Alumni

From Launceston Church Grammar School’s earliest days, we have been committed to providing excellent education opportunities for students. During the first four week of our 175^th year, we have held true to this in a myriad of ways.

Advances with Aviation

On 12 February, a new and inspiring Aviation space was opened at the Senior Campus. The space includes a dedicated workshop for the build of an RV-12 Vans Aircraft and drones. An advanced flight simulator room houses six connected simulators to allow students to apply the theory they have learned and to see how Science and Mathematics comes together in the context of aviation. Alumni who visit the Aviation space have remembered fondly having woodwork or art classes in the space and I am sure future generations of students will look on their aviation studies with similar fondness.

With notable alumni including Sir Wilmot Hudson Fysh, co-founder of Qantas, David Warren, creator of the black box flight recorder, and Victor and Ivan Holyman, co-founders of Holyman’s Airlines, later to become part of Australian National Airlines and Ansett-ANA, aviation is very much a part of the School’s heritage, and now its future.

Scholarship Opportunities

Young people from across Tasmania and beyond who are interested in aviation are encouraged to consider applying for an Aviation Scholarship for 2022. Scholarship applications close on 1 March 2021 and extend beyond Aviation to include other areas such as Entrepreneurship, Music, Visual Arts, Drama, Dance, Public Speaking and Debating to name a few. Applications for scholarships are open to students from Grade 4 to Grade 11 and further information is available on our Scholarships page. I encourage you to share this information with friends and family who might not be aware that the closing dates for day and boarding scholarships is quite early in the school year.

Alumni Artist Ryllton Viney

An equally exciting and heart-warming event was the opening of Poimena Gallery’s first exhibition for 2021, The Sorrow of Black The Silence of White 1970-2020. On display until 4 March is a collection of close to one hundred pieces of art by Rylton Viney, a former student, staff member and esteemed artist. With exhibitions continuing to be held throughout the year in Poimena, I hope all alumni might able to come along to at least one gallery opening in 2021. A programme outlining the Poimena Gallery exhibitions for 2021 can be found on our Performing and Creative Arts page.

Pavilion Renewal

The Sir Gordon Rolph Memorial Pavilion was opened in 1961 by Robert Menzies and over the last sixty years has served our cricket and football teams well. To ensure the Pavilion continues to be fit for purpose for another sixty years, the space will be renewed over the next two months. The history of Cricket and Football at the School will continue to be on display in the space and a scorer’s table will be made from the old floorboards which are being replaced as decades of studded shoes has worn them down. The rear end of the building is where the majority of work will occur so that change rooms lead on to separate toilets and showers for each team and visitor toilets are separate from student facilities. As plans for the renewal have been developed there has been consultation with staff, students and alumni and when the 1^st XI Cricket team were recently shown the final plans there was significant enthusiasm for the work that will be undertaken over the coming weeks.

Sporting Success

While a large focus of our sports programme is on helping students learn how to be healthy throughout their life, many of our students have been excelling individually and collectively. Our 1^st XI Cricketers have won the first three games of the season and have defeated St Patrick’s, Hutchins and Guilford Young. This weekend (Saturday 27 February) the 1^st XI play Scotch Oakburn at Launceston Grammar with the game starting at 10:00am.

Student involvement in rowing continues to grow and alumni are invited to attend the Head of the River at Lake Barrington on Saturday 13 March. Our rowing crews are to be congratulated on their recent performance at the Launceston and Henley Regatta where, despite some windy conditions, our crews were awarded trophies for winning Division 1 in the U14, U15, U16 and coxed quad scull events. Students also won the U19 mens quad and double and U19 womens quad at the State Championships last week with the School also being awarded the Schools’ Pennant for the 2020-21 season.

For some of our student’s football training is already underway and Kara Hennessy and Zoe Bourne are to be commended for their selection in the Tasmanian Devils football team.

All students at the School have participated this term in House Swimming Carnivals with Wilkinson House winning the day at the Senior Campus and Lyttleton-Hewton winning the day at the Junior Campus. Students are fortunate to have two mornings a week to attend the School’s indoor heated swimming pool for general fitness, intensive carnival training or team recovery sessions.

Beyond the Classroom

Already this year, Grade 7 have had their first Outdoor Education trip to Hanleth where I was impressed by how quickly students had made new connections and were bravely embracing the challenges that are part of Launceston Grammar’s outdoor education programme. It has also been great to see Grade 3 designing and making in the Technology Centre, Grade 5 out at a robotic dairy as part of their unit of inquiry on how the production of commodities drives human consumption, Grade 6 participating in a special team building walk and Grade 12 Agriculture students observing a Southern Systems plant trial at Cressy. As a School we are committed to leveraging the unique opportunities which are possible from our location in Northern Tasmania and I am grateful that staff continue to seek out new ways for this to occur.

Grade 12 Walkathon

For the School’s 58^th Walkathon, Grade 12 have chosen to focus their awareness and fundraising efforts on the Cancer Council. As a grade, cancer has had a significant impact on them and I look forward to seeing the whole School community learn more together about how we can support individuals and families through the pain and loss cancer brings to communities. If you are in Launceston, Grade 12’s first fundraising events is the Acoustic Night held this Friday night at 5:30pm in the Quad at the Senior Campus. Food and drinks will be available and tickets ($5 child / $10 adult) are available at the gates. If you are in Launceston and looking for a relaxed and inspiring evening, do come along and support a great cause and wonderful students.

Alumni Reunions

A lockdown in Western Australia during February prevented the reunion scheduled for February going ahead. This was disappointing given close to thirty people had registered to attend. The Western Australia Reunion has been rescheduled for Friday 19 March and I look forward to attending with Mr Ben Clark from the Community Engagement Team. Bookings can be made for this event by contacting Brian Coogan (briancoogan47@gmail.com or 0417171092).  In early June we are also planning reunions for Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra alumni and we look forward to sharing more detail around these events closer to the day.

175^th Anniversary Events

If you have not already visited the 175 Anniversary page on the School’s website dedicated to the School’s 175^th anniversary, I encourage you to have a look . Recently, a number of the key events scheduled for June were added to the page. Please check out what is planned during 2021 on our School Calendar page and put some of the key dates in your diary now, particularly the Generation Breakfast (18 May), Melbourne Reunion (11 June), 175 Cocktail Gala (19 June), Founders’ Day Service (20 June).

Richard Ford
Headmaster

I trust your year is off to a terrific start!

The first few weeks of the term have been very hectic as the students get back into the swing of the school routine, and I would like to congratulate Mrs Jessica Kernan on her appointment as Acting Head of the Junior Campus, Jess’s enthusiasm and dedication to the school and students is truly amazing and I wish her well for the year ahead.

A couple of weeks ago we had the annual Fun and Food Festival at the Junior Campus. The weather was superb and the event was extremely well attended. I would like to thank the school’s Community Engagement Team – Events Officer Miss Zoe Vandervelde for coordinating the event this year on behalf of the OLA.

Once again the OLA Committee held a barbecue for Grade 12 leavers on the Senior Campus in December 2020. Thank you to committee members whom were able to attend, I know the students appreciated it!

On the occasion of his retirement from the School board, I would like to acknowledge and thank long serving OLA appointed Board member Mr Tim Breward. Tim’s dedication and commitment to the school has been exemplary, Tim’s wealth of knowledge on all things financial has seen the school go from financial strength to strength. Thank you, Tim for your service.

I would also like to take this opportunity to acknowledge and welcome Ms Eliza Jones to the OLA Committee in the role as Hon Secretary. Eliza graduated in the  Class of ’82, her son graduated year before last and her daughter Laura is currently in  Grade 10. Eliza’s father went to Launceston Grammar and her great uncle was HV Jones whom was Headmaster during the 1940s. Thank you, Eliza.

All the best for the year ahead.

Simon Wood
OLA President

As we look forward to a new year with exciting events planned for the 175^th celebration.

This is an opportunity for Broadland old girls to write a little story about the time they spent at

School now the junior campus. A wonderful opportunity to tell everyone about our old school, the good the bad and the fun times we spent there.  Come on old girls let’s start by telling every one of our times spent at Broadland.

Some of our classrooms are no longer at the junior campus but now sit at the senior campus, we can remember our Hall the daily assembly’s with the reading of those dreaded detentions. This building is now used for the rowers. One cannot forget the Dog Boxes, where it was either cold or hot depending on the weather, these are used for storage with students today amazed they were once our classrooms.  Who can remember standing on the domestic science building veranda at lunchtime hoping to see a Scotch College boy walk along the pavement?

Our fundraiser for this year is the amenities at Broadland Park, which are desperate for an upgrade, so Let’s Love a Loo at Broadland Park.

We need at Broadland Park a loo or two

So Broadland Old Girls we are asking you

To raise some money for at least one loo

We are asking for dollars, just a few,

If every old girl gave a dollar or two

It wouldn’t take long to build a loo

At Broadland Park it’s all good news

What is missing are the Loo’s

Where students are taught

And like to play sport

So let’s do our best and always play the game

Maybe you’d like a loo sporting your name.

We are asking all old girls to look through the cupboards for any photos, paper cuttings or school clothing for the Broadland Archives.

Remember the date for Lyttleton Street Chapter Luncheon is Wednesday 10 March, 2021.

Rosemary Stobart
President

The Headmaster, Mr Richard Ford and Acting Head of Junior Campus, Mrs Jessica Kernan, warmly invite Broadland House old girls to attend a light luncheon and drinks.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Wednesday 10 March, 2021
Time: 11:15am – Tour of Junior Campus, 12:30pm Luncheon in Faulkner Centre
Venue: Faulkner Centre, Junior Campus 10 Lyttleton Street, East Launceston
RSVP: Wednesday 3 March, 2021
Contact: Events Officer, Zoe Vandervelde – Ph 03 6336 6060 E ZVandervelde@lcgs.tas.edu.au

The Headmaster, Mr Richard Ford, warmly invites Launceston Grammar old boys to attend a light luncheon and drinks.

EVENT DETAILS

Date: Tuesday 30 March, 2021
Time: 10:55am – Easter Service in Chapel; 11:30am Group Photograph; 12:15pm Luncheon in the Dining Hall
Venue: Launceston Church Grammar School Senior Campus, 36 Button Street Mowbray Heights
RSVP: Tuesday 23 March, 2021
Contact: Events Officer, Zoe Vandervelde – Ph 03 6336 6060 E ZVandervelde@lcgs.tas.edu.au

Guests are invited to wear the Elizabeth Street Chapter tie to this event.

This year’s inductees, the Class of 1970 and 1971, will be presented with one at the luncheon.

Please note there is no cost to attend. Voluntary contributions may be made on the day.

Launceston Grammar is celebrating its 175th Anniversary.

The Sydney Reunion proposed event details are:

• Date: Wednesday 9 June, 2021

The Canberra Reunion proposed event details are:

• Date: Thursday 10 June, 2021

Register your interest for the event with Events Officer, Zoe Vandervelde ZVandervelde@lcgs.tas.edu.au

Update your contact details by visiting our Alumni page.

Launceston Grammar is celebrating its 175th Anniversary.

The Melbourne Reunion event details are:

• Date: Friday 11 June, 2021
• Time: 12:30pm
• Venue: The Kelvin Club

Register your interest for the event with Events Officer, Zoe Vandervelde ZVandervelde@lcgs.tas.edu.au

Class of 1991, 2001 and 2006!

If you are interested in contributing to your milestone reunion for 2021, please contact Launceston Grammar Events Officer, Zoe Vandervelde.

CONTACT DETAILS:

• ZVandervelde@lcgs.tas.edu.au
• 03 6336 6060

Alumni Scholarships are open to new and existing students going into Grade 11 in 2022 with a parent, grandparent or near relative who graduated from Launceston Grammar or Broadland House

Applicants are to demonstrate excellence and achievement in at least two of the following fields: Academic; Leadership and Community Service; and Sport.

Applications close this Monday, 1 March 2021.

To find out more and share with your family and friends visit our Scholarships page.

If you are interested in becoming an active member of our alumni community and staying connected, we invite you to get in touch to make sure we have your correct contact details.

We’d love to send you invitations to events and reunions including special events around this year’s 175 year anniversary.

Update your details by visiting our Alumni page.

Launceston Grammar alumnus, James Winter (2019) is attempting to recreate Launceston Grammar in Minecraft across different years.

The project’s main purpose is to provide an educational tool to how the School looked in the past as well as to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the School. The years being worked on are 2020, 2010, 1990, 1960, 1923 and 1847.

James, who has recently started volunteering within the DV Gunn Archives, says he is excited to be undertaking the project, which will be an incredibly valuable resource with students able to see how the School has changed and evolved over the years.

I spent my first six formative school years at the Grammar Preparatory School (High Street) from 1952 to 1957. In the following year I and my family moved to Adelaide, South Australia and I had no further contact with any of my former school mates. Recently, however, following my retirement I have started to reminisce about these times and wonder about those school mates—who were they and what had become of them? But before I continue my story I will detail a few memories of my early schools days.

Whilst living in Launceston we originally lived towards the bottom end of Wentworth Street in Newstead and when I was eight years old we moved over to the adjacent Robin Street.   I used to travel to school along Penquite Road on the tram and then, when a little older, ride on my shiny Malvern Star bike. My teachers during those six years at school were in chronological order, Mrs Sheila Atkinson for kindergarten (1952), Ms B Hall in Form I b, Mrs D M Holloway in Form I a, Miss Barbara McCormack in Form II b, the elderly but experienced Mrs Belle Pennycuick in Form II a, and finally, the headmaster, the Rev Victor Maddick in Form III (Grade 5) in 1957.

Noteworthy events over this period were the visit to Tasmania of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in 1954 (spotted during a brief drive by the School), and the Olympic games in Melbourne in 1956. I was the Captain of Emu House that year and we were all sports mad particularly practising our athletic activities! I also remember quite clearly a bruising fist fight with one of my school mates early before school started —we both finished up with two black eyes (much to my Mothers dismay!). I can’t remember what it was all about—perhaps an infrigement over marbles.

My best friend at school was Richard Jones who lived down the hill on Wentworth Street—we used to spend much time playing together after school. Richard later went on to finish his schooling at Scotch College. Other good school mates were Christopher Barratt, Dennis Butler and Timothy Calver. I also remember attending parties for Anthony Allingham, Beaumont Grubb (on his property near Launceston on Guy Fawkes night), John Gunn, Randell Askerland and Terry Rowbottom. Other class members I remember were Neil McKinnon, Paul Gatenby and Phillip Page.

In recent years I have had much pleasure in reconnecting with some of these class mates and with each it is a story in its own right. I have caught up with Richard Jones who manages R A Jones And Company, a carpet manufacturer and wholesaler at Invermay, Tim Calver, now retired, who lives in Adelaide and reminds me that he was head of the Wallaby House and head boy in 1957. I have also met  Colin Denny who was in my year but but attended the Mowbray campus –he is currently Director of Maritime Heritage Projects in Hobart. We met by chance when we were on a cruise together circumnavigating New Guinea two years ago. Finally, in a strange coincidence, both Paul Gatenby and I have pursued a similar career on the mainland in Clinical Immunology and Immunopathology and frequently meet at academic meetings.

I believe we were all most fortunate to attend Little Grammar at the time we did and to receive a great start to our education. And to all of those early dedicated and talented teachers we express our grateful thanks and salute them as a great exponent of their profession.

Note:

Peter Roberts-Thomson went on to complete his education at Kings College, Adelaide. He graduated in medicine from the University of Adelaide, spent the next 4 years at Oxford University and  then a further 18 months in Dallas, Texas.  He then settled back in Adelaide where he practised his speciality of clinical immunolgy for over 40 years. He married Lesley Holton who was his first ward sister and had three daughters. He now has 6 grandchildren and is looking forward to introducing them to the joys of bushwalking in the Tasmanian wilderness.

With my best wishes

Peter Roberts-Thomson

On Thursday 3 February it was the turn of the Open Grade team to kick off their Pennant season against a very strong North Esk team.

Launceston Grammar alumnus, Paul Richards stepped in for the singles and the East players put in an excellent performance by winning seven of the eight games. Paul has written a book entitled The Croquet Player Observations on the Game.

Paul says, ‘During the past three years since my introduction to the game of croquet I have made several observations about the game and the strategic power play which leads to an accomplished player in Golf Croquet’.