Connections 15

Our heartfelt thanks to Kathy Rundle for kindly sharing this obituary.

We were saddened to learn of the recent death of Noel Ruddock. Noel was a long time Sports Master and PE teacher at Friends’. During his years he influenced the lives of hundreds of students. His partnership with fellow Sports Mistress and PE teacher Pat Hood (McDougall) (1950) served as a model of leadership in the School.

Noel attended The Hutchins School as a school boy and during their boyhood his great mate and athletic competitor was Friends’ student Malcolm McRae (1943). After leaving school, Noel worked in an accountancy firm while playing cricket and football and being very involved in athletics. Noel was one of the founding players of the Sandy Bay Football Club in 1945. Noel applied in 1953 for a position at Friends’ after encouragement from his friend and long-time Friends’ School supporter, ‘Nunky’ Ayres, and ‘Cracker’ Morris, whom he knew through athletics. Following an interview with Headmaster Bill Oats, Noel took up the position of Senior Sports Master at the start of Term 3, 1953. He continued working at Friends’ for twenty five years, becoming a “living legend.”

Noel’s children Simon (1978) and Kelly (1981) attended The Friends’ School. His wife Margaret was a popular long-time staff member in the School canteen. Simon started coaching at the School in 1979 and followed Noel as a Friends’ Sports Master in the 1980s.

Noel was a fine sportsman and he had an outstanding career in coaching and administration of athletics and football. He was very capable in most other sports and had the distinction of officiating at the 1959 Olympic Games in Melbourne and again in the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. He was a doyen of the Tasmanian Olympic Council and Australian Commonwealth Games and a life member of both local bodies. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1982.

We give thanks for the life and loyalty of Noel Ruddock.

Our heartfelt thanks to Kathy Rundle for kindly sharing this obituary.

Philip (Pip) Wright (1963) recently passed peacefully at his home in Sandy Bay. Pip and his five siblings, Alison (1948), Helen (1951), Christopher (1953), Rosemary (deceased) (1958) and Janet (1964) all attended Friends’. The Wright family made a great contribution to the life of the School both academically and sports wise. Like his older brother, Chris, Pip went on to study law at UTAS. He became well known in Hobart’s legal scene especially for his work as a Magistrate and the Director of the Tasmanian Legal Practice Course. He supported the Old Scholars’ Association and is remembered fondly by a great many former students and staff.

We give thanks for the life of Pip Wright.

Brian Woolnough was a student at Friends’ from 1946 departing in Year 11 in 1955. He was an Unwin House Captain and a proud recipient of a sports blazer for both Athletics and Cricket. His sisters Margaret Woolnough and Sue Woolnough were also students at Friends’ – Margaret in the Class of 1953 and Sue the Class of 1966.

Brian started his working life in Hobart in the tyre business, but in the 1960s he moved to Sydney where he, along with his wife Ros, bought a delicatessen in the Sydney suburb of Lugarno and rumour has it they developed the formula for the best milkshakes on the planet! His next career move was the purchase of a tyre business in Murwillumbah where he ended up for over 30 years. He, along with his family lived on the banks of the Tweed River at Banora Point.

In his retirement Brian enjoyed both caravanning and sailing. He had a magnificent boat and enjoyed many a happy hour while cruising. There wasn’t much of Australia he and his wife had not visited.

Brian suffered ill-health for the last 10 years but as his brother-in-law said in his eulogy “he never wavered and didn’t know how to take a backward step.” Brian is survived by his wife, Ros and children Jenny and Karen.

Our heartfelt thanks to Dean Young for kindly sharing this obituary.

“One life, live it ‘cos it sure as hell ain’t no dress rehearsal.”

I refuse to be sad, instead, let me tell you a story. A story about a man, a giant of a man, one who I will miss not being able to smile and laugh with while I watch him create havoc amongst the world.

If you haven’t already done so, go and search up Mozza’s hot bites, or if, like me, you were lucky enough to be one of his 5000 friends on facebook, watch some of his videos. Mozza loved the world, and we loved him back.

Karting and cars was the first love, well maybe fishing always was. He was part of a radio show talking about the sport in Hobart, and had also spent the past few years putting his heart and soul into the go-karting exploits of his son, Sammy J.

Rallying was never far from his heart though, and each year when Targa Tasmania rolled around, Mozza was the man who knew the news. He had “spies” all around the country and could quickly tell you who did what, when and where.

Then along came the true loves of his life, Meegs and Sammy. I hope you realised how lucky and grateful he was for you both. Proud beyond measure and super excited that Sammy had found his love of karting. I am hurting for you both today, but I hope you realise that there is a whole state ready to help you.

My story with Mozza began way back in primary school, from getting a lift to sport (there were only a few of us that lived in the northern suburbs), to just hanging out. We lost touch over the years, but then his name came to me and I reached out. “Mozza, its been a while, but I don’t suppose you could…?” “Yep, sure no problems, what did you need?” You see, that was Mozza’s greatest word. He was the ultimate “yes” man. Always there ready to lend a hand. I loved seeing the occasional Facebook request, “hey, give this local guy’s page a quick like, help them out”, and we did.

He gave unconditionally and often, both with his friendship and his business. He sponsored, ran events, coaxed businesses and flat out arm-twisted to help people.

It is a bit cliché to say there will never be another Mozza, and there probably won’t, but if you can live a bit today by his words above then maybe we can all be a little like him.

I refuse to be sad today. I remember a giant of a man and I am now off to live life to the maximum, because that is what my friend wanted for us all.

Our thanks to the following alumni who kindly shared their stories, updates and snippets.

(Murphy) (1966) Living in Springwood in the Blue Mountains since 2004 with partner (also Elizabeth). In lockdown at present; so my choir is by Zoom only. Another old scholar also participates, Libby Sorrell (nee Emmett)! I live on the edge of the bush; so can enjoy birdwatching without leaving home. I have had a diamond python on the porch, echidna in the garden, and lyrebirds calling in the valley nearby!

Shared by Scott’s mother Maria:

studied at the Australian Defence Academy and Duntroon. He served Australia in Canada, USA, the Netherlands, England, Timor, Iraq, Afghanistan and Papua New Guinea. He is currently the Australian Defence Force representative at the Pentagon. He holds the rank of Major General and is a Member of the Order of Australia. He is married to Mireille and has two children: Connor and Véronique.

Up to nothing - housebound, and dealing with some medical conditions which does not worry me in the slightest - just rather inconvenient.

The shadow of the day is ending

And none may here abide,

Being calm and comprehending,

Curious as to when, to where, and how; after eventide.

You did ask.

While at Friends’ for my last years I was awarded sporting colours. We won the premiership and I was one of three awarded sporting colours. I never sewed them onto my jacket because it didn’t seem to me to be in keeping with the spirit of the school. My previous school always had fights and bullying. The kindness and caring of Friends’ students was such a relief. The focus of practical Christianity and especially non-involvement in wars has motivated me all my life. Thank you Friends’ School.

Lyn Franklin (1976) As a former Focus Editor (1976), I gain immense pleasure reading each issue throughout the year. Well done to all the students involved! I graduated as a social worker at the end of 1981 and worked in Launceston and Burnie before spending 1985 living in London (and yes, attending the incredible Live Aid concert at Wembley stadium!) I moved to Brisbane in 1986 and still love the warmer weather up here! I got married and had a daughter who works with children in Catholic Ed in Sydney. I’ve mainly worked with families of people with a disability, but for the last 7 years I’ve worked in a community Palliative Care team in Queensland Health. Our school motto ‘no-one is born for self alone’ resonates more than ever for me. I don’t think I appreciated it at the time ...but I now am so thankful I attended Friends’ for my entire schooling, as it provided me with the Quaker values that have informed all aspects of my personal and work life over the years. Keep up the great work with Focus!

was a recipient of the 2021 ACT Young Lawyer of the Year Award, presented by the ACT Law Society. This award recognises the outstanding achievements of young lawyers in the ACT, and encourages lawyers to participate in the legal profession beyond their core employment duties.

After completing Year 12 at Friends’ in 2009, Caroline studied Arts/Law at the Australian National University in Canberra, graduating with first class honours in law. Caroline is now a workplace relations, employment and safety lawyer at Clayton Utz. She provides pro bono services through the Women’s Legal Centre ACT and Canberra Community Law on employment and discrimination matters, including working with vulnerable clients in family violence situations. Caroline also coordinates her firm’s Community Connect program which connects staff with volunteering opportunities in the Canberra community. She mentors young female law students at the Australian National University and the University of Canberra, as well as junior lawyers at Clayton Utz.

Caroline shared this award with Kieran Pender.