Grammar News no 97 Dec 2008

grammar news Print Post PP344276/00024

Number 97 – December 2008

Melbourne Grammar’s 1st XVIII Captain Jack Macciolli and Scotch College’s 1st XVIII Captain Jack Bull are joined at the MCG by Melbourne Football Club Captain James McDonald and Geelong Football Club Captain Tom Harley to commemorate 150 years of Australian Football

Opposite: Year 10 student Declan Hofbauer explodes out of the gate at the Cross Country Championships

Front Cover: Year 12 student Jordan Tunbridge shares a story with Pat Parker from the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Coolibah Centre as part of a digital storytelling project (read more about the project on page 31)

Grammar News is published for the Melbourne Grammar School community.

Published by: The Development Office, Melbourne Grammar School 355 St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria 3004 Telephone: (03) 9865 7555 Facsimile: (03) 9865 7577 Email: newsletter@mgs.vic.edu.au Edited by: Vanessa Whatmough Page Layout: Drew Gamble Mailing and Distribution: Data Connection Photographs: Adrienne Beer, Penny Daish, Drew Gamble, James Grant, Angela Hall, John Holdsworth, Glyn Howitt, Greg Hughes, Jonathan Hyde, Susie Immurs, Sarah Jessup, Ross Land, Greg Lochhead, Rod Matthews, Tim Morris, Vanessa Whatmough, Rod White, Elaine Wylie

Melbourne Grammar School respects the privacy of its community members and is bound by the National Privacy Principles under the Commonwealth Privacy Act. For a copy of the School’s Privacy Policy please visit the School’s website at www.mgs.vic.edu.au or contact the School on +61 3 9865 7555.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

In this Issue 4 From the School Council 5 From the Headmaster 6 News 12 Obituary 14 In Focus 16 Grimwade House 18 Wadhurst 20 Senior School 22 Sesquicentenary 26 Out & About 30 Community Involvement 32 Boarding 33 The Grammar Foundation 34 The Old Melburnians 36 Community News 38 Branches & Reunions 40 Friends of Grammar 42 Community Diary Dates 43 The Old Melburnians Annual Dinner

From the Editor No one could have anticipated the sheer enormity or exhilaration of Melbourne Grammar’s Sesquicentenary year, but one thing is for certain: it makes for intriguing reading in Grammar News.

The Old Melburnians Dinner, Youth Leadership Conference, Rugby Tournament and Sesquicentenary Concert were just some of the events that brought together the Grammar community for the School’s 150th anniversary.

Of course the Cordner-Eggleston Cup match was a highlight, drawing record crowds of navy blue and cardinal red. The competition marked the 150th anniversary of Australian Football and after stiff contest from both MGS and Scotch, the Cup is finally resting in bluestone hands.

The past six months have been award-winning in many ways for Melbourne Grammar. The John Wardle-designed Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership continues to earn honour from architectural institutions, while students and staff have received awards for high achievements in sport, the VCE, community problem solving, history and eLearning.

With 2008 drawing to a close, it is time to reflect on the year that was, before Melbourne Grammar makes its mark on the next 150 years.

Vanessa Whatmough Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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From the School Council our celebrations, while ensuring that the School experienced minimum disruption as it went about its all important, day to day, business. The Sesquicentenary Committee, so ably led by Council member, Peter Beaumont, the various event sub committees, the Friends of Grammar, and the Old Melburnians Council, are all to be congratulated for their work in ensuring the Sesquicentenary’s success.

Council Changes

Sandy Clark

New Headmaster In mid June we announced the appointment of Roy Kelley as the fourteenth Headmaster of Melbourne Grammar. As I said at the time, the Council was impressed, particularly, with Roy Kelley’s vision for education, the importance he placed on attracting, developing, and inspiring, outstanding staff, and his demonstrated belief in the development of each individual student.

It is pleasing to record that his appointment has been embraced with great enthusiasm by those who have either worked with him, or have been associated with him as parents and students.

Roy Kelley spent Term III on sabbatical leave from Kings College, Auckland. He and his wife Ann travelled both in Europe and the United States. He has now returned to Kings, until he takes up his appointment here in April 2009.

Following an extremely busy Sesquicentenary year, there will be a number of opportunities to review and celebrate Paul Sheahan’s very successful era as Headmaster, before he retires at the end of first term.

The Sesquicentenary Much has been written about our 150th. One very pleasing aspect has been to unite Grimwade House, Wadhurst, and the Senior School in a number of celebrations, including the Cathedral service, and the concert in Hamer Hall. The Sesquicentenary has also reunited many Old Melburnians, past parents, and teachers with the School. Many were able to attend the opening of The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership and also the 150 Notables Exhibition, while the celebrations surrounding the football match against our old rival Scotch, rivalled in length the two days it took to play the original game, 150 years ago.

Major events take a great deal of organisation. The Lodge staff has been magnificent in coordinating every aspect of

Stuart Gooley retired from Council at this year’s Annual General Meeting, in May. On joining Council twelve years ago, Stuart also became inaugural Chairman of the Finance and Planning Committee, and a member of the Investment Management Committee, positions he held throughout. He was also a longstanding member of the Risk Management and Audit Committee and the Nominating Committee. If that’s not enough, prior to joining Council, Stuart was on the Old Melburnians Council for some six years, and was its treasurer for part of that period.

Stuart’s commitment to the School, over some 18 years, has been awesome. Quiet and unhurried, yet resourceful and very determined, and always very clear in thought and speech, Stuart has been, unfailingly, a voice of reason.

Vince Fitzgerald, who also joined the Finance and Planning Committee when it was first established, will leave the Council at the end of the year after serving for nine years.

Vince also chaired MGS Pensions Pty Ltd and remains Chairman of the Superannuation Policy Committee. It is not only Vince’s undoubted superannuation expertise that has made him such a valuable member of Council. His contacts and experience working with the Commonwealth Government, and more recently in business, have enabled him to advise Council on a range of education, and finance, related matters.

Lloyd Thomas and Stephen Gibbons have both agreed to join the Council. Lloyd and his wife Debbie, a former president of FOG, have been major supporters of the School for many years. Lloyd, Managing Director of NHP Holdings Pty Ltd, has recently been appointed Chairman of The Grammar Foundation and a member of the Risk Management and Audit Committee. Steve Gibbons, an OM, sometime School House boarder, and now an oral and maxillofacial surgeon, is currently President of the Old Melburnians, and a member of the Risk Management and Audit Committee.

Year End This year we have celebrated both our history and our plans for the future. To those leaving school, we wish you every success, we hope you take away with you fond memories, and a sense of real achievement. We look forward to welcoming you back as Old Melburnians.

Sandy Clark Chairman

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

From the Headmaster Transitions The recent past has seen the current crop of Year 12s preparing for their examinations but, perhaps equally importantly, for their lives beyond School. I, too, have been giving some thought to what the world might look like beyond my working days.

Transitions are important to an individual, particularly when those transitions are leading into previously uncharted territory. Though many others have found themselves in similar positions, of course there is still a sense of apprehension about whether the ‘skill set’ one takes into that uncharted territory is sufficient for the task at hand.

Whenever one tries to make one’s way forward, some sense of what has happened in the immediate past is helpful to managing the transition. Rather like driving a car, the windscreen is useful in seeing what lies ahead but the rear vision mirror is also helpful in seeing where one has come from and whether anything is likely to overtake!

But, if we are not prepared to make transitions, we are consigned to the same position for the rest of our lives.

Progress must take place. Just as students concluding Year 12 at Melbourne Grammar cannot remain at School forever, the School itself cannot stand still at the same time as expecting to remain relevant to the needs of a rapidlychanging society.

The test of maturity is how that transition is made, however.

Is it to be embarked upon with a sense of purpose and an optimistic frame of mind or is it to be an opportunity to fly in the face of all that has been learned in getting to the point of transition?

At the end of school days, in some quarters we have seen instances this year of student behaviour that is unworthy of them as individuals, unworthy of them as a group and disrespectful of the institution that has nurtured them for many years. That remains a pity and will live as a scar for some time. The students will move on but the schools will continue to bear the pain for years to come and the students will not really be called to account for what they have done.

‘Dignity’ and ‘respect’ are two words that, sadly, have fallen into disuse in recent times. They cost nothing but they say an enormous amount about the integrity of the individual and, in my opinion, they are essential for an orderly and laudable transition. Too often in Australia we seem to value only the so-called manly and muscular as indicating courage.

It needs to be remembered that some of the greatest stories of true human courage emanate from the humblest and quietest of people.

The other transition, of course, is for the School as it prepares for the arrival of the new and fifteenth Headmaster in its history, Roy Kelley. I feel confident that the transition to his leadership will be smooth and that Melbourne Grammar will go from strength to strength under his hand.

So nigh on two hundred students and I venture into uncharted waters in the very near future. In words that we often hear in our Chapel: “Go forth into the world in peace; be of good courage; hold fast that which is good; render to no man evil for evil; strengthen the faint-hearted; support the weak; help the afflicted; give honour to all.”

Paul Sheahan Headmaster

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News Sesquicentenary Play

‘Summerleigh Lodge’ students Stuart Holdsworth, Richard Zwar, Ed Howard, Nic Sloan and Tim Banova

In 2006, I was handed the works of Selwyn Hooper and Challenging Traditions and asked to write the Sesquicentenary Play. In spite of economic hardships and world wars, the School not only survived but flourished. Its history is colourful, with its past, larger-than-life characters of its founder, Bishop Perry; the first Headmaster, Dr Bromby; Principals Caffin and Plummer; and Headmaster Hone – to name a few!

Auditions were held early in the year and 70 boys started to get to know their characters as they attended rehearsals each week. Multiple sets of costumes were required for those involved in the boarders’ pillow fight, dancing and the Summerleigh Lodge scene when a plane and air raid sirens awakened the sleepy evacuation school. Thanks to Patricia and Brian Langton, a model Bristol Fighter was created and flown during the play. Complete with a rotating propeller, thanks to Dr Hingston, our inevitable smoke machine and sound effects, the plane flew over the heads of the audience on a specially constructed flying rig to the music of ‘Those Magnificent Men and Their Flying Machines’ led by Julian Cairns. Other music ranged from Gilbert and Sullivan, to Gershwin and the Beatles, and the musicianship was outstanding.

Given the eras covered, it was important to have representative scenery. Patricia Langton and Melinda Dennis stretched 80 metres of canvas, and the Property Services Department helped construct triangular bases, from which 6

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

scenes could be changed from the bush to a library, the poppy fields of Flanders to the bluestone and the glass roof over Wadhurst. This artistry required an eye for perspective and Patrick Li, the Art Captain, spent many hours of his own time painting and completing this enormous task. The result was spectacular and ably managed by the Backstage Crew, led by Stage Manager Will Donohue.

I saw it as my duty to include aspects of schooling that are most important to a student. The scene at Woodend was written before the tragic death of Tim Gates ‘Gatesy’ and primarily to surprise him. The Robert Knox Camp provided a unique world where boys – and staff! – learned skills of survival, independence and comradery, all through his care and understanding of the bush. Of course everyone enjoyed a new story from Tim’s extensive repertoire when they visited. It was most generous of the Gates family to allow this scene to be played – a scene intended for tears of laughter and that inevitable call and giggle from Tim: “Oh, ssstop it!” It made my heart sing when the audience broke into applause as the student, ably played by Patrick Guggenheimer, said, “We love you Mr Gates.”

Emotional? Yes – that’s what plays are about. And certainly schools have an emotional investment. May the play be a tribute to those who live to serve others. Ora et Labora – prayerful work, work that is good.

Fiona Mackenzie Wadhurst Drama Coordinator

Farewell Martin Rutherford Martin Rutherford arrived in Australia to take up his appointment as Director of Music at Melbourne Grammar School in 1982. Coming from the George Heriot’s School in Edinburgh, where Martin often had to drive to school with one hand on the steering wheel and the other preventing the driver’s door from flinging open and hitting other vehicles because it was so cold it wouldn’t shut, it was a shock to the system to suddenly encounter the blistering heat of an Australian summer.

Martin worked hard at expanding the membership of the Melbourne Grammar School Symphony Orchestra from the earliest days and, for a long time, the Orchestra has consisted of around 100 dedicated players. One of Martin’s first efforts in getting to know the boys was as cricket coach for the 10Cs, a task he enjoyed enormously for around 15 years.

Each year the tour and the Orchestral Concert have been highlights of Martin’s calendar. The performance of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 in 2002 was one of Martin’s most ambitious undertakings and reflects his consistent approach to fostering in boys a familiarity, knowledge and understanding of music of the highest expressive ideals and character.

A few years ago I observed some boys arriving for the first day of a week of orchestral rehearsals during the mid-semester holiday. Faced with the unexpected sight of the Ross Gates being locked, these boys scaled the gates, instruments in tow, and risked impaling themselves rather than being late for rehearsal. Martin’s attentiveness to punctuality is one of the most obvious signs of his passionate and committed leadership.

Martin has tirelessly promoted the talents of the boys he has worked with, and by half-past seven each morning was hard at work at his desk. Throughout the years, the turnover of music staff has been remarkably small. This reflects the success of Martin’s efforts and organisation. As Martin departs, I can’t help suspecting a quiet retirement is highly unlikely.

Philip Carmody Director of Chapel Music

Martin applied the same exacting standards to himself when he was conductor for a number of John Keogh’s musicals.

Desperate to avoid being late himself for one of John’s rehearsals (he had seen how the boys themselves had fared) Martin ensured that he set two alarm clocks each night in case one of them failed. Of the several shows with John at the helm, Martin remembers West Side Story with particular fondness. It was a musical challenge and a dramatic triumph, winning the Music Theatre Guild’s Best School Show award.

Martin’s organisational skills and his attention to detail have been hallmarks of his command of the Music Department.

Despite meticulous record keeping and forward planning of the first degree, the occasional exclamation of “Crumbs!” or “Help!” is heard emanating from his study. The characteristically ascending and then descending inflection of the consequent “a-ha-ha-ha” upon finding or discovering the misplaced information or article will be sorely missed by those of us who have worked in his vicinity.

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News Welcome Cathie Ireland Grimwade House recently welcomed Cathie Ireland as its new Deputy Head (Administration and Pastoral Care). Cathie spoke with Grammar News about her new role.

them remain connected to their schools and their friends whilst undergoing treatment for cancer.

How have you found your new role so far?

Where have you worked prior to taking up your position at Melbourne Grammar School?

I have worked in a number of primary and secondary schools in the independent and Catholic sectors in the capacity of Head of Campus and Deputy Principal. I have also been involved in school reviews for the Catholic and state systems. My last appointment was as the State Co-ordinator for the Back on Track Education program at the Royal Children’s Hospital Education Institute. In this role, I worked with students receiving treatment at The Children’s Cancer Centre at the Royal Children’s Hospital and tried to help

My new role at Grimwade House has kept me extremely busy! There are so many wonderful programs and activities happening at Grimwade and since it’s my job to ensure that the day runs smoothly, I have to be on the ball all the time! Overseeing the administration and pastoral care of the campus has given me the opportunity to work with all of the staff members and many of the students. It has also been great meeting the families and seeing the extraordinary community spirit at Grimwade.

What has been most enjoyable, and what challenges lie ahead?

At this stage, the biggest challenge for the rest of this year is keeping up with all of the end-of-year celebrations. When you join a new school, one of the exciting things is learning about the rituals and traditions that are part of the culture of the school.

What are you looking forward to most in the years ahead at Melbourne Grammar?

I am really looking forward to playing an active role in the continued development of programs at Grimwade House.

Pastoral care for staff and students is the cornerstone for the promotion of success for all and the development of a learning community. One of the things that has impressed me during my short time here has been the student commitment to social justice. I’m looking forward to joining students on their journeys as they work towards identifying ways that they can make a difference to our world.

What do you enjoy outside school life?

Some of my interests outside of school include: golf, rowing, millinery, football (Go Bombers!) and the outdoors.

Greatest personal achievements include: trekking to Base Camp at Mt Everest, walking the Kokoda Track and bike riding around Tasmania.

I would like to thank all the staff, students and families at Melbourne Grammar who have made me feel very welcome during my first term here. I’m looking forward to a long, happy and successful association with the School.

I encourage those who have not met me as yet to drop by and say hello. My door is always open!

Grimwade House Deputy Head (Administration and Pastoral Care) Cathie Ireland

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Rod White wins award for eTrain Grimwade House’s eLearning Consultant Rod White has been selected as one of two Victorian winners of the Microsoft Innovative Teachers Awards.

Rod’s exceptional achievement is a result of his tireless efforts as Coordinator of eTrain – a two-day conference hosted by Grimwade House at the Collingwood Children’s Farm. The annual conference involves teachers and students from 15 state and independent schools collaborating on projects in broadcasting, movie making, web design and claymation.

“There are so many uses for technology as an educational tool at the primary level. I find eTrain encourages students to think outside the square and really get excited about learning,” Rod said.

At Grimwade House, Rod encourages and assists other teachers to integrate technology into their lessons.

“My desire is to work with teachers to build on their knowledge and skills. In turn, students’ knowledge and skills also develop, resulting in improved learning outcomes for everyone,” he said.

Microsoft will fly Rod to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, in June 2009 to attend the Microsoft Asia Pacific Innovative Teachers Forum where the national winner will be announced.

You can read more about the Grimwade House eTrain Conference on page 17.

Grimwade House eLearning Consultant Rod White

Premier’s VCE Awards At a special ceremony in May at the Palladium at Crown, six students from Melbourne Grammar were honoured as recipients of the 2008 Premier’s VCE Awards. These MGS students were ranked in the top five in the state in a given study. Those who have contributed to their success at school and beyond will join with me in applauding their outstanding work, which has been recognised through these awards.

We congratulate the following Premier’s VCE Award Winners:

In the presence of Professor David de Kretser, AC, Governor of Victoria; the Hon John Brumby, MP, Premier of Victoria and Bronwyn Pike, MP, Minister for Education; the students received their awards from high-profile personalities drawn from career areas including the arts, music, sciences, law and business.

Simon Green Physics Alistair Haskett

Classical Societies and Cultures

Charles Korn

Information Technology

Matthew Newton

National Politics

Thomas Smith English Stuart Watson English

Daniel McCoppin Senior School Curriculum Coordinator Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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News French Exchange

Sporting Success

French exchange students meet Head of LOTE Florence Guthrie

Year 12 student Richard Thomas bats for the 1st XI cricket team

For six weeks from the start of the mid-year holiday, MGS families hosted seven French students from Grenoble and Paris as part of the School’s French Exchange program. Our guests were asked to wear Melbourne Grammar’s school uniform in order to fully experience the life of an Australian student.

What a year 2008 has been for APS Sport at Melbourne Grammar School. In addition to this year being a very special year for the School, it has also been a milestone year for the APS – 2008 is the 100th year of this prestigious school sporting competition.

They attended their hosts’ classes and participated in extracurriculum activities. On Wednesdays, they were taken out on excursions by the French Department to places such as Healesville Sanctuary and the Mornington Peninsula, and on weekends their host families made sure they discovered other aspects of Australian culture.

Our students will in turn depart for France early December where they will go to school, discover the French way of life and practise their language skills for six weeks.

The French Exchange program is open to Years 10 and 11 students. In 2009, the French Exchange program will take place again in Grenoble and in Reims – the capital of the Champagne region in the east of France – 45 minutes by train from Paris. French students will arrive at the end of Term II or during the mid-year holiday and stay for about six weeks, while MGS students will depart in December after the end-of-year examinations. I welcome interested students to contact me.

Florence Guthrie Head of LOTE

Melbourne Grammar has excelled in its sporting performances at all year levels with many of our sporting teams enjoying success. The icing on the cake has been the securing of three APS Premierships so far this year. At the time of writing this article, Melbourne Grammar School had won the APS Volleyball, Cricket and Football premierships and we are looking good for Water Polo and Athletics in Term IV. In addition to these APS achievements, Melbourne Grammar School won the Victorian All Schools Snow Sports for the ninth year in a row and the Victorian All Schools Relays for the second year in a row.

2008 has not only been a great year for current students, it has also been an outstanding year for many of our Old Melburnians at a national and international level.

A great deal of pride is taken in our sporting program and its associated successes. It must be said that this has only been made possible by the hard work of everyone associated with the School. Students, teachers, coaches, parents and the School hierarchy have all played a part in what has been a fantastic sporting year for Melbourne Grammar School. The bar has been set at a very high level and the challenge will be to maintain the rage!

Nick Gibbons Director of Sport

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Sesquicentenary Wines

Stephen Shelmerdine of Shelmerdine vineyards and Alister Purbrik of Tahbilk winery

While the Sesquicentenary year is drawing to a close, two Melbourne Grammar families are ensuring the sweet taste of history and achievement is enjoyed for years to come.

Alister Purbrick (OM 1971) of Tahbilk winery and Stephen Shelmerdine (OM 1968) of Shelmerdine vineyards have created two exclusive wines to commemorate Melbourne Grammar’s 150th year. Both families have enjoyed four generations of education at Melbourne Grammar. The Purbrick family have been vignerons at Tahbilk in Central Victoria since 1925. The National Trust-classified winery was established in 1860 and produces multi-trophy winning Dry Red and White Wines.

smooth juicy berries and spice – great balance and longlasting flavours – drinking beautifully now, but will develop further richness and complexity with time”.

Both wines can be purchased by the dozen by completing the order form included with this edition of Grammar News.

The form is also available on Melbourne Grammar’s website, www.mgs.vic.edu.au. The winemakers have generously agreed to donate $10 per dozen to the School for programs and facilities that directly benefit staff and students.

Gear Box Gallery

Ross and Marigold Shelmerdine established the Michelton Vineyards and Winery in 1969 at Mitchellstown, Nagambie, Central Victoria. In 2002 the Shelmerdine family launched their own wines from family-owned vineyards in the Yarra Valley and Heathcote.

In the same vein as a Russian babushka doll, Melbourne Grammar’s Motor Works now contains a gallery within a gallery in the form of a one-metre-square cube that is viewed from the street.

The 2006 Tahbilk Marsanne from Nagambie Lakes is the MGS 150th Anniversary White Wine. This award-winning wine has received four gold, one silver and 10 bronze medals, and won “The Plasdene-Glass Pak P/L Trophy for Best Non-Wood Matured Table Wine – White” at the Victorian Wines Show.

Known as the Gear Box Gallery, the cube is the brainchild of a committee of six current parents who share a particular interest in education, and is designed to showcase the scaled-down projects of contemporary Australian artists.

“The nose and palate show hints of citrus, lime, tropical fruits, toast and honeysuckle. The palate also has a lovely subtle minerality, which combines beautifully with a strong acid backbone. This wine can be consumed now, but will improve with bottle age and has a bright cellaring future,” Alister Purbrik says.

The 2006 Shelmerdine Shiraz Cabernet Merlot from Heathcote is the MGS 150th Anniversary Red Wine, described by Stephen Shelmerdine as: “Soft and silky,

The Gallery opened on 30 October thanks to the generous funding from Senior School Friends of Grammar. The first exhibition was the unique Perspex work of artist Roh Singh from Dianne Tanzer Gallery.

The exhibitions will change monthly to feature young, interesting and emerging artists for the entire Grammar community to admire. Current students in particular will benefit from the Gallery, with exhibition openings and artist presentations offering insight into the process and inspiration behind small installation works, sculpture and video art.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Obituary Free Strickland (OM 1937) 19·7·1921—28·6·2008 A Melbourne Grammar School tribute Free Strickland died on 28 June this year after a long illness.

And during the last 12 months or so he suffered increasing severe physical painful and debilitating symptoms which he faced with great courage and determination with the unstinting help, support and love of his wife of over 50 years Mary who herself was facing progressive serious illness.

At his crowded memorial service in the Toorak Uniting Church on July 3 the eulogy was given by Bill Rogers – a long term friend and member of Free’s tennis group – and his detailed account of Free’s many involvements, usually at the top level, revealed a staggering list both in scope and numbers of Free’s multiple contributions to so many spheres and aspects of society including his horrendous war experiences.

But it is his service to and involvement in school affairs over nearly 80 years that I wish to record and recognise.

Free entered Grimwade House in February 1929 in the first form. At that time and for the next 20 years or so, the Strickland family lived in Fosbery Avenue in Caulfield where I remember visiting them on many occasions. It was literally only a stone’s throw from the back entrance of Grimwade House via the corner of the playing field and from which Free walked with his lunch everyday.

He had a distinguished career at Grimwade House – particularly in the sporting sphere – under 11 cricket and football in 1931 and 1932, under 13 cricket and football in 1933 and 1934, champion athlete in his relevant age group each year, Captain of Austin House in 1934, and it is recorded in the 1934 Melburnian that he once kicked 14 goals out of 24 in the house match (against our house incidentally), and he often scored in the 20s and 30s in school cricket matches.

He went up to the Senior School in 1935, was Captain in three successive years of the under 14A, under 15A and under 16A football teams and, as will be realised, he was a very good footballer himself, usually at centre half back, with speed, judgement, and excellent and accurate kicking.

He was also prominent in underage cricket and athletics and tennis.

He returned to school in 1938 but left after only two or three weeks, probably because the School in those days did not offer suitable subjects in Year 12 to prepare for a business career, being mostly biased towards academia and the professions, and Free took up a job as a “managerial cadet” with the Beam Wireless and Cable Company in Queens Street.

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When war broke out, he was in the Army Reserve and after his call up he ultimately managed to transfer to the RAAF by forging his father’s signature of consent and eventually joined the RAAF in 1942. In the ensuing 2 years, after a long, eventful, dangerous and wide-ranging training, he was shockingly burned in an aeroplane disaster during the invasion of Italy. He spent over a year under the care of the legendary Sir Archibald Macindoe, plastic surgeon extraordinaire, and after some 50 operations he returned to Australia permanently and severely scarred, particularly in the face and hands.

In was not long before he was interested in school affairs again – he was a life member of The Old Melburnians, eventually becoming a member of The OMs Council and subsequently a few years later President, and he became a lifelong member of The OMs Lodge.

In the 1950s he was responsible for forming The Grammar Foundation and led the Grammar Centenary Appeal resulting in the construction of the Centenary Building. Many of us remember that great Saturday in 1958 at the ‘Centenary Fair’ when three great men were prominent – Sir William Slim, Governor General, who opened the building, (later Sir) Brian Hone, Headmaster, and Free Strickland, Organising Chairman. This was probably his first major role in his long list of contributions to the School.

In 1967 he was invited to join the School Council on which he served until 1988 and which in 1970 was responsible for the appointment of Nigel Creese as Headmaster. At that time the Council Chairman was distinguished OM Lewis Luxton, who was followed in the Chair in 1972 by another distinguished OM, Phil Rhoden, who Free succeeded in 1978 for six years. In those days the full Council was rather unwieldy consisting of 26 members of which 14 were church

Free Strickland (OM 1937, front) and Donald Cordner (OM 1939, back left) were both members of the 1934 Grimwade House Football Team

representatives, either ex-officio or nominees, and the Archbishop was, as he still is today, Ex-Officio President. The full Council only met four times a year (after afternoon tea!) for about 45 minutes and was really only a rubber stamp for the decisions made by the 10 appointed members of the Executive and Finance Committee which met monthly (for as long as necessary! Starting at 8pm) – and this situation was far from satisfactory. But any alteration would require the full agreement and cooperation of the church.

Probably one of Free’s greatest (and largely unrecognised) contributions in this regard was to get the approval of the church to a proposition framed by the legendary “Jock” Macindoe for a rearrangement of Council numbers, nominees and representatives. Free headed a subcommittee of three which was empowered to negotiate the consent of the church to these proposals – a highly sensitive and ticklish subject for obvious reasons – and after a series of meetings with the church representatives for about a year in 1983, he succeeded in the task with a wonderful display of tact, judgement, determination and good manners. This result, as is a matter of record, has been of an immeasurable benefit to both sides (this is a story which should perhaps be recorded in greater detail).

He retired from the Council in 1986 and the Strickland PE Centre was named in his honour as fitting permanent recognition of his unexcelled services to the School. He was also nominated as one of the two founding trustees of the Witherby Tower Society. This is but a rather bare account of his major contributions to the School of which he was always so proud and he was at all times readily available for advice and assistance.

The OMs Society recognised Free in a most unusual way in 2003 when it was persuaded to commission a series of professional journalistic interviews with him resulting in two bound and printed copies of his memoirs and experiences, which he only agreed to do if there were no question of publication. One of these copies is with the Strickland family and the other with the School archives.

Free met Mary Marshall, a friend of his younger sister Joy, in 1947 and they were married in the School Chapel in 1952.

They had one son and three daughters. Their son Matthew died tragically at 18 just before leaving school. None of us can really imagine how we would deal with such a personal and family disaster and Free and Mary accepted the situation with mutual love, support and determination and a very brave public face. Their three daughters have been towers of strength and support for them at all times, particularly in recent years. They thus had 55 years of wonderful life together and it was always a joy to visit them and discuss old times.

I myself first met Free in the second week of February 1930 when I first went to Grimwade House as a boarder in the Second Form and so we were probably each other’s oldest friends – and at school, occasional rivals and competitors.

Over the last 40 years or so I have again been associated with him in some of his Melbourne Grammar activities and, in my opinion at least, the scope and sum total of his contributions to the School have been equalled by few – if any – and certainly excelled by none. He was certainly a great citizen and a great OM and the School will be forever in his debt.

Dr Donald Cordner (OM 1939)

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In Focus

Daniel Adams (OM 2005)

Youth Leadership Conference From 28 to 30 July the Framing the Future, Sesquicentenary Youth Leadership Conference was held at Melbourne Grammar School. All of our Year 10 students participated in the Conference along with 250 students from 25 other schools.

Archie Roach

Over three days students listened to a number of speakers and attended workshops. The conference opened with a video message from Sir Richard Branson. The opening keynote address was given by Michael Furdyk, a young Canadian entrepreneur. Michael inspired our students with the story of his leadership journey, his success and his determination to contribute to the betterment of others.

Current Young Victorian of the Year Daniel Adams (OM 2005) was a hit with the students.

Daniel’s passion and energy fuelled many of the delegates to think about making the world a better place. Also a favourite of the Conference delegates was Ahmed Kelly, a 16-year-old student from Assumption College who was born in Iraq without complete arms and legs. Ahmed spent the early years of his life in an Iraqi orphanage. He plays sport and has his sights set on competing at the London Paralympics in 2012. It was impossible not to be touched by Ahmed’s positive approach to life.

Other speakers included CEO of World Vision Tim Costello, Aboriginal elder Patrick Dodson,

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

former Young Victorian of the Year Tom O’Connor, host of ABC’s Catalyst Dr Graham Phillips, futurist Dr Peter Ellyard, Jonathan Welch from the Choir of Hard Knocks, environmentalist Rob Gell, Anne Hooker from Port Phillip Prison and former inmate Roger Antochi, and environmentalist and lawyer Cecilia Riebl.

Delegates were exposed to many ideas and opinions over the three days. Our aim was to bring together today’s leaders and the leaders of tomorrow. The clear message given to the students was that the future very much depends on them. Leadership has to be about everyone making a contribution and having an influence in all fields of endeavour. It is not the preserve of the few.

In workshops, students engaged in discussion about a variety of topics which included; climate change and global warming, water, terrorism, forensic science, Indigenous peoples, depression, better thinking, ethical investment, and science and ethics.

Environmentalist Rob Gell, futurist Dr Peter Ellyard, Year 12 student David Parncutt as Chair, host of ABC’s Catalyst Dr Graham Phillips and Indigenous leader Patrick Dodson

This conference has been a great opportunity to meet new people, talk to strangers and become friends, to expand your social network and become acquainted with likeminded people who are interested in leading or learning more about leadership.

Vincent Chiang Year 10 Student The three days were certainly interesting and challenging for the delegates and the feedback from students, parents and workshop facilitators was overwhelmingly positive. Behind the scenes, a hardworking committee, staff and parent volunteers worked to ensure the smooth running of the Conference and to make it the outstanding success that it was. I especially wish to thank Annie Hayward, Chris Bradtke, Belinda Hawkins, Jane TewsonLane, Lynne Broadway, Michelle Kearney, Cate Robinson and Eva Konopcik. The conference closed with a celebratory concert featuring Australian musicians Shane Howard, Archie Roach, Ruby Hunter, Amy Saunders and Neil Murray.

This was a fabulous opportunity for students to step outside the day-to-day grind and view the world through different eyes. If the enthusiasm shown by students is any indication, it was a resounding success and stimulated some fantastic ideas.

Polly Flanagan Director of Leadership

Belinda Hawkins Current Parent

Paul Sheahan Headmaster Having been involved from the ‘germination’ stage of the Conference, it was quite unbelievable and wonderful to witness the growth and development of the idea. One of my favourite moments of the Conference was as follows: Ahmed Kelly, when interviewed by Zac Apokis and asked who it was that inspired him, responded by looking to the audience and, with his beautiful smile, saying “all of you”.

Cate Robinson Current Parent It was thought-provoking and challenging. We heard and met extraordinary people who were using their talents to challenge the status quo. Again and again they inspired us to think about what time, talents and skills we could bring to the world. I have no doubt that after this conference there are many more leaders in the making!

Jane Tewson-Lane Current Parent For me the highlight was seeing, in Mem Hall, Archie Roach singing to Pat Dodson the song about his country. They come from different parts of Australia and a long way from many of the backgrounds that have passed through this Hall and yet for a moment for some there that day, it was as though difference dissolved.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Grimwade House Community Problem Solving In June 2008, Year 6 students Marine Gutton, Michael Zeng, Lachie Fong and James Little travelled to Michigan State University in East Lansing, USA, to attend the international finals of Community Problem Solving. The students presented their project about the Melbourne 2008 Homeless World Cup and competed against students from the USA, Canada, New Zealand, Korea, Japan and the South-east Asian Pacific region.

Our students’ project, ‘Let’s Kick the Homeless Stereotype’, was well received by the judges, and Grimwade House was awarded third place in the junior division. Lachie, James, Michael and Marine were excellent ambassadors for Melbourne Grammar School, scoring an outstanding 100 per cent for their 30-minute interview. Reports from both the judges and the general public were that they were impressive in their preparation, passion for the project, ability to articulate their area of concern and the confidence and authenticity with which they presented.

We were thrilled to learn that three of our 2008 Year 5 Community Problem Solving Projects were shortlisted to present at the national finals in Melbourne in October this year. The students prepared projects that support a kindergarten, learning about Indigenous culture and helping Aboriginal children experience life in the city, breaking down barriers between able and disabled children and teaching primary-aged children how to be sun-smart. The ‘Barrier Busters’ group subsequently won the national competition and will travel to Michigan in May 2009 to compete in the international finals.

The Community Problem Solving projects that are undertaken by our students require support from parents, teachers and outside agencies. Very often we call upon families to support initiatives in a monetary sense. Where possible, the focus in Community Problem Solving is to use other resources to make that difference, and this can be through the donation of time, goods, advice, creative ideas or materials.

Year 6 students James Little, Michael Zeng, Lachie Fong and Marine Gutton at the international finals of Community Problem Solving in Michigan, USA

We thank the generous families who have supported all of our projects since we started the program five years ago, and the students who have worked on them over the years and who continue to enjoy doing something worthwhile for others.

Adrienne English Talent Development and Glyn Howitt Deputy Head (Curriculum)

Musical Mosaic

Junior Primary students get into the spirit of dancing and performance as part of the Musical Mosaic

In Junior Primary, students have an opportunity to embrace the Performing Arts every week in our Music Program. In addition they have been involved in a series of workshops with artist-in-residence Chris Barratt. Under her direction, the children have been inspired to develop their ideas, extend their thinking, share space, work cooperatively and listen and respond to music.

The Musical Mosaic evolved each week. The process was just as important as the end product. Parents were invited to the performance to see first hand how the Performing Arts Program is introduced and built upon during their time at Grimwade House. For many children this was their introduction to the Performing Arts, so costumes and props were kept to a bare minimum and Chris was on stage during the performance guiding and prompting the children where appropriate.

The Musical Mosaic was the culmination of weeks of incredibly hard work, where children saw their thinking come to life. In the words of one of our Year 1 students: “I loved it.

At first I was scared but then I found out dancing makes you feel good inside”.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Leonie Tamblyn Head of Junior Primary

eTrain The eTrain is a two day eLearning conference held at the Collingwood Children’s Farm and Abbotsford Convent. Since commencing in 2006, attendance has gradually grown to include 150 students and over 50 teachers from independent and state schools across Victoria. This year, workshops included clay and pivot animation, movie making, web page design, pod casting, radio broadcasting and game making.

All workshops require students to work in teams to solve problems and create a product that the Children’s Farm can use to educate students for years to come.

Students receive immense benefit to their self-esteem, cooperative learning and eLearning skills and knowledge.

This event also has major implications for our teachers through the professional learning that occurs. Teachers first attend as supervisors with the knowledge that in the following year they will attend as a co-presenter. This allows them to become an expert in a particular area. In 2008, there were seven MGS staff as first-time co-presenters.

Rod White eLearning Consultant Years 5 and 6 students enjoy participating in eTrain workshops at the Collingwood Children’s Farm

The eTrain conference is really the way education should look. It is hands on with real purpose. The students are engaged in information and communication technology through their experiences at the Farm and the product is amazing. I worked with the Green Screen group to produce a ‘Totally eTrain Wild’ program. The children wrote their own scripts, learnt how to use green screens, composed the introductory music and presented all this in a show about animals. I started the conference with very limited knowledge of the technology but now feel confident to use it and instruct others in its use as well!

Prue Petsinis Head of Upper Primary The two days seemed to sail by and the children’s behaviour throughout the conference was impeccable. The quality of the work produced in such a short time was breathtaking. It was definitely one of the highlights of my teaching career, seeing so many children focused, learning and, most importantly, enjoying what they were doing. I have gained so many new ideas about how to integrate technology into my everyday practice.

Rob Bater Year 5 Teacher The experience of the eTrain over the last three years has reinforced the exhilaration I always feel when an IT skill – in

my case Photoshop – is used for a real purpose to enhance an art project. One of the joys of the experience, apart from working with a great bunch of diverse students in such a special environment at the Farm and Convent, is the collegiality of all the participants and the chance for me to see and discuss projects initiated by other teachers. It simply gets better and better!

Jan McLellan Rizzo Art Teacher The first thing I noticed about the eTrain was the level of engagement of the students and their teachers. Of particular note was the fact that the ‘teachers’ or ‘mentors’ were not necessarily members of our teaching staff, but rather, experts with specific skills who were brought in to provide a level of excellence that we may not otherwise be able to access. It was wonderful to see two of our Year 10 students running a Movie Making Workshop, and a Year 12 Media student from Dandenong High School teaching Year 5 students how to use the green screen. I was paired with the Year 10 students Jake Foster and Will Russell and it was obvious from the beginning that their passion and knowledge was contagious and the small group of students in each workshop really benefited from very close attention. I also saw many possibilities of movie making and what can be achieved with specific programs, equipment and a dose of creativity.

Glyn Howitt Deputy Head (Curriculum)

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Wadhurst Kalinga School

Crop a Kid Day

Rugby students from Kalinga Tribal Boarding School are greeted by Head of Wadhurst Greg Caldwell

In August, 12 students from Kalinga Tribal Boarding School (numbering 8,000!) visited MGS. Our lads first led them on a tour of the MCG and, in the afternoon, Kalinga played against our Under-14s rugby side, winning the first match easily, and in the second 15-a-side game, MGS went down 15-5.

MGS parents, rugby support group and all players gathered for an official reception at the new players’ rooms at Fawkner Park. Speeches, prizes and medals were awarded.

It was a terrific match and an even better after-match celebration. Thank you to all players and parents who helped coordinate the day.

On Friday the Kalinga boys attended morning classes, went on a tour of the School and joined in games and lunch with our lads. They were a terrific group of boys coming from the poorest part of India–Orissa State.

I hope this will be the start of an enduring relationship between India and Melbourne Grammar. The tour was supported by Exim Bank of India and, interestingly, Kalinga Tribal Boarding School is run free of charge by one benefactor/entrepreneur. Quite something! Once again, thank you for your support.

Greg Hughes Chinese Coordinator

Wadhurst students relish a visit from Melbourne Football Club players Brad Green and Cameron Bruce after receiving close shaves

The last day of Term II was the fifth Wadhurst Crop a Kid Day extravaganza. This year over 55 students and a few staff cropped their hair to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. We raised over $12,000, which, collectively over the last five years, takes us to nearly $90,000.

The wish recipient, Lachlan, was a nine-year-old boy with leukaemia who wished for a holiday with his family at Disneyland in Los Angeles. We as a community raised more than enough funds for their flights.

The bonus of the day was when Cameron Bruce and Brad Green from Melbourne Football Club came to visit and present Lachlan with his wish.

Matt Houniet Geography, History and Personal Development Teacher

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Chinese Festival In late Term III the Wadhurst Chinese Department organised special activities to coincide with the second biggest Chinese festival time – mid-autumn. Classes were conducted by specialist instructors of the Chinese martial art, Wu Shu, calligraphy and kite flying. Students joined in each activity to enhance their skills and learn new ones.

Traditionally, the Chinese gathered as a family on this day.

They would have finished the harvest and been ready to celebrate, play games and enjoy a meal. In this same tradition, a Chinese banquet was held in the Luxton Dining Room. A Wu Shu performance by the Monash Wu Shu troupe, led by Brett Fisher (OM 2002) preceded the meal.

Many courses were served and raffle prizes won. Many School families attended the dinner and were entertained by Gracie Ge and Wei Zhao who sang a traditional love ballad.

It was a great family occasion on this most important of Chinese festivals.

Wu Shu classes tested the dexterity and stamina of even the toughest Wadhurst students

Oliver Breedon Year 8

France–Belgium Trip A group of 22 Wadhurst boys and three teachers embarked on a journey to France and Belgium during the Term III holidays. The trip was to last 19 days including travel and provided us all with many memorable experiences that we will look back on with fondness for years to come.

The tour began in Avignon and meandered all the way to Amiens and beyond, with a brief stopover in Ypres, Belgium.

Avignon was, in true provincial style, steeped in history as we discovered at the Palais des Papes and the famous Pont du Gard. We were lucky to have arrived on the one day when you could traverse the top of the structure. During our stay there, we took a boat tour to the Calanques, kayaked down the Ardeche and rode white Camargue horses, while being mercilessly bitten by millions of mosquitoes.

Paris stimulated our senses in every way and we enjoyed the city of lights from the top of the Eiffel tower, the Seine River and side by side with the gargoyles on the top of the Notre Dame.

The metro was always on time, which must be a modern French phenomenon after the bus drivers we had encountered down south! We toured the famous Roland Garros Stadium and learnt of Roger Federer’s latest faux-pas, costing him 60,000 euros. We also visited the famous Versailles on bikes. It was gargantuan to say the least.

The World War I component coincided with the identification of an Australian soldier’s DNA and subsequent memorial service held at the Menin Gate in Ypres, Belgium. We were so lucky to be there that day. After indulging in chocolates, we left for Amiens, laying a beautiful wreath for our soldiers,

Students lay a wreath at Pozieres to commemorate the Australian soldiers of the Somme battlefields in France

giving the MGS plaque to the Franco–Australian Museum and visiting the Victoria school in Villers–Bretonneux and teaching the local students Australian Rules Football. After a final day strolling the Champs-Elysées, down to the Arc de Triomphe, we enjoyed a highlight dinner at Le Vauban.

We have dined on snails, practised our French, familiarised ourselves with Parisienne ways and loved every minute of it. Thanks to the parents who made this possible for us, the memories will last a lifetime.

Adrienne Beer French Coordinator and Matt Phan Year 7 Student Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Senior School The Bluetone Rhythm Section

Nashville Exchange Students

There has been substantial evidence over recent years that music as a background to study improves the ability of the brain to concentrate and effectively digest information. We are talking classical music, by the way, not head-banging grunge. During an afternoon Biology class in Reconciliation Week at MGS, with the red, yellow and black flag flying high over the Witherby Tower, students were assisted in their exam preparation by the ‘Bluetone Rhythm Section’, which can certainly be described as classic music.

From southern United States to southern hemisphere, two students from Nashville, Tennessee enjoyed a unique cultural experience at Melbourne Grammar School. Michael Moore and Crawford Standard spent much of Term III at Melbourne Grammar as part of a new exchange program developed in conjunction with their home school, Montgomery Bell Academy (MBA).

After some lessons by master-musician Roland Ah Chee, fresh from his highly successful performance in School Assembly, which attracted rave reviews, Lachlan Gooley, Adam Marangon and Ollie Raymond were soon providing a suitable backdrop for exam preparation. Students Kilian Brown and Anthony Lamanna can be seen below in the background constructively discussing work, oblivious to the presence of the Laboratory Technician, Mrs Elaine Wylie, who took the photo.

Former members of ‘Yothu Yindi’ and ‘The Warumpi Band’ have already been in contact with me regarding reforming their bands with a new-look line-up, having heard that I am acting as the Section’s Manager!

David Altus Head of Biology

Year 12 students Oliver Dutton-Schwietert and Roland Ah Chee, and Head of Biology David Altus inject some rhythm into class

Both schools are independent boys’ schools with histories that date back to the mid 1800s; however, for Michael and Crawford, this was where the similarities ended. The students took some time adjusting to the new weekly timetable – whereas each week at home consisted of five identical days of eight periods, in Melbourne, a week comprised five very different days of six periods.

Michael and Crawford joined a number of Melbourne Grammar’s Year 12 classes. They said their school had a strong focus on classical subjects such as Latin, so they enjoyed trying something different. “I’m taking Psychology, which they don’t offer at our school. We’ve been learning about memory, which is interesting,” Crawford said. Michael pointed out, however, that some subjects left them feeling in over their heads. “We’ve been doing Australian History with Mr Newbury. We did a SAC one day and didn’t know what it was all about. We were struggling to write anything down!”

MBA will celebrate its own sesquicentenary in nine years, but perhaps in a taste of what’s to come, Michael and Crawford enjoyed some of MGS’ 150th anniversary events.

The Sesquicentenary Rugby Tournament was a highlight, as was the Youth Leadership Conference. “Michael Furdyk was great. We did the workshop ‘TakingITGlobal’, which was about making connections – connecting you with international people who have the same thoughts as you,” Michael said.

And making connections is exactly what the exchange program is all about. Michael and Crawford were generously billeted by Melbourne Grammar families the Pies, Watsons and Dewhursts.

With their exchange adventure finally drawing to a close, it was clear the boys would take some pertinent advice back home with them. “Nutella is really good, Vegemite is alright, but don’t eat it if you have the choice. And don’t say ‘Yes ma’am’ to Australian teachers – they get mad at you because they don’t want to seem old,” said Crawford.

The exchange program, which subsequently saw Melbourne Grammar students Hunter Pie and Alex Stogdale travel to “the home of country music” in Term IV, is designed to be ongoing.

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Crucible The plays of Arthur Miller, arguably America’s greatest 20th-century playwright, are not for the faint-hearted. They deal with some of the most difficult manifestations of conflict between individuals, and present audiences and actors alike with profound questions about what drives people to behave in particular ways.

This year’s Senior School August Production and its cast of 11 boys and 9 girls took on the challenge of realising Miller’s dark story of false accusation and manufactured hysteria and can be well proud of what they produced on the night.

The story is set in Salem, Massachusetts, in 1692, where a small Puritan community is struggling to sustain itself and maintain its values. More importantly, however, Miller was concerned with reflecting the goings-on of the House of Un-American Activities Committee, the result of Senator Joseph McCarthy’s obsessive attempts to identify and expose communist sympathisers in American public life in the 1950s.

In his play, Miller explores the corrupt and hypocritical forces that turn neighbour against neighbour, ultimately rewarding one while destroying the other.

Our production was blessed with some strong individual performances and a commitment from the whole ensemble that ensured three nights of great emotional power and intensity. Bill Stephenson as John Proctor, Nick Elliott as Reverend Hale and Eric Gardiner as the presiding judge, Deputy Governor Danforth, led the way but were more than ably supported by the rest of the cast. Zac Lombardo’s agitated and besieged Reverend Parris, Nigel Langley’s defiant Giles Corey and Patrick Beguely’s chilling clerk of court, Ezekiel Cheever were all impressive; recent newcomers to the Senior School stage, Rob Cornish, Alex Mattingly and Nick Langford also did well, while Adam Freeman and Ed Perin provided strong support.

John Proctor (Bill Stephenson) is restrained by friends Giles Corey (Nigel Langley) and Francis Nurse (Alex Mattingly) as he protests his innocence to Deputy Governor Danforth (Eric Gardiner)

and a team of student volunteers, costumes and full Puritan wigs expertly brought together by Sally Scott, and lighting designed by OM Dave Jenkins and executed by Peter Dick and his increasingly experienced student lighting crew, The Crucible provided its audiences with high drama and spectacle.

2009 will bring a very different challenge and experience for the audience as we present the Joseph Papp, 1980 New York production of the Gilbert and Sullivan spectacular, The Pirates of Penzance. I, for one, cannot wait!

Tim Scott Director of Students

Abigail Williams (Ella Wawryk) and leading fellow accusers Susanna Walcott (Sophie Norman), Betty Parris (Charlotte Tooke) and Mercy Lewis (Alexandra Vaughan) are watched from behind by John Willard (Adam Freeman) during the trial scene

The girls were equally impressive: led by veteran Ella Wawryk as the scheming Abigail, and Emily Thomson as Proctor’s long-suffering and loyal wife Elizabeth, others to impress included Bethany Jewell, Charlotte Tooke, Sophie Norman and Ali Vaughan, with further support from Ruby Wall, Hannah Warnaar and Penny White. All worked hard to deliver Miller’s dark message with conviction and energy.

With a thrusting set designed by John Shelbourn and constructed over many weekends in Term II by Ewan Morgan Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Sesquicentenary

Ron Barassi presents Dr Donald Cordner with his Team of the Sesquicentenary medallion

Football Celebrations On 7 August, Australian Football celebrated its Sesquicentenary. At the MCG the following day MGS and Scotch signed off on an uninterrupted 150 consecutive years of football rivalry. Our two schools created a game unlike any other, and we celebrated Tom Wills’ vision of that moment in time when a round ball was put into play one wintery afternoon 150 years ago, and nobody knew quite what to expect.

The Herald Newspaper reported on 7 August 1858 : “A Grand Football Match, to be played this day between the Scotch College and The Church of England Grammar School, near the MCG ground.

Lunch at the pavilion. Forty a side. The match to start at 12 noon”.

MGS and Scotch agreed to play each year thereafter, and then more Public Schools joined the competition. Other clubs then came into existence – Melbourne in 1858, followed by Geelong, South Melbourne, Carlton and Collingwood. From these humble origins, the game began its remarkable journey to become the nation’s most popular sport, played and watched by millions of people throughout Australia.

To celebrate, a Football Dinner was held at Crown with 1,350 representatives spanning 70 years from both schools. This provided the opportunity for those present to reflect on the memories of all those years, to catch up with team mates, to remember who won and who lost, and to pay homage to the best ever 24 players.

Twelve players from each school were selected in the combined Sesquicentenary Team of the Century. We congratulate the 24 players selected, all of whom were presented with medals by Ron Barassi, Dr Don Cordner and Nell Eggleston. This was the largest gathering of

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Melbourne Grammar 1st XVIII celebrates winning the Cordner-Eggleston

Fyfe sketch of the joint Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College Team of the Sesquicentenary

MGS and Scotch footballers ever assembled at the one place, at the one time. Indeed, a very special and historic occasion.

At 4pm on 8 August, MGS played Scotch at the MCG competing for the traditional Cordner-Eggleston Cup, as a curtain-raiser to the Geelong–Melbourne AFL game.

Congratulations to MGS on winning the Cordner-Eggleston Cup and the APS Premiership, and to Michael Ford, Ben Hanisch, Tim Morris and Nick Gibbons who worked tirelessly for the last eight years to achieve this magnificent feat.

Charles Shaw evades the Scotch College defence

“I have already arranged with Stewart for son Christopher (OM 1967-First XVIII v Scotch), his son James (OM 2005-First XVIII v Scotch) and son Stephen (2nd XVIII v Scotch 1970) and I be seated together [at the Sesquicentenary of Football Dinner] – three surviving direct generations all of whom played SC (1st XVIII) v MGS(1st XVIII) – an unusual and unique situation.”

Dr Don Cordner OM 1939

n Cup and the APS Premiership

At the Pre-Match Luncheon held at the MCG, 590 guests attended. As guest speaker, Martin Flanagan’s ‘Origins of Football’ was truly inspiring and provided the springboard to announce our Community Project in support of the ‘Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership’. As a lasting legacy, the joint organising MGS and Scotch Sesquicentenary of Football Committee, together with the 1858 Club and Marn Grook Club, presented a cheque to Paul Briggs AO for $20,000 towards the Fellowship. It was donated in the spirit of the theme ‘Make the game make a difference’, with the intent to broaden the commitment of both schools to reconciliation and advancement of young Indigenous Australians in social, cultural, career and sporting spheres.

I would personally like to extend my thanks for the magnificent efforts of the 40 Sesquicentenary of Football MGS and Scotch Committee Members who worked tirelessly for two years organising the Sesquicentenary of Football celebrations. Only the people involved know all the bends in the long road we have travelled, and to them, both schools will be indebted forever.

What is it about Australian Football? It may seem odd to outsiders, but it’s our game. Our Australian game. Our Victoran game. Our Melbourne Public School’s game – a game first played by our ancestors 150 years ago. May the Aussie Football game, and the tradition started by our two great schools, continue for generations to come.

“I can’t claim to have ever attempted to organise anything on the scale of the recent celebrations between MGS and Scotch, but at least I do have some idea of what must have been in involved.

From all at Scotch, many thanks for the warmth and generosity of your welcome and congratulations on all your successes, from entertainment to football, via the reminiscing which cements our special link.”

Tom Batty Scotch College Principal “The game itself was an excellent showcase of APS football. The result was seemingly in the balance; however, the MGS team endured, and with grit and determination overcame the gallant Scotch team to win. Attaining the APS Football Premiership was a fitting result to a wonderful season.”

Luke Soulos APS Sport Executive Officer “You must be delighted that Grammar not only won the CordnerEggleston Cup, but also the APS Premiership.”

Nell Eggleston wife of the late Mick Eggleston

Melbourne Grammar School and Scotch College would like thank the Sesquicentenary of Football sponsors: Lead sponsors:

Major sponsors:

Mark Peters Chair, Sesquicentenary of Football Committee Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Sesquicentenary Sesquicentenary Concert The Sesquicentenary Concert on 2 September 2008 showcased Melbourne Grammar School’s commitment to music performance and education. Held in the Victorian Art Centre’s magnificent Hamer Hall, the Concert offered a diversity of items from choral instrumental to full orchestral pieces and included the largest number ever of Melbourne Grammar School performers on stage in one performance.

Over the three years of its planning, the program crystallised into a two hour concert of Australian music with a grand finale of massed choirs and orchestra. It included performers from Years 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11 and 12, who took us on a musical journey from the dreamtime, discovery of Australia

by Europeans, through nineteenth century droving and exploration, to some recent Australian musical compositions and arrangements.

Being an all-Australian concert, we were delighted that two of our students, Roland Ah Chee and Patrick Heenan, performed the opening and closing moments playing didgeridoo and rhythm sticks accompanying traditional Indigenous dance.

Heading our orchestra was the extraordinarily talented Richard Lipohar, 1st violin. Soloists in the finale were Patrick Heenan, Ben Larve, Sonia Mackie, Ben Wall, Monty Wilson and Michael Wyles of whom all rose admirably to the challenge of the imposing auditorium and occasion.

A wonderful achievement by the performers, their teachers and conductors, the Sesquicentenary Concert left the audience elated and proud. It was a profoundly uplifting experience to hear more than 800 voices sing the songs of the Grand Finale, an inspiring moment in the Sesquicentenary year.

I sincerely wish to thank Martin Rutherford and music parent and benefactor Edward Lipohar who joined me (parent and

Roland Ah Chee sends the haunting sounds of the didgeridoo through Hamer Hall

member of the Sesquicentenary Steering Committee) in forming the initial Sesquicentenary Concert working group.

In time, a larger working committee formed comprising the three Heads of Music – Philip Carmody, Julian Cairns and Bronwyn Pierce – and Heads of Campus – Andrew Boyd, Greg Caldwell and Peter Tooke. Their active participation, dedication and professionalism proved invaluable. Special gratitude is owed to Tim Scott and Ian Riddell for their management and leadership and coordination – a vital contribution.

As logistics and marketing were key elements of our preparation, we were delighted to receive the unstinting support of Annie Hayward, Kat Brennand, Michael Joyce, Vanessa Whatmough and Eva Konopcik. Special thanks must also go to Drew Gamble who crafted a stunning program which not only captured the excitement of our Concert, but formed a beautiful memento.

Massed Choir and Orchestra perform the Grand Finale

In closing, I would like to pay particular tribute to Martin Rutherford, whose leadership and dedication to fine musicmaking at Melbourne Grammar School over almost three decades as Director of Music will leave an enduring legacy which is certain to resonate long after his retirement later this year.

To the hundreds of students, staff and friends of Melbourne Grammar School involved in delivering this outstanding concert, congratulations and thank you for playing your part in celebrating our Sesquicentenary year.

Genevieve Overell Chair, Sesquicentenary Concert Committee 24

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Grimwade House students form the bow of The Mahogany Ship

Rugby Tournament Melbourne Grammar and rugby were thrust onto the international stage in July and a week of rugby, activities and friendships was enjoyed by all. Participating schools were Christchurch Boys’ High School (New Zealand), Tamagawa Academy (Japan), St Thomas’ College (Sri Lanka), Oundle School (England), Shore School (New South Wales), Hutchins School (Tasmania), Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar.

Melbourne Grammar parents did a wonderful job generously billeting, coordinating, cooking and caring for our visitors and I would like to thank the Scotch College community for assisting with the billeting and hosting pool games. There cannot have been many times in our history when both the main ovals at Scotch and MGS have had a set of rugby posts up!

Both schools were very accommodating and the grounds staff did a great job setting and maintaining the ground for a week of rugby in wet conditions. The carnival was generously sponsored by HSBC and the oval was set up with the HSBC Waratahs’ field posts and hoarding to give it a professional look.

With the support of Friends of Grammar Senior School Committee, our opening ceremony turned into a major production with spotlights, cheer girls and fireworks. On Tuesday night we enjoyed a cultural evening in The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall with each school performing a song or dance traditional to their home country.

Melbourne Grammar’s Morne Spies makes a break against Tasmania’s Hutchins School

We enjoyed an extremely busy week and good crowds came to watch some excellent rugby and taste our MGS hospitality. The rugby was of a high standard and played in the true spirit of the game. The coaches and managers from all teams should be proud of how their players represented their schools on and off the field.

Rob Shields Head of Rugby

The carnival dinner was held at the Camberwell Centre where 460 people enjoyed the memories of the week with our MC Fletcher Dyson and guest speaker and Waratah’s player Luke Burgess.

Final Results:

Tamagawa 17 d St Thomas 0 Scotch 24 d Hutchins 5 Oundle 25 d MGS 12 Shore 22 d Christchurch 5 Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Out & About Year 11 Work Experience Work experience is designed to give school students the opportunity to learn a little about the world of work. There are many potential benefits. For most, it is the chance to put a “toe in the water” of a career that they may be contemplating. Others see the opportunity of experiencing something new and exciting, even if it turns out not to be the start of their particular career path. Most importantly, for all participants, it provides the experience of working with adults and learning something of the responsibilities and rewards of the workplace.

Each year, our Year 11 students undertake a wide range of interesting and challenging placements. Many of these placements are provided by generous and supportive members of the Grammar community. We are very grateful for the continued support that these and other employers continue to provide our students.

The reflections of Nick and Tom are just two examples of the many experiences enjoyed by our Year 11s in 2008.

Frank Thompson Director of Career Development

Tom’s Experience For work experience I enjoyed time at Melbourne’s SBS bureau located in Federation Square. It was a tremendous learning experience and one that I gained a substantial amount of knowledge from. The main station for SBS News is located in Sydney, whereas the Melbourne studio only has eight people. This small number, to my surprise, actually worked to my advantage as I grew in confidence throughout the week. This was due to the close nature of the office and the individual stories I sought from such hardworking and accepting people.

The role of the editor working to a strict timeframe cannot be forgotten in media production; however, it is the reporter who I keenly listened to and learnt from that really made the week so special. I ventured to Melbourne Victory training, a new 3D computer expo and the Olympian parade amongst others. My resolve to enter this industry when I finish school has only been hardened and this would not be the case without the welcoming and friendly nature of Moira Conway and the rest of the SBS team. It was a truly characterbuilding and satisfying week.

Tom Morris Year 11 Student

Nick’s Experience When most people think of work experience, they think of sitting in an office, behind a desk and two eyes focused on a small screen. However, one afternoon, my dad approached me, and asked “How would you like to be submerged and inverted in a helicopter chassis for work experience?”

Red Alert Australia provides training and consultancy services to an extensive base of clients throughout Australia. Whilst they themselves are not an engineering firm, some of the courses they run provide extensive insight into the engineering field. I undertook the Basic Offshore Induction and Emergency Training course, which is held near Sale. Over the course of three days, I completed training in the use of fire extinguishers, smoke hoods, first aid, emergency breathing systems, platform abandonment, sea survival and helicopter underwater escape. All of these components had a practical requirement, such as entering a life raft at sea or being submerged underwater and inverted in a helicopter chassis.

Red Alert also provided me with an introduction to safety culture, while giving me a first hand look at how a small business functions. This insight into small business, combined with an opportunity to undertake exciting and challenging training, made work experience an experience that I will not forget.

Nick Stobie Year 11 Student

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

MGS TV News A group of Senior School students has shone the spotlight on Melbourne Grammar to produce their brand new online video program MGS TV NEWS. Already receiving Grammarwide acclaim, MGS TV NEWS is the brainchild of Year 10 student Jake Foster. This time, Jake answers the questions as Grammar News finds out what’s on the NEWS.

How do you incorporate filming and producing into your busy school life?

The staff have been extremely supportive and have helped us along the way, especially Shane Castricum and Lee Silvester from the AV Department, who are constantly going out of their way to make it easier and more efficient for us.

We do have to sometimes sacrifice a little bit of our lunch breaks but it is definitely worth it; the feedback we receive is great and it keeps us motivated.

What do you enjoy most about producing the program?

I most enjoy filming in the studio with the team. It is great fun (even though in the last edition we had to do 18 takes of one line because we all kept laughing!). This is where the majority of the team gets together to film the studio scenes. It’s great meeting and working with people who you otherwise wouldn’t have met.

How many people watch the show?

What is MGS TV NEWS? MGS TV NEWS is a student-run school video bulletin produced twice a term. It features recent events, sports and in-depth reports about certain areas of the School. It is available for all students, teachers and parents to watch through the School portal or alternatively in The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership on the big screens.

How and when did MGS TV NEWS come about?

In Year 8 at Wadhurst we started doing a show called Grammar Affair, which we really enjoyed. When I got to Senior School I wondered if we could expand the concept to cover the big events. With the help of Alberto Rizzo, Shane Castricum, Friends of Grammar and a group of dedicated students we managed to produce a far better, more extensive program than I ever would have imagined.

At first we were worried that not many people would want to watch the show, but we were proved wrong. On the MGS TV NEWS website in the past four months we have had 24,000 hits and over 1,000 unique visits, not to mention the boys that watch it on the big screens in The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership. We were and still are amazed that we have over 50 per cent of the Senior School watching our show.

Is film production something you’d like to pursue beyond school?

Before we started making this bulletin I wouldn’t have considered it. But now with all the support we have received and the skills that I have gained I would definitely consider it.

I cannot thank MGS enough for making all of this possible.

How is the program produced?

We have a number of reporters that go out into the School.

For example, Year 11 student Tom Morris covered all of the 1st XVIII football for us this year. Oscar Jenkins is doing a great job as the co-anchor and we have several different camera people, sound operators etc. We couldn’t do the show without the technical skills and expertise that Will Russell and Max Porritt bring to the program. We really wanted to share around the workload and give students different opportunities and experiences that they otherwise wouldn’t have had and I think that we have done a pretty good job.

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Out & About Hockey Champions

History Challenge

This year Grimwade House entered a Hockey 7s VPPSA competition for the first time and after three separate days of tough competition, MGS emerged as the State Champions.

Over 64 teams entered the tournament but it was the team comprising of Jack Jessup, Sophie Thomson, Nicholas Coen, Thomas Ebsworth, Timothy Harrison, Cristina Loukas, Olivia Grimwade, Tom Carlin, Edward Langdon and Rupert Reed that emerged victorious.

The first round of the event on 14 August was a Round Robin against local schools within our region after which we finished on top of our pool. This saw MGS progress through to the finals of the Edebone Region Hockey 7s on 19 August and we were again successful. This booked our side a date in the State Finals the following week on 26 August, where we played a set of Round Robin games against seven other regional winners comprising both city and country school teams. Despite fierce competition, it was MGS yet again who were triumphant and claimed the title of State Champions at the conclusion of the day.

Throughout the whole tournament the competition presented by our opponents was tough and as we progressed through the tournament, all players’ skills improved and everyone learnt the importance of team work whilst playing in both attacking and defensive roles. The unique conditions under which Hockey 7s is played were also a challenge for all players involved, and we adapted our playing style to the modified rules and smaller pitch size as each game progressed.

Each of the Hockey 7s players should be congratulated for their efforts to play at the best of their abilities and for supporting their team mates over the duration of the competition. Keep dribbling…

Sara Pacini Prep Teacher and Hockey Coach Hockey Coach Sara Pacini with Hockey 7s Nicholas Coen, Edward Langdon, Sophie Thomson, Olivia Grimwade, Rupert Reed, Jack Jessup, Timothy Harrison and Tom Carlin (Cristina Loukas and Thomas Ebsworth absent)

History Teacher Adrea Fox with National History Challenge entrants Michael Vuckovic, Alexander Balnionis, George Leighton, Charles Vaughan and Hugo Monotti

The theme determined for the 2008 National History Challenge was ‘Australia Meets the World’. The students who decided to participate in the Challenge began to form an idea of what category they would enter, what they would work on, how it related to the theme, and what format their work would take. Subsequently, all groups took advantage of the media facilities which Melbourne Grammar School offers, and all made 10-minute long, fully-edited DVDs. The three entries submitted by the School, comprising Alexander Balnionis, Michael Vuckovic and Hugo Monotti (Asia and Australia category); George Leighton (In War and Peace category); and myself, Charles Vaughan (Immigrant Experiences category) all worked vigorously over the following five months to take our ideas and make them a reality. At certain points along the way, Melbourne Grammar School National History Challenge Co-ordinator Adrea Fox would see our movie to date, watch our progression, and give professional criticism when needed. This help was very much appreciated by all students as it allowed us to stay on course, but with all ideas and content coming from us.

I am happy to report that each of the School’s entries went to the Regional Finals, and won, moving all entries into the State Finals. At State Final level, our entries were well received, with my entry being awarded a Highly Commended State Prize. We hope that more people will participate in the 2009 National History Challenge.

The National History Challenge is an opportunity for Years 6 to 12 students to exhibit their research and representation skills in a number of different formats. It is a fun activity, and the winner of the gold medal in any category wins a trip to Canberra to formally receive their prize. Wherever you come, though, the Challenge teaches you new lifelong skills and is something that is looked upon with the highest regard. I have learnt a lot from the experience and I hope many other up-and-coming historians will participate in the future.

Charles Vaughan Year 9 Student

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Vietnam Trip In early February, a quiet announcement floated around the houserooms of MGS: several boys in Year 10 would be given the opportunity to travel to Vietnam during camps week in conjunction with the Fred Hollows Foundation (FHF). FHF is a charitable organisation set up to provide ocular medical care to those who cannot afford it. At that point in time we had little idea of what lay ahead of us, all we knew is that it would offer an array of new and confronting experiences.

After spending a few days soaking up the developing culture of Vietnam we came down to the business end of our trip. We met up with Dr Phuc who is responsible for all project management around Vietnam. He showed us the plans that the FHF was putting into action all around the country at particular hotspots of poverty. As he explained the seriousness of the lack of eye care in the country, we became more and more eager to see the state of the hospitals and people and to finally begin our work with the disadvantaged.

Immediately following our encounter with the FHF team we left for the Agent Orange Orphanage, unaware of what lay ahead of us. Agent Orange was a defoliant used by the US Army in the Vietnam War. Unfortunately, Vietnamese people came into contact with the substance and it passed into the genetic material leaving future generations mutated and disabled. Before leaving for the orphanage the boys compiled a percentage of gifts which Mr Keech had organised and procured before leaving the camp. Upon arrival, we were amicably approached by many of the children affected by Agent Orange. The smiles that beamed across their faces moved many to tears and made us feel what we had done in the way of giving gifts and sharing friendship really meant something.

Over the next few days we visited the Hue District Hospital to watch several cataract operations. The boys on the trip were able to stand less than a metre away from the surgeon, experiencing the operation wholly. Many were moved to action by the decrepit state of the hospital, and proceeded to spend time with the sick and recovering, donating gifts. The generosity of the trip was summed up when Hashan Siriwardene took off the shirt on his back and handed it over to a man without a shirt.

The Melbourne Grammar students are welcomed by the Fred Hollows Foundation Vietnam Program team

the six o’clock news are far more real than what we believed them to be. It will be very hard to turn our backs to the FHF in the future after seeing what we’ve seen. Thank you very much to Mrs Flanagan, Mr Keech and Helen Sorensen for making this trip of amazing experiences possible, as well as to the parents for all their support and help. Thanks especially to everyone who contributed gifts and school supplies, please know that your donations brought much joy.

We encourage all students to take this opportunity should it arise in the coming years as it is one that will not be forgotten.

Nick Fabbri and Matt Robinson Year 10 Students Viewing cataract surgery at the Hue District Hospital was a lifechanging experience for students

On the second last day after gaining permission from the government to visit a school in Hue, we gathered up the last of our gifts and school supplies including computers and travelled to the school. We were greeted by hundreds of children overflowing with joy, spilling from their classrooms.

The boys who went on this camp have experienced and felt things they would not have been able to anywhere else. We were shocked into the realisation that the images we see on

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Community Involvement Auskick Police, social workers, community development coordinators, AFL multicultural development officers and AFL footballers.

A huge thank you must go to the boys who were outstanding in their representation of self, and School. I doubt they realise the positive impact they have brought to children who find themselves in a very different circumstance to that of their own.

The Melbourne Grammar 2008 Auskick Student Mentors Consistent Performers were Mitch Downey, James de Fegely, Tom de Fegely, Cameron Tunbridge and Oscar Dixon.

We also had special guest appearances from students Jack Cookson, Bill Richardson, Patrick Heenan, Rory Fowler, Ed Mandie, Nick Forrest, Tom Watson and Ed Walford.

Hermione Skadiang Careers Advisor

Chinese Consulate Visit On 19 June 2008, Headmaster Paul Sheahan and Melbourne Grammar students David Chen, William Deng and Tom Monotti handed a cheque for $8,000 to the Chinese Consulate in Melbourne for donation to the China Sichuan Earthquake Appeal.

Year 10 student Bill Richardson shares his advice for playing great football – tie those laces tight!

At Melbourne Grammar, we strive to embody in our students a sense of leadership and believe that at its most basic, leadership is about having a positive influence in our community and being responsible for that influence. In 2008 we were very fortunate to be able to work with the Richmond Football Club in allowing a number of our Year 10 and 11 students that very opportunity.

Chinese Consul General Liang Shugen thanked the MGS community for its sincere generosity and support to the people suffering severely from the May earthquake. The donation will be used to rebuild schools that collapsed and purchase resources for students. I am very grateful to all the students and staff at Wadhurst and Senior School for their valuable support. I especially thank the families of David Chen, William Deng, Daniel Sonenberg and Justin de Steiger for their great generosity.

Tong Zhou Head of Chinese

Being a part of the 3 Towers Auskick program provided our students the chance to act as student mentors and leaders by delivering scheduled football activities and drills to children from the North Richmond, Collingwood and Fitzroy housing estates. Each Thursday from April to July, MGS students were exposed to students from different social, economical and cultural backgrounds and in turn this gave our students a broader sense of what the term ‘community’ can encompass.

Many of our staff cited new-found confidence and improved self-esteem in the students. From a careers perspective, students were given an insight into the careers of the different personnel involved, including members of Victoria 30

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

Year 12 student Tom Monotti, Head of Chinese Tong Zhou, Headmaster Paul Sheahan, and Year 7 students David Chen and William Deng meet with Chinese Consul General Liang Shugen (second from right) at the Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Melbourne

Digital Storytelling

Year 12 student Matt Fowler listens as Pat Parker from the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Coolibah Centre describes the Centre’s new garden

Maureen O’Conner was born in Richmond in 1941 and as a girl went to a school in Church Street. Maureen has no happy memories of school. She found it difficult to read and write and was treated badly and called names. She left school in Grade 5 still illiterate and went to work at a local printing factory. By 19 she had the first of three children.

One of her proudest moments, however, came in 1996 when she learnt to read and write. Life has been tough on Maureen, but she loves her family and has always looked forward to what tomorrow will bring.

This is a storyline from one of the ‘Digital Stories’ that, after several visits to the Brotherhood of St Laurence’s Coolibah Centre in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, Melbourne Grammar School student Jordan Catalano used a couple of years ago.

He turned it into a video-clip using digital photos, scanned images and documents, the Internet, voice and music recordings through the power of his notebook computer.

Jordan still sees Maureen from time to time, especially when the ‘elders’ come to Melbourne Grammar School for a morning tea reception and viewing of the current year’s digital stories.

As an English elective for Year 9 and 10 boys, the program teams students with a member of the Brotherhood’s Coolibah Centre – a drop-in centre for disadvantaged over-55s – in a kind of social and generational exchange conducted over tea and scones. Students spend a semester getting to know the elders and recording their stories for a digital archive. For the students it teaches compassion, understanding and technical skills in writing, recording and editing, and for the elders it has helped many regain a sense of pride.

The project grew out of the School’s eLearning vision to ensure that our rich technology was used for educationally and socially valid reasons, as well as a strong desire to forge links with charitable organisations such as the Brotherhood, which may involve our students in ongoing and worthwhile projects, and finally a belief in the power of narrative in English.

Digital storytelling has broad application across many subjects, inspiring deep, relevant, interactive learning for all ages. The process of making a digital story involves creative and critical thinking, inquiry, multimodal literacy, writing, discussion, design, production, reflection and presentation.

It provides opportunities for students to enhance the expression of their own stories, thoughts and ideas in creative and engaging ways, across a diverse range of learning contexts.

Good digital stories are personal, begin with the story or script, are concise, use readily available source materials, include universal story elements, and involve collaboration, such as story circles, where the story is shared by its authors with a group of others who will listen carefully and make suggestions aimed at improving it.

The project has been well received at several national and state conferences, and many schools and welfare agencies have approached both Melbourne Grammar School and the Brotherhood of St Laurence with the intention of introducing similar programs.

Alberto Rizzo eLearning Coordinator

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Boarding Goodbye to the Boarding House At the end of my time here lies a paradox. Sometimes the end is too far. And sometimes the end is too near. I can’t wait to be free from the hassles of school. And yet, I still long for the shelter that school and the boarding house offers to me. Just as I am about to end that period of life, there comes a mysterious but exciting new beginning. It’s an intersection of goodbyes and welcomes. It’s a time of mixed emotions.

When will I ever have another chance to live just opposite the Royal Botanic Gardens, be situated next to the city, be within walking distance of the School and have the privacy of a residential area? What I’ll miss is the commotion when I’m trying to do my schoolwork. The arguments as well, I’ll miss them. As a hub of energy, it’s where the magic of everyday happens. Friendships happen here and bonds that you’ll never find as a day boy begin in this very place. Even when the place is empty and everyone is bored, it’s those moments of silent poignancy that make this place a most cherished memory.

Year 12 student Daniel Kong will cherish the friendships he made as a boarder at Melbourne Grammar

I’ve come to realise something about the Boarding House: the experience you make out of your time here is your own.

If you choose to hate it, you’ll find reasons to do so. But there are many more reasons why you should enjoy your time here, and I found them. And there’s one thing that I can truly say about my time spent here, that no one else can deny me – and it’s that I can live independently. Because I’ve done it, day in and day out; knowing that I’ve made that part of my journey in my lifelong destination from boy to man.

Soon I will take my first steps as an adult, and discover for the first time a world outside my world.

Daniel Kong Year 12 Perry House Boarder

Snow Trip It’s never an easy task getting up at 3am, let alone in the depths of winter! Forty boys and staff left the Boarding House for the icy heights of Mt Buller in mid-August, filled with excitement at the prospect of a record snow cover.

The early news was good; we had to put chains on the bus tyres merely minutes into the climb up Mt Buller. Some of the boys were treated to their first sighting of snow and their reactions were priceless. The ground was well endowed with a beautiful white covering from the lower altitudes, which would only increase as we ascended.

By the time we reached Pension Grimus we knew we were in for a great day. The snow was knee-deep as we walked through the soft patches and snowballs were duly lanced in every direction.

Thanks to the highly organised Lotte Grimus and Garry Hubbard we were equipped with the best gear and into our lessons before we could say, “bend ze knees”. The instructors put us through the most trying of drills and exercises but produced alpine-hardened specimens at the end of the two-hour lessons. We were all capable of getting around the mountain and soon worked out that skiing under the lift line could be the path to glory or the chute to infamy.

Despite the woolly weather conditions, the boys skied their proverbial bindings off and were hard to drag off the slopes by day’s end. Exhausted, we retired to the relative comfort of the bus and snoozed our way back to Melbourne.

Returning to the Boarding House at 10pm, bleary-eyed and sore of muscle, not one of us regretted the 3am start. All had had a great day!

Marc Bishop Boarding Activities Coordinator

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Grammar Foundation Looking to the Future In September 2008, Ross Adler AC retired as President of The Grammar Foundation after six years of distinguished service. During his time as President, The Grammar Foundation undertook the most ambitious and successful capital campaign in the School’s history – Tomorrow’s Leaders Today, which raised more than $14 million in gifts and pledges and, importantly, $6 million in bequests.

Ross’s commitment to the future advancement of the School through philanthropy also saw the Board review and revise its own role and purpose. In 2007, the Board endorsed a strategic plan which seeks to develop a culture of philanthropy and support at Melbourne Grammar School that is commensurate with the great educational institutions of North America and Europe. Ross will continue his close association with the School as a member of the School Council and Chair of the Finance and Planning Committee.

On behalf of the Grammar community I extend sincere thanks and appreciation to Ross Adler for his dedication and insightful leadership of The Grammar Foundation.

I am pleased to announce that a long-standing member of The Grammar Foundation Board, Lloyd Thomas, was appointed President of The Grammar Foundation by the School Council in October 2008. While Lloyd has been a member of the Board for more than a decade, he and his wife Debbie have had an association with the School for more than 25 years with three sons – Mark (OM 1995), Peter (OM 1998) and Andrew (OM 2006) – attending the School. Debbie was deeply involved in Friends of Grammar throughout her time at MGS and was President in 1996.

I recently asked Lloyd how he first became involved with the Foundation and what he thought were some of the significant achievements over the past decade.

“My first involvement with the Foundation was in 1987 when a campaign to build a new sporting facility was launched at Grimwade House. The philosophy was to personally approach the whole School community to be part of this project. It was a very successful campaign and the School community gathered together in a very positive fashion to ‘make it happen’. Although at that stage I was not on the Foundation Board, I was one of many members of the School community who approached other parents of their child's year level for support.

“I believe the most significant achievement the Foundation Board has made is bringing the whole School community together to ensure the School is capable of embracing the opportunities of the future. No individual or institution can stand still and rest on its laurels – if you do so, you actually

The Grammar Foundation President Lloyd Thomas

go backwards. Apart from the very substantial building program that continues and will always be required, the Foundation continues to actively support initiatives which promote the importance of excellence in philanthropy in parallel with the leading role the School undertakes in all that it does.

“The development of the Witherby Tower Society into a major element of the School's philanthropic program has also been a very significant development over recent times. The continuing development of a positive mindset and understanding of philanthropy has been a major development, and of course the completion of the many building projects such as the Cordner PE Centre and the Alfred Felton Hall at Grimwade House, the re-development of the Lodge, the new middle school at Wadhurst and Senior School boarding house complex, the rebuilding of Wadhurst, the establishment of Edwin Flack Park and The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership have all been essential projects and developments of which the School should be immensely proud.”

Looking to the future, there can be no doubt that The Grammar Foundation will need to generate increasing levels of philanthropic support to ensure that Melbourne Grammar School remains at the forefront of education as one of the leading independent schools in Australia and the world.

For this to be achieved, The Grammar Foundation Board is committed to the development of a culture of philanthropy and support within the School community that is without peer in Australia.

Michael Joyce Director of Development

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The Old Melburnians Council From the President

The Old Melburnians Immediate Past President Stephen Gibbons and Incoming Old Melburnians President Simon Derham

It gives me great pleasure to update our readers on the Sesquicentenary year that has just been completed. This year has been a highly successful year, albeit a busy one. Since the June edition of Grammar News several events have been held and a number of directives have been passed by the OMs Council. We have conducted reunions within Victoria, interstate and overseas, which have included a very successful cocktail party in Sydney for the New South Wales OMs, and a lunch held at the Queensland Club for our Brisbane and Queensland members. Both events were well attended and the Headmaster and I represented the Old Melburnians and the School.

These events were followed in May by the London branch Sesquicentenary Dinner, where 100 OMs celebrated the Sesquicentenary year at the Oriental Club. A few days later at the Hong Kong Yacht Club, the Hong Kong branch held a similar dinner with 45 OMs attending. Both of these international functions were highly successful and enjoyed by those who attended. It is certainly evident as the distance from Domain Road increases, the bonds towards the School become even stronger. A dinner was held in New York recently and Ross Adler kindly stood in as our representative on that very successful evening. Locally, the OM Sesquicentenary Dinner was held in June and 730 OMs attended. This was held at the NGV and was a highly successful night, still being talked about by those who attended. It is notable that the OMs Council subsidised the night substantially, which added to its success.

In September, an evening was held to showcase the Steinway piano in which the OMs were significant in contributing to its purchase. Thirteen of our most talented current and past students performed in front of the audience, predominantly

donors, under the instruction of Martin Rutherford. The life expectancy of this amazing musical instrument is predicted to be in the vicinity of 50 to 60 years. It will be prominent in its position in The Old Melburnians War Memorial Hall.

The Strategic Plan has been passed by Council and is currently being implemented. This will enable us to secure our financial position and position within the Grammar community, as well as pave the way forward for the OMs to grow in both membership and quality of member services.

This document is available for any of the OMs and Grammar community to peruse at their leisure. I would like to thank John Whittington who has been instrumental in developing this plan and I look forward to benefiting, along with all our members, from its successful implementation.

The OMs Fellowship for younger members is now available and application forms will be available in early 2009 for those members up to the age of 28 years. Projects outside an applicant’s given career path and with a community-based emphasis will be considered, with the best applicant(s) being the successful recipient(s) of a bursary of up to $10,000 for pursuit of their project. The successful applicant will be announced at next year’s annual dinner.

We have had some recent changes to the OMs Council in that Campbell Kennedy has retired from the role of Treasurer and Council member and Simon Wilson has retired after a long period of time on the OMs Council. I would like to thank both of these OMs for their generous contribution.

I recently retired as President of The Old Melburnians Council and Simon Derham has now taken over. I wish Simon all the best and would like to take this opportunity to thank the Council and OMs in general for their generous support.

Stephen Gibbons Immediate Past President

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Old Melburnians Football Club

Bowls Club

Ned Morrison (OM 2005), Charles Wilmoth (OM 2004) and Hamish Turner (OM 1997) at Vote Count Night

Old Melburnian bowlers with The Old Melburnians Immediate Past President Stephen Gibbons at the Public Schools Old Boys Bowls Tournament

The Old Melburnians Football Club experienced a season of contrasting halves. After winning only two of the first nine games, the team, under coach Mick Lovejoy, began to play a harder running and tackling style of play. The team won four of the last six games, which included victories over two sides in the final four and a comprehensive thrashing of bottom side Old Caulfield by 110 points. The season finished on a confident note and provides optimism for next year.

With the cooler weather now behind us, members of the Old Melburnians Bowls Club are eagerly looking forward to another season on bowling greens around Melbourne. The season opens with a game against old rival, the Old Scotch Collegians and competition continues through summer and autumn, concluding in mid-April.

The Under 19s, under coach Frank Dunell, won the minor premiership, but unfortunately lost in their finals appearances. A great performance for the season, which gives rise to optimism for season 2009. Great to see players from the 1978 B Grade Premiership and the 1988 C Grade Premiership Team in attendance during the season.

The Committee will be further strengthened with some important additions and recruiting is already underway with a heavy emphasis on OMs playing at other clubs and in other leagues. All boys leaving school, regardless of ability, are welcome at the Club in 2009. Over 120 boys represented the Club in our four teams.

Congratulations to Charlie Wilmoth, winner of the Senior Best and Fairest; Al Armstrong, winner of the Under 19s Best and Fairest; and Angus Waddell for reaching the 200game milestone.

Andrew Ristrom President, OMs Football Club

Games are held mid-week, on either Wednesday or Thursday, at two-week intervals, against other Public School past student associations and some bowling clubs. OM Bowls has players of all levels of experience and ability, and games are arranged to be competitive.

Looking back on the season past, the Old Melburnians played nine games, winning seven and losing two, for a total of 155 shots up. Several new members joined our group during the year, including two bowlers from country areas.

The Alen Eilenberg Trophy, the Club’s award for attendance and performance on the greens during the season, was won for the third time by Mark Aarons (OM 1944). It is a tribute to his ability and consistency as a lawn bowler.

Old Melburnians who are lawn bowlers and are, perhaps, a little bored in their local bowling club environment, may wish to expand their bowling horizons with the Old Melburnians Bowls Club – new members are always welcome. Contact Secretary Bruce Hall (OM 1949) on 9836 3196 or via email: hall@melbpc.org.au.

Bruce Hall Secretary, OMs Bowls Club

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Community News Weddings

Retired Staff Association

Congratulations

The membership of the Retired Staff Association, affectionately known as the Dinosaurs, has now reached 170 full and associate members. Our hard-working and long-serving secretary Kathleen Comery has calculated that this adds up to 2,452 years of service to the School by our members. The Association continues to provide a full program of activities for our members, including the regular publication of our own newsletter, Dino-News, edited by Peter Valder.

The highlight of this year’s events was the very well attended Annual General Meeting and luncheon at Leonda on 5 June at which the Headmaster Paul Sheahan was the guest of honour. In his moving Grace before lunch Denis Woodbridge referred to the deaths of three of our members during the last 12 months: Vera Urban, Neil Audsley and Ian Harrison.

At the lunch Paul Sheahan was presented with a splendid portrait drawing

by Des Norman. The guest speaker at the lunch was Jeremy Smith (OM 1985), Senior Archaeologist with Heritage Victoria, who gave a fascinating if somewhat macabre account of how archaeological field work, when combined with historical research, can lead to the uncovering of some of the secrets of Victoria’s violent past. The Committee is now preparing the program for 2009, confident that we can draw on the talents of many of our own members, as we have in the past, to present a stimulating and interesting

The Grammar community is pleased to congratulate the following couples who recently celebrated their marriages in the Chapel of St Peter:

4 April 2008 Robert Wills (OM 1988) & Katrina McKenzie

24 April 2008 Sunil Daniel (OM 1991) & Amanda Lynch

3 May 2008 Hamish Ogilvy (OM 1995) & Nicky Perdikeas

9 May 2008 Andrew Bailey (OM 1994) & Amanda Lyddy-Meaney

17 May 2008 Tim Warner (OM 1982) & Anna Blainey

4 July 2008 Lloyd Johnson (OM 1990) & Louissa Edwards

23 August 2008 Ben Ong (OM 1996) & Samantha Chen

30 August 2008 Mark Rugless (OM 1988) & Sarah Condron

11 October 2008 Tim Wilson (OM 1996) & Anna Harvey

18 October 2008 George Kasikovic (OM 1975) & Michelle Donegan

26 October 2008 Robert Parker (OM 1984) & Sarah Griffith

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

series of events. Geoffrey Smith, President Don Grant (OM 1951) a very proud Old Melburnian wrote to the Headmaster earlier this year about finding a friend and former classmate Junichi Amano (OM 1951) in Japan. Don and Junichi were in the same class together at Grimwade House and played at each other’s houses and in the sandpit at Grimwade House in 1940–41. Their companions in the playground were Donald Bennett (OM 1951) and Charles KingsfordSmith Jnr (OM 1951).

Don reported that after some very complicated research he managed to track down Junichi in Japan and they both correspond regularly, catching up on the past, both aged 76 years of age. Don reports that Junichi’s English is perfect and his handwriting better than Don’s own. They both however prefer the computer!

John Wion (OM 1954) an internationally recognised flutist and one of the 150 Notable Old Melburnians included in the Talents Committed Exhibition has recently published an autobiography entitled Wood, Silver and Gold, A flutist’s life. The review of the book describes it as a “very personal and engaging autobiography”.

Hugh Prentice (OM 1960) and his wife Dorothy have retired to Mont Albert North after 27 years of service in Tanzania and Namibia with the Church Missionary Society of Australia. Canon Hugh, an Anglican priest,

was a theological lecturer and Dr Dorothy was a medical practitioner and administrator. They thank God for their 40 years of marriage, for their fruitful years with CMS in Africa, and for the joy of reconnecting with family and friends in Melbourne.

Richard Atkins (OM 1967) is currently working in Bremen in Germany with the MARS Group, having commenced with MARS in Wodonga after completing a Degree in Commerce from Deakin University.

He has been overseas for three years spending a year in Dublin in Ireland with MARS. He loves his sport, competing in the Berlin Marathon and recently completed a Half Ironman in Zurich, Switzerland.

Peter Rodda (OM 1982) writes: “Since leaving in 1982, I have pursued a career in commercial aviation working for various companies in Australia and Asia. From January 1994 until April 2008 I have been working for Hong Kong Dragon Airlines Ltd (Dragonair) based in Hong Kong. From 2002 until 2005 I was the Company’s Flight Standards Manager and from 2006 to April 2008 I served as the Head of Training for Dragonair’s Boeing 747-400 Fleet. As of May this I he decided that a change of pace was in order and have recently returned to Australia and joined Jetstar Airways Pty Ltd as an Airbus Captain. On a personal note I am married to Amanda and have a son and daughter”.

Patrick Porter (OM 1994) has just published Military Orientalism – Eastern War Through Western Eyes.

Patrick studied at the University of Melbourne and Oxford University before an appointment as lecturer in the Joint Services Command Staff College at King’s College, University of London.

We recently received a phone call from Amy Guest advising that she and her husband Chris Guest (OM 1996) celebrated the birth of their daughter Sophie Kathleen Mackay Guest on 1 October 2008.

Obituaries The School has learnt of the following deaths in our community. Our sympathy and understanding is extended to their family and friends.

Ballan, R N (OM 1926)

Pearce, J W (OM 1942)

Beckett, R J (OM 1956)

Perkins, E I (OM 1954)

Blake, I R W (OM 1928)

Reeve, P A (OM 1961)

Bleakley, W W (Past Parent)

Reimers, M G (Current Staff)

Boothby, J M D (Past Parent)

Ross, P A (OM 1955)

Brett, J H (OM 1947)

Shaw, R (OM 1948)

Bush, E (FOTS)

Shute, N V (OM 1944)

Busteed, W H (OM 1941)

Staley, D H (OM 1932)

Butler, J R (OM 1940)

Strickland AM OBE KStJ, F R G (OM 1938)

Calder OBE DFC JP, S E (OM 1934)

Stuckey, J W (OM 1958)

Carroll, D P (OM 1960)

Tayler, C E (OM 1932)

Cassomenos, N (Past Parent)

Thomas, R R (OM 1943)

Chenney, D J (OM 1944)

Thomson, J (OM 1951)

David Lindsey Harper (OM 1961) For service to law reform, to the judiciary, and in the area of international humanitarian law, and to the community through support services for the care and resettlement of offenders and their families.

Cohn, J (FOTS)

Walter, D (OM 1935)

Crawford, D E (OM 1942)

Willers, P S (OM 1948)

Dawson, M P (OM 1945)

Yencken, E H (OM 1943)

Member of the Order of Australia

Fenton, L A (OM 1945)

Richard Kinsley Tronson (OM 1964) For service to politics through roles supporting the executive function of government, and to the Australian Maritime College.

Fetter, M (OM 1946)

Queen’s Birthday Honours On behalf of the Grammar community we extend our congratulations to the following people who were awarded an honour in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2008.

Member of the Order of Australia

Derham AC KStJ, Sir Peter J (OM 1943) Eggington, W B (OM 1937)

Fraser, A N (1933)

Vale Michael Reimers

Gibson, A A (OM 1946)

Michael joined the Melbourne Grammar School Art Department in 2004. He was a very popular teacher of Visual Communication and Design and rapidly built an excellent rapport with staff and students.

Michael became very ill during his second year with a brain tumour. For the next two years he worked on and off whilst he underwent treatment, finally succumbing to the illness on 30 August 2008. He will be greatly missed as a Tutor in Ross House and as a highly respected and much loved friend, colleague and teacher. His legacy will enrich the Motorworks for many years to come.

Glass, R L B (OM 1928) Greig, D J (OM 1960)

Remembering C.A. Bell

Head, J P (Current Staff)

Cranbrook School 1932–56, Melbourne Grammar School 1957–73 Malcolm Dan, David Castle and Ian Rutherford

Hollaway, J D (Past Parent)

Hirst, L (OM 1938) Hunt, P J (OM 1953) Hunt, R R (OM 1955)

Remembering C.A. Bell, a biography of Mr C.A. Bell, will be available in early 2009 and was begun by a group of Old Cranbrookians who were taught by Mr Bell. While the book covers his life from his birth and early education in the Upper Hunter Valley, NSW, to his death in 1988, its main focus is his work in the two schools where he spent over 40 years.

Jago J D (OM 1945) Kempter, H G (OM 1939) Krohn, K (OM 1937) Lawson, E H (OM 1925) Legg, P G (OM 1955) McFarlane, Sir Ian (OM 1940)

Those who encountered him at MGS will be particularly interested to read about his first 50 years in his home state, his first job at Wolaroi College, Orange, and the 25 years of the close association and influence he enjoyed whilst working with Mr B.W. (later Sir Brian) Hone, first at Cranbrook and then at Melbourne Grammar School.

Mackinnon, B A (OM 1944) Millis, F E (OM 1931) Moss, P S (OM 1942) Murray, G C (OM 1964) Murray, J S (OM 1962) Nethercote, J G (Past Parent)

As soon as the book is published, the MGS Development Office will provide further information for those wishing to obtain copies.

Opas QC, P H N (OM 1931) Park, W D B (OM 1925)

Cat Poljski Head of Art

Ian Rutherford (OM 1950), Staff 1960–96 Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Branches & Reunions Canberra Function 1

Enjoying the pleasant surrounds of the Commonwealth Club are Chris Derham (OM 1960), Brigadier David Buring (OM 1958), Convenor Ian Gillespie Jones (OM 1963) and Old Melburnians Council member Andrew Tulloch (OM 1986)

2

Headmaster Paul Sheahan, Bursar David Temple, Old Melburnians Council member Andrew Tulloch (OM 1986) with Convenor Ian Gillespie Jones (OM 1963)

3

Peter McAuley (OM 2005) with partner Sophie Dening enjoy the surrounds of the Commonwealth Club

4

Miho Yu-Okano and Albert Yu (OM 2002) with Headmaster Paul Sheahan at the Commonwealth Club

1948 Sixty Year Reunion 8

David Begg and David Debenham enjoy catching up after so many years

9

Val Johnson and Ian McAlister recall their days in the Quad

1998 Ten Year Reunion 10 Matthew McLean and Michael Birch at the Clarendon Hotel 11 Sunny Lee and Michael Cutler enjoy catching up at the Clarendon Hotel 12 Julia Kilvington, Diana Coutts and Adam Wall discuss their days at Grimwade House

LG Robertson Reunion 5

Sev Clark (OM 1962) and John Alsop catch up at the LGR Reunion

6

Oliver Streeton (OM 1959) with Gordon Jones (former staff member) and Daryl Evans (OM 1960)

7

Gerald Swinnerton (OM 1963), Michael Gaylard (OM 1962) and Gillian Swinnerton

1 2

3 4

5 6 38

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5 6

7 8

9 10

11 12

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39

Friends of Grammar Senior School 2008 began with a sea of dark blue marching towards St Paul’s Cathedral for the Whole School Service, the first official event of what has been a remarkable year of celebration for our community. It was a sight that evoked so much pride in our students and our school, a pride that would swell with each and every Sesquicentenary event.

Members of Friends of Grammar (parents, past and present students and staff) brought their expertise and passion to a series of celebratory events that will live long in our memories. The Friends of Grammar Senior School Committee is particularly thrilled to have staged the ‘Welcome’ event for the International Rugby Tournament held in July. Our guests from as far away as the Oundle School UK and Tamagawa Academy Japan, were treated to a fitting occasion, for what was an unforgettable, friendship-building week. We were also very proud to support the initiative associated with the Cordner-Eggleston Cup celebrations with a donation to the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership.

Another highlight for Friends of Grammar was the unveiling of our Sesquicentenary gift to the School, the much anticipated ‘exploded geodesic dome’ bearing the name of our stunning new building, The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership. Students from each of the campuses, along with the man himself, Mr Peck, released white doves as a symbol of the School sending its young people out into the world to make a difference. I’m sure you will all agree, this striking gift is the perfect way to project the Melbourne Grammar message.

for MGS TV so the dedicated ‘crew’ can adequately cover the many news stories happening every day on campus.

With Lucy Mora and the Arts Auxiliary’s expertise, FOG has launched the new Gear Box Gallery at Motor Works, a brilliant exhibition opportunity for both Melbourne’s contemporary artists and our students.

In 2008, Friends of Grammar also produced its second ‘must-have’ CD with ‘Peace on Earth, Lessons & Carols in the Chapel of St Peter’. It’s a beautiful, historical album featuring our renowned Chapel Choir under the direction of Mr Philip Carmody. I urge every family to purchase a copy for their collection and commend it as a wonderful festive gift. Details of how to secure your copies in this edition of Grammar News.

Friends of Grammar is thrilled to have contributed to the purchase of the new Steinway piano. I was literally moved to tears when our brilliant young pianists showcased this wonderful instrument and their own extraordinary gifts during the Concerto Concert in Term III.

Thank you to my wonderful team, my fellow Presidents, Penny and Su-lin, and the staff at the Lodge for their continued support. Best wishes to Annie Cleaver, Susie Immurs and Di O’Sullivan and the new members of Friends of Grammar in 2009.

At Senior School, we’re delighted to encourage creative pursuits and in the second semester provided equipment

Last of all, farewell to an outstanding cohort of young men.

Good luck to the class of 2008, the Sesquicentenary Year 12s who march from the bluestone into an exciting future.

Nigel Peck and students officially unveil the exploded geodesic dome sculpture outside The Nigel Peck Centre for Learning and Leadership by releasing white doves

Wani Wall President FOG Senior School and Executive

Wadhurst It is hard to believe 2008 and the Sesquicentenary year is coming to an end. Wadhurst has been involved in many of the activities and we hope you have been able to participate in and enjoy some of these special events.

Some of the highlights at Wadhurst this year have included our annual family breakfast, which was attended by over 300 people at the end of Term II. We also held our inaugural Father/Son Trivia Night, which was a great success – everyone enjoyed pizzas and it was wonderful 40

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

to see the interaction between the boys and their fathers/ brothers etc. We also enjoyed the Athletics Day, Wadhurst Sesquicentenary Play, Wadhurst Concert, Wadhurst Art Display and the second-hand book sale before the end of the School year.

We have held a number of well attended year-level functions including morning teas, cocktail parties, lunches, Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day stalls, which have only been successful due to the commitment of our great group of class reps.

They spend a lot of time working behind the scenes and we have really appreciated all their help throughout the year.

I have thoroughly enjoyed my time with FOG Wadhurst and would especially like to thank the committee of Sally-Ann Balharrie, Julie and Keith Donohue, Sophie Gardiner, Susie Immurs, Wayne Lam, Jane Lechte, Annabel McFarlane, Deb Middleton, Michele Paine, Anna Permezel, Terri Ross, Sophie Trotter and Lucinda Udovenya for all their hard work and support during the year. Best wishes to Susie Immurs and the incoming Committee for 2009!

This year, we have been pleased to support the Sculptural Signage, Steinway Piano, the Fellowship for Indigenous Leadership and a staff bursary through the FOG Executive. In addition, we will be contributing to the Wadhurst wish-list by purchasing equipment for the new Wadhurst Sports Centre.

Finally, a special thank you to Greg Caldwell, the Wadhurst staff, the Lodge and in particular to Lynda and Gabs in the Wadhurst office who are always so helpful and efficient.

Penny Fowler President FOG Wadhurst

Grimwade House

Wadhurst students and their fathers have their eyes on the prize at the Father/Son Trivia Night

for the Year 5 Community Problem Solving teams that have worked to such great effect on a wide variety of projects this year. The Grimwade House community responded with great generosity to a call for good-quality second-hand shirts, which were sent to Papua New Guinea, and socks and shoes, which we delivered to Noble Park Primary School.

This year we have also donated to the School, among other things, an interactive whiteboard and a banner for the Physical Education Department.

The Grimwade House Swap Shop has been operating for about 18 months and provides an important service to the School community. Thank you to the FOGG Committee, Class Representatives and parents for sorting, tagging and manning the Shop every Wednesday afternoon. Thank you also to the Class Representatives for providing beautiful flowers each week for the Chapel of St Andrew.

As this school year draws to a close, it is wonderful to look back on a very exciting year at Grimwade House. Our regular (and always much anticipated!) events were interspersed with truly memorable events that celebrated the School’s Sesquicentenary. There have been many opportunities for parents to meet old friends and make new ones, with parent functions, morning teas, dinners, lunches, walks, gallery tours and a book club all well attended.

It has been very exciting to participate in the many Sesquicentenary events, including the whole School photo and the Sesquicentenary service at St Paul’s Cathedral.

Many Grimwade parents enjoyed the Celebration Ball, and many asked eagerly, “when is the next one?” The Talents Committed Exhibition was fascinating and inspiring, and the Sesquicentenary Concert was a marvellous showcase of the School’s music program.

The annual Year 3 Father and Child Night in Term II was great fun, and we hope parents enjoyed the gifts that were purchased with such care from the Mothers’ and Fathers’ Day stalls. The Prep and Middle Primary Special Visitors Days were extremely well attended, and the Class Representatives did a wonderful job putting on morning teas that made the days extra special. Coffee for the parents and an icy pole for the children at the Athletics days were enthusiastically received.

I would like to thank the Grimwade House community for their support of our work throughout the year – the parents and students, the enthusiastic and hard-working Class Representatives, Head of Grimwade House Andrew Boyd and the wonderful Grimwade House staff, and the tireless, wonderful FOGG Committee. It has been a privilege to work with you this year. I would also like to thank Wani Wall, Penny Fowler and the staff at the Lodge, and to wish next year’s FOG Committees all the very best for a wonderful year.

We were very pleased to be able to run a hot chocolate stall in Term II and a dressmaking day in Term III to raise funds

Su-lin Loh President FOG Grimwade House

Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

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Community Diary Dates School Tours

Scholarships

Why not join one of our regular tours to see what Melbourne Grammar School has to offer? Tours are held during the school day and are particularly designed for families to view the educational facilities of each campus.

Year 7 and 9 – 2010 Entry

Grimwade House Small group tours of our coeducational junior campus are held on a regular basis. Further information and bookings can be made by contacting the Grimwade House Office on (03) 9865 7800.

Wadhurst February – Wednesday 18 at 9.15am

Scholarships are awarded on the basis of academic excellence and are also available for boys of outstanding musical ability.

The scholarship examination will be held on Saturday 28 February 2009.

For scholarship information and to make an application please visit our website www.mgs.vic.edu.au.

Applications close on Thursday 19 February 2009.

Enquiries to the Admissions office on 03 9865 7570 or email enrol@mgs.vic.edu.au.

March – Tuesday 31 at 1.45pm to 3pm (Discover Wadhurst Day) April – Friday 24 at 9.15am May – Tuesday 26 at 9.15am Bookings are essential and can be made with the Admissions Secretary on (03) 9865 7570.

Senior School February – Wednesday 25 at 9.15am March – Tuesday 17 at 9.15am

Discover Wadhurst Day Discover Wadhurst, Melbourne Grammar’s learning community for boys in Years 7 and 8.

Tour Wadhurst in action, and experience the energy of a school purpose-built for the 21st-century teenager.

May – Friday 1 at 9.15am June – Wednesday 10 at 9.15am

Tuesday 31 March 2009, 1.45pm to 3pm (briefing at 2pm, visit classrooms and view activities from 2.30pm).

Bookings are essential and can be made with the Admissions Secretary on (03) 9865 7570.

Wadhurst, 1 Domain Road, Melbourne VIC 3004.

Boarding Precinct

Enquiries: 03 9865 7700 or enrol@mgs.vic.edu.au

Friday 1 May 2009 at 2pm to 4pm (Boarding Information Day) Tours of the boarding precinct are organised on request. To make a booking please call the Admissions Secretary on (03) 9865 7570.

Worth Leaving Home For Boarding is an outstanding formative experience and there is no better place to enjoy it than at Melbourne Grammar School.

Come and visit our outstanding boarding facilities from 2pm to 4pm on Friday 1 May 2009. This is a special opportunity for parents and students to tour the boarding facilities and meet our staff.

For bookings or more information about boarding please contact the Director of Admissions on 03 9865 7570 or enrol@mgs.vic.edu.au

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Melbourne Grammar School – Grammar News

The Old Melburnians Annual Dinner The Sesquicentenary Old Melburnians Dinner was held at the National Gallery of Victoria on 13 June 2008. Guests enjoyed the impersonations of Barry Humphries and Frank Thring by the talented Gerry Connolly.

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Melbourne Grammar School 355 St Kilda Road Melbourne Victoria 3004 Australia T +61 3 9865 7555 F +61 3 9865 7577 mgs@mgs.vic.edu.au www.mgs.vic.edu.au ABN 61 004 453 829