Marist Brothers Darlinghurst Old Boys Union

Blue & Blue - Sep 2007

Welcome to the third edition of your B & B for 2007.
From the executive:

A very enjoyable lunch was held in July at City Tattersall’s Club. Many regulars once again attended and had the pleasure of the company of Brs John Thompson, Lucius Burnheim, Vianney Dignam, Greg Moran and Charles Aquilina. City Tatts provided a delightful lunch in elegant surroundings and I’m sure we will be back in 2008.

We commend the contributors to this column and ask that those who have yet to send in some info to please do so over the coming months. You can reminisce or just tell us what you are up to these days.

The committee is concerned that we do not have a complete list of contacts for all old boy Priests and Brothers. Can anyone help Secretary Larry proof our database? Fr John Worthington SM and Br Fabian (see more this issue are two recently re-discovered). Larry can be contacted via e-mail or phone 9528 3957.

The AGM will be held during the annual dinner and those interested in joining the committee are asked to contact the Secretary before 8 Nov.

It is with great sadness that we advise of the passing of our esteemed former OBU President, Don Dudgeon and also Joe Hall, who passed away shortly after the lunch. Joe had sent us quite a few snippets of information which are in this B & B. More to follow next edition.

Annual Mass and Dinner – book now.

This function will be held on Thursday, Nov 8th, 2007. We have booked St Patrick’s church for our own OBU Mass and are hoping to have old boy Priests Fr Ron Harden and Fr John Worthington SM preside. Any other Priests that can assist are asked to contact Mark Sinclair on 9524 9760. Br Tony Butler will again be our music maestro.

Mass will be at 6.15 pm and we are expecting a record turnout due to the change in venue for dinner which makes it very convenient to attend both the Mass and Dinner. We have attempted to cut down the walking from St Pats to the dinner venue and hope you will like the change.

The annual dinner will follow Mass at The Belgian Beer Café, 135 Harrington St, The Rocks. The café occupies the old St Pats school hall/gymnasium and has a special significance related to Darlo’s origins. Pre dinner drinks commence at 7pm.

Don’t delay - please fill out and return the attached dinner attendance form NOW. We will happily reserve table space for class groups but please organize your group ASAP.

Blue & Blue – Sep 2007 (cont)

From the members:

Bernie Woods (LC 61) reports he is alive and well (though his golf comes and goes – Ed). He lives with his wife Margaret in Woolooware and recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary. They have 4 children who all live nearby and are enjoying the company of their 10 grandchildren with lots of baby-sitting. Bernie plays golf with Warren Thomas at Cronulla GC.

Bernie goes on to tell us that whilst marshalling at the Australian Golf Open held at Royal Sydney GC he ran into old school mates Garry Cahill (LC 61) and John Hughes (LC 60). All these are regulars at the December reunion at Bob Dick’s Centennial Park home for those classes as we have mentioned in previous B&Bs.

Bernie also met John Currie at the Boys Toys Store (aka Bunnings warehouse). All these old boys can be contacted through Bernie on 9527 3669.

John Pass, who with his wife and through their company, is involved in raising funds for the Australian Paralympics team. They were able to contribute some $28,500 through a corporate bowls day which they ran in support of the team’s Beijing campaign. They also sponsor Kurt Fearnley, a wheelchair Paralympian, who won 6 times from 7 starts in the first 4 months of 2007.

We briefed the lunch gathering in July about the work of Ronda Boyd, sister of Norman Timbrell (35-39). Ronda is researching the old boys who served in WW2 with the aim of having a nominal roll Memorial Board displayed at Marist Pearce. It is time consuming (and at times frustrating) work but Ronda hopes to have it completed soon. Some snippets follow.

The 1944 B&B told of a list of 400 names of those old boys who served but it was never printed in the 1945 B&B.

Old boy, Lynn Henderson (IC around 40), served in WW2 and was a Flt Sgt in the RAAF when his bomber was shot down over Germany. His name appears on a Memorial at Runnymede, England. His first name appears to be recorded by the RAAF as Jocelyn.

John Chippendale writes “A surprise but most welcome addition to a recent gathering of LC 54 Old Boys at the Bowlers Club in May, was Richard (Dick) Martin. Dick heard about the gathering and was the first to arrive and last to leave. He was instantly recognisable even though most of those attending had not seen him in 50+ years. Dick has had a most interesting and widely ranging career since leaving school. I am sure that he will be only too pleased to relate his experiences to all those attending the 2007 Dinner. Members of the LC 54 class would like to know the whereabouts of Frank Sutton, Ron Antoine, Kevin Hoy & Ron Mason so that they can be invited to their next informal gathering. Can anyone help?”

John also informed us that John Madden (IC 47) passed away earlier this year and that both he and Tony Minogue attended the funeral on behalf of his classmates.

Blue & Blue – Sep 2007 (cont)

From the members (cont):

Ted Hynes (LC 48) advises of the return to Oz of his brother Geoff (also an old boy). Geoff is known to many of you as Br Fabian who has been reported in the catholic press from time to time as the brother in charge of the Vatican Pharmacy where he has served for the past 50 years! We look forward to hearing some stories from Br Fabian about his time in the Vatican and wish him well in his retirement with the St John of God Order in Sydney.

Joe Hall tells of his brother John who served in the Army in WA during WW2. He was blinded (not reported how?) and subsequently had his sight restored by an American surgeon. He somehow managed to then join the RAAF and became a pilot.

Joe goes on to say that in 1960 he was commissioned by late Br Gilbertus to introduce rugby union to Marist Brothers Eastwood. He became foundation Secretary of the Hillview Marist Rugby Club which was to play a major role in the formation of the Eastwood Rugby Club. John Madden (LC 47 who has recently passed away was later President of Hillview.

Joe played with Eastwood and later was joined by his youngest (of 5) brothers, Ted. John Madden and Tony Minogue were part of the Eastwood connection. Joe says he was the first ex-player to have sons play for Eastwood.

Rob Quinn (LC 64) reports he is approaching his 60th birthday and is reflecting on past years, especially his time as a teacher. He fondly remembers the efforts of the brothers at Darlo, whether in the classroom, in cadet training or at sport. He relates very well to the pride the brothers and indeed all ex-teachers must feel when seeing their young charges develop self-esteem. He laments the attempts by governments various to “organize” school teachers.

Geoff Burfoot (LC 38) this year celebrated with wife Nance their 62nd wedding anniversary. As wife Nance turned 85, they partied at Mosman Rowers Club and later watched the fireworks saluting the arrival of the two ships, Queen Mary and Queen Elizabeth, into Sydney Harbour. Geoff and Nance had many years before attended a cocktail party onboard the QE II whence Geoff set off security alarms only to discover it was a titanium nail in his recently repaired broken leg.

Peter Thompson (LC 60) lets us know from his farm in Bowraville, NSW that the macadamias are bearing this year although he has had very little rain in recent years. Since he last corresponded, he has fought a battle with prostate cancer and is so far winning. He had a beut trip to UK, Ireland and Rome last year mainly to see grandchild no. 5 in England. Whilst life’s good for most of us above ground, he urges all old boys to have regular prostate checks.

Joe Hall (a mine of information) tells us of Jack Clark and Brian Flynn who both played for the Paddington XI whilst still at Darlo. Brian went on to play for Qld whilst Jack opened the bowling for both NSW and Qld! Joe and Jack often attend Drummoyne Oval to watch UTS-Balmain play cricket. Joe continues as a VP of that club.

Blue & Blue – Sep 2007 (cont)

From the members (cont):

Mike O’Leary LC 65) and his wife Anne have returned to Sydney after 21 years in Newcastle where Mike worked for Esso and Comsteel in engineering. They are now enjoying semi-retirement.

Frank Thomas Mood (LC 49) is pleased to read about classmates Cramsie, Hensby, Sinclair and Bolster.

Phillip Dorian always reminds us proudly of his longevity (he is in his 96th year), having left Darlo in 1927. We have asserted before that he is the oldest surviving old boy and no challenges have ensued! Any takers?

Our Treasurer, Vin Hallinan, tells us his brother Fr John Dennis Hallinan is now at Collegio Apostolico in Rome – more about Fr Hallinan next issue I trust.

Enid See is in touch as a contributor to the B&B. She says names mentioned in our B&Bs are familiar to her as friends of her late husband, Ken. Their son, Peter, attended Marist Pearce from 1969-77 and their grandson from 1984-92.

Frank O’Connor (LC 48) and his wife Colleen celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with a Mass in Our Lady’s Chapel in St Mary’s Cathedral. Fr Ron Harden (LC 44) again performed the ceremony as he did in 1957. At the function afterwards were older brother Jim (LC 47) who lives in Buderim, Qld, Bill Kirwin, Mark Trainor, Br Richard Bennett (of Marist Campbelletown) and best man Kevin Lawler (old boy of Marist Forbes).

Larry Hensby and his wife Santa will celebrate their 50th Wedding anniversary on 7th October with family and friends at the Camellia Gardens Teahouse, Caringbah.

Ted Cramsie was unable to attend our annual lunch this year as he works for Vision Australia each Thursday. He reads books onto CDs for use by blind University and TAFE students. Well done Ted.

Bernie Fitzpatrick asks us to remember his dad, Charlie, an old boy who passed away at Port Macquarie last year. Charlie was the last surviving member of his family of 11. Not sure what year Charlie attended but Bernie suspects there are few left today. Anyone remember Charlie?

That’s it for now – keep the news coming in. See you at the dinner.

Warren Thomas
President