The High Bulletin

The magazine of Highs Old Boys

Volume 53 No 3
September 2008
Print Post Approved
236697 - 00002
Published by Sydney High
School Old Boys Union Inc
Patrons: James Wolfensohn
and Lord Robert May
President: Joseph Waugh
Secretary: Colin Sherwood
Treasurer: Kenneth Clemens
Editor: William Clegg
(02) 9907 2856
+612 9907 2856
PO Box 1546
DARLINGHURST NSW 1300
AUSTRALIA
www.shsobu.org.au

In this issue:
2 - A rugby crisis?
8 - Jottings
10 - Post 1945 honour rolls
11 - Feedback
14 - Support Cutler Charities
18 - Rhodes Scholars
19 - Media mentions
22- Reunions and other notices
24 - Obituaries
26 - Winter sports results

Prime Minister Harold Holt (not an Old Boy) visits the 1967 OBU
Foundation Dinner at the Doncaster Theatre Restaurant.

Make it a memorable night

The 125th Anniversary Cabaret gives Old Boys the
opportunity to get together and celebrate 125 years of the
unique institution that is Sydney High.
Our hosts will be Jessica Rowe and Jack Singleton (1990)
and performers will include Little Pattie.
So why not organise a table and come along on 21
November 2008? The Shannon Room at the AJC Function
Centre, Randwick Racecourse is the venue for what
promises to be a memorable night.
Details and booking form can be found on the back page.

A rugby crisis?
Many Old Boys have been dismayed by the Headmaster's decision to withdraw
the 1st XV from the GPS first grade competition in 2008 and 2009.
The Headmaster, Dr Jaggar, made the decision to withdraw after the first match
of the season, against St Joseph's College, ended in a 0-112 defeat.
In a statement issued on 22 August 2008, Dr Jaggar said that after seeking advice
and briefings from relevant parties:
... I held a meeting with the senior rugby group. For reasons of duty of care
and discipline, I told them that, depending on their training and physical
preparation, we might have to forfeit the Riverview 1st XV game and that,
thereafter I would decide at what level they would participate for the rest of
the season. I stipulated that during the July holidays and in the first week of
Term 3, 18 adequately signed logbooks, representing three weeks of
appropriate preparation, needed to be produced for the team to face a
Riverview 1st XV. Mr Scrivener's records did not indicate that sufficient
boys had done the training required by the first Wednesday of Term 3.
Consequently, I took the decision to withdraw High from the GPS
competition in first and second grade and to seek more competitive fixtures.
The 1st XV subsequently played other GPS grade teams, ending the season with
a match against the Sydney Grammar School 1st XV.
Messages of support for the teams and the School have come from Old Boys of
Sydney High and the other GPS schools.
The structural problem of mismatches at first grade level of the GPS Rugby
competition remains generally unresolved. As a temporary measure for 2009 only,
Dr Jaggar and Dr Vallance (Headmaster of Grammar), after a joint meeting with
Masters-in-charge of Rugby and Heads of Sport, have agreed that Grammar and
High will share rugby fixtures and follow the Grammar draw for home and away
fixtures. All schools except High and Grammar will have a rugby bye round.
In the age groups 13-16, Grammar will field A, C and E teams and High will field
B, D and F teams against the four largest rugby schools (Kings, St Ignatius,
Shore and St Josephs). In the open grades, Grammar will play 1st and 2nd grade,
and High will play 3rds against Kings, St Ignatius, Shore and St Josephs. By
agreement with the Sports Masters at Scots, Newington and Grammar, there will
2

Members of the 2008 1st XV after the last match of the season, against the Sydney
Grammar School 1st XV. Many Old Boys attended to show their support.

be flexibility in some fixtures for rounds 5, 6 and 7 so that, depending on the

strength of our 1st XV, High may play more than one GPS fixture at first grade
level. This can be achieved by High playing at 1st or 2nd grade level against the
school that has the bye round when they would otherwise be scheduled to play
High. The High v Grammar 1st grade match will take place as usual in the last
round of the competition.
All other sports, including Association Football will be unaffected by this temporary
arrangement. The details of the agreement were approved at a meeting of the
AAGPS in August. The GPS Headmasters will be having further discussions
about the future structure of the GPS Rugby Competition.

A rugby crisis? ...

This arrangement does not impact upon High's status as a GPS school. Mark
Gainford, the current Honorary Secretary of the AAGPS, has stated:
I wish to assure all interested parties that current arrangements for High
Rugby, and those set down for next year, are strictly temporary. The reasons
for next year's arrangements include concerns of duty of care in poorly
matched encounters, but are also related to the difficulty of arranging
matches for the boys at larger schools when they are matched against High
and Grammar.
The key point is that the other member schools of the AAGPS are totally
supportive of High's plans to rejoin the competitions in first and second
grade Rugby as soon as possible, and are doing everything within their
power to bring it about.
President of the OBU, Joseph Waugh (1987) has also moved to reassure Old
Boys that High's GPS status is not under threat:
My time as President of the School Council and, now, as President of the
OBU has brought me into contact, on numerous occasions, with the GPS
Headmasters, Chairs of the GPS School Councils, and presidents and
delegates of the GPS OBUs. There is no question of their strong commitment
to a GPS that includes Sydney High School. This position comes not just
from a respect for tradition, but also from a genuine fellowship and respect
for us as the representative of the State system of education.
Old Boys have been quick to identify several causes of the crisis in High rugby,
including the Department of Education's academic selection policy and the inability
of the School to make Saturday sport compulsory. The future, however, is by no
means bleak and some changes are already taking place.
The problems have been addressed to an extent by allowing 20 additional boys to
enrol in Year 9 on extended selection criteria that consider, amongst other things,
family connections and the contribution each boy can make to the Schools sporting
and extra curricular programs. The extended enrolment policy has been in place
for a number of years. However, before last year, it applied principally to Year 11
entrants. Entry in Year 9 will allow new enrolments to build their involvement in
school activities over two more years.

The Headmaster reports that

participation in sport is already at a high
level. In summer, 77.5% of the students
engaged in a competitive team sport with
a Saturday or weekend component. In
winter 85% of those registered played a
winter sport. In rugby, this year, there
were 156 players in ages 13-16 and 255
players in Association Football (Soccer).
In the open competitions, 32 boys played
rugby, 79 played football and 21 played
volleyball.
There is evidence that the skills and
resistance training regime that has been
rolled out at the School over the last few
years is gradually paying off. The 16A
XV have been extremely competitive in
their competition this year, defeating
Newington to record High's first win in
a proper A vs A match for many years. Musketeers of the mud, 1939.
Mark Gainford has drawn attention to the apparent resurgence of rugby in the
junior years:
The fact that we have four 13s teams for the first time in at least ten years,
together with the success of the current 16As, and the ever-changing
demographic, bode well for the future.
As the School prepares for the 2009 season, the Chairman of the Schools Rugby
Committee, Geoff Andrews (1964) has undertaken to keep the OBU informed of
developments. The OBU Executive Council stands ready to support the process
of getting High rugby back on track.
In the meantime, Old Boys can provide financial support for the Schools rugby
program. Contributions to equipment and training programs can be made through
tax deductible donations to the Australian Sports Foundation which has been
established by the Australian Government to assist organisations to raise funds
through public and corporate donations for the development of sport. Details are
available by clicking on donations on the left-hand menu on the School's website:
http://www.sydneyboyshigh.com

A rugby crisis? ...

Old Boy views
A selection from the comment section of our website:
Arron Mann (1991):
SHS has always been a showcase of all things educational, whether it be academic,
sport, or the arts, but it appears the balance is now lost.
The NSW Education System has Selective High Schools, and it also has Sports
High Schools, so why cant SHS be both? The best of the best. As recently as the
90s we had students representing Australian School Boys in rugby who were also
gaining Uni entry. Shouldnt the aim of the School be to produce well-rounded
young men who can excel in a range of things, instead of aiming to produce onetrick ponies ?
Personally, my career and personal life have seen more benefits from what I learnt
in sport at SHS, than I did in the class room.
Luke Mann (1994):
High has not always been the best at rugby but every time someone was selected
for the 1st XV or 2nd XV they were filled with pride and played their hearts out.
Natural talent is not the key dimension in schoolboy rugby though helpful. Being
well-drilled, dedicated and having self belief are the fundamental drivers to
competitiveness. These same skills can be applied in life, study, work etc - the
most talented person does not always achieve the best results as those who have
things come easy to them do not always respect the rewards. I would hope, even
with our current crop of pupils, we can build a desire for success in all avenues.
Being a member of the GPS is a privilege that I hope SHS can maintain.
Simon McNamara (1990):
It was only a matter of time before this decision was made. Those of us who have
spent the last few years looking in the cricket scores to see what has been racked
up against us on Saturdays will not be surprised. The question is what is the
School going to do to fix this problem? We have such great facilities, new gyms,
rowing sheds etc; surely we can put together programs to help our rugby players
obtain the required body types they need to play the positions they want? There is
such a great tradition in this School that many are proud of. We need to look at
ways to make sure the students coming into the School understand that the School
is a part of the GPS and provides an all-round education that includes competitive
Saturday sports, whatever they are.
6

While I understand that the School is competitive in other sports and that there is
always a down cycle in rugby ours seems to have been going on for approximately
15 years and the time has come for some decisions to be made. Most Old Boys
can remember the times when we not only had Australian schoolboys but also
Ben Lexcen scholars and boys who were at the same time getting high 90s TER.
Lets look at getting the programs in place to make sure we are providing these
guys with the best training and advice they can get so we can continue to be
competitive in every area of the School and develop these boys into well balanced
young men who are proud of being Sydney High boys.
All of we Old Boys also need to make sure that we remain supportive of our
School and involve ourselves in whatever way we can, so the students can see the
family they are a part of.
Peter Goldman (1948):
As an Old Boy myself, father of an Old Boy and now grandparent of a current
Year 10 student (and disappointed rugby player ) may I compliment Dr Jaggar
and his co-planners on a very courageous and pragmatic solution to the current
rugby problem. I, like many of the current rugby community at the School, certainly
hope that it will only be a very short-lived one and that planning and increased
participation and effort will again allow us to compete fairly, safely and equitably
with other teams.
This day will certainly arrive quicker if other Old Boys and past members of the
School community encourage their families and friends to push for entrance to
the School in subsequent years, even if not successful in Year 7. It is my
understanding that the policy is now towards more balanced selection criteria in
later years subject, of course, to appropriate academic criteria.
Philip Gerber (1972):
Elitism in sport, academics and many other things is killing SHS at both ends.
Most of us are somewhere in the middle of the bell curve and all have something
to offer.
Shame on the private GPS schools for obsessing about their sport.
Shame on SHS and other public selective schools for obsessing about their
academics, arts or other specialisations.
Whats wrong with letting all participate in a range of activities for their childhood
and youth? Let the specialisation and elitism occur in adulthood where it belongs.

Jottings
Karl Murr (2000), who started learning the clarinet at the age of 12 when he
started at Sydney High, graduated from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music
with a Bachelor of Music majoring in performance in 2005. He is now clarinettist
with the Sutherland Shire Symphony Orchestra.
Simon Pyke (1979), who is an Associate Professor at the University of Adelaide,
has been awarded one of the 2008 prizes from the Australian Learning and Teaching
Council (formerly known as the Carrick Institute). The citation reads "For enabling
successful learning in the discipline of organic chemistry by providing a supportive,
student-centred learning environment that fosters self-confidence and independent
learning".
Bruce Pyke (1947) has recently been appointed to the Wyong Shire Senior Citizens
Council.
Gordon Treble (1952) reports that his recent visit to New York coincided with a
New York Old Boys dinner in late July. Gordon and his wife, Lynne, joined five
Old Boys for a great night of fellowship and fun and naturally heaps of stories
(some of them true) from their golden days at High. Christopher Fong (1997)
organised the night at a top Japanese restaurant. Gordon reports that the only sad
part of the evening was the revelation that he was clearly the oldest present since
Jim Wolfensohn (1949) was an apology for the night. The others in attendance
were Richard Waddell (1966), visiting from Melbourne; Kyle Robertson (1999);
Wayne Fu (1996); and David Harvey (1997) with his wife, Lara.
New York Old Boys gatherings occur once a quarter in Manhattan. If you would
like to be added to the New York gatherings list please email Christopher Fong
(1997) - csfong@gmail.com.

Old Boys at the New York gathering on 29 July 2008.

8

Edouard Cousins (2001) has been serving with the Australian Defence Forces in
East Timor. While there, he came into contact with a school in the town of Maliana.
The students in this school were eager to receive an education but lacked basic
resources such as pens, paper and pencils. Edouard recently approached the boys
at School to help out with providing the necessary supplies. Donation boxes were
set up around the School and almost five boxes or 10kg of stationery has now
been sent to East Timor.
Nye Perram (1986) has become the youngest person to be appointed as a Justice
of the Federal Court of Australia. 122 judges have been appointed to the Federal
Court in the 30 years since its foundation in 1977. Seven percent of them attended
Sydney High. The first Old Boy to be appointed was John Gallop (1947) who
served 1978-2000. Peter Jacobson (1961) is currently the only other Old Boy on
the bench of the Federal Court.
Ben Golder (1997) has returned to Sydney to teach law at the University of New
South Wales. Ben graduated from UNSW with a BA (Hons), LLB and was the
University Medallist in Law. He is currently completing doctoral studies at the
University of London, where his research is in the fields of legal theory, continental
philosophy and contemporary national security law. Ben is the author of several
articles on law and legal theory and the author, with Peter Fitzpatrick, of a
forthcoming book, Foucault`s Law.
The School is getting a new electronic noticeboard for the Cleveland Street
frontage. The successful tender for the sign was put in by Simon Biton (1990)
who works with Computronics.
Ian Coyle (1967), who now lives on the Gold Coast, is currently a Visiting
Professorial Fellow in the Centre for Forensic Excellence at Bond University. He
is also one of two medico-legal psychologists appointed to the International
Criminal Court as well as a psychopharmacologist and human factors engineer.
Having completed a BComm/BSc at UNSW, David Goodman (1998) moved to
Canberra to work for the Treasury. He has now returned to Sydney and, as a CFA

Contributions
Contributions to the Bulletin are welcome and may take any form. Items should
be submitted to: editor@shsobu.org.au or Editor, High Bulletin, SHS OBU,
PO Box 1546, DARLINGHURST NSW 1300.
All contributions are submitted on the understanding that publication is at the
editors discretion and may be edited for any reasonable ground including
appropriateness, style and to meet space, layout and legal restrictions.
9

Jottings ...
charterholder, currently heads Westpacs Asset Backed Research team. He is
pleased to count several Old Boys amongst his closest friends.
Noted among the results of this years City to Surf were Hugo Cottier (1987)
with a time of 66:58 minutes; Paul Almond (1981) with 70:27 and Joseph Waugh
(1987) with a comparatively slow 77:40.
Mike Smith (1967) was recently appointed the inaugural Executive Director of
the Asia Pacific Centre for Civil-Military Cooperation, having retired earlier this
year as the CEO of AUSTCARE, a major Australian NGO service provider. Mike
has previously served as a Major General in the Australian Army, most recently
as Deputy Force Commander in East Timor. The new Centre will advise
Government agencies on civil-military coordination and cooperation, including
advice on integrating the civil and military components of operations, capturing
lessons learned from past experience on operations overseas and feeding this into
doctrine and training. Mike has also taken up a position as a senior lecturer at the
Centre for International Security Studies at the University of Sydney.
Aaron Govendir (1959) well-known as a raconteur, bon vivant and card-carrying
pedant has been relocated under the Witless Protection Program to Melbourne.
For details of phone and address contact the OBU.
Stewart Wood (1965) has recently moved to Noosa Heads in Queensland after
16 years in Townsville. He is continuing his consultancy work in the environment
combined with periods of extended travel.

Honour rolls for post-1945 conflicts

Thank you to those Old Boys who have continued to send in nominations for the
honour rolls for post 1945 conflicts. Three new names have been included since
the last issue of the High Bulletin:

Vietnam War
Leslie Norman Francis (1955) Officer Commanding 25 Supply Platoon RAASC,
1968-1969.
John Stuart Frith (1962) HMAS Sydney, 1968.
Leslie Faulks Winton (1961) 4th Field Regiment, Royal Regiment of Australia
Artillery, 1967.
10

Feedback
Chuffed
Barry Jakeman (1969) writes:
I was very surprised and, of course,
delighted to read the latest High Bulletin
and read in Jottings about the honour
bestowed on me - that the Headmaster
was framing my school blazer for display
in the main building, especially alongside
one of the greatest Rugby centres that
High and in fact Australia has ever
produced in Phil Smith (1964). (The
dynamic John Brass (1963) and Phil
Smith were amongst the very best centre
combinations both at High and then the
Barry Jakeman, in 1967, when his
world.)
blazer had fewer lines.
As I have lived in Queensland now for
over 25 years, it has been difficult to keep connected with the OBU other
than as a life member and now, only recently, as the inaugural Queensland
OBU chapter committee member.
When I finished at High in 1969, as School vice captain and as High's only
GPS 1st XV representative that year, I went straight into a building cadetship
with Hornibrooks and worked in each division of the Opera House (then
under construction) while completing a part-time Building Diploma at the
NSW Institute of Technology.
This is ironic as the school captain that year was Alex Tzannes (1969) who
has become a leading award-winning Australian Architect of renown. While
close at school, he and I have never designed and built a project together. (It
may happen one day!)
Anyway, please thank the Headmaster and the School and Ian Toll (1959),
who asked me for my blazer a very long time ago. (I think it was a 69ers
reunion at the School some 25 or 30 years ago.)
I am chuffed.
11

Recipe for success

Ed Ackman (1967) writes:
Thought maybe you'd like to put this pic up in the rowing archive on the
Schools website.
It's my crew, the 7th IV from 1963 (unbelievably 45 years ago!).
The crew is: Alan Nicholas (stroke); Colin Allsop (3); Ed Ackman (2); Ross
Whittle (bow).
The guy in the blazer is our coach, George Miller (1963) who, encouraged
by his success with our mighty crew, went on to create Mad Max with Mel
Gibson, and last year won an Academy Award for his animated movie Happy
Feet.
He's got a lot to thank us for.

7th IV, 1963: George Miller (coach); Alan Nicholas (stroke); Colin Allsop (3);
Ed Ackman (2); Ross Whittle (bow).
12

GPS OBU TIE

Woven exclusively for the GPS OBU Council of NSW, this tie features
the embroidered crests of all nine AAGPS schools, on a tasteful
blue background.
Ideal for job interviews and formal dinners.
Only $40 (includes postage and handling within Australia).
ORDER FORM
(tax invoice)
Sydney High School Old Boys Union Inc ABN 22 652 291 509

Name: .............................................................................
Address: ..........................................................................
................................................................ postcode: ........
Please supply ....... ties at $40 each - total: $.............
Payment by
i.

Cheque

[]

ii.

Visa/Mastercard/Amex

[]

Complete if paying by credit card:

_ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _ | _ _ _ _
Expiry Date: _

_ / _

Name on card: ................................................................

Signature: .......................................................................
Please return to:
SHSOBU
PO Box 1546
DARLINGHURST NSW 1300

Feedback ...
High achievers
David Griffiths (1962) has responded to the High Achievers part of the OBU
website:
It has been drawn to my attention that the list of High Achievers on the web
only includes two University of Wollongong Professors. For the Record
(pun on School magazine name intended) I was appointed Foundation
Professor of Statistics at Wollongong in 1987, and am currently the longestserving Professor at Wollongong.
By the way, I note that the High Achievers list does not include the
Schools Rhodes Scholars. (There is a Rhodes Scholars honour board at the
School which lists our 10 Rhodes Scholars.) When introducing me as the
School Speech night guest speaker in 1977, Headmaster Bob Outterside
introduced me as the School's last (1968) Rhodes Scholar. Of course he
meant most recent. Nevertheless, it looked for a long while that his
statement might be prophetic! Fortunately, Anthony Abrahams (1991) came
along and won an Australia-at-large Rhodes Scholarship in 1998. I do still
remain the most recent NSW Rhodes Scholar, but I hope that this will change
sooner rather than later.
While tennis is my (only) current sport, at School and beyond my principal
sporting skill and success was in rugby. So, I am disappointed at the
continuing difficulty that High has in fielding GPS teams, especially a 1st
XV. I would argue, however, that the world has changed, and the School has
changed with it. Even if todays students cant have a shot at winning the
GPS Rugby premiership (which they did indeed win the year after I left
High - aided by presumably the best centre pairing the School ever had, John
Brass (1963) and Phil Smith (1964)), there are many other opportunities in
scholarship and extracurricular activities, including community service and
wider sports offerings. So, I am not one of those who see this all as gloom
and doom.
The Schools Rhodes Scholars are now listed on the OBU website:
http://www.shsobu.org.au/rhodes.

17

Sydney Highs
Rhodes Scholars
Rhodes Scholarships were created under
the will of Cecil John Rhodes, the British
colonial pioneer and statesman, who
died in 1902.
Selection for a Rhodes Scholarship is
based on qualities of character as well
as on intellect. Rhodes hoped that the
Scholarships, for residence at Oxford
University, would educate future leaders
of the English-speaking world.
In the more than 100 years since a
Rhodes Scholarship was first awarded
in NSW in 1904, 10 recipients have
attended Sydney High.
Ethelbert Ambrook Southee (SHS: left E A Southee, the Schools first Rhodes
Scholar.
1907). Awarded in 1913.
Raymond Newton Kershaw (SHS: 1911-1914). Awarded in 1918.
Arthur Wesley Wheen (SHS: 1911-1914). Awarded in 1919.
Alan Stewart Watt (SHS: 1914-1918). Awarded in 1921.
Ian Matheson Edwards (SHS: 1919). Awarded in 1929.
Alan David Ker Stout (SHS: 1946-1947). Awarded in 1955.
John Maxwell Bailey (SHS: 1947-1951). Awarded in 1957.
Ian William Dawes (SHS: 1957-1961). Awarded in 1966.
David Atherton Griffiths (SHS: 1958-1962). Awarded in 1968.
Anthony David Ross Abrahams (SHS: 1986-1991). Awarded in 1998.

18

Media mentions
Shades of brilliance
The June edition of The Australians Wish Magazine included an article about
Rodney Grunseit (1987) and his business Sunshades Eyewear which his mother,
Betty, founded in a North Bondi pharmacy in 1969:
.... Grunseit, 38, joined the business 15 years ago, when mother and son
embarked on an ambitious plan to transform Sunshades Eyewear into a
manufacturer and distributor of high-fashion eyewear. Now its the largest
privately owned Australian eyewear company in the country, with 106 staff
selling 1.5 million sunglasses and optical frames each year and generating
more than $25 million. ...
Grunseit, who is also president of the Sunglass Association of Australia, says
his biggest challenge for the next few years is managing that growth. Weve
grown fivefold in seven years and managing that requires a certain
discipline, he says. Its an ongoing cycle and changing so quickly that you
always have to be on your toes.
When asked if hes ever considered selling out, his answer is considered: I
cant say that if an obscene offer came my way it would not pique my
interest. However, under normal circumstances I wouldnt consider selling
because Im having too much fun. Ive inherited Mums passion for the
business.

Crossing over
In the Sydney Morning Herald of 28 August 2008, playwright Louis Nowra
contributed a piece on the changing nature of Kings Cross with a growing number
of professionals having moved into the area. One interview was with Keith Best
(1961), better known as entertainer Ayesha Kazan:
Original Les Girl Ayesha Kazan fell in love with Kings Cross as a teenage
boy walking to piano classes at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in the
50s. I took a detour and caught the tram to Taylor Square, says Kazan, 64.
I walked down and all of a sudden there was the Cross. I thought, this is
fascinating. I like this. It was bohemian and there weren't junkies lurking
about.
Kazan, then Keith Best, kept this bohemia in mind through the years at
19

Media mentions ...

Sydney Boys High School and teacher's college in Newcastle. Monique St
John and I would come down to Sydney on weekends when we were in
Newcastle and do the rounds......
She and fellow Les Girl St John moved to the Cross in 1966 when Kazan
scored a gig in a new all-male revue called Les Girls, now the nation's most
well-known drag show. Times were heady. We would finish work about
11.30pm and go to a coffee shop like Sweethearts - if it was open late, we'd
be there. Wed go to a nightclub and be out all night, staggering home in the
daylight as the young ones still do, apparently.
Although Kazan has watched the area transform with influxes of drugs and
outflows of artists, shops and older characters - time is the enemy, of
course - she has no issue with the latest changes. ...
Still, Kazan laments some losses. Its a shame there's not the glamour, she
says. In the 1960s, the Cross was glamorous - everybody used to dress up.
Even if we were going to visit another club wed throw on an evening gown
to walk across the road. I don't believe what some of these girls wear these
days.

The man to know in the good times

The Sydney Morning Herald of 23 August 2008 included a piece on Phil Green
(1972), the former Chief Executive of the investment house, Babcock and Brown:
Phil Green has never enjoyed the limelight attached to running what was,
until this year at least, a wildly successful investment house.
But now that Babcock & Brown is fighting for its life and Green is no longer
chief executive, whatever relief he might have felt about escaping public
glare will be tempered by a permanent association with the worst excesses of
the bull market.
Green, who is said to be devastated by what has happened, will be
remembered as one of the main beneficiaries of the good times. He made a
lot of money, for himself and for investors, but he did so when there was
plenty around. When the winds changed, he barely lasted one year of the
credit crisis.

20

Green grew up in Maroubra, but now lives in the executive enclave of Point
Piper. He went to Sydney Boys High before making the well-worn
progression up Anzac Parade to the University of NSW, where he studied
commerce and law.
His first break came when he got a job at Arthur Andersen, then a breeding
ground for some of the creative giants of the accountancy trade.
In the 1980s the young tax lawyer turned his hand to leveraged leasing - a
highly profitable business that, in essence, involves sitting in the middle
when companies want to hire large pieces of equipment - such as airlines
leasing aeroplanes.
A sharp-witted knockabout, Green enjoys links to some of the country's
richest families. The Packers, Lowys, Libermans and Pratts all bought into
Babcock's $5-a-share float in 2004. ...
As for Green, whose open-necked shirts typefied the informal ways of
Babcock & Brown's headquarters in Sydney's Chifley Tower, he has already
vacated the chief executive's office and will take a holiday before he works
out what to do next.

21

Reunions and other notices

Rifle Club
The Rifle Club will be holding a 125th Anniversary dinner on 13 December 2008.
Details: Sam Kremer (1992) treasurer@shsrc.org.au

Calling Gold Coast Old Boys

Philip Morris (1967) is interested in arranging a meal (lunch or dinner) for Old
Boys living in and around the Gold Coast as a first step to getting people living in
that region together. Old Boys interested in attending a get-together in the Gold
Coast should register their interest with Philip: pmorris@iprimus.com.au

Adelaide Get-Together
Old Boys interested in attending a get-together in Adelaide should register their
interest with John Thornton (1961): John.Thornton@unisa.edu.au

Brisbane lunch
The annual Brisbane lunch has been booked for Saturday 1 November 2008 at 12
noon at The Vietnamese Restaurant, Fortitude Valley (same venue as last year).
BYO and around $28 per head for a full banquet.
Please confirm your attendance and bring other Old Boys for this, our second,
annual lunch in Brisbane.
Contact: Barry Jakeman (1969) on bjakeman@globalmanagement.com.au,
07 3236 9000 (w) , 0411 753 697 (mob), 07 3374 2404 (h) .

Class of 1968
Reunion dinner, Friday, 21 November 2008 at 7:00pm at the Tattersalls Club, 181
Elizabeth Street, Sydney. For further details and bookings, contact Geoff Glover
(1968): geoffreyg@g-g.com.au, (02) 9299 5250

22

SHS Sailing Association

Old Boys are invited to join the Sydney High School Sailing Association and to
access High's fleet of Pacers, Lasers and Opties, located at Woollahra Sailing
Club in Rose Bay. Membership of SHSSA Inc entitles sailors to apply for YA
membership. For racers, social sailors or beginners wanting to have a go, SHSSA
is a convenient entry point into the sport. For just $20 membership fee and $20
per annum in dues, SHSSA is great value.
Contact President Adam South for details: Office Phone: (02) 9371 9805; Mobile:
0402 886 836; sail@woollahrasailingclub.org.au

London group - expressions of interest

We are looking for any Old Boys interested in establishing or being part of a
London group. Please contact secretary@shsobu.org.au

Cadet history
The Cadet Unit is planning to publish a pictorial commemorative booklet to
celebrate 125 years since the formation of a corps at Sydney High in 1883. Any
Old BVoys with images to contribute can send them direct to Will Clegg (2005):
editor@shsobu.org.au, 0404 312 290. Arrangements can also be made for copying
for those without access to scanners.

Advertise in the High Bulletin

Want to expose your business to 3000 Old Boys and the current
parents of Sydney High?
Then advertise in the next High Bulletin.
Contact: editor@shsobu.org.au
Various sizes of advertisement are available and all revenue helps
support the Unions continued operations.
Even if you only gained one new client from the ad,
it would be worth it!
23

Obituaries
Alexander Dandie (1929) died on 9 January 2008. Alexander was a member of
the 2/30th Battalion which served in Malaya and Singapore during World War II.
Jim was among the first Australian troops to face the Japanese advance into north
Malaya in January 1942 at Gemencheh Bridge. After the fall of Singapore, Jim
was sent with 50 other Prisoners of War as "J" Force to work on Japanese wharves
and in mines. "J" Force departed Singapore in May 1943 on board the "Wales
Maru". The boat took 23 days to reach Japan and during the trip the convoy was
attacked by Allied forces.
Alexander related the story of J Force in his book, The Story of "J" Force which
he published in 1985.
James Prior ("Jim") Walshe (1936) died on 12 June 2008. While at High, Jim
had to help with his father's milk run, his father, Danny, having been injured in
World War I. He would rise at 3am, eat a rushed breakfast, walk a couple of
kilometres to the depot at Bondi Junction, saddle the horse, load the milk and trot
to North Bondi. At 8am, he would catch a tram home, grab a snack and head to
school. He was sometimes reprimanded for falling asleep in class. Jim left High
after taking the Intermediate Certificate.
In World War II, Jim was also a member of the 2/30th Battalion and attached to
J Force. He related his experiences as a soldier and prisoner-of-war in his book,
Splinter's Story.
Back in civilian life, he worked in civil engineering, retiring as superintendent of
air transport (policy and licensing, NSW region).
Barry Rosenberg (1951) died on 4 July 2008. Barry's obituary in the Sydney
Morning Herald says that after leaving School he "never took a university degree,
but he sat with professors on faculty boards and made an innovative and productive
career at universities in Australia and the United States".
He was responsible for the commercialisation of intellectual property first at the
University of NSW where he led Unisearch Ltd from 1977 until 1990 and then at
the Georgia Institute of Technology as director of technology licensing until his
retirement in 2001.
The Herald says that Unisearch became a model for universities around the world
and Rosenberg helped most of Australia's big universities and many Asian
universities to establish similar operations.
24

Barry also pursued a career in the Army Reserve, retiring as a lieutenant colonel
in 1982.
Stephen Halliday (1971) died 21 July 2008. Steve was Vice
Captain in 1971, Captain of the 1st XI, a member of the 1st
XV and the Athletics team and was also the Secretary of the
Interact Club and editor of the Rugby Magazine. Members of
the Class of 1971 and friends and family have established a
memorial prize in Steve's honour in recognition of his role as
a great sportsman and a leader within the community. The
citation is: For spirit of Sydney High; leadership and
commitment to sport throughout Years 7 to 9; contribution to
community and academic proficiency.
Cliff Goodchild OAM died peacefully at home on 21 July 2008. While not an
Old Boy, many Old Boy musicians will remember this larger-than-life character
from their time at High. Cliff was central to the School Band Festival for each of
its 47 years. Formerly known as the School Band Championships, it was held for
a few year at High. The High band won it in 1971 when it was a national event.
Cliff was very active right to the end. He was present, in May this year, at a CD
launch for the 50th anniversary of Sydney Brass - originally a group of five elite
musicians from the Sydney Symphony Orchestra of whom Cliff was one of the
surviving members.
Cliffs family and the Festival will be setting up a trust fund for the continuation
of Cliff's life work.

E-Bulletin

OBU contact

The OBU now issues

a regular e-Bulletin,
at least once a month.

PO BOX 1546
DARLINGHURST NSW 1300
AUSTRALIA

If you have not been receiving

our e-Bulletin, please send your
e-mail address, with name and
leaving year to:
secretary@shsobu.org.au

secretary@shsobu.org.au
(02) 9907 2856
+612 9907 2856
25

Winter sports
results
Football (Soccer)
St Joseph's College L 2-3
St Ignatius' College L 5-0
The King's School D 1-1
Shore School W 1-0
Newington L 0-2
Scots College D 2-2
Sydney Grammar L 0-1
Points table: SIC 19; NC 16; SGS 13; SJC 11; TSC 9; SHS 5; SHORE 3; TKS 2
GPS Reps - 1st XI: Lachlan Street and Daniel Campion; 3rd XI: Jeremy Ireland
and George Lo.

Athletics
Results of the 113th Annual Combined GPS Athletics Championships,
10 May 2008:
Senior
The King's School
St Ignatius' College
The Scots College
St Joseph's College
Shore School
Sydney Grammar
Newington College
Sydney High School
The Armidale School

26

Junior
430
410
328
275.5
251
240.5
209.5
179.5
159

St Ignatius' College
The King's School
Newington College
St Joseph's College
Shore School
Sydney High School
Sydney Grammar
The Scots College
The Armidale School

771
662
622
500
490
464
450
409
238

Change of address details

Surname: ............................................. Year of Leaving: ...............
Given Name: ....................................................................................
Address: ...........................................................................................
..........................................................................................................
Town/ Suburb: .................................................................................
State: ................ Postcode: .................
Telephone: ............................... Occupation: ..................................
Email: ...............................................................................................
[ ] I would prefer to receive the High Bulletin in an electronic
format only.
Jottings for High Bulletin (about yourself or a school mate):
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
...........................................................................................................
Please fill out, detach and return to:
SHS OBU
PO Box 1546
Darlinghurst NSW 1300 or email secretary@shsobu.org.au

125th Anniversary Cabaret

Hosted by the Sydney Boys High School and Sydney Girls High School
to celebrate 125 years of education for both Schools.
Friday 21 November 2008, 7:00pm - 12:00am
The Shannon Room, AJC Function Centre at Randwick Racecourse
MCs Jessica Rowe and Jack Singleton.
Dance to the Shy Guys band.
Featuring Little Pattie and other performers.
Tickets: $150 per person.
Includes dinner, pre-dinner drinks in the Panorama Room, parking and entertainment.

Dress: cocktail/lounge suit

RSVP and pay by 17 October 2008

Payment advice
Name: ........................................................................................................... Year: ....................
E-mail Address: ...........................................................................................................................
Telephone: ...................................................................................................................................
Please notify of any special dietary requirements: ....................................................................
I am paying for the following to share
my table:

I would like to be seated with the

following who are paying separately:

..................................................................
..................................................................
..................................................................
..................................................................
..................................................................
..................................................................

.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................
.................................................................

Payment of $................. for .......... tickets (at $150.00 per ticket) by

i.
[ ] Cheque (enclosed)
ii.
[ ] Visa/Mastercard
Complete if paying by credit card:
__ __ __ __ | __ __ __ __ | __ __ __ __ | __ __ __ __
Name on card: ..................................................................... Expiry Date: __ __ / __ __
Signature: ..........................................................................................................
Please return to

Sydney Boys High School, Moore Park, SURRY HILLS NSW 2010