President's Message
2009 Winter Golf Day - Royal Sydney Golf Club
The Old Boy's Union Winter Golf Day will be held on Friday, 24 July 2009 at RSGC.
For more information and to reserve your place, click here.
Reunions 2009
Reunions will be held in 2009 for years 1959, 1969, 1979, 1989, and 1999. To volunteer to help with organising, please contact Jean at tksobu@kings.edu.au.
A message from the President
Term 1 in 2009 commenced for the Old Boys’ Union with its Annual Dinner in the Trophy Room, and Commen Day celebrations on the following Sunday.
As you might recall Friday, 6 February was a very hot day in Sydney so the Old Boys who played in the Golf Day at Oatlands, prior to the dinner, endured difficult conditions. Due to the weather we also amended the format for the dinner by moving the Headmaster’s welcome drinks to the air conditioned Trophy Room instead of the sandstone quadrangle outside the Head’s office.
Some 95 old boys, fathers of 2008 school leavers and guests attended the dinner to hear the Chairman of School Council, the Rev Martin Robinson and the Honourable John Anderson (74) speak. Those present enjoyed Beef Wellington washed down with 2007 Torbreck Shiraz. Rev Robinson provided members of the Union with a timely and informative update on the state of the School. It is always very pleasing to see the Chairman of Council attend Old Boys’ Union functions and my thanks to him on behalf of Old Boys for his work for the School generally and for giving his time to attend the Dinner.
After dinner John Anderson regaled us with witty stories about his time in politics and of a number of characters from both sides of the Canberra political spectrum. However, his speech was not all humorous. It had a serious side with some very thought provoking comments about September 11 and the initiatives, with which he was intimately involved, relating to the Northern Territory intervention. We were also joined at the Dinner by two other old boy colleagues of John’s from the National Party, John Sharp (72) and Ian Slack-Smith (64), who served in the Federal and State Parliaments respectively. Having people of this calibre at the Dinner demonstrates the style of leaders The King’s School can and does produce, and how important is its capacity to influence society. My thanks to John for his address.
The Old Boys’ Dinner was also attended by two teaching staff members who have joined the Old Boys’ Union, Rev Stephen Edwards, the School Chaplin and Mrs Babs Helleman, the Head of English. The Committee of the Old Boys’ Union is very pleased that teaching staff are joining the Old Boys’ Union as non-voting members and participating in its events. The Head of Music, Mr Barry Warmsley, has also joined the Union. We look forward to other members of the Common Room joining the OBU.
The Dinner was also a time for a little “back slapping”, by the Headmaster. Dr Hawkes proudly announced the School’s very high place in the academic stakes for 2008. It was the school’s best result in academic terms since 1978. Additionally, the academic performance topped off what had been a wonderful year for the School, winning the GPS Rugby Championship (which it also did in 1978), two very successful drama productions, Oliver and Ross, a win in the GPS Athletics Championship and a win for the 2nd XI Cricket. Dr Hawkes has set a very high bar for 2009, but the School has started very positively, with wins in the GPS Swimming, the GPS Tennis 1st and 2nd, the 2nd XI Cricket (back to back results for them) and the 3rd and 4th IVs at the Head of the River. The School has also staged the Gondoliers produced by John Haigh.
I’m sure all who attended the Dinner enjoyed it immensely.
On the following Sunday, another very hot day, it was apparent the age of some old boys is beginning to show. The Old Boys’ Union lost the cricket and the tennis against the School but still prevailed in basketball, and, as a result the old boys have lost the Kurrle Cup to the School for the first time in a number of years. I can assure you that we will be trying our best again to win the trophy back in early 2010. The Union entertained Old Boys, their families, the players and their parents for lunch in the Trophy Room and for drinks after the cricket in the Thomas Pavilion.
My thanks to Dr Hawkes and Julie Wright and their staff for their hospitality in relation to both events.
Early in the next term the Old Boys’ Union will be entertaining the members of those winning GPS teams for a celebratory dinner at the Australian Club.
The Old Boys’ Union also conducted Careers Night for the boys to assist them with their career paths. My thanks to all Old Boys, parents and Mr Mick Gordon of the School, who participated in that night.
In Term 2 we have the Current Parent Old Boys’ Dinner. This will be the second dinner, it having been launched last year and we hope it will be a success once again. I would encourage those Old Boys who have sons at the School to put the date in your diary and, of course, partners of Old Boys are most welcome at the Dinner. It will take place on 20 June after the rugby match.
Recently the Committee of the Old Boys’ Union was fortunate enough to be invited by Dr Hawkes to attend dinner with members of staff who had been at The King’s School for more than 20 years. It was a great pleasure to be involved in recognising the achievement of these very special members of the teaching staff. As I said on the night, during my address, the fact that there are so many members of staff in this category, some of whom have been at the School nearly 30 years, says something very positive about the staff, the School as an employer and the boys who attend. Once again on behalf of the Old Boys my congratulations and thanks to those very long standing members of staff, individually and collectively, for their contributions.
Again this year we have a number of reunions set to take place, which will culminate with the Homecoming Weekend at the school for the home rugby match Saturday, 29 August, where, as usual, the Old Boys’ Union will be hosting its hospitality tent adjacent to the JS White Oval. I look forward to seeing as many of you there as possible on that day. If you have not seen the White Oval since its renovations, I suggest you come along to view it. The late Jim White would be very proud.
Finally in closing, my best wishes to all old boys and their families and I look forward to seeing you around the School in Terms 2, 3 and 4 in 2009.
The King's School Old Boys Football Club (KOBFC)
The 2008 season report by Mr Elliot Nuberg (06) can be found here. Congratulations to the Club for a very successful second year. For more information, visit the KOBFC website at www.kobfc.com.au.
The King's School Rowing Club - "Learn to Row" Program
The OBU is pleased to support The King’s School Rowing Club's proposal to conduct a fundraising program called “Learn to Row”.
The concept is that anyone interested in rowing (young and old, male or female, amateur and first-timer) would be invited to pay $250 ($200 of which is tax deductible) for six weeks instruction. The funds collected will be devoted to refurbishing some of the older boats in the rowing shed.
For more information, contact Bryce McNair at brycemcnair@bigpond.com or click here.
The King's School Old Boys' Rugby Club
The 2008 Report from Club President Mr Peter Whittington (97) can be found here. Congratulations to the Club for a very successful year.
Annual Report
Members can now download the 2008 Annual Report here.
Grant Bonner (78)
President
If you have any comments or wish to contribute to the website, please contact tksobu@kings.edu.au.
Diary dates
2009 Golf Day, Royal Sydney Golf Club
Friday, 24 July 2009
Homecoming
Saturday, 29 August 2009
King's v St Joseph's College
For further information on the above events see the Events & Reunions page.