SCOTS PGC PSA Newsletter | July Edition

July | 2022 Edition

Compiled by Katie Coleman | SCOTS PGC College Past Student Officer

Welcome SCOTS PGC Collegians!

July was certainly a busy month which included lots of events to celebrate and times to reminisce over.

The town came to life with the annual Jumpers and Jazz in July festival, and as usual, the College played their part in bringing the community together.

A highlight since our last newsletter was a special gathering we hosted in late June, where we welcomed back past students to remember othe College’s evacuation in 1942 when the Oxenham St campus was commandeered by the Australian Army at the beginning of WWII. We have captured the day with special commemorative video - please take time to watch it on page 4.

We have also recognised a few milestones in the last month. Did you know that it has also been 25 years since the John Muir Sports Centre and Scott Finlay boarding wing opened? How time flies!

If you have news to share, please get in contact - we would love to hear from you!

Class of 2012

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Meet your Past Student Council Chairman | Martin Webb Upcoming Past Student Events Updates from past students and what they’re up to News from the College and the Foundation Photo galleries and links to videos

Mark these dates on the calendar for these great opportunities to reconnect with classmates and the College...

August Annual Sunset Drinks Brisbane | Saturday 13 August 2022 Click Here to book your tickets!

October

Past Students Association Reunion Weekend Warwick | Saturday 8 October 2022 & Sunday 9 October 2022 SATURDAY 8 October 10.00am PGC Campus Tour (Locke St) 11.00am SCOTS PGC Campus Tour (Oxenham St) From 12 noon Picnic in the playground (Junior School) BYO your own picnic and be entertained by the SCOTS PGC Pipes and Drums Afternoon events include the option of the Warwick Races or Past Student Dinner Warwick Cup Races | ‘Tartan & Tweed’ theme from 1.00pm | PSA Marquee at the Warwick Turf Cub – afternoon and evening event Tickets available online in August Past Student Reunion Dinner from 6.00pm | Des Davey Dining Hall

SUNDAY 9 October P&F Golf Day Tee off from 8am | More details to follow in June Chapel Service | 9.30am followed by morning tea in Chapel Hall

Meet your COucil Chairman MARTIN WEBB CLASS OF 1986

Martin has built a career spanning very different physical environments but with a consistent thread of learning and adventure holding it together. Martin started work as a Jackaroo on a sheep station in the Riverina in NSW, on to Blackall and then back to the family property in southwest Queensland.

The collapse of the wool floor price scheme was a strong catalyst to consider alternative industries.

After completing a university entry course via distance education, he earned a position at Griffith University to study economics and finance.

After graduating from University in 2001, Martin moved to Canberra under the graduate program working at The Department of Finance and then Treasury.

In Canberra, he had many experiences including four budgets, technical support to various pieces of legislation being considered by House of Reps and Senate Committees, and a stint in the adviser boxes when Parliament was sitting.

Martin was also part of a team which wrote and published a book on governance standards that remains in use today.

The years of experience developing policy, provision of advice and a passion for investing came together with an opportunity to join Graham Financial, a boutique financial planning firm based in Toowoomba, Queensland, where Martin is currently a Partner and Principal Adviser.

Martin is the current Chair of the SCOTS PGC College Council, a role he has been enthusiastic about since commencing in 2018.

80 YEARS ON...

On the 21 June we welcomed back some of our senior past students to celebrate our history and remember the school’s evacuation in 1942 when the Oxenham St campus was commandeered by the Australian Army at the beginning of WWII. Following the evacuation, our College established makeshift schools at Kingswood Homestead (on Canningvale Rd) and North Toolburra Station (on the Allora back road), where they remained for the duration of the war.

It’s often said that friendships forged during hardship are strong enough to withstand the test of time and all of the challenges in between. These types of friendships are abundant among our past students and it was truly wonderful to hear stories from times gone by and reflect on what a different world our students were living in some 80 years ago.

The gathering provided the opportunity to visit both the Kingswood and North Toolburra homesteads and reminisce about ‘the good old days’. Past students also took a walk around the College, located their names on honour boards, chatted, laughed and marvelled at how the boarding facilities of today are vastly different to what it was ‘back in the day’.

The ‘originals’ of Kingswood and North Toolburra...

Ian Hiley, Geoff Hamilton, Alec Peden and Rodney Gibson

Peter Hazelwood and Paul Markey Rodney Gibson and Ian Hiley

Rodney Gibson And Alec Peden Past School Captains Alec Peden, , Greg Finlay Paul Markey Jack Henry and Nic McGahan

Roslyn Hart, Elizabeth Carey and Marian Backhouse Scott and Margaret Finlay reunite with Mary and Alec Peden.

? w o n k u o y d i D

When we leave the green gates we often wonder what our old classmates are doing and how they’re getting on. Our student profile section ‘Did you know?’ provides short snippets of SCOTS PGC graduates and what they’re up to.

DR SIMON PERKINS | Class of 2002, Dr Simon Perkins is a Queensland-trained Orthopaedic Surgeon with a specialist interest in hip, knee and trauma surgery.

After graduating from SCOTS PGC, Dr Perkins studied Medicine at the University of Queensland and underwent his surgical training locally. After receiving a Fellowship with the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, he completed sub-speciality fellowships in Complex and Revision Lower Limb Arthroplasty in London, UK and Knee Surgery in Bristol, UK. Dr Simon also worked on the front line during the first COVID wave in the ICU in London.

Dr Perkins is the Director of Orthopaedics at The Prince Charles Hospital (TPCH) and is a Staff Specialist Surgeon at The Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital (RBWH). He is a Senior Lecturer at the University of Queensland School of Medicine, a Fellow of the Australian Orthopaedic Association, and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons.

Simon has a strong connection with the College as his grandfather, Scott Finlay, was a past College Chairman and his mother, Wendy Perkins (Nee Finlay), along with several other uncles, aunts, and cousins attended SCOTS PGC College.

See the link of Dr Simon Perkins speaking about his time on the front line during Covid in the UK https://7news.com.au/.../aussie-doctors-stranded-in-the...

BRIAN PACHOLKE | Class of 1974 & GLENN PACHOLKE | Class of 1975 It was wonderful to receive a visit from Brian and Glenn Pacholke who called into the College during their visit to the Jumpers and Jazz in July Festival.

Brian flew up from Sydney and Glenn is based in Brisbane. The brothers enjoyed their tour around the College reminiscing about their days in boarding. They were also delighted to run into Mr Pickering, who made their catch up even more worthwhile.

Thanks for dropping Brian and Glenn!

AMITY ROBSON | Class of 2015 Congratulations to Amity Robson, who as recently announced as a State Finalist for the 2022 Queensland Rural Ambassador representing St George Show and Southwest Queensland. The winner will be announced on the 13 August at the 2022 Queensland Rural Ambassador Awards in Brisbane.

As the Vice President of the St George Pastoral and Agricultural Association, Amity has a strong involvement in her local show which also extends to holding the role of Chief Pavilion Steward.

As a self-taught drone operator, she is working towards developing her skills to create content showcasing ‘a day in the life of a farmer’. Amity has a strong interest in the machines used in agriculture and how applying technology and innovative practices can be used to greater utilise the land. She prides herself on being able to have a conversation about almost anything related to agriculture.

Amity currently works as a Parts Interpreter for RDO St George and operates her own small business, ‘Stick it Designs’, creating laser engraving designs and custom printed stickers. Having also worked as a contract machinery operator and on her family’s property, in the future, she hopes to own her own farm with her partner. Amity is hoping to utilise the RA experience to learn about why people become involved in ag shows and apply this to her local community to encourage the next generation to get involved.

SUZY MUNT | Class of 1999 Suzy Munt recently made Partner at the prestigious BDO Australia Accounting firm. Suzy studied at The University of Queensland and has a Bachelor of Business Management, Bachelor of Commerce, Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accountancy (CAANZ). She started at BDO as a graduate 17.5 years ago and has been excelling ever since.

Suzy is accredited with Family Business Australia as a Specialist Advisor and helps family businesses with intergenerational wealth transfer, family charters, succession planning and general business advisory. She has recently worked on assignments in New Zealand, Fiji and Brisbane, helping families with their succession, family charters and business strategy.

On Saturday 19 July 1997, The John Muir Centre was officially opened by the former Chairman of the College Council, Mr John Muir. On the very same day, The Scott Finlay Wing of Cunningham House was officially opened by the former Chairman of the College Council, Mr Scott Finlay.

Both men are past students of the College.

Did you know the John Muir Sports Centre was initially intended to include an indoor heated swimming pool? That is why there are so many doors on the northern side!🏊‍♀️🏊‍♀️

JUMPERS AND JAZZ! It’s one of our favourite times of the year - a time that our town really comes to life and when we experience a lot visitors to the region. We also find that it is a prime time for lots of past students to come back and visit the College.

This year, the College was again involved with the Jumpers and Jazz program. Our STEM students had a great time designing and creating ‘A night of Light Jazz’, a light show which is choreographed to jazz music. The show ran for three consecutive nights in the first week of the festival.

Our Junior School also decorated a downtown tree and a tree on the College campus. Our ‘Quirky Birds’ Tree came first place in the ‘Created by Children’ category for the Jumpers and Jazz festival.

Senior students once again helped out with surveying the public about their visit to Warwick, while Hospitality students were on hand to assist with various events throughout the festival.

Bound for Scotland The College said farewell to five fantastic students as they set off for the trip of a lifetime.

Joshua, Fraser, Samuel, Rory and Nicholas, alongside Mr Sandy Dalziel and the Brisbane Boys’ College Pipe Band set off to Scotland on 27 July to perform in The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo the pinnacle event for any piper or drummer.

The boys have been preparing for months, learning a host of new tunes in preparation for their 5-week tour which will include 26 shows at Edinburgh Castle, at the Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo.

In addition, the band will also be competing at the Scottish Championships at Dumbarton (30 July), the North Berwick Highland Games (6 August), the Bridge of Allan Highland Games (7 August) and the World Championships (13 August).

Best of luck and best wishes to you all!

Please get in touch with Past Student Administrator - Katie Coleman (07 4666 9887 | kate.coleman@scotspgc.com.au) to share any updates on life events and special achievements since leaving the College.