Naming of the Taylor Sports Centre

Last Saturday 9 November, 60 guests joined with members of the College’s 1st XI and their opponents from St Joseph’s College for the official naming of the Sports Centre in honour of John Morris (‘Johnnie’) Taylor (ON 1915).

The Taylor Sports Centre was opened in 1993. This year the College Council decided that, as the headquarters for sport in the College, it should be named in honour of Newington’s greatest sportsman. After a welcome from the Headmaster, Dr David Mulford, the naming was performed by Michael Morgan OAM (ON 1964), former Olympic rower and coach, Newington’s most successful rowing coach and current member of the College Council. Sam Woods, Deputy Senior Prefect and member of the 1st XI, moved a vote of thanks.

A special guest for the event was Mrs Lyn Taylor, Johnnie Taylor’s daughter-in-law. Other guests included many former Captains of Cricket, along with a range of former coaches and other people who have played a prominent role in cricket at Newington, and their families.

When Johnnie Taylor left Newington early in 1915, The Newingtonian described his school career as ‘…the most brilliant as regards sport of any Newingtonian, and perhaps of any school boy of New South Wales’. He played cricket in the 1st XI from 1909, at the age of fourteen, until 1915, scoring twelve centuries and three double centuries; and in the Combined GPS 1st XI for five years, including two as Captain. He played Sheffield Shield cricket for NSW in 1914–15 while still at school. He was also a fine rugby player, rifle shooter and athlete. He played in the 1st XV for five years and in the Combined GPS 1st XV for four. He shot in the 1st X for four years and was a member of the Athletics team for five. He was awarded Triple Colours five times, a feat unique in Newington’s history. Despite his successes he was popular ‘…as much on account of his unfailing good temper and as his proverbial modesty.’

After service in the First World War, Johnnie Taylor was selected for an AIF cricket team that toured Britain, South Africa and Australia. Between 1920 and 1926, he played twenty Test matches for Australia and 135 first class matches. He also played two rugby Tests for Australia in 1922.

David Roberts
College Archivist

All Artworks are for Sale…wins two awards at The Anderson’s

Films have the ability to make you feel happy, sad, loved, scared, nervous, calm, playful, courageous, optimistic, sympathetic, intrigued, helpless, anxious or empowered—the films screened at the 2013 Robin Anderson Film Festival for student filmmakers were no exception. Graduating Year 12 boy Sam Evans (ON 2013) took out two categories in the prestigious prize including Best Non-Fiction Film in the Seniors category and Best Cinematography overall.

Held at the Dendy Opera Quays on Friday 8 November, the 2013 Robin Anderson Film Festival celebrated the exceptional and talented emerging school student filmmakers of today. Since its induction a decade ago, the Robin Anderson Film Festival has taken off with thousands of films submitted from students all across Australia over the years. This year, there were 16 nominated films from over 300 submissions in the categories of Fiction, Non-fiction, Animation, and Supershort. Sam’s entry was a Non Fiction film called  All Artworks are for Sale Unless Otherwise Stated which explores the nature and legitimacy of street art, more commonly known as Graffiti.

The top prize went to Ashleigh Vrajlal and Olivia Simpson, students from MLC School, Burwood, who study Film at Newington College with Ms Rosalind McKenzie as part of their International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme.Their Fiction film, One Small Step, won the Robin Anderson Award for Best Film of the Festival.

Robin Anderson was a highly successful documentary filmmaker who with her husband and filmmaking partner, Bob Connolly, produced award-winning films including Rats in the Ranks and Facing the Music. When Ms Anderson’s life was tragically cut short in 2002, the Robin Anderson Film Festival was established in 2003 by MLC School to honour Ms Anderson’s passion and contributions to the film industry. Now in its tenth year, this national film competition and festival continues to support emerging Australian student filmmakers who have the same enthusiasm and drive for film as Ms Anderson.

We congratulate Sam on a wonderful win that culminates a very successful year of filmmaking. We wish him every success in what can already be deemed as a bright future ahead of him.

Answer These Questions – You Have a Lifetime

The final Newington Ethics Centre lecture for 2013 was by no means one of the least controversial. In fact the pursuit of happiness was scrutinized as one of humanity’s least commendable quests.

Dr Hugh Mackay, social commentator and author of nine books in the field of social psychology and philosophy, addressed a near capacity audience in the Old Boys Lecture Theatre on the premise that setting up happiness as a goal of human life guarantees that we will spend much of life disappointed!

In his most recent book The Good Life, subtitled What makes a life worth living?, he challenges us with the question: “Why do we have the idea that happiness is the default position? It is just one emotion among many—and the happiness movement overlooks the spectrum of human emotions needed to develop emotional maturity.”

Dr Mackay argued on the night to the senior boys and wider community that sadness and disappointment have as much, if not more, to teach us about humanity. How do we learn to empathise with others without our own failures, for example?

While he was not advocating that we go looking for pain, he did remind the audience that it is in our folklore and that adversity is a teacher which helps us grow through pain.

Dr Mackay said, “I am worried when I hear parents say, ‘I just want my kids to be happy’”, and he cautioned against always helping children to avoid pain with a ‘cheer up, chin up’ response to their sadness.

So what might “the good life” look like if we are to avoid seeking happiness all the time (a condition Dr Mackay suggested would be “a dreadful state!”)?

Parents, he suggested, could make the distinction for their children between seeking ‘meaning in their lives’ and ‘happiness in their lives’; and that the best predictors of positivity are self discipline and self respect—not self esteem!

So the good life is in fact a morally praiseworthy life, lived for others. The most powerful descriptor of someone living the good life is someone with a loving and charitable disposition.

“You can’t have love alone, it is about engagement with ‘another’”, said Dr Mackay.

“We are by nature competitive, aggressive, even violent but a deeper truth is that we are also cooperative, social, selfless, caring and altruistic. We are social creatures; we congregate in cities, communities sustain us, and communities need to be nurtured. The important question is not ‘who am I?’ but ‘who are we?’.

So as the public lecture program hosted by the Centre for Ethics draws to a close, after what has been an extraordinary year, we are left with some ethics ‘homework’.

Answer these questions – you have a lifetime.

What will be your living legacy in the good life? Will you enrich the good life of others by their encounters with you?

Newington at the Australian Mathematics Trust Awards

The Australian Mathematics Trust Awards Presentation was held on 7 November at The King’s School. A highly selective group of students from all over NSW attended the ceremony including boys from Newington College

Newington had three award winners: James Rosse (8/PR) – Prudence Award for greatest number of consecutively correct answers, Stephen Chan (9/JN) and Eryuan Sheng (9/ME) – Prize Award. This photo is of Mr Phil O’Rourke and Stephen Chan. His prize, as does Eryuan’s, places him in the top 0.3 per cent of entrants. When you consider the elite nature of the entrants, this is very impressive.

The speakers at the ceremony presented themes varying from the role of Mathematics as an essential tool in the pursuit of excellence, to an examination of the sophisticated mathematical themes presented in The Simpsons.

For example, students were encouraged to check the following calculation (presented in the background in one episode of The Simpsons) on their calculators and to reflect on the World famous Fermat’s Theorem:

3987¹² + 4365¹² = 4472¹²

Mr Phil O’Rourke
Mathematics Department 

Chris Wild (ON 1991) Indigenous Bursary Update

The Chris Wild (ON 1991) Indigenous Bursary was established in May 2012 by the Wild Family and friends to honour the late Chris Wild and the cause he believed in.

For all of his adult life, Chris spent most weekends volunteering his time mentoring local indigenous young people to reach their full potential. He knew that access to educational opportunities was crucial for change.

Since its establishment 18 months ago, $479,500 of the initial target of $500,000 has already been pledged.

What an amazing start and an encouraging testament to the overwhelming generosity and support of the Newington community!

In order for the Bursary to become firmly established as a self-perpetuating bursary and to cover the vagaries of fluctuating interest rates and inflation, the target has been re-set to a more sustainable $600,000.

If you would like to contribute to the Chris Wild (ON 1991) Indigenous Bursary, please click here, then choose ‘Foundation and Giving’.

Your tax deductible gift to this bursary will allow an Indigenous young man the opportunity of having a Newington education and will enable him to ‘Discover what’s possible’.

Thank you.

Practical Tips for Schoolies

Schoolies is coming up so I thought I would put together some advice for parents and the boys. This was popular last year.

I know as parents we all worry about what might happen and what the schoolies might get up to, but keep things in perspective. The media reports on problems, bad behaviour and crime. Having a good time doesn’t make the headlines.

Some Things to Keep in Mind:

• ID is essential, wear it at all times and don’t fake it
• Eat before or while drinking alcohol (junk food is OK this week). Parents, run through a few simple meals that can be prepared quickly like spaghetti bolognese, tacos, etc.
• Simply say ‘no’ to drugs every time.
• Remember Police will not prosecute those who admit to drug use if they or their friends overdose or have an adverse reaction. Paramedics will help you and are not there to report you. Obviously those caught selling drugs will be prosecuted.
• Be careful about posting images on social media. Police have said that this is their number one concern this year. Charges are most likely to be laid against young people who coerced or forced others to take the indecent images
• Walk away from confrontation – or risk the consequences. Violence tends to spread across a crowd so clear out if a brawl starts.
• Drink plenty of water
• Keep an eye on your drink – never leave it unattended. If you think a friend has had their drink spiked get them medical attention. Don’t leave them alone with a stranger.
• Stay with your mates
• No means NO – unwanted sexual behaviour is a crime. If they don’t listen tell them you are going to throw up – that usually makes them back away.
• If having sex – always use a condom. STI’s are at an all-time high.
• Be especially careful on a balcony – no balcony hopping/planking. I think balconies have been locked in most places now for safety.
• Wear sunscreen. Stay safe in the surf. Don’t swim alone, at night or if drunk. Don’t play holding breath games underwater or similar, this ended in tragedy last year.
• Avoid getting a tattoo – you will most likely regret it
• Keep your accommodation locked to avoid theft

Schoolies venues have wonderful volunteers and professional people to help look after you. Look out for the Red Frog volunteers who provide support, pancake breakfasts, a walk home service and of course red frogs! They are now also in Bali and Fiji. Check out their website www.redfrogs.com.au

If travelling overseas make sure you have travel insurance, make copies of your travel documents and make sure you know the penalties for breaking the rules in the country you are visiting.

Fines (Australia)

• Drinking in a public place (18 years and over): $110
• Underage drinking or possession of liquor in a public place, even if you’re holding a drink for your friend who is over 18: $247
• Being under 18 and found on licensed premises: $330
• If you’re 18 and you supply alcohol to your underage mates you could face a fine of $8800
• If you use a false ID you can be fined over $200
• Buying alcohol over the internet is also illegal if you’re under 18. A maximum court imposed fine of $2,200, or an on-the-spot penalty of $220 applies
• In Queensland, 17 year olds have their drug offences determined in the adult court system.

Parents let your son know that you can be contacted 24 hours a day for any reason, that you love them unconditionally and that you expect them to have a great time and return safely!

My son really enjoyed the Gold Coast last year, when I asked if he had any advice he said ‘go nuts’ and then with a backward glance at me he added ‘safely’!

Sister Margaret Bates
College Nurse

Crazy Season Looms Again

I was driving to Centennial Park about two weeks ago, you know that route out the back of Alexandria (please note that this was only October) and there they were, on every corner of those busy intersections teens dressed up in red Santa suits (without the beard and hat) waving advertising signs to attract customers to the ‘Xmas Stores’ shop! I could barely keep on driving – “it’s not even November”, exploded in my mind.

This time of the year I usually do a good imitation of Mr Scrooge from Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, lots of “bah humbugs”. I ban carols from being sung or played in our house until 1 December, and any talk of doing Christmas shopping is an absolute “red rag” to me. However this year, it’s different folks, for I am right into it – we have a big “Carols on the Oval” extravaganza coming up at Newington, and the planning and organisation for this is occupying most of my waking, and some of my sleeping hours!

So here’s the quick advert:

When? Sunday night 1 December, 7.30pm (book it now on your family calendar)

Where? On one of Stanmore Campus’ beautiful ovals (Old Boys)

Who? You, and your extended family and friends (plus we are hoping our neighbours from the surrounding community will come along as well).

Bring a cushion or rug – there will be chairs for the veterans. Our school choirs will be there in full voice; a Rock Band (students and staff); our orchestra and lots of other surprises.

Indeed we are about to enter the “Advent” season, whether we like it or not, so I thought I’d finish off with a funny story and then a bit of a challenge. As most of you know I hail from the “Shaky Isles”, Aotearoa – or commonly known as New Zealand, and I am a die-hard All Black supporter (now is a nice time to be such a thing). One of our greatest ever All Blacks is Michael Jones who also happens to be a very committed Christian. He was a fast, big loose-forward known for his big hits (legal of course) on opposition players. He was once asked by a reporter, “Michael we understand you are a Christian, can you tell us how this is compatible with your ferocity on the field?” Michael replied, “Well as a Christian I take the words of Jesus very seriously, ‘It’s more blessed to give than receive’.”

And so let that be our challenge this Advent Season, as we prepare ourselves for the hurly burly of crowded shops and streets, Christmas parties, dinners and family gatherings, that we try and be gracious in our giving. I am not meaning the physical tackling sort of course, nor do I mean the giving of expensive gifts, but rather of having a “giving” attitude – positive and generous towards others-family, our friends and strangers. My greatest personal challenge will be being generous in shops and car park buildings and traffic jams as Christmas Day advances on us. What will yours be?

“…remembering therefore the words of the Lord Jesus himself who said, ‘it is more blessed to give than receive’” (Acts 20: 35)

I look forward to seeing you all on our College Campus at 7.30pm on Sunday 1 December – and please pass the word around.

Rev David N. Williams
College Chaplain

Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Trial

2013 is the FINAL year of recruitment for the Type 1 Diabetes Prevention Trial (Init 11)

We urgently need your help to reach the trial recruitment target of 120 participants.

If you or your child are aged between 4 and 30 and are a relative of someone with type 1 diabetes you may be at higher risk of developing type 1 diabetes than others in the general population. By testing a blood sample, we can determine your risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

Click here to read more.

Call 1300 138 712 to help make a difference!

Countdown to Cinearts 2013 begins!

The 12th Annual Newington College Film Festival will be held on Thursday 28 November 2012 at 7:00 PM in Centenary Hall. Come along to watch the culmination of many hours of hard work for our budding young Tarantinos, Scorceses and DiCaprios.

Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students in a night that is sure to leave many thinking they’ve been magically transported to Cannes!

There is a sausage sizzle before the event starting at 6:00 PM.

For more information, please click here.

Sport Report

Cricket

Saturday 2 November saw the inauguration of the Ken Coles Trophy. This award began in recognition and memory of Ken Coles (ON 1986), who tragically passed away in 2012. Ken was a member of the Newington 1st XI that won the AAGPS cricket premiership in 1986. The award will recognise the “Players Player” in the 1st XI. The players will vote on a weekly basis to signify this achievement, and the Players Player will be presented an Orange Cap – a symbolic representation of the ‘Lamp of Learning’ – which is unique to the College history and tradition. This concept also ties in well with the Core Values of Sport at Newington: Enjoyment, Resilience, Growth, Respect, Hard Work and Unity. We would like to acknowledge Ken’s family, friends and team mates from 1986 who attended the lunch and made the day very special for all involved.

Water Polo

Newington’s success in Water Polo has translated into more representative honours for some of our boys. Five students have recently been selected to the GPS Water Polo Team. James Butcher (11/ME), Nick Bertino (10/FL), Byron Blaik (10/LE), Chaz Poot (9/ME), and Rory Williams (9/KL) will represent the GPS and vie for selection in the Combined Independent Schools (CIS) Water Polo Team at a selection trials on Tuesday 12 November. We wish the boys the best for the CIS trials!

Thomas Johnston’s Arrival

In November 1863, Thomas Johnston arrived at the new College at Newington House to take up the post of ‘Head Master’,

Johnston had been recruited by Wesleyan churchmen visiting England and left for Australia in August. It had originally been hoped that a head master, along with an assistant master, would be recruited in time for the College’s opening in July. When it was clear that this would not happen, however, the young Rev James Egan Moulton had been persuaded to take up the role of Head for the time being and get classes operating.

Johnston was described as a fine classical scholar with a passion for accuracy and precision. As Head Master, he had overall charge of teaching, under the direction of the President, who was in charge of the College as a whole. Johnston also taught the senior ‘division’ of the school: at this early stage, it was divided into just three such classes. He had a particular love of Latin, which was at the centre of the Classics based education of the time, and is credited with setting a firm early foundation for the school’s academic achievements. Johnston had lost a leg in an accident in England, and used a wooden one. It was said that this gave the boys warning of his approach on the wooden floors of the school buildings.

Our earliest financial records show that Johnston was engaged at a salary of £200 per annum and also received reimbursement of his travelling expenses of £81. Later he sought an increase in salary to £300 and better furniture for his room. He got only the furniture, and his relationship with the Wesleyan Committee of Education and then the new College Council deteriorated. In April 1866, the Council determined to dispense with his services at the end of the year. His successor, George Metcalfe, was engaged at £300 per annum.

Johnston’s surname is spelled in three different ways in the early school records, but ‘Johnston’ seems most likely to be correct. His name is commemorated in Johnstone House, the additional ‘e’ reflecting the form of his name commonly used when the House was established in 1954.

Stanmore Public School’s Common Ground Night Market

The Stanmore “Common Ground Night Market” will be held again this year in the grounds of Stanmore Public School.

The annual event has become wildly popular and will include over 40 artisan stalls, offering an enormous range of art, craft and gifts, both new and vintage. If you love Finders Keepers at Eveleigh, you’ll love what’s in store for you!

Combined with a range of fun activities and rides suitable for all ages and a sumptuous menu the Stanmore Common Ground Night Market promises to be a wonderful evening for families.

2013 – 2014 Peer Support

The College has been running a Peer Support program for a number of years and, as a result, all Year 10 boys will be involved in the training for Peer Support.

The Peer Support Foundation is dedicated to providing dynamic peer led programs which foster the physical, social and mental wellbeing of young people and their community. A longitudinal study conducted by the University of Western Sydney, Self-Concept Enhancement and Learning Facilitation (SELF) Research Centre in 2003 to determine the effectiveness of the Peer Support Program found that it was very successful in meeting these aims.

The program involves one and a half days of training for all Year 10 boys and, on completion of the training, potential leaders will be asked to apply for the position of Peer Support Leader. The appointed Leaders will facilitate activity sessions with teams from Year 7 during Term 1 in 2014. The benefits to the Years 10 and 11 boys will be in the development of their leadership skills. The Year 7s will benefit with improved connectedness to secondary school, resilience, a sense of possibility, as well as the opportunity to make new friends.

The aim of the program is to have the Peer Support Program run in House groups which will allow continued follow up in 2014 during Period B times. This also facilitates a strong connection when the Year 7 boys move into Year 8 in 2015.

An additional opportunity will be given to those who miss out on Peer Support Leadership positions with the Service Learning program. During 2014, Service Learning Leaders will work with Year 8 boys from their House in researching and producing a presentation about the House’s allocated Service Learning organisation.

We trust the boys will approach this initiative positively and we believe that whether or not any of them make themselves available for selection as a Peer Support Leader or Service Learning Leader after the training, they will still benefit from and enjoy the training process.

 Mr Robert Meakin
Deputy Head of Stanmore / Head of Pastoral 

Economics Q and A with HSBC Chief Economist

Monday 4 November saw a group of 15 Year 11 Economics students attend the picturesque Kincoppal-Rose Bay School of the Sacred Heart for a Q & A style event on ‘The Future of Australia’. Newington was represented on the discussion panel by Senior Deputy Prefect Thomas Van Der Velde (11/JN) as he fielded questions along with HSBC’s Chief Economist Paul Bloxham, The Australian‘s journalist Adam Creighton, prominent author and journalist Caroline Overingham, and other students from The Scots College and Kincoppal.

Themes discussed included ‘what to do with our ailing automotive industry’; ‘how the fate of the US economy will impact on Australia’, ‘the composition and direction of Australia’s trade’ and ‘what the current generation will do to change Australia’s future’. Thomas gave a well-informed and economically driven argument for why we should move away from manufacturing cars in Australia that activated some buzz on the day’s Twitter feed.

Well done to Thomas and thanks to all in attendance. It was a worthwhile and thought-provoking night.

Mr Andrew Light
Economics Teacher 

Notice for Music Tuition and Re-enrolment for 2014

Commencing in 2014, all boys learning an instrument at Newington College must re-enrol each year regardless of whether the boy has been learning music for years or only a couple of weeks in 2013. This applies to all boys from all three campuses. Please fill in this form to re-enrol.

Please note: Re-enrolment forms for 2014 must be completed and submitted by 5:00 PM, Friday 15 November 2013

If your son is looking to commence musical instrument tuition next year, you need to fill out the form here: Learning an Instrument 2014 application form.

Newington Buses: Change to 560 Route

Former ROZELLE 560 School Special

The 560 School Special which originates from Leichhardt Depot has had its first and last stop of the route changed to Gladstone Park at Balmain.

The bus will now leave from Gladstone Park at 7:18am and travel along Darling Street to Victoria Road. From there the route is the same as before. The service will finish back at Gladstone Park in the afternoon around 4.00pm. All the new information can be found on the Transport Insite.