Marist Brothers Darlinghurst Old Boys Union

Blue & Blue - September 2006
Welcome to the third edition of your B & B for 2006.

Annual Mass & Dinner – mark your diary now. This function will be held on Thursday, Nov 2nd 2006. The venue will once again be at The Bowlers Club of NSW, York St, Sydney.
Some changes for the usual Mass arrangements will be necessary due to the 2nd being All Souls Day. St Patrick’s are a little less flexible than normal and the Mass time will be 5.30 pm and it will be one of the normally scheduled Masses. Our participation in the liturgy will be limited.
The Dinner function will be able to start a little earlier due to the earlier Mass time and this may be a help for some who do not wish to be out late that night. It will be 6.30 pm for 7.15 pm.
It is understood that the classes of ’44 and ’54 are planning a special attendance this year. I urge you to book early and make sure you let the class organizer know you will be on their table/s. This is particularly an issue with non-members who hear about the reunion second or third hand and don’t have a form to fill out and return. Last year we had some embarrassment due to communication problems and it is our intention to avoid this if at all possible. There will be reserved tables this year provided appropriate advice is received beforehand from class organizers.

Annual Luncheon.
This year we headed for the Esperanto Room at the City Tattersals Club for our luncheon. Some 30 old boys were in attendance including Br John Thompson, Marist Provincial, and Br Lucius Burnheim. Also attending was Joe Hall and his son, Gary. This reminds me to mention that any old boy needing to be accompanied or just wanting to have someone along to share these occasions should feel free to invite that person along – they would of course be very welcome. Thanks for coming Gary.
We shared an excellent meal and many memories. I would think this function will grow more popular as day time functions become more convenient to members.

From the Editor:

Sadly, we continue to be informed of the deaths of former teachers, old boys and their close family. It seems inevitable that our numbers will decrease and my feedback is that you wish to be informed of these events as they come to our notice. In this edition, I attach an extract from the eulogy given at the funeral of Br Patrick (Butler). Many old boys will have fond memories of Br Patrick who taught in the 50s and early 60s. He was sports master and Officer of Cadets as I recall.
John Chippendale reports of his celebration of he and wife Anne’s 40th wedding anniversary earlier this year. There was a special blessing during Mass at their St Anthony’s parish at Marsfield followed by a function which was attended by old boys Kevin Riolo (Bestman) and Barry Power (Groomsman) as well as Denis Towson and Reg Scott, all from the class of ’54. They have six grandchildren living in the area. John is still working as Bursar at Baulkam Hills High School.

Blue & Blue – September 2006 (cont)

Rob Rimoldi says he is a keen bushwalker and has been a member of the Catholic Bushwalkers Club since the ‘80s. He wonders if any other old boys are members of this Club?
Br John Thompson mentions that the “First Friday in December” reunion is alive and well. The old boys of the class of ’61 have not missed a year since their school days and the reunion is well supported although recently, as a concession to age, they have been actually sitting down at tables for their meal. Same venue this year at Robert Dick’s home at Centennial Park. Br John says Robert’s father, Wal, passed away last year.
Also from Br John is a reminder that Br Michael Naughtin resides at St Josephs College but is too frail to attend functions away from the College. He can be contacted through the College.
Bill Duncan (LC 64) is VP of USAMA Health Sciences which is responsible for the SE Asia market, incl Aus and NZ. He has also been recently appointed by the government to Chair the Grow Sydney Area Consultative Committee. His Board has secured a Federal Govt grant to help fund the works of the Sisters of Mercy with Sudanese refugees at their Mamre Farm facility in western Sydney. Bill is also Deputy Captain of his local Rural Fire Service Brigade. That’s a busy man! Meanwhile, David Duncan (HSC 67) still lives part of the year in Nepal and the rest in Bondi Junction.
Paul Imbree (LC 47) is working hard on improving his golf and skiing skills now that he has retired from full time work. A call to him from Mark Trainor found him on the 1st hole at Port Douglas. This terrible fate meant he could not be with us at the Annual Luncheon.
Br Paul Murphy FMS corresponds with us from Manila where he works with street children (our own Fr Riley). Paul is Br John Murphy’s brother and some of us will remember he was able to attend our dinner soon after Br John’s passing in 2002. We wish him God’s blessings and continued success in his worthy endeavours.
Don Dudgeon (former OBU President) writes through his daughter that he will be unable to come down to Sydney from his home in Qld for future functions due to failing eyesight and general health. Sadly since that note we have been informed of the passing of Don’s wife, Mary. We sent a condolence card on your behalf and received a lovely note and card in return.
Bill Dudgeon, Don’s son, who attended Darlo in the 60s, is now Deputy Principal at Broken Hill (High?).
I have been passed a note from Prof Desmond O’Connor to one of his former teachers (name indecipherable) and let his friends know that he is now fully recovered from a battle with Lymphoma. He kept this fairly quiet whilst undergoing treatment so it will probably be news to classmates. Des resides in WA.
Joe Hall tells us his wife, Dell, is now resident in the dementia unit of the United Protestant Assn at Wahroonga. He is comforted in the knowledge that she is receiving excellent catholic spiritual and physical care. A fellow resident in the unit is Eileen Hanley. Her brother, Terry, was in the same 6 stone team as Joe in 1952. Eileen often refers to the B&B and asks after her brother Terry, Br Gerard, Peter Hatfield and Frank Liddy. (Joe wonders if any are still with us?)

That’s it for this issue. Please keep the news coming in.

Warren Thomas
President
*** A reminder from our Secretary, Larry that if you have not already done so, would you please make sure we have your current e-mail address.