The Barker #108 by Barker College

CELEBRATING 40 YEARS OF CO-EDUCATION

CONTENTS

INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Regulars

Drama Three Plays

08 Prep School 10 Junior School 14 Middle and Senior School 22 Drama 32 Sport 39 The Old Barker The Features 06 From Learning to Leadership: 40 Years of Barker Girls 12 Skills for Tomorrow Computing at Barker 20 Alumni Profile Alex Blackwell

26 Issue 108 Spring 2015 The Barker is the quarterly magazine of Barker College

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Editor-in-Chief Mr Phillip Heath Editor Jonathan Mifsud Sub-Editor Stephanie Oley Assistant Coordinators Mandy Loomes Karina Drummond Print Production Ian Lindsay 0419 693 308 Art Direction Yolanda Koning 0404 811 136 facebook.com/barkercollege

Design & Technology Breaking Stereotypes through Design

The Junior School BEAT

FROM THE HEAD

Magical

Mr Phillip Heath Head of Barker College

The magic occurs when our missteps make us sure footed next time around. There is magic in trying to reach for the stars, even if we don’t quite make it. Of course, the only solution is to rest in confidence and humility on the many gifts that God has given to us all. Jesus said in the Sermon on the Mount: Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? – Matthew 6:25-27 Amid our planning and our purpose is the quiet assurance that we are beloved by God, who is eager to bless our work and cherish our best efforts. The pages that follow will celebrate the many magical days that occurred at Barker College in the past few months of 2015. Peace Phillip Heath Head of Barker College

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

few years ago, my family and I enjoyed a delightfully diverting holiday in Disneyland. All reality was suspended for a few days while I queued for rides, watched concerts and performances and revisited childhood memories. I admit it, with some embarrassment, that I love the place. The trip coincided with a family birthday and inevitably we bought a souvenir as a memento. My daughter chose a long T-shirt that could be worn for night attire with a very grumpy looking Tinkerbell on the front and a caption that read: “Not every day is magical”. It was the perfect gift for a non-morning person! From time to time I look at that T-shirt and reflect a little about the expectation of success. Quite rightly, schools spend considerable energy contemplating the things that make success. The pages that follow in this magazine will highlight the many outstanding things that have occurred in the past months at Barker College, particularly many of the great achievements of our Barker women over the last 40 years. These things deserve celebration. We have received the benefit of six working groups from Barker staff, who have been giving advice on our 2015-2020 Strategic Plan, Inspiring Global Hope. We have made remarkable progress in our master planning, in the formation of a College of Teachers, in the Barker Institute for Professional Learning and Research, in our work on Indigenous education, and in the exploration of the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program for our Junior School. However, as that Disney T-shirt reminds me, “Not every day is magical”. Sometimes things do not proceed according to our best intentions. Human error, frailty and fatigue can interrupt. Occasionally our best planning is not enough to reach the objective we hoped to achieve. The rain may fall at an inconvenient time or our technology may fail us at the worst possible moment. We may not finish the construction program as early as we intended and we may not win the game in the way we had all hoped. School planning is a brave undertaking because there are countless variables that intrude. We run the very real risk of failing to achieve our goals, despite our best efforts. Not every day is magical. There is a growing corpus of management literature that reminds us how we can learn from failure, even at the institutional level. Part of the experience of being involved in education is to learn how to thrive when we make mistakes. Actually, it is not success that makes a day magical.

FROM THE CHAIRMAN

Chairman’s

Ian Miller Chairman

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In this edition of The Barker, we celebrate 40 years of our co-educational program in the Senior School.

n 1975, Barker College celebrated its first enrolment of girls as students. As you would appreciate, this was an audacious and ambitious step initiated by the School Council and the Headmaster at the time, Mr Trevor McCaskill. This vision, of providing a co-educational senior school to prepare students for postsecondary school, was the start of a vision which has been carried forward for 40 years and still underlies the purpose of education at Barker College. The school’s first step into a co-educational setting was extended to enrolling girls in Year 10 some years later, which allowed girls greater involvement in all facets of life at Barker. Again, this represented a significant change in school life by the School Council and its then Headmaster, Dr Roderic Kefford. We celebrate each of our students at Barker College and the opportunity to provide a co-educational senior school for our students has been a joy and a blessing to our community. The change in student composition also brought about a whole new way of thinking for the staff. The Council extends its deep gratitude to all our staff, who have been committed to ensuring that all our students in the Senior School come together in a single community and can enjoy all the programs offered at Barker. I would like to especially acknowledge with thanks the leadership provided by Mrs Sue Field, Deputy Head of Barker College, for her leadership in this aspect of life at Barker.

The School Council continues with this vision and is now developing its next strategic plan. Under the leadership of Mr Phillip Heath, this plan will engage all our staff, parents and students to prepare for a world in which each student will be challenged and confronted by our changing and, in many ways, continually disruptive world. Within this context, Barker is committed to sharing its Christian faith and values with each of its students. In this way, the educational experience described in Inspiring Global Hope, launched in 2014, may be shared and understood by all our students as they engage in their educational program at Barker College. The key to the strategic plan is in the words “Inspiring Global Hope”. We continue striving to stimulate each student to enjoy learning while at Barker College, and to see that their learning will equip them for the whole of their lives, so that they can maintain and bring hope to this everchanging world.

Ian Miller Chairman

FROM THE CHAPLAIN

Co-education as Shalom The word ‘flourish’ has become popular in recent years. Parents and teachers want to see students flourish.

Assistant Chaplain, Christian Studies and Mathematics teacher the Rev Don Hood in 1976.

with ourselves, and with the natural world. It is a peace which exudes harmony, justice, enjoyment and delight. It is a vision for now and for the future. It is a hope which should extend beyond the local and the individual, for it is broad, communal and global in scope. As we celebrate 4o years of co-education at Barker College it is worthwhile acknowledging the capacity of this wellestablished schooling arrangement to help realise shalom. It is heartening to observe young men and women learning together day by day, working alongside one another in activities which stretch and engage them, developing mutual respect and healthy friendships. It’s all an aspect of shalom: young men and women flourishing in each other’s company. It’s a local glimpse of our biblical and global hope: that across the world young and old, men and women of every background, tribe and nation, might under God, in solidarity with one-another and the world around them, flourish in peace.

Jeff Ware Senior Chaplain

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e all delight when students flourish in their studies, when their friendships thrive, when physically, socially, emotionally and spiritually they are healthy. We applaud when their contribution in sport and other activities is significant and appreciated, and when they are looking beyond themselves to make a genuine difference in the lives of others. Martin Seligman, a prominent member of the Positive Psychology movement, wrote a book called Flourish. Among other things it asked how innovative schools can educate for fulfilment in life and not just for workplace success. Seligman asks, “What is it that enables someone to cultivate their talents, to build deep, lasting relationships with others, to feel pleasure, and to contribute meaningfully to the world? In a word, what is it that allows them to flourish?” In a school committed to inspiring global hope, the biblical longing for ‘shalom’ offers rich conceptual possibilities helping students flourish. Shalom is the Hebrew word for ‘peace’. Shalom denotes peace with God, with others,

A typical Christian studies class in 2015.

TEACHING & LEARNING

Barker’s 2014 musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.

of co-education: Educating with balance and perspective.

B THE BARKER | WINTER 2015

y now you will be familiar with the thoughts of our Head, Chaplain, School Council and others on the value of Barker’s co-educational environment as the school celebrates 40 years of enrolling girls in the Senior School. So it is appropriate to reflect on the reasons it works so well. Here we highlight just a few.

The School Musical On average, around 250 students audition in the Music Centre for a part in the show as member of cast, crew or orchestra. Having staged musicals such as Godspell, Singin’ in the Rain and How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying, Barker strives to offer performance experiences that allow our boys and girls to work collaboratively and develop skills in communication, commitment and understanding. These productions also foster the expressive, social and emotional capacities that are so important for young people.

The Barker Robotics Team In its short life the team has grown quickly, with boys and girls working in tandem to design, build and compete in Australia and overseas under demanding conditions with the best teams from around the world. Our talented designers, mathematicians, scientists and future engineers work successfully for months before a competition, drawing on each other’s unique qualities which have allowed them to achieve such success. ISA and CAS Championships The announcement of the ISA and CAS swimming and athletics teams on the OBA Soundstage meets with rapturous applause and encouragement from peers and staff as the boys and girls in each team are introduced to the school community.

TEACHING & LEARNING

— Clockwise from top left Annual Ceremonial Cadet Parade; Members of Barker’s winning ISA and CAS Athletics teams; Members from Barker’s Robotics team;

Friday Night CAS Debating Competitions As other visiting schools put forward their all-male or all-female teams in the senior competitions, keen Barker spectators watch as their teams present the balanced perspectives of both sexes. Again, the combination of young men and women works in contributing to the quality and depth of discourse that arises from these debates.

and collegiality between our boys and girls.

Dr Greg Cunningham Director of Teaching and Learning References Robinson, P. and Smithers, A. (1999). Should the sexes be separated for secondary education-comparisons of single-sex and co-educational schools? Research Papers in Education, 14:1, 23-49. Hyde, J.S. and Allison, M. (2014). The effects of single-sex compared with co-educational schooling on students’ performance and attitudes: A Meta-Analysis. Psychological Bulletin. Vol.140, No.4, 1042-1072.

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Annual Cadet Parade Each year, Number 1 Oval is brightly adorned with flags, musicians and hundreds of cadets (both boys and girls) as they parade with synchronised discipline. Our students of various ranks and roles work in harmony, offering the highest of respect for their peers and their personal identity. Much empirical research debates the pros and cons of learning in a co-educational setting. Often, the inaccuracy of reporting lies in the design of many of these studies (Hyde and Allison, 2014). Interestingly, much of the data reinforces that students feel, “the transition to a mixed environment (outside of school) would be easier from a co-educational rather than single-sex school” (Robinson and Smithers, 2006). If we look at the social, emotional and academic skills of our students, we would observe that this co-educational experience continues to produce excellent, consistent results that reflect the individual and collective capacities of the students who walk through Barker’s gate every day. Co-education in the Senior School brings out the best of the young Barker men, while the young women who join the community in Year 10 seem to flourish as they bring their own identities to the rich tapestry that is Barker College.

Educational settings are living environments that change continually, so capturing hard data that tells the story of this co-educational experience is difficult. Reflecting on the more current experiences of the calendar seems to express school life in a narrative that makes sense and has meaning to both the participants and the spectators. Barker encourages strong interaction and respect among the learners in our School from K-12, but the magic of the co-educational experience from Year 10 plays out in the classrooms and in a multitude of opportunities such as those mentioned above. These opportunities continue to bring out the best in our students. It is our vision that they will continue to inspire the students as they complete their schooling and then share their hope and experience in the world upon leaving. Whether in academic or co-curricular activities or just mixing in the playground, the co-educational experience has a continued, positive influence on the Barker learning experience. Here’s to another 40 years of successful collaboration

ARCHIVES THE BARKER | SPRING 2015 6

â&#x20AC;&#x201D; Clockwise from top Senior School students at work in the Science lab, 1976; Barker girls ready to perform The Mikado, 1975; Along with their sisters Mary and Lois, Kitty and Lottie Bowman (both standing) were the first girls enrolled in Barker in 1891. (Justice Lloyd Waddy RFD) Collection.

BARKER GIRLS ARCHIVES

From Learning to Leadership

Barker Girls As the original Barker girls entered Sixth Form in 1976, the position of prefect was opened up to include boys and girls. Of the 14 prefects elected that year, three were girls. The School’s most senior student leadership positions were, however, reserved for boys. After the position of vice captain was abolished in 1986, the first senior girl prefect was appointed. It was in 2002 that the first girl school captain was elected and since this time, Barker girls continue to serve alongside boys in all aspects of student leadership.

Since 1975, over 4,800 girls can say “I went to Barker”. The original girls’ uniform was a grey, princess-line tunic, affectionately known as ‘the potato sack.’ It was worn with a white blouse and the traditional striped Barker blazer. A red bow tie was added in 1990. In 1995, after being worn for two decades, the tunic was phased out. It was replaced with a grey pleated skirt and a white blouse with red trimming. The current summer and winter uniforms were introduced in 2000, when the Senior School expanded to include Year 10. During the late 1980s, at a time when the number of boy boarders was declining, the Director of Enrolments received numerous enquiries from girls interested in boarding at Barker. The timing could not have been better. In 1991, the Council of Barker College admitted eight girl boarders into the upper floor of Plume House, while Year 7 and 8 boys lived downstairs. Today, half of the School’s boarders are girls and the entirety of Plume House is now designated as their home away from home. Since 1975, over 4,800 girls can say “I went to Barker”. Each girl keenly participates in all aspects of life at Barker, whether it be in the classroom, on the sports field, on the stage, as a cadet or in the boarding house. Barker girls continue to excel at school and beyond.

Morwenna Pearce Manager of Archives

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his year commemorates 40 years of co-education at Barker. Girls, however, were part of the School community well before 1975. In late 1889, Henry Plume advertised for pupils to tutor in the rectory of St Stephen’s Church, Kurrajong. Of the five pupils tutored by Plume in 1890, Evelyn Hill secured a sound matriculation pass. Evelyn’s success, along with that of Plume’s other four pupils, encouraged him to formally establish Barker College in 1891. The four Bowman sisters – Mary (aged 17), Lois (aged 15), Kitty (aged 13) and Lottie (aged 10) – were among the first 18 students to enrol in Plume’s new school. When the Bowman family left the district in 1892, Barker ceased to be a co-educational school. The School moved to its present site in Hornsby in 1896 and for the next 79 years, remained a boys-only school. In February 1972, the Council of Barker College endorsed the formation of a designated Senior School. From 1975 onwards, the Senior School was to accommodate all boys in Fifth and Sixth forms and any girls wishing to enrol. The Senior School was to have an initial enrolment of 300, increasing to 600 over a period of six years. It was under the vision, inspiration and guidance of Headmaster Trevor McCaskill that the School Council and the Barker community prepared for this great change. On 3 February 1975, when 59 Fifth Form girls walked through the Mint Gates, Barker became the first independent school in Sydney to introduce co-education. From the very beginning, girls actively participated in all areas of school life. Only four days after they arrived at Barker, the girls relay team defeated their male opponents at the School’s Swimming Carnival. Hockey and netball teams were established and together, boys and girls planned Duke of Edinburgh expeditions. The first co-ed musical, The Mikado, was performed in August with more than half of the girls participating in the performances. Over the years, the co-curricular choices for girls have only increased. Cadets, public speaking, music ensembles, debating and a wide array of sports ensure there is now an activity suited to every Barker girl.

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Above Braeden and his family with the Year 2 class at Kawenu Primary School.

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Prep Boys Lives of Others

This year, two significant student-led initiatives helped raise funds for people affected by natural disasters in Vanuatu and Nepal. Year 2 were particularly active in thinking about how they could contribute to the wider community and make a difference in our world.

Phillip Heath - Barker’s Strategic Plan, Inspiring Global Hope

n late March, Braeden (2A) wrote the following letter on the previous page to me. Subsequently the Prep School community was asked to help Braeden by donating clothing for children up to 12 years of age. A mufti day was also held to raise donations so that Braeden could purchase

additional items for the children of Vanuatu. Braeden and his family travelled to Vanuatu during the June/ July holidays, and when he returned he spoke about his

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

“Let our reward for the successful delivery of this plan be seen solely in the lives of our students who will be better equipped to serve the world beyond. Honor Non Honores.”

experiences during a Friday morning chapel service. He also responded to some specific questions. What did you buy with the mufti day donations? With the $350 raised, we bought eight soccer balls, eight rugby balls, four basketballs and lots of coloured pencils, stickers and writing books. How did you get all the items to Vanuatu? My mum’s work shipped the clothing over to our hotel in two big boxes, and we packed all the balls and stationery into a huge suitcase. We gave the donated clothing to a local disaster relief organisation to distribute to the needy children in more remote areas. How did you feel when you gave the children the donated gifts? I went to two schools, the local Mele Village School and Kawenu Primary School. I was very nervous but felt really welcomed. They loved the balls and stickers as they don’t have much to play with. Their own soccer ball was balledup paper covered in sticky tape. Did you spend time with the children? I spent some time in the Year 2 maths class in the second school, which was a lot of fun. I also visited the Kindy and Year 7 and 8 combined class in the first school. They are lucky because they had dogs in their yard, didn’t wear shoes, and were playing cricket when we were there. Do you think you made a difference in the children’s lives? Yes very much, they were really excited and happy to have some proper balls and stickers to play with.

—From top Braeden with donated clothes; Mele Village Headmaster accepting donated items; Corbin, Lachlan and Zach.

Sarah Dickson Head of Early Learning

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Has this experience encouraged you to continue your efforts to help others? Yes, I want to go back and spend a whole day with the Year 2 class. I am also writing letters to them so we can learn about each other. I think Vanuatu is the happiest place in the world even though they are very poor, because they are always waving, laughing and saying hello. Thank you Prep School for helping me do this. In mid-May, three Year 2 students Corbin, Lachlan and Zach, asked if they could create and sell a comic book to raise funds for the K–6 Nepal Earthquake Appeal. The boys had learnt how the earthquake had impacted several of the Barker cleaning staff, many of whom are of Nepalese background. Using their iPads, the boys spent considerable time designing, creating and editing the comic book. It was a great success, with back orders taken to meet demand. The boys said they were thankful that their idea was supported, proud of their efforts and the amount of money which they raised.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

JUNIOR SCHOOL

—Above left Using the compost —Above BEAT propagating —Below BEAT with the sunflower.

BEAT The Barker Environmental Action Team (BEAT) is a group of Junior School students who have a passion for the environment and are interested in growing and nurturing plants, and observing nature in all its splendour.

he team meets regularly throughout the term, planning and working in the extensive garden

The recent BEAT pumpkin scone stall was a huge success, with around 100 scones being sold within 15 minutes. Many

plot between the Copeland Wing of the Junior

thanks to Ros, in the Junior School tuck shop, who helped

School and the tennis courts.

with bringing all the ingredients together and overseeing the

Term 1 saw BEAT take full action in the garden. The boys

baking. The proceeds of the stall will go towards purchasing

pulled out the giant sunflowers and collected many of the

a new water bottle refilling station to promote the use of

seeds the birds had left behind. They witnessed the native

refillable bottles and reduce the amount of plastic bottles being discarded. An upcoming BEAT handball competition

the recently grown and luscious banana trees. BEAT hopes

will also be held in the coming weeks to aid with this cause.

to soon enjoy their carefully tended and grown strawberries and bananas. In this second year of gardening, the focus is to produce

BEAT’s popularity over the last 18 months has soared, generating a great deal of interest in concepts like waste and composting, respecting nature and sustainable living. Many

more edible plants. So far, this group has cultivated and

thanks to all the BEAT team members and to our resident

harvested eggplants, spinach, tomatoes, chilies, garlic,

garden expert, Brendan Wollam.

pumpkins, passionfruit, lettuce and herbs. There was much success in the art of propagating from seeds, and the boys are hopeful that there will be a successful harvest in the coming weeks and months.

Vanessa Coetzee and Tom Spencer Year 6 Teachers

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stingless bees in action, their hive now sitting happily under

COMPUTING STUDIES THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

SKILLS FOR TOMORROW

With the introduction of BYOD (bring your own device) programs across many schools in NSW, digital technology is becoming the focus of much discussion.

Technology is not a new introduction to the teaching resource kit, but what we do with it is changing. For about 10 years, we have been teaching students how to use technology and it has been fairly immobile. Students come to the computer room to learn how to use software, then they go to their other classes with their books and pencil cases. We are now in a new age of mobile technology where students have their own devices permanently with them in an always-on state. The emphasis of learning to use technology has shifted, as most students have some idea of how to use a device before they first walk through the school gate. The challenge for schools is to add to the studentsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; skill, confidence and awareness of what they can create, using the technology they already have. How do we prepare students to meet the needs of a changing workforce? Our task should be to equip them with problem-solving skills, adaptability and computational thinking. We need to change the notion of technology as a substitute tool that invokes little change to their way of thinking, and start using digital technology to complete tasks that were previously inconceivable.

COMPUTING STUDIES

Centre at lunchtime on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Suellen Loughhead Head of Computing Studies References Australian Public Service Commission, Right time – Planning for the future, Australian Government, Canberra, accessed 20 July 2015, <http://www.apsc.gov.au/ publications-and-media/current-publications/ict-statistical-bulletin/right-time> Noble, A, 2014, Careers with Code, Game-Changing Jobs of Tomorrow, pp 3.

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“In the next five years, it is estimated that there will be 131,000 new jobs in the Australian ICT workforce – resulting in a significant shortfall of skilled ICT labour by 2020.” Australian Public Service Commission, Right time – Planning for the future

Alan Noble, the Director of Engineering at Google Australia, has identified that our history of creation and innovation has been closely tied to computer science, an area that has been steadily declining in Australia. Computer science involves computational thinking, problem-solving and programming. It provides an opportunity to investigate the challenges in society and design solutions to solve them. Computer programming was previously a very technical skill, requiring years of dedicated learning and experience to perfect. In recent years, web-based environments providing graphical representations of control structures that click and lock into place have brought this skill within reach for students from Kindergarten to Year 12. The biggest drawback has been the hesitance of our education system to accommodate this in its curriculum. Barker students can develop these skills in the coding club, introduced in the Junior School last term by teachers David Fraser and Melissa Sunderland. Students in the Secondary School can select subjects like Information and Software Technology that encompass these thinking skills. Last term, Microsoft’s We Speak Code workshop was very successful, and gave many Middle School students an introduction to coding. Students who are interested in extending their coding skills are invited to join me for HTML and CSS lessons in the IT

MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL

800th of Magna Carta

ecently, Year 11 Legal Studies students found out how important Magna Carta is in our legal history. The original version of the famous charter marked its 800th anniversary on 15 June 2015. This important historic document

is seen as the foundation of the rule of law in our society,

and is often referred to whenever individual freedoms have been threatened. One less well-known fact about Magna Carta is that it is an early example of the protection of women’s rights. Following Magna Carta, widows were not forced to remarry and were entitled to their inheritance. This was somewhat revolutionary at the time and had a real effect, leading to parts of 13th century England being graced by widowed baronesses controlling extensive lands. Legal Studies students enjoyed celebrating this important occasion.

Eva White Teacher Librarian

—Above Legal Studies students Joelle Hoare, Jodi Rabinowitz, Liv Whiting and Izzy Marriott from Year 11 celebrate the 800th anniversary of Magna Carta.

Year 12 Mission and

—Above Students with the staff from Newtown Mission.

ooking beyond ourselves and engaging actively

with those whose lives may be difficult and challenging. Late in Term 2, 16 Year 12 volunteers visited

two inner city church communities that run

support programs for the homeless and marginalised.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Starting at Church Hill Anglican, the students gained

insight into the diversity of people in need around Sydney’s CBD. They then visited Newtown Mission, where they served food and mingled with the regular patrons of the community café. One patron spoke of having had a very similar upbringing to the Barker students, and how the community café had been a huge support for her when she found herself unemployed and sleeping rough.

This excursion has been an ongoing Barker Service Partnership that has given many senior students a hands-on service experience. Part of the Term 2 Chapel offertory was also given to Newtown Mission in support of the work they are doing. Simon Walker Chaplaincy Department

orming meaningful relationships with global communities is an integral part of the Italian program in the Junior School, and has greatly inspired its students. One such relationship, between

MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL

to Reality Barker College and Pontelambro School in Como,

Italy, has stirred much curiosity and passion in the students and

allowed them to learn more about Italy and its language, culture and people. Over the Easter break, Luke Bentley (Year 4) had the opportunity to visit Italy on a family holiday and realised his

dream of meeting his Italian pen pal, Davide. Reminiscing on the welcome he received from the school there, Luke said: “The whole school broke out into song, waving little Australian flags and welcome posters that the children had created to welcome us. I will never forget this memory.” The event was even reported —Above Admiring the breathtaking view of Como with his pen friend Davide and his mother, English teacher Lucia, and Luke’s little sister Laura.

in the local newspaper. The experience was unforgettable for Luke and Davide, and highlights the strength and importance of the global relationships students are forming at the school. Grace Bergan Primary Specialist LOTE teacher

Maths Event for Year 11 Students

used mathematicians to help catch a serial killer, how the

excursion, the first thing that pops into your

International Cricket Board uses a formula to rank batsmen,

mind is fun! The bus ride to Chatswood

how technology can predict the last digit on Australian

passed quickly, especially when we were

barcodes and how a photo can be made from a spreadsheet.

issued a mathematical challenge by Mr

It was a truly inspirational time for everyone. On the trip

Hanlon. The auditorium for the event was reminiscent of

home, Mr Hanlon’s challenge was duly vanquished by the

post-modern art and full of excited young mathematicians.

joint efforts of George Furrer and Fisher Day.

The host, Matt Parker from Numberphile, was joined by fellow Brits, Rob Eastaway and Hannah Fry. Their talks were on the incredible usefulness of mathematics in real-life situations including how the London police

Philip Rowe and Leon Qu (Year 11)

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

bviously when one thinks of a Mathematics

—Above Annika Allen, Kristina Kim, William Gordon and Matt Parker with his hand-made binary scarf.

MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL

Bee Challenge 2015 he 2015 Spelling Bee Challenge in Term 2 was simply supercalifragilisticexpialidocious – it was fast, fantastic and fabulous. Our superior spellers had the

audience enthralled and on the edge of their seats. Congratulations to all our terrific and tremendous

competitors. The wonderful Spelling Bee winners for 2015 are: Year 7

Year 9

1) William Stamp

1) Alex Mansfield

2) James Axton

2) Damian Young

3) Cooper Wright

3) Richard Marais

4) Daniel Rowe

4) Matthew O’Brien

5) Alexander Gray

5) Tom Cornford

Year 8

Year 10

1) Jack Poulton

1) Lachlan Davis

2) Daniel Abbott

2) Finn van Herten

3) Jonathan Cribb

3) Joshua Lee

4) Connor Slater

4) Nicholas Lowe

5) Daniel Reznichenko

5) Jayden Pak

Thank you to our magnificent Master of Ceremonies, James Tod-Hill, and wonderful Wordmaster, Greg Cunningham. Appreciation must also be awarded to Andrew Hood, Alastair McCallum, Jenna Redknap and Learning Support staff for their amazing assistance in running this exciting event. Martine Sloper English Teacher

on Fire

he first semester of 2015 was very successful for Barker debating, with three Grand Final winning teams – the Year 7B team, the Year 8A team and the Year 11B team. The Year 7B team, consisting of

Sam Jackson, Hayton Lam, Finlay Butler, Declan Zammit

and Jonathan Yim, won the FED Grand Final, beating

eight other schools. The 8As, consisting of Ben Abbott, Jack Breden, Dan Jongma, Benji Greenberg and Ben Martin, won their division in the 32-school ISDA competition. Similarly, the 11B side – Zac Gomes, Lachlan Day and THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Jake Dooley – won their Senior B division of the FED

competition, with Jodi Rabinowitz and Kish Arora contributing along the way. The 11Bs have won three FED championships in their time at Barker – a fantastic record.

Andrew Hood MIC Debating

—Above Year 7 FED champion team: Sean Goodwin, Sam Jackson, Hayton Lam, Finlay Butler, Declan Zammit and teacher Michael Marokakis. —Left Year 8 ISDA winning team: Dan Jongma, Dan Abbott, Jack Breden, Benji Greenberg, Ben Martin.

MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL

48 Hours in From 1066 to 1966 In the final week of Term 2, students in Years 7 and 10 were immersed in the history of medieval Europe and the Vietnam War. Medieval Day Students were treated to presentations about ancient and medieval history with a focus on how warfare has changed over time. The boys enjoyed being able to kit themselves out in chainmail and armour, and learned how to form a phalanx. Mr Toth was a little concerned about Year 7 boys brandishing replica battleaxes, but all boys returned to their seats unharmed. Vietnam Day This year was the 15th iteration of Vietnam Day and it was one of the best. Once again, we were fortunate to be joined by a large number of local veterans, who were willing to share their stories of the war and their often-difficult return to civilian life. This year, all Year 10 students listened to the story of Barry

as a form of therapy to help him cope with his experiences. It has gone on to be an award-winning title. It is a remarkable story and one that left the young audience deeply moved. As in previous years, the day closed with staff and student performances of music from the Vietnam War era. Greg Longney Head of History

—Top Andy Grishina-Gunn on stage through the mists of Vietnam Day —Above Changing technologies on display on Medieval Day

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Heard, who travelled from country Victoria to participate in the event. Barry’s book, Well Done Those Men, was originally written

MUSIC

in July

rom a musicological perspective, it allows us living in the southern hemisphere to better understand the popular music canon such as Frosty the Snowman, Let It Snow, Let it Snow, Let It Snow and White

Christmas. The latter, according to the Guinness

World Records, is the best-selling single of all time,

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

with estimated sales in excess of 150 million copies

This year’s Barker Swings theme was ‘Christmas in July’, also known as the second most wonderful time of the year. Christmas in July allows us to experience all the magic of Christmas with a winter feel.

worldwide. The Jazz Ensemble, OBA Big Band, Junior School Stage Band, Intermediate Stage Band, Middle School Big Band, Ska Jazz Orchestra, Senior Stage Band, Jazz Orchestra and Staff Invitational Big Band all performed on the night, demonstrating their understanding of the Christmas jazz standards. Pascal and his catering team provided a sumptuous Christmas feast, and the Friends of Barker Music (FOBM) transformed the MPH into something resembling a giant gingerbread house. One of Australia’s most respected commercial jazz musicians, Ralph Pyl, was this year’s guest artist. All the stage bands and elective music classes enjoyed their workshops and lectures, and Ralph’s virtuosic playing was heard as he performed with the staff big band. Simon Smith Head of Music

MIDDLE & SENIOR SCHOOL

—Left and below Year 10 PASS class enjoying mixed team sports.

Co-educational

Year 10 Physical Activity and Sports Studies (PASS)

The Year 10 elective, Physical Activity and Sports Studies, embraces the values and skills derived from co-educational sporting opportunities.

port and physical activity are vitally important in the development of young people, and can go a long

In the younger years of development, participation in club sport is often mixed. But throughout the teenage years,

way to fostering physical, social and emotional

participation in this setting becomes limited despite the

health. Barker College values the moral behaviour

fact that on leaving school, mixed competitions such as

acquired through the social interaction inherent to

netball, basketball and touch football are highly popular. So it is essential that our students develop the capacity to

Like a Girl questioned the cultural stereotype of running and

enjoy co-educational sport, which will help support lifelong

throwing ‘like a girl’. Co-educational team sports may be

participation in physical activity.

uniquely effective in reducing gender stereotypes. For example,

Practical lessons in Year 10 Physical Activity and Sports

qualities such as competitive edge and fighting spirit are shared

Studies combine the sporting experiences of boys and

equally among the sexes. Some girls are more competitive than

girls in a supportive environment where they can develop

some boys, and vice versa. In mixed sport, boys and girls must

different skill and value sets together. More importantly,

work together to win. Both sexes can learn tenacity, resilience

they have fun doing so. Just ask them.

and fairness from each other, along with physical skills and the understanding that there are many ways to achieve excellence.

Sarah Clifton Head of PDHPE

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

team sport. At the 2015 Super Bowl, the advertising campaign

ALUMNI PROFILE

Alumni Director of Alumni Relations, Mandy Loomes, speaks with Alex Blackwell from the Class of 2001. Did you enjoy being a boarder at Barker? I had a great time living on campus and it gave me access to all the facilities, in particular the gym for extra training. Peter Lawler was the boarding master, so I had access to one of the best track and field coaches in the world for my javelin event. What is your favourite school memory? Receiving the award for best cricketer at Barker (male or female) in 2001. Given I was the first female to win the award, I made sure they engraved my full name – Alexandra, so there was no confusion.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Do you have a favourite sporting memory from your Barker days? Being a part of the first girls cricket match held on the main oval.

Was it a hard decision to stop studying at University to concentrate on cricket? Leaving halfway through my medical degree at UNSW was the first really hard decision I ever made. I was fortunate enough to gain a place in medicine through the rural entry scheme. I loved what I was learning and I was doing well. I didn’t anticipate becoming an international cricketer at the end of my first year of medicine. I gave full time studies and international cricket a go for a few years but eventually I burnt out. I asked myself what I was really passionate about? There was a short window of opportunity for success in cricket, so I decided to take it. I have since had great success in the game and now I earn a living playing a sport I love. What have been some of your highlights in playing for your state and your country? I captained the NSW Breakers to our 10th consecutive WNCL title. I am one of only two players who have been

involved in all 10 wins, and I have been captain for the last five seasons. We also did ‘the double’ for a second time, winning both the T20 and WNCL titles in the same season. Captaining Australia in the World Twenty20 victory in Barbados in 2010 and winning the Ashes in 2011 as the captain would be my favourite moments while representing Australia. I hold a record that will never be broken, which is that Kate and I became the first set of identical twins to play cricket for Australia in 2004. I am also proud to say I am the most capped Australian female cricketer ever, with 200 matches to my name across tests, one day internationals and Twenty20 games. Do you like the travel associated with cricket? Cricket has taken me to some amazing places, including the Caribbean and Bangladesh. Wherever I travel, I try to take it all in and often go out of my way to visit local fresh food markets. Visiting the Mumbai fish market was an incredible experience; not one that I would describe as pleasant, but a place definitely worth seeing. I never thought cricket would take me to Japan, but I was lucky enough to go there for the ICC East Asia Pacific trophy in 2014 as ICC EAP ambassador. How do you relax? I like to cycle or go surfing. My aim is to go fishing more now that I have a little more time on my hands. One of my favourite ways to relax is going out for breakfast in Summer Hill with my partner, Lynsey. What is your advice for today’s Barker student? Try to make the most of the diverse opportunities that being a Barker student presents. We are lucky at Barker to have some great extracurricular activities. Don’t be afraid to try new things. Make sure you stay physically active during exams – it’s a good way to switch off, and I always felt it helped me concentrate better when I sat down to work.

Since this interview, Alex was vice captain in Southern Stars team that won the Ashes in August 2015.

ALUMNI PROFILE

—This image Alex playing against Pakistan in Redlands, QLD in 2014.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015 21

DRAMA

Year 10 Play —Above Mitch Gray in God —Below The cast of The Real Inspector Hound.

God by Woody Allen What do you get if you mix an almighty Greek play with Woody Allen? An absurd farce, of course. This witty playwithin-a-play taunts and torments the simple aspirations of a Greek actor and writer striving for glory at Dionysus. If only they could find an ending to their play! How absurd! The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard “We interrupt this program for a police message” is a pun Stoppard could be proud of. But, in all seriousness, this line from the play suggests the genre of a perfect murder mystery, although this isn’t Stoppard’s style. Two major elements are amiss: firstly, an easy storyline that allows the audience to solve the mystery, and secondly, the presence of stereotypical stock characters.

Staging two full-length plays in the same theatre on the same night created some major challenges. However, this was made considerably easier by the wealth of talent from

life with a hopeful attitude and joyful outlook. Each play explores the idea of an outside power or critic and

39 Year 10 actors and crew. The wonderful energy and

how one is judged in one moment, but ironically fails to see

openness they displayed in playing with this farcical style

the growth and starting-point which every cast member starts

shows talent and maturity well beyond their years. Not

from. This growth would simply not be possible but for the

to be outdone, the work ethic and professionalism of the

dedication of some special people. These include Pia Midgley,

technical and stage crew was phenomenal. Both plays are set in a theatre, and for both, members

for giving up her time and advice, Dougal Parker for solving all of life’s problems including making two sets for the price of one,

of the audience cross the boundary from reality into the

plus all the warm support from Barker colleagues during my

fictional world of the theatre. This movement from fiction

first term at Barker.

to reality (or reality to fiction) proves to be quite dangerous (or comical) for a number of characters. Although these two shows are witty, humorous and seek no serious theme, 22

they ask us to appreciate the positives and negatives we face in

Simon Thompson Director Yr 10 Play

DRAMA

—This image Annika Allen. —Below right Ensemble.

Year 11 Play

Crew members come onboard about three or four weeks

The stage crew did other important things, like setting

before opening night. We watch the play a couple of times at

up backstage, procuring props and decorating the set

rehearsals, then help it become a fully fledged performance.

to bring the play to life. As the mysterious people in

It’s always fun to work with a different cast and crew on every

black, we enjoyed practicing spinning the huge wheeled

show, and The Good Person of Szechwan was no exception.

shipping container, transforming it smoothly into a shop

While the cast worked together memorising lines and

front, without injury. We all had a blast and bonded as

creating believable characters, we spent long technical nights

a group. By opening night we really were, as clichéd as it

plotting lighting cues with Charlie Band, Ryan Hall and Declan

may sound, one big theatrical family. It is always wonderful to be a part of something

lighting board. The small band of stage crew who were still

where even though you are watching from the wings,

there stood in the actors’ positions, spouting Shakespearian

you still find yourself having the exact same reactions

monologues despite growing steadily more tired, yet knowing

as the audience. I love being a part of the crew, and a

that our work would give the actors enough light to be seen.

part of Barker Drama. I will end on a quote from Lauren Wilhelm: “Multiple thumbs up.” Brittany Myers Stage Manager for The Good Person of Sechwan

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Hogg, under the guidance of Mr Mallam on the sound and

DRAMA

—This image Tom De Kantzow. —Below Rhianna Whitlock.

Theatre Under Theatre Under the Trees was a wonderful, albeit chilly experience. A number of students from Years 9 to 12 performed an incredibly varied and lively assortment of monologues, Greek theatre group projects, silent absurdist duologues and even sections of the Year 10 and Year 11 plays. It was a chance to see performances that some students had worked on for weeks. And in the case of the Year 12s, our vastly talented and hilarious theatre sports teams showed us how it’s done with no preparation at all! The vibrant night was alive with the myriad of stories and characters as colourful as the stage lights. The audience was brilliant, underneath many layers of blankets and jackets. We thank all those THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

who braved the cold to support our performers.

This was only the second time Theatre Under the Trees has been held. We’ve checked this one off as a success, and wait eagerly for next year! Caitlin Williams and Isaac Peiris Barker Drama Captains, 2015

BOARDING

—This image Mary and Jacob McCorry.

Brothers and Sisters Share Their Together Barker boarding is the only co-ed boarding community in

Mary (Year 10) and Jacob (Year 12) McCorry are

the Sydney metropolitan area. Young adults come together

another set of siblings enjoying the benefits of Barker’s

at the start of Year 10 to begin an educational journey where

co-ed boarding structure.

they develop valuable life skills, a sense of independence and lifelong friendships. For a few, this journey is also shared with a brother or sister. In 2015, brothers, sisters and twins are making their mark

Mary made the move to Barker this year to spend at least one year in a boarding community with Jacob. “Boarding with a sibling is a definite benefit – there is always someone to talk to and hang out with. You’re

in the boarding house and even continuing their family’s

also living with your friends and everything is just so

tradition of a Barker boarding experience.

accessible.” Mary said.

For the Learoyd family, boarding at Barker is an absolute

Jacob agrees that apart from the banter, boarding with a sibling enables you to encourage and support

on the tradition first started when their grandfather studied at

each other, and as an older brother, hopefully also act

Barker in 1944 and then their father David in 1969.

as a good role model.

Both Hannah and Noah have made the most of their time

“I chose to board at Barker because of the facilities

in boarding, involving themselves in everything from cadets to

available and the bond that you develop with the other

debating, drama, sport and music ensembles and choirs. “If you do it right, you’ll be exhausted, but it’s very rewarding,” Noah said.

boarders. Boarding has been the best decision I’ve ever made and has brought me some of the best things life has to offer,” Jacob said.

Hannah agrees, and appreciates having her brother in the boarding community. “Having Noah here is definitely a plus and it helped me to settle in.”

Jacqui McLachlan Head of Boarding

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

family tradition. Hannah (Year 10) and Noah (Year 12) carry

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY

STEREOTYPES THROUGH DESIGN Co-education within the Design and Technology Department is an interesting blend. Subjects on offer range from Design and Technology for Multimedia and Materials, to Textiles Technology, Textiles and Design, and Industrial Technology Timber. All students are encouraged to choose subjects that they

more girls in Industrial Technology as the mix of ideas

associated with these subjects. It is pleasing to see Barker girls

when discussing concepts and experiences would be

choose Industrial Technology Timber, and work in what was

far richer if that were the case. But I would rather they

traditionally thought of as a male domain. Girls often produce

choose a subject they are passionate about. The subjects

better work because they use the tools more carefully and

provided by this department seek to achieve this. In

without undue force. It is equally pleasing to see boys take on

Design and Technology Multimedia, the ratio of boys to

Textiles and produce fashionable attire in what is traditionally

girls is more even, and this is encouraging.

seen as a feminine subject. Several former male students who

range of tools and processes than you may think. For

fashion design.

example, if Textile students choose to produce CAD models and 3D print components or buttons for a

large numbers of boys choose Industrial Technology. This may

garment, they can. If students studying Multimedia

be because when girls arrive they choose subjects they have

want to produce architectural models using processes

done at their previous schools, and feel comfortable choosing

in a workshop, they can. And if Industrial Technology

them again. It may be because boys have not had sufficient

students want to produce graphics for laser etching,

exposure to textiles prior to it being offered in Year 10, or it

they can do this too.

may simply be that students want to work with materials and tools that they enjoy. Barker provides a range of subjects that give students THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

It is worth noting that senior students have a wider

studied Textiles at Barker have gone on to pursue careers in Despite this, large numbers of girls still choose Textiles and

While I would love to see more boys in Textiles and

are interested in, and to not think of the stereotypes often

practical access to technology. It is important that students

The multidisciplinary nature of our field is supported with a range of technologies that are not confined solely to the domain of a single subject area. The more students realise that all technologies exist to provide

feel comfortable choosing a subject that they are interested in

solutions, the better placed they will be to meet

learning about. Inspiring students to use technology to improve

unforeseen changes of the future.

our world is a genuine endeavour. Researching, designing and applying processes to shape materials and produce solutions is an opportunity for students to develop their ability, gain confidence and know they can shape their world.

Darren Wooodrow Head of Design and Teachnology

DESIGN & TECHNOLOGY THE BARKER | SPRING 2015â&#x20AC;&#x201A;

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Clockwise from top left Britta Stoker turning lids; Stef Aisbett with Hamish Shaw and Claudia Fawzi Yr 11 Industrial Technology; Isabelle Horan-Gray with her art fusion piece for Textiles and Design; Adelaide Neilson and Lachie Trout with their Design and Technology teacher Phil Barden; Kate Mildren, Anais Hakin and Jessica Lamble silk painting in Textiles and Design.

VISUAL ARTS THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Exhibit

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Visual Arts students at Barker College are introducing bold new voices to the community.â&#x20AC;?

Year Exh ibiti 8 on!

Numerous art exhibitions have been held at Barker during 2015, showcasing self-expression and the creative talent of students across Years 7 to 12. Most notably, Year 8 students had their first ever group show in Term 2. All 208 students were represented, and their custom-designed, hand painted skateboard decks were professionally displayed and filled every display board on Level 1 of the Design Centre. Peers and teachers alike flocked to the Design Centre to view their work. Some teachers had not visited the Design Centre for quite some time, and were very appreciative of the work they saw. The Barker College HSC Visual Arts Exhibition officially opened on Wednesday 19 August, and audiences were not disappointed by the skill and diversity of work on display by a dedicated group of students. A full report and many of the artworks will be in the next issue It goes without saying that there is more to the completed artworks than meets the eye. Talk to any of the students behind the artworks, or ask their parents what thoughts and processes are involved, and you will start to understand the critical thinking that goes into each work. At times, art students have to handle states of uncertainty, but once they discover solutions to the process involved they find themselves developing self-confidence and a sense of satisfaction.

VISUAL ARTS

—Above left and right Year 8 students viewing their hand painted skateboard decks, displayed in the Design Centre —Below Year 10 Dot Pop painting on display in the RE Kefford Building.

“Art students don’t just represent their own ideas, they forge new ideas.” Christopher Whitehead (2013) (Senior Lecturer in Museum, Gallery and Heritage Studies at Newcastle University)

Matthew Bentham Head of Visual Arts

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Visual Arts students at Barker College are introducing bold new voices to the community. Visual Arts staff viewing the Year 10 Copy Dot Pop paintings for the first time commented on how engaged the students were, as only their generation can be, to the world around them. The entire Visual Arts Department works tremendously hard to ensure that each student’s unique voice is expressed and heard loud and clear in their visual art piece. I am pleased to say that more exhibitions of student’s work are on the way.

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

â&#x20AC;&#x201D;Clockwise from top left Coonabarabran Competitors; Molly Groat and Rachael Temm; Members of the Barker Equestrian Team.

Equestrian Coonabarabran North West Equestrian Expo 2015 Seven students represented Barker in the Coonabarabran North West Equestrian Expo. The ODE was the first event, Rachael Temm (Year 12) came 2nd in the A Grade, with Ryan Haste (Year 11) also putting in a great ride. Molly Groat (Year 12) came 3rd and Jacinta Miller (Year 11) came 4th in C Grade. Catherine Crampton (Year 10) finished well in her C Grade division. Jamie Haste (Year 7) finished 6th in D Grade and Thomas Grove (Year 10) placed 4th in the Combined Training. Sunday saw the 6-Bar event and the final of the Working Horse Challenge. The 6-Bar team of Jacinta, Molly, Thomas and Rachael were successful, becoming the 2015 NAB 6-Bar Team Champions. Rachael was also able to pull off 2nd place for her challenge. The dressage and showjumping day saw Molly finish THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

6th and Rachael finish 3rd and 4th in the Elementary.

Rachael and Molly picked up a few Hacking ribbons on Tuesday to finish the event on a high.

The NSW Equestrian Interschool Championships 2015 Nine Barker riders competed in the NSW Equestrian Interschool Championships on 18-21 June. In the ODE Ryan Haste finished 18th in the 105cm event. In the 80cm Jacinta Miller finished 4th. Jamie Haste finished 20th in the 60cm. Ani Dilanchian (Year 11) finished 12th in the 60cm CT. In the Hacking, Rachael took out 7th place. The showjumping saw Lauren Daly (Year 11) place 6th in the 90cm AM5. Rachael Temm was 5th in her Elementary 3.3 and 9th in the Novice 2.2. Jamie came 9th in the 80cm 2 Phase. Kirrily Mann (Year 12) came 5th in the 110cm 2 Phase. Ani came 10th in the Prelim 1.2 and 15th in the 1.3. Courtney Riddel (Year 11) came 18th in the Prelim 1.2. Special congratulations to Jamie Haste who won both his individual and team vaulting routine with very impressive scores. On Sunday, Courtney came 15th in the Prelim 1.3. Rachael came 2nd in the Novice 2.3 and 9th in the Elementary 3.2. Kirrly came 11th in the 110cm AM5. Jamie came 8th in the 80cm AM5. Lauren was 14th in the 100cm A2. Congratulations to all the riders, there were excellent results from everybody and we are already looking forward to next year! Victoria Temm Equestrian Manager

OUTDOOR EDUCATION

Snow Report

—This image Giant slalom —Below left Members of the team —Below right After the presentations.

The 2015 NSW Interschools Snow Sports competition was back at the beautiful Perisher Valley. The Barker College snow team were again ready and willing to make their mark on the mountain. With our brand new uniforms we were a vision in red, shredding down the slopes. A special mention should go to the following students who skied and snowboarded their way on to the podium and took home well-deserved medals. Ben Pike, Nick Pike, Cameron Whiteside, Alex Lahoud, Edward Slack-Smith (Junior) and Will Jeffress (Junior). A big shout out to all the parents that volunteered, coached, supported, took photos and made sure the students stayed warm. Without parent support the week would not have run so smoothly. Finally, we would like to congratulate all the competitors for an outstanding effort throughout the week’s events and to the 12 students that made it to state level in August. Chloe Taylor and Louise Gabb Barker College Snow Sports

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

This year welcomed a junior snow sports team consisting of students from Years 5 and 6. It was great to see the Barker College spirit come alive as the older students encouraged and supported the younger boys in their first year on the mountain. The conditions at Perisher were less than ideal, forcing the competitors to deal with pre-race nerves, long days, late nights and freezing conditions. This being the case, the students represented the School with enthusiasm and steely determination throughout the whole week. Competition was tough, but each race was attacked with confidence and flair, it was a real joy to watch them compete and see their excited faces at the finish line.

SPORT

Representative Honours for The 2015 representative basketball season has been a busy one for our students. Overall, Barker had three representatives in the ISA team and four representatives in the CAS team. This exciting result reflected the strong improvements made in both the girls and boys programs throughout the regular season. In the girls program, Bec Black, Abby Cubillo and Kimberly Hodge were selected to represent ISA in the NSW CIS Championships, in which ISA went undefeated. Following on, all three players were selected for the CIS team to play in the NSW All Schools Championships. In an incredibly close tournament, where the largest point margin was no more than four, Abby Cubillo and Bec Black were selected to represent NSW All Schools for the Pan Pacific Championships in Adelaide. This is a first for girls basketball at Barker College. Abby went on to gain selection in the U17 Australian Women’s Basketball Team. Not to be outdone, Ben Fakira gained selection in the Australian Men’s Basketball team. He and Abby will join the team to compete at the FIBA U17 Oceania Championships in New Zealand. This is an amazing achievement and we wish them both well. Nicole Bailey & Jason Bourke MIC Girls Basketball & MIC Boys Basketball

—Above Abby Cubillo (Yr 10) and Ben Fakira (Yr 10) have been selected in the Australian Women’s and Australian Men’s U17 Basketball teams.

Mollie Dive

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

It was a challenging season in the Mollie Dive

competition. The temperature at the night games on Wednesdays and Tuesdays in Ku-ring-gai would drop to the single digits, but the games were fast-paced to make up for it. The 1sts usually trained for 45 minutes before heading to the games, which made it a long and tiring day. There were a few evenings at the start of the competition when the team was not quite on their game and lost or drew games that we really should have won, but as the season progressed the players settled into their stride. It was also a good time to trial new positions and tactics for our ISA games, which proved valuable over the season. By the end of the season we were sitting in third position with only the two Pymble teams ahead of us. Entering a 3rd/4th playoff against Abbotsleigh, both teams played some excellent hockey in the tightly fought match. Barker played a great passing game and with Sami McCormick breaking forward resulting in some excellent runs on goal. The game ended 1-1, which left us in third place. A commendable position.

Report Our thanks to Kate Fowler, Cliona Boyd and Sami McCormick from our ISA 2nds team, who regularly assisted us when we required players. Their willingness and on-field commitment was admirable, and without them we would not have achieved so much. Jackie Robbins Acting MIC of Hockey

SPORT

Highlights from the

—Clockwise from top left Vladi Rudenko on his way to another medal at the Nationals; James Percival receiving the Pierre de Courbertin Award; the newly renovated Boys Gym; Year 7 footballers enjoyed Winter Sport Day.

recognises secondary school athletes who demonstrate values consistent with the Olympic movement. The boys’ weights room has had a major overhaul with a complete refurbishment and a new structure encompassing performance and general fitness. The new section of the weights room sees the addition of lifting frames, new apparatus and new flooring, giving students a state-of-the-art fitness centre. The Middle School boys enjoyed a magnificent sunny Winter Sport Day. The boys took to the fields and represented their Houses with pride; the final winners on the day were Butters for football and Wade for rugby. Steve Thomlinson Sportsmaster

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Vladimir Rudenko (Year 7) recently competed at the Australian National Elite Diving Championships at SOPAC. He won two silver medals for platform and 3-metre springboard, plus a bronze medal for the 1-metre springboard. This is a magnificent achievement. In addition, a number of students gained representative selection in the CAS rugby and football teams over the winter break. The students performed with distinction and represented CAS and their School with pride. These students have continued the tradition of Barker boys dominating representative teams. Bruce Thompson, Tim Anstey, Andy Lloyd, Adam Wigglesworth and Simon Pursell were selected for the rugby teams, and Hugh Brown, Jack Musgrave and Duncan Stewart in the football team. James Percival has been honoured for his all-round sporting achievements with the Pierre de Courbertin Award, which

SPORT

Barker Tour to Brisbane The Barker 1st XI squad travelled to Brisbane for the High Energy Events competition.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

ay one saw Barker pick up full points with two wins while keeping a clean sheet. The first game was against African United with the boys winning three goals to nil. The second game was against local school Clairvaux MacKillop College and the boys won again in convincing fashion, 5-0. Day two was a different story, and despite the boys playing well, we went down to two strong opposing teams â&#x20AC;&#x201C; St Pius and a New Zealand team from St Peters Cambridge. The first game of the day was against St Pius. Despite the boys playing very well, we unfortunately conceded two late goals to go down by one. In the second game against St Peters, the Reds scored early, but St Peters hit back with three quick goals to win the game 3-1. Day three was a rest day, which gave the Year 12 boys an opportunity to study and the younger boys a chance to play laser-tag and watch the State of Origin and Ashes. On day four a little bit of sickness had crept into camp, so with reduced numbers we had to dig deep. We played Riverview in a tight game that ended in a nil-all draw. In our second game we beat Pembroke from South Australia to ensure a top four finish.

Day five was the competition semi-final and final. Our fourth-place finish saw Barker scheduled against archrivals St Pius, who finished in first place. Barker started the semi-final strongly, playing outstanding football and creating many opportunities going forward. Barker came out on top, winning the game 2-1 before facing a showdown with Riverview in the final. The game started out slowly, with both teams suffering from fatigue, soreness and injury. The match then became even more trying when the weather turned. Barker capitalised early, scoring two quick goals. Mid-way through the game, Riverview bounced back with a goal. Barker lifted again, scoring two goals late in the match to win the High Energy Event Final 4-1. Well done to all the boys in the squad. Congratulations to Michael Elgie and Duncan Stewart, who shared the title of leading goal-scorer. Duncan also took out Barkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s MVP voted by the opposition. Jonathan Sparks MIC Football

SPORT

PLC Comp Wrap-up Throughout Term 2, the Barker Netball 1sts and Inter A teams competed in the Pymble Invitational Netball Competition. This was an outstanding competition which included the IGSSA schools and helped the early preparation for the ISA competition.

Alexandra Butt Netball MIC

—Top The Inter As after a hard fought final! —Above 1sts at the PLC Netball comp.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

The Barker 1sts enjoyed the spirited competition provided by other schools with some emphatic victories. With only a straight final on the cards, we were exceptionally unlucky to lose out by one goal on a count back for a place in the final – finishing in a very credible third place. The Inter As provided the upset of the competition, placing 4th and securing a semi-final match against hosts and first-placed Pymble Ladies College. The girls were not to be intimidated by the 20-point-plus win that Pymble managed over Barker in the earlier rounds. Their hard work, training and determination served them well, drawing level in the final seconds to force the game into extra time. By the end of the second period of extra time, the teams were still inseparable, so play continued until one team reached a two-goal lead – something that hadn’t occurred in the match since the second quarter. The Inter As did not waiver in their determination and showed tenacity to finally secure victory and a berth in the final after more than 15 minutes of extra time. Although not reaching the nail-biting heights of the semifinal, the Barker team didn’t let this opportunity slip and defeated Brigidine in the final to secure the premiership. Congratulations girls.

CADETS

Accepting the Role as

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

Since accepting the role as Commander-in-Chief of the BCCU in 2014, Mr Heath has voiced his desire to wear a Badge of Office on ceremonial occasions to demonstrate his link to BCCU.

This came to fruition at the 115th Annual Ceremonial Parade on 17 May 2015, which held great historical significance for BCCU. We were most fortunate to secure the NSW Governor, His Excellency General David Hurley AC DSC, as the Reviewing Officer. This added to the significance and symbology as Mr Heath was presented with his silver-plated gorget Badge of Office by the Council of Barker Collegeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chairman Mr Ian Miller. The presentation of a ceremonial gorget is steeped in British history as these items were only awarded to the most trusted and loyal military officers. In the early days of the NSW colony, they were also given by the governor to some trusted tribal elders as a sign to all that they had gained the respect and support of the governor. CAPT (AAC) Tony Young accompanied the inspection party as a final gesture to close 35 years as a staff member of BCCU. The 2015-16 senior leaders were promoted at a dinner on 14 July by Mr Heath. CUO Annika Allen was appointed as the Senior Under Officer (only the second female to occupy this position in the unit history), while WO1 Devlin Gunzenhauser was appointed as the Unit Regimental Sergeant Major.

On Monday 20 July, BCCU hosted a visit of six cadets from Canada on a two-week Army exchange. It was an eye-opener, as Canadian cadet units are small in number with no large school-based units. Major Terry Nye Commanding Officer BCCU

BCMA

Barker Red goes

—Clockwise from Left The Multi-Purpose Hall is transformed by the Barker Red Committee; The Barker parents groove the night away; Donation made to Donna Meads Barlow (middle) for the Danii Foundation by Jenelle Montgomerie (2nd left) and Julie Long (2nd right).

On Saturday 9 May, the Barker parent community gathered together for the annual BCMA Barker Red dinner and dance. Our theme this year was ‘Barker Red goes black and white,’ a simple yet effective theme that the parents fully embraced. donation through a Danii Glam Basket and raffle. We raised $3,230 in support of The Danii Foundation (www.danii.org. au), which was a sensational effort and much appreciated by her loving parents, Donna and Brian Meads Barlow. Huge thanks for an outstanding night go to Julie Long and the Red Committee. My first year as BCMA President is almost finished, and I wish to thank the entire Barker community for your continued support of the work that we do. To the wonderful committee of 2014/15, thank you for your friendship and commitment. Best wishes to you all. Jenelle Montgomerie BCMA President

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

The Multi-Purpose Hall was transformed into a sea of black and white elegance fit for an enjoyable night of fun, food, dancing and fundraising. We dined in style, with Pascal Perrotin and his wonderful team providing fabulous fare, and were entertained with a return performance by Planet Groove, allowing all to bust a move. Each year group was asked to contribute items to themed Glam Baskets, which were auctioned off on the night. The baskets looked amazing and many people went home very satisfied. Thank you to everyone for your contributions, both prior and on the night. The BCMA has a wonderful way of supporting others. In memory of Daniella Meads Barlow, a former Barker Year 12 student who tragically lost her life to Type 1 Diabetes in 2011, we were able to raise awareness of T1D and make a

FOUNDATION

Barker At its June meeting, the Foundation Board resolved to establish the Barker Future Fund.

THE BARKER | SPRING 2015

his is a public ancillary fund to provide a simple donation portal for the Foundation. It allows the Foundation to receive all tax-deductible donations into a single fund, to be distributed to other funds with deductible gift recipient (DGR) status. The Foundation already has established DGRs, namely the Building, Library and Scholarship Funds; however, it is also establishing other DGR Funds to support additional purposes such as the Indigenous education initiatives. The establishment of the Barker Future Fund is, of course, most timely. In the past 18 months, the School has reshaped its mission, vision and values statements. The vision is encapsulated in this aspiration: “To be a leader in Christian education that is characterised by a global vision that inspires hope.” Barker has always had a strong Christian heritage and purpose. The aspiration of inspiring global hope speaks to not only our current students but also the greater Barker community. The challenge is to identify opportunities to have a presence in the wider community and then to carry into effect those opportunities by being active in the community.

Barker’s Indigenous education initiative with the Darkinjung Local Aboriginal Land Council at Wyong on the Central Coast is one such opportunity. It is a most exciting prospect to establish a small Barker College campus in the Wyong area that provides small one-teacher schooling to local Aboriginal children in their primary school years. As well as seeking strong literacy and numeracy outcomes for those enrolled, it will foster confidence and respect for Aboriginal cultural identities and will enable a twoway partnership in reconciliation between Barker College and the Darkinjung community. It will provide a practical response to reconciliation in Australia. Philanthropy at Barker matters. Giving – no matter the amount of the donation, or indeed whether the donation is of one’s time, energy or money – is an act that recognises that our wellbeing is deeply connected to the wellbeing of others. Philanthropy places the giver in a context of caring and that provides meaning. It empowers the giver with an act of contribution, and any investment in the education of others reaps lifetimes of returns. David Charles Barker Foundation Chairman

Spring 2015 — Issue 222

Alex Barnes (Lane, class of 2000) is a freelance photographer currently based in Sydney.

What did you do when you finished at Barker? I have loved taking photos for as long as I can remember, so I honed my professional skills studying Photomedia as a major in a fine arts degree in 2003. Where do you take photos? I love travelling and meeting new people and I usually have my camera with me everywhere I go. My photos are playful, contemporary and natural. I always try to make each photoshoot relaxed and fun. I am a bit of a romantic and this often reflects in my photos. When did you start your company, Shot Photography? I started Shot (www.shotphotography.com.au) in 2005, and have since photographed everything from newborn babies and wedding celebrations to llamas and rugby players. The variety is one of the things I really enjoy most about my job – every photoshoot is different.

Barnes What is your most memorable photo shoot? I occasionally get myself in trouble for focusing too much on the photograph and not on my own personal safety. One memorable example of this is when I was challenged by an adult male rhino in the Umfolozi Game reserve in KwaZuluNatal , South Africa. Thankfully I lived to tell the tale and it remains one of my favourite images. What do you do outside of photography? Photography is a part-time commitment, and I also work as a jewellery designer and general manager of Max Diamonds. Here, I have been fortunate enough to design and create engagement rings for many of my Barker friends. My most important job, though, is being mum to my daughter, ninemonth-old Chloe. My husband Warren and I also have two naughty labradors. Do you have any words of wisdom for today’s students? Take advantage of all that Barker offers in terms of extracurricular activities. I will always remember the flour-bomb fights in cadets, sky diving, Taekwondo and sport. After you finish school, travel as much as you can.

FROM THE OBA PRESIDENT

INSIDE THIS ISSUE 41 OBA President 44 Community Events 46 Personal Notes 48 OBA Groups 51 Obituaries

Community Events

President Tony Gamson (78) 0458 564 556 Honorary Vice-President Peter Gregory (03) 0400 419 253 Honorary Treasurer Andrew Hassall (86) 0412 610 434 Honorary Secretary David Brookes (79) 0400 906 052 Honorary Assistant Secretary Matt Ross-Smith (10) 0408 284 702

Personal Notes

General Committee Chris Bennett (83) Paul Goncharoff (88) Pip Hurley (Webber 85) Jenny Kalaf (Melville 78) Catherine Lancaster (82) David Slinn (80) David Trayner (84) Henry Wells (10) Nominees to School Council Pennie Cruickshank (79) Michael Brodie (79) Tony Gamson (78) OBA Annual Patron Sandy Hollway (64) Keith Thornton (64) Benjamin Anson (85) Over 70s Contact Peter Ward (59) (02) 9144 2351

OBA Groups

WINTER2015 2015 THE OLD BARKER | SPRING

For further information please contact Mandy on 9847 8229. Personal notes are published in good faith, as a service to the Barker Community.

Interstate and International Barker Contacts Old Barker Association Contacts email: oba@barker.nsw.edu.au

Contributions Welcome Please send contributions to Mandy Loomes, Director of Alumni Relations, 91 Pacific Highway, Hornsby NSW 2077 or mandy_loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au.

School Contacts Director of Alumni Relations Mandy Loomes (02) 9847 8229 (Sch) mandy_loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au Alumni Reunion Coordinator Karina Drummond (02) 9847 8283 (Sch) karina_drummond@barker.nsw.edu.au Manager of Archives Morwenna Pearce (02) 9847 8290 (Sch) morwenna_pearce@barker.nsw.edu.au Archivist Sarah Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Neill (02) 9847 8290 (Sch) soneill@barker.nsw.edu.au

Brisbane Andrew Wilkie (01) 0412 779 383 (m) andrew.wilkie@morgans.com.au Canberra Andrew McColl (74) 0422 985 281(m) mccoll@grapevine.net.au Melbourne Murray Anderson (65) 0457 000 407 (m) murray@capricorngroup.net.au Northern Rivers Jim Poulos (61) (02) 6686 7711 (h) pamio@bigpond.net.au Perth Tom Hargreaves (69) 0437 906 588 (m) tom.hargreaves@inpex.com.au 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) george.darling@snclavalin.com Hong Kong Brayden Winkler (07) brayden.winkler@gmail.com Japan Carl Bastian (93) bastianinternational@msn.com Middle East Erik Huyer (72) (966) 056 409 0144 (m) erikhuyer@gmail.com New Zealand Scott Brown (91) (64) 027 230 4561 (w) scott@hipgroup.co.nz Oceania (Fiji) Neil Underhill (75) (679) 336 3968 (w) neilunderhill@connect.com.fj Papua New Guinea Johnson Kalo (83) (675) 305 6703 (w) jkalo@bsp.com.pg Singapore Carly Switzer (94) carlyswitzer@yahoo.com.au UK, London Annette French (Slattery 88) (44) 1732 382 281 (h) annette.e.french@sky.com USA, East Coast Andrew Renton (85) (910) 612 5671 arenton1@mac.com USA, West Coast Digby Cook (56) (928) 210 9980 digbyhcook@gmail.com

FROM THE OBA PRESIDENT

President’s

—Tony Gamson (78), OBA President

I have to acknowledge with great sadness the recent passing of John Allen, Class of 1943. John had contributed greatly to Barker over many years, serving two terms as President of the OBA, as well as being a member of the School Council. John will be greatly missed at alumni functions and our sincerest condolences are extended to John’s wife, Heather, and their children Jamie (79), Sarah and their families. In recent times I have attended funerals and memorial services for several alumni. Some have been to celebrate a long life well lived, while others have acknowledged a life cut short through illness or tragic accident. In all cases, the sorrow felt by family and friends has been overwhelming, but there has also been significant compassion shown by the Barker community. The strength of this support and the power of the relationships formed at Barker, be they in recent times or many years ago, provide comfort to those mourning their loss as they deal with their grief. As Barker alumni we have many reasons to be grateful. The strength of the Barker community can be a great comfort in those times when we need assistance and support.

Tony Gamson (78) OBA President

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

he OBA has made many donations to the development and improvement of the Barker campus over the years, either by participating in large projects or through providing specific facilities, such as the OBA Sound Stage and The Marks Pavilion. Whilst these are valuable and frequently used facilities, we have also contributed to the fabric of the School in other ways. The War Memorial Steps and the Centenary Sculpture are examples that speak of the soul and the spirit of Barker. This year, as Barker celebrates its 125th anniversary, the OBA has donated a bronze sculpture that sits in the OBA Courtyard of the Junior School. The sculpture was commissioned with the theme ‘anything is possible’, and the spirit of these words is well captured in the finished design. The sculpture was unveiled on 26 August by Mr Chris Russell (70), OBA Ambassador and former Deputy Chairman of the School Council. Chris has given tirelessly to Barker over many years through his dedication and hard work, and it is fitting that he was given this honour. The ceremony drew a wonderful attendance, and the Junior School boys were especially keen to see what would be revealed. They had arrived back at School after the holidays to find a large wooden crate deposited in the courtyard during the break. The curiosity of young boys being what it is, I can only imagine what they thought might be hidden within the box. Their reaction to the revelation suggests they were very happy with the result. Throughout the year we are reminded of the importance of the support of the Barker community in the lives of alumni and their families.

40 YEAR CELEBRATION

of Girls

Cele brat ion!

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

On Friday 29 May, we gathered together in The Marks Pavilion to celebrate 40 years since Barker became a co-educational school. The guests included Barkerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s current Deputy Head, Mrs Sue Field, current Head of Barker College, Mr Phillip Heath, and former Headmasters Mr Trevor McCaskill, Mr Neil Tucker and Dr Rod Kefford. It was a fun evening filled with laughter and reminiscing.

40 YEAR CELEBRATION

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

COMMUNITY EVENTS

COMMUNITY EVENTS— Many travelled great distances to attend including the Over 70’s president Richard Crickmore (55). Other ex-students attending were: John Grigg (59), Phillip Gurner (60), John Hall (63), Gavin Moore (52), Chris Norris (67), Julian Pickrell (51), Amy Price (Wark 02), John Thompson (98), Denver Webb (59), Richard Webb (67) and David Windeyer (54). Richard Webb (67)

London Dinner – Friday 7 August 2015

Class of 1995 – 20 Year Reunion On 16 May, close to 100 members of the Class of 1995 gathered together for our 20 year reunion at The Oaks in Neutral Bay. It was amazing to see such a fantastic turnout after all these years, with a few people travelling from interstate for the occasion. There were plenty of laughs and lots of reminiscing about the good old days. It was like no time had passed at all. Our conversations have definitely shifted from amazing holidays in exotic locations to all things child-related. I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. See you all at the 25 year reunion!

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Dimity Brown (Macleod 95)

Tamworth Regional Dinner – Friday 24 July Twenty-six Barker community members including ex-students and partners, current and past staff, and current parents had a pleasant evening get-together at Tamworth recently, reminiscing over their experiences at the school and listening with interest to Head of Boarding, Jacqui McLachlan, outlining present and future boarding activities.

In the beautiful Hilton Hotel in Paddington, 30 Barker alumni and guests, gathered for our annual London dinner. Head of Barker College, Mr Phillip Heath, spoke to guests about Barker as it is today and of its future direction. There were plenty of questions and a keen interest in the School. There was a lot of conversation and discussion to be had whilst enjoying a sumptuous dinner. It was lovely to see reconnections of friends from their school days and the networking too. The Hilton was a beautiful setting for this regional dinner and our thanks to Mark Roth for hosting us. Thanks also to Annette and Daryl French for helping to organise this annual dinner. Ex-students attending were David Brown (74), Iain Brown (85), Alana Camilleri (06), Vincent Choi (00), Anthony Chow (99), Jason Choy (93), Daryl French (87), Jonathan Hook (87), Sandra Horne (07), Anna Jackson (06), Simon Johnson (02), Melanie King (90), David Knox (79), Stuart Lund (70), Nicole Meyer (06), Stephen Nixon (92), Mark Roth (86), Taylor Shawyer (02), Mark Swann (79), James Telfer (11), Rose Thomson (Mason 86), Nicholas Watkinson (71) and James Waterworth (00). Mandy Loomes

Class of 1975 – 40 Year Reunion

A small group of Melbourne alumni braved the cold and gathered for this year’s dinner at the Hotel Kew for an excellent meal and good company. We had familiar faces including two Barker old girls, some new faces, and partners/spouses Lindy Anderson, Robyn Cocks, Helen Bedggood and Katrina Brinsmead. As in previous years, we went around the table giving a short update on our current lives, what brought us to Melbourne, and memories of our school years. We were amazed to hear of each other’s diverse and interesting lives, many with significant managerial and sporting achievements, all bound with the common thread of a Barker schooling. A most enjoyable night.

The Reunion was truly a memorable event for us all. Beginning with a laid back Chapel service conducted by Jeff Ware, we recalled old friends and were thankful to have had the opportunity to be a part of the Barker Community. Afterwards we toured the School. We marvelled at the facilities available, the enormous effort that must have been expended in the planning and building of the present day campus. Watching the rugby game against archrivals Knox was a real buzz. Although beaten, the passion and commitment was evident, which I am sure inspired the Wallaby victory over NZ in the Bledisloe that evening! The Rugby Club was a fitting venue for the evening. Joined by past teachers Ian Campbell, Rick Rowling, Stuart Braga and David Ward, the evening began with a buzz, roared during the evening and concluded when we were ushered out at closing time. It was noted that 25 per cent of those attending lived overseas and interstate. Those still with hair, thankfully are spending their hard earned on more trips to the hairdressers. Although Father Time has slowed us a little, it seemed like yesterday that we were living the stories and memories that were recalled throughout the evening. Many thanks to all those that made the effort to participate and for all those who sent apologies.

Murray Anderson (65)

COMMUNITY EVENTS

Melbourne Dinner – Saturday 1 August

Lez Cheung

—From left to right Jonathan Shier (65), John Cocks (53), Peter Bedggood (53), David Doyle (63), Murray Anderson (65), Geoff Williams (58); seated: Sarah Love (Scott 89), Fiona Galbraith (81).

On 7 June, a group of 23 alumni and their partners met with others from the Barker community within the region to share an enjoyable afternoon at the Shore Steakhouse. During the event, it was suggested that we create a Facebook page to stay connected with each other, communicate any upcoming events and gatherings within the Hong Kong region, and share our photos and stories in an effort to build a sense of community among us. If you are

on Facebook, please follow the link to our new group here: www.facebook.com/groups/BarkerAlumniHK/. It is a closed group, so the general public can only view a list of the group members, but cannot view any posts in the group. We look forward to meeting up with more of our Barker family in Hong Kong at future gatherings. Brayden Winkler (07)

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Hong Kong Event – Sunday 7 June 2015

PERSONAL NOTES

PERSONAL NOTES— they were exposed to a wide range of organised sports, which they participated in with enthusiasm and success. On returning to PNG after their schooling in Australia in the early 60s, they continued to join many different sporting teams in Rabaul, with considerable success. They also started bodybuilding at the Spartacus Club. From a background of all-round sporting excellence, they had found their niche and PNG weightlifting had now arrived. Between the years of 1962 and 1975, the brothers The Seeto Brothers

won four gold medals, one silver medal and one bronze medal between them in the featherweight division for PNG.

Jackson (59) and David Seeto (61) were two of the leading lights in Papua New Guinea Weightlifting.

Games in Perth, and the South Pacific Games in Fiji,

Their family was well established, with their grandparents

Noumea, Port Moresby, Tahiti and Guam. They often

arriving from China in 1900 during the German colonial

competed against each other in the same event, placing

period. They attended Barker as boarders, and while here

first and second together several times.

Bob Snow (62) From 1975 onwards I have been involved with athletics

program, later became captain of the

It has been a massive privilege to be

PNG cricket team.

part of the build-up to the games and

in the Pacific Islands – initially in Fiji,

As a former athletics national

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

the 15 days of competition. I am only

and then later in PNG and briefly in

selector for both Fiji and PNG, and a

too happy to volunteer my services and

Vanuatu. Over the years, I have taken

statistician who knew all the major

do what I can.

on the role of PNG athletics statistician

athletic stars of the Pacific Islands

and historian, and also for a time the

region, I was asked to assist with the

Oceania statistician. I have drifted into

television commentary for several

the role of unofficial historian for the

games in the region, including the

athletics competitions in the South

1999 Games in Guam, 2003 Games in

Pacific Games (now renamed the Pacific

Suva, 2007 Games in Apia, Samoa and

Games). These Games have been the

the 2009 Games in the Cook Islands.

major Pacific Islands sporting focus

I was also involved in the 1996 Olympic

since their inception in Suva in 1963.

Games in Atlanta. I have now been

Over the years, to my knowledge, four

invited back to the host broadcast

Barker boys have participated in the

team for the 2015 Pacific Games.

Games. Jackson (59) and David Seeto

They appeared at the British Empire and Commonwealth

With 24 nations competing

Lynne Vaughan (Robinson 88) moved with her husband Simon and children Hugh (8) and Audrey (5) to Culburra Beach. She works at the Outdoor Education Group. Class of 2009 A group of friends and mostly 2009 leavers signed up to play for the Old Barker Football Club playing in the Division 6 Reserve team. They are having an enjoyable season and are currently undefeated.

(61) won many gold medals in the

across 28 different sports, it is a huge

weightlifting competitions during

undertaking for the host nation. They

their participation in the early games.

rely on a large army of volunteers

Tom O’Farrell (12) graduated from Duntroon on 16 June into the Royal

Nigel (70) and Donald Cluer (69)

to ensure it all runs smoothly. As a

Australian Infantry Corps. He has

excelled in swimming in the late 1960s

volunteer I have been writing a weekly

been posted to 2 RAR (2nd Battalion

and early 1970s. Nigel Cluer also made

newspaper column profiling former

The Royal Australian Regiment) based

two finals at the first World Swimming

athletics gold medal winners, helping

in Townsville. He also distinguished

Championship in Belgrade in 1973,

to recommend songs to be played in

himself by winning two prizes (placing

finishing 5th in the 200m breaststroke.

the many venues around Port Moresby,

first in the graduating class) for Military

Nigel Agonia (67), who could never

advising on eligibility issues, and being

Skills and Field Leadership, and Tactics.

participate in the South Pacific Games

involved with many ad-hoc projects

because his sport was not part of the

that emerge.

PERSONAL NOTES

BOBS Football 2015 Division 6 Team: Back Sean Robertson, Joseph Ware, Rowan Varrall, Nick Connell, Jonathan Forage, Harry Agnew, Dane van den Bogaardt, Brendan O’Keeffe, Ryan Yeomans Front Phil Smith, Justin McCarthy, David Calder, Joey Meynink, Tim Onions, Stuart Wall and Alex Batchen.

Queen’s Birthday Honours (UK) Member of the Royal Victoria Order (MVO) William Howard Coaldrake (70) for services to the Royal Collection. Bill now lives in Japan and is teaching at the University of Tokyo. He is working on the restoration of a large-scale 1:10 architectural model of a Japanese temple that belongs to the Queen. The model has been taken back to Japan after 105 years and is displayed on the site of the temple it is based on, which stood until the 1945 bombings.

On a rooftop in Istanbul: Isabelle Stephens (13), Andrew Lemon (92), Mark Lemon (65) and Stephen Nixon (92).

Catch-Up!

3 May Angus Chen, son of Grace Chen and Rhys Strang (84)

21 June Elsie Louise, daughter of Jacqui and Tom Spencer

31 May Isabelle, daughter of Sarah (Thornton 99) and Scott Lipman

26 July Lachlan James, son of Jessica (McKenzie 05) and Daniel Williams (04)

14 June Luc Peter Onno, son of Sara (Neville 02) and Arent van der Schatte Olivier

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Isabelle Stephens (13) and her family travelled to Istanbul recently, and visited a popular hotel rooftop for sunset refreshments and the renowned views. In prime position already, soaking in the atmosphere, were three gentlemen who turned out to be old Barker boys on their way to Gallipoli for the centenary commemoration. There was much animated discussion, with notes compared about Barker then and now, music tours, the impact of girls on school life, surf lifesaving, rugby successes, and fond accounts of teachers – including ‘Gillie’ as a great rugby coach and general top bloke. So you never know who you might bump into, even in a city of 15 million people.

Baptisms in the Barker Chapel

OBA GROUPS

OBA GROUPS— BOBs Rugby At the time of writing this article, as a consequence of mid-season wash outs, BOBRUFC is preparing for a tough road to finals: four rounds in three

Barker Old Boys Cricket The Barker Old Boys Cricket Club is preparing for another successful season, where we are looking to defend our premiership title in the City and Suburban Cricket Association. Our season kicks off on 9 October 2015 against St George Veterans Cricket Club. Our Jack Pace Memorial Shield defence begins the following Sunday, 18 October against the Old Cranbrookians at Dangar Oval, Rose Bay. Pre-season training begins at the Rosewood nets in September on Sunday afternoons. If you have been motivated by Australia’s tragic performance in the Ashes and want to test your skills, please contact us and attend one of our net sessions. Our fixtures are usually scheduled on Sunday afternoons and all matches are on turf wickets. Our website is www.bobscc.com and we can be found on Facebook under Barker Old Boys Cricket.

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Matt Hall (00) Club Captain 0416 297 775 Email: hall_matt@bigpond.com

weeks. But opportunity is aplenty. Nicholas Hensley (05) has been contributing to, refining and more recently, setting the direction of BOBRUFC. He has introduced players to an expansive playing style, characterised by free-flowing lateral movement (even from the forwards!), while maintaining an aggressive approach to set-pieces and defence. After two years, it is paying dividends. BOBRUFC is playing competitive, exciting rugby; it’s a pleasure to watch. We look towards the finals with hope and confidence, and encourage all of our friends in the Barker community to join us in our bid for premiership honours. Reflecting on broader Club performance in recent months, we continue to see increased buy-in from the playing group, participation in social events, and enthusiasm towards practising and executing quality rugby. I’ve always held the view that recent school leavers should pursue the highest level of rugby they can, and there are many strong colts and grade programs among the Sydney Shute Shield Clubs. It is encouraging to see a social club, such as BOBRUFC, challenging its members with sophisticated rugby tactics. Looking ahead, the Division 2 Grand Finals will be held on Saturday 29 August 2015 at T G Millner Field, Eastwood; the BOBRUFC Annual General Meeting will be held on Saturday 5 September 2015; and the Annual Dinner and Awards Night will be held on Saturday 12 September 2015. Planning for the summer off-season and 2016 starts now! Thank you for your ongoing support. For more information on BOBRUFC membership, events, results, news and sponsors please log on to our website www.bobsrugby.com or find us on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/barkeroldboysrufc?fref=tS Martin Donaldson (00) BOBRUFC – President

—Left Hari Caufield and Jason Brushe contest the line out against Lindfield. Right Jack Roach (10) speaking to the crowd at Ladies Day.

OBA Athletics Club The Starks (from Game of Thrones, in case you didn’t know) really knew what they were talking about when they coined the phrase “winter is coming”. Due to our competitive nature at OBAC, we are taking this one step further and claiming that winter is here (or has even gone, depending on the time of publication). With the offseason comes training that involves strength, endurance, sleds, the beach and training camps. If you are at a loose end with your winter sport finishing, the summer athletics season is just around the corner. Current students or former students looking to regain former abilities, get fast or stay fit over summer are welcome to come along to training. We train on Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. For more details contact Glen Parker (0410 597 235).

OBA GROUPS

Old Barker Football Club Two-thirds of the way through the 2015 season, and we’ve had some mixed results. The club’s first venture into the competition’s top tier for over a decade has been challenging, but with the recent recruitment of the squad’s new head coach, Jim Harte, our First Grade team has climbed its way off the bottom of the table. We now have a serious chance of maintaining our place in the top flight for the 2016 season, with some fantastic victories against formidable opposition. The Club’s new Division 6 squad are playing some brilliant youthful football and created a fantastic opportunity to be promoted to Division 5 next season. First Grade are sitting in 3rd place, only a few points behind the current leaders. Reserve Grade are sitting in 2nd place, one point off the pace. It’s been a tough season for Division 5 with a number of unfortunate injuries resulting in player shortages, but they have battled on and sit 3rd on the ladder. The Division 3 Women’s team is performing extremely well and after 12 matches they are placed equal 2nd on the table with three games remaining. With the top two teams gaining promotion, there’s real potential for the ladies to compete in the Division 2 competition next season.

—Above Chris Monsted (03) trying to impress the ladies.

We’re gearing up for a fantastic conclusion to the 2015 competition with the Club’s End of Season Function to take place on Saturday 5 September at the Kirribilli Hotel, before the traditional end of season trip the following weekend to Wollongong. As usual, the Club is always looking for new recruits, so if you are, or know of others who are interested in joining, please contact me using the details below. Peter Gregory (03) President – Old Barker Football Club 0400 419 253 peter.gregory11@gmail.com www.facebook.com/bobsfc www.oldbarkerfc.com

Barker Old Girls Hockey

—Above Katie Boustred (07) at hockey training showing us how to jink a hockey ball.

We are well into the 2015 winter season, with both Barker Old Girls Hockey teams performing well over the first half of the season. Barker 1 was 5th coming into Sunday’s game and played extremely well winning 3-0 against rivals Sydney University. Barker 2 has had some fantastic games throughout the season and are 7th on the ladder. Unfortunately, they were narrowly defeated by Warringah 2-1 in a close contest on Sunday. BOGS are looking forward to a strong finish in the winter season with four games left to play. Social summer hockey will start in early October. New players are always welcome. It is never too late to join, have fun, learn new skills and get fit. If you are interested in joining, please contact our president Katie at hockeybogs@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

OBA Big Band

—Above Big band rehearsals.

any of your functions, please contact us at OBA_bigband@ barker.nsw.edu.au Luke Davis (09) OBA Big Band Representative

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

The OBA Big Band has turned over a new leaf this year, focusing not just on performing out and about, but recording in the studio as well. In June, the band spent a few hours up against the microphone in the McCaskill Music Centre. Fortunately we have some members who were familiar with the audio engineering process and were able to set up equipment for a 17-piece band. We recorded our newest 12-minute piece, a Count Basie standard, and two Frank Sinatra classics. Our hard work was showcased at the annual Barker Swings event. However, the biggest event in 2015 will be our newly confirmed tour to Bingara. On the October long weekend, we travel by bus to perform at the Special Olympics, a sports organisation for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. If you would like us to perform at

OBA GROUPS

OBA GROUPS— OBA Theatre The Old Barker Association Theatre’s (OBAT) second season was a great success! Winter 2015 saw alumni from the classes of 2006 through 2014 bring David Williamson’s spectacularly funny Emerald City to Barker’s BCMA Theatre. Our second season included old hats Eloise Westwood (13) and Charles Jones (10) return to the stage, Chris Simpson (13) and Julia O’Brien (13) to lighting and sound, Rachel Bardwell (13) and Kirsty McNee (13) to crew, and Jack Roach (10) to stage management.

Barker Old Girls Netball Club

We were also joined this season by newcomers Pip Dracakis (10), Adam Jones (13), Gemma Black (14) and Josh Philipson (14). The cast performed to near full houses every evening and intermissions were abuzz with praise for their performances and for Gretel Maltabarow’s (09) direction.

The Barker Old Girls Netball Club is currently playing in the Hills District Netball Competition, and both teams are going well. Although the Barker Old Girls 1 team has faced tough competition in their grade, they have been able to give some of the teams, especially well established teams, a run for their money. The Barker Old Girls 2 team began the season strong, but struggled after injury struck a few of our players. However, we have come back in the last few weeks leading up to the finals.

We were thrilled to be supported by the Barker community once more and were delighted to be joined by past School Headmasters. We are forever grateful for the support we have received from Barker’s current Head, Mr Phillip Heath, and from Tony Gamson, Mandy Loomes and the rest of the wonderful Old Barker Association. As always, anyone wishing to join or contact OBAT is encouraged to email us at: obatheatre@live.com

In our first year as a club, we have had almost 30 girls play and we are thrilled by the show of support from Barker alumni. As always, we are looking to develop the club further and we welcome girls of all abilities to join us. We aim to play all year round including summer and spring night competitions, so there is always an opportunity to get involved. If you would like to play with us, please email barkeroldgirlsnetball@gmail.com or message us through Facebook by liking the Barker Old Girls Netball page. We would also like to extend our thanks to Mandy Loomes, Director of Alumni Relations and Tony Gamson, President of the Old Barker Association, for their continued support of the club. See you on the courts!

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Lauren Kirkby (07) and Jordana Shawyer (06) Co-Presidents

Amie McNee (10) and Cassandra Jones (10) Presidents, OBAT

Over 70s Have you turned 70? If so, there is an organisation for you. The Over 70s are a social group and run a number of events each year. Our next event is a coach visit to The Grange on Wednesday 21 October. If you would like further information, please contact Mandy Loomes on (02) 9847 8229 or mandy_loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au

Kurrajong Society On Wednesday 10 June, we had our first Kurrajong Society Coffee Catchup. It was a lovely morning and those who came along appreciated the opportunity to share stories while enjoying a coffee and some cake. If your children have left Barker and you would still like to support the School and be part of the Barker community, then the Kurrajong Society is for you. We send a regular newsletter, Kurrajong News, to keep you updated on everything happening at Barker College. If you would like more information please contact us at kurrajong@barker.nsw.edu.au

OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES— who fought back the Japanese under his father’s command in 1942. John’s careful and detailed work in organising each year’s Kokoda commemoration at the Sydney Cenotaph gave this ceremony much prominence, and paved the way for the successful approach by the National Council of the Battle for Australia some years later, resulting in the proclamation of the Battle for Australia Day each September. John died on 21 May and is survived by his wife, Heather; children Sarah and Jamie; their spouses Johnny and Helen; and grandchildren Matthew, Nina and Sophie. John Blair Allen Peter Edwin Coupland (83) 1965-2015

1926-2015

Peter Coupland, late of Mittagong, attended Barker from 1976-1983. Peter was very active in life at Barker. He played a variety of sports including rugby, cricket, tennis, squash and basketball. He was a member of the Cadet Unit and played the trombone in the band. After leaving Barker, Peter studied a Bachelor of Applied Science, majoring in environmental assessment and management. He then worked in the area of environmental policy, specialising in water management. Later, Peter studied for a postgraduate Diploma in Conflict Resolution, a Master of Health Studies and a Master of Social Work. In 2005 he trained as a bereavement counsellor and worked with bereaved families, including children at the Bereavement Care Centre, the National Centre for Childhood Grief and then in private practice. He also worked as a social worker in the Cancer Centre in the Southern Highlands. For the last 15 years, Peter worked in Australia and South East Asia as an executive coach focusing on developing leadership skills in senior management. Peter loved the outdoors and sporting activities including cycling, skiing, scuba diving, abseiling and rock climbing. He also enjoyed gardening

John Allen, late of Balmoral, attended Barker from 1939-1943. His brother Bob (41, deceased) and son Jamie (79) were also Barker students. Throughout his school years, John was a strong rugby player for Barker and was captain of the Rugby 2nds in 1941. He was a prefect, a Cadet and a member of Hornsby Fire Brigade’s Auxiliary Reserve Corps. John was on the OBU Committee in 1944, President of the OBU from 19681971, served on the Council of Barker College from 1971-1972, President of the OBA from 1981-1983, and was a founding member of the Barker Over 70s group as Treasurer. John worked for the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation and was sent to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu) in North Borneo in the early 1950s. He received several different postings with the bank including Bangkok, where he met Heather Nairn, who was working at the British Embassy. Heather and John married in January 1959. They had two children, Sarah and Jamie, during a posting to Singapore in the early 1960s. John was an early member of the Kokoda Committee and a prime mover in the annual commemoration at the Cenotaph in Sydney for the men

Kimpton Alan Purser (52) 1935-2015

Kim Purser, late of Mona Vale, attended Barker from 1948-1952. His brothers Warwick (54) and Roderick (63), and children Bruce (79) and Sarah (82), were also Barker students. While at School, Kim played the role of Buckram in the School’s production of The Shirt in 1951. He played rugby in the 1st XV in 1951 and 1952 (Colours in 1951), was in the Cricket 2nd XI in 1952, and won the Division VIIIB Boxing Tournament in 1952. After Barker he studied to become a chartered accountant. He worked for IBM for many years before establishing his successful business, Pursers Interiors. Kim married Annette Fowler in the Barker Chapel in 1960. Kim and Annette enjoyed travelling overseas and Kim was a very keen rugby supporter and photographer. Kim died on 1 June and is survived by his wife, Ann; and children Bruce and Sarah. Mark Robert Roberts (42) 1924-2015

Mark Roberts, late of Bowral, attended Barker from 1936-1942 as a Boarder. Mark was very active in the life of the School. He was in the 2nd XI Cricket team in 1940, the 1st XI Cricket team (Colours) and 1st XV Rugby team (Colours) in 1941, captain of the 1st XI Cricket team (Colours), vice-captain of the 1st XV Rugby team, a member of the Swimming team (Colours), and a member of the Athletics team in 1942. He was also a prefect in 1942. He signed up for the Royal Australian Air Force on 6 December 1942 and started training on his 18th birthday as a pilot at Bradfield Park.

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

John Blair Allen (43)

and growing his own vegies. His biggest passion was spending time with his family. Peter died on 1 May and is survived by his wife, Heidi and children Billie and Mia.

OBITUARIES

OBITUARIES— He was transferred to Narrandera, flying Tiger Moths, and was told he would be a fighter pilot. Four months later he was posted to England to fly Hawker Hurricanes. At 19 he was sent from England to the Middle East, where he transitioned from Hurricanes to Kitty Hawks, before he was posted to Italy to join the 450th Squadron known as the Desert Harassers. They were one of the most famous RAAF Squadrons of WWII. He was sent to southern Austria to start conversions to Mustangs. When the war ended he returned home and decided to study dentistry at Sydney University, but after a year decided it wasn’t for him. In 1947 Mark joined Trans Australian Airlines and flew with them for six years. He then transferred to Qantas, becoming a pilot on 707s and Captain in 1968. In 1974 he transferred to Boeing 747s. Mark continued to fly until he retired in November 1982. He then moved to Bowral in 1986 and continued to enjoy attending Barker Community events. Mark died on 13 August and is survived by his wife, Pamela; children Tracey and Verity; and grandchildren Alexander and Daniel. Keith Henry Taubman (39)

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

1922-2015

Keith Taubman, late of Narrabeen, attended Barker from 1936-1939. He started as a boarder, but later attended as a day boy and was one of the Leslie’s Men. His stepson Ray Litster (73) and granddaughter Sophie (10) were also Barker students. After completing his secondary education at Barker, he enrolled in a science degree at Sydney University, which was interrupted by the outbreak of WWII. Keith joined the Air Force, working in radar research, and was a member of Catalina Squadron based in Karumba, far north Queensland. What we did not hear until after his death was that during the war he had been earmarked to Bletchley Park in the UK to join the team there. For whatever reason, that

posting did not eventuate. After the war he worked in the family’s paint manufacturing business before venturing out on his own to start a metal fabrication business. He later became a partner in a poultry farm, a rubber plantation in Papua New Guinea and then a cattle and wheat farm operation in northern NSW. Keith had a passion for sailing and owned a couple of yachts over the years, which he raced successfully. He also had a great interest in space and practically anything of a scientific nature. Keith passed away peacefully on 14 June. He is survived by his sons Andrew, Anthony and Nicholas; his stepdaughters Ann, Robyn and Sue; stepson, Ray; and his grandchildren Harry, Arianne, Charlie, Donna, Heather, Merryn, Adrian and Sophie.

Ronald Edgar Way

Cameron, Mitchell and Amanda; and grandchildren Caroline, James and Paige. Karl Peter Wells (76)

Andrew Harry Wainright (59)

1958-2015

1943-2015

Peter Wells, late of Mona Vale, attended Barker from 1968-1976. His brothers Eric (74) and Mark (79), and nephews George (08) and Henry (10), were also Barker boys. Peter embraced school life at Barker. He was in the swimming and squash teams and played rugby, being in the 5th XV in his final year. He completed the rugby referees course and then refereed school matches on Saturdays. He also coached a Junior School football team. Peter successfully completed the Duke of Edinburgh award and earned the bronze life-saving medallion. He was also a member of the Cadet Unit. Peter was involved in a variety of business roles during his lifetime and was a recognised authority in marketing and advertising. For the past 25 years, he was heavily involved in promoting and guiding ski tours to the Dolomites in Italy. Peter had a great love of Italy and spent much of his holiday time there. Peter was a keen surfer, skier and sailor. Peter is survived by his daughter Karina and grandchild Charlie.

Andrew Wainright, late of Mosman, attended Barker from 1954-1959. His brother Peter (57) and nephew Robert (87) were also Barker boys. Andrew completed his Leaving Certificate in 1959. After School, he attended Sydney University and worked for Nestlé for over 20 years. In recent times Andrew retired to Mosman. Andrew died on 27 May and is survived by his brother Peter and sister-in-law Jennifer; nephew and niece-in-law Robert and Sarah; nieces and nephews-in-law Fiona and Joey, and Catherine and Ken; and eight greatnieces and nephews. Ronald Edgar Way (46) 1929-2015

Ronald Way, late of Blair Athol, attended Barker from 1942-1946 as a boarder. Whilst at School, Ron was a great swimmer and was a member of the Swimming team each year, earning Colours in 1946. He was also in the Rugby 2nd XV in 1946. Ron died on 6 April and is deeply missed by his wife, Pamela; children

OBA EVENTS

OBA Dinner Guest Speaker is Mike Carlton from the Class of 1962 Mike Carlton (62) came to Barker in 1951 in Miss Stewart’s kindergarten class. His father, Jim Carlton, an Olympian in 1928, was teaching Maths at Barker at the time, and coaching the Athletics Team and the 1st XV. Jim died suddenly in 1951. Mike stayed on at Barker and completed his Leaving Certificate with the Class of 1962. His younger brother, Peter (68) and Mike’s elder son, James (97) were also Barker students. He began his media career as a cadet journalist with the ABC. He was a foreign correspondent for five years, chiefly in Indonesia, and in Vietnam during the war. Later, he became a reporter for the trail-blazing ABC Current Affairs program This Day Tonight.

OBA

Turning back to radio in the early 80s, Mike hosted news and current affairs programs on Sydney’s 2GB, 2UE and ABC-702, and for five years in London on LBC 97.3FM. He also wrote a popular Saturday column for The Sydney Morning Herald. He is the author of two best-selling books on Australian naval history: Cruiser and First Victory and is now completing a third book, Flagship, about the Pacific War against Japan. Mike lives with his wife Morag Ramsay, an ABC television producer, and their son Lachlan on Sydney’s northern beaches. Lachlan is booked to start Barker in 2021. Date: Friday 6 November 2015 Venue: Boyce Hall, Barker College Time: 7pm Cost: $65.00 per person/$585 for a table of 10 Dress: Suit RSVP: 28 October 2015 Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au 02 9847 8229

Lunch

Please join us for our Ladies Lunch on Friday 23 October. Date: Friday 23 October Please join us for a relaxed lunch

Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au

THE OLD BARKER | SPRING 2015

Venue: The Greengate, Killara Time: 12 pm RSVP: 12 October to Mandy Loomes Queries: Mandy Loomes on 9847 8229 or

BARKER ALUMNI EVENTS 2015— Class Reunions 1965 – 50 Year Reunion Sat 12 September James Humphery 0416 021 915 james_humphery@huntsman.com

Class Reunions in 2016 1986 – 30 Year Reunion Sat 19 March Mark Cooper 0400 344 697 markdcooper@hotmail.com

International Events New York Thurs 1 October

Doug Spencer 0404 888 085 DSpencer@millernoyce.com.au

Gaille Smith (Yeates) 0412 784 221 gaille@creativeincentives.com.au

Alexandra Skellet (94) 917 251 3361 alexskellet@yahoo.com

2010 – 5 Year Reunion Sat 19 September Annalise Unsworth Henry Wells barker2010reunion@gmail.com

1971 – 45 Year Reunion May – Date TBA Wolfgang Hofbrucker 0428 993 964 w.hofbrucker@gmail.com

1955 – 60 Year Reunion Wed 7 October Bob Charley 0419 244 507 banjobob@inneslake.com.au Tom Garrick 0428 883 332 garrick@bigpond.net.au 1990 – 25 Year Reunion Sat 10 October Darren Perry Anna Brooks (Higgs) Lucinda French (Etherden) Nathan Deveson barkercollege1990@gmail.com 1985 – 30 Year Reunion Sat 17 October James Hopkin 0402 831 356 james@hopkin.com.au 1970 – 45 Year Reunion Sat 24 October Jack Brislee 0411 648 217 prbb@bigpond.net.au Phil Montgomery 0449 545 954 philnmont@gmail.com

Mike Langford 0414 781 291 drifting@bigpond.net.au OBA Events OBA Golf Day Tues 15 September Mandy Loomes (02) 9847 8229 Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au OBA Committee Meeting Tues 13 October Mandy Loomes (02) 9847 8229 Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au OBA Annual Dinner Fri 6 November Mandy Loomes (02) 9847 8229 Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw.edu.au Over 70s Events Grange Visit Wed 21 October Peter Ward (59) (02) 9144 2351 peter@lockwood.com.au

Andrew Renton (85) 910 612 5671 arenton1@mac.com

Regional Events Perth Sat 10 October Tom Hargreaves (69) tom.hargreaves@inpex.com.au Northern Rivers Sun 18 October Jim Poulos (61) 0413 087 412 pamio@bigpond.net.au Sunshine Coast Sun 25 October Phil Benjamin (61) pandj.benjamin@bigpond.com Canberra Fri 20 November Andrew McColl (74) 0422 985 281 mccoll@grapevine.net.au

Regional events provide a great opportunity to connect with members of the Barker community in your area. Please send your contact details to Mandy_Loomes@barker.nsw. edu.au if you are living in a different location to your Barker mailing address so we can invite you too! PRIVACY Due to changes in Privacy Legislation we are required to inform you that your contact details may be shared with OBA reunion organisers with the strict guidelines that they are only to be used for the purposes of organising your OBA reunion. Please contact the Alumni Office if you wish to keep your details private. PHOTOS Photos from your event may be posted on the OBA Website (www.oba.net.au) and the Alumni Facebook page (www.facebook. com/barkercollegealumni) and in The Barker magazine. For further queries please contact the Alumni Office.