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
