The Official Old Boys’ Newsletter
From the President Mr Mark Creedon (TGS Old Boy 1973-77) Since I last had the pleasure of sharing Old Boys’ news with you, the highlight of our association’s work has been our recent 10-year Reunion Weekend. The Reunion Weekend occurs annually, coinciding with the GrammarDownlands rugby game. The event features the gathering of Old Boys who have graduated in intervals of around a decade.
from the rugby on Saturday afternoon, I was greeted by rows of RM’s on our kitchen floor and a lounge room bursting with Old Boys continuing their catch-up.
With COVID cancelling last year’s reunions, we doubled up in 2021 and hosted reunions for Old Boys who left TGS in years ending in a “0” or a “1”. The oldest of our groups were from 1950 and 1951, and the youngest were those who graduated in 2010 and 2011. It was an absolute pleasure to welcome Old Boys back to the School for a Friday evening welcome function in the Assembly Hall. We then hosted individual reunion groups, giving Old Boys the opportunity to catch up with old mates on Saturday evening. The current format gives Old Boys an excellent opportunity to engage with each other and share memories of school days and aspects of their lives from the years since graduating from TGS. As always, we invite and take on feedback from attendees and look forward to providing the best opportunities we can to those who come to these reunions. My personal highlight this year was my youngest son Giles returning for his class of 2011 reunion. When I returned home
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Their conversations reminded me of the importance of friendships made at and after TGS and how quickly they are rekindled. It was a privilege to catch up with Giles’s friends, to hear of their achievements from the past decade and dreams for the future. Early in their careers in medicine, law and commerce, these men all shared the bonds of the school that had prepared them well for the future and the families who strengthened their values as they became fine young men. It also reminded me of the importance of the Old Boys’ Association’s work, which provides the opportunity for our Old Boys to gather and reminisce.
Beyond the Reunion Weekend, our Association is looking forward to 2022. One of our objectives is to provide increased opportunities, activities and events for Old Boys who have sons attending TGS. Our Association hosts an annual Generations Dinner for the families of Old Boys who have sons or grandsons in Year 7 and Year 12. We are now looking to create a yearly event for all Old Boys with sons enrolled. We are excited to hear any ideas you might have that will help us reach this objective. The remaining highlight for our Association this year will be our involvement in the final activities of the Year 12 graduation group. The most significant of these is their final assembly, where they are not only farewelled as students but welcomed into the TGSOBA. Graduating boys are presented with an Association tie, cap and keyring. We invite the boys to keep in contact with each other and be alerted to the TGSOBA activities. A special feature of this final assembly is that Old Boys who have sons graduating present these items and welcome them into the fold. It’s a special occasion for both father and son. 1. “RM evidence’ of the Old Boy visitors to Mr Creedon’s house
