LET US KEEP PURSUING BETTER THINGS
BRIGHTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL COMMUNITY JOURNAL
MELIORA SEQUAMUR SUMMER 2015/16
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BACK TO BACK PREMIERS
EDITOR AND FEATURE WRITER Natalie van Wetering vanweteringn@ brightongrammar.vic.edu.au
KEY CONTRIBUTORS Andrew Biggin Peter Furey Peter Toms
DESIGN AND PRODUCTION Ross Donnan www.rossdonnan.com
PHOTOGRAPHY Andrew Biggin Mark Chew James Grant Dr Andrew Lee
PROOFING Rebecca Cavalot www.cavalotcopy.com
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USING DATA TO ENHANCE STUDENT OUTCOMES
PRINTER Adams Print PRINT REGISTRATION Registered by Australia Post: 100001167
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STUDENT ACHIEVEMENT
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STUDENT WELLBEING
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BGS IN THE COMMUNITY
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OLD BOY NEWS
It was a stellar year for sport! Our sporting success has gone from strength to strength, with 2015 rating as one of our best ever in the APS competition. Punching above our weight in terms of being a smaller school than most of the APS competitors, the success of our sports teams has been put down to the great ‘team’ culture nurtured across the School in recent years.
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The BGS 1st XVIII wins backto-back footy premierships, streaming the deciding game live around the world – a first in the history of the School. BGS finished second in Diving and Soccer. BGS finishes third in two of the ‘big’ events this year - Rowing at the Head of the River Final and at the Athletics.
On top of that, many boys had individual sports achievements at a state, national and international level (some of which are detailed under Student Achievements) and Old Boy Dylan Alcott (2008) won the US Tennis Open Wheel Chair Quad Singles event.
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HIGH PERFORMANCE LEARNING COMMUNITY
BGS sprints to top 3! In what was a stand-out performance, the BGS Athletics squad achieved third place at the APS Athletics Final competition at Lakeside Stadium in October, coming in behind St Kevin’s and Xavier. After qualifying earlier in the week with 16 out of 23 ‘A’ or Division 1 finals, the squad was looking good. Led by Athletics captain Andrew McGrath (Year 11) and vice captains Harry Hill and Zach Donald (both Year 12), the BGS team consistently held its own in both track and field events. Standout performances included: • Aaron Leferink’s (Year 8) domination of the U15 age group winning the 100m Hurdles, 100m, 200m and sharing first place with Oscar Lewis, Will Lam and Harry Catt in the 4X100m relay. • Tristan Scheirs (Year 9) won the U16 Triple Jump and came second in the U16 Long Jump. • Andrew McGrath won the Open 110m Hurdles and Open Long Jump. • Quintin Montanaro’s U17 1500m win will be remembered for his brilliant tactical run, holding off his fast finishing opponents. BGS has a bright future in Athletics, especially with a number of talented boys coming through the U13 and U14 age groups.
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Other notable performances Felix Flockart 3rd place – U14 High Jump Andy McGrath As well as the wins outlined opposite, Andrew came 3rd in the Open High Jump and 3rd in the Open 4X100m Seb Williams 3rd place – U17 110m Hurdles Noah McGrath 2nd place – U15 High Jump Jack Saunders 2nd place – U14 800m Evan Evans 2nd place – Open Triple Jump
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Chris Valcanis 1st place – U14 Long Jump 3rd place – U14 4X100m Quintin Montanaro 1st place – U17 1500m Willl Lam 1st place – U15 4X100m 3rd place – U15 4X400m Oscar Lewis 1st place – U15 4X100m 2nd place – U15 Triple Jump 11.56m 3rd place – U15 4X400m Harry Catt 1st place – U15 4X100m 3rd place – U15 4X400m Harry Hill, Matt Evans and Fraser Gregson 3rd place – Open 4X100m 01 02 03 04
Aaron Leferink Tristan Scheirs Andy McGrath Brighton Grammar 2015 Athletics team
Will Murray, Joel Tyler, and Hamish Gee 3rd place – U14 4X100m
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HIGH PERFORMANCE LEARNING COMMUNITY
Back-to-back premiers in football!
In 2014 there was great excitement around the School when we won the APS Football premiership for the first time since 1992 and the third time since joining the competition in the 1950s. Can you imagine then, the level of excitement and disbelief when in 2015, the 1st XIII fronted up to play Geelong Grammar on the Crowther to once again battle for the premiership and Adamson Cup? Even though this game was actually two rounds before the end of the season, BGS went on to win, achieving the extraordinary feat of backto-back premierships.
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What is particularly interesting, is that many of the players from the 2014 team had been in Year 12 and so were no longer part of the team; the 2015 team was in fact almost a new squad of players. To coach two teams in consecutive seasons to win such a competitive competition is quite amazing and has been put down to the brilliant coaching of Robert Shaw and his team, along with the footy culture developed by all the coaches right through from Year 5. Robert instils in the boys the old adage ‘we are not a team of champions but a champion team’. Each boy is challenged with the responsibility of playing his part for the good of the team while remaining singularly focused on the ultimate prize.
Live stream of the game went global Another exciting addition to the 2015 final was the ability for Old Boys and other members of the BGS community to view the game live via the internet, including a sneak peek into the players’ room after the game, an initiative organised, promoted and funded by the Dalziel Club and Old Brighton Grammarian Society. The live stream was watched in 25 countries around the world. Alumni Relations Manager, Andrew Biggin, received a mountain of emails from happy Old Boys world-wide. There was 20,500 minutes of viewing time from over 4200 views. SUMMER 2015/16 7
A culture of belonging
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In early December the new Year 9s were welcomed to the Senior School with the new Chantology ritual, first formalised by the Class of 2015 earlier in the year. On the surface, chantology is about the culture of BGS – chanting, belonging and welcoming. However, it is also actually ‘evidence informed’. Educational research evidence around transition shows that ‘regression’ is a possible outcome when moving between schools. The single biggest factor in having a positive transition is in making a friend within the first week or so. The welcome to Year 9s does exactly that! A note from a parent received after her son experienced the chantology. “I just wanted to congratulate and thank all those involved in yesterday’s welcome of the new Year 9 boys. My son came home thrilled to be moving into the Senior School, overwhelmed with how welcome they were made to feel and with a real sense of moving forward and into the heart of BGS. He recalled in great detail, all the events that took place and it was a great joy to hear the passion in his voice and the excitement for the coming years.”
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HIGH PERFORMANCE LEARNING COMMUNITY
A Celebration of Music The Melbourne Recital Centre was packed to the rafters for A Celebration of Music – a whole-School concert extravaganza. On 15 September the BGS Music Department presented a spectacular concert involving boys from the Junior, Middle and Senior Schools. A diverse and entertaining program was presented, with the finale involving over 170 boys performing the Triumphal Scene from Giuseppe Verdi’sAida. Delivering such a quality concert is only possible after sustained work and preparation over many months – and for this we applaud the boys and staff. Seating planned to be used for student seating had to be released to the public in the last couple of weeks due to the original allocation being sold out, resulting in a genuine full house! Congratulations to the following soloists for their extraordinary and memorable performances: Phillip Guo, Daniel Lee, Jerry Lee and Ned Wright-Smith.
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INNOVATION AND LEARNING
Using data to enhance the learning outcomes of students Cameron Taylor joined Brighton Grammar six years ago in a dual role teaching IT related subjects and as eLearning Coordinator in the secondary years. Cameron is an amazing asset as a ‘big thinker’, an innovator, a problem solver.
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Cameron Taylor, Coordinator e-Learning, Head of Information Technology
Cam’s innovation brings data to one convenient place, and makes it meaningful and easy to interpret.
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His latest, and most significant contribution, is around the effective use of data to enhance the learning outcomes of students. For a long time, education thought leaders have stated that a key factor for effective teaching is to know your student. Indeed, this is also key focus in the AITSL standards. But to ‘know’ your student is much more than knowing his name, the footy team he barracks for and how well he does in your subject. Cameron has created a database and reporting mechanism that builds a comprehensive student profile by integrating the following data: • Internal assessment data for each subject – test results, homework completion and results, and even information such as lateness and absenteeism and how this might be a contributing factor to student performance. • External data including the results from NAPLAN over multiple years, Morrisby testing, PAT, GAT and Allwell. • Past and current subjects being studied and relevant teacher contact emails. Teachers have always been able to access data but it took effort, was time consuming and difficult to draw together in a meaningful way. Cam’s innovation not only brings data to one convenient place, he has also colour coded the data so it is meaningful and easy to interpret – no matter how good you are at understanding stats or percentiles.
So what difference does having this data, in this form, make? • This information is available to all students, staff, senior staff and parents making everyone more accountable. There is absolute transparency – what work is set, the expectations, what is completed, when it is corrected and so on. • Rather than just an end of semester result, there are details about student strength areas and areas needing attention – for instance, he may complete everything and do well in course work but struggle with exam technique. • The data informs the student and house tutor in one-to-one coaching where semester goal setting occurs. Striving for personal best is an important part of the culture and giving the boys a sound foundation to work from. • Students take external testing more seriously because they can see it
actually matters and is recorded. • Subject selection for the next year is influenced by accurate information. • Moving from one year to the next, or from one teacher to the next, is seamless because the new teachers have all the information of student performance to date at their fingertips. Cameron’s leadership is quite simply enhancing the likelihood of each boy to reach or exceed his potential. Cameron saw a need and started working on how to make it better. He transformed thinking around data – it is no longer data for data’s sake, but it has become the basis of improving performance. As far as we are aware, Cameron’s innovation is a first in the school sector and we hope his innovation and leadership will be shared across other schools in the future.
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INNOVATION AND LEARNING
Boys join staff at teacher conference At BGS we are committed to continuing to explore ‘best practice’ in teaching boys. One recent innovative and unusual step involved two Year 5 boys, Jonathan Pascuzzi and Henry Mitrevski joining a number of staff at a Technology Learning Conference focused on the use of iPads in primary school classrooms. The conference had both student and teacher-led presentations, providing numerous opportunities for collaboration, networking, and learning. Another successful initiative introduced in Term 4 where the students took the role of ‘teacher’ was the ‘Techie Brekkie’ program. Boys ran professional learning sessions over a casual breakfast for teachers, on guiding them through using specific apps and computer programs to help teachers improve their teaching and use of technology in the classroom.
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“ Competitive spelling bees have become fashionable again, perhaps bolstered by the popularity of the 2015 TV show the Great Australian Spelling Bee. Three of our boys got into the action at one of the Spellmasters Australia spelling bee competitions in October, competing against 50 other young spellers from all around the country. James Hepples explained “My words were soldier, preparation, embarrass and
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For some, the challenge of spelling is fun!
“I was tricked when I was asked to spell ‘existence’. It was fun.”
then I was tricked when I was asked to spell ‘existence’. It was fun.” Leon Haralambakis added “It was a bit nerve-wracking because there were 50 spellers in the competition. It was similar to the Great Australian Spelling Bee. They got me on ‘similar’!” Finally Lachlan Molloy shared “We had to spell into the microphone. My words were, rifle, supreme and dietary – I forgot the ‘a’! It was a great experience.” SUMMER 2015/16 15
INNOVATION AND LEARNING
BGS IN THE MEDIA
Innovation at BGS was featured in the Age newspaper on the 24 September in an article by Henrietta Cook about adapting coaching techniques from sport to improve academic outcomes. We have reproduced the article for your interest.
Sports coaching techniques help VCE students kick goals A teacher is cheering from the sidelines as the team gears up for a tough final quarter. The boys have been training hard all year and have their eyes set on the grand final. Except the grand final is really an English exam, and footballs and guernseys have been replaced with books and blazers. Brighton Grammar has adapted coaching techniques from the AFL and other sports to improve students’ VCE performance. As part of the new initiative, sporting lingo has been incorporated into the curriculum and it is not uncommon to hear students talking about the rules of the game, goals and opponents. Small ‘teams’ of BGS boys have been studying together and sharing tips ahead of VCE exams, which start on October 5. 16
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And the results appear to be paying off. The School’s research arm evaluated a pilot of the program last year and found it had a noticeable impact on ATAR scores. Study scores for subjects included in the program were an average 0.85 points higher than they were for subjects not included in the program. The maximum study score is 50, and the mean study score is 30, so this represents a significant gain. Brighton Grammar Senior School head Ray Swann created the program in the hope of transferring his students’ love of sport and ‘desire to win’ to the VCE. He also wanted to make the VCE less of a ‘solo endeavour’. “When you are separated and alone, it can be quite daunting and pressure builds up,” said Mr Swann.
“By working in teams the participants felt better about their studies and they felt less stressed and less anxious because they had each other.” The year is divided into ‘phases’ and students sit through short lectures that help them improve the way they study. “At the end of the year
you are doing a lot more short bursts of energy,” Mr Swann said.
up early and heading off to school to study with his team.
“There are days you are building your aerobic capacity, you’re learning the rules of the game, familiarising yourself with the territory.”
“There’s an expectation that you get up in the morning and you can’t let your team down,” he said. “If I didn’t have people who expected me to be there then I wouldn’t necessarily be there to do work.”
Although it is school holidays, Year 12 student Michael Riordan has been waking
The 18-year-old is a big
sports fan and plays football and cricket. However, he never imagined that many of the skills he picked up from playing in team sports could be transferred to the VCE. “Previously I didn’t think of the VCE as a team pursuit. The English exam is going to be a weird grand final, because there’s another grand final after it and then another – my other exams.” SUMMER 2015/16 17
INNOVATION AND LEARNING
Boys develop innovative and useful IT solution for BGS A key component of the VCE Unit 1&2 Information Technology course requires boys to develop a solution for a ‘real life’ business problem. Three mates, Ben Tegoni, Nick Parsons and Max Bowyer, all in Year 10, who have been friends since their days at Brighton Primary School, worked together to build a timetable widget for BGS. So what does that mean? Brighton Grammar needed a functional online timetable the boys could use with ease, tailored to their particular circumstances, that would always be ‘live’ and current, no matter what changes the School might make. It had to have one day, one week and fortnightly cycle view. Such a timetable, accessible anytime, from anywhere, including from your smart phone, would mark the end of the printed timetable (unless of course the individual student wants to print his own). The online timetable would ensure everyone was in the right place at the right time with the right teacher! But to build what may seem a simple solution took eight weeks (including some holiday time) of concentrated work, covering offsuch things as: 18
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• getting a detailed brief including the scope of the project • understanding the software requirements • designing the template • learning a new coding language and then writing the code • on-site testing, which of course had to occur after hours • meeting the project deadline! The team worked well under the guidance of Cam Taylor, Head of eLearning, and Thivi Athipar, BGS Database Administrator & Developer, to deliver a glitch-free timetable in time for the promotions period. And the response from the other boys and staff was fantastic. “Lots of people have said congratulations; other have said it’s cool and easy to read,” explained Ben. When asked what were some of the lessons learned along the way Nick stated “It was good working on a collaborative project. Everyone had different roles, which allowed us to focus on different things” “Yes, other people can pick up on things you might miss,” Max added. And next year’s challenge in Unit 3&4 – “Another real-life project” Well done boys on leaving such a positive and valued legacy to BGS.
F1 in School After a visit to the Grand Prix earlier in the year, several Year 8 boys spent three days at the School of Engineering, Deakin University near Geelong competing in the F1 in Schools State Finals in November. F1 in Schools inspires students to collaborate with industry partners within the context of their projects to learn about engineering principles such as physics, aerodynamics, design, manufacture, leadership/teamwork, and project management, and then to apply them in a practical, imaginative, competitive and exciting way. Globally over nine million students compete from 47 countries with Australia being the most successful country ever with a total of four world titles. Victoria is also the strongest state in the country so we were up against the best in the world. We had the following three teams entered in our first year in the event: Our teams were: • Adrenaline Racing – Jeremy Annal, Daniel Ward, Lionel Wang • Illumin-8 – Curtis Wilson, Dennis Gu, Liam O’Kaine, Sam Haddon • Team Aus-Racing – Ryan Hartshorne, Tom Bartels, Martin Kulesza, Devon Hendrie, Patrick Liddle. BGS staff supporting the teams: Chris Tze, Roger Nink and Jamie Watson. Each team formed a fully operational F1 team including team name, positions of responsibility, three scale model cars, design and testing, engineering reports, marketing and sponsorship, uniform design and production, website, promotional merchandise and a comprehensive portfolio. They spent well over 100 hours in preparation for the final. Team Aus-Racing performed best and received one of two encouragement
Jeremy Annal and his team listen intently to expert advice on the nose cone design for his own F1 car design
F1 final
Tom Bartels in action during the elimination heats at the F1 in Schools State Finals
Curtis Wilson, Liam O’Kanie, Samm Haddon and Dennis Gu from Illumin-8
awards given to teams new to the event. Their booth display, sponsors, team uniforms, portfolio, verbal presentation and engineering reports were excellent. Tom Bartels also recorded the third fastest reaction time in the state during the elimination racing. Jeremy Annal was our in-house Auotodesk CAD guru helping with the car design for two teams. We plan to be back again next year striving for a place in the national finals! SUMMER 2015/16 19
Boys exhibiting in local art show Six boys from the 2015 Year 12 Art classes have been selected to show work at the Target: Bayside Art & Design Graduate Exhibition. Target celebrates the skill and diversity of Bayside’s talented 2015 VCE and IB art, design, textile and media graduates. The exhibition is open to the public and is at The Gallery@ Bayside Arts and Cultural Centre from 13 January until 21 February 2016. The Official Opening will be conducted by the Mayor of Bayside, Cr James Long. Congratulations to Elias Kauiers, Jack Summers, Ben Prosser, Luca Bade, Jack Kirby and Tom Noske on having their work selected. The other schools participating in the exhibition are Firbank, Sandringham Secondary College, St Leonard’s and Star of the Sea.
Jack Kirby
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Jack Summers
Tom Noske
Ben Prosser
Luca Bade Elias Kauiers
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ENABLEMENT
‘Smaller’ projects on the go
King’s gift to lead others After growing up in the Wimmera on a sheep and cattle stud and farming himself for 20 years, John King realised he wasn’t happy to be ‘just’ a farmer.
There have been a number of smaller capital works projects underway over the summer break with a couple more significant projects to start soon. The Main Reception area in the Senior School is having a long overdue makeover which we hope will not only give a better first impression, but also make the waiting area for guests to BGS more comfortable. Building workers have been busy in the Junior School creating the new STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) Centre, which is located in the Wilson House building. We are delighted the very popular and highly regarded Science and Technology program taught by Bill Gibney will finally have a purpose-built home base. This new space will be ready for use before the end of Term 1. One ‘eye-sore’ of the School will be eradicated with the rendering of the brick work of the Senior School at the corner of Outer Crescent and St Andrews Street. There is also landscape work underway to beautify and ‘soften’ the Quad. Cricketers will be please to learn the centre wicket of the Crowther Oval has been renewed. Late last year diggers moved in to remove more than forty seasons of Merri Creek soil and refreshed the centre wicket area with new soil. The new wickets will be ready for Term 1 APS matches. The plans for the new Wellbeing Centre, which will be located in the Girrawheen Chapel on the Middle School campus, have gone to tender and it is expected that the work will begin soon and the work will be completed by the end of the first semester. 22 SUMMER 2015/16
Choosing Brighton as their new home seemed an obvious choice given his daughter Julie had attended St Leonards, his son David had attended Haileybury and his wife Elaine’s parents were in the area. In the 40 years since leaving Warracknabeal, John has not only become a stalwart of the Brighton community, but he has built a great business in the self-storage industry. In recent years John and his family have also increased their philanthropic activity with the establishment of The King Foundation, offering significant support to many areas, but particularly the young and the old. “We believe in giving people a chance,” explained John. “The way to develop a society is to not let young people slip through the cracks; especially those without control of their circumstances.” It was the support of such young people that led John and The King Foundation to support the BGS Wellness Centre. Despite having no direct connection with the School, John heard about the Centre and the vision for the wellbeing programs
John King, generous benefactor of Brighton Grammar.
for the BGS boys, their parents and the wider community though the Brighton Rotary Club where the Headmaster, Ross Featherston, had been invited to speak. John was inspired by our vision for wellness and made a significant donation to the project. The story of success behind this entrepreneur is an interesting one. When first arriving in Melbourne he wasn’t sure what to do but in the ensuing years built a caravan park in Chelsea Heights and a sports and conference centre complex with a motel in Wantirna, aptly named King Village. It was when holidaying in the USA in the late 80s/early 90s that John came across the concept of self storage. This was a time of very high interest rates but John took the gamble opening his
first storage centre in Highett (Your Self Storage), which later became part of the King Self Storage Group with additional sites in Dandenong, Mulgrave, Thomastown and Glen Waverley. Both of John’s children, David and Julie (a former HR executive for major corporates), are now working in the business. David has managed the Highett site for more than 20 years and Julie manages the day-to-day affairs of the group. At 86, John concedes he has finally ‘scaled down a bit’ but still visits each site each week. When John talks, it is obvious just how much he enjoys working so closely with his daughter. John has been a very active Rotarian for 50 years, holding international roles including Membership and Extension Chair for Asian Pacific for three years. SUMMER 2015/16 23
ENABLEMENT
A new sports pavilion for BGS – it’s a game changer
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With the Wellbeing Centre fully funded through philanthropy our focus has quickly moved to our next project – the redevelopment of Annandale. This long overdue facility is so much more than just change rooms. Of course, well-equipped change rooms are important, in fact we will double the number of change rooms in the new facility. But it will also incorporate teaching and learning space for VCE Heath and PE, a state-of-the-art strength and conditioning centre, a cardio room, an adaptable function centre, a spectator’s gallery and a canteen for that welcome cup
of coffee while parents watch their boys play Saturday sport. In 2016 the focus is to reach out into our community seeking your support for this game-changing facility. If we receive your support, we plan to start building by the end of this year. A facility such as this supporting our vision to teach our boys to be successful men, both on and off the field, is vital, but will only happen in partnership with our community. If you would like more information about the new Annandale, please contact John Phillips on 03 8591 2280 or email jphillips@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au
Architect’s impression of the proposed sports pavilion. SUMMER 2015/16 25
$1.9m ENABLEMENT
A new record of giving
In 2015 our community donated over $1.8M to the School – a record amount reflecting the strong culture of giving that continues to develop at BGS. This support is truly wonderful and makes a significant difference to what we are able to achieve at BGS. The focus of fundraising in 2016 is the new sports pavilion, scholarships that have the potential to transform lives and grow the BGS endowment fund.
Scholarship established in honour of Connor Due to the generosity of an anonymous donor, a past parent of the School, we are delighted to announce that a new scholarship in memory of Connor Dawes has recently been established. Connor was a member of the Class of 2012 who died in April 2013 after an 18-month battle against a brain tumour. The scholarship will be awarded to a boy who is academically very capable, who demonstrates he will participate fully in all aspects of School life and who otherwise would not have the financial capacity to attend BGS. The details for this, and all the BGS scholarships can be found on the Brighton Grammar Website www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au
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m Have you noticed we have a new website? We are excited to be starting the new year with the launch of our new website. We have designed the website with you in mind! It’s easy to use on any device and has lots of photos and short articles on the issues that matter to you the most. The news and events area will be ever changing to keep you up to date with what’s happening, no matter if you are a current student or parent, or an Old Boy who finished school years ago!
Old Boys are catered for too with a whole new area just about Old Boy events, news and how to get involved. Why not take a minute and have a look around? Don’t forget, we love your stories and celebrating your achievements. If you have some news you think might be of interest to the community, email Natalie van Wetering on nvanwetering@ brightongrammar.vic.edu.au
Join the Conversation facebook.com/BrightonGrammarSchool - Official twitter.com/BrightonGrammar Search: Brighton Grammar School SUMMER 2015/16 27
HIGH PERFORMING LEARNING COMMUNITY
Mulan Jr Disney’s animated film came to life on the stage in this year’s Year 6 combined production with Firbank Grammar, Mulan Jr. Mulan Jr is a heart-warming celebration of culture, honour, which brings ancient China to life with a modern sensibility and great songs. It was easy to forget the performers were only 11 and 12 years old as we enjoyed the rich tapestry of singing, choreography, stage movement, costumes and sets. Congratulations to all. “Mulan taught me to enjoy the moment and to give my best. It was so rewarding to be out on stage and perform confidently. It was really enjoyable to get involved with theatre the way we did,” wrote Ben H after the production.
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In his reflection Andrew wrote, “I think the Mulan musical developed my character because of the pressure that was put on us to deliver a great performance”.
Peter Pan
October saw the BGS and Firbank Middle School production of Peter Pan – a simply outstanding night of entertainment. The three packed houses were seamlessly transferred to Neverland through the magic of colourful costumes, talented cast, quality music, choreography, sets and masterful direction. Congratulations to Director Myles Collins, Head of Drama at BGS, the very large cast, and stage crew, musicians and production staff. SUMMER 2015/16 29
5 Melville got their 15 minutes of fame! Top maths class in the world!
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One day last term 5 Melville set out to become the number 1 Mathletics class in the world. After an epic battle with classes from around the globe, in particular, a determined class from Canada, this was achieved. Jorge Hourdis explained “We were only meant to do Mathletics for 30 minutes but we got carried away and two hours later our efforts were rewarded. It was one of the best days of school in ages.” (Mathletics is an online mathematics learning tool used by 10,000 schools and over 3.5 million students).
Junior athletes competing at a state and national level Our Year 4 to Year 6 athletes who competed in the State Athletics Finals with great success. Congratulations to Alex Holman who won silver in the final of the U11 80m Hurdles; Cameron Hathway and Alex Holman who competed in individual events; our U/10 4x100m Relay team – Ethan Petris, Matthew Cruse, Justin Krok, Oliver Goodger and Sam Heron (Reserve) who achieved bronze; and the U11 4 x 100m Relay team, Alex Holman, Zach Bowen, Adam Larkan, James Bourke and Ben Edmondson (Reserve) who finished a very close second. Brothers Aaron (Year 4) and Joshua (Year 6) Hudghton both competed in the Australian Cross Country Championships in August at the Moonee Valley Racecourse. Justin Krok (Year 4) joined the brothers to compete in the State Cross Country championship event. Owen Dials (Year 6) and Andrew Penca (Year 6) were both selected to represent Victoria in the Under 13 Ice Hockey team to play at the National Ginsberg Tournament in Newcastle in August.
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Individual student achievements
So many of our boys are achieving amazing things outside the School. These are just a few...
Dan conquers the Channel In August 2015, our super swimmer, 16 year old Dan Canta, became the youngest Australian male to ever swim the English Channel. Dan told 774 ABC Melbourne that dodging jellyfish was the biggest ‘challenge’ he faced during his record-breaking effort. Dan swam from Dover to Calais in 14.5 hours. “I hate jellyfish but I just toughed it out,” he said. He was lucky to complete the 60-kilometre swim without getting stung. Dan also said it was an ‘enjoyable’ swim but that he faced choppy waters and strong tides as he approached the French coast. “The Channel is something that challenges you, and if you have any issues in your mental or physical state it will definitely bring that out,” he said. “If you’re not strong enough it will chew you up and spit you out.” Dan said he trained for two years and took a “leap of faith” on the day. “The thing I did, up until the swim and through the swim, was [to] never question myself,” he said. 32 SUMMER 2015/16
Boys win silver at the Maths Olympics In August, eleven of our best Year 11 mathematicians went to Melbourne University to compete in the School Maths Olympics. In an hour-long competition, our students strived against the best in the state to answer up to 25 questions of varying difficulty. While both teams did well, one of the teams finished in second place – a stellar effort! Congratulations to the prizewinning team of Jack Coleman, Raymond Li, Phillip Guo, Kai-Yee Hall and Ian Tongs. These boys received $30 book vouchers and a pizza lunch for their efforts, as well as an invitation to compete in the open-entry Maths Olympics later in the year.
Harry Potter wins Weary Dunlop Award
Congratulations to Harry Potter (Year 12, 2015) who was awarded the 2015 Young Achiever Award and a $14,000 Melbourne Uni scholarship at the Weary Dunlop Rugby Luncheon, at the Crown Palladium in November. This highly prestigious award that honours the spirit of Sir Edward ‘Weary’ Dunlop goes to an outstanding rugby player who epitomises the qualities of its namesake – hard work, leadership skills and academic excellence.
Très Bien! Each year boys compete in the French language competition “Berthe Mouchette” run by the Alliance Française de Melbourne. This year we had two winners in the native French speaker category: Hugo Moureau who won the Year 10 prize Prix Hors-Categorie, and Yann Bourde who won the Year 11 prize – Prix Hors-Categorie. Zach Warren was in the final for Year 10 (for students learning French as a second language) and Honore Moriceau was in the final for the Year 11 native French category. SUMMER 2015/16 33
INDIVIDUAL STUDENT ACHIEVEMENTS
Sailing
Ben Durkin (Year 10 ) was recently accepted into the esteemed Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholarship program at The University of Melbourne. As a Kwong Lee Dow Young Scholar, Ben will enjoy many benefits including access to the University of Melbourne’s library and reference items, participating in a range of events and activities exclusively organised for the Young Scholars, and a greater chance of gaining a place at the University of Melbourne after Year 12 (depending on his ATAR). Jack Liu (Year 9) will once again be going to the Australian Mathematics Olympic Competition School of Excellence summer camp at Newman College, University of Melbourne, in an effort to qualify for the Australian Mathematics Olympic team. 34 SUMMER 2015/16
In January 2016, Stephen Suits, now Year 9, sailing for the Royal Brighton Yacht Club, won the 87th Stonehaven Cup, the annual interstate competition for the 12ft Cadet class.
HOWZAT! Five BGS boys (two of whom are starting here next week) played together in an Under 12 cricket representative carnival run by Vic Metro Cricket Union. The team ended up winning the competition and the Josh Browne Shield. The boys pictured left to right are Noah Hartman (Year 6), Sam Flockhart (Year 7), Lachlan Zissis (Year 7), Brendan Reddell (Year 7), and Ben Edmondson (Year 6). Pretty amazing that in a representative team of 12, five are our boys! Well done and congratulations boys!
Oliver Barden (Year 10 ) was selected to tour with the Under 16 Victorian Schools Rugby Union to the UK and Europe – in the role of Captain no less!. He travelled through Northern Ireland, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, England, France and Belgium during the summer break. They played eight games over the four weeks: one in each country and two in England. The experience gained will be of great benefit to him and the School and we look forward to seeing him in a BGS rugby jersey next season. Nathan Murphy (Year 10) was one of 13 picked in the Under 16 Australian cricket team in June after playing for Victoria in the national Under 15 carnival. He played in a carnival during the September holidays in Brisbane, playing eight games in 12 days against Under 17 state sides, finishing in third place, which was a good effort given they were an underage side. In November he played in a series of one day and 20:20 matches against the Pakistan Under 16 national side in Sydney.
Luca and Luka soaring high in diving Two BGS boys are making their mark in Australian diving, both representing Victoria successfully at the Pacific School Games in Adelaide in November. Luka Simic (Year 5) won silver in the U11 1 metre spring board event behind New Zealand, making him the Australian champion. Luca Jarvis (Year 7) executed his ‘best ever’ diving to win bronze in the boys aged 15/16 Platform Diving. We look forward to continuing to watch the boys in the future.
AUSTRALIAN Skiing champ Will Middlemiss (Year 9) won the U16 Classic Sprint at the Australian XC (cross country) Ski Championships in August (after winning every heat)! He also won the time trial for the 800m sprint at the Falls Creek based event. Life Saving Charlie Schwerdt, Year 7 won three gold medals and one silver medal at the September LSV State Life Saving Championships, breaking three state records in the process.
Lucas competes at the Soccer World Cup As part of the next generation of Socceroos, the Joeys, Lucas Derrick (Year 11) played for Australia in Chile at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup in October. He was part of a 21-player squad, who played football superpowers Germany, Argentina, and Mexico. Just like the Official World Cup, the U-17 competition is played every four years and pits the best of the best against each other to determine the greatest soccer team in the world. It was very exciting for Lucas and all of his supporters when he scored a goal in in the Lafarge Foot Avenir youth tournament at the 64th minute, putting Australia ahead. Unfortunately the Americans equalised with two minutes of regulation time left to earn USA a point.
World Cycling champ! James Tickner (Year 12) won gold in the Team Pursuit at the 2015 Junior (Under 19) World Cycling Championships held in August in Astana, Kazakhstan.
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Aaron Leferink was nominated by the Moorabbin and Bayside Leader Newspapers for the 2015 Leader Sports Star Awards due to his achievements in various State and National Athletics Events. His achievements are certainly amazing, and include being State and National U15 100m Hurdles champion and winning multiple medals in the U14 and U15 100m and 200m sprints.
ATHLETICS
Victorian All Schools Knockout Championships A team of five BGS boys Aaron Leferink, Oscar Lewis, Tom Banfield, Louie Butler and Harry Mathews faced Victoria’s best athletes striving to be the best school in the state at the Athletics Victoria All Schools Knockout Championships in September. They managed to finish an impressive second, qualifying for the Nationals.
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Jackson (Jack) Saunders (Year 8) came third in Australia for the 800m U14 All Schools Nationals with an amazing time and PB of 2.04.42 in a very close and fast race! This is particularly notable considering this time last year Jack was in a wheelchair and had 4th term off school recovering from a back injury.
IDESIGN IN THE COMMUNITY
Harrison inspires architect firm
Quiksilver Award for iDesign Congratulations to Caspar Tremlett (Year 8) who was the winner of the Quiksilver Award for iDesign this year. Caspar recently sent a copy of his beautiful photography book to Quiksilver to say thank you and they were so impressed with the quality of the book that they have put it on display in the Executive Lounge at their Headquarters in Torquay. There is a good chance one of the sponsored pro surfers, including the likes of Kelly Slater, will flick through the pages of Caspar’s book at some point in the future. The quality and style of Caspar’s photographs is what caught the judges eye and having his book on display in such a prominent space is fantastic.
Following the iDesign presentation night Harrison Preston (Year 8) was invited to present to all the staff of architect firm ClarkeHopkinsClarke at their monthly professional development meeting. Harrison presented on his iDesign project, which was an amazing to scale replica LEGO construction of the new Middle School building originally designed by ClarkeHopkinsClarke. After his presentation Harrison answered a raft of questions from the team. Director and leading education architect Wayne Stephens commented on Harrison’s poise, confidence and presentation style saying, “I think some of our graduates could learn a lot from Harrison.”
SUMMER 2015/16 37
WELLBEING
Resilience (or bungy-jumping through life) While life presents many opportunities for achievement, success and happiness, the reality is that occasionally we face disappointment. It might be a poor result on a test or report, missing out on getting into a sporting team or even a negative social interaction. You may even be a Richmond supporter like me and be confronted with ongoing disappointment! One of the most important tasks we have as parents and teachers is to instil resilience in our boys. This term in our PROSPER classes we have been exploring resilience and trying to identify both internal and external resources that we can draw on in times of adversity. The Year 7 boys were shown a video of the world’s highest bungy jump to imprint the notion of ‘bouncing back’ when challenges and setbacks arise. We would all love to inoculate our children against adversity and shield them from hurt, but they need to be able to independently deal with the curve balls that life throws. Some boys are naturally more resilient than others, but the good thing is that we can teach resilience skills.
Here are a few tips to promote resilience: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Make connections Help your child by having him or her help others Maintain a daily routine Take a break Teach your child self-care Move toward your goals Nurture a positive self-view Keep things in perspective and maintain a hopeful outlook Look for opportunities for self-discovery Accept that change is part of living.
Peter Furey, Middle School Wellbeing Co-ordinator
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SUMMER 2015/16 39
WELLBEING
Junior School Pride Bank Primary Sports Co-ordinator, Ben Ryan, has been working with the Year 5 and 6 boys on an interesting concept, The Pride Bank. As part of the culture of the Junior School, teachers often talk to the boys about how proud of them they are – but Ben thought it was important that the boys themselves develop a great sense of pride through reflecting on their own experiences. “I wanted them to reflect on the moments where they felt pride of themselves or of others, or perhaps a lack of pride in something they saw/did,” Ben explains. After the weekly APS sports competition Ben had the boys record things they were proud of themselves and what they observed in others. These comments were ‘banked up’ and given to each boy at the end of the year for them to read back. Over time, they have, and will continue to develop that sense of pride in what they are doing each week. This ability to reflect will transfer across other areas and as they grow older, and hopefully their pride and passion for their endeavours
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Why does it makes you proud to represent BGS? “I feel proud to put on my Brighton Grammar clothes because we always show lots of sportsmanship and respect.”
“Because the moment I walk on the pitch I feel like I am part of a team and singing that song at the end of a game makes me feel proud to be a Tonner.”
What have you seen other boys do during APS sport that makes you feel proud to be at the same school as them? “The boys were helping not just their team, but the opposition. Whenever we had a goal scored against us, we always said ‘good job’ to the other team.”
“Harrison Chapman has helped me with everything to do with badminton from how the rules work to how to play better. I think he has helped me amazingly and without him I wouldn’t be able to play.”
Health and PE Week A holistic approach to wellbeing is essential and all four dimensions need to be developed (mental, social, spiritual and physical wellbeing). Consequently, as the end of year exams loomed, the Health and PE team once again hosted a special Health and PE Week to help boys and staff retain some balance in their lives. The PE staff organised many events including: • The BGS Gift, our annual sprint event. Won by Harry Potter, followed by Ben Tegoni and Tom Wallace • The Student Council and Prefects ‘Active Lunch’. The Mitchell and Crowther Ovals were packed with boys from Middle and Senior School participating in ‘5-a-side’ soccer, touch footy and the longest footy kick competition • Boxing after school was a big hit with the boys. We had classes after school on Tuesday and Thursday and boys turned up in large numbers to get involved in something different from their normal training.
The staff were also involved. Before school they participated in yoga, boxing, walking, running, bike riding and a PT session run on the Rec. Although there were a few sore bodies the next day it was great for the staff to be modelling the behaviour we encourage in our boys. SUMMER 2015/16 41
THREE-CORNERED PARTNERSHIPS
VCE English parents’ book club Head of English, Kristen Molloy, has taken the initiative to establish a book club with a difference. This book club is especially for the parents of our VCE boys. And the novels they read are the VCE texts. Passionate about the role parents can play to support their son’s academic journey, Kristen explained “We are serious at BGS about the important role that parents play in their sons’ education. English is a subject that lends itself to a real partnership between home and school. Reading and talking about the texts your boys are studying are powerful ways to deepen their understanding of sophisticated themes and ideas.” The Headmaster added “This is a great example of our 3CP (Three-cornered partnership) priority in action. The more programs we can put in place where 42 SUMMER 2015/16
This is a great example of our 3CP (Three-cornered partnership) priority in action. The more programs we can put in place where parents and boys work together on the academic program, the better.” Ross Featherston, Headmaster
parents and boys work together on the academic program, the better.” The aims of the book club are to: • Demystify VCE English • Give parents confidence to provide their son with different perspectives on the texts he is studying • Provide parents and the family with opportunities for dinner conversations about ‘big ideas’ • Have fun, talk about books and meet other parents. VCE parents will learn more about this initiative as the year unfolds.
The three most damaging words you can say to a boy.
“Be a man!”
It was great to have over 350 parents at the Dendy Cinema on a Monday night in September to watch the film The Mask You Live In, which explored issues around masculine stereotyping and how this can be harmful to our boys. For me the essence of the film was about communication. Communication between parents and boys (or significant role models and boys), the choice of language we use, and the expectations of masculine behaviour we consciously and unconsciously set. The other aspect of communication that was highlighted regarded how important it is we give boys the opportunity and language to express how they feel in a safe environment. I feel confident that the work we are doing at BGS, from ELC to the senior years, with programs such as
Circle Time, one-on-one goal setting and coaching, our Health and PE curriculum and even Drama, goes a long way to supporting boys with these issues. It was interesting that a number of the questions during the Q&A session after the film asked what we, as a school, were doing about matters raised in the film. The purpose of our Crowther Parent Seminars is not to solve every problem or become ‘quasi’ parents. Rather we intend to raise awareness and give parents insights into potential issues you may face raising your sons and give you pointers on where you can get more information or support if you need it. Being aware and informed takes us half way to managing the challenges of raising boys in today’s society.
Ross Featherston SUMMER 2015/16 43
AROUND THE SCHOOL & COMMUNITY
APS Vision 2015
Mitch Dow, Ned Wright-Smith, Steven Alesi, Alex Nicholas, Arthur Xafis and Nick Semmen
On Friday the 4th of September, BGS took part in the inaugural APS Vision song contest. Previously called APS Live, APS Vision is a competition where APS schools come together to display their school with a short video and perform a musical item of their choice. All funds raised from the event go towards a chosen charity, this year’s being the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School. The event was held at Haileybury’s Brighton Campus, and had prestigious judges such as Sam Wood (the Bachelor) and Mark Orval (Angry Dad). The short video showcasing “what it means to be a Tonner” was made by Christian Carnovale and Campbell Clapp. This year’s line-up from BGS included Mitch Dow, Ned Wright-Smith, Steven Alesi, Alex Nicholas, Arthur Xafis and Nick Semmens. BGS played the classic Eye of The Tiger to the 300 person strong crowd, who joined in during the choruses. Overall, BGS finished second out of 11 schools, which is an amazing achievement.
Nick Semmens 44 SUMMER 2015/16
So much more than a Relay for Life More than 100 Junior School and Middle School boys (supported by their parents and staff) were involved in the 2015 Relay for Life event at Duncan McKinnon oval, in October. The Junior School team ran or walked 670 (268km) consecutive laps of the Duncan McKinnon track from 12.00pm on Saturday until 12.00pm on Sunday and the six Middle School teams managed 450, which is about 180km. Between them they raised about $20,000 for cancer research and support services.
A very practical part of the Sea Change community experience in Year 9 was the opportunity for the residents of Rylands, the independent living complex for older people located across the road from the School, to come and meet with boys who could help them sort out any issues with using their iPads. The patience and respect all the boys showed our neighbours, including Adam Levenda-Freeman, pictured, was something we were very proud of. SUMMER 2015/16 45
BGS IN THE COMMUNITY
BGS Sea Change community experience A reflection By Will Lam, Year 9 2015 It’s often easier to pretend that something isn’t happening, ignore it and move on, safe and blissful in our own little bubble. However, just because something is blissful doesn’t mean that it is necessarily good or even real. Reality does exist and the world is often a harsh and cruel place.
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Many things were talked about and seen, some were surprising, some were confronting, everything was enlightening.
“
We humans also have a nasty habit of turning a blind eye and a deaf ear to things that would require us to step out of our comfort zone. The ‘community’ Sea Change program was one of the most challenging things I have done. I specifically volunteered for the Brotherhood of St Laurence (as opposed to the Queenscliff option) because the Brotherhood sounded much more confronting and challenging. Over the course of those two and a half days, things changed. Many things were talked about and seen, some were surprising, some were confronting, everything was enlightening. The ‘real life’ experiences I had really shook up my perspective and changed the way I thought about things. One of the first things we did was visit the rehearsal of the Choir of Hard Knocks, made up of disadvantaged or homeless people. At some point were also invited to participate and even though I was well aware of my capabilities in this area I still
tried. I happened to notice something that surprised me. It was the way these people interacted. Here in front of me was a group of people whom life had dealt a bad hand. Some, as I recall, came from some pretty dark places, such as drug rehabilitation centres. Yet despite all that they acted like a family. Everyone there had support when they needed it – after all no man (or woman) is an island. There was still a great burden upon their shoulders, yet when they entered this space, a little of it seemed to be eased or at least momentarily forgotten. This whole thing illustrated to me how through the arts people are healed and brought together.
The later part of that day was spent visiting places that did some work for the community. One of the cafes we visited introduced to me the concept of a suspended coffee. It is where a person can buy a coffee in advance so that sometime later a disadvantaged person can come and claim it free of charge. The person who bought the suspended coffee gets a nice warm fuzzy feeling. It’s really a ‘win:win’ situation. In addition, the cafe also provides training for disadvantaged people so they can go out and find jobs later on. This solves the problem of staffing and wages.
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BGS IN THE COMMUNITY
Baraka Fair
Toys to Kenya As part of Year 8 woodwork in Creative Design and Technology, the Year 8 boys design and build wooden puzzles and toys. The brief for this task is for the boys to create toys for charity considering safety, durability and the interests of the children according to their ages. This year, through the help and support of Year 8 parent Erling Sorenson, we shipped the puzzles to Aberdare Ranges School in Kenya in late September. Founded in 2010, this school educates 840 of the poorest children in the Nakuru district in Kenya. The photograph above shows just how excited the children were unpacking their new toys made by the boys from Year 8.
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The Baraka Fair, organised and run by the boys of the Junior School, raised an incredible $5840 for the Baraka School in Nairobi. Former Head of Junior School, Peter Toms, gave us some background information on the school for which the money raised on this day is directed. “In 2005 I was asked by a Junior School parent, Tamara Rees, if the boys of the Junior School could raise funds for the Baraka School in Kibera. Kibera is a slum shanty town on the outskirts of Nairobi with over one million people housed in one-room shacks, with no running water, no sewerage or garbage disposal. Tamara belonged to a then fledgling organisation, Women For Women In Africa, committed to assisting families in Kibera. The Baraka School, with nearly 350 students, was a collection of broken down mud-brick 4m x 6m classrooms, dirt floors, no electricity, scant furniture with over 60 students crammed into each room. The whole of the Baraka School would easily fit on the BGS Junior School oval. Since 2005, funds raised by our boys have contributed to the rebuilding of the Baraka School, as well as providing educational resources and food for the students, many of whom have only one meal a day - the one they get at school. For several years the Middle School boys also sponsored a student who, last year, qualified for university entrance. The children of Kibera are among the poorest in the world yet so extraordinarily appreciative of any support we can give them.”
Convict Day Year 4 History came to life in September on Convict Day. Boys and staff dressed as convicts and participated activities including ‘life on the ship’ during recess where they were given bread and water and made to sit in an area marked out as a ship as the soldiers (staff) kept watch. Other handson learning experiences, which we know the boys love, included tying knots, making damper and learning about life in at school in convict times.
Ultimate Frisbee On Friday the 11th of September the Middle School Charity Committee organised a Staff vs Students Ultimate Frisbee Match to raise money for the two boys from Nairobi, Africa who are sponsored by the Middle School: Timothy and John. It was a close match, with the students nearly taking the win with a breathtaking comeback. But with the final score of 5-6, the teachers team just secured the win!
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Monash mural Once again a group of talented boys from Years 7 to 11 were invited to design and paint a mural on the fencing around the building site of the new Monash Children’s Hospital in Clayton. Well done Ciaran O’Leary, Mac Gray, Austin Zou, Brock Jackson, Byron Cameron, Oscar Zho, Lachie Collie, Jake Parker, Will Woodman and Ash Hoar. Thanks to their teachers Simone Lewis and Steve Emmett for making this opportunity possible.
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BGS community reunions in Asia Old boys, current and past parents living in Hong Kong or Shanghai – we’re coming back! Once again, BGS and Firbank will co-host a community reunion during our visit to these great cities. The Shanghai event will be held on Sunday 28 February at 6.30pm at Le Royal Meridien Shanghai. The Hong Kong event will be held on Sunday 6 March at 6.30pm in the offices of Minter Ellison, One Pacific Place, 88 Queensway. Many thanks to Old Boy Sam Farrands (OB 1982) who has kindly offered to host the event.
74th BGS
’
pril 2015 Friday 22 Anoon 12:00 RSVP by Friday 15th April, 2016 For enquiries, please call Emily Ianuali on 0438 633 063
The BGS Parents’ Group warmly invites Past Mothers to: The 74th Annual past Mothers’ Celebration Venue: GB Robertson Hall – located in the Junior School. Entry via Grosvenor Street, Brighton. High Tea refreshments Cost: $30 per person
Numbers are limited, so book early Online
Credit card over the phone
Post
Visit this link to book online (www.trybooking.com/179856)
Call Monique in the Development Office on 8591 2271
Complete and post this reply slip to: BGS Development Office, 90 Outer Crescent, Brighton, Vic, 3186
Yes! I am able to attend the 74th Annual Past Mothers’ Celebration. Name Telephone Please specify any special dietary requirements
Payment of $30 enclosed Cheque (Payable to BGS Parents’ Group) Year son/s left BGS Son/s name I would prefer to sit with
INNOVATION AND LEARNING
From wood to wonderful 2015 was another busy year for Product Design and Technology (wood) with some fantastic work being completed by boys from Years 9 to 12. With around 140 boys using the room on a weekly basis, the energy and excitement makes this an enjoyable experience for all involved. Boys choose PDT for a variety of reasons. In 2015 there were two Year 12 classes with boys of all different academic ability. Jandre Olivier (Year 12, 2015), who is hoping to become an actuary explains “PDT is a unique subject. It is a hands-on subject that makes you think differently. I enjoy the break it gives me from the more lock step textbook work in most other classes. The thing I enjoy most is the freedom to learn through trialling and testing rather than being told what is right and wrong.” From a teaching point of view, to witness the growth in both self-esteem and confidence over the years of teaching these boys makes it all worthwhile. After the Junior School the boys embark on a component of wood in Year 7 and 8, which comes under the heading of CDT (creative, design and technology). Year 9 is called wood tech as is Year 10. By Year 10 the boys are starting to plan and build their own jobs. In Years 11 and 12, the subject becomes PDT (product design and technology). At this stage boys follow the path of industry where they seek out a client, do a design brief, research, design options, costings, working drawings, production plan, build the product and then evaluate it on 52 SUMMER 2015/16
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completion. Last year, PDT as a subject had a value-add to the boys’ results of 5.2 – the best in the School, with legal studies next best at 4.0. Why do boys like it? • it’s hands on • there is lots of activity • it’s noisy • it’s dirty • it builds self esteem • it builds self confidence • it provides real-life skills. • boys control their own activities • it involves problem solving
• it’s easy to measure their improvement • the boys use different parts of the brain • it introduces new technologies and processes • boys can move around freely. My philosophy with the boys in the Senior School is to make learning relevant to the real world. Boys need to be taught skills that will prepare them for life after school. By making this connection it gives the boys a purpose to what they are doing.
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STAFF NEWS National award and a gong!
Welcome, Sid! Congratulations to our Director of Operations (Years 7-12) Peter Shepard, and his wife Nicole, who welcomed their first child, a boy, Sidney, on the 12 September 2015.
Our archivist, Dr Jane Carolan, last year won an Australian Society of Archivists national award. Jane’s recently published history of Loreto won best publication in its category.
Stop Press: Just a day before going to print, Jane was honoured with an OAM in the Australia Day awards for service to the community as an historian, archivist and author.
54 SUMMER 2015/16
Jane (pictured left) with previous OAM recipient, Maggie Lynch OAM.
Staff celebrate end of year
The staff enjoyed an ‘on-trend’ end of year celebration gathering together in the Middle School grounds and feasting on lunch from various food trucks! A perfect finish to a great year.
Congratulations Congratulations to the following staff on the next step of progress in their careers.
• Raelene Plozza has been appointed as our Literacy Coach (Prep to Year 8).
• Peter Tellefson, Head of Junior School, has taken on the additional responsibility of Deputy Headmaster of the Junior School.
• Jared Furtado has been appointed as our Head of Choral (ELC to Year 12).
• Ray Swann, Head of Senior School, has accepted an important new role as Director of the Crowther Centre, our research and innovation hub. • David Liddle has been appointed Deputy Head of Senior School and Dean Bryan has been appointed Deputy Head of Junior School. • Jo Davies has been appointed as our Junior School Director of Teaching and Learning.
• Jason Ward has been appointed as Head of Music at Chairo Christian School for 2016. • Tom Pugh has been appointed as Head of Music at Flinders Christian Community College. • Kris Patterson has been appointed as Head of Library Services at Star of the Sea College. • Good luck to Mady Bolch as she relocates to the UK.
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STAFF NEWS
Staff share expertise In 2015 we had a number of staff present at conferences around Australia and beyond. It is a great affirmation of our staff and the work they do at BGS to be invited to do such presentations. Name
Conference details
Topic
Kris Paterson, Teacher Librarian
44th Annual International Conference of International Association of School Libraries Maastricht, The Netherlands
Moving your library? Embrace the challenge, love the opportunity!
Andrea Hayes
VCE English material for Edrolo – a new online VCE resource that BGS and other schools use Live Q&A session for Edrolo for VCE English just prior to the exams – 1500 hits on YouTube VATE (Victorian Association of English Teachers)
Various workshops
Christian Machar
HTAV (History Teachers’ Association of Victoria) Annual Conference
Thirty ideas in 60 minutes, another thirty ideas in 60 minutes
Kay Rogers and Amy Atchinson
The 7th Biennial National Boys’ Education Conference, Sydney
Student well-being and academic enhancement for boys
Deanne Cannizzaro
MYSA (Middle Years Schooling Association) National Using backward by design to plan for Conference, Gold Coast effective learning
Nina Sofo
The ASME (Australian Society for Music Education) Music improvisations in the primary National Conference, Adelaide classroom
In addition, a number of staff had their work published in books and journals Name
Topic
Patrick Sanders
Co-authored ‘Pearson Lightbook’ Pearson Publishing – digital Year 11 & 12 Chemistry curriculum. Trialled in WA in 2015; to be used in Victoria from 2016.
Won three Educational Publishing awards, Best senior secondary student resource, , most outstanding secondary digital resource and excellence in Australian publishing
Ray Swann
The Career Medical Interview: solid selector of just ‘impression management’? (co-authored)
BJU International, a monthly peer-reviewed journal for urologists.
As part of his PhD thesis
Simone Lewis
If Picasso went to the Zoo?
Children’s Book
Contributing artist
Andrea Hayes
Authored English text books
‘Language Tool-Kit’, English Texts for Years 7-9
To be used by BGS in 2016. Includes works by some of the BGS boys
Andrea Hayes
Authored
Check Points VCE English Includes work by BGS teacher Jo Ellis and BGS boys
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Publication
Comment
Our talented art teacher published! Children’s book, If Picasso Went to the Zoo. is a collection of poems and illustrations especially for children, created by 50 art teachers from all over the world, including one of our art teachers Simone Lewis. Each illustrator chose an artist to emulate and produced a piece featuring an animal of their choice. Simone explained “I chose to emulate Beatrix Potter’s work as I love her chosen medium and the illustrative nature of her work. As one of few Australian teachers featured in the book, it seemed only fitting that an Australian animal, the Potoroo, be the subject of my illustration.” Check out If Picasso Went to the Zoo on Amazon.
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The Court of Companions commemorates those members of staff who have worked at BGS for 15 years or more.
2015 Court of Companions Dinner The Court of Companions Dinner, which celebrates the outstanding contribution of long-serving members of staff (15+ years) was held in October. It is a great opportunity for past staff to get together, relive past events, swap retirement stories, and learn about the various developments taking place at the School. Five new members were welcomed. See details on the next page.
John Arrowsmith and Rick Pemberton enjoy the dinner.
What are they up to now? Provides a snapshot of ‘life post BGS’ experienced by former members of staff.
Fr Graeme Brennan, Senior Chaplain to BGS 2001 to 2013 Since resigning from BGS in 2013, Graeme has led a varied and active life, which includes tutoring refugee East Africa girls in mathematics, providing pastoral support to chaplains in the emergency services, laboring on the family farm near Mt Buller, and keeping contact with many past and present BGS staff. More recently, Graeme has also been working as a priest in the busy Melbourne city parish of St Peter’s, Eastern Hill. Graeme maintains his staunch support for the Collingwood Football Club where, in the past, he has acted as a visiting chaplain. Of his new job at St Peter’s, Graeme says: “Apart from the fact that St Peter’s has daily masses, feeds the homeless daily at breakfast, and is on call to half a dozen hospitals in the vicinity, it’s walking distance to the MCG on game day, walking distance to the Windsor for drinks on Friday, and walking distance to the Club for lunch: so what’s not to like? And there are no semester reports to write!” 58 SUMMER 2015/16
NEW COURT OF COMPANION MEMBERS
Amelia Barrow Amelia joined BGS in 2001 and was appointed Director of the ELC in 2003. In 2008, Amelia was instrumental in the design process of the Peter Toms ELC, which is regarded as one of Melbourne’s best. In 2012 Amelia was honoured with the BGS Teacher of the Year Award, and in 2014, she won a prestigious National Excellence in Teaching Award.
(L-R) Amelia, Pauline and Christine
Michael Arceri As BGS Director of Business and Support Services, we welcome Michael as an Associate Member of the Court of Companions. Prior to joining BGS in late 2014, Michael was Business Manager of Camberwell Girls Grammar School, which provided him with a valuable insight into school strategic management.
Christine Marks Christine commenced at BGS in Term 4, 2000 in a Long Service Leave position, and she has been with us ever since. Christine, a gifted teacher, has mostly taught upper primary. As Junior School Language Coordinator she provided much leadership in the teaching of English. Christine is married to Len (OB 1958) and they have two sons John (OB 2005) and Sam (OB 2007).
Pauline Anthony
Tom Pugh
When Pauline’s son Daniel (OB 2005) was awarded a BGS scholarship, family friend and Junior School teacher, Bill Gibney (OB 1974), suggested to Pauline that she apply for an advertised Junior School Teacher/Librarian position.
Tom is an accomplished flautist and conductor of choral and orchestral groups. Tom was Head of Middle School Music and oversaw the Senior School Choral Program. As an exceptional teacher of boys, he made a most significant contribution to the high standard of music at BGS whether inspiring individual students, orchestral or choral groups.
Since joining BGS, Pauline has overseen a technology revolution in the Junior School library while instilling a love of books in our Junior School boys. Alongside Pauline’s role as Librarian, she has provided outstanding support as a PLT (Professional Learning Team) Leader and eLearning Coach.
Tom resigned from BGS at the end the year to take up a leadership role at a school closer to where he lives. SUMMER 2015/16 59
The Sequamur Society honours and thanks those members of our BGS community who have confirmed their intention to include Brighton Grammar School in their will.
The Robert Rofe Scholarship Another newly established scholarship is the The Robert Rofe Scholarship, established to celebrate in perpetuity the outstanding contribution made to BGS by Headmaster Robert Rofe (1967-1995). Initial funding for the scholarship was generously provided by Robert’s wife Joan and daughter Helen. Additional funds have been contributed by others who admired the outstanding educational leadership provided by Robert during his 29 years as Headmaster. Further to discussions with Joan Rofe, the scholarship will be: • means-tested • will require the successful applicant to demonstrate his ability to embrace and benefit from a BGS education • and, if possible, provide an opportunity for a country boy to attend BGS. To ensure the scholarship will be ongoing, it is important the corpus funds of The Robert Rofe Scholarship continue to grow. Contributions to this fund are fully tax deductible. This scholarship will be advertised in 2016 for entry in 2017. Again, further information regarding this and other scholarships can be sought from Peter Toms in the Development Office.
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Scholarships change lives So many of our past students who attended the School on scholarship have gone on to make their mark in the world in every endeavour including health, law, politics, business, sport and the arts. You too can change lives by leaving a gift in you will to fund a specific scholarship or support the BGS scholarship fund. To learn more please call Peter Toms in the BGS Development Office for a confidential discussion on 03 8591 2274 or 0413 60 70 88.
Max Nicholson
(OB 1947) Old Boy, Benefactor, Collector Max, a spritely 86-year-old, is a Founding Member and ‘elder statesman’ of our ‘Sequamur Society’ whose kindness will be appreciated by BGS boys for years to come. Max attended BGS from 1943-47. He was a fine student, School Prefect, Cadet Company Quarter Master Sergeant, 440 yards athletics champion.. On leaving School, Max worked for a couple of years before studying to become a primary school teacher specialising in assisting children with physical and mental disabilities in inner city schools. Unfortunately, ill health forced Max’s early retirement from teaching in his late 40s. Over the years, Max became an avid collector of musical recordings, mainly 1940s to 1980s, amassing an extraordinary private library well in excess of 10,000 vinyl recordings and CDs, all meticulously catalogued. Max intends to leave his
collection to an organisation that will keep the collection intact. Max has left a bequest in recognition of the kindness and support he received at BGS, and it will be primarily to assist boys at School whose parents encounter unforeseen financial difficulties. It is the generosity of people like Max that enables worthy boys to benefit from a BGS education. Well done Max; we salute your kindness and good will.
Dan and Nathan – thanks! At the 50 Years On Reunion lunch in December, Nathan Murphy and Dan Canta, two boys currently on a scholarship, shared with the attendees their appreciation via a video clip for their scholarships made possible through The John Gray (OB 1964) Bequest. Both boys have grabbed the opportunities presented to them and excelled both academically and in their chosen sports. As detailed later in this edition of the Meliora, in August Dan, just 16, became the youngest Australian to swim the English Channel and in early December,
Nathan represented the Australian U16 Cricket Team against the Pakistan U16 XI at the famous Bowral Oval – the hometown of Sir Donald Bradman. Nathan opened the batting for the Australia XI and then was chosen to fly to Sydney to play for the Victoria U19 Team. While we applaud the sporting achievements of both boys, what is equally pleasing is their commitment to their studies and their involvement in School life. Both Nathan and Dan would enthusiastically endorse that we also applaud the generosity of John Gray who has given them their opportunity to attend BGS. SUMMER 2015/16 61
BRIGHTON GRAMMAR OLD BOYS
Patch attends UN Climate Change Conference in Paris
Patch, who is studying a double degree in Arts and Marine Biology at James Cook University joined just three other young Australians to the conference. Patch explained “ It is a bit of unusual combination, but I think that effectively communicating science is invaluable to a functioning society that depends on all forms of science and technology”. Passionate about disaster relief in climatevulnerable areas, Patch, who is only 21, has volunteered and performed photography and media projects for non-profits in Papua New Guinea, Norway and the U.S. One interesting aspect of the conference involved language. “United Nation’s policy documents are written in English but with the abundance of unrecognisable acronyms, it practically felt like another language. I realised the UN depends upon language. Common words appeared to take on a whole new meaning. It seemed incredible that decades of scientific, social and economic research all boiled down to fierce 62 SUMMER 2015/16
“
Attending this forum allowed me to put my knowledge of key issues in sustainability to practice on the international stage.
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Former School Captain Patch Clapp (2012) was awarded a Global Voices scholarship to travel to Paris to participate in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change Conference of Parties 21.
debate about shall or should, safe or sound and if information was placed inside or outside brackets!
“In week one, I struggled to stay afloat in the sea of acronyms, and my conversations were stilted as I tried to recall every acronym I heard. However, in much the same way as immersion is the best way to learn a foreign language, it seemed the best way to wrap my head around UN climate change policy. After two weeks of thinking of almost nothing but climate change policy and acronyms, I felt confident to share my perspective with intellectuals whose knowledge dwarfed mine. My experience in Paris affirmed my fascination with communication and how much can be achieved, one word at a time”.
Marcus Morelli a rising star of the Australian Ballet Marcus Morelli (OB 2012) is making a name for himself in ballet and was recognised in December when he was awarded The People’s Choice for Telstra Ballet Dancer Award at the Sydney Opera House. After leaving school Marcus studied at the Jane Moore Academy of Ballet and The Australian Ballet School, and toured with The Dancers Company in 2013. He joined The Australian Ballet in 2014. Some of his repertoire highlights include: • Puck in Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream 2015 • Peasant pas de deux in Maina Gielgud’s Giselle 2015 • Earl’s Equerry in Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake 2015 • Trepak in Sir Peter Wright’s The Nutcracker 2014 • Agni the Fire God and Fakir in Stanton Welch’s La Bayadère 2014 • Pas de cinq in Serge Lifar’s Suite en blanc 2014 In his free time Marcus enjoys playing video games, watching TV, and skateboarding.
Marcus Morelli (OB 2012)
OBGS golf The Annual John Baker Memorial Golf Day for 2015 was won by Tony Bond (OB 1966). John ‘Nobby’ Forster, OBGS Golf Club President, presents Tony Bond with the John Baker Memorial trophy.
Notice of OBGS AGM Notice is hereby given of the Old Brighton Grammarians’ Society Inc. Annual General Meeting to be held in the S J Priestley Meeting Room, at The BGS Middle School, Allee Street Brighton on Tuesday, 22 March, 2016 at 6.30pm. Refreshments will be served. SUMMER 2015/16 63
OLD BOYS NEWS
Matt – a brilliant violinist and now composer Matt Westwood (OB 2009) began learning violin at BGS where he excelled as a soloist and orchestral violinist. Learning from John Quaine, he completed his AMusA at 16. Throughout his musical education, Matt developed an interest in composition, improvisation, and music theory, and is now pursuing a career as a professional composer. His interests and influences as a composer are diverse and varied, ranging from Baroque music to highly experimental 20th century music, to electronic dance music, and everything in between. It was very exciting for Matt last year when his new composition Quartet, was featured at a concert in the Local Heroes series at Melbourne Recital Centre, marking the centenary of ANZAC, and honouring Victorians who served in World War I.
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The commission for Quartet, written in baroque style, was an award when he graduated with honours from the Composition Division University of Melbourne’s Conservatorium of Music in 2013. Although Matt’s piece is for a baroque ensemble, he told The Australian newspaper in an interview in November that he included musical influences from all over the place, including bebop and contemporary pop. He describes a piece that evokes a sense of whimsy and adventure, with an element of surprise. “I wanted it to be fun for the audience, fun for the players, and fun for me to write,” said Matt. Matt has also composed for numerous short films, an upcoming feature film and is interested in composing for television, and video games in the future.
Inaugural Robin Batterham Medal awarded in November Old Boy and Hall of Fame Inductee, Robin Batterham (OB 1955) has been recognised with a new university award that has been created in his honour. The Batterham Medal is an early career award for a graduate engineer who has achieved substantial peer/ industry recognition for his/her work in the past five years. It will be presented annually by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) administers the award on behalf of the Group of Eight Deans of Engineering and Associates. The award consists of a medal (The Batterham Medal) and a cash prize of $5000. The Batterham Medal recognises Professor Robin Batterham AO FREng FAA FTSE, an Australian science and technology leader who was Chief Scientist of Australia from 1999 to 2006, President of the Academy from 2007 to 2012 and is Kernot Professor of Engineering at the University of Melbourne. The inaugural medal was awarded at ATSE’s Oration Dinner on 27 November 2015 in Melbourne.
About Prof Batterham
Professor Robin Batterham AO FREng FAA FTSE graduated from the University of Melbourne in 1965 with a degree in chemical engineering, and received a PhD from the same institution in 1969. He received a scholarship from the CSIRO to undertake postgraduate studies at the central research laboratories of ICI in Britain. Batterham returned to Australia in 1970 and took up the position of chief scientist of the CSIRO’s Division of Mineral
Engineering, and was later promoted to division chief. In 1999, Batterham was appointed Chief Scientist of Australia, a role which he undertook simultaneously to acting as chief technologist for the multinational mining company Rio Tinto. In May 2005, he stepped down as Chief Scientist and took on a full-time position at Rio Tinto. He was appointed a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 1988, and served as its President from 2007 to 2012. He was named a Fellow of the Institute of Engineers Australia in 1999. He became a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Science in 2000. From May 2004 to May 2005, Batterham was President of the Institution of Chemical Engineers, of which he became a Fellow in 1988. He became a Foreign Member of the Royal Academy of Engineering in 2004. After retiring from Rio Tinto in 2009 Professor Batterham joined the Melbourne School of Engineering as Kernot Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering in 2010. He was awarded an AO in 2004. SUMMER 2015/16 65
OLD BOYS NEWS
Look who popped in to say hello
Conspicious Service Award
In 2006 Argentinian Tomas Lundahl (OB 2012) and his two younger brothers Juan (OB 2015) and Mateo (OB 2018) spent just 12 months at BGS while his father was working on a job for Village Cinemas. At that time Tomas was in Year 6, and so in January, while on a back-packing break from his graphic design course in Buenos Aires, Tomas took the opportunity to hunt out his old Head of Junior School, Peter Toms, and check out the School. It was fantastic to witness the affection Tomas had for the School, his former teacher David Turner (and Tomsy), after all this time and from so far away. After the visit Peter received an email from Tomas that included the following remarks. “It was amazing to go around BGS once again. My parents are jealous that I got to go around school again, and sent their best regards to everyone. The get together with Patch and Scott was really fun and we were able to remember some old school stories. Thank you for everything – everything in 2006 and 2016. BGS is one of the greatest experiences I’ve had in my life. Thank you Mr Toms!! Thank you BGS.”
Lt Col John Papalitsas (1994) has been honoured in the 2016 Australia day Honours list having been awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross (CSC). John is currently the Commanding Officer of The North West Mobile Force (NORFORCE) based in Darwin. The citation for his Distinguished Service Cross is a testimony to the dedication and spirit of excellence john has committed to his career in the Australian Army.
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Lieutenant Colonel John George PAPALITSAS, NSW For outstanding achievement as Staff Officer Grade 1 Capability Development-Training within Headquarters Forces Command. Lieutenant Colonel Papalitsas is an outstanding officer and leader who has demonstrated outstanding performance within Forces Command and the wider Australian Defence Force. He has demonstrated exceptional leadership and management skills as Staff Officer Grade 1 Capability DevelopmentTraining to deliver foundation frameworks, concepts and capabilities that will be pivotal to the ongoing development and improvement of Army's ability to achieve success in Joint Land Combat.
World Number 1 tennis champs Novak Djokovic and Dylan Alcott (08) pose for photos in front of an adoring crowed at the Australian Open in January
Dylan Alcott OAM (OB 2008) keeps on keeping on
Dylan at the Caulfield Cup with his great classmate Tim Biggin and Delta Goodrem.
Since our last report on the achievements of the high achieving Dylan Alcott, he has won the Australian and US Opens in Wheelchair Tennis, which has him as number one in the world at wheelchair tennis. Dylan is now much sought after on the speaking circuit following his TED Talk in Sydney in 2015. The talk about growing up with a disability can be seen on YouTube – just Google Dylan Alcott TED Talk. He has been a guest commentator with Chanel 7 on the Australian Open tennis. Dylan certainly has the ‘gift of the gab’ and is much sought after in media circles and at highprofile events. Dylan took out the men’s quad singles title at the Australian Open and then shared a touching moment with Novak Djokovic. Dylan, who also won the US Open last year, was far too good in the final, taking it out 6-2,62 against David Wagner from the USA. We can also watch his progress at the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics from 7 to 18 September 2016. Good luck Dylan; we are so proud of you!
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OLD BOYS NEWS
Parnham brothers: (L-R) Ryan, Charlie and Brett.
The Parnham boys and their family business The Parnham boys have stuck together in life and business and are going well with both new ventures and old. Brett (OB 1995), Charlie (OB 1997) and Ryan Parnham (OB 2000) all work in the family business, Relaxhouse commercial furniture, which began in 2006. In 2015 they launched a high -end furniture business ‘Huset’, which is focused on bringing high-quality European furniture both direct to the public and also direct to architects, interior designers and general building trades. The boys have also continued on with their family business in therapeutic products to the health care industry (chiropractors, physiotherapists, osteopaths or any other health professional).
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Left to Right Peter Reith, Peter Thornborrow, Andrew Biggin and Peter Wilson AM
Old Rowers Stick Together At the Sunset at the Sheds in November 2015, Andrew and Robyn Biggin were honoured to have a racing quad scull named after them. Quad means there are 4 rowers each rowing with 2 oars [called sculling] as opposed to sweep rowing which is rowing with one oar. Andrew rowed for BGS from 1965 to 1970, was a 1st VIII oarsman in 1968, ’1969 and ’1970 and was Captain of Boat in 1969 and 1970. He has been heavily involved with the Meliora Club, which is a rowing support club for old rowers since 1971. At the boat naming, three of his former crewmates from the 1968 crew came along to witness the naming.
Andrew Lauterstein (OB 2006) speaks at Senior School assembly
In June 2015, Andrew (who was inducted into the BGS Hall of Fame in April) came and spoke to the Senior School Assembly about his journey through BGS, Olympic and Commonwealth Games. Andrew’s sporting achievements are detailed on the Hall of Fame section on the BGS website. Anndrew’s great highlights include his three medals (one silver and two bronze) at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, and his quest for gold at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games in 2010. Andrew told the Senior School about the success he achieved in Beijing and his determination to win gold at New Delhi, how he fell ill and was unable to compete in New Delhi and the lessons he learned from those experiences. Today Andrew runs his own swimwear company Engine Swim. He recently bought the New Wave Swim School in Frankston South. Andrew is also a high achiever in the CrossFit discipline of fitness, competing in the CrossFit Games in 2015. Andrew is the most successful swimmer ever to hail from BGS.
Andrew Lauterstein speaks to the Senior School Assembly
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OLD BOYS NEWS
Marek’s creativity shaped the RCD Foundation Marek Wolski attended BGS from 1991 (Prep) to 2003 (Year 12). After university, he began work in advertising, working with communications and ad strategy. He moved to Sweden six years ago (his partner Charlotte is Swedish) and he now works as Brand Strategy Director for Hemnet, the Swedish equivalent of of realestate. com.au. Learning Swedish was critical to be able to work with advertising, despite everyone speaking English. In 2013, he returned to Melbourne to spend time with his close family friend Connor Dawes to support him through the illness that took his life in April 2013. Following Connor’s death,
New Alumni Group
Marek stayed on for a few months in Melbourne, and together with Liz Dawes, Connor’s mother, they started the Robert Connor Dawes (RCD) Foundation. Marek is the foundation’s Marketing & Design Director. His involvement covers everything from writing, designing materials, creating concepts, storyboarding videos and more. It’s handson, creative and strategic, which is what Marek loves about this work. What he is most proud of is that Liz and he have created something they feel reflects Connor’s spirit. This has helped them tell Connor’s story, encourage
thousands to turn up to Connor’s Run and to raise almost a $1 million for brain matters. Marek says that Stockholm is a magnificent place to live – a societal utopia. Quality of life is high because there is an excellent grasp of the work/life balance. And it is an exciting place to work as there is a strong engineering and design culture. This is ideal for technology start-ups and is a big reason why it is the most successful tech hub outside of Silicon Valley. As for the Scandinavian winter, recent visits to Rio and Mexico have helped deal with that issue.
Many Old Brighton and Firbank Grammarians sang in the St Andrew’s Church choir and group of enthusiasts headed by Mrs Felicity Stretch and Thomas Heywood have established an Alumni Group of past Choristers. If you have sung in the St Andrew’s Choir and would like to know more, please call or email Andrew Biggin at the OBGS Office (03 8591 2272) or abiggin@brightongrammar.vic.edu.au.
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BGS Hall of Fame Gallery of Honour officially opened Dr Sam Walsh AO, (OB 1967) CEO Rio Tinto Group and Hall of Fame inductee, officially opened the BGS Hall of Fame Gallery of Honour at a champagne reception in early December. Sam travelled from London, where he is currently based, to join more than 30 other Hall of Famers and their families at this exclusive event. As part of the official proceedings, the members of the St Andrew Choir (mostly made up of boys from BGS and girls from Firbank), performed a spine-tingling account of the Hallelujah Chorus. The Gallery of Honour is located in the walkway between the Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall and the Atrium off St Andrews Street through the Wallman Gates. The BGS Hall of Fame was introduced in 2008 as part of the Centenary celebrations of the Old Brighton Grammarians’ Society. Only Old Boys of BGS can be inducted into the Hall of Fame and at the inaugural induction, 27 past students were
Sam Walsh AO cuts the ribbon to officially open the BGS Hall of Fame, Gallery of Honour.
selected of which eleven were inducted posthumously. In 2011 and 2015 a further 20 were inducted (10 in each year). 2011 saw the introduction of Rising Stars to the Hall of Fame, and in 2015 we added Young Achievers. Triennial inductions are held with a selection panel receiving nominations governed by a strict set of criteria. SUMMER 2015/16 71
OLD BOYS NEWS
Near & Far Michael Rozenes (OB 1964) retired from the role of Chief Judge of the County Court on 22 June 2015 owing to his state of health. Michael was honoured and recognised by the Council of Judges for his outstanding and inspiring leadership over 12 years. Associate Professor Craig French (OB 1982) is a specialist Intensive Care Physician and Anaesthetist. He is the Director of Intensive Care at Western Health, Melbourne, a Clinical Associate Professor of the University of Melbourne, and the Chair of the ANZICS Clinical Trials Group (Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society). His primary interests are multicentre clinical research, clinical ethics, and guideline development.
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Ross Latta (OB 2002) married Kate Sereda in January 2015 at Zonzo in the Yarra Valley. Ross and Kate met through mutual friends and have spent many wonderful years together living in London and travelling throughout Europe. Ross proposed to Kate on a clifftop in Capri, Italy. Ross, a qualified Chartered Accountant, studied a Bachelor of Commerce at Monash University and is currently working as a Senior Finance Analyst at Telstra while completing his Master of Business Administration at Melbourne Business School.
Bruce Hardy (OB 2005) directed the Australian premiere of Maple & Vine at the MTC’s Lawler Theatre in December 2015. Maple & Vine is the creation of Jordan Harrison, a Pulitzer Prize nominee and writer for the hit TV show Orange is the New Black. Bruce is the Artistic Director of BottledSnail Productions, the production company for Melbourne’s legal industry. BottledSnail formed in 2013, is a volunteer-run, notfor-profit organisation that creates and supports highquality theatrical projects within Melbourne.
Trevor Gibson (OB 2001) and Amanda Cansdale were married in the grounds of of Brighton’s Billilla Mansion in Halifax Street on Saturday 5 December 2015 followed by a reception at the Half Moon Hotel in Church Street. Amanda is the daughter of Tony Hoare (OB 1966). Trevor and Amanda with their three children L to R twins, Ben and Ella and older sister Olivia.
Brent Purcell (OB 2005) graduated from RMIT University in 2009 with a Bachelor of Civil and Infrastructure Engineering. He entered the Royal Australian Air Force as part of the undergraduate scheme in 2008 while finishing his studies. Upon graduating Brent went on a further 18 months of military training, which included officer and military engineering training. Brent is currently employed as an Airfield Engineer. Brent’s first posting was to RAAF Base Townsville for three years where he was promoted to the rank of Flight Lieutenant after his 7-month deployment to the Middle East during Operation SLIPPER. Brent is currently posted to RAAF Base Amberley outside Brisbane. He was again deployed to the Middle East as part of Operation OKRA and has led various assignments in the Pacific region.
Andrew Williams (OB 2007)has recently developed a Australian football card game, Footy Feud which he launched via social media (www.facebook.com/ sportingchancegames) and a website: www. sportingchancegames. com The game has been in development for over 18 months and has tested very positively with kids and parents. Many parents have commented on the educational benefits, given the game involves 6 times tables and counting football scores past 100.
During 2015 Tyba Murphy (OB 2014) won a scholarship to play basketball and study at Hawaii Pacific University. “HPU has helped me fulfill my lifelong dream of playing collegiate basketball,” Tyba said. “I am both privileged and blessed to have the opportunity to do so while getting a quality education.” Basketball fans will be pleased to know BGS introduced basketball at Year 8 in the APS competition in 2015 and over the next few years this will expand across all year levels. SUMMER 2015/16 73
15 Year Reunion of the Class of 2000 01 All in attedance 02 Andrew Edge, Matthew Hunt, Will Leaf and Tim Stannard 03 Andrew Fox-Lane, Tim Ghys, Craig Hamilton and Tim Marshall
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20 Year Reunion of the Class of 1995
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01 All in attendance 02 L-R: Glen Ewers, Peter Skelton, Daniel King, Cameron Rogers and Matt Lorback 03 L-R: David Crewdson, Nick Bulfin, Nick Bowring, Jeremy Ryan and Andrew Lewis
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25 Year Reunion of the Class of 1990 03
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01 The Class of 1990 02 John Phillips’ very first class in 1983 ‘5 Argyle’ – L-R: Nick Hill, Andrew Moratis, John Phillips, Rob Sinclair, Anthony Kritikides, Jonathan ‘Nobby’ Forster, Brad Pollock and Charlie Fletcher 03 Steve Lewis’ 2nd Class, 5 Melville 1983 L-R: Nick Wartman, Danny Miller, Matt Reid, Steve Lewis, Yuri Schneider, Steve Kerr, Don Blanksby, Rob Fowler and Andrew Charles in front 04 Matt Reid, Nick Wartman, Simon Crowe and Brad Pollock
Sydney Reunion
Rob Priestley (OB 1978), Chief Executive Officer, J.P. Morgan ASEAN Region, Australia and New Zealand, kindly hosted the OBGS Sydney reunion in his magnificent Sydney offices, in order that our Sydney Alumni could meet our 8th Headmaster Ross Featherston, Office in late 2015.
The reunion enjoying the generous hospitality of Rob Priestley and JP Morgan Australasia
Thanks to our OBGS Sponsor
Vale
Take a closer look at Michael’s specialist suppliers of kitchen and laundry appliances in Hampton Street, Brighton. Ask for Old Boys Simon Williams or Michael Wood.
It is with sadness we advise the names of Old Brighton Grammarians and their year of leaving who have passed away. Our condolences to their families.
Phone (03) 9592 6400 or visit our showroom 24 hours a day at michaelsappliancecentre.com.au
Brian Bowler (1950) Barry Burgess (1956) Denby Frew (1960) Chris Haymes (1964) Barry Luxton (1943) Ken Mole (1939) Gerald O’Byrne (1940) Simon Smith (1982) Robert Turner (1935) Keith Twining (1947) Nick Walsh (1931) in his 101st Year Roly Webb (1950) Bruce Yemm (1954) SUMMER 2015/16 77
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40 Year Reunion of the Class of 1975 1975 was a very significant year in the sporting history of Brighton Grammar School. It was the year BGS won its first APS Premiership winning the Football under the coaching brilliance of the late, great, Danny Dalziel and featuring the silky skills of the great Barry Besanko, who went on to play at Essendon (without supplements). For those rugby union devotees reading this, yes, the 1st XV won the premiership in 1969 but then, as now, Rugby was not an APS sport. Having won the APS Football Premiership for the second year in succession in 2015, it was a great thrill to be able to have the Adamson Cup at the function. 78 SUMMER 2015/16
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01 The whole group with the Adamson Cup being held by two of the 1975 Premiership players Drew Marget left and Barry Basanko 02 L-R: Frank McDermott, Leigh Hamilton, Rick Furnell, Stuart Noakes and Ernest Cinque 03 L-R: Stephen Dobbie, Philip Mellody, Malcolm Robertson and Cameron Crichton
50 Years On Reunion
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At the 50 Years On Reunion this year, we welcomed members of the Class of 1965 to this elite group.
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01 The Class of 1965; from the left, Owen Harris, Michael Talbot, Peter Gutteridge, Wayne Brewster, Peter Curtain (obscured behind Wayne), Graham Wells, David Field, Andrew ‘Tiger’ Tims, David Jane, Michael Crofts, John Stockdale, Graeme Wells, Howard Hoskins, David Wood, Geoffrey Down, David Smorgon OAM, and Ewan Morgan 02 L-R: David Smorgon OAM, Ewan Morgan and Howard Hoskins 03 Don Cameron left and Graham Symon right (both past OBGS Presidents) with Peter Toms centre (BGS living legend) 04 Peter Curtain (1965) after being presented with his 50 Year lapel pin by OBGS President, Sam Paynter (1986) SUMMER 2015/16 79
OBGS reunion calendar 2016 Please mark these dates in your diary for reunions to be held in 2016. Invitations will be mailed approximately six weeks prior to the year group reunions. Every reunion held at the School will be preceded by a full tour of the School commencing at the Oak Tree, one hour before the start of the function. REUNION
FUNCTION
VENUE
DATE
TIME
Top Enders ‘Zachariah’ Cricket
Lunch
Pritchard Room
5 February
12.30pm
60 Years On ‘Pendennis Chapter’
Morning tea and lunch
Senior School Library
12 February
10.30am
Class of 2015 Welcome
Drinks
New Bay Hotel
19 February
6.30pm
Shanghai Reunion
Cocktails
Le Royal 28 February Meridien Shanghai
6.30pm
30 Year – Class of 1986
Dinner
RSC Hall
4 March
7.00pm
Hong Kong Reunion
Cocktails
Office of Minter Ellison
6 March
Meliora Club
Dinner
RSC Hall
15 March
7.00pm
Top Enders
Lunch
TBA
29 April
12.30pm
10 Years, Class of 2006
Cocktails
Middle School, Nexus
20 May
6.30pm
5 Years, Class of 2011
Drinks
New Bay Hotel
27 May
6.30pm
Top Enders
Lunch
TBA
24 June
12.30pm
15 Years, Class of 2001
Dinner
RSC Hall
3 June
7.00pm
20 Years, Class of 1996
Dinner
RSC Hall
29 July
7.00pm
25 Years, Class of 1991
Dinner
RSC Hall
19 August
7.00pm
Top Enders
Lunch
TBA
26 August
12.30pm
40 Years, Class of 1976
Dinner
RSC Hall
14 October
7.00pm
50 Years On Reunion
Lunch
RSC Hall
2 December
12.30pm
Top Enders Christmas
Lunch
TBA
16 December
12.30pm
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WE TEACH BOYS TO BE SUCCESSFUL MEN Brighton Grammar School 90 Outer Crescent Brighton VIC 3186 Australia t 03 8591 2200 w www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au CRICOS Provider No. 00132K ABN 61 004 117 668