ANZAC DAY PARADE – 28 April 2017 

The Newington College ANZAC Day Parade was held on Friday 28 April 2017.   Lt William Van Asperen (ON 2006) bugle call signaled the commencement of the Parade.  The College Cadets were joined on Parade by guests  – Pipes and Drums of Presbyterian Ladies College, Croydon (Pipe Major Madeleine Maloof, Drum Major Claudia Adams).

The Inspection of Cadets was conducted by Reviewing Officers : Flight Lieutenant (Ret) Ron Leckie (ON 1939) and Commanding Officer, Major Rodney Wood.

Ron Leckie (ON 1939)

Ron Leckie (ON 1939) attended Newington College from 1937 to 1939, during which time he served in the College’s Cadet Corps.

Ron joined the Army in 1941, but re-enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force a year later, reaching the rank of Flight Lieutenant during his service.  In 1944 Ron was part of ‘thrilling and grim story’ (as described by The Newingtonian) when his Beaufighter’s engines were damaged by enemy fire and the crew managed to bring the plane limping home across 350 miles of the Arafura Sea.

Ron’s three sons, David (ON 1968), Stuart (ON 1970) and Ian (ON 1973), all attended Newington, as did his grandson Tim (ON 1993).  Ron served as President of the Old Newingtonians’ Union in 1987-88 and as founding Chairman and long-serving Committee member of the 70 Club, the College’s alumni body for Old Newingtonians over 70 years of age.

ANZAC Day – Sydney

Mr Clive Woosnam OAM (Past Staff) shared his ANZAC Day with Murray Mayday (ON 1983).  Clive performs in the choir at the official lunchtime ceremony at the end of the march at the ANZAC Memorial and Pool of Reflection in Hyde Park.  This year the choir was accompanied by the Police Concert Band, whose Commander is Murray Mayday.