On Monday 4 December 2017 at the Newington College Prize Giving Day the following were awarded the 2017 Newington Medal:

His Hon. Magistrate GREG GROGIN (ON 1976)

A student at Newington from 1967 to 1976, Greg commenced at Wyvern in Year 3. In 1975 he was awarded the ONU Service Prize for Rugby and in 1976 was Le Couteur House Captain, won the Jack Thorncraft Trophy, was Cadet Lt./CUO and a Prefect.

It was noted on his final report that he was “cheerful, co operative, a full participant in all the school’s activities, a Prefect who set a fine example, always resourceful and reliable”.  With these attributes, Greg pursued a career in the New South Wales Police Force but it was whilst working as a Police Prosecutor that he discovered his true vocation, the law.

Through the SAB, Greg was admitted as a Solicitor and later to the Bar.  In 2010 was appointed a Local Court Magistrate, a position he has served with distinction for seven years following his recent appointment as an Acting District Court Judge.

Newington has been the recipient of Greg’s community driven spirit for fifty years.  Commencing as a Student Leader, Greg’s contribution to the College has varied from being a Rugby Referee to ONU President to serving sixteen years on the College Council until his retirement earlier this year. 

On Council, Greg served as Honorary Secretary and most recently as Deputy Chairman.  He served under four Council Chairman and worked with three Headmasters, helping to steer the College through some of its most challenging times in living memory. 

Current College Chairman, Mr Tony McDonald (ON 1976) states “Greg’s contribution to the Newington Community has been outstanding and selfless… putting others first when governing the College, focussing on outcomes rather than personal kudos.  He has set the bar for future Council members with his unstinting and unselfish devotion to what is in the best interests of the boys and the Newington Community as a whole.”

Acknowledging Greg’s outstanding contribution, he is first and foremost a family man. He and Wendy have raised two outstanding Old Boys; Nicholas (ON 2009) and James (ON 2012).

It is due to Greg’s 50 years of tireless work, commitment and enduring love of Newington that it is an honour to name Greg Grogin the Newington Medallist (Australia) for 2017

BRIAN SOMMERLAD (ON 1958)

Brain Sommerlad was a student at Newington College from 1954 to 1958, being awarded the Stretton Waterhouse Memorial Prize in 1956 and the Wigram Allen Scholarship in 1957.

Upon leaving Newington, Brian attained his Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1966 from the University of Sydney, followed by being both a Junior and Senior Resident Medical Officer at Sydney Hospital (1966-1968) and Royal Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney (1967-1968). In 1969, Brian commenced his extraordinary career at the Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick Children, London as a Senior House Officer (Plastic & Orthopaedic) and it continues today as a Consultant Plastic Surgeon.

In 1970 Brian was made a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, England.  He is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health and in 1998 became a Fellow of the Royal College of Speech and Language Therapists (Hon).  In 2000 he became, a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, Edinburgh (Hon). He is also a Full Member of eleven international Medical Associations.

In 1971, Brian was a Surgeon in the Australian Surgical Team, Bien Hoa Hospital, South Vietnam, being awarded the Vietnam Logistic and Support Medal and the Australian Active Service Medal.

For the last four decades Brian has held positions as a Plastic Surgeon throughout hospitals in England, specialising in surgery for children and adults with cleft of lip and palate and associated conditions.  He has been particularly involved in the development of the operating microscope for cleft palate repair and teaching fellow surgeons in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Uganda, Bangladesh and China.  It was these experiences that led to his philanthropic work throughout the Third World.

This lifelong and extraordinary contribution to medicine and the impact it has on so many people provides an inspirational example of achievement for past and present students of the College.  It is an honour to name Brian Sommerlad as a Newington Medallist (International) for 2017.

IAN DIERY (ON 1967)

Ian Diery commenced at Newington College in 1958 and graduated in 1967.  Whilst at the College he was a member of the 2^nd XV in 1966 and in 1967, the year the 2^nd XV won the GPS Premiership.  Ian was a Cadet Lt./CUO, in 1966 awarded Letters – Rugby, and in 1967 was a Sub-Prefect.

Ian was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and went on to study Civil Engineering at the University of New South Wales.  In 1976 the desire to travel led Ian to the United Kingdom.  After a year of travel and working in different roles in the United Kingdom, Ian commenced at Wang Laboratories U.K. in 1978 as a salesman – computers and word processing.

From 1978 to 1987 Ian worked his way within Wang Laboratories, to reach the position in 1987 of Wang Executive Vice President World Wide Sales and Marketing.

In 1989 Ian was appointed by Apple Computers in the position of Senior Vice President – Asia Pacific, Canada and South America, an incredibly large remit and a role that Ian distinguished in and that led him to become Apple’s Executive Vice President World Wide Sales and Marketing in 1991.  1992 was the pinnacle of his career at Apple, he was appointed the Executive Vice President World Wide Sales, Marketing, Manufacturing and Engineering.  At the time it was the second highest position at Apple. 

In 1997 Ian became President and Chief Executive Officer of Electronic Scrip, Inc. (ESI).  ESI introduced the eScrip program in 1999 and has distributed over $250 million to schools and youth organisations across the United States.  His philanthropy continues via the Australian Independent Schools USA Foundation. Ian has been a Board Member since 2007.

It is noted by Ian’s fellow classmates, that he is indebted to the experience gained at Newington, to be a leader of many and to attain professional relationships that span the globe. It is for his leadership both professionally and personally, that it is an honour to award Ian Diery the Newington Medal (International) for 2017.

On Monday 7 May all three Newington Medallists will be guest speakers at the ONU Business Breakfast.  Later in the day they will then address our boys at the full school assembly where Brian Sommerlad will be presented with his Newington Medal.