Valete
The Newington Community farewelled the following Old Boys since our last Valete in October 2017:
Gordon Clarke (ON 1946) Des Reynolds (ON 1952)
Laurie Gluskie (ON 1951) Stuart Slatyer (ON 1956)
Rodney Grace (ON 1978) Sidney Smith (ON 1946)
William Johnson (ON 1987)
Remembering Old Boys
Stuart Slatyer (ON 1956)
Stuart started at the Wyvern House Preparatory School in 1948. There he served as a Monitor and played in the senior cricket and rugby teams. In the senior school he served as a Sub Prefect in 1955 and a Prefect in 1956. A keen cadet, he held the rank of Cadet Under Officer and commanded a platoon in 1956. He was an all-round sportsman. He played cricket in the 1st XI three years in a row, leading the team and being awarded Colours in his final year at school. He played rugby in the 1st XV in his last two years at school and was a member of the 2nd Rifle Shooting Team. In athletics, he was a member of the Senior Athletics team, served as its Vice-Captain and was runner up for Open Athletics Champion in his final year at school. He also played tennis and served as Co-Captain of the Day Boy team. He was awarded the Harry Kershaw Cup for best all-round sportsman in 1956. He also served as a student elected representative on the Cricket, Football, Tennis and Athletics Sub-committees of the College’s Athletic Committee (with his father serving as an Old Newingtonians’ Union (ONU) representative on the Committee). For his services to cricket at the school, he was awarded the ONU Service Prize for Cricket.
Stuart was a founding influence in the establishment of the ONU Younger Set and remained at its head for many years organising social functions with great flair. In 1952, he met Wendye Hart, a Ravenswood girl, that started a life long love affair with when they were married in 1962. He gave her an Afghan Hound that Christmas and this was the beginning of their life long success with breeding purebred dogs, for which they became world renowned. In 1969 their son Lachlan (ON 1986) was born and became the third generation of “the Slatyer boys” to attend the college, starting at Wyvern Lindfield in 1977.
After leaving Newington Stuart joined Washington H Soul Pattinson & Co Ltd (owned by the Newington Milner family) as an apprentice Pharmacist after graduating from Sydney University. He became Special Projects Manager in 1960 and in 1968 was appointed General Manager (Pharmacy) and Director of the Parent Company and all Subsidiaries; the youngest Director ever. Stuart continued in these positions during the dynamic growth of the Company until 1979.
In 1979 he was appointed NSW Manager of Shopping Centres for Westfield Shopping Centres as the General Manger. Amongst his responsibilities was twice every year was organising the national theme promotions which gave Westfield its high-profile community position that attracted customers to the Centres. The company sent him to America in 1980 to attend specialised training in Centre Management and Financing.
Stuart in 1981 was appointed by the Federal Court as Joint Scheme Manager to Chem-Buy Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, a cooperative wholesaler to member Retail Pharmacists. He continued as the Consultant Manager of FH Faulding & Co Ltd Wholesale NSW and finally developed in National Marketing Office.
In 1989, with his wife Wendye, he moved to a property on the Hawkesbury River and retired in order to establish a highly successful turf farm concentrating on developing specialty grasses. After three floods in two years, they ceased growing turf, and began their next highly successful venture, publishing Ring LEADER – National Dog in January 1998.
Stuart passed away peacefully on Friday 12 January with his wife Wendye by his side after a long battle with dementia. He leaves behind his wife, son and five grandsons.
Colin Still (ON 1960)
Colin’s passing was noted in the October 2017 edition of the ONU E News. The Sydney Morning Herald Obituary for Colin Still was published shortly thereafter and can be found here.
