The Barker #142

The choice to direct a musical as a Year 12 play was a unique one which was prompted, not only by my love of musical theatre, but more so by the all-rounded performance talents of our current senior students.

Healy (Class of 2008) was appointed as the 7th Captain of the Australian Women’s National Cricket Team across all formats of the game in December 2023.

Tom Brodie (Class of 2011) is a Senior Robotics Engineer with a passion for pushing the boundaries and finding ways to improve the world around us.

We are excited to welcome the Class of 2023 to the Old Barker Association (OBA), an organisation which focuses on providing member services catering to all the varied interests and activities of Barker’s Alumni.

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

Senior School Hub

One Barker

24 The LORD bless you and keep you; 25 the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; 26 the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

I have been reading the Bible-inone-year for the third successive year. It is a good daily habit that I have wanted to sustain for more than a single year, chiefly because the text reads differently the third time around. I am currently in the book of the Proverbs, the Gospel of Luke and the Book of Numbers. The oft quoted beautiful blessing above is taken from an early portion of the Book of Numbers. The remainder of Numbers deals with complex details of rituals and ceremonies, tribal roll calls and the equitable distribution of the Promised Lands after the exodus from Egypt. Reading this while watching the war in Gaza reminds me once again how very contested some of these lands have been for so many centuries and how much prayerful compassion must be exercised in dealing with these complex questions. There is pain and hatred that comes from division. We all long for peace in our world.

To celebrate World Poetry Day in March UNICEF published a series of moving poems by children

about peace. Aisha, a 10-year-old girl from Nigeria, wrote a poem called Let peace be our guiding call.

“Let’s embrace diversity, Let differences unite.

For in unity, we find strength and light.”

The children dream of a world without the sound of gunfire, the terror of bombings, and an end to the trauma of fearing that each day will take away their family. Unity is a serious issue for families in this world, some of whom are now our neighbours in Sydney or are even in our midst at Barker through our Humanitarian program.

The pages that follow are a celebration of the vitality and joy of a community. You will readily observe the many facets of Barker life, from our extensive OBA activities to our Drama, Music, Academic and Sporting pursuits. This is a place where a wide and diverse range of interests can find their home and make connections. The risk of this, however, is that the

differing pursuits that make up Barker can become narrow defining their existence by avoiding others or remaining uninterested in everyone else. This is something we avoid.

Barker College is not simply an institutional or a formal agency of educational enterprises. We are drawn together by what Jeremy and Lucy (2023 Captains) and others before them referred to as the “Red Thread”. Barker is an idea, a place of the heart and soul, a people whose diverse backgrounds and interests are joined together in a core purpose – to do something good and beautiful in the world. To put it another way, the Red Thread under God is Honor Non Honores. This notion is as true now for the diverse groups that make up Barker as it was true in 1890 when the Rev Henry Plume first opened his little school in Kurrajong Heights.

Peace

Phillip Heath AM Head of Barker College

From the Chair of Council

All students from the Hornsby campus (Pre-K to 12) were joined by the Darkinjung Barker and Ngarralingayil Barker students. And we had the bonus of Dhupuma Barker students in NE Arnhem land on livestream.

On behalf of the School Council, I brought warm greetings to all staff members who had recently signed up for the Great Cause of Education at Barker College, and an especially heartfelt welcome to all students commencing their Barker journey. And I gave a special shout out to our Year 12s as they begin their final year in the lead-up to the HSC and end-of-school events.

I encouraged everyone at the Assembly, referencing these (figuratively used) words in an old proverb:

Turn your face to the sun and the shadows will fall behind you.

Keeping one’s face to the sunshine helps maintain a positive, optimistic outlook on life and I suggested it as a goal at Barker for the year ahead. As to reasons why, journalist, Julia Baird, puts it succinctly in her excellent book Bright Shining: How Grace Changes Everything.

The Beating Heart of Barker Returns

It’s a joyous thing to attend a whole of school assembly, as I did for Barker’s Commencement Assembly in the Rosewood Centre on 1 February 2024.

Grace is like the sun: it warms us, fuels us, and unerringly brings light …

[Grace] is wrapped in the everyday, but it is still extraordinary. It spawns generosity, compassion, and empathy. It involves understanding, recognising another person’s humanity, and walking in another’s shoes, which can pave the way for forgiveness”.

I also commended another ‘G’ word, Gratitude, noting that it’s connected to Grace. As a tangible expression of Gratitude and observing that the School grounds and buildings for the beginning of the school term looked superb, I then asked the audience to join me in thanking (with applause) Barker’s Grounds and Maintenance team for all their great work over the holidays.

Only a few days later, I attended a memorable Academic Assembly in the Leslie Hall. Together with some Barker staff, and our current Year 11s and Year 12s, it was a delight to welcome back, and to congratulate, the academic achievers and the significant improvers from Barker’s Class of 2023.

It was a wonderful occasion because we could recognise the outstanding HSC results of Barker’s 2023 cohort and acknowledge the work of their teachers who assisted that cohort across their Barker journey.

My message to the Academic Assembly on 6 February 2024, was that the world needs problemsolvers, and that a problemsolver’s mindset is acquired through the disciplines of learning, enquiry, and analysis which flow for those who embrace excellence in Barker’s academic programs. Being a problem-solver is more than just solving a Rubic’s cube or beating a level of Tetris. It’s an essential life skill. The Assembly was an occasion for the Barker community to celebrate an emerging generation of problemsolvers within three Barker year groups, remembering that at Barker we always want our students to have accomplished and have successful lives beyond the Mint Gates.

Attending the Assemblies reminded me that the strength of Barker lies in its community and in its culture.

I wish everyone a terrific year.

David Charles (75) Chair of Council

Salt and Light From

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus calls his listeners to a new way of life.

One that dislocates themselves from the centre and establishes love for God and others as the driving principles for living. Jesus includes radical ideas like love your enemies, comforting words such as the Lord’s Prayer and challenging teaching like these famous words:

You are salt of the earth and light of the world.

Matthew 5:13-16

Salt and light are both essential for life. Salt not only seasoned food, but in the days before refrigeration, was used to preserve meat. Light enables life, brings colour, makes things beautiful and reveals the truth.

If we are to be a community of salt and light, we will stand for justice, truth, integrity, love and be a beacon of faith. Rather than drift along with currents of cultural change, we would stand out in the world. At a time when it is trendy to minimise Jesus or cherry-pick choice sayings, we would treasure him above all else, relying on his power to bring about

the changes we love to see in our community.

Instead of division and individualism, we’d be characterised by radical inclusion and generous service. Could this be you? Could this be Barker?

As we step into 2024 together, my prayer is that our School Community might be the “city on a hill” that Jesus describes, shining light before others, “that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matt 5:16)

Rev Peter Tong Senior Chaplain

Junior School

Visual Arts

The process of engaging with Visual Arts in the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP) offers a dynamic journey that nurtures creativity, critical thinking, and cultural appreciation among students.

At the core of the IB PYP Visual Arts curriculum lies inquiry-based learning. Students are encouraged to explore various artistic concepts, techniques, and styles through open-ended questions, fostering curiosity and providing opportunities for hands-on exploration.

In Kindergarten's initial unit of inquiry, students explore their identity and place within the School community through diverse art making activities. Through a plein air observational drawing exercise of the Prep playground, students gain valuable insights into their world, demonstrating remarkably sophisticated observations as they translate their perceptions into marks on paper.

Year 1 students delve into art through playful exploration and curiosity. By studying Sargy Mann, a blind British artist, students gain

awareness of the artist's role and how senses can be harnessed in art creation. They engage in blind line drawing exercises, using sticky tac and string to feel and outline a peer, closing their eyes to focus on tactile sensations rather than visual stimuli, prompting insightful discussions about the artist's techniques and processes.

The IB PYP Visual Arts curriculum underscores the significance of exploring artworks from diverse cultural contexts.

For example, Year 4 students inquire into the collaborative and sustainable art of nine Indigenous women artists from the Yarrenyty Arltere Art Centre in Alice Springs. They appreciate the artists’ cultural practice of meeting together and

sharing their stories and experiences while they create their self-portrait sculptures made from recycled materials and embroidered with bright coloured wools. In response, Year 4 students create their own assembled and hand sewn soft sculptures.

Year 6 students explore the intersection of creative expression and popular culture and consider how art reflects the time in which it is created. They delve into the vibrant world of Pop Art, studying the purpose and visual language of portraits created by Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. Employing a blend of digital design techniques, paint application, and stencilling, the students produce their own portrait with bold black outlines and vibrant, contrasting colours, echoing the signature style of Pop Art pioneers.

Central to the IB PYP Visual Arts curriculum is the creative process, where students are encouraged to experiment, take risks, and express themselves across various media and techniques.

In Year 6 students investigate the unique perspective and approach of graffiti artist Banksy, creating their own graffiti-style artworks addressing social issues they care about.

They experience the process of art making from idea to completed work, developing an image and lettering that can be made into a stencil and spray painted onto a surface.

The Visual Arts curriculum is seamlessly integrated with other subject areas, facilitating meaningful connections across disciplines. Kindergarten students, create a 'Habitat in a Box,' combining research skills with artistic expression to represent an animal and its habitat using mixed media. The completed artwork is displayed alongside Kindergarten’s mini PYP exhibition.

Reflection is woven into the artistic process, encouraging students to critically assess their own artwork and that of their peers. In Year 5, students engage in a still life photography unit, exploring the concept that 'Art enables us to see beauty in ordinary objects.' Inspired by Olive Cotton's 'Teacup Ballet,' students experiment with composition and lighting. Reflection and evaluation enable these initial photographs to be refined.

The IB PYP Visual Arts curriculum offers a comprehensive framework for nurturing creativity, cultural understanding and critical thinking skills, empowering students to become lifelong learners and active contributors to the global community.

Cate Loder Junior School Specialist Teacher - Art

Nell Clark Junior School Specialist Teacher - Art

Barker Co-Curricular

Debating,

Robotics, Chess, Dance, Public Speaking, Footprint, WoodTech, Coding, Creative Writing, Languages, Taekwondo...

The co-curricular program in the Junior School is extensive and operates in two main ways: the recreational program and the School representative program.

Families have the opportunity to sign children up to our recreational after school program - also known as Ignite - fittingly named to ‘Ignite’ the interests and passions of children beyond the classroom. This program welcomes students of all abilities across over 40 different activities from which to choose. Ignite has been evolving for many years, aiming to meet the requests of the community as we continue to add new activities and create more of our highly sought after classes. We recognise the great value that is placed on Ignite

as families seek to make the most of opportunities that are on offer; this is represented by over 500 families making up close to 1000 enrolments in all activities.

Our School representative program is selective for our high achieving students across four main disciplines: Robotics, Dance, Chess and Debating, participating in competitions across Sydney and in some instances inter-state. The quality of these programs is growing significantly, evident in our recent results in competitions and the vast improvement in student development.

Students are eager for the opportunity to represent Barker at the highest level, and we are proud of all their efforts.

Already, the enthusiasm of our students towards their co-curricular endeavours is palpable and we can’t wait to continue to grow the co-curricular life in 2024 and beyond.

Nick Pluss Coordinator of Co-Curricular Activities

Wellbeing and the Power of Paws

Highlighting the importance of student wellbeing in Australian schools, a reciprocal relationship emerges between positive attitudes towards school and adaptability to change.

Research underscores the educational benefits of nurturing both aspects. Wellbeing can be defined as the interplay between internal and external influences and can significantly impact academic performance and overall health.

In the pursuit of fostering a conducive learning environment, we embarked on a transformative journey over the past three years in the Junior School. Central to our wellbeing framework is Peachy, a happy, cuddly Moodle and authorised therapy dog. Peachy's presence has ignited remarkable engagement, positive interactions, and meaningful discussions among students and staff alike.

Dogs are suitable for human engagement because of their social nature. They are also very trainable in terms of assisting those who may require physical or emotional support. Additionally, it has been demonstrated that people who engage with a dog experience reduced levels of stress and anxiety. The presence of a dog in the educational context has shown promising results in reducing anxiety and improving school attendance. These benefits encompass stress reduction, enhanced social interactions, and increased student engagement.

Peachy and I (the dog handler) continue to train with Dr Brad Rundle, founder, director, and

head trainer at Therapy Animals

Australia. Dr Rundle has a PhD in Zoology and Genetics and is an expert in understanding and modifying animal behaviour. He is a qualified teacher and highly experienced in the school context which enables Peachy’s training to be targeted to the Barker College school environment. Therapy Animals Australia specialises in training assistance dogs to provide emotional support and companionship to students in schools. Therapy dogs must enjoy human contact and be content to be petted, cuddled, and handled by unfamiliar people.

Initial findings from an anonymous school-wide student survey shed light on Peachy's positive influence. Primary-aged students expressed how Peachy alleviated their worries, sparked happiness, and provided a sense of calm and joy.

These anecdotal observations, combined with existing literature, fuelled curiosity and prompted a current comprehensive research study. By exploring the impact of dog-assisted wellbeing interventions on student motivation and affective engagement, the study aims to provide insights into the effectiveness and appropriateness of incorporating such interventions in schools. The heartfelt testimonials from students underscore the potential transformative power of incorporating therapy dogs like Peachy into the educational landscape.

We continue to enjoy the positive impact that Peachy has within the School.

Yvonne Howard Deputy Head of Junior School

A New Space for Junior School Robotics

The commencement of Term 1 marked the unveiling of our new dedicated robotics space for the Junior School.

Tailored specifically to meet our unique requirements, this space promises to enhance the experience for all students engaged in robotics.

The new lab is meticulously designed to cater not only to our expanding Ignite Robotics program but also to seamlessly integrate with the robotics activities embedded in our STEAM curriculum, ensuring that every student in the Junior School can benefit from it.

For the Ignite Robotics program, the space features a dedicated area for Vex IQ, capable of accommodating our 46 competition teams in Years 5 and 6, along with four classes of Vex Go for Years 3 and 4, and Lego WeDo groups for Years 1 and 2. Additionally, the lab boasts organized storage facilities capable of housing over 8000 items, ensuring easy access to resources for students, teachers and coaches alike.

The inauguration of this new lab marks a significant milestone for our Robotics Program, and we extend our heartfelt gratitude to all Barker departments for their invaluable assistance in achieving this feat, especially to the Robotics staff who worked tirelessly during the break.

Jeser Mross Becker Head of Robotics

Evidencing Learning Through The Lens of an Inquiry

The day the Junior School teaching Staff went on an inquiry adventure of their own!

The initiative undertaken on Tuesday 30 January 2024, marked a remarkable departure from the conventional commencement of a school year for our 83 Junior School staff members in attendance. Instead of the typical routine of guest speakers, workshops, and classroom setup, this year commenced with an avant-garde approach - the staff themselves becoming the inquirers.

Embarking on a creative exploration into the Sydney CBD, the Junior School staff delved into an experiential learning journey aimed at fortifying their understanding of inquiry as PYP educators.

This innovative endeavour reflected a commitment to professional development that goes beyond the conventional and embraces hands-on, immersive experiences.

The choice of the Sydney CBD as the backdrop for this exploration not only infused an element of excitement but also underscored the potential for urban environments to serve as rich learning landscapes. The initiative was tailored to empower educators to draw connections between their experiences and teaching opportunities, aligning seamlessly with the ethos of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP).

By positioning the staff as inquirers, the School demonstrated a progressive commitment to nurturing a culture of lifelong learning among its educators. The ripple effects of this approach are

anticipated to be profound, influencing not only the professional growth of the staff but also enhancing the overall educational experience for the students.

The hands-on exploration provided a tangible model for inquiry-based learning, allowing educators to witness its impact firsthand. This immersive experience is poised to catalyse a shift in pedagogical approaches, fostering a dynamic and engaging academic environment. As the Junior School staff integrates their newfound insights into their teaching methodologies, the academic year ahead promises to be one characterised by innovation, curiosity and a genuine passion for inquiry-based education.

The inquiry culminated with a picnic lunch in the Botanic Rose Gardens, uniting the staff in a

shared moment of reflection and conversation. As we unpack the day's discoveries, the insights gained will be threaded into our professional learning sessions throughout Term 1. This intentional integration ensures that the impact of our creative exploration resonates within our teaching and learning programs, shaping a dynamic and enriched academic year ahead.

Lisa Bonazza Director of Primary Curriculum/PYP Coordinator

I really loved spending time bonding with new colleagues and getting outside and doing something fun and engaging. Everyone was in great spirits and it was just a fabulous idea all round.

Sarah Lipman Junior School Learning Support Teacher

An outstanding day, full of fun, giving us opportunities to LIVE the inquiry process as well as giving us the opportunity to bond with our staff members! We loved it!

Grace

Bergan

Junior School Teacher - LOTE & Asst to Director of Accreditation

We had the BEST day! Such an amazing way to start the year!

Cecelia Greer Kindergarten Teacher

The Art team had a great time and I can't wait to see the excursion we planned come to life later in the year.

Sarah Bennett Art/Steam Teachers Assistant

Central Idea

Inquirers make journeys and document their experiences in a variety of ways.

An inquiry into:

• A resource in Sydney that can support a unit of inquiry (Form)

• The process of finding the resource (Function)

• What is our responsibility to ensure a resource is challenging, relevant, engaging and significant (Responsibility)

• How inquiries can be viewed and documented to be shared with others in order to make meaning and connection (Connection)

Journey of Transdisciplinary Exploration and Discovery

Immersed in the enriching framework of the Primary Years Programme (PYP) of the International Baccalaureate (IB), students in the Junior School are empowered to embark on a journey of transdisciplinary exploration and discovery.

At the heart of the PYP philosophy lies a commitment to nurturing holistic development, fostering inquisitive minds, and cultivating lifelong learners. Through transdisciplinary learning, students transcend the boundaries of traditional subject areas, seamlessly integrating knowledge, skills, and attitudes to explore complex, real-world issues and inquiries.

In Term 1, 170 Barker Year 6 students visited the Nation’s Capital for three days and two nights. This expedition was an integral component of their exploration within their How We Organise Ourselves unit of inquiry.

Over three days and two nights, amidst the warm embrace of Canberra's sunlit landscapes, students delved into a myriad of enriching experiences. Their itinerary was meticulously designed to foster a deep understanding of governmental systems and their impact on citizens' lives, echoing

the essence of inquiry learning. A notable highlight was the visit to Parliament House, where Minister Fletcher graciously engaged with the students, illuminating the intricacies of decision-making processes. Additionally, the excursion to the Australian Electoral Commission provided invaluable insights into the mechanics of democratic elections, underscored by a whimsical yet enlightening exercise in preferential voting, with 'Peach' emerging as an unexpected victor. These immersive activities not only captivated the students' imaginations but also forged tangible connections to the central idea that 'Government systems influence the lives of citizens.' Beyond the realms of governance, the journey also encompassed enriching encounters with diverse facets of Australian heritage and culture. From the geological wonders explored at Geoscience Australia to the poignant

Throughout the expedition, Barker students exemplified maturity, embodying the school's ethos with distinction.

reflections evoked by the Australian War Memorial, each excursion offered profound opportunities for reflection, interpretation, and understanding.

Cycling around Lake Burley Griffin, orienteering at the National Arboretum, and delving into the archives of the National Film and Sound Archives further enriched the students' exploratory odyssey. Notably, the interactive marvels of Questacon ignited sparks of curiosity and discovery, as students engaged with the marvels of engineering, technology, and physical phenomena. Their time in Canberra was not merely a journey; it was a testament to the transformative power of experiential learning, leaving an indelible imprint on their intellectual and emotional landscapes.

Tim Moyes Year 6 Grade Coordinator

Barker Indigenous

Energy, Eagerness and Enthusiasm

Mark the Start of a New School Year

There was much excitement as the doors of Dhupuma Barker reopened on 15 January for the start of the 2024 school year.

Northern Territory schools opened 30 January, but there was so much eagerness for students to get back to class, it was decided to start earlier and get busy.

The students, affectionately known as djamarrkuli, returned with a remarkable eagerness for learning, reflecting the deep regard and esteem held by the Gunyangara community. This is a testament to the exceptional groundwork laid by our founding teachers, Tom Spencer and Lori Cross.

There have been some exciting changes for Dhupuma Barker, including new teacher Mitchell O’Brien and his family relocating to Gunyangara in January. We are also very proud to see the addition of learning to the Middle Years, allowing classes to extend to Year 10.

The initiation of the Families as First Teachers (FaFT) program by Allyson Billot and Jerisha Burarrwanga fosters strong bonds between families and the School. The FaFT program welcomes babies and toddlers with their parents to share games, books and craft within a warm community and fosters early development and family empowerment. In the Midawarr (K-2) class, Lori Cross and Tanya Yunupingu celebrate the students' dedication to excellence.

Our teaching team, including Sarah Adams, David Yunupingu, Cedric Angeles, Mitchell O’Brien, and Elizabeth Roe, seamlessly integrate the Djambatj (3-5) and Marayarr (6-9) classes, laying a solid foundation for academic growth.

This year, Marayarr students have transitioned to new classrooms, guided by esteemed Yolŋu staff such as Valerie Dhamarrandji and Caroline Dhamarrandji, for enriching creative and cultural activities during Term 1. Students are engaging with Yolŋu culture profoundly, finding purpose in their education as they journey toward leadership within both school and community.

The theme for learning at Dhupuma in Term 1 is “stories”, with Yolŋu co-teachers sharing the local stories from around the community, involving some fun excursions. The first story was about the Macassans coming to trade goods (tobacco, machetes, cloth and other tools) for ‘trepang’, the sea cucumber.

A visit to the local beach, Butjumurru, to see the rocks where they used to smoke the trepang to get it ready to trade, was a highlight. The djamarrkuli also heard the story of Galaru - a story

about Wuyal the sugar bag man, who named places as he travelled across the country on his hunt for ‘guku’ or honey. Students in all classes have been writing their recounts of stories or creating beautiful artworks to reflect their learning.

Dhupuma Barker continues to forge valuable connections with partners such as Flinders University Health Team, Nhulunbuy Christian College, Travelling Tadpoles Swimming Lessons, and Miwatj Clinic Community Education. The Flinders University session highlights the importance of healthy bodies, and saw the djamarrkuli, check their height, weight and learn how to use a stethoscope to listen to their heart beats.

Our deepest appreciation extends to the expansive Barker College community of students, staff, and families. Each day in East Arnhem Land is a blessing, enriched by the unwavering love and support from our Barker family in New South Wales.

Mitchell O’Brien Djambatj (3-5) Classroom Teacher

Proud in Culture, Strong in Spirit

Darkinjung and Ngarralingayil was the place to be in Term 4 last year! Both campuses held our “BUSH KINDY” Kindergarten orientation programs.

Three new Kindergarten students joined at each campus to learn about our school. They were encouraged to visit with their families and spend some time enjoying everything our campuses have to offer, on Country learning, big open spaces, tranquil valley locations, culturally entwined learning and friendships. This all contributes to a child’s wellbeing. It helps them feel in control of their environment, to feel safe, comfortable, to learn routines, to know how to do an activity and importantly, to engage in learning. Keely McLaren (Ngarralingayil Barker) and Donna Andrews (Darkinjung Barker) did a wonderful job of organising fun, engaging, learning activities each week for the children to enjoy. The children participated in lessons, stayed for snack times with their peers and enjoyed time in the playground with new friends. Our Bush Kindy gives us all an opportunity to build relationships with children and their families, to gain an insight to how they learn, and it offers opportunity for

students and families to feel a sense of belonging.

At our campuses, we celebrate the strengths and culture of our students and families and our campuses focus on our students’ being proud of who they are, proud of their culture and proud of what they can achieve. Bush Kindy is a great place to start and was a wonderful success. It has had a positive impact for our new students on their strong start at ‘big school’!

At Darkinjung and Ngarralingayil we aim for a strong, supportive, successful start to the school year for all our students. Returning to school can be a mixture of emotions for some children while others are bubbling with excitement and just can’t wait to get back into the swing of it. We have had an incredible start to 2024 and can’t wait to see what amazing things the year ahead brings!

Mandy Shaw Director Aboriginal Campuses

Bush Kindy gives us all an opportunity to build relationships with children and their families, to gain an insight to how they learn, and it offers opportunity for students and families to feel a sense of belonging.

Secondary School

Welcome to Japan Music Tour

55 of our Barker musicians jetted off to Japan, the day after Celebration and spent two weeks on a performance tour together.

Music tours are somewhat set apart from other tours in the sense that they are “working tours.” Six months prior to departure, our touring Wind Symphony began rehearsing together. It felt like such a long way off when we first met for that rehearsal, but the final build toward our first performance in Japan was a “molto crescendo.”

Our Barker students visited schools in Tokyo, Hiroshima, Kyoto and Osaka and at each school they performed with their wind bands and jazz bands in musical and cultural exchanges… and wow! WOW!... they were good.

A large cultural difference between Japanese schools and Australian (or Western schools) is their approach to co-curricular activities.

Australian students have a plethora of activities to choose from and a variety of activities is encouraged. In Japan, students choose one co-curricular activity and spend about 25 hours per week (including Saturday AND Sunday) attending training sessions or rehearsals.

Naturally, our students went into their first performance feeling anxious about their musical ability. How were our Barker students who rehearse for two to three hours per week going to measure up to the students who rehearse for 25 hours per week? Our students did Barker (and Australia) proud.

Our students were floored at the ability of their Japanese comrades, and the Japanese students and teachers praised our students for achieving such quality in their perceived limited rehearsal time compared to their own. A particular highlight performance was going to Tokai University Sugao High School, Barker’s

Japanese sister school. Their music packed a punch, but their enthusiasm for performance was infectious with our Barker students, now requesting more choreography in their performances in future. Our students loved spending time and practising their Japanese with the students from each school but in most cases, their English was far superior to our Japanese.

Between their eight performances were cultural visits to famous landmarks and districts in Japan, including the Meiji Jingu Shrine, Asakusa, TeamLab Planets, Miyajima, Hiroshima Peace Memorial and Park, Kurashiki, Himeji Castle and Kiyomizu Temple and of course, the students enjoyed their theme park days at Tokyo Disneyland and Universal Studios Japan. It was certainly a whirlwind of a tour and jampacked with experiences.

The Music Staff and students were very grateful for the generosity of FOBM (Friends of Barker Music) and their contribution of touring jackets, backpacks, beanies and more! And World Projects, under the direction of Chris Gibbs, certainly ensured that it was a music tour that won’t be forgotten.

Arigato Gozaimasu!

Andrew McWade Director of Bands and Music Teacher

Opportunity to Bring Music Together

One of the great blessings of Barker’s music program is the opportunity to bring together our community of musicians over the Australia Day long weekend.

The size of our instrumental and choral programs means we must be creative in the way the camp is structured.

As well as getting our vast ensemble program off to an explosive start, it offers the opportunity for many students who are new to Barker to find friendship groupings before the start of Term 1 proper. We don’t take any of this for granted.

Thursday was day one of choral camp - 87 students from Middle School and Senior Choirs departed early for the choral camp, and while they got straight into rehearsals another 86 students from the orchestral and band program arrived on the second round of buses. By the end of day 1, Stanwell Tops was a hive of musical activity across all programs, plus the first of our massed singing rehearsals and the muchanticipated trivia night.

Day 2 Friday marked the conclusion of choral only camp, with crossover rehearsals of instrumental or choral priority, hugely important for the large number of students who play multiple instruments and sing.

By this point the camp was already large with around 180 students, then being joined by 186 instrumentalists on the final fleet of coaches, bringing the number of students, staff and tutors past the magic 400 mark.

The rest of the camp until our return to Barker on Sunday was a blur of rehearsals, workshops, massed singing and student concerts. Repertoire, of course, is important, but this intensive period allowed all of us to plug back in to Barker’s musical and social culture, setting us up for the year ahead. Music camp is invaluable to the Music Department and, we hope, to the wider school community.

We hope you will be able to take the opportunity in 2024 to see and hear some of our ensembles at our many unmissable musical events.

Peter Ellis Director of Choral Programs and Music Teacher

Preparing students for a rapidly changing and complex world requires people of deep and resilient character so they can both flourish in their lives and contribute positively and responsibly to society.

Character and Enterprise education provides an explicit focus on the development of character virtues and the mastery of future-focused skills. This concept aims to help students build greater awareness of their strengths, identify their passions and be challenged to gain a deeper sense of who they are and who they can become. It is an endeavour helping students to understand, prepare for and respond to the world’s challenges, both now and in the future.

We have also sought to establish partnerships with different social enterprises and charities who can help provide our students with experience, access and understanding of the challenges faced in the real world, particularly when trying to meet and solve social needs. Through such partnerships, students would develop possible solutions for these social needs and develop the enterprise skills needed to make a positive difference to the world. The innovatory element is to

Year 10 Character & Enterprise Initiative

Shaping character is at the heart of great education and has always been an important part of the Barker journey.

use the vehicle of enterprise education to foster and develop character in the crucible of realworld experiences.

We are targeting Year 10 students for this unique and pivotal experience because they are at the threshold of adulthood

These students are emerging from adolescence, growing into young adults, looking ahead to their future, and undertaking work experiences. Our experience has shown that this is a prime time for shaping their character development.

Towards the end of Term 4 2023, a pilot of this concept was held with 21 students to test the efficacy of the curriculum that was

codesigned by staff and students during 2023. Feedback from the pilot was very positive. This year we are providing all our Year 10 students with the opportunity to take part in this experience. It will involve a week’s unique and pivotal experience held at the Baden Powell Scout Conference Centre, Pennant Hills. The year group will be spread across four different weeks throughout the year. There will be 90 different students involved in each program. The first of four programs was held in Week 10 of this term. Students in Andrews, Bowman, Boyce and Butters Houses took part in what was a challenging, enriching and transformational experience.

Peter Gibson Dean of Character Education

CRU Kickstart Learning from the Bible

What do you get when you add 90 enthusiastic students from across Years 7-12, an amazing campsite, exciting activities, and deep learning from the Bible? You get CRU Kickstart 2024!

On the first weekend of Term 1, Barker’s CRU spent two days away together. Our CRU Captains reflected, “It was a great way to start the year and bond with friends. An excellent way to welcome new Year 7s into High School and launch CRU for 2024.”

The Year 12s led an epic game, helped run the paint war and set up a warm and welcoming culture for the whole camp. The students enjoyed many highlights, including the annual CRU paint war where students and staff throw paintsoaked sponges at each other in a ‘capture the flag’ battle royale. Students from across the year groups connected with each other as they played games, shared meals, and learnt from the Bible together. Over the weekend there were engaging and thoughtful seminars on topics like the historicity of the bible, science and faith and wisdom on friendship.

Rev Adrian Foxcroft CRU Coordinator

A decade ago, 1/124 people were forcibly displaced; now it is 1/73. Sadly, 40% are children. In establishing the School’s Humanitarian program, we see our purpose as not only contributing in a small way to alleviating this global problem, but also contributing to the learning of our own students. It is not until we rub shoulders daily with refugees and see the world through their eyes, that we see the privilege we have at Barker with our world-class education, beautiful facilities and supportive community. Privilege is unaware of itself.

Barker’s Humanitarian Program has seen the year start with an intensive swimming school for the children who have been attending our After School Tutoring Program throughout 2023. Three nations were represented: Afghanistan, Ukraine and Venezuela. Our skilled Barker swimming instructors gave generously of their time under the leadership of Maddi Robertshaw. Lachlan Carly (Social Justice Captain) and James Fay (Captain of Wailes House) assisted the children with stroke correction and the lunch provided afterwards was kindly delivered by local churches and our own Barker parents.

A Humanitarian Approach

The statistics on forcibly displaced people around the world are astounding.

Our Refugee After School Program is continuing strongly with committed support from Barker students undertaking the service component of the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme, and also from those who enjoy meeting people their own age from diverse backgrounds.

Our desire is to share our bounty as widely as we can, in line with the School’s values of care and compassion. As David Charles, Chair of the Barker College Council, announced at Celebration

last year, we will be starting a Special Assistance School for students who have had to flee violence, persecution and corrupt government.

The School will be called Marri Mittigar - a Darug word that means ‘many friends’.

If you would like to learn more about the School’s Humanitarian Program and how to get involved, or to financially support the program, please contact JWest@ barker.nsw.edu.au or donate to Barker’s Future Fund at https:// www.barker.college/community/ foundation/donate-today

Julia West Director of Humanitarian Programs

A Modern Voice for Ancient Languages

The teaching of Latin and Greek at Barker can be traced back to the School’s foundation in 1890.

However, there is a far longer history of Aboriginal language learning on the lands upon which the School now stands. Darug is the language that has been spoken by the Dharug people along the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers for generations prior to 1788.

Barker’s new department of Classical and Indigenous Languages seeks to draw upon the wisdom and knowledge of the GraecoRoman world and Australian Indigenous cultures to promote rich forms of intercultural understanding.

By learning an ancient language, students can appreciate the role that our past plays within today’s society.

Year 7 Darug Assembly

All Year 7 students attended their first assembly on 9 February. Our special guest was Uncle Colin Locke who, as a Dharug elder, gave the Welcome to Country and spoke of his family connection to the area around Yarramundi, extending back six generations. Uncle Colin performed a Smoking Ceremony and generously gave his time afterwards to chat with many students.

The assembly marked the beginning of the Year 7 Indigenous language unit, in which all students learn about Darug language and culture as part of their introduction to the Middle School.

Year 12 Latin Summer School

Two Barker students participated in the annual Latin Summer School at Sydney University from 15-19 January. Eric Jiang and Tom Sturrock attended lectures on Roman epic poetry, Hannibal and ‘Ovid’s Witches - Medea and Circe’. Both boys found the range of speakers academically stimulating. They also enjoyed the camaraderie of studying with other Year 12 Latin students who will be sitting the HSC later this year.

One highlight was meeting Barker alumnus Ben Goldman who is currently studying Classics at Sydney University - not to mention bumping into an authentic Roman centurion in the lecture halls!

Matthew Ross Head of Classics and Indigenous Languages

The crux of the framework is the development of rapport between teacher and student. Rapport engenders respect, trust, engagement and a safe place to fail and try again. We are grateful for our teachers who put so much energy into getting to know the students in their care, taking an interest in their lives and understanding their traits and capacities. This ensures that our students have the best opportunity to learn well and to be well.

We understand that routines and rules are critical in providing uniformity of experience for our students, a security that comes from having clear boundaries and expectations and the development

Promoting Positive Relationships

Relationships between staff and students are the lifeblood of any school. Relationships that are respectful, warm, open and transparent are signs of a very healthy school culture. This is what we aim to develop as we utilise the Promoting Positive Relationships framework.

of self-discipline. Our framework has clear routines and rules that are age and stage appropriate to support all our students.

The framework contains procedures teachers may employ when things go wrong. We recommend a restorative stance. Our teachers are encouraged to assist students to reflect on their missteps, take responsibility for their behaviour and restore relationships. There are also disciplinary measures teachers may use to help students understand that poor decisions issue in consequences with a view to developing their character.

Finally, our framework provides opportunities for students to be recognised when they meet our high expectations and showcase the Barker Values. The Red Awards ensure that students are lauded not just for excellence in academics or sport, but for doing the right thing regularly. Ultimately we hope that the Barker Values are the traits that will remain long after equations are forgotten and limbs fail.

We commend the Promoting Positive Relationships framework to our community. It can be found on myBarker and Canvas.

Kathryn Driver Dean of Middle School

Dynamic Landscape of Education

In the dynamic landscape of education, ensuring the success of every student at Barker is a fundamental goal.

Every student is unique with their own contribution to make, and learning journey to travel. Through a web of academic, wellbeing and psychological supports Barker students are supported to thrive in their learning from Pre-K - 12

1. Tier 1: Universal Supports

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.

A key team in facilitating tailored support across the academic domain is the Individual Learning Centre (ILC). While benefitting all learners, the ILC is specifically tasked with ensuring needs are met for four (sometimes overlapping) groups of students at Barker. These include students with a disability, students with gifts and talents, and students with diverse cultural or linguistic backgrounds.

Linguistocally diverse students

To effectively identify, support and monitor students with diverse learning needs, the ILC at Barker incorporates a research based model referred to as the MultiTiered System of Support. MTSS is a comprehensive data-driven, academic care model that plays a pivotal role in fostering a proactive and inclusive educational environment. It aligns with the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data (NCCD) which aims to positively impact student achievement and well-being. The MTSS model is characterised by three primary tiers, each tailored to address specific academic challenges:

Natalie Smith Head of Individual Learning (K-12)

Culturally diverse students

Students with gifts and talents

Students with disability

• Universal supports are the foundational practices implemented for all students, creating a positive and inclusive learning environment.

• These include high-quality instruction and differentiated teaching methods, setting the stage for academic success for the majority of students.

• The Individual Learning specialist teachers work alongside classroom teachers to provide universal supports and adjustments on a day-to-day basis

2. Tier 2: Targeted Interventions

• Targeted interventions are designed and delivered by ILC teachers for students who require additional support beyond the universal level.

• Small-group or 1:1 interventions focus on specific academic needs of individual students to develop and consolidate foundational skills for learning.

3. Tier 3: Intensive Interventions

• Intensive interventions are reserved for a smaller percentage of students who require personalised and intensive support.

• Individualised plans and resources are employed to meet the unique needs of these students, often involving collaboration with specialised professionals such as the ILC teachers, school psychologists and relevant external specialists.

Barker practises inclusive education which involves creating learning environments that accommodate the diverse needs of all students, regardless of their abilities or backgrounds. MTSS aligns seamlessly with the principles of inclusive education by promoting the following key elements:

1. Individual Learning Plans (ILPs)

• The development of personalised learning adjustments (Tier 1) and Individual Learning Plans (Tier 2/3) for students, ensures that adjustments and/or interventions are tailored to a student’s individual needs.

• In an inclusive setting, this means recognising and accommodating the unique strengths and challenges of each student within the quality differentiated classroom, fostering a more equitable and supportive learning environment.

2. Collaborative Team Approach

• Inclusive education emphasises collaboration among educators, support staff, and families. It brings together various stakeholders to analyse data, identify student needs, and design effective adjustments and interventions.

• This collaborative personalised planning process ensures that the diverse needs of students in inclusive classrooms are addressed comprehensively and holistically.

3. Early Identification and Prevention

• Early screening and identification is crucial for preventing the development of learning challenges, and promotes a proactive and preventative approach to support.

• At Barker, students engage in academic testing (e.g. Allwell, Progressive Achievement Tests, NAPLAN, CoGAT, Dibels) as a way of identifying and monitoring student’s strengths and needs, and to allocate appropriate interventions and timely support.

4. Culturally Responsive Practices

• Inclusive education recognises and celebrates diversity and incorporates culturally responsive practices, ensuring that interventions are culturally relevant and sensitive to the backgrounds of the students.

• This inclusive approach fosters a sense of belonging and respect within the educational community.

The ILC facilitate a range of academic programs to support the individual needs of all learners.

• Focus On (Years 7-9) Forward Focus (Year 10) and Focus On English (EALD) are popular academic support and study skills programs available for all students in the Secondary School.

• Targeted academic support is provided within the quality differentiated teaching practice, and at times ILC teachers will support in class within a team teach model of core classes.

• Our Additional Studies program (Year 7-10) and Senior Study Sessions (11-12) provide students with explicit small group and 1:1 teaching to consolidate core skills.

• ILC teachers support EAL/D students, working in collaboration with class teachers to promote differentiated learning which values cultural and linguistic diversity. Targeted small group support assists EAL/D students in developing their literacy and language skills.

• Academic enrichment opportunities such as our Aspire Program (Junior School) and Quest Program (Year 7-8), provide academic challenge, opportunity for personal interest and inquiry learning, for identified Gifted and Talented students.

To find out more about the academic programs available contact Natalie Smith - Head of Individual Learning K-12 NSmith@barker.nsw.edu.au or IndividualLearningAdmin@barker. nsw.edu.au. Information regarding Focus On and Forward Focus is available on myBarker and promoted to students on posters and our digital signage around campus. To make a referral for learning support please speak to your child’s classroom teacher in the Junior School or their Head of House in the Secondary School.

Accelerated Business Studies

On the morning of Tuesday 24 October last year, the first class of Accelerated Business Studies at Barker College sat the HSC Business Studies exam alongside the 90 Year 12 Business students.

These 32 Year 11 students had an opportunity to complete one of their HSC subjects and hence expand their ability to experience a wider range of elective offerings.

In 2021 the first prospective students were interviewed for their suitability for the course and were informed of the rigorous challenges of what they were signing up for.

They completed the Year 11 Business Studies course during Year 10 completely off the timetable. This involved lessons during lunch and after school on Mondays as well as before school on Fridays. The demanding nature of the course required these students to develop an independent approach to their studies, fostering resilience and flexibility as well as accountability for their own achievements. Lessons were composed of large lectures, smaller classroom lessons as well as full-day workshops when the calendar permitted.

After completing the Year 11 course, they kicked off the Year 12 HSC course in Term 4 of 2022 with the Operations topic. These students were now studying alongside the Year 12’s whilst still only in Year 10, and quickly found

themselves amongst the upper ranks of the cohort in Accelerated Business Studies assessment rankings.

This fostered collaboration and healthy competition between the Year 11 Accelerated students and the older Year 12’s. The Senior Study Hub opened in perfect time for these students to attend Access and revise together as they approached the Trials and HSC examinations.

Although they are a group of quiet achievers, these students have developed into leaders of the school and have excelled in a range of areas from Robotics to Cadets, Drama, Music, Indigenous studies and Sport. This demonstrates they have carefully managed their priorities and have not had to sacrifice opportunities to balance their academic and co-curricular responsibilities.

The HSC results highlighted the success of the program with 19 out of the 32 achieving a Band 6 result. This means that approximately 60%

of the first students through this bespoke program achieved the highest band possible. A further eight students were only 1-2 marks shy of a Band 6 result.

Overall the ABS students made a significant contribution to the excellent Business Studies results, including 43% Band 6’s from a total of 123 students, and some of our best results in years. We look forward to the progress and further development of the ABS course as our current Year 11 students prepare for their HSC in 2024. The inclusion of accelerated courses has the potential to further develop the academic rigour of our senior subject opportunities.

When I was initially introduced to the Accelerated Business Studies (ABS) course in Year 9, the opportunity of completing an HSC subject in advance was an exciting prospect, and one that, now I am in Year 12, has helped me to understand the HSC not to be daunting, but as something achievable and familiar to me. This improved capacity is the primary benefit of taking ABS in Year 10, and why I would recommend the course to anyone seeking to connect with rigorous,

contemporary content and extend themselves, but also to reap the rewards in Year 12 with improved organisational and writing skills.

As a student, my experience of the subject was unique, as both the preliminary and HSC courses require a high degree of independence and self-motivation. The two Accelerated classes in my cohort were bonded together, and with the ample opportunities we were afforded to study in the lead up to exams, everyone learned to collaborate and weather the challenges of the HSC as a group, rather than as individuals.

We have all carried these skills over to Year 12, working in the Senior School Hub after school, drawing on our prior experience with the demands of an HSC subject. These demands, however, were of a noticeable increase to our fellow year group. This was challenging at times - ramping up to an exam as everyone else were relaxing after an exam block - so a piece of advice I would offer would be to treat the ABS course, and all HSC courses, with a continual wave of effort instead of sporadic bursts of energy in the lead up to an exam.

Broden McLaughlin

The Accelerated Business Studies course helped me develop essential skills that have allowed me to apply myself properly in Year 12. These skills include learning how to organise and consolidate my notes effectively, and understanding the importance of seeking constant feedback from my teachers in order to improve. The skill set gained from the teachers, Mr Mann and Mr Nixon, have helped me across the rest of my subjects, and these techniques

I still use regularly in my current HSC preparation.

The course is well-structured across the two years and there is an emphasis on developing exam-style responses, allowing students to effectively organise their thoughts and articulate their understanding of the material with clarity and precision.

The small cohort of two classes, which were led by Mr Mann and Mr Nixon, fostered a strong sense of community and connection between the students, as we all strove for similar goals, allowing us to create a healthy sense of competition between students and classes. Through this, we continuously motivated each other in excelling in the course, which promoted frequent collaboration of notes and ideas. In my opinion, this was one of the highlights of my Year 10-11 journey, as I was able to create lasting memories while preparing for the HSC, and I believe it has equipped me with integral skills and strategies to reduce stress and excel in Year 12.

The beginning of the course may be intimidating and seem quite intense, but if you push through,

the content will become easier to apply yourself to, especially if you take advantage of the resources that the School provides. Although there is a high degree of responsibility and expectations that come with participating in the course by maintaining high academic results in all subjects, the experience of finishing ABS is particularly rewarding and encourages all students to extend themselves to the best of their abilities.

The advice I would give to any students participating in Accelerated Business Studies would be to take advantage of teacher feedback and assistance, and attend Access support sessions. Overall, embracing the challenges and opportunities presented by the ABS course can lead to a highly rewarding experience and set a strong foundation for future academic pursuits, and I strongly recommend it.

Kira Pedruco

James Mann Assistant Head of Commercial Studies

Alumni

PROFILE

Alyssa Healy (Class of 2008) was appointed as the 7th Captain of the Australian Women’s National Cricket Team across all formats of the game in December 2023. Among her many career highlights are being named the ICC T20 Player of the Year in 2018, Player of the Match in the T20 World Cup Final win over India at the MCG in 2020, and scoring 170 runs against England in 2022 in Christchurch.

What has been a highlight of your career so far?

I have been lucky enough to have many highlights along the wayhowever winning the T20 World Cup at the MCG in 2020 in front of 87,000 fans was a pretty special occasion. Especially considering the world shut down due to COVID the following week!

Do you have a preferred format of the game?

I genuinely love all the formats of the game, however, because we play them so infrequently - Test Matches are still the most enjoyable for me.

Which opposition do you most like to play against?

At the moment I think the rivalry between Australia and India is at its peak so I would have to say them. However, we do love an Ashes series against the Poms as well.

Do you have a favourite place to tour?

I love touring NZ and the UK simply because I can take my golf clubs and play some amazing courses. I guess if you’re basing it purely on cricket then India is an incredible place to tour and play cricket.

What has been your greatest challenge?

Overcoming self-doubt and the overwhelming feeling that you don’t belong has been a constant challenge throughout my career. However, with some hard work and some perspective on how amazing it is to do what I do, I have learned to relax and enjoy what I do and have found my place within the side and an ability to contribute, which has been pretty cool!

What are you most proud of?

Having the opportunity to captain the Australian team is something I’m incredibly proud of.

Do you have any school memories you would like to share?

I have many memories from Barker and still maintain many of the friendships I made there. My cricketing memories there are ones I look back on fondly and how the School encouraged me to give it a crack and supported me right throughout was really special. I loved sitting behind the canteen at lunch time with my friends - or running amuck on the synthetic fields during PDHPE the most!

What advice do you have for today’s students?

Learning and studying are important to what you might want to pursue post Barker - however just as important are the friendships and the life skills you learn along the way. Meet new people in what is a rather large school - they might open your eyes to another way of seeing the world!

Learning in Practice

The 7th volume of the Barker Institute Journal Learning in Practice.

The seventh volume of Learning in Practice is more than just a home to considered reflections on pedagogy or a forum through which dialogue for the benefit of professional learning and development takes place.

This year’s edition of Learning in Practice has welcomed staff contributions that have had an impact on educational thinking and practice both here in Australia and abroad.

The Barker Institute is delighted to serve the School, and the wider community, through the educational research we conduct ourselves and facilitate in others. There is much to celebrate in this year’s journal and we hope that you will find it both useful and informative. We warmly invite anyone to be in touch with us about exciting educational research taking place at Barker.

Dr Timothy Scott Research Fellow, Barker Institute

Dr Matthew Hill Director, Barker Institute

There has been a fresh start to 2024 for Visual Arts as we settle into our new spaces on the western side of the College. With a new environment comes a new opportunity for creativity.

In particular, our Year 12 students have been enjoying the availability of a dedicated Senior Art Studio to continue their art making in their free periods and after school.

It has been a strong beginning to the year with many of our elective groups getting out into the world for some inspiring visits to Sydney galleries and taking in some of the big exhibitions of the summer, such as Kandinsky, Louise Bourgeois, Tacita Dean and Art Express.

The momentum of Term 1 has been spurred on by the successes of 2023.

A New Chapter for Visual Arts

We were thrilled to see the beginning of the Art Express showcases displaying the highest achieving HSC students of 2023.

Kai Myrmell’s photomedia work of fragmented self portraits where he collaborated with AI image generators is proudly on display at the Art Gallery of NSW as an exemplary work. Georgie Bacon’s beautifully refined and surreal graphite sketches of clocks has travelled to the Tamworth Regional Art Gallery and Jemma Brown’s expressively rendered portrait drawings are featured in the Art Express Virtual Gallery experience. Arthur Condon’s graphic illustrations, nominated for Art Express, also travelled to his family in Ireland and the places that inspired them.

Emma Maltman and Daniel Holmes, also from our HSC 2023 cohort, have exhibited their work at the Grace Cossington Smith Gallery, Wahroonga as part of the Art North showcase. Emma produced a series of abstract paintings evoking the Larapinta Trail and Daniel combined animation and video editing to create a nostalgic work about childhood memories.

In addition, some aspiring Year 10 film makers were screened at the V Fest Student Video Festival at the Chauvel Cinema in Paddington. Oskar Biggart’s noir inspired detective story titled An Alien Investigation placed 3rd in the Junior category and Joe Bernatek’s student thriller Developing Fear was a finalist.

As our students are now finishing their first artworks of the year, we look forward to celebrating what they will accomplish next.

Rikki Latella Acting Head of Visual Arts

The Magic in Making

For many years, the Design and Technology Department has developed students’ ability to respond to the needs of society by producing tangible solutions.

These solutions have enabled our students to achieve success in competitions because they validate ideas and allow others to properly understand and appreciate the concepts. Careful research and investigation is accompanied by sketching and CAD modelling of ideas and finally processes are applied to shape and join durable materials that best represent how a final product or system will function and appear for the intended users. These processes are fostered at Barker year-on-year to better equip our Design students to make a difference in the real world, (beyond the Mint Gates), and it is encouraging to see the success that many of our students achieve.

Over the Christmas holidays, Tim Wilson (24) won the Soft Robotics Competition for High School Students developed by the Harvard Bio Design Lab.

At the end of last year, Jeslyn Tan (23) was nominated as a representative to compete in the 2024 ISEF Competition. Her ‘automated elevation system to aid the elderly at home’ seeks to better enable the target market after they have fallen.

In previous years;

Liberty Jacob (22) won the Young Scientist of the Year Award for her mobility aide Walking Tall for the elderly which prolonged balance and coordination.

Emma Leggett-Budden (19) was nominated for ISEF in 2020 and won the Alan Broady Memorial Prize at the Shape exhibition for her Ezi-Lift project to assist Surf Life Savers.

Ollie Nichols (17) won the ISEF competition for his Robotic Window Cleaning System in 2018.

These are just some of the students who have received awards; however, all students who engage in ‘making’ projects at Barker hone their ability toward acquiring success through innovation.

At Barker, in the Design and Technology Department, students spend a good deal of time making. This is intentional, because that is where the real magic of innovation occurs.

Darren Woodrow Head of Design & Technology

Tim Wilson (24) Soft Robotic Chopping Board Assistant

The quote ‘Design is thinking made visible’ is a popular expression, though; ‘making’ enables a design to be validated’. According to Steve Jobs, making is crucial to achieving success and this endeavour is often misunderstood, as clarified below.

Some people believe that getting a great idea is ninety percent of the work and if they just tell all these other people, then of course they can go off and make it happen. The problem with that is that there is a tremendous amount of craftsmanship between a great idea and a great product and as you evolve that great idea it changes and grows, it never comes out like it starts because you learn a lot more as you get into the subtleties and you also find that there are tremendous trade-offs that you have to make. There are certain things that you can’t make electrons do, or plastic or glass, or factories do or robots do. And designing a product is like, keeping 5000 things, these concepts and continuing to fit them together in new and different ways until you get what you want. And every day you discover something new, a new problem or a new opportunity to fit these things together a little differently and it’s that process that is the magic.

Steve Jobs

Oliver Nicholls (17) Robotic Window Cleaner for Commercial Buildings Emma Leggett-Budden (19) Ezi-Lift Liberty Jacob (22) Walking Tall

Jeslyn Tan (23) Elevating Chair for Elderly After a Domestic Fall

The Drowsy Chaperone

The choice to direct a musical as a Year 12 play was a unique one which was prompted, not only by my love of musical theatre, but more so by the all-rounded performance talents of our current senior students.

Due to a few years of Covid interruptions, 2024 marks the return of the Year 12 production, and we are privileged to continue this 20-year-old long standing history of providing a spectacular senior production for the joy of our wider Barker community.

This cast boasts some of the best and brightest actors, singers and dancers and it was a treat to choose a directorial venture that showcased their myriad of skills for this, their final Barker production.

The Drowsy Chaperone is a musical within a comedy that invites the audience back into the 1920’s. We actively join the whimsical protagonist as he guides the audience through his favourite record, which unfolds an amusingly eccentric wedding story full of mistaken identities, zany plot twists and farcical melodramatic characters.

It has been a joy and a privilege to work alongside such talented Year 12 students throughout the rehearsal process. Their utmost respect, professionalism and creative flair has ensured that this production has been a collaborative project from the very start. Each individual has had creative input and it has been truly delightful to watch these characters come to life through the actor's nuanced choices and devising experimentation.

My personal, heartfelt and sincerest gratitude must go to Phillip Heath, Pia Midgley, Natalie Potent, Dr Julie Wilson Reynolds and Alison Binet for ensuring this group of Year 12’s get one last opportunity to tread the boards on a Barker stage. It also goes to Dugal Parker and Joel Ibbetson for designing and creating the most exquisite set for our students to work upon.

Finally, enormous thanks to Karen James for her guidance, administration and costuming prowess and to the entire Drama department for their ongoing love and support in ensuring Barker’s legacy of theatrical excellence continues to shine.

This production provided all involved with an enchanting night of escapism full of song, dance and unbridled hilarity and it’s been an absolutely delight working on it with our fabulous 2024 Year 12 students.

Teresa Huzij Director & Choreographer

Program

Program Program

Throughout my time at Barker, the BASE program has proved to be an extremely beneficial opportunity that has greatly assisted me in effectively managing both my athletic pursuits and academic responsibilities. The mentor assigned to me supports my development in time management and prioritisation skills by guiding me in creating timetables, effective study schedules and planners. Additionally, he has provided support and counsel to assist me in accomplishing my immediate and long term goals while keeping track of my wellbeing.”

Milla Lawrence Year 11

Nurturing Growth

The Barker Athlete Support and Enrichment (BASE) program aims to nurture the growth of our high performing student athletes in Years 7-12.

The primary goal of the program is to support our high performing student athletes to excel in their chosen sport, whilst maintaining their academic commitments and overall wellbeing. In collaboration with Heads of Houses, Deans, and parents/caregivers, the program offers an additional layer of assistance, complementing Character Education at Barker.

Each student works closely with a mentor who meets with them regularly to navigate their academic workload, sport and training commitments, working collaboratively towards achieving specific goals. Through individual and group sessions, areas such as planning, problem-solving, reflection, mindset and dealing with pressure are addressed.

Additionally, specialists such as physiotherapists, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, counsellors and learning support, are also utilised to cater to the

diverse needs of students. Creating opportunities for our student athletes to excel as high performers, with a particular focus on holistic development and the long-term development of the athlete, is one of the strengths of the program.

By teaching athletes to take ownership of cultivating their character as much as they do in enhancing their physical capabilities, the program aims to ensure their advancement and success in their chosen sport by instilling and sustaining effective personal habits.

Students and their parents are already noticing the benefits of having such a dedicated program in place at the School.

Andy Cameron Coordinator BASE program

The BASE Program has been extremely valuable to me and I am grateful to be a part of it and have benefited from it in many ways. My mentor has helped me with the organisation of my life generally. This includes balancing school, competition, mental, and social aspects of life. My mentor has helped me to prioritise what is most important and has allowed me to focus on each area of importance in a way that I can do my best in that moment, without having to worry about the other aspects that are happening. I strongly encourage other athletes, in a similar position to me, to make the most of this program and it is great that Barker offers this opportunity to its students.

Naomi Gibson Year

12

As parents, we are so grateful that our child has been a member of the BASE program. The mentoring she received helped her to navigate the demands of elite sport and school life. Futhermore, the extra layer of pastoral care made a difference when the pressure was on to perform.

Annette and Peter Gibson Parents

The BASE program has been extremely beneficial for me, especially during busy exam periods. Term 1 is the busiest time of the year for me in terms of my sports competitions with multiple state and national titles for my two main sports, Surf Life Saving and Swimming. I sometimes need to take time off school for competitions and the BASE program helps me rearrange my assessments and manage my time, so I don’t fall behind. Through the BASE program, I have access to a mentor who helps manage my communication with my coaches and teachers during busy competition/exam periods and understands the training and schoolwork balance I deal with each week.

Harrison Woodrow

Year 11

As a parent, there is a constant juggle to support our children through school, sports training and events, and our own work and general life admin. The BASE program provides the support we need to streamline processes through the School so we know Harrison is supported and the teaching staff are aware of his additional commitments beyond the classroom. Having a mentor to provide support has been particularly helpful as an additional contact point for Harrison, separate from his coaches and us as parents.

Michael Woodrow Parent

Invertiwall Vertical Farm

The Senior School Hub Dining Commons has been made a little bit greener this term with the installation of an Invertiwall vertical farm by Invertigro.

We are very grateful to Robert ‘Bob’ Charley AO (55) for his kind donation contributed towards making this Invertiwall installation possible.

Sitting between the dining tables and chairs frequented throughout the day by students, the Invertiwall vertical farm will produce leafy green crops from basil and herbs through to lettuce.Recently, some Agriculture students and staff had the privilege of planting the first basil crop in the wall.

The installation of the Invertiwall vertical farm isn't just about aesthetics; although it blends in well with its surroundings, it's an example of technology in agriculture and urban farming.

Students will not only be able to provide hyper locally-grown produce at the canteen, but will also have the opportunity to learn about urban agriculture, hydroponics, and the importance of sustainable food systems.

Senior students will be able to observe firsthand the process of plant growth, from seedling to harvest as they move through and use the space each day.

For Senior Agriculture students, through hands-on involvement in tending to the crops and maintaining the system, they will develop an appreciation for the effort and care required to sustainably produce food.

The Invertiwall vertical farm also embodies Barker’s commitment to environmental stewardship. By reducing the ‘food miles’ of the plants grown, students can consider the provenance and sustainability of the food they purchase. Students should look out for such specials as ‘Basil Pesto Pasta’ made with basil grown in the Dining Commons in the near future!

Scott Graham Head of Agriculture

His 2024 offerings began with a selection of fascinating geometry questions, but past questions have challenged participants on number theory, algebra, calculus, predicate logic and more.

Boyd Carruthers began his teaching career at Barker in 1990 when Bowman field had real grass and there were houses on The Avenue. He was employed on the recommendation of Jack Mock, the Head of Maths, who asked him to come in to teach a demonstration lesson. Boyd recalls being stood before a class of Year 8 students whose ability he seriously misjudged, meaning he couldn’t use any of his prepared examples and had to make everything up on the spot. He left the class feeling certain he would never set foot in Barker again, but was given the job based on his knowledge of the subject and his ability to improvise. Now, 34 years later, Boyd has been at Barker longer than any mathematical colleague and has set himself the challenge of becoming the longest serving Maths teacher in Barker’s history (a record held by the late Brian Roberts at 37 years’ service).

With a career across four decades, it is no surprise that he finds himself now teaching the sons and daughters of former students. Boyd fondly remembers teaching Aaron Black (92) early in his time at Barker and enjoyed guiding Aaron’s son Harry (23) through the Extension 2 course in more recent years.

The Boyd Carruthers Challenge

Mr Carruthers loves a challenge. Since 2016, he has been perhaps best known for producing a weekly Maths challenge question that is distributed to a selection of Maths students and staff.

With no sign of slowing down, Boyd currently supports Barker’s humanitarian program by tutoring some refugee students, and we can expect to see more of his maths challenges for years to come. If you would like to be added to the distribution list, please email BCarruthers@barker. nsw.edu.au or come to see him at MathsPlus on a Monday or Tuesday afternoon in classroom X3.05.

Andrew Mallam Assistant Coordinator Mathematics

Challenge 1

12 points are equally spaced (spread) around the circle.

What fraction of the circle is shaded?

Challenge 3

All the blue boxes are squares.

The area of each square is given in each box.

Find the area of the square with the ?

Challenge 2

The yellow quadrilateral is a square and the two blue quadrilateral are squares too.

The side lengths of the squares are consecutive integers.

What is the area covered by the three squares?

You can assume that the square of area 3 is 'centred' on the square of area 12 and that the square of area 12 'flush' with the square of area 27.

Challenge 3: 135 square units

Challenge 2: 108 square units

Challenge 1: Exactly half the circle is shaded

Solutions

FOUNDATION Barker

Schools like Barker can help to change lives by creating exceptional futures. Reflecting the School motto, Honor non Honores, the Barker Foundation works to create opportunities for those who would otherwise be unable to experience a Barker education and to offer bursaries to families who may be experiencing circumstances that may prevent their student from completing their education at Barker.

We do this because it is what we would want others to do for us, were our roles reversed - we treat others as we would wish to be treated. For those of us who can, we support those who cannot - so that they too can complete their education and continue to enjoy all that our amazing school has to offer.

A new year brings new possibilities and we at the Barker Foundation are excited for what 2024 may bring. At Barker, we actively support an inclusive and diverse community where all are welcome and belong.

Currently, Barker has a modest scholarship program. With your help, we would like to support the provision of more assisted places. We would also like to build up our Future Fund so that we can provide bursaries in times of need and be a steady presence at Barker for many generations to come. There is a particular need to provide scholarships for Indigenous students who are graduating from our NSW Indigenous schools and who wish to come to Hornsby to complete high school. They have already come so far, and we want to support them to complete their Barker education. If you are in a position to help with this, please contact our Director of Advancement Tori Grimes, VGrimes@barker.nsw.edu.au for a confidential discussion.

Throughout this year we look forward to sharing some exciting new Foundation initiatives and opportunities for our parent and alumni community to get involved. The first of these will be the relaunch of our Friends of the Mint Gates in Term 2.

Friends of the Mint Gates was formed to celebrate and connect with all those who want to continue their Barker connection beyond their lifetime.

We recognise the importance of this special group and want to invite you to join them as you think through your own legacy. To learn more about the upcoming Friends of the Mint Gates High Tea please reach out to Tori Grimes, VGrimes@barker.nsw.edu.au

You may also be interested in putting in place a regular giving arrangement through your Barker fees. Please contact Tina Badaoui at TBadaoui@barker.nsw.edu.au who will be happy to assist.

All donations made to the Future Fund are tax deductible and really do make a difference.

I look forward to meeting many of you in the year ahead and thank you for your support of the Barker Foundation.

Aaron Black Barker Foundation Chair

The impact of your generosity is helping to inspire tomorrow’s Barker for us all.

Whether you choose to support a specific area, such as Indigenous Education, make regular donations through termly giving, or leave a gift in your Will, your support is vital and the School is so grateful. We are honoured by your shared commitment to ensuring an ever-improving experience for all students now and in the future.

Your gift to the Barker Future Fund will allow us to continue the work of evolving the School, for the good of all our community.

Fund Future

www.barker.college/community/foundation/donate-today

The campus is home to a plethora of stories, structures, and a vibrant community. You can now explore the campus and its history through an interactive app available for download on the App Store or Google Play Store.

The app features seven tours that cover the Hornsby Campus and The Grange. For most of the tours, each stop includes short summary, fun fact, and a then and now sliding image to help you visualise how the site has changed over time.

Explore our Storied Past with Barker Heritage Trails

Barker College has a rich history dating back over 134 years. Since the move to Hornsby, the site has grown from two acres in 1895 to over 45 acres.

Most stops include a ‘Learn More’ section where you can access additional photos, architectural details, historical uses, significance of building names, and a list of ‘ghost sites’ - structures that were demolished to make way for new construction.

The Full School Tour covers all the stops included on every Hornsby campus tour and is the most comprehensive, taking around two hours to complete. The three smaller tours (Heritage, Secondary School, and Junior School) replicate the information within this tour.

The Chapel Tour takes you on a journey through the history, architecture, symbolism, and use of the Barker War Memorial Chapel.

The tour is designed to be taken within the Chapel itself, and starts with a menu, allowing you to search through the parts of the Chapel that interest you most. The tour itself features four interactive 360° photograph stops prompting you to click on ‘hotspots’ throughout the image to learn more about the highlighted objects. It’s an immersive experience that will leave you in awe of the Chapel’s beauty and history.

The War Memorial Tour explores the stories, monuments, and buildings named in honour of Barker students who served and died in service to our Country and its allies. Each stop provides

information, asks questions, and encourages you to sit and reflect on the sacrifices made by those in the Barker College Community.

The Grange Tour is the perfect way to explore Barker’s rich history and natural beauty. This tour takes you on a journey through our very own heritage-listed Blue Mountains gem. The Grange has been a part of our history since 1989, but the property itself dates to 1875 and has had several owners and uses in that time. The app explores both

the built and natural features of the site, taking you on a journey that will leave you amazed at the stunning views and rich history.

If you’re short on time or can’t visit in person but don’t want to miss out, don’t worry! You can access the information from anywhere, at any time via the app or by visiting this website: https://barkercollege. stqry.app

To access the app, you’ll need a community code that can be accessed through the community page on myBarker and on the OBA website. If you’re having trouble accessing the app, please direct your inquiries to the Archives on 02 8438 7299 or archives@ barker.nsw.edu.au

Happy exploring!

Rachel Byrne Senior Archivist

Full Campus Tour

Secondary School Tour Heritage Precinct Tour

The BCPA have a new Executive Committee this year, the key members we introduced in the last edition of The Barker. In 2024, we have a few key focus areas which we outline below.

The primary goal of the BCPA is to create and grow a sense of community and connection amongst the families and members of our broad Barker community.

In 2023 the BCPA conducted a survey to gather feedback and help establish the priorities for the BCPA in coming years. The survey provided very positive feedback on events like Trivia nights and Welcome Morning Teas.

We will be continuing these events this year. Families are looking for more opportunities to meet others and build connections, particularly for those new to the School. In addition, survey respondents are looking for clearer communication

Growing Community and Connections

On behalf of the Barker College Parents Association (BCPA), we offer a warm welcome to Term 1 2024. We trust all families had a restful and enjoyable holiday season and are looking forward to a fulfilling year ahead at Barker.

from the BCPA and we’ll be working on that this year.

Barker College provides such a wealth of opportunities for our children to explore their talents through extra-curricular activities. BCPA will be working to deepen our relationship and support of the various clubs and associations that support these important parts of the fabric of the School.

As new President of the BCPA, I’ve been so encouraged by the support and interest from many parents who would like to contribute. We will be looking to make it easier to engage and work with the BCPA this year and will share more on that in future updates.

We’ll be hosting a number of events this year - some large as well as smaller less formal opportunities to make new connections or maintain existing ones.

Our regular Welcome Morning Teas were hosted in late February and early March. These provided a great opportunity to make new

friends, catch up with old friends and meet other parents across the School. We shared more about the BCPA, volunteering opportunities, as well as social and fundraising events that are planned for the coming year.

The very popular BCPA Trivia night - will be expanded this year to two nights, and we will be making it easier to form tables and come along to meet new people. We look forward to sharing another inspiring year at Barker with you all. If you are interested in volunteering with the BCPA in any capacity or would simply like to connect or share some feedback, we’d love to year from you.

Please feel free to reach out at BCPA_President@barker.nsw.edu. au, BCPA_Vicepresident@barker. nsw.edu.au or BCPA_Secretary@ barker.nsw.edu.au

Scott Barnett BCPA President

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

Vice President

Emily Elstermann (Tutt 09)

0426 751 165

Vice President

Declan Flaherty (16)

Honorary Secretary

Dush Sharma (05)

Assistant Secretary

Phil Watson (08)

Honorary Treasurer

Benjamin Ho (09)

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

Central West NSW

Reuben Spargo (17) 0450 036 601 reuben.spargo@email.com

Assistant Treasurer

General Committee

Vanessa Bennett (91)

Georgia Breckenridge (18)

Gemma Dywer (Davies 09)

Josh Grace (1990)

Andrew Hassall (1986)

Ant Hearne (1990)

Chris Russell (1970) | OBA Ambassador

Shadi Worrall (Iravani 10)

OBA Nominees to Council

Meline Nazloomian (05)

David Trayner (84)

OBA Annual Patron

Sandy Hollway (64)

OBA Seniors Contact

oba@barker.nsw.edu.au

School Contacts

Director of Alumni & 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

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

Digby Cook (56) (623) 523 4321 (h) digbyhcook@gmail.com Contributions Welcome Please send contributions to alumni@barker.nsw.edu.au For further information please contact Karina Drummond on 8438 7283. Alumni notes

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

Every year the School finds a way to grow stronger and enhance the experience of students and staff. I love getting to come back to School to meet the newest members of the Barker community, with the OBA meeting new parents and presenting training shirts to our new Year 7 students.

Our work, though, is very much off the back of the energy that Barker has at this time of year, with the OBA setting ourselves ambitious goals to start the year strongly with fresh offerings for you and your families.

As people ease back into work and studies, the OBA is looking at running networking events that allow you to build your networks and hear about what fellow alumni are getting up to. These gatherings provide a platform for members to share experiences, exchange ideas, and forge valuable connections that extend beyond the bounds of the OBA. I am always so impressed and proud to hear what our alumni, young and old, have achieved, and cannot wait for our first events to kick off this year. I want to thank those alumni who have reached out to offer to host at their offices; without you these types of events are not able to happen!

Welcome to 2024

Coming back after the Christmas break, it was wonderful to be back on campus and see the activity pushing ahead at Barker.

If you are interested in profiling your business as part of our networking program, or want to get involved in publicising your business at one of our events, please reach out.

2024 has also started off strongly for our affiliates, with many competing in summer sporting competitions and preparing for performances in the first half of the year. For anyone looking to keep their New Years’ resolution going for a few extra months, I encourage you to find out if one of our affiliate sports teams can offer you an outlet, particularly as we look ahead to the autumn and winter competitions. More information on our affiliates and how you can get involved are listed further in the issue.

Over the Christmas break many of us got to spend time with family and friends, and to take some time to recharge for the year ahead. But we also know that the holiday season can bring challenges and stresses. The OBA’s Support for Life program was running all through the Christmas break for members looking for extra help to talk through the issues they are facing and empower themselves to tackle the challenges they are facing.

I cannot speak highly enough of the importance of Support for Life for our members looking for a helping hand and I hope the OBA can be there for any member or their family looking for someone to talk to.

Finally, I would like to finish with an acknowledgement of the life and service of Neil Marks OAM (Class of 1956). Neil was a treasured member of the Barker community who went above and beyond to give back to the School he loved so dearly. Neil was a constant presence at the School, particularly in support of Barker’s cricket and rugby teams. He was appointed to School Council as the OBA representative, a post he held for almost 30 years. His contributions to the OBA will remain for some time as Neil literally wrote the book on the OBA, authoring The Tales of Centenary to mark 100 years of the OBA. The Marks Pavilion, named after Neil, will stand as a constant reminder of his love for the School and the esteem the School and the Barker community had for him.

Angus Abadee OBA President

LIFE BEYOND

Barker

Tom Brodie (Class of 2011) is a Senior Robotics Engineer with a passion for pushing the boundaries and finding ways to improve the world around us. In his current role at SwarmFarm Robotics he is pursuing the challenge of planting autonomous robots across regional Australia to improve farming practices and resource production.

What has been your journey since leaving Barker?

After I left Barker in 2011, I went to the University of Sydney, where I pursued a combined degree of a Bachelors of Engineering Honours (Mechatronic Engineering) and a Bachelor of Science (maj. physics), which means five years of soldering, black holes, and fancy algebra. I then moved to Emerald, Queensland, where I started working at SwarmFarm Robotics. My role there was to make autonomous vehicles for agricultural purposes, a job I have been dedicated to ever since.

In 2019, I moved back to Sydney to work remotely, occasionally returning to Emerald, and more frequently to Harden in regional NSW. Being pre-setup to work remotely proved to be quite convenient for me during the COVID pandemic. Along the way I've had the opportunity to see some of the world, and I am now engaged.

What inspired your career path?

I had this notion that I wanted to follow a career that kept my childhood curiosities alive, so initially I looked into palaeontology. I couldn't find a pathway there that worked for me, so in the same vein I shifted into robots! Since then, my career path is inspired by three things: diversity, in that I enjoy challenges that are multi-faceted and multi-disciplinary; purpose, so

that I find meaning in the work that I do, which I have in fostering sustainable practices, and; tangibility, in that I like to see a physical end result of what I do. Agricultural robotics ticked those boxes for me.

What are some of the challenges and/or successes working in your field?

The challenges and successes blur into one in agricultural robotics because, despite what many people might think, the field is quite under-developed. This means that it's relatively common to create solutions to novel issues unique to rural environments, which feels great once you achieve that, but it can be a tough road to get there. Working in regional environments means you have to think of cases such as remoteness, safety, off-road terrain, temperature changes, non-tech savvy users, and that's before you get into the requirements of running a farm in a variety of different industries. Some paddocks can be so large that you have to consider the curvature of the Earth to keep your positioning precise enough. I'd say any time one of these issues is addressed would be a win.

What do you enjoy most in your current role?

That I work with a broad range of robotic disciplines, integrating them to make something cohesive, then testing that on a real 2+ tonne machine, and finally knowing that what I've done will very quickly make a direct improvement to somebody's life rather than gathering dust on a shelf.

How do you like to spend your free time?

You can find me at the beach from about August, otherwise I'll be out with mates, at home playing guitar (I recently picked myself up an 8-string), or overseas with my fiance.

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

There's certainly many of them, but the tactical flour exercises in cadets were always a favourite.

Do you have any advice for today’s students?

Don't just seize opportunities, make them too. Try things you think you won't like. Choose a coffee order with a maximum of two adjectives.

Welcome to our newest alumni The Class of 2023

We are excited to welcome the Class of 2023 to the Old Barker Association (OBA), an organisation which focuses on providing member services catering to all the varied interests and activities of Barker’s Alumni.

The OBA offers many opportunities to explore including:

• Joining one of the OBA Affiliate Groups - there are many to choose from including Sport, Music, Theatre, Robotics, Christian Fellowship and Agriculture (see the following pages to see which are of interest)

• Special events and activities such as the annual OBA golf day

• Social events in regional areas, interstate and overseas

• Year group reunions

• Online Mentoring Program

• Networking events

• OBA Support for Life - a free mental health service available to all Alumni and their families

Communication

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

• Like us on Facebook www.facebook.com/ barkercollegealumni

• Like us on Instagram www.instagram.com/ barkercollege/

• Connect with us on LinkedIn Official Barker College Alumni

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

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

For any questions or suggestions please contact:

Karina Drummond

Director of Alumni & Community Relations

Phone: 02 8438 7283

KDrummond@barker.nsw.edu.au

Favourite Memory at Barker?

Having freshly graduated from Barker, and finally moved on from 13 years of school, I find myself missing the College more now than ever.

I think it’s incredibly difficult to pinpoint a favourite memory, because these don’t come as standalone moments, but instead hundreds of repetitive experiences. Particularly, the many late nights studying with my peers in the Study Hub, the camps that brought along incredible new experiences, and the invaluable time our teachers, Deans, and Mr Heath put in to give us the most beneficial schooling.

Zoe Paterson

My favourite memory at Barker is a very recent one, and comes from my second last day of Year 12. That afternoon, we hosted the Captains’ assembly which showcased talented performers from across our year group and acted as a final goodbye from our team of captains. Beyond that, though, the assembly also showcased a performer with very little talent, that performer being me, with my rendition of Ed Sheeran’s ‘Perfect’, with lyrics parodied to reflect the closing of Year 12. Despite being a particularly poor singer, the support from the crowd following the performance is something I will not forget.

Jeremy Davie

My favourite memory from Barker would be the opening night of the Beauty and the Beast musical. Amidst everyone working so hard and talks of the show possibly being cancelled from Covid, the happiness and pride I felt, as well as everyone who was a part of it, was by far the best memory I've had at Barker. And to top it all off, confetti came down from the ceiling as a surprise after we performed ‘Be Our Guest’ for the first time - it honestly felt like a Broadway production.

Lucy Johnston

Who was a role model during your time at the School

Senior School chaplain Adrian Foxcroft, our Bible study leader, always embodied the kindness and patience that he wanted us to exhibit ourselves, faithfully pointing us towards the greatest hope of Jesus amidst the at-times stressful and tumultuous ride of the HSC. He modelled healthy perspective and a constant emphasis on what is really most important in life - an easy thing to forget.

Caleb Stace

I’m sure each school student would pick the same as me, but mine has always been Mr Heath. He cares so much for everyone in the School Community, and it was and still is an incredible experience learning from him. I’ve as well always really looked up to Jeremy,

Zoe and Caleb. All three of them are so passionate, with such an incredible work ethic, and I’m very grateful to have worked with such beautiful friends.

Lucy Johnston

Being at Barker for six years, I had role models come and go over the years, but there were undeniable constants throughout that. Mr Heath’s ability to speak and to inspire was, itself, inspirational and the skill and willingness of senior staff like Mrs Potent and Mr Giltrap to care so deeply for so many students is something I always looked up to.

Jeremy Davie

While there are countless people to be grateful for, one role model I found within the School was my Football manager. Miss Erin Hannon. Through Years 10, 11 and 12, she became another friendly face to inspire me. She was a coach, Science tutor, and advisor; all from the side of the pitch. Someone I truly look up to.

Zoe Paterson

Reflections from 2023 Captains - Jeremy Davie and Lucy Johnston, and Vice Captains - Zoe Paterson and Caleb Stace.

Who would you like to thank?

There’s plenty of people who are so deserving of thanks, which is unsurprising when Barker surrounds students with so much support, but there’s a few that I’d like to mention here. My teachers, particularly those that taught me at either end of my high school journey, were so crucial to both my formative years in high school, and my academic journey at Barker. Beyond that, my Middle School Head of House, Mr Jerecivich, and Middle School Dean, Mr Rheinberger, were instrumental in developing my leadership skills and bringing me to where I am today. Finally, there are too many Senior staff to thank here, but to those who made my Senior School journey so enjoyable, I am forever thankful.

Jeremy Davie

Honestly, there are so many people in Barker I would like to thank, because everyone works so hard to make this community so special. I would like to thank the Cru staff, including Rev Tong, Mrs Yuen and Mrs Loosemore, and the incredible work they do within the School, and my Drama teachers, specifically Mrs Midgely, who turns drama into not just a subject, but a community and an experience where you can grow in your confidence and knowledge of yourself and (in my opinion) makes it the best subject to take.

Lucy Johnston

While there are some individuals more than others that I have to thank for my personal experience through school, it comes down to each and every person as part of the community. I am very thankful for all past and present parents, staff and students who fostered such a special environment.

Zoe Paterson

A simple ‘thank you’ could never cut it for the teachers who poured their formidable expertise into helping me across so many hours - without them, I truly don’t know where I’d be! Particularly in Maths and English, my teachers ignited within me a passion for learning whilst also equipping me to face the HSC with confidence, enabling me to pursue my post-school goals.

Caleb Stace

Will you join an OBA group and if so, which one/s are of interest?

Even though our year have graduated from Barker, we will continue to foster the environment as staff, OBA athletes, and active members of the community.

Zoe Paterson

I would love to maintain my connection with the School through the OBA. I have been lucky enough to begin this already, as myself and some friends have reformed the OBA cricket team this year. However, after my 30 ball duck opening the batting in our first match against the Old Aloysians, I’m not sure my position in the team is particularly secure; I maintain that I took the shine off the ball, but I may have to investigate some other OBA avenues.

Jeremy Davie

I have joined the Cru OBA Group, and am looking forward to attending some of the hang outs they’ve posted and meeting past students in the community! (Lucy)

A number of the boys from our grade have restarted the OBA cricket team after its lengthy hiatus. This has been a blast thus far, with great social training sessions and a narrow loss of five runs to St Aloysius’ Old Boys’ team - 2023 Captain Jeremy Davie’s patient thirty-ball duck didn’t help the cause … though my swinging three-ball duck at No. 8 wasn’t much better!

Caleb Stace

OBA

GROUPS

Old Barker Football Club

In the words of Gough Whitlam, “It’s Time”. Football pre-season has commenced.

It’s not just cost-ofliving that has inflated, belt buckles are straining from a rigorously inert off season. As we know, a good general saves his toughest battles for his best soldiers. General Albanese summoned his cabinet back early in 2024 for a cost-ofliving summit, with a recasting of stage three tax cuts.

Club President Pete Gregory (03), a Labor political icon in the making, juxtaposed his ideological kin by delaying the commencement of pre-season activities. They eventually got underway and as the 035s squad struggled up a set of stairs during a fitness session, Peter could be heard yelling “you broke your mother’s heart, don’t break mine” - it’s still not clear if

OBA Christian Fellowship

The OBAFC met up for our annual Christmas Drinks at the Blue Gum Hotel. For both celebrations of the year that has been, and the wonderful message of Christmas. It was great to see everyone come together and enjoy a relaxing evening sharing dinner and drinks over many laughs. Also hearing the fantastic ways members planned to celebrate Christmas with family and enjoy the Christmas break.

Peter was lamenting the physical condition of the squad or grieving another political promise broken.

Peter could not be reached for comment at time of writing. Albeit comment was sought after hours shortly after Tony’s Burke’s new workplace laws came into force. Another win for Peter’s political kin. There have been some squad rotations in the off-season.

Dave Vickers (03) has been an indomitable force at Old Barker FC, having played 20 seasons back-to-back. However, like a lamer version of Achilles (think Brad Pitt’s brother Doug Pitt, see picture), he has succumbed to an ankle injury and will be missing 2024. Similarly, Mark Asbjerg has been loaned out to Hobart FC for an undisclosed transfer fee.

Chris Monsted (03) returns between the goal posts in 2024. After juggling newborn twins in 2023, there is a renewed assurance

The OBACF is also delighted to announce that 2021 graduate, Bayden Little, will be taking over the leadership/management of the OBACF from 2024. Bayden is an Advanced Science - Food and Agribusiness Student at the University of Sydney and is an active member of the OBA Agriculture Society. Furthermore, he is a member of the coaching staff at Barker. We are very lucky to have Bayden taking over and welcome him to the role. Please feel free to reach out to him if you have any questions or suggestions for the OBACF moving forward.

he will be a safe pair of hands in goals. There have been a couple of new recruits, with a marquee player on loan from the UK. More details to come in future updates. In the words of Phineas T. Barnum, “always leave them wanting more”.

If interested in a socially competitive football outing, please visit www.oldbarkerfc.com for more information.

Matt Vickers (05)

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 or Instagram Group @obachristianfellowship by private messaging Bayden Little or emailing oldbarkerchristianfellowship@gmail. com

OBA Cricket Club

After a couple of seasons without a team, it has been fantastic to see the return of the OBA Cricket team in 2024, rejuvenated primarily by graduates of the Class of 2023 and guided by Club Captain Lachie Lloyd (18). The season started for us in the new year after the completion of HSC exams and it has been wonderful to organise a number of friendly matches against fellow “old students” teams as well as clubs from around Sydney.

Our one game so far against the Old Aloysians Cricket team was highlighted by some outstanding performances from members of the team who had not played a game of cricket since their days in the Barker Junior School. This was epitomised by Jackson Parker (23) who bamboozled the opposition

OBA North Shore Wind Symphony

North Shore Wind Symphony (NSWS) had quite the year in 2023! Our journey to the National Band Championships in Newcastle saw us place third overall amidst formidable opposition, achieving the highest score for the test piece, David Stanhope’s Folksongs for Band, Suite 3, thanks to an enlightening workshop from David himself. Our contest program also featured the challenging Third Symphony of James Barnes, a piece touched by the immense grief arising from the loss of the composer’s daughter, as well as the gentle and aethereal Serenity by Norwegian composer, Ola Gjeilo. On our local concert circuit, we saw a resonating success with our popular film music concert, attended by plenty of young musicians and (we hope!)

with his off-spin and mystery deliveries as he took three wickets within three overs. With the bat it was Leo Gibb (23) who impressed as he struck the ball to all parts of the ground to go with an impressive catch behind the stumps. However, when speaking to our team about their highlights of the season so far, what has stood out is not necessarily the individual performances, but the ability to continue and build new friendships while sharing our passion for the game of cricket. Using the wonderful grounds and facilities at Barker for training sessions and matches has been an added bonus.

return of the annual T20 fixture against the Barker 1st XI on Main Oval. As we start looking towards

We look forward to our remaining fixtures this season, particularly the

the 2024-25 season, it would be great to continue expanding the OBA Cricket Club once again and welcome new (and old) players. For anyone interested in joining the Club or wanting to know more, feel free to reach out to oliver.uy@ icloud.com

Oliver Uy (23)

prospective future members.

For our eighth season in 2024, NSWS intends to ride our momentum into another strong year. We recently resumed rehearsals at Barker on 4 February and headed to the Blue Gum Hotel for a social event after, image attached. Our repertoire, as with previous years’ successful seasons, will both pay homage to the timehonoured masters of the wind band tradition and elevate the brightest emerging contemporary composers. We will be contending this year’s NSW State Band Championships in Penrith, in addition to our concerts at Barker and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music.

We would like to extend an invitation to any and all in the OBA community

to follow us on social media (@ northshorewindsymphony) for information about our concerts, at which we would so eagerly like to see you. We also welcome inquiries regarding, among other matters, prospective membership at northshorewindsymphony@ gmail.com

Angus Hawken (17)

OBA North Shore Wind Symphony Secretary

OBA Seniors

SENIORS WITH A FUTURE!

Members of your Seniors

Committee recall when the then Committee of the “Barker College Old Boys Union” needed to address the requirement for a more encompassing name to welcome the inaugural members of our first co-ed alumni. The time will soon be approaching - the end of 2026 - when these same alumni will be celebrating 50 years since their Barker graduation year.

Consequently, a “golden anniversary” perhaps deserves something a little more significant than merely becoming a “Senior”. So to allow proper consideration, prospecting has begun and input is most welcome. Input is especially welcome from those OBA members who will become the early-adopters of this new honorific. Thought-starters include: an elegantly simple “OBA Golds”; a

more encompassing “OBA Gold+s”; a warm “OBA Vintage Reds”; an emeritus “OBA Collegiates”.

If you have a contribution you’d like to put forward for consideration or, indeed, any comments or particular preferences among the thought-starters, we’d like to hear from you. In the first instance, please email (with your name and leaving year) to alumni@barker.nsw.edu. This will ensure your input comes through to the Committee.

Meanwhile, please keep a keen eye open for information and invitations to our 2024 events. We hope you enjoyed our Seniors Lunch, held at the easily accessible Hornsby RSL on Tuesday 19 March, with Alumni from the Class of 1948 to the Class of 1973 attending. The guest speaker was Dr Alexandra Spencer (96) who is currently working at the Hunter Medical Research Institute and lecturing at Newcastle University.

Alex shared the process of vaccine development including her work on the Covid vaccine while she was at Oxford. Phillip Heath AM provided an update on the School which was very much appreciated by those in attendance.

Don’t miss the biennial Back to Barker Day on Tuesday 7 May (partners welcome), this year including a tour of The Senior School Hub plus a Robotics demonstration; and it’s not too early to diarise the Seniors AGM/ Lunch/Rugby on Saturday 10 August. We OBA Seniors are also most welcome at any OBA event and at many School events.

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

Peter Middleton (64) OBA Seniors Committee

OBA Big Band

What an end to 2023! In the rehearsals following the OBA Affiliates Cocktail event, the band was swinging. We were eager to perform again, but unfortunately the holiday season was fast approaching. All that changed in November when we were booked to perform at the ICC. The OBA Big Band had to write, arrange, learn and master an entire night's worth of new repertoire, with only three rehearsals up our sleeve. This time we were swinging... for the fences! The charity event known as Elevate the Stage coincided with the UN International Day of People with Disability. This inaugural event provided a showcase for Australia's top talents, sharing one stage to champion inclusion and diversity. Throughout the evening, the OBA Big Band played for each artist as they performed their song of choice.

The night started strong as the band opened with the well-known Australian musical director John Foreman OAM, and the internationally renowned jazz singer Emma Pask. Each act that followed was just as eclectic as the last. Lara Nakhle and Connor Wink sang ‘Shallow’ from A Star Is Born (2018). We used music but the duo played impeccably from memory since they were both blind. The act that followed featured the theatrical singer Tim McCallum and Emma Birdsall from The Voice. The

OBA Theatre

It was wonderful to see many returning and new faces at the OBAT Christmas Drinks last year, and was a great way to kickstart Old Barker Theatre as we look to our 2024 season.

OBA Big Band played in a more symphonic style to back their rendition of ‘A Million Dreams from The Greatest Showman (2017). Tim had a swimming accident that left him a quadriplegic just days before starting his musical theatre course. In order to continue singing, he had to completely alter his technique. One thing was clear, it worked! The sheer intensity of the duo's voices resonated beyond the ICC and out onto the Darling Harbour.

By this point in the night, the OBA Big Band had performed jazz, classical, pop, funk and rock. We needed soul and there was only one artist who could do it, X-Factor's "Mick on Wheels". When Mick contracted Meningitis at two days-old he became paralysed from the knees down. But it did nothing to his stage presence! As we began Otis Redding's version of ‘Try A Little Tenderness’, Mick leant on his soft soothing voice. But as the piece built, he sang louder and his tone gradually became grittier. Before we knew it, it was if Stevie Wonder was screaming right before us! The whole performance was strengthened with the addition of Rex Goh on guitar, the musical director for The Beatles White Album Tour and guitarist in the Tina Turner Musical.

We supported many more artists

throughout the night and the ICC was packed. The OBA Big Band was vital to the success of the evening and I deeply appreciate the time and effort that every musician gave participating in this charity event. In the days that followed, the organisers reached out to congratulate us on the success of Elevate the Stage. The inaugural event was so well received that they'll host one every year, this time with the intention of televising it!

Now that 2024 has begun, the OBA Big Band has let the adrenaline drop and found our routine again. We've been rehearsing new repertoire that we'll feature throughout the year. If you're looking for a jazz band to play at an upcoming event, get in touch at: OBABigBand@gmail.com

Luke Davis (09)

Keep an eye on the OBAT Facebook page for details regarding our next event, where we'll be announcing our production for 2024. You won't want to miss it!

Ben James (22)

Class of 1973 Reunion50 Year Reunion

On the evening of Saturday 4 November 2023, 68 Alumni from the Barker Class of 73 gathered at the Kirribilli Club at Milsons Point for our 50 year reunion. Peter Farmer, quiz master on the night, pointed out 68 was a significant number. Most of us had started at Barker in 1968 plus all of us were either in our 68th year or had turned 68. The evening started off with an In Memoriam segment presented by Rev John Batt. After

a short video there was a minutes silence to remember the 15 Alumni who were no longer with us. Later in the evening Peter Farmer conducted an interactive “How good is your memory’” Quiz. At the end of the Quiz, Peter invited Alumni to share stories from their time at Barker which brought back many great memories. Several tales were told of a particular eventful excursion to Canberra, including how students were delivered back to their sleeping quarters late at night by the local police after a group of them had gone through the front window of a store in a supermarket trolley in the city centre.

It was not uncommon for some of us to have difficulty recognising Alumni when they walked in the room - a special request had been made for the largest font possible to be used on the name tags. However, once that reconnection had been made, it was like nothing had changed.

An added bonus for some of the guys, was being able to do a tour of the School on the day before the reunion. This tour was led by four current Barker prefects, who were interested to learn what the School was like back in 1973.

The night could be summed up by a comment made by Rod Meynink after the event - “It’s such a life-plus thing that a disparate group of guys … 50 years on … can enjoy the shared history, the camaraderie, and just the interaction. No one really cares who you are, what you are, where you’ve come from, where you’re headed … it’s simply our shared history and pleasure to reconnect, learn about what others have done and what they look forward to. No one has escaped life’s challenges … but that never clouds the conversation. It’s so enjoyable and I look forward to the next.”

Ian Somerville

Class of 1978 Reunion45 Year Reunion

The Class of 1978 Reunion was held on Sunday 12 November 2023 at The Greens in North Sydney with 50 alumni attending for drinks, food and bowling. The weather was great, the company was excellent and many people got the chance to reconnect with colleagues some of which they hadn’t seen since leaving school 45 years earlier.

Many chatted away into the evening and moved onto other venues. A good time had by all as we look forward to our 50 year reunion in five years’ time.

Mark Gell

Class of 1951 Reunion72 Year Reunion

The Class of 1951 reunion was held in the Sue Field Room overlooking the Rosewood Fields on Monday 13 November 2023 with a delightful lunch and good company. Six alumni were able to attend: Peter Booth, David Helstrom, Tony Martire, Bob Russell, Michael Thomas and Alan Winterbotham.

The timing of the event was planned around Bob Russell’s

Class of 1963 - 60 Year Reunion

Thirty-five mates (out of a year of 90) got together on Friday 13 October 2023 at the Avondale Golf Club, Pymble on a warm sunny day to enjoy lunch, drinks, many laughs and recollections from the years since leaving Barker. It was a great turnout with some travelling from interstate and rural areas, and it was fantastic to catch up with everyone. Well, we have survived and most of us are in robust health. There were of course some who were absent (16 apologies) and over 20 who we have lost along the way, and all were remembered fondly with a toast to absent friends.

OBA Networking Event

Alumni from the Class of 1979 through to the Class of 2020 attended the OBA Networking event on 20 November 2023. Special thanks to Nick Miller (95) and Melissa Pye from Optus for hosting the event at the 5G Innovation Hub at Wynyard. There was great networking between alumni and much interest in hearing from Nick, Nicole Venter (02), David Burt (04) and Head of Barker Phillip Heath AM during the panel discussion on the topic of Innovation.

visit to Australia with his wife Elsa also attending.

After lunch, attendees were introduced to student leaders who joined us for the tour of the new Senior School Hub led by Tori Grimes, Director of Advancement. We appreciated and expressed our thanks to the students who were wonderful tour guides and ‘drivers’ of the wheelchairs required by

some. We look forward to a future reunion.

Tony Martire

There have been some changes in the past five years, waistlines have expanded and contracted, some hair was different in colour, or non-existent.

It was agreed to get together in a couple of years.

Brian Lang and Ian Pont

Community Events

Northern Rivers NSW Lunch

Lennox Head Pub Upper Deck restaurant was once again the venue for the Northern Rivers NSW soiree and lunch held on 16 November 2023. With outstanding Pacific Ocean views it provides the sort of maritime swashbuckling humour that tends to prevail in the ambience of this venue. First timers were medicine man from Lismore, Richard Deaker (79) and handyman from Goonellabah, Mike Robertson (61). Honoured visitors were Brendon Cook (88) and Ian Howard (77) both from the Gold Coast, Special visitor from Wahroonga John “Spin” Brice (62) travelled some 700kms to be here and between him and Dick “Cinders” Ash (62) competed fiercely for gaining honours in qualifying as chief rebels back in the day. It finished as a dead heat.

Perth Community Event

The Perth lunch was held on Friday 17 November 2023 on the Rooftop Terrace of the Claremont Hotel with Alumni from the Class of 1946 through to the Class of 2000 attending. It was a wonderful occasion with everyone interested to hear an update from Phillip Heath on what’s been happening at Barker. So many are regular attendees at Perth events and all enjoyed catching up as well as making new connections. A special thank you to Gus Elliot (92) for organising the event.

Alumni attending were: Peter Alexander (56), Catherine Bell (94), Ross Bell (46), Stuart Bell (91), Ian Christian (69), Peter Cruickshank (84), Gus Elliot (92), John Hall (63), Tom Hargreaves (69), Jane Hedley (00), Alan Rowe (68), Mark Smith (71), Hugh Walker (53) and Edward Wilson (92).

Everybody had a fond memory to share of College days. Jim Poulos (61) waxed Patronymically regarding his name “Poulos” meaning “son of” and used such popular prefixes as Alexo, Papado, Stavro, etc. to bolster his case. It still left us wondering just who was Jim’s father?

Perhaps Zeropoulos? And to put icing on the non-existent cake, it was Phil Bailey’s 78th Birthday. Graham “Henry” Lawson (62)

Standing (L-R): “Henry” Graham Lawson (62), Wayne Oastler (62), Jim Poulos (61), Mike Robertson (61), Brendan Cook (88), Seated (L-R): Dick “Cinders” Ash (62), John “Spin” Brice (62), Richard Deaker (79), Ian Howard (77), Robert Raymond (62), Phil Bailey (62)

NOTES Alumni

John Baker (65) Over 50 years’ involvement in agriculture concluded in September 2023, when John, his wife Jacquie and elder son Mark closed their family business Produce Marketing Australia, after 25 successful years. Earlier roles, after completing seven enjoyable years as a Barker Boarder, included NSW Department of Agriculture in extension, extension management and export development, Sydney Market Authority managing the Flemington wholesale market and Paddys retail markets, and Marketing Manager then Managing Director of the newly-established Australian Horticultural Corporation.

In ‘retirement’ John remains active in the community in a range of volunteering roles. He is currently President of Russell Lea (inner west) Probus Club and produces their monthly Newsletter, helping keep retirees active and connected. He is also a volunteer driver for “Little Wings”, a not-for-profit organisation that provides free flight and ground transport services for seriously ill children and their families in rural and regional NSW, the ACT and QLD. Having been raised in Goodooga, in outback NSW, John appreciates the lack of access to specialist resources in the country compared with Sydney. Through providing transport services, Little Wings also significantly reduces stress placed on children and their parents. Another volunteering activity, which provides much enjoyment and satisfaction, is Ethics Teaching at the local primary school attended by John’s two

(Number in brackets is the alumni year)

granddaughters. He continues to be amazed at how today’s children from Year 1 to Year 6 are able to think, reason and discuss everyday ethical issues. To assist students to develop skills that are essential in today’s complex world - critical thinking, giving evidence-based reasons for their opinions, being able to discuss and disagree with others without putdowns, and how to make well-considered decisions - is most satisfying.

It is very different to the fresh produce retail training programs John developed and delivered for over 200 modern retailers in 13 emerging markets around the world, although equally satisfying, as retail staff in all those markets have been eager to learn and improve their skills.

Elissa Scott (85) known as The T Lady is the first woman in the world to bring to market a nonplastic tea bag for all symptoms of menopause in 2016. Menopause Tea - is a certified organic herbal tea bag for all symptoms of menopause.

During 2022 Elissa created another tea bag in her menopause collection - Meno Belly Weight Loss Tea. This tea has hit the international stage being gifted to all nominees for the 2024 Oscars goodie bags - Emily Blunt, Robert De Niro, Barbie are on the list to receive among others. Yes men can drink it!

Recently Elissa’s article was published in LA: 'Natural vs Chemical Awareness: Nurturing well-being in a modern world'. Her English teacher, Mr Smith would be so proud!

Abby Nutt (87) recently came 3rd in the Women’s Epee at the World Veteran Fencing Championships in Daytona Beach, Florida, USA in October and was placed 14th in the Women’s Foil. She fenced in the Australian Team for both weapons in which they came 6th in the foil and 7th in the epee. She had a successful year leading up to the World Veteran Fencing Championships being ranked 2nd in the Australian Open rankings for Epee and 1st in the Veteran Epee and Foil categories.

Daniel Mitterdorfer (99) Since leaving Barker, Daniel has worked as an IT professional in the advertising industry, spending 12 years at agency Belgiovane Williams Mackay.

He was also a longstanding chorister at Christ Church St Laurence, opposite Sydney's Central station. Relocating to Melbourne in 2012, he now works as Head of Support and General Manager - Australia, for LiveWell by Zurich, a health and wellbeing platform established by Zurich Insurance, Switzerland. Daniel is a volunteer presenter on classical radio station 3MBS Melbourne, as well as a chorister and sometimesdirector at the church of St Peter's Eastern Hill, Melbourne.

Sabryna Walters (Te’o 08) visited the Barker Music Department in February.

A graduate of NIDA, Sabryna has carved a successful path in the American music scene and is married to Ritchie Walters, a world renowned reggae guitarist who toured Australia earlier this year with Julian Marley. Grammywinning producer Jaime Hinckson also visited.

The trio collaborated with the Year 8 rock band ‘Red Rebels’, imparting reggae insights and leaving an indelible mark on these aspiring musicians. Inspirational words from the guests resonated, echoing Bob Marley's belief that "Music can change the world because it can change people."

Adam Davis (14) has been chosen as a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra Fellow for 2024. He was selected from a highly competitive process for this opportunity.

Adam will perform with three other Academy Fellows in Chamber Music in June.

Tickets can be purchased via this link: www.mso.com.au

Jarrod Draper (14), Mary McCorry (17) and Caity Plummer (15) have been announced in the cast for a new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Sunset Boulevarde which premieres at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne in May followed by a season at the Sydney Opera House in August. Jarrod will play the role of Artie Green and Mary and Caity are in the ensemble. Tickets can be purchased here: sunsetmusical. com.au

Amy Sayer (19) played in the Matildas' Olympic qualifier match against Uzbekistan in Melbourne in February. Amy scored her first goal for the national team in the 4th minute of extra time contributing to the final winning score of 10-0.

Hugh Brown (15) has been named Football NSW Futsal Premier League Coach of the Year for the 2024 Season. He coaches the UTS Northside Futsal Club U17G and Open Women teams.

Lachlan Hooper, Sam Sahyoun, Eli Sagala and Jakob Biet (all 22) played for the ACT Brumbies and won the U19s Super Rugby Championship in November.

They defeated the NSW Waratahs team which also included Wil Kennedy (22), Bryn Edwards (21) and Oniti Finau (22). Barker teacher Dean Hargreaves was also a member of the NSW coaching staff.

Jeslyn Tan (23) is one of three students from across Australia who has been chosen to compete in the International Science and Engineering Fair in Los Angeles, USA later this year.

She was chosen for her Design and Technology major project which was designed to help elderly people when they have a fall in the home.

The product she designed and modelled, elevates people off the ground after they have fallen. As with all good designers, Jeslyn used her observation of real-life situations as the starting point for her project. “As I watched my grandpa age, I noticed a significant decrease in his mobility, and reflexes, especially when he was diagnosed with a stroke on the left side of his body. As a result of this, he had several falls when attempting to get out of bed, and in the bathroom, which ultimately led to hospitalisation”.

Research shows that people who reach the age of 60, start to have imbalance issues and suffer from falling and injuring themselves. Jeslyn’s product is designed to assist people after they have fallen by elevating them off the ground to a sitting position. Moreover, through the automated drive base, tracking software can be implemented to locate the user in their home.

Australia Day Honours 2024

Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the General Division

Associate Professor Graham John Gumley (69) for significant service to medicine in the field of orthopaedics.

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division

Dr Robert Alan North (53) for service to medicine, and to the community.

Guy Stuart Fowler (85) for service to business, and to the community.

Lion Cub Club

Welcome Joey, daughter of Alice Naughton (Matthews 00) to the Barker Lion Cub Club.

Please contact the team at alumni@barker.nsw.edu.au if you would like your bub to receive Yvonne Low’s Welcome to Barker book and a cute lion cub toy.

Baptisms in the Barker Chapel

18 November

Isla Rolston, daughter of Mike Rolston (05) and Claudia Rolston

18 November

Elka Cleary, daughter of Brent Cleary (01) and Catherine Cleary (Rolston 01)

19 November

Bella Burrett, daughter of Samuel Burrett and Kate Burrett (Buchanan 12)

19 November

Charlie Burrett, son of Samuel Burrett and Kate Burrett (Buchanan 12)

7 January

Elton Turner, son of Ben Turner and Rebecca Turner (Meyer 09)

7 January

Harlow Turner, daughter of Ben Turner and Rebecca Turner (Meyer 09)

7 January

Oliver Reissis, son of Dimi Reissis and Nicole Reissis (Meyer 07)

7 January

Harry Skinner, son of Jack Skinner (02) and Sarah Skinner

7 January

Toby Skinner, son of Jack Skinner (02) and Sarah Skinner

20 January

Grace Elstermann, daughter of Tom Elstermann (09) and Emily Elstermann (Tutt 09)

Weddings in the Barker Chapel

9 December

Isaac Fisher (18) married Sarah Abela

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 partnered with My Mirror online psychology to provide access to three videoconferencing sessions with an experienced psychologist at no cost to you.

Developing Skills to Cope with Changes

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.

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

OBITUARIES OBA

Air Commodore William (Bill) John Belton AM (54) RAAF (Ret’d) 1937 - 2023

Bill attended Barker as a boarder from 1950 to 1953. Sporting highlights include the Under 14 25m Handicap Swimming Race, playing in the Under 15B XV Rugby in 1952 and the 3rd XI Cricket team in 1953. He was awarded the Helen Leslie Memorial Prize at Speech Day in 1952.

Following Barker, Bill joined the RAAF as an apprentice in 1954 and then studied engineering at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, now RMIT University. His career began as an Aeronautical Engineering officer and included postings around Australia and overseas.

(Number in brackets is the alumni year)

His distinguished career spanned 40 years and at the point of his retirement from the RAAF in 1992 Bill was an Air Commodore and Chief of Staff Logistics Command. In 1985 Bill was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service as the senior engineering officer of the RAAF Tactical Fighter Project Office in the USA.

Bill was Past President and Life Member of the RAeS Australian Division and a recipient of the Sir Robert Hardingham Presidential Sword Award. He was also the inaugural chair of the Joint Board for Aerospace Engineering which established the “General Area of Practice” of Aerospace Engineering, now fundamental to legal registration in the field. Bill also served as President of the Victorian Division of the Air Force Association and was made a Life Member. He was an active Board member of Aerospace Australia Ltd which organises the biennial Australian International Airshow and Aerospace and Defence Exposition - one of the world’s leading aerospace industry events. In the area of education, Bill retained close links with RMIT University for almost fifty years and served as the inaugural chair of the Sir Lawrence Wackett Centre advisory board. RMIT University conferred the award of Doctor of Engineering honoris causa in 2008 for his leadership in the Australian aerospace profession and its promotion at an international level.

His latter years were spent on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula where he established a stud, breeding Australian Lowline beef cattle.

Bill Belton, late of Melbourne passed away on 28 August 2023 and will be missed by many.

Keith Reginald Dudley (43) 1925 - 2023

Keith was born in Stanley Street, Epping and spent his younger years growing up in the Epping, Lindfield and Dee Why areas. He attended Barker for senior schooling, receiving his intermediate certificate in March 1942.

After leaving school he worked in a bank for a very short period before deciding that it wasn’t for him.

Instead he got an apprenticeship as an Electrical Fitter, working at Garden Island on various warrelated projects, and later for Durst Motors. He then moved on to various sales positions before landing a job at HSG Wolfe, who were manufacturering agents, importers and exporters of hardware products.

He remained with the company for over 30 years, successfully managing the whole business, which went from strength to strength under his leadership. Interests included racing motorbikes in the 1950s, golf and fishing. He was generally good at building and maintaining anything he put his hand to. He served with the Forestville Volunteer Bush Fire Brigade and was on the committee for the Hardware Golf organisation. He participated in many fundraisers for the Freemasons and was made a life member of the Warringah Boat Club for service to the club.

He married in 1959, and soon after bought land and built a house in Frenchs Forest. He lived there with his wife Judy, and two children Melinda and Richard, and passed on his handyman skills to both children. He started losing his sight around 1994 due to macular degeneration, which slowed and eventually stopped him participating in many activities. He greatly enjoyed attending Barker Old Boys events and catching up with old school mates. He lived at home until 2021, when he moved to nursing care due to ill health.

Richard Bruce Dufty (94) 1977 - 2023

Richard Dufty attended Barker from 1989 until 1994. He was a front rower in rugby, he represented the school in swimming at the CAS and he was active in the arts all throughout his schooling. The art and design facility was built during the years Richard attended Barker, and he wasted no time to experiment with film, video and graphic design. He was also a keen performer, appearing in numerous musicals during his time at the school.

After Barker, Richard earned a Bachelor of Design & Visual Communication (Graphic Design) at UWS and started working with motion graphics in the local TV industry. In his private time, he was involved in various art collectives with his own brand 100 Monkeys, through which he produced live visuals for music and cultural events all over Sydney around the turn of the century.

In 2003 he embarked on an openended tour of Southeast Asia, starting in Malaysia and travelling through Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and India before finally making his way to London

in 2005, where he settled and first met his future wife, Emma.

Richard’s skills with computers and motion graphics software gave him an edge when he moved to London. He started working for ITV, designing graphics seen in the nightly news and studio sets for special events including Election Night and the Royal Wedding. He then established his own company, RBD Design Studio, and delivered motion graphics design work to clients both in the UK and Europe and as far abroad as the Middle East. After a decade in London, Richard and Emma moved to Brighton where they married and started a family.

In late 2021, Richard was diagnosed with Stage 4 prostate cancer. He gave himself just one day to feel sorry for himself before turning his life around to maximise every remaining moment he had. Refusing to be defined by his illness, he lived the last few years of his life as an inspiration to all who knew him, committing to a healthy lifestyle and remaining active even while undergoing treatments. He fostered a positive and proactive outlook on life.

In his final years, he established Prototype™ (@prototypetm_art on instagram) - his own art label for designing and making unique and accessible art pieces based on his love of popular art and culture. He also made a point of maintaining close relationships with his friends and most importantly, he made sure that he was a fun, loving and active husband and dad for his two young daughters. Although his time with them was far too short, his positive influence on them will last a lifetime.

Richard married in 2016 and leaves his wife Emma and two daughters, Edie (6) and Lila (4). Emma is keeping his artworks in production (prototypetm.com) and sales will help support WOLO - a charity supporting cancer patients and their families in the Brighton area.

Paul Johannessen (94)

Andrew Criss (94)

Neil Marks OAM (55/56)

1938 - 2024

The School is saddened to inform you that one of our beloved elder statesmen of Barker College, Neil Marks OAM, passed away on 27 January.

He was 85 years of age. Neil’s passing is a significant moment in the history of the School. He was a long-serving OBA member and the OBA Representative to School Council from 1979 to 2007, Barker representative on the CAS General Committee and a raconteur of the first order, as well the author of three books of tales.

Neil Marks attended Barker from 1951 to 1956. An extraordinarily gifted sportsman from an equally gifted sporting family, Neil represented Barker across all sports but particularly in Cricket and Rugby. He earned his first Cricket Colours in 1953 and in that same year was Barker’s sole CAS Cricket Representative. In 1954 he captained the 1st XI Cricket team, a position he held for an impressive three years. His talents and achievements were not limited to the sports field. In 1955 he played the role of Marullus in the Julius Caesar Senior Class Performance and was a member of the School’s Debating teams from 1955 to 1956. In his final year he became a School Prefect.

After graduating from Barker in 1956, he took up a career as a partner in Warren Saunders and Associates Insurance Brokers. It was here that he honed his practical wisdom in management and planning, which was used to good effect when he joined the Barker Council as an OBA Representative, supporting three Headmasters during their tenure. Neil was also the author of ‘The Tales of the Centenary’, a publication sponsored by the OBA as part of the celebration for the centenary of the Association in 2008.

It was in Cricket that Neil Marks was best remembered by his beloved NSW and throughout the land until ill-health denied him from the widely anticipated selection as a Test Cricketer for Australia. Playing for three seasons for NSW, Neil’s highest score of 180 was widely judged as an innings of sparkling quality. A serious heart disease that required life-saving surgery in the United States cut short a potentially significant career in Cricket.

Passionate about supporting sports at the local level, Neil remained closely linked to the Northern Districts Cricket Club and Pennant Hills Golf Club where he and his brother Lynn (OBA 1959) were renowned leaders, nicknamed the Marks Brothers. Neil also coached numerous Barker teams, making an indelible impact on players and parents alike.

Neil Marks had a lively sense of humour. Known by many simply as Harpo, his witty stories regaled many an OBA event and were highly sought after. His books recount many of these stories for posterity. Beneath the wit, however, was an incisive sense of fair play and good judgement that enriched the School. The contribution of Neil Marks to the life and culture of Barker College cannot be overstated. To mark his support for the School, in 2001 the newly completed pavilion adjacent overlooking his beloved War Memorial Oval wicket was named The Marks Pavilion in his honour. It remains a cherished part of our landscape and proudly hosts hospitality for cricket and rugby matches hosted by Barker.

Neil is survived by his wife of 63 years, Kay, daughters Sue (Class of 1982 and an outstanding former teacher of English at the School), Sandra (Class of 1985), Vicki (Class of 1988). Our loving prayers are extended to all the family but especially to his wonderful lifelong partner, Kay, who was gracious enough to share him with our community throughout their lives together.

Phillip Heath AM

Ken attended Barker as a boarder from 1947 to 1951. He enjoyed sports and was a successful candidate for the Intermediate Certificate in 1950. He forged a valued life-long friendship with classmate, Brian Allen, who befriended Ken in his first days at Barker when he was still very lonely and homesick.

Ken left Barker to return home to the family farm, “Belmont” near Canowindra, following in the footsteps of his father and his grandfather, where he lived for most of his life. He went on to successfully run the mixed wheat and sheep agribusiness, along with a small herd of Hereford cattle, for more than 50 years with the help of his beloved wife, Jill, to whom he was married for 62 years.

Ken developed an early and lifelong fascination with flying and was fortunate to learn to fly in a Tiger Moth, taught by Jim and Max Hazelton of Hazelton Airlines fame. He completed National Service in the Royal Australian Air Force, enlisting on 5 July 1954 and transferring to the RAAF Reserve later that year until his discharge on 20 June 1960. In the late 1970’s, Ken bought his own small plane, a Cessna 172, which he kept on the farm. Flying proved to be a great balm for Ken when dealing with the vagaries of life on the land.

Ken was an active member of Apex until he took on full responsibility for the farm in 1968. He was later captain of the local volunteer bush fire brigade for many years. Ken was also elected - and re-elected many times - to the Canowindra Silo Committee to liaise between local wheat growers and the regional Wheat Board in relation to silo opening times and the dispatch of grain in the days when wheat was marketed by the Australian Wheat Board under the single desk model.

In 2011, Ken handed over the farm and its management to his son Stuart and, in early 2012, moved into Canowindra where he lived with Jill until his passing on 19 September 2023. While living in Canowindra, Ken became a valued and active member of the Canowindra sub-branch of the RSL.

Ken is survived by his wife Jill, his four children Adrienne, Catriona, Louise and Stuart and seven adored grandchildren. He is greatly missed by all.

Capt. James ‘JO’ Osborne Morrice (50) RAN (Ret’d) 1934 - 2023

JO attended Barker as a boarder on a full scholarship from 1946 to 1947.

In his short time at Barker he won the Cross Country Under 14 Championships, came 2nd in the 220 Yards Under 13 Championships, and was Captain of the Under 13A Cricket Team.

JO left Barker at the age of 13 to join the Royal Australian Navy in 1948. At the completion of his training in 1951 he took passage to England and continued his studies and gained experience on ships of the Royal Navy.

In 1955, JO was posted to HMAS TOBRUK before he was promoted to Lieutenant and posted to the Recruit School at HMAS CERBERUS in 1957. Besides his training duties, he participated in sports and was the depot High Jump Champion in 1958. The highlight for JO at this time was meeting Helena Wells who he married, and they moved to the UK for JO’s next two-year exchange service in the Royal Navy.

Kenneth (Ken) Alexander McDonald (52) 1935 - 2023

Throughout his career JO continued to rise through the ranks and was ultimately promoted to Captain. JO’s family was able to accompany him on some of his postings which provided opportunities for travel and also home life.

After leaving the Navy, JO returned to Barker as a staff member in the role of Barker Community Officer from 1985- 1989. He was responsible for the compilation of The College Barker annual publication and was the first Editor of The Barker quarterly magazine in 1988. JO was also the Executive Officer of the Barker Foundation, Assistant Secretary of the OBA, and Secretary of the Centenary Committee. JO left Barker to take up the position of Private Secretary to the Governor of NSW, Sir David Martin. He then worked for the Multiple Sclerosis Society and was Registrar of the NSW Bar Association for a short period. He also worked at the Goulburn Correctional Centre and the High Risk Management Correctional Centre in a part time capacity reporting directly to the NSW Government Minister.

In retirement, JO continued to maintain his health and enjoyed travel, tennis and fishing. Another lifelong hobby was writing poetry which he often presented to family and friends and even wrote poetry for an Indigenous prisoner at Goulburn Gaol. JO also contributed time and donated money to many causes including Legacy. He volunteered until his death. He was a Legacy Ward from the age of five following his father’s death. JO maintained his connection to Barker over the years through his friendships with his peers and by attending reunions and regional events including the Southern Highlands and most recently the Canberra event last October.

JO, late of Canberra, died on 19 December 2023 and is survived by his wife of 64 years Helena, children Jane, Charles, Margaret and Adrian; grandchildren Tobias, Joshua, Benjamin, Hannah, Emily, Ambrose, Luke, Havana and Lia; great-grandchildren Callum, Lachlan, Frankie, Max and Adela; as well as niece and nephew twins Alicia and Henry Wells.

Michael William Ritchie (64) 1947 - 2024

Michael attended Barker from 1960 to 1964. He was a boarder in Plume House in 1960 and then became a day boy. Michael was both an excellent diver and swimmer breaking many records. He was a member of the Swimming Team throughout his time at School and was awarded CAS Colours in 1962 and Barker Colours in 1963 and 1964.

His sister, Julia, commented: “Mike taught us all how to swim and compete. Although he never quite forgave me for yelling ‘go!’ for a false start in a race. He also taught me how to drive and a love of manual cars. I only just got my first automatic last year...”

Additionally, classmate Peter Middleton (64) recalled: “While attending Barker, Michael was also a keen sailor, very proud of his then state-of-the-art “Mouldy Moth”, which he raced most competitively in Middle Harbour.”

John Black (64) added: “I reconnected with him when I was IT Manager at Fays Shoes in the late 70s and early 80s, and he was working with his father, Bill” (in the very successful family shoe manufacturing business, W. M. Ritchie). “I also came across him in the 90s in the Whitsundays when I berthed our yacht at a marina there. Michael was on his large cruiser with his partner, waiting for a favourable weather window to motor south. I think he generally cruised there for the winter. We saw one another very occasionally after that and he later came with me to one of our reunions.”

Fellow boarder, Bodie (Phil) Asimus (64), reminisced on his friendship with Michael: “I remember going with Michael on his little motorboat around Middle Harbour at night and being fascinated by the bioluminescence in the water. Another time during school holidays he invited me to stay with his family at their newly acquired property at Kincumber which was intended for breeding racehorses.”

Michael’s time at Barker is fondly and very consistently remembered by many of his contemporaries and encapsulated by James Hunter (64): “My lasting memory of Michael was that incredibly smooth 'textbook' freestyle. Perfect, powerful and always in the lead! His exceptional diving ability was equally stylish. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to have a long catch up with him at our 50th reunion.

A lovely man - shy and dignified. Vale Michael.”

Michael Ritchie, late of Hope Island, passed away on 6 January 2024 and is survived and affectionally remembered by partner of 30 years Roslyn Noonan, daughters Angela and Cecilia, grandchildren Samuel Lynch, Joseph Parker and Frances Lynch, former wife Annabel, sisters Julia and Ruth and son-in-law, Anthony Parker.

and she also represented Barker in interschool softball during 1991 and 1992. She also competed in the Coffs Harbour Roller Derby but was forced to retire due to injury.

Sarah tragically died of brain cancer on 25 November 2023, aged 48. We hope she is remembered by some of her Barker schoolmates.

She is survived by her two children, Charlie and Ruby, who were aged 18 and 12 respectively in January 2024. For any personal messages to Sarah’s family please contact Richard Whitaker on weathersmart@ optushome.com.au

Richard and Jan Whitaker (Sarah’s parents)

Sarah Kate Whitaker attended Barker College in 1991 and 1992, when she completed her HSC. She loved her time at Barker and always spoke of her time there with great affection.

During her working career she held down a variety of jobs including employment at Kimberly Clark, Tennis NSW and then Management Assistant for the Australian Para Olympic Commission when she attended the Olympic Games at London in 2012.

Sarah was always a fit and sporting person, playing district softball for many years on Sydney’s North Shore

Photo caption: Michael Ritchie in 2015 with his only granddaughter, Frances

Sarah Kate Whitaker (92) 1975 - 2023

Meet our new

OBA COMMITTEE

Phil Watson (08) Assistant Secretary

I joined Barker in Year 5, graduated in 2008, and proudly served as School Captain and Senior Under Officer of the Cadet Unit. Engaging in various sports and achieving the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award taught me invaluable lessons in teamwork and perseverance. Upon finishing, I often comment to people that ‘I do not miss school, but I do miss Barker’. After Barker, I earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and Sports Management, leading to fulfilling roles at Football Australia, including team management of the Socceroos and A League Operations.

Shadi Worrall (Iravani 10) OBACommittee Member

Starting my Barker journey in Year 10 I never thought that I’d meet my future husband at 15 and the father to our babies. We’ve had 2 beautiful babies who will be future Barker kiddies. Rev Ware even officiated our wedding in 2016. We graduated in 2010 and it’s been 14 years!

I’m excited to be back and contributing to the Barker Community as part of the OBA committee.

Since Barker I have been working in my family business and also building a career in the aesthetics and tech world.

Now, as Vice President of Global Development at ICMS, I blend my passion for sports with my professional expertise.Completing an Advanced MBA at UTS has further enhanced my skills and appreciation to give back to the education community at Barker. My time at Barker fostered lifelong friendships and unforgettable memories, I am a very proud Barker alumni. I’m excited to support the next generation of Barker students in their journey to lifelong success. I encourage anyone from the Barker community - current or alumni, to reach out at any time.

My biggest achievement to date most definitely has been our babies.

I’m grateful to Barker for not only giving me the fantastic memories and education but also giving me the life that I have now.

I’m looking forward to being on the OBA committee and contributing as much as I can to the community that’s given me so much.

Barker Community Events 2024

Class Reunions

1994 - 30 Year Reunion

Sat 10 Aug 2024

Angus Gidley-Baird agidleybaird@gmail.com

Derek Henderson derk4492@gmail.com

1964 - 60 Year Reunion

Sat 28 Sept 2024

Keith Thornton keiththornton@hotmail.com

Ron Switzer ron@switzer.net.au

1979 - 45 Year Reunion

Sat 26 Oct 2024

Judy Learmont barker79reunion@gmail.com

1984 - 40 Year Reunion

Sat 26 Oct 2024

Angus Gamson angus@efinancial.com.au

Libby Bruderlin libbybruderlin@gmail.com

Geoff Harvey harvey001@bigpond.com

Samanth Dunn sam@samantha-dunn.com

2014 - 10 Year Reunion

Sat 26 Oct 2024

Micki Mueller muellermicki@gmail.com

Nick Burkett nic90234@gmail.com

1969 - 55 Year Reunion

Fri 8 Nov 2024

Bill Trollope wwt@bigpond.com

John Mettam Johnkmettam@hotmail.com

David Cook davidcookgti@gmail.com

OBA Events

Committee Meeting

Wed 1 May

Wed 19 June

Wed 24 July (AGM)

Wed 21 Aug

Wed 13 Nov

Networking EventsSydney CBD

Thu 6 Jun

Thu 15 Aug

Thu 7 Nov

OBA Golf Day

Tue 3 Sept

OBA Affiliates Event Fri 25 Oct

OBA Seniors Events Back to Barker Day

Tue 7 May

AGM/Lunch/Rugby

Sat 10 Aug

Musical Preview Show Sun 27 Oct

Regional Events

Melbourne Dinner Thursday 18 July

Sunshine Coast Lunch Saturday 9 Nov

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

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.