Contents
2 FROM THE PRESIDENT Mr Greg Brown reports
4 CORNER OFFICE We talk to How Ridiculous' Mr Brett Stanford (01–05)
8 DUDLEY RETURNS! Mrs Mildred Manning's beloved car makes an appearance at Como Rotary Car Show
9 ALUMNI STORIES Featuring Mr Steven Allan (95–03) and Mr Hayden Coote (11-18)
10 HOW WESLEY CHANGED ME Old Wesleyans reflect
14 WESLEY FRIENDS Help in times of need
15 CAREERS UNCOVERED The panel discuss this year's theme of entrepreneurship
16 REUNIONS
18 SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS A chat with Mr Steven Heathcote AM (77-79-81)
22 VALE We honour Professor Peter Boyce AO (48–52)
23 IN MEMORIAM
Cover: Mr Brett Stanford (01–05). Inside Cover: Mrs Manning pictured standing next to her car, Dudley.
From the President.
This is my first chance to publicly welcome the graduating class of 2021. Sam White's speech at Valedictory was a standout and we look forward to welcoming him onto the OWCA Committee in 2022. While on the subject of appointments, I am delighted to announce two new additions to the OWCA team. Our first female committee member was brought on through the vacancy from Graham Percival’s (78-82) retirement. Miss Molly Atterton (00-02-13), after leaving the College from her role in the Community Relations team, joined the OWCA and has been tasked with increasing the participation of our growing female alumni members. With the departure of Mr Hamish Blair (07-16), the role of Alumni Manager has been taken up by Miss Georgia Atterton (00-02-10). Her background in event planning
and digital marketing from her time as Business Development Executive at Hawaiian Group's Cable Beach Club Resort and Spa, will come in handy as we evolve our member communication practices. The Golf Day at Royal Perth Golf Club on 29 October was nearly a sell-out event with a wonderful silent auction, a fantastic dinner, and plenty of opportunities to regale old schoolmates with stories (real or not) on the golf course. I strongly urge you to book early for this next year. Also, if you are looking to add some profile to your business, don’t forget to nominate as a hole or auction sponsor.
as we were unable to obtain commensurate attendance levels for an event of this nature. To make sure future events are more popular we have sent out a survey, so please keep an eye out for that and add your opinions. We are also delighted to announce that due to the overwhelming generosity of a couple of alumni, the OWCA will be commencing two new scholarships in 2022. The committee has worked hard over the last five to 10 years to increase our scholarship contribution to the school and as we get closer to our 100th birthday it’s a pleasure to be able to offer more.
We will be full steam ahead with plans for the Centenary year over the next few months, but our normal events will continue. One of those events was the Pioneers' Lunch on 6 December which was a wonderful afternoon.
As always, I hope that the OWCA provides alumni with the best possible opportunities to connect and reconnect with schoolmates, so if there is anything that we could do better do not hesitate to get in touch.
Unfortunately, the 95th birthday (of the OWCA) had to be cancelled
Mr Greg Brown (82-86) President OWCA
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A talent for the ridiculous. From throwing basketballs around the backyard in 2009 to performing unbelievable basketball tricks today, Mr Brett Standford’s How Ridiculous channel on YouTube is now one of Australia’s largest, with 4.5 million subscribers and more than 640 million views.
When Turkish Airlines told Mr Brett Stanford (01-05) that they wanted to film him shooting basketballs from some of Istanbul’s most iconic landmarks, he said yes. One month later, his How Ridiculous team was catapulting basketballs from the world-famous Maiden’s Tower into a tiny basketball hoop onboard a ferry 50 metres below. Confined to a one-hour window before tourists started to pack the popular tourist site, the pressure to deliver was on. They knew it would all be for nothing if they didn’t make the shot. It may sound crazy, but for Brett and the team he assembled after co-founding How Ridiculous, this experience was just another day at work. Starting out as mates shooting baskets in their backyard in 2009, Brett and the team have since developed a massive YouTube
presence that has seen them travel around the world making remarkable basketball shots from unimaginable locations. Daring to push the boundaries, How Ridiculous has an impressive list of achievements, including setting Guinness World Records for the highest basketball shot ever (201.4m) from Maletsunyane Falls in Lesotho, Africa, and the World’s Longest Golf Putt (120.6m) on the 5th hole at the Point Walter Golf Course. Unusual achievements, but ones that sit perfectly alongside releasing a bowling ball onto a trampoline from 165m at the Luzzone Dam in Switzerland or dropping a giant metal dart onto a table of bulletproof glass from 45m up! While Brett and the team have now established themselves on the
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global stage as specialists in trick shot and sports entertainment videos, it was their first viral basketball trick shot off the Narrows Bridge which kickstarted their rise to fame. Channel 7's local reporters picked up the story and offered to organise a location for their next stunt. ‘We decided to go big and suggest Subiaco Oval, because we couldn’t imagine being on a shoot anywhere like that,’ Brett says. ‘Admittedly, we were pretty nervous because the Narrows Bridge shot had taken us two days, but we had the whole day at the stadium to make a shot from the top of the grandstand,’ he adds. The team had 20 basketballs on rotation, however, incredibly, they made the bucket on the fourth
shot. ‘It made us look like heroes.’ From Channel 7 in Perth, the story made international headlines when it was picked up by major news outlets like CNN and Fox. ‘They called us “How Ridiculous” in the original story, so that really solidified our name,’ Brett added. Fast forward to 2021, How Ridiculous has amassed a staggering one billion YouTube views and over 17 million subscribers across social media platforms YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and Snapchat. While the success of the How Ridiculous channels is no secret, an untold component of the journey is their devotion of their work to faith. The organisation’s mission—glorifying God by creating high-quality entertainment which moves people—links to how the group originated. Brett met team members, Derek and Scott, at the Lifestreams Christian Church in Como where he was the Youth Leader between 2006 and 2018. Juggling work as a part-time Physio and Youth Pastor at the church, Brett decided to pursue How Ridiculous as a full-time career in 2016, after ‘feeling God’s
Quick questions:
calling to pursue creating videos. We all still pray together, and there’s a strong sense that God created this for us,’ Brett says. While the weight of expectation to deliver new and original creative content to fans may be a daunting proposition for some, Brett says continuing to take on new challenges while also having fun at the same time is one reason for their long-term success. ‘Every video comes out of a desire for us to achieve a new challenge... We never want to get comfortable.’ Social media platforms, such as YouTube, provide an opportunity to advocate for causes, which is not lost on Brett and his team. How Ridiculous has previously partnered with Compassion, a Christian organisation devoted to helping break the cycle of poverty for children, and has also sponsored children in Southeast Asia to enable them to study and follow their dreams. ‘We visited the Philippines, and I met one of the kids we sponsored. He’d studied and is working as a teacher in a school and is helping others break that cycle of poverty too,’ Brett says. ‘It’s really powerful stuff!’
Similar to the EuroLeague and Turkish Airlines campaign, How Ridiculous has also collaborated with global brands including KFC, Callaway, Disney, Subway, Spaulding, Nerf, and Tourism Dubai to create unique videos. Even after completing so many new challenges, Brett still points out that every new project the team undertakes has a chance that the shot won’t go in. Brett uses the example of when it took the team six days and over 2000 missed attempts before finally hitting their Guinness World Record basketball shot off a 200m waterfall in Africa. ‘If we fail or make a mistake, we just make an adjustment and keep trying,’ Brett says. This attitude of overcoming adversity and building perseverance draws parallels with broader life, for everyone. Whether it be daring to push yourself out of your comfort zone, or striving to meet new challenges in your career, sport or academics, you can achieve more when you dare to take that shot. ‘Just keep the faith, and don’t give up!’
Who do you admire most in the YouTube space?
Best tip to achieve work-life balance?
Dude Perfect—their first video got us into making videos.
Turn off your phone sometimes.
Best book every entrepreneur should read?
My two daughters—Bridie and Lara.
Measure what matters, by John Doerr.
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What are you most proud of?
Who were your mentors? Youth Leaders and Pastors.
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Dudley returns! We were delighted to welcome Dudley back to Wesley during the Como Rotary Car Show. For those who don’t immediately recognise Dudley, he was Mrs Mildred Manning’s 1929 Plymouth Chrysler. Mildred Manning or ‘Our Millie’ is remembered by three generations
of Wesley College students as Biology and Physiology teacher. She was also involved in Wesley’s Drama and Musical productions.
her services to education and the community. In 1970, the Parents’ and Friends’ Association made her a Life Member.
Millie fondly knew this 1929 Plymouth Chrysler as Dudley. She drove Dudley to Wesley every day until 1958, frequently giving lifts to staff and students.
Millie retired from full-time teaching in 1970 but returned as a part-time laboratory assistant and stayed until 1976.
In 1963, Wesley marked Millie’s 40 years of service to the school by naming the Biology laboratory in her honour. In 1964, she was made an MBE in recognition of
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Mildred Manning died in 1990 and a service of thanksgiving for her life was held in the Wesley College Chapel on 14 June 1990. Dudley is currently owned by Millie’s nephew, Kim Le Seouf (57-61).
Alumni stories
Olympics edition
Mr Steven Allan (95–03)
Mr Hayden Coote (11–18)
As Head Physiotherapist of the Australian Women’s Hockey Team, the Hockeyroos, Steven attended the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games. Not knowing what to expect, he found that the restrictions upon the team due to COVID-19 were less than anticipated. Therefore, his treatment was not disrupted and players could receive optimum care. It was pleasing to Steven that the Australian Olympic Committee ensured the focus of the Games remained on athlete performance, not avoiding COVID-19. His highlights of the Games include rubbing shoulders with Australian sports stars and flag bearers Patty Mills and Cate Campbell around the Australian village and the spirit of camaraderie and support developed within the Australian Team.
An outstanding rower during his time at Wesley, Hayden has continued to develop his rowing career since graduating. He was selected for the Under 21 Australian Rowing Team, following his performance at the 2021 Australian National Championships. As part of this accomplishment, Hayden had the opportunity to participate in a ‘simulation’ regatta with members of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics squad. Due to border restrictions, all International regattas were impossible, so the purpose of the regatta was to provide Olympic crews with much-needed racing experience. It was also an opportunity for younger athletes such as Hayden to learn from older athletes and get a taste of what it takes to make an Olympic Team.
One of Steven's significant challenges was battling player injuries in the lead up to the Games to ensure that the entire squad of 27 players was fit to play. His message to any budding athletes in a similar position would be to find the appropriate care level and not take shortcuts. Any injury requires hard work to overcome and a strong mindset focussed on future performance.
Hayden also coaches at Wesley, sharing his knowledge with younger generations.
Hayden, pictured, fourth from left, with his team mates.
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‘O CAPTAIN! MY CAPTAIN!’ Six College Captains look back at how their Wesley experience shaped their lives.
Throughout this publication, you’ll have seen plenty of mentions of ‘milestones’. At Wesley we love to mark the moments that change lives as they come along but—as with most things—it takes time
for the true lessons to reveal themselves. It may be a year, a decade or more before an old Collegian realises just how the mindset they took from the College has shaped all their endeavours.
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I’d always had my eye on the fourth estate, so the boss torching our rag because he thought we’d crossed the line in our editorial on his decision to ban school dances only reinforced my resolve. I could tell you how Wesley set me up for a university qualification and careers (of varying lengths) in other disciplines like law, and media and government relations (where I am now), and that would be true. But the five years I spent at the school changed me in another, more enduring way, a gift that gives me strength, humility and laughs, so many laughs, to this day. Wesley gave me a group of mates who are clever and caring, frank and forthright, and just bloody funny. This was no accident. The school shaped our character—no room for entitlement or arrogance; we were a long way from the Golden Triangle. It was egalitarian and aspirational, accepting of all our idiosyncrasies and backgrounds, and keen to help fulfill our potential. Today, we’re making our way in different workplaces—hospitality, medicine, finance, health, pharmaceuticals, vet science, aviation, real estate (actually, with two of my mob, I’m not quite sure what they do, and with one of those, I’m certain his spouse doesn’t either!)—but we are as tight as we were 40 years ago, tighter, in fact. Wesley’s culture, its ethos, the staff, even a Headmaster alert to seditious commentary on school dances, were our bedrock, and those five years are the glue that binds me to a wonderful bunch of blokes. For that, I am eternally grateful.
MR LACHLAN FITZGERALD (13–18)
MR TOM BADDELEY (78–82) I could tell you that Wesley directed me down the path of journalism when the Headmaster incinerated 500 copies of the freshly-minted third edition of The Student, a school newspaper that classmate Phil Kirke and I had launched earlier in the year, but that wouldn’t be true.
Friendships forged through years at Wesley have had the greatest impact on me after graduating three years ago. My mum has a saying that ‘you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with,’ and I’m lucky to still have my closest mates still around today—the people who I met through the Cricket, Football and Leadership programs at the College. Rigorous academic programs at Wesley created an easy transition into my university studies at Curtin University. I’m studying a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil & Construction), and although STEM subjects are incredibly important in the degree, the skills taught in the English curriculum at Wesley have been crucial for writing to industry, composing assignments, and broader life. Learning to lead, via my own authentic style of leadership, was something I’ve taken out of my Wesley education. Communication skills developed through leading a team of leaders as College Captain has proven invaluable in my workplaces and university. My advice to others who have also enjoyed this challenge would be to get involved in clubs and societies at university. I’m currently Treasurer of the Curtin Civil Engineering Association and have met amazing people through other societies. Also, utilise your networks, and reach out to your fellow classmates, friends, and Old Collegians. You would be surprised how many people are ‘on your team’ and more than willing to help if you ask. Finally, linking back to ‘milestones’, the transition from student to staff member at Wesley has added to my long list of positive experiences at the College. Knowing that you can help current students who are undertaking the same challenging academic journey that you’ve been through creates an opportunity to help others—just as older cohorts helped me. It’s powerful.
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As a ‘before and after’, those two pictures are such a stunning comparison. He entered his school as a boy and is leaving as a young man. Those images made me reflect on how Wesley changed me.
MR BRENDYN NELSON (98–02)
MR GERARD MILNE (83–87) Today, I live in Sydney with my wife and three sons. My eldest son is only weeks away from finishing Year 12. His school yearbook will have two photos: one from the early years; and a recent one.
I arrived at Wesley College in 1998 as a very young and (probably overly) animated kid from a country town in the Wheatbelt. I graduated in 2002, marginally wiser. I came back to Wesley in 2019 along with my wife Tina to see our eldest son, Noah, start pre-kindy. He was joined in the Junior School this year by his brother, Olly. So, it's fair to say that Wesley has played a significant role in shaping not just who I am, but will play a major part in shaping the two greatest achievements of my life.
I certainly became more resilient. Navigating school work, sport, activities, friendships and rivalries, particularly in the early years, were all part of that. I got better at teamwork (as we all did). Team sport and activities were only part of it. A school play had many parts, and group video assignments didn’t film themselves. If my Chemistry partner had been less alert, I might not be writing this now. Thanks, Mark. I learnt the value of healthy competition. Playing sport against future test cricketers and AFL stars or debating future leaders was pretty good fun, but there was no better way to learn about leadership, the joys of victory and the agony of defeat. I twigged that the folks on the other side weren’t all that bad and got to know many of them. Several are still good friends. I started to appreciate what the ‘Wesley community’ really meant. Teenagers can spend a lot of time in their own heads, and I reckon I did that more than most. I started to appreciate how teachers, coaches, parents, older boys, younger boys and your own classmates were all contributing to everyone’s individual development. All that change laid the groundwork for me to go to university, qualify as a lawyer, get an MBA from Oxford, spend more than a decade overseas and become a CEO, but ultimately, it was a great cohort that changed me the most. We’re still a tight group today. We met as boys and periodically get together as (not quite so young) men and reflect on how Wesley changed us.
My time at Wesley is inextricably linked with having been a boarder. Day students often perceive boarders as being a 'pack', but with hindsight it seems almost inevitable when boarding was, for us, a way of life. To this day, I think of and relate to some of the people I boarded with—Mitch Pett, Steve Curnow, Brad Hall, Simon Hobbs—as not just my friends, but family. No doubt it's a product of living side-by-side, in some cases for half a decade, during some fairly formative times in our lives. Even if I didn't realise it at the time, I think being a boarder meant living with, getting to know and understand, and doing your best to get along with, people from all manner of places. I consider that the greatest gift Wesley gave me was the ability to meet and get to know people who were different from me and open up my worldview in the process. I think I've translated some of that experience into my work as a lawyer for the past 12 years. The Wesley community is ever-present, including in my professional life. For the past decade, I've worked alongside a colleague who has a son that, by coincidence, started at Wesley the same time, and in the same House, as Noah. No doubt Noah and Olly are beginning to build their lifelong friendships.
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As great as high ATAR rankings and PSA Sport premierships can be, that’s not the be-all and end-all. Being a good and genuine person is far more important than being good or bad at things. Wesley taught me what it means to be a man for others, and this is ingrained in the strongest memories that I have from my time at the College: the way that the College and the staff rallied around my cohort during some really challenging times; the way the community marched into Challenge Stadium to support those touched by cancer at Relay for Life; and the way teachers built genuine relationships with students and supported us in exploring whatever it was that we were inspired by. Six years after graduating from Wesley, I am in EY’s People Advisory Services team. We support organisations to harness their people agenda and work with them to develop talent strategies within the right culture to help them prepare for the future of work. The challenges that our clients face are very similar to those that school leaders would face every day. Perhaps why I have ended up in my job is that I saw the value of Wesley putting people at the core of everything it does. This is why I am so proud to be a Wesleyan and why there’s something uniquely special about walking down the street and bumping into a past or current student, staff member or parent.
MR ADAM CARTER (07–11)
MR TOM GOODHEART (09–15) When I reflect on what Wesley has meant to me, it always comes back to one thing: the people. I left the school with mates and mentors that I will have for the rest of my life. These were people I spent hours with on the sporting field, on the stage, in the classroom, at Katitjin and in the playground. When I think about the characteristics of these Wesleyans, there’s something that is relatively common—they are good humans.
Reflecting on my time at Wesley always takes me to a place of great pride and joy. Since graduating Wesley I’ve tried my hand at elite sports, which ended in my early 20s, and have since followed a rather traditional path into the workforce as an accountant. Wesley fostered an environment whereby hard work, self-expression and acceptance were encouraged by not only the teachers but by fellow students. While Wesley provided me the educational platform necessary to establish my professional career, it is the relationships, interpersonal skills and values that I gained during my time that will stay with me. Developing an open mind in my formative years gives me the confidence and stability to be true to myself in a rapidly changing and volatile world. Now I live my life at a slower pace and in unison with what is meaningful to me.
Do you think a Wesley education could change the life of a child you know? Bursaries and Scholarships are available now, with applications open until February 2022. For nearly 100 years, Wesley College has provided a world-class education where students can dare to be themselves, succeed and make a difference in their community. If you know a young man who is ready to pursue excellence and achieve their personal best—through academics, arts, sports and service—encourage them to apply today. wesley.wa.edu.au
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‘Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.’ Anthony J. D’Angelo
Help in times of need. Wesley Friends is a confidential voluntary service which provides practical support to anyone in our community during times of need. Privacy and discretion are of paramount importance. Central to our beliefs and values at Wesley College is service, this extends beyond the classroom, curriculum and into the wider community with parents and staff modelling service through actions in the many voluntary roles available, including Wesley Friends. The Wesley community is often described as family. Many of us live far from family and, at times of need, rely on our friends and the school community for support. It is comforting to know that the Wesley
Friends service is available during these difficult times. For many years, members of our community have cared for one another during times of illness, grief or family crisis. A card, a bouquet of flowers, a home cooked meal says so much about how we care. A conversation over a cup of tea and offers of practical help at home are the services we can provide. We have a team of volunteers ready to help. If you would like to join the Wesley Friends team or know someone in need of practical support, please let us know via wesleyfriends@wesley.wa.edu.au. Information on Wesley Friends can be found in all subschool reception areas.
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Careers Uncovered. We had the privilege of welcoming four brilliant and creative minds back to Wesley for the latest in our Careers Uncovered series. The topic being discussed this time around was entrepreneurship. We were delighted to be joined by Mr Brett Stanford (01-05), Mr Brent Stewart (74-78), Mr Jesse Wilson (95-00) and Mrs Amanda Healy (past parent) who had a fascinating conversation with Head of College, Ross Barron. The audience was fascinated as our panellists shared insights and the stories of what motivated them to take the leap into a self-made career— as well as the lessons they learnt along the way.
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10-YEAR REUNION
20-YEAR REUNION
21-YEAR REUNION
40-YEAR REUNION
45-YEAR REUNION
50-YEAR REUNION
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A chat with Mr Steven Heathcote AM (77-79-81). Guest of honour at our recent Scholarship Celebration was celebrated ballet dancer, Mr Steven Heathcote AM (77-79-81). Here's an abridged transcript of his chat with Head of Wesley College, Mr Ross Barron.
Mr Steven Heathcote AM (77-79-81) was born in Wagin in 1964 and started school at Wesley in 1977, after being awarded the Howard Bantock Scholarship. He started ballet at 10 years of age after a College excursion to West Australian Ballet. At Wesley, Steven met drama teacher Mr Glen Hitchcock and English teacher Ms Jean Bamford. Both teachers recognised his talent and set out to equip him with the basics of theatre. At 16, Steven accepted a scholarship with West Australian Ballet, then The Australian Ballet School in Melbourne. He joined The Australian Ballet in 1983 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 1987, a position he held for 20 years. On Australia Day in 1991, Steven was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for 'service to ballet'. After retiring in 2007, Steven appeared in the 2009 film Mao’s Last Dancer and began to produce and direct opera. In 2014 he returned to The Australian Ballet as Ballet Master.
What are your favourite memories from your time at Wesley? I was there for three years. It felt like a short time and a long time in the same breath. What I enjoyed the most was the comradery with the friends that I made there. I think I was very fortunate to attend Wesley because there were a lot of opportunities that I may not have been afforded had I gone to a state school—and there’s nothing elitist about that whatsoever. It’s just that Wesley had—and I’m sure still has—a focus on diverse activities and learning opportunities for the boys. I really benefited from the wide range of experiences that I was able to have. The Arts really is such a strength of the College. Was it the case in your era? The Drama stream at Wesley was really very strong. Mr Glen Hitchcock, who was the Drama Teacher at the time, was a big influence on me and a lot of the
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other boys. He was just a fantastic teacher and put on really very high-level productions, which we all learned from and grew from. When I look back now, all of those opportunities—the stage time, the discovering and delving into character, the performance—really accentuated and assisted my career as a dancer. You were a recipient of the Harold Bantock Scholarship, which is really focused on rural students. What opportunity did that scholarship provide for you? I was very fortunate. Anyone who thinks that I got a scholarship to Wesley because of my academic ability needs to think again. I was fortunate that a young fellow from the country who’d been awarded the scholarship, actually, wasn’t able to take it up for whatever reason. Mr Clive Hamer, who was the Headmaster at the time, rang my parents and said: ‘Look, we have this scholarship. We know you’re members of the Methodist
have this scholarship. We know you’re members of the Methodist Church’—it was Methodist back then, Uniting now—and he offered Mum and Dad the opportunity for me to attend under the band scholarship, which would have helped Mum and Dad out enormously. We were doing okay, but not by any means wealthy, so it was a great assistance. I’m sure that there are parents sitting there this evening, nodding their heads in agreement. You know the fact that there are people out there, donors and supporters, who are prepared to contribute to the next generation is incredibly valuable, incredibly important. I’ve heard many, many times, including from elite athletes in contact sports, that the fittest athletes are ballet dancers. What was your experience of managing your body for such a long time? Well, like any professional sportsperson there is a balance between high performance and maintenance of your body. When I first started and joined the Australian ballet at the age of 18 it was pretty basic, in terms of there being no physios onboard. Your best bet with an injury was a bag of frozen peas from the freezer. We’ve come a long, long way since then. Today, we have a worldbeating dance medical team at the Australian Ballet. But, I guess the older you get, the more things you hurt. You learn to manage it. It’s also about looking after your colleagues as well, so everyone keeps an eye on each other. How many days a week, how many hours a day, would a ballet dancer at the top of their game spend rehearsing and working on their craft? On a normal day, you would be in there at 9.30am to start a class at
10.30am. That would go for an hour and a quarter. You’d have a 15-minute break between rehearsals, a lunch break, and then rehearse until 6.30pm. If you’re performing, you’d start a class at 11am, have a break between 3pm and 5pm, and you’d get ready for a show which begins at 7.30pm and could finish anywhere between 10.30pm and 11pm. So very up and down hours, stretched all over the place, but you kind of learn to love it. After a while, it’s just the way it is as a dancer. We also travel around a lot. I mean, I’m out of Melbourne six months a year, performing both internationally and within Australia. So it’s a crazy life, but we’re all in it together so it’s also a very exciting one. Now we’ve got two students who are going to ask some questions, starting off with Reuben who’s a year 11 student and then Alejandro from Year 6. Reuben: Do you remember your first day at Wesley and what was that like? Boy, that’s casting my mind back a long, long way Ruben! I don’t remember the whole day, but I remember feeling a combination of nervousness and excitement. There was a sense that there was just so much on offer and so much that I could become interested in. There were definitely a few nerves but I think it’s absolutely normal for you to feel those nerves if it’s your first day at school. I think it’s important to know that everything settles and everything finds its place after not too long. Reuben: What advice would you give your 13-year-old self? Work harder? I’ve been asked this
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question before and it’s like, ‘there’d be a long list actually’, but one of the things I would say to my 13-year-old self is: don’t think that you have to know all the answers all the time because you can’t at 13. In fact, you can’t at 57, which I am now. The other thing is, don’t be afraid to ask if you’re not sure. I think that if I had asked more questions when I needed to, I probably would have had an easier time academically. It wasn’t my strongest suit. I would always have gravitated towards the Arts, towards music, drama, art, all of that sort of stuff. That was just the way my brain was leaning. But I’m pretty sure that had I not assumed that I was supposed to know the answer to all things academic, and had I asked some questions at the time, I probably would have managed a little bit easier. So I think that’s my main takeaway to my 13-year-old self: ask questions. Alejandro: What are the values that you learnt from your family and during your time at Wesley, that guided you throughout your career? I was very fortunate to have a family who recognised quite early on that I had developed an interest in something which was a bit different. Certainly, at the time when I was growing up, not a lot of young guys did ballet. It didn’t really figure on the radar of most people. And I was fortunate that both my parents recognised that this was something that I had developed an interest in, particularly after the school excursion to the Perth Concert Hall, where I saw the Nutcracker and thought it was the best thing I’d ever seen, blew my mind. So I had their support to follow what I really wanted and I think that’s hugely important.
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VALE Professor Peter Boyce AO (48-52) The OWCA and College were saddened to hear of the passing of Professor Boyce on 7 August 2021.
The author of the College’s history book, Honest Unsullied Days, Professor Boyce had a distinguished career as a political scientist and historian. He left not only a lasting impact on the Wesley community, but the wider Australian community through his passion for education.
After leaving Wesley College he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, with first-degree honours, and a Masters in History at the University of Western Australia. Following this, he attended Duke University in the United States, earning a Doctorate in International Relations.
Professor Boyce was born in 1935 and attended Wesley College on a scholarship from 1948 to 1952. He would go on to be Joint College Captain and Dux in his final year. He later served on the Wesley College Council, just one of his expressions of gratitude.
His passion for education blossomed from his appointment as a lecturer of politics at the University of Tasmania. From this, his next move interstate to the University of Queensland, where he was head of the university’s Department of Government.
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Returning to Perth a few years later, Professor Boyce became Head of Political Science at UWA, before taking on the Vice-Chancellor position at Murdoch University. Professor Boyce was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1995 ‘for services to education, international relations and the community’. The author of three books, he was instrumental in documenting the history of Wesley College through Honest Unsullied Days, producing a long-surviving legacy.
In memoriam.
MR ATHOLL MACLENNAN (40-48) 19 June 2019
MR DAVID UPHILL (95-99-00) 4 June 2021
MR MURRAY MORRISON (47-51) 22 September 2021
MR JOHN MOTT (43-47-50) 3 November 2020
MR GEORGE WAITE (44-49-50) June 2021
MR GLEN FOLLAND (45-47-49) 3 October 2021
MR ROBERT DAY (38-42) 3 February 2021
MR GORDON GOWLAND (43-50) 10 July 2021
MR JOHN HARVEY (54-58) 23 October 2021
MR LINDSAY SMITH (49-51-53) 31 March 2021
MR DONALD BROWN (55-57) 30 July 2021
MR JOHN COWLISHAW (60-64) 6 November 2021
MR BRIAN FLOYD (43-44-46) 24 May 2021
MR PETER BOYCE (48-52) 7 August 2021
MR WILLIAM (BILL) BROWNE (47-51) 7 November 2021
MR ERIC MCKAY (47-52-54) 24 May 2021
MR IAN SHELLABEAR (43-45-47) 10 August 2021
MR JON HASSON (86-90) 12 November 2021
MR NATHANAEL TIMMS (01-08) 26 May 2021
MR DAVID BAKER (45-49) 23 August 2021
MR CLIVE WILDERSPIN (43-47) 13 November 2021
MR DONALD PATERSON (50-53-55) 4 June 2021
MR BRETT OPENSHAW (61-65) 8 September 2021
MR WILLAM SIPPE (98-02) 19 November 2021
OLD SCHOOL TIES SUMMER 2021
