Welcome to Newman Being!

Edition 2/2024

Have you ever wondered how far across the world our Alumni live? All having shared this little piece of Western Australia at some point in time, many are still here, but it's incredible to see our Newman Being received in places like Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Hong Kong, Singapore, South Korea, Jakarta in Indonesia, Frankfurt in Germany, Southampton in England, Oslo in Norway, Osaka in Japan, as well as all over Australia and the US. You never know when you'll run into another Newman Being, and it could be anywhere!

There are lots of Reunions coming up, so check below and, if you're from the 1964 Brigidine, Siena or St Joseph's cohort, or the Newman College 1984 or 2004 cohorts, get in touch so we can help you organise your Reunion this year! Even if you're not having a reunion this year - still get in touch, just because we'd love to hear from you.

Did you know that every month, the Alumni Engagement Team does a deep dive looking for our Alumni who have a birthday (70 years and over) coming up the following month? This is for no other reason than to send a birthday card and re-establish contact, which may have been lost in years gone by. We're often rewarded with a surprised phone message, or a lovely card or email thanking us for the card, and it never fails to make our day! We even made our own range of cards, featuring iconic shots of all our Antecedent Schools, so if you have a birthday coming up, please let us know, as we'd love to send you one!

Want to join the mailing list or know someone who does? Email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au. 
Miss the first few editions? Catch them here: https://bit.ly/NewmanBeing.

Each Newman Being includes:
- A little history on one of our 'Antecedent Schools'
- Alumni Updates - what exciting things have you all been up to?
- Reunions and Catchups – recently held, and those upcoming
- School events you, as alumni, are most welcome to attend
- Archives news and insights into some of the remarkable donations recently received
- Items of interest to our alumni, including Community News

Colours: Purple and gold (leading to the boys being known as the ‘Violet Crumbles’)
Motto: Virtuti et Scientiae (Valour and Knowledge)

The Marist Brothers had already founded St Ildephonsus College (SIC) in New Norcia in 1913, and St Paul’s in Northam in 1948 and, in February 1954, the Marist Brothers opened St Joseph’s (Marist) College on Salvado Road, Subiaco. It was immediately west of St Joseph’s Church, and the first Marist school in Perth’s metropolitan area, during what was a period of expansion in Catholic education. 

Founding Director Br Lucian (John) Gerber, then 37, commanded respect and emphasised not only academic rigour but moral and spiritual development. The library was extensive, and the curriculum comprehensive, offering advanced courses in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics, alongside Religious Education. Br Lucian also had a laser-like focus on sport and athletics, particularly soccer, Australian Rules Football, and rugby, and we had great successes in the St Joseph’s years.

As John Dastlik (1972) wrote, in his 1972 obituary for Br Lucian:
Nobody will forget Br Lucian in community. His laugh was infectious and his good humour a great fillip in times of stress. Nobody who did anything for him will forget his gracious thanks. Nobody will forget that he was a good religious man of prayer, a gentleman in all circumstances, a man among men.

St Joseph’s roughly 120 founding boys were spread from Grade 4 to First Year (Year 8). In 1955 academic coverage increased to Second Year (Year 9), increasing each year to 1958, when the School had its first Leaving (Year 12) cohort.

Having come from SIC to open St Joseph’s, at the end of 1959 Br Lucian moved on to Shepparton, Victoria, and was succeeded by Br Gordon Heinrich, who had also taught at SIC from 1953-1955. 

In 1965 when the School reopened as Marist Junior College, the purple and gold gave way to black and blue, and students in Years 10-12 (or Junior to Leaving) moved to Churchlands. The Marist Brothers were still in charge, Br Gordon was still Principal (and still loved his sweet treats), and there were the same students (to Year 9/Sub-Junior) on the same campus. One loss still lamented today is the Marching Band, of which St Joseph’s boys were justifiably proud; it seems to have disappeared without a trace. 

Sadly few records from St Joseph's survive. So if you're a St Joey's lad, please let us know! We'd also love to see your photos, as we are continually aiming to address this gap in our history!

Images above:
Top: Founding cohort of St Joseph's College, February 1954, wiwth (L-R) Br Victor Chalmers, Br Lucian Gerber (Headmaster), Br Ernest Gleeson
Back, L-R: Geoff Aldous, William Cranley, Clive Halvorson, Trevor Weaver, Anthony 'Tony' McCartney, Ken Brown, Phil Glasson, William James, John Cable, Ian Carton, Tom Sharman, David Hayes, P Batty, Terry Burke, Michael Calleja, Graham Sawyer, Lyn Smith, Michael Kennedy, John McKernan
5th row: P Dichardson (not Richardson), Greg Trevaskis, Dan White, Peter Robinson, Michael McLellan, Gerry Morris, Neil Bonser, P Diviney, Kevin Hill, William Mackey, Kevin Maher, Gerald Hegney, Michael Poole, John McCann, Adolph Vassallo, Colm Kelly, Terry Galvin, John Pierce, Terry Healy, Barry Weaver, Peter Waddell, Bill Coleman
4th row: David Conway, Tom McCormack, Peter Rooke, J McKeating, Raymond Cole, Dennis Jones, Italio Bresartz, Ross Fisher, D Casimo, Ken Gregson, Vin Ryan, Michael Hegney, John Muir, Michael Hoyne, Kevin Donovan, Frank Owen, Peter Mohen, John Morton, Joe Martino, Michael Quigley, Robert Pimm, John Shaw, David Delaporte, Lou Daily, Graham Walden
3rd row: G Wills, Evan O'Halloran, Peter Fort, Peter De Young, Joe? Pianta, W Dalmeida, Geoff Brown, John Loughlin, Michael Rafferty, John McPhee, G Johnson, P Callehan, L Darcy, John Hamilton, Peter O'Connor, Peter Miller, W Sabine, Ken? Taylor, Joe Martino, Stephen Edwards
2nd row: Br Victor Chalmers, Garry Vincent, John Hanley, Kevin? McGhie, Peter Webb, Bernard McMahon, Emmanuel Stamitiou, Terry Ettridge, M (Peter?) Mahony, David Alford, Brian Davidson, Michael Piper, Br Lucien Gerber (Headmaster), Cyril Martino, Michael Perrott, Barry Farmer, Michael Vollprecht, Tulio Rubinish, Laurie Apps, D Hemy, David Bloxome, Bruce Morton, Robert Power, Dale Neill, John Warner, Terry Reilly, Br Ernest Gleeson
Front: Brian Sheridan, F Pieterse, Peter Fletcher, Jon Stanley, John Maynard, Terry Dwyer, Franco Rubinich, Peter Mahony, John Barlow, Garry Meinck, Mervyn Cole, Clive Macknay, Douglas Schmidt, Denis Vincent, Brian Greenwood, Ray Nelligan
Bottom left: St Joseph's College Junior Football Team with coach Br Victor Chalmers, 1954
Courtesy State Library of Western Australia, Image 108750PD. None of these boys have been identified. If you can assist with this, please email us.
Bottom right: St Joseph's College Senior Football Team, 1954
Back, L-R: Geoff Aldous, Lin Smith, Michael Hoyne, Br Ernest (Coach - Terry Gleeson), Unknown, Adolf Vassallo, Richard McCabe.
Middle: Tony McCartney, Phil Glasson, Tom Sharman, Ian Carton, John Cable, Bill James, Ken Brown.
Front: Brian Greenwood, Bill Coleman, Mervyn Cole, John McKernan, Terry Galvin, Peter Fletcher, Ray NelliganCourtesy State Library of Western Australia, Image 099573PD

Images below:
St Joseph's College Marching Band, 1960
Below left: St Joseph's College Marching Band at Rosalie Park, September 1962, courtesy Frank Hubble (1970). “I was a kettle drummer for a while and then the band major ... I remember leading our band for various events like yearly processions down Oxford Street in Leederville. They were fun days!”  Frank Hubble, May 2022.
Below right: Champagnat Guild marching in the 1962 Athletics Carnival courtesy Wayne Spencer (1962). 

Alumni Updates

We take great pride in the accomplishments of our Newman Beings and the scope of their achievements. While some have garnered worldwide acclaim in their respective fields, others may be known for their contributions to their local community, or even within their own family. We celebrate and honour the efforts of all Newman Beings, from all of our 'Antecedent Schools'.

‘If you’re short on talent, make up for it with tenacity.’ 

Born on Anzac Day 1944, Dale Neill (1961) spent his formative years at St Brigid’s, West Perth, and OLV on Cambridge Street, Wembley, and, on 7 February 1954, he was among the founding cohort of St Joseph’s (Marist) College in Salvado Road, Subiaco. 

At 13 Dale had a brief but serious flirtation with the notion of becoming a Marist Brother ... but an even briefer flirtation with a Brigidine girl in the back row of the Piccadilly Theatre put paid to that idea!

Dale’s favourite subject at St Joseph’s was Physics with Br Ernest, particularly the study of light and lenses and, in the 1959-1960 holidays, Dale started a serious ‘summer romance’ with photography. While Dale’s mates were swimming and surfing, Dale sweated and sweltered, spray painting caravanettes for seven weeks at £3-10-00 ($7 today) a week. With his hard-earned pay he bought a Hanimex C35 Rangefinder camera for £24, and started shooting on film. Incredibly, he still has all those negatives today. 

After leaving school Dale went for a job as cadet photographer with The West Australian, but the proffered jobs were eliminated due to budget cuts. Instead he studied at Graylands Teachers’ College and, two years later, was posted to remote Aboriginal communities in the Kimberley, starting in Halls Creek. 

It was there in August 1964, in Australia’s most remote area, in the desert halfway between Halls Creek and Alice Springs, Dale used up one of his nine lives. He set off with three other young male teachers from Balgo Mission. On their return from Alice Springs across the Tanami and Great Sandy Deserts, their Holden EJ station wagon bogged and jammed in second gear, 60 miles east of the Northern Territory border. Three inches of unseasonal rain then caused a lake to rise around their car, for as far as the eye could see. 

Dale and his mates knew this was it. There was no panic; just no way out. Resigned, they stayed with the car and wrote last letters home to their mums. Three days later a geo-survey group in 4WDs happened to pass by. With one seat spare, they left food for the others and took Dale with them to Balgo to raise the alarm. 

Back in Perth, Dale read an ad for a lecturer in Photography at TAFE. A panel of five professional photographers grilled him unmercifully for 20 minutes before the chairperson summed up the interview, saying, ‘Mr Neill, you shouldn’t be lecturing this course, you should be doing it’. So, Dale enrolled in the TAFE photography course. He flourished, achieving straight ‘A’s. Two years later Dale applied for the lecturing job again, and got it. He had found his niche. He taught photography, trained new TAFE teachers, set up TAFE’s first TV station and Audio-Conferencing Centre, and progressed to be an Associate Director. He never regarded it as work, for he had fun every day. 

Then, at 53, Dale was 'too old' and made redundant. After a brief emotional wave receded he took stock and set up three new ventures: FACEZ studio in East Fremantle, teaching at UWA, and WILDHEART Tours. Now, he says, while his income dropped, his reward was a 200% rise in quality of life.

For the next 20 years, twice or three times a year, Dale led photography tours around the world. On 26 December 2004 an undersea earthquake with a magnitude of 9.1 struck off the coast of Indonesia. A few days later Dale joined a group of seven Perth volunteers to rescue newly-orphaned children on the east coast of India, where 15,000 lives had been lost.

Dale’s job was to photograph the rescue of orphans from four villages, and assist in their relocation to Hebron orphanage. It was the early days of digital photography, and Dale dutifully burnt all his images to CD. On return to Australia he discovered he'd had a faulty batch of CDs and none of his images had been recorded. Feeling utterly sick, he called his videographer who had also backed up, which saved the day. Those images, and the video, raised enough money to buy new land on which to build a new orphanage. Dale’s images (see below) also won him the 2005 WA Professional Photographer of the Year Award. 

Dale’s next best love was cycling. He cycled anywhere and everywhere, raced professionally for ten years and toured for 40, much of it on a tandem with his wife Margaret. They’ve pedalled through France, Germany, the British Isles and Indonesia, as well as numerous trips through Kalgoorlie and Tasmania. He loved cycling so much that, in 1974, he co-founded the Cycle Touring Association of WA which is still active today. 

Another love is flying and, in 1992, he qualified as a private pilot. Besides local ‘overseas’ flights to Rottnest, he flew up the Murrumbidgee in the ACT and down the Rhone in France. 

Of the hundreds of thousands of images Dale has taken over the years (including around 60 wonderful images of his friends, classmates, events and buildings from his time at St Joseph’s and beyond, which he kindly donated to our Archives in 2021) one of his favourites is ‘The Wounded Princess’ (above), of a troubled, young Fremantle girl whose life changed dramatically for the better after Dale took her portrait. The band, The Zimmer’s Apprentices, wrote a song of the same name in 2021 (available on Spotify and YouTube). 

As Dale reflects on his life, he realises success is not measured by traditional metrics like money or fame, but by the joy he feels every single day. Part of that joy is in coming along to our annual Year 12 Career Breakfasts where he is often our oldest attending alumni inspiring our youngest, soon-to-be alumni with his amazing accomplishments and his life’s motto: "If you're not having fun, you're not doing it right."

To that end Dale, who turned 80 earlier this year, and Marg took a trip up to the Kimberley in May. They went by bus to Broome, glamped at Cygnet Bay, sailed through the Buccaneer Archipelago, and visited the Horizontal Falls, enjoying “the most exciting two weeks an 80 year old can have!”

Images:
Top: Marg and Dale Neill (1961) on trek, Fremantle 2020 © Mark Greenland
Bottom left: Water Boy, India 2005 © Dale Neill
Bottom right: Wounded Princess, York 2009 © Dale Neill

Dianne Wallach (Rose 1968) went to OLV from Kindy in 1956 to Grade 7, and then Brigidine College, Floreat Park, from First Year in 1964 to Junior in 1966. Following in her footsteps was her brother Allan Rose (1970), who attended St Joseph’s/Marist Junior College, Subiaco, and Marist Senior College, Churchlands. 

After leaving school Dianne joined the Bank of Adelaide staff, where she met her South Australian husband. They married in 1970 and, in 1972, he was transferred back to SA. Their first child, Matthew, was born in April 1973, followed by daughter Jodie in March 1975.

When the children started at primary school, Dianne began working part-time as a merchandiser for Cadbury.

In 1986 Dianne and her husband moved to Darwin, but they separated in late 1987. The following year she met Andy, who she describes as the love of her life.

In 1988 she launched a career in sales, becoming an AMP Life and General Insurance agent for six years, before selling her agency. She then moved into directory advertising with Big Colour Pages/CitySearch and, later, Yellow Pages.

Dianne spent the last ten years of her working life at the Darwin Magistrates’ Courts. She began as a Court Officer, became a Court Officer Trainer and, for the last three years, served as Administration Manager, Courts. 

In late 2017 Dianne and Andy visited family in Brisbane and some old Darwin friends who’d since moved to Bribie Island. They fell in love with the island and decided to buy a block there. Andy designed their new home and they moved in, in August 2018.

Unfortunately their retirement plans were cut short because Andy suffered a recurrence of cancer before leaving Darwin. Dianne was devastated when he died in April 2022, on his 68th birthday. She subsequently received tremendous support from family in Brisbane and Melbourne, as well as from her neighbours and the Bribie Island community.

Today, Dianne stays active as a member of Troon Fit Gym at Pacific Harbour Golf and Country Club and enjoys singing with the Voices Choral Group. This, and the support she has received from everyone, has been crucial in helping her navigate her new life without Andy.

Images:
Top left: Dianne Wallach (Rose 1968) preparing for an afternoon tea and talk on Medieval women’s daily life and dress at the Bribie Island Community Arts Centre. (Dianne works in the Gallery there, as well as in Cafe 191.) 
Top right: One of Bribie Island's magnificent sunsets, captured by Dianne.

John Miller (1968) attended St Joseph’s (Brigidine) School on the corner of McCourt Street to Year 3, followed by St Joseph’s/Marist College on Salvado Road, Subiaco, and later in Churchlands, graduating with the Leaving Class of 1968.

During his years at Marist, John was extremely successful in the field of athletics, winning the Athletics Champion for his age group from 1960 to 1968, and being the first student to win a State Schoolboys’ Athletics sprinting title in 1962 at the newly-completed Perry Lakes Stadium. John has the program for that meeting and remembers other Marist students competing included Jim Maslin (1965), Dominic Palumbo (1965, dec), Geoff Kenny (1965), Peter Hales (1966), Carl Campagnoli (1967), and Peter McMullen (1968).

In 1968 John was a Prefect, Captain of Joseph House (for all sports), played in the First XVIII and Under-18 Football Teams, was Captain of the School Athletics Team and, at the end of the year, won a Miles Award for Athletics. 

On leaving school John worked for PMG (later Telecom and, later still, Telstra) until 1971 when he was called up for National Service. His service involved working as a Sergeant Examiner, mainly in Army Recruitment. He left the army in 1973, returned to the PMG and studied part time for a Social Science Degree at the WA Institute of Technology (now Curtin University).

With Telstra, John achieved the level of National Executive Manager Distribution, Logistics Division. He took a redundancy in the late 1990s, then worked for the Australian Bureau of Statistics, retiring in 2006 due to illness. 

He married his wife, Robyn, in 1977 and they raised three children in Leigh, Gareth and Katherine. He is now the proud grandfather of Ethan, Lucas and August. 

The family’s favourite holidays were spent in Albany and, eventually, they purchased ten acres of rural property in Marbelup. They built their dream home and won the prestigious award of Home of the Year. They adopted two greyhounds and spent many wonderful hours walking the beautiful beaches of the district, enjoying their retirement. Unfortunately in recent times Robyn became very ill, which resulted in relocating back to Perth where he resides in a new home in Alkimos with his lovely greyhound, Winnie.

Over the past three years John has contributed a number of wonderful digital photos and documents to our Archives, including programmes and photos from Athletics carnivals, and even one for his first Holy Communion from c1958 (see From the Archives, Newman Being 1/2024), although he apologises for not being able to name all the girls!

John is still friends with a number of his former classmates, and would love to organise a 1968 (1966 Junior Class) Reunion in the not-too-distant future! To that end, if you’re in John’s cohort, email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au to update your details so we can start organising that get-together! No need to wait for 2026!

Image:
1964 ACC Athletics Champions, St Joseph's College, Subiaco. Inset: John Miller (1968) today
Back, L-R: Gerard Willman, Joseph Gentelli, Peter O'Dea, Rodney Maslin, Murray Pownall
4th row: Raymond Gregson, Martin Jeffrey, Alan Rose, Trevor Rowse
3rd row: Greg Colgan, David Kennedy, John Miller, Peter D'Almeida, Michael Bradley, Peter Liehne, Garth Melvold
2nd row: Peter Hales, Carl Campagnoli, Kenneth McGovern, Vincent Martin, Michael Edwards, John Portwood, P Fels, Jim Portwood
Front: C Fragomeni, Tony Sgro, M Bertelli, Anthony Somers, Peter Burton, P O'Donohoe, Alec Brown, Michael Kent, Des Lukey (Captain

Clare Jahn (Bromley 1961) came to our St Joseph’s (Brigidine) School in Wembley, and continued her education at Brigidine Secondary School until after completing her Junior in 1959.

Clare’s memories of her time at school include Carolyn Pedersen (Sanderson) giggling during Mother Colombiere’s Sex Education class and, while everyone tried really hard not to join in, they all eventually cracked up laughing. She recalls the day Lorraine Langer (Monck) came to school with orange hair, and everyone being horrified when they heard Lorraine Daglish's (Rose) mother was pregnant! She also has vivid memories of how the girls went on strike before Mother Imelda’s History class, due to the lack of time to put gear and bags away before the next lesson began. Clare remembers thinking she was sure to be expelled but, surprisingly, the strike resulted in victory! 

On leaving school Clare started working as a typist at Atkins (WA) in Perth and, later, as a ledger machinist. It was while working at Atkins, aged just 16, she met Harold Jahn. They married when Clare was just 20, in 1965, and went on to raise four children.

The whole family is involved in sailing, and their children grew up spending weekends at the yacht club and, in the years since, they often travelled to the eastern states for various yachting championships. Sport has always been part of Clare’s life, having played A-grade netball at Matthews Centre in Floreat, and enjoyed social games of tennis as well as pennant squash. In the 1990s she also took up golf, which she enjoyed very much but found equally frustrating. For many years, she aimed to play twice a week. 

Clare and Harold have travelled nationally and internationally, enjoying yachting trips to the Whitsundays and golfing trips to Malaysia and Thailand. Clare also has happy memories of an eight-week trip to Europe in the early 1990s that she took with three friends – also wives and mothers – it was a magical time of complete freedom from responsibilities.

More recently, after recovering from the flu, Clare and Harold shared their determination to continue travelling and staying active. They spent Clare’s 80th birthday (in April this year) in Spain, and then headed to India, determined to embrace life and revel in new experiences. At Kuala Lumpur airport, exhausted from a 12-hour delay for their flight, they were surprised when a young man asked if he could take their photo. Clare says, "he thought we looked like we'd been together for years and were obviously still in love. He wanted to show his girlfriend it was possible, and that she would be inspired enough to marry him." 

Clare and Harold returned from India earlier this month and are looking forward to celebrating 60 years of marriage in February next year. They have no intention of sitting and waiting to die, but want to keep travelling and doing fun things, and enjoy every little bit of this fabulous life!

Images:
Top left: Primary School children at St Joseph's (Brigidine) School Hall, 1955. Clare Jahn (Bromley 1961) is in the back row, first left.
Top right: Harold and Clare Jahn, snapped by a romantic young photographer at KL airport recently.
Bottom - some photos from their recent travels. Left: Sagrada Familia, Spain; Middle: Ronda, Spain; Right: Royal Boat Harbour, Phuket.

Alessandro ‘Alec’ Epis (1954) is the son of Giusefina nee Borlini and Virgilio Epis, who had come from Italy at the age of 13. Born in Boulder in 1937, Alec was raised on the goldfields, where Virgilio was a partner in a gold prospecting venture. In 1949 aged 11, after two years with the Christian Brothers in Kalgoorlie, Alec was sent to our earliest Antecedent School - St Ildephonsus College in New Norcia. 

Alec really missed home, and threw himself into giving sport a go. He played cricket, tennis, hockey and football and, in the doing, discovered he had exceptional athletic capabilities, particularly in football. He played in the Under-14 and Under-15 teams in 1949 and 1950, and in the Second XVIII team in 1951. He desperately wanted to represent SIC and play in the First XVIII, but left New Norcia at the end of 1951.

     “My greatest desire was to play senior footy for the School, but it never
     happened and I never got the jumper I always wanted. I never ever forgot it,
     so when I got to Melbourne I rang Br Lucien asking if I could buy a jumper.
     Br Lucien sent me one over anyway, and the day it arrived was the best
     day of my life.”
     (Alec later donated this guernsey and his SIC blazer back to New Norcia.)

Alec then attended Boulder High School and the WA School of Mines where he briefly studied engineering drafting until it became clear he wasn't made for study, and starting work as a butcher’s apprentice. He also joined the Mines Rovers Football Team, making his debut there in 1955, aged 17. That year he took out the Fletcher Medal for Fairest and Best in the Goldfields National Football League, and played in the grand final between the Mines Rovers and Kalgoorlie City, resulting in a 44-point victory to the Rovers.

In 1956, thanks to a local milkbar owner writing to Essendon Football Club about Alec’s football prowess, the Club invited him to move to Melbourne to train with them. Football leagues having exclusionary rules between them at the time, the WAFL - then headed by another SIC alumni, Pat Rodriguez (1917) - excluded Alec from playing for two years, during which time he did play - but only on Sundays, and under an assumed name. In 1958 he tossed the consequences aside and put himself forward to Essendon again. The Club snapped him up and, over the next 11 seasons until 1968, he played an outstanding 180 VFL games, including four grand finals. 

It was on a 1963 State Team trip to Perth and home via Adelaide that Alec earnt the nickname ‘Kookaburra’. During celebrations after winning the Adelaide game that night, the lads sat around telling stories and jokes, having a great old time. Two there said his laugh was just like a kookaburra, and the name stuck! 

Later in life Alec directed his interests and fierce energies into vintnering, and established Domaine Epis with vineyards at Kyneton (Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot vines) and Woodend (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), in Victoria’s Macedon Ranges. 

Alec would have loved to have married and had children, but is pragmatic about life not having turned out that way. Today he is less hands-on at the vineyard and has moved into a retirement village in Melbourne, near the Bombers’ home ground at Windy Hill. He is still full of life, happily chats to everyone, and his characteristic kookaburra laugh often rings out. He still watches his beloved Bombers every week, and enjoys frequent lunches out with friends. We hope this is the case later this month, when he celebrates his 87th birthday! 

Wishing you a very Happy Birthday, Alec!

Read more in an interview in Footy Almanac HERE:

Images above:
Top left: First Communion, New Norcia, c1949. Alec Epis is fourth from the left, front row. Courtesy New Norcia Archives. (No one else in this photo has been identified - if you recognise others, please email archives@newman.wa.edu.au.)
Top middle: St Ildephonsus College Athletics Team, 1950
Back, L-R: Vincent Carroll, Anthony Maher, Trevor Hall, Robert Beaton
4th row: John Angell, Roger Ryan, D Regali, John Nice, Edwin Jeffreys, Ronald Cornelius, Robert Anderson, James Hasson, Philip Carroll
3rd row: John Leen, Neil Rear, Neil Henderson, Noel Flinn, George Templeman, Alan Keet(s), Paul White, Ronald Hall, John Errey, Terence Flynn, Colin Spencer, Forbes Milligan
2nd row: Robert Hoyne, Clement Hill, Nello Facci (later Br David), Bernard Clune (Captain), Robert Dryden (kneeling), Stuart Dunkley, John Ryan, Brian Clifford, Thomas Rosser
Front: William 'Bill' Laidman, Alec Epis, Brian Boyce.
Top right: St Ildephonsus College Second XVIII Football Team, 1951
Back, L-R: Basil Antonio, Maurice Bassi, Gerald Flynn, Forbes Milligan, Gerald Rees 
3rd row: Kelvin Mailey, Edwin Jefferys, Gerald Leaver, Alan Keet(s), William Thomas, Brian Connelly, David Bradshaw 
2nd row: Alec Epis, John Angell, Thomas Moore, Garrett Sainsbury, John Hanley (Captain), Malcolm McHarg, (now Fr) Pat Rooney, Michael Angell, Brian Boyce
Front: Alan Kelly, John Dear, Sydney Winchcombe, Michael Jones.
Middle left: Alec Epis (at SIC) and his sister Ena (St Gertrude's), c1950. Courtesy New Norcia Archives.
Centre middle: Alec Epis in his SIC First XVIII guernsey sent to him by Br Lucian, c1960. Courtesy Alec Epis via Footy Almanac.
Centre right: Alec Epis in training at Windy Hill for Essendon, 1965. Courtesy New Norcia Archives.
Bottom left: Grand Final (32-point) win for Essendon against Carlton, 1962
L-R: Alec Epis, Geoff Gosper, John Coleman (top), Hugh Mitchell, Don McKenzie. Courtesy New Norcia Archives
Bottom right: Alec ‘Kookaburra’ Epis (1954) at his Melbourne retirement village in June. Courtesy Ryman Healthcare.

Margaret Sweetman (Flood 1961) was born in Subiaco, the eldest child and only daughter of Health Education Officer John Flood and Kathleen nee Brown. She has four younger brothers in Peter (1964 but left in junior years), Michael (1970), John (1973) and
David (1975). She began her schooling in 1950 at Our Lady of Victories (OLV) in Wembley, which opened in 1949, and continued on to Brigidine Secondary School (BSS) on Salvado Road. She graduated in 1961, the year before before BSS moved to Floreat and was renamed Brigidine College. “They were happy times,” Margaret says. “There were eight in Year 12 and only four in Year 11.”

In 1962 Margaret went on Claremont Teachers' College with several of her former classmates in Angela Hamilton (Monaghan), Lorraine Daglish (Rose), and Stephanie Kennedy (Briggs). Margaret began her teaching career at City Beach Primary School, where she met fellow teacher Peter Sweetman in 1965.

Peter’s father, Erskine Sweetman, was an Anglican RAAF Chaplain and, for him to marry them in Our Lady of Victories Church in Wembley in 1967, Margaret had to seek permission from Rome. It took some time, but it came through. They woke, the morning after the wedding, to their photos on the front page of The West Australian but, Margaret says, “57 years later we’re still together and happy, and that’s the important thing”. Indeed it is. 

Peter’s career then took the Sweetmans on an 11-year journey to the country. They lived in Jigalong, returned for a year, then spent three years each in Mount Magnet, Northampton and Tom Price. On the way they gained a deep appreciation for the diversity of lifestyles across Western Australia. At the end of 1982 they returned to Perth for the secondary education of their four children, and to be closer to family.

Margaret worked for the last five years in the country towns, as a part-time Music specialist. In 1983 she began working for Catholic Education in the same capacity in the Balga/Mirrabooka area. During those years, Margaret learnt Mother Catherine did indeed know what she was taking about when she took Music and Choir at Salvado Road!

In 1985 Margaret returned to teaching full-time, and was on the foundation staff at Padbury Catholic Primary School. She was then appointed Principal at St John’s Primary School in Scarborough for a year, before accepting the role of Principal at Our Lady of Mt Carmel in Hilton. In 1997 she was the foundation Principal at Clarkson’s St Andrew’s Catholic Primary School, and retired from there in 2007, only to be asked to be Principal at Notre Dame Primary School in Cloverdale, where she stayed for 18 months.

In her teaching, Margaret spent many years in early childhood education and gained a lifelong appreciation for the importance of reading and writing. Despite changes in time, school environments and expectations, she believes the essence of childhood remains unchanged.

Family has always been important to Margaret and, aside from their four children, she and Peter now have nine grandchildren. Back when none of their children lived in Perth and their families were all in the Kimberley Region or in the eastern states, the Sweetman house went from two to 16 each Christmas holidays! 

These days Margaret still has a keen interest in sewing (clothes), but her busy life mean earlier efforts at patchworking left some projects unfinished. 

Of her days at Brigidine Margaret says, “I have happy memories and great friends still, and it was great to catch up with everyone at the Reunion [1961 cohort’s 65 years since 1959 Junior] earlier this year!”

Images:
Left: Margaret at Our Lady of Victories (OLV) Kindergarten, 1950
Right: OLV Kindergarten Class, 1950
Back, L-R: Unknown, unknown, Tom McCormack, Wayne Latham, Clive McNay, unknown, Peter de Yong.
Middle: Dillion?, Russell Mission, ____ Bloxham, Philip Fitzharding, John McPhie, Peter Perry, Robert Powers
Front: Rae Elton, Lorna Brennan, Lorraine Rose, Natalie Hill, Lesley Elton, Margaret Clapp, Leonie Bott, Margaret Flood, Sue Waddington, Kath Reynolds, Wendy Bonser.

John Cullinane (1974) grew up in Wembley and attended OLV, Wembley, before moving on to Marist Junior College in Subiaco, and Marist Senior College in Churchlands. He enjoyed school, the great atmosphere, and the camaraderie of growing up with the same, close-knit cohort of boys, many of whom remain lifelong friends. 

He is thankful the Brothers encouraged them all to pursue their strengths and guided them towards their talents. He is particularly grateful they employed talented English painter and printmaker Mrs Patricia Goff (Art Teacher 1971-1972), who opened John’s eyes to the world of art. (A summary in the Spectrum of her 1971 classes, features below.)

Inspired by Mrs Goff, after leaving school John went straight into Art School at Perth Tech in James Street, where he spent the rest of the 1970s mastering his art. In the 1980s he completed a Diploma in Fine Art from the Claremont School of Art, and furthered his studies in painting and ceramics at WACAE (now Edith Cowan University).

John has never looked back, and his artistic journey has been marked by success and recognition. He won the first of several art prizes (Best Figure Study in the Albany Art Prize) in 1989. He has since maintained a steady career as an artist and art tutor throughout WA. He has exhibited in around 20 national and international solo exhibitions, and many more group shows. His works are featured in important private and public collections throughout the world, including the National Gallery of Australia, Parliament House in Canberra, and the Art Gallery of Western Australia. They are also held in the collections of UWA; Curtin, Murdoch, and Edith Cowan Universities; Royal Perth Hospital; City of Wanneroo; New Norcia; Central TAFE; and Bankwest.

Of his art, he says:
“An idea will come from any source such as something or someone seen; an event, a book, a discussion, politics, any media whatsoever. I like to be open at all times to capture the idea when it comes, many ideas escape, never to be found…”

John has lived in West Perth and surrounding suburbs for most of his life, and has worked out of the same Northbridge studio for nearly 40 years. He has travelled to Europe five times, mainly to visit art galleries and connect with his English and Irish relatives. Back home he teaches art in retirement villages and community centres in the western suburbs, and sometimes also takes on private clients.

Images:
Top left and right: John at Art School in the 1970s
Middle: Self Portrait, oil on canvas, 2006
Below left: Art Report in Spectrum (1971 Vol 7, No: 2)
Below right: Recent photo of John Cullinane (1974). Courtesy Gallows Gallery.

Reunions: Recent!

1966 Marist College Reunion, 26 April 2024
L-R, clockwise: David Doherty, Rod Quigley, Peter Hales, Michael Moriarty, Des Ryan, Peter Baker (Boarder), Gary Golding, Geoff Cornwall, Kevin Lukey (Head Boy 1966), David Hynes, Paul Byrne, John Morgan. There, but not in photo: Tony Somers.

Our 1966 Marist College lads gathered for general catchup and fabulous lunch recently, at Cottesloe's Albion Hotel. If you missed this one, head along to the next one on Friday 11 October 2024 (see below).

The private room at the Herdsman Hotel was filled with joyful exclamations, hugs and laughs when the delightful 1959 Junior cohort gathered in May, in joint celebration of their 80th birthdays and an incredible 65 years since they sat their Junior.

Most girls left Brigidine Secondary School after Junior in 1959 and began their journeys on their various paths in life. Nevertheless, this cohort remains an extremely close-knit group, filled with remarkable women who continue to lead interesting and fulfilling lives .... and they exemplify how friendships forged at our Schools last a lifetime. 

Images:
Top: Brigidine Secondary School, Salvado Road, Wembley, 1954
Back, L-R: Margaret Dwyer, rest unknown; 2nd back: unknown Barlow, Rowena Houlahan, unknown, Kath Chesson; 3rd back: Clare Dwyer; 2nd front row, sixth from left (tiny girl standing): Rosemary Manera. If you can help in identifying these girls, please email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au.
Bottom: The Brigidine Secondary School's 1961 cohort celebrating 65 fabulous years since Junior (1959)
Back, L-R: Carolyn Pedersen (Sanderson), Angela Hamilton (Monaghan), Alicia Gorey (Smyth), Merrilyn Silverlock (Hassett), Georgia Mercer (Fittock), Clare Jahn (Bromley), Anne Ferrari (Re), Val Severn (Gates), Corrine Farrell (Halvorson), Jill Phillips (Harrison), Margaret Angus (Clapp), Elizabeth Backhouse (Panegyres)
Front: Sophia Gatti (Wisniewska), Maureen Phillips (Jenkin), Barbara Thomas (Hussey), Maxine Munckton (Thomas) Wendy Duffy (Bonser), Margaret Sweetman (Flood), Irene Berry (Purcell) Ann Malone (Mulhall), Margaret Wheelock (Shortill), Carol Quinlan (Waddell), Mary Healy.

On Wednesday 19 June we were excited to begin a new tradition, when we welcomed back a very important group of people – our 2023 Leavers – for our inaugural Year 13 Alumni Brunch!

The foyer of the Marist Auditorium was filled with the loud and happy noise of chatter and laughter as 50 of our newest alumni came to see their classmates, and us, and let us know what they’ve been up to since they embarked on their first steps in the adult world!

After eating their fill of the delicious spread (red velvet cupcakes, macarons, all kinds of muffins, gourmet mini pies and sausage rolls), many accompanied Principal Andrew Watson on a tour of the campus, to see what has changed since they were here last year.

It was a great first event for us and our young Alumni, and we’re looking forward to continuing this new tradition! 

Around 20 of the Brigidine College girls from the Class of 1974 gathered at Dr Mary McNulty's Wembley home on Saturday 3 August. They laughed, reminisced, and had a really wonderful time!

Images:
Top left: Brigidine College 5th Years with Mr Richard Hartzell, 1974
None identified. If you can identify anyone in this photo, please email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au. Photo courtesy Beth Worsdell (Gerrans 1972) 
Top right: Brigidine College, Floreat, 1962
Bottom: 1974 Brigidine College Reunion in 2024
Back, L-R: Nola Allen (Buralli), Anne O’Loughlin, Mary McNulty, Helen Wren (Moxham), Debra O’Mahony (Marchioro), Dorothea Hansen (Nice), Michelle Lacey (Ryan), Robyn McDonnell (Phipps)
Front: Rochelle Pereira (Herft), Marie Gray (McMullen), Jenny Thornton, Josephine Anderson, Margaret Ingleton (Kenny), Claudia Dibiaggia (Visintin), Maureen Abbot (Kavanagh), Cath Dwyer, Maureen Fallon (front), Julie Clarke (Ryan), Lilian Baster (Falvey).

Reunions: Upcoming!
(Save the Date!)

Calling St Ildephonsus Old Boys!
Come along for a coffee!

SIC Old Boys from all years catch up for a casual coffee at 10am on the last Friday of February, May, August and November at Brew Ha in Subiaco (next to the Post Office) on Rokeby Road.

The next one is on Friday 30 August and all are welcome! Come along for a coffee, sit in the sun, catch up with old friends, and potentially make some new ones.

We do this on the last Friday of February, May, August and November,
so if you can't make this one, come along on 29 November!

These lads decided not to wait for a Reunion year and caught up in April (see above). They had such a great time, they're doing it again!

Calling the Class of 1966 (mostly born in 1949) who attended St Joseph's College, Subiaco, and/or Marist College, Churchlands! We will gather for a happy lunch on Friday, 11 October 2024 at the Albion Hotel, Cottesloe. 

It won't be the last, so feel free to come along to this one or the next (Brigidine ladies from 1966 also very welcome).

Call Geoff Cornwall: 0419 903 793 or email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au.

It’s time to reconnect, reminisce, and celebrate!

Join your fellow classmates for an unforgettable evening as we mark 30 years since our days at Newman College. Whether you’ve kept in touch or it’s been a while, this reunion is the perfect opportunity to catch up with old friends, share memories, and create new ones.

And if you didn't graduate in 1994 but were part of this year group at some point, of course you're very welcome, too! Spread the word!

Tickets ($50) now available to buy HERE!

Ticket price includes complimentary first drink and catering. Great beers, a selection of lovely wines, and soft drink available for purchase at the bar.

Come along and enjoy a night filled with laughter and good times! Don’t miss out on this special event - it’s going to be a night to remember!

Arrive at 5:45pm for a 6pm start ... And first up we have a real treat - a tour of the campus to see what's changed by Bern Willett, who's an Old Boy himself from the Class of 1976 and still imparting his wisdom at Newman today!

If you have photos to send through for the slideshow, send them to the Alumni email address above, or drop them in for us to scan! 

The 1974 Marist College 50th Reunion kicks off at 5:30pm on Saturday, 2 November, and we hope as many of our cohort can attend, regardless of whether or not you left in the years prior to Year 12!

Come along and catch up with your old Marist mates and celebrate bonds which have stood the test of time.

Tickets will be $50, which includes first drink and catering. We'll send out the ticketing link six weeks prior (around 20 September). Email us to make sure you're on our list!

Parking available on site (enter off Tuscany Way) and don't be late - the (optional) campus tour starts at 5:45pm and will be taken by Greg's brother Bern Willett (1976). It will be great to see what's changed over the last 50 years! 

It will be a great night! But, before you go!

Please take (to Newman College Main Administration) or send in any photos that could be scanned for our slideshow! These can either be given back to you (along with digitised copy) or donated to the Archives! Email us for further info.

And lastly, we need your help - we've lost contact with the following lads, so if anyone knows their whereabouts, please email us and let us know:

The Class of 2014, 10 Year Reunion is on 7 December!
Reconnect with old friends and catch up on a decade of what's been happening!

Tickets are free, but please RSVP! 

You can buy your own food and drinks at the bar, and if you want to play bowls, it's $5.50 per person.

Contact organiser Alicia Britton or update your contact details by email HERE or clicking
HERE for the added bonus of accessing your yearbooks online! 

Calling all lads in the 1975 cohort!
(whether you left then or beforehand)

Your 50th Reunion is already booked for Saturday, 25 March 2025 in the Newman College Sports Centre!

Make sure you don't miss out on an invitation - email alumni@newman.edu.au and update your contact details!

A Reunion Committee is in the planning stages of the 1995, 30 Year Reunion to be held (back at Newman) in the first half of 2025! 

Email our Alumni Engagement Team HERE to make sure you're on the mailing list and spread the word to make sure everyone receives an invitation when the time comes! 

Reunions: Yours!

Did you know we can host and/or help organise your Reunions?

We offer, free, to our alumni:
- Venue hire (selection of great venues available) with easy onsite parking
- Archival digitisation of your photos for slideshow
- Design and sending out of reunion invitations
- Assistance in tracking down members of your cohort with whom you’ve lost touch 
- School Tour - see what's changed
- Taking of a group photo
- Inhouse ticket booking system
- Design and production of nametags for your event, and
- Onsite AV/music system

Also available, at near cost:
- Superb inhouse catering to suit any taste, style or budget, and
- Fully stocked and serviced cash bar

If you'd like us to organise your reunion (either on site or elsewhere), email our Alumni Engagement Team on alumni@newman.wa.edu.au.

From the Archives

During Term 2 something momentous happened…

Having outgrown our tiny (but much loved) Archives on the verandah of the Champagnat Chapel, we moved into larger premises within the body of the School!

Here in our wonderful new space we can spread out a little, but - most importantly - we are protected from fire, theft, climate and pests, and are better equipped to care for our growing Collection. We have a new, larger Compactus which offers ample storage, and plenty of room to swing our elbows around our art racks and map cabinet! We now have a dedicated scanning station, a great wet area, and an adjacent flat area on which to lay out textiles or process documentary and photographic items. We can now also comfortably accommodate more than one visitor at a time, and look forward to welcoming more as we settle in to our new space. Soon, we may even seek a volunteer!

We absolutely love our new space, and we love our School's commitment and dedication to ensuring the safeguarding and preservation of our heritage for many, many years to come. 

A huge move like this brings the opportunity to lay eyes and hands on items we know we have, but haven't had a chance (or the room) to unpack. To our delight, during the move, we were able to examine a significant 2007 donation from Colleen Dransfield (Coffey 1966), who gave her Brigidine College pinafore and tie (the original version of both from 1962), and some items belonging to her brothers Patrick and Laurie Coffey (1968 and 1973 respectively), including a St Joseph’s (purple and gold) tie, and Marist College blazer and cap (below). 

We also examined a generous 2013 donation from former Archivist Susi Nodding, mother of Jack, Christopher and Harry Nodding (2008, 2010 and 2012 respectively) which included some trousers, a 2012 Music Tour shirt, a Rugby shirt, a Thomas More Guild shirt, a 2012 Leavers' cap, and a Newman College cap and backpack. Thank you, Susi!

Unknown donor update! In our last edition we featured a beautiful Brigidine College lapel pin which was left at Reception and given to us in March. We were so pleased when
Margaret Papaelias (Martino 1969) came forward to let us know it was hers. Thank you, Margaret! We are delighted to add it to our Collection!

This month we also splashed out on digitising some of our more vulnerable analog items, including 8mm film and videos of:
   1970s - a trip the Marist College lads took up north (location unknown but there were
                surfboards and boats involved!)
   1976 - Its Academic State Finals
   1988 - Opening of the North Wing
   1992 - Celebration of the Golden Jubilee of the Brigidine Sisters
   1994 - Theatre Arts: Submarine Nights (Dress Rehearsal and Show)
   1994 - Junior School Annual Music Festival
   1995 - Theatre Arts: Godspell 
   2004 - Theatre Arts: Little Shop of Horrors

If you'd like to see any of these, email us here and we'll send you a link!

Recent donations have been received from:

Brigidine College Fatima House, 1965
Back row, sixth from left: Siobhan Foley. Far right: Dian Lewis. 2nd row, first and second left: Frances O’Connor, Sue Catoni. All others unknown. If you can identify anyone in this image, please email us on archives@newman.wa.edu.au.

Siobhan Foster (Foley 1966)
Digital Accession: Four 1965 Brigidine College House photos (above).

Tony Kelly (1965)
The Marist Brothers' Teaching Tradition In Australia 1872-2000 (PhD thesis) by John Braniff, 2005.
Digital accession: The First 100 Years in Fiji: The Story of the Marist Brothers in Fiji by Fergus Garrett FMS, 2006.

St Joseph's School, Wembley, Grade 4 class, 1939 
Heather Asquith (1947) is in the second row, first left. 2024/15 David Murray

Ambrose Depiazzi (1962)
St Ildephonsus College (SIC) Old Boys’ Association blazer once belonging to Ambrose’s brother, Bernard Depiazzi (1948, dec); hard copy of Br Valerian Braniff’s Masters’ thesis
St Ildephonsus College, New Norcia, 1913-1964: An Educational, Religious and Social History (2008).
Items from Geoff Tilley (1945) including Adventures and Memories: Stories of a Foreign-Going Master Mariner (UK) Rtd by Geoff Tilley, 2010; Geoff’s newsletters ‘Food for Thought’ No: 162 (Jun 2008), 174 (Apr 2010), 175 (Jun 2010) and 176 (Nov 2010).
Marist Old Boys’ Association documentation from 1956-1977 including: Class and contact lists; correspondence, newsletters, invitations, tickets, receipts, calendars, Minutes, Treasurers' Reports, lists of financial members, bulletins and other communications; Spectrum Vol 5, No: 1 (early 1969); Spectrum Vol 7, No: 1 (early 1971); Black ‘n’ Blue magazines from May and December 1968, Winter 1970, April 1971 and Winter 1974; Marist OBA Constitution; Marist OBA letterhead; box of index cards for Financial Old Boys, 1966-1977; documentation for the 2013 SIC Centenary Reunion in New Norcia, and the 2015 Marist Old Boys’ Annual Mass and Reunion celebrating 50 years at Churchlands. 
2015 reunion responses including one from Anselm Mazzucchelli (1964) enclosing six photos of: Class group on the stairs at SIC c1959, three of the SIC Marching Band from 1958 and 1959 (led by Captain of Marching, Ambrose Depiazzi), one of the 'new' Bedford School Bus (bought second hand) c1961, one of the (actual) new Austin School Bus c1960 with John Kenny (1964) beside it; photocopy of two 1930 photos given to Ambrose by a person unknown featuring Leo Wood (1931, dec 2006) and Tom Berrigan (1930, dec 1983) in uniform, and the 1930 First XI Cricket team from the 1930 Yearbook (with Leo Wood front and centre); copies of The College Roll from 1934 and 1940-1947 Yearbooks; copy of the 1944 Yearbook of Old Boys who made the Supreme Sacrifice, followed by 11 pages of names of Old Boys (collated by Ben Cunningham) who served in AIF, 2/AIF, RAAF, Vietnam, and the Merchant Navy including those who were killed.
Digital accession: Nine photos of the SIC gathering in New Norcia in October 2023, with the two featuring everyone having been painstakingly named (with grateful thanks) by Ambrose and Tony Kelly (1965). 

Images above (mostly) from Anselm Mazzucchelli (1964) via Ambrose Depiazzi (1962):
Top left: Leo Wood (1931) and Tom Berrigan (1930) in 1930 while students at St Ildephonsus College, New Norcia (donor unknown).
Top right: Class group on front stairs, c1959 (there's a Kelly in there)
Middle (second and third from top): SIC Marching Band 1958 and 1959, with Captain of Marching Ambrose Depiazzi (1962) standing at right. (RAAF Air Cadets formed the Marching Band.) 
Bottom left: ‘New’ Bedford SIC School Bus (purchased secondhand) c1961.
Bottom right: Actual new Austin SIC School Bus, purchased 1960, with John Kenny (1964) beside it.

Upcoming School Events
Alumni welcome!

The Newman Community invites our Alumni to test their trivia
at a fun-filled Quiz Night on Friday, 30 August!

Quiz - 7:00-10:30pm (doors open at 6:30pm, evening concludes at 11pm)
Venue - Marist Auditorium, Newman College

Licensed bar, cash and EFTPOS available
BYO nibbles (no BYO drinks)
Dolce & Salato pizzas (pre-cut into 16 slices) available to pre-order (cutoff is three days prior to the event, ie 27 August)

Tickets available HERE! (You can 'View Venue Plan' before selecting your table)

Alumni Community News

Earlier this year, we put out a call to our wonderful Alumni, inviting them to host a table at this year’s Year 12 Careers' Breakfast. The response was fantastic, with over 30 Alumni (ranging in age from 1961 to 2023 Leavers) generously offering to participate and share their life's experiences with our students. They represent a wide range of industries, and offered advice and guidance in areas such as fundraising, business development, sports and fitness, administration and operations, finance, property development, architecture, construction, plumbing, small business ownership, mining, management, OHS, engineering, television and media, journalism, hospitality, law, politics, dentistry, several aspects of medicine, events management, sports training, music, teaching, training, model making, writing, and photography.

It was an incredible opportunity for our Year 12 students! At times, they were hushed as they absorbed the wisdom so generously shared. At other times the room buzzed with energy as they peppered their hosts with questions and discussed potential career paths, and some of the challenges they might face along the way.

It was wonderful to see the new connections being forged between our past and present students. Grateful thanks to all of our amazing Alumni who remain prepared to support our soon-to-be youngest Alumni!

Images:
Top: Our Alumni who answered the call to give up their time to host a table at this year's Year 12 Careers' Breakfast!
Middle:
Left: Sports journalist John Townsend (1978)
Middle: Award-winning photographer Dale Neill (1961)
Right: Renowned and prolific children's author, historian and biographer Ken Spillman (1976)
Below:
Left: Trevor Beazley (1986) engaging with students about finance
Middle: Clair Stanley (Lawrence 1978) talking about events management and nursing
Right: Well known dentist Don Rechichi (1973) sharing his experience in the field of dentistry