The Barker #134

Issue 134 Autumn 2022 ISSN: 2204-938X

Autumn 2022 Issue 134 Issue 134 Autumn 2022 ISSN: 2204-938X

18

Musical Boot Camp

Inside this issue

In mid-January, the ‘Beauty and the Beast’ cast gathered for five crazy days of Musical Boot Camp!

The Regulars 05 16 20 22 34

Junior School Embracing Full Coeducation Teaching and Learning Business Accelerated Visual Arts Authentic and Real-World Experiences Design and Technology Students Making Technology Work Alumni Profile Justice Richard Button (Class of 1978)

The Features 01

From the Head of Barker Phillip Heath AM

03

From the Chair of Council David Charles

41

Foundation’s Message John Slack-Smith

43

OBA President’s Message Angus Abadee

44

09

Life Beyond Barker Samuel Collins, an Old Boy from the Class of 2011

25 28

Barker Girls

Women in Science

News from the Promoting Positive Northern Territory Relationships

International Day of Women and Girls in Science

The rains are finally here! And so is another year for our Djamarrkuli (students).

February 11 marked the global celebration of the contribution and participation of women in all areas of Science.

Promoting positive relationships is a fundamental aspiration and task of the Barker College community.

Barker Girls

Women in Science

Editor-in-Chief

Editor

Assistant Coordinators

Print Production

Art Direction

Phillip Heath AM

Julie McAllister

Karina Drummond Hannah McGrory

Ian Lindsay

Glenn Quevedo

From the Head

An Education for Life The pages that follow reflect a school that seeks to educate for life. It’s a bold statement, but the longer I serve in school education, the more I know that any less an objective would be unworthy of a marvellous school like Barker.

In the frequent encounters with Barker alumni, I hear stories of school experiences that are retold with the clarity of something that occurred yesterday. We store up such experiences as sources of nostalgia and inspiration all our lives.

A recent 2021 survey by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) suggests that young people in our current world need greater support. (If you want to find out more, go to: www. oecd.org/education/ceri/social-emotional-skills-study).

It was the first of its kind conducted by the OECD, which customarily researches the efficacy of PISA scores internationally.

The survey from eleven cities and countries including the US, China, Finland and the UK, considered the social and emotional development of 3000 students aged 10 years and 15 years of age in key areas: • Task performance (persistence and self-control), • Emotional regulation (optimism and reaction to stress), and collaboration (empathy and trust), • Open-mindedness (tolerance, curiosity, and creativity), • Engagement with others (assertiveness and sociability).

The findings make quite important reading. One finding that bears further reflection is that 10 year old respondents had better social and emotional skills, and greater self-confidence and connectedness than 15 year olds. They were more optimistic, had greater levels of trust in others and in society, higher energy levels and a stronger sense of agency than their older counterparts. They expressed a greater sense of belonging and were generally more positive about the future. These findings were present in every country, in every socioeconomic background, and in every category of social-emotional skills. The differences were even more marked for 10 to 15 year old girls.

How children and young people feel about themselves and the world around them is far more important than we ever realised. There are numerous educational studies that draw a link between social and emotional skills development in children and long term adult success. (www.cfchildren.org/what-is-social-emotionallearning/schools) According to the Aspen Institute National Commission on Social and Emotional Skills, self-regulation and executive functioning skills in young people are ten times more predictive of long term adult success than school based test scores. These things matter.

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From the Head

Word Cloud Courage - Demonstrating During Past 12 Months - Year 12 Students Open Ended Views.

Last year we commissioned research by external consultants MMG Education to examine whether our Year 12 leavers felt that there was a valid alignment between the School’s stated values and the lived experience of being at Barker. The findings of this research were encouraging and suggested that for our Year 12s in 2021, Barker Values are learned best from their teachers and their coaches or directors in the co-curricular life they love so much.

https://bit.ly/37lnLPn As we open the new academic year, hopefully one free from COVID restrictions and social disruption, it is essential that we ensure that every student feels a sense of connection and optimism in our community.

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We want every relationship to be built on kindness and the community to be founded on love, respectfulness and care. With coeducational classes in all year cohorts of the School, this is a time to develop a culture that allows children, young people, adults and families to thrive as we delight in the blessings of God in these days.

Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College

From the Chair of Council

Coeducation at Barker Living in Kurrajong Heights at the time Reverend Henry Plume founded Barker College were William and Charlotte Bowman and their family of five daughters.

Rev Plume persuaded the Bowmans that their four school-aged daughters would be better off at his school than being tutored at home. Thus among the 18 students enrolled at Barker College in 1891, were the four Bowman sisters – Mary (aged 17), Lois (aged 15), Kitty (aged 13) and Lottie (aged 10).

In 1892 however, the Bowman family left the district and Barker ceased to be a coeducational school. In 1896 Rev. Plume moved the School to its present site in Hornsby and for another 79 years, Barker College would remain a boys-only school.

In February 1972, the School Council endorsed the recommendation of Barker’s sixth Head, Trevor McCaskill, for the formation of a designated Senior School on the existing Barker site. The Senior School would accommodate all boys in fifth and sixth forms (Years 11 and 12) and any girls wishing to enrol. When, on 3 February 1975, 59 fifth form girls walked through the Mint Gates, Barker became the first independent school in Sydney to introduce coeducation.

Twenty five years later the Senior School was extended to include Year 10 students. From 2000, Year 10 girls were enrolled at Barker. In March 2001, the School Council resolved that the Head could appoint two School Captains, one boy and one girl. In 2002, the first girl School Captain was admitted to office.

In June 2016, the School Council resolved to move to full coeducation at Barker from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12. On 4 November 2016, this was announced to the Barker community with the commencement of girls in the Prep School from 2019, in Year 3 and Year 7 from 2020, and growth through to completion by 2022.

On 28 January 2022, we marked the first day of full coeducation at Barker. 1,041 girls are now enrolled from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 12.

Having girls across all Year groups provides us with the opportunity to fulfil more completely Barker’s Vision to be a leader in education that inspires global hope. Underpinning the Vision is Barker’s Christian framework, a framework established by Rev. Plume in his early work at Kurrajong Heights, including with the Bowman girls, and continued by his successors.

I believe coeducation is a mighty contributor to the culture and spirit of Barker. Our curriculum has broadened with new offerings such as Society and Culture, Dance, Food Technology, and Accelerated Business Studies. These subjects are popular with boys and girls. Coeducation has brought the impetus for the Primary Years Programme (PYP) in the Junior School and also for Barker becoming a member of the Round Square group of world schools. With Junior School and Middle School girls we also have new sports on offer like Rowing.

Indeed, the benefits of coeducation are significant in most areas of personal growth for our young people.

Without doubt, coeducation complements the education of the heart.

This year completes the work started by Rev. Plume in 1891. With full coeducation at Barker, we recognise, as Barker’s sixth Head put it, “one of the earliest and finest traditions of the School”.

David Charles (75) Chair of Council

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From the Chaplain

Coping in a World of Flux 2022 has begun as another year of uncertainty.

Shifting restrictions and changing plans have once again characterised the start of school.

I’d like to think that through the persistence of the pandemic we have developed our resilience and ability to cope in a world of flux. We may feel that uncertainty is not normal, however most cultures throughout history have had to live with far less dependable structures that our modern Western world.

The First Century Roman era was such a world – without banks, refrigeration, mortgages or job security. And yet into this situation Jesus spoke the words, “…do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear” (Matthew 6:25). When he says this, he is not advocating a laissez-faire approach to life; a life with no planning, no worrying.

Instead, Jesus was saying don’t expend unnecessary worry about those things that are out of your control.

Those elements of life that belong in the domain of your Heavenly Father. Rather than expend anxiety attempting to foresee every disaster and playing these out in your mind ahead of time, Jesus encourages us to trust God to provide what we need in the day-to-day.

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Jesus points to God’s care of the “birds of the air” and “flowers of the field” to highlight how much more God cares for his own children. Rather than worry, Jesus encourages people to seek God, as a Father, as a treasure. And our daily needs will fall into place.

As we begin 2022, we may not know what is coming, but may we come to look back on this time as one where we grew, not only in resilience, but also in our trust in our Heavenly Father.

Rev Peter Tong Senior Chaplain

Junior School

Junior School Embraces full Coeducation 2022 sees the Junior School reaching full coeducation after being the first section of the School to begin the transition back in 2018 with the arrival of Pre-Kindergarten and Kindergarten girls.

The Junior School now has 33 classes, every one of them with girls'. Together in learning, together in life is alive and well and the students have embraced the changes over the last four years. The percentage of girls in each year group has been increasing each year and we now average 40% of girls across the Junior School. In Kindergarten and Year 1, we currently have just over 49% of girls in each grade which augurs well for the future. Barker's Enrolments team have done a remarkable job in such a short space of time.

The first Year 6 cohort of seven classes, also provides the first Junior School female leaders. This is a significant milestone.

Captains – Emma Lukell and Henry Brown Vice-Captains – Tia McIntosh and Cooper McNaught Each of the six Houses also has a coed leadership team.

Byrd – Bree Hirst and Oliver Toy Flinders – Ivy Wu and Tristan Tilley Hillary – Amelia Huang and Jericho Alley Mawson – Matilda Davy-Griffiths and Zack Yerbury Scott – Angela Li and Thomas Griffiths Tasman – Ines Lai and Tom Evans The face of Junior School sport has also adapted to the changing environment with Netball, Girls’ Football, Hockey, Girls’ Basketball, Girls’ AFL, Girls’ Touch Football and Girls’ Tennis all joining the list of IPSHA sports on offer to female students. Additionally, many girls have chosen to play traditional Junior School sports alongside the boys, a number of those girls playing in the top team.

Barker Dance provides access to auditioned competition groups within the Junior School for boys and girls. There are also programs for all levels of dancers from beginners in the Ignite Co-curricular program. K-2 Hip-Hop, Theatre Jazz, Ballet, Lyrical Dance and Years 3-6 Hip-Hop are all options for our enthusiastic dancers. We are working in partnership with REDed (Raw Energy Dance Education), and last year we entered online eisteddfods and competitions with the auditioned troupes. Hopefully, our groups will be able to compete face-to-face this year.

Coeducation is a powerful strategy to foster equity, justice, kindness and respect amongst students. It is the future of work and of a more cohesive society. It provides full access to the Barker experience for all students and their families in one place, promoting harmony and a rich and vibrant academic and cocurricular life for our students.

The journey to full coeducation may have been realised, however, we want to continue to develop and evolve, ensuring that we offer experiences for all students that allow them to develop their skills and passions in a safe, supportive environment. We want to celebrate growth and achievement and continue to build a respectful and compassionate community where young people grow up together and appreciate the differing viewpoints, knowledge, understanding and giftings that each other brings. I am confident that we are making tracks in this direction in the Junior School.

Martin Lubrano Head of Junior School

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Junior School

Connecting Community to Thrive The Australian Student Wellbeing Framework (ASWF) has progressed the vision of Australian schools as “learning communities that promote students’ wellbeing, safety and positive relationships so that students can reach their full potential”.

Student wellbeing has been defined as a “positive sense of self and belonging and the skills to make positive and healthy choices to support learning and achievement, provided in safe and accepting environments for all students”.

At the core of the Barker College model of wellbeing is the Christian and spiritual framework upon which all aspects of an individual student’s welfare rests. The purpose and principles that connect wellbeing in the Junior School ensure that Barker College continues to offer an education underpinned by our Mission, Vision and Values that enables each individual and our broader community to thrive. Wellbeing programs, key language and skills are explored with teachers to develop understanding and prepare us all to live them out in words and actions, cultivating learning communities for all to learn and grow.

In Pre-K to Year 6, the class teacher is the first and foremost key point of care with all staff responsible for student care. The Junior School Executive Team supports staff and oversees the care and wellbeing

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programs in consultation with the Junior School Student Support Team. It is our heartfelt motivation to see the children find their safe place in the classroom ad partner in the creation of affirmative, responsive environments that promote a strong sense of belonging and self-worth.

As the year begins, new characters move into the circle of care, while others move out as they become a little less connected to the experience of each day to make way for new partnerships with teachers and peers; all the while the children benefit from the consistent care of family and close friends. The relationships with classroom teachers are critical in the circle of care. It is within the classroom where we aspire to see our students thrive, as circles of care work together to create learning communities where the wellbeing of each student and the learning about wellbeing is supported with intent.

Junior School

The Barker College School Counsellors are a wonderful asset in our circles of care. During 2021 we welcomed Dr Kathryn Rayner, while this year Hilary Tucker has joined the team. Our counsellors are available to meet with students for a range of reasons from small to complex and support students throughout their schooling. The School Counsellors provide important support to our circles of care across the Junior School Community. We are excited by the possibilities, and it is a privilege to introduce Katie and Hilary.

Hilary Tucker is a Clinical Psychologist Registrar and experienced teacher. Her professional experience extends across roles in eMental health, private practice, and schools, with a special interest in anxiety disorders, mood disorders, parenting, academic difficulties, ADHD, ASD, OCD and trauma. Hilary is most looking forward to working collaboratively with the Barker community to support students to enjoy the most out of their Barker experience.

Dr Kathryn (Katie) Rayner is clinical psychologist with 10 years’ experience working with children, adolescents, and families in private practice. She has particular interest and experience in assessing and treating eating disorders and body image issues, anxiety disorders and mood disorders. She completed a PhD at Macquarie University on the role of peer influence in the development of eating disorder symptoms in adolescent girls. Katie places high value on the use of evidence-based practice that is tailored to individual’s need and circumstance. She is excited to be working in a school context and very much looking forward to supporting students, teachers, and families in the Barker community.

Martin Conway Junior School Director of Students

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Junior School

Jumping Into Learning

An exciting new collaborative partnership for our Indigenous campuses What do you think of when you hear the term ‘Closing the Gap’? Are you reminded of the historical injustices that have created a disparity between the educational outcomes of the privileged settlers and our First Nations brothers and sisters? Or does the phrase make you feel uncomfortable, part of a ‘deficit discourse’, where the real achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians are overlooked or not fully appreciated and acknowledged? At Barker, we honour the strength and capabilities of all our students. We recognise that reconciliation involves the provision of high-quality education for all. This means that a priority for our Indigenous campuses is the development of strong foundational skills in Literacy and Numeracy from Kindergarten to Year 6, instilling a confidence and desire to learn. Closing the gap is a genuine priority and something that we strive towards each day at Dhupuma, Darkinjung and Ngarralingayil Barker.

This year, we are embarking on an exciting new journey towards further developing the Literacy and Numeracy standards at our Indigenous campuses.

Through partnerships with MultiLit and Good to Great Schools, we endeavour to deliver the very best

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evidence-based programs to our students. The programs are founded on the principles of the Explicit Direct Instruction model. There is overwhelming research supporting this effective and efficient method of instruction.

While we are focused on lifting Literacy and Numeracy standards at our Indigenous campuses, we are also very aware that our underlying foundation is the special cultural identity of our Aboriginal community members. Our shared vision of learning from one another continues to guide our teaching and learning, as we look to grow in understanding and harmony. It is our hope that these new learning partnerships will further empower our students towards a truly reconciled future together.

Katie Carruthers Darkinjung Barker Teacher

Junior School

News from the Northern Territory It is great to see our students' smiling faces back in the classroom and their eagerness to learn remains the same.

We have some new ideas and routines for our classroom this year and we can already see the positive impact this is having on their learning. As students arrive to school they have a checklist they must complete. This includes one-on-one learning with any of the teachers in the classroom. Some students spend 30-40 minutes on their learning before school even begins.

We always complete our Literacy and Numeracy throughout the day and the Djamarrkuli have this routine perfected. Some new and exciting learning adventures we are introducing this year include Drumcorp (bucket drumming) which involves fitness, rhythm and dance. The students have already completed some lessons and we can already feel that this will be enjoyed by all. Other activities include learning to touch type and health lessons that are run through the local Miwatj Health Clinic. But most importantly, Learning on Country lessons have begun.

The Yolngu people still use the bark from the trees to

create their beautiful art pieces. Valerie, one of our talented support teachers and an extremely great artist, took us out bush and showed us the process of removing the bark from the tree and how to dry it over a fire. We now wait for the drying process before the Djamarrkuli can create their own paintings.

We are also delighted to have our school bus which enables students to attend school. Check out the artwork on our bus!

Attendance rate this Term have been incredible with many students at School well over 80% on days. We are so proud of the children.

Lori Cross Dhupuma Barker Teacher Tom Spencer Dhupuma Barker Teacher

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Junior School

Welcome New Staff A warm welcome to our new staff at Darkinjung Barker and Ngarralingayil Barker.

We are very fortunate for their amazing knowledge, commitment to education and the variety of skills they bring to our campuses to assist children reach their goals. They are looking forward to many wonderful years at Barker and we are very excited to have them with us!

Annelise Pearce Operations Manager Aboriginal Campuses I am a Worimi Gumbaynggirr woman from the Mid-North Coast and have held several operational roles in schools in both Sydney and Melbourne. I grew up in a regional community and attended a small school very similar to Darkinjung Barker and Ngarralingayil Barker. I understand the support our vibrant school community needs to provide every opportunity to students. I am a supporter of the South Sydney Rabbitohs, I enjoy swimming at the beach and walking my very best friend, ‘Lenny’.

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Donna Andrews Classroom Teacher K-2 Darkinjung Barker I am thrilled and feeling extremely blessed to be working at Darkinjung Barker with the beautiful Kindergarten to Year 2 students. I live on a farm with my family and I treasure our special times together. Growing up on the farm, I have had many pets including donkeys, camels, horses, cows and even a pet kangaroo called Matilda! My favourite thing to do in the whole wide world is to teach! I have lived here on Darkinjung country for most of my life and have been fortunate to have taught in several schools in the area for the past 20 years. I enjoy working together to ensure each student thrives at school and is feeling great about themselves and their learning journey.

Junior School

Valissa Stewart Learning Support Teacher – Ngarralingayil Barker After spending much of my childhood playing ‘schools’ with my little sister, I became a primary school teacher back in the last century! I have held a wide variety of teaching positions from remote Northern Territory primary classrooms to teaching adults English in Mexico and Indonesia. I am passionate about keeping the spark for learning and life alive for all our students. I love camping and any kind of craft, but especially basket weaving.

Kylie Walmsley Classroom Teacher K-2 - Ngarralingayil Barker I held a long-time desire to become a teacher – with “classrooms” being my favourite childhood game. It took a while to reach that dream, but I never gave up on it and took the opportunity to graduate as a teacher at 40! With four children and two stepchildren, ranging from five to twenty-seven, life is rather busy! When time allows, I love reading, travel, and coffee catch-up with friends. I also love a good Netflix binge from time-to-time. I am really excited to be working at Ngarralingayil Barker and have already had a wonderful start to the School year!

George Huitker Service Learning Consultant After 32 years of teaching at Radford College in Canberra, I decided the time had come for a sea change. For the last 11 years, I had served as Director of Service Learning and have decided to pursue work in this field as a consultant. This year, I hope to open the Australian Centre for Service Learning and spread the word about safely, carefully and compassionately reaching out to others, particularly in these challenging times. I am thrilled to be working with the amazing students and wonderful staff at both Darkinjung Barker and Ngarralingayil Barker on Tuesday each week and I'm sure this will be a highlight of my working week. I play in a band called Junk Sculpture - known for their energetic shows and tours of rural communities. I hope there will be room to bring my passion for both music and service to the School.

Mandy Shaw Director Aboriginal Campuses

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Junior School

Pre-Kindergarten Education

Pre-Kindergarten is a different learning space to the traditional classroom. At three, four and five years of age children are full of wonder and curiosity, often seeing the world around them differently.

In Pre-Kindergarten, educational experiences are fluid and malleable. Planned provocations are derived that seek to stimulate students' imaginations. The learning space is tailored to unique styles and interests of the individual. This enables students to explore with purpose and share their findings with peers. Through this, Pre-Kindergarten develop social skills with their peers and teachers, while also developing a connection to their learning space. This assists the learner to feel safe, happy and confident to take on challenges without fear. Furthermore, creative and imaginative skills are developed by allowing learners to use the indoor and outdoor space freely, adapting and using materials in ways not always typical to their purpose. Children are able to explore safely within a framework that embraces diversity, allowing imaginations to explore without traditional parameters.

Communication is a critical part of the PreKindergarten learning space. Initially, communication is centred around expressing immediate needs. As communication skills develop, students are encouraged to share their understanding and thinking to explore ideas and concepts openly with their peers.

In doing so, they support the learning of others' language development and cognitive growth.

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International mindedness, a foundational understanding of the Primary Years Programme (PYP), is encouraged within Pre-kindergarten. This supports shared commonality; an understanding that we are accepting and respectful of other cultures and beliefs and that we have a sense of connection to them and also to the world around us.

By the end of Pre-Kindergarten, Barker students have a strong sense of identity, feel connected to their world of family and friends, are confident within themselves and their spaces to seek out learning in areas of interest. We want them to be involved and curious about the world around them without inhibition. The ultimate aim is to build skills in cognition where the child learns to think critically, and problem solve using an approach that works for them.

These are skills that will support them for the rest of their lives, helping them to seek and make meaning of the world.

Sabrina Shields and Holly Renton Pre-Kindergarten Teachers

Academic Assembly

Recognising Our High Achievers

As is the School’s custom, Barker was delighted to welcome back our distinguished achievers from the Class of 2021, recognising their outstanding results and contributions at a special School Assembly.

Speaking at the Assembly, Phillip Heath, acknowledged the many additional demands that were placed on the Class of 2021, yet despite the challenges, this cohort achieved some remarkable results.

“This group of students has set a very high standard for what can be achieved by the rest of us,” Phillip Heath said. “The Class of 2021 managed and surpassed the challenges presented to them and we are delighted and proud that a third of the students in this cohort received early entry offers and almost all students received their first choice in the UAC process.”

In his address to the Class of 2022 at the Assembly, 2021 School Vice Captain, Harry Breden, congratulated his peers and shared some of his wisdom with the current Year 12s.

“Make sure you set a goal for what you want to achieve this year and then strive towards that. I found the goals I set helpful for staying motivated.”

Harry also encouraged the students to use all the support that Barker offered and believed that a big reason for his success, was asking for feedback from his teachers.

In his concluding remarks, Phillip Heath said, “each student has showed enormous courage to achieve what they have. They represent the 340 other students of the Class of 2021 and we give thanks to the Lord for the blessings they have given to the School and wish them every success.”

Julie McAllister Editor

“Now that lockdowns are looking like a thing of the past, I hope that you will have a relatively normal Year 12,” Harry said.

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College of Teachers

Growth and Improvement in the Classroom The College of Teachers (CoT) initiative was introduced in 2015 by the Head of Barker College, Phillip Heath.

It aims to inspire teaching quality and continuous professional learning, realising the Barker mission of ‘inspiring every learner, every experience, every day’.

This year, Jacqui McLachlan, a longstanding Barker staff member of 22 years, has commenced in a new role at the School working closely as Lead Coach alongside Len Nixon and Sarah Clifton, to develop CoT particularly as part of a teachers’ professional development.

The main goal for CoT will be to enhance student outcomes in the classroom and encourage teachers to start conversations about their approach to teaching.

“It’s also seen that coaching conversations can enhance student learning so we can take our conversations to the classrooms and also coaching conversations to teaching. Everybody can learn – students and teachers, by these collaborations and conversations,” stated Jacqui.

Len explains the initiative and what he is looking forward to the most, including asking the ‘why’ questions of teaching staff to allow for growth and improvement in the classroom.

“The College of Teachers aims to have everyone, including the Senior School and Junior School staff, as members of the CoT. The vision is to place the teaching fraternity at Barker in a position to become an even better teacher. The emphasis is on growth, capacity to teach, building better relationships with students but also staff,” said Len Nixon.

Sarah believes that within the positive model introduced, it will be important to follow up and ensure that teachers know they have the environment to explore any doubts or thoughts through asking questions.

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“It’s a positive growth model to enhance teaching and student learning outcomes - taking away the fear of having conversations about their teaching with student learning as the main objective.

"We are forever learning. We have programs which support our new staff but coaching for everyone will improve teaching. Trying something new is an important part of teaching and coaching can support that" Sarah said.

Len adds that the CoT will assist teachers in being able to have that relationship and connection to someone outside their own department.

“In a time where there are shortages of teachers in particular areas, if the School is known for having a supportive environment based around coaching, then that may lead to a degree of competitive advantage in the marketplace. That’s what we want to be known as, supportive. The wisdom with the coaches we have, and the coaching champions, it adds enormously to the credibility of the School. In terms of impact, what we want to do is create a risk-free factor. In other words, look at the way you teach and then go and try something new and then have a chat to the coaches.

That’s what we are doing,” said Len. Hannah McGrory Social Media Coordinator

Senior Weekend Away

Senior Weekend Away

The Chaplaincy department was thrilled to begin their year by taking 220 students away on the annual Senior Weekend Away. smoothly, for students to be welcomed enthusiastically and provided a space for the Year 10 cohort to ask questions of their peers.

The weekend is a program that has been running at Barker for more than 40 years and is designed as an opportunity for our incoming Year 10 cohort to meet one another, to learn more about Barker and to introduce them to some of the staff members who will be assisting them in their Senior School journey.

An outstanding team of Year 11 and 12 leaders committed to planning, preparing and running the events across the weekend. The leadership of this fantastic team allowed for the weekend to run

For the second year, the camp was run on two separate days, allowing for the greatest number of students to attend the Senior Weekend Away in Barker history. After a wet summer we were blessed with exceptional weather making the paint war, get to know you activities, sport and swimming even more memorable. The Chaplaincy team also ran welcome sessions that introduced students to aspects of the Senior School including how the Christian faith helps to shape the culture and character of the students at Barker. The Chaplaincy department hope and pray that the Senior Weekend Away provided students with the opportunity to develop new friendships, and also ‘taste and see’ that the Lord is good (Psalm 34). After a year truncated by lockdown it was wonderful to see students connect personally and build community in this very tangible way.

Rev Peter Tong Senior Chaplain

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Teaching and Learning

Business Accelerated This year, a small group of Year 10 Barker College students have had the opportunity to study an accelerated course in HSC Business Studies.

The Accelerated Business Studies course is an advanced learning pathway for high-potential and gifted students who have demonstrated an ability to work to a high academic level and at a faster pace.

The classes operate outside the normal timetable and students are required to manage their time with their other co-curricular commitments.

The course follows the HSC Business Studies syllabus but is designed to suit the needs of advanced learners.

This allows for some curriculum compaction to allow time to focus on more complex aspects of the course.

Year 10 students Hannah Angus and Orlando Springer, have started the accelerated course this year and are happy with the flexibility and ability to be able to carry out the work for the course when it fits in to their day-to-day schedule.

“I have appreciated the flexibility and feel very supported by my teachers and peers because everyone has the same goal. It’s nice to be part of it,” said Hannah.

“It has felt like an extended learning opportunity which has personally driven me a lot and has already challenged me academically,” Orlando added.

Both students expressed advice for Year 9 students considering the course.

“I think it’s a really good course, even if you’re not necessarily going into business. It’s valuable to learn real life lessons. We are listening to real life experiences and being part of that accelerated community it’s helping me stay motivated and improve in all of my classes,” said Hannah.

“It’s an opportunity to push yourself, motivation is a key aspect and I found it’s helped with my schedule because a lot of the work is your responsibility,” said Orlando.

Hannah McGrory Social Media Coordinator Greg Longney Director of Teaching & Learning

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Music

Music Camp

It was initially a bit touch and go for Music Camp 2022, but the heroes of the day were the Barker Covid Safety Team whose diligence and careful consideration allowed hundreds of happy campers to restart the Barker Music Program with energy and excitement.

Administering and checking 389 RAHT results thanks to the patience and understanding of our music parents, allowed the camp to safely proceed.

For our new students there were no strangers, just friends they had not yet met, and many new acquaintances were formed on the coach trip to Stanwell Tops. On arrival, the students launched into their first rehearsals for many months with spirit and commitment.

The traditional whole camp trivia night and two student evening concerts allowed everyone to let their hair down after the days of disciplined rehearsal.

Activities such as abseiling, archery, giant swing and the leap of faith are always very popular and provide

physical challenges that create a well-rounded camp experience for the students.

The Music staff were delighted to spend four days together with such enthusiastic Music students and it was truly inspiring to see how a shared love of music can rebuild a sense of community so quickly. It was such a great way to reboot Barker Music.

Simon Smith Head of Music

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Musical

Musical Boot Camp In mid-January, the Beauty and the Beast cast gathered for five crazy days of Musical Boot Camp!

We danced, sang and worked really hard to pull the ensemble pieces together for our long-awaited Musical, after we had missed six weeks of rehearsal due to the COVID-19 restrictions.

The first few days were focused on choreography as we learned the major ensemble numbers. All the dances are choreographed by Claire Yeomans, so they are hugely energetic and heaps of fun. Directors, Simon Thompson and Simon Smith make sure that each student gets to have their moment to shine.

They do an amazing job of developing our acting skills and combining them with the dances to create animated and engaging scenes. It was inspiring to see the Musical gradually come together and watch how the ensemble worked with the leads to create magical theatre.

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One day of rehearsal consisted of a rough run of Act One and Two, this was amazing to watch because even though it was a work in progress, we could see the flow of the Musical and watch it come together. It also gave most of the ensemble a chance to see the amazing leads work as they performed their scene.

On the last two days we had the privilege of working with Sean Peter to record our ensemble parts. It was a professional studio set up in the Music Centre to help us record each chorus part. It was such an incredible experience. We sang for four hours to record each of our parts, with some people even doubling up and doing eight hours!!

Musical

Overall, Musical Boot Camp was such a rewarding experience as we learned so much and saw the Musical coming to life! It was also a great bonding experience for the whole cast, and we strengthened our friendships both within and across year groups. I would encourage all Barker students to get involved in the Musical and all the amazing Drama and Music opportunities Barker has to offer. We have all had an amazing experience and this has strengthened our performance skills, ensemble skills and friendships!

Emily Whiting Year 12

I had the privilege of working with Dr Alison Gates to organise the costumes. We have had the amazing opportunity to hire professional costumes for most of the cast which look stunning on stage. During the rehearsals, we had to take measurements of each person in the cast to make sure they all have the costumes they needed for each scene and that they fitted! I also worked on some of the costumes for a large ensemble moment and helped Dr Gates sew them together and make adjustments. It has been such a rewarding experience so far as I can use my textiles skills to make my contribution to the Musical.

Beauty and the Beast is a fabulous Musical and gave us the chance to be extremely creative in developing unique costumes.

Lisa Miller Year 12

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Visual Arts

Authentic and Real-World Experiences Excursions play a vital role in our Visual Arts curriculum, by providing authentic and real-world experiences to complement class-based learning through reinforcing and enhancing what is being taught in our classroom.

Recently our Year 11 students and HSC students had the opportunity to spend a day at the Art Gallery of NSW. They viewed an incredible collection of artworks

by Henri Matisse in the exhibition Matisse: Life and Spirit. This exhibition was developed in collaboration with the Centre Pompidou in Paris and is the greatest single exhibition of Matisse masterworks ever to be seen in Sydney.

“Filled with brilliant colour, dynamic energy, visual joy and emotional power, it’s an inspirational journey through the life and art of this ceaselessly inventive and life-affirming painter.” AGNSW Henri Matisse, one of the world’s most beloved, innovative and influential artists, captured our students’ attention and imagination. In a section of the exhibition, we learnt of Matisse’s fear of resting on his fame and of moments where he had to confront the canvas “out of ideas”, which is a relatable sentiment for our senior students. We then learnt how Matisse worked through those doubts to create new and exciting work, by renewing his engagement with line, which he referred to as the ‘life-giver’. The next exhibition we viewed was Matisse Alive where students were able to see the direct influence Henri Matisse’s artmaking has had on contemporary artist

20 • The Barker • Issue 134 • Autumn 2022

practice. This exhibition presented contemporary perspectives on Matisse and focused especially on his imagining of the Pacific. Students were able to see how the works of some artists have been influenced by the profound works left by masters before.

Students then visited the 2022 ARTEXPRESS exhibition featuring exemplary artworks created by New South Wales Visual Arts students for the Higher School Certificate. Our students were impressed to see the high standard of work produced by HSC students last year. This exhibition allowed Year 12 students to see best practice and reflect on their own artist practice whilst, Year 11 students could start to envisage their Body of Work.

It was an uplifting experience for teachers and students, as we were able to teach and learn in the presence of physical artworks and engage with the art world again.

Tara Jongsma Head of Visual Arts

Visual Arts

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Design and Technology

Students Making Technology Work Food, Textiles and Digital Technology come to life for Middle School students.

A Taste for Food Technology in Year 9 For the first time Barker College now provides Food Technology as an elective to Year 9 students. Food Technology provides students with a context through which to explore the richness, pleasure and variety food adds to life.

Emily Nightingale is delivering the course to two Year 9 classes and explains, “While students love spending time preparing, cooking and sampling their creations; the course is also focused on hygiene and safety, nutritional quality of food, genetic engineering, functional foods, ethical and sustainable food sourcing, and the environmental impact of foodproduction processes.”

Barker now has two fully functional Food Technology rooms and we are extremely grateful to all maintenance, IT staff, our Food Tech Aide – Sarah Bennett and Emily for the fit out and preparation of these rooms.

Year 7 Digital Technology Inspired by the light spectacular that is “Vivid”, Year 7 students who study the ‘Digital Technologies’ Unit in 2022, will be creating their own mini light installation.

The students learn to code a miniature computer

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called a micro:bit using python and to control a light show which will be projected through an etched piece of acrylic. They will design and construct both the acrylic display and the micro:bit housing. The ability to learn how to code the micro:bit to display images, play music or even tell them the current temperature is challenging and engaging. Students are limited only by their imagination.

Textiles Technology Textiles Technology in Year 9 provides a continuum for students who study the course in Year 10. Students are currently designing and producing sportswear/ hoodies and are exploring functional and aesthetic aspects of textiles to develop creative solutions. The ability for students to express their ideas and opinions about historical developments and current trends promotes innovative ideas, and the wide range of textile skills - sewing, printing, applique and other techniques builds confidence and capacity.

Darren Woodrow Head of Design & Technology

Design and Technology

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Languages

Welcoming Year 7 to Barker and Darug Country

The Year 7 course on Darug language and culture was officially launched during the Middle School Assembly at the start of Term.

All Year 7 students begin their study of Languages at Barker in Term 1 by learning about the importance of the language and culture of the traditional custodians of the land upon which the Hornsby campus stands.

The Dharug people were one of the first communities impacted by colonisation in the Sydney basin. Whilst their language was almost lost, it has been the subject of a careful and complex process of revitalisation.

Uncle Wayne Cornish and Jenny Hall from Muru Mittigar, a Darug organisation, with whom Barker works closely, attended the launch. Uncle Wayne opened the assembly with a traditional Acknowledgement of Country. He impressed upon the students the importance of the Indigenous connection to land, culture, and community. He spoke warmly and encouraged the new Year 7s to immerse themselves in learning a local Aboriginal language.

This unit provides students with the opportunity to develop greater intellectual and empathic understanding as they participate in the revival of this ancient oral language.

Language Learners Beyond the Mint Gates: The HSC Class of 2021 The Languages Department has produced many fine linguists over the years. Many of our students continue to use the language skills that they acquired at Barker long after leaving school. Some of our recent graduates are currently working in areas such as diplomacy, journalism, law, politics, and medical research.

From the HSC class of 2021, Hannah Abe, James Harris and Luke Kirwan have all enrolled in Advanced Japanese Studies at the Australian National University in Canberra. Hannah is training as a specialist in International Relations, having studied both Chinese and Japanese in Year 12. There will also be three Barker HSC students continuing their French studies at university. Benjamin Goldman similarly intends to study Latin and Classical Greek in the Classics Department at Sydney University, alongside two other graduates from school. These students embody the spirit of a life-long liberal education which is fostered within our language classes at Barker.

Matthew Ross Head of Languages

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Middle School

Promoting Positive Relationships Promoting positive relationships is a fundamental aspiration and task of the Barker College community.

A document bearing this title has been created by a collaboration of staff over a number of years, informed by a weight of evidence and experience, and with input from students. It has been a labour of love as we have sought to provide all members of our community with a transparent, cohesive and optimistic framework within which we can operate to ensure relationships are healthy, strong, dynamic and supportive.

Psychologists tell us that students need significant adults in their lives, beyond those in their family. This informs them that they are of value, and cultivates the conditions that enable genuine, fruitful learning to take place. In safe and caring hands, students can push themselves to grasp difficult concepts, be prepared to fail and try again, collaborate and empathise with others very different from themselves, and develop social and emotional skills necessary to be well and successful, in all the ways wellness and success can be achieved.

Positive relationships do not mean constant smiles between staff and students or the removal of all barriers and difficulties. They do mean relationships where the adults work hard to build rapport, set clear and firm boundaries, recognise effort and achievement – not just of an academic nature but also of development of character, respond to unacceptable behaviour in a way that delivers opportunities for growth, and provide what Paul Dix refers to as being ‘relentlessly bothered’ with all students, even the most challenging students.

I encourage all members of our community to read the document, which is available on MyBarker and in the Student Connect Hub in Canvas. This will enable us to understand school approaches, adopt a collaborative approach and work together to provide the students of Barker College with everything necessary for a flourishing life both within and beyond the Mint Gates.

Kathryn Driver Dean of the Middle School

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Digital Learning

Digital Connection The reality of the past two years has emboldened our community to develop strategies to stay connected, no matter the circumstance.

Barker needs staff, parents and students to continue working together as part of a wider learning community. This mandate was the reason for the development of the Student Connect Hub. The Student Connect Hub is a course on Canvas.

The course started in 2020 when we first met with the challenges described above. Over the past two years, the course has housed wellbeing resources, Cocurricular@Home activities, competitions,

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applications and so much more. In 2022, the Connect Hub provides students with links to a Digital Survival Guide, our Promoting Positive Relationships document, and applications to several voluntary competitions and service-learning opportunities.

The Student Connect Hub appears in the Canvas course list for all students. There are separate hubs for Junior and Secondary students, allowing us to provide targeted programs to each learning stage.

Digital Learning Digital Survival Guide It was important to get students up to speed with our core digital learning and organisational tools as we commenced in 2022. The Digital Learning Team and the Student Tech Team worked together to develop a comprehensive Survival Guide, which can be found in the Secondary School Student Connect Hub. This type of collaboration was important because (as much as possible) we wanted the guide to be written for students, by students. Having the guide on Canvas means that the Tech Team can continue to develop the resources, calibrating to respond to the shifting needs of students. The course served as the starting point for orientation sessions with new students to Barker in 2022.

The Digital Survival Guide can be accessed through an icon on the homepage. It contains a handy guide on each of the following areas: • MyBarker • Canvas • Teams • OneNote • Communication

MyBarker

Communication

myBarker is the portal where students access their timetable, online apps, co-curricular information and notices.

Communication is an essential part of the digital toolkit. The digital survival guide outlines the way students should use digital tools, including email, to stay informed and connected.

Canvas Canvas is our learning management system, serving as a digital textbook and mark book. Students go to Canvas for course information including general resources, announcements, checklist of upcoming homework and checkpoints, assessment notifications, online submissions, feedback and progress updates.

Teams Teams is our digital classroom. Students go to Teams for informal messages from their teacher, to access online meetings or view videos of recorded lessons.

The Team serves as a vital link to keep students connected no matter where they are.

Benefits of a consistent approach While the start of the new school year is always a busy time, the benefits of a consistent set of digital tools can help to ease this transition. Our toolkit is in use across all students from K-12, with slight variations in the Prep School. Students moving from year to year continue to use a familiar set of tools, allowing them to leap through the hurdles of learning a new set of tools before launching into the curriculum.

Dr Andy Mifsud Director of Digital Learning

OneNote OneNote serves as a digital workbook. Students use OneNote to complete ongoing classwork, including worksheets, note-making, or reflections. Teachers can see student work instantly, whether the students are in class or at home. The teachers also use OneNote to capture hand-drawn notes in the way they would normally use a whiteboard. Students can always go back to these notes throughout their studies.

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Science Barker Girls

Women in Science

Barker Girls

Women in Science

International Day of Women and Girls in Science February 11 marked the global celebration of the contribution and participation of women in all areas of Science.

To honour the occasion, the Barker Science Department hosted an event with a group of our keen students to showcase some of the fabulously talented women in our Science Department and to inspire our students to get involved in the challenges of studying Science.

We celebrated the achievements of a small sample of the women in our faculty: • Danielle McGuiness, a Chemistry teacher and Head of Sthelaker House, who has worked as a chemist in the pharmaceutical industry.

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• Natalie Lane, a lab assistant with experience in the blood bank at a major Sydney hospital and who played a part in their organ donation program.

• Dr Shivani Gupta, a new member of the Physics team who has been working as a research scientist with particular interest in neutrinos.

• Paula O’Brien, a lab assistant who trained in the UK, with experience in microbiology and quality product testing and sampling.

• Nonie Taylor, a water engineer who worked at Sydney water on major infrastructure and sewage projects.

Science

The students then participated in some fun activities to engage their thinking skills and to apply their understanding of some simple science concepts – working on the physics of bubbles and the genetic code of their heart muscle.

It was with great joy that we overheard some girls talking as they worked together: “Wow, these teachers have had interesting jobs. I’m glad they are now our teachers!”

The Junior School also hosted an event “Girls Do Science” earlier in the week to celebrate the special occasion. Over 80 girls participated in a range of engaging and fun Science activities and their enthusiasm was truly infectious.

It is a great privilege to be the first female Head of Science at Barker College, with its long and strong tradition of excellence in Science. I look forward to continuing to honour the amazing Science faculty throughout 2022 and to showcase their work and

achievements in diverse areas of Science before they chose to be educators.

We celebrate that we have over 2022 students studying Science subjects in 2022, but we also aspire to further raise the participation of girls in our senior subjects as we move forward in this first year of full coeducation at Barker.

Barker Science will host a number of events across this year – open to all of our students and several for the whole community - to foster equity, break stereotypes, celebrate inclusiveness and to value and lift up our girls and overall student participation in Science.

Virginia Ellis​ Head of Science & STEAM

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Footprint

Keeping Barker Beautiful Footprint is a student group that strives for collective and individual action around social justice and sustainability issues.

Lead by our Social Justice Captains, Year 7 – 12 students meet weekly at lunch time to work on a range of projects. These projects are either built around United Nations designated days (eg International Women’s Day and World Environment Day), or identified by the students themselves as issues that require promotion and action eg Racism and Asylum Seekers. Climate change and environmental sustainability issues have also been particular areas of focus are the last two years. The group collects and sorts a range of unusual materials including plastic bottle tops and bread clips, batteries, print cartridges, soft plastics and E-waste which are delivered to Hornsby Shire’s Community Recycling Program. Yellow tubs have also become a regular sight at major events such as the House Fair and the Athletics Carnival collecting beverage containers for recycling via the Return and Earn program.

Other recent initiatives have included: • World Environment Mufti Days and Photographic competition with proceeds going towards urban greening projects on the campus.

• Integration of the School’s recycling program into the Junior School’s Sharing the Planet unit.

• Pre-loved Barker uniform items including sport shorts, sport shirts, academic uniforms, dresses, jumpers, hoodies, hats diverted from landfill and repurposed by UNSW SMaRT Centre’s Worn Up program.

• White paper and cardboard diverted from landfill via weekly office paper recycling rounds as part of the Year 7 and 8 Compass program.

• 40 yellow co-mingled recycling bins introduced across the Campus.

• Contents of high school student lockers sorted and repurposed, reused or recycled via the Great Locker Challenge.

• Ring binders, display folders and plastic sleeves recovered and handed out to students via a preloved stationery stall.

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Footprint Drama

What’s coming up in 2022

What are you looking to work towards in 2022?

Our Waste Wise sub-committee consisting of 10 Barker students, has spent most of 2021 observing student litter behaviour, conducting visual audits of the red and yellow wheelie bins and surveying students during Connect Time. This is in preparation for the launch and implementation of a Keep Barker Beautiful Litter and Recycling campaign in 2022.

Saloni:

Profiling our Social Justice Captains Saloni Rawat and Roy Cai How did you get involved in Footprint?

Saloni: I got involved in Footprint soon after coming to Barker as I was passionate about contemporary social and environmental issues. Footprint seemed like the perfect platform to address and tackle issues within the community.

Roy: Originally, I got involved in Footprint in Year 8. I thought it would be a great opportunity to spend time with my friends and work with other people that I don’t regularly meet with and give back to the School.

The Footprint community was really supportive and helped me gain the confidence that anyone could do their bit to help create a better future for our School.

After a period of strict COVID restrictions and the prolonged lockdown, I am really excited for the growth of Footprint in the coming year, in which I am keen to see the cohesion of the Junior and Senior year groups. This year we are also looking forward to introducing new social and environmental initiatives within the whole school as well as further promoting our current initiatives such as “Keep Barker Beautiful”, which focuses on the reduction of litter within our School Community. We are also excited about our upcoming events such as Earth Hour, International Women’s Day and NAIDOC week which allow the whole school to get involved and celebrate our diverse community.

Roy: With opportunities to travel outside the campus and interact with the wider Sydney community limited due to COVID, I’m looking forward to focusing within the Barker community and working to strengthen connections internally, especially coming from the challenges of lockdown. We have quite an event-filled year coming up and we are hoping to make the most of it!

Footprint meets every Thursday lunch time in Room C204. All Secondary School students are welcome to attend.

Cathie Glendenning​ Geography Teacher & 'Footprint' Coordinator

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Maths

Maths Week 2021 At the end of 2021, the Mathematics Department celebrated Maths Week.

Activities included the Masked Mathematician guessing competition with a foray into the history of our subject. Students were able to guess the mathematician using the QR code to collect a prize.

In class, students played a strategy game called Five in a Row and used paper folding to discover the art and beauty of geometry. At recess each day, students who successfully solved a problem queued outside the staff room and were rewarded with prizes if their answer was correct.

The highlight was the Number Game. Students from each year group were given a lunchtime session to battle to be the champion at this order-of-operations style game made famous by Letters and Numbers on SBS. What better way to end the year and lift the spirits than the fun of mathematics!

Allison Davis Assistant Coordinator Mathematics and Mathematics Teacher

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Coeducation

Mural - The Grange

During a month in which Russian forces bombed a maternity hospital and broadcasters around the world played Beethoven’s Ode to Joy to support the people of Ukraine, pregnant Ukraine-born artist Nastia Gladushchenko was creating a joyous artwork in a peaceful corner of her beloved Blue Mountains.

The 34-year-old specialises in botanical murals and her latest project, Plant Dreams, was being applied to the wall of the Environmental Learning Centre of The Grange in Mount Victoria, where Barker’s Middle School students go for their outdoor adventures and to learn about the incredible World Heritage biodiversity of the Blue Mountains.

“It’s so nice to do something local,” Gladushchenko said. “It’s just great to create art for people who really appreciate nature. With my work I love to spark conversations about plants and the emotions they evoke.”

Her mural features numerous native plants found at The Grange such as waratahs, banksias, geebungs, eucalypts and ferns.

Co-director of The Grange, Liz Charlton, was inspired to commission the mural after seeing Gladushchenko’s work online and Plant Dreams was inspired by a long walk the pair took around the large bushland site of The Grange.

“I’m so happy, it’s just beautiful,” Liz Charlton said of the mural.

“It’s abstract and funky and modern and fits so beautifully with the plant identification the students do here as part of their biodiversity studies.

“At The Grange we have rainforest, heath, woodland and tall open forest and students learn about what grows where and why. They study the soil and the aspect and the topography and they get to understand all these different ecosystems.

“I wanted [this mural] to inspire our students. I want them to be able to look out the window at breakfast, across the vegie patch and chook shed, and see this beautiful work of art, to just have it brighten up our life.”

Dan Lewis​ Grange Teacher

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Alumni Profile

Alumni Profile Justice Richard Button (Class of 1978) was admitted as a solicitor in 1984, and was called to the Bar in 1989. He worked for many years as a Public Defender. In 2005, he was appointed senior counsel, and in 2012 was sworn in as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales.

What was the highlight from your time at Barker?

I grew up in North Epping with my parents and three younger sisters. My mother was (and is) a feisty, intelligent woman. I attended two coeducational public primary schools in the local area before starting at Barker in Year 7 in 1973, which in those days was completely boys only. For the next four years I wondered where the other half of the world had gone.

In all those circumstances, the highlight for me was certainly the arrival of female students at Barker College. I might add that I have enjoyed many lifelong friendships as a result, including with Stephanie Munn (now Darling) and Jane Rodger (now Rodger Whatmore) also 1978 alumni.

What were your favourite subjects and co-curricular activities?

I was not a Maths and Science person but I really enjoyed Ancient and Modern History, and even now I don’t read much fiction, because there are just so many remarkable stories out there that are true. I also enjoyed English, in particular Shakespeare’s plays, which have always seemed to me so amazingly insightful about the human condition.

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Tied into the latter was my involvement with Drama at Barker.

I was in a variety of productions, directed by some very talented and committed teachers (including Rod Kefford), and enjoyed them all. I also had the pleasure of sharing the stage with Michael Scott-Mitchell (78), who even then was clearly a prodigious talent destined for greatness in the theatre. The personal highlight was probably playing Deputy Governor Danforth in The Crucible by Arthur Miller, the play about the Salem witch trials that is an allegory for the anti-Communist witch hunts of the 1950s. That performance ended with me sentencing a number of alleged witches to death, a function that I have not yet been called upon to repeat in my current real-life role.

How much study have you completed, and have you had the chance to study overseas?

After Barker I went immediately into five years of Arts/Law at the University of Sydney. From there it was straight into six months of College of Law, again in Sydney.

After all that I needed a good break and did not commence the practice of law until a year later.

I have never returned to the formal study of law.

Since that time, I have lived in the city of my birth continuously, though I have often had the good fortune to travel overseas for pleasure, including to Germany, the first home of my partner, Dagmar.

Did you always want to go into the law when you were younger?

My late father was a solicitor in Parramatta. He did not appear in court, but he was interested in the rules of evidence. We sometimes discussed cases in the news that featured the admissibility of this or that piece of evidence. He also owned many books about famous British criminal trials from the late 19th and early 20th century, which I read enthusiastically as a boy.

All of that tied into my interest in drama and performance. I also came to appreciate that the questions that a barrister asked, the submissions that he or she made, and the delivery of each, could make the difference between an accused person spending the rest of his or her life in gaol, or walking free.

The result of all that was, from quite an early age, I pictured myself in the wig and gown of a barrister, appearing for the accused in a criminal trial.

Alumni Profile Did you find your time in the Public Defenders Office gratifying and why?

I thoroughly enjoyed my 20 years with the NSW Public Defenders.

There was quite a bit of stress and performance anxiety associated with the work, and many of the events that underpinned the trials and appeals were very grim. Even so, I did not feel weighed down by all the sad stories, and there was an extraordinary level of morale and commitment shared amongst my colleagues there. Everyone in the office firmly believed that penniless people deserve the same measure of justice as people who possess millions of dollars. I shared that commitment, and still do.

What is a career highlight?

I was involved as the most senior defence counsel in the first major terrorism trial in New South Wales in 2008. The trial extended over many months, involved some complex legal questions, and was also conducted in a very secure setting. I guess that this was the most demanding and significant work that I did as a Public Defender.

The other highlight was my swearing-in as a judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in June 2012. That was a very formal ceremony in a large courtroom, with the other judges of the Court present in their ceremonial wigs and robes, along with many senior members of the legal profession.

I was able to share the ceremony with most of my family and many friends, including quite a number from Barker. There was a touch of performance anxiety present in me that day as well!

Have you appeared in any highprofile cases?

One way or another, I have probably been involved as solicitor, barrister, or judge in over 100 homicide cases. All of them are intense personal tragedies, and for that reason I shall not discuss any of them in detail.

Early in my judicial career, I presided over a trial in which the murder of a police officer in Tamworth was alleged. There is a small memorial to that police officer in that town, outside the police station.

I recently presided in a trial in which a young man who was having a terrible reaction to prohibited drugs killed his very close friend - who in fact was trying to help him through the experience - in the psychotic belief that his friend was a demon.

Several years ago, I conducted a judge alone trial in which the allegation was that a woman had been murdered after she left a nightclub on the lower North Shore.

That was said to have occurred during the America’s Cup sailing races back in 1983, so it was very much a cold case. Of course, I could remember where I had been and what I had been doing at the same time, as a much younger man.

Speaking generally about my career: there are few things in life more dramatic, grave, and consequential than when the foreperson of the jury stands in a silent courtroom to deliver the verdict in a murder trial.

How do you balance your work-life commitments? Do you get much spare time? How do you relax?

I first got into criminal law at the age of 25, when I started work at NSW Legal Aid in 1986. Then I was at the private bar, and then a Public Defender, with a three-year secondment working on criminal law reform in the NSW Attorney General’s Department. This allowed me to take things step-by-step and build up from less serious matters to very serious ones over a quarter of a century. So I was lucky in being able to avoid being thrown in the deep end too quickly.

So I adopted a system of forcing myself not to do any work at all between Friday evening and Sunday morning, not reading or talking about work, nor even thinking about it. That took a bit of self-discipline at first, but it is now an entrenched habit. It means that every single week I enjoy two evenings and one full day completely away from work, physically, mentally, and emotionally. That self-enforced break has worked extremely well for me.

My job involves literally sitting all day, often in a musty and windowless court room.

Unfortunately, there are still some busy days when the extent of my exercise consists of walking the five metres between my home and my car each morning and evening. I am obviously trying to avoid that, as a matter of surviving beyond my 60s, and build into my life as much exercise as I practically can. I find working out, swimming, and yoga very mentally relaxing as well.

Before a recent trip to Rome with my partner Dagmar, I returned to the study of Latin—which I enjoyed very much at Barker--after a period of almost 40 years. Dagmar was studying Italian, so the idea was that I would translate the inscriptions on the ancient ruins by day, and she would order the pizzas by night.

Fitting in a formal intellectual pursuit that has nothing to do with work has also been a great refreshment, and I am going to continue it indefinitely into the future.

Have you got any words of wisdom for today’s Barker students?

If you can find a job that is engaging, exciting, and meaningful for you, it will not feel like work, and getting paid for it will be a bonus.

Soon after I went to the Bar, I found myself constantly thinking and worrying about upcoming trials. I realised that, if I could not find a way of taking regular mental breaks, I would soon burn out.

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Len Nixon

Marking 45 Years of Continous Service This year marks 45 years of continuous service at Barker by Commercial Studies teacher, Len Nixon.

Len commenced at Barker in 1977, and went on to lead the Economics and Business Studies Department from 1995 to 2000. His excellent rapport with students made him ideal for the role of Senior Tutor, now known as a Head of House, a position he held from 1981 to 1995. In 1984 he joined the Boarding staff for a lengthy stint in The Avenue.

Not just a role model for students, Len has served as President and as a committee member for The Common Room Association for Barker College staff, mentoring many new teachers along the way.

In 2001 he was honoured as a long serving staff member by the Headmaster at the time, Dr Rod Kefford who said "Len Nixon has served as a Tutor, as Careers Adviser, as Head of the Department of Economics and Business Studies, and is now spearheading our programs integrating the curriculum

36 • The Barker • Issue 134 • Autumn 2022

across subject discipline boundaries in an innovative approach reflecting the way we see curriculum developing in the short term. He oversaw the introduction of Business Studies here at Barker, and his experience as a teacher and in professional development is widely sought by other schools.

Author of textbooks, Water Polo and Rugby Coach in the first degree, Len Nixon has made a rich and full contribution to the life of Barker.”

This year, Len leads the newly introduced Accelerated Business Studies course. A lifelong learner, Len says the last 45 years has been an “honour and a privilege”.

Hannah McGrory Social Media Co-ordinator

Barker College Parents' Association

Rosewood Fields

SATURDAY

17 Sep 10AM - 4PM Alive with Something New

A message from the BCPA Firstly, I would like to welcome all the new families to Barker and hope that the new students are all settling in.

We would also like to extend an invitation to all new families to join the BCPA as there is always room for everyone. The BCPA is a key part of Barker’s culture and we look forward to supporting all Barker students and families as we move to a more normal setting.

We have planned lots of events for 2022 and we are very encouraged that we will be hosting many of these in person.

I encourage anyone who is interested in the BCPA to drop a note to myself or anyone on the BCPA team bcpa@barker.nsw.edu.au.

Warren Davis BCPA President

Upcoming events: • BCPA Welcome, Inside the Mint Gates Tuesday 5 April • New Parent Welcome Event Wednesday 28 April • Trivia Night Saturday 14 May • Spring Fair Saturday 17 September • Volunteers Afternoon Tea Friday 21 October • BCPA Christmas Lunch Friday 25 October

Barker College Parents’ Association

Autumn 2022 • Issue 134 • The Barker • 37

Sport

Rowing Barker Rowers entered their first official Regatta on Sunday 20 February, the Endeavour Rowing Club Regatta in the Hunter Valley.

Being a regional regatta, it was a perfect opportunity for our rowers to experience race preparation, conditions and execute a race plan in an informal environment. Barker entered in six Quad events, eight Doubles events and four Single scull events over distances of either 1000m or 1750m, giving each rower two races throughout the day. Other schools and Clubs competing included Hunter Valley Grammar School, Manning Valley College, Newcastle University, Sydney University, Lake Macquarie Club and Drummoyne Club.

38 • The Barker • Issue 134 • Autumn 2022

To see the rowers all come together on a day like that was fantastic. The day involved boat loading, boat unloading, boat rigging, race one, race two, cheering from the river bank and celebrating each other’s efforts. It is the epitome of a Team sport!

Kylie Mildren CCC Rowing

Sport

Barker’s On Field Sports Uniforms Sport at Barker brings students together as a team – united in the wearing of the School colours of red and blue.

There is no greater pride than to represent your School every week on the field, on the court, in the water. It is here that our young men and women learn to understand the importance of being there for their team; trying their best and it teaches lessons for life that are learnt nowhere else at School. Sport also provides our students with great memories of good times shared together wearing the Barker ‘red’.

Over the course of the past two years, a committee of staff and students have worked closely with prominent designer Jonathan Ward and OnTrack, a leading Australian company in custom-made sportswear, to review, refine and update Barker’s sporting and co-curricular garments. The signature Barker ‘red’ now connects the academic uniform with the sporting and co-curricular livery to reinforce the strong Barker narrative.

The review included refining the approximately 50 different sport and co-curricular uniform items and paring this back to 28 items. As a fully coed school with students at different ages and stages, the aim is to ensure students feel comfortable in what they are wearing and to privilege the story for our 1st teams.

The final design beautifully marries together Barker’s two reds – the deeper academic red and the on field sport red. The new on field sport uniforms allow for flexibility and versatility. The jerseys and shirts are gender neutral and can be worn by girls or boys, creating an inclusive environment across all sports.

New features include reversible shirts and jerseys that can also be used for training and reduce the need to purchase additional training garments. The Barker crest features on all garments – both All School and 1st players and we are proud to incorporate the Indigenous design on many of our 1st team garments.

The introduction of the 1890 locker tag on the on field sporting garments has proven to be a popular feature with the students.

The final collection offers a classic Barker feel, but with a very contemporary expression.

Julie McAllister Editor

Autumn 2022 • Issue 134 • The Barker • 39

Archives

Evelyn Hill and the founding of Barker College 2022 marks the first year of full coeducation at Barker College since 1891.

Many in our community would know of the four Bowman Sisters who attended Barker College in 1891, perhaps less familiar is Evelyn Hill, whose academic success in 1890 led to the formal establishment of Barker College in 1891.

Evelyn was a member of an Irish family who had settled in Kurrajong in 1828. Born in 1870, she was raised on the family’s orange orchard and farm. An enthusiastic learner, Evelyn passed the examination for junior teachers at the age of 14, in 1884.

Only three years prior, Sydney University had become one of the first universities in the world to admit female students. Determined to follow in their footsteps, Evelyn was resolute to pass the matriculation examination and gain her place at university. She took up a pupil teacher position in Bathurst hoping to receive tuition in Latin and higher mathematics, which she needed to pass her examinations. Unsuccessful, she returned to Kurrajong, where her mother arranged tuition from the local Rector and distinguished scholar, Reverend Henry Plume, who had recently returned from a stint in Sydney, acting as Warden for St. Paul’s College, University of Sydney.

40 • The Barker • Issue 134 • Autumn 2022

In 1890, Evelyn was one of five pupils tutored by Rev Plume. She sat her examination that same year and received a sound matriculation pass. When Rev. Plume formally established Barker College the following year he regarded the handful of pupils in 1890 as the forerunners of Barker College and thus set 1890 as the establishment date for the School.

Evelyn was admitted to Sydney University and later became one of the earliest residents of the Women’s College. Her brother had to mortgage the family home to meet college fees, but it was worth it when she graduated in 1895. Her understandably proud family travelled to Sydney to attend her graduation.

Rev Plume left a profound impression on Evelyn and imbued in her a strong vocation for teaching other young women. After teaching in Sydney, Evelyn moved to Perth, where she set up her own school for girls in 1901. She married in 1906, which at the time signalled the end of her working life. Despite this, she retained a life-long interest in education and was involved in the establishment of the University of Western Australia in 1912.

Rachel Byrne Archivist

Foundation

Celebrating 40 Years 2022 marks the 40th anniversary of the Barker College Foundation. Incorporated in 1981, the first meeting of the Foundation was held on 23 March 1982. In a letter sent to the parent community in June that year, the Foundation’s aims were outlined: “The Foundation aims to endow and strengthen the School by encouraging the gift of funds and by stimulating people to use their talent and experience for the welfare of Barker.”

Whilst the purpose of the Foundation has not changed over the past four decades, its role and how it can continue to actively support a now fully coed School, both philanthropically and in kind, is something that the Directors of the Foundation have recently discussed at length through a series of workshops.

The Directors of the Foundation represent a diverse group of talented current and past parents, some of whom are also old boys and girls of the School, who generously provide their time, skills and knowledge, to assist Barker.

The 2022 – 2024 Strategic Plan for the Foundation has as its focus, five pillars, namely: • Indigenous Education - continue to grow and develop the model of learning ‘on country’.

• Partners for the Future program – building on the goodwill and relationships the School has with its community.

• Named Scholarships – introducing new Named Scholarship for our students through the support of the Barker community.

• Fundraising and Financial Endowment – engaging the community on the journey to provide students with opportunities that realise their dream of a Barker education.

• Community – bringing together our Alumni, current and past parents, grandparents, staff and friends to support the School’s Vision to inspire every learner, every experience, every day.

To all our Alumni, our current Barker families and the many families who have joined Barker this year, I invite you to keep up to date and to learn more about the work of the Foundation at https://www. barker.college/community/foundation or contact foundation@barker.nsw.edu.au to see how you can become involved.

John Slack-Smith Foundation Chair

Autumn 2022 • Issue 134 • The Barker • 41

Inside this issue 43 OBA President

52 Community Events

44 Life Beyond Barker

54 Personal Notes

46 Our newest Alumni

57 Obituaries

48 OBA Groups

46

Old Barker Association Contacts

School Contacts

email: oba@barker.nsw.edu.au

Director of Alumni and Community Relations Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

(Please note that the number in brackets after a name is the graduating year) President Angus Abadee (07) 0433 108 525 Honorary Vice-President Emily Tutt (09) 0426 751 165 Honorary Treasurer Andrew Hassall (86) 0412 610 434 Assistant Honorary Treasurer Benjamin Ho (09) Honorary Secretary Josh Grace (90) Assistant Honorary Secretary Anna Sutton (05) General Committee Vanessa Bennett (91) Georgia Breckenridge (18) Gemma Dywer (Davies 09) Declan Flaherty (16) Anthony Hearne (90) Jenny Kalaf (Melville 78) Lachie Lloyd (18) Nominees to School Council David Trayner (84) OBA Ambassador Chris Russell (70) OBA Annual Patron Sandy Hollway (64) OBA Seniors Contact Ian Pont (63) oba@barker.nsw.edu.au

OBA Support for Life https://landing.mymirror.com.au/old-barkerassociation

Archives Rachel Byrne (02) 8438 7290 archives@barker.nsw.edu.au Events Manager Julie Fitzpatrick (02) 8438 7240 events@barker.nsw.edu.au

Upper Hunter Charles Cooke (65) (02) 6545 8141 (w) charles_cooke@esat.net.au Canada, Ontario George Darling (70) gdarling@sandstormgold.com Hong Kong Vacant

Interstate and International Barker Contacts

Japan Carl Bastian (93) carl@rwo.okinawa

Adelaide Lane Hinchcliffe (00) 0412 130 935 (m) lane@lkggroup.com.au

Middle East David Baker (85) +965 9950 1657 drwbaker2002@yahoo.co.uk

Brisbane Andrew Wilkie (01) 0412 779 383 (m) andrew.wilkie@morgans.com.au

New Zealand Michelle McLachlan (Dooley 96) +64 27 838 7838 mmclachlan@trustwave.com

Canberra Andrew McColl (74) 0422 985 281(m) as.mccoll@icloud.com

Oceania (Fiji) Neil Underhill (75) (679) 336 3968 (w) neilunderhill@connect.com.fj

Melbourne Murray Anderson (65) 0457 000 407 (m) murray@capricorngroup.net.au

Papua New Guinea Johnson Kalo (83) (675) 305 6703 (w) jhnsnka03@gmail.com

Newcastle Nicholas Bedggood (88) 0410 565 101 (m) nickbedggood@yahoo.com.au

Philippines Steven Robinson (77) steve.robinson@dfat.gov.au

Northern Rivers Jim Poulos (61) 0413 087 412 pamio@bigpond.net.au Perth Gus Elliot (92) 0416 298 774 (m) gus.elliot14@gmail.com

Talk to an online psychologist today Old Barker Association is supporting you with 3 sessions with My Mirror online psychologist.

Contributions Welcome Please send contributions to Karina Drummond, Director of Alumni and Community Relations, 91 Pacific Highway, Hornsby NSW 2077 or kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au.

For further information please contact Karina Drummond on 8438 7283.

Personal notes are published in good faith, as a service to the Barker Community.

42 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

Sunshine Coast Phil Benjamin (61) pandj.benjamin@bigpond.com

Singapore Carly Switzer (94) carlyswitzer@yahoo.com.au UK, London Annette French (Slattery 88) (44) 1732 382 281 (h) annette.e.french@sky.com USA, East Coast New York Alex Skellet (94) (917) 251 3361 (h) alexandraskellet@gmail.com USA, West Coast Phoenix, Arizona Digby Cook (56) (623) 523 4321 (h) digbyhcook@gmail.com

From the OBA President

OBA President’s Message Coming back from a summer break filled with uncertainty, I look forward to a 2022 likely filled with the same kinds of challenges and opportunities we dealt with in 2021.

Already we have started to organise the reunions scheduled for later this year, a chance for year groups to come together, hear about what’s been happening in the intervening years from the last reunion, relive memories from school and talk about our future plans.

This is one of the great things about our community – even though we do not see each other every day, we will always have a commonality that brings us together, gives us something to celebrate and can provide value for our lives.

One of the things I have enjoyed over the past few months particularly is the work of our Alumni office, led

by Karina Drummond, reaching out to members during lockdowns and restrictions to provide support if we can, and welcoming the newest members of our Barker community as alumni welcome new members to their families. While we hope that each and every one of them get to walk through the Mint Gates, we also recognise that they are going to be a member of our Barker community from birth!

This is one of the things that makes our alumni community special and something we want to celebrate in 2022. Whether it is the continued enjoyment of sports, creative arts, faith or professional interests through our affiliates, engaging in our mentoring and networking program in 2022 or tapping into our Support for Life program, we hope you can find something that works for you in the OBA. In 2022 we also enter the second year of our three year strategy, which is focused on ensuring that the OBA delivers services and programs that meet the needs of our members, as well as strengthen our connection to the School. In 2022, we will be working with the School to rollout new training shirts for students. We love the training shirts as it gives the OBA the chance to engage with the students, give them something that they will use and lets them hear a bit more about our alumni community.

We will also be supporting the School to really enhance the involvement of alumni on campus with a student career mentoring program and supporting Len Nixon’s Business Bites program, both of which will give students the opportunity to hear and learn from our accomplished alumni across a range of professions. We have had such an enthusiastic response from alumni to help out and hope that this is something we can continue for years to come!

We have a busy 2022 planned to ensure you get the most out of being a member of the OBA. But please reach out if you have new ideas, opportunities for us to support members or if you want to get involved.

As we start 2022, I would also like to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of two of our alumni Tony Gamson and Michael Brodie who are now stepping down from their positions on School Council.

Tony has served as a member of the School Council since 2013, as a director of the Barker Foundation, as a father of a Barker student, and as the President of the Old Barker Association. He continued the strong family tradition of service to the School and we would like to acknowledge his contribution to the Old Barker Association, his work as Chair of the Building Committee and his significant contribution to the work of the School to introduce full coeducation.

Michael Brodie served as a member of the School Council since 2014, including as Chair of the Finance Committee and inaugural Chair of the ICT Committee, and as Treasurer of the Old Barker Association. As an alumni and proud Barker parent, Michael’s wise counsel has provided guidance to both the School and the Old Barker Association, allowing both to deliver incredible service and opportunities for students, parents, staff and alumni.

Angus Abadee (07) OBA President Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 43

The Old Barker

Life Beyond Barker Samuel Collins, an Old Boy from the Class of 2011 has pursued his passion for animation and cinematography and shares his story.

44 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

The Old Barker

Do you have a favourite memory from School?

How did you find the move to Ballarat?

Every day at lunch the mad dash for the handball court! There was nothing worse than being at the Design and Tech centre when that happened. We didn't run for the courts in the Middle School area, the big squares outside the Library was the golden spot to play handball. Despite not being a properly dedicated area, the teachers still allowed it to happen thankfully.

But if it was a rainy day, I would spend my time in the Library creating animations. Of all the programs to use, I made animated shorts using PowerPoint. Any animator would think I'm crazy right now for doing such a thing, but funnily enough that's where my love for animation and content creation come from and I pursued that when I left Barker.

The move to Ballarat was interesting, because it was something that I desperately needed in my life, to change my course from going down a darker path.

Having left Barker a lot of friends had moved onto new things, whether it was work opportunities or a change of scenery. Being at home and not being able to see many people in person was upsetting and a huge detriment to my mental health. When I had been travelling down to see friends in Ballarat from the Young Endeavour, it became some of the only times in the years after Barker where I truly felt happy and belonged. It was a huge decision to pick up everything and drive across the border into Victoria and essentially learn to live on my own. But it was the right choice and my life is better for it.

What did you do after you graduated?

Most students took the opportunity to enjoy their new found freedom with a schoolies trip or even a gap year. I ended up travelling to Nelson Bay to take part in an Internship to become a Divemaster. I enjoyed scuba diving as a side hobby and wanted it to become a seasonal work option to enjoy in the summertime.

Regarding study post-Barker, I found myself at the Design Centre Enmore (DCE) studying a three-year Bachelor of 3D Art and Animation in 2012. I also participated in the Young Endeavour experience where I learnt to sail a tall ship and meet some awesome new people.

You always had a passion for animation, do you get the chance work in this field?

The animation industry in Australia is still growing in. As I specialised in character animation for my Bachelor, when graduating DCE in 2014 it was very difficult to land a full-time role as most positions were filled at production studios. I found smaller freelance work online to continue my work and grow as an artist.

Thankfully I got to work on a small indie project called 'Cyan Eyed' that released this year. But to build a career and a financial future for myself, I needed to expand my skillset to become more versatile in the industry. That's when I ended up changing over and studying a Bachelor in Film and Television in 2016.

What work are you currently doing?

Having moved to Ballarat, I am currently working in Melbourne as a Video Editor for Slazo Media, a company that focuses on creating content for YouTube.

Ranging from reactionary content for comedic entertainment as well as making their own animated kids show, Micky Moo for younger audiences. For freelance work, I have been collaborating with friends in Ballarat who work in the acting industry to make a variety of videos. Dance, Music and Short Films have all been content I've been crafting with them, allowing me to develop my skillset and improve as a cinematographer in the film industry.

I knew I had the support of all my friends in Ballarat and my family back home to help me if times ever became tough. Ballarat became a massive change in not only my life but how I saw myself in the world. I always felt I had this stigma of my previous personality from school. Ballarat became a new opportunity to reinvent myself. Having surrounded myself with very extroverted people (theatre people are a different breed!), the once introverted boy learnt to become a more confident and independent man.

What do you do in your spare time?

Honestly........video games........I know it's very simple, but it's something I've enjoyed since I was four years old.

What started as having some fun with some mates, games have become another medium to tell amazing stories through. Just like how people get seriously involved in the fictional worlds of Game of Thrones or Star Wars, the same can be said for gaming, except you get to be a part of that story.

Do you have any words of wisdom for today’s Barker students?

I never understood it until years later after leaving, but a place like Barker isn't just about learning, it's about providing opportunities. Opportunities that allow you to try a variety of different things before you go out into the world that you might never get to experience.

Whether it be finding an instrument you like playing, sports, cadets, debating, productions, creating, crafting and so much more. Give something a try that you think looks interesting or dip your toes into an activity that you might be a little bit nervous about. Barker gives you the means to round yourself out as a person and experience a lot more than you realise, either through learning certain topics or being a part of activities. Take that knowledge of what you like and apply that to future studies, hobbies and work opportunities. I am grateful for my mum and dad encouraging me to try all these different experiences.

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 45

Welcome to our newest Alumni The Class of 2021 We are excited to welcome the Class of 2021 to the Old Barker Association (OBA), an organisation which focuses on providing member services catering to all the varied interests and activities of Barker’s Alumni.

Email: kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

The OBA offers many opportunities to explore including:

My favourite memory would have to be the Girls 1st XI Football Friday night game against PLC. Barker is progressing to a new era of fully coed, so being able to be a part of such an integral part of women’s history having our entire year group show up to support is something I will never forget.

• Joining one of the OBA Affiliate Groups – choose

from Sport, Music, Theatre, Christian Fellowship and Agriculture (see the following pages to see which are of interest)

Three 2021 student leaders shared their memories: Favourite memory at Barker?

• Professional mentoring for career advice, options,

Tayla Bondy

• Networking events • OBA Support for Life – a free service available to all

My role model in leadership was Mr Heath. His ability to always know his students and make them feel welcome and cared for at Barker is inspiring. It was such a privilege to learn from him.

experiences and opportunities

Alumni and their families

• Social events in regional areas, interstate and overseas

• Year group reunions • Special events and activities such as the annual OBA golf day and dinner

Communication To keep up to date with the latest OBA events and news we invite you to:

• Like us on Facebook

www.facebook.com/barkercollegealumni

• Follow us on Instagram barkercollegealumni

• Connect with us on LinkedIn

Official Barker College Alumni

• Access the Alumni Networking Directory via the OBA website - www.oba.net.au

• OBA Support for Life - https://landing.mymirror. com.au/old-barker-association

For any questions or suggestions please contact: Karina Drummond Director of Alumni & Community Relations Phone: 02 8438 7283

46 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

Who was a role model during your time at the School?

My Head of House, Mr Tod-Hill was also an amazing role model particularly in the area of pastoral care. He was incredibly generous with his time in caring for and ensuring the students in his care were looked after.

Anna Friend-Ngui If you could change one thing about your time at Barker, what would it be?

If I could change one thing about my experience it would probably be not leaving Cadets after two years.

Looking back on my experiences in Cadets, I had so much fun on the camps and learnt so many different skills. I wish I had continued for the next two years as I think I would have learnt even more and had more great memories shared with my peers.

Bede Taylor Who would you like to thank?

I would like to thank all the teaching staff at Barker for what they have done over many years, and specifically a massive thankyou to the teachers of the Class of 2021 who had to battle even harder last year to get the Year 12s through the final term of school online. A big thankyou to you all.

Bede Taylor

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 47

OBA Groups

OBA Groups Old Barker Football Club In September 1990 history was made in different corners of the globe. While the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air hit TV screens, former Barker School Captain Jeremy Hook (88), inspired by the antics of this upstart from Philadelphia, was plotting the formation of the Old Barker FC. Jeremy’s efforts were rewarded when the Club launched its inaugural season of football in 1991.

It comes full circle. In 2022, BelAir will grace the silver screen and Old Barker FC is registering its inaugural over 35s Football team.

Like Will Smith, who reprises a role in the show he inspired, a litany of Club legends are coming out of retirement. In what is a boon for Dencorub sales, we welcome back Benjamin Holland (96), Michael Poon (95), Andrew Boak (95), David Garrick (95), Charles Shale (95), Al Jones and Ben Hawley (99). It’s

OBA Netball The Old Barker Netball Club began in 2015 and is a registered Club with the Hills District Netball Association (HDNA).

Lauren Kirkby (07) is one of the two founding members and is the current President. Due to work and other commitments, Lauren would like to pass the running of the Club to a new generation of Barker girls.

If you would like to be involved

48 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

been more than a decade since so many alumni featured in an Old Barker FC article with a leaving year that didn’t start with a 0, 1 or 2. The experienced cohort of reprisals is joined by the injury prone Jeremy Smith (05), Chris McClelland (05), Pete Gregory (03), Chris Monsted (05) and features three sets of brothers; The MacKenzies (05 & 03), Robinsons (05 & 03) and Vickers (05 & 03).

2022 represents a milestone moment in the Club’s history.

Change is afoot elsewhere at the club. In the all-age competition, the Club retains its Premier League squad and is fielding a Division Four team. Premier League preseason is well underway. Club captain Gohto Saikawa (11) and newly appointed head coach Judd Kalkhoven, have reported the strongest recruitment influx seen in the last decade. Trials are proving competitive, and the squad is re-

and would like more information, please contact Lauren on 0414 837 992 or at barkeroldgirlsnetball@ gmail.com. You will always have the unwavering support of the Alumni & Community Relations Department at Barker as well as the Old Barker Association, so you are never alone.

Lauren will also be able to assist you with the transition so don't be afraid of stepping into the role!

Over the years, the Club has played in the night comp seasons

invigorated after a COVID induced interrupted two years.

There is still time to come down for a kick, with a range of playing options available from the competitive (Premier League), the social (Division 4) and the elderly (over 35’s).

To keep up with Club activities, join a pre-season fitness session, or for any other information, please visit our website – www.oldbarkerfc.com Matt Vickers (05)

along with the Saturday winter competition at HDNA. If you would like more information about the Club and to get involved, please email barkeroldgirlsnetball@ gmail.com for more information.

Lauren Kirkby (07) President: 0414 837 992

OBA Groups Old Barker Rugby Old Barker Rugby is in its 54th year and we’re set for a full season of rugby in 2022.

Our two Women’s 7s teams will play in NSW Rugby’s Divisions 2 and 3. Old Barker Rugby’s Men’s teams, across Colts, 1st and 2nd Grade teams, will be super competitive in NSW Subbies’ Division 3. We are also looking forward to using our new clubhouse facilities at Turramurra Memorial Park (TMP).

The official Clubhouse opening and our first trial (Old Barker v Knox v Lindfield) is on Saturday 26 March – everyone is welcome to join us!

We are pleased to announce that the Grade Coaching Group is Manny Garcia Posadas, Eddie Ellwood-Hall (13) and Tom McGregor (08). Colts will be coached by Sam Northcott (09) and Angus Blakemore (16) and Jordan Fowles returns to coach another winning season for our Women’s 7s.

Sam Northcott is leading the fitness and S&C with Katie Turner.

Everyone is welcome at training, especially if getting fitter is on your “to-do” list or you’re undecided whether to play or not. Training is Monday and Wednesday from 6.30pm at TMP. In 2022, we are keen to see our BOBs Alumni on the sidelines at our Saturday home games. We’re looking for seven BOBs to each host one home game in 2022. All you need to do is invite players and supporters from your “BOBs Year” and we’ll do the rest to make the day memorable! Email Karen at bobrufcpresident@gmail.com for more info.

Scoreboard: Sam Jackson (20) and Keith Francis are setting up the graphics for a professional look to our new scoreboard for 2022.

If you know someone who is keen to have a job with Old Barker and apply their tech skills to lift our animations to another level and manage the scoreboard at our seven home games, email Joe at

Barker Old Boys Cricket Club

OBA Careers and Networking

Another season of Barker Old Boys cricket is done and dusted.

Unfortunately we had limited games this year due to COVID and the wet weather however we still managed to have some memorable games including another close game with Knox and a tie against I Zingari in our last game. It was great to see many new boys play for BOBs for the first time and we look forward to welcoming the new old boys into the Club at the beginning of the next season. We are always looking for new players of any age who are keen to play some cricket on a number of Sundays during Summer.

Join our LinkedIn Group.

Please send me a text or to be added to our Facebook group where additional information is available.

The OBA committee is working on ideas for alumni networking and mentoring. These initiatives will help OBA members from various years, professions, interests and career stages to network and learn from each other.

bobrufctreasurer@gmail.com.

Visit www.oldbarkerrugbyclub.com for more information on the Club and game day details.

Karen Penrose www.oldbarkerrugby.com

Of course, if you have information that you feel would benefit other OBA members, we'd welcome your posts in this group too.

Thanks in advance!

To help us facilitate communication via LinkedIn we would love you to do three things: 1. Join our group the Official Barker College Alumni 2. Switch on notifications so that you get our updates 3. Invite your other Barker LinkedIn connections to join as well so we build the community

Lachie Lloyd (18) 0416 685 944 lachielloyd1@gmail.com Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 49

OBA Groups

OBA Big Band The OBA Big Band is preparing to head to the studio to record our first album in May. We will record six pieces at Yap Yap Studios in Coogee. This will be a new experience for most of our members and you can feel the energy each rehearsal. We find ourselves delving deeper into the specifics of every individual note.

Suddenly our rhythms, tuning, dynamics and articulations have stepped up another notch. Not only will we leave the studio with a new album, we will leave as a new band.

To listen to (non-studio) recordings and find out more, visit www. obabigband.com.

Luke Davis (09)

OBA Christian Fellowship

OBA North Shore Wind Symphony

The OBACF finished off 2021 with a fantastic evening for our Christmas drinks at the Blue Gum Hotel. It was so lovely to catch up with each other, share plans for the holidays and meet some new faces. As 2022 begins, the OBACF looks forward to holding our first bible study/prayer event online and then coming together again, in person, for Easter Breakfast. I am looking forward to seeing the OBACF continue to grow and bring together alumni to share their faith.

The OBA North Shore Wind Symphony (NSWS) is thrilled to be back in action after almost seven months on the bench. We had our first rehearsal of 2022 on Sunday 13 February which marks the start of rebuilding our band. The good news is the cobwebs were quickly swept aside and we jumped straight back into some film music to celebrate John Williams 90th birthday.

Please keep an eye on our Facebook page for upcoming events and reach out to any friends that might be interested in joining the fellowship!

The OBACF aims to offer an opportunity for the multigenerational network of Barker Alumni to meet, connect and encourage one another in their faith journeys. We would love to grow our network even more.

If you are interested in joining, please join our Facebook Group by private messaging Georgia Breckenridge (18) or contact Karina Drummond kdrummond@barker. nsw.edu.au.

Georgia Breckenridge (18)

50 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

In 2022 we will be joining forces with the NSW Police band for a double headline concert at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. This event is scheduled for Saturday 4 June (4th time lucky!) and will feature a dark range of music which we hope will delight you. Apart from this major event our group will be working on several smaller projects across the year including entering the NSW State Band Championship to defend our title as the NSW State A Grade Concert Band Champions.

If you are one of the many students who have recently (or not so recently) graduated and are looking to continue to develop and maintain your musical talents, we are warmly welcoming new members at the moment. Please drop us a line on the below email or our social channels and we’d love to have you join a rehearsal soon to try us out (no strings

attached!).

We rehearse at Barker, 4.00pm 6.30pm on Sunday afternoons. manager@nsws.band.com.au www.facebook.com/ northshorewindsymphony Harry Nicol (14) NSWS Band Manager

OBA Seniors If you graduated from Barker 50 years ago you are now a member of The Old Barker Association Seniors. This is a social group who organise a number of events each year. We look forward to seeing you at our next OBA Seniors event.

If you would like further information, please contact the Alumni and Community Relations Office on (02) 8438 7283 or oba@ barker.nsw.edu.au Ian Pont (63) Honorary Secretary

OBA Groups OBA Support for Life Access free mental health support as a Barker Alumni.

This year has shown us that taking care of our communities and our collective wellbeing is of absolute importance. New challenges have relied on resilience, connection, and developing skills to cope with changes. In the interest of being there for you on your journey beyond being a Barker student we want to offer you support for your mental wellbeing.

Support for Life, an initiative of the Old Barker Association that has been running for the past three years, has recently

Old Barker Association Theatre Group The OBA Theatre Company is back in business this year! Having performances cancelled or postponed for the last two years, we are looking forward to hopefully being able to stage shows for audiences in 2022. We are excited to bring new opportunities to former students this year with an ambition to make up for lost time.

Our production of ‘Candida’ which has been put on hold two years in a row is high on the agenda for getting on the stage this year, looking to sit in our usual June-July holiday spot. Many of the team from last year have come back to put on this exemplary late 19th century comedy. We could not be more thankful for their commitment nor more proud of their efforts to date.

We are also looking to bring more shows and performances

partnered with My Mirror online psychology to provide access to three videoconferencing sessions with an experienced psychologist at no cost to you. My Mirror is a leader in “online” mental health care and provides access to skilled professionals of many demographics with focussed specialisation in critical areas such as anxiety, depression, domestic violence, substance abuse, career difficulties and so much more.

My Mirror psychology sessions can be accessed from the comfort of home or from any device up to 21 hours a day, seven days a week. These sessions are available to anyone feeling like they would

than ever before this year. A part of this is certainly attributed to making up for the last two years.

However, last year saw great progress in the growth of the company despite having our main show postponed mere weeks from gracing the Rhodes Theatre. We’re overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and support we’ve received and wish to return the favour in the only way we can: more, bigger, and better shows.

The OBA Theatre has been bringing past students back to the Barker stage since 2014, reuniting many classmates from years gone by and reigniting their passion for performance. Spending up to four months rehearsing and performing a show with a group of eccentric and exuberant thespians is a wonderful, joyous, and rewarding experience. Especially when we’ve all been denied live performance for so long.

We have to thank the Barker Drama

benefit from talking to someone to get on track with how they are feeling and navigating life's challenges. You do not require a mental health diagnosis to access or benefit from My Mirror sessions.

My Mirror psychologists use evidence-based strategies to help you build skills and strategies for resilience and agency in your life.

For more information and details on how to access these sessions please see link: https://landing.mymirror. com.au/old-barker-association Talk to an online psychologist today Old Barker Association is supporting you with 3 sessions with My Mirror online psychologist.

department for their unwavering support and commitment to us.

Without the access to the incredible Barker facilities, none of what we do would be possible. Also a special thanks to the OBA for their continued support and commitment to us through a difficult couple of years. Lastly, thank you to anyone who purchased tickets to the show last year, or intended to go or have merely shown their support from afar, we can’t wait to see you behind the stage lights in the near future.

More details on shows and what’s new can be found on our Facebook and Instagram. Stay tuned for upcoming expressions of interests, events, and more! https://www.facebook.com/oba. theatre https://www.instagram.com/oba. theatre Adam Roberts (14)

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 51

OBA Groups

Community Events Class of 1965 – 55 Year Reunion A 12 month delay did not deter a strong gathering for our 55th reunion dinner held on Saturday 4 December, with 31 of us gathering at Hornsby RSL, (which also serves us well for our Barker Seniors lunch gatherings). With support from Karina and the Barker Alumni team we certainly all had a grand evening.

Unfortunately heavy rains at the time kept many of our country friends busy stripping what crop they could. Added of course, the challenges presented by the dreaded COVID prevented those living interstate from travelling to Sydney.

A toast to Barker was followed with reading many messages from those unable to attend, highlighted by the recent appointment of James Angus AO as Lieutenant-Governor of Victoria. Doug Spencer set up phone contact with John Pike at Walgett and Chris Copeland stuck in Brisbane, with the conversations broadcast for all to hear.

Entertainment for the evening was courtesy of James Hunter, who engaged us all with a very well prepared and popular Barker Trivia competition which certainly stretched our memories as to what was happening at Barker during our years from the late 1950s to 1965.

(Although our next reunion is now only four years away, we anticipate, COVID allowing, arranging a few impromptu lunch gatherings prior to that date. Keep an eye out for the email).

James Humphery (65)

OBA Seniors Luncheon – Farewell to Mandy Loomes The OBA Seniors held a special Christmas luncheon on 9 December 2021 to personally thank Mandy Loomes after 11 years of dedicated and wonderful service to the School and its broader community. The luncheon held at the Pennant Hills Golf Club was well attended and a lovely opportunity to personally thank Mandy and to wish her all the best for the future.

Doug Spencer (65) OBA Seniors President

52 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

Community Events

Class of 2015 – 5 Year Reunion On Saturday 19 February 2022, the Class of 2015 were finally able to celebrate their five year reunion. As a result of many postponements due to COVID, we were technically celebrating a seven year reunion!

Nonetheless, it was such a fantastic night being able to finally reunite with so many old friends and familiar faces. We had an amazing time at The Ivy and carried on with the celebrations afterwards.

Best of luck to the class of 2015 for their future endeavours and we look forward to the next one.

Sami Novis (15) and Helen Shao (15)

Class of 2021 Drama Cocktail Party The Class of 2021 Drama students returned to Barker on 2 March 2022 for the annual cocktail party. They were warmly greeted by Phillip Heath and former teachers who reminisced with them about their time at Barker and spoke of the legacy they have left for the current students. Following the event, many headed to the Leslie Hall for the Barker musical, Beauty and the Beast and were determined to make that night’s audience the loudest and most supportive! We look forward to welcoming these alumni back to Barker again soon.

Karina Drummond Director of Alumni & Community Relations

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 53

Personal Notes

Personal Notes (Number in brackets is the alumni year)

Alex Blackwell (01), former captain of the Australian women’s cricket team, has released her autobiography Fair Game. Alex spent her childhood and teen years playing and competing with her identical twin, Kate, who was equally devoted to the bat and ball and also played for Australia. Alex went on to consolidate a spot in the national side, eventually rising to the captaincy and earning her a name as one of the greats of the game. But life off field brought challenges of its own. From her professional debut, Alex was unafraid to call out hypocrisy and go in to battle against the traditional hierarchies of the game.

Speaking out and becoming a passionate advocate for women and LGBTIQ+ people in sport won her many fans and much respect, but it didn't come without a price. Fair Game is an unflinching account of life and leadership in Australia's most loved sporting team, told by one of its most lauded members. It reveals not only the extreme dedication and skill it takes to be the best, but also how it feels to be on the outer - even as one of the game's most decorated players.

Representing Australia 251 times across Tests, one day internationals and T20 matches, no woman in history has played more matches for the Australian Women's cricket team than Alex Blackwell. And no one knows better both the extreme highs and devastating lows that come with playing this majestic but at times brutal game at the highest level.

In October 2021, Alex was bestowed honorary life membership of the Marylebone Cricket Club and looks forward to returning to Lords soon to enjoy watching men’s and women’s cricket.

54 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

David Thomlinson (04) and his wife Kate welcomed twins Molly and Fay on Monday 21 February 2022 into the family. The beautiful girls are sisters to George (6) and Charlie (4).

Suzie MacNamara (Lemon 07) I’m a Senior Zookeeper and have been working at Taronga Zoo for over eight years. I started in the carnivore and primate departments working with tigers, lions, chimpanzees and gorillas. For the past five years my focus has been on animal behaviour and training, working with the animals used in education programs. I work closely with the education team to develop engaging educational programs that are immersive and highlight the animals’ natural behaviours. I currently work with 40 different species ranging from spiders and snakes, to Australian native mammals and birds and small exotic primate species such as Cotton Top Tamarins and Pygmy Marmosets.

Personal Notes

Millie Ford (13) was announced as TikTok Australia Creator of the Year in 2021 at the inaugural TikTok For You Fest! She has also joined the cast for Stan’s second season of Bump!

Savannah Hughes (17) married Dan Brown on Saturday 19 February 2022.

Reuben Spargo (17) won the Australian Press Council Prize for Journalism Student of the Year in 2021. He was also Highly Commended in the ‘Best Video Story by an Undergraduate or Postgraduate – Over Two Minutes’ category, for his production Outback Youth.

Ralph Hudson (20) is currently studying medicine at Leicester University after a gap year working in a care home during the pandemic.

Ben Lamb (20), Jenson Raue (20) and Georgie Fowler (21) coached at Barker’s Girls AFL come and try session on Rosewood in February.

Mary McCorry (17) was presented with the Dobell Award in 2021. The annual Dobell Award provides funding to help aspiring VCA Music Theatre students embark on a successful career following graduation.

Ned Slack-Smith (21) and Adrian Brown (19) have been named in the Junior Wallabies squad for 2022.

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 55

Personal Notes

Georgie Fowler (21) made her AFLW debut in January with the GWS Giants.

Baptisms in The Chapel 6 November, Poppy Brimley, daughter of Sally (Roberts 10) and Hugh Donaldson (10) 28 November, Xavier Campbell Park, son of Natarsha Hussey (12) and Joshua Rosenfeld 4 December, Charlotte May, daughter of Emma and Thomas Donaldson (07) 15 January, Annabelle Margaret, daughter of Stephanie and Robert Hegedus 5 February, Otis Davies, son of Emily (Roberts 08) and Nicholas Tait

Congratulations to Tony Chang (21) for receiving 2nd place at V-Fest film festival for his Major Work You Cant See Me.

Australia Day Honours 2021 Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division Congratulations to Niels Bowen OAM (65) for service to the pharmacy profession.

56 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

Obituaries

Obituaries (Number in brackets is the alumni year)

David Peden Hobbs (46) 1930 - 2021

Africa and took the family to Disneyland for Christmas.

Rest in Peace David, with your Rosebud.

He loved history, the royal family and musicals – going regularly to the theatre in London.

I first met David when I worked at Barker and he was Treasurer for the Barker Over 70s.

David was meticulous in this role and although the numbers were not large he would insist on balancing and reporting to the cent! The numbers were much larger when he had risen to the position of Company Secretary and Finance Director at David Jones, the culmination of a wonderful 30-year career.

He also gave back, being on the Board of NSW Red Cross and Sunshine Homes.

David attended the School from 1942 (Year 7) to 1946 (Year 11) and his daughter Sarah wrote to me a few days ago that he was so proud to be a Barker boy - right to the end.

He had what appeared to be almost never-ending family connections to Barker alumni.

David loved rugby, cricket, golf and gardening.

He also loved travel and having lived in London in his 20s he travelled to Egypt, Fiji, Asia, East

He was generous with his time, funny and loving. Born at the beginning of the depression he was dux of Lindfield Dem School. He was highly intelligent and completed a Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Arts, a Law degree and an MBA.

Bruce Davis (74)

Mark Hayes Ives (67) 1949 -2021

He retained a wonderful sense of humour to the end and was notorious at home for his “Dad Jokes”.

He loved desserts (I can identify with that).

David’s family was everything to him. His wife Rosemary set the scene at Barker events, dressed immaculately at all times. Even if they were perhaps to meet the Queen, by chance, they would both be prepared and appropriately dressed.

He had three wonderful daughters and even female dogs (personally the present writer had three daughters too but always had a desexed male dog in the house).

He couldn’t live without his “Rosebud”, wife Rosemary, and it was perhaps appropriate that they passed away, in the same care home within two months of each other.

One of David’s favourite sayings was “If you act enthusiastic, you’ll be enthusiastic”

Mark attended Barker College as a Carter House boarder in the senior school from 1961 to 1964.

He was born in Wangaratta in Victoria on 31 December 1949.

Known as “Rocker Ives” to his school friends, he was best remembered as a prolific sketcher of war scenes and cartoon characters, a talent that never left him and served him well in his working life as a Graphic artist and cartoonist. His teachers would have called him a larrikin; he would have agreed.

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 57

Obituaries After school Mark joined the Australian Army and completed his basic training at the Puckapunyal Defence Establishment in Victoria. After his training, he was hoping for a posting to Vietnam.

Disillusioned by not being selected for active service, he left the army.

Gregory "Jacko" Robert Jackson (63) 1945 - 2021

In 1971 Mark married Aileen Barclay in Sydney, they had a son Alan.

After his marriage to Aileen broke down, Mark moved to London and worked for a few years as a freehand artist for financial papers, tabloid magazines and advertising companies. He was not a fan of the computer-driven soulless pixelated art.

While in London, he met his wife Janet and married in 1977.

Mark moved to Maidenhead in the United Kingdom and lived there for the rest of his adult life. They raised two children, Adam and Jessica.

When he retired, he would go to a local café and sit for an hour or two watching people, creating little images of his surroundings as the morning passed. He created little alien- like caricatures.

Mark was an avid reader, mainly war stories or espionage novels or crime dramas. Being so wellread, he used storylines from these novels to “spin a yarn” to his friends.

Mark was a truly kind soul, when Janet was diagnosed with a brain tumour, he took on the role of carer, a task to which he devoted 100% of his energy. He would be thinking of her, not a moment for himself.

Mark left us on 29 December 2021, two days short of his 72nd birthday, after a short battle with Septicemia, leaving behind his loving wife Janet, son Adam and daughter Jessica and a son from his previous marriage Alan. His sisters Glyn, Beth and Bronwyn and brother Steve.

Peter McIntyre (67)

58 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

Jacko attended Barker as a day boy from 1959 to 1961. Although at Barker for only three years he went on to live the school motto, Honor Non Honores.

Ponty recalls that Jacko was quite a demon fast bowler and in year 9 (and his final year at school) he captained the 15B XI; while this team had a mixed season, three times Jacko took five wickets in an innings and in the last game against St Aloysius' took 8 for 60.

Born in Brisbane (the only child) before his family moved four months later to Murrurundi in the Upper Hunter Valley, Jacko always considered himself a Queenslander and always barracked for the Maroons. When his family later moved to Roseville Chase he became a diehard North Sydney Bears supporter.

Greg's father died when he was only a teenager. He immediately stepped up and wanted to fulfil the role of provider and protector for his mother. When he was called up for National Service, he could easily have avoided the army and going to Vietnam because he was an only child and provider for his mother, but in what was to become a common theme in his life, Jacko chose personal sacrifice so he could voluntarily serve. He joined the 108th Field Battery and had a tour in Vietnam in 1967-68.

Returning from Vietnam, Jacko moved to North Narrabeen and around this time met Margaret who had four sons from a previous marriage. That didn't bother Jacko - without hesitation he took on the responsibility for his instant family.

Later in 1979 Jacko and Margaret moved to Coffs Harbour and around that time their daughter was born. Jacko was there every step of the way for his entire family.

Following the move to Coffs Harbour, Jacko joined the Woolgoolga RSL and Subbranch. Over the past 20 years he served continuously as either President or Vice President of that branch. He also served on the Board of Directors of the RSL club for around 20 years, as well as 20 years plus volunteering as a member of the Lions Club. He regularly mowed lawns for others unable to do so because as he said many times, "it's just the right thing to do".

Jacko passed away on 27 December 2021 and is survived by his soul mate and wife, Margaret, their five children, nine grandchildren and seven greatgrandchildren.

Ian Pont (63) and Graham Jackson

Malcolm McLean McCalman (58) 1941 - 2021

Mal attended Barker College from 1953 to 1958, along with his brothers Jim (56) and Rob (60), and his son Andrew (84). Mal’s contribution to Barker College was highly significant, especially as Captain of Plume Boarding House,

Obituaries as a sportsman, and as a Prefect.

Mal continued to be an active and supportive Old Boy after leaving Barker College, and was proud of the school and its development over the years.

Coming from the town of Warren in western NSW, Mal thrived with the sporting opportunities available at Barker, especially in Athletics and Rugby. The highlight of his Athletics career was winning the 1956 CAS 4x110 yard relay with his close mates David Prince, Peter Breden and Ian Walker. Mal was also destined for Rugby honours, playing in the 1st XV in 1957 until a tragic training accident that meant Mal could never play contact sport again. However, his love of Rugby was not diminished, and continued in the support he gave his son Andrew and grandchildren’s Rugby endeavours.

Mal was involved in many other activities at school. He had a magnificent singing voice and he also played the bugle in the School Cadet Band where he played with gusto rather than skill! His colleagues Bill Manning (Drum Major), Sam Pratten (Drummer), Bruce McKinnon (Bass Drum) and David Prince (Drummer) were described as making “a musical cacophony”. Mal constantly availed his grandchildren with tales of his academic prowess, “I know Hamlet… he played full back for England, didn’t he?” and fond anecdotes of the fun and mischief he had at school.

During his days at Barker College, Mal endeared himself to all who came into contact with him.

Both his fellow classmates and his teachers developed close friendships with him due to his warm personality and unique humour. During school holidays, Mal often took his mates back to the family sheep station in Warren to experience family life in outback NSW, these were very special times.

After leaving Barker, Mal spent several years jackarooing in Wagga and Walgett, learning the skills required to run a farm of his own.

During this time, he met Annie Ward, a gorgeous young lady from Wahroonga, and he married her and moved to “Mayfield” in Cumnock. They had two children, Andrew and Debbie, and Andrew followed in his father’s footsteps to Barker, attaining School Colours in Rugby and Swimming and being named Head Boy in 1984, making Mal incredibly proud.

From 1967 to 1994, Mal successfully ran “Mayfield” as a sheep, cattle, pig and cropping venture, and from 1994 onwards, Mal and Andrew ran “Burrawong Graziers” in the same way. The business had a strong love and respect for the environment and Andrew and Mal were awarded the Conservation Farmer of the Year in 2007.

Although Mal was devastated by the crippling effects of the decade long drought, it was wonderful that he could see it broken before he died, he loved how his garden was flourishing.

Mal travelled extensively with Annie, participating in many Golden Oldies tours all over the world. After Annie’s death, Mal and his brother Rob (60) joined a tour group to the Rugby World Cup in Japan where they were as entertaining as the Rugby! Mal was fantastic company and liked nothing better than celebrating life with a beer and a song.

Mal also loved the Cumnock community and worked tirelessly for a number of organisations, including the Show Society, the Rugby Club, and the Golf Club. He was awarded the Cumnock Citizen of the Year in 1997 for his efforts.

Mal passed away at “Mayfield” on the 5 November 2021. He is survived by his sister Barbara and brother Rob, Andrew and Debbie, and his five grandchildren. His loss is keenly felt in the family and

the Cumnock community. The McCalman name will always be honoured and fondly remembered at Barker College due to the enormous contribution the family has made to school life.

Vale Mal. Andrew McCalman (84) and David Prince (59)

Allan Eden Furley Milne (53) 1936 - 2022

Allan attended Barker from 1946 to 1951. He was a member of the Athletics Team in 1950 and 1951. Allan gained 4th place in the Under 16 Cup Results with 7 points and won first place in the broad jump in the U16 competition with a distance of 15ft 7ins in 1951. His brother John (1957 deceased) also attended Barker. Allan maintained his connection to Barker and attended many reunions and OBA Seniors events in his later years.

Following Barker, Allan joined the NSW Public Service as a Junior Clerk. He worked in NSW State Fisheries, Aborigines Welfare Board, Personnel Officer Chief Secretary’s Department, leaving the Premier’s Department as a Policy Analyst and Special Projects Officer in the Director General’s Executive Support Unit. Allan retired in 1992 after 39 years of service and was awarded the NSW Public Service Medal for outstanding service in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.

Autumn 2022 • Issue 248 • The Old Barker • 59

Obituaries Allan enjoyed growing orchids and travelling overseas including to visit his son in Switzerland, and England where his father’s family lived.

Allan, late of Berowra, passed away on 9 January 2022, and is survived by his children, David Milne, Karen Sneddon and Fiona Nolan.

John William Neild Newton (1953) 1935 – 2021

At 21 he met, then later married his soul mate, Valerie. They moved into their first house at Bardwell Park where they raised their two children. That house became their home for many years until they retired to Summerland Point on the NSW Central Coast. Soon after, the grandchildren came along keeping Val & John on the go. Sadly, Valerie passed away in 2006 after a long illness.

John had a passion for woodwork and though he never pursued it as a career he was quite gifted.

With his self-taught skills he made furniture for the family and even built a boat.

John loved the beach, fishing and holidayed regularly with the family at Forster, then further afield at Port Douglas. At the age of 79 John got his passport and in the years that followed travelled to Bali, Malaysia and Fiji.

John attended Barker as a boarder from 1946 to 1953. His father John also attended Barker (1923). John was an outstanding sportsman during his time at Barker. He was in the Swimming and Athletics teams and in his final three years at Barker was in the 1st XI Cricket Team and was awarded Colours.

John was Captain of the 2nd XV Rugby Team in 1952 and in the 1st XV Rugby Team in 1953, receiving Colours. John also received CAS colours. In 1953 John was a Prefect, a Drum Major in the band, and played “Scotch Doctor” in the Drama production Macbeth.

John stayed connected to Barker attending his school reunions and in later years many OBA Seniors events.

Following Barker, John began his insurance career with NRMA, then after working for various firms, become a successful insurance broker.

60 • The Old Barker • Issue 248 • Autumn 2022

John was a devoted family man and a gentleman, and loved a cold VB. John, late of Summerland Point passed away on 15 October 2021 and is survived by his two daughters Karen and Sandra, three grandchildren Bradley, Brittany and Karla, and great grandchild Evie.

Introducing

Barker Alumni Mentoring Your OBA is excited to launch our new alumni mentoring program. We want to connect inspirational Alumni leaders and entrepreneurs, with aspirational young graduates and professionals.

Our program will build a sense of belonging, create a culture of shared learning, and enhance personal and professional growth.

Become a Mentor Today Help make a difference for recent leavers during this time of uncertainty, isolation and anxiety, whilst building connections for greater futures.

Our first step is to recruit alumni from all industries and skills with a passion to give back.

Simply visit the link below to register and learn how you can contribute. oba.net.au/alumnimentoring

Barker Community Events 2022 Class Reunions

OBA Events

OBA Seniors Events

2010 – 10 Year Reunion 1977 – 45 Year Reunion Sat 30 Apr Sat 10 Sept Annie Unsworth Don Gilchrist 0400 305 748 0476 874 727 annaliseunsworth@gmail.com gilchristdon7@gmail.com

OBA Meeting Wed 18 May Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Back to Barker Day Wed 4 May Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Henry Wells +61400 493 553 henrycwells1@gmail.com

OBA AGM Wed 27 July Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

AGM, Luncheon & Rugby Sat 6 Aug Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

OBA Golf Day Tue 6 Sep Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Day Trip to Wollembi Thursday 1 Sept Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

1982 – 40 Year Reunion Sat 23 Sep Margot Renton margot.renton@gmail.com

1960 – 60 Year Reunion Wed 15 June Geoff Sheppard 0437 274 074

Kym Fowler kym@implementmktg.com Penny Edney (Gore) penny.edney.office@gmail.com

Ian Nicholls 0412 954 971

Meg Brodie (Timmins) megan@mednews.com.au

Peter Hassall 0407 866 600

1981 – 40 Year Reunion Sun 2 Oct Jo Camp (Fisher) 0407 951 356 jo.camp@pearson.com

Rob Warneford 0407 489 657 Larry Tout 0457 063 658

Jenni-Lee Williams (Lennon) 0412 412 726 jennilee13@mac.com

1962 – 60 Year Reunion Fri 5 Aug Graham Lawson emeri1@y7mail.com 0451 442 933

1986 – 35 Year Reunion Sat 5 Nov Mark Cooper 0400 344 697

1971 – 50 Year Reunion Sat 6 Aug Wolfgang Hofbrucker 0428 993 964 w.hofbrucker@gmail.com

OBA Annual Dinner Fri 4 Nov Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Jodie Eliott (Conomos) 0457 724 099

Regional Events

1971 – 50 Year Reunion Sat 6 Aug Wolfgang Hofbrucker 0428 993 964 w.hofbrucker@gmail.com

Regional events provide a great opportunity to connect with members of the Barker community in your area.

Please contact community@barker. nsw.edu.au for information about regional events or to update your contact details if you are living in a different location to your Barker mailing address so we can invite you too!

Mike Langford 0414 781 291 drifting@bigpond.net.au

t f w

+61 2 8438 7999 +61 2 8438 7609 barker.college

Regional Events Adelaide Thurs 2 June Lane Hinchcliffe (00) 0412 130 935 lane@lkgrgroup Melbourne Fri 3 June Murray Anderson (65) 0457 000 407 murray@capricorngroup.net.a Southern Highlands Sat 25 June Julie Fitzpatrick 02 8438 7240 events@barker.nsw.edu.au

Gaille Smith (Yeates) 0412 784 221

Mike Langford 0414 781 291 drifting@bigpond.net.au

91 Pacific Highway Hornsby NSW 2077 Australia

OBA Meeting Wed 14 Sep Karina Drummond (02) 8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Sunshine Coast Sun 6 Nov Brian Allen (53) 0417 644 016 bballen314@gmail.com Canberra Fri 2 Dec Andrew McColl (74) 0422 985 281 As.mccoll@icloud.com

Privacy

Photos

Due to changes in Privacy Legislation we are required to inform you that your contact details may be shared with OBA reunion organisers with the strict guidelines that they are only to be used for the purposes of organising your OBA reunion. Please contact the Alumni Office if you wish to keep your details private.

Photos from your event may be posted on the OBA Website (www. oba.net.au), the Alumni Facebook page (www.facebook.com/ barkercollegealumni), the Alumni Instagram page (www.instagram. com/barkercollegealumni) and in The Barker magazine. For further queries please contact the Alumni Office.