The Barker #139

Issue 139

Winter 2023

ISSN: 2204-938X

Year 8 Grange Adventures

Year 8 Grange camps in Terms 1 and 2 enabled further progression of students’ outdoor skills and personal development in a two-day full pack hike in the magnificent Megalong Valley, camping beside the Cox’s River.

AI in EducationCelebrating our Cadets

Barker on Tour

Beyond

Since the very first organised Barker sports tour in 1937, Barker’s students have enjoyed countless sporting tour opportunities to destinations from as nearby as Canberra, to as far afield as Sri Lanka and the Bahamas.

This year marks 123 years of service by the Barker College Cadet Unit.

Barker welcomed Dan Bowen from Microsoft Australia to work with students and staff this term.

The Passing of a Season

The LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore…

Psalm 121:8

Embroidered in lovely thread, this text in Latin was in a frame above the door to the Head’s study in my first post as Principal of another school.

I passed beneath it on my first morning in the role, many years ago. A past Parents’ Association had given this to my predecessor, who had served in that school from 1941 to 1978, and it was a treasured heirloom of that time. I found great comfort in the thought that the Lord will watch over my coming and my going through that door forevermore. This beloved text has nourished the spirit of countless people across the centuries, people who find comfort in the knowledge that God cares for us personally. The entire Psalm 121 is a cherished part of the Christian tradition because it demonstrates the depth of God’s love for us throughout our lives.

Schools like Barker are blessed by the presence of gifted people who are with us for a season. The past months in our community have celebrated two such gifted people: Sue Field and Matt Macoustra, whose time of astounding leadership at Barker has come to an end.

For nearly five decades, Sue Field has been a symbol of strength and conscientious leadership at Barker. It would be incorrect historically to limit Sue Field’s contribution to Barker to the rise of female leadership among us, although this is certainly part of her story.

Appointed in 1975 to be one of the earliest female educators at Barker, Sue Field helped to establish so many traditions among the girls that we now comfortingly take for granted – traditions in sports, in co-curricular leadership, in Sciences and the academic program, and in student leadership, in all of which Barker girls have shone.

Sue Field’s role as our Deputy Head from 1996 until shortly before her retirement brought stability, wisdom and strength for all, boys, girls, staff, parents, Governors, and alumni alike. I shall always be grateful for her loyal and wise counsel to me, the ninth Head of Barker.

Sue Field enters her retirement now, but we earnestly hope to see her supporting various tasks in the future. The past weeks have been a time of celebration and gratitude. Thank you, Sue Field, for all you have done for countless numbers of students and staff across the decades. We thank your family for the loving sacrifices you have made.

Since 1997, Matthew (Matt) Macoustra has been an outstanding teacher of PDHPE, Science and Biology. He has been our Director of Boys’ Sport, our Head of Middle School, and our Deputy Head Student Experience. In all these roles, Matt performed magnificently, with his characteristic warmth, good humour and energy leading with assurance. His commanding presence on Assemblies set a reassuring note of confidence that nourished our community life. His appointment as the next Head of Newcastle Grammar School affirmed what we all knew to be true about Matt – he is a leader of the highest calibre and a blessing to Barker. With an apposite mix of mirth and regret, these past weeks have been a time to bid Matt Macoustra a tearful farewell and to wish him our lasting prayer and support for the tasks of leadership ahead.

The Lord blesses Barker in so many ways, not least through the beautiful people He calls into our community for a season. May the Lord our God bless their coming and going both now and evermore.

Peace

Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College

The Barkerness of Barker

The eighth Head of Barker College speaks fondly, of the Barkerness of Barker. And I agree with Dr Kefford. It’s a very fine sentiment about the Barker way, charming, if a little unconventionally put.

As Term 1 ended, the Barker Community had occasion to farewell, and to give thanks to Sue Field and Matt Macoustra, two great servants of the School. In various roles throughout generations of students (in Sue’s case, as far back as 1975), and culminating in their excellent service as Deputy Heads of Barker College, each of them became an exemplar for the Barkerness of Barker. Like Bishop Frederic Barker, the person who inspired the School’s founder, and first Head, Rev Henry Plume, Sue, and Matt, are persons of great character - good, kind, and generous. In my view, Sue and Matt, each shaped and progressed Barker’s story in their very own distinctive ways.

From the ‘get-go’, Sue Field was a trail blazer in the Great Cause of Education at Barker College. One of only a handful of female teachers in the common room in 1975, Sue led the way, in strategy, in resourcing for the future, in culture, in curriculum development, and in the expansion of the cocurricular program. During Sue’s time at Barker, the School transitioned from a ‘boys only’ college, as it was in 1974, to a fully coeducational college as it became on 28 January 2022, with 1,041 girls then enrolled at the Hornsby campus from PreKindergarten to Year 12.

Sue’s work at Barker from 1975 to 2023 has been a mighty contributor for a dynamic epoch in Barker’s story. As Deputy Head from 1996, Sue made many wise calls in her role as the chief recruiter of new teaching staff in the Secondary School.

Personally, I have witnessed, and greatly respected, Sue’s excellent strategic thinking, as well as her well informed advice to the School Council’s Building Committee, and to the School Council during the meetings she attended; in fact, her advice given as recently as 25 March 2023 for the Council’s Strategy Day at the Grange, Mt Victoria, when we, the Governors and the Executive, imagined what programs and resources the School may require in the decades to come.

Similarly, I have so enjoyed partnering Matt Macoustra on the Great Barker Journey. Indeed, I came to know, and truly discern, his fine expression of the Barker way in everything he said and did.

So importantly, he engaged, superbly, with the most important members of the Barker community – the current students. In every respect, he gave meaning, purpose, and direction to his Deputy Head role and devoted himself to enabling the very best in Student Experience for all. We’re certainly going to miss him refereeing those Rugby matches. And I daresay, a School Assembly without Mr Macoustra leading it, won’t be quite the same.

I am excited for Sue and Matt as they embark upon new chapters in their lives, and in Matt’s case, an important chapter in his professional life, as the Head of Newcastle Grammar.

But of course, this school never forgets its own. And Matt, and Sue, are most certainly ours. Once Barker, always Barker.

David Charles (75) Chair of Council

Feeding our Minds

Just as the food you eat changes and affects our bodies, so the thoughts that we feed our minds change our character and our actions. In Romans 12, Paul draws attention to the role the mind plays in growing Christian character when he writes, ‘be transformed by the renewing of your mind’ (Romans 12:1-2).

One piece of research suggested that we are bombarded by more than 10,000 messages each day. Many of those pass by unnoticed, but it is the thoughts we allow to settle that have the deep power to change. The content of our conversations, our complaints and celebrations, what we watch and share online, what we read and think about, even our daydreams - these are the thoughts that eventually make their way out in our character and actions. At school we are in the business of feeding minds. However, it is good for all of us, staff and parents as well, to consider what we put into our own mind and allow to settle.

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things […] And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

Here Paul encourages the Philippian church to be quite deliberate about what they feed their mind. It is easy for our minds to trace well-worn habits and slip into familiar paths. So may we make a conscious effort to feed our minds those things that will transform our character and draw us closer to the peace of God.

Rev Peter Tong Senior Chaplain

As our School embarks on the Lift Project and and one of our Term 2 modules, Food Feeds Your Mood I was reflecting on how this applies to what we feed our minds.

The Yarning Circle

Yarning Circle has been used by Indigenous people for centuries to learn from a collective group, build respectful relationships, and to preserve and pass on cultural knowledge. It is a safe space to encourage responsible, respectful and honest interactions between each other and builds trusting relationships. The Yarning Circle exposes students to these important interactions and to build community connections.

We commenced Yarning Circle in Term 1, 2023 with the Year 6 girls during lunch time each Thursday. We have spoken about what Indigenous painting is and what the symbols mean. Even though the painting has a lot of dots, these paintings also include symbols. Each symbol has a different meaning essentially, each painting telling a unique story. We have encouraged the girls to create their own painting by using the symbols and dot work.

We were able to source lemon myrtle leaves from our Darkinjung campus. We brewed lemon myrtle tea using the leaves and we spoke and learnt about the properties and uses of lemon myrtle. Lemon myrtle grows on trees, and having a lemon scent, helps to

clear sinuses when you are sick.

It is a natural remedy used for centuries by Traditional Owners of the land. The tea can also be used in cooking such as: lemon myrtle scones and cheesecake. Adding lemon myrtle crushed leaves to a traditional scone recipe, we enjoyed warm scones, fresh out of the oven at our lunchtime chat. Recipes were shared and our hope is that the experience was enjoyed again with families at home.

We look forward to continuing our Thursday Yarning Circle throughout the year and learning more about the Traditional Owners of the land on which our school belongs.

Miss Nita West Junior School Teachers Aide (Pre-K - Y2)

Mrs Lisa Bonazza Junior School Director of Primary Curriculum/PYP Coordinator

We would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land that we stand on and where our students learn today - Dharug, Darkinjung, Wonnarua and Yolngu country - and pay our respect to the elders past, present and emerging.

A Vibrant Spectrum

In the Junior School, students ranging from Pre-Kindergarten to Year 6 delve into the world of Visual Arts, exploring and responding to diverse art forms through creative expression.

The Creative Journey in the Primary Years Programme's Visual Arts

This dynamic form of communication is central to the Primary Years Programme (PYP), where students explore and construct a sense of self through imaginative inquiry. With an array of media and technologies at their fingertips, students are encouraged to communicate their ideas in innovative ways.

Experiences within the Junior School include sculptural form and pottery, painting and drawing, collage and mixed media, digital media and photography, and printmaking. Units are designed to facilitate skill growth and artistic concepts that are integrated with Units of Inquiry or stand-alone topics.

The Junior School Art curriculum has several exciting highlights, one of which is Kindergarten's investigation of self through colour, pattern, line, and movement, inspired by the work of Keith Haring. Hundertwasser's

art and architecture are studied, providing a different perspective on how the world works through the examination of cities and buildings.

In Year 1, students explore growth, both personal and academic, with self-portraits and portraits of friends. Light in Art is a fascinating unit examining light's representation in art from various artists, including Caravaggio, Impressionists, and contemporary sculptor Chihuly. Year 1 students created a collaborative installation from recycled plastic bottles and pony beads, inspiring a chandelier-like structure representing light and Chihuly. Students learned how colour and light are interdependent through examining Kandinsky's circles, drawing their interpretations, and creating digital collages using PhotoBooth and SeeSaw.

Year 2 students delve into line, shape, and pattern's intricacies, turning these seemingly mundane artistic elements into something remarkable. Various abstract artists, including Bridget Riley and Lesley Dumbrell,

inspire the students with their precise, skilled, and colourful material practice.

Year 3 students explore Indigenous symbols and artifacts, particularly the Riji shells from Northwestern Australia, as a source of inspiration for artwork that reflects their unique stories and cultural heritage.

In Year 4, students delve into history, Indigenous art and culture, exploring the impact of colonisation through the lens of art by looking at contemporary Australian artists. Students completed artworks by appreciating art from artists such as Joan Ross, who works across a range of media including video, installation, sculpture and drawing. They studied the work by Danie Mellor, known for his thoughtprovoking and multi-layered works that explore issues of identity, history, and the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australia. Students created their art using various materials including watercolour, and pencils inspired by Indigenous art.

Year 5 students analyse the qualities of still-life objects represented by artists, investigating techniques used to create three-dimensional representations. Inspired by Wayne Thiebaud, they explore the use of colour and develop their technique of "halation" to achieve a brilliance of colour in their oil pastel drawings of similar subjects.

Finally, Year 6 students create drawings of past Australian Prime Ministers, culminating in a rich learning experience and interplay between ideas and skills to interpret leadership in visible form. Charcoal drawing materials and techniques, art styles, and facial proportions are all part of this fascinating Unit of Inquiry, with a visit to Parliament House's Prime Minister paintings adding depth to the learning experience.

The Junior School's Visual Arts curriculum embodies the PYP's philosophy, where students engage in creative expression, unlocking their imagination and developing critical thinking skills that support their learning and development. The kaleidoscope of colour and creativity awaits, providing students with a platform to express themselves, discover new ideas and perspectives, and construct their sense of self.

Cate Loder Junior School Specialist Teacher - Art

Liz McAuley Junior School Specialist Teacher - Art

Nell Clark Junior School Specialist Teacher - Art

Yvonne Howard Deputy Head of Junior School

Shooting for the Stars

A week of activities and familiarisation set them off on a pathway toward unlocking significant talent and passion. It was surprising how quickly they were able to build the skills required to be successful, navigating the challenges of coding and the technicality of the 2022-23 VEXIQ game.

A qualification event for the National Robotics Championships was held in July leading up to the Garma Festival, where US Ambassador Caroline Kennedy attended for a demonstration. The children scored enough points to secure an invitation to the National Robotics Championships in Sydney in December.

No one expected them to be a threat at these championships. They had only been doing Robotics for about eight months. They didn’t have access to regular coaching and they were still very much in the novice category. Just making Sydney and the chance to visit Barker was a community celebration.

To the surprise of all, the Firebirds were not only competitive, they showed remarkable adaptability in Sydney, combining well in their match alliances to work their way up the leaderboard and place 4th overall, providing qualification to the World VEXIQ Elementary School Robotics Championships in Dallas,

Texas. Sean, our leading Yolŋu coder, demonstrated in the Skills component of the competition that for these kids, given the opportunity, anything is possible. Sean’s code ranked the Firebird's robot 1st in Australia. A trip overseas was an incredible achievement. However, the logistics of arranging this for a group of children from remote Australia was a mammoth challenge. No birth certificates, no passports, challenging family situations, and funding a trip all stood as barriers to the children representing their community, their school and their country. Fortunately, incredibly generous sponsors and remarkable work by our Indigenous Campuses Operations Manager (Annelise Pearce) and our Global Project ManagerEast Arnhem (Marina Wangunarr), managed the logistics to make the trip to Dallas a reality.

Six children; Justin, Cyrus, Whitney, Sean, Andrew and Micayla, along with their teacher Mr Tom (Spencer) and co-teacher Valerie, travelled to Sydney where they joined Martin Lubrano and Annelise Pearce for the trip to Dallas at the beginning of May. In Dallas, we were joined by Mr Phillip Heath, other Yolŋu community leaders, Yothu Yindi Foundation CEO, and the Robotics coaches, forming a strong and supportive tour group.

In Term 2 2022, Robotics staff from Hornsby travelled to Gunyangara to introduce the children at Dhupuma Barker to VEXIQ Robotics.

760 teams qualified for this tournament representing over 27,000 teams who started the 2022-23 VEXIQ Robotics game journey. An opening ceremony in the Dallas Dome, only slightly smaller than Qudos Bank Arena (Homebush), saw a parade of the 33 Nations represented at the Championships, and our own Justin carried the Australian Flag with representatives of the other eight Australian teams. A proud moment for our tour group and Gunyangara. For the Competition, 760 teams were split into ten division groups. The Djirikitj Firebirds were in the Science Division and had ten qualification matches partnering with teams from across the world. Anyone would have forgiven them for being overawed and intimidated. Not the Firebirds! They adapted incredibly well to the enormity of the event, the crowds, being away from home without parents and the cultural juxtaposition from home. Across the two days of matches they were awesome. They adapted to challenges, made necessary corrections and represented with distinction. In their first World Championships, and for some their second time ever out of community, they placed 40th in their division, and but for a more favourable draw pairing with more expert teams, they would have finished higher. Yet their enthusiasm never waned. Ask them and they will tell you they won every match. For them, being there, seeing their robot work, experiencing an auditorium on the scale of the Dallas Convention Centre and making connection with children from all over the world was success. They were champions!

The days around the tournament saw visits to Forth Worth Stock yards, a shopping outlet mall, Six Flags Amusement Park, Wolf Lodge Indoor Water Park and a Medieval Dinner Show. These are experiences they will never forget. They have had their eyes opened to the world. They have experienced things they may have never dreamed possible. They flew for over 22 hours to the other side of the world. And they took this in their stride. They were resilient beyond expectation, showing maturity and adaptability beyond their years.

As a community, we can be extremely proud of the children from Gunyangara who carry our name alongside theirs, Dhupuma Barker. They have set the bar high. They are the first primary school team from our school to represent in Robotics internationally and hopefully they inspire all other Robotics players to reach for the stars.

Look out for the Djirikitj Firebirds in the new 2023-24 VEX IQ game. They are bound to be shooting for the stars again.

Martin Lubrano Head of Junior School

ANZAC Day

ANZAC day this year was a very proud day and highlight for us all. To acknowledge and honour our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander diggers, Darkinjung Barker, for the very first time, proudly marched in the Wyong ANZAC march.

For this momentous step into the local history books, we invited Darkinjung Aboriginal Land Council, Yerin Eleanor Duncan Aboriginal Health Services, Central Coast Pelicans Netball, along with other organisations, our families and community members to join us. What a wonderful, significant moment it was! The mob were marching, the crowd were cheering, and our hearts were brimming with pride. Our amazing School Captains, Oliver and Ruby, led the way with our new school flags proudly flying high! Oliver and Ruby also respectfully laid a wreath during the ceremony on behalf of our school.

The welcome we received, through the cheering crowds and the yarns afterward, about our presence in the march was overwhelming! For most of the people marching with us, it was their very first time ever to march, and it was certainly the first time honouring our mob. Our wonderful kids stood strong and proud with some wearing their family medals and they represented our school with absolute pride. The Central Coast Pelicans wore their netball uniforms, organisational staff wore their work attire, and our families and community members wore Aboriginal designs. What a wonderful sight it was to look back and see the colourful shirts and our proud mob standing strong together! It was the most special day and one we will remember for a long time to come!

Afterward we were invited by Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council to attend their ANZAC digger exhibition. It was just wonderful! There was so much to take in: slideshows, reading material, banners, along with army uniforms and equipment were wall to wall. It was lovely to take the time to share along with the community. We are hoping for our march to be bigger each year and that our families and community will add to the exhibition.

Our triple celebration and challenge at both campuses has been another highlight. We celebrated and

acknowledged Close the Gap Day, Harmony Day and World Down Syndrome Day. The triple challenge was to represent Close the Gap - wearing an Aboriginal design, Harmony Day - wearing orange and for World Down Syndrome Day - wearing mismatched, colourful, crazy socks. Amarli was our ambassador for World Down Syndrome Day and joined us at both campuses. Amarli and Mrs Sturt shared an Acknowledgement of Country with us in sign language. We share an Acknowledgement each day at our campuses and at our weekly assemblies, but it was lovely to learn another way to respect Country. We were thrilled when Amarli and Mrs Sturt then taught us all how to do it. My heart was full, watching everyone excitedly learning and just having a go! Amarli joined in the activities, had fun with all the kids and also helped Mrs Sturt cook a BBQ lunch! Our staff embrace our special days with enthusiasm so that our kids have wonderful school experiences.

The biggest hit of the day was our colourful tie-dye activity. We started with a white shirt and we watched some different ways to design and prepare their fashion masterpiece. We dipped the shirts in water, tied them up in unique designs with elastics and then … the best part ... added the colourful dyes. We then had to be patient and leave them for a few hours. The excitement was building, we took the elastics off and W-O-W ... right in front of our eyes we were amazed with the transformation of our tie-dye originals! It was the BEST day ever!

Mandy Shaw Director of Aboriginal Campuses

Treading a careful Footprint

Students from across Years 2 – 6 gather once a week to engage in experiential learning. They are guided by members from the Senior School Footprint Club who give up their time each week to model citizenship and servant leadership. In just a short amount of time, a range of initiatives have been introduced by Junior School Footprint. In March, Footprinters encouraged their peers to participate in ‘Clean Up Schools Day’ and introduced a Peace Lily plant to be looked after by classes in the Junior School who participate in environmental initiatives. In April, the Footprinters challenged their peers to think about the sustainability of Easter eggs by collecting hundreds of chocolate wrappers to be repurposed into a stunning, collaborative artwork. At the beginning of term, the

Year 6 leaders of Footprint attended a presentation by local charity, Addi Road, who discussed the importance of minimising food wastage.

Learner agency is valued in the Junior School by giving students voice. Moving forward, the Footprinters have lots of ideas they would like to enact at Barker this year. These include the founding of an Indigenous Bush Tucker garden and a composting system for the Junior School. What a positive difference our young Footprinters are making in their community!

Susanna Matters & Hannah Yeow Junior School Footprint Coordinators

Footprint is the Junior School’s sustainability and social justice club which encourages students to consider the impact of their actions on the environment and society.

Learning through Making

The ability to use tools, machines, materials and processes in the real world is what enables learning to occur. It’s not simply imagined where anything is possible and where thoughts are difficult to validate for the real world. Understanding is built on applied knowledge gained through experiencing real materials, tools and a suite of digital programs. The power of rhetoric is also used by students when reflecting on the activities and processes they have applied and this allows deep discovery. Learning occurs as students develop:

• Spatial reasoning - the ability to work with three dimensional objects builds their ability to see three dimensional objects in their mind.

• Spatial awareness - the context of working with peers and complex equipment in an active environment.

• The use of fine motor skills - the repetition of applied action using tools and equipment.

• Their ability to apply maths and science when quantifying for solving problems, measuring and marking out component parts.

• Graphic communication - to document and produce creative solutions for projects and for problems that they encounter.

• The ability to focus their attention - to design workflows and manage their time, order the operations, sequence and monitor their actions to produce quality work.

Darren Woodrow Head of Design & Technology

The unique hands-on nature of education in the Design Centre at Barker helps students to activate technological knowledge through practical experience.

Going Global: The

The Barker Institute will celebrate its tenth anniversary next year, continuing to build on the School's intentional research-engaged mindset which emerged some fifteen years ago, bringing together and working with Barker’s rich intellectual resources to facilitate learning and growth. An exciting part of the Barker Institute’s story for this year has been the growth in active interest in its own research by educational practitioners, leaders, and researchers here in Australia and further afield. In April, through the generosity of the Barker Foundation, Dr Tim Scott was able to travel to Europe to help promote the Institute’s work, grow its global network, and present at a conference for leaders of international schools.

Shortly after his return, Dr Matthew Hill spoke with Dr Scott about his time away and on how the interest in close-to-practice educational research is a phenomenon not limited to Australia.

MH: Tim, it’s great to have you back. A month away working, most of it over the school holidays! Perhaps we could start with how you ended up travelling overseas for Barker and the Barker Institute?

TS: Thanks Matt. It is great to be back. Four weeks was definitely a long time, but it was an excellent trip. I was fortunate to be awarded a Barker Foundation Travelling Fellowship. I'm very thankful to the Barker Foundation for that. It allowed me to travel to Europe and visit schools, connect with a variety of people, and share about Barker and the work that we do at the Barker Institute.

MH: Your trip didn’t start off being a month long, though, did it? It grew from an initial invitation to visit a school in Switzerland.

TS: Yes. That’s right. Leysin American School in Switzerland (LAS) had invited me for a two week stay as one of their Visiting Scholars. LAS has an educational research centre very similar to the Barker

Barker has been a pioneer in connecting the worlds of educational research and teacher practice.

Barker Institute steps onto the world stage

Institute so the opportunity to learn what they do and about the place of close-to-practice research in their context, and how it helps their teachers in their professional learning was very attractive. But the trip itinerary continued to grow. I was also fortunate enough to visit Black Forest Academy (BFA), an international school in the south of Germany, and to be invited to speak at the Educational Collaborative for International Schools (ECIS) Leadership Conference in Düsseldorf.

MH: That sounds interesting. First tell me some more about your time at the LAS research centre and school?

TS: I was able to observe classes, which is always a great form of professional learning for teachers – to see how others teach at other schools. I collaborated with LAS’ Director of Educational Research on one or two articles on educational research, as well as planned several future projects, including an exciting one where we are globally mapping other researchengaged schools, so practice can be shared and even lead to some combined projects.

MH: What drew you to visiting BFA, an international school?

TS: Their Head of School, Dr Philip Dow, wrote an important book on character education called Virtuous Minds about the development of intellectual character, which I know we both have appreciated. Character education is an important focus at Barker. So, with LAS being reasonably close to BFA, a visit to talk about character education and what that might look like was perfect!

Results and reporting on the Barker Journey Study, Year 3-6 from 2019-2022.

MH: And the conference at Düsseldorf? What was the purpose of your time there?

TS: To take to the global stage the Barker Institute’s flagship project, The Barker Journey Study, which gives voice to Generation Alpha through their schooling experience. There has been quite a lot of interest in that project from international school leaders over the past couple of years and ECIS was keen for their membership to hear about what we were doing with that project and how our findings might help school leaders in their work.

MH: What would be a main takeaway from your time away?

TS: The important place of close-to-practice research in informing the development of learning, teaching, and schooling, and how Barker is a leader in this area. As you know, the international community is inquiring of the Barker Institute not only regarding our research, but also in the methodologies that we use and how they might be applied to different schools and their contexts to help them serve their students even better. As much as there was some personal professional development with my time away, I found that I fulfilled a coaching and consultancy role in the use of close-to-practice educational research, consistent with our vision in the Barker Institute.

Dr Tim Scott History Teacher & Barker Institute Research Fellow Dr Matthew Hill Director of the Barker Institute

Leysin American School Educational Research Centre Podcast Interview with Dr Tim Scott.

Igniting a Passion for Visual Arts

The 2023 Year 9 elective cohort has made a promising start as they begin their specialist courses in the Visual Arts.

Year 9 students made their elective choices by following the path of their own interests and in turn have made a conscious choice to develop their passion for art. Henry Matisse said that creativity takes courage and it is certainly courageous to be a beginner in any discipline. In art, experimentation is intrinsic to developing one’s artistic skills. All the while, the product of your learning is visible and on display for all to see. Embracing the artistic process has been something that Year 9 students have proven they are willing to pursue, with fantastic results thus far. In the Visual Arts course, students have jumped into the fundamentals of drawing and painting, producing a creative interior scene of a sacred room inspired by Brett Whitely and Vincent Van Gogh. In Photographic and Digital Media, students have made their own pinhole cameras and created a series of artworks using the darkroom to create photograms. Visual Arts students were particularly inspired by a visit to the Art Gallery of NSW and have kindly contributed some of their experiences below.

From vibrant paintings and detailed sculptures to mind-blowing optical illusions, the Art Gallery of NSW has got it all. Every corner you turn, every step you take, you are amazed and in awe of the creative artists.

The first thing I saw when I set foot in the South Building struck my eyes in amazement. It was a fascinating sculpture coloured in metallic silver and vibrant hot pink. The gallery was split up into different sections of art and my favourite was the abstract section because I was forced to use my imagination which gave me some inspiration for artworks.

It was very interesting to compare the architecture of the two buildings as the North Building had you surrounded by modern and futuristic architecture.

I loved the different exhibitions throughout the building but my favourite was the sculpture section because it included impressive hand cut brass sculptures and a D.I.Y. artwork which enabled you to get your hands on and involved in creating an artwork made of thousands of clay spheres. I was also so inspired by an illusion created with multiple mirrors creating the effect that the artwork was never ending. The whole Gallery was an enjoyable experience as I received a tonne of inspiration. I learnt that one small artwork can hold a deep meaning.

By Duke Barnes (Year 9)

The Sydney Modern Gallery was an impressive panorama as the harbour met our gaze, glistening in our eyes. The building was new and fresh, and clearly full of inspiration. We entered the Ainsworth Family Gallery and were invited in by a sculpture intricately designed and made entirely from cardboard. It was like a massive tree house. It was amazing. We continued to walk through the gallery and I was astounded by one particular work called Guts. The walls were covered in mirrors. A mind boggling and seemingly endless experience of image. It was interesting to participate in a clay-making exhibition, featuring a very large, wide table with balls of clay in the middle. We sat bathing in the sunlight that seeped through the windows, rolling spheres of clay. With the hundreds of clay balls in the middle of the table, we were encouraged to imagine all the hands that made them.

By Abby Stace (Year 9)

Rikki Latella Acting Head of Visual Arts

Exploring Risks and Value

Morgan Stoodley, a current Year 12 Extension 2 student, was invited to introduce us to ChatGPT, exploring the risks and value to Mathematics teachers and students.

multiplication.

ChatGPT was also terrible at graphing a simple cube, instead drawing a series of points.

And yet, Morgan claimed that ChatGPT, along with Desmos and Wolfram Alpha, formed the “trinity” of tools available to mathematicians

ChatGPT was more successful with an investigationstyle word problem but should still be used with caution. ChatGPT can quickly create worksheets for teachers, randomised at each click of a button. In the end Morgan provided us with a useful summary.

Although it was not in Morgan’s presentation (as GPT-4 was only released on Pi Day this year, 14/3), these new tools solved almost, if not all, the limitations in the "ChatGPT is not good at..." column from his summary. This is because GPT-4 is much more powerful, and plugins allow the language model to talk to applications like WolframAlpha—truly a gamechanger. Unfortunately, GPT-4 is only included with OpenAI's subscription service, and to acquire access to plugins an application needs to be submitted and approved by OpenAI; realistically plugins are only attainable through larger organisations or universities.

Why so? For some more difficult problems, ChatGPT may not actually be forming a unique solution, instead just copying information found online. This means that ChatGPT is useful for providing correct solutions for problems that have been documented online but can be misleading in how it achieved that solution (as the standard ChatGPT seldom includes citations).

So, in summary, Morgan asserted that ChatGPT is a powerful tool to be harnessed by mathematics teachers and students, but is not a danger to the rigorous nature of the learning of mathematics. Much like the advent of the calculator, it will be useful, but the tower of mathematics still stands strong.

Allison Davis Assistant Coordinator Mathematics and Mathematics Teacher

The “Trinity” of Maths Tools

A Showcase of Barker’s Creative Arts

Something big occurred on May 10 for Barker Drama - our annual showcase, Winter Playhouse.

This year, we focused on the wider Creative Arts at Barker; showcasing Drama, Visual Art, Design and Technology, Dance, and Public Speaking to really bring together the efforts of lots of different students. It was great being able to have the Visual Arts and Design & Technology showcase in the Cru room, which attracted quite a few audience members, and we’re hoping this wasn’t just for the free banana bread!

We were super excited to see so many students in the audience there to support their friends and siblings, as well as teachers and families there to show their appreciation and support for all the hard work that creative and performing arts students have been putting in this year.

The night started off with some Theatresports, which is an improv-based competition, and included other co-curricular Drama works such as extracts from the Year 10 and 11 plays, and Drama After-Hours performances from Year 7 and 8 students. We had

some spectacular displays from soloist dancer Neve Parker, and the Year 10 curricular Dance class, as well as Year 7 student Izzy Wood informing the audience about euthanasia. As always, curricular drama produced monologues from both Year 11 and 12, and incredible Greek Drama group performances from Year 9, which demonstrated how different performances can turn out, even if they start with the same script!

Overall, the night was a fantastic success, and we are so grateful for all the supporters of Barker Drama and creative arts departments, as well as the students who make this all possible!

Kitty Anderson Year 12 Student

Year 10 Play

A Midsummer Night’s Dream is one of Shakespeare’s most original and beloved plays. His fantastical world of magic and mischief sweeps us into a place of dreams, while his writing delights us with its wit, wordplay and vibrant characters.

It is, however, a fevered dream Shakespeare conjures, one that plunges us into a battle of the sexes. At the opening of the play, the seasons war as Oberon, the Fairy King, demands custody of a changeling boy from his Fairy Queen, Titania. Theseus, ruler of Athens, has captured the Amazonian Queen, Hippolyta, and must have her for his wife. The young lover, Hermia, is denied her partner of choice, Lysander, and must bow before her father’s preferred suitor, Demetrius, or else be killed or banished to a convent. Her best friend, Helena, has her reputation destroyed as she is revealed as Demetrius’ discarded lover. Everywhere, women are thwarted in their desires while subjugated to those of the men in their lives. While this seems more a nightmare than dream, it is in fact, much closer to the reality for an Elizabethan woman (and not them alone).

That Shakespeare was positioning his audience to examine their contemporary gender relations is evident from the opening lines of the play. Theseus, peculiarly tied to an unbending ritual of marrying only on the new moon, bemoans the power this chaste feminine deity holds to delay his gratification, “but, O, methinks how slow this old moon wanes! She lingers my desires like to a step-dame or dowager long withering out a young man’s revenue.”

His audience would have caught this reference to his patron, Queen Elizabeth I, self-styled as the “Virgin Queen”, who likewise played the aging arbiter to a realm of young men’s desires (as well as Shakespeare’s profits). With his parallel world cleverly established, Shakespeare sends his cast into the labyrinth of the woods to see what personal and social transformation is possible.

And so too has this wonderful cast of Year 10 actors and crew. Shakespeare presents the ultimate challenge to young performers, stretching their emotional range, intellectual understanding, and technical performance skills further than most playwrights. His depth of character, heightened language and physical vivacity require the performer to pay conscious attention to every aspect of their craft. There is no mumbled naturalism here! Equally, his rapid changes of location, swirling set pieces and unrelenting pace demand a focused, well-oiled crew. What these students are attempting is not easy. However, their energy, appetite for challenge and infectious joy in their work is catching. I could not be prouder of their work and thank them all deeply for their efforts.

Ed Lembke-Hogan Director

Bringing Music to Life

Junior School Music Camp

Over three days in the first weekend of April, the Collaroy Centre was buzzing with the musical energy of 185 talented musicians who gathered for the second-ever Junior School Music Camp. Despite the rainy weather, the students' spirits remained high as they indulged in the enriching musical experience. The ensembles that participated included the Junior School Wind Ensemble, Wind Orchestra, Concert Band, Chamber Orchestra, Paganini Strings, and the Festival Orchestra. The young musicians enjoyed rehearsing in their ensembles, working in small groups with Barker's visiting music teachers, engaging in large group singing sessions, and participating in exciting nighttime games. The collaborative efforts of our Music Staff and Junior School teaching staff created a warm and welcoming environment, where our youngest musicians thrived and developed their skills.

Chamber in the Chapel

Chamber in the Chapel made a welcome return on Friday 5 May, as Barker’s War Memorial Chapel hosted some of our leading chamber ensembles. Conceived originally as a platform for Chamber Orchestra and Choir, this event allowed both ensembles to demonstrate versatility in solo items, as

well as a combined performance of Ola Gjeilo’s haunting work, The Ground. Chamber Choir stretched across the centuries with works by Gibbons and Lauridsen, whilst Chamber Orchestra delivered heartfelt performances of Romantic masterworks by Sibelius and Arensky. It was also a joy to have two woodwind groups present – the flute ensemble and wind quintet both able to demonstrate the breadth of Barker’s instrumental program. Many of these students perform in our larger ensembles, and were grateful for the opportunity to demonstrate their abilities in a more intimate setting.

Simon Smith Head of Music

Rock Bands at Wellbeing Week

Wellbeing Week was off to an electrifying start as our upcoming rock bands took to the stage and enthralled students, staff, and parents in the CRU courtyard during lunchtime. The three bands, Rockin' Refrigerators, Red Rebels, and Toxic Banana all comprised of talented Year 7 and 8 students who showcased their musical skills with confidence and style. The eclectic mix of songs performed by the bands included hits from popular artists like Paramore, Arctic Monkeys, Bruno Mars, Boy Pablo, Lost Dinosaur, and Justin Bieber, which kept the audience grooving and swaying. The crowd was left spellbound by two sensational piano vocalists, Carter Barnes (Year 7) and Max McClelland (Year 11), who stole the show with their uplifting performances.

The bands' dedication and hard work have paid off, thanks to the expert coaching of Ms Lesley Moxon and mentorship from our homegrown rock star, Mr Sam Thomlinson.

Jazz Café

The Jazz Cafe concert proved to be a delightful treat for all who attended on 27 April. The CRU courtyard was transformed into a hub of relaxation where parents indulged in scrumptious banana bread and a hot beverage, while tapping their feet to the melodious Jazz Ensembles from Year 8 - 12. As the tea break ended, the audience shifted to the BCPA Theatre for the main event where stage bands, big bands, and jazz orchestras took the stage, mesmerising the listeners with an array of swing classics, jazz rock, and Latin jazz styles. The Barker jazz program has witnessed unprecedented growth this year with over 120 students participating. These students have dedicated themselves to the jazz groups in addition to their other co-curricular music ensembles, demonstrating their unwavering passion and enthusiasm for jazz. As the Barker Swings event approaches on Friday 21 July, both students and staff are eagerly anticipating another fantastic performance.

Wind Symphony Concert with Moriah College

The Barker Wind Symphony hosted students and staff from Moriah College and performed in a concert together on 10 May. This ongoing tradition of performances with Moriah College allows students from both schools to perform high quality wind band music in a non-competitive concert. This year, our Barker students performed works by Australian composer, Jodie Blackshaw as well as an arrangement of Debussy’s Pagodes by Andrew McWade. The Barker and Moriah students were mutually supportive of one another’s performances. A very wholesome event where two schools with diverse cultural backgrounds were able to come together and where music was the winner on the day.

Revolutionising Computer Science Education in NSW

In late 2022, NESA introduced three groundbreaking computer science courses for students in New South Wales. These courses, Computing Technology for Years 9 and 10, and the Year 11 and 12 courses, Enterprise Computing and Software Engineering, have been carefully crafted to equip students with practical skills and project-based learning opportunities.

The Computing Technology elective course for Years 9 and 10 students focuses on building fundamental skills in data science, network technologies, mechatronic systems, games and simulations, and app and web software. This course acts as a precursor to the Year 11 and 12 courses, offering students a glimpse into the skills, knowledge and practical content covered at higher levels.

Enterprise Computing and Software Engineering can be studied together or individually, depending on the student's interests. Enterprise Computing exposes students to concepts of data science, interactive media, cybersecurity, data visualisations, and intelligent systems. The skills learnt in this course are not only relevant in the technology sector but are increasingly sought after in business, analytics, AI and project management fields.

For those with a keen interest in software development, controlling hardware and engineering, Software Engineering is the perfect fit. Software Engineering is a course that delves into the exciting realms of object-oriented programming, mechatronics, artificial intelligence, and physical computing. This course equips students with the skills needed for software development and engineering.

With this innovative curriculum, students gain essential computer science skills that are highly sought-after in the job market. The emphasis on project work and practical application ensures students are wellprepared for real-world scenarios, fostering problemsolving, critical thinking, and collaboration skills.

NESA's introduction of these courses signifies a significant step in preparing students for the digital age. By providing hands-on experiences and practical knowledge, students involved in these course are provided the knowledge and skills to have a competitive edge that open doors to exciting career opportunities. This new curriculum empowers students to be at the forefront of innovation, shaping the digital landscape of the future.

Colin Jacques Head of Computer Science

AI in Education

Barker welcomed Dan Bowen from Microsoft Australia to work with students and staff this term.

Dan is an experienced educator with a wealth of expertise in using technology to enhance student learning. He has led STEM and Skills for Microsoft Australia and runs an AI in education podcast. Barker staff were lucky to have Dan run an afternoon professional learning session on AI in Education. Dan emphasised that AI has already impacted society, citing examples from bush regeneration to targeting criminal behaviour. The most recent leap forward is a result of the increased availability of sophisticated AI models, the most well-known of which is ChatGPT. The developments in this technology are being harnessed by companies like Microsoft, who have already developed integrations with their Office Suite.

So, what does this mean for education?

One fascinating insight came from our students. Students indicated the value of AI as a tool to support their learning. AI might help them start a task, understand a new concept, or provide instant feedback on a piece of work. While these are all possible using AI, students also recognised the importance of their relationship with their teacher in the classroom.

AI allows teachers to take away repetitive administrative tasks, provide more time for face-toface interactions, and helps them to guide students

towards their learning goals. New opportunities to use AI in the classroom are emerging every day, for example, allowing students to chat with historical figures or fictional characters from a novel they are studying. The ability for students to engage in literature in new and exciting ways is limitless. These opportunities are not without challenges. Students must still develop the ability to comprehend the intricacies of a problem, detect bias, consider emotions and ethics, and think creatively and independently to generate innovative ideas. Therefore, promoting open-ended discussions, hands-on activities, and project-based learning remains crucial to education. Barker has an ongoing commitment to ensure all opportunities presented by new technologies, such as AI, are implemented in a considered way to improve educational outcomes.

Dr Andy Mifsud Director Digital Learning Innovation

Stephen Liseo Digital Learning & Innovation Leader

Gabi Corderoy Digital Learning Leader Stephen Liseo Acting Director Digital Learning

Reading is the Superpower for the Future!

Our modern world is a complex and interconnected global community evolving at an unprecedented pace. We are experiencing rapid advancements in technology, economic, social, and political tensions that are increasingly difficult to navigate.

We have knowledge banks at our fingertips, yet we feel we know less; we have social networks in our pockets, yet we feel more isolated. The future is full of challenges and opportunities, and as we navigate our fast-paced lives, it is important to stay informed, open-minded, connected and engaged.

The English Department is acutely aware that we are standing on the precipice of a digital revolution that demands an educational evolution. Our role is to prepare our students for a future characterised by paradox: a world where technology can divide and connect. Our future demands a refocus on our human capabilities and the delicate balance of the head and the heart; thinking and feeling.

Last year I read the book Stolen Focus by Johann Hari; in it, he laments the destructive power of many of the technologies we have come to rely on. Destructive in that they have numbed our humanity and removed our capacity for imagination and curiosity. Hari suggests that: "Reading is one of the few technologies that can restore our focus and attention in a world where we are constantly under assault." This restorative power of reading can counterbalance the constant distractions and interruptions of modern technology and how it can help us to retrain our brains to focus and concentrate for longer periods of time - a luxury and necessity for our fast-paced lives.

Reading is the superpower for the future! It is the unity of our paradoxical selves: thinking and feeling. It empowers the imagination, fosters curiosity, creates

connections, builds empathy, reframes knowledge, supports the known while revealing the unknown, and simultaneously confirms and challenges.

The Barker English Department is aware of our responsibility to foster the skills, understanding and love of reading our students require for both their heads and hearts. We are focused on providing students with high-quality and interesting texts that use language and structures in creative ways, have social and cultural significance beyond the classroom, provide students with opportunities to broaden their knowledge of universal experiences and society beyond their direct experience yet equally connect to students' worlds. Teachers have been transforming their classrooms into reading havens with minilibraries, reading spaces, reading recommendation posters and providing wide reading time during lessons. We join forces with the library to promote reading through the BookBites program, we participate in the Premier's Reading Challenge and, more recently, in the Youth Review Forum with the CBCA.

Promoting and developing a good reading culture depends on us all. I know parents are deeply aware of this and often ask what they can do to support their teenager "to read more". Encouraging teenagers to read can be challenging, as they often have busy schedules and many distractions. However, here are some strategies that parents can implement to help promote reading:

1. Lead by example: parents should demonstrate a love for reading by reading books, magazines, or newspapers.

2. Create a reading-friendly environment: set up a cozy reading nook in the house with comfortable seating, good lighting, and plenty of books.

3. Provide access to a wide range of books: parents can take their teenager to the library or bookstore and allow them to choose books that interest them. E-books are OK too!

4. Non-fiction is reading too: reading material does not have to be canonical literature. Reading should connect with students' interests. Consider biographies, information books, articles, magazines on topics of interest.

5. Connect with a librarian: these are the experts in Young Adult fiction - seek their advice.

6. Limit screen time: encourage your teenager to limit their screen time and instead use that time to read books or other materials.

7. Make reading a part of their daily routine: parents can set aside a specific time each day for their teenager to read, such as before bedtime.

8. Offer incentives: consider offering incentives such as a special outing or a small reward for reaching reading goals.

9. Make it social: encouraging reading as a family activity or participating in a book club can help make reading more enjoyable and social. Many teenagers also connect on social media platforms to share their reading experiences and recommend reading!

Reading should be a lifelong delight, not a duty. The key is to make reading a positive and enjoyable experience for teenagers so that they are motivated to continue reading on their own.

The future, one driven by technology, particularly an AI-driven future, demands human agency. It demands creativity, innovation, empathy and an ethical approach. Reading is the superpower that will keep our "human heritage" alive.

Laura Craven Head of English

On Loss, Legacy, and Sacrifice

Loss. It is perhaps one of the most potent emotions a person ever feels. To lose a pen, a game, a friend, a loved one, a life, always provides a pain and dull ache much deeper than any physical blow could ever inflict. Because to lose, is not only to go without, but to go without something you once had, and something you always thought you would have.

Loss is the deep pang in the pit of your stomach, the hole opened up by what is now gone and the hole through which your happiness and joy seem to slip through.

And ANZAC day, in many respects, is about that loss, a recognition of what was given up and let go through war and conflict.

But sometimes I feel, when we focus too much on what is now gone, we miss what remains. Our preoccupation with the newfound absence, leads to an ignorance of the steadfast presence. Wherever there is loss, there is always legacy. There is memory of what was before, and what it did, and how it made us feel, and what it meant to us, and why it pains us so much now to go without it.

To most people, a legacy is something you long for, it’s something which outlives you, proves you were there, or did this. It shows, more than anything, that you meant something to someone, at sometime. And I think it’s an innate human need to be remembered. We acknowledge the transience of everything we do on earth, but the notion that we can continue on after ourselves in memories can be a very comforting one.

And when we look at ANZAC day, everything we talk about is a legacy. Attaturk’s words - which we’ve heard - make up that legacy, the ode is part of that legacy, and the last post is for that same legacy. But there comes a time when you do think, why are we still here today, remembering those from 100 years ago. Why do we take time out of our school day to reflect on those who’ve gone before? Why do we still care today? Or why do we have to still care today? We end a lot of today’s proceedings with ‘lest we forget’ which literally means 'forbid that we will forget'. But why do we need to make sure we remember?

Sacrifice.

When I looked to define legacy, the most critical part of every definition was the notion of a ‘long lasting impact’.

It was not only that something had occurred, but that it had impacted something, or someone, and that impact continued to be felt, long after it had happened.

And I think we can agree, the most impactful part of a person, is never what they look like, or their turn of phrase, it’s what they do, and often, what they do for you … the sacrifices they make for others

And so it should come as no surprise that this legacy - the ANZAC legacy - is so important, even today, because we’re not talking about any small or insignificant or passing sacrifice, we’re talking about the ultimate sacrifice.

And yes not everyone gave up their life. Thankfully many of the ANZACs got to come home, but even then, there is a very real and very significant sacrifice that comes with conflict and that lives with you as long as you do. Red Gum say this best:

“Doctor can you tell me, why I still can't get to sleep? And why the Channel Seven chopper chills me to my feet? And what’s this rash that comes and goes, can you tell me what it means? God help me, I was only nineteen”

… a very real and very significant sacrifice.

And that warrants remembrance.

Some other cadets and I were fortunate enough to take part in the ANZAC day march - I got to carry a banner for the British paratroopers - but what struck me most about the whole experience, was how grateful they were that we were there.

Not as people to carry a banner or a flag, but as young people there to remember.

We spoke before about our need to be remembered and the particular importance of remembering those who have served. But the thing about memories is if they’re not passed on, they die with those who hold them.

And sometime’s that’s ok, sometimes memories are good to let go, but not these ones, they gave up too much for us to forget.

So this ANZAC Day, and every day, know that you can be a keeper of the memories of something so important to our history and to our future.

And so for those who serve, and who served, and who gave up everything so that you could sit here today, honour them and remember them always… remember that you must never forget.

Lest we forget.

Jeremy Davie Year 12 School Captain

Celebrating our Cadets

The aim of the Unit is to prepare young men and women for life well beyond the Mint Gates, equipping them with many essential skills and values, such as courage, teamwork, initiative and a deep sense of respect.

The Ceremonial Parade demonstrates the hard work, dedication and precision that our cadets strive to uphold. It also provides an opportunity for our cadets to celebrate the achievements of the Unit and exhibit the self-discipline required to perform in the parade.

This year, we were honoured to have Reviewing Officer, BRIG Benjamin Slaughter, Commander of Australian Army Cadets, review the Parade. In his address, he acknowledged the Barker College Cadet Unit and its long and proud history.

“The Barker Cadet Unit has demonstrated what it means to be an army cadet. This is what builds our nation and this is what builds the type of young people that will lead Australia into the future,” he said. The culmination of the formalities and celebration is the formal Dining-In Evening for our Year 12 cadets and their families. The evening held in the School’s Dining Hall, provides an opportunity to celebrate the achievements of the graduating cadet cohort and reflect on the many memorable moments during their time as part of the Unit.

Justin Langley Commanding Officer of BCCU

Annual Field Exercise 2023

The BCCU’s Annual Field Exercise provides cadets and rank with the opportunity to apply all the field and leadership skills they have been developing throughout the year on Monday trainings and at Bivouacs. It is the largest self-contained activity run at Barker and was an absolute success, as each cadet was able to challenge themselves mentally and physically in a unique environment with so much support from rank and staff.

The Commanding Officer, Major Justin Langley, received an email from a cadet after AFX stating, “I never would have made it through my cadet journey without the unconditional help of the Company rank and staff, and I want to express my gratitude to them.” This is a testament to the quality of leadership training undertaken by every rank member.

This year the Unit, consisting of 400 cadets and rank, spent six days on Singleton Military Range. The advantage of using a Military Range is that all cadets from each company were able to visit the nearby School of Infantry (SOI). This is a basic training facility for infantry soldiers and officers. Cadets had the opportunity to take part in activities such as the Weapons Training Simulation System. There is a 10m abseil tower which was run by our own abseil qualified BCCU staff and Pioneer cadets and rank from the abseiling cell.

This year marks 123 years of service by the Barker College Cadet Unit.

Along with the activities completed at SOI, cadets were able to enjoy activities at a company level. These were planned, organised and run by the senior and junior rank and included first aid medical activities and scenarios, a dam crossing, constructing bush shelters, bridge building, and attempting an obstacle course. Cadets also learned how to complete piquets, which are a shift-based night observation post. Additionally, senior rank created amazing tactical exercises, such as Bravo company’s continuous 13 phase, 48 hour activity which allowed cadets to complete a range of challenging but fun tasks to achieve their mission. Each company also completed a hike which required navigational skills, physical endurance and teamwork.

It was an honour to lead the Senior Command team who ran and organised this camp along with the assistance of the amazing cadet staff. This was the 2023 Year 12 cadets' last cadet camp, and the level of success can be completely attributed to their level of dedication, grit, and overall passion for cadets. The cadet year came to an end with the Annual Ceremonial Parade, held on May 19, where the unit presented awards to some outstanding cadets and gave a well-deserved farewell to all of the Year 12’s.

“AFX this year was a pleasure to be a part of. Watching recruits (many of whom were apprehensive or unenthused about camp on arrival) grow into the camp experience and engage in more and more

activities throughout was very rewarding. As someone finishing my 4th and final year in the unit, this AFX was an endearing display of the work of our senior leadership team, and a fantastic culmination of my cadet experience at Barker.”

Echo Company Commander CUO Jeremy Davie

“Being part of AFX 2023 is an experience I will never forget. Being able to see the hard work and hours of commitment from all of the senior leadership team payoff was so rewarding. Through that, watching the cadets enjoy the camp and share the love of cadets that all the leaders have was a perfect way to conclude my final AFX.”

Bravo 2IC CUO Jonah Mills

“It was surreal to watch the younger cadets make the memories we senior rank look back on so fondly.”

RSM Zoe Samios

Elizabeth Moore Senior Under Officer CUO

2023 is a Year to Remember

Term 2 marked the culmination of the robotics season for our students as we reached the highly anticipated World Championships in America.

However, the 2023 season will hold a significant place in the history of robotics at Barker. This year, not only did our highly regarded FRC team have the privilege of representing our country once more on the global stage, but it also marks a new milestone for our school, as we ventured into the VEX World Championships for the first time with our Senior School team and the Dhupuma Barker team, known as the Djirikitj Firebirds. This achievement is particularly noteworthy as the Firebirds become the first robotics team from the Northern Territory and remote Australia, making history on this special year that marks the 10th anniversary of robotics at Barker.

FRC - FIRST Robotics Competition

After securing two undefeated regional wins in Canada and Australia, as well as achieving a finalist finish in Hawaii, the time had come for our FRC team to shift their focus towards representing the country for the ninth time at the FIRST Robotics World Championship. This event brought together 800 teams from across the globe to compete in Houston for the ultimate title of world champions. The competition was fierce and our team was ready to face the challenge head-on.

Having earned the reputation of being one the fastest robots in the whole event, our team entered the field with great confidence and after ten intense qualification matches and averaging 13 game pieces placed per match, the Redbacks secured a spot in the 1st alliance for elimination rounds, a testament to their outstanding performance.

Passing through three elimination phases on the upper bracket with a solid performance under pressure, our team came very close to clinching a spot in the super finals. However, they fell just short and ended up as finalists for the division, a remarkable achievement that marked the end of this extraordinary season.

The Barker Redbacks outstanding strategy, design, and engineering prowess were recognised this season with the following prestigious awards:

• Canadian Pacific Champions

• Southern Cross Regional Champions

• Hawaii Regional Finalists

• World Championship Division Finalists

• Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors (Australian Nationals)

• Industrial Design Award sponsored by General Motors (Canadian Pacific Regional)

• Excellence in Engineering Award (Hawaii Regional)

• Quality Award (Green Country Regional)

• FIRST Dean's List Finalist Award (Corinne Zhou)

• FIRST Dean's List Finalist Award (Justin Qin)

Congratulation to all our mentors, coaches and the more than 40 students from Years 10, 11 and 12 for this amazing season!

VEX Robotics Competition

After qualifying as the top scorer in Australia at the end of last year, our Year 10 Computer Science students joined forces with the Year 9 VRC+ robotics program, to represent the country for the first time at the HS VEX Robotics World Championship. The event held in Dallas, featured 800 teams from across the globe, with this year’s challenge based on a ultimate frisbee competition, where the robots had to launch frisbees across the field with pinpoint precision to reach one of the elevated goals. Despite being newcomers to this stage, the Barker robot was an impressive shooter and had demonstrated to perform consistently against heavy defence. The team ended up seeding 12th out of 100 teams in the Science division, which would by itself be an amazing result, but with a clutch performance and amazing under pressure response, the Barker Redbacks allied with a team from the Beijing Bayil School, reaching the semi-final and leaving the competition jubilant about the future of VEX at Barker.

Congratulations for all involved on this amazing debut!

Jeser Mross Becker Head of Robotics

Year 10 Round Square Committee

The newly founded Year 10 Round Square Committee was invited to MLC School, Burwood, earlier this year, to discuss all things Round Square.

MLC has been a proud Round Square School for the past 20 years and so this opportunity was very helpful for the Committee in understanding what Round Square is about, how our membership will enhance what Barker offers and enrich the character growth of students to become impactful leaders who can make a positive difference in the future.

We learned that Round Square isn’t an exclusive club you have to apply to be in, but rather a school-wide program in which everyone can get involved. Barker is a Round Square school, so, in turn, every Barker student is a Round Square student.

The MLC students outlined the history of Round Square at their school and told us about their initiatives for this year. These included student-led groups and clubs that are the lifeblood of Round Square at MLC. They had a variety of different groups that were all based on the six IDEALS of Round Square. These are Internationalism, Democracy, Environmentalism, Adventure, Leadership and Service. The idea of student-led groups and clubs is not particularly prominent at Barker, and so we were very interested in learning about this and thinking about how we could incorporate it into Barker. It was incredibly interesting to hear how this worked at MLC as student voice is a big part of Round Square. We brainstormed different ideas surrounding how we can

bring more student-led groups to Barker, amongst our already thriving co-curricular system.

Throughout our discussions, we also learnt about ‘Postcards’ which are a key part of the Internationalism ideal of Round Square. They involve a school hosting a zoom meeting in which students from Round Square Schools around the world join to discuss a specific topic or issue. As MLC had recently held a Postcard on International Women's Day, they were able to talk about how it was organised as well as what worked and what didn’t. It was incredibly insightful and we had great discussions within the group about inequality and how we can address it as a school and a wider community. The MLC students also led us in a discussion surrounding how we could host a Postcard at Barker. We brainstormed a couple of ideas, including Indigenous affairs and the effect of COVID in education in different countries.

Overall, our experience at MLC really opened our eyes to the potential that Barker has in being a Round Square School. We hope to continue promoting the Round Square IDEALS around the School and hope to get everyone on board.

Amelia Diacopoulos Year 10 Round Square Committee Member

Year 8 Grange Adventures

Year 8 Grange camps in Terms 1 and 2 enabled further progression of students’ outdoor skills and personal development in a two-day full pack hike in the magnificent Megalong Valley, camping beside the Cox’s River.

Students in House groups and small teams hiked along parts of the iconic Six Foot Track. They further developed their navigation skills in spectacular gullies, scenic fields and tranquil forests on Gundungurra land.

Many students crossed the famous Bowtell’s Swingbridge, whilst others braved the Cox’s River crossing with wet feet. One highlight of the challenging expedition has been enjoying the magnificent views of the Wild Dog mountains and Narrow Neck cliffs from Dunphy’s campsite.

On the activity days their mountain biking skills have been honed by riding the twisty technical single tracks at Rydal. In addition, many have also enjoyed the

challenge of getting to the top of the 30 metre sandstone slabs at Mount York and abseiling down these cliffs.

Earlier in the year Zuza Kania, Brendan Hatte and Mikayla Livingston joined the Grange team as permanent staff. They are also highly skilled and experienced team leaders instructing, inspiring and mentoring the aspiring outdoor adventurers in the Middle School at Barker on Grange programs.

Scott Manwaring Joint Director of the Grange (Programs)

Liz Charlton Joint Director of the Grange (Facilities)

Barker On Tour

The year was 1937 as a group of Barker students gathered at the train station in their uniforms and boaters to travel to Brisbane for three Rugby Union matches.

This appears to have been the very first organised Barker sports tour. Since that time, Barker’s students have enjoyed countless sporting tour opportunities to destinations from as nearby as Canberra, to as far afield as Sri Lanka and the Bahamas.

After a three-year hiatus, the Sports Department are delighted to be able to offer this opportunity to students once again this year. During the Easter holiday break, Rugby and Football players travelled to New Zealand, Canberra and the Gold Coast respectively, for a series of matches, training and team building, in the lead up to the Winter sports season. Sport tours, such as these, provide our students with the opportunity to engage in high-level competition against other schools and teams, that they would not normally encounter in a traditional sports season. Spending a concentrated period of time together - both on and off the field - fosters a competitive spirit, as well as providing a sense of pride in representing Barker on a larger stage. We believe that

these tours help in the development of teamwork, communication, and leadership skills that are invaluable both on and off the playing field.

Now that we’re able to tour again, we are particularly mindful of the costs involved in these tours. As we are all well aware, airfares and travel costs have increased significantly in recent years and the School continues to actively look for both domestic and international tour opportunities that offer the full experience for all students, but without being so cost prohibitive.

Reflecting on their recent Football tour experience to the Gold Coast, Bodie Denton and Vic Calusic shared the following with me:

“The Gold Coast Football tour was definitely one of the highlights of my Barker schooling experience. Even though the results didn’t go our way, the ability for all the boys to learn from it and to experience new activities together, such as going to the beach or roaming Movie World, it certainly brought the team

closer together and has helped us start the season off well. The trip was also aided by the incredibly fun and enjoyable coaching staff that attended with us.”

Bodie Denton

“The trip brought significant development to the team, both within the friendships formed and the quality of our football. The girls team came away with two wins and one draw, and experienced greater exposure to highly competitive teams to prepare us for the upcoming ISA season. The opportunity to become closer with the team on our trip to Movie World was definitely a highlight of the trip, for both the players and the coaches.” Vik

Calusic

The Rugby tour to New Zealand was a highly anticipated tour for our Rugby squad. Josh Crowther (Year 12) said the boys in the team were incredibly appreciative of this once in a lifetime opportunity and could not wait to take all that they had learnt into this year’s Rugby season.

“Jaws dropped when we arrived at the NZCIS (NZ Campus of Innovation and Sport)! The facilities were unbelievable. The fields looked like carpet and the gym and recovery rooms were top notch,” Josh said.

“We were fortunate to have such quality training from some of the best coaches in the world, with access to most of the brand new facilities. It was like heaven to many of the boys and the individual coaching sessions with some of the best Kiwi rugby players ever, was a highlight for everyone and is something I know we won’t forget.”

And in case you were wondering how the Barker team of 1937 performed – they came away with one win and two losses!

Cam Anderson Head of Sport

Inspiring Robotics Mentor

Ahmad fled from Afghanistan to Australia via Pakistan in September 2022, entering on a humanitarian visa.

He arrived with aspirations to study Computer Science or Engineering. Ahmad’s aptitude for coding and robotics was immediately recognised by our Head Coach of Robotics, Jeser Mross Becker, and within a few short weeks of his arrival, Ahmad was integrated into the coaching team for our VEX robotics competitions and warmly welcomed into the Barker community.

Ahmad coaches students (from Junior School to Year 12) in the after-school Robotics program on complex projects, and assists in the preparation, set-up, delivery and pack up of tournaments.

Football and music are Ahmad’s other passions. He is involved with Melrose Park Football Club’s social

inclusion programs for newly arrived refugee youth and vulnerable children (unaccompanied humanitarian minors). Some of these children attend Barker’s After School Refugee Tutoring on a Thursday. Every week Ahmad gives his time and expertise to help these young students with reading and communication. In his spare time, he is teaching himself how to play the guitar, a childhood dream come true.

Julia West Director of Humanitarian Programs

Fostering Friendship and Community

In such a busy school environment, we look for effective ways to connect parents to the College through year groups, sporting bodies and other clubs and associations. We aim to reach everyone in our extended community in order to build broader, deeper and ongoing relationships.

Throughout early March in Term 1 we hosted a series of Welcome Morning Teas. In addition to assisting new and existing parents in helping to forge associations, these morning teas received a mountain of generous donations to Anglicare which were used to help families in hardship throughout the Anglican Dioceses.

To kick-off Term 2, the BCPA hosted a Trivia Night at the end of Week 3. When the 400 tickets sold out in 20 minutes we knew it would be another hugely fun and successful evening. Thanks to the organising committee who did such a brilliant job and we look forward to doing it all again next year. The theme of Around the World provided a fertile ground for creative costuming.

If you missed the Trivia Night we have further events planned for the remainder of the year including a Christmas in July Ball on Saturday 22 July at San Martin in Akuna Bay - spectacular surrounds for what promises to be an elegant evening. More fun community events are planned in the run-up to the end of year. Keep an eye on your emails and the Barker Bulletin for more details.

It’s been wonderful to see parent year group contacts organise a range of events for their cohort. If you would like to find out about setting up a year group event, please contact BCPA_Functions@barker.nsw. edu.au to make an enquiry or to request a one-page event guide.

Like many of our students, we have enjoyed following the construction phase and are eagerly awaiting the opening of the Senior Studies Hub. The BCPA are actively exploring ways to contribute to integrating this beautiful new facility into the Barker landscape.

To this end, current school parents will receive an invitation to participate in a short survey to help us better understand what the College community would most value in the use of BCPA funds. We'll be asking for your thoughts on how we can contribute to capital projects around the campus and which future events are desired amongst our parent group. Please take a few minutes to give us your feedback and input; the BCPA is here to serve the whole school community and can do that best with input from everyone.

Thanks for your support of the BCPA and the extended Barker community and we look forward to hearing from you.

Scott Barnett BCPA Vice President

The purpose of the BCPA is to provide support for parents from Pre-K to Year 12, fostering friendship and community across the College.

Alumni Profile

Mitch Fifield (Class of 1984) is the Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations. Prior to this appointment he served as a Senator for Victoria representing the Liberal Party from 2004 to 2019. During this time he held several ministerial positions in the Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison governments.

What has been your journey since finishing at Barker?

The journey wasn’t really planned. I’ve essentially done what’s fun and interesting. At Sydney University I had the intention of becoming a military psychologist, but student politics got the better of me and a career in politics followed.

So sixteen years in the Senate (representing Victoria not NSW) and serving as a cabinet minister in communications, the arts, cyber safety, digital government, disabilities, aged care and as Deputy Senate Leader - under three PMs.

And for the past almost four years

I’ve been in New York serving as the Australian Ambassador to the United Nations where I lead a team from DFAT, ADF and AFP representing Australia’s interests to UN General Assembly, UN Security Council and the other 192 UN Member States.

What inspired your career path?

The ability to advocate and to influence events. To make a case and carry people with you. This allows you to make change where it’s needed.

What is your proudest achievement?

Two things.

Firstly, laying the foundations of the National Disability Insurance Scheme. It’s a great non-partisan venture. It’s not perfect, but it has delivered a much better deal for Australians with disability.

Secondly, reforming Australia’s media laws to put our media organisations on a more level playing field with the global giants, so we continue to hear Australian stories in Australian voices.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most?

Developing real relationships, rather than transactional ones. This is the key to achieving in politics whether on the floor of the Australian Senate or the floor of the UN General Assembly.

If you want another MP or Ambassador to take an interest in what matters to your government or your country, you have to take an interest in what matters to them, and have a relationship separate to the business at hand.

What’s next for you after your role at the UN concludes in July?

As I say, I have never really planned anything professionally. But a role in the international system or heading an Australian not-for-profit both have an attraction.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Barker?

Being in the 2nds Basketball team. Barker 1sts were the Australian School Boy Champions for a decade in the 70’s and 80’s. So even being in the 2nds felt pretty cool.

Do you have any advice for today’s students?

Many will tell you that you’re too young to do something, until they start telling you that you’re too old. Few will ever say that this is the right time for you. So when you feel you’re ready to tackle something. Do it.

The only other piece of advice is that success is 90 percent persistence. The person who succeeds is the one who hangs in there for a figurative 15 minutes longer than anyone else.

Stokesleigh

As Barker prepares for the opening of a new building, some might wonder what the first building opening may have been like.

Known simply as ‘The House’, the structure was the first permanent brick building on the Hornsby campus. Built in 1895, and occupied from the start of 1896, it is the oldest surviving building on the School grounds, and one of the oldest houses in Hornsby. In 1970, the building was renamed ‘Stokesleigh’, which was entirely fitting, given the fact that its design was based on the Stokesleigh homestead in Kurrajong Heights, where Barker College was founded in 1891. When Barker College moved to Hornsby in 1896, the building accommodated the whole school. It was a low set Federation brick bungalow with a timber verandah and corrugated iron roof. Although simple in design, all major rooms had marble fireplaces and the front door was finished with stained glass panels and fine brass knob. Adjoining this building was a weatherboard structure which contained the dining hall and school room, which was unfortunately destroyed by fire in 1935.

When Mr Carter became Headmaster in 1905, the School had already grown to 50 students. By this time, only the youngest boys resided in ‘The House’ with the older boys relocated to neighbouring cottages. In 1920 the ‘Dormitory Block’, now known

as Carter House, was built to accommodate all the boarders, and from this time ‘The House’ no longer housed any students.

Mr Carter moved to a private dwelling in Wahroonga in 1914, and until his retirement in 1929, ‘The House’ was occupied by the Senior Master. For many alumni, it was known as the ‘Headmaster’s House’ as it was the place of residence of the Headmaster from 1929-1972. Since 1972, Stokesleigh has provided accommodation for the Head of Boarding.

Etymology of Stokesleigh

Stokesleigh likely comes from the Old English ‘stoc’ to mean ‘place’, in this instance the genitive singular ‘stoces’, roughly translated as ‘my place’ and the Old English ‘leigh’ to mean ‘pasture, heather, or meadow’ and so the word Stokesleigh can be roughly translated to ‘my place in the meadow’ which was very apt for the Stokesleigh guesthouse at Kurrajong Heights!

Rachel Byrne Senior Archivist

Left to Right ‘The House’ at Barker College, Hornsby, 1899; ‘Stokesleigh’ at Barker College, Kurrajong Heights, 1894.

Introducing our new Chair

After six years as Chair of the Barker Foundation, John Slack-Smith has stepped aside from the role, and Aaron Black, has been appointed as the Foundation’s new Chair, with Meline Nazloomian and Cellina Chen, appointed as Deputies

Under John’s leadership, the Foundation introduced several new initiatives and programs, including a three-year Strategic Plan in 2022 and its focus on five key pillars. John’s guidance, hard work and dedication to building on the work of previous Foundation Chairs, was acknowledged at the Board’s March meeting, by the incoming Chair, Aaron Black.

Aaron is a Barker Old Boy (1992) and joined the Foundation two years ago. His two sons, Harry (Year 12) and Charlie (Year 10) commenced their Barker schooling in the early years of Barker’s Prep School.

An M&A Advisory Partner and Head of Private Equity at Deloitte, Aaron is looking forward to building on the significant work implemented during John’s tenure.

“Before I joined the Foundation, I was certainly aware of its role in the School. However, I was not across the detail or the depth of support that the Foundation provides students throughout the School,” Aaron explained.

“In particular, the Foundation’s support of Scholarships and endowments. Last year we introduced three new Named Scholarships to support current students. These are means tested and assist families who may be experiencing circumstances that would otherwise prevent them from completing their Barker education.

“Through the continued efforts of the Foundation and the support of the Barker community, it is our hope to build on these endowments and bursaries.

“The Foundation provides opportunities throughout the year to bring our community together, including events such as our Dragon Boat Festival lunch and the Indigenous Education Fundraising dinner supporting the School’s three campuses. I hope that you will consider joining us and learning more about the important work of the Barker Foundation at one of our events.”

If you would like to learn more about the Barker Foundation please visit www.barker.college/ community/foundation or contact Julie McAllister, Head of Advancement and Communications –jmcallister@barker.nsw.edu.au

Julie McAllister Head of Advancement & Communications

Old Barker Association Contacts email: oba@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)

Nominee 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

School Contacts

Director of Alumni and Community Relations

Karina Drummond (02)8438 7283 kdrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Archives

Rachel Byrne (02)8438 7290 archives@barker.nsw.edu.au

Events Manager

Julie Fitzpatrick (02)8438 7240 events@barker.nsw.edu.au

Interstate and International Barker Contacts

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

Brisbane

Andrew Wilkie (01)

0412 779 383 (m) andrew.wilkie@morgans.com.au

Canberra

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

Jeremy Talbot (16) 0429 408 284 Jeztalbot111@gmail.com

Melbourne

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

Newcastle

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

Northern Rivers

Graham Lawson (62)

0451 442 933 emeri1@y7mail.com

Perth

Gus Elliot (92) 0416 298 774 (m) gus.elliot14@gmail.com

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

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

Japan

Carl Bastian (93) carl@rwo.okinawa

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

New Zealand Vacant

Oceania (Fiji)

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

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

OBA President’s Message

In honouring around 1000 alumni who served in overseas wars, the School acknowledged what that service meant for our nation. I was honoured to represent the alumni community and want to recognise the incredible words offered by the School’s student leaders in honouring those who had fallen in defence of Australia.

The ANZAC commemoration also provided an opportunity to recognise the service of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander servicemen and servicewomen. As the nation considers a proposal to recognise Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in the Constitution it was appropriate to reflect on the contribution Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people have made to our ANZAC history and as part of the Barker Community. I look forward to talking to our members more about the Voice proposal in the lead up to our Annual General Meeting.

The OBA’s Mentoring and Networking program continues to move from strength to strength. We have had an incredible response to our call out for mentors and mentees and we are looking forward to building these relationships that enhance the connection members have with each other. The sheer range of professions represented is testament to the strength of our alumni network. Those who attended our networking event heard from some of our alumni about their careers and got the chance to build their network with other alumni. We are looking forward to hosting more of these in coming months.

The OBA is exploring ways we can offer events that are interesting to our members. In addition to our networking events, we will be hosting our annual Golf

Day and Back to Barker events, with more to come on what we are hoping to offer those interested in coming back to support Barker’s sports teams and attend reunions. As always – let us know if you have ideas on what we could be delivering for you!

I would like to acknowledge the impact cost of living pressures have had on our community, including those within the Barker community. The OBA is committed to ensuring it is providing as much support as it can to our members. Our Support for Life program is free to members and provides access to specialist counselling support for those who need a bit of help in dealing with issues in their lives or the lives of loved ones. I encourage anyone needing help in dealing with stress to reach out to our Support for Life program.

I must finish on a sad note as I reflect on the passing of Tony Gamson (78). Tony was a titan of the Barker Community. He was a lifelong and passionate advocate for Barker and the OBA – an unstoppable force for good who made significant contributions through his time as a student, parent, School Council member and his leadership of the OBA as President. Tony has left an indelible mark on the Barker Community, particularly as a tireless advocate for the School's building program, coeducation and having the alumni community at the centre of the School. Our thoughts are with Tony's wife Meegan and son Jordan (17) at this time. We will miss him as a friend, mentor and advocate for all things Barker.

Angus Abadee (07) OBA President

As the School returned for Term 2, it turned to commemorate ANZAC Day and what it has meant to our School and Australia as a whole.

Life Beyond Barker

Anna Bernasek (Class of 1986) is currently the Global Head of Thought Leadership at State Street Corporation, one of the largest providers of financial services in the world. She shares her experiences since leaving Barker.

What has been your journey since finishing Barker?

After Barker I attended university in the US and then came back to Sydney to begin my writing career. My writing on business and economics subjects has included positions at two of the world’s leading newspapers (The Sydney Morning Herald and The New York Times) and several magazines (TIME, Fortune and Newsweek) as well as at a global management consulting firm (McKinsey & Company) and now a global financial institution (State Street). I have lived and worked in Sydney, Canberra, Prague, Budapest and New York (where I’ve lived since 1999). I’ve published two books, All You Can Pay: How Companies Use our Data to Empty Our Wallets (Nation Books 2015) and The Economics of Integrity (HarperStudio 2010). Somehow along the way I married an American lawyer and had two beautiful babies who are now accomplished young women.

What inspired your career path?

My father. He was a professor of economics at Macquarie University and we always talked about economics together. My father was old school. To him, the goal of economics wasn’t to build the fanciest mathematical model but to solve the world’s most pressing problems.

What is your proudest achievement?

My daughters, Lily (20) and Natalie (16), are the pride of my life. Professionally I have derived the most satisfaction from contributing to progress on some of the most significant issues we face, including building a sustainable economy and using artificial intelligence for widespread benefit.

What aspect of your work do you enjoy the most? Coming up with new ideas. A new way to understand a topic, a new angle to view an issue, a way to bridge the gap between opposing concerns.

Do you have a favourite memory from your time at Barker?

After a hard week of studying my friends and I would meet on Friday afternoons at a coffee shop in Chatswood. It was our safe place where we could decompress from the week and plan the weekend. Going to parties, seeing bands, and hanging out together were really important to us.

Do you have any advice for today’s students?

Don’t be afraid! Try things, keep trying, and keep learning about yourself. Don’t count setbacks as failures, they are steps on the path to success. Learn what you like and what you don’t like, and along the way, develop a sense of what a successful life would look like for you. Go for it!

OBA Groups

OBA Groups

Old Barker Football Club

Go to that mystery drawer in your office/kitchen and pull out a rubber band. Now, stretch that rubber band between your fingers and give it twang … that melodic B-flat is the phonological representation of the 035’s team hamstrings. Now pull a little harder … That higher pitch F-major is the shrill cry of mercy coming from the overburdened hamstrings of Ben Holland (96), Mike Poon (95) and Dave Garrick (95) … now pull a little harder … !Snap! That onomatopoeic climax sees Dominic Kua (03), Ned Robinson (05) and Ross Kightley (03) sidelined. Something was clearly lacking from the Barker PDHPE curriculum around the turn of the century. An early draw, victory and two losses for 035s in Division 1 sees the team mixing it with the best, a reasonable start for a team that spent 2022 in Division 3.

Division 2 got off to the worst possible season start. As former

OBA Volleyball

This year marks the exciting inauguration of Old Barker Volleyball. We are looking forward to a successful 2023 season in the Sydney North Volleyball Leagues’ A grade division, played on Monday evenings. While the Club is new, the team has been playing for five years and is comprised entirely of alumni that have coached or been coached by one another. It is because of this that our team still feels rooted in CAS Saturday mornings.

Barker Football Manger, and long-time economic tsar of the dismal science, John McGrath warned, the worst position on the football field was ‘left-rightout’… meaning you’d found yourself benched. The pre-season recruitment drive lacked sufficient magnetism, and a re-opening of borders saw a core playing group relocate overseas. An insufficient squad was forced to withdraw from the Division 2 full field competition for 2023. This appears to be a community wide phenomenon, with the Northern Suburbs Football Association having to compress all-age divisions from two team squads into singular teams below Division 3 and the 035s competition contracting from six divisions to four. Whether this is a sustained trend or an idiosyncratic response to a disconnection from team sport due to COVID remains to be seen.

Age appears to be catching up with the Division 4 men’s all age team, having gotten off to their slowest start in a football season

since

formation. With only three games played, it’s too early to draw too much into proceedings for a team that has claimed the most silverware in the last generation of competition. A good general saves his toughest battles for his best soldiers, and so it will be for Rahul Sathiaraj (13) and Liam Demaine (13) in rallying their troops.

There will be a strong push in the back end of 2023 to again canvas feasibility for a squad based all-age playing group to challenge upper echelons of community football. Please reach out to a club contact to express interest being part of the next chapter of OBFC annals in 2024. Contact information available at www.oldbarkerfc.com

We hope no readers’ fingers were injured while reading this article.

Matt Vickers (05)

Volleyball at Barker has grown significantly over the last few years going from three teams in 2019 to thirteen in the current 2023 season. The recent growth has been further driven by the successful establishment of a girl’s program. As the sports’ presence in the School strengthens, more graduating students have expressed interest in continuing their Volleyball career with Barker. Due to this, we are looking to expand to a second team in the latter half of this year.

As the founder of the Club, I personally want to thank the OBA Board Members for their

assistance and time in the process of establishing the organisation.

Callan Butler (17)

Old Barker Rugby

Season 2023 is under way at Old Barker Rugby Club and, after a bye in Round One, there have been some promising results that followed, with optimism for at least a couple of teams to have Finals appearances later in the season. The weather has been kind and some entertaining rugby has been displayed under the allnew coaching staff this season, comprising Andrew Johnson (90) and Hugh Doran (09, 1st Grade), Sean Parker (2nd Grade), Angus Blakemore (16) and Sam Jackson (20, Colts), and Jordan Fowles (Women’s 7s).

Colts, under the captaincy of Ben Peden (20), and including the likes of Ed Taylor (20), Jack Colbran (21) and Grant Tucker (20), have shown signs of promise, and are hoping for some improved results as the season progresses.

2nd Grade have started the season strongly, with two wins from three

OBA Big Band

The OBA Big Band has spent the start of the year exploring and perfecting new material. Since making a conscious decision to focus on improvisation, our repertoire has become even more eclectic.

A new band favourite is the piece Il Barone Rosso. Originally written for the 1974 Italian movie La bellissima estate, it's now become an internet meme after being used as the theme for the popular TV show Curb Your Enthusiasm.

A recent addition is the piece "Wedding March", an Australian composition by Newtown-based mariachi Waiting for Guinness. The calm, slow march of the first movement contrasts with the fast, chaotic, 7/8 rhythms of the second. The formal precision when walking down the aisle, ultimately abandoned as a couple's giddy excitement takes over by the end of the day.

games, and stellar performances from the likes of Hamish Phipps (14), Liam Northcott (13) and Tim Potter (18) and some older heads showing they can still play a bit, including Gavin Opie (84), David Taylor (84) and Nick Eagleton (92). The “Peoples XV”, as they’ve become known, are always a highlight for the spectators, and silverware is anticipated come the pointy end of the season.

1st Grade have been training hard under their new coaching team and, after a couple of first up losses, are starting to reap the rewards with a big win over Old Ignatians in the last round. Strong performances from the likes of Sandy Locker (17), Angus Brodie (17), Adam Wigglesworth (15), and Connor Thomas (17) have been supported well by some rookie 1st graders such as Jack Breden (19), Charlie Vaughn (18), Andrew Castrisos (18) and Charlie Crawshaw (19). Finals beckon.

By the time you’ve read this, we will have celebrated our annual “Ladies

We look forward to performing these pieces at Barker Swings, later in the year. In the meantime, our most recent album is currently being mixed and mastered by members in the band. You can listen to our non-studio recordings and find out more at www. OBABigBand.com

Day” and hope to have raised a tidy sum for Hornsby Ku-Ring-Gai Women’s Shelter. This year sees Ladies Day being played against our archrival, Knox Old Boys, so hopefully as well as accumulating charity dollars, we’ll also have accumulated a brace of tries.

Our Women’s Sevens team has been training hard each week and the month of May finally sees their season getting underway. There are still some spots available in the squad and if anyone is interested in playing this year it’s never too late to come down (please contact bobrufcpresident@gmail.com).

Lastly, to find out any information about the season ahead, including announcements about upcoming games, events, or the Women’s Sevens program, follow us on Facebook and Instagram.

Nick Eagleton (92) Secretary Old Barker Rugby Club

Luke Davis (09)

OBA Groups

OBA Christian Fellowship

The OBACF met up for our annual Easter Breakfast in April, this time participating in a mini bible study led by 2018 graduate, Joshua Charles, who is currently in his second year of a ministry apprenticeship. It was encouraging to gather and hear about the message of Easter and learn from each other. We also enjoyed some

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

yummy pastries and a coffee before starting the day. We had a wide range of year groups represented this year which was great to see. Coming up over the next few months will be an online event to catch up with our non-Sydney friends - stay tuned for more details!

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)

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 focused 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, 7 days a week. These sessions are available to anyone feeling like they would 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-barkerassociation

The entire Barker community is all in this together.

Talk to an online psychologist today

Old Barker Association is supporting you with 3 sessions with My Mirror online psychologist.

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 North Shore Wind Symphony

North Shore Wind Symphony (NSWS) recently ventured to Newcastle to partake in the Australian National Band Championships. We competed in the Open A Grade Concert Band competition and were very pleased with our result. We had the highest score in the test piece by Australian Composer, David Stanhope, best

solo in the competition, Lewis Pastars on Tuba in the Third Symphony by James Barnes, and overall 3rd place. We would like to thank the Old Barker Association for the ongoing support, event sponsors, competition organisers, and of course all of our musicians and conductor, Andrew McWade. A full recording of our performance can be accessed via brassbanned. com under Open A Grade Concert Band, starting from 06:49pm.

We have a very strong ensemble and are looking forward to the rest of the year. We encourage all Alumni to reach out via our social media pages or website if they would like to join us.

El Brimblecombe

Community Events

Bike Ride For Brain Cancer

A group of bike riders set off on the 250km journey from Barker to the Hunter Valley over two days in early May in support of brain cancer research. This was the fifth year of the event which was started in honour of Lucie Leonard (Class of 1995) who lost her seven-year battle with brain cancer in 2012.

Two staff members, Lesley Moxon and Scott Hosford, along with Barker parents, friends and supporters of this important fundraiser, were riding to help make a difference and accelerate brain cancer research.

New Parent Event

New Parents to Barker were welcomed to an event in the Multi-Purpose Hall on 2 March. Parents from Pre-K through to our Senior years enjoyed connecting with each other and meeting staff members in this relaxed setting. Presentations from the Head of Barker College, the Chair of the Council of Barker College, Chair of the Barker Foundation and representatives from the Barker College Parents Association and the Old Barker Association added to the evening. A wonderful event enjoyed by all who attended.

OBA Networking Event in Sydney CBD

The OBA Networking Event held in May was attended by Alumni ranging from the Class of 1960 to 2022. Besides being a great opportunity for alumni to connect with one another, the OBA also officially launched the Barker Alumni Online Mentoring Platform. The presenters on the panel shared their experiences and discussed the benefits of mentoring with the audience, resulting in wonderful intergenerational chats throughout the evening. Special thanks to Peter Gray (89) who generously hosted this event at his Zip offices and was on the panel, additional panellists Simone Allan (84), Jack Brown (16) and Kathy Peiris (84), moderator Dush Sharma (05) and to Anna Sutton (05) for her warm welcome. We look forward to seeing you for the next networking event in August.

Community Events

New York Event

Alumni ranging from the Class of 1971 through to the Class of 2019 attended an event in New York on Friday 28 April generously hosted by H.E. Ambassador Mitch Fifield at the Australian ConsulateGeneral.

Attendees appreciated the warm welcome from the Ambassador and were inspired by the update on the School from Phillip Heath.

A diverse range of careers were represented, and all enjoyed getting to know one another and sharing their Barker experiences.

Community Events

OBA Seniors Lunch

The OBA Seniors annual luncheon at the Hornsby RSL Club was held in May with Alumni from the Class of 1948 to the Class of 1970 attending.

The Guest Speaker Chris Russell AM (70) shared fascinating stories about his life. Chris also interviewed Luci Gow (22) who was the recipient of the W S Leslie Scholarship while she was at Barker.

Phillip Heath AM provided an update on the School which was very much appreciated by those in attendance.

We look forward to seeing the OBA Seniors next at Barker for their AGM and lunch prior to the last home game of the Rugby season on Saturday 29 July 2023.

Alumni Mentoring Program

By connecting inspirational alumni leaders and entrepreneurs with aspirational mentees, the platform creates a sense of belonging, fosters a culture of shared learning, and unlocks personal and professional growth opportunities. We kicked off the launch with a webinar for Mentors to learn how to use the platform, followed by a session for Mentees.

What sets this program apart is its use of AI to suggest mentor-mentee matches through the Mentor Cloud platform. This ensures that mentees are paired with mentors who have the right skills, expertise, and experience to help them achieve their goals. With mentors from around the globe and across industries already signed up on the platform, the opportunities for mentees to learn from the best in their field are unparalleled.

Mentoring is a powerful tool that can inspire and motivate both mentors and mentees. By participating in the Barker Alumni Mentoring program, alumni mentors can use their wealth of knowledge and experience to help fellow alumni navigate their careers and achieve success. Mentees, on the other hand, can gain access to valuable insights, network with industry leaders, and open doors to new opportunities.

The online platform is supported with regular webinars. The third interactive session "Speed Networking" was held on Thursday 11 May. These have been a great introduction to the platform and the benefits of mentoring. If you missed any session, they are available in the Learn section on the platform. We look forward to seeing you online for the next one. The first in-person OBA networking event was held in May (see page 53) with the next one planned for August.

There's no better time to register your interest in the program. By doing so, you'll gain access to a wealth of resources to assist with your mentoring relationship, including mentorship opportunities and recorded webinars that provide more information on the program. Don't miss out on this chance to take your career to the next level - register today https://oba. net.au/alumnimentoring to unlock your access to alumni mentorship.

Queries: alumni@barker.nsw.edu.au

The Barker Alumni Mentoring program launched in late February and is a game-changer for young graduates and professionals looking for mentorship to grow in their careers.

Personal Notes

(Number in brackets is the alumni year)

Jim Cox (54) I left Barker in Year 10 to undertake the three year agriculture diploma course at Hawkesbury Agriculture College. After successfully completing the course I spent the next nine years in PNG as an agricultural officer assisting locals at village level producing and processing crops such as copra, rubber, cocoa, coffee, tobacco and dryland rice. I then returned to Queensland working briefly in the sugarcane industry before moving to Tasmania to produce strawberry runner plants supplying growers Australia-wide. Starting with one tractor and one cool-room we had expanded to three tractors and three cool-rooms at time of selling out. We retired to Devonport where life is good. My wife, Val and I are members of the local Country Club where we have taken up croquet, playing in social and pennant matches. Our second son David lives next door and joins us in our happy hour sessions playing Chinese chequers - lots of fun. Still retain vivid memories of Headmaster W S Leslie (aka The Boss) who was always strict but fair.

Arthur Hunt (58) and his wife Laurel recently completed a 7,000 km return trip from Yeppoon in Queensland to Tasmania. The trip enabled Arthur to attend the 1958/59 reunion lunch in Sydney in February. The story of their trip has been published in the Clean Technica newsletter https://cleantechnica. com/2023/03/08/charger-problem-so

Begbie brothers – Ian (58), Graeme (63), Malcolm (60) and Hugh (67) After a five year gap, in April the Begbie brothers were at last able to meet for a much desired and long planned family reunion in Sydney. Ian and Graeme are now both retired in Sydney, but still volunteering in their retirement villages. Hugh travelled down from Queensland where he lives, leaving a locum to join us. Malcolm came from Hong Kong where he serves with his wife Sally as Founding Directors of Crossroads Foundation, an international Hong Kong based, non-profit organisation serving global need. Monthly internet chats not-withstanding, they and their families all agreed nothing beats being physically together again.

Left to right Graeme, Ian, Hugh & Malcolm

John Robins (67) and his son Josh Robins (16) visited Barker in March. Josh is based in LA and was visiting in Sydney for a friend’s wedding. They enjoyed meeting staff and touring the Rosewood Centre, admiring the facilities available for current students.

Ian Somerville (73) and Philip Barrie (73) discussed their upcoming 50 year reunion over breakfast on the Mornington Peninsula.

Ian was an accountant and worked for many years for BHP Engineering (Sydney, Perth and ultimately settling in Melbourne with his wife and five children) and prior to “retirement” was CEO of BHP Credit Union. Post retirement, Ian returned to his love, as demonstrated in many of the Barker drama productions, to the theatre and is still a Financial Consultant to the Entertainment industry working with Global Creatures which have been responsible for Broadway Musicals Moulin Rouge, Strictly Ballroom and Muriel’s Wedding as well as King Kong and Walking with Dinosaurs.

Philip Barrie, now Head of Regional Safety – Asia Pacific at CAE, worked previously as Manager Pilot Training at Etihad Airways, previous a 747 Captain for the Bahrain Royal Family, an Instructor/Captain for Gulf Air and a 747 pilot for Singapore Airlines.

Tim Strong (79) has been the Dean of Medicine at University of Tasmania since August 2021. Previously he was Staff Specialist Anaesthetist at Launceston General Hospital between 2001 and 2021. He is married to Dr Jane Strong with four sons aged 29, 27, 26 and 21.

Tanya Moore (05) and Jason Bryan finally celebrated their wedding on 8 March 2023. It was a long time coming after the proposal in 2019 and having planned to be married in October 2020. Unfortunately, with the pandemic they had to postpone the wedding twice but after a patient wait, they were able to finally have their celebration in beautiful Bali with all their closest friends and family! A lovely ceremony attended by several Barker Alumni. Takaya Honda (05) as a Bridesman, Alex and Matt Williams (05), Joel O'Brien (05) and Kate Stevenson (04). Tanya’s brother Sean Moore (08) sang at the wedding.

Tanya has many great memories from her time at Barker. She played in the 1st XI Girls Soccer Team, was the first girl to play in the 1st Volleyball squad, was Cha Cha in Grease the Musical, played Puk in the Year 12 play Midsummer Nights Dream and received an Art Express nomination.

Emilia Richards (07) visited Barker in May to donate two copies of her debut novel Weyward before returning to London. She writes under the pen name Emilia Hart and her book is already a New York Times bestseller. Emilia acknowledged her English teacher, Althea Halliday in her book and shared how much she loved her time at Barker and the excellent teaching and pastoral care which had a huge impact on her.

Piper Duck (19) became the youngest ever Super W Captain when the Waratah’s opened their season in March and in late May was named the Wallaroos Captain.

Georgie Oldham (20), Natalie Sawyer (20) and Ben Peden (20) were awarded AgriFutures Australia Horizon Scholarships for 2023/24. This is an incredibly well deserved recognition and a very exciting opportunity for each of them. The sponsors they will work with are: Ben - AgriFutures evokeAg (Ag/Tech), Natalie - Grains Research & Development Corporation (GRDC), Georgie - Cotton Research & Development Corporation (CRDC).

Amy Sayer (19) was called up to play for the Matildas squad in the FIFA Womens International Window in April.

Alana Kavanagh (21) was recently awarded player of the tournament at the U21 National Hockey championships (NSW took out the championship) and has recently been named in the Australia A team to play in the Hockeyroos against India in an upcoming series in Adelaide.

Lachlan Hooper (22) and Ned Slack-Smith (21) were selected in the Junior Wallabies Training Squad. Lucy Barden (22) was awarded the S&S Creativity Unlimited Award at the TEXStyle HSC Exhibition for her beautiful work entitled ‘Katniss’. The TEXStyle HSC Exhibition is an annual event, designed to showcase excellence and promote Textiles and Design in both the education and wider communities.

Baptisms in the Barker Chapel

19 February, Robert David Steel, son of Sylvia and David Steel (04, current Junior School Teacher)

12 March, Tahlia Annette Tong, daughter of Ashley and Nicholas Tong (06)

2 April, Cruz Robin Walter, son of Jarrod and Laura Walter (Hayter 09), Xander John Hayter, son of Steve and Nicole Hayter (Tracy 06)

16 April, Sadie James Hunter, daughter of Mitchell Hunter (08) and Lauren Hunter

Weddings in the Barker Chapel

22 May, Daniel Chua (Staff Member, Maths) and Pinysia Supahdi

Joanna Kong (22) Tom Vercoe (22) attended the Legal Studies Association of NSW Top 20 evening early March which recognised their success in their Legal Studies HSC exams. Tom was 1st in State, and Joanna came 9th.

13 May 2023 Chris Bradbury (11) married Aria Grace (11). Several alumni attended the wedding, including Nicole Fagen (11) and Nick Bradbury (11) in the bridal party. It was a very special occasion for all, particularly Aria's parents, Sandra and Richard Grace (78), who were married in the Barker Chapel in 1987.

Congratulations to each of them and to all the other Horizon scholars for 2023!

Isaiya Katoa (22) made his debut for the Dolphins Rugby League team in March against the Roosters.

Obituaries

had two daughters, Jacqueline in 1963 and Amanda in 1967.

On retirement Bill and Muriel travelled extensively in Europe including a trip on the TransSiberian Railway and a visit to the Channel Islands from which Muriel had emigrated prior to the outbreak of World War II.

They also took the opportunity to catch up in England with Muriel’s sister after a 33-year hiatus.

William (Bill) attended Barker as a boarder from 1941 to 1947 following in the footsteps of his father (Robert), uncle (Bruce) who were at Barker close to its inception and then elder brother, John (1940 to 1945).

Bill was an active participant in Barker extra-curricular activities including Swimming Team (1944 and 1945), Athletics Team (1945) and the Chess Team (1947).

On gaining his Leaving Certificate in 1947 Bill joined CSR Limited and served with distinction in a variety of accounting and financial roles throughout their diverse operations (including tenures in Fiji and Western Australia) culminating in a return to Sydney as Financial Controller from which he took early retirement in 1988.

Early in his career with CSR Limited, Bill was admitted as an Associate by the Australian Society of Accountants.

Bill, while working in Wittenoom (WA), met and married Muriel in 1961 and on their return to Sydney

In 1993 Bill and Muriel built a home in Berrima (NSW Southern Highlands) and lived there until moving to Caloundra in Queensland in 2021 to be closer to their daughter, Amanda.

Bill passed away peacefully in February this year following a short illness. He is remembered as a loving husband and father with a gentle and caring nature. Bill is survived by Muriel (his wife of 61 years) and his two daughters.

Amanda Taylor

1948 - 2023

children Nigel (95), Anne-Marie (98), Laura (00) and Ashleigh (05) also attended Barker. Bill was outstanding academically, receiving awards each year including Dux of Form IV in 1964 and Dux of the School in his final year. Bill served in the Cadets for three years attaining the rank of Sergeant. His sports included Rugby and Cricket. In Bill’s final year he was a School Prefect, House Captain of Wade House, Captain of the 2nd XI Cricket Team and ranked 100th in the State in his Leaving Certificate. He was awarded a Commonwealth Secondary Scholarship, Commonwealth University Scholarship and a Teacher Training Scholarship.

In 1968, Bill and two other exBarker boys, founded what was then called “BOBS” (Barker Old Boys Rugby) still popular with exstudents today and now includes woman’s teams.

Bill was still in contact with Barker friends and caught up whenever possible (attending a reunion last year).

Following Barker, Bill attained a degree in Electrical Engineering, followed by a Medical Degree at Sydney University.

Whilst working at Taree hospital as a Doctor, he met the love of his life, Jenny, a nurse at the time at the same hospital. He wrote in his diary after their first date “In Love”. They were married for 45 years.

Bill attended Barker during his high school years from 1961 to 1965. His brother Richard (63), and

(Number in brackets is the alumni year)

William McNeil Beith (47) 1931 - 2023

William (Bill) Frederick Cooper Cayzer (65)

Bill and Jenny moved to Grafton in 1980, where he set up the South Grafton Medical Centre working there for 37 years. During that time he also worked at Grafton Hospital, working many hours in Emergency, visiting local nursing homes, and doing incalculable numbers of house calls.

Bill worked hard for his family and was dedicated to his patients, but around these long work hours, he was always present and available to his family. The family holidays were often, and they continued right up until late last year. Dad loved having the family together at any opportunity.

After retiring just over five years ago, Bill said he couldn’t believe he ever had time to work. Coffee and cake out each morning with Jenny and the other weekly regulars, travelling with family/friends, fossicking in his study with 1000s of photos (family/friends donated a lot of time to his hobby of trying to get the perfect shot), and planning his next overseas trip with Jenny and children.

In April 2022, Bill was diagnosed with a rare form of Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. He had time to take a much-anticipated boat trip through Europe with Jenny at the end of last year, spend time with family and friends, and continue to enjoy 45 years married to his besotted, Jenny.

Bill passed away on 11 March 2023. He was the best husband and soul mate to Jenny, a wonderful Dad to Nigel, Anne-Marie, Laura, Ashleigh, and Grandpa to seven grandchildren, with another on the way.

Peter John Mason (58) 1942 - 2021

organisations he was involved with. He was warm hearted and never said no to helping someone out with a problem, such as getting tractors out of bogs, lending a piece of machinery and the like. Peter was a pioneer of ways of doing things at Hawk Hill such as direct drilling for crop sowing, leasing machinery, replanting trees on the land. Peter was the family chauffeur, general handyman, BBQ chef!

Peter attended Barker as a boarder from 1954 to 1958. His brother Geoffrey (71) and his son Richard (94) also attended Barker and his grandsons Samuel and Hugo are current students. During his time at School, Peter received many mentions in The College Barker publication for his involvement in Athletics, Cricket and Soccer. He was also outstanding academically receiving many prizes on Speech Days, including Dux in 1956. Peter had other interests too and was on the House Committee for Plume House and was in the production of Macbeth in 1957.

Following Barker, Peter ran his farming and grazing propery "Hawk Hill" at Boorowa. He was involved in many community organisations, Apex (life member), Boorowa Picnic Races (life member) and President, Boorowa Show committee, Rural Fire Service member for 63 years, district group captain - leader of tanker taskforce to Blue Mountains fires in 1994, Chair of division 8 NSW Rural Fire Service, Burrowa (retirement) House founding committee, Boorowa & District Historical Society, Boorowa Hospital Auxiliary supporter and member, Boorowa Silo Committee and Chair, Landcare founding member/ pioneer, Junior Farmers member and later a member of the Farmers and Graziers.

He was a man who was always busy, whether on the farm, tinkering in his workshop or working with the various

Later in life, Peter yielded to Elizabeth’s desire to spend some time away from Hawk Hill and they travelled to Sydney regularly to visit family and newly arrived grandchildren.

In 2016 Peter had a stroke that changed the life of his and the family forever. Peter was strong willed and had no desire to stay in hospital after his stroke so really worked hard to get well enough to come home and stay away from hospital.

Peter, late of Boorowa, passed away on 23 August 2021 and is survived by his wife, Elizabeth. Richard

as a day student from 1983 until graduation in 1989. During his time at Barker, Michael proved himself to be the consummate all-rounder: strong academically; a capable sportsman; and a gifted musician. Even more important than his achievements, Michael showed himself to always be a loyal friend and so much fun to be

Cayzer family

Mason (94)

Michael Joseph McGlynn (89) 1971 - 2023

Michael McGlynn attended Barker College

around. Michael also harboured a not-so-secret passion for the martial arts.

Michael was born into a loving family in Eastwood, to devoted parents and three doting older siblings. The sudden loss of their father when Michael was in Year 6 had a profound effect on him. Despite this enormous setback, Michael determined to make the most of his time at Barker. He represented the School in tennis, cricket, soccer and rugby. He sang in the choir throughout high school and performed in the fun-filled frivolity of the 1989 Barker Music Hall. In 1990 Michael returned to Barker with a number of friends to stage the tribute show Bach to Barker, Billy Joel and Beyond, which was a resounding success.

Despite not having any formal musical education Michael’s astonishing musical talent became clearly evident during his senior years at Barker. The McCaskill Music Centre was not long open and Michael brought a ‘cool factor’ to the bass section of the senior choir with his incredible voice and infectious enthusiasm. He was also busy teaching himself piano and could often be found in the practice rooms after school jamming along to Elton John tunes or songs from the latest Lloyd Webber musical.

Upon leaving Barker, Michael gained entry into a Bachelor of Business at UTS Ku-ring-gai, as it was known then. Michael quickly realised that wasn’t for him. He withdrew after his first semester to pursue a career in his first love, music. His family and friends were unsure what that would mean, but it did see many of us following Michael around the RSL talent quest circuit and very soon he was writing and performing his own songs and wowing audiences.

In 1992 Michael and Barker friends Chris Hallowes (89) and Justin Duggan (89) along with Mike

Whyte and Tim Plummer formed the much-loved band Red Herring. Together they performed in many well-known venues around Sydney. The release of their first album ‘Creature’ led to airtime on Rage and Triple M. They also secured a number of gigs supporting some well-established artists including Rat Cat, Ian Moss and Spy vs Spy.

Michael was a talented songwriter. He also possessed an uncanny ability for performing covers in many musical genres. He was a gifted singer and pianist and could also play guitar and drums, making him an incredibly valuable and versatile musician. But it was in the recording studio where Michael found his true musical home. There he could combine his talents, his exacting ear and ability to bring out the best in other artists. For over a decade Michael ran his own recording studio, ‘Vienna People’. With over 100 million streams and success all over the world, as well as a lengthy list of gongs, including ARIA nominations and Golden Guitar Awards, Michael established ‘Vienna People’ as one of the freshest and most sought-after recording studios in Sydney.

Michael loved life and approached every day with passion and gratitude, determined to make every day count. He possessed an incredible generosity of spirit and a profound faith in humanity. Whether you knew him for a short time or a long time, Michael made you feel like you were his best friend. He would treat everyone the same — with love, friendship and enthusiasm.

The lives Michael touched during his 51 years are too many to count. They gathered in their hundreds in person at Macquarie Park and online for Michael’s funeral in February, led by long-time friend the Reverend Aleks Pinter (89). He will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

However it was to his own family that Michael remained steadfastly devoted. He is survived by his 95-year-old mother, Vivienne, his brother and sisters and their children, including Robert Coker (03) Elle McGlynn (05) and Madeleine McGlynn (07), and an ever-growing number of grandnephews and grandnieces whom he adored.

Michael died in his sleep on 12 February 2023, his life tragically cut short by a heart attack. To paraphrase his musical hero, Sir Elton John, Michael’s candle burned out long before his legend ever will.

Ian Barrie Ridley (53) 1936 - 2023

Ian was born in Lindfield on 17 July 1936, the second of three sons to Ethel and Jack. Our brother Graham was born in 1933. I was born in 1941.

Growing up, we had lived in Killara, Lindfield and Gordon. After a couple of years elsewhere for the early years of primary school, we were all educated at Barker.

Ian’s family nickname followed him to school where he was known as ‘Herc’. Family legend has it that when Dad first saw Ian he said ‘he looks like a little Hercules’ so Herc it was!

And he was a strong, solid young man. Not fat but solid. ‘Big bones’ mom used to explain. He bought a little motor scooter as soon as

Aleks Pinter (89) and Rosemary Curtin (89)

he was able - a Corgi, I think - and would head off with confidence, too often only to return too soon pushing it after a tyre had failed.

Ian’s school mate, Peter Bedggood told me of the occasion in primary school when the Prep Firsts football team was being selected. There was a weight limit of ten stone. So the teacher helpfully put his toe under the scales to ensure Herc made the grade.

Peter came from Melbourne with his wife Helen, Ross Langwill and Johnny Cox and Robyn for Ian’s funeral in Bowral. All were close mates of Ian at school and long after.

Ian was important to Barker’s sporting teams right through his schooling. A front row forward in the Firsts and again in the Associated Schools combined team. An outstanding shot-putter and member of the tug-of-war team.

He was Quartermaster Sergeant in the School Cadets. In his final year, 1953, he was appointed a School Prefect.

Ian followed our father into regional broadcasting and, like our dad, was to become an outstanding leader in regional commercial broadcasting.

To learn more of the trade, Ian first went off to the UK and Canada in 1957 to work in regional television in several locations – most notably in Sudbury in Ontario. It was there he met and in 1959 married a work colleague Mary Ellen, a wonderful personal and professional partnership that was to last for 64 years!

When the company won the TV licence for Orange, Ian and Mary Ellen moved there. Ian was deeply involved in all aspects of the preparation for operations including the design of the new

studios. Although he had no building design training, Ian proved to be a very skilful draftsman. With the chief engineer, Ernie Crouch, Ian totally designed the remarkable studios and offices which were soon to be a landmark at the entry to Orange.

Ian was initially the Program Manager, then Station Manager, General Manager and finally Managing Director.

CBN 8 went on to be a wonderful success and central to the success of other regional television stations. Its broadcast footprint extended to Bathurst, Dubbo and other adjacent areas. The company brand became MidState Television.

Ian had learned so much about the issues in television that he became the advisor to many other stations as they learned the hard way. Ian was the one they turned to for help.

Notably, he initiated the establishment of and was the first Chair of FACTS – the Federation of Australian Commercial Television Stations which was the new industry body to protect the interests of regional television.

Ian was very hands on. When someone had to climb the transmitting tower right up there on top of Mt Canoblas to get promotional film, Ian did it as he did not want to put any staff at risk. Mary Ellen did not learn of this until well after the mission was accomplished!

There is a website for past employees of CBN and it contains a great deal of history of the station. When word of Ian’s death spread through this site last week, there was a strong response and I would like to quote some of the comments.

Jim Wilkinson wrote that Ian ‘was a commanding figure like JR (dad).

Once met never forgotten’. Janelle Chapman said simply that ‘Ian was an icon of regional television and set a great standard for us all.’

He was also well known publicly. Like our uncle Alan some decades earlier, Ian was approached to run for the federal seat of Calare but declined, to maintain his commitment to the television company and industry.

He had had an early engagement with politics – in Killara the family lived close to the retired Prime Minister, Billy Hughes. Ian and Billy chatted across the fence but this did not seem to spark his interest in a political career. Ian would have been about four years old at the time.

Our dad was about to retire but died on Christmas Day in 1966 and Ian was appointed by the Board as Managing Director. He ran the business very successfully for nearly twenty years. Ian certainly had dad’s business skills but he also had mom’s gentle and caring nature.

Ian and Mary Ellen moved to Sydney in 1988 and, after retirement, moved to Burradoo in 1996. There, Ian was able to focus on his lifelong love of gardening – his vegetable garden was renowned! And, in his spacious garage, pursued his, again selftaught, skill with wood working. Ian and Mary Ellen put a great deal of time into being with and helping their family and grandchildren. And travel.

Ian was a truly principled man. Very generous to family and friends and caring to those who needed his support. Utterly without vanity or pride, thoughtful, gentle, generous. A life so very well lived.

John Ridley AM (58)

John Gilmour Nutt AM 1934 - 2023

Former Council of Barker College member

Rarely has the Council of Barker College been blessed with a person of Engineer Dr John Nutt’s intellect, professional standing and wealth of knowledge in their ranks. Indeed much of the infrastructure built in the 1990s on the main campus, which the current Barker community now enjoys, has the engineering (and fundraising) fingerprints of John Nutt all over it. Professionally John was one of the most respected engineers of his era – finally as global Chairman of one of the leading international engineering groups, Ove Aarup Partnerships - until his retirement in 1999. He was the key consulting engineer who brought the flamboyant Opera House sails, designed by by Danish architect Karl Utzon, into reality using then, innovative, concrete techniques and practical solutions to make them both structurally sound and more affordable. He was also personally responsible for the engineering of three of the top ten tallest buildings in Sydney including Gov. Phillip Tower and Gov. Macquarie tower.

He was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1992 for his services to Engineering and received four honorary doctorates in engineering (in addition to his own PhD from Manchester

University in the UK) and numerous fellowships and awards from Universities and professional institutions throughout the world. He served on the Barker College Foundation and Council from 1984 to 1994. He and his wife of 63 years, Roberta, had a family of five children who all graduated from Barker – Simon (77), Charlotte (78), Nigel (83), Matthew (85), and Abigail (87). John served as a member and then Chairman of the Barker Foundation and was appointed to the Council of Barker College where he became a much valued member of the Building Committee where he was instrumental in the then complicated engineering design of the Music Centre, Design Centre and Aquatic Centre, amongst other buildings.

John seemed always able to offer optimal solutions to each issue as it arose and had the presence and background that demanded our attention. In recoding his retirement in 1994 in the July edition of The Barker, the then Chair of The Council Building Committee –Bob Bland – reflected “To have had an adviser of the calibre of John Nutt at Barker has been of enormous value, and the School community can be very proud of the contribution he has made.” Vale John Nutt.

Chris Russell (70)

OBA Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the 115th Annual General Meeting of the Old Barker Association Inc. will be held in the Sue Field Room, Rosewood Centre, Barker College, Hornsby on Wednesday 2 August 2023 at 6.30pm.

1. Acknowledgement of Country

2. Apologies

3. Confirmation of Minutes of the 114th Annual General Meeting of the Old Barker Association Inc. held on 27 July 2022

4. President’s Report (including progress on OBA Strategy)

5. President’s Award

6. Report by the Head of Barker College, Mr Phillip Heath

7. Honorary Treasurer’s report

8. To receive and consider the Income and Expenditure Report for the financial year ended on 30 June 2023, together with the balance sheet at that date

9. Appointment of Honorary Auditor

10. To receive and consider the Annual Statement to be lodged with the Department of Fair Trading for the year to 30 June 2022

11. Election of Office Bearers (to be confirmed). Refer note below.

12. Amendments to the OBA Constitution (to be confirmed)

13. Other Business permitted to be raised pursuant to clause 31(2) of the Constitution

By Order of the Committee Dush Sharma, Honorary Assistant Secretary

Note: In accordance with the requirement of Clause 29(2) of the Constitution any further nominations are hereby called and shall be in writing, signed by a Member of the Association, endorsed by the candidate and lodged with the Honorary Secretary at least twenty-one (21) days prior to the meeting in compliance with Clause 29(3). Any nominee must be a financial member of the OBA.

Note: Committee members serve a three-year term on a revolving basis. Hence not all positions are open at each AGM.

Please note, advice will be sent to alumni with login details if the AGM has to be held remotely via Teams.

OBA Annual Golf Day 2023

All Welcome Friends | Colleagues | Clients

Tuesday 5 September 2023 at 11.00am

RSVP: Wednesday 16 August 2023

Pennant Hills Golf Club

Green Fees & Catering* (non PHGC Members): $125.00 pp

Green Fees & Catering* (PHGC Golf Members): $55.00 pp

Cart Hire to be booked through PHGC (8860 5860)

*Pre and post event food included.

Booking: www.trybooking.com/CIJTZ

Queries: Julie Fitzpatrick 8438 7240 | events@barker.nsw.edu.au

Please contact Julie if you would like to explore opportunities to profile your organisation at this event.

Saturday 16 September 2023

Milestone Reunions – Back to Barker Day

Alumni from the Classes of 1953, 1963, 1973, 1983, 1993, 2003, 2013 are warmly invited to celebrate their milestone reunions at Barker College.

SAVE THE DATE 1963 1973

This inaugural event is a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with one another and see what has changed since your time at Barker.

Though the day will see multiple reunions at the School, rest assured each reunion will be held in its own space. There will also be an opportunity to attend a Chapel service, visit the Archives and take a tour of the School. Invitations with a booking link will be emailed in July. Enquiries: alumni@barker.nsw.edu.au

We look forward to welcoming you back!

Barker Community Events 2023

Class Reunions

Milestone Reunions

Back to Barker Sat 16 Sep events@barker.nsw.edu.au

1983 - 40 Year Reunion

Sat 16 Sep

TBA tba@tba.com

1988 - 35 Year Reunion

Sat 14 Oct

Ainsley Blaxell ainsleybj@hotmail.com

1993 - 30 Year Reunion

Sat 14 Oct

Dan Hearne drdhearne@gmail.com

Damien Ng damienjkn@gmail.com

Peter Tebbutt peterj.tebbutt@bigpond.com

1973 - 50 Year Reunion

Sat 4 Nov

Ian Somerville somers@bigpond.net.au

Charles Kamei Charles_kamei@hotmail.com

1974 - 50 Year Reunion

Sat 6 Apr 2024

Bruce Davis davis.brucem@gmail.com

OBA Events

Committee Meetings

Wed 2 Aug (AGM)

Wed 13 Sep

Wed 15 Nov

OBA Golf Day

Tue 5 Sep

OBA Alumni Mentoring Platform Webinars

Thu 3 Aug

Thu 2 Nov

TBA Sydney CBD In-Person Event

OBA Seniors Events

AGM/Lunch/Rugby Sat 29 Jul

OBA Events Contact Karina Drummond (02)8438 7283 oba@barker.nsw.edu.au

Privacy

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.

Regional Events

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!

Photos

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.