Despite the popular view espoused by a majority of students in recent years that the Student Representative Council is a superfluous organisation, this year's members successfully contributed to several beneficial programmes throughout 1984. The first project of the year involved the organisation and distribution of student identification cards; with the assistance of the Deputy Headmaster, Mr. Hille, in excess of 150 cards were supplied to students, enabling concessions at various retail and leisure establishments and providing identification and medical information in case of accident.
In collaboration with the Tipperoo Club, the S.R.C. again organised a particularly successful Open Day, held on Saturday 25 August; the philosophy of student participation was transferred into practice, with senior representatives assisting in planning catering, fun stalls, produce stalls and academic and sporting displays. The other major event involving S.R.C. participation was the annual Sixth Form Formal (Formal Committee: Mark Scammells, Richard Fielding and Marko Misko), held on Friday 5 October at the Five Continents Function Room, Lennons Plaza Hotel, attended by well over 350 people. Other projects included additional seating in the Newell Quadrangle and a stamp collection for less developed countries (with the Interact Club). In conclusion, throughout 1984 the S.R.C. was "not an impotent puppet institution but rather an efficient student body capable of effective organisation and administration on a high level."
Presented to the eighty-sixth Annual General Meeting of the Brisbane Grammar School Old Boys' Association, by R. A. (Ross) Duus (58), President
The financial year ending 30 June 1984 was highlighted by increased membership, renewed interest in individual year reunions, the design and ordering of a new association tie, the successful annual reunion dinner, an increase in membership fees for the 1985 financial year, forward planning of the Association's finances and legal status, increased research and contact with past students who are not members of the Association, an over-supply of material for the Old Boys' section of the school magazine, and substantially increased costs of supplying the magazine to members and administering the Association.
Your Council has been very cognizant of the Association's ideals in promoting as many reunions as possible. Mr. John Nosworthy, C.B.E. (1928) proved a very humorous and eloquent guest speaker at the Annual Reunion Dinner held at Ballymore in August 1983; just over one hundred Old Boys and guests attended. Also in August 1983 the 1958 twenty-fifth reunion was held with over one hundred former students and Masters attending, and enquiries have been received to assist similar reunions for the 1959 and 1960 years.
As your President, I was asked to present the Old Boys' Bursary and Scholarship at the Foundation Day Assembly in the Centenary Hall. The J. G. Nowlan Bursary, awarded to a first-year entrant at the school, was presented to Denzil Hildebrand. The R. H. Roe Scholarship, presented to a boy leaving the school with achievements in both the academic and extra-curricular areas, was awarded to Colin Mills.
Your Council agreed to introduce a new Old Boys' Association tie, which finally arrived a few days after the August 1984 Annual Reunion Dinner; it is envisaged that the sale of the tie will boost the Association's finances and be more meaningful, distinguished and acceptable to all Old Boys.
Forward planning of the Association's finances has been extensively discussed by your Council. It was decided to increase membership activities by circularising specific enrolment years; in the next financial year past students from other enrolment years will be contacted. A long-term financial proposal to eliminate fees, give automatic membership to all Old Boys, and to provide finance for major school projects and scholarships is currently being investigated — this proposal may be the financial salvation of the Old Boys' Association for generations to come. The financial year has been one of an investment in the future of the Association; more support from members at the Association's reunions and functions would assist the Council in achieving its objectives.
Ross Duus (58)
The Board of Trustees announced the Entrance Scholarships for 1984 (P. A. Armstrong, R. M. Clarke, A. A. Dempster, D. W. Dommett, R. J. B. Finch, G. H. Findlay, J. Gans, M. J. Gardner, T. Jehne, J. D. Kemp, L. B. Michael, J. W. Miller, S. S. Monks, A. P. Morokoff, P. D. O'Sullivan, M. S. Thomas, S. J. Wiseman, E. R. Yang). The following awards were also presented:
(The Roe and Nowlan recipients are confirmed both here and in the President's Annual Report above.)
The 1984 Old Boys' Section carries the usual Births, Marriages and Deaths registers. These registers are not reproduced in this transcript.
They are not reproduced in this transcript.
In this era, an Old Boy's year designation was the year he entered Grammar; the convention today is the year he finished. A boy who started in 1993 and finished in 1997 was (93) but is now '97.
Brisbane Grammar School Old Boys' Association · Old Boys History. Part of the OBA Knowledge Project.
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