Extract from the departing ONU President’s Final AGM Report.  

In 2016 the ONU focused on several key areas:

ONU Reunions and Events

There were over 20 ONU events and reunions in 2016, involving more than 1000 ONU Alumni. Opportunities to revisit and renew friendships and update contacts were enthusiastically greeted by Old Boys from Hong Kong, USA at the Newington Golf Day, the 70 Club Lunch, Elders Lunch and reunions for the Classes of 1956 , 1971, 1976, 1986, 1991, 1996, 2001, 2006 and 2011.

Newington Golf Day

The Newington Golf Day was a sell-out for the first time in memory thanks to the early bird sign up prizes (available again for 2017) and the hole in one win a Toyota Yaris competition (back again in 2017 by popular demand). The memorable and challenging event again helped raise funds for the ONU Mental Health Program and the ONU Tongan Bursary Fund.

ONU Mental Health Fund

The ONU Mental Health fund has again been used to facilitate direct action to assist Old Boys, their families or current Newington families in need of Mental Health assistance. I thank Stan Comino the School Counsellor, who again has provided invaluable support in being the confidential point of contact for those seeking help.

Anzac Service

Thank you to the College for the moving commemoration of Anzac Day on 29 April, 2015. Many old boys and their families choose to attend the service which as always is a poignant reminder of the loss and sacrifice sustained by the College when 111 of our Alumni made the ultimate sacrifice for Australia in the Great War.

Old Boys Honoured

Associate Professor Dr Iven Young AM (ON 1960), was awarded an AM in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for excellence and significant service to respiratory and sleep medicine as a clinician, administrator, researcher and mentor, and to professional societies. 

ONU Tupou College Tonga 150^th Celebration

Congratulations once again to Tupou college on its 150^th year celebrations which I attended along with many Old Boys. The ONU gift to Tupou of two sets of rugby goal posts have pride of place on the main sporting fields at Tupou. Three Tupou College students will commence at Newington in 2017 supported largely by the ONU Tongan Bursary scheme. Funds raised from the Newington Golf Day contribute in part to this Bursary scheme and the ONU has again donated over $75,000 to support the Bursaries in 2015.

ONU Careers Night and Mentoring Program

Keen as ever to participate in the ONU Careers Advice evening, over fifty Old Boys again volunteered their time. From aviation to construction, banking, community services, education, software engineering, digital marketing, journalism, law, medicine, logistics, politics and sports management, the wealth and breadth of expertise in the room on the night, for the benefit of senior students, was invaluable.

The 70 Club

The 70 Club exists as a social and support network for Old Boys who are over 70 years old. Their program of activities includes well attended luncheons at the College and regional reunions on the Central Coast and Mid-North Coast.

ONU Communications

The ONU’s regular suite of online and direct communications: the ONU Alumni eNews, the Newington Old Boys Online Directory, News magazine and Facebook engage and inform Old Boys. Many articles and profiles on the activities of Old Boys were disseminated via multiple editions of ONU communications in 2016.

Welcome to our New Members

At the Valedictory Day Celebrations, 215 Year 12 students were farewelled by the College and took their leave into the next phase of their post-school life. They were presented with their Old Boys’ Tie by the ONU. Wearing this tie in future years will symbolise a proud connection with an enviable and extensive Old Boys network and an outstanding school.

ONU Contributions to the College

The ONU is proud of the strong, mutually beneficial relationship which exists between the College and ONU. The ONU ended 2016 with a surplus of funds over the projected capital target. With consultation and agreement from the College, the ONU has provided approximately $75,000 to the ONU Tongan Bursary program.

GPS Gold Challenge

Congratulations to the classes of 1983 and 1984 for their energetic participation in the GPS gold challenge. I can highly recommend the Gold challenge to the next years of 1985 and 1986 get behind the event in 2018.

Admissions Policy for Sons of Old Boys

Due to the consistently high demand for places, in 2015, the College Council endorsed a new Admissions Policy to formalise the priority status of sons and grandsons of Old Boys.

The Council has confirmed its commitment to prioritising registrations of sons and grandsons of Old Boys as long as registrations are received in accordance with the following time table:

• Kindergarten entry – registration and fee must be received and paid by the boy’s first birthday
• Years 3, 5 or 7 entry – registration and fee must be received and paid by the boy’s fifth birthday

 I leave the Presidency of the ONU to the new executive team in tremendous shape, focused on the future with a clear strategy of engagement and goals based around our programs of reunions, mentoring of young old boys, mental health fund and the Tongan Bursary program. I wish you all a good Christmas period and hope you and your families can get some rest and relaxation.

Bruce Mellor (ON 1982)

ONU President