The College is blessed to have many Old Boys return to work in different roles at Newington.  Some return to teach, coach, tutor or join operating functions of the College.

In this edition of ONU E News we introduce you to Mark Richmond (ON 1989) Commercial Manager – Sport

We asked Mark to share his observations from his time as a student and now as an employee.

Whilst at school, what inspired you and what didn’t?

• Initially it was both the freedom and responsibility that Newington provided
  • having to make my own way to school (rather than mum or dad dropping me up the road), hanging out with my mates on the train or waiting for the train to come
  • having to be organised, get up on time, bag packed (sporting gear ready to go), homework completed etc
  • you feel like you grow up very quickly in that first year
• Originally being born in NZ rugby has always been a big part of my life, so walking into the school, seeing the fields and watching the 1stXV run on was a huge buzz
• I also loved the opportunity to put your hand up and do things and get exposure to them – for me it was cricket, rugby, athletics, cadets, house captain, sporting tours etc
• The feeling of everyone pulling together as one school (whether that was on the sporting field or elsewhere) it was that sense of a collective group / team moving in the same direction (practicing the war cries before the Head of River, whole school on the Johnson Bank for 1^st XV game) and knowing those who had been there over the 100 plus year beforehand
• The history that you see in the buildings, the honour boards and the stories told
• Hard to say what didn’t inspire me – probably just the everyday things you had to do (important things they were and certainly not negatives)

Next steps and how Ianded up back at College?

It was a long process to get back here and probably I never imagined I would.

For me it has always been about chasing dreams – initially it was go to university but soon after I was fortunate enough to play professional rugby in Japan for  number of years; on returning to Australia it was to chase a dream in the finance industry; then I reached a point where I was looking for an opportunity to combine both of my passion for sports and finance/business into a role and the role at Newington presented itself (this was through Old Boy connection that made the initial introduction – so felt like it was meant to be)

Newington – changes over time?

The look and feel of the place still seems very similar – the fields look the same, most of the buildings do and I still get the same sense of history from the honour boards, the Founders block, cadets doing their Anzac Day parade. IT was great to be given a big hug by Jock Canning on my first day back, he had not changed at all.

Apart from the obvious changes that technology have brought to education it is probably the amount of opportunities they boys now have compared to my time – across all the various co-curricular activities, IB or HSC opportunities, the sporting and cultural opportunities etc.

Things seemed slightly simpler when I was at Newington… technology has progressed and has obviously changed education in many ways but the boys seem very busy and are pulled in multiple directions on a daily basis (I guess that is the way society has headed in recent years)

Thank you Mark.