ONU – 122nd Annual General Meeting

OLD NEWINGTONIANS’ UNION
122ND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
TUESDAY 21 NOVEMBER 2017
PRESCOTT HALL, NEWINGTON COLLEGE
at 6:30PM 

I invite all Newington Old Boys to attend the 122nd Annual General Meeting of the Old Newingtonians’ Union.

To view the agenda for the 122^nd ONU AGM and the Minutes of the 121^st ONU AGM click here.

Nominations to the ONU Council

Members wishing to nominate for positions as a Councillor or as a member of the Executive for 2017, please download and return the nomination form by Tuesday 14 November 2017 to alumni@newington.nsw.edu.au

RSVP

I hope you can attend this year’s ONU AGM. Light refreshments will be provided on the evening. Please RSVP by 14 November 2017.

Alexander Pagonis (ON 2010)
Honorary Secretary,  Old Newingtonians’ Union 

ONU Centennial Trust

The ONU Centennial Trust Awards was established in 1995 to recognise Old Boys who have excelled in a chosen field while also contributing to the community in a meaningful way.  This year the ONU recognised two deserving Old Boys, Daniel Crockford (ON 2009) and Christopher Baldwin (ON 2006).

Upon leaving Newington Daniel Crockford (ON 2009) went onto to study Pharmacology at University College of London.  Since graduation he has returned to Sydney and is currently undertaking a Doctor of Medicine and Master of Philosophy (MPhil) at the University of Sydney.  He has been awarded the John Flood Memorial Scholarship for Research in Neuropathology.  In addition to his study, Daniel supports himself as a tutor at St John’s College University of Sydney; a rowing coach at The Cranbrook School and has an ongoing part time position in the bicycle industry.  The ability to combine successfully study and work, Daniel attributes to his time at Newington.

It is the all-round education that Daniel says he attained at Newington that has helped shape his interest in community, research, and further education.  Daniel has just been granted a student placement for 2019 at the National Institute of Neurology in the United Kingdom.  It is the award of the ONU Centennial Trust that will help assist Daniel financially to complete his current undertakings at The University of Sydney.

It was in the art rooms at Newington College that Christopher Baldwin (ON 2006) was given creative freedom to express himself in whatever visual manner he saw fit and where he learnt the beginnings of a visual language and style that he still uses today.

Since leaving Newington, Christopher went on to complete an Advanced Diploma of Fashion Design.  It was during his second year of study that he began a placement illustrating and designing for a boutique Sydney women’s wear label, ‘Fernando Frissoni’.  During his time there he put his studies on hold and went on to design seven collections, two of which were shown as part of the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Australia (Spring Summer 2010, 2011).  Upon completing his studies in 2012, Christopher was invited to present his Graduate collection as part of the “The Innovators” graduate showcase at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

Christopher over time moved away from fashion and has built on his love of set and costume design.  To further his career in this field, he commenced a Bachelor of Fine Arts (Design for Performance) at the National Institute of Dramatic Arts (NIDA).  During his time at NIDA, Christopher has participated in many creative and collaborative events.  Christopher has been offered a position to continue his studies at NIDA in their Master’s program.  The Centennial Trust Award allows Christopher to further his education.

70 Club Update

2018 Is ‘YOUR BIRTHDAY’

Let us all endeavour to catch up with old mates on the occasion of the 70 Club 20^th Anniversary Celebration at lunch on 8 May 2018.

Phone a friend is always relevant.

If you remember a special mate but don’t know how to make contact please ask me for help.

Also, if you are aware of someone who would like to attend but needs assistance please advise me and we may know of someone living in his area.

The Club continues to concentrate on fellowship and fraternity underlined by the overall aim of ‘REDUCING ISOLATION, PROMOTING INCLUSION’.

Older Newingtonians are best served by their fellow travellers remembering their mates with the occasional phone call, birthday greeting and the very effective RUOK enquiry.

May I repeat my belief that ‘All Old Boys are equal and the older we get the more equal we become’.

Following the record attendance at the May 2017 Lunch and the inaugural November 2016 celebratory lunch for Newington Elders, those fellows who have attained the age of 85 during the Calendar Year, the 2017 programme will conclude with the Elders Lunch on 14 November.

The 2018 Anniversary year will be concentrated around……

• 8 May Birthday Lunch…EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED
• November Elders Lunch
• In the first half of Spring 2018, a special weekend for ‘Friends of the 70 Club’.

This weekend will include a lunch at Canberra Grammar, B’B’Cue, golf and maybe rowing. Details are still being developed but please think about Canberra as an early Spring event when planning your 2018 programme. Accommodation can be arranged at Canberra Grammar for all those deprived Day Boys who missed out on the Sevington experience. Remember it is a ‘Friends of the 70 Club’ event so wives, partners, carers, etc., will be  VERY WELCOME

All enquiries please contact Gilbert Morgan (ON 1958) on: (02) 9997 6604 or e mail: vaunemorgan@hotmail.com

Achieving Alumni

Congratulations to Ben Lewis (ON 1997) as the current lead role as the Phantom, in Her Majesty’s Theatre London’s production of Phantom of the Opera.  Ben’s first love was Rugby and wanted to pursue a career in cricket or rugby, instead has followed his parents lead in musical performance.  Ben’s mother and father are two of Australia’s most accomplished opera singers, Michael Lewis and Patricia Price.

When Nick Lee (ON 1967) called to RSVP to his 50 year reunion, he shared a little of his history. Nick spent his working life as a foreign correspondent cameraman for Sixty Minutes Australia.  Such incredible experiences have been documented in his book ‘All This In 60 Minutes’.  Nick has since retired and had the ultimate tree change, moving from Sydney’s northern beaches to the regional New South Wales town of Carcoar.  To read more about Nick’s story or to buy his book, click here.

Ibrahim Kasif (ON 2004) won a Chef’s Hat in the 2018 National Good Food Guide Awards for his restaurant Stanbuli in Enmore.

Brett Kensett-Smith (ON 1988) took out the coveted Big Brass Mug on Hard Quiz on ABC TV.   Brett won episode 9, Series 2 of Hard Quiz and his expert subject was Billy Joel.

Rod Stoddart (ON 1996) has been appointed as the first Head of The Scots College Brighton Preparatory School.  The School is due to open in 2018. Rod previously worked at Wyvern House.  Congratulations Rod and best wishes.

David McGonigal (ON 1967) has featured in the latest edition of The University of Sydney’s alumni magazine SAM, featuring his favourite things as a world traveller.  Click here to read more.

Michael Bosman (ON 2010) currently in his third year of a medical degree at the University of Queensland has been offered an exchange from Rockhampton Hospital to a hospital in New Orleans, USA in early 2018.

Makuach Maluach (ON 2016) has been offered and has accepted a Basketball scholarship at the University of New Mexico.  Makuach left Australia in August to commence his Freshman year and will play in their Division One team.

Congratulations to Nicholas Condylis (ON 2009) who achieved a First in his Masters at Oxford.  Nicholas was awarded the prestigious Peter Cameron Sydney Oxford Scholarship in 2016 to study Civil Law at Oxford.

In further news from Oxford, another Old Boy to be joining them shortly is Edmond Cheng (ON 2013) who has recently achieved a First in Economics.

Andrew Zhao (ON 2013) recently attained a high Upper Second in Land Economics at Cambridge.   He will continue at Cambridge studying Business Management.  He is currently on a paid internship with Citigroup in London.

Here is a story from Clive Woosnam OAM, former Newington Teacher:

A few months ago I was sent to Royal North Shore Hospital for a PET scan.  One of the radiologists turned out to be Andrew Cluff (ON 2000), who was possibly the best spin bowler in any Newington team I’d coached.  He told me about various other ONs working in the hospital, but I didn’t run across any of them until more recently.  As the stent in my bile duct was blocked, I had to undergo a series of procedures to remedy the situation.  They failed.  Eventually the Interventionist Radiology Unit was called in and the leading doctor came out to welcome me with open arms.  It was Albert Goh (ON 1989).  He had originally come to be interviewed by me for a scholarship as a Yr 6 pupil.  He had already been offered a full scholarship by his first choice school (SGS) but delayed accepting it until he had seen what Newington had to offer.  He liked what he saw and accepted our full scholarship over Grammar’s.  He was put in my House (Kelynack) and his two sons are currently in the same House.  He was an excellent student at school and a charming person.  He told me when he saw me at the RNSH operating theatre that the first thing he had to do was to authenticate my signature on the permission form.  He said, “I don’t even have to look at your signature – I can see it in my head.  After all, it was on the bottom of every Newington report I ever received!”  Needless to say, he fixed the stent problem, and the two expert surgeons I saw yesterday at a different hospital commented on the success of his work.

The ONU Alumni office is always happy to receive all kinds of news from Old Boys.  If you have a story or an achievement that you would like to share about yourself or a fellow classmate, please contact the office on 02 9568 9544 or e mail.

2017 Orange Reunion

Thank you to George James (ON 1957) for organising this reunion and to John Southwell (ON 1955) for the article

George James (ON 1957) and his wife Bianca recently travelled to Cobar in Western NSW and planned on spending time in Orange while on their way. George had the great idea of meeting with two or three ON’s for a light lunch.

A few days later and after obtaining assistance with contact details from the College, he had contacted 23 ON’s from in and around Orange. He invited them to meet for a midday meal in a private room at the famous & historic Duntryleague Guest House & golf club on Saturday 16 September.  There was general surprise when we learnt of the number of ON’s living in the area.

George & Bianca organised black & white decorations and we had some old school photographs and memorabilia for display. We met at about midday and then enjoyed a substantial meal and excellent local wines that took up much of the afternoon.   Despite the fairly short notice a total of 18 were able to attend as follows:

Brian & Iris Atkinson (1955); Peter Britton (1951); Barry & Brenda Carr (1954); Allan Clements (1966); George & Bianca James (1957); Desmond & Sandy McDonald (1961); Stuart Mosely (1960); Jeff Nash (1953); Peter & Pattie Oates (1954); John & Helen Southwell (1955); John & Dianne Williams (1958).

During the meal each ON was asked to tell a little of their school years and of the period since, all of which proved to be very interesting. The highlight of the occasion was the address presented by John Williams (ON1958). John had been an impressive athlete at school and in his first year had won the U13 cross country.   After leaving NC he was the recipient of a Rugby Scholarship. During June to September 1963 and as a member of the Wallabies Test Team, he toured South Africa where they played 20 matches (12 wins & 1 tie). John captivated us all with his reminiscing of events and details of that tour.  The Wallabies tied the series with the Springboks by winning two and losing two Tests. The 1963 Wallabies became the first touring team to beat the Springboks in two consecutive Tests since 1896.

The occasion proved to be a great success and was enjoyed by all who attended.  It was great to have the opportunity to link up with and/or renew friendships with fellow ON’s and partners. Our thanks go to George and Bianca James for firstly the idea and then for organising everything. It is our hope that a similar reunion can be arranged for some future time.

John W. Southwell

(ON1955 – Bursar 1980-1999)

TONGA – Can You Help?

Newington shares a long history with Tupou College, Tonga that stretches back to the very Foundation of the two schools.  It is through the ONU Tongan Bursary that allows Tongan boys to receive a Newington College education.  The College’s Tongan students need your help.

We are seeking medical practitioners to assist our Tongan Students.  The Tongan boys often require medical, dental and additional therapies support.  If you can aid these boys with your professional skills and time, please email the Alumni office or call Jennifer Chapman (ONU Alumni Officer) 02 9568 9544.

The College welcomes and appreciates all offers of support for these students.

Movember 2017

2017 marks 6 years that The Newington College Old Boy Community has proudly supported the Movember Foundation addressing some of the biggest health issues faced by men: prostate cancer, testicular cancer, and mental health and suicide prevention. By growing our MOs we aim to grow awareness and show our solidarity and approachability for young men facing mental health challenges. We want to transform the perception of men’s health in Australia and ensure that men in our community are well equipped to live happier, healthier, longer lives. To date we have raised over $25,000 and are aiming this year to expand our team!

Our 2017 Goals:

• 50+ Participants
• To raise in excess of $15,000

Join the team for a great cause: https://moteam.co/newington-old-boys-team-jt-senior or https://www.facebook.com/groups/1853126458249660/

The Future Is New

Our Vision

The Newington College Endowment Fund has been specifically established  to fully fund the equivalent of 100 full fee paying student positions at the College at any one time. These will be bursaries for boys with promise and proven socio-economic need. Providing a Newington education to these deserving boys is aligned to our theme of empowering young men to “Discover what’s Possible” and is central to our Community values of diversity and inclusiveness, as well as to our social justice program.                                                                                                                   
Bursaries already exist at Newington – be they Tongan boys from Tupou College, Sudanese boys garnered from our links with the Sudanese refugee community, Indigenous boys including the Chris Wild (ON 1991) Bursaries, or boys from any, and all, ethnic, religious and cultural backgrounds. The Endowment Fund represents a carefully constructed way of making bursaries a centre piece of our social justice program, and of Newington more generally.

Newington was founded on the guiding principles of education for boys of all faiths and backgrounds. The Endowment Fund enshrines, and is true to, our Founders’ ideals.

Our Goals

In support of our Vision, our Goal is to build a fund sufficient to provide 100 full fee Bursaries on an ongoing basis. Over the decades and centuries ahead, this will mean changing the lives of thousands of deserving boys by providing them with a Newington education.

The goal is large but we are well on the way, with some 30 bursaries currently in place and through the generosity of individual Old Boys and Parents, others coming on line.

This journey will be a long one but one worth undertaking. The Council Chairman has set our Community its next goal and that is to raise $1.5 million by end of 2018. This date coincides with the retirement of our Headmaster Dr David Mulford and opportunities will be available throughout 2018 for you to recognise David’s enduring legacy through a contribution to the Endowment Fund via the Phillip Davis OAM Mathematics Bursary.

The Endowment Fund has been seed funded by both the College Council and generous individual benefactors. Many of our Founders Society Members, those who have included Newington in their will, have identified the Endowment Fund as the beneficiary of their legacy. Indeed, we will receive in excess of $500,000 from Estates of recently departed members this year and their generosity will live on forever.

The College Council and our Founders Society will continue to support the Endowment Fund as they are able to do so. However, it is the generous donations of individuals now that will see us reach our goal. Without your generous support now, we will not reach our goal and many deserving boys will miss out. If we only reach 50% of our goal, over an average lifetime this would mean a startling 640 boys will miss the opportunity to ‘Discover what’s Possible” at Newington. More importantly, our society would be poorer for they missing such opportunity.

We must reach our goal and we can….but only with your generous help and support and with it starting now.

The Endowment Fund is ambitious but essential, if we are to keep Newington available for all boys, of all backgrounds. Will you help us meet this goal? To find out more, click on this link to visit our Foundation Website.

They say that one can only see so far because we stand on the shoulders of giants that have come before. Will you join us in being the giants for the next Newington generation?

Reunions

On Saturday 5 August 2017, a combined group of 130 Old Boys from the Class of 2012, 2007 & 2002 gathered to celebrate their 5, 10, and 15 Year reunion.  After watching Newington 1st XV play St Joseph’s 1st XV, the gentlemen were met by Rod Bosman (ON 1978) Director of Community and Development for a College Tour.  The group then gathered in Prescott Hall for drinks and a good evening was had by all.

Upcoming Reunions & Events

28 October 2017 – Class of 1967 – 50 Year Reunion at Newington

11 November 2017 – Class of 1972 – 45 Year Reunion at Royal Oak Balmain

14 November 2017 – 70 Club – Elders Lunch at Newington

24 November 2017 – Hong Kong – Newington Old Boys Lunch – Venue TBC

24 February 2018 – Class of 1958 – 60 Year Reunion Lunch – Newington College

26 March 2018 – Singapore Alumni Drinks with Dr Mulford

18/19 April 2018 – London – Newington Old Boys Drinks with Dr Mulford – date & venue TBC

8 May 2018 – 70 Club Annual Lunch, Celebrating 20 years of the 70 Club at Newington

If you wish to attend any of the above reunions or events please contact Jennifer Chapman – ONU Alumni Officer on 02 9568 9544 or alumni@newington.nsw.edu.au

If you know of any Newington Old Boys that have recently moved to Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Hong Kong or London, please contact the Alumni Office.

Order of The Fleur de Lys

Old Boy Gerald Sinclair (ON 1950) contacted the ONU to share his work with the Order of The Fleur de Lys and to encourage fellow Old Boys to participate.

The Order Of The Fleur De Lys 
Fondee 1439

Formed in 1439 when the Scottish were helping the French in the time of Rene D’Anjou and Jeanne D’Arc, fight the British, the Order is now a registered charity in UK and Australia which has its major investiture ceremony and formal dinner in October each year at the Queen’s Chapel and Queen’s Hall at Cambridge University UK.
There will be an initial annual muster for the Southern Cross Company in Australia on Saturday 3rd March 2018 at the Burleigh Waters Masonic Lodge, 6 First Avenue, Gold Coast, Queensland commencing at 5 pm.
the No 6 Southern Cross Company which encompasses Australia, New Zealand and the South Pacific, is currently being formed by its Knight Commander Right Noble Chevalier Gerald Sinclair KCL, B.St.J.A, B.Comm (Economics) who is alo the Vice Regent for the area and one of 7 members of the Executive Council that meets in Cambridge each year.

There are 4 Companies in UK, 1 in USA & 1 in Belgium as well.
Titles awarded are post nominal i,e after members name, so men who are promoted to Chevalier (French for Knight) are entitled to use KL (Knight of the Lys)and women promoted to Dames DL (Dame of the Lys)post nominally.
Women make up nearly 50% of the Order’s members, the Patron of the Order, Princess Elizabeth of Yugoslavia a cousin of the Queen being one as is the Charity head Right Noble Countess Hermione de Montgomery, wife of the the Sovereign Grand Commander Most Noble Chevalier Professor Comte Hugh de Montgomery a member of the famous Montgomery family that produced Field Marshal Montgomery of WW2 fame.
No secret oaths just allegiance to the Commander and no necessity for too many physical meetings due to the tyranny of distance here (we already have a Knight & a Dame in Perth 4,000 km away!) and the use of a new revolutionary Australian designed App for communication.

Members of the Order are expected to live by Medieval Knighthood Chivalric principles:-

HONOUR ABOVE SELF
DUTY ABOVE WEALTH

JUSTICE ABOVE LAW
TRUTH ABOVE ALL

‘Truth Above All’ is the official motto of ‘No  6 Southern Cross Company’

Assistance Dogs who do not receive any Federal Government Funding, is the first Charity being supported in Australia see assistancedogs.org.au

For more information contact email old Newingtonian gerald@enigmaticsinclairs.com or ring 0413 027 174 or use Work App

For general information on the Order go to www.orderofthefleurdelys.org.uk

Valete

The Newington Community farewelled the following Old Boys since our last Valete in July 2017:

We also farewelled past staff members: Adrian Bitel and Ian Campbell.

Remembering distinguished Old Boys – Bryan Rugby Palmer (ON 1946)

Bryan Palmer passed away on 10 June 2017.    Bryan played Rugby for New South Wales in 1950.  He attended both Newington and The King’s School.  The Bryan Palmer Shield has been contested each year by The King’s School and Newington since 1970, being the Centenary of the first school boy Rugby match played in Australia.

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