Christ Church Grammar School

Founder’s Cocktail Party

Around 450 old boys and parents celebrated the spirit of Christ Church at the annual Founder’s Cocktail Party on Saturday 8 August. Hosted by the Old Boys’ Association and the Parents’ Association and co-ordinated by Tom Nattrass and Jo Cashman, it was a fantastic opportunity for old boys to catch up with old friends over drinks, canapes and live jazz music by Paul Millard Presents.
  

Centenary Dinner

Next year’s Centenary Dinner is set to be a landmark event with a record number of old boys expected to attend. So lock in the date, call your old pals and start getting some tables of 10 together for a once-in-100 years celebration.

Saturday 8 May, 2010
Challenge Stadium, Mount Claremont
 

Connecting With Artists

Christ Church Grammar School hopes to make it to New York City in 2010 for the next international Visual Art Tour and Head of Art Pam Yordanoff said it would be wonderful to touch base with any old boys in NYC with an art practice. She said previous tours to various locations around the world had proven to be an exhilarating experience for students and it would be an amazing addition to the next tour if boys could participate in hands-on workshops and tours with old boys.

Pam (pictured in the Old Boys' Gallery) is also calling on old boy artists to be involved in the Centenary in 2010. “If there is enough interest from old boys practicing in any of the visual art or design areas, an exhibition could be staged in the School’s new Visual Art, Design and Technology building. I would envisage it could be any 2D, 3D or 4D piece, from architect plans and models, to photography, graphics, ceramics, sculpture, mixed media, painting, printmaking and the crafts.” She welcomes feedback from old boys on either of the above ideas to pyordanoff@ccgs.wa.edu.au.

Pam would also like to start a database of old boys who are interested in sharing their positive art experiences with the current cohort of art and design boys. “I believe there can be so much potential in the meeting of like minds,” Pam said. “As an old boy you are never too young or too old to be part of it. Please feel free to come in, have a look around the new facilities and enjoy a chat over a coffee.”
   

Archives

Picture above: Romsey Boarding House 1958, donated by John Leach.

If you recognise anyone in the photo above, please contact School Archivist Freida French on (08) 9442 1532 or email ffrench@ccgs.wa.edu.au.
  

Legends @ Lunchtime

Legends @ Lunchtime has continued this term with civil engineer Mark Steinepreis (1999), chemical engineer Chris Hawley (2003) (pictured right) and chiropractor Peter Theilade (1995) (pictured left with Dianne Bain and Jody Clarke) talking about their careers to interested boys during a couple of recent lunchtimes.

Mark and Chris, who presented during the same session, discussed the paths they had taken to get to their current positions, giving the boys an insight into university life, the difficulties, as well as tips on surviving the courses. The engineers, who are enjoying their respective careers, advised the boys not to give up on any dreams or ideas of what they wanted to do – “work hard and anything is possible”. Mark has worked overseas and Chris has won a scholarship to study for his Masters at Cambridge University in London in 2010.

Peter gave the boys a lighthearted and informative talk on his experiences since leaving school. He started his career in the finance industry but chose to follow his real dream to become a chiropractor. After studying for six years, Peter recently opened his own practice in Kinross.

Next month, we have graphic designer Cameron McDiven (1993), who is expected to generate much interest for his work as a brand consultant.

Queen's Birthday Honours

In addition to Tony Jones OAM who was acknowledged in the last e-Newsletter, two more old boys have been identified as WA recipients in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Russell Halpern (1967) was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the general division for his service to the community through aged care facilities and programmes. Russell started, and now directs, the many retirement villages in the St Ives group.

Barry Jones (1954) was awarded the Emergency Services Medal. He was a teacher (headmaster) in the primary sector of the WA Education Department for 40 years. On retiring from teaching more than 10 years ago, Barry took on the role of Director of WA’s Emergency Services for the South West Division of the State.
  

Coming Events

Wednesday 26 August, 5.30pm
NSW/ACT Reunion
Orient Hotel, The Rocks, Sydney
Contact: Tasman McManis (0416 091 253 or tasman.mcmanis@hotmail.com)

Wednesday 9 September, 11.30am for 12 noon lunch
Unforgettables Spring Luncheon
Mt Claremont Pavilion
Contact: Tony Smith (9271 5668)

Friday 9 October, 1.00pm
Businessmen’s Lunch
Guest Speaker – Andrew Roberts, former Multiplex CEO
University Club of WA
Contact: Haaron Bokhari (haaron.bokhari@balancelegal.com.au)

Friday 9 October, 11.30am for 12.30pm Shotgun Start
PSA Golf Day
Cottesloe Golf Club
Contact: Geoff Anderson (0407 868 897)

Thursday 12 November, 6.30pm – 8.30pm
Life Member Sundowner
Claremont Yacht Club
Contact: Dianne Bain (9442 1529)
  

Merchandise

The following items are now on sale:

"School Chapel" (left) and "Footy at Christ Church" (right) Murray Gill prints (framed, 80cm high x 100cm wide) for $130		Crystal Glassware with School crest for $20 life members / $25 non life members

Claremont Yacht Club

Are you an OBA Life Member?

If so, thanks to a partnership between CCGS and Claremont Yacht Club, life members are automatically social members of the Club allowing access to their bar and restaurant facilities (but not the jetties or boat ramp). You are entitled to bring up to five guests with you when visiting the Club. Wednesday night's $18.50 buffet menu changes weekly and Friday night offers a la carte dining with delicious dishes such as fresh seafood platter and surf and turf scotch fillet. There are very few places in Perth where you can sit and dine with such an amazing view at such a reasonable price. Saturday lunch burgers are gaining a great reputation and all family members are more than welcome.

Any CCGS old boys interested in using the Club for functions should contact Functions Manager Hugh Cameron on 9384 8226, email him at fm@claremontyachtclub.org.au or just introduce yourself when next down at the Club.

If you would like to receive the Club’s weekly email advising of the Wednesday night buffet menu and other happenings, please email Hugh as above or visit www.claremontyachtclub.org.au where you can see our bar opening hours and menus.
  

Member updates

While holidaying recently in Malaysia, Dean Bowker (1955) and wife Jill caught up with Krisna Ravi (1969), his wife Ivy and their three teenage children for dinner in a Kuala Lumpur street market restaurant. Their meal featured barbecued stingray complemented by a bottle of Drew Brent-White’s (1971) “Windance” award-winning shiraz. Krisna and Ivy are kept extremely busy with their palm oil property in east Malaysia and an office cleaning business in Kuala Lumpur employing some 250 people. Krisna hopes to get down to Perth in May next year for the OBA Centenary Dinner with long-standing school mate Phil Johnston (1970).

In Tasmania in April, Matt Boyce (2005) and Craig Boyne (2005) and Mark Boyne (2002) won gold in the Australian Hockey League, playing with the WA Thundersticks. Mark (pictured, left, with Matt) currently coaches the Christ Church Firsts, with Matt as assistant coach. As a player at Christ Church, Mark captained the Firsts to victory in 2002. Then in 2007 he coached the Firsts to victory, making him the first ever Christ Church old boy to have captained a winning team and then coached a winning team, in any sport. He is now coaching for his fourth year. Matt, who is coaching for his first year, is a member of the national junior squad and recently returned from Malaysia where he won a bronze medal for Australia in the Men’s Under-21 World Hockey Championships.

Matt Burston (1999) has just finished his first tour as a member of the Boomers Australian Men’s Basketball Team. Playing in the Super-4 tournament in South America this month, the Boomers recorded impressive wins against Uruguay and Athens Olympics gold medallists and Beijing bronze medallists Argentina, but couldn’t find the same form in their final match against Brazil, to finish the tournament in second position. Australia is preparing for the 2010 FIBA Oceania Championship against New Zealand, where 2010 FIBA World Championship seedings are on the line.

Named recently in WA's InSite magazine as “upcoming movers shaking Perth’s art world”, artists Marcus Canning (1991) and George Egerton-Warburton (2005) are clearly making their mark, and the works of both artists are currently on show. Marcus (pictured left) has a solo exhibition at Goddard de Fiddes Gallery in West Perth until 28 August. The exhibition, called Wienie Collapse, includes a range of sculptures that are also props, sets and action for a new video work. Marcus, with co-designer Christian de Vietri was also recently awarded the $500,000 St George’s Cathedral public sculpture commission. Their 18m sculpture Ascalon will be constructed in front of St George’s Cathedral in Perth. Meanwhile, George’s work (pictured right) can be seen in a residency at Perth Institute of Contemporary Arts until 20 September, with his studio open from 2 September. Described as an investigation of Australian culture and society, George’s work is viewed through its forms of authority and power. His residency will continue this ongoing project. His staged events have taken place in squares, streets and a supermarket and are at once surreal and sentimental, ironic and pathetic.

Continuing to grow his charity Indigenous Communities Education Appeal (ICEA), Lockie Cooke (2007) recently accompanied three Christ Church Year 11s on a leadership camp to Sacred Heart School at One Arm Point aboriginal community north of Broome. The group took part in National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week activities, including spearing fish, catching mud crabs and making spears. Lockie gave out some footballs and water bottles to the school kids and spoke about his incentive scheme, through which the kids will be given a new football or basketball if they achieve a high attendance rate for the remainder of the year. Lockie’s major focus this year is raising funds for the incentive scheme and he has so far held sausage sizzles at Christ Church and a charity day at North Cottesloe Surf Life Saving Club. His ultimate aim is to target corporate sponsorship, but not until the charity is properly established with a strategic plan. He believes that within five years, ICEA will be established as a well-known charity that helps communities in the Kimberley – “a fun thing that kids at school down here can get involved in as part of their community service, and learn about the communities up north”. Lockie is fundraising by selling t-shirts for $20, with all proceeds going to ICEA. For further information, contact him by phone (0418 223 635) or email lockiecooke@gmail.com.

As a member of the 5th Royal Australia Regiment (Royal Regiment of Australia Artillery), Justin McBurney (2004) (pictured, left, in Timor at Foward Operating Base Chauvel) was deployed to Timor Leste in September 2008 as a Platoon Commander (in charge of a 30-soldier platoon) for peace support operations. Justin joined Australian Defence Force in September 2005 and completed his training with the Royal Military College, Duntroon in June 2007. He was then posted to the 16th Air Defence Regiment based in the Adelaide hills where his current role (when not deployed elsewhere) is Command Post Officer within an air defence troop.

In June, Ben Purser (2007) won a gold medal at the 2009 FIBA Oceania Championships in Saipan as a member of the Under-20 Australian Basketball Team. Australia competed against teams from New Zealand, New Caledonia, Guam and the Commonwealth of the Northern Marian Islands. Back on home turf, Ben plays in the WA State Basketball League (SBL) for Perry Lakes Hawks, along with fellow old boy Martin Vahala (2005), and was last year named rookie of the year. He has represented WA twice in the national under-20 championships, winning bronze in Albury last year, and finishing fourth in Townsville this year. He is currently working on getting a scholarship to a US college to play basketball and study.

Jack Quirk (2005) bumped into former Christ Church Music Department staff member Peter Guazzelli while in Czech Republic recently. Here they are pictured on the on the Jiraskuv Bridge in Prague, in front of the famous Dancing House designed by Frank Gehry. Jack is studying Arts Law at UWA and is spending two semesters at Glasgow University, during which time he is also fitting in some trips to Europe.

After working as an architect in Queensland, Robin Retchford (1954) and his wife Judith retired to Tasmania 10 years ago. For the past five years, Robin has been a volunteer radio operator for Coast Radio Hobart (CRH). He is also editor of the CRH’s newsletter Radio Waves, which even features tips for seafaring dogs. Robin spends some time on the water himself, though not as much as he used to as he no longer owns a yacht. He says sailing in Tasmania is absolutely fantastic. Back on land, he spends a lot of time cycling and riding his motorbike.

Managing Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Lilly-Singapore Centre for Drug Discovery Jonathon Sedgwick (1976) returned to Christ Church recently as scientist in residence. He described his career journey to the boys – from life as a boarder from the bush (Pingelly) at CCGS for five years, and then onto education, PhD, and a range of jobs in the UK, Europe, Australia, the US and now Singapore – and what things had influenced his career choices. Jon highlighted the power of science and how it can change lives, but his overriding message wasn’t about science, it was about urging boys to expose themselves to as many different activities as possible. “Christ Church has always been wonderful at exposing boys to many activities to develop the whole person and in fact this is what I remember more about my years at Christ Church than the academic studies,” Jon said.

Tom Swift (2007), who was drafted by West Coast Eagles in 2008, made his AFL debut against Carlton in round 10 of the 2009 AFL Premiership Season in May. He recorded 14 possessions, three marks and a new appreciation for the speed of elite level football. Tom was reported to say he didn’t think there was too much you could do to prepare yourself for that sort of pace. It was just the start of what has so far been an eight-match, rapidly growing career.

Futuresphere

Free Photography Inspirational Evening

Are you interested in learning about the amazing potential of what can be achieved with a digital camera, a computer and the amazing image-editing software of Photoshop? Freelance Photographer Jon Davison is a prolific photographer and book developer with 15 years experience covering worldwide travel assignments for Berlitz and Lonely Planet.

Thursday 17 September, 7.00pm – 8.00pm
To see more of Jon’s work visit www.eyeinthesky.com.au/photography.html. For bookings, call UWA Extension on (08) 6488 2433.
  

Internet for Businesses

Old boys are offered a 20% discount on the following classes presented by Oolybooly in Christ Church’s Futuresphere during October:
    

Promote your business on the Internet – an Introduction

Learn to promote your business on the Internet. Get better rankings in Google, more traffic, with or without a website. You receive Workbook and eBook publications.

Friday 2 October, 9.00am – 12 noon, or 1.00pm – 4.00pm
$140 (20% discount for CCGS old boys)

Promote your business on the Internet

Learn to promote your business on the Internet. Get better rankings in Google, more traffic, with or without a website. Find out what you need to do to fix/change your website for better rankings in search engines and convert more browsers to buyers. You receive Workbook, Action Manual, Software, and eBook publications.

Thursday 8 October, 9.30am – 4.30pm
$495 (20% discount for CCGS old boys)

Manage your company website

Learn image editing and publishing, content creation, sourcing content, promoting your website, transferring files to the server, setting up email accounts and more. You receive Workflow Manual, Software, and eBook publications.

Friday 9 October, 9.30am – 4.30pm
$495 (20% discount for CCGS old boys)

For more information and bookings, please visit www.oolybooly.com.au/training or call Simon Eder on 0403 807 634.