School News Vale Jeremy King

Transkrypt

School News
No. 136 Summer 2010
Vale Jeremy King
3 March 1935 – 13 October 2010
Print Post Approved: PP43371110054
Old Southportonians’
Association Council 2010
Founded 1907
AUDITOR: WHK Audit & Assurance,
Carrara Street, Benowa
NORTH QUEENSLAND: R.A.W. Lyne (Tho
1969-74)
HON. SECRETARY: James Kennett
(Wal 1970-74)
EDITORIAL COMMITTEE: The Old
Southportonians’ Review: Bruce Rogers
(McK 1958-62) K Hailey (OSA Coordinator)
PAPUA NEW GUINEA: C. Burgess (Kai
85-88)
HON. ASST. SECRETARY: Jock Beveridge
(Atk 1986-89)
LAYOUT & DESIGN: Market Focus
Communications (MFC)
HON. TREASURER: Damien Moffrey
(Wal 1981-88)
BRANCH OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES:
PRESIDENT: Bruce Wright (Rad 1976-85)
VICE-PRESIDENT: Paul Wood
(Del 1980-84)
ROMA: N. Cameron (Bid 85-89), S. Gray
(McK 76-80), T.R.W. Cooper (Del 84-88)
SINGAPORE:. C. Poetzscher (Wal 83-87)
BRISBANE: J. MacAulay (Del 94-96)
D. Fielding (McK 83-87)
HON. ASST. TREASURER: Nathan
Quartermaine (McK 96-99)
SOUTH AUSTRALIA: Est. 2008: H. Muller
(McK 1949-52) D. Jones (Del 1975-78)
CENTRAL WEST NEW SOUTH WALES:
R. Nicholls (Tur 80-88)
Patron: Jake MacRonald (Tho 1949-57)
IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT: J. Carter
(Kai 1988-92)
NON EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEMBERS:
Hon. Editor-Review Bruce Rogers
(McK 1958-62), Archivist/Website Scott
Andrews (Wal 1994-98), Young Old Boys
Representative Brodie Cunningham
(Tho 2002-07)
ELECTED COUNCIL MEMBERS: Ian
Browne (Del 1982-83), John Hillier (Atk
1978-87), Christopher Johnstone (Bid
1979-90), Peter Lockhart (Tho 62-65),
Ross Norman (Del 1985-89), Simon
Nicholls (Tur 1980-86) Colin Underwood
(Tho 1972-77) Paul Veivers (Del 1975-80),
Thomas Paxton-Hall (Rad 2005-09), Tony
Burchill (Rad 1978-84), Vaughan Oxenford
(Mel 1980-84)
OLD BOYS ON THE SCHOOL COUNCIL:
F.D. Perrin (Rad 1978-84), V.B. Wright
(Rad 1976-85), P.A Graham (Tho 1959-65)
M.M.A Blumenstein (Mau 1988-92), G.C.
Rix (Wal 72-77)
ROCKHAMPTON: D.J.D. Rodgers (McK
2001-05)
SOUTH WEST QUEENSLAND: S. Fraser
(McK 71-74), G. Webster (Tho 57-63)
CENTRAL WEST QUEENSLAND: W.
Chandler (Del 48-58)J. Macmillan (Del
83-86), B. Battersby (Kai 77-79)
STANTHORPE: P.C. Blundell
(Tho 1975-79) DARLING DOWNS: B. Battersby (Kai
77-79), D. Greenup (Del 82-86)
SUNSHINE COAST: M. Elks (Del 73-74)
SYDNEY: Est.1926 J.M. Hawker (McK
1959-63, I. Lambert (Wal 74-78)
FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND: T. McInnes
(McK 80-86), M. Trout (Kai 76-80)
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA:
L. Cochran (Wal 72-75)
HONG KONG: Est.2005: W. Parfitt (McK
78-82), Kay Hastie (Ex TSS Staff), B.
Michael (Rad 80-93)
LOCKYER VALLEY: Est.1995: A.G.M. Kemp
(Tho 1956-63) Mrs A.A. Kemp
LONDON: Est. 2007: D.G. Serafini
(Mel 1988-98), S. Douglas (Del 08), C.
Faes (Tur 83-84)
VICTORIA: W.N. Adderley (Del 1959-68) L.
Meerkin (JS 1942-47),
WESTERN AUSTRALIA: S.J. Conran (Bid
1989-93)
WIDE BAY: D. McIver (Del 48-52),
D. Chandler (Del 87-92)
MACKAY: G. McKinnon (Tur 80-84)
NEW ZEALAND: R. Mehta (McK 88-92),
J. McIlwain (McK 75-83)
NORTHERN RIVERS NSW: P. Kerkenezov
(Del 1957-65)
NORTHERN TERRITORY: N. Eames (Mel
81-88)
SCHOOL ARCHIVIST: L.A.Walker
HIDDEN CREEK: Manager Clinton Cronk
Enquires: (02) 6679 3469 0410 622125
[email protected]
OSA Office — OSA Coordinator
Mrs Kris Hailey: The Southport School
Winchester Street SOUTHPORT QLD 4215
Phone: 07 5531 9803 Fax: 07 5591 2124
[email protected]
WEBLINK: www.tssoldboys.com.au
Contents
2
From the President 3
OSA Races
12
Oldest Old Boy
23
From the Headmaster
4
Branches News
13
Memories
23
Editorial
5
Branch Gatherings for 2011
14
Commemorative Old Old Boys’ Tie
26
Keeping in touch
5
Hidden Creek 14
What are they up to now?
27
YOBS
5
Outback Tour
15
Sportsmen making news
32
OSA Reunion Weekend
6
Rowing News 19
School News
34
When red turns to green
10
Reflections Hosted by Bert Cockerill
20
Obituaries
36
Rain from Nowhere by Murray Hartin
11
Mentoring Program
21
Jeremy King
41
Old Boy Numbers
11
Weddings, Births and Baptisms
22
T h e O l d S o u t h p o r to n i a n s ’
Asso c i at i o n
>>
From the President
In the context of my last Report as OSA President (this time around), it has been my
privilege to be of service to our Association in this capacity, as there are so many great
people linked to The Southport School that I have had the opportunity to contact over this
second year which has indeed been a journey. This edition of the OSA Review I hope will
answer some of the questions I have been asked along the way of “What is the OSA and
what does it do?” It is in fact quite fitting that this edition will be distributed to a larger
audience both in Old Boys and the entire School Community and is probably the best
illustration we have produced that answers these questions.
This is a living document which publishes everything that is great within our School and
through our diverse network of Old Boys. It is also a place where we remember too many
of our Old Boys whom are no longer with us. This year has been especially difficult not only
as President of the OSA but for me personally, with the passing of Erle Cardow and most
recently Jeremy King whom I will miss the most. All these Old Boys continued to hold the
values of TSS close to their heart and we should celebrate the contribution each has made
while as a student and since, as custodians of the History and Traditions that make this
such a great School.
One of the many highlights has been the Older Old Boys Tie and for almost 400 Old
Southportonians’ who entered TSS 60 or more years ago, we presented either at the
special Older Old Boys Assembly or subsequently mailed the Tie, which so many have
written back to express their heartfelt thanks and pride to wear what signifies the
partnership between TSS and the OSA as well the gold band that signifies the history and
wisdom of these gentlemen. On that note I also took the opportunity while in Cairns for
the Branch function, to visit Mr Jack Warner, our oldest Old Boy, whom Jeremy King had
mentioned to me on numerous occasions when discussing the Rowing Dinner and past
crews. It was a special moment for me to present the Tie and a photo of the School to Mr
Warner who is 107 years young (McK 1915-21).
While more details will be available in the Executive Report of the OSA Annual General
Meeting, the OSA Council has produced its first Strategic Plan, an audit of the accounts
and a rejuvenated Branch Network. We now have 20 Branches re-engaged around
Australia and Internationally, and a total of 15 Branch functions were held in 2010. We have
launched our new e-newsletters with four scheduled for 2011. The www.tssoldboys.com.au
website supported by our new Online Community program provides interaction with OSA
members able to use the program for business networking, directories, reunions, even footy
tipping. This enables the OSA to more effectively communicate and support our Old Boys
and their families.
The OSA manages approximately $1million in Memorial and General Funds, most of which
has been as a result of Bequests, where the OSA has established endowments on request,
offering funds back to the School in perpetuity. This includes a growing range of assistance
to the School family in the form of bursary and library funds through to the Scholarship
Fund and the most recently established J. C. King Memorial Rowing Fund. The OSA has also
established a link to the Bendigo Bank which offers the OSA a contribution to a Community
Fund distributed back to the OSA as a bonus for any person/company that nominates a
link with the OSA (further details are available at the OSA Office).
While our Branches are now very active, Reunions and Events have also been high on
the agenda with a very successful Old Boys Weekend that saw more than 600 Old Boy
registrations, from the Older Old Boys Assembly, McWhirter Cup Golf Day, YOBS drinks,
Bush Barbecue with James Blundell performing (with father Peter adding some great
bush poetry and Five-Year Reunion Groups), 10-Year Reunion Dinner and Founder’s Chapel
Service. Added to that was TSS Rugby First XV sharing the Premiership on the same day
in front of a very large crowd which included many Old Boys. We also took the opportunity
to formally present our new Patron Mr Jake MacRonald as well as Jeremy King with his
Mervyn Dane Collings Award. More recently, the OSA Race Day held at the Gold Coast Turf
Club was a success with 185 attending and,
apart from being a great day for all, who
attended, raised dollars to support such
initiatives as Bursaries, Hidden Creek and
Pastoral Support.
Many of you would have already seen
details of the Spirit of the Bush Tour –
Following the Footsteps of the Founder I
am sure in re-establishing these country
connections, the School’s commitment to
country boarding is as strong as I can ever
remember it. The OSA has also reaffirmed
this position to encompass a strategy to
work with the School to strengthen the
number of Old Boys sending their sons to
TSS from the current figure of eight per
cent to 15 per cent over the next five years.
This compares to current levels at ACGS
of 17 per cent and Shore (Sydney) 23 per
cent. For any Old Boy, the Generations that
pass through TSS are important on many
levels and I encourage you to find out more
through the OSA Office or Admissions.
Please read and enjoy this edition of the
OSA Review, as I hope it provides you
with further insight of what the OSA is all
about. As a voluntary organisation we have
many supporters and contributors that
make it such a success. I therefore wish to
sincerely thank our OSA Council, all the
Branch representatives and the wider base
of OSA volunteers that have contributed. I
also thank Mrs Kris Hailey our fulltime OSA
Coordinator for her dedication and ability
to ensure all activities have been delivered
so successfully. I also wish to acknowledge
the support and commitment of Mr Greg
Wain our Headmaster, Gerry Northausen
Foundation Coordinator, Kerry Eddowes,
the Market Focus Communications Pty Ltd
and TSS Marketing, Archives & Admissions
teams for the assistance provided. Please
subscribe to the communications systems
provided by the OSA including our Website
and Facebook and ensure you have yours
and your mates’ details up to date. The
OSA AGM will be held November 29 with
Reports on-line. Finally, I wish everyone
in our special community a very safe and
merry Christmas and we hope to see you at
an OSA function near you, sometime soon.
Sincerely,
V. Bruce Wright
3
from the
headmaster
School News
>>
with family, friends, colleagues, staff, Old Boys and rowers. It was a farewell befitting
such a well-loved member of our close-knit community. After a rousing war cry and the
whole Senior School forming a Guard of Honour down the Chapel Drive, Jeremy left the
campus for the final time with a special detour made so that he could ‘inspect’ the newly
refurbished Boatshed one last time. Whilst his presence will be greatly missed at the
official opening of the new Boatshed in November, Jeremy’s spirit will live on there for
many decades to come.
Vale Mr King – It was with great sadness
that we received the news that Jeremy
King had passed away following a five day
battle in Intensive Care.
Within the TSS community, Jeremy will be
best remembered as a legendary rowing
coach and a passionate Old Boy who was,
over decades, one of the true guardians of
our history and traditions.
During his time as a boarder at TSS, Jeremy
was a member of the winning Head of
the River crew in both 1953 (stroke) and
in 1954 (third seat) when his crew broke
the 1st IV record, which will always stand
as it was the end of the 1st IV Head of the
River era. Jeremy’s love of rowing and all
that the sport entails never ceased and
he was present at the Shed nearly every
day to coach and mentor young rowers,
guide younger coaches, and do whatever
was needed to keep the Shed running well.
Up before dawn and often home after
dark, travelling with crews to regattas and
every Head of the River – all in between
operating his own business and being
a great family man – reveals so much
about the passion and character of this
stalwart of TSS Rowing. Mr King was also
a member of the OSA Council, an Honorary
Life Member of the OSA, recipient of the
OSA Mervyn Collings Award, President of
the P&F association in 1977 and 1978, and
member of the School Council from 1989
to 1995. An amazing level of service.
First and foremost however, Jeremy was
a family man and our thoughts and
prayers remain with his wife Lois, daughter
Toni-Ann and her children, and son Geoff
(Old Boy) and grandsons and current TSS
students Jeremy and James.
Jeremy’s life was celebrated at his funeral
service on Wednesday 20 October
conducted by Rev Jim Stonier and assisted
by The Reverend Canon Bruce Maughan,
OAM. St Alban’s Chapel overflowed
4
Jeremy Chilcott King. A great man and larger than life character who helped guide the
development of many of our young men. A man who loved his School and served it
faithfully and passionately for decades.
A Rare 3 GPS Cup Year – 2010 has been a exceptional year for GPS competition with wins
in Cricket, Rugby and, just recently, Gymnastics. (In fact the Gymnastics is a 3-peat with
wins in 2008, 2009 and 2010.) Added to this the Rowers were second by only a foot and
a half, the Swimmers were second by a few points and the boys achieved our best ever
Football (Soccer) result of Second Place. The last time TSS won three Cups was back in
1933 and this feat has only been achieved on two other occasions – 1922 and 1926. Hence
the 2010 cohort can be justly proud of their efforts.
Gargantuan Old Boys’ Weekend at TSS! – My thanks to all involved in organising and
conducting events for our Old Boys’ weekend. OSA President Mr Bruce Wright estimates
well over 600 Old Boys attended at some stage commencing with the Older Old Boys’
Assembly on Friday, the Young Old Boys event Friday night, the Delpratt Breakfast,
Headmaster’s morning tea, country themed lunchtime BBQ and James Blundell concert,
GPS football matches in both codes, the Decades Dinner, and finishing with the Founder’s
Service on Sunday morning.
Many compliments were passed about the beautiful state of the grounds and buildings,
and the size and appearance of the crowd of boys on Saturday.
The Older Old Boys’ Assembly, as always, was a very moving event with men from the ages
of 67-92 being introduced to the boys. A highlight for many young boys was, after the boys
giving the returning visitors a rousing war cry, the sixty Older Old Boys rose, limbered up and
gave a wonderful war cry back to the boys, who then raised the roof with their applause.
I was able to tell the boys about the legendary Pong Creek Monster who many thought was
mythical. Like the Loch Ness Monster, from time to time in the 1950s, growing larger each
year, the great beast raised his horrible head from time to time out of the water around
dusk and sent boys scurrying from the water and grabbing sticks and rowing oars.
We were extremely privileged to have the Old Boy who hunted the Monster for many
months back in the 50’s present last Friday. He finally caught the Monster on a fishing
line after a two hour battle. Over lunch I heard many variations of the event but the facts
are the Monster turned out to be a six feet long eel. The Archbishop of the day was so
impressed he had his photograph taken with the Monster and his captor the infamous
TSS Old Boy, colourful local identity and raconteur Bert Cockerill. The now snowy headed
Monster slayer has promised more facts will emerge at the Older Old Boys assembly in 2011!
On Saturday, Old Boy and Country singer James Blundell gave a concert at lunch and then
offered to sing the national Anthem at the commencement of the First XV game against
Toowoomba Grammar. And what a great game it was, hard fought by both teams. With
that win, and Nudgee narrowly defeating a superb State High team up in Brisbane on the
same day, the GPS Rugby Premiership was shared three ways between State High, Nudgee
and The Southport School. Congratulations to all players and coaches on an amazing
season. This certainly capped off a great weekend
Best wishes,
Greg Wain
Headmaster
Asso c i at i o n
Editorial <<
I had pleasure of attending the OSA Race
Day a couple of weeks ago and was very
pleased at the great turnout of members
of the OSA, parents of the school and
supporters. It shows how much the
OSA is valued by members of the wider
community and the school community.
This is one of many functions that are
widely supported by parents of the school
and old boys.
Here’s a challenge for us all – more than
ever, we must, as a ‘Band of Brothers’
do all we can to promote the OSA, the
fellowship it embodies and the long term
benefits for the school community.
The tragic loss of Jeremy King, a sadly
missed member of the OSA and tireless
volunteer and worker for the school
community, brings this all home to us.
This brings me to a subject very dear to my
heart as editor of this magazine, old boy of
the school and OSA council member.
How fortunate we were to have known
Jeremy – what an impact was made by
one man. It makes you proud to be part of
the OSA and the school community.
Is the Old Southportonians’ Association
relevant to the needs and aspirations of
The Southport School in the 21st century?
Being in the ‘Band of Brothers’ seems like a
great idea for the future.
How would you answer that question?
At every opportunity, talk to your friends
about the OSA and keep the faith.
Here’s some grist for the mill. What if
there was no OSA? How would students
and their parents relate to the wonderful
history that is TSS?
Your magazine is an important tool for
promoting the OSA. Share it with your
friends.
Interesting thought, isn’t it?
Happy reading and enjoy the ride.
Contributions
Welcome
We are all interested in what you have
been doing with your life, news of
your travels and who you have caught
up with from TSS. All contributions
should be directed to: OSA Office, TSS,
Winchester Street, Southport 4215 or
email to [email protected]
The OSA publishes personal notes in
good faith, as a service to the school
community and to the alumni. The
OSA accepts no responsibility for
publishing information in this section
of the magazine which may be
erroneous, incomplete or false.
Bruce Rogers – McK 1958-62
Editor
YOBS
Keeping in touch
Have you lost touch with your former
classmates?
Do you want to get in touch with a former
friend from school but don’t know where
they are living?
Do you want to register an event that
may be of interest to your former school
friends?
Are you looking for a particular email
contact of someone you knew from school
to meet up professionally or socially?
TSS Old Boys now have the option of
keeping in touch through the introduction
of their own specific online community
database accessed through
www.tssoldboys.com.au
Since its introduction last month, there
have been more than 1000 hits and the
numbers are growing daily as word spreads
among the alumni association.
Past students can now post photos,
register events, seek out other Old Boys
who may be living in their area and email
each other on a one-to-one level through
this innovative and secure database.
The OSA office encourages all past
students to seek out the website which
has limitless potential in developing a
solid networking support system for all Old
Boys.
Included in the community database is a
bulletin board which assists in keeping Old
Boys up to date with branch gatherings,
alumni meetings, contact details, social
functions, news alerts, reports and various
school happenings.
The second Young Old Boys function
was held on the Friday night of this
years Old Boys Weekend and turned
out to be a fantastic night for all
involved. The event was held at Fuel
bar on Chevron Island and we had over
150 old boys and partners turn up. It
was great to see a huge group of young
old boys eager to catch up with mates
and to keep a connection to the school
and its community, but was also great
to see a large number of 20 and 30
year reunion old boys there to have a
few drinks and swap stories with the
younger fellas. We hope that this event
continues to grow and develops into a
great night where all old boys can enjoy
catching up over a few beers before the
main Saturday old boy celebrations.
Joining this community database is
completely free and all Old Boys are
invited to register their contact details.
For more information contact
[email protected]
5
<<
OSA Reunion Weekend
Philip Lever (Del 66-70), Neil Thomas (Del 67-70), Gary Smith (Del 67-70), John Williamson (Del 50-53) AM and Nicki Williamson at the Delpratt Breakfast.
>>
This year’s annual OSA Reunion Weekend
again attracted a strong crowd of
supporters, many of whom are country
residents who delight in the opportunity to
revisit their old school.
While capturing a more formal tone
than other events held over the Old Boys
Weekend, the annual Older Old Boys
assembly was no less a celebration of
former school days at Southport.
Nearly 50 former students who attended
TSS 60 years ago or more, returned to the
school to share their memories with the
current senior school cohort.
Speaking on behalf of the Old Boys,
the oldest Old Boy Jim Crombie shared
his thoughts and recollections with the
student body as part of the assembly. Mr
Crombie was a boarder in Thorold House
from 1926 until 1934. A rousing war cry
certainly cemented the bond between
past and present Southportonians.
Following the assembly, the reminiscences
continued in the Dining Hall, as the Old
Boys enjoyed lunch with many comments
6
focussed on the many changes within the
school grounds since ‘their day’.
Once again the TSS Foundation/OSA
McWhirter Cup golf day was a huge success
and a great way to kick off Old Boys’
Weekend.
Held at RACV Royal Pines, this popular
event attracted a big roll-up of golfers
including Old Boys, current parents and
friends of the wider TSS community.
Bruce Lynton BMW again was the major
sponsor of the day giving away four stylish
BMW golf bags, golf packs and other
goodies.
Other sponsors of the Texas scramble-style
competition included George Laurens,
the MBA Partnership, ABKJ Lawyers,
the Alliance Group, Xerox, Oz Lending,
Gold Coast Blaze and Dynamic Print
Communications.
The Old Boys’ team of John Elks, Ian Elks,
Murray Elks and Jim Twentyman won
both the McWhirter Cup (only open to Old
Boys of the School) as well as the overall
competition.
Asso c i at i o n
Another weekend highlight was the Dellie
breakfast which, this year, included two
notable events.
The first was giving former Delpratt House
boarders a chance to see the massive
$500,000 refurbishment which was
completed earlier this year with the second
being the unveiling of the McDonald
Family Trophy in honor of one of the
House’s first boarders, the late Sidney
Cotton OBE.
A large number of former Delpratt
boarders and their families attended the
hot buffet breakfast on the lawns in front
of the House which was enjoyed under
perfect, sunny winter skies. While this
event forms part of the reunion weekend
activities, it is hosted by the current
Delpratt Housemaster, Phil Ward, and
his wife, Jan, specifically for current and
past students and family of the House
so there are always plenty of stories told
around the tables and great camaraderie is
enjoyed by all.
Second generation – Ben (Wal 95-06), Greg (Wal 72-77) and Jacob Rix (Wal 98-00), at the
Generations Dinner
Representing generations of Old Boys with our
current students were John Austin (Tho 50-51)
and Year 1 student Bailey Bennett (Mitre 09).
On the Saturday afternoon, one of
TSS’ own ‘sons’, James Blundell, and a
shared win in the GPS Rugby Premiership
helped set the scene for one of the most
successful reunion weekends in the
School’s history this year.
The ever-popular boatshed barbecue
enjoyed a bush theme this year and was
very much a family-fun affair. The bush
theme was in support of the many past
students who live in rural Queensland and
New South Wales and also in recognition
of the Queensland Country Life’s 75th
birthday celebrations.
Close to 400 attended the bush-themed
spit roast barbecue at the Boatshed ovals
while James Blundell provided several live
music segments, sometimes accompanied
by former Australian Idol contestant Jesse
Curran, and James’ father, Peter Blundell
senior, who joined in singing some ballads
and reciting his own bush poetry.
For the youngsters, there was an animal
farm with miniature pony rides and lots of
farm animals to pat as well as a display of
Charolais cattle by the TSS Cattle Team.
Tom Pickett (Rad 81-90) and Beric Lynton (Rad 78-90) head off at the TSS Foundation/OSA
McWhirter Cup golf day
The mechanical bull ride ensured many spills were ‘enjoyed’ by those who dared take on
the ‘beast’. In keeping with the bush theme, Dover and Sons of Boonah, brought a selection
of farm machinery down with the all-terrain Polaris being a popular hit.
OSA President, Bruce Wright, said the reunion weekend had been a huge success and he
was delighted that so many past students had supported the new direction of introducing
the bush theme for the barbecue.
“TSS has enjoyed a long association with rural Australia since the School was first founded
with boarding facilities provided for country students so they could receive a quality
education at Southport,” said Bruce
“Today, TSS still embraces rural Australia and we have many families whose sons have
attended the School over several generations. One such example is the Blundell family
who are fourth generation at TSS and to have James and his father Peter present at our
barbecue this year was extremely special.”
Following the barbecue, everyone crossed Dixon Drive to watch the final Rugby game of
the season against Toowoomba Grammar School. In the game, TSS scored a win which
resulted in a three-way shared premiership win with Nudgee College and Brisbane State
High School. An estimated crowd in excess of 2,000 TSS and Toowoomba supporters
turned up for this rousing final game of the season.
Another traditional event which recognises the strong support from Old Boys at the school
is the annual Generations Dinner hosted by the Headmaster.
Among the many third and fourth generation families to attend the evening were the Bell
family of Emerald (fourth generation) and the Perrin, Lethbridge and Postle families (third
generation).
The School recognises the importance of the generational links many families have with
TSS and dinners such as this further cement these strong relationships.
7
OSA reunion Weekend
James Blundell (Tho 77-81), Peter Blundell Snr (Tho 49-53) and Jesse Curran at the Bush Barbecue
Greg Rigby (Atk 1990), Robert Dabscheck (Mau 1986-90) and
Shaun Barry (Kai 1986-90)
Robert Beattle (McK 96-00), Tony Dare (Mau 96-00) and
Mark Ensor (Kai 92-00)
Don (McK 57-60) and Helen Melrose.at the Reunion Dinner
Bruce Enderlin (Rad 75-80), Chris Bauman (Mel 74-80) and
John Cobon (Tho 76-80)
Angus Ramsay (Rad 89-99), David Pointon (Rad 88-00), Gareth Wockner (Kai 92-00), Vincent Ng (Tur 97-00), Nepolian Rema (Del 98-00) (from PNG),
Josh King (Del 99-00), Floyd Tembon and Reane Reme.
8
Asso c i at i o n
OSA reunion weekend
Catching up over lunch were Edward (Pat) Hunt (Del 43-46), Alan Radcliffe DFC (Tho 35-39) and Tom Eady (Del 44-48) at the Older Old Boys Assembly
Lionel Meerkin (Prep 42-47), Garth Davidson (Del 48-58) Jeremy King (Del 50-54) and Archie Douglas (Tho 56-61) at the Bush Barbecue
Stuart Payne (Del 86-90), David Wolbers (Tur 82-90) , Robert Dabscheck (Mau 86-90) and Jeffrey McNiven (Atk 86-90) at the Reunion Dinner
9
The drought breaks for the Frasers
– When red turns to green
>>
After what has been described as the
driest years since Federation, the parched
red ‘dustbowl’ of Queensland’s outback
has been transformed into a lush green
landscape that, even today, takes away
the breath of those living there.
Scott and Paula Fraser of Nooyeah
Downs outside Thargomindah have seen
this transformation on rare occasions
in past years but for their two children,
David and Georgie, it was an almost
incomprehensible sight.
The former second generation TSS and St
Hilda’s students are both at university in
Brisbane studying for respective degrees in
marketing and communications.
“Georgie was at home and David was still
in Brisbane when the heavens opened on
our 89,000ha family property located in an
area of Queensland known as ‘heartbreak
corner’, said father Scott, an Old Boy and
former member of The Southport School
Council.
“While David and Georgie were born during
some of region’s wettest years in 1989 and
1990, all they had ever known growing up
at Nooyeah was a scene of cracked earth,
dust storms, no grass to feed livestock and
just a few occasional showers.
“Seeing the transformation of the
countryside from red to green literally left
them speechless and, even today, we drive
around with huge smiles on our faces and
wonder at the amazing change which has
taken place in the countryside.”
The transformation of this landscape
began 12 months ago almost to the day
when the heavens opened (and have
continued to do so ever since) to break
what is possibly the worst drought in the
area’s history.
For three months the road into Nooyeah
was cut off by floodwaters of the Bulloo
River and when it came time to drive out
so that David and Georgie could return to
university, the grass that had sprung up
was a high as the 4-wheel drive.
“On the old scale we have had 22 inches of
rain during the past 12 months in an area
that usually enjoys a reasonable season
on 10 inches of rain. That certainly was
10
an extreme compared to 2009 when we
had just two inches (or 57mm) and only
slightly more in the preceding years.
“The Frasers eventually managed to be
one of the first cars to get out after the
floods at the time and even today, it is
impossible to see the stony ridges from the
air due to the lush paddocks of grass,” said
Scott.
Paula Fras
er, Ernie Din
go, Georgie
Fraser – pr
and David
eparing to
leave Nooye
ah after th
ree
months.
The Frasers are fourth generation graziers
in the area and their knowledge of the
land and how to manage it efficiently
during good and bad times is extensive
with Scott electing to deliberately start
destocking the property in March 2009
and completing the process in September
the same year.
“When the rains began in November and
December we had no stock so we were
not exposed to losing livestock in the
floodwaters. We only started restocking
from scratch in April this year.”
In the 50 years, Scott has been living
on the family property, he can only
remember a couple of occasions when the
countryside ‘sprung into life’ but they are
periods which the entire family cherish.
The memories of dust storms blowing in
from the Simpson Desert quickly disappear
(along with cleaning up after one of those
dust storms!).
To ‘survive’ the flooding rivers, creeks and
road, Scott, who flies his own plane, said
he had stocked up on essential food items
just before the ‘big wet’ set in. He said he
had been unable to fly over the property
or use his airstrip for quite a long time so
the plane sat in its hanger waiting for the
ground dry out enough to take off and
land.
“Only recently I flew over the property
and was still amazed at its beauty and
ability to rejuvenate itself once the seasons
change. We have been fortunate that the
river (Bulloo) really hasn’t stopped running
for almost 12 months and the countryside
breathes with an abundance of birdlife.”
In awe of nature’s beauty, Scott said the
family recently drove to Lake Eyre to ‘have
a paddle’ in Australia’s amazing inland sea
that is usually a dusty dry claypan that
stretches for as far as the eye can see.
Asso c i at i o n
With new life now returning to Nooyeah,
Scott said he was now preparing to begin
lamb-marking his steadily growing herd
of Dorper sheep. Before the drought, the
property carried approximately 3,500
sheep and 2,000 Santa Gertrudis and
Angus cross cattle.
The process of starting from scratch
doesn’t daunt Scott and Paula who adopt
a gentle respect for the land and all that it
has to offer.
In fact, Scott was one of the driving
forces behind establishing OBE Organic
Beef System which is accredited under
the National Association for Sustainable
Agriculture Australia (NASAA) and
Australian Certified Organic (ACO).
NASAA organic certification is a total
quality management system developed
for organic production and allows the
operator, who is inspected and approved
by NASAA, to advertise and label their
produce/products as meeting the NASAA
standards.
As a founding member of OBE, Scott
is one of 32 shareholders based in the
Channel Country whose goal is to establish
awareness of the prized quality of beef
from the region. The first export of beef
was three years ago to Japan and, since
then, OBE has developed markets in
Asia, North America and within Australia.
The next step for the organisation is to
establish a similar market for lamb bred in
the same region.
Rain from Nowhere
>>
by Murray Hartin
His cattle didn’t get a bid, they were fairly bloody poor,
What was he going to do? He couldn’t feed them anymore,
The dams were all but dry, hay was thirteen bucks a bale,
Last month’s talk of rain was just a fairytale,
His credit had run out, no chance to pay what’s owed,
Bad thoughts ran through his head as he drove down Gully Road.
“You have to talk to someone, and yes I know I rarely did
“But you have to think about Fiona and think about the kids.
“I’m worried about you son, you haven’t rung for quite a while,
“I know the road you’re on ‘cause I’ve walked every bloody mile.
“The date? December 7 back in 1983,
“Behind the shed I had the shotgun rested in the brigalow tree.
“Geez, great grandad bought the place back in 1898,
“Now I’m such a useless bastard, I’ll have to shut the gate.
“Can’t support my wife and kids, not like dad and those before,
“Crikey, Grandma kept it going while Pop fought in the war.”
With depression now his master, he abandoned what was right,
There’s no place in life for failures, he’d end it all tonight.
“See, I’d borrowed way too much to buy the Johnson place
“Then it didn’t rain for years and we got bombed by interest rates,
“The bank was at the door, I didn’t think I had a choice,
“I began to squeeze the trigger – that’s when I heard your voice.
“You said ‘Where are you Daddy? It’s time to play our game’
“’ I’ve got Squatter all set up, we might get General Rain.’
There were still some things to do, he’d have to shoot the cattle
first,
Of all the jobs he’d ever done, that would be the worst.
He’d have a shower, watch the news, then they’d all sit down for
tea
Read his kids a bedtime story, watch some more TV,
Kiss his wife goodnight, say he was off to shoot some roos
Then in a paddock far away he’d blow away the blues.
“It really was that close, you’re the one that stopped me son,
“And you’re the one that taught me there’s no answer in a gun.
“Just remember people love you, good friends won’t let you down.
“Look, you might have to swallow pride and take that job in town,
“Just ’til things come good, son, you’ve always got a choice
“And when you get this letter ring me, ’cause I’d love to hear your
voice.”
Well he cried and laughed and shook his head then put the truck
in gear,
Shut his eyes and hugged his dad in a vision that was clear,
Dropped the cattle at the yards, put the truck away
Filled the troughs the best he could and fed his last ten bales of
hay.
Then he strode towards the homestead, shoulders back and head
held high,
He still knew the road was tough but there was purpose in his eye.
But he drove in the gate and stopped – as he always had
To check the roadside mailbox – and found a letter from his Dad.
Now his dad was not a writer, Mum did all the cards and mail
But he knew the writing from the notebooks that he’d kept from
cattle sales,
He sensed the nature of its contents, felt moisture in his eyes,
Just the fact his dad had written was enough to make him cry.
“Son, I know it’s bloody tough, it’s a cruel and twisted game,
“This life upon the land when you’re screaming out for rain,
“There’s no candle in the darkness, not a single speck of light
“But don’t let the demon get you, you have to do what’s right,
“I don’t know what’s in your head but push the bad thoughts well
away
“See, you’ll always have your family at the back end of the day
He called his wife and children, who’d lived through all his pain,
Hugs said more than words – he’d come back to them again,
They talked of silver linings, how good times always follow bad,
Then he walked towards the phone, picked it up and rang his Dad.
And while the kids set up the Squatter, he hugged his wife again,
Then they heard the roll of thunder and they smelt the smell of
rain.
Refer to Murray’s website for information on his book and CD’s www.murrayhartin.com
YOUR OSA OLD
BOY NUMBERS
PLEASE KEEP YOUR EMAIL
ADDRESSES UPDATED
45
39
34
33
All Old Boys
Overseas Old Boys
Top Ten by Country
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Papua New Guinea
United State of America
New Zealand
Taiwan (ROC)
Korea (South)
Canada
Germany
Thailand
115
96
85
72
57
54
Deceased
Address Unknown
Australia
Overseas
2113
5185
6880
896
Total
15074
QLD
NSW
5763
763
VIC
WA
ACT
NT
SA
TAS
Total 171
60
45
32
27
19
6880
Editor: You will see we are still missing
over 5,000 Old Boys contact details
from the OSA membership roll. Please
check with your mates to see if they are
receiving this magazine and encourage
them to update their details via the
website or by contacting the OSA office
either email [email protected] or
phone 07 5531 9803.
11
OSA races in for fun day
>>
In addition to the traditional Old Boys
reunion weekend, the OSA hosts a number
of events both on the Gold Coast and its
Branch network throughout Australia and
Internationally.
This year has seen the launch of a new
event added to the association’s popular
social calendar.
The OSA Race Day was held on Saturday
2nd October at the Gold Coast Turf Club
and attracted many Old Boys alongside
TSS families and friends travelling to
support the day from the Coast and further
afield.
a Backhaus, with
Alex Wheeler, Andre
“We thought we would add something
a little different to the mix,” said OSA
President Bruce Wright. “The Young Old
Boys held a regular race day over a decade
ago with great success and launching this
stand-alone event appeals to all ages. The
sponsorship generated via naming rights
of races and corporate tables offers us the
ability to raise much needed funds for the
OSA to support Old Boys and our programs,
while everyone had a great day enjoying
the taste of full corporate hospitality,
linked to the Spring Carnival which created
an exciting atmosphere.”
Brie and Nathan Qu
-99
artermaine (McK 96
Colin Kitto (McK 77-84) with Katrina and Troy Kassulke
As all proceeds will assist OSA projects
including bursaries, Hidden Creek Outdoor
Education Centre and related pastoral
programs, this event is destined to be a
major annual attraction for everyone on
the TSS social calendar. Anyone interested
in supporting the OSA and its Race Day
2011 event should please contact the OSA
office on 07 5531 9803.
Bec Andrews,
on, Char
Mark Peters
mayne Partrid
ge and Shau
Mark Poestra
and Fiona Grifi
th
n Lyall
Jeff Trotter, Riki Vitico and Peter Manolis
12
Asso c i at i o n
)
Branches News
>>
Rockhampton
Perth
Rockhampton Branch held their 77th Annual Reunion Luncheon at the magnificent
venue of The Waterline, Keppel Bay Marina, Rosslyn Bay. Headmaster Greg Wain and OSA
President Bruce Wright attended the gathering of over 20 Old Boys and Partners.
Perth Branch President, Simon Conran
organised a small, but very happy group
of Old Boys to gathering at the Generous
Squire on Friday 20 August 2010. A surprise
visit by Rev Jim Stonier and his daughter
Susan was very welcome.
Older Old Boys, John Purcell (McK 49-54), Burnett Lawless (McK 46-49), Phil Hughes
(Del 43-44) and Phillip Aboud (Del 50-52) were presented with the Older Old Boys
commemorative tie by Headmaster Greg Wain. Special thanks must go to John Compton
and John Rodgers for organising this very successful gathering.
Wide Bay
London
Wide Bay Branch Function – Peppers Pier
Resort, Hervey Bay – 4th September, 2010
It is so pleasing to meet people who, even
though they haven’t seen or even been
back to the School for a long time, still are
very proud Southportonians. On Saturday
4th September, Doug Chandler (Del
88-92) organised a casual and informal
Wide Bay function at the Peppers Resort
restaurant.
Stewart Tan (Del 86-89), Paul Cronin (Kai 83-92), Sam Douglas (Tho 83-91), David Serafini (Mel
88-98) and Brodie Cunningham (Tho 02-07) met for a casual gathering at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese
in London on Wednesday 13 October
Cairns
Peter Hyland (Tho 52–55) & his wife
Jan were the first to arrive, and some
wonderful stories appeared from the past.
Doug (Del 48-52) & Jill McIver also
attended.
Justin (Kai 78-81) & Aliona Kidd, Waverley
Cameron (Del 65-69), and Carlene Browne
(Parent of Mackenzie Wal Yr8) also
attended.
Branch President, Tony McInnes (McK 80-86), organised a gathering of Old Boys attended by
President Bruce Wright who presented Older Old Boys, Terrey Francis (Del 48-54), Brian Jones (Del
46-49), Kevin Colin (JS 47-50), James Nimmo (McK 39-40) with a commemorative tie. Bruce also took
the time to visit our oldest Old Boy John Warner (MCK 1915-21) and presented him personally with his
tie.
13
Calender 2011
Branch
Gatherings
Lockyer Valley
Mulgowie Muster – Sunday 10 April
South Australia – Adelaide
Saturday 7 May
Western Australian – Perth
January 14, April 15 & June 24
Wide Bay & Burnett – Hervey Bay
Saturday 27 August
Far North Queensland – Cairns
Friday 02 September
London
Mid October – dates to be confirmed
Northern Rivers – Ballina
Saturday 10 December
Reunion
Weekend
Older Old Boys’ Assembly
Friday 29 July
Foundation/OSA Annual Golf Day
Friday 29 July
Young Old Boys’ Gathering (PM)
Friday 29 July
Delpratt Breakfast
Saturday 30 July
Headmaster’s Morning Tea
Saturday 30 July
School Tour
Saturday 30 July
Cricket Old Boys’ Match v 1st XI
Saturday 29 & Sunday 30 January
Rowing Dinner 1st VIII Crews
Saturday 5 March
OSA Council
Meetings
All meetings held in the New Founder’s
Room, Delpratt Building commencing
at 6pm
Monday 7 February
Reunion BBQ
Saturday 30 July
Monday 18 April
Rugby – Final GPS round
Saturday 30 July
Monday 17 October
Reunion Dinner 2001 year Official reunion
(+ 1941, 51, 61, 71, 81, 91)
Saturday 30 July
Chapel Service
Sunday 31 July
Looking to get away?
Hidden Creek is
your next care free
destination.
Suitable for families, conferences and
outdoor adventures.
Your choice of cabin or tent accommodation.
Catered or BYO
Contact Clinton Cronk 5531 9911
14
Sport
Asso c i at i o n
Monday 6 June
AGM
Monday 28 November
Outback tour
>>
A 4,000 kilometre bush tour taking in rural
northern New South Wales and southern
and central western Queensland has
further cemented relationships between
TSS and its country communities.
The tour followed earlier similar tours by
the school’s Founder, Horace Henry Dixon,
who used to travel to rural communities
and promote the values of a TSS
education.
ions
t 80 years ago,
Travellers’ reflect
similar tour almos
a
ok
rto
de
un
o
der wh
Housemaster
steps of the Foun
ht, and Boarding
rig
W
e
uc
Br
n
Following the foot
tio
’ Associa
ips as
d Southportonians
any rural townsh
gust to visit as m
President of the Ol
Au
in
sh
bu
ed
ad
d.
owne and I, he
s and Queenslan
and Old Boy Ian Br
n New South Wale
er
rth
no
of
ur
to
km
y
possible in a 4,000
eandering our wa
r AgQuip before m
fo
ah
ed
nn
reach,
Gu
ng
en
Lo
arleville,
at Armidale th
di, Cunnamulla, Ch
an
The tour started
nb
rra
Di
at
ns
to conduct functio
across the border
inchilla.
ald, Roma and Ch
d commitment to
Barcaldine, Emer
our connections an
ce
or
inf
re
ly
al
lic
the bush and tell
p were to symbo
t with Old Boys in
ec
nn
The aims of the tri
co
re
rf,
tu
their
untry families on
ucation.
the bush, visit co
ntages of a TSS ed
va
ad
e
th
t
ou
ab
s
ilie
k you
m
fa
prospective
sy six days. Than
rts over a very bu
fo
ef
d
an
e
tim
e and Ian for their
My thanks to Bruc
us functions.
ned us at the vario
Greg Wain
also to all who joi
This year, Headmaster Greg Wain, OSA
President Bruce Wright and Rogers
Junior Boarding House Master and Old
Boy Ian Browne travelled along a similar
route albeit in more comfort than their
predecessor!
The tour started at Armidale in New South
Wales and meandered its way to the
AgQuip farm show at Gunnedah where
TSS joined with other schools in promoting
the School. Next leg of the journey was
to Walgett then onto Lightning Ridge
where the tour party met with a local
TSS family and had an opportunity to ‘go
underground’ to see the real workings of a
major opal mine.
TSS Founder, Horace Hen
ry Dixon, wasn’t fazed by
dirt roads and a wild terr
ain when he undertook
numerous outback tours
his
in the 1920s and 1930s.
Photo – TSS Archives.
Next leg of the tour was a stop at Walgett
before crossing the boarder to Dirranbandi,
Cunnamulla, Charleville, Longreach,
Barcaldine, Emerald, Roma and Chinchilla.
“We were delighted to be able to catch
members of the wider TSS community at
our functions and be able to reaffirm the
school’s long-established connections with
rural Queensland,” said Greg.
Ian Browne, Bruce Wright and Headmaster Greg Wain preparing to follow the Founder’s footsteps.
“Since its earliest days of foundation in
1901, TSS has always served the bush as
a premier boarding school for boys from
the country and, today, many rural families
now enjoy third and fourth generation links
with the school such as the Bell family
which is among the School’s many fourth
generation families.
“We recently spent $500,000 in restoring
one of our five boarding Houses (Delpratt)
following consultation with the boarders
themselves who chose to see their ‘home
away from home’ refurbished to the
grandeur of when it was built in 1925 by
the Founder rather than have a brand new
boarding House built.
“Boarding remains a key driver of the
spirit of the School as we recognise the
importance of providing a secure and
caring environment in which country
boarders can benefit from the wide range
of co-curricular activities on offer at TSS
and also enjoy new or totally refurbished
boarding accommodation.
“This revealed to us the intense depth of
feeling boarding students have for the
school and their recognition and great love
for the traditional values of TSS and its
stately buildings.”
Following the footsteps of the founder
in recapturing the spirit of the bush, the
4,000km tour also enabled the TSS
Headmaster, to present rural communities
with information on the latest brain
research into the way boys learn and
how this is being applied within the TSS
curriculum.
The following pages show a breakdown of
the tour with photographs at the various
townships visited. Feedback from parents,
Old Boys and the wider rural community
had been positive, said OSA president,
Bruce Wright, and it is envisaged that TSS
will undertake a similar tour next year
visiting additional rural communities along
the way.
15
Spirit of the bush
Armidale Day 1
After a 500kms drive from the Gold Coast
to Armidale with the Following Footsteps
of the Founder emblazoned on their,
OSA President Bruce Wright and Rogers
Housemaster Ian Browne met informally
with seven Old Boys, three prospective
parents and one Older Old Boy, John
Magnussen, who was presented with a
commemorative tie.
Among the younger Old Boys to catch
up with the touring party was former
School Captain Brodie Cunningham
(2007) and, as Bruce Wright pointed
out: “Re-connecting with these Old Boys
gave up an opportunity to discuss what
is currently happening at the School as
most of them had not been able to return
to TSS since leaving. They loved hearing
about the School’s progress, current
sporting achievements and asked how
boarding community was going,” said
Bruce.
For the
H ea d m
aster, Ia
was a v
n Brow
ery ben
ne (Old
e
ficial tri
where
Boy an
p that
the Sch
d Junio
I
believe
r Board
o
ol will d
with th
will be
ing Ma
evelop
e bush
t
ster) an
h
e
p
b
ro
a
and co
sis for m
grams
d myse
of TSS
u
t
n
o
a ny m o
t
lf it
g
ry
ro
and the
familie
w
t
re in th
h
e relatio
s. I aga
OSA wh
e
at Arm
f
u
n
in
t
s
o
u
h
s
re
ip it alw
incerely
attend
idale, G
,
ed the
ays has
unneda
thank a
and Ch
events
h, Cunn
enjoyed
ll those
inchilla
c
o
a
v
amazin
mulla,
ering a
before
g suppo
Charlev
lmost 5
Dixon w
returnin
ille, Lon
,000 kil
rters
ould tra
g
t
o
g
ometre
S
vel for
re
o
u
a
the adv
t
c
h
h
p
,
s startin
Barcald
ort. In f
weeks
antage
at a tim
ollowin
ine, Em
g
s of a b
g the F
erald, R
e visitin
roots, t
oarding
ounder
oma
g famil
he Sch
s
c
’s
h
ool’s co
ies on t
ool edu
footste
it. The
mmitm
heir pro
cation
ps, H.H
OSA ha
ent to c
perties
and I a
.
s
a
m
ls
to discu
o
o reaffir
untry b
the Sch
s
u
re
in
ss
oarding
med th
re-esta
ool to s
blishing
is posit
trength
is as st
the curr
rong as
ion to e
en the
t h e se
ent figu
ncomp
numbe
I
c
a
n
re
ever rem
ass a st
r of Old
of 8 pe
to curre
ember
rategy
r cent t
Boys se
nt leve
to work
o 15 pe
nding t
ls at AC
Boy, th
r cent o
w
h
GS of 17
e
it
ir
h
s
e Gene
o
ver the
n s ba c k
per cen
rations
next fiv
to TSS
t and S
encoura
t h a t pa
e years
from
h
ge any
o
re
s
s
. This c
(
t
Sydney
hrough
family
ompare
) 23 pe
TSS are
to find
s
r cent.
so impo
out mo
For any
re throu
rtant o
Old
n so m
gh the
any lev
OSA Of
els and
fice or A
I
dmissio
ns.
Bruce W
right
Tamworth, Gunnedah AgQuip, Walgett Day 2
TSS Headmaster Greg Wain joined the
tour group for another 600km drive which
took in the Gunnedah AgQuip agricultural
show where Biddle Housemaster, Graham
Swinton, was ‘manning’ the School’s expo
stand.
TSS hosted a small gathering of parents
and Old Boys at AgQuip including parents
Rob and Awan Eveleigh, Richard Gilmour
and Craig Steer. The show also provided
an excellent opportunity to catch up with
Old Boys Richard Nicholls from JBS Swift
Feedlot near Caroona and Charles Brett
and wife, Fi, parents of three boarders at
TSS with Mark currently in his final year
and McKinley House Captain.
After several hours it was on the road
again for a four-hour drive to Walgett,
enjoying a beautiful dusk sunset on the
way.
16
Asso c i at i o n
Spirit of the bush
Lightning Ridge, Dirranbandi, Cunnamulla Day 3
Despite the day’s 600km drive, the group
found time to make a special stop at
Lightning Ridge to meet with Rebecca
Taylor, mother of Year 8 boarding student,
Logan. Rebecca gave them a fascinating
tour ‘underground’ of an operational
opal mine and a history of this famous
Australian mining town.
Next stop was lunch at Dirranbandi with a
group of Old Boys and prospective parents,
all of whom were keen to heard about
the refurbishment of Delpratt Boarding
House, changes to assist boarders with
additional free tutoring in Maths, English
and the Sciences and the strong working
relationship between TSS and the School’s
alumni. Of special interest was the 2009
Graduation Year DVD shown to the group
and the many wonderful memorials that
were ignited.
Following a typical bush road, the group
then drove to Cunnamulla which also has
been a strong base for TSS boarding. A
function was held at the Cunnamulla Hotel
with many Old Boys and parents driving
long distances to catch up on all the news
from TSS.
Charleville, Tambo, Longreach Day 4
This was the longest drive for the group, as they meandered their way from Cunnamulla,
past Wyandra to Charleville for brunch at Hotel Corones with current and past parents
and Old Boys. All were keen to know more about TSS and what the School can offer in
boarding for their sons. Carmel and Bill Whatmore of Boatman, (parents of Justin who is
boarding in Year 8) were among those who attended the Charleville brunch.
“We are delighted to see how well Justin has settled into boarding school life having only
previously experienced Distance Education,” said Carmel. “ It has been a huge adjustment
coming from property and being schooled via Distance Education, to join TSS and being
able to play in numerous team sports including Cricket and Rugby, but he is thoroughly
enjoying himself.”
From there it was on to Tambo and then Longreach, the home of QANTAS and the
Stockman’s Hall of Fame, where the group gathered at the Longreach Club to meet many
of our TSS generation families including the Gowings and Peter Johnstone whose son,
Robert Johnstone was third generation at TSS. Also attending the Longreach function
were John ‘Tubs’ MacMillan with his family and many current and past parents including
Rolly and Jenny Deane and Vivette and Mark White who were delighted to meet with TSS
representatives on their ‘home turf’.
The Headmaster reiterated his emphasis on reconnecting with the bush parents, students
and Old Boys at Longreach and the importance of maintaining contact with all three
groups within the wider TSS community. To complete the evening, the touring party
enjoyed a wonderful dining experience in one of the West’s best-kept secrets, the Eagle’s
Nest Café (be assured, the best steakhouse in Longreach). ‘Hawkie’ was a wonderful and
gracious host and, as it turned out, best friends with many members of the TSS community
including Stephen Gray and Peter Bromley. It was a lovely night after such a long road trip.
17
Spirit of the bush
Longreach, Barcaldine, Emerald Day 5
The group’s next stop was for a casual
lunch at ‘Hillalong’, the home estate of
one of TSS’ most-passionate Old Boys,
Bill Chandler and his wife, Julann. Among
the invited guests were Old Boys, Will
Chandler, Douglas Rodgers, John Miller and
Stew Campbell. Bill and Julann Chandler
hosted a lunch on the lawns of their home
and, afterwards, showed the group their
outback tropical ‘oasis’– a magnificent
garden with mango, olive, citrus and paw
paw trees.
Next stop was Emerald, a three-hour trip
taking in mixed landscapes of farmland
flats near Barcaldine, the mining area of
Alpha and then over the Great Dividing
Range. With Emerald not being a
traditional base for the OSA, or TSS in
general, the group was delighted to meet
with past students and current parents
at the organised function in town. Guests
included the Staines family, David and
Robert and their father Doug, who was
presented with a commemorative Older
Old Boys’ tied by OSA president, Bruce
Wright, in recognition of his time at TSS
more than 60 years ago. Old Boy and
current parent, Tony Bell and his wife Vicki
also attended the function.
Emerald, Roma, Chinchilla Day 6
This 600km was the last leg of the
outback tour, passing through the scenic
area of Carnarvon and its beautiful
mountain ranges and arriving at Roma for
the largest function of the tour. More than
30 TSS and St Hilda’s families attended
the combined function including Charlie
and Liz Frith, John Hays and Jono and
Louise Milroy, Nick and Sarah Cameron,
Jenny and Adrian Bucknell, Warwick
Cooper and wife Sophie with baby
daughter Madeleine, and Margot and
David Scott.
The final function of the tour was held in
Chinchilla attended by Bryant and Susan
Ussher, Robert Hays, Matthew Parkinson,
Jamie Kemshead, Robert Bridle and David
and Sonya Greenup.
Every step of the way, the TSS tour
group was welcomed warmly into the
rural communities and it quickly became
obvious that the concept of Following the
Footsteps of the Founder is a unique way
for TSS to maintain its strong ties with
country Australia while capturing the true
spirit of the bush.
18
Asso c i at i o n
>>
Old Boys’ Rowing News
Four former oarsmen from The Southport
School are currently coaching girls from
St Margarets Anglican Girls School in
Brisbane.
Other Old Boys in the photograph include Bob Alexander (Del 1960-64) who has, for
years, been involved in Queensland Rowing administration and has also been involved in
coaching young rowers both boys and girls for many years. Bob is Age Group Coordinator of
Grade 8 girls.
Tony Elliot (McK 1956-59) is 1st VIII coach
who has been coaching rowing at the
School for over 20 years and is regarded
very highly in girls rowing having won
numerous Head of the Rivers in the BSRA
Competition.
Mark Newcomb (Tho 1981-85) and Dino Castellano (McK 1980-86) are currently
co-coaching the St Margaret’s 2nd VIII. Both Mark and Dino have coached many successful
underage crews for the School.
Duncan Free – Atkinson 1988-90 –
Olympic gold medal rower will also
be racing in the handicapped division
with a team from The Southport
School. He will be rowing with the
TSS men’s eight and men’s fours
along with three Olympians and five
ex-Kings Cup oarsman. While the
crew will be handicapped because of
their age and prowess, it is reported
that they will still be hard to beat!
xand
1980-86), Bob Ale
o Castellano (McK
Din
,
9)
6-5
195
cK
ho 1981-85)
L – R: Tony Elliot (M
Mark Newcomb (T
>>
er (Del 1960-64),
New look for Boat Shed
The wishes of many Old Boys have come
to fruition with an almost brand new Boat
Shed opening for the start of the rowing
and sailing season.
Backed by support from current parents
and the School, a number of Old Boys
threw their support behind renovation and
extension to the existing Boat Shed and,
as work continued during winter months,
so did additional support flow in from
those who have many fond memories of
life on the Nerang River.
Among the driving forces for a
metamorphosis to the existing Boat
Shed was Old Boy Garth Davidson of Fort
Knox Storage who, together with Gordon
Douglas, the Hillier family, a number of
local businesses and current parents and
supporters, had a vision to see the facility
upgraded to meet the needs of modern
competition.
Mark Davidson said support for the project
has resulted almost in a total revamp of
the facility.
Many Old Boys retain a strong attachment
with the Boat Shed and, it was a poignant
moment in November when Lois King,
widow of popular ‘Mr TSS Rowing’ Jeremy
King, was invited to officially open the
facility.
“Jeremy was always involved with the
shed and witnessed every stage of the
renovations and extensions almost to
completion,” said close friend Garth.
Renovations and extensions to the Boat
Shed have included a new pontoon, new
male and female toilet/amenities block,
new roof and insulation, extension to the
kitchen with dual servery to the north and
south side of the shed, fully self-contained
and secure repair facility, new cardio-room
to house ergometers and spin bikes,
new state-of-the-art engineered racking
system, new tiled flooring and tiled
covered riverside verandah, additional
storage, turfed areas and a totally new
covered shed opposite the existing shed to
accommodate the school’s fleet of power
boats.
Adding further support to the new-look
shed is the continued sponsorship of
rowing by Old Boy Beric Lynton whose
BMW franchise at Southport and provided
rowers with many essential items.
19
Reflections
>>
Memories of TSS – dedicated to all
those crazy boys who created history and
mystery and made school a better place
– and to those teachers who really did
know what we were up to.
We are still looking for short stories about
pranks that almost got you “Six of the
Best” but please keep them down to under
250 words.
Here’s some from Peter Skinner:
Invariably any memories of TSS revolve
around several principal themes such as
the food, corporal punishment, swimming
the river, the perceived hardships of
boarding school life, breaking the rules
and not getting caught, breaking the rules
and getting caught, favourite teachers, less
favoured teachers, sports triumphs and
losses and a few other subjects that are
best kept off the printed page.
Also invariably, however, discussions
among TSS Old Boys on the
aforementioned topics focus on the
humorous side of things rather than the
emotional or physical highs or lows of the
moment—in my case, back in the 1950s
and ’60s. Probably, time has lessened
the negative aspects or has highlighted
the more memorable hilarious events
so we can laugh even more uproariously
about most of them. Like fine wine, many
anecdotes get better with age and in being
re-told.
Hosted by Bert Cockerill
world well-rounded young gentlemen who would go on to make meaningful contributions
to industry, commerce, and society in general, students at TSS occasionally lost sight of
the establishment’s mission and life at boarding school often verged on training for jungle
warfare. Not that that was a bad thing, as the SAS might have been the beneficiary.
However, getting caught in such activities was a serious risk and potential punishment
ranged from being caned, gated, or even expelled. That risk undoubtedly made those
escapades more appealing. Our parents would not have been happy about some activities
but did give tacit approval to others. Hey, they were kids once too!
Such things as night raids on the kitchen to pinch fresh bread, eggs, or milk were considered
reasonable; swimming the Nerang River under the cover of pre-dawn darkness for an early
surf at Narrowneck or Surfers Paradise was a popular escapade and to my knowledge none
of us ever had any serious problems — although one novice swimmer (a fine sportsman
in many other aspects) en route to Narrowneck did get pushed under by the weight of a
sodden beach towel and had to be rescued. Given the wilderness aspects of the Nerang
River and McIntosh Island at that time, there’s little doubt sharks cruised the river; stingrays
and dolphins were often sighted, so it’s something of a miracle that no TSS river swimmer
was ever mauled or seriously injured.
I do, however, remember getting stung by some unknown bitey on entering the water
near The Spit to swim across to Budd’s Beach via McIntosh Island. Within seconds I had
shooting pains up my leg, the gland in my groin swelled and I could barely walk. I forget all
the members of the group but do know that the Douglas twins, Angus and Gordon, were
with me — for a short time. They had access to surfboards in the Surfers Paradise Surf Club
— they were experienced and excellent board riders; the rest of us were eager to learn. My
predicament almost certainly curtailed my involvement but telling my good mates that I
was in agony elicited scant sympathy. “Bad luck Pete, We’ll tell you how good the surf was.”
And they splashed off into the dark, leaving me to my immediate painful future. (None
of that US Marines-style loyalty i.e. “Leave no marine behind.”). I simply sat and waited.
Within about 15 minutes the swelling abated, and the worst of the pain was gone. It was
still dark so I figured if I swam reasonably fast I could still get in a morning surf. Swimming
the Nerang River alone in the dark was not much fun but I had no logical alternative.
What? Go back to bed — nah! When I finally swam out for a body surf at Surfers — all the
boards were taken — I was greeted with a very comforting, “So you didn’t die after all. It
was really good a little while ago, pity you missed it.” That’s the great thing about good
mates — they’re always understanding and sympathetic!
If you have some stories you would like to share, contact Bert Cockerill through the OSA
office.
Palma Argentea
There’s an adage in certain schools of
journalism that one should never let the
facts interfere with a good story but that’s
not my intent—but be warned, it could
happen. So, it is with humour in mind that
I’ll pen these few anecdotes and trust the
reader, keeping in mind that I’m dredging
my memory, will forgive any factual errors.
Night raids and other commando training
exercises
While the main goal of boarding school
was to educate and graduate into the
20
Following 25 years service or more to the School, the latest members to join Palma Argentea and
offered honorary membership to the OSA were (back) Steve Roberts, Greg Norman, Bruce Curtis,
Bruce Davidson, David Goll, John Wallace, Don Ross, Mike Halpin, Stewart Eglington and (seated)
Dorothy Coolwell, Lurline Loffel, Lyn Green and Eleanor Mackie photographed with Headmaster
Greg Wain (seated centre). Absent: The Rev. Canon Bruce Maughan OAM.
Asso c i at i o n
Calling all Old Boys –Mentoring program
>>
Some years ago the then President of the
OSA, George Friend and I launched what
we hoped would become a significant
cooperative venture between the school
and the OSA members: The Careers and
Mentor Network.
We had some response, but it was not
huge by any stretch of the imagination.
Some willing members signed up and
came along to the function we held in the
Centenary Centre and spent a few hours
talking to various groups of senior boys
about their individual pathways to their
careers.... the pitfalls, the short cuts, the
hard slog... the what ifs and the maybes,
the could haves and the should haves.
These dedicated few tried to get across
the best way to achieve realistic goals
within their chosen fields of endeavour.
Perhaps some of you reading this now, will
remember that day and whether or not
you gained anything valuable from the
experience. I do remember David Eastgate
stealing the show with his impromptu
music and comedy!
That was four years ago now and
unfortunately, it was never repeated.
However, Kris Hailey, with her ‘new broom’
approach has re-ignited the flame and
suggested that we do something similar
again... what a good idea!
Vocational Education and Training
has become a buzz phrase in many
educational institutions in recent years.
There is a strong demand for more relevant
training in areas of future employment and
specifically for on the job experience. As
many of you employers would know, we
need a skilled labour force, which is not
always easy to find.
TSS is currently trying to do its bit to assist
the significant percentage of our boys, who
want to try different jobs in the workplace,
before making those big decisions about a
future career.
It is hoped that the Careers and Mentor
Network will assist with information and
perhaps provide job specific training for the
boys currently waiting to be placed into
work experience.
The current Year 10 boys have just
completed a short but intense period of
careers education, in preparation for their
subject selections for the final two years
at TSS. The Year 12 boys are about to
complete their QTAC selections for tertiary
places and the Year 11s are cruising towards
being school seniors and leaders, with big
decisions to make very soon.
Maybe you can help these groups
transition more effectively and less
painfully than you did!
If you would like to share your knowledge
and experience, if you can see your way
clear to give two hours of your time to
come along to an information evening
and discuss with interested students your
pathway, then we would love to hear
from you. If you have the facility to take a
boy for a period of work experience and/
or to go that step further to engage a
school-based trainee we would love to
hear from you.
Please take the time to fill out and return
the OSA Careers and Mentor Network
response form or e-mail your response to
the OSA office. If you would like further
information or would like to discover the
benefits of employing a school-based
trainee, then please call or e-mail: Mike
Halpin 07 55 319896 or 0405 354 107 or
e-mail: [email protected]
Thank you very much for your support
and interest in the futures of our boys. I
look forward to hearing from you at your
earliest convenience.
Mike Halpin,
Coordinator: Vocational
Education & Training
OSA Careers and Mentor Network
Name
Year of Leaving (if applicable)
House (at TSS)
Occupation
I am prepared to represent my field/
industry at a TSS/OSA Careers Night
Firm / Institution
Website Address
Home Address (for Careers Dept)
Contact Phone Numbers
(H)
(W)
(M)
Email
I am able to offer Work Experience
Placement /School Based
Traineeship or Apprenticeship
I am interested in the idea of assisting
with a mini-careers night in my area
of employment and or industry
Please return to
The OSA Coordinator
The Southport School
Winchester Street, Southport Qld 4215
email: [email protected]
Register your interest for mentoring
on the new online community website:
www.tssoldboys.com.au
Please feel free to contact the Vocational Education Coordinator: Mike Halpin 5531 9896 or [email protected]
21
Wedding, Births and Baptisms
Births
Marriages
St Alban’s
Simon Conran Perth Branch President –
Biddle 1989-93
Shannon Eckstein – Surman 1996-2000
Every now and then Old Boys ask about
the Chapel and whether they are able to
be married there and have their children
baptised. The simple answer is “we would
be delighted” for Old Boys to be married
in the Chapel and to have their children
baptised there. I have asked Father Phil
Crook to outline the details. Please do
consider this sacred and historical venue,
the spiritual centre of the School, for your
wedding day and baptisms.
Greg Wain, Headmaster
Simon and Jade wish to announce the
birth of their second son Oliver Harrison
Conran, born 21 May 2010, weighing 6
pounds 13 ounces. There first son Flynn
is now 3 and is very proud to have a new
little brother. Simon says he is doing his
best to continue to ensure TSS has more
Conran boys enrolled at the school. Well
done Simon – keep up the good work!
Shannon and Belinda Browne were
married at St Alban’s Church at TSS on 3rd
July 2010. They currently live at Mermaid
Waters. Shannon is the current World
Champion Iron Man in Surf Life saving and
he is a professional athlete. He has been
busy training for the World Titles which will
be held in early October in Egypt this year.
Belinda is a Secondary School teacher at
St Stephens College Upper Coomera and I
teach Biology/PE/Maths.
Patrick Schmorl – Walker 1992-97
Robert Wehl – McKinley 1998-2002
Rob was married to Jasmine Newlan at
St Albans Chapel on Sunday the 13th
of June by Rev. Jim Stonier. Robert and
Jasmine enjoyed a beautiful ceremony
and reception with their friends and family
before the pair honeymooned in Fiji.
Rob has just completed his Bachelor of
Primary Education and Jasmine is a Sales
Representative on the Gold Coast.
Like most things these days, with a New
Year approaching, it’s an ideal time for a
stocktake. One of the issues Old Boys ask
about is “who can marry in the Chapel,
and who can officiate?” The first issue is
easy: only Old Boys and staff members are
eligible to get married in St Alban’s.
The second issue has changed somewhat.
From next year we will have two TSS
Chaplains myself and Father Jonathan
Whereat. We would be happy to do the
honours. You are very welcome to ask
former Chaplains such as Rev. Jim Stonier
or Fr Bryan Gadd to officiate. Both formed
strong relationships with many boys, so it
is only natural that you may like them to
be part of your special day.
The wedding fee is now to be $900.
Please remember this includes all fees
– the organist, flowers, registration and
Chaplain’s fee.
Patrick & Melissa Schmorl welcomed
Amelia Rose to the world at 10.29am on
13 April 2010. Weighing 7 pound 9.5 ounces
and stretching 50cm long, Amelia has
been a wonderful addition to the Schmorl
family. Patrick & Melissa love being parents
and are enjoying every moment with their
beautiful baby girl.
22
Conducting baptisms and weddings has
enabled me to meet plenty of Old Boys
and their families and to hear them relive
the tall tales (but true!) regarding their
days at TSS. Amidst all the reminiscences
however, I sensed that there may be some
uncertainty or misconceptions about some
aspects of the Chapel.
Baptisms are very different – Old Boys,
friends, family – are welcome to apply.
There is no stipulation that you must
be a child of an Old Boy. You may like to
tell your friends and family of our “open
baptism policy”.
Father Phil Crook
Asso c i at i o n
School Old
Oldest
News
Boy
Jack was famous for his quotes:
John (Jack) Warner (CPA) – McKinley 1912-1921
‘People have trusted me. God knows why’
‘Women are the spice of life – and I’ve
always loved spice’.
‘I’m not interested in the last 100 years. I’m
interested in the next 100’.
And Poems, this is one he shared with us:
The moonlit seas and silver trees
Present a heavenly mystic sight
Out inner soul and mind so sees
So listen to the silent night
Jack’s last visit to the School was for
Graduation day in 1997. Here is part of his
speech to the Valedictorians for 1997:
>>
On a recent visit to Cairns, OSA President Bruce Wright and Tony McInnes (Far North
Queensland Branch President) dropped in to see our Oldest Old Boy John (Jack) Warner.
Bruce was pleased to be able to present Jack personally with his Older Old Boys tie.
Jack is 108 years old in November 2010 and whilst he is no longer up and about, he has led
a full life since leaving TSS in 1921. During his time at school, Jack was a senior prefect and
winner of the Chelmsford Cup for his leadership. He excelled at sport playing tennis, cricket,
football, athletics and rowing. Jack was paying golf three times a week at 100 years of
age and remarkably, he still turned up to work at 102, although he admitted at the time: “I
don’t do much work these days, I just watch!’
A member of the VDC in the Second World War, Jack became sergeant of the mortar
platoon. During his time Jack would ride his pushbike with his gun slung over his shoulder.
Apart from his accountancy and farming interests, Jack’s distinguished career included
serving on the Queensland Cane Growers Council, 15 years with the Australian Sugar Board,
40 years as director of the Mulgrave Sugar Mill, member of the Cairns Harbour Board,
director of ACF and Shirleys Fertilizer Coy, director of Cairns Brewery, chairman of the Cairns
Chamber of Commerce with one term on the Cairns City Council.
Have any of you boys stopped to think
and wonder why your parents sent you
to Southport? They have given a lot of
thought to enable you to absorb the
teachings of the School midst the strife
and turmoil of school life. It is a wonderful
opportunity – don’t waste it, don’t let your
parents down. There is an old proverb – “As
the twig is bent, the tree grows”.
How relevant these words are – even
today.
Jack is slowing down these days, but
he has certainly lived life to the full.
Something Jack’s has been quoted as
saying: ‘Die with your boots on. I want to
die flat out. I don’t want to expire like a
piece of blotting paper or evaporate’.
We wish Jack all the best and congratulate
him for holding the prestigious position of
Oldest Old Boy of the OSA!
>> Memories
Dr Tim Barrett OAM – Delpratt 1938-41
wrote in to advise he was regrettably
unable to attend the Older Old boys
assembly this year due to ill health,
however he did advise his most recent
honour was being inducted into the
Swimming Queensland Hall of Fame in
December 2009.
Alan Brumpton – McKinley 1944-44 –
wrote to advise he was unable to make the
Older Old Boys assembly this year. He says
he ‘trusts it all goes well, as it is terribly
important for TSS’. He said he has ‘fond
memories of TSS’.
Tom Dobson – Delpratt 1948-51: Tom
was unfortunately unable to attend this
years Older Old Boys assembly as he has
scheduled an eye operation a few days
prior to the event which will prevent him
from attending this year.
Robert MacKenzie – Mckinley 1942-46
advising due to ill heath he was unable to
attend the Older Old Boys assembly this
year.
Ray Shepherd – McKinley 1943-48 to
advise he was regrettably unable to attend
the Older Old Boys assembly this year due
to having a recent hip replacement.
Paul Gilbert Stuart Roach –Thorold
1942-45, thanking the school so much for
the kind invitation to attend Older Old
Boys assembly, but unfortunately advising
he was unable to make it but he hopes
everyone will have a happy time.
23
memories
Dr John Williamson AM – Delpratt 1950-53
Eric Graham Burville McKinley 1929-38
I cannot recount all the ‘memorable’ things we got up to, during my time at the School.
They could perhaps cause some of my Older Old boys colleagues to squirm a bit, who may
be present at the gathering! I shall select a few ‘tactful’ ones!
My first year had Mr Jack Radcliffe as Headmaster. With his sporting and Rhode
Scholarship history he was a hero to us small boys! He once in an English class gently
reprimanded me for referring to the celebrated English poet Percy Bysshe Shelley as ‘Percy
Shelley”!
Some of my experiences of TSS involve
the late William Arthur Sudholz (McK
1930-37) who was a ready daredevil.
He attended TSS from 1930-1937, Brig.
Dempsey was a master in the Junior
School who used to shake his fist at
us and say “I’ve got the hardest fist
in Australia”, and we believed him.
When we were on parade he used to
inspect us and Bill would follow him
performing antics behind his back. I
was petrified because I thought if Brig.
should turn around and see him he
might flatten him.
On another occasion, Bill was skylarking
on the balustrade of the veranda
above the tower dormitory when he
slipped and fell over the balustrade –
Dick Shackleton (McK 1930-38) and I
caught him and haled him back. In an
inter-dorm pillow fight one night be
was standing on a bed near a doorway
when Gussie Pearce, Headmaster of the
Junior School walked through in the
dark and Bill brought the pillow down
on his head. Aftermath ‘six of the best’!
Finally in the School photos of 1937
pupils were arranged as follows:
seated on the ground, seated on chairs,
standing and standing on forms. The
camera man swept along the group
from left to right. Bill stood on a form
on the left and after the camera had
moved beyond him, jumped down and
ran to the middle pulling two pupils
backward and mounting the stool and
grinning at the camera. Then, down
the ground and running to the right
end and again mounting the stool
and being photographed. Headmaster
Rev. Verney Lovett Johnstone was not
impressed.
Sadly Bill who was a RAAF fighter pilot
was shot down by a Japanese Zero
fighter near Rabaul and was killed.
24
I confess in my final year, as part of a collection of a Dellie and Thorold group of consumers
of ice cream (all house officials in that year, mind you!), following lights out in the
dormitories, I would ride an old motorbike at night down to an ice cream shop in Southport
to purchase the small aluminium drum of ice cream and bear it back to my waiting mates.
In fact I have had a lifelong love of motorbikes and have ridden them (cruisers mainly) all
my life, through university and beyond, in fact very recently.
During the years 1951-53, our Headmaster was Mr C. G. (Gus) Pearce, whom I personally
regard as one of the greatest Headmasters in the History of Queensland Schools. He had a
profound influence upon my thinking throughout my subsequent years.
While I participated at School level in swimming, gymnastics, athletics, rugby and rowing
– 2nd IV (all without much distinction I am afraid!), it was my great love of rugby that
I especially remember (I think we actually won the inter-schools’ under 15 competition
in, was it 1951? However, only three GPS schools fielded U15 teams then as I recall!)
Unfortunately after scraping into the first 15 in my final year, I sustained a back injury that
prevented me from playing the full season. The emotionally painful experience taught me
an important lesson for my later life.
My good Dellie mates and co-house officials were the late Lt Col PND White MC (House
Captain), JC (Mr Rowing) King (both champion sportsmen of my time), Neil Goldsmith, and
the late Dr Greg Sheil. Dellie won the House shield in triumph in 1952. What a celebration
we had. We were something of House underdogs at that time amongst just three houses
then, McKinley, Thorold and Delpratt, all located within the three floors of the TSS main
building.
I recall ‘Hopey’ Stains (Mck 1948-52), whose job it was to ring the St Alban’s Chapel
entrance bell, carefully timed to coincide with the altar gong, struck by an Altar Server,
during the three consecration moments of the Sung Eucharist, on Sunday mornings.
Hopey had to lean back a way to look and hear up the St Alban’s Chapel aisle, to make
his delicate timing. Unfortunately the rope on the bell was a shade short. On one morning
leaning back to get his time right, he fell backwards and the Christmas like bell peelings
that resulted did not quite match the sombre proceedings!
Perhaps I should add that during another such sung Eucharist with the then Reverend
Matthews presiding, I was an Altar Server and struck the altar gong as his knee genuflected
to the altar carpet (one of the signals awaited by Hopey). And the gong fell to bits! The next
gong I produced sounded more like an underwater croak, which again did not contribute
much to the moment! Our small School of those days – most of us boarders – meant that
every boy did a bit of everything. We were definitely on the way up in GPS competitions and
the School spirit and camaraderie was something I have cherished all my life.
Life after TSS – It has been a most fortunate life, blessed by a wonderful wife and four
remarkable children. They have been not only my best friends and have been my greatest
teachers. Riding motorbikes and generally behaving irresponsibly, I failed my first two years
in University (Engineering) and lost my Commonwealth Scholarship. My wonderful parents
stood behind me and I graduated in Medicine. Following several years as a Queensland
country GP (including three years in Muttaburra in the Territory of the original Flying
Surgeon Service and of many TSS Old Boys), went on to become a consultant specialist
anaesthetist in Townsville. There followed busy clinical years, including 18 months in each
Cardiff, Wales and Saskatoon, Canada. Following almost 20 years in Townsville, we lived
and I worked as a Director within the Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care in the
Asso c i at i o n
memories
Royal Adelaide Hospital for 20 years, and have just relocated to live in retirement with our
family in Melbourne. I have had a lifetime involvement with and commitment to Surf Life
Saving Queensland and in clinical research into marine toxicology, resuscitation, diving and
hyperbaric medicine and in anaesthesia patient safety. I have witnessed amazing advances
in the Speciality of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care during my clinical life. My work has been
a joy from beginning to end.
“Memorable moments”? – Far too many to recount. I have learned that ignorance and
arrogance are bedfellows and that one of the most precious human characteristics is
humility. As Mark Twain pungently observed: The older I get the better I was!
In retirement, while enjoying our family, I collect flags, study and enjoy military history and
home maintenance and am passionate about classical music. I confess I still keep up to
date with the latest cruiser models in motorbikes!
Ian Marwedel – McKinley 1950-55
As one would expect, things have changed dramatically since I commenced at TSS 60
years ago in 1950 when the school was dominated by boarders with only a handful of day
boys. The school was surrounded by scrub and two sides with mangroves and a sandpit.
We played marble in the dirt alongside Pong Creek and jumped off the ‘Gillah’ to grab a tree
branch on the Eastern side of the old Prep School; if we missed we crashed down a steep
embankment, the idea being to jump from as far back as one dared to be a winner. This
embankment, or ‘Gillah’ as it was know, now leads down to magnificent sports grounds.
I had a year in the Prep with Gus Pearce before he moved to the senior school as
Headmaster; then followed Ivor Cribb a delightful fellow but I was sorry to hear that he has
passed away recently. Which reminds me that when I attended Gus Pearce’s funeral a few
years ago the school gave him a hearty war cry as the procession drove off. A few of we
old boys tried to join in but found that the war cry had changed, never the less we gave our
version after the boys!
Most teachers flagged their approach as they walked up the veranda. Gus had a bad knee
that clicked, Stomper (Allan) Radcliffe had a loud stomp and Matt Walker would arrive
at the door and demand that all windows be opened in the middle of winter and anyone
not paying attention would, with uncanny accuracy, get a piece of chalk fair between the
eyes. “Fut Fut’ Baldwin had a habit of throwing his large bulk on the desk which had its legs
placed precariously on the edge of a dais and the result was never pretty!! Mr Stevens, or
‘Scrooge’ was the Bursar and was in the mould of the old station bookkeepers I knew, being
‘very careful’ with money.
My life so far has been 24 years with an old English pastoral company on its three Merino
Studs in QLD and NSW followed by 31 years based in Dubbo NSW as a Merino Sheep
classer and Consultant. Judy and I married in 1964 and we had 3 children, Kate, Belinda
and Tim who attended Kambala and Scots College in Sydney due to their proximity and
we are proud of their achievements. Between them, they have produced six grandsons and
three granddaughters for Judy and me. Two of our eldest grandsons from Prince Alfred
College in Adelaide, Will and Jack Latchford have, by invitation, attended the very old
Loretto boarding school in Edinburgh, Scotland playing cricket for the summer term. Jack in
fact, is at Loretto in this 2010 summer term with TSS boy Sam Hain and they have scored a
lot of runs together. I have just heard from daughter Kate that TSS boy Sam Hain scored 113
not out with an Edinburgh A grade club team and our Jack Latchford from PAC scored 184
not out in B grade being a record for the club in a 50 over game.
I became a life Governor of the NSW Stud Merino Breeders Association in 1992 and have
become a part time writer of bush poetry, having published a book in 1998 called ‘Raddle
Rams and Ringers.’ I have enclosed a relevant verse which typifies a bush cricket match in
the outback and taken from ‘The Barcoo Cricket Club’.
The first ball whistled past his nose the bat was hanging near,
George thinks “that’s a snick” screamed in the umpire’s ear.
Now the umpire wore a cowboy hat and smoked a ‘roll your own’,
He shook his head at George’s shout then heard the bowler groan;
A decision he would soon regret with George in such a mood,
To have an umpire shake his head was nothing short of crude.
Euan Law – Mckinley 1944-49
‘The Lost Camera’
In the year 1946, David and I borrowed
Mother’s Kodak camera, a 1930s model
which when opened you withdrew the
lens and shutter system quite four to
five inches. It was a good camera for
the masses and Mum allowed us to
take it to boarding school.
We had the camera down at the
school oval to take some photos of
some boys, or whatever, and because
we wanted to kick a football around
we furtively walked 30 yards to the
western bitumen road and planted the
camera in a culvert. A couple of hours
later, we went to fetch it, it was gone,
vanished, pinched. We were full of woe
and in our letters home we told our
parents of the dreadful crime and that
we had lost the camera and how sorry
we were and, in our minds, how could
we ever replace it. There were not too
many day boys at school, Toni Williams,
Bruce Purvis and also Burke, nicknamed
the “Burke the Bracken Buster”. A
Master, Mr Tomlinson, used to meter
punishment to wayward boys by giving
them one hour or two hours detention
busting bracken, i.e, turning the stem
down more than 90 degrees to semi
brake the stem, as this kills it. Mr
Tomlinson had a clearing program all
around the armoury, turning scrubland
into pleasing couch grass landscape.
One day Burke turned up at school with
a camera be had bought from a second
hand shop for £3-0-0 and when David
and I saw it we called him a ‘rotten dirty
thief’ or worse words to that effect. Of
course he said, “how do you know this
is yours?”. But the film was still in the
camera and we described the photos
we had taken and proved ownership.
So we presented ourselves all three, to
the second hand shop, with evidence in
hand and because the merchant was
a receiver of stolen goods, he quickly
gave Burkey back his £3-0-0. David
and I were delighted or course, and we
decided to send our parents a telegram
to relieve their worry of their dreadful
loss. You paid your telegram by the
number of words you sent, so we sent
this message; “That which was lost has
been found”!
25
Memories
Trevor Gordon Whalley – Delpratt
1938-41 Mary advises that
unfortunately Trevor is unable to make
Older Old Boys’ Assembly due to age
and progressive Alzheimer’s. Mary
reports that Trevor lives contentedly
at home with her. She says he takes
pleasure in showing his grand children
his medals as Dux and Gymnastics
champion for 1941.
Guy Ronald Hamlyn-Harris OAM –
Mckinley 1924-26. Ruth Hamlyn-Harris
writes; ‘Thank you again for inviting my
Dad to the Older Old Boys’ assembly. I
am sad to say he is now unable to attend
the gathering which he really used to
enjoy so much in the past. I brought him
year after year and know that it was the
highlight in his calendar. The school does
a great service to their past students as
they age and their lives narrow. Thanks
to all that care for them. Pass on dad’s
greetings to all his old mates.’
Michael Gunn – Delpratt 1970-72
A lot of my boarding weekends were
spent enjoyably on the Nerang River.
Rowing at which I was mediocre to
say the least... fishing with my brother
David (then in Junior School), for
whiting which were prolific in the early
‘70’s... sailing with Anton Brown in his
catamaran... One memory I have is a
group of us swimming across the river
to the ‘mid islands’ directly opposite
the School. On reaching these islands
we totally covered ourselves in the
different shades of ochre coloured mud
much to the delight of tourists sailing
up the river on Charter Tours. They
photographed us jumping up and down
like idiots – I just wish I had copies of
the photos they took! Invariably, the
siren for the assembly sounded whilst
AWOL and a swim back across the
river took care of the mud, followed
by a quick sprint up to the muster
point which dried us out a bit. All quite
harmless and fun. Rather than attend
the boring Saturday night movies, Bruce
Maughan kindly allowed me to fish
for bream along the river and whilst
I caught a few, some of the best and
tastiest were purloined from the many
illegal traps set along the boundaries of
the School. These bream made a very
appetising Sunday breakfast.
Commemorative Older Old
Boy Tie
ter Greg Wain
and TSS Headmas
ht
rig
W
e
uc
Br
nt
eside
to be presented
This year, OSA Pr
der Old Boys Tie
Ol
an
of
n
tio
uc
e prod
more
commissioned th
hool 60 years or
menced at the Sc
m
co
o
wh
of our
ys
Bo
lo
d
navy blue co urs
to all TSS Ol
true maroon and
e
th
in
t
en
d Boys
es
Ol
pr
d
re
e School an
ago. These ties
ership between th
rtn
pa
d
an
n
tio
ec
esenting the
School, the conn
e gold stripe repr
th
d
an
l,
lle
ra
pa
running
ich the Older
with the badges
special group of wh
is
th
m
fro
e
m
co
om that
tradition and wisd
rt.
pa
Old boys are a
community, we
our Older Old Boys
to
d
ce
du
ro
int
been
e School
Since the ties have
g the OSA and th
d emails thankin
an
rs
te
let
received
s
ou
er
ha
they are to ve
have had num
on how honoured
d
ke
ar
m
re
ve
ha
for the tie. Many
ns to them.
h this gesture mea
uc
m
w
ho
d
an
the tie
arly
ys to attend the ye
e our Older Old Bo
ag
ur
co
en
to
un
e
ence the Re ion
We will continu
ally held to comm
ion
dit
tra
y,
bl
m
se
Older Old Boys as
of festivities.
d
un
ro
’s
Weekend
Thank you very much for the tie presented in celebration of my status as an ‘Older Old Boy’.
I must say this status is somewhat daunting but I guess seventy two years since I left school
does place me among the ancients. The tie is a great design and I wear it with pride.
From The Right Reverend David Shand Del 1935-38
It was so much of a surprise to receive this very special tie and the letter which came with
it and the explanation of what the gold stripe represents between the two badge bars.
It certainly is a pity that circumstances prevent many of us from attending these special
reunions because they are great occasions as I recall from the last time I went down several
years back in your new Theatre with lunch afterwards in the Great Hall.
Thank you once again for the wonderful gift and thought.
From Ted (Edward) Holloway Mck 1940-45
Thank you so much for sending my husband Robert Jack (Jock) the beautiful tie which has
been awarded to the Older Old Boys. He feels very honoured and is certainly very pleased
that I am writing to thank you for him. Jock has many happy memories of The Southport
School. He captained the GPS swimming team for quite a part of the time he was there and
has vivid memories of this feeling of great pride when he received his blazer in recognition of
his achievements. Sadly Jock has a lot of ill health now but we are feeling very blessed in our
lives and if Jock should feel any better next year we may be able to attend an Older Old Boys
assembly.
From Jocelyn Mckenzie for Jock Mckenzie Mck 1942-44
I am in receipt of your letter of 4 October and the enclosed tie given to me as a member of
the Older Old Boys of the School. I thank you for them both and am grateful of the tie as
mine has long since disintegrated. I am particularly touched by the part of your letter that
draws attention on the gold stripe in the tie that represents ‘the tradition and wisdom’ of
the Older Old Boys. It is not a compliment that one hears often in life addressed to oneself
and I shall have little hesitation in drawing it to the attention of my family and friends if
embattled by them because, as they would assert, there was evidence contrary to your
assertion...
So thank you indeed for the letter and the tie and I look forward to perhaps playing some
more active part in the school if the stars do align in the future.
From Michael White Prep 1949-52
Those were the days!
26
Asso c i at i o n
Personal Notes
>> What are they up to now?
Paul Stephenson Thorold 1976-80
Shane Bird Thorold 1987-91
In 1995 I graduated from the University of
Queensland with a Bachelor of Agricultural
Economics and in 1996 started work with
Cargill Australia a US based Agricultural Trader.
My first posting with them was in Toowoomba,
from there I moved on to Wagga Wagga and
finally in their Australian head office in Melbourne. In 2001 I was offered a transfer to
Johannesburg which I accepted. I worked in their Johannesburg office as a Trader for 7
years, it was a wonderful experience which I enjoyed immensely.
I got married in Melbourne in 2003 and our first son was born in Johannesburg in 2004, our
second son was also born in Johannesburg in 2007.
In 2007, I decided to change my lifestyle and we moved to Mauritius where I could spend
more time with my boys and enjoy my favourite pastime of kite surfing. We have been in
Mauritius now for 2 ½ years – it’s a very relaxed place to be. I trade on the net and have
interest in a couple of farms in New South Wales. Apart from that, I spend my time with
my family or on the seas with my kite. Life is good.
Timothy Neville – Atkinson 2005-2009
For the average 17-year-old, studying commerce/
law at university would be a full-time occupation.
But Tim Neville, leading man in Chatswood
Musical Society’s upcoming High School Musical
2 On Stage! flies from Bond University to
rehearsals in Sydney twice a week. “I have good
time-management skills,” he said. “And I’ve
organised my timetable so no classes are missed.”
Tim has big shoes to fill playing Troy Bolton, the role made famous by Hollywood star
Zac Efron. “He’s a heart-throb, but it’s not too hard to act (the role).” Tim says it’s all
worth it because he was hand-picked by director Michael Saddington to play Troy Bolton.
Saddington saw the Gold Coast production when Tim played the supporting role of Chad.
Well done Tim. We look forward to hearing more about your budding career.
Graham Gooding – McKinley 1961-64
Stuart Szigeti – Melbourne 1993-04
Stuart has about two years to go to complete
his undergraduate degree in “Bachelor
of Philosophy (Science) (Honours)” –
abbreviated PhB.
His thesis topic is in theoretical physics and
is on engineering quantum systems. Stuart
Stuart’s Gradua
tion in Canberra
says “It’s roughly about looking at how
with
mother Kim, fat
her Christopher
and Joyce
atoms and light interact in somewhat exotic
Jones, his Grandm
other.
situations, and quantifying how one could do measurement and
control on these systems. Such systems could have applications for quantum computation
and cryptography and precision measurement, for example. But it’s certainly fundamental
and “pure” science.”
Paul writes... for the last two years
I have been in the UAE heading a
design team building an armoured
vehicle from the ground up. As a
design engineer it is very rare to get
an opportunity like this, where you are
involved in a complete vehicle and not
just the components. The vehicle has
full ballistic and mine blast protection
using 12 mm armoured plate, monoque
chassis with 400 hp Cummins engine.
It has been designed for a similar
market as the Australian Bushmaster.
As the design phase is not at an end,
my family and I will be heading home
soon. In January (2011), I will be back
at work at my Australian engineering
consultancy firm, Kinetic Engineers.
Hopefully then I can catch up with
some old class mates. Best wishes to
everyone on the 2010 reunion.
Lew Cooper – McKinley 1949-55
Lew was the recent recipient of The
Premiers Service to Sport Award – the
Queensland Government Q2 award
for making Queenslanders Australia’s
Healthiest People. Lew has been a
driving force behind cricket fostering
community initiatives and spirit for
more than 30 years.
George Friend – Delpratt 1970-74
(former OSA President) and Philip
Mills – McKinley 1968-77, who resides
in New York, met up in New York
recently at the New York Athletics Club.
Keep up the good work Stuart!
27
Personal Notes
Cameron Andersen – Maughan 95-00
Blake Street – Biddle 1996 -03
We all knew (hoped) one day Blake Street would
finally discover a ‘niche’ in life. Those who truly
knew Blake understood he was not destined to
pursue an academic or legal career or to become
a professor of philosophy. Mind you I’m sure it
crossed his mind as ‘worthwhile’ career paths.
Cameron has found new frontiers
in China’s entertainment industry,
After a succession of attempts to climb the ladder of success including, but certainly not
bringing his typical down-to-earth
limited to, lasting a full 8 weeks university course in hospitality management through to an
Aussie character to TV screens all
apprenticeship in marine air-conditioning and refrigeration. Oh! Did I mention a 12 months
around China. Moving to Shanghai as a
trip to Japan teaching English to Japanese students aging between 5 years to 58 years and
lawyer in May 2005, Cameron worked
of course a further 12 months stint in Canada at the famous ‘Whistler’ mountains ‘cheffing’
for 3 years as a legal consultant on
and learning to be a professional ‘snow boarder’.
foreign investment. During this time,
Unbeknown to Blake all these experiences and exposures to ‘life’ have indeed prepared him
he gradually developed a reputation
for what was originally started way back in his early years at TSS – Navy Cadets.
for his fluency in Chinese and in 2008
frontiers inwas
China’s
entertainment industry, bringing his typical down-to-earth Aussie
brought into television as a
Blake rediscovered the Royal Australian Navy and after graduating from HMAS Cerberus in
China. Moving
to Now,
Shanghai
as afigure
lawyer in
May 2005, Cameron worked for 3 years as a
presenter.
as a well-known
Melbourne, was then transferred to HMAS Watson in Sydney to continue his training as CSO
China, Cameron
looking
at ways
ment. Duringin this
time, ishe
gradually
developed
a reputation
his fluency
in Chinese
(Combat Systems
Operator) usingfor
sophisticated
high tech equipment
for radar and sonar.
to revolutionize Chinese television and
evision as a serve
presenter.
Now, as a well-known
figure
in China,
is looking
atthis month and
Blake graduated
from that
course with Cameron
an overall percentile
mark of 92.7%
as the link between Australian
has been commissioned
to join HMAS
Sydney, (a guided
frigateand
– Adelaide Class)
vision and businesses
serve as
the inlink
Australian
businesses
interested
inmissile
China,
interested
China,between
and
in Australia.Chinese establishments interested in
Now residing on base at HMAS Kuttabul in Sydney, who knows where his future naval
Australia.
studies and adventures will take him and of course most of Blake’s activities from now are
subject to stringent security protocol.
Since the beginning of 2008,
Cameron has been involved in various
Thought this might be of some interest to his other family – TSS and the OSA.
programs that are aired on Shanghai’s
Gary Street (Proud father)
ron has been
involved
in(known
various
International
Channel
as programs that are aired on Shanghai’s International
ICS, whichof
is under
the umbrella
of
der the umbrella
Shanghai
Media
Group), including:
Shanghai Media Group), including:
• Host of a weekly bilingual travel show
Hara – Atkinson 1997-07
el show “Getaway”,
which takes viewersTaion
adventures around China and the world;
“Getaway”, which takes viewers on
One of the lovely realities of the acting world
eekly segment
of a around
program
ontheShanghai’s preparations for the World Expo; and
adventures
China and
and the performing arts, is that there is always
world;
arning-based movie talk show.
someone ready to question and judge why
• An ‘on street’ reporter for a weekly
you’re in the profession. But it is how we deal
segment of a program on Shanghai’s
with these scrutinies in the face of adversity
ng with Dragon
TV (one
of China’s
preparations
for the World
Expo; and leading entertainment channels) as the co-host of
that shows our true character. Following my
• Co-hostShow”,
of a weekly which
English is conducted purely in Chinese and is aired weekly to
e All or Nothing
graduation from TSS, I left the Gold Coast
learning-based movie talk show.
wanting
to further pursue my passions in
nd an unlimited international audience via
satellite.
Recently, Cameron has been working
the performing arts. I auditioned for the four major acting courses
with Dragon TV (one of China’s
in Australia alongside hundreds of other acting hopefuls, and after weeks of auditioning
cers from other
programs
and aschannels
host I programs
including
internationally
leading entertainment
channels)
and to
anticipation
was finally accepted
into the Bachelor
of Fine Arts (Acting), QUT. Fifteen
co-host
of a unique
talent show of the
others
were alsoOlympics,
accepted that year,
us still
remain, and ourwith
ensemble has
World Expo,thetalk
shows,
highlights
Beijing
as twelve
wellofas
interviews
dubbed “The All or Nothing Show”,
grown
to
heights
that
none
of
us
could
have
imagined.
Being
only
seventeen
and fresh
iling and Jet Li.
which is conducted purely in Chinese
from school, a full-time acting degree which entailed fifty plus hours a week in acting,
and is aired weekly to millions of local
voice, movement and academic studies certainly kept me off the streets. But more so, it
viewers in China and an unlimited
gave me the motivation to spend endless hours working on my craft and instrument. Now
international audience via satellite.
three years down the track and on the verge of graduating, my passion for the arts is only
stronger. Whether it be on stage, film or television, QUT has provided me with a foundation
He has alsohas
beenendeavored
asked by producers to be that unique aspect.
ect, and Cameron
as an actor and emerging artist that is invaluable. With past graduates such as Michael
from other programs and channels to
Dorman, Gyton Grantly, Deborah Mailman and Conrad Colbey finding so much success, I
host programs including internationally
only hope that
present future
of these
names
with be Southportonians. Lastly,
ofessional weightlifter
black-belt martial
artsin the
athlete,
as more
well
as an
enthusiastic
televised reports onand
the Shanghai
I’d like to leave you with a quote which I think we all can take meaning from.
Expo,with
talk shows,
highlightsaction, culture and a continual on-screen ‘freshness’.
that he hostWorld
come
humor,
of the Beijing Olympics, as well as
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.”
se a translator
to talk with the locals, he talks with them directly; where local kungfu
interviews with Chinese celebrities
om a safe distance,
he gets
including Lin Chiling
and Jetin
Li. there and trains hard with them; where Chinese opera
from afar, he performs with them on stage.
d style
with
viewers,
and in 2008 Cameron was
28 of hosting
T h e became
O l d So ua
t hhit
por
to n ithe
a n s ’Chinese
Asso c i at
ion
Personal Notes
Peter Bailey – Surman 1975-80
After leaving school I attended The Queensland
College of Art where I studied Film and
Bruce E
nderlin
(Rad 75
(Mel 74
Television production for three years. In ‘84 I
-80), Ch
-80) Pe
ris Baum
ter Baile
an
y ( Su r 7
landed my first industry job at Channel 7 in
Barry Ry
5
-80 )an
der (Me
d
l 74-80)
Brisbane, working mainly as a tape operator
putting programmes on air. In ‘86 I worked briefly for a small
production house in Brisbane where I branched into camera work. My main interest had,
however, always been graphics so wanting to expand my horizons, I moved to the UK.
David Webster – Delpratt 1960-63 and
Gordon Douglas – Thorold 1958-63
I married in ‘89 and returned to Australia in ‘91 where I worked at a post production
company in Melbourne. It was here that I was able to move into graphics learning 3D
computer animation and visual effects on the job. Through a colleague I was fortunate to
meet Peter Jackson and show him my work. He had some big film projects in New Zealand
and offered me a position with his company WETA Digital, later renowned for the Lord of
the Rings Trilogy and King Kong.
I arrived with my wife and now new son in Wellington in Feb ‘95 and started work on
a feature film called The Frighteners, starring Michael J Fox. My daughter was born the
following year and I continued to work on several Hollywood feature films including
Contact starring Jody Foster. We decided to return to the UK in’ 97 moving to a small village
south of Bristol. I took up the position as Head of Animation with a local graphics company.
Bristol is the home of the BBC’s Natural History Unit, famous for producing such landmark
series as the David Attenborough “Life of..”, Blue Planet and Planet Earth. I worked on
several TV series and commercials during this time moving more into directing and visual
effects supervision. In 2007 I decided to go freelance and have branched into more drama
such as The Adventures of Sarah Jane (Dr Who spinoff) and Dr Who itself.
At school, art and music were my passion and I have managed to keep engaged with music
as well. I joined a band in 2004 singing and playing drums, we play as often as possible on
the local circuit. I also joined the City of Bath Male Voice Choir (though I was never in the
choir at school).
“Goolburra Cod” – Living on the river
has its benefits...David (Tangles)
Webster (DEL 1960-63) pulled this
fellow out of the Warrego in July.
Looking at it, we thought it might well
be full of roe so we did the right thing
and released it...Not before the photo
shoot! We hope to catch the offspring
in a couple of years...
I have some very fond memories of my six years at TSS and visit Australia as often as
possible. In fact I was in Southport in April 2009 where I had a great time catching up with
Chris Bauman, Bruce Enderlin and Barry Ryder, apart from less hair and a slightly thicker
middle, we haven’t changed a bit!
Post script: My father, Gerry Bailey was Head of Strings at TSS from 1975-83. After he
retired he was involved with the Tamborine Mountain Youth Orchestra and later lived
on the mountain itself. In 1990 he moved to Melbourne to be nearer to family where he
remained involved with music until his death in 1994.
John Kempe – McKinley 1970-75 (extract from ASX Announcement)
John has been appointed Chief Executive of Offshore Marine Services (OMS), Australia’s
leading provider of offshore drilling and marine personnel to the oil and gas industry.
John will lead both OMS Australian and International operations. He brings a wealth a
expertise to OMS as a seasoned executive in the oil and gas field with a range of prominent
companies including Technip, a work leader in engineering, technologies and project
management for the oil and gas industry, and Toll Energy, the largest provider of integrated
logistics services to the Australian oil and gas industry. John’s credentials also include
serving in the Australian Army for over 20 years where he held a range of appointments in
the Special Forces. John takes up his new role as CEO, OMS, effective 12 July 2010.
“Gordie & his big catch of the day...
Gordon (THO 1958-63) & Wendy
Douglas spent 3 days at Goolburra
Station in May as part of their ‘Gone
Bush’ trip.
Goolburra is a little bit of heaven on the
Warrego belonging to Tangles & Jenny
Webster.
Gordie was a dab hand at stock work,
but also excelled at fishing. He and
Tangles caught two cod in two days...
Delicious!
Taking about his new role, John says...“I am excited at the opportunities presented by
the role as Chief Executive Office, Offshore Marine Services. I was attracted to work with
SKILLED Group and the OMS team because of its outstanding reputation and the emerging
opportunities that point to an exciting future. I also look forward to working with the OMS
management team, whose operational experience will remain invaluable as we grow the
company together”.
29
Personal Notes
Graham Gooding – McKinley 1961-64
Matthew Busby – Atkinson 1985-89
Delaneys Lawyers Senior Partner and Principal Tim Delaney (Wal
1984-90) and Partner Anthony Delaney (Wal 1985-91) recently
announced the appointment of Matthew Busby as Senior Consultant
to one of the Gold Coast’s longest established and most respected
boutique law firms.
From the sporting fields of The Southport School to the High Court of Australia, Matthew
will join forces with his former school mates in a newly created role at the successful third
generation, family-run firm.
Graham Gooding from Fernleigh, has
been awarded a Medal of the Order
of Australia (OAM) in the Australian
Day honours list for his Service to the
community of Kyogle and to veterans.
When you live in a small community
like Kyogle and there are things to be
done, sometimes you just have to get in
there and help, says Grahame Gooding.
And for the 50 years he lived in Kyogle
before moving to Fernleigh six years
ago.
At Kyogle where Mr Gooding ran the
family dairy farm and later cattle, he
served on the Kyogle Hospital Board
and redevelopment committee for 23
years, and was chairman of the board
from 1977-1991. He was part of the
Kyogle Show Society for 30 years with
a stint as President, and was a member
of the showground trust for 12 years. ...
he also spent 22 years on the Kyogle
Public School P & C , the School Council
and the centenary committee.
Mr Gooding is still currently active in
Legacy. He joined in the late 1970s
and has racked up 32 years of service.
The former National Serviceman who
toured Vietnam with the 6th Battalion,
The Royal Australian Regiment, for
five months, he said it wasn’t his war
service that motivated him to once
again put his hand up. He first became
involved with Legacy in the days when
volunteers were invited to join.
On receiving this award, ... Mr Gooding
said it is gratifying to think that
these people, the organisations and
the community do recognise and
appreciate what we have tried to do
over the years, and he said, he thanks
them for that appreciation. He also
thanks his wife Stephanie and his
family for their support and his parents
for the sacrifices they made.
30
Tim Delaney said the appointment would be a driving force in further developing Delaneys
Lawyers as one of the leading legal practices in Queensland and Australia.
‘Matthew brings with him over 15 years of knowledge and experience coupled with a
passion for the industry and the needs of his clients. We’re absolutely thrilled to welcome
him on board”, Tim Delaney said.
The Bond University graduate and Queensland Bar Association prize winner was admitted to
Practice Law in the Supreme Court of Queensland in February 1995.
Matthew said he was excited to join a team renowned for integrating big firm
professionalism, strategies and systems with the personal touch and tailored service of a
boutique firm.
“Tim and Anthony have formed a formidable partnership and I look forward to raising the
bar and building their exceptional performance in the future”, Matthew said...
Alex Handley – Maughan
1984-92 and
Mitch Vansleve Surman
1987-91
Handley Surveys celebrated
being the only North-West
based company to win the
WA Telstra Business Award
in the Panasonic Australia
Medium Business Award
category on Tuesday night.
Handley Surveys, a
family-owned and operated
surveying business in Karratha, was up against some of the industry’s
big players to win the Award, which General Manager, Alex Handley says is due to their
focus on achieving personal excellence and delivering consistently high standards for their
clients.
“What’s exciting is that the Award comes at a time when we are starting to commission
larger-scale projects and create a base for Handley Surveys in Queensland” said Mr
Handley.
From its Karratha base, Handley Surveys supplies some of Australia’s most important
resources projects focusing on modular LNG processing plants, and is now seeking to
provide their surveying expertise to major coal seam gas to LNG projects in Queensland.
Handley Surveys’ major contracts with Woodside/Foster Wheeler Worley for the world’s
first complete modular LNG facility are testament to the company’s solid reputation and
ability to match survey construction on one side of the world with re-assembly on the
other.
Asso c i at i o n
Personal Notes
Rob Green – Thorold 1998-00
Jason Sprott – Melbourne 1978-89
During the mid-year holidays, a group of TSS
students embarked on the USA Business Study
Tour. This tour, the third tour organised for
business students, allowed the students to
explore the United States to learn about the
integral role it plays in the global economy.
While there, staff and students met with Old Boy, Mr Rob Green. Rob moved
to the USA to forge his business career. He took the time out from his busy schedule at
Goldman Sachs to share with students his experiences with the company and shed insight
into life in New York. Rob offered to mentor any students wishing to move to the USA –
as he appreciated the role that the OSA had played in his own life post-TSS education.
Students look forward to furthering to establish this contact with Rob as they move into
tertiary education and work. We thank Rob for his hospitality and generosity.
Mark Herriman HOD of Business & Enterprise
Thomas Graham – Thorold 1986-98
Tom and his wife Melanie were married in
2008. They are now living in Sydney, after
spending 5 years in London where Tom
worked for UBS. Tom continues to work
for UBS as a Director, whilst enjoying the
Bondi lifestyle on weekends. They visit
Tom’s family and friends in Queensland
regularly and are spending Christmas with
Melanie’s family in Switzerland this year.
They have no immediate plans to leave
Sydney, however a move back to Europe in
the future is definitely on the cards.
Simon Conran – OSA Perth Branch
President Biddle 1989-93
Simon thought he would send a photo
which was taken at the Dowerin Field Days
in WA of James Blundell and him. Dowerin
Field Days is the biggest Ag. Show in WA.
Simon was helping Telstra in their show
tent.
Congratulations on
being awarded the Prestigious Churchill
Fellowship award!
For the first time in the history of
the prestigious Churchill Fellowship,
someone from the Port Industry has
been awarded the honour.
Port of Brisbane employee Jason
Sprott will use his fellowship to
research sustainable seaport design,
development and operation in ports
across Asia, Europe and North America.
Sprott says the project will benefit the
Australian port industry by providing
an international insight into precinct
planning, building design, management
of growth and interface with city areas,
and new technologies being used in the
logistics chain.
“This research will also influence the
way the Port of Brisbane responds
effectively to increased growth in
the future, and will advance the
company’s commitment to sustainable
development,” he adds.
The Churchill Memorial Trust awards
approximately 100 overseas research
fellowships to Australians every year
to honour the memory of Sir Winston
Churchill.
Show your
support for the Old
Southportonians’ Association!
OSA
Corporate
Ties
$44 each or
2 for $77
• Two Distinctive Styles
• Pure Silk, Australian Made
Available from the OSA Office
The Southport School, Winchester Street, Southport
Ph 5531 9803
email: [email protected]
31
OSA Sportsmen Making News
>>
James Slipper – Turnock 2005-07
(Extract from Sydney Morning Herald)
James Slipper is sitting on the
Wallabies bench. The 21-year-old prop
has become one of Australia’s brightest
front-row prospects. It has been an
incredible journey for Slipper, last year’s
Australian Under 20’s player of the year.
He was picked to help fill the Wallabies’
injury ravaged front row stocks with
only three Super 15 caps to his name –
one of them after starting and two off
the bench.
A recent quote from James “We weren’t
taking a backward step. When you
play for Australia it’s hard to drop your
head’... on the front row’s redemption
in Sydney
Luke Morahan – Kaiser 2001-07
The childhood ambition of Luke
Morahan was to be a rugby player
and, at the tender age of 18, he
has already acquired many rugby
accolades. Morahan has Queensland
Schools (2006/2007) and Australian
Schools A (2006/2007) representative
honours and has been recruited for
the Reds Academy (QLD). In his spare
time Morahan is busy completing
a business degree at Queensland
University. Morahan has signed a two
year contract with the Reds for 2010-11
and his Wallaby call up continues the
progression he has made along the
elite pathway of Queensland Under 16s,
National Talent Squad, Queensland
Schools, Australia A Schools and the
QAS Reds Academy.
32
Rob Simmons – McKinley 2002-06 (Queensland
Country Life)
Rob Simmons is having the time of his life. The
country boy, who grew up on Woodine – a cattle
property about 40 kilometres south of Theodore –
has returned from South Africa with the Wallabies
after being selected in the 28-man touring party
which played the Springboks.
It has been a dream run. After his Reds debut in 2009, Simmons stepped up this year
with 10 caps as part of the Queensland resurrection in the Super 15 before a broken jaw
prematurely ended his season.
But Wallabies coach Robbie Deans saw past this and showed faith and Simmons had
the dream debut in July for the National team – in front of his friends and family at the
spiritual home of the Wallabies, Suncorp Stadium.
But Simmons isn’t getting too ahead of himself. He has at least three talented players
– Dean Mumm, Mark Chisholm and Nathan Sharpe – vying for the same position he
would like to call his own. “It’s great, I just keep learning off the older blokes,” Simmons
said. Simmons’ rugby education was at The Southport School, where he boarded from
Year 8-12. Before Simmons went to TSS he had never played rugby. He played league for
Theodore Roosters during his primary schooling at Theodore State School.
“I wouldn’t rule anything out but with my physique, if I were to be playing rugby league I’d
be one of the tallest blokes on the field,” he said.
Standing at lofty two metres and weighing about 115 kg, he’s probably right. Simmons said
he was thrilled with how the Reds finished the 2010 season and he can’t wait to get back
on the field in Super 15 next year.
Simmons is not thinking too much about the future beyond rugby union, but mum and dad
Tracey and Andrew Simmons would love for him to return to Theodore when he is finished.
Tracey said they were thrilled with how well their son played. “We were over the moon
when he made the Super 15, we never envisaged him making the Wallabies,” she said. The
Simmons’ are based on the 5600 ha Woodine south of Theodore but also have property in
the Monto area and a 250SCU feedlot, Karinya.
Scott Higginbotham – Walker 1999-03
Scott Higginbotham has long been described as a
Wallaby-in-waiting. But the wait is finally over after he was
named in the 22-man squad to play South Africa.
Higginbotham, 23, would have been selected to play for the
Wallabies already if he had not injured an ankle in Queensland
Reds’ last Super 15 game in May.
After regaining his fitness at training and playing for Brisbane
club Wests, Higginbotham has replaced the injured Matt
Hodgson on the reserves bench. An abrasive forward with
genuine pace, Higginbotham can play in all three backrow
positions.
Away from rugby Scott has completed a Diploma of Business and is now interested in
buying into a business.
Asso c i at i o n
Sporting sniPpets
October Business Breakfast
It was an impressive lineup of current Wallabies at the October Business Breakfast hosted
by The TSS Foundation Ltd. Old Boys and current wallabies, Nathan Sharpe (Tur 88-95),
Scott Higginbotham (Wal 99-03), James Slipper (Tur 05-07) and Robert Simmons (McK
02-06) were interviewed by Old Boy and former wallaby Tom Lawton (Tho 79-81). Another
Old Boy Luke Bradnam (Rad 85-89) was the morning’s MC.
Josh Graham – Biddle 2000 -2001
Josh Graham is a former rugby union
player with the Western Force and
current Australian Rugby League
player. He plays the position of centre
for the Gold Coast Titans. Standing at
190cm and weighing 104 kg, Graham
is considered a powerful ball running
lock or centre. Raised in Taree on the
mid-north coast of NSW, Graham
played rugby union for the First XV
at TSS and has represented Australia
at Schoolboy, Under 21 and Sevens
level and had four games with the
Queensland Reds before moving to
rugby league and the Melbourne Storm.
Ian Browne Delpratt 1982-83
Checking Historical times for GPS 100 m/yard Sprints...
Recently, House and School records were queried due to what seemed like ‘extra-ordinary’
times in the sprint events in GPS from 1968. An enquiry was sent to Ross Blackman (McK
1960-69) who holds the records in question.
1. In 1968 you won the Open 100 or 110 yard sprint? Do you know if it was 100 or 110 yards?
If it was 110 yards, it would have been close to the best time in the world at that time
(9.9sec), for that distance, if not the best! Was this recognised?
2. A year later, you ran nearly a second slower (1969 – 10.8sec, which we have down as our
School Record). Where there external reasons for the change in times such as a grass
track or slightly longer distance? Where was it run…Lang Park?
I’m sorry to question you on these times, but being such significant times (both
outstanding times for a Schoolboy), we would like to have more of the story behind the
times recorded. Did you ever carry on with your sprinting? Should you be back in the TSS
area, we’d love for you to come and see us, maybe even speak to the current ‘crop’ of
sprinters.
Reply from Ross ....
There is a very simple explanation for the time ‘discrepancies:
1. 1968 was 100 yards.
2.1969 was 100 metres, I believe the first year for metres.
3.10.8 for metres converts to 9.9 in yards, given the distance difference.
4.Both times were on a grass track at Lang Park.
I did a little sprinting while at the University of Oregon in the US which I attended on an
athletic scholarship from 1970-1975 where I earned a BSc in Social Psychology and an MSc
in Educational Psychology. I ended up with a best 100 metres of 10.3. But it was the Long
Jump that I concentrated on and had a best performance of 8.15 metres in 1974 which
ranked me in the top 10 in the world for that year. In 1975, I was part of a ‘USA’ 4X100
metres relay team that was informally put together to compete in Europe for the summer
circuit there and we ran the fastest time in the world that year.
Adam Scott – Surman 1994-95
Adam Scott has finally struck it rich in
Texas. A late decision to play the Texas
Open in May this year, along with a
putting lesson, paid off in a big way as
he stormed to a one-shot victory in San
Antonio. Despite missing a one-metre
putt at the final hole, the talented
Queenslander managed rounds of
66 and 67 – 11 – under – par on a
marathon final day to finish at 14-under
and win by one shot from Swedens’
Fredrik Jacobson. It was Scott’s seventh
win on the US PGA Tour, but the first for
the former world No. 3 since April
Mat Belcher – Surman 1988-00
(SUNDAY MAIL)
Mat Belcher and Malcolm Page (AUS)
won the 2010 Delta Lloyd 470 World
Championship. Australia’s Golden Boys
have been filling up their treasure chest
this year and today they captured the
most coveted bounty of the year, all
of the gold and silver that goes along
with convincingly winning the 2010
470 World Championship. Their second
place finish in Medal Race gave them a
total score for the regatta of 44 points.
33
School News
Feat of
three
>>
Music at TSS
In joining cricket and rugby of the
2010 premiership honour board, TSS
gymnastics has achieved a rare feat.
As they say, good things come in threes
and gymnastics not only recorded its
third consecutive GPS title in October,
but also secured a third GPS title in the
one year for TSS.
Director of Sport, Bryan Hain, said the
last time TSS held three premiership
wins in the one year was in 1933 with
wins in athletics, rowing and rugby.
“In fact, this feat has only been
achieved three times in the school’s
109-year history making this all the
more remarkable,” said Bryan.
While hopes were high, the statistics
were not with TSS going into the
premiership competition as other GPS
schools had higher ranked gymnasts
performing on the day. However, a
solid performance in all Divisions lifted
the TSS spirit and determination and
they secured the win by a very small
margin of 224.400 points against BBC
on 223.049 in a dramatic end to the
season.
2010 started off with the creation of three new ensembles to cater for the growth in our
musical community. The Grainger concert band for Year 8 and 9 musicians, the second rock
band and the Year 9 and 10 barbershop Choral all have had successful years providing our
concerts with new vitality.
These concerts are frequent and range in size and style. Each term our core ensembles have
performed in a major concert that showcases their emerging skills as ensemble performers.
Complementing this there is always a number of smaller recitals where students perform
solo items and in small groups. Whether small or large, these concerts are always a delight
to perform and a delight for the audience to listen to.
Of course, 2010 was the year of our commissioned anthem ‘Band of Brothers’ and in April
the composer Paul Jarman joined us to conduct the premiere performance at the Anzac
Day service. This was a magnificent and poignant moment as the prep and senior choir and
orchestra joined together to reflect upon our past and celebrate our future.
Each year TSS takes part in the annual GPS Music Day where a combined GPS school
orchestra, band and choir rehearse and perform a concert all in one day. This is a huge
undertaking and in May we were proud to host the event. Rehearsals took place at TSS
with the final concert being held at The Gold Coast Arts Centre. It was really pleasing to
note that 44 TSS musicians took part in the concert this year.
Also, this time of year saw the return of the Concerto Competition where 10 fine young
instrumentalists shared their music with us vying for a place in the final. The four finalists
were Ken Koido (violin), Riki Beazley (violin), Elliot Flowers (guitar) and Alfred Li (flute).
After intense rehearsing by the Senior Chamber orchestra during the annual music camp
in Tyalgum, we were ready for the final which was held in September. This event was a
wonderful concert that showcased the virtuosic talents of the boys. In the end the two
independent adjudicators could not decide between Ken Koido and Riki Beazley and so
awarded a joint first prize.
TSS traditionally makes a big contribution to the annual Gold Coast Eisteddfod and 2010
was no different with 11 groups taking part. Some of the highlights were many highly
commended awards, a 3rd place for the Senior Choir and a 1st place for the Drumline who
dazzled the adjudicator with great skill and precision.
As I write this report, we have just finished the awards concert where we farewell the Year
12 musicians. This is always a sad and happy affair in that we lose a group of boys who
have contributed so much to the musical culture at the school, but at the same time we
are for the last time able to share our music making with them as they start a new chapter
in their lives. I, along with the rest of the TSS music community wish them well and hope
that they will always continue to make good music.
Report provided by Rob Cooke, Director of Music at The Southport School
34
Asso c i at i o n
>>
Centenary celebrations end in victory
A joint GPS premiership title was a fitting way to end the celebrations of 100 years of
Rugby at The Southport School.
In any season, winning the premiership is always a goal. However, being the centenary year,
expectations were higher than usual and, to the First XV’s credit, the team gave its all and
performed consistently throughout the season to share their top ranking with two other
GPS schools.
In fact, it seems that jointly holding the 2010 premiership with Nudgee College and
Brisbane State High School this year, rather than taking away from the glory of an outright
premiership, reaffirms the place TSS holds within the strong GPS competition.
The final game of the 2010 competition was against Toowoomba Grammar in front of
the TSS home crowd during Old Boys’ weekend. TSS needed to secure the win for the
premiership title and did so convincingly with a final score of 36-8.
During the past decade, in addition to this year’s win, TSS has won the coveted GPS Rugby
Premiership in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2007. Showing the school’s commitment to top level
schoolboy rugby, during this period TSS also placed second in the competition in 2000,
2002, 2004, 2008 and 2009.
And it wasn’t just the First XV who enjoyed a successful season with more than 20 teams
in the competition and one of the best win ratios in recent history.
Currently, TSS has four Old Boys in the prestigious Australian Wallabies side being Nathan
Sharpe, Scott Higginbotham, James Slipper and Robert Simmons, yet another sign of the
strength of Rugby at TSS.
Top year for cattle team
Football
It’s been a busy and successful year for the TSS Cattle Team, which seems to go from
strength to strength in its cattle showing program.
Congratulations to our Association
Football teams in what has been a
successful year . The School’s Under 14
and 1st XI teams came within a whisker
of winning the ISSA and UHLSPORTS
competitions. The very fit and strong
Under 14 side was narrowly defeated by
one point in their 0-1 score final game
but retained their placing as being in the
top four school teams in Queensland.
As the season begins to wrap up, members of the TSS Cattle Team can reflect on all their
success this year including showing and judging at Goondiwindi, Boonah, Mudgeeraba,
Gatton, Old Boys’ Weekend and, of course, the Brisbane Exhibition better known to most
as the Ekka. The team walked away from the Ekka with a first in the MSA Eating Quality
Award (based on the standard and quality of the animal carcass when presented to
judges) and three second places for Mat Maguire (Interschool Judging 12-U14) and Eddie
Walton (Interschool Judging 16-U18) as well as a second in the 14-16 month Charolais
section with the team’s prized ‘Clancy’.
With a large number of schools now involved in the Ekka, judging and showing is becoming
stiff competition for students who have to be fully committed to this part of their
Agricultural Studies.
At the final show of the season, Beaudesert, members of the TSS Cattle scored a number
of individual successes in the ring with Year 9 student Jacob Segeren winning the grand
champion with his Bradford heifer in the tropical cattle section and placing overall runner
up in the Interbreed Female Competition. Other wins at Beaudesert included Eddie Walton
winning the grand champion European bull section, Mat Maguire winning the champion
saler heifer and Wilson McKenzie gaining a second place.
“To be successful in this part of their studies, the students have to show great commitment
and this means giving up much of their leisure time including weekends to feed, care,
groom and parade their cattle at the show,” said Ross Wilson who is in charge of the TSS
Cattle Team.
“We also are grateful to the many parents who assist with transport and also loan us cattle
for the students to gain hands-on experience during the year.”
The talented 1st XI squad also narrowly
missed on winning the State titles
in the UHLSPORTS Cup when, after
winning the semi-finals in a 2-1 score
against strong competition, they
narrowly went down in the finals to
Brisbane State High School. This in
itself is a remarkable achievement
for the team within the competition,
which has in excess of 50 independent
schools competing State-wide.
Association Football Director, Brad
Carter said the footballers had put
their ‘all’ into training for the finals
and were to be congratulated on their
achievements.
35
obituaries
Farewell Dear Friends
Those we love remain with us for love itself lives on
And cherished memories never fade because a loved one’s gone
The OSA extends its sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the following Old Boys
Robert Victor Bailey – 19 September 1943
– 23 July 2010 – Mckinley 1954-60
Alister Forrest McClelland Boyd – 27 July 1935 – 28 August 2010 – McKinley 1949-53
(Courier-Mail)
Robert Bailey, late of Blackall, passed away
suddenly aged 66 years. Beloved Husband
to Monica, Father and Father-in-law to
Kate and Rob, Elizabeth, Dougal and
Cassier and Margaret and Grandfather to
Ella, Molly, Phoebe and Hugo and Brother
and Brother-in-law to Jill and Ross Pelger. .
Alister Boyd continued a family tradition that has left an indelible imprint on sport and in
particular rugby union in Queensland. His father Walter Boyd was a legend in Queensland
rugby union circles, an administrator at State level and with Brisbane’s GPS club. Mr Boyd
was to carve out his own niche as a fine rugby union player and is still regarded as one of
the best all-round schoolboy sportsmen seen in Queensland.
Timothy Colvile Barrett 27/03/1924
– 30/08/2010 – Delpratt 1938-1941
(Courier-Mail)
Dr Timothy Colvile (OAM) late of
Toowoomba, passed away peacefully on
30th August 2010. Aged 86 years, dearly
loved and loving husband of June for 60
years. Loved Brother of Helen and Joyce.
Adored Father and Father-in-law of Judy
and Malcolm; Barbara and Denis; Bill and
Louise; John; Margie and Ray; Anna and
Michael. Devoted Grandfather of Alastair,
Bronwyn, Caitlin, Scott, James, Zoe and
Keri. Family and Friends were respectfully
invited to attend a Celebration of Dr Tim’s
life, which was held at St Luke’s Anglican
Church, Toowoomba.
Dr Tim was a late Life Member, Former
President, Hall of Fame Inductee, Technical
Official and Swimming Historian for
Swimming Queensland.
Graham Nicholas (Nick) Jackson – 06
October 1949 – 01 October 2010 – Thorold
1962-67
Nick passed away on the 1st of October in
Thailand – Friend Jeff Gaird advised the
OSA on 19 October of Nick’s passing.
George Henry Boulderson Gray – Thorold
1925-29
Colleen Abbot, daughter of George Gray
advised the OSA that her father passed
away at the wonderful age of 98, on 24th
of June 2010.
36
At The Southport School, which Mr Boyd attended from 1949-1953, he was an exceptional
sportsman, although those that knew him later in life never heard him speak of those
deeds. Mr Boyd was a member of the School’s 1st VI for four years 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953
and a member of the combined GPS 1st VI for two years, 1952 and 1953. He was a member
of the School’s 1st XV for three years 1951, 1952 and 1953 and a member of the combined
GPS 1st XV in 1953.
Also he represented the School in athletics in 1952 and 1953 and was in the first tennis
team in 1952. At the same time he carried out duties of Prefect in 1952 and 1953 and
vice-captain and then captain of McKinley House in 1952 and 1953.
In a poll a few years ago conducted by The Courier-Mail’s The Ear column to find
Queensland’s greatest schoolboy sportsmen, Mr Boyd was rated in the top 10. At his
funeral, his long time friend David Park read an extract written by Mr Boyd from the TSS
school magazine which summed by Mr Boyd’s love of life.
“My late father, Walter Boyd OBE, was always asking the question why, on Speech Day,
I received many sporting awards, but never a scholastic prize. In 1952, I shocked him by
winning the Modern History prize, but little did he know that I was the only one in the class!
“I returned to school in 1953 and from memory the only subject I did was junior
book-keeping. My presence in the class was not encouraged, with suggestions that rolling
the (cricket) pitch or tennis courts would provide a more meaningful existence.”
It was another example of Mr Boyd’s modesty because on leaving school he began a career
at Cannon and Peterson, the law firm of which his father was senior partner. Mr Boyd
specialised in rural land valuation appeals and, because of his expertise was ultimately
offered a position as judge on the Land Court. He chose not to accept the position, electing
to get on with his work, a job that he continued until this year.
He played first grade rugby for the GPS club from 1954 until a knee injury halted his career
in 1960. He played for Queensland from 1958-1960 and a Test on the wing from Australia
against the New Zealand Maori side in 1958.
Mr Boyd had a lifelong love of golf, which he played off a very low handicap at Royal
Queensland Golf Club for many years. But could not keep away from rugby union.
After he finished playing he coached the GPS club’s first Under-19 team to a premiership in
1961 and its second grade side to the grand final in 1967.
In 1969 he was a foundation coach at the Ascot Clayfield Junior Rugby Club, which was
formed by retired GPS players and coached by both retired and current players.
He even found time to return to his old school as a member of the OSA Council in 1958.
Asso c i at i o n
obituaries
Erle Henderson Cardow – 23 November
1923 – 24 July 2010 – Thorold 1936-1939
young girl from Whyralla. Better known then as Bubs, she and Erle married in 1950. They
made the property “Tatham House” their home and in 1956 I was born.
Like many only children, especially girls, I learnt to be versatile.... My mother would take me
to ballet & music lessons and encourage scholarly pursuits, while Erle took me mustering &
dipping as soon as I could sit on a horse.
During those early years I remember my father as a muscular, tanned, hardworking man,
ready to share a laugh or a smile, my mother used to tell me how she fell in love with his
laugh and right until the end he still had a really wicked sense of humour and an infectious
laugh.
On the properties, most of the people Erle worked with were local Aborigines and he
shared a great affinity for the land... the stock... and the wildlife with these people. He
had the utmost respect for their skills as stockmen. Their children were my playmates and
racism and the black/white divide weren’t any part of my upbringing... and neither was
sexism – we all did the same work and although I stood out being female & white among
these dark men (Erle had a suntan darker than lots of them) being female and white
didn’t get any privileges and it never occurred to me that it might.
Erle believed that you learn most through experience, and so I was the crash test dummy
on each season’s batch of freshly broken young horses.... he said it would teach me to
ride, and it did..... And my mother was always there to patch things up when they got a bit
broken.
Words from Erle’s daughter Kim....
(excerpt)
In the last eight months while Erle lived
with John & me in Dural we’ve been
privileged to listen to reminiscences about
his formative years. From his childhood
with older brother Nigel & younger sister
Joy, on the family property, Mynumi,
through the time at The Southport School
with Nigel, where he displayed a real
passion for the three R’s – rowing, riding &
wrestling..... He apparently excelled in his
sporting pursuits.
However, like many other boys at that
time, he lied about his age to join the Light
Horse in 1940 and left childhood behind
forever.
A few weeks back I caught Erle thumbing
through a folder of old black and white
photos from around the time of the war,
and I noticed that in a surprising number
shots, he had an attractive young lady on
his arm or at his side.... well it was actually
a variety of attractive young ladies.....
So I had to ask.... Yes he had names and
anecdotes for them all, and usually their
father’s name and where they came from
too... there was one he almost proposed to,
sadly another was killed the day after the
photo and so it went on....
He was quite a handsome young man...
when he finally found the love of his life –
her name was Lorna McDonald, a beautiful
Erle’s philosophy on horse breeding was different to some.... he believed mares should only
be bred from after they proved they could handle a serious day’s work in rough country and
any that proved unsound were sent to live out their days in the pensioner paddock... now
that’s a luxury not many breeders can maintain today.
Although cattle, horses and dogs were his livelihood he was passionate about all animals.
And we had a menagerie of them... rescued, found or otherwise acquired, some lived with
us, and others just hung around.
Enough of the fond childhood memories, back to a harsher reality: in 1980 my mother
became very ill with what turned out to be lung cancer. Erle was the most devoted carer,
he did everything in his ability to improve my mother’s quality of life but sadly she did not
survive and Erle’s 35 year marriage to Lorna was over... and I lost a beautiful mother...
During Lorna’s long illness Erle stayed at her side in Brisbane, and on the Gold Coast, but
after her death he returned to Evans Head and the horses he still had on the property of
his mate & business partner, Cliff Cullen...... but life must have been very empty without his
wife.
When Erle moved on to the next stage of his life it was the rekindling of an old friendship...
One of his mates, Bob Yabsley, had passed away a year or so before Lorna. Bob’s widow,
Pat Yabsley shared a lifetime of mutual friends and interests with Erle; in fact, the two
families had fairly parallel histories.
Erle and Pat neatly fitted into each other’s lives and they married and eventually moved to
Sanctuary Cove in Queensland, where they shared many friends and made many more.
Erle had known Pat’s daughter Margie Cassidy and son Michael Yabsley since birth so it was
an easy melding of families and Pat’s three grandchildren were a bonus for Erle.
I hadn’t thought a suburban lifestyle would ever suit Erle but he was remarkably adaptable
and in retirement he and Pat did a lot of travelling and socialising. Unfortunately Pat’s
health was declining and although she put up a mighty fight for several years, she too
succumbed. Again Erle showed what a loyal, devoted & caring man he was. As Pat’s full
time carer, he looked after her at home until the final few weeks in hospital.
John and I have also been privileged to spend more time with him and we’ve had some
great fun, especially on our boat Holy Cow. In his 80’s Erle began sailing and did some
coastal deliveries as well as cruising in the Whitsundays with us. He was a remarkable man;
He was a great dancer and a great father.
37
obituaries
Colin Bucknell – 25 April 1931 – 7
September 2010 – Delpratt 1945-47
Colin Kingsford Bucknell was born in St
George on 25th April 1931. The third son
of Norman and Nina Bucknell. He moved
to Winton with the family after his father
drew “Akunam” Corfield in 1933. His mother
taught him correspondence then he went
to “All Souls” in Charters Towers. When the
Brisbane line was declared during the war,
all children went south to school. Colin
had one year at Slade School in Warwick
then went to The Southport School, then
on to Gatton College. After school he
went jackerooing at Boonock Poll Marino
Stud in Deniliquin NSW, then at Dululu
Rockhampton with Tony Hughes and
cattle. In 1954 after the unexpected tragic
death of his sister Patricia, Colin went
back to Akunam to work where his love
of horses led him to become an amateur
jockey.
During one of Colin’s holidays in Brisbane
he went to a party at the Gresham Hotel.
Who should be there to ‘make up the
numbers‘, but a nurse from Turrawan
Private Hospital and the rest is history!!!!
After marriage and living at Venture Downs
Corfield for 2 years. He moved his young
family to “Woolga” Tambo in 1962. Three
more children followed.
In 1964 pulling Gidgee scrub was
commenced. He improved Woolga, power
was put to all the bores and house in 1975.
In the 1970’s Colin became a counsellor
with the Tambo shire. He always had time
to help the children with their horses at
Pony Club and shows and in later years the
grandchildren. In 1982 he sold “Bronte” at
Lango Crossing and bought “Mt Owen” in
Mitchell.
Colin and Beverley retired to Tambo two
and a half years ago where Colin’s health
deteriorated.
Col will be remembered as a true
gentleman, quiet and unassuming,
always kind and generous and with a well
developed sense of humour.
38
Hal Challenger – 6 September 1934 – 25 June 2010 – McKinley 1950-51
Hal was born Samuel Henry Challenger Jnr, on 6th September 1934. He was the first child
of Samuel Henry Challenger 2nd and his wife Myrtle (Stark) part of a pioneering grazing
family in the Tara district on the Western Darling Downs. Hal’s mother felt that three
Samuel Henry Challenger’s living on the one property was too much so he became known
as Hal. In 1946 Hal was enrolled in the Preparatory School in Toowoomba as a boarder.
Then in 1949 he moved to The Southport School where he enjoyed tennis and rugby but
left at the end of Year 11 due to his father’s ill-heath. Hal’s parents moved to Bauer Street,
Southport and their house was adjacent to ‘Friedensheim’, home of the Heck family, and so
began Hal’s association with the Woongoolba district and the Heck Kleinschmidt clan.
Hal spent the next two years managing the family property until it was sold in 1952. He
returned home to Woongoolba and began cane farming. In 1963, Hal married Jennifer
Kleinschmidt, a teacher at the local school and they went to live on Hal’s cane property
at Stanmore near Beenleigh. Here Miles and David were born and enjoyed a wonderful
childhood learning the hundred and one things farmers seem to know. Eventually, the
family settled on acreage at Tallai where Hal found untold joy in letting his beloved
grandchildren help him with his many projects.
In 2008 Hal was diagnosed with Non Hodgkins Lymphoma and underwent chemotherapy.
He was in remission for only three months before the cancer took hold again. He passed
away peacefully at home on Thursday June 25, after a courageous flight.
James Alexander Dixon AM – 23 May 1923 – 14 July 2010 – McKinley 1947-50
James (Jim) passed away peacefully on July, 14 2010 aged 78. Jim was the son of Cecil
Robert Dixon (McK 1910-1919) and Grandson of the Founder of TSS Bishop Horace Henry
Dixon. His son, David, also attended TSS (McK 1980-83).
Jim’s wife, Julie, and their daughters Marion and Elizabeth, son David and six lovely
grandchildren all survive Jim. Jim devoted his life to his family and his long career in the
sugar industry. He was an accountant by qualification but followed a managerial path and
became general manager of Isis Central Sugar Mill and chairman of the Australian Sugar
Milling Council. He was rewarded for his strong contribution to the sugar industry by being
awarded Member in the Order of Australia.
Falkiner Minchin Hewson – 13 March 1933 – 26 April 2010 – McKinley 1941-50
Mr Hewson’s daughter advised us of her fathering passing. Falkiner Hewson passed away
on 26 April 2010
Titan Liu – 10 October 1979 – 06 February 2010– Melbourne 1991-96
Titan passed away aged 30 after a long illness. Titan was born in Taiwan and was schooled
at TSS from 1991 until 1996. He progressed to Bond University where he excelled in
Business Organisation, Languages and Music/Performing Arts. These passions were to be
his major life influences as he completed a Bachelor of Commerce in 1999, closely followed
by his Bachelor of Law in 2001. Titan was often found playing the grand piano on campus.
He once treated students and staff to a memorable music recital that is still very much
talked about today. Titan was known as a genuine, caring and gentle person and he will be
sorely missed by all his close friends and colleagues.
Richard John Lyons – 10 January 1925 – 22 October – 2009 McKinley 1932-41 passed away
22 October 2009.
Asso c i at i o n
obituaries
Edward Douglas Murray – 29 May 1919 – 29 May 2010 – Thorold 1932-36
Edward Douglas Murray was born in Blackall. Doug had happy memories of his early life in
the prosperous west Queensland town at the end of the railway line from Rockhampton.
In his 80th year he wrote a slim volume, The Murrays of Blackall. He recalled the role of the
family store, Murray Brothers, which provided goods and services of all descriptions and
was a respected institution in the surrounding community. As the last of seven children –
Edith, Bill, Fred, Flo, Tom Ern – he was much loved and perhaps indulged, but even he had
his responsibilities in the store. In his book he game a description of his job as O.C. Cats.
We had a male ginger cat and a female tabby. Their efforts to keep the mice in check
were supplemented by my mouse trap program. Traps were strategically placed and were
patrolled before breakfast... I was paid a penny a mouse by the management.
In the days before the Second World War, there was little state government schooling
beyond the primary years. Doug’s parents saw that all his offspring were sent to boarding
schools to receive their secondary schooling. Doug followed his four brothers to TSS in 1932.
He finished his time here as Dux and Senior Prefect in 1936.
In 1937, he became a fresher at St John’s, the Anglican Men’s college at Kangaroo Point
which was attached to the University of Queensland. His undergraduate years were happy
ones. And if he did not always study quite as hard as he might have done, he certainly
enjoyed meeting young people from all over the state. Many of these were to remain
his friends for life. Another factor in his happiness was his discovery of a gentle Science
undergraduate Margaret Cameron, who was living in the Women’s College not far away.
But war clouds were gathering over these halcyon days. After Doug graduated at the end
of 1940, he along with his mates, enlisted for overseas service. The next four years, which
were to change Doug from carefree youth to battle-hardened man, were pivotal in his life
and moulded him for the life that awaited him after the war.
In his reflections years later, Doug recalled the momentous events of Tobruk, Palestine and
El Alamein. Doug was awarded the Military Cross for ‘Gallant and Distinguished Service”.
In early 1943, the Ninth Division was sent home on leave. On 13 March 1942, Doug and
Margaret were married at the little church at Thulimbah near Margaret’s home at Dalveen.
Thus began their long partnership. Doug was devastated by Margaret’s death in 2005; she
had been his rock for 62 years.
Doug returned to Australian in late 1945 and was impatient to put the war behind him but
he always said that his years in the army gave him excellent training for his later profession
life. Doug accepted this position of Assistant District Engineer with the City Electric Light
Company in Ipswich which bought him much satisfaction as he and his men worked hard
to extend electricity supply to the surrounding area and to update much of the old pre-war
equipment.
In 1950, Doug became the Substation Engineer (Metropolitan) in Brisbane. In 1964 he
was appointed CEO of the newly established Northern Electric Authority NEA. In 1972
Doug applied, successfully, for the position of Commissioner for Electricity for Queensland.
He regarded the most important achievement of his eight-year period of office, the
development of a single Electricity Act.
With the accolades of business and profession colleagues ringing in his ears, Doug and
Margaret moved to retirement at Buderim in 1980, where he developed a small avocado
farm on a block of land on the northern side of the mountain. The farm and its cottage
became a favourite holiday place for his children and their families.
By early 2005, Doug and Margaret were frail and they moved to the Immanual Gardens
Hostel. Here they were together until Margaret’s death on 14 December 2005. Soon after,
Doug moved to the Nursing Home. His courage in facing the reality of his failing memory
and the loss of Margaret was moving. His Military Cross bears witness to his youthful
bravery, but this dignified acceptance of his unwanted lot in old age is equally telling.
Any tribute to Doug must finish with the words of his much loved bard, Banjo Patterson
and his first World War Poem, the Song of Murray’s Brigade.
Small birds singing in the tree tops tell
Where runs the river of my home
And the wistful wishing of the folk who
love us well
And follow us wherever we may roam.
And our hearts go back to the folk
beside the river
To the land where the sheep and cattle
roam
It’s a long, long job, but we’ll finish it
together
For every mile we travel leads us home.
No songs greet us for the birds are mute
The aeroplane’s the only thing to fly
Upward to the pilot send a special
brand salute
For we may need him badly bye and bye.
Soldiers singing as their fancies come
New song, old songs, they sang another
day
Thus they sing and march to the beating
of the drum
Till orders come to put the drums away.
And our hearts go back to the folk
beside the river
To the land where the sheep and cattle
roam
Its a long, long job, but we’ll finish it
together
For every mile we travel leads us home.
Written Sept 1940
39
obituaries
Michael Buchanan Monteath (Monty)
29 Janurary 1933 – June 2010 Delpratt
1942-49
Old Southportonian Michael Buchanan
Monteath passed away in June of this
year. Monty, as he was known to his
friends, was born in Southport on 29
January 1933 to Colin Lewis Hutchison
Monteath and Beth Doreen Monteath.
He was the second son, five years
younger than his brother David.
Monty lived the early years of his life
in the Brisbane south-side suburb of
Coorparoo, but then at the tender age
of nine went to board in Prep at The
Southport School. He followed in his
father’s footsteps by entering Delpratt
House, which he represented in rugby
union. He loved his time at TSS from
1942 – 49, and in later life told many
stories about his friends there and the
school masters. Among his memories
were the straitened circumstances
which prevailed back then. At times
food, he recalled, was in such short
supply that the boys would walk past
the masters’ dinner plates and pick up
any leftovers. His abiding memories
were fond ones, and over the years he
returned to the school many times for
Old Boys’ re-unions and holidays in
Southport.
After school Monty spent time
jackarooing in country Queensland and
also doing National Service. Eventually
he moved to Wandoan, expanding
his interests to wheat farming,
seed grading and maintaining farm
equipment, for which he possessed a
particular genius.
40
Loyd William Ruhno – 06 August 1926 – 19 May 2010 – Delpratt 1940-44
Loyd was born at Ipswich Hospital and lived with his parents and grandparents in a very
large house with many servants to look after them all.
He was very spoiled and bored being an only child. He had his own Nanny of course. Their
house had a large drive up to the house and Loyd told the story of when one of the maid’s
boyfriend’s came to visit her he used to sit up in a tree and throw stones at him because he
was jealous.
After primary school in Rosewood he went to The Southport School as a boarder and there
he excelled at everything except schoolwork. He was an excellent footballer and cricketer.
He was given a sportscar for his birthday while at school and he used to keep in there even
through he wasn’t supposed to. He told many stories of what he and his friends got up to
and they sounded like they had a pretty wild time.
Loyd made many lifelong friend through school and sport and used to attend the school
‘Old Boys Weekend’ up to quite recently.
After school he returned home to the family business. He took up flying at the Brisbane
aeroclub and this was a lifelong passion on which he spent a long of time and money.
Loyd met Daphne flying out to the Charleville picnic races in a tiger moth. After their
marriage they lived in Rosewood and had two children, John and Jennifer who both
became doctors. Sadly John died at age 54 of a heart attack.
Jennifer remembers going flying with her father many times as a young child and vividly
recalls being a passenger in a Tiger Moth with him and performing a barrel roll or a loop the
loop as he called it. She seems to remember her father suggesting they didn’t mention the
aerobatics to her mother.
Until the last few years, Loyd had enjoyed good health and Daphne and he travelled far
and wide around the world. Loyd loved reading history and had a fabulous memory so he
was a most entertaining storyteller.
He loved to drive up to the farm and see the cattle and remember tales of when he was a
young boy growing up and there certainly were some hilarious ones. He was great company
and had many friends.
All and all, he was a really nice man and will be greatly missed.
Colin Clifford Webster – 02 July 1919 – 21 April 2010 – Thorold 1934-35(Extract Warrego
Watchman)
He is survived by his older brother
David, also an Old Southportonian,
and will be sorely missed by family and
friends in Southport, Wandoan and
many other parts of Queensland.
Col Webster was born at Cunnamulla, the second youngest child of William Donald Wester
and his wife Florence (need Hudson). Col and his five siblings grew up on ‘Plain View’, a
property 45 miles south of Cunnamulla. Col’s early schooling was at home with tutors, and
later he was a boarder at The Southport School in Thorold House, from 1934 and 1935.
After leaving school while working on the property with his father, Col studied to become
a woolclasser, a skill be used on their own property and for neighbours. In 1939 Col met his
wife-to-be, Beryl Steinke, when she was as school teacher at Cunnamulla, they married in
1952 and took over ‘Plain View’ from Col’s parents.
Michael has bequeathed the sum of
$1000 for a memorial trust to be set up
in the name of his father, Colin Lewis
Hutchinson Monteath (also a TSS
old boy) ‘for an annual cross country
award’.
Col loved his life as a grazier. He won many trophies and ribbons for his merino wool
and he was well known for his prime cattle. He was ahead of his time in careful property
management, never overstocking. He was a keen horseman from an early age and loved
playing cricket and tennis. Col and Beryl had three daughters, Judy, Margaret and Robyn
who all lived nearby with Robyn and Judy taking special care of Col (after Beryl passed
away in 1996) when he was unable to live in his own home.
Asso c i at i o n
obituaries
Pieter Wessels – 28 August 1939 – 29
August 2010 – Delpratt 1953-57 (received
from John MacDonnell, of Stafford)
realise he wanted to be a journalist and
he was accepted into the ABC (then only
radio) newsroom in Brisbane.
tutoring emerging nations’ broadcasters.
Sometimes, advancing disease meant that
he flew internationally with a wheelchair.
Pieter died in hospital in Sydney on
Sunday, 29 August 2010 of bone
metastasis disease. Suffering from polio as
a young child, he had a ‘lazy’ leg which left
him unable to participate in many sports,
but he was an enthusiastic actor when Mr
Alex Perrin, English Teacher and former
BBC producer came to the School to set
up ‘live’ theatre in the former military shed
behind the main Clocktower building.
He soon transferred to Sydney, his home
for the next half century. Pieter is best
remembered as staff mentor and coach
of all of Sydney ABC-TV’s news cadets,
based at ABN-2, Gore Hill, for more than
20 years. He developed an international
reputation as a trainer of journalists for
TV and radio. For some 20 years and into
his retirement, he was often flown to
Fiji, Uzbekistan, most of the South-East
Asian countries, Europe and the Americas,
In the 1980s he married Liz and they lived
in Sydney’s Queen’s Park before moving to
a smaller unit at Randwick with daughter
My, now 23 and living in Hobart.
Eulogy (excerpt)
Rowing” or someone who has “simply been
around the School for a long time”, the
beloved Mr King, put the runs on the board
though his own achievements, long before
attempting to teach others.
One year of medicine at UQ made him
A noted antiquarian book-collector, he was
active in literacy and historical research,
including that of his extended family which
included members of the Walker and Bell
families, both ex-TSS.
>> Jeremy King
Jeremy King 3 March 1935 – 13 October
2010 – Delpratt 1950-54
At moments like this, you truly appreciate
your parents. We have been so fortunate
to have Jeremy as our dad and to know he
has touched so many during his lifetime
reaffirms to us how lucky we have been.
Not just lucky to have him to ourselves and
our children but to know and understand
how one man can, through his everyday
life, share so many of the qualities which
made him the best dad in our eyes.
Whether he became known to you as a
mentor, coach, relative, and colleague
or for those numerous lucky people – a
friend, Jeremy had a way of making you
realize how wonderful the times you spent
with him were.
His generosity of spirit was such that he
made friends and had an impact with
many people throughout his life. We were
so lucky to be able to call him our own.
One of his biggest legacies will be the
challenge for all of us to have the same
connections in our daily lives – to show
kindness, joy, humanity and commitment
to those around us.
They will be big shoes to fill.
Jeremy’s funeral was held at TSS on
Wednesday 20 October amid a crowd of
over 1000 family, friends and TSS students.
The outpouring of emotion was evident
amongst the crowd. Jeremy touched so
many people in the community and at his
funeral, he was honoured with a beautiful
service lead by Rev Jim Stonier.
Lois, Toni-Anne, Geoff, James , Jeremy and
Kevin, As Alan stated at the beginning,
today is a celebration of “The Jeremy
King” era of all of our lives. While many
of us here today, have known Jeremy for
many many years, some of us only met
him a few short months ago. But it doesn’t
matter whether your acquaintance with
Jeremy has been short or long, I am sure
that you all have been touched by a man,
full of wisdom and passion for sport.
Jeremy was a man that I admired, not
only for his ability as a sporting coach, but
also his determined nature, his love of his
School and his compassion for all. He has
been a companion, a confident and a true
friend.
You may wonder how a person, such as
Jeremy, develops such passion in his life for
sport – well, I think the answer is simple,
before you try to teach others how to do it,
you do it yourself first.
While many of the students here today,
and even many of the others here today,
probably looked at Jeremy as “Mr TSS
Let me briefly explain:
Cast your thoughts back to 1950, yes that
is 60 years ago; long before the majority
here were even born, or perhaps even
thought of.
I picked 1950 because that is the year
that Jeremy Chilcott King entered TSS.
Jeremy was in Year 9 in 1950, a young
boarder in Delpratt House, who certainly
took advantage of every opportunity
that this School had to offer at the time.
Jeremy had always been fond of his sport,
but school sport presented to Jeremy, an
opportunity to prove to himself and to
others around him, just how good he really
was.
Originally, Jeremy was only to be at the
school for a few years, in fact, from 1950
until he finished his year 12 studies in 1953.
continued page 42
41
Jeremy King
However, as Headmasters have a talent
at doing, the Headmaster at the time, Mr
Cecil Pearce, convinced Jeremy that he
perhaps should repeat part of year 12, so
that he could row for the school again.
Jeremy and his parents reluctantly agreed
and so Jeremy repeated the first term of
year 12 and rowed in the TSS First 4, as it
was in those days, in the Head of the River
in 1954.
However, during his time TSS, and the
years that followed, Jeremy demonstrated
what a first class sportsman, he really was.
He represented the School in the sports
of Tennis, Cricket, Rugby, Athletics, Boxing
and, of course, Rowing.
4 years in a row, Jeremy played in the First
11 Cricket Team, 2 years in the First XV, 2
years in the First Tennis Team, 2 years in
the TSS Rep Squad at GPS and 2 years in
the First Four. One of his rugby coaches
stated in the Southportonian: “King, 5/8th;
Kicks and handles well; Cover defence
good; Slow off the mark”.
However, perhaps the highest distinction
that Jeremy achieved during his time at
TSS was the award of a Queensland Blue.
The award of a sporting Blue means that a
winner is considered to have attained the
top in Queensland in his or her sport.
A Blue takes the form of a badge and the
Blue of Blues receives a trophy in addition
to the badge. This is very similar to the
House Colours adopted here at TSS.
The award for Blues is chosen by
exhaustive ballot of Brisbane Telegraph
sporting writers and the award was first
made outside the University, in 1935.
In 1953, the winners of the Queensland
Blue, in their chosen sport, included
the great Roy Emerson for Tennis, who
attended BGS and of course, Jeremy King,
as Stroke of the TSS Open Four who, to
quote the Brisbane Telegraph, “unwound a
great sustained finishing burst to win the
GPS Head of the River.”
However, as I mentioned, Rowing was not
the only sport in which Jeremy excelled.
He was the 880 yards (half mile)
champion at TSS in 1952 and 53 and the
One Mile Champion in 1953, as well as
being a Champion Hurdler over 220 yards,
a member of the Boxing Team and was
fearsome on the rugby pitch. These facts
42
seem to fly in the face of the rugby coach’s
comments mentioned before, especially
when, in 1953, the rugby comment was
:”King, 5/8th Good Kick; Backs up well;
Defence Good; Improved in attack; scored
most points for the School”.
Many rest on the laurels of our
achievements in the sporting arena that
we won at School, but not Jeremy. After
leaving School, in 1954, Jeremy returned
the country to become a Jackaroo on
various properties in Qld and NSW until
1957 when he was appointed an Overseer
at Uardry, NSW until 1960 at which time,
he and his then new bride, Lois, returned
to the family sheep and cattle grazing
property, called Jabiru, near Aramac.
When Jeremy’s son Geoff started at TSS,
Jeremy and Lois set up a base on the Gold
Coast, although it was till several years
before they sold Jabiru.
While Jeremy began to establish a new
career on the Coast, commencing driving
cabs, purchasing a fibreglass furniture
manufacturing business and finally settling
into Real estate, he never lost his interest
in sport or his love for the country.
Jeremy was involved in Gold Coast Cricket
from 1970 to 1986, playing for the Coomera
/ Hope Island Cricket Club and winning
the Reserve Grade Premiership in 1975 and
1976 and then the A Grade Premiership in
1980 and 1986.
He continued to play tennis as well and he
and Lois would play evening tennis fixtures
at Queens Park. Jeremy commenced
coaching rowing at TSS in 1976 with the
U16 2nds, 34 consecutive seasons. His
passion has always been the U16 boys
winning 11 times with 10 2nds and 11
thirds with TSS. His belief was that if he
could “knock them into shape and teach
them to row sweep oar properly, whoever
actually coached the Open Crews, did not
have to worry about technique but could
concentrate in fitness and racing. This, he
believed, would be the most effective way
he could help the School win the Head of
the River.
one thing about the man: Jeremy was
determined and persistent. From my
involvement with him, he never lost those
qualities.
What many of you probably do not know,
is that Jeremy was also heavily involved in
community service, through his activities in
Rotary. Jeremy first joined the Southport
Rotary Club and then Nerang Rotary. A
foundation charter member of the Nerang
Rotary Club in 1975. He was instrumental in
starting a program with Mr Peter Burrows,
the then Principal of the GC Tafe and Ron
Burling, Architect whereby students from
the TAFE would construct affordable
housing.
Jeremy was President of Surfers Rotary
in 1982 and 1983. He was awarded the
highest award that one can achieve
through Rotary, the Paul Harris Fellowship
Award for Service in 2007 and Life
Membership in 2009.
Three weeks ago, he was spotted cooking
sausages at the Domain on behalf of
Rotary.
I have used the word passion several times
today when describing Jeremy. But Jeremy
was an excellent salesman, an effective
communicator, especially with teenagers
and he used his skill very well to achieve
his objectives.
Jeremy King was an effective coach, who
understood his students and was able to
convey his message, often through cheerful
expressions such as “slow down, it is not a
race and there’s no mars bar at the end”. I
am sure that he had forgotten more about
rowing than I think I ever knew. He was the
mentor of all of us, the “go to” man, when
we had a problem in sorting a crew or
correcting technical issues. He inspired not
only the boys, but the coaches and parents
as well and this past year he also weaved
his magic with me at St Hilda’s.
Jeremy also spent the last season coaching
the Open Four at St Hilda’s , with an
unblemished record – one season and one
Head of the River win.
We will all miss Jeremy – the iconic akubra
hat; the black coffees at the rowing
regattas and early on a Saturday morning
after coming off the water; the coffee
and toast each morning during the week
following training; the long rows to Carara
and the BBQ’s; and the esky with gold
nameplate “Property of Mr King” which
was short for “Boys, stay out of this!” .
All of the previous facts about Jeremy’s
sporting achievement, to me, emphasise
While we will miss him, we will remember
our friend, our mentor, our teacher.
Asso c i at i o n
J C King
Memorial
Rowing Fund
At the request of the King family and
in keeping with Jeremy’s dedication
and love of TSS Rowing, the OSA have
established the J C King Memorial
Rowing Fund for the purpose of
developing an endowment in
perpetuity for the purpose of purchasing
rowing equipment into the future.
To date the fund has received substantial
donations from Old Boys who have
contributed to the fund in memory of
Jeremy.
Sincere thanks to all those generous
families who have contributed to date.
The aim is to build the fund not only from
donations, but also from the contribution
from the JC King Annual Rowing
Dinner to assist with purchasing rowing
equipment in Jeremy’s memory.
Donations can be made to the J C King
Memorial Rowing Fund via the OSA
Office, Winchester Street, Southport
QLD 4215.
Note: These donations are not tax
deductible.
What if you could
make a permanent
difference to our
mission?
You can.
For more information about how
you can leave
a bequest
to the School
BUILDING
THE FUTURE
or the OSA, please contact the
TSS Foundation Office:
Phone:(07) 5531 9999 or
Email: [email protected]
BUILDING FOR THE FUTURE
“My parents made substantial
sacrifices to send me to TSS in
the early 1970s. I have always
appreciated their decision and I
know that I personally gained
so much from my time at the
School – both in the classroom and
away from it. I believe that it is
particularly important to give back
to the School and its future students
in a personal manner; beyond the
F O Rfees
TH
E FbyUmy
T Uparents
R E at the time.
paid
I hope that the bequest to TSS in
my Will can help other young men
get the experience of a fine, allround education to prepare them for
a productive, honourable future and
a fine life.”
I N V E S T I N G I N E D U C AT I O N
Dr Leighton Cochran
(Walker 1972-75)
INVESTING IN THE FUTURE
MAKE A REAL DIFFERENCE
43
Bank Bendigo and
the Southport School
Community benefits
A message from Bruce Wright, President
Old Southportonians’ Association members
What’s stopping U?
U can make a difference
Stewart Silver King & Burns and the Bundall
branch of Bendigo Bank are committed to
supporting the community in whatever way
possible.
This really is banking with a difference through a community
dividend initiative.
As local partners they have connected with
the Old Southportonians Association (OSA)
and are offering OSA members the chance to
contribute to The Southport School Success
– simply by doing your banking with them.
I’d like to take this opportunity to invite you
to consider Bendigo Bank Bundall branch for
all your financial and banking needs.
The community dividend is calculated as a percentage of your
community’s total banking business (generally 0.15% p.a.) so the
more banking you do the more your dividend grows.
In fact, for any banking business you do with Bendigo Bank, the OSA
community receives a financial windfall, which can be used for any
purpose the OSA council committee chooses.
To find out more about this community dividend initiative and benefits
for OSA members, phone Customer Relationship Manager Patricia
Plant on 5570 2558 or call in and see Patricia and her friendly staff
at 116-118 Bundall Road, to discuss your banking needs.
OSA Members Benefits
This offer provides the following benefits to OSA Members:
Bendigo Home Loan & Bendigo Home Equity Loan
• Application Fee - Nil
• Valuation Fee - Nil
• Loan Documentation Fee - Nil
• Settlement Fee - $80.00
• 0.50% discount on our standard variable interest rate when you have three products with the Bendigo Bank
• Available for Residential and Residential Investment purposes
* All loans subject to the bank’s normal lending criteria. Terms, conditions, fees and charges apply. Offer only valid on new and transferred home loans taken out with
Bundall branch. All other additional legal, valuation or government charges will be payable by the customer, including any costs associated with additional securities,
documents or valuations. Bendigo and Adelaide Bank Limited ABN 11 068 049 178. AFSL 237879. (S31710) (10/10)
Bundall branch
www.bendigobank.com.au

School News Vale Jeremy King

Transkrypt

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