AHS Old Scholars Newsletter April 2021

Adelaide High School Old Scholars Association Inc News - April 2021 In this Edition Coming Events ..................................................... 1 • AHOS Annual General Meeting .............. 1 • Conversazione ............................................. 1 • Old Scholars Dinner .................................. 2 The Adelaide High Vitae Medal...........................2 Congratulations ................................................... 3 Onwards and Upwards ...................................... 3 Old Scholar, Sia .................................................... 4 Teachers’ Gathering ........................................... 4 Old Scholar Honoured ...................................... 5 This Woman Never Stops ................................. 5 Old Scholars We Have Lost Recently ............ 6 Can You Help - 1970 & 1971 AGHS Prefects. 6 Opening of the Performing Arts Centre ....... 7 Dux of School 2020 ........................................... 7

Committee Members

Welcome to the First Edition of the 2021 Newsletter.

COMING EVENTS ADELAIDE HIGH OLD SCHOLARS ASSOC.

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Monday, May 17, 2021 7.00 pm

Staffroom at Adelaide High School First Floor, West Terrace, Adelaide

PATRON

Margaret Nyland

PRESIDENT

Stephen Mitchell

VICE-PRESIDENT

Glen Uzzell

You are cordially invited to attend this meeting to see what this Association does, not only for its Members, Old Scholars but also its on-going support of the School, which formed such a great part of our lives.

SECRETARY

Peter Burford

A light supper will be served. We look forward to seeing you there.

TREASURER

Christine Zootjens

EX-OFFICIO

Peter Sanderson Stephen Dowdy Anita Zocchi Cez Green

COMMITTEE Sue Morris

Flora Rumbelow

Malcolm Allen

Sinclair Mann

Heather Smith

Glen Uzzell NEWSLETTER EDITOR Kay Koch

0428 844 441 kay.koch@bigpond.com Adelaide High School West Terrace, Adelaide South Australia Phone: 61 8 8231 9373 Facsimile: 61 8 8212 7827 office@adelaidehs.sa.edu.au http://ahsosa.org.au M AHSOSA News

CONVERSAZIONE

Saturday, August 7, 2021 2.00 pm - 4.30 pm

in the School Hall at Adelaide High School West Terrace, Adelaide Afternoon tea will be served (at a small cost) and we will be honouring the Prefects, students and staff who attended in 1970 and 1971 (two years this time as we missed out celebrating last year due to COVID).

Further details in the next Newsletter. Keep well, safe and positive (and of course, distanced).

OLD SCHOLARS DINNER

Friday, October 15, 2021 (See details on Page 2)

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April 2021

OLD SCHOLARS DINNER

Friday, October 15, 2021 6.30 pm for 7.30 pm Adelaide Pavilion South Terrace, Adelaide The tables are set, ready and waiting for you to come and meet with old and new friends for an appetising meal, convivial conversation and a quiet drink.

The Vitae Medal

The Adelaide High Vitae Medal

• Acknowledges old scholars who have sustained the School’s motto and values through their post-school achievements • Encourages greater association by old scholars in the life, values and vision of the School • Identifies old scholars who are exemplars for current students.

• The school Leadership Team awards the Medal on behalf of the school.

“Con has made excellent efforts and achievement in his time at this school. He is both energetic and painstaking in his studies. Con’s extracurricular activities include the School Jazz and Concert Bands, helping in the Canteen, National Maths and Science Competitions, Theatre Sports, Chess, Swimming and the Soccer team. In all these activities, Con has applied himself with vigour and enthusiasm, working well with others and making an excellent contribution to the school.”

Con joined the Adelaide High School staff as a Music Teacher in 2013. He is an integral member of the AHS Arts Learning Area Team and is passionate about music. Con establishes strong relationships with his students and will go out of his way to support individuals with their learning.

This is where leadership comes in: Con builds in students a love of music and confidence to thrive, to challenge themselves and achieve beyond their expectations.

Con has achieved too many outcomes to list and has contributed countless hours out of school supporting students and volunteering for the wider community.

School Principal, Cez Green and Con Piliouras This year’s recipient is CON PILIOURAS who attended Adelaide High School from 1994 until 1998.

Con loves music and he loves this school. This has become the vehicle for Con’s footprint. Con inspires, nurtures and quietly makes a difference to the lives of so many.’

Con’s citation reads ‘Richard Bolt, Con’s Pastoral Care Group teacher in Year 12, describes in a school reference:

April 2021

For several years, Con has organised the musical items for the annual Conversazione.

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AHSOSA News

Congratulations RILEY THILTHORPE, a graduate of Year 12 in 2020,

has been drafted to the Adelaide Crows. What an opportunity and honour for this hard working lad.

Not only did he complete his schooling last year, he also played for West Adelaide (how much studying was done?). We wish him every success in his football career.

Riley is the grandson of DELLA THILTHORPE (nee’ Little) (AGHS 1967 - ). Della and her husband James are justifiably proud of Riley.

Della has been a great supporter of the Old Scholars Association, is on the Committee (with school friend CHRISTINE ZOOTJENS, nee’ Steer, (AGHS 1967 - ) who is currently the Treasurer of the Association) and they both regularly attend the Old Scholars Dinners and the Conversazione Riley Thilthorpe pictured with his grandparents, Della and James Thilthorpe

Onwards and Upwards Life has certainly not stayed still for SIMON TURNER-MOODY (AHS 2004 – 2008). Eva Wilhelm was his Year 12 Home Group teacher.

Whilst at school, Simon’s interests were Basketball, Rowing, and the Italian Exchange.

After leaving school, Simon qualified as a plumber and worked in construction, did a TAFE course, worked in restaurants, travelled overseas and then finished his ATAR at the grand old age of 26 so he could fulfil his ambition to join the army and become an officer.

He is now at Duntroon and studying Undergraduate Business.

Simon is very well thought of by his Commanding Officers and fellow students alike.

This year he finally proposed to his soul-mate from school days, HONEY SCHRAPEL (AHS 2004 - 2008).

Congratulations Simon and Honey.

Simon Turner-Moody pictured in Military uniform

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Old Scholar, Sia SIA FURLER [SIA] (AHS 1988 – 1992) always

seems to be in the news. It is a long way from West Terrace to the USA and she has had a very successful and varied career.

Sia’s latest venture is a movie about an autistic girl, titled ‘Music’. The movie didn’t receive good reviews but I saw it and thought both the acting and musical scenes were outstanding. Interestingly, Sia saw Hamilton (the hit musical which has just opened in Sydney) and the lead singer was Leslie Odom. She was so moved by his performance that she went backstage to meet him and asked him to perform in her movie, which he did.

Leslie Odom Jnr and Sia

Teachers’ Gathering

Wonder What Went Wrong This article was in the Sunday Mail Can We Help Section -

PAYNE, Marj, lived at Cowandilla and went to

Adelaide Girls’ High School late 60’s - 70’s. Marj had an older brother at Uni. I want to apologise.

0403 818 804.

Hope this has now been resolved.

DON’ T FORGET IF YOU HAVE ANY NEWS ABOUT ANY OLD SCHOLARS, PLEASE CONTACT THE EDITOR, KAY KOCH, on 0428 844 441 OR Do you recognise any of these good looking fellows?

We will reveal who they are in the next Newsletter!

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kay.koch@bigpond.com

AHSOSA News

Old Scholar Honoured in Governor’s Multicultural Awards QASEM BAHMANZADAH (AHS 2011 - 2015)

was honoured in the Youth Section of the 2021 SA Governor’s Multicultural Awards. Qasem’s citation reads:

‘Qasem Bahmanzadah has been an outstanding leader since arriving in Australia from Afghanistan. His many community achievements, both past and present, include Youth Ambassador and Peer Leader with the Australian Refugee Association, a mentor with the Australian Indigenous Mentoring Experience, Vice President of the

Mawson Students Network and mentor for Spire Coaching.

Qasem has used his exceptional leadership skills to inspire and motivate others. As a community catalyst, Qasem has encouraged young refugees to advance themselves and become an integral part of the South Australian community. He is passionate about youth empowerment, supporting and helping those in need. Judges praised Qasem as a determined young man with a great future.’

Congratulations Qasem!

This Woman Never Stops FLORA RUMBELOW (nee’ Legge), student of Adelaide

Girls High (1962), Assistant Principal, Adelaide High then Principal of Ceduna Area School, is a person of many interests. These include being a community bus driver, golfer extraordinaire, committee person of the Old Scholars Association (and former archivist for the School) and her great passion, wood turning.

Flora belongs to the Northern Turners who have an exhibition every year in the Burnside Town Hall (normally held December/January). It is well worth a visit to inspect, appreciate and purchase quality works. Flora started wood turning when she was Assistant Principal and also did a course in cabinet making.

This February Flora was honoured as Artist of the Month at Pepper Street Gallery at Magill.

Congratulations Flora. Keep on Turning.

Above: Flora Rumbelow (nee Legge) Left: Flora’s wood turning work on display.

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April 2021

Old Scholars We Have Lost Recently MARGARET

FENWICK (nee’ Carlson), fondly remembered by her school friends as Squib (8/7/36 – 7/2/21) [AHS 1948 - 1952].

Margaret was a student, Prefect and teacher at Adelaide High. She was also a great supporter of the Old Scholars Association and particularly enjoyed the annual Conversazione (especially the afternoon tea).

Margaret’s cheerful nature, determined disposition and her love of Shakespeare and of her family, made her a very special person.

BILL SPEAR, OAM (5/10/34 – 11/2/21) [AHS 1947 1951]

A gifted sportsman, Bill played for the State in basketball, squash and tennis. He was a life member of the Squash Racquets Association of SA, West Adelaide Bearcats Basketball Club and the South Australian Jockey Club.

The latter was his great passion, where he was Deputy Chairman and was passionate about the sale of Cheltenham Racecourse and also the vote stacking which occurred during one of the elections.

Bill was always vocal in his opinions and loved to quote G K Chesterton “I believe in getting into hot water; it keeps you clean.”

Bill initially worked at the Electricity Trust of S.A after leaving school, then studied accountancy at night, which he practised for 55 years, only retiring in December, 2020.

Our thoughts are with Margaret’s family, particilarly her husband, GEORGE, who also taught at Adelaide Boys’ High School.

Can You Help?

PHYL SKINNER, OAM (AHS 1935 - 1936) passed away

on her 98th Birthday.

We are looking to contact the following

Phyl was a great Vaudevillian and cabaret performer who was still doing the splits at 90 and at 96 appeared in a concert farewelling the Old Her Majesty’s Theatre.

1970 and 1971 Adelaide Girls’ High School Prefects for the 2021 Conversazione.

(All names listed are Maiden Names) 1970 - Margaret BENNETT, Jacqueline CALDICOTT (1971 also), Silvija CEKULIS, Margaret DORSCH, Lynette GRIFFEN, Helen GRUNDY, Versa MANOS, Donna RADMAN, Robyn SAMPSON, Robin SMITH, Adrienne WHITE, Cathy WHITFORD.

In her show business life, Phyl worked for J C Williamson in musicals, pantomimes and many other Adelaide Theatre Companies as dancer, actress, choreographer and director.

1971 - Anne BANNISTER, Bronwyn BURFORD, Johan HUNT, Pam MULES, Karen O’NEILL, Ingrida SPOLE, Ellison VALLANCE. If you can help with contact information for any of the Prefects listed above, please email Trish Mibus (trish.mibus@adelaidehs.sa.edu.au), or phone Valda Lamb at the school on 8231 9373, Option 5.

Phyl was awarded an OAM (Order of Australia Medal) in the 1996 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for her services to the performing arts as a dance lecturer and historian, choreographer and artistic director.

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AHSOSA News

Opening of the Performing Arts Centre at the School This centre is such a wonderful opportunity for students to pursue their education in acting, dance and all aspects of music – a far cry from what we oldies had in Price Hall (AGHS) and the hall at AHS. John Gardner, Minister for Education opened the Centre in front of invited guests, including former students who have excelled in their chosen musical/acting direction, old scholars and, of course, current students who gave demonstrations of their various arts.

Photographed are ELIZABETH KOCH AM (AGHS 1964 - 1968), Associate Professor of Flute, Head of Woodwind and Head of Performance at Elder Conservatorium and GISELE BLANCHARD (AHS 1985 - 1989), Opera Singer with State Opera, who has also performed in most of the major opera houses in Europe.

Left: A student performs in one of the new performances spaces at the opening of the new Performing Arts Centre.

Below: Sam Lovatt (right), pictured with Vitae Medalist, Con Piliouras

Congratulations Sam Lovatt

Dux of the School 2020 Sam is currently studying for an Advanced Computer Science Degree.

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April 2021