L-R: Dr David Mulford, Headmaster, Winners of the Arthur H.S. Rofe Trophy, Chris Johnson (ON ’93) & David Royal (ON ’93) and Nigel Watson (ON ’93)

ONU Golf Day

The recent ONU Golf Day at the Lakes Club was a great success, despite the challenging weather conditions. Old Boys, current parents, grandparents and staff engaged in friendly yet competitive rivalry on the greens contesting one of Newington oldest trophies, the H.S. Rofe Trophy as well as the Alumni Challenge Trophy to raise funds for the ONU Depression initiative.

After presenting the Alumni trophy to the team from 1978, James Jordan (ON ’81), ONU President said “Not only did we get to play at the prestigious Lakes Golf Course but we are exceptionally fortunate to have the support of generous sponsors who enable us to make a contribution in a very real way and I thank them sincerely.” He also thanked the ONU Golf Day organising committee, Ian Mayer (ON ’81), David Gillard (ON ’92) and Nigel Watson (ON ’93) for their exceptional contributions.

With generous donations of prizes and auction items from current parents and Old Boys, including Martin Wright from Srixon Sports Australasia, Con Dedes (ON ’87) from Dedes Group, Richard Spira (ON ’81) from Agressor, Ian Mayer (ON 81) from Chatswood Toyota and Adam Peruch (ON ’81) from Channel 9, over $17,500 was raised.

Mylee Angelo
ONU Officer

From the Archives: Newington’s first advertisement

On 12 March 1863, among the shipping notices, entertainment advertisements (‘Signor Ohio: the inimitable SWISS WARBLER, whose imitations of birds and animals are unrivalled’), and personal notices (‘Notice to the public: I, JOHN BURNS of Botany, will not be answerable for debts my Wife, JANE BURNS, may contract after this date’), the Sydney Morning Herald published an advertisement placed by ‘J Allen Manton, Principal’ of the ‘Collegiate Institution, Newington House (late Blaxland’s), Parramatta River’.

The advertisement announced that the ‘spacious and beautifully situated premises’ were now undergoing thorough repair and would be opened as a school the following July.  The same advertisement would appear each week until just before the school’s opening.

Because of its location, the new school would initially be entirely a boarding school.  The fees were to be 50 guineas ($105 in today’s currency) per annum, to cover ‘Board and education’, plus 4 guineas ($8.40) for washing and a guinea ($2.10) for medical attendance.  Fees were payable quarterly, in advance.

The advertisement set out the articles that each student was expected to bring with him: a silver fork and spoon, two pairs of sheets, two pillow cases and six towels.  Each was to be marked with the student’s name in full.

Six weeks’ notice was required for the withdrawal of a student; otherwise half a quarter’s fees would be charged.

Despite the new school’s connection with the Wesleyan Methodist Church, the advertisement noted that it would be open to the sons of parents of all religious denominations.

Top section of SMH from Trove

David Roberts
College Archivist