18 minute read
JUNIOR & SENIOR SCHOOL
OLD Boys
From the President Old Boys Union
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Mr Stephen Bullock
Dear Old Boys, Despite being unable to provide a report on the events that would have occurred over the last few months, for obvious reasons, I write to you with great optimism for the upcoming 12 months, and I look forward to welcoming many of you back to the College for events that we will be able to host in 2022.
We have finalised event details and dates for Old Boy’s events for 2022:
• 50 Year (1972) Reunion Lunch – 19 March 2022
• Old Boys’ Oztag Day – 3 April 2022
• Old Boys Vintage Luncheon – 21 June 2022
• Old Boys’ Reunions – 25 June 2022
• Old Boy’s Night at the Menangle Trots – 27 August 2022
• Marshall Rogers Golf Day – 24 November 2022
For the many who missed reunions in 2021, you will be provided with the opportunity to join with your fellow cohorts back at the College again in 2022 in what will hopefully be a large gathering of Old Boys from a variety of year groups.
During 2022, we would also encourage as many of you as possible to contact us if you are able to support the College in any way, this could be in the form of being a guest speaker at one of our assemblies or workshops, acting as a mentor for some of our students, supporting students financially or sponsoring one of our events, such as the Marshall Rogers Golf Day which is held in November.
Networking has been on our agenda for some time, and the Committee would like to explore ways where our Old Boys are able to better do this with each other throughout the next 12 months. This may be by way of social media advertising, LinkedIn, connection evenings or the like. If you have any suggestions, we would love to hear them.
Please send your ideas through to the team at foundation@stgregs.nsw.edu.au
I can only hope throughout the next few Hearts & Minds publications, I can report back on the successful hosting of events as the College returns to a ‘more normal’ way of life, and that you all stay safe in the meantime.
ARE YOUR DETAILS UP-TO-DATE?
The St Gregory’s College website is your home for information about reunions, events and news from the worldwide network of Old Boys.
It is also the easiest way to stay in touch.
Registering and keeping your details up-to-date takes only a few minutes, and helps us know where you are, what you are doing and how to reach you.
Visit our Old Boy’s Facebook page @stgregsoldboys
Visit our St Gregory’s College Campbelltown Linked In page and join the Alumni page
Do you know a College Old Boy who isn’t in contact with the College?
Please let them know they can email Mary Stepien at mstepien@stgregs.nsw.edu.au to add their details to our database.
Reunion
CLASS OF ’76
Drinks have been arranged to celebrate 45 years at the Orchard Hotel Chatswood, Saturday (1:00pm) 15 January 2022. Please send an email to tim_sullivan@hotmail.com, if you will be attending the informal reunion, so we can confirm numbers with the hotel.
Grateful for Greg’s
Old Boys’ stories
In August this year, following the publication of the first edition of ‘Hearts & Minds’, I offered an apology to Chad Henney (Old Boy of the College) for the wording changes I made to his submission – ‘Grateful for Greg’s – Old Boys’ stories.’
An extract from the apology – “Dear Chad, I want to apologise unreservedly to you and Joel for any hurt my previous decision may have caused and I hope you can accept that this in no way was intended to disrespect either of you or your relationship.
I hope the steps I have taken today go some way in demonstrating to you that I have listened and heard what you have had to say.”
Please find below the full version of Chad’s submission.
Mr Lee MacMaster - College Principal
Chad Henney - Class of 2007
After graduating in 2007, I completed a Bachelor of Arts in Media and Communications at the University of New South Wales. I now work as a television producer currently at Network Ten. Throughout my High School years and beyond, St Gregory’s taught me the value of working hard to achieve your goals - Quae Seminaveris Metes - and this has certainly helped me excel in my life and career.
My favourite part of my work is telling human stories and I have been given the opportunity to do this travelling around the world. St Greg’s always promoted its students to be active and responsible members of society and throughout my career,
I have been able to give a voice to people, and their stories, who are often not heard.
One of the proudest projects I have worked on was when I partnered with an
Australian charity, Midwife Vision, and filmed the work they do in cooperation with
Tanzanian midwives, doctors and mothers in a public hospital in Dar es Salaam. We are aiming to enter the currently untitled film to film festivals later in the year.
I look forward to what the future holds and producing more human-centred stories. Later in the year, I am excited to be getting married to my partner Joel. Almost 15 years after graduating I am thankful for my experience at St Greg’s that has allowed me to reach my potential in all aspects of life.
Bernie Haughey - Class of 1982
My name is Bernie Haughey and I attended St Gregory’s from 1977 to 1982. Dayboy 1977 - 1979 | Boarder 1980 - 1982 I have wonderful memories of school and the community and especially all the Brothers who lived faith in action. Brother Luke was a true gentleman and a fine example of devotion to God and all in the St Gregory’s family. Other outstanding men included Brother Ernest (Headmaster) and Brother Silverius (Maths Teacher) coaching the team in Athletics and taking us to many pre-season carnivals all over Sydney. In 1982 our St Greg’s Athletics Team won the MCS Athletics Shield. I was lucky enough to be the Opens Athletics Champion that same year at St Greg’s. I have the fondest memories of the St Gregory’s family including the Marist Brothers, the lay teachers and my fellow students. There was never a dull moment at the College because there was always action on the sporting field and action in many other classes. It was an honour and privilege to be a student. My older brothers Stephen, Mark and Nicholas also attended St Gregory’s. We appreciate the love, support and sacrifice that our parents Kevin and Joan made in allowing us to attend such a fine school family. I was so inspired by the St Greg’s community religious and lay staff that I became a high school teacher. I share a timeline below; • Saint Benedict’s Marist Auburn NSW • Mount Carmel, Varroville, NSW • Frawley College, Scarborough, QLD • Saint Patrick’s College, Shorncliffe, QLD I was dedicated with this teaching vocation for 34 years 1986 to 2020. I have been married to my wife Sharon since 1993 and we have been blessed with 4 wonderful children; Karl, Alexandra, James and Luke (4 children in 4 years) and are living in Boondall, Queensland. I have also been involved in Goju Ryu Karate since 1977 and frequently travel to Japan to train with my Japanese Sensei. I have represented Australia twice while competing in Goju Ryu Karate; 1990 in Australia and 1992 overseas. In 1992 I gained two third places overseas in Hong Kong in the International Goju Kai Championships.
I decided to leave full time teaching last year and concentrate on the teaching of Life Skills through Karate www.agkk.com.au and the Skills For Life program for school students. www.skillsforlife.com.au
Bradyn Challis - Class of 2017
My name is Bradyn Challis and I was a full time boarder from 2014 - 2017. I was only at St Greg’s for a short time, but they were some of the best and most memorable times of my life! Being from Northern Riverina, Merriwagga to be exact, roughly 45 minutes from Griffith, my parents made the choice to send me on my way to a well-known school, which at the time,I had no idea existed. My parents knew harvest workers, from Ulladulla, who told us about how great this school was and that their boys attended when they lived in Campbelltown, and loved it. After graduating in 2017, I moved back to Griffith and undertook a TAFE course in Meat Retail (Butcher). I am still butchering and absolutely loving it. If you’re ever in Griffith make sure to stop by Central Butchery and mention you’re an Old Boy! I’m also a DJ and Music Producer, Vize Verza and while I was a student at St Greg’s, I was the resident DJ and this is where my skills were really honed. I would spend most of my free time either down at the farm or on my laptop making the ‘cringiest’ beats I could and then blasting music through speakers for the whole of Senan House to hear. However, this certainly didn’t sit well with Miss Burke, that’s for sure! My time in boarding helped me to grow and mature into the person I am today and I cannot thank everyone in the Boarding Houses enough, for looking after me through the years I was there! My time at Greg’s gave me a ‘can-do’ attitude and the notion that nothing is impossible. This is still my attitude to life after graduating and will continue to be so.
The things I loved the most about St Greg’s and boarding, would have to be the farm. The farm for me became the home away from home. Having grown up where I did, the farm definitely settled the nerves of being so far away from home. Being able to represent the College in shows such as Sydney Royal Easter Show, Bendigo Sheep and Wool Show, Dubbo Show and a whole host of local shows, was an eye opening experience. My highest achievement would most definitely be making the State judging final for judging meat breed sheep. Although I didn’t make it any further, this was one of the highlights for me, that’s just to name one, however, there were many of these, from representing the school on and off the field, I have taken everything I learnt to heart and use it in my day to day life.
I’m grateful to everyone who helped and supported me in my time at Greg’s and I cannot thank you all enough! There is so much more I could say, but for now short and sweet, Maroon and Blue will never walk alone.
Garry Beard - Class of 1973
Ileft St Gregory’s and went to the University of NSW to study Civil Engineering. I left in my second year and started work for the Australian Pipeline Commission on the natural gas pipeline from
Moomba to Goulburn. I joined the line working for the testing crew, 250km west of West Wyalong through to Boorowa.
I went back to Sydney and bought a one-way ticket to London where I back-packed and clocked up 1,200 miles around the UK. My itinerary consisted of the countries; Amsterdam, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Russia, Poland & Germany on the return. Then down to Switzerland, Italy & out to the Greek Islands. Headed back to Australia via public transport through Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Nepal then Thailand and home.
After being away 10 months, I returned to the work force and had a courier company, I also sold door to door Glory Boxes, worked in wedding reception houses & bar work at St George Motor Boat Club & Mic Morlands Hotel, Sans Souci as a Bar Manager.
I then joined the family business, which is now 45 years ago, as an upholsterer and we just celebrated 121 years in business! We had one factory in Sans Souci 1700sq mts and 32 people. Turnover then was $3m.
Today, we have over 50, 000sq mts spread across Qld, NSW, VIC, TAS, SA, WA & NZ. 450 staff & exporting finished product, made in Australia, to China, Hong Kong, Thailand, South Korea & Papua New Guinea. Today, our annual turnover is $150m!
The Board of Directors today consists of myself as Chairman & Managing Director, my brother Allyn as a fellow Director, a CEO, CFO & a non-executive who is the daughter of one of our sisters.
The business is still 100% still family owned, with 4 shareholders; my two sisters Christine & Lexie, brother & myself. Now with 3 children from the 5th generation working in the business. Our father, Austin William Beard left in 2004 & Mum in 2018.
I am now happily married to Margaret Veronica and celebrating 39 years together in 2021.
We have four children; Sally Anne, 37 (Working for AHB) who is married to Owen, 40 (Self- employed builder) & they have four children Paisley 4, Hugo 3, Lilly 2 & Florence 1.
Austin Matthew Beard, 35 (Working for AHB) married to Jess, 34 (homely mum) & they have children, Charlotte 3 & Albert who was born on 20 May this year.
Anthony Thomas Beard, 30 (Musician in a band called Caravana Sun & own label called Caspia) married to Sarah, 30 (Midwife at RPA).
Rachel Elizabeth, 28 (Working at AHB) partner Luke Mahony, 26.
Triumphs in my life… • The privilege Mum and Dad gave me with Boarding at St Greg’s for 6 years, living with the
Marist Brothers and to have great mates today from the College. • Back packing overseas. • Meeting & marrying my beautiful wife and best mate Margaret. • Having 4 beautiful & healthy children. • Joining the family company 45 years ago.
• Member of Australian Made since 1984. • Been a Director of Family Business Australia over many years since 1999. • Received the Family Business Award in 1999. • Received the Chairman’s Award for myself for service in 2018. • Working with Mission Australia over 8 years ago, stopping 7 beds going into landfill. Today through Soft Landing this year alone, we will have stopped over 600,000 pieces going into landfill across NSW, Vic, & WA! • November 2020 received a grant from the Federal Government to start the
Australia Bedding Stewardship Council to involve all parts of our industry to maximise the end of life of raw materials from bedding. • Making it to 65. • Having fifty A.H. Beard stores in China, selling Australian Made A.H. Beard bedding. www.shahbeard.com • Being part of a family business that has survived World Wars, Depressions,
Recessions, Credit squeezes and Stock Market crashes. • Today to have gone into COVID with 450 people and come out the other side with no losses. • Being one of the companies featured in “Family Business Success Stories” alongside some great aussie names. • Able to travel the world & meet like- minded people in the bedding game.
Paul Hillbrick - Class of 1984
It is with gratitude and thanks to my parents for allowing me to experience four years of my Senior school life at St Gregory’s (1981 – 1984). It’s not until you are a parent and you start to consider your own child’s education, that you understand what your parents had to deal with when choosing an education provider. I hold fond memories of St Greg’s and the friendships and acquaintances made, some that still exist forty years later! As a student, I didn’t realise the greater community that St Greg’s was part of and that some of the teachers were highly respected within the Macarthur region and continue to be. At the age of thirteen, and with the help of St Greg’s staff and my parents, my energies outside of school were channelled into the sport of cycling, in which I competed. With the sound of the final school bell, my challenge was to escape by bike and try to make it past the old cattle grid, before the words of “encouragement” blared out of the windows of the school bus heading towards Campbelltown Station. After realizing that I was probably better suited to starting a career earlier in life, I commenced an apprenticeship in the aircraft manufacturing industry at Hawker de Havilland, Bankstown. In 1988 I started a business locally manufacturing and selling bicycles that have been a major part of my life ever since, supplying World Champions, Paralympian’s and a Prime Minister. As I’ve heard said many times, St Gregs turns boys into men and school programs, like “The Rite Journey”, are a great initiative that I think is well-timed at what can also be a challenging time of life for some teens. I would like to thank teachers; Br Ernest, Peter Mulholland, Br John Honan, Peter Hogan and others for their perseverance and the experience that St Greg’s offered, which has not been lost on me.
Ryan Hoffman - Class of 2002
Ryan has had a successful career in Rugby League. He has played 325 NRL games, 265 Storm Games and 60 NZ Warriors games. He has represented NSW and Australia.
In 2014 he won NSW Player of the Year and was awarded the
Origin Series Winner. Ryan is currently the Football Operations
Manager at Melbourne Storm.
I started at St Gregory’s in 1998 where I went into Year 9. I moved from South Australia and having lived in Campbelltown several years before, I had known of St Greg’s and always wanted to attend. I loved it so much I actually stayed on an extra year. I did the Pathways Program and did my Year 12 over 2 years (2001/2002). I was playing Reserve Grade for Wests in my last 2 years and the College allowed me to do all my rugby league commitments without letting my schoolwork suffer. I was a day student, but I spent a lot of time with the Boarders. That was one of the best things about the group of fellas I went to school with. We all got along whether you were a day boy or boarder. I absolutely loved my time there. A lot of people looked forward to leaving school, but I loved it. Some of the best memories were footy related. Starting off playing U14’s on the terraces to eventually playing on MCS 1 and having the whole College do a tunnel out onto the field. Hearing Sub Tuum midway through a game. Doing the Hoolipop after winning the Schoolboy Cup in 2000 with the whole College there at the Sydney Football Stadium and then seeing the number of Old Boys that had come to reunite with each other, watch the game and eventually celebrate with us afterwards! Swimming carnivals, Champagnat Day, school camps, Mr Townsend having us watch the ‘Life of Brian’ for History and quoting the movie for the next 3 years whenever we saw him. I am also old enough to remember the College Rodeo which was always a great weekend. The blokes I went to school with were all fantastic and had a great relationship with the teachers. St Greg’s reunited me with two blokes who became my best mates and were both best men at my wedding. Chris Britton and Steven Feeny. I first knew Chris when we played footy together in U6’s then I moved after that year and didn’t see him again until I started at St Greg’s nearly 10 years later. Same with Steve, we played cricket together in U10’s then I moved and again we reunited in Year 9. They are just two fellas but I went to school with so many great people. I have also met so many people who were not even at the College when I was there but the fact they went to St Greg’s gave us that immediate connection and that is something I have found so important in later life. Having a connection with people through shared experience lets you know that you will always have someone who has walked the same path and that can be really comforting. There are many things I learned from being at St Greg’s, but the biggest thing would have to be the motto. Quae Seminaveris Metes (You will reap what you sow). This to me is fundamental to success. You don’t get rewards without putting in the work first. It has served me well in football and life.
In July of this year, we launched our new website and to complement it, we also launched the K-12 College Virtual Tour! You can take a flight through our Senior, Junior and Boarding facilities and view 360’s, photos and videos along your journey. Virtual Tours are a very helpful tool for students and parents weighing up Colleges or as a substitute for those unable to visit.
We hope you enjoy the St Gregory’s College virtual tours!
K–12 Campus Junior School Classroom
College Chapel College Farm Junior School Library
Marian Learning Centre & Library Brother Luke Hall
Boarding Facilities
Senior Boarding Room Senior Cafe & Dining Hall Technologies Centre
Science Laboratory Visual Arts Rooms
