on a 14-acre farm outside Bendigo. They will now retire to Portarlington where they own a shack, which they plan to renovate. Mr Montgomery envisages whiling away the days with his wife diving, snorkelling, cycling, fishing and larking around on his sea kayak. He also plans to travel, especially overseas, to watch international cricket and rugby matches and he plans to reconnect with old friends around Australia and overseas. Perhaps, in what would be one of life’s lovely moments of coincidence, he will cross paths with Mr Jones on the same international tourist cricket circuit.
Interview by Alex Fisher.
Natural
AFFINITY
Mrs Marijke Horvath commenced at Girton College in 1972 and retired from Girton Grammar School at the end of 2017. She was a PE Teacher, Sports Mistress and Head of Outdoor Education & Camps. Quiet achievers are often lovers of deep thought and learning, but not in a way that says 'look at me over here learning new things and being awesome.' The learning comes from within and the achievement is about the personal development, instead of what others think. What makes a person want to take children and adults, sometimes reluctantly, out camping and hiking? What makes that same person spend countless hours in preparation and de-briefing, dealing with the endless “red tape” - liaising with parents, the school, the staff, outside agencies and the all-important client, the young person. Not to forget budgets, purchasing and repairing equipment whilst buying food in huge bulk amounts followed by the endless cleaning, drying, washing and cleaning. What makes that same person do it for over 45 years? Marijke was born to teach, not within the four walls of a building, but outside. Her room was outside, no windows, no chalkboard, white board or interactive board, and no bells or the wonders of world wide web. Her room was not carpeted, tabled and chaired nor climate controlled. Mother nature determined the conditions for the day, but she controlled the learning outcomes and what had to be achieved.
Beginning her teaching career in 1965 as youth worker for the Melbourne YWCA, Marijke recognised the need to get young people out and about. To take them “Outside their Comfort zone”. To challenge them to achieve, to persevere and to develop life skills to adapt, communicate and confront injustice. This was her mantra, that quickly became infectious and unwavering. The greater Bendigo community was very fortunate to have Marijke continue her teaching career at Golden Square (1967/68) and Flora Hill, formerly Bendigo Girls’ (1969) High Schools before joining the Girton family in 1972. As an extremely effective and devoted Sport Mistress and PE Teacher she oversaw the House carnivals and coached many students, including her two daughters, across the fields of netball, swimming, gymnastics, softball and trampolining. Pivotal in her teaching career, was her establishment of embedding Outdoor Education into the whole school curriculum, from Year 1 to Year 12. Marijke saw to it that Junior School camps across all levels were organised, to allow the young minded student to learn, see, experience, do and relate. Senior school camps were designed to challenge both emotionally and physically, to foster relationships, selfdiscipline and to be able to exist without life’s luxuries. Students were reminded that, much is expected from those who are privileged. Students at Girton Grammar school can now select from a variety of outdoor, or “away from home” activities. These include The Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme (with special mention to Mrs Nancy Ward), World Challenge Expeditions, STEM camp USA, Pattaya (Father Ray Foundation) - Thailand, Student exchange programs and New Zealand cultural tours. It is in no small part Marijke’s legacy of effort and commitment, either directly or indirectly, that has created many worldly opportunities for our students. Girton students are confident and eager to engage and travel the world.
What type of person would go on back to back Year 9 Hikes, allowing students to explore and experience the mountains of the central Victorian highlands, for years on end? What makes that same person give up her school holidays to shuttle kids and staff all around Victoria, so they can achieve personal goals in Bronze, Silver or Gold levels of the ‘Duke of Ed’? Outdoor Education in Victoria was fortunate enough to have Marijke willing to offer her expertise outside the Bendigo community. She was instrumental in the implementation, development and ongoing success of the Mittagundi Outdoor Education Centre, a program designed by Mr Ian Stapleton (a true High-Country legend) to cater for students from low socio-economic backgrounds. Such was Marijke’s passion to see concepts through from start to finish. Marijke was and still is always willing to offer her advice on so many fronts in respect of any Outdoor Education experience. As a partner and consultant in many projects, children and adults across a broad range of backgrounds owe her their gratitude for their frequent “life changing experiences.”
On a personal note, my astonishment continues to this very day, especially on the occasional meet and greet where I announce my connection to Girton Grammar or Girton College. Frequently the reply is, “You must know Marijke. Please pass on my best wishes”. Followed by “she took me out to Howqaugundi (Year 9 Hike) or Mittagundi (Year 10)” or “to the Prom/Queensland/Central Australia”, or the simplest, “she offered me some hot soup when I was cold and wet sitting at Bluff Hut, I will never forget her generosity or willingness to go that extra mile”. The latter was a typical trait of her readiness to support the people that supported her, or showed the endeavour to get out and about. Marijke has relatively recently moved into the world of an “organic hobby farmer”. Along with her husband Chaz, they have created a very successful brand of olive oil, Splitter’s Creek Olives. All teachers need a hobby when they retire, that is, from one passion to another. She plans on continuing with this career, which is obviously much more than an interest, with her children in the rolling green hills of Gippsland. Marijke Horvath, we wish you sincere best wishes for the future and we thank you! There will always be a sincere warm welcome and a space to “pitch your tent” at Girton Grammar School.
Frank Ocean - American independent singer & songwriter
Donald Johanson (Paleoanthropologist)
Mr Graham Crickmore
Head of Camps
Mark Di Fede, Scott Langan, Peter Thomas, Paul Waldron, Ross Slater, Matthew Greenwood, Merv Hynes, Chris Landvogt, John Pease, Marcus Smalley, Shaun McCarthy, John Phillips, Ben Gibbons, Ralph Algreen-Ussing, Rod Knowles, Rod Smith Robyn Kristenson, Jarred Vehlen, Kirsten Maruff, Phil Kelynack, Steve Vine, Kristen Beever, Carmel Hamilton, Graham Crickmore, Macala Fourie, Clayton Jones, Libby Paul, John Gibbs, Cathy Mylon, Heather Waterston, Paul Turpie, Rachel London, Andrew Itter, Margarget Young, Vickie Holland, Ann Forko
Back row: Sixth row: Michael Robertson, Di Itter, Alisoun Downing, Kathryn Barton, Skye McDonald, Ian Cleeland, Ethel Oliver, Amber Weston, Ruth Forder, Sharon Monaghan, Erin Buckeridge, Michelle Rey, Kevin O’Callaghan, Adam McPhee, Kim Henery, Jo Grech, Judith Lingard, Kerrie Stewart, Barbara Fielder, Taka Maeda, John Doherty, Mardi Polidano
Fifth row: Collette Derrick, Mo Watanabe, Linda Arnel, Kerry Thompson, Caryn Clark, Trudy Matthews, Joanne Evans, Shari Williams, Carolyn Flood, Jessica Loraine, Shirley Anne Day, Kristy Nicholls, Melinda Naughton, Allison Crickmore, Belinda Vernon, Briony Johnson, Michelle Turpie, Michelle Swiney, Deirdre Tunzi, Brigid Evans, Lucy Warfe, Jane Reaburn
Fourth row: Josh McGuffie, Anne Begg, Kristie Woodward, Anita McLean, Vanessa Juergens, Sally Monichino, Jake Warren, Erin Close, Helen Chambers, Amanda Lilburne, Louise McWaters, Laura Dusseljee, Nicole James, Jacinta Jackson, Angie Hamilton, Fanomezana Rasoarahona, Melanie Scholes, Lisa Brooks, Trish Timmins, Josie Beks, Winsome Wastell, Amanda Showler
Third row: Judy Oliver, Carly Barnes, Yvette Shanley, Cheryl Long, Amy Skvarc-Hayes, Jennifer Schatzle, Yuliya Lenard, Maria Frank, Sandra Kroker, Mandy Ellison, Prue Milner, Debbie Adams, Jenny Geyer, Betty Higgs, Dianne Kolenaty, Belinda Krois, Jacqui Vine, Annette Reid, Noelle Leader, Georgiana Rice, Liz Blanks, Carol Knowles
Second row: Paul Flanagan, Kendra Burge, Dennis Garoni, Mark Beever, Bill Montgomery, Anita Briggs, Emma O’Rielly, Neville Faulks, Viv Bath, Don Thompson, Robyn MacCulloch, Matthew Maruff, Les Evans, Rick McWaters, Robin Kurrle, Nick Pease, Christine Phillips, Nigel Vernon, Sam a’Beckett, David Martin, Tabatha Peter, Tim Schofield
Front row: Grant Davis, Fred Dijkman, Rebecca Doherty, Ingrid Douglass, Ted Earnshaw, Willy Earnshaw, Stephanie Eldridge, Lorraine Ellis, Clint Gahan, Wendy Gahan, Ray Hamilton, Marg Hassell, Sharon Hocking, Annette Holmes, Maijke Horvath, Martin Jenner, Alisa Jones, Heather Keig, Alison Knowles, Christopher Lees, Sue Liddell, Debbie Lindsay
Absent:
Sports HOUSE
Swimming Carnival
2017 Jenkin 2016 Jones 2015 Jenkin 2014 Frew 2013 Aherne 2012 Aherne 2011 Aherne 2010 Aherne 2009 Frew 2008 Frew 2007 Millward 2006 Millward 2005 Riley 2004 Riley 2003 Frew 2002 Frew 2001 Frew
Athletics Carnival
2017 Frew 2016 Frew 2015 Frew 2014 Frew 2013 Frew 2012 Frew 2011 Frew 2010 Frew 2009 Frew 2008 Frew 2007 Frew 2006 Frew 2005 Frew 2004 Frew 2003 Riley 2002 Aherne 2001 Frew
Cross Country
2017 Jones 2016 Jenkin 2015 Riley 2014 Frew 2013 Frew 2012 Frew 2011 Frew 2010 Jenkin 2009 Jenkin 2008 Frew 2007 Frew 2006 Riley 2005 Millward 2004 Frew 2003 Frew 2002 Frew 2001 Frew
