Marist Brothers Darlinghurst Old Boys Union

Blue & Blue
Welcome to the second edition of your B & B for 2004.
From the executive:

Many thanks to those members who responded to our final reminder and renewed membership. We don’t want to lose any old boys through oversight.
Thanks also to those who wrote in support of the mowing aide for Br Charlie at the Mittagong Brothers Cemetery. We will keep you informed of the outcome.
Ross Tarlington, Principal of Marist Pearce, has accepted our offer of a perpetual trophy in honour of Br John Murphy. This will be finalized later this year and the OBU hopes to be involved in the presentation.
The OBU Annual Luncheon is on Thursday, 1 July. Please let us know if you are attending by filling out the attached form. It will be held at the Bowlers Club once again from 12 noon. Old Boy Brothers and Priests are welcome, at no cost, thanks to members who are very generous in their sponsorship for the luncheon.
A big thank you to Br Tony Butler and Alan Willoughby (LC 37) for sending information on the Marist Brothers in Australia and photos of the school opening ceremony respectively. Looks like the next big date will be the 100th anniversary of the high school opening on Darlinghurst Hill which will be celebrated on 9 July 2011. Hope we are all here to do something special to mark the occasion.

From the members:

News from Bede Scullard’s daughter, Lyn McDonald, that he is now in a nursing home. Bede did the LC in 1928! Lyn & Barri’s son is Br Greg McDonald who joined the staff at Marist College Pearce this year after 5 years in Cairns. A proud Granddad keeps up with news through the B&B.
Bob Owen tells us that he came to Darlo for his final year following his brother Len who attended in 1938. He remembers Don Dudgeon and Ray Lindwall were doing their LC at the time.
Des O’Connor (LC 44) writes in search of classmate John Mortimor O’Connor (LC 43). Can anyone help? Please pass news of him to the Secretary.
Geoff Burfoot (LC38) tells us of a smashed elbow which needed physio and was treated by an old boy of St Joeys. He is all the better for the Marist touch he says. He and wife Nance have recently celebrated their 59th wedding anniversary attending the Merry Widow at the Sydney Opera House. No doubt we will again see Geoff at the OBU Luncheon.
Michael Saul (LC 57) has recovered from a triple by-pass operation and sends his regards to old classmates.
John Hughes (LC 61) recounts the annual reunion he attended with classmates at Bob Dick’s home. This reunion is legendary among the many that know of it. They have been meeting annually since 1960! John asks for any from that year who have not attended to be on notice for the first Friday in December and be there.
Paul Finnane (LC 49) has mentioned how great e-mail is for staying in touch with classmates. He keeps in touch with Bill Halcro, Ron Thornton, Charlie Peoples and Ron Young (who lives in the US).
News of the passing of Richard Lynch (LC 29) at 91 years from his wife Marie. Richard was a loyal OBU supporter until ill-health prevented such in recent times.

Blue & Blue cont

John Alderson (LC 33) asks about his classmates that might be in touch through the OBU. He lives with his wife in a retirement village and boast of 9 children, 12 grandchildren and 3 great grand children (at last count). He and Gwen are looking forward to a 70th wedding anniversary next year. (Is this a record in the OBU?)
Brothers Bill and David Duncan left Darlo in 1964 and 1967 respectively. Bill is married with 2 sons living in Kenthurst and works as MD of USANA Health Services. He is an active member of the local bushfire brigade. David is also married and lives half the year in Bondi Junction and the rest in Nepal. He and his wife collect and sell Tibetan antiques.
Gordon Fetterplace is still working on the Board Foundation at St Greg’s Campbelltown and speaks to Br Vianny regularly. Br taught him at Auburn. Gordon spends several months each year caravanning and fishing N Qld and NT. Classmate Bob Whittaker also tells of tripping around on the Ghan to Darwin catching up there with a daughter who showed off their 14th grandchild.
While on anniversaries, Joe Hall tells of he and wife Dell’s 60th wedding anniversary and was proud to receive congrats from the Queen, the G-G and the PM.
Ron Yates (LC 40) was invited to attend the Royal Aeronautical Society’s Gala Dinner at the Science Museum in London in Dec last year to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Wright Bros first flight. He was introduced to Prince Phillip as Australia’s representative of the Aerospace Industry.
Mark Trainor (LC 48) writes about John Meek (LC 47) who does not let ill-health restrict his inventive mind. John is working on flying a 6 ft wingspan model airplane in competition. It is presently powered by a 2 stroke motor but John has plans to convert to a 4 stroke for “more grunt”. Then there is the plan for solar panels on the wings……
Jim Banks (HSC 67) has also been in touch and I heartily agree with him about the joys of freedom that come with early retirement ……and then you get involved with the OBU, local church, charities, sporting clubs, internet browsing etc, etc.
Graham Pomroy (IC 48) tells of more family joy with the birth of his first great grandchild. He sends regards to all classmates who attended with him from 45-48.
Len Smith (LC 35), a former President of the OBU, sent some information about the origins of the “Presbyterian Church sign” in St Patrick’s, Harrington St. It seems when the Brothers were unable to continue at St Mary’s (of great intrigue in itself as told in “The Story of the Marist Brothers in Australia 1872 - 1972) they had classes in St Patrick’s, the Stoneleigh property (to become our Darlo) and “some in the Presbyterian Hall in Palmer St, the Presbyterian authorities generously making it available at a nominal rent of $2 per week. Br Ambrose Ducarre taught at Palmer St and told of this dispersal in Dec 1971, during his visit to Sydney.”

See you at the Luncheon or maybe later at the Dinner. Mark your diaries – Thursday, 1st July and Thursday 4th November, at the Bowlers Club of NSW, York St.