Old School Ties 1995 Vol 1 No 1

The cover photo is of The School Window — "probably the most enduring physical icon of BGS." A later edition was to feature its history.

Committee photograph (front page). Left to right: Brett Watkins (86), Peter Harbison (83), Matthew Zillman (86), Paul Cohn (84), Angus [—], Blackwood (79), Darren Basford (86), John Grounds (60). Seated: Peter Heffernan (62), Ross Duus (58), Peter Bruton (59). Absent: Neil Summerson (62), Andrew Fielding (75), Matthew Donaldson (82).

Dr Peter Lennox, Headmaster

"I am pleased to be able to address Old Boys in this first edition of Old School Ties. I take this opportunity to thank both the immediate past President Neil Summerson and recently elected President Ian Whittle for their warm support for the School.

The School has been heartened by the growing support among Old Boys, manifested in at least three ways. One has been the increasing numbers attending Old Boys' gatherings in Brisbane and further afield, as far as Perth and Cairns. This year I have enjoyed the opportunity to attend Old Boys' reunion dinners in Sydney and Cairns. Another area of support has been the expanding response to the Development Office's request for financial support. Third is the wonderful support which the current boys are receiving from many (mainly younger) Old Boys who are generously acting as coaches of sporting teams. The twin success of the O'Connor Cup and the Old Boys' Cup at this year's Head of the River could not have been achieved without that vital assistance of Old Boy coaches.

An excellent year of combined academic, sporting and cultural achievement was recorded by the School in 1994, led by a Sixth Form of great talent and spirit. True to tradition BGS regards learning as the keystone of its Mission…

The Board has two major projects mapped out. One is the construction of an Indoor Sports Centre which will replace the now outmoded and inadequate gymnasium. The second is to provide a suite of playing fields sufficient to cater for all our weekend sport, Summer and Winter, and to allow extra training facilities mid-week. Both projects are now in advanced planning stage…

PETER LENNOX, Headmaster."

Jottings from the desk of Mack Jones, Director of Development

Greetings to all Old Boys and congratulations on the publication of this first issue of Old School Ties. The Development Office, established late in 1992, had as one of its key objectives the growth and strengthening of the sense of community that is Brisbane Grammar School. Encouraging inter- and intra-State Reunion Dinners has been one of its most rewarding activities.

Annual Giving 1995 is well advanced, with some 453 donations received, totalling $85,996.00. Contributions to the building or library fund are fully tax deductible.

Invitation to tour the School — Old Boys are encouraged to contact Mack Jones or Wendy Carter of the Development Office (07) 834-5206.

News of Old Boys

• Dr Charles Roe (32) selected by the Veterans' Tennis Association of Australia to represent Australia in the International Tennis Federation 1995 Bitsy Grant Cup (over-75s).
• The film The Lotus Room scooped the 9th Queensland New Film Makers Awards; co-producer Stephen Lance (86).
• Accountant Nathan Thynne (82) and his sister Bridget in a joint venture producing the fashion label Torso in China and the Asia-Pacific; on the catalogue cover is Benedict Thynne (85), an articled clerk at Phillips Fox.
• Leon Wolff (82) added a further University Gold Medal in Law to the one he received for his BA (1991); also MA in Japanese Interpreting and Translation (UQ 1992) and a Fulbright Grant worth more than $15,000 for study in the US.
• Former Music Captain Simon Oswell (67) worked on film scores in Hollywood (Aladdin, Schindler's List, The Lion King) before returning to teaching.
• Last year's Captain of Boats Rob Mill (90), five months out of School, won the Junior Single Scull Championship of Australia (WA, April) and is Australia's representative for the World Championships in Poland in August. Other Australian Old Boy rowers: David Weightman (84) in the Senior VIII and Ben Cameron (88) in the Senior B Coxless IV.
• Rod Brown (63), Managing Director of Petroz NL, awaiting the company's "moment of truth" in the Timor Sea (Zoca 91-12, with BHP, Santos and Inpex Sahul).
• Henzell's Real Estate of Caloundra, headed by third-generation realtor Roy (66), looking to son McLean to continue the tradition (Pelican Waters Estate / Golden Beach).
• John Story (60) presides over national law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth and is a prominent company director, mostly in mining (Australia Hydrocarbons Ltd, Crusader Group).
• Bill Ross (70), now a Director of Strophair's auctioneering firm; played rugby for Australia 1978–1983.
• Restaurateur Vincent Rae (75), proprietor of Rae's Bistro (Mary St), awarded Best New Restaurant in Brisbane (American Express Restaurant Awards); recently opened "Rae's on Watego" at Byron Bay.
• Dr David Weedon (56), former President of the AMA (Qld), elected President of the national Australian Medical Association; Director of Sullivan Nicolaides and Partners and of Pathology at Greenslopes Private Hospital.
• Briz 31 community TV: "Crazy Crosswords" produced by David Lynch (81) (son of Kevin, former BGS Student Counsellor), starring Jonathan Atherton (74); a programme written by Ronald McKie (26) produced around Bundaberg; Graeme Gough (74) producing; lighting by Scott Hamilton (91).
• Andrew Booth (77) seen in productions such as Blood Oath (with Bryan Brown) and in insurance ads (alter ego "Chuck"). Geoff Rowe (74) also in ads; screen debut in Puberty Blues; Mr Toad in the School's Wind in the Willows.
• Andrew Olle (65), until recently presenting Four Corners on the ABC, now front man of the NSW edition of The 7.30 Report.
• Sam Harvey (78), reporter on Channel Ten's Totally Wild.
• Lex Davidson (59) now running his Corner Store in Leichhardt Street, serving Grammar boarders.
• Dr John Pearn AO (54) recently in Rwanda, discharging military surgical duties in the refugee camps.
• Dr Philip Byth (64), champion schoolboy athlete and rugby player, now Head of the Intensive Care Unit at John Hunter Hospital, Newcastle.
• Lance McKewen (76) now Systems Manager with the CSIRO at Narrabri; Darryl Early (76) teaching at Wavell SHS; Michael Leditschke (76) Computer Systems Development Engineer at SEQEB.
• Alec Evans (54) stepped in to coach the Welsh World Cup Rugby team; full-time coach of Cardiff RFC (Welsh Cup winners).
• Malcolm Smith (77) accepted to Yale to study for his Masters in Design Studies; brother Andrew J. Smith (80) in private legal practice.

Old Boys on Staff. Some twelve Old Boys are on staff. The most senior in Old Boy terms is Ron Moore (49) ("Sloth"). Others: John Wardrop (58), John Galton (62), Jim Hill (65), Gary Merrit (66), Graham Noon (68), Bruce Wootton (69), Mark Woodford (69), Mark Brusasco (72), John Burr (78). The brothers Brian Short (62) (Director of Studies, on staff since 1970) and Ian Short (65) are also on staff.

Old Boy hero. Constable David Silcock (85) of City Police single-handedly stopped a fleeing drink-driver in Adelaide Street at 4 a.m. — hanging onto the roof rack, then executing a headlock — and restrained the female passenger too.

• Peter Martin (56) donated a set of glass photograph negatives, originally the property of his late father Stanley Holmes Martin (25) — rare and valuable items in the history of both BGS and Brisbane.
• A medal from the Empire Cup Shooting Competition won by John Alexander James (BGS 1900–1904; Captain of both Football and Cricket in his final year, and an excellent marksman). The BGS Shooting team scored 501 of a possible 560 points against 68 schools across the Empire. Gift of Mr James's daughter, Mrs Janet Wilkinson of Canberra.

Dinner in the Deep North (Cairns). The 1995 Far North Queensland Dinner — third consecutive year at the Matson Plaza Hotel, Cairns. Headmaster Dr Peter Lennox addressed the 45 Old Boys attending. Hosted by Alan McDonald (58).

Other States' Reunion Dinners. - Melbourne: Foundation Day Dinner, 2 March, Geebung Polo Club, Auburn — some thirty Old Boys including Bob Bryson (53), Geoff Caflisch (41), Alan Mortimer (58), Peter Johnson (61), Jim Harris (56), Mark Kennedy (73), Frank Sharp (34); organised by Victorian Branch President Bruce Gibson (58). - NSW (Sydney): American Club, 10 March; organised by Greg Story (62). Attending: Sir Noel Foley (30), the Hon Don Dobie MP (41), Ian Kortlang (59), Graham Reaney (57), Phil Eadie (59), Chairman of the Board of Trustees Howard Stack (59), Professor Don Nicklin (49), and the Headmaster. Also Geoff Mole (62), Graham Rivett (62), Michael Buckridge (58), Trevor Schwarz (62), Chris Lovelock (55), John Bacon (67). Next year's NSW Dinner set for 8 March 1996; guest speaker to be Alan Jones, former Master of the School. (NSW Division also noted contact: Greg Story (02) 2414944.) - Perth: Wellington's of West Perth, May. Director of Development Mack Jones addressed attendees including Ken Bates (70), Greg Beeston (62), John Chapman (71), Jim Chippendale (63), Joel Riggs (58), Graeme Siemon (57), David Todd (76), Peter Whitehead (67); host Graeme Macnish (59).

Downtown Drinks. The quarterly function was hosted by Trustee Old Boy Tim Crommelin (62) in the boardroom of Morgans Stockbrokers. Attending: Phil Clutterbuck (57), Colin Lamont (56), Neil Summerson (62), David Castles (86), Cameron Green (87), Andrew Horsbrugh (82), and Secretary Roger Cater (60). The next drinks function to be hosted by David Huppert (77) at QPLAN Financial Services, Friday 28 July 1995.

After recent elections and Government appointments, the new Board's elected members are Stuart Bale (55), Don Nicklin (49) and Howard Stack (59). Government appointees: Tim Crommelin (62), Neil Dempster (father of Andrew '80 and Timothy '82), and two new members, both mothers of past students — Judith Bell (mother of Patrick '87) and Cherrell Hirst (mother of Julian '88).

• Nil Sine Labore Masonic Lodge No. 423 UGL Q. — bearing the School's motto, meets at the Ann St Masonic Memorial Temple on the fourth Thursday of each month. Consecrated in the early 1950s (originally Old Boys and Masters only; opened up in the 1970s). Contact Norm Hirst or Bill Stephens.
• "Amo Amas Amat" — Latin around the School. Notes the resurgence of Latin under the Headmaster (a Classics scholar), and explains Latin inscriptions around the School, including: the foundation stone laid by Sir William MacGregor, Governor, dedicating the natural-science building, 26 July 1912; and the memorial tablet to Arthur Ernest Scott, Captain of the School (b. 22 May 1857, d. 7 July 1874), "greatly loved by his fellow pupils."
• Remember When… anecdotes from 1960: boys bringing clumps of turf to surface the New Number Two Oval (under Messrs "Bob" Dyer and "Stonk" Smith); a Country-lad English master (ex-Churchie, Wallaby footballer) who admitted exactly 17 students to enforce the announced 17:1 ratio; the "Wombat 500" crawling game; a class greeting a balding Maths master in Ray-Ban Wayfarers (the chromium / Element 24 quip).
• King of the Mountain Run (Mt Coot-tha): Secretary Roger Cater (60) pictured mid-race.
• Annual Golf Day — Indooroopilly Golf Club, Friday 25 August; Ambrose four-ball; two return tickets to Japan (donated by Charlie Griffith of Quality Travel) as a Lucky Door Prize.
• Advertisers/sponsors (Old Boy connections): Ernst & Young ("it all started at Brisbane Grammar"); Morgans Stockbroking (Geoff Voller, Tim Crommelin, Jeff Kumnick); Hinds Antiques (Bill Hind); Mitchell Ogilvie Menswear.

Greg Story (62) wrote to correct a printing error in the GPS programme regarding the 1965 First Eights race, which recorded BBC as winners when the correct result was a dead heat between BGS and BBC. Editor's note: The error was taken up with the GPS Sports Association, acknowledged and corrected. "During the 41 years of rowing in Eights, BGS has been first across the line on 14 occasions, compared with next best of 12."

• Australian Students' Prize — thirteen boys from the 1994 Valedictory Form (Year of '90 entry) plus one other Old Boy received the $2,000 prize: Adrian Clutterbuck, Ian Hume, Adrian Kee, Sebastian Kohon, Dougal Mackey, Nigel Maxwell, John McDonald, Kim Nuyen, David Pryor, Tom Rolley, Ben Schulz, Andrew Thomas, Gilman Toombes. (BGS took ~14% of the 92 Queensland awards.)
• Queen's Birthday Honours — Roger Beale (60) appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for his work in public policy, especially micro-economic reform.
• BGS Trivia Quiz and a word-search puzzle ran in this issue (prizes of "Old Boys' Ties"); solutions to follow next edition.

Deaths

• Edric Dudley Summerson OBE (17) — d. 20.05.95. Prominent Chartered Accountant (Clarke and Son, then Hungerfords); latterly in Hobart. Uncle of Past President Neil (62).
• Isaac Tarbit (17) — d. 11.08.94. Retired engineer, b. near Newcastle-on-Tyne 1903, migrated 1912; career in the PMG Telephone Engineering Department, retiring as Director of Post Office Building Services. Installed the first telephones in Cooktown (1924). Lieutenant, Signals Corps, WWII. Co-founder and first Life Member of the Qld Post Office Historical Society.
• Allan Spencer Hoey (21) — d. 26.1.95, Cavendish, Vermont, USA. Noted Classics master in the US prep-school system; BA First Class Literae Humaniores (Balliol, Oxford, 1931); PhD Yale 1940; 31 years at the Hotchkiss School, retiring as Head of Department.
• Harry Stephen "Hal" Dean (22) — d. 17.3.95. Prominent South Australian engineer; BE First Class Honours and University Medal (UQ 1933).
• Dr Gordon Miles (L. G. Miles, 1922) — d. 01.03.95. Former Director of the Division of Plant Industry, Qld DPI; Dux every year he attended; First Class Honours and a doctorate (Cornell); bred the "Alpha" grain-sorghum variety; helped establish the Wheat Research Institute, Toowoomba. Former President of the OBA; active in Nil Sine Labore Lodge.
• Guy Donald Cuthbertson DFC (28) — d. 5.2.95. RAAF Flight Lieutenant; 30 bombing missions in the Middle East; shot down 1942, POW (Stalag Luft 3) to war's end.
• Alan Fryar Twine (28) — d. 14.1.95. Long-standing and active OBA member.
• David Miller Watt (28) — d. 9.3.95. Well-known engineer; a boarder at school.
• Colonel Clifford Coles-Smith (C. W. J. Smith) (33) — b. Petrie Terrace 1919. Signaller/Bombardier, 2/10 Field Regiment 2nd AIF; POW (Changi, then the Burma Railway), organised camp concerts; entrepreneur (Home Finders); champion backgammon player; Honorary Colonel of the US Army's 25th Infantry Division.
• Ian Hutton "Slim" Somerville (43) — d. 10.11.94. Founder/MD of Somerville Industries (gas appliances); keen sailor; active in BGS Rowing and the Tiperoo Club. Father of Richard (75).
• Philip Edmiston (64) — d. 4.5.95. Prominent puppeteer; founder of the Queensland Marionette Theatre.
• Nicholas David John Fenwick (86) — d. 21.11.94. Beloved son of John (58) and Marye; brother of Jonathan (88) and Simon (83).

Marriages

Jason Jacobi (83), Andrew Horsbrugh (82), Bruce Hamilton (73), David North (81), Michael Dalton (72), Kurt Wissler (84), Christopher Bright (75), Duncan McLeod (79), Jonathan Stoddart (77), Timothy Lunn (78), Michael Keddy (79), Roy Pedersen (78), Fraser Andersen (83), Andrew Beck (79), Grant Torta (79), Matthew McLennan (82), Andrew Williams (79), Grant Williams (80), Benjamin Bopp (78), David Foster (70), Timothy Watkins (84), Christopher Lamb (85), Andrew Staunton Smith (82), Timothy Uttley (76), Mark Xavier (77), Michael Adsett (83), Paul Lovelock (80), Jason Beikoff (80), Lloyd Taylor (75).

Births

Ian Jempson (77) — son Andrew Peter; Mark Brusasco (73) — daughter Mikaela Lucy; Peter Bendixen (64) — son Thomas Peter; Timothy Fulton-Kennedy (69) — twin sons Robert and Fraser.

• Association Office: 57 Gregory Terrace, Spring Hill (space provided by the School). Office Manager Mrs Denise Telfer in attendance Mon/Wed/Fri 9am–2pm; (07) 832-4534. Mail: PO Box 841, Spring Hill 4000. The office holds an extensive collection of old School Magazines for members' perusal.
• Subscription: $35.00 annual (membership + quarterly magazine), cheque to BGSOBA.