Meliora Sequamur - Winter 2012

MELIORA SEQUAMURBRIGHTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL Community Magazine Winter 2012

2 3

Front cover: The first viewing of the demolition for the new Middle School was conducted by Headmaster, Michael Urwin. In attendance were supporters of the capital campaign.

Pictured: The Headmaster with Roger Adams and his son Samson, Aleks Kulesza and his son Martin, along with Alec Ciciulla.

Please contact John Phillips for further information on how to support this important project.

Editor and feature writer: Natalie van Wetering

Key Contributors: Andrew Biggin, John Phillips, Peter Toms, Sonia Wagner and Michelle Wilson.

Photography: Andrew Biggin, Sarah Bishop, Mark Chew, John Phillips, Anna Tesoriero, Peter Tutera and the BGS archives.

Designed by: Anna Tesoriero

Printed by: Adams Print

Registered by Australia Post: P/P 3406 38/00001

Well, it’s that time again! Another four years have passed and again we will enjoy the spectacle of the Olympic Games.

Each Games brings with it not only outstanding individual and team performances, but also controversies. Already in the lead up to the London Games, there has been significant coverage regarding team selection criteria, and debate about behavioral expectations of athletes.

Perhaps this is a good time to reflect on the Olympic ideal, and whether those participating are acting in a manner consistent with that ideal.

By extrapolation, then, we might reflect on our own moral compass, to consider whether we are acting consistently with our stated values.

Most would know the Olympic Motto: ‘Citius – Altius – Fortius’ - Swifter, Faster, Stronger, but the Olympic spirit is so much more.

The Olympic spirit is best expressed in the Olympic Creed: "The most important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win, but to take part, just as the most important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle. The essential thing is not to have conquered, but to have fought well." It is such a pity that this spirit seems to have become significantly diminished over the years.

In the preamble in the Olympic Charter, the first fundamental Principle of Olympism describes it as "a philosophy of life, exalting and combining in a balanced whole the qualities of body, will and mind. Blending sport with culture and education, Olympism seeks to create a way of life based on the joy of effort, the educational value of good example, social responsibility and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles."

I suspect, if relevant sporting authorities used this as the basis of their decision making, we would not see the apparent inconsistencies we see so regularly.

This is not dissimilar to the way we should be making decisions at a school level with regard to sport,

and with regard to many other things as well!

Too often we make our decisions based on expediency, or worse, proclaiming the moral high ground when in fact we are compromising our values.

In the same way we are running the risk of losing the Olympic ideal, are we losing sight of the main purpose of sport in schools?

Schools are not sporting academies.

It is a fundamental premise at Brighton Grammar School that we are focusing on a broad, liberal education. We are focusing on the development of the mind, the body, and the spirit. Yes, we want to do as well as we can in competitive games, totally within the spirit of the game. The special opportunity participation in competitive games gives us in developing character, in developing an understanding of our own frailties, and the frailties of others, and the importance of teamwork in achieving a goal, cannot be underestimated.

Let us never lose sight of this noble purpose.

Some thoughts from the Headmaster

Top Down at the Yarra watching the rowing training.

Above lefT The 1983 Head of the River winning team.

Above RigHT Peter with his wife Judy.

In late May, as part of an ongoing campaign to raise awareness and seek support for the new Middle School and Arts Precinct Development, a mail out was sent to over 8,500 people in our community including Old Boys, past parents and current parents. This followed up from an earlier postcard alert.

One of the features of the mail out was that it was targeted to specific year groups of Old Boys. So the 2002 Old Boys received a different version to the 1975 Old Boys. This segmented approach went all the way back to the 1930s, and the individualised designs including particular memories from the year groups such as winning APS Premierships, as well as photos of the boys from their last year at BGS and even teachers that they would remember fondly. Each Year Group mail out was fronted by a few Old Boys of that year, so peer recognition was a key factor which tapped into strong existing

networks and word-of-mouth endorsement. This mail out was followed up by a successful telethon where some of our younger Old Boys rang Old Boys in certain Year Groups asking them if they had received the mail out, what they thought of it and if they had considered supporting the campaign.

A generic version of the mail out was sent to all past parents and current parents which highlighted key points regarding the Middle School and Arts Precinct Development, Brighton Grammar’s rich heritage and also prompted current and past parents to consider supporting our huge commitment to the future of teaching and learning at BGS.

Now is the time to help your school and if you haven’t done so, please return the donation form or call (03) 8591 2271 to support the campaign. ‘A little from a lot’ is an extremely powerful way of making a difference. All gifts are tax deductible.

Schools are not

sporting academies.

Crash, bang – it’s music to our ears!

BGS MERCHANDISE

Did you know there is an extensive range of BGS Merchandise available for purchase?

Whether you are a current student, parent, Old Boy or friend of the School, we have something to meet your own or gift giving needs.

To make your selection, either visit the Development Office at 278 New Street Brighton or shop on-line via the BGS Website.

Olympism is a philosophy of life, that places sport at the service of humankind.

The demolition of the site for the new Middle School started in earnest on Thursday 14 June and it was quite remarkable to see how the site transformed in just 8 days. These pictures tell it all.

OUR ARCHITECTS WIN AWARD

Clarke Hopkins Clarke Architects, designers of the Peter Toms ELC and the new Middle School, and major sponsor of BGS, recently were announced the winner of the Best New Major Facility at the prestigious CEFPI (Council of Educational Facility Planners International) Australasia’s Regional Awards for their work at Mount Waverley Secondary College Junior Campus. We are certainly in good hands here!

A LITTLE BIT FROM A LOT

4 5

BGS is the first

school in Australia

to roll out Android

tablets?

CHESS MAKES KIDS SMARTER

Chess is now available as a lunchtime activity in the Middle School thanks to the hard work of the Year 8 Extension Studies class. After some very careful planning, the group painted a giant chess board in the school yard. Playing chess helps students achieve many learning outcomes faster and more effectively. Put simply, chess makes kids smarter.

Benjamin Franklin once said, “The game of Chess is not merely an idle amusement. Several very valuable qualities of the mind, useful in the course of human life, are to be acquired or strengthened by it, so as to become habits, ready on all occasions.” He included foresight, circumspection and caution as the main qualities of mind.

The boys of Rosstrevor will now be able to make similar connections themselves as they battle it out on the new giant chess board. Let the games begin......

Maths Week took place in the Junior School in June. There was a myriad of activities including ‘Maths is Amazing’ posters, multi-age Maths rotations, Brickworks and Orienteering Incursions, a Year 5/6 Family Maths Night building billy carts and a Maths Dress Up Day.The Year 3 boys pictured are modelling their Maths Dress Up Day as part of our celebrations of all things mathematical.

MATHS WEEK

P O S T

C A R D

On April 18, a squad of 18 hockey

players from Auckland Grammar

played a match against the BGS

1st XI at Brighton Secondary College.

The match largely served as a

warm-up for BGS prior to the start

of the season, and also provided an

opportunity for boys trying out for the

1st XI to demonstrate their skills. Both

sides played very well throughout the

very exciting match – ending in a two

all draw.

Hopefully it won’t be too long before

our hockey team will be able to travel

to NZ.

HOCKEY NEWSP O S T

C A R D

Above Pictured from left to right are Ben De Warsop, Sam Stevens and Michael Chang applying the finishing touches to the board.

Term 1 saw the launch of the very first episode of BGS TV, and was introduced to boys from Years 10 and 11 with an interest in media studies. It is one option for the Thursday afternoon Activity Program, and is used as a way to share some stories from across the School.

In the first episode, viewers met the new Head of the Senior School, Ross Featherston, and some boys from the ELC. We were given an insight into the ‘Ute Full of Food’, a comical car guide, and enjoyed the musical talents of some boys.

Not only are the boys on screen talents on display, but also the ‘behind the scenes’ skills of these boys. Led by Fergus Irwin, the group meets every Wednesday lunchtime, as well as during Thursday activity time, to brainstorm segment ideas, film the footage and edit the segments.

Once this is complete, the anchormen are filmed in our green screen studio, before the group compiles all segments into a full 20 minute episode.

We have a passion for sh@ring our facilitiesBack in the early days course providers came in for a chat and a handshake and suddenly a good idea came to fruition. Today course providers undergo detailed scrutiny and complete mountains of risk and insurance paperwork before they start. This greater responsibility is maybe borne out also by the numbers that now attend our programs. In the early days, 3,000 would attend our programs in a year, 40% of those attending were from other schools and 25% of those courses run were for children. Today, 8,000 attend our programs each year, 90% of those are from other schools and 95% of those courses are for children. Certainly Sh@re’s story is one of significant growth over time!

Just like Sh@re itself, several of the programs under the Sh@re umbrella have also enjoyed a similar journey of growth. The Director of SHINE Academy for Girls and LONGFORD & FRASER Leadership Academy for Boys, Melissa Anderson, explained, “We started with 8 girls in the Girrawheen Chapel on a Tuesday night. Now we have 105 girls and boys spread from Monday to Saturday, in five classes,

In 2000, it was decided to open the BGS facilities to the Bayside community by establishing a Community Education program. From humble beginnings, “Camp Brighton”, the original holiday program run at BGS, has grown to be the substantial multi faceted program it is today. For at least the last five years, if not longer, the BGS Camp Brighton program has been the biggest holiday program in Melbourne!

Originally the initiative and responsibility of former Year 6 Teacher, John Phillips, Director of Special Projects & Community Engagement at BGS, and now managed by Sonia Wagner, the program evolved five years ago to be a joint venture with Firbank Grammar under the name of Sh@re Community Campus.

The Sh@re model is widely regarded as being the benchmark model across Australia, and many other schools have visited our school seeking help to set up their own community education program.

It’s interesting to look back at the history of Sh@re and see how things have changed.

learning the important life skills of resilience, leadership and how to handle criticism, conflict and failure.”

Children may initially attend the program tentatively; especially the boys, wondering why mum and dad are sending them. But after just one lesson, one mum reported, “My son came out smiling sheepishly, and announced, “That was the coolest class ever!”

The diversity of programs on offer is ever expanding and currently includes music and performance programs (acting, dance and drama), personal development programs, educational based programs (Kumon, iPad app building and G.A.T.E.Ways), sports programs, art programs and our very popular parenting programs. If you wish to be part of this excitement and growth, for your company or your child, please contact Sonia Wagner at [email protected] or see our website, www.share.vic.edu.au for further details about courses and programs.

Above Deb Percy, Director of Acting Antics, shares her passion for singing.

beloW lefT Grace and Lucinda learning their lines.

6 7

Above Jason Bain

As most people in our community would know, bgS has had an association with the Martyrs' Memorial School in the remote hill country of papua New guinea since the early 1960s.

This association has been re-invigorated and strengthened over the past few years through the great work of Jason Bain overseeing several groups of boys visiting the school as part of the BGS Sea Change program. On each visit, the BGS boys have not only had a life changing cultural exchange, but have also been involved in a community service project such as building and repair projects.

In June 2012, our support went to a whole new level! The Headmaster, six academic staff, eight senior boys and the Archbishop of Melbourne, Dr Philip Freier, travelled north to PNG to conduct an educational conference for the staff of the Martyrs' School and teachers from schools in the surrounding Oro Province.

The conference was entitled connecting Cultures. It opened with a Eucharist in the Martyrs’ Memorial School Chapel, presided over by the Archbishop of PNG, the Right Reverend Joseph Kopapa, with the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Right Reverend Dr Philip Freier preaching. There were a number of keynote addresses,

including one from the Headmaster. BGS staff led workshops in curriculum areas: Anna Austin and Matt McLellan in Mathematics, Dan Belluz and Sarah Bishop in the

bgS hosts conference in pNg

WHAT A TREASUREBGS is certainly fortunate to have Jason Bain, BGS Senior Administration Officer, to facilitate the various BGS visits to PNG. He always goes to great lengths to ensure that the various flights, connections and transfers are all dovetailed smoothly, and his strong commitment to the well-being and safety of the boys is evident at all times. Jason always has every aspect of the trip covered from start to finish which is a key factor in ensuring its ongoing success.

WHY DO WE GO TO PNG?

As well as the obvious community service benefits to the people of the Martyrs' Memorial School, the life experience offered to the boys is difficult to better. The benefits of travelling to another country and experiencing different cultures are well known, but going to a working school creates many unique learning opportunities. Essentially, the boys become a part of the day to day operations of a school environment quite unlike their own. They interact with their hosts, and are given a project like building 20 or so pews for the benefit of the local community (under Jason’s direction), which no doubt gives them great personal satisfaction.

Senior Politics teacher, Denis Woodward, who was on the last trip explains, “It is evident that the Martyrs' School is appreciative of the support BGS has afforded it over the years. This is evident everywhere we went around the school campus – in the faces, body language and behaviour of staff and students alike. Not only, (dare I say it) is Jason widely regarded as a god-like figure, but the Martyrs' community also showed the rest of us great respect and allowed us access to the life of the school”.

Sciences, Torie Johns in English and the Humanities, Cameron Taylor in IT, and Simon Kessler and Michael Urwin working with the leadership of the schools on school management. Our boys were also involved in workshops with senior students from the four Oro Province secondary schools. On one level it was a confronting experience for BGS boys and staff in that it is clear that the government and schools there struggle to provide adequate resources for staff and students, and with class sizes of around 50, there is little flexibility with curriculum delivery. But it was also inspirational to observe the dedication of teachers and students to making a better future for their community. This conference was fully funded with the combined support of many organisations including BGS.

To teach is to learn twice.

MARTYRS' SCHOOL ENTERS THE DIGITAL AGE

Another exciting project to aid the Martyrs’ School was the installation of 21 new computers in March. The computers were donated and shipped to PNG by the Geelong Rotary Club. When the BGS Sea Change boys visited in March, together with Cameron Taylor, Co-ordinator of eLearning Secondary & Head of IT Years 9-12, the computers were unpacked and the computer network set up at the school.

Usually setting up such a network would be quite simple, but when power is only on for a couple of hours a day, enduring the stifling heat and having limited access to tools, made the task far more difficult.

Year 9 boys David Francis, Luca Bade and Cai Henzell helped Cameron put the computer network together over three long days. Testing the computers and network was challenging also as this could only be done at night time, when there was intermittent generator power.

The setup of the new computer room and network was completed on the final morning of the stay, allowing just enough time to guide Headmaster, Mr Jim, and some of the other staff through their new computer lab.

The population of

Papua New Guinea

is 6.5 million

lefT BGS teacher Cameron Taylor with six of our students who attended the conference.

beloW Stuart Keen with some of the locals.

RigHT Cameron Taylor

setting up the network.

Above lefT, beloW lefT AND beloW

RigHT Pictures from the

Opening Ceremony.

bgS iN pApUA NeW gUiNeA bgS iN pApUA NeW gUiNeA

8 9bgS peRfoRMANCe bgS peRfoRMANCe

liTTle SHop of HoRRoRS

The very entertaining 2012 Firbank and BGS Middle School production ‘Rock Around The Block’, was like a cross between the 1970s sitcom Happy Days and Grease, with many toe tapping tunes from the 50s showcasing the amazing talent from both schools. The production involved over 100 students in the cast, backstage, lighting, make-up, front-of-house, dancers, pit choir and the band.

Highlights included the burgeoning romance between Gracie (Stevie-Lou Arnswerth) and George (Lachlan Collie), the talented Ziggy Springer (Nick Semmens) and his sparkly 'Startlets', the 'Teen Queens', led by Ashleigh Baker and the Rebel Crew, including Sinbad (Michael Goetz), and the Beatniks (Alex Adams and Mattieu Spiers). Donald (Marshall Stannus), Virginia (Keziah Melvin), Louise (Sienna Parrot), Jughead (Charlie Levine) and Officer Moore (Stephen Allen) also provided many comic moments, as did Gracie’s best friends, Evelyn (Lily Richard) and Rose-Marie (Laura Darras).

This entertaining show was directed by Firbank teacher Michele McNamara who was supported by former Firbank graduates (Jess Doutch and Siobhan Barnes) who helped direct and choreograph the show.

RoCk ARoUND THe bloCk

The musical comedy, Little Shop of Horrors, was a brilliant choice for the 2012 Senior School production between Firbank Grammar School and BGS staged in the Rosstrevor Hall. Cast superbly, the fast paced, energetic show was fun to watch (and no doubt even more fun to be part of) leaving audiences in awe with the quality of the talent – particularly of the lead roles.

Hank Kim, playing the unlikely hero, Seymour, and Madison Hamilton, playing his co-worker and eventual love interest, Audrey, were both excellent. They had strong voices, great timing and loveable characters. They were supported by Carson Lewis, who almost seemed to enjoy playing the demented and cruel dentist just a little too much! The florist shop owner, Mushnik, played by Mark Lutjen, was very believable and Patch Clapp nailed the radio DJ and narrator roles. The whole production was tightly tied together with the singing, dancing, talented Audrettes from Firbank.

And of course the real hero of the show was Audrey II (pictured below), the ever growing,

ill-tempered, foul mouthed, blood eating plant. It was magic to watch the chemistry between puppeteers Hannah Bullock and Wesley Naylor, with the R&B singing and rather sexy voice of Andrew Alesi, normally known for his opera!

Congratulations to the cast, crew, Director Peter Wiles, Musical Director Rodney Ford and Production Manager Ross Vernon for putting on such a great show.

beloW The trip culminated with a river cruise around Shanghai city. By this time the group really knew each other and had become a 'team'.

Hitting the right note in ChinaDuring the first term holidays, 52 music students and 6 teachers from brighton grammar and firbank grammar, embarked on a concert and cultural tour to Hong kong and China.

The first five days in Hong Kong were intense with little time to rest. The schedule included playing at a primary school where the group was entertained by an amazing Chinese Drum group, performed at two high schools and in public at the Avenue of Stars on Hong Kong Harbour. Captain of Music, Hank Kim (Year 12), explained “The second outdoor concert was a highlight for me because we relaxed a bit more in the informal environment so I believe we played better, impressing the hundreds of spectators who were enjoying a Chinese public holiday.”

The second part of the tour was seven days in Shanghai, China where the touring group performed at some more schools and

undertook lots of sightseeing. Prior to each performance the School Captain of the host school would welcome and introduce the touring group to the assembled staff and students. This was always done in English. In return, our Year 12 students took it in turns introducing the various parts of the concert in both English and Chinese.

According to the students, other highlights of the trip included the special friendships formed on the trip. “Everyone fitted in and was involved. We really got to know each other and see the different talents at Brighton and Firbank,” reflected Hank. “Travelling with the girls really added to the trip”.

Most importantly, the students experienced the intense schedules some musicians undergo and also learnt to work together as a team. Once that was achieved, special friendships were formed and the memories that students came back with will never be forgotten. Above Madison Hamilton and Matilda Byrne.

Above RigHT Carson Lewis and Hank Kim.

beloW The Cast of Little Shop of Horrors.RigHT A memorable scene from Rock Around the Block.

beloW The Cast of Rock Around the Block.

10 11bgS MoviNg foRWARD iNfoRMATioN TeCHNologY

There are so many ways in which the fundraising efforts of the School are supported – through donating to the annual giving campaign, voluntary fee contributions, leaving a bequest – and even donating goods to the ebay fundraiser! Another way that has certainly come to the fore in recent years is through the bgS Sponsorship program.

Not only has this evolving and proactive program generated an amazing $500,000 value of goods and services over the last four years, but the program has gained attention from many other school across Australia who wish to follow our successful model. Currently there are 18 businesses who are major sponsors of the School. Several of the businesses have a direct connection to our School with

the owner being either a Parent or Old Boy, while others provide services to the School such as Noone Imagewear, the School uniform supplier and Select Property Services who keep BGS clean. And there are even some sponsors who have had no previous connection to BGS at all! Even though the circumstances of becoming a sponsor are varied, there is one thing in common – their shared support of BGS which assists us considerably.

A key priority that has always been considered during the sponsorship negotiations is how the potential sponsor might offer opportunities to our boys – opportunities that simply would not exist had it not been for the sponsor partnership. Examples include the Borwick House Choir singing at a Lexus event and some senior boys writing and

The numbers add up

550the distance in metres

from one end of the School to the other

15 in terabytes, the data storage capacity at

BGS

250 the number of Staff members at BGS

811 the number of people who attended Little Shop of Horrors – our Senior School

production

2014 the year our new middle

school opens

90 the percentage of

Yr 12 boys who have Smartphones

536 the number of boys in

the Senior School

QR What?!if you have walked through the grounds recently, you may have noticed some odd looking signs with the words ‘Scan and discover’ printed on them. These signs form part of our plan to make visits to our School more engaging – not only for prospective parents and their sons, but also for Current parents and old boys.

Featured on each sign is a QR Code (Quick Response Code). Visitors simply scan the QR Code using a smartphone or iPad scanning app, and on the screen a short video message will almost immediately appear with a teacher,

student or parent telling viewers a little of what happens at BGS.

The content of the video is related to the location of the sign. For example, when you scan the QR Code on the sign at the G.B.Robertson Hall, a one minute video featuring a Year 6 boy talking about the Year 6 billy cart project will start playing – a definite highlight of Year 6 and a video we want visitors to see.

Over the coming months more of these signs will be erected around the School giving visitors the opportunity for their visit to ‘come to life’. We believe this is a great way to harness the QR Code technology but this isn’t its only use at BGS. There was a QR Code

on the promotion billboards for The Little Shop of Horrors allowing passersby to directly access online bookings. There are also QR Codes on the notice boards in Rosstrevor with details of the Year 7 and 8 excursion programs.

We all know that a picture tells a thousand words – and a video message tells even more. Try scanning the QR Code below with your smartphone or iPad to see what we are talking about!

As far as we know, we are the first school in Australia to use QR Codes in this innovative way. The initial feedback received from those who have already scanned some of the QR Codes, is that we are onto a winner!

TABLETS — ANOTHER LEARNING TOOL

After much research last year about the effectiveness of the tablet in the classroom, 2012 started at Brighton Grammar with every boy in the secondary years equipped with a mobile tablet, funded by the Federal Government's Digital Education Revolution scheme. These learning devices, often referred to as iPads, although that is just one of many brands, are already proving to be a very useful tool in the classroom.

Adding over 800 new devices to the network didn’t occur without its challenges, however, now everything is bedded down and each boy has direct and immediate access to the internet for research and information. Some boys have also begun to use eBooks at school rather than carrying heavy hard copies back and forwards and others have found their tablet is a great organisational tool.

With the changes in technology occurring so quickly and the subsequent possibilities that are a consequence of such change, schools are under enormous pressure to consistently provide professional development and resources to allow staff to keep abreast of things. At BGS we now have an eLearning co-ordinator in each part of the school as well as a comprehensive program of training workshops to support them.

TABLET BOOK CLUB FOR TEENS

In what is thought to be an Australian first, BGS Middle School Librarian, Nerelie Teese, has harnessed current technology and established a Tablet Book Club for boys from Years 7 & 8.

Since introducing mobile devices across the secondary years at the start of this year, we have already found the boys and staff have embraced them as an effective learning, research and organisational tool.

Some adolescent boys are ‘reluctant readers’ but having them read e-books rather than traditional paperbacks has made the level of interest soar! The first title chosen was The Gallows Curse, the first of a five book series by England based author Andrew Hammond.

Nerelie made contact with Andrew who wrote to the Book Club saying, “How lovely to hear from you all! I am delighted you are reading the first title in my CRYPT series. I hope you enjoy it and it scares your socks off.”

beloW Year 8 student, Sam Ryan. SOUTH ROAD MOORABBIN

HAVE YOU SEEN OUR NEW WEBSITE?

If you haven’t done so already, do take the time to have a look at the new BGS Website which was launched earlier this year. As well as housing lots of interesting information for prospective students and staff, the website has a large image gallery, Staff, student and Old Boy profiles, latest news, Old Boys news, videos and direct access to our BGS Facebook site. www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au

The School added 900 new tablets to the network at the beginning of the year.

filming a viral ad campaign for 13CABS. Early in Term Three, the Year 6 boys commence work on a permanent art installation for Quest Brighton on the Bay and a photo competition for our boys will be held at Harvey Norman South Road Moorabbin with a camera being offered as first prize!

An added bonus is the occasional special offers offered to the wider BGS community, promoted in the ‘Our Sponsors’ section on the new BGS website.

We are indeed fortunate that such a diverse range of businesses has chosen to partner with BGS in the ways that they do. Please consider supporting the companies that support BGS. Your support of them will assist in ensuring their support of us continues!

For further information regarding our sponsorship program, please contact John Phillips, Director of Special Projects and Community Engagement, on (03) 8591 2280.

What a difference our Sponsors make

LET'S BE RIENDSConnect with us on Facebook for all the latest BGS news, photos, competitions, guest blogs and your chance to join the conversation. We want to keep you in the loop and hear what you have to say – after all, that's what friends are for.

Visit https://www.facebook.com/BrightonGrammarSchool

"LIKE" us on

facebook

valentin Corchado, franchisee of Quest brighton on the bay and major sponsor of bgS sizing up his wall for next term's art installation.

12 13bgS SEA CHANGE

FISHING

Early mornings and cold weather disrupted the boys' leisure time, but all was forgiven when they reeled in their first fish of the day. Being out on the boat drifting into the deep shipping channels was an ideal scenario for most of the boys while others, who never quite found their sea legs, preferred to catch their dinner on the sturdy and unmoving jetty.

bgS STAff

COMMUNITY SERVICE

There was a new opportunity this year for one group of Year 9 boys undertaking their Community Exploration par t of Sea Change – a residential experience at the Brotherhood of St Laurence in Fitzroy. Here the boys served their community in the true sense of the word. They cooked meals, socialised with the Brotherhood’s community members, tutored in the local primary school and were challenged to buy and cook themselves a healthy meal with just $3.70.

The boys also had their understanding deepened of what life can be like for others in Melbourne by hearing personal stories from some of the community members, one coming from a young man who had recently graduated from The University of Melbourne despite having spent 21 years of his life in refugee camps in Sudan, after being left there as a three year old.

Engendering and developing a strong social conscience is a key aspect of BGS Sea Change and the entire Brighton Grammar School education.

SURFING

Surfing continues to be a popular part of Sea Change.

Jon blackwell, teacher of Business Management, Economics and Commerce, retired at the end of Term 1 after teaching at BGS since 1990. In addition, Jon was Coordinator of House Activities, and involved in the football program, but he will be best remembered for the significant impact he had on the rowing program, especially as Teacher in Charge since 1998. In recognition of his great contribution, the Boat Club recently named a rowing four in his honour and presented him with an oar.

pam Costin, retired as the Headmaster’s Secretary after joining the Staff in 1987, working on a part-time basis in the office. In 1993 she was appointed Secretary to the Headmaster, then Mr Robert Rofe, and has filled that role with distinction ever since. Pam’s dignity, wise counsel and efficiency have been of immense benefit to the School, to Staff, Parents and Boys, but most of all to the Headmaster, who said, “I could not have hoped for a more loyal or dedicated support person.”

elaine goodridge, who is our Head of Art, has resigned from BGS after 10 years' service and will leave at the end of July. Elaine has had a significant influence on the development of a love of art for many of her students. We thank her for her contribution, and wish her success and happiness in life beyond BGS.

Radmilla Harding, who joined BGS in 2004, also left at the end of the semester to take up a position at Ruyton, in a job-share arrangement with Amanda Russell, who previously worked at BGS. Radmila, a highly regarded Special Education Teacher, has made a significant contribution in the development of our Learning Strategies Department.

gary Minihan (ob 1979), and member of the BGS Hall of Fame (400m sprinter) resigned from the role of Manager Finance and Administration (formerly BGS Accountant) in April after working at the School for 13 years. As well as being in charge of the money, Gary used his expertise as a former elite athlete to coach our athletics team. Gary has taken up the role of Finance Manager for the Southern Metropolitan Cemeteries Trust.

So far this year BGS has

donated 4,466 items of food

and groceries valued

at $13,400 to St Mark’s

Fitzroy?

beloW BGS Boys getting into Community Service.

RigHT Pam Costin, pictured with the Saints mascot, is looking forward to spending more time following her beloved footy team in her retirement.

Time to say goodbye

14 15STAff pRofile

from growing up on the ski fields at Mt buller to Marketing the Dorchester Hotel in london, elC teacher, Mel perks, has certainly thrown herself into everything in her life with great gusto.

Mel’s early years were based in Mansfield at the foot of the mountains. She learned to ski when she was three and spent

several winters at the School on Mt Buller. She has now skied 25 snow seasons!

Although her home was the country, Mel’s mother, with her children, moved to Melbourne for school. Mel’s older twin brothers attending Ivanhoe Grammar while Mel attended MLC, where her mother became the Kindergarten teacher.

Each night after school, Mel would meet her mother at the Kindergarten and each year help with the Christmas plays. ‘‘Kinder was always part of my life’’ explained Mel. Every weekend, after a busy week at work and school, the family would travel back to Mansfield.

It took a little while, but soon Mel thrived at MLC and was the Junior School Captain, the School Vice Captain, House Captain and Drama Captain. ‘‘I made the most of everything. I loved it! Diving, violin, piano, voice and speech, debating and gym.’’

Mel’s father had three hotels, so not surprisingly after completing school, Mel studied in the area she knew she always would. She gained a Bachelor of Business majoring in Catering and Hotel Management. She thrived in this world and in her third year of study had the chance to work in a five star hotel in Orlando, Florida for six months. While it was long hours and hard work, Mel was given the opportunity to work in all areas of the hotel, and each night after work the staff had free access to the famous Orlando theme parks.

On returning home after completing her degree, Mel worked in her father’s hotel on Mt Buller.

After a couple of years, Mel had itchy feet and went to London where she landed a

Melissa perks - from brides to boys – it’s the people skills that shine through!

job with the Dorchester Hotel, overlooking Hyde Park in the prestigious suburb of Mayfair. Mel loved working there, ultimately in the role of Group Sales and Marketing Manager, responsible also for the hotels in Paris, New York and Beverley Hills. However, being a homebody and very close to her family, Mel came home and spent several years across a couple of venues as a wedding and functions organiser. ‘‘At Butleigh Wootton I would organise everything – ceremonies, music, fountains, flowers and would even be the MC!” she exclaimed. “Often we would have 5 weddings in one weekend.’’

While Mel loved her 10 years working in these types of roles, she had a feeling her life was missing something. A friend suggested she go back to University and follow her other passion and study Early Childhood Education. And that’s what Mel did, combining full time study with her part-time work organising functions.

Now Mel is at BGS she feels her personal values align perfectly with the School values.

‘‘I am the happiest I have ever been. I have lived in many places, travelled and I still ski – but I love the boys. They are grounded and they say it as it is.”

ARoUND THe SCHool

Staff achievements

Tony (second from left) with his two sons, Michael and Andrew, and partner Marie at Government House.

The BGS First Aid Officer, Tony Smith, was invited to Government House in March to attend his investiture conducted by the Governor of Victoria, Alex Chernov AC QC and accept his insignia marking his promotion to the Grade of Officer of Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem (more commonly known as the Order of St John).

Tony joined St John in 1984 in Preston Division and in the early 90s started up a division in Keilor and was promoted to Divisional Superintendent. He has always taken great joy in training young people with their first aid skills and then seeing them move into Medicine,

Nursing and Paramedics because of their involvement with St John.

In 2003, Tony was promoted to State Staff conducting Investigations within the organisation and, in 2005, he gained a further promotion when he accepted the role of Ceremonial and Protocol.

In March 2005, Tony received the Order of St John as a Member of the Order which has led to this current promotion as an Officer of the Order of St John.

At BGS, Tony uses his expertise to train the St John Cadets to become confident and

competent First Aiders and know what to do in an emergency. He also would like to encourage more of the boys to attend First Aid duties at venues such as Etihad Stadium, MCG, ANZAC Day and other events.

Tony’s family is St John orientated with his partner Marie, a Regional Supeintendent and his son, Michael, who has just come out of the cadet program and is now an adult member at Brimbank. Michael is well known to the BGS boys, especially the First and Second XVIII Football sides, as he has always helped Tony with first aid at the football games on Saturday as well as the Footy Camp.

CONGRATULATIONS MICHAEL!

Our Headmaster, Michael Urwin, has been named one of fourteen eminent Australian educators honoured with Fellowship of the Australian College of Educators (ACE).

Michael, who has been our Headmaster since 1996, received the Fellowship for distinctive and wide ranging contributions to education and educational leadership over many years, particularly in the area of school leadership within the Independent sector, at both the State and National levels.

Michael said, “It’s one thing for an external body to recognise a person’s contribution; it’s something more powerful to be recognised by your peers. It’s the recognition of my peers that is the most powerful element of receiving the Fellowship.”

ACE Fellows are people of high integrity who have made a contribution well beyond the ordinary and strive to help those they work with reach their full potential, while working in a progressive, inclusive and equitable way.

TONY SMITH RECOGNISED FOR OUTSTANDING SERVICE

The Most venerable order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, more commonly referred to as "The Order of St John", is a British order of chivalry recognised by the Commonwealth of Australia in its Order of Precedence, granted a Royal Charter by Queen Victoria in 1888.

St John Ambulance Australia is the corporate organisation founded to carry out the humanitarian objectives of the Order of St John in Australia.

Most members of St John Ambulance Australia (Victoria) are not members of the Order, but a few are invited to become members if nominated in recognition of outstanding service to the organisation.

Usually, people are admitted in the Grade of "Member" (MStJ); continued outstanding service to the organization may result in nomination for promotion in the Order to the Grades of Officer (OStJ), Commander (CStJ), Knight (KStJ) or Dame (DStJ).

ST JO

HN

AMBULANCE AU

STRALIA

16 17SCieNCe AT bgS

RIGHT Time for a rest.

BELOW RIGHT The challenge continues.

SCieNCe AT bgS

GETTING OUT AND ABOUT

As part of their study of eco-systems, the Unit 1/2 VCE Biology students, a mix of Year 10 and 11 boys, visited the Marine Discovery Centre in Queenscliff for a day of first hand data sampling and assessment of the ecological relationships, niches and impact within this spectacular location.

Located on the shores of Swan Bay in Queenscliff, the centre provides a unique location to learn about the plants and animals that inhabit our coast and marine environment. Such field trips provide the boys with an invaluable opportunity to practise their field techniques, such as using transect lines and quadrats, as well as completing quantative assessment along the rocky shoreline.

BILBY VISITS THE SENIOR SCHOOL SCIENCE LAB

The Staff in ELC 3 have discovered the boys have a keen interest in creatures – specifically creepy crawlies! They love catching lizards, cockroaches and spiders and observing them closely. The staff know that, following the boys’ natural interests, ensures high levels of enquiry and motivation.

To build on the boys’ passion for creatures even further, Jane Nurton, the Senior School Laboratory Manager, invited the boys over to the Senior School Campus to meet the menagerie of animals in the lab. Our littlest boys were dwarfed in the big boys’ seats and peeped over the desks as Jane introduced her creatures one by one.

The boys got up close and personal with a blue tongue lizard, green tree frog, turtle, full sized stick and spiny leaf insects and leaf litter bugs. They watched intently when Jane fed Daryl the turtle his meaty dinner. It was definitely ‘hands to ourselves’ when Jane introduced us to her bird eating spider and Hugo the python. The boys had such a wonderful morning asking lots of questions

and were disappointed when it was time to go.

Wandering back through the Senior School to our ELC many of the senior boys stopped to say hello. One of the ELC boys said, “Miss Kenny, those big boys are

so nice to us. I like seeing them.”

What a great way to immerse the boys in our wider BGS community.

Those big boys are so nice to us. I like seeing them.

our boys are making a differenceOver the last 18 months, each group of Year 9 boys visiting King Island has worked hard to remove sea spurge (euphorbia paralias), a noxious weed along the beaches of the island.

This European weed which arrived via ships’ ballast water about 70 years ago, is having a devastating effect on the biodiversity of the coastal ecosystems on the island.

Sea spurge is quick to displace natural vegetation and alter the habitat. It rapidly covers the exposed beaches, which are important breeding sites for migratory and beach nesting birds. With 49 threatened plant species and seven threatened animal species inhabiting the island’s 201km coastline, this

weed poses an obvious threat to the native wildlife.

Sea spurge is a small leafy shrub, pale green in colour. It grows to about 70cm in height and has multiple stems covered in small tightly packed leaves. Small green flowers appear at the end of the stems and bloom between September and May.

One plant can produce up to 5,000 salt-tolerant seeds which can survive for a number of years on ocean currents, spreading them from beach to beach.

Cape Wickham State Reserve is situated at the northern tip of the island and contains the famous Cape Wickham Lighthouse. At 52m high, it is the tallest lighthouse in Australia and was built in 1861.

It was decided to target a site south west of the lighthouse through coordination with King Island Natural Resource Management Group. Their advice and guidelines are strictly adhered to and ensure the safe and effective removal of the weed. Removal was by hand pulling with the assistance of hand forks where required. The method ensured a very high kill rate and was appropriate for untrained personnel. The group was careful not to exacerbate erosion in the area and were cautious when handling sea spurge, as the sap can be potentially harmful.

When the first group started in October 2010, the site was knee deep in sea spurge. After a few hours of concerted effort, the group

succeeded in clearing the majority of the chosen area – resulting in a huge pile of weeds.

In March 2011, three and a half months after initial efforts, the tenacious sea spurge showed signs of returning. Again, the boys pulled out a huge pile of weeds - pictured below left.

On our first expedition to King Island this year, it was wonderful to see that the hard work of the previous groups had not been in vain.

There were clear signs of native revegetation at the site. Again, the weeds were tackled and yet another pile was created; only this one was half the size of the first. It is hoped that upon returning in July, there will be little evidence of re-colonisation of the sea spurge. As any future growth is likely to be minimal, other sites around the island are being investigated.

National Science Week is celebrated in August each year. Last year there were a number of lunchtime activities including the visitation of various animals, special foods in the canteen, using foods with healing properties, as well as a photographic competition. With this year's National Science Week rapidly approaching, our Boys are looking forward to for more exciting activities this year.

NATIONAL SCIENCE WEEK

P O S T

C A R D

ABOVE Hands on learning with Sarah Bishop, Head of Biology.

ABOVE Jane Nurton sharing her passion for reptiles.

LEFT Peering at the creatures over the "big boy" desks.

RIGHT "If I stay still Miss Kenny, this bug won't crawl up my jumper!"

18 19oUR CoMMUNiTY

The youngest artists at Brighton Grammar’s Early Learning Centre are no strangers to allowing their creativity and imagination run free. We continually celebrate the creative arts in all its facets. The boys have now been given the opportunity to share and showcase their work to an audience outside the BGS community.

Zart Art is a major provider of art resources and professional development courses for schools across Melbourne. The team at Zart are committed to offering young artists gallery space at their centre in Box Hill. It is an important part of any artists’ development to display their work to a broad audience and receive feedback and praise. The gallery displays work from ELC through to VCE from schools across Melbourne and it is with great pride

ELC CREATIVITY SPREADS ITS WINGS

that we are able to present the work our youngest boys have enjoyed creating.

Pieces from ELC3 Bilby and ELC4 Bandicoot will be presented at the Term 3 Gallery Exhibition officially opening on June 28 at 4.30pm. The boys’ artwork explores colour, texture, movement and 3 dimensional construction using the themes “Sea Life” (4 Bandicoot) and “Dragonflies” (3 Bilby).

If you happen to be in the Box Hill area, the gallery can be found on the first floor of Zart Customer Service Centre, 4/41 Lexton Road, Box Hill North.

The exhibition will run until September 11, 2012.

The Year 4 Learning Walk was the culmination of a detailed inquiry based term long study on Indigenous Australians, integrating both English and Humanities. The walk involved boys inviting their parents into the classroom to show them what they had learnt and taking them on a tour or ‘learning walk’ into the other Year 4 classrooms to also explore their area of study.

Each of the three classes chose a different habitat or tribe, and in small collaborative groups researched how they lived by looking at specific areas such as food, ceremonies, shelters, art, culture, medicine and weapons.

Each classroom was decorated to a theme – cave dwelling, a corroboree and a water hole.

The project also included boys making 3D models of something they researched.

This hands on, self directed learning is reflective of the 21st century teaching and learning where, as well as gaining knowledge, students are learning the important skills of how to research, be discerning, analyse, work collaboratively in teams and follow their interests. As boys learn best by doing, activities like making models increase levels of interest and retention of information.

The Seventieth Past Mothers’ Luncheon took place in the Junior School in the bright and cheerful G.B. Robertson Hall on June 1 and was attended by approximately 120 mothers from many different generations. As has been the tradition, current mothers cooked and served the lunch and it was delicious!

In celebration of this amazing milestone, three past mothers spoke about their time at the School. The speakers were: Tup Mullett, mother of Andrew (OB 1967) and Ian (OB 1969); Margot Beattie, mother of John (OB 1990) and Richard (OB 1995); and Phoebe Willcock, mother of Nigel (OB 2002), Dylan (OB 2005), Simon (OB 2007), and David (OB 2009).

All three spoke about the enjoyment of being part of a group focused on not only supporting the School through fundraising and activities, but also developing life-long friendships. The audience was amazed and delighted when Tup Mullet shared that she and her past mother friends from the 60s have continued to meet on a monthly basis over the last 40 plus years. While the size of the group has diminished, the strength of their connection to each other, the School and the Old Boys Football Club, has not.

The birthday cake was cut by Susan Gluning, mother of Michael (OB 1978), who was the most ‘senior’ past mother in attendance at the luncheon.

Convenor, Mrs Judy Gibson, mother of Trevor (OB 2001) and Dean (OB 2005) did a marvellous job coordinating the mail out of invitations and managing the responses.

The mothers of our ELC boys were spoilt again this year with such indulgences as manicures, hand massages, ‘potion’ perfume and other treats. Pictured is Louis Den Tieter from 4 Bandicoots, with his mother Maryellen.

MOTHERS DAY IN THE ELC

P O S T

C A R D

Seventy Years Young LEARNING FROM EACH OTHER

BELOW LEFT Current mothers taking a rest from their cooking duties.

TOP RIGHT Speakers Margot Beattie, Tup Mullett, and Phoebe Willcock.

BELOW Ross Featherston, Head of Senior School, mingles with some past mothers.

BELOW RIGHT Susan Gluning cuts the 70th birthday cake.

BELOW LEFT L to R Dominic Kastrinakis, Declan Gregory, Oliver Warren and Thomas Barlabas.

20 21

It promised to be spectacular and that it was! Almost 500 parents and friends gathered together in May at the Peninsula Room on Central Wharf to mark the 130th Anniversary of the School and to raise money for the new Middle School at the Crowther Bros. Circus Spectacular.

From the moment of arrival, guests were immersed into a vintage circus theme complete with circus performers, a ringmaster, fairy floss and popcorn!

As the event progressed, there was a marching band, delicious food, a thrilling fire act, enthusiastic bidding at the auction and an opportunity to dance the night away to the music of Funky Film Express.

For many people, a highlight of the night was the donation frenzy where guests used the electronic devices provided to donate $67,000 in just four minutes!

For Year 1 parent, Selena Derham, the highlight must have been when her name was

drawn for the raffle winning her a full year’s tuition for her son next year.

An amazing $200,000 was raised that night but this was only possible due to the generous support of our major event sponsors: The Atlantic Group, Clarke Hopkins Clarke – the project architects, and Etihad Airlines, as well as the many, many families who donated goods and services to the auctions and the 500 guests who were so generous on the night.

$200,000 in one night! That’s spectacular!

For BGS men – Parents, Past Parents, Old Boys and StaffWednesday, 19 SeptemberDetails will be announced shortly.

SAVE THE DATE

22 23ARoUND THe SCHool obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE

ALL AT SEA

On completing Year 12 at BGS in 2001, Andrew Burn decided to take a slightly different career path to the majority of his classmates and joined the Merchant Navy.

He enrolled at the Australian Maritime College in Launceston, to complete his Pre-Sea Training Course which equips students with basic knowledge and safety courses required to start a career at sea as a ship’s officer.

He was selected as a Cadet Deck Officer with Teekay Shipping Corporation, a USA owned medium size tanker operator and one of the world’s leading oil and gas shipping companies. During the course of the Cadetship, he studied navigation, seamanship, cargo operations and every other facet of shipboard operations that would be required once he gained his Watchkeeper’s Certificate (certification to

stand watch on the bridge of a ship at sea).

On completion of the Cadetship, he was back at the Australian Maritime College to complete his studies which was followed by time at sea as a qualified navigator.

After completing the necessary schooling and sea time required by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority, he successfully obtained his Master Mariners Certificate (captain’s certification) in December 2011, nearly 10 years after starting his Cadetship.

In 2009, he was lucky enough to be posted to the Spirit of Tasmania ships that run a passenger and freight service between Port Melbourne and Devonport, Tasmania.

Andrew took a twelve month shore-based secondment with ASP Ship Management at the start of 2012 to broaden his experience in Ship Management.

He has sailed on Crude Oil Tankers, Refined Products (petrol, kerosene etc) Tankers, Gas Carriers and Passenger Ferries and managed to make ports of call in Iran, Saudi Arabia, United States, Japan, China, Canada, Estonia, Lithuania, UK and many other Northern European ports.

OLD BOY’S RESEARCH GAINS INTERNATIONAL ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

Stefan Gehrig (OB 2002), who recently attended his 10 Year class reunion, has been awarded the Premier’s Award for Health and Medical Research for 2012.

This award recognises and honours achievements of Victoria’s early health and medical researchers. Stefan won the award for his far-reaching investigation into Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD).

In his announcement of the award, the Premier said, "Dr Gehrig discovered that increased levels of a specific protein in muscles has the potential to treat DMD – a severe and progressive muscular wasting disease." Mr Baillieu added, "Around one in every 3,500 boys worldwide is afflicted with DMD for which there is currently no cure."

In presenting Dr Gehrig with his award, the Minister for Health, Mr David Davis said, "Dr Gehrig discovered that increasing this protein in muscles improved the function of a pump responsible for controlling calcium levels, confirming it as a target for future therapeutic drugs for the disease. We anticipate that these findings could serve as the basis for future clinical trials within the next five to ten years."

The impact and significance of Stefan’s work has been acknowledged internationally and his research was recently published in the world-leading research journal, Nature.

beloW Dr Stefan Gehrig (left) receiving the Premier's Award for Health and Medical Research from Mr David Davis, Minister for Health.

STICKY NOTE PIXELATION

All eyes have been looking upwards in the last days of Term 2 as the massive windows of the Graeme Simon Gallery at Rosstrevor Hall were transformed to display giant pixelated portraits of the Middle School leaders, Peter Furey, Andrew Burnell and Tim Marshall (pictured above left to right.)

This exciting project was the brainchild of Gifted Education Teacher, Jamie Watson, who guided his Year 7 Extension Studies boys through the process. Using their tablets to produce the designs and guide the installation, a group of about ten boys used 5000 sticky notes to complete their creations over 4 weeks.

Two members of the Australian Wallabies Rugby Team, Wycliff Palu and James Slipper, visited BGS just before the end of Term 2. A specialist training session was held with our senior squad taken by two coaches from the Melbourne Rebels.

WALLABY PLAYERS VISIT BGS

The new playground in Junior School has

been super popular since its installation

during the summer holidays. The

playground was funded with an amazing

$35,000 donation from the Junior Parents'

Group and designed with the assistance

of boys from Years 5 and 6 in 2011.

JPG FUNDS NEW

PLAYGROUND

P O S T

C A R D

RUSSELL BATE (OB 1965) RECOGNISED IN THE QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2012 WITH THE MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM).

Russ Bate has been a high achiever all his life. At BGS he was one of the pioneers of Rugby Union at the School and went on to play at state level. He rowed in the 1965 and 1966 First Eights and rose to the top of his field in corporate life as the Vice President, Product Sales Operations Group, Asia Pacific for Sun Microsystems Australia.

Russ received his award for service to the community through executive roles with a range of sporting and arts organisations, and to local government.

Andrew Burn (OB 2001) on the bridge of the MV Spirit of Tasmania I.

BELOW LEFT Justin Lineham and David Lawlor. BELOW RIGHT Julian Ou.

24 25obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE

obg profileWritten by

WILL HARRIS (OB 2011)

I have been in Cambodia for the last month and a bit, volunteering my time and money to people who need it most. This experience has already evolved and developed through three main phases which all presented their own challenges and experiences.

We arrived as a group made up of Mum, other Rotarians representing their clubs, my cousin Matt and me. We had a week-long tour, similar to the January tour I went on, visiting the many fantastic projects which have been created through Rotary supported work, such as Green Gecko,

Future Light Orphanage, Cambodian Children Against Sexual Violence and Abuse and the Deaf and Blind School/Orphanage. But on this tour we also visited villages that are in dire need of support, with the goal being that we may enlist more help from more Rotary Clubs.

The Kampong Speu village, which we have been supporting for some time, is on the verge of being independent of our help. Having built a dam, supplied emergency food and crop seed, provided medical care and have given them some general TLC, we have been able to bring this village from the brink of disappearing to the cusp of independence and success.

After the tour ended and everyone went home, it was just me and my friend Rithy. For a month we ran here, there and everywhere, doing two day trips to Phnom Penh and Kampong Speu (500kms away from Rithy’s home) and daily bicycle rides around Chress village, building our understanding of the needs and state of the people.

In that month, using money I had raised between January and April, I was able to:

• donate one library to a Pagoda school.

• provide four water pumps and water filters, replacing the cheap 5-7 metre deep wells which were bringing up rusty, putrid water that I could barely smell, let alone drink! One family had dug a two metre deep hole with about a foot of muddy, mossy water which they were drinking rather than their pump water!!!

• provide emergency food to four local families in Siem Reap.

• provide vegetable seeds to 20 families in the villages of Siem Reap and Kampong Speu.

And that brings me to now. On Monday, I started teaching at Anh Chanh School, a remote and very poor school, and also a Pagoda school. I am teaching English to Grade 4 and 6 students at Anh Chanh and extra English to high school students at the Pagoda.

Every day, I am waking up at 5.30 (5 hours earlier than in Melbourne), teaching 2 hours at Anh Chanh from 7am to 9am, having lunch and a 20 minute nap, teaching at the Pagoda for a further 2 hours, then home to relax at about 3.30pm until dinner. After dinner, Rithy teaches me Khmer for one hour which I am slowly picking up. It’s quite funny, because he knows the structure of English better than I do!

I am slowly learning and getting better, and by the time I go back to Australia I should know lots of Khmer, which I will probably forget by the time I return to Cambodia in January.

I have got my Khmer driving licence and driving on the wrong side of the car, on the wrong side of the road, with a thousand scooters which are either passing me or stopped in the middle of the road. It’s a good thing Rithy’s not only a great Khmer and English teacher, but also a driving instructor and I feel confident and comfortable even in the hairiest Cambodian driving experiences! I feel like a true Cambodian when I can look at a car driving the wrong way in my lane trying to pass three trucks and not even blink, it’s all very relaxed and I like it.

I really miss all my friends and family, but I’m having a really great time and feel rewarded every day when people throughout the village smile and wave at me as I ride to the Pagoda and the little kids call out not only “hello” but “hello teacher” or “sir.” It’s a really wholesome feeling and I really feel like I am making a difference.

ego – innovating Skincare products since 1953Old Boy, Alan Oppenheim (OB 1975) knows a thing or two about skin care. As Managing Director of Ego Pharmaceuticals, Alan has led the company to its current position as Australia’s largest Australian-owned pharmaceutical company specialising in dermatology.

Ego Pharmaceuticals was founded by Alan's parents, Gerald and Rae Oppenheim, who were both active members of the Brighton Grammar School community, in 1953. Gerald was a chemist and Rae a nurse. Gerald, together with his parents, had escaped Nazi Germany to settle in Australia just six months before World War II broke out.

Alan never intended on pursuing a career at Ego. He began working at Ego part-time during his university days and due to his love of chemistry, decided to join the company full-time as Scientific Director in 1981.

Joining the business was always an option. "As chemistry grew increasingly interesting for me at Monash, Ego became a growing interest to me," he says.

Alan is known for having revolutionised Ego in its early days, computerising the business at a time when PCs had not even been launched! Ego has since continued to expand, both literally in terms of office space and as a

business in terms of sales. Ego Pharmaceuticals currently produces 90 different skin care products through pharmacies around Australia and in other areas of the world, with some of its famous brands being its Sunsense sunscreen range, QV products, and SOOV antiseptic range.

What Alan finds most rewarding about his job is the humanitarian factor, in that he is constantly helping people.

"Everything we do is aimed at helping improve skin quality. Unless you have had a serious skin disease in your family, you do not understand the whole quality of life issues a skin disease can affect," he says.

Ego Pharmaceutcials has come a long way from its early days operating out of the family home to now exporting to over 20 countries from its world class pharmaceutical plant in Melbourne and employing 300 staff based in 9 nations. Alan’s amazing success has not gone unnoticed and together with his biochemist wife, Dr Jane Oppenheim, Alan has received many awards including an Award of Excellence to the Self Medication Industry, an Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2006 and in 2010 an Export Hero Award from the Governor General of Australia.

Ego Pharmaceuticals has received 3 Governor of Victoria Export Commendations and several awards for Customer Service Excellence. Last year Ego Pharmaceuticals was inducted into the Victorian Manufacturing Hall of Fame and is in the BRW Top 500 Private Organisations.

Reference: Monash University Alumni website.

VALE

It is with sadness that we advise the names of Old Brighton Grammarians, with their year of leaving, who have passed away since the last edition of Meliora Sequamur. Our condolences to their families.

Baddock, John (1956)

Cumming, James (1935)

Forbes, Ron (1937)

Garland, Kelvin (1944)

Grosvero, Luke (1997)

Lemmon, Robert (1957)

Lyne, Alec “Tiger” (BGS Staff 1933-1942

aged 1021/2 years)

Mathieson, Robert (1935)

Orwin, Ronald (1943)

Rumble, Harry (1947)

Wenzel, Geoffrey (BGS Past Staff)

Wood, Albert (1931)

COME AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS AT THE LODGE

Brighton Grammarians’ Lodge opens its doors,

and issues an open invitation to anyone in the

BGS community to watch the annual Installation

Ceremony to be held in the Robert Sanderson Centenary Hall

on Wednesday, 12 September 2012 and then you are welcome

to stay for supper afterwards.

For details, contact Andrew Biggin at the OBGS Office

(03) 8591 2272 or email [email protected].

Alan was our guest

speaker at our most

recent BGS Corporate

Connections Breakfast

26 27obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE

Dr Steven Scally (OB 1982) has practiced as a General Practitioner in suburban Sydney for many years. Steve and family have now packed up and moved to Parkes, NSW (home of “The Dish” radio telescope), where he is currently working in locum General Practice.

Paul Basset (OB 1985) co-Founder of Seek, has been appointed to the AFL Commission replacing the retiring Graeme Johns. Paul is passionate about football and the importance of the game to the entire Australian community.

Simon Lopez (OB 1986) is currently living in London (since 2003) and working for AXA Investment Managers.

James Templeton (OB 1987) has been appointed Managing Director of Knight Frank Victoria, one of Victoria’s largest Commercial Real Estate firms. James recently won the Dexus Award for Best Industrial Agent. He commenced his career with G A Thomson Real Estate under the guidance of BGS icon George Thomson (1951).

David Tognarini PhD (OB 1987) is Principal of Aesir Pharmaceutical Consultants and has offered his services to give advice to students and Old Boys about careers in bio-sciences, pharmacology, pharmaceuticals and medical research.

Dr Cameron Adams PhD (OB 1989) holds a PhD in Neuroscience and is employed as the Policy Evaluation and Reports Officer in the Victorian Branch of General Practice Registrars Australia. Cameron’s thesis was on “The influence of mGlu5, A2A and CB1 receptor interactions on drug-seeking behaviour”. This thesis examines novel drug targets of therapeutic value in the treatment of alcoholism. Using rat models, it characterises a potential new target in the treatment of craving and relapse.

Gregory Bruce (OB 1989) moved to Doha, Qatar in 2009 and is working in Liquid Natural Gas marketing with RasGas. He is married to Kristy and they have four children, Elizabeth, Annabelle, Frederick and Henry.

Justin Irinyi (OB 1991) lives in Mentone and has been working in hospitality since leaving School. Justin is currently studying and looks forward to working in the legal area in the near future.

Julian Irinyi (OB 1992) has been living in Colac for 12 years and works for the major dairy company, Regal Cream Products.

Simon Davies (OB 1992) is currently living in Singapore and working at Salesforce.com, as VP Sales responsible for the enterprise business unit in Asia. Simon was married (December 2001) to Danielle and they welcomed their sons, Flynn and Noah, into the world in 2004 and 2006 respectively.

Seton Coghill (OB 1994) worked as a labourer for 3 years, followed by a 3 year stint as a driver for Drummond Golf. In late 2000, he joined the Australian Army and was posted to 6th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment, in Brisbane, as a rifleman. In 2006 he transferred to Transport and was posted to Darwin. 2007 saw him deployed to Iraq then back to Brisbane in early 2009. In 2010 he was posted to Timor Leste, for 8 months then posted down to 3 RAR in Sydney in 2011 for a year. Early this year he was moved up to Townsville with the unit.

Micah Smith (OB 1994) is co-owner/director of Thomas Duryea Consulting which is a 10 year old multi award winning IT Infrastructure company. Micah is married to Megan and they have 3 children; Amelie, Fin and Miles.

On February 11 this year, in driving rain, Nick Biggin (OB 1996) and Melissa Dowsett (Firbank Old Girl) became man and wife in the beautiful setting of Sorrento Park overlooking Port Phillip Bay followed by a reception at The Bath” restaurant also in Sorrento. The wedding party was truly an old school affair, with both Nick and Melissa’s groomsmen and bridesmaids being from either BGS or Firbank.

David Edwards (OB 1962) is currently lecturing and tutoring I.T. at Southern Cross University, Coffs Harbour Campus. He still plays squash in the local competition and is married to Susan and has three daughters: Victoria, 17, who is studying HSC at Bishop Druitt College with an aim to study medicine in Melbourne; Meredith, 14, also at Bishop Druitt College (Yr 9); Claudia, 11, Year 6 at Mullaway Primary School.

Roger Moulton (OB 1964) and former Staff Member, reports that he is still happy playing at being a life-style farmer at Ballan (near Ballarat) and doing sessional teaching at University of Ballarat as well as other short term contract work.

Gary Lambrides (OB 1968) Retired pharmacist, is happy, healthy, and living with his family in Queensland since 1970. He sold all his business interests and is smelling roses, tasting wine and catching up with friends and family.

John Pead (OB 1972) Since 2001 has been a professor in the Dept of Psychiatry at Melbourne University. In October 2010 he began leading the set up of Cape York Family Centre (Cooktown) for aborigines. John is married with two children; Grace, 25, solicitor with Freehills and Jack, 23, merchant banker with Lazard's.

Doug Dick (OB 1976), Peter King (OB 1977) and John Priestley (OB 1975) who were all BGS Cricket Captains in their respective years celebrated Peter King’s return to Melbourne after many years working and living in Sydney. Peter was appointed Chief Executive of the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. On his return, Doug Dick arranged for the three BGS cricketing greats to challenge the course record at his club, Royal Melbourne. The record remains unharmed!

Near and far

Andrew Carmichael (OB 1976) is living and working in Vietnam where he says, “The culture, history and language are never boring.” He is enjoying making furniture with a Vietnamese friend.

Tony Shakeshaft (OB 1977) is living in Burwood working for the Boston based I.T. company EMC Corporation. Tony is married with three daughters.

Ian Davies (OB 1978) founded and ran ISYS Search Software in 1988 and sold the company to Lexmark in 2012. Ian now enjoys a spot of sailing and scuba diving and is keen to hear from any Old Boys who would like to make contact.

Michael Terry (OB 1979), who was the School Captain in 1980 recently took the time to visit the School when he was on a visit to see his ailing mother from his current residence in The Isle of Wight. Michael, who is married with a daughter 10 and son 6, is a general surgeon who specialises in bowel cancer – when onshore. He is also a long serving member of the Royal Navy and has been in active service many times which included tours of duty in The Gulf and Afghanistan.

Ian Mitchell (OB 1982) has moved back to Melbourne with his wife Nicole after living in London for several years where he worked in the infrastructure technology area of the banking industry. He is now enjoying some fly fishing and travelling, especially to Italy.

Did you know you can follow BGS on twitter?

twitter@ brightongrammar

Above lefT Doug Dick, Peter King

and John Priestly.

Above RigHT Michael Terry.

ReunionsPERTH REUNION

The reunion of Old Boys and partners from Perth was held at St Georges College, University of Western Australia

One of our most successful and high achieving Old Boys, Dr Sam Walsh AO (OB 1966), was guest speaker.

Sam is CEO of Rio Tinto Iron Ore, one of Australia’s largest companies, and was asked to give the group an insight into what took him from relatively unremarkable BGS boy to the top of one of the world’s largest iron ore producers.

Josh Smith (OB 1998) is senior IT Engineer with Long View Systems, Vancouver, Canada and he enjoys outdoor extreme sports.

Leigh Hendra (OB 1999) was recently married. His groomsmen were fellow Old Boys Chris McNicol (OB 1999), Nick Edwards (OB 2000), and Bryan Scott (OB 1999)

Matthew Hamilton (OB 2000) has landed a job at Seek.com (founded by Old Boys Andrew and Paul Basset) as a Senior Account Manager. Matthew is also busy completing his MBA at Monash University.

Matthew Dunne (OB 2002) studied a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours at Melbourne University after leaving BGS and graduated in 2006. He got the travel bug after Uni (mainly to Japan) and then worked in Melbourne for 2-3 years before moving indefinitely to Tokyo in June 2010, upon joining a life insurance company. He changed jobs in May this year and joined a global actuarial consulting firm called Towers Watson. The life insurance company was fairly traditional Japanese so he is enjoying the slightly more western culture of the new company. He reports that his Japanese is still average but he’s getting there slowly.

Above lefT Leigh Hendra takes a specky on his wedding day.

Above CeNTRe Malcolm Jack.

Above RigHT Mr and Mrs Michael Dever.

beloW lefT L to R: Kathryn Dowsett, Pat Phelan (OB 1996), Lauren Cook, Warwick Earl (OB 1996), Kate Janes (nee Pascarl), Melissa and Nick Biggin, Geoff Earl (OB 1996), Amy Rowell, Tim Biggin (OB 2008) and Alyson Dowsett.

beloW CeNTRe Julius Kienlein.

beloW RigHT Alex

Sylvan, Amy Greaves

and baby Billy.

Michael Dever (OB 2002) and Kathryn were married on February 11 at Carousel, Albert Park. Old Boy James Reeves (2002) was Michael’s best man

Malcolm Jack (OB 2004) Junior School Captain 1999 who left to go to Strathallan School, Perth, Scotland has recently graduated from Melbourne University with a First Class Honors in Veterinary Science.

Kareem Moustafa (OB 2005) is a qualified lawyer and was admitted to the Bar in the ACT in February of this year. Prior to this, he worked in the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Currently travelling around the world, he will start work as a trainee solicitor in London later in the year starting in August 2012.

Andrew Chong (OB 2005) and a group of his friends from Trinity College, recently sang (beautifully) on one of the audition shows of the Channel 7’s ‘Australia’s Got Talent’. Andrew used to sing in the St. Andrew’s Choir.

Martin Steel (OB 2005) has been working as a pro golfer at the Metropolitan Golf Club. Late last year, he spent time in the US and is now intent on forging a coaching career in the US Collegiate system. “There are some fantastic job opportunities available to golf coaches overseas”.

Michael W Daley (OB 2007) is currently studying veterinary science at Sydney University.

L to R: Brian Kitney (OB 1986), Daryl Wilkinson (OB 1977), Alex Rickarby (OB 1989), The Headmaster, Cameron Lade (OB 1983), Ronnie Finlayson, Sam Walsh (OB 1967), Graeme Finlayson (OB 1967), Michael Glasson (OB 1969), Jan de Franck, Rick de Franck (OB 1969), Andrew Biggin (OB 1969), Anne Glasson, Cheryl Wogan-Browne, Rick Wogan-Browne (OB 1968), Jim Biss (OB 1966), Peta & Ian Thomas (OB 1961).

Christian Siapantas (OB 2009) is in Paris studying economics at the Paris Institute of Political Science.

Julius Kienlein (OB 2010) moved back to Europe in 2009 after 5 fantastic and happy years at BGS. He is now studying Business/Economics at the Otto-Fredrich Universitat in Bamberg. Founded in 1647, it is one of the oldest universities in Germany with a strong philosophical background. The World Heritage City of Bamberg, which lies by the riverside and the Bamberg Dome, has just celebrated its millennial anniversary. In his free time, Julius enjoys running, listening to vinyl records and playing his Wurlitzer electric piano.

Phillip Georgiou (OB 2010) has been studying at the Grand Canyon University on a soccer scholarship but in August will move across the country to attend Bloomfield College, New Jersey, where he expects the soccer program and competition will be a great success.

Staff Marriages and Babies Since the last edition of Meliora, there have been a number of staff marriages and births; Alison Bryce marrying Justin, Amy Greaves and Alex Sylvan welcoming Billy into the world, Kate and David Nixon welcoming Jasper, and Sharon and Sam Kuring welcoming Otis.

28 29

10 YEAR REUNION, CLASS OF 2002FIRST REUNION, CLASS OF 2011

60 YEARS ON REUNION OF THE “PENDENNIS CHAPTER”

Top lefT Annual Historical Assembly.

lefT L to R: George Thomson (OB 1951), Andy McGuigan (OB 1948), Fred Zerfas (OB 1952), Geoff Parsonage (OB 1950), George Murray (OB 1950) and John Hammond (OB 1952).

Top lefT L to R: Gary McPhee, Arlette Pat, Michael Dever and James Reeves.

Above Scott Homann, Dougall Betts, Sam Loughnane, the Headmaster and Harry Butler.

lefT Class of 2002.

beloW lefT L to R: Zach Miller, Justin McCloud and Ryan Dagnall.

beloW L to R: Mark Stroud, Alex Naccarella, Andrew Hopkinson and Jonathan Goddard.

30 YEAR REUNION, CLASS OF 1982

A small, but nonetheless enthusiastic group of erstwhile students from the Centenary Year of BGS, 1982, gathered at Harry’s On Church for a reunion dinner to celebrate 30 years since the gates of BGS swung open and they were unleashed on the wider world. One Old Boy brought along a bottle of Centenary Port he had been saving since 1982 but alas the cork had failed to do its job and the Sutherland Smith, vintage port had become undrinkable.

obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE obgS COMMUNITY FOR LIFE

In 2011, the Old Brighton Grammarians’ Society held its inaugural 60 Years' On Reunion for Old Boys who had left BGS in the final year of 1951 or earlier. In 2012, the 60 Years' On group was named the Pendennis Chapter.

Pendennis was the third home of Brighton Grammar School. In 1882, Dr Crowther founded the School at his home located at 163 New Street Brighton. It soon outgrew the building and he then purchased Temperly Lodge, which stood, by coincidence, in Outer Crescent, immediately adjacent to the Girrawheen land the School purchased in 2004 and is now being developed. He then bought the

land behind Temperly Lodge and built Pendennis, which still stands today on the corner of Crowther Place and New Street.

With the skills of the School’s Graphic Designer, Michelle Wilson, a special badge was developed and each member was presented with a badge by the Headmaster.

Following morning tea, the Pendennis Chapter were the guests of honour at the School’s annual Historical Assembly.

FIVE YEAR REUNION, CLASS OF 2007

OBGS REUNION CALENDAR 2012/13

Please mark these dates in your diary now for your class reunion to be held in 2012/13. Invitations will be mailed approximately 6 weeks prior to the reunion.

Every reunion at the School will be preceded with a full tour of the School commencing at the Oak Tree, 1 hour before the reunion commencement.

REUNION FUNCTION VENUE DATE

2012

15 Year Class of 1997 Dinner BGS 27 July

20 Year Class of 1992 Dinner BGS 3 Aug

25 Year Class of 1987 Dinner BGS 24 Aug

Top Enders Lunch Harry’s On Church 30 Aug

Sydney Reunion Cocktail Party TBA TBA

40 Year Class of 1972 Dinner BGS 12 Oct

Top Enders Lunch Harry’s On Church 18 Oct

50 Years On Luncheon BGS 30 Nov

Top Enders Christmas Lunch Harry’s On Church 13 Dec

2013

60 Years On "Pendennis Chapter" Morning Tea Memorial Foyer 14 Feb

First Reunion Class 2012 Drinks & Nibbles Marine Hotel 22 Feb

30 Year Class of 1983 Dinner BGS 01 Mar

Top Enders Lunch Harry’s On Church 18 Apr

10 Year Class of 2003 Cocktail Party BGS 24 May

5 Year Class of 2007 Cocktail Party BGS 31 May

Top Enders Lunch Harry’s On Church 27 June

15 Year Class of 1998 Dinner BGS 26 July

Thanks to our obgS Sponsor Michael’s Appliance Centre

Take a closer look at Michael’s Specialist suppliers of kitchen and laundry appliances. Ask for Old Boys Simon Williams or Michael Wood.

Phone (03) 9592 6400 or visit our showroom 24 hours a day at michaelsappliancecentre.com.au

Above Richard Morris, Ben Verney, Gerard Bennett, Warren Lees, Darren Hunter, Simon Biggins, Peter Toms, Andrew Grant, Stuart Murray and Andy White.

ROWING LEGEND ATTENDS MELIORA CLUB DINNER

The Meliora Club Dinner, an Old Rowers function, is always held on the Tuesday preceding the Head of the River, Senior Regatta. There is no bigger name in Australian rowing than James Tomkins, six time Olympian, triple gold medalist, pictured below with The 1st VIII.

30 31SeQUAMUR SoCieTY SeQUAMUR SoCieTY

The Sequamur Society was established to honour and thank those members of the brighton grammar School Community who have confirmed their intention to include bgS in their Will.

ALAN GLOVER BRINGS IRVING BERLIN TO BGS.

The Sequamur Society will celebrate its Fourth Birthday in September featuring an afternoon with Irving Berlin.

While guests enjoy a Devonshire afternoon tea and, if desired, a glass of sparkling wine, Alan Glover, former Head of English and BGS Chapel Organist, will treat us to the fascinating life story of Irving Berlin interspersed with Alan’s sensitive playing of Irving’s classic pieces.

Alan has an intriguing tale to tell, having researched Berlin’s life from his first hit ‘Alexander’s Ragtime Band’ to ‘White Christmas’ and beyond. George Gershwin called Irving Berlin "the greatest songwriter that has ever lived".

Each year, at a Senior School Chapel Service in August, we take the opportunity to give thanks for the benefactors, past and present, who have shaped BGS. This year, we look forward to particularly celebrating the Bequest donation of John Gray (OB64), who died March 2010. John bequeathed $1,350,000 to establish a named perpetual scholarship fund.

John’s vision was to create an opportunity for worthy boys, who, for financial reasons, would be unable to attend Brighton Grammar School. As stipulated by John, these will be means-tested scholarships and will be awarded to boys not currently attending the School, who demonstrate a willingness

to embrace the spirit and culture of BGS. From 2013, the John Gray Scholarship will enable at least two boys to attend the School concurrently. While the focus this year is on the John Gray bequest, we will also give thanks to all those who have contributed to the financial well-being of the School over the last 12 months and invite you all to attend.

This year’s Benefactors' Service will be conducted at St Andrew’s on Wednesday, 1 August commencing at 8.40am followed by morning tea in the Common Room.

Please RSVP to Sharon Martin [email protected] or (03) 8591 2271

YoU Too CAN CHANge liveS!

A scholarship can be a life changing experience for the recipient. And bringing talented, but less privileged boys to the School enriches the fabric of brighton grammar. but funding scholarships is expensive and takes significant resources. That is why we celebrate so sincerely when members of our community choose to support the School in this way.

As previously reported in early 2011, BGS received a bequest from the Estate of Miss Mabel Fairweather, former Headmistress of the Junior School, to build the corpus of the BGS Foundation Scholarship Fund. And more recently, through the establishment of the John Gray Scholarship, from 2013 and forever more, at least two worthy boys will enter the School each year.

Your bequest, depending on your wishes, will enable the School to:

• fund scholarships for talented boys who otherwise would not be able to attend BGS.

• undertake major building projects which cannot be funded from fees.

• enable Staff to undertake important research into boys’ education.

• enrich educational programs such as in Science, the Arts, and Sport.

Please consider making a gift in this way to support the long-term future of BGS without affecting your present financial situation. No matter the size, every bequest is much appreciated.

For further information, call Peter Toms in the Development Office on (03) 8591 2274

SEQUAMUR SOCIETY REACHES 75 MEMBERS

Forty-five guests attended the annual Sequamur Society Cocktail Party at Rylands of Brighton in March.

During the evening, the Headmaster presented Sequamur Society mementos and lapel badges to new members Andy McGuigan (OB 48) and former Members of Staff Ken and Elizabeth Pearse and Alan Glover, and Current Staff Rodney Ford, John Phillips and Tim Marshall. Unfortunately Sydney based Old Boy, Graham White and his wife Judy, and Old Boy Roger Wilson, busy calling the National Rowing Championships in Perth, were apologies.

Membership of the Sequamur Society has risen to 75 and it was a delight to welcome our new members.

Andrew Burnell, Head of Rosstrevor, provided guests with a snapshot of the features of the new Middle School, drawing attention to the stunning design of the complex and the innovative teaching methods which will be specifically geared to the way boys best learn.

Guests also had the opportunity guests to meet the newly appointed Head of Senior School, Ross Featherston.

RigHT Headmaster and Ken Pearse.

MEMBER PROFILEWELLS EDEN (OB 1947)

Wells Eden is one of 44 Foundation Members of the Sequamur Society, established in 2008 to ensure the long-term future of the School. It is through his future gift in his Will that Wells demonstrates his affection for BGS.

Wells commenced BGS in 1944 and attained his Leaving Certificate in 1947 before studying for his Matriculation at Taylors Coaching College. Leaving the books behind, Wells then joined the family nursery business in Moorabbin, which he developed into one of Melbourne’s leading garden centres firstly in Mentone and then in Baxter. In 1972 Wells was the recipient of ‘The Australian Nurserymen’s Award’.

When ill-health forced Wells to sell the Baxter nursery in 1984, he set

up a highly respected consultancy business. Over the years, Wells has held many prestigious positions including Vice-President of the Nurserymen’s Association of Victoria and Deputy Chairman of Garden Week. Wells advised listeners on Martha Gardener’s 3AW gardening program and in 1986/87 conducted the 3DB Sunday morning Garden talk-back programs as relieving presenter for Ian Nichols.

Wells is married to Marjorie and has three daughters, two step-daughters and a step-son. His personal interests are gardening, Freemasonry, PROBUS, music and travel.

Wells has recently joined the Sequamur Society Committee, and without doubt, his business and communication skills, along with his unbounded enthusiasm for BGS, will be valuable acquisitions for the Committee.

ANNUAL BENEFACTORS' SERVICE

NEW FACES ON THE SEQUAMUR COMMITTEE

On Wednesday, 30 May, the Sequamur Society held its first luncheon committee meeting for 2012. New members Wells Eden, Ken Pearse and Graeme Templeton, were welcomed and joined by returning members John Thorne, Monty Stephens, Andrew Biggin, Keith Robinson and Peter Toms.

The Committee expressed its appreciation for the input of retiring members Bill Hare, Don Cameron, Trevor Watkin, Peter Ickeringill, Natalie van Wetering and Max Yann, whose wisdom and enthusiasm were invaluable in guiding the Sequamur Society over the past two years.

when Alan glover, former BGS Senior English Master and Chapel Organist, presents

beloW L to R: Ken Pearse, Wells Eden and Graeme Templeton.

32

90 Outer Crescent Brighton Vic

Telephone: 8591 2202

www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au

CRICOS Provider No 00132K

James Gerstman – bringing life to learning

Adventure traveller

Boundary pusher

Keen cyclist

80s music tragic

Year 9 mentor

BGS PE and Health Teacher

“I love being able to walk through

the Quad and you know every boy,

every teacher, everyone’s name...

even if you don’t teach them.”

90 Outer Crescent Brighton Vic

Telephone: 8591 2202

www.brightongrammar.vic.edu.au

CRICOS Provider No 00132K

James Gerstman – bringing life to learning

Adventure traveller

Boundary pusher

Keen cyclist

80s music tragic

Year 9 mentor

BGS PE and Health Teacher

“I love being able to walk through

the Quad and you know every boy,

every teacher, everyone’s name...

even if you don’t teach them.”

"I really enjoy teaching. I especially like the community atmosphere that exists in the Middle School."

Anthony keane –

bringing life to learning

Grew up on an Irish horse stud.

Toyed with being a jockey.

Expected to be a farmer.

Qualified engineer.

Worked in Ireland, NZ and London.

Rugby mad.

BGS Maths and Science Teacher.