Focus May 2010 - The Friends' School

Inside stories: 

Egypt Trip: 

Page 5 

Relay for Life: 

Page 6 

School Leaders: 

Pages 8 & 13 

Swimming 

Carnivals: 

Pages 19 & 20 

Prize recipients Lachlan Stewart, Joe Kaczmarski, Caitlin 

Dawson and Alysia Brown with Lisa Hickman after the 

presentation. 

Photo by Sofia Lopez 

A Student 

Publication 

May 2010 Issue 77 

Celebrating Clemes Achievements 

by Amy Hall 

Every year, a reception 

is held to honour the most 

outstanding Year 11 and 

12 students of the previous 

year and this year was 

no exception. 

The Clemes Academic 

Awards for 2009, held in 

the Clemes Library, brought 

together these students, 

along with their parents and 

teachers to celebrate their 

accomplishments. 

The Head of Clemes, 

Tony Barrett, opened with 

a speech congratulating 

the students on 

their achievements. 

He was followed by Lisa 

Hickman, a Friends’ Old 

Scholar, who spoke about 

“finding hidden doors”. 

Lisa talked about her 

desire to become a helicopter 

pilot and, although she did 

not achieve this, it opened 

up other opportunities, 

including becoming an 

environmental scientist, 

going on an expedition to 

Antarctica and a career in 

the Navy. 

This taught her a valuable 

lesson, one which she shared 

with the Clemes students, 

parents and teachers: “if at 

first you fail, try something 

new and come back to it.” 

Following Lisa’s speech, 

the Palmam Qui and 

Palmam Quae for best all 

round academic male and 

female, respectively, were 

awarded to Joe Kaczmarski 

and Alysia Brown. 

Lachlan Stewart was 

presented with the Evan 

Williams Award for the most 

outstanding Year 11 student 

in one Maths and at least 

one Science subject, whilst 

Caitlin Dawson received 

the Charles Annells Award 

for the most outstanding 

Year 11 student in English 

and at least one SOSE or 

LOTE subject. 

Students who will have 

their names immortalised 

on Honour Boards for 

Academic Excellence in a 

Single Discipline are Janwei 

Huang and Joe Kaczmarski 

for Physics, DaYea Oh 

for Mathematics, Ralley 

Prentice for Chemistry, 

Michael Yong for English, 

Sarah’s Simpson Prize Success 

by Helen Lucas 

Congratulations to Sarah 

Reynolds for being the 2010 

Tasmanian recipient of the 

Simpson Prize. 

The Simpson Prize is 

a national competition for 

History students, which 

celebrates the Anzac spirit 

and honours John Simpson 

Kirkpatrick, ‘the man 

with the donkey,’ famous 

for rescuing soldiers 

in Gallipoli. 

It is an annual 

competition organised 

by the History Teachers’ 

Association of Australia 

(HTAA) in conjunction 

with state affiliates, and is 

funded by the Australian 

Government Department 

of Education, Science 

and Training. 

The competition is open 

to all Year 9 and 10 students, 

who can choose to write 

an essay or produce an 

audiovisual presentation. 

Each year a different 

question is set, highlighting 

the theme of the Anzac spirit, 

in relation to the past and 

also how the traditions of 

Anzac impact contemporary 

Australian life. 

The question for 

2010 was “Are there 

voices missing from the 

Anzac Legend?” 

Students were told 

that in their response they 

were to, “Choose one 

or two groups of people 

whose contributions you 

consider have not been 

sufficiently commemorated 

and give reasons, 

supported by evidence, for 

your judgement.” 

Reflective of our strong 

and innovative History 

program, The Friends’ 

School has a strong record of 

success in this competition. 

Year 11 student and recipient of the Simpson Prize for Tasmania, 

Sarah Reynolds, outside the Australian War Memorial in 

Canberra. 

Photo supplied by Helen Lucas 

Sarah’s winning essay 

argued that German 

Australians have not been 

sufficiently remembered in 

the Anzac Legend. 

Louis Stevenson and Isabella 

Comfort for History, and 

Áine Nicholson for Biology. 

The Behavioural Studies 

Prize and the Old Scholars 

Performing Arts Prize, both 

funded awards, went to 

Ralley Prentice and Leia 

Giacon respectively. 

Also presented were 

Awards for Academic 

Excellence in a Single 

Subject, and awards for 

Year 11 and 12 students 

with outstanding academic 

achievements over a range 

of subjects. 

The Clemes Academic 

Awards concluded with the 

launch of In The Light, an 

annual school publication 

Lisa Hickman inspiring the 

audience with descriptions of 

her life adventures. 


Members of the In The Light Team: Katrina Perndt, Margaret 

Neilsen, Michael Cromer, Richard Ballard and Sofia Lopez. 

Photo by Amy Hall 

In March, Sarah spent 

three days in Canberra 

accompanied by her teacher, 

Helen Lucas, to recieve 

her medallion. 

of student creative writing, 

music and video, followed 

by afternoon tea served by 

student volunteers. 

She was joined by 

winners from the other states 

and territories. 

During her time in 

Canberra, Sarah visited 

significant historical sites 

including a day at the 

Australian War Memorial. 

She participated in a 

wreath laying ceremony, 

and was given a ‘behind the 

scenes’ tour of the archives. 

Students also visited 

Duntroon Academy, the 

National Museum and 

Parliament House. 

The visit culminated in 

the presentation of award 

medallions, presented 

by the Honourable Alan 

Griffin MP, Minister for 

Veterans’ Affairs. 

Sarah, along with the 

other state and territory 

winners, travelled to Turkey 

in April and attended the 

Anzac Day dawn service 

at Gallipoli. 

THE FRIENDS’ SCHOOL, P.O. BOX 42, NORTH HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, 7002 PH: (03) 6210 2200 FAX: (03) 6234 8209

2 

May 2010 

Contents 

news 

Under the Midday Sun 

Focus 

News 1-5, 8, 13, 17, 21 

Service 6 

IB Page 7 

Friends’ Connections 9 - 16 

New Staff 18 - 20 

Sport 22 - 24 

Editor 

Production Manager 

Reporters 

Advisory Staff 

Friends’ Connections 

Focus Team 

Amy Hall 

Madelaine Comfort 

Sophie Barnett 

Etenesh Bell 

Monique Bleach 

Jamie Brown 

Adam Choraziak 

Madelaine Comfort 

Nick Cuthbertson 

Amy Hall 

Ella Hind 

Sofia Lopez 

Raziqah Ramli 

Aleisha Ring 

Lillie Rose 

Chris Yu 

Sarah Cupit 

Ludmila Vitesnikova 

Kathy Rundle 

Kalli McCarthy 

Email: focus@friends.tas.edu.au 

Homepage: www.friends.tas.edu.au 

The views expressed in this newspaper do not 

necessarily represent those of the Members of 

the Board of Governors or its nominees. 

This paper is produced by a class of Year 11/12 

Media Production Students. 

The Friends’ Connections section is prepared 

by the Development Office. 

The Friends’ School 

P.O. Box 42 

North Hobart, Tasmania, Australia 7002 

Ph. (03) 6210 2200 

Catherine Webster, lead singer in the band Missing Harriet. 

Photos by Chris Yu 

by Lillie Rose 

Students and staff from 

Kindergarten to Year 12 

crowded onto the bottom 

oval at the Argyle St Campus 

on 19 February for a Whole 

School Gathering with the 

theme of ‘Building Friends’. 

Sitting in the glorious 

heat of the sun, everyone 

was delighted by various 

Students and teachers soaking up the sun during Gathering. 

musical numbers performed 

by the band Missing Harriet 

consisting of Catherine 

Webster, Allan McConnell 

and Callum Jones who played 

their own original pieces. 

The energy was held 

throughout the morning 

and nothing dampened the 

atmosphere, except the over 

night automatic sprinklers 

which dampened the grass 

a little! 

Ebony Alexander and 

Harry Galligan, this year’s 

Head Boy and Girl, hosted the 

event with much delight. 

Gordon Luckman from 

Clemes, Georgia Bentley 

from the High School and 

George Hollingsworth from 

Morris each spoke to us about 

their experiences at Friends’ 

and the views they held on the 

friendships formed between 

both staff and students. 

The IB Diploma @ Friends’ 

by Tim Sprod 

To mark the first ten years 

of the IB Diploma at Friends’ 

in 2010, we will be holding 

an IB Reunion Dinner and 

associated events which all 

former IB Diploma students 

are welcome to attend. 

The School decided to 

offer the IB Diploma, with the 

first teaching to commence 

in the year 2000 – a new 

millennium; a new approach 

to Clemes education. 

I arrived at The Friends’ 

School in 1999 to take up 

the brand new position of 

International Baccalaureate 

Co-ordinator. 

We spent that first year 

planning and undergoing 

training to prepare ourselves 

for this new challenge. 

In early February 

2000, Liz Bowden, Sarah 

Fraser-Meeker, Kaspar 

Hebblewhite, Meg Phillips 

and Sarah Tabor started 

their IB classes. 

From little things, big 

things grow. 

However, the growth 

was slow at first - in our 

first five years, the average 

size of the IB group was 

just over six students, in 

the second five years, the 

average has been 27. 

The IB Diploma program 

is now well and truly part of 

the Friends’ landscape, and 

it has been joined by the 

IB’s Primary Years Program 

in Morris. 

In those ten years, 

many Friends’ students 

have benefitted from the 

IB Diploma’s superb 

educational foundation, 

whether they have gone on 

(like most) to the University 

of Tasmania, or (like others) 

to a mainland university, or 

to one in Japan, Germany, 

Austria, Holland, England, 

Scotland, Singapore, China 

or the USA. 

Friends’ teachers 

too have improved 

their knowledge and 

skills through the IB’s 

international professional 

development opportunities. 

The IB Diploma itself 

has just celebrated its 40 th 

year and in that time it has 

become recognised around 

the world as a mark of 

educational excellence, 

maintaining consistently 

high standards. 

The basic structure 

of the Diploma has not 

changed in all those 

years, though subjects are 

regularly updated. 

In a context of 

bewildering educational 

reform – Tasmania has had 

three quite different systems 

in that time, with a fourth 

(the National Curriculum) 

on the horizon – this stability 

means the IB Diploma has 

developed a solidity and 

reliability that is the envy of 

many educational systems. 

And what of the future? 

The IB Diploma is growing 

rapidly around the world – 

at about 10-15% per year. 

When we joined, there 

were just over 1000 IB 

world schools (our school 

number is 1071). 

As I write, there are 

2864 schools. 

Over 100 000 students sat 

IB Diploma exams in 2009. 

As the only IB world 

school in Tasmania, we have 

a head start, because it is 

certain that other Tasmanian 

schools will join, and will 

look to us for leadership. 

Tim Sprod, former IB Coordinator. 

The Morris choir was 

a crowd pleaser; they had 

the kinder children up and 

dancing in the grandstand! 

Conducted by Catherine 

Cretan, the choir sang “With 

A Little Help From My 

Friends” by The Beatles. 

Staff member Sarah 

Walker spoke to us with 

a different approach by 

sharing stories she often 

reads to her young children. 

The stories aimed 

to help us “reflect on 

the idea that we have a 

responsibility to play when 

it comes to making people 

feel safe and welcome in 

our community.” 

Charlotte’s Web by E.B. 

White was quoted by Sarah 

Walker, ending the gathering 

on a high note; “You have 

been my friend and that is a 

tremendous thing.” 

We will continue to 

attract international students 

from an even wider range of 

countries, and all Friends’ 

students will benefit 

from the greater personal 

experience of globalization 

that this will bring. 

I’m already looking 

forward to being invited 

to the Friends’ 20 Year IB 

Reunion in 2020. 

The Friends’ 10 Year IB 

Reunion Dinner will be held 

at the end of the year. 

Contact IB Diploma 

Coordinator, Chris White, 

or join the Facebook 

group “The IB Diploma @ 

Friends” to keep in touch. 

Photo by Sofia Lopez

Year 7 Camp 

By Monique Bleach 

The Year 7 camps to Far 

South have once again been 

a great success. 

The camps, held each 

year, aim to build connections 

between the newly established 

year group. 

With half of Year 7 

comprising new students, 

it was especially important 

Focus news May 2010 3 

Isabella Trousselot and Olivia 

Church. 

in the Thermal Pool, as well 

as a service activity, bush art 

and environmental games. 

International Club Maria Island Trip 

By Etenesh Bell 

The International 

Club, along with Peter 

Jones, Vani Naidoo, Gwen 

Hackel, and the trusty 

companionship of the GAP 

students, set out for Maria 

Island on Friday 26 March. 

for the last half of the trip; 

next stop Maria Island. 

It was a bumpy trip but, 

thankfully, no one was sick 

and it became a late night 

for some. 

As we got the lay of 

the land with the help of 

a beautiful moon it didn’t 

Year 7 students building sand castles. L-R: Elizabeth Suo, Eliza 

Reynolds, Kate Bohmer and Dilini Perera. 

to break down barriers and 

encourage them to develop a 

new identity as a whole year 

group: the Year 7 of 2010! 

The two-night camp in 

February was attended by 

two Year 7 class groups. 

On arrival the class 

groups were greeted by a 

presentation from a snake 

expert, where they got more 

The first evening 

involved one group setting 

up tents and tarps and 

lighting fires in preparation 

for a night under the stars. 

Meanwhile, another 

group was getting well 

acquainted with one another. 

Their night consisted 

of a quiz with some bonus 

rounds such as ‘Funny 

Back: Anne-Louise Knight, Ben Ogada-Osir, Hero Xu, Anna-lena 

Götz, Bianca Herzog. Front: Ju In, Dan Arbiv, Raziqah Ramli and 

Charlotte Choi. 

Photo by Etenesh Bell 

It was a weekend of fun matter that half of us had 

and bonding as students from forgotten to pack a torch. 

all around the world came Day two saw sunrise and 

together from near and far. the eager walkers who made 

We left Friends’ that a daylong adventure up Mt 

afternoon for a pleasant drive Bishop and Clerk, with the 

of about an hour and a half. exception of a few who found 

This time was spent the warmth of their sleeping 

bonding, with the exception bags too hard to leave. 

The view from part way up Bishop and Clerk. 

Photo by Raziqah Ramli 

nothing was as entertaining The eager Peter Jones 

as our Saturday night went swimming for a 

barbeque dinner. 

second time. 

With arm wrestling and It wasn’t long until it 

thumb wars it was a night of was back to the human 

laughter and light competition chain as we loaded our 

as the boys battled for the title bags back on the ferry for a 

of the strongest. 

smooth trip back. 

The final day we walked Hot chips were in order 

around the beach to some at Triabunna for that long 

caves, where we spent our journey back to school. 

time skipping stones along It was a fantastic trip 

the water and some people of new friends and new 

went swimming. 

experiences for all. 

Year 7 students gathered at Far South. Back L-R: Eliza Reynolds, 

Olivia Church, Elizabeth Suo, Kate Bohmer, Bastian Rosner. 

Middle L-R: Patrick Jago, Luke Ottavi, Andre Witek, Isabella 

Trousselot. Front L-R: Dafydd Jones, Jack Coomer, James Taplin. 

than they bargained for when 

she put her presentation 

on hold to catch a roaming 

snake in the car park. 

Year 7 girls raft building. 

Clockwise from back: 

Madeleine Bentley, Hannah 

Birch, Holly Pointon, Elizabeth 

Suo and Kieva Hobbs. 

The rest of the camp days 

consisted of raft building 

in house groups on Dover 

Beach, a visit to Hastings 

Caves with a 4 km return walk 

to Duck Hole Lake and a dip 

Chubby Bunnies’, the object 

of which was to stuff as 

many marshmallows in one’s 

mouth as physically possible. 

Possible was later 

defined as 25 marshmallows. 

This round was a 

favourite with many of the 

Year 7s. 

“When they had about 

15 in their mouth they would 

go fifftiim subbie bubbies,” 

said Alexander Hutchinson 

from Penn. 

Other rounds involved a 

race to unpeel a chocolate 

egg with one’s toes and the 

first person to eat one whole 

Sao cracker. 

On the second evening, 

the groups swapped activities. 

The third and final day 

of the camp ended in the 

customary Friends’ way: 

with a silence. 

The camp group 

assembled on the point, 

The lagoon on the path leading to the Painted Cliffs. 

Photo by Raziqah Ramli 

of a few who slept, tired out There 

were 

from the busy school day. opportunities throughout 

On arriving at Triabunna the day for presentations 

we lined up ready to human on the Tasmanian Devil, 

chain our bags onto the ferry and a bat viewing, but 

Year 7 boys raft building at Far South. Back L-R: James 

Thompson, Theo Kalimnios, Patrick Jago, David Crisp, Cyrus 

Vincent, Luke Ottavi and Evan Wilson. Front L-R: Daniel Roberts, 

Dafydd Jones and Isaac Churchill. 

Photos supplied by Lyn Johnston 

which comprises part of 

the old Aboriginal lands, to 

mark the end of a fun few 

days and the beginning of a 

new and unique year group. 

Elizabeth Suo from 

Penn said, “camp was a very 

interesting way to meet people 

. . . I think that it is something 

that we [will] all remember”. 

Keen swimmers: Ju In, Ben Ogada-Osir, Hero Xu and Dan Arbiv. 

Photo by Raziqah Ramli

4 


Fundraising for Haiti 

by Sofia Lopez 

After the horrific 

earthquake that shook 

Haiti, the Clemes Council 

organised two massive and 

fun fundraising events; 

Caribbean Day and 

Rockband for Haiti. 

Caribbean Day raised 

$470 that went towards 

Médecins Sans Frontières 

and had all of Clemes 

embrace the theme with 

students dressing up as 

pirates, Caribbean natives 

and Jack Sparrow look-alikes 

on Thursday 11 February. 

Rockband for Haiti 

kick-started with students 

and teachers creating 

four-man bands to rock 

off against each other 

news 

using the popular Xbox 

game Rockband. 

The winning team was 

the Banditos made up 

of Harry Galligan, Alex 

Vittorio, Mark Jones and 

Harry van der Woude. 

Both fundraising events 

were very successful, 

managing to raise $576 for 

Médecins Sans Frontières. 


Robert White and Declan Hickey being scallywags. 

Photo by Sophie Barnett 

From Friends’ to Nepal 

Jana with her host sisters Susma and Srijana making a flower lei. 

Photo supplied by Jana Vitesnikova 

Three of our pirate friends, Imogen Scully, Molly Port and 

Monique Bleach, we found buccaneering around Clemes. 

Photo by Aleisha Ring 

Leaver of 2006, Jana Vitesnikova, decided she wanted to be able to make a difference to the lives of others overseas, developing the 

educational and general living facilities for children and families in Kathmandu. 

We have the pleasure of publishing an account of her experiences. 

by Jana Vitesnikova 

Last year as I sat through countless interviews, I 

found myself constantly being asked, “What are you 

passionate about?” “Helping people, travel, new cultures, 

aiding developing countries, making a difference,” I 

replied. That sparked a completely spontaneous decision, 

and I found myself spending my entire summer holidays 

volunteering in Nepal on an Overseas Action Project 

with World Youth International, an Australian-based 

volunteer organisation. 

I arrived in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal and home 

of the Himalayas and yaks! I joined two team leaders 

and six other girls in my team. We spent the next week in 

Kathmandu doing an intensive orientation program. This 

included Nepali language lessons, cultural briefings, group 

dynamic sessions, traditional welcome dinners, scavenger 

hunts and sightseeing. We visited the children at the 

WYI School and orphanage, called Sapana, which means 

‘dreaming’ in Nepali. 

We travelled five hours out of Kathmandu to Tibet 

to the village of Ramche. We lived with host-families, 

sharing meals, helping on their farms, learning to cook, 

participating in culture ceremonies, playing with our 

host brothers and sisters and becoming part of the family. 

Jana struggling under the load helping her host family harvest 

part of their cauliflower crop. 

Photo supplied by Jana Vitesnikova 

Despite their lack of materialistic possessions, money, 

education and travel opportunities, I can honestly say that 

my host-family was the happiest and most welcoming 

family I have ever met. They still dream of improving 

their living conditions but they find happiness in what 

they do have. 

Our project was to build the second storey of a 

community centre. We worked with Nepali masons 

learning to lay concrete and dig trenches. We had time to 

teach in the local school, build a brick-wall around part of 

the school playground and paint a mural on the school. 

Over those eight weeks I made friends from both 

Australia and Nepal. We faced culture shock, severe food 

poisoning, language barriers, pet buffalos, squat toilets, 

trapdoors, broken ankles, homesickness, violent political 

strikes and rampant mice, just to name a few things! 

We had a relaxation weekend in Nagarkot, the Nepali 

version of a tourist town with 360° views of the Himalayas. 

At the end of the program we had the option of going 

white-water rafting, on an eight day trek in the Himalayas 

or a visit to Pokhara. 

My experience in Nepal has inspired me to put 

myself out of my comfort zone to help others, make 

the most of every opportunity and appreciate life much 

more. I believe we made a lasting difference in the 

Cooper Denehey dressed like Jack Sparrow. 

Photo by Sophie Barnett 

Doing it for Jimmy 


Various Old Scholars have been carrying on the theme 

of the 2009 End of Year Gathering, Giving, by dedicating 

their time and efforts to helping others all over the world. 

James Bennett, who left Friends’ in 2002, very sadly, 

suddenly passed away, in November 2008. He had 

been planning to shave his beard for the Make-A-Wish 

Foundation the very next day. 

To help celebrate his life, James’ family and friends 

took on the challenge to train for the City2Surf Fun Run 

in Sydney. 

James’ sister, Alice Bennett and her friend, Heather 

McGee, both Old Scholars, aimed to raise $10 000 by 

competing in the event alongside more than 20 friends as 

part of their campaign, “Doing it for Jimmy”. 

Their final collection came to over $15 000, donated 

from James’ family and friends, as well as local 

businesses. All was donated straight to Make-A-Wish 

Foundation as James would have wished. 

“James was a hero to everyone he met and he would be 

proud of the generosity people presented,” Alice said. 

community. For me, the culture exchange and development 

of understanding between the Australian volunteers and 

the Nepali people was more important than the physical 

buildings we left behind. I will remember those eight weeks 

as the most challenging, yet most rewarding and fun times 

of my life. 

Jana’s host Buuwa (Dad), Narayan Sapkota. 

Photo supplied by Jana Vitesnikova

Egypt Experience 

by Madelaine Comfort 


After spending just two days at school, Heather 

McGushin, Peter Jones and I set off for 36 hours of 

travelling to Egypt for a Model United Nations Conference 

(MUN) hosted by the 

Oasis International 

School. After long 

waits in airports 

and many games of 

cards we arrived and 

were hit by a sudden 

rise in temperature. 

We were joined by 

Friends’ students, 

Sharon Vulimu, who 

had travelled from 

Kenya and Valentine 

Decamps who came 

from Brazil. 

The Oasis 

International School 

is an IB international 

school with French 

The Citadel of Salah El Din. 

as its first language. The school is quite similar to Friends’ 

but there are a few main differences, including the masses 

of security, the cleaners who were working throughout 

the day, the lack of grounds and no one using computers 

in class. 

Madelaine Comfort, Heather McGushin, Sharon Vulimu and Valentine Decamps at the Model United Nations Conference. 

We followed strict procedural rules, similar to those of 

the United Nations, throughout the conference. The ideas 

and themes that ran throughout the conference included 

the creation of awareness of international issues, the 

establishment of peace and justice throughout the world 

and the encouragement for all delegates to attain and 

develop a global perspective. 

At the end of the week there was a closing ceremony 

where awards were given out for best delegates in each 

committee, best delegate overall and best chair. I was 

awarded best delegate in my committee. 

Tourist activities such as a Nile cruise, visiting a resort 

in the middle of the desert, a traditional dance performance 

and parties hosted by the school provided opportunities to 

meet the international students attending the conference. 

Hassan Mosque. Inside the Citadel there were hanging 

lights and a beautifully decorated dome ceiling. Our guide 

told us that Salah El Din chose the site of the Citadel 

A traditional dancer. 

The conference hosted students from France, Italy, 

Jordan, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Abu Dhabi, Australia 

and Egypt. During the opening ceremony, the Secretary 

General of the Model Conference and Ambassadors from 

Japan, Kenya and Canada all gave speeches on what they 

hoped the conference would achieve. The Principal of the 

Oasis International School spoke of the aims of MUN, 

which included the need to create awareness about today’s 

international issues, to encourage delegates to reach 

an agreement on international issues, to create mature 

independent global thinkers who communicate clearly and 

to develop delegates’ moral and ethical principles. 

Heather McGushin and Madelaine Comfort in front of the Step 

Pyramid. 

Each of the students was given a country to represent. 

We were delegates for Brazil. We were split into Security, 

Environment, Human Rights, Disarmament, Economic and 

Social Committees and the International Court of Justice. 

Here we discussed issues and came up with resolutions and 

presented amendments. Topics included the prevention of 

the spread of nuclear weapons, the eradication of piracy on 

the Somalia coast, the decimation of the Amazon Rainforest 

and the protection of aid workers in conflict zones. 

Heather McGushin, Sharon Vulimu and Peter Jones in front of the 

Sphinx. 

We had arrived a week earlier than the start of the 

conference and took the opportunity to visit tourist and 

other popular sights of Cairo, including the Giza pyramids, 

the Citadel of Salah El Din, a number of mosques, the 

Egyptian Museum and the Khan el Khalili souk. The 

highlight for me was visiting the Giza pyramids and the 

Sphinx. The Sphinx was much smaller than we expected 

but nonetheless still very impressive. We were able to go 

inside one of the smaller pyramids a few kilometres away. 

The walls and ceiling were covered in hieroglyphics and a 

huge stone sarcophagus was also there. 

Visiting the Khan el Khalili souk was amazing as it 

was a series of twisting alleys and streets filled with stalls 

and shops, where each owner was trying to convince us to 

buy something. 

Our hosts also took us to a rooftop party on the 16th 

floor of an apartment building, where we were left feeling 

slightly underdressed. We turned up in jeans and very 

modest clothing as we expected them to be conservatively 

dressed. It turned out that they wore short party dresses just 

like people do here. 

Over the week we saw numerous mosques including the 

Citadel of Salah El Din, El Rifai Mosque and the Al Sultan 

Heather McGushin and Madelaine Comfort at the Amr ibn al Ass 

Mosque. 

because of its healthy air. The story is that he hung pieces 

of meat in the areas around Cairo. In all the places, the 

meat spoilt within a day, except for the area of the Citadel 

where it remained fresh for several days. From outside the 

Citadel we had a great view of Cairo and the layer of smog 

that covered it! 

Coptic Cairo is an older area of Cairo with a strong 

religious history. Moses and Jesus are both supposed to 

have stayed there. We visited a mosque, a Greek Orthodox 

Church and a Coptic Church all within walking distance. 

One of the Churches in this area is said to be where Jesus 

took refuge when he was in Egypt. 

The conference was a really good opportunity to listen 

to people’s opinions on important issues that are affecting 

the world today. It was great to see that we could create 

resolutions on these issues, that we all agreed to, when the 

real United Nations couldn’t find solutions for them. 

Peter Jones outside the Egyptian Museum. 

Photographs by Madelaine Comfort, 

Heather McGushin and Peter Jones.

6 


Anita Corrigan, Ebony Alexander, Zoe Corrigan, Nina Khoury, 

Sanchia Watchorn, Melanie Fulton and Thea McCarthy. 

by Nick Cuthbertson 

by Monique Bleach 

Harmony Day was first 

held in 1999 in an attempt to 

unite a nation and discourage 

racial prejudice in Australia 

with the message that 

“everyone belongs”. 

This celebration 

coincides with the United 

Nations International Day 

for the Elimination of 

Racial Discrimination. 

The event aims to 

involve communities in 

events of cultural and racial 

significance to celebrate the 

diversity within Australia and 

promote inclusion and respect 

of all races, cultures and 

religions within our society. 

The 2010 Harmony 

Day theme of “Express 

Yourself” was adopted by 

the Friends’ community 

to develop a day centered 

around creative ways in 

Service 

Relay for Life a Running Success 

A total of 61 students 

and 15 staff converged on 

the Domain Athletics Centre 

to participate in the annual 

Cancer Council event, the 

2010 Relay for Life as part 

of the Friendlies team. 

The team, led by Julian 

Robertson, kept the baton 

on the move for 24 hours 

Harmony Day 

and in the process raised 

a combined total of over 

$2000 for cancer research. 

The event, which 

took place on 27 and 28 

February, had a real carnival 

atmosphere with live music 

and the tents of over 80 teams 

dotted around the track. 

Throughout the event 

there were also some very 

special moments such as 

the ‘Survivors Walk’, where 

the brave people who have 

overcome their battle with 

cancer walked in support of 

those who are not so fortunate. 

Perhaps the most moving 

and emotional moment 

of all, however, was the 

luminary ceremony where 

candles were lit in memory 

of loved ones who had died 

of cancer. 

Ebony Alexander, Sanchia Watchhorn and Nina Khoury. 

Year 10 students performing on Harmony Day. Callum Jones, 

Heather Howard, Brittany Nugent and Catherine Webster. 

Photo by Heather Rowledge 

which harmony could be in a clear box near the Meeting 

conveyed whilst remaining House to decompose. 

inclusive of the whole of the Jaffas, with personalised 

Friends’ School community. messages, were bought 

On Friday 19 March and sent to friends and 

Friends’ celebrated Harmony acquaintances, and videos 

Day in orange, raising money highlighting the significance 

for Amnesty International. of belonging and acceptance 

Words of harmony such were shown around 

as “peace”, “acceptance” and the School. 

“diversity” were written on Harmony was dispersed 

fallen leaves and were placed within our school and nation. 

At this time, participants 

observed a moment’s silence 

in recognition of those who 

are no longer with us. 

It was a huge task to keep 

the baton, a torch crafted by 

Jess Tanner to resemble the 

school’s emblem, moving 

around the track and it took 

some inspirational efforts 

from all involved to make 

this happen. 


Andrew Eckhardt taking part in the student vs staff soccer match. 

Georgina Goodman, Debbie Just, Rebecca Goodman, Sophie 

Goodman, Andrew Goodman, Julian Robertson, Julie Shelton and 

Peter Jones. 

Walker House students 

kept the baton on the move 

during the early hours of the 

morning, along with Tony 

Barrett, who walked nonstop 

for two and a half hours 

from 2.00 am to 4.30 am. 

Thea Escreet came all 

the way from Cambridge 

at 5.00 am to do her bit for 

the team, while Betty Reeve 

arrived bright and early at 

6.00 am. 

Overall, the event was a 

huge success with over 80 

teams raising $435 000 for 

the Cancer Council Charity. 

All staff and students 

should be very proud of 

what they have achieved, 

the money they raised and 

the support they have given 

to those affected by such a 

devastating disease. 

Photographs supplied by Julian 

Robertson 

Blue Dragon, a Lifeline for 

Street Children 

by Oliver Ladlow and 

Oliver Wood 

The Friends’ High School 

did their part in helping to 

eradicate childhood poverty 

in Vietnam by holding a 

“Blue Dragon Day” on 24 

March this year. 

Blue Dragon Foundation 

is a charity based in Vietnam, 

helping street kids. 

Michael Brosowski, the 

founder of Blue Dragon, 

visited the High School and 

spoke at our Assembly on 

19 March; accompanied by 

former shoe-polisher and 

street-child, Vi Do, now an 

outreach worker. 

We watched footage of Vi 

talking to street kids in Hanoi, 

trying to convince them to 

accept accommodation or at 

least a meal. 

Unfortunately, many 

children are afraid of being 

molested, so they treat 

workers like Vi with fear 

and trepidation. 

The Foundation is 

currently working with 850 

street kids and, so far, the 

Grace Bunton, Edward Perkins, Tom Anderson, Matthew Bohmer, 

Liv Walter and Evie Anderson watching the student staff match. 

Photos by Heather Rowledge 

Blue Dragon Foundation has 

sent 928 kids back to school, 

provided accommodation 

to 74 girls and boys, 

served 71,327 meals, built 

16 homes for families, 

distributed 2,610 litres of 

milk, handed out 12,120 kgs 

of rice, reunited 47 runaway 

children with their families, 

given medical attention to 

254 children, put five teens 

through drug rehab, rescued 

42 trafficked children, and 

placed 37 teens in jobs! 

Every dollar that we 

give to this cause is a dollar 

towards changing a child’s 

life for the better. 

The students and staff of 

The Friends’ School made a 

contribution by conducting 

“Blue Dragon Day” on the 

High School campus. 

Students were encouraged 

to wear a blue accessory or 

an item of clothing and the 

staff and students played 

a keenly-fought game of 

Soccer, cheered on by the 

blue hued crowd. 

Staff and students raised 

over $1000.

Adam Flower, Woody Stone, Chris Bray, Sarah Reynolds, Corinne 

Liew and Anna-Lena Göetz listen attentively to Max Darby during 

their Visual Arts excursion to Melbourne. 

Photo supplied by Sarah Reynolds 

IB students indulge in pizzas, taking a break from TOK sessions. 

Photo supplied by Chris White 

Focus IB News May 2010 7 

Another Successful Year for the 2009 IB Cohort 

by IB Coordinator, 

Chris White 

Overall, 

the 

2009 International 

Baccalaureate cohort did 

exceptionally well. 

The key statistic is 

the number of subjects 

in which students gained 

a grade six or more in a 

Visual Arts Melbourne Excursion 

by Sarah Reynolds 

The recent overnight 

excursion to Melbourne 

provided the IB Visual 

Art class with a valuable 

experience and it was also 

a chance to extend their 

artistic knowledge and 

skills to approach the twoyear 

program. 

The trip, organised 

and led by Jenny Blake, 

with Tony Barrett acting 

as chaperone, allowed 

students from the combined 

Year 11 and 12 class to 

participate in cultural 

and educational activities 

unavailable in Hobart, 

and the opportunity to 

attend the annual Victorian 

and Tasmanian IB World 

Schools Visual Arts 

Exhibition and Seminar. 

On the first day, students 

ventured through the city, 

visiting various exhibitions 

and gained an insight into 

the Ron Mueck exhibition, 

which was the highlight 

event, showcasing hyperrealistic 

sculptures that 

depict intimate moments of 

life. 

Another exhibition 

of particular interest was 

Ricky Swallow’s The 

Bricoleur, a conglomerate of 

watercolours and sculptures 

of wood and bronze, all 

executed with the greatest 

technical and aesthetic skill. 

The following day 

was spent at the annual 

Victorian and Tasmanian 

IB World Schools Visual 

Arts Exhibition and 

seminar, displaying work 

of the highest-achieving 

art students of the 

previous year. 

The Friends’ School was 

represented with artwork 

from Lauren Fyfe, Andreas 

Altheimer and Arthur Lechte. 

After a brief inspection 

of the exhibition, the group 

gathered for a seminar with 

fellow IB students from over 

ten schools across Victoria 

where various workshops 

were held, to aquaint 

students with the nature of 

Theory of Knowledge Day 

by Christopher Small 


boatshed was busy in early 

Term 1 with the Year 11 and 

12 IB students listening to 

three guest speakers and 

taking part in a series of 

discussions and activities, 

as part of the Theory of 

Knowledge course. 

Theory of Knowledge, 

commonly known as TOK, 

subject – an excellent result 

in an IB Diploma subject. 

The cohort achieved 39 

sixes or sevens out of 96 or 

over 40% of subjects taken. 

This is added to the 

result in the Extended 

Essay and Theory of 

Knowledge components, 

where almost a third of the 

candidates gained an ‘A’ 

involves questioning the way 

we think, our knowledge 

and assumptions, in order 

to improve our thinking 

and to gain a broader 

understanding of ourselves 

and, by extension, the world 

we live in today. 

The first presentation 

by Frank Bansel from the 

Department of Education 

of UTAS, concentrated on 

drama and theatre. 

and all students passed their 

compulsory Creativity, 

Action and Service. 

Our three leading 

candidates had scores 

that would put them in 

Tasmania’s top 100. 

Hazel Buchhorn 

gained 39 points (TER 

98.25), Morgan Haywood, 

38 (TER 97.60), and 

We undertook several 

unusual activities involving 

improvisation and imitation. 

We learnt about 

communication in nonverbal 

forms, as only 

40% of communication 

is verbal. 

The fundamental idea 

behind this was seeing 

the world from another 

perspective; by listening and 

interpreting body language 

as well as communicating 

through speech. 

We were also given 

scenarios where we had no 

experience, and had to try 

to put ourselves in other 

people’s shoes. 

A quick morning tea 

was served before moving 

on to the second talk by 

John Colman from the 

School of Philosophy 

of UTAS. 

This forced us to 

think deeply as we moved 

into the field of morals 

and ethics. 

Our discussions ranged 

from morals to God and 

religion, how our conscience 

Lachlan McDermott, 37 

(TER 96.70). 

All of the candidates 

passed the diploma and the 

average points obtained by 

them was 33, which is a 

TER score of 91.4. 

Almost a third of students 

attained a score over 95 

and over half got over 90 

(converted into a TER score). 

the program and explain 

the finer details such as the 

Investigative Workbook. 

This was beneficial both 

for introducing the Year 11s 

to the course, and aiding the 

Year 12s in developing their 

themes for the exhibition, at 

the conclusion of the year. 

The Friends’ group was 

also lucky enough to speak 

with Max Darby, the chief 

examiner for Visual Arts. 

He urged the students to 

be original and innovative and 

create meaningful artwork. 

This was a great support 

for students, as such expertise 

or guidance is rarely available 

for the course. 

The IB Visual Art 

excursion to Melbourne, 

which was designed to 

complement the school 

curriculum, was possible 

thanks to the extensive efforts 

of Jenny Blake. 

It was a highly beneficial 

experience for students, 

offering guidance that 

was both practical and 

thought provoking. 

is shaped by our cultures 

and traditions and accepting 

different ways of life. 

The group discussions 

were very interesting 

and forced some of us to 

consider our stance on 

ethical issues and the nature 

of right and wrong. 

The third presentation 

of the day was made by 

Jan Pakulski; Professor 

of Sociology from UTAS, 

who came to discuss social 

differences that are present 

between generations. 

This presentation 

explained the nature 

of different people’s 

perspectives in reference to 

generations. 

We learned of many 

factors influencing these 

generations, and how or 

why they differed, so that 

by the end of the talk, 

many of us understood 

how people’s views are 

influenced and where this 

influence originates. 

We discussed how the 

generation before us is 

deemed as conservative 

Consequently, our 

congratulations should not 

only go out to our leading 

candidates but to all the 

students who succeeded 

not only in passing 

the IB Diploma but in 

embracing the challenges 

the programme offers and 

establishing the foundation 

that will continue to reward 

Extended Essay 

Night 

by Caitlin Dawson 

Friends’ hosted the 2010 

Extended Essay Presentation 

Evening at Clemes for 

all current International 

Baccalaureate students, 

teachers, parents and friends 

in February. 

Each year the Year 

12 IB students prepare a 

presentation to introduce and 

explain the Extended Essay 

topic of their choice. 

In addition, they are asked 

to talk about the research 

they have completed, the 

analysis they are aiming to 

undertake within their essay 

and the conclusions they will 

be able to draw in completing 

their essay. 

This year the presentation 

evening was an enormous 

success – not only because 

it helped the parents and 

friends of the current Year 12 

IB students become further 

informed about this major 

component of the IB program, 

but also because it provided 

the students themselves with a 

valuable opportunity to focus 

their research, and to clarify 

their ideas before presenting 

them to an audience. 

them long after a Diploma 

or TER score is forgotten. 

We must also remember 

that academic success is 

only one measure of what 

constitutes an enriching 

Diploma Programme focusing 

on international-mindedness 

and life long learning, which 

has a positive impact across 

the whole school. 

The audience then asked 

questions, which provided 

the chance for the students 

to further refine and explain 

their thoughts. 

The evening certainly 

gave those who came 

along a lot to think about, 

with presentations ranging 

across the disciplines of 

Physics, Theatre Arts, 

Human Rights, Philosophy, 

Psychology, Ecosystems and 

Environment and English. 

At the beginning of 

the evening John Green 

spoke about how valuable 

the Extended Essay is to 

all students who complete 

it because it simulates the 

process of completing an 

extended research thesis 

at university, a skill which 

will be most useful to 

those continuing on to a 

tertiary education. 

Indeed, the Extended 

Essay Presentation Evening 

was a celebration of the 

intellectual endeavour 

of the current Year 12 

students, and the life long 

skills they are learning 

including challenging and 

pushing the boundaries of 

knowledge. 

Adam Flower, Jamie Reynolds and Tim Sprod listening to one of 

the informative guest speakers during the day. 

Photo supplied by Chris White 

and thrifty while we, the 

current generation, is seen 

to be open-minded and 

more at ease with stepping 

out of our comfort zones. 

It was an entertaining 

day in which we learnt 

valuable new concepts 

and ideas. 

Many thanks go to 

our guest speakers for 

giving such enlightening 

presentations, as well to 

Chris White, Tim Sprod, 

Lou Giudici and especially 

to Colette Gallacher for 

organising the programme 

of the day.

8 


Year 6 students taking part in some of the leadership activities. 

Photo supplied by Debbie Taylor 

news 

Year 6 Leads the Way for Morris 

by Sophie Barnett 

All 75 of the Year 6 

students attended a full 

day Leadership Conference 

held at Elizabeth Street 

Pier on 22 February 2010, 

to learn the skills involved 

in becoming a leader and 

how to use those skills in a 

school environment. 

During the day several 

speakers, including Ina 

Johnson and Allison Pocius, 

talked to the students 

about different aspects 

of leadership. 

The students took part 

in group activities, which 

developed their individual 

potential and their ability to 

contribute to the group. 

All the Year 6 students 

have a position and 

responsibility for an aspect 

of Morris school life. 

These include taking 

daily physical education 

lessons, helping students 

with computer probelms and 

working with the gardener. 

The aim is to develop 

the students’ independence 

before they move to the 

High School environment 

and once again become 

the youngest students 

on campus. 

These roles are an 

opportunity for the students 

to learn for themselves 

about the issues that face the 

school and how these issues 

can be resolved. 

These groups of leaders 

are trained to work out the 

best solution for an issue 

by considering the students’ 

point of view. 

This gives students a say 

in how they want their school 

life to be and encourages 

them to take ownership of 

the solution. 

When asked what being 

a leader meant and how it 

has changed his life, student 

Andonny Papastamatis 

said, “Being a leader to 

me is being helpful and 

knowledgeable to other 

people. Becoming a leader 

has changed my life in 

the way I respect and see 

people on the inside and not 

the way they look.” 

Mahalia Woodham said 

that, “Becoming a leader, 

makes me feel like I am 

grown up, responsible and 

much more confident than 

all my previous years.” 


Freya Doyle, Julian McArdle, Lily Loughran, Ellen Curtis and 

Arabella Seddon working together on a leadership activity. 

Photo supplied by Debbie Taylor 

Romy Keppel also 

feels more mature now 

than in Year 5 stating that, 

“Leadership gave me more 

responsibility but at the same 

time more freedom”. 

This Leadership 

model has been running 

in Morris now for four 

years and is clearly having 

a constructive effect on 

the students. 

The School looks 

forward to see how the 

program positively affects 

the progress of these 

leaders in their future 

school lives. 

2010 High School Council 

by Aleisha Ring 

This year the Student 

Representative Council 

(SRC) and House Captains 

have joined together into 

one body named the High 

School Council. 

The Council is 

made up of eight House 

Captains and eight 

elected representatives: 

Nell Beasley, Sophie 

Chesterman, Jess Graham, 

Erin Jose, Will Richman, 

Allan McConnell, Ben 

Sanderson and Joel Solak. 

The main focus of the 

Council for this year is the 

conducting of High School 

assemblies, ensuring the 

The Bean Bag Cafe 

wants you to come join 

the fun! 

Open for 

High School Students on 

Wednesdays from 14 April 

Year 5 & 6 Students on 

Fridays from 16 April 

Contact Mary Wood 

for more information 

High School community is 

well connected with people 

and key organisations 

outside the school, being 

effective role models by 

helping younger students in 

the School and organising 

special events including the 

Year 7 Social. 

The House Captains will 

also focus on organising and 

participating in the Cross- 

Country, as well as the 

Swimming and Athletics 

Carnivals. 

They will also be 

responsible for organising 

the annual House Drama 

night. 

The captains for each 

house are: 

Pool tables 

Table Tennis 

Rock Band 

Many more activities 

See you at 

25 Tasma Street, 

North Hobart 

Mather – Lucy Weeding 

and Andrew Eckhardt; 

Hodgkin – Ellie Brennan 

and Josh Winston; 

Ransome – Anna Wade 

and James Gunn; 

Unwin – Dariel Roper 

and Alexander Frame. 

The elected School 

representatives are required 

to take on other roles in 

the school. 

All members have been 

broken into pairs who meet 

with one of the various 

school committees to 

discuss issues. 

They then report back to 

the council, discussing with 

the whole group, ideas and 

focus areas that the committee 

are working towards. 

Joel Solak and Nell 

Beasley are also involved in 

the Service Committee. 

Nell is part of the 

Environment and Grounds 

Committee with Jess Graham. 

Erin Jose and Sophie 

Chesterman ensure that the 

Common Room is kept in a 

neat and tidy manner. 

Lucy Weeding and Will 

Richman are part of the 

Uniform Committee, so the 

students now have an easier 

way of having their uniform 

concerns heard. 

Ben Sanderson has 

become the liaison student 

with the Parents and 

Friends Association. 

Well known student 

musician, Allan McConnell, 

is student representative on 

the Friendsmusic Committee. 

With all these changes, 

2010 should be a year of 

change within the High 

School community. 

Elected members of the High School Council taking a break during one of their regular meetings. 

Back row: Ben Sanderson, Allan McConnell and Joel Solak. Front row: Erin Jose, Jess Graham and 

Nell Beasley. 

Absent: Sophie Chesterman and Will Richman. 

Photo by Bob Scandrett 

Elected High School House Captains. Back row: Andrew Eckhardt (M), Josh Winston (H) and James 

Gunn (R). Front row: Lucy Weeding (M), Dariel Roper (U), Ellie Brennan (H) and Anna Wade (R). 

Absent: Alexander Frame (U). 

Photo by Bob Scandrett

Friends’ Connections 

An eight page magazine produced by the Development Office and Archives 

Old Scholar News 

Henry Shoobridge 

(1891) has been the subject 

of quite a lot of research 

lately. He is credited as the 

pioneer of organic farming in 

Tasmania, when at the age of 

71 years in 1946 he founded 

the Living Soil Association 

at a public meeting in 

Hobart. Henry was one of 

the original 1887 students at 

Friends’ his family has been 

supporters of our School for 

several generations. Can 

any readers help with more 

information about Henry or 

other former students and 

their association with what 

we know now as organic 

gardening and farming? 

Helen Wardrop 

(Medhurst) (1936) 

celebrates a special birthday 

this year and is looking 

forward to having her family 

celebrate with her. Philip 

Wardrop (1961) and his 

wife Wendy will travel from 

the United Kingdom. Peter 


wife Louise and daughter 

will come from Melbourne 

and will join with Andrew 


family who live locally. 

We are sure all readers will 

wish Helen the happiest of 

birthday celebrations. 

It was good to receive 

news from Jean Brown 

(Wignall) (1932). Jean 

attended Friends’ during 

Ernest Unwin’s time as 

Head. Her son Linden 

Brown (1962) attended 

Friends’ during Bill Oats’ 

Headship and Linden’s 

children, Christopher Brown 

and Veronique Brown also 

attended the School until 

1984 when the family 

moved to Sydney. Linden, 

who ran Linden Brown and 

Associates for many years in 

Australia, went on to work 

in California with a new 

business, ‘World Cultural 

Strategies’. Son Christopher 

has now joined this business 

and lives in California while 

Linden and his wife Noelle, 

live in semi retirement in 

Manly, NSW along with 

Veronique who works in 

Sydney. 

We had news from 

Stanley Roberts (1941). 

Stanley and his brother 

Gerald Roberts (1943) and 

sister June Roberts (1938) 

attended Friends’ in the mid 

1930’s before the family 

relocated to Queensland. 

June returned for a year in 

1936. Stanley sent a lovely 

photo of himself and twenty 

five other ‘brushed and 

polished’ students including 

Geoff Shields, Lewis 

Griffiths, Brian Smith, Jeff 

Boyes and Errol Gruber 

sitting with their teacher, 

Miss Erskine, outside the 

old girls gym, now the High 

School student common 

room. 

Helen Whitford 

(Tossell) (1944) contacted 

us recently from her home 

in South Australia. Helen 

has been pleased to attend 

several reunions over the 

past few years and fondly 

remembers the Centenary 

celebration in 1987. She 

keeps up to date with the 

School and contact with old 

School friends, Joy Smith 

(1944) and Ann Maartensz 

(Patman) (1944). Helen 

became a Music teacher 

after her family grew up and 

enjoyed 25 years teaching 

piano. She still leads an 

active life and continues her 

musical connections. 

News from Ken Walker 

(1945), one of four Walker 

brothers to attend Friends’. 

Ken moved to live in 

Canberra in 1952 where he 

continued his geological 

career with Geoscience 

Australia. Ken, retired 

for many years, and his 

wife Jeanette are currently 

involved in a vintage car 

association and golf and 

beach time at Mollymook, 

NSW. Ken and two of his 

brothers recently attended 

the 60+ School reunion. 

Nola Totham (1946) 

travelled from her home 

in Adelaide to attend a 

recent reunion at School. 

During her stay Nola spent a 

nostalgic day at The Mercury 

where she started working 

after her School years. Nola 

went on to a long career as 

a journalist and retired from 

the Adelaide Advertiser. In 

a busy retirement now she 

continues to play tennis. 

Stewart McNeair 

(1948) was a welcome 

visitor at School recently. 

Currently living in 

retirement at Ulverstone, 

Stewart is remembered as 

a keen musician during his 

School years. In active 

retirement he is currently 

President of the North 

Western Tasmanian Jazz 

Action Society and an 

active member of drama 

and music groups. He is 

currently playing the role 

of ‘a drunken vicar’ with 

Devonport Rep Society’s 

theatre restaurant. Stewart 

has recently retired as the 

President of Penguin Lions 

Club. 

Stewart McNeair. 

It was good to have 

news of Sonia Stevens 

(Moore) (1950) now living 

at Beachmere, Queensland. 

Sonia moved to Friends’ 

from Clemes College in 1946 

and spent her five years of 

secondary education on the 

Commercial Road Campus 

close by the family home 

in Carr Street. Her brother 

Francis (Frank) Moore 

(1957) attended Friends’ for 

12 years being probably the 

last former Clemes College 

scholar to leave Friends’. 

Marie 

Best 

(Andrewartha) (1950) 

shared the story of four 

generations at School 

connections recently. 

Marie’s father, Colin, 

finished at Clemes in 1918, 

his daughter Marie in 1950. 

Fiona Lewis (Best) (1993) 

and her brother Cameron 

Best (1986), Marie’s 

children, were students 

at Friends’ in the. Fiona’s 

daughter Mia Lewis started 

in Kindergarten in 2010. 

Anneka Lewis is enrolled 

for 2012. 

Marie Best. 

News from Christine 

Wellard (Jillett) (1958) 

currently living in Western 

Australia where she is close 

to her daughter Pepper 

Hutchinson (1993) and 

granddaughter. Christine 

recently moved into 

her permanent Western 

Australian home in 

Fremantle. 

It was good to hear from 

Jim Stokes (1959). In his 

50th anniversary year. Jim 

retired in 2006 after 34 years 

with the Foreign Affairs and 

Defence Departments and 

the National Archives. He is 

now doing contract research 

and records declassification 

work for the National 

Archives and he also does 

the media presentations for 

the annual release of 30 year 

old Cabinet records. 

Robyn Stokes (Le 

Bis) (1964) is Head of 

International Development 

Services at IDP Education 

Pty Ltd in Canberra. She 

has been involved with 

education assistance projects 

in many parts of South East 

Asia and southern Africa. 

She is currently managing 

I n d o n e s i a n - A u s t r a l i a n 

scholarship projects. Robyn 

and her husband Jim spend 

much spare time following 

their children around the 

world. Sally is currently 

with Kimberley Aboriginal 

Health based in Broome and 

David is an economist in the 

energy planning field and is 

based in London. 

Congratulations to 

Brent Armstrong 1964 

who was one of Tasmania’s 

12 Medal of the Order 

of Australia recipients 

announced on Australia Day 

this year. Brent was General 

Manager of the Hobart City 

Council 1997-2008, deputy 

Town Clerk 1985-1997 

and national director, Local 

Government Managers 

Australia 2007-2008. 

Currently Brent is chairman 

of Quadrant Superannuation 

and Deputy Chair of 

Anglicare Australia. 

News of the Rofe boys 

(their mother Nola Rofe will 

be remembered as Matron 

of the Boarding House for 

several years and later the 

School medical supervisor). 

Michael Rofe (1970) is 

living in Sydney. Over 

many years he has enjoyed 

travel and music and 

currently reviews music in 

the Weekend Australian and 

Limelight magazines. A time 

living in Switzerland was 

the impetus to his studying 

French, a long term interest. 

Stephen Rofe (1970) 

balances an enjoyment of 

sailing and an interest in 

wine (having completed 

studies in wine making) 

with his position as Director 

of Gastroenterology at the 

Fremantle Hospital along 

with a private practice in 

Perth, Western Australia. 

News from David 

Sheppard (1973) who has 

recently taken up a job based 

in Apia, Samoa as CEO 

of SPREP, the Secretariat 

of the Pacific Regional 

Environment Programmes. 

SPREP is the lead agency 

for Pacific Island countries 

in relation to environmental 

management and climate 

change, and implements a 

number of programs in these 

areas throughout the Pacific. 

This move follows 16 

years spent in Switzerland 

with IUCN (International 

Union for Conservation of 

Nature) where David was 

responsible for IUCN Global 

Programme on National 

Parks and Protected Areas 

and also for IUCN’s role 

in relation to evaluating 

UNESCO natural World 

Heritage Sites. Before this 

David was on the Executive 

Management Board of the 

National Parks and Wildlife 

Service in NSW. 

David and his wife 

Milena have two children, 

Jack (17) and Robert (15) 

both of whom attended 

the International School 

in Geneva, where former 

Friends’ Headmaster, Bill 

Oats served with distinction. 

Radek Divis (1984) 

spent time in Spain after 

he completed his years at 

Friends’ and later attended 

the Spanish University in 

Salamanca where he honed 

his language skills. As a 

fluent speaker of Spanish 

Radek has, in his position 

with the Australian Trade 

Commission, worked in 

several Spanish - speaking 

countries. Recently Radek 

was appointed Australian 

Trade Commisssioner for 

Mexico, Central America. 

Cameron Best (1986) 

spent time at Art School 

before taking up a journalist 

cadetship with The Mercury. 

He went on to work with 

TVT6 and currently lives 

in Geelong but works in 

Ballarat with WIN TV. 

Cameron’s current position 

is Promotions Manager for 

Tasmania and Victoria. 

Kristy Sands 

(Wherrett) (1991) began 

her time at Friends’ in 1986. 

She will be remembered 

for her love of dance as 

well as sport enthusiasms 

which she now combines 

in circus performance. 

Married to Mark and 

mother of five children, 

Kristy and her family live 

at Kellevie. The family are 

all keen circus performers 

with Mark currently 

travelling nationally and 

internationally as he pursues 

his career. 

Danny Wherrett (1993) 

and his wife Alex and 

four children also live at 

Kellevie. Danny works part 

time as a software engineer, 

his remaining time is divided 

between many interests 

including the building of 

his family’s straw bale 

pole framed house and a 

strong involvement with 

the local Copping Christian 

Fellowship. Tim Wherrett 

(1996) undertook a PhD in 

Agricultural Science after 

his School years. Married 

to Emma and father of two 

children, Tim and lives at 

Lindisfarne and is currently 

teaching Outdoor Education 

and Chemistry at Calvin 

Christian School. 

Sam Nogajski (1996) 

remembered as a keen 

cricketer during his years 

as a student at Friends’, and 

coach during his teaching 

years here, umpired the 

Australian women’s 20/20 

international cricket match 

against New Zealand 

in February 2010. Sam 

is currently teaching at 

Hutchins. 

Hayley Scarr (1996) 

went on to gain a BA, B 

Teach (Deakin), M Ed 

(University of Melbourne) 

after her School years. She 

is currently teaching Year 

2 at Melbourne Grammar 

School. Personal highlights 

for Hayley in 2009 include, 

travelling to New York, 

Caribbean Islands and New 

Zealand. She plays netball 

and also completed the 

Melbourne Half Marathon. 

Hayley Scarr.

10 


friends’ connections 


News of Jared Hill 

(1997). After finishing 

School, Jared undertook a 

Bachelor of Engineering 

degree at UTAS, majoring 

in Computer Systems 

Engineering. 

While completing 

university he worked in 

the local private sector 

until starting Insight4 

with another ex-Friends’ 

and UTAS colleague, Ian 

Cumming, in 2003. 

Insight4 is an applications 

development and 

consultancy firm, delivering 

solutions and consultancy 

services to public and 

private organisations 

across government, 

education, utilities, 

t e l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s , 

finance and construction. 

The business has clients 

throughout Tasmania, 

Victoria and NSW and now 

employ over 20 staff, most 

of whom are also graduates 

of UTAS, and some of 

whom are old Friends’ boys 

as well, including David 

Benda, Daniel Carter and 

Guy Boyd. 

Katharine Podmore 

(1997) and her husband Peter 

Boyles recently became 

parents of Frances Tania 

Boyles. Katharine who has 

worked with the Department 

of Foreign Affairs and 

Trade recently undertook a 

practice teaching session at 

Friends’. 

Katharine Podmore and her 

husband Peter Boyles. 

Caroline Airey (1997) 

went on from School to study 

medicine at UTAS. Recently 

she has been working at the 

Princess Alexandra Hospital 

in Brisbane and is preparing 

to undertake her specialty. 

Iain Wilson (1998) 

went on to graduate in 

nursing and is currently 

working in the Emergency 

Medicine Department of 

the Royal Hobart Hospital 

A keen bike rider, Iain has 

been undertaking quite a 

lot of endurance bike riding 

recently. 

Robin Boyd (1999) 

has developed a great love 

of Japanese culture and 

Japanese people. He spent 

a year’s exchange at Kochi 

Nichi Senior High in Japan 

in 1997 before returning to 

School and matriculating 

in 1999. After completing 

an Arts Law degree at 

UTAS he went on to take a 

Graduate Diploma in South 

East Asian studies. This 

consisted of six months 

course work across UTAS 

and the UNSW, culminating 

in a six month study at 

Nagoya University. 

This Nagoya University 

experience was great for 

Robin, not only did he get 

to return to Japan to live for 

some time but also to meet 

his now fiancée, Tiffany 

Leidech, a Kansas lass, 

also studying at Nagoya 

University. 

Following his return 

from Japan at the start of 

2006, Robin completed 

some more subjects in 

Japanese at UTAS before 

returning to Japan to live 

for the third time in July 

2006. He has been teaching 

on the JET program now 

in his fourth year, living 

in Shirakawa in northern 

Japan. He tells us the 

skiing is especially great 

in northern Japan. Robin 

and Tiffany plan to be 

married in Colorado in July 

2010 and to continue their 

exploration of Japan. 

Julia Cornock (2000) 

studied for her Bachelor 

of Arts at Melbourne 

University and went on to 

study post graduate law 

at Latrobe. She undertook 

her legal traineeship with 

Melbourne firm McCabe 

Terrill and was admitted to 

the bar in February, 2010. 

It was good to catch 

up with the ever vibrant, 

Kate Allingham (1999). 

Kate has been living in 

Western Australia for ten 

years, currently she lives in 

Perth and is taking a break 

from her work with the 

Aboriginal Legal Service to 

spend time with her young 

daughter, Sienna. 

After graduating in 

Pharmacy, Georgie Adams 

(1999) travelled north. 

She is enjoying working 

in regional pharmacy at 

Yapoon in Queensland, 

where she also enjoys 

sea kayaking and a beach 

lifestyle. 

Laura Edwards (1999) 

graduated in Medicine from 

UTAS and has gone on to 

work interstate. She was 

recently married to Mick 

Stephens and they plan 

to move to Darwin where 

Laura will continue her 

medical practice and study. 

Photographed at her wedding, 

Laura and her husband Mike 

and Kathy Rundle (1964). 

Nick King (2000) 

will be remembered by 

his fellow students as an 

enthusiastic drama student. 

This year he has again trod 

the thespian way when, The 

Perfect Circle, a theatre 

piece written by himself and 

an associate, Craig Wood, 

was performed to acclaim 

at the Mount Nelson Studio 

Theatre. 

Erin Newman (2002), 

remembered as a keen 

sportsperson during her 

years at Friends’, went on 

to gain a Bachelor of Sports 

Science from UTAS in 

Launceston. Working part 

time as a swimming teacher 

and with a physiotherapist, 

Erin is currently studying 

Occupational Therapy full 

time at Monash University. 

It was good to catch 

up with the Dobson twins 

recently, Gretchen Dobson 

and Susan Dobson (2002) 

will be remembered as fine 

sportspersons, currently they 

are both studying in Victoria. 

Gretchen is studying 

Communication and Design 

at Swinburne while Susan 

is studying Education at 

the University of Victoria. 

Susan recently ran in the 

Melbourne Marathon. 

Gretchen Dobson and Susan 

Dobson. 

Cameron Coleman 

(2005) undertook a 

Bachelor of Medical 

Research at UTAS after his 

School years. Cameron’s 

honours project involved 

a study of nocturnal blood 

pressure and once finished 

he achieved Honours in 

Medical Research. 

Adam Cormock (2003) 

completed his Human 

Movement studies at UTAS 

in Launceston and has 

moved to Ballarat where he 

is undertaking a Masters in 

Exercise Rehabilitation. 

Alen Sahinovic (2005) 

and Denis Sahinovic (2014) 

will be well remembered by 

School friends. The family 

moved their business base 

from Hobart to Sydney a 

few years ago and Denis is 

currently in Year 9 at SCEGS, 

Redlands in Sydney. Alen 

attended Bond University 

and has completed his law 

degree, he will complete his 

Commerce degree there at the 

end of this year. 

Paul Yarnall (2006) 

remembered as a keen drama 

and production student during 

his years at Friends’ went on 

to study at NIDA from where 

he graduated at the end of 

2009. 

Jacob Newman (2006) 

went from School to UTAS 

where in 2009, he gained a 

Bachelor of Business degree. 

While working part time in 

retail at the Hobart Airport, 

Jacob has returned to UTAS 

to undertake further studies. 

Jacob’s brother Luke, also 

enrolled at UTAS is studying 

pharmacy and working 

part time in a pharmacy in 

Glenorchy. 

Sonya Wellby (2008) 

returned to Hobart at the end 

of her Gap year enriched 

by a series of wonderful 

experiences in Africa. This 

year she is enrolled at the 

ANU in Canberra where she 

will study Arts Science with a 

real interest in environmental 

science. 

The 2008 Australian 

Student Prize Winners were 

announced late last year. 

Congratulations to Edward 

Kay, Jack Marquis, Joshua 

Petrass and Timothy Fielder 

on being awarded these 

prestigious prizes. 

Hannah Pemberton 

(2009) sent news of her 

arrival in Canada where she 

is spending a year on a GAP 

exchange. She is living in 

one of the coldest cities in 

Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba. 

Working at Balmoral Hall 

School for Girls where she 

mainly works with “littlies”, 

mostly four to five year olds. 

News of Claire Butler 

(2009) remembered at School 

as a great orienteeer. She 

is took part in the National 

Orienteering Championships 

in Canberra at Easter and 

finished second. 

Clemesian 

Connections 

At School we value 

continuing connections with 

Clemes College and Clemes 

College students. So it was 

good recently to receive a 

copy of the 1943 Clemesian 

from Sonia Stevens. Sonia 

mentions that the magazine 

was referred to as The 

Spider. Archives have a 

copy of the 1942 Clemesian, 

in a similar format to the 

1943 magazine. Prior to 

1942 the magazine had been 

quite a formal production. 

Archives has no 1944 

magazine, was there one? 

If readers know it would 

help us fill our Archives 

information gap. The 1945 

magazine was a Souvenir 

edition and Archives has 

copies. 

Gifts to Archives 

Manty Arnott (Casimaty) 

costume 

Mandy Bradfield 

costume 

Terry and Sandra Brown 

foosball table 

Rosemary Butler 

costume, book and musical book 

Mary Dallas (Lorimer) 

books and water colour painting 

Lyndsay Farrall and Stephanie Farrall (Oats) 

books 

Jane Fricker 

costume 

Dorothy Furmage 

historic book collection 

Beth McLeod (Tribolet) 

costume and AC material 

Joyce Morrisby (Jones) 

financial donation 

Isabel Paton 

suitcase belonging to 

Elisabeth Paton (Woolston) 

Elaine and Dorothy Pearce 

watercolour paintings, news clippings, 

invitations, programs 

Kate, Jane, Alice Polglase 

costume 

Nola Rofe 

books 

Kieran Slicer 

framed Egyptian art work 

Joy Smith 

programs, letters, autograph books 

Sonia Stevens (Moore) 

magazines and postcard 

Beth Stibbings 

books and publications 

Janet Upcher 

photographs and documents related 

to Pearl Walter 

Jin Yuan School 

decorative items including 

tassels, book marks and cards

Focus friends’ connections May 2010 11 

A Very Big Thank You to our Annual Givers for 2009 

Each year the 

Development Office sends 

an Annual Giving Brochure 

to members of our School 

community. 

We would like to take 

this opportunity to once 

again thank the following 

people who donated to 

our 2009 Annual Giving 

Program. In 2009 

donors were given the 

opportunity to donate to 

the Scholarships, Prizes 

and Bursaries Fund or the 

Library Fund. 

In May this year we will 

launch our 2010 Annual 

Giving Program. This year 

members of our School 

community will be able to 

choose from three Funds 

- the Building Fund for 

the new Assembly Hall; 

Scholarships, Prizes & 

Bursaries and the Library 

Fund. 

Thank you. 

Online Giving now 

available at Friends’ 

Craig Anderson 

Nonie Andrews 

Lance & Heather Cowled 

David & Carmel Asten 

James Bamford 

Jan & Maaike Barnhoorn 

Ruth Bernard 

Evan Best 

John Blundstone 

Andrew Brice 

Isobel Broadhurst 

Jean Brown 

Dorothy Brownell 

Eric Burgess 

Jan Cerny 

Ketrina Clarke 

Margaret Corrick 

Cresswell Coaches 

John Cruickshank 

Patricia Firkin 

Mary Fisher 

Richard Foster 

Philip & Fay Fowler 

Tony Friend 

Margaret & Dick Gardner 

General & Window 

Cleaning Pty Ltd 

Vicki Gould 

David & Jenny Grafton 

Alf Hagger 

Lindsay Hand 

Drossos Haramantas 

Tony Hill 

Margaret Horton 

John Hyndes 

Sam Ibbott 

Elizabeth Jack 

Ross Jacobson 

Nola Kenny 

Thomas Kirkland 

Anne Lewer 

Ian & Jane MacDonald 

Michael Mackenzie 

Kerryn Macmillan 

Dugald McDougall 

Roseanne & Malcolm 

McDougall 

Barry McFarlane 

Herbert Menka 

Bronwen Meredith 

Kate Moore 

Estate of the Late 

Joyce Morrisby 

Hugh Murphy 

Dorothy Pearce 

Elaine Pearce 

Clive & Jennie Pointon 

Projex Furniture 

Ruth Raward 

Michael Read 

Warwick Risby 

Enid Robertson 

Ruth Rogers 

Elizabeth Small 

Joy Smith 

Anne Thwaites 

Viraphonh Viravong 

Ian Walker 

Kenneth Walker 

Elaine Wardlaw 

Elaine Watson 

Hugh Wells 

Raymond Westwood 

Jane Wilcox 

Peter & Barbara Wilde 

Margaret Wilkinson 

Geoff Williamson 

Tim & Natalie Woodham 

Leslie Woolley 

ICT Manager, Duncan Gillespie and Development & Community 

Relations Manager, Steve McQueeney are pictured here perusing 

the new online donation facility. 

We are very excited 

to announce that our new 

online donation facility 

is now available on our 

website. 

Members of our 

community can be assured 

that they will be providing 

their details to a secure 

location. Donations 

may be made to our 

Capital Campaign for 

the new Assembly Hall, 

Scholarships, Prizes & 

Bursaries or the Library 

Fund. Your tax deductible 

donation, no matter how 

large or small, will be 

greatly appreciated and will 

make a difference. To try 

out our new facility please 

visit www.friends.tas.edu. 

au/howyoucanhelp or 

you may like to find more 

information about how you 

can volunteer at Friends’ 

or how you can make a 

bequest. 

50 Years On... 


is a School of changes, a 

School where change is often 

balanced by constraints. 

Fifty years is a long time 

in the life of a school and when 

we reflect on what happened 

in 1960 - it is interesting to 

think how these changes are 

reflected in the life of our 

School today. These few ‘now 

and then’ notes may remind 

readers of other changes and 

developments. 

In 1960 the first Meeting 

for Worship was held in the 

new Argyle Street Meeting 

House. In 2010 our students 

continue to Gather there 

regularly for reflective silence. 

In 1960 a system of 

electing Prefects was 

introduced. While Prefects 

no longer have a place in The 

Friends’ School community, 

we continue to have elected 

student representatives. 

The building of a new 

Junior School, later to be 

known as Morris and now 

known as Walpole began. 

Today this area is an active 

place, connected with 

electronic networks. 

The names of Charles 

Annells and Evan Williams 

were recorded in Prizes given 

to Matriculation students. We 

continue to remember the 

Annells and Williams names 

and families. 

The School Music Club 

met every second Friday for 

a varied two-hour program. 

A sub group played music 

in Assemblies. Music in our 

School today is vibrant and 

alive with many groups and 

ensembles meeting regularly. 

In 1960 Siegfried Damian 

joined the staff. Mr Damian is 

remembered as an enthusiastic 

teacher of German. He 

joined teachers of French, 

Esperanto and Latin. Friends’ 

today continues to teach four 

languages, French, German, 

Japanese and Chinese. 

In 1969 the Cuisenaire 

Method of teaching 

Arithmetic was introduced 

in Prep School. While 

Cuisenaire came and went the 

School continues to develop 

curriculum. 

Ian Taylor won the 1960 

Ray Green Lecturette with a 

fiery talk on hatred.The Ray 

Green Speaking Competition 

continues and the 2009 award 

was made to Michael Cromer 

and the 2010 competition 

will be held very soon. John 

Pilcher won the 1960 Mary 

Stanfield award, Laura 

Redpath won the most recent 

Mary Stanfield Speaking 

Competition. 

Lord Rowallan, Governor 

of Tasmania attended the 1960 

Speech Night and distributed 

prizes. These days we have 

end-of-year Assemblies 

in which student success 

is recognised. The End of 

Year gathering has taken the 

place of Speech night and is 

a wonderful Whole School 

celebration. 

In 1960 Mr Leereveld 

taught Esperanto and 

Alison Oats won the 

Esperanto Association Essay 

Competition “Why we need 

an International Language”. 

Ian Jillett and Gregor 

Lasch were leading lights in 

the 1960 School orchestra. 

In 2010 Daniel Arbiv and 

Callum Jones were leading 

lights in the Concert Band. 

Bill Everett did well in the 

Speech and Drama section of 

the Eisteddfod having won the 

Ray Green Lecturette in 1959. 

In 1960 Cord cursive 

writing was introduced in 

Junior School. In 2010 all 

students from Year 5 use lap 

top computers. 

In 1960 Long Service 

Leave for staff was 

introduced. In 2010 some 

staff are taking advantage of 

renewal leave, carers leave 

and compassionate leave as 

well as leave for Professional 

Development. 

In 1960 The Friends’ 

School Boat Shed Appeal 

was launched. In 2010 the 

Boat Shed is a wonderful 

enlarged facility and the Boat 

Club though strong is still 

raising money for boats and 

equipment. 

School buses from Eastern 

Shore and Taroona were 

initiated for Prep and Junior 

School students in 1960. In 

2010, the School runs two 

buses for general purposes 

and a commuter van and 

our bus driver, Vicki Joseph 

collects Morris students from 

Margate to the City. 

Tim Hurburgh was boy 

tennis captain in 1960. In 

2010 Harry West is the boys 

captain. 

John Soundy was the 

1960 Echoes Editor. The 2010 

Echoes class is underway and 

this year Echoes will again be 

a full colour publication. 

Jim Stokes was 

Circulation Manager for 

Focus in 1959 and Business 

Manager in 1960. The 2010 

Focus class, also known as 

Media Production class, works 

with Ludmila Vitesnikova 

(Chudackova) (1970) and 

Amy Hall is the Editor of the 

first issue of Focus 2010. 

The Cadbury Lecture 

Theatre benefited from the 

installation of a second heater. 

The Asten Lecture Theatre 

in 2010 benefits from a 

refurbishment of its lovely 

myrtle wood work. 

Hilary and Alan Wallace 

were responsible for the 

School ‘Health Lectures’. In 

2010 students work through 

a wide range of health issues 

in their Personal and Social 

Development units (PSD). 

A work experience activities 

program was introduced in 1960 

for the week after Schools Board 

Year 10 exams. In 2010 Year 10 

work experience continues in 

the last week of Semester 1. 

The 1960 Old Scholars prize 

for boys was awarded to Robert 

Hall. The most recent award 

was made to Sam McQueeney 

voted for by his peers. 

School banking was 

introduced in 1960 at the request 

of Mothers Club. 

In 2010 an online facility 

is available on the School’s 

website for donations. 

1960 girls lunchtime gathering on the bottom green. 

1sts Cricket for 1960. 

1960 Boys Prefect.

12 




The Roof is On 

The construction of 

the new assembly hall is 

progressing on time with 

the roof on and most of the 

external walls in place. 

Work is well underway 

to fitout the music practice 

rooms and the multipurpose 

classroom. 

The internal construction 

of the main auditorium 

is almost complete and 

installation of wall and ceiling 

linings, seating and flooring 

are soon to follow. 

Heating and lighting will 

be next followed by stage 

lighting and general finishing. 

The project is expected 

to be completed and 

the Hall in use before 

the end of the School 

year. Students and staff 

are looking forward to 

completion and having full 

access to the grounds again 

soon.

Focus friends’ connections May 2010 13

14 




The Class of 1999 Return 

Photograph courtesy of Richard Williams 

From left - right: Tori Percival, Andrew Koolhof, Bridget Dunne, 

Edward and Imogen Doddridge, James Suttil, Erica Galloway, 

Rupert Murray-Arthur. 

Imogen and Andrew’s Story 

Imogen Doddridge 

(Koolhof) (2004) and Ed 

Doddridge (2004) were 

married at the Baha'i 

Centre for Learning in 

Hobart on 16 January 2010. 

The bridal party included 

Bridget Dunne (2004), Erica 

Galloway (2004), James 

Suttil (2004) and Andrew 

Koolhof (2007). 

After leaving School 

Imogen spent a GAP year 

working, volunteering at 

the Girl Guide world centre 

in Switzerland, Our Chalet, 

and travelling in Europe. 

Imogen graduated with 

a Diploma in Languages 

(Japanese) in 2008, and is 

studying for a Bachelor of 

Psychology at UTAS. 

Ed took two years off 

after School, volunteering 

on the sail training vessel 

Windward Bound and 

completing his Master 

5 and MED3 maritime 

qualifications at the 

Australian Maritime 

College. Ed graduated with 

a Diploma in Languages 

(German) in 2009, and is 

Obituaries 

Many long time members 

of the School community 

will be saddened to learn of 

the death of Lewis (Lew) 

Barton Ford. Lew was 

employed from 1959-1977 

as groundsman, caretaker 

and cleaner at Argyle Street 

in what were then known 

as the Junior and Middle 

Schools. Lew’s wife will be 

remembered for her work at 

Argyle Street too, her role 

involving the cleaning of the 

Preparatory School. 

Pat Nightingale died 

recently and our School 

community gives thanks 

for her life. Pat, wife of 

long serving staff member 

Alec Nightingale, taught at 

Friends’ for a year before the 

birth of her children, Prue 

and Philip. The Nightingales 

were involved as House 

parents for some years 

and Pat was involved with 

Hobart Regional Meeting 

and especially QSA. 

currently completing the 

final year of his Bachelor of 

Science (Maths and Physics) 

at UTAS. 

Bridget spent a year 

working after leaving 

School, during which she 

also volunteered at the 

Girl Guide world centre in 

Mexico, Our Cabaña. She 

is currently studying at 

UTAS for her Bachelor of 

Arts and Bachelor of Laws. 

Erica too worked for 

a year after School before 

going to UTAS, and she 

achieved her Bachelor 

of Arts (Sociology, 

Psychology) and Diploma 

in Languages (German) in 

2009. 

James completed his 

Bachelor of Science with 

Honours in 2008, and 

is now doing a PhD in 

Organometallic Chemistry 

at UTAS. 

Andrew spent his GAP 

year working then travelling 

in Europe and India, and has 

just completed the first year 

of a Bachelor of Engineering 

at UTAS. 

Each year former 

students anticipate the 

regular ten year and one 

year out reunions. Those 

held at the end of 2009 

were as well received as 

ever. Held in the Mark 

Curtis Foyer of the Clemes 

building the occasions offer 

opportunities for former 

students not only to get to 

catch up with one another 

but also to catch up with 

changes and developments 

at School. 

The ten year out has 

long been an event former 

students enjoy. (Some 

have unfounded pre-event 

We Give Thanks for the Life of.... 

Gavin Barr 

Mollie Bresnehan 

Tony Divis 

Lewis Barton Ford 

Joseph Garlick 

Jock Geeves 

John Grimwade 

Campbell Gunn 

Murray Hamilton 

Ellison Hawker 

Susan Hope 

Ken Iredale 

Kenneth Raymond Lane 

Michael Lester 

Geoff McClure 

Arthur Robert Neilson 

Patricia Nightingale 

Dorothy Pitfield (Levis) 

Cherry Ramsay (La Nauze) 

Patricia Roy (La Nauze) 

Esme Forbes Ross 

Leonard Reynolds 

Diana Mary Scott (Salmon) 

Norman Siberry 

Clive John Stokes 

Roland Whitchurch 

Evan Williams 

Paul Willing 

doubts). The 1999 leavers 

have been part of a wide 

variety of experience and 

activities described by one 

attendee as the University 

of Life: others are studying 

and others working. The 

former students came from 

around Australia and began 

the evening at School. Most 

later moved on to other local 

venues. 

The leavers of 1999 are 

travelling the road of life in a 

wonderfully diverse number 

of ways. Grace Sussmilch 

who studied Speech Therapy 

at LaTrobe University 

is currently working as 

Claire Shield, Anna Sculthorpe (Hampton) Meg Burbury (Cardno) 

and Lottie White. 

Howard Oettle, Jonothan 

Culberg and James Robinson 

A Special 

Gift 

One particularly 

interesting gift brought into 

School recently by Robert 

Paton (1951) and his sister 

Marion Isobel Paton was a 

suitcase which had belonged 

to Elisabeth Margaret Paton 

(1950) (later Elisabeth 

Woolston) when she was 

a boarder at Friends’ in the 

early 1940’s. Elisabeth’s 

father had written a check 

list of boarding requirements 

and this list is still stuck to 

the lid of the suitcase. 

The Paton parents 

were missionaries of the 

Tasmanian Presbyterian 

Church and while their 

parents were overseas, the 

children spent time with 

their maternal grandmother. 

Their mother Marion 

(Maisie) Isobel Paton (Reid) 

had spent all her school 

days at Friends’ and lived 

at Blairlogie which later 

became the Headmaster’s 

house and renamed Pendle 

Hill. 

a speech therapist at the 

Royal Hobart Hospital. 

Jessica Absolom (le Bis) 

is the mother of Lily and is 

expecting another child early 

this year. Alistair Wyatt is 

working in his own events 

management company in 

Sydney. Charles White is 

teaching at Goulburn Street 

after three years teaching 

on the West Coast. James 

Orr works as a chartered 

accountant after studying 

accounting and information 

systems at UTAS. James 

Bresnehan and Michael 

Skeggs are both working in 

the Savage River Mines and 

Grace Sussmilch and Angela 

Geard. 

Nick Barta enjoyed catching 

up with his peers. 

Lottie White is nursing at 

the Hobart Private Hospital. 

Nick Barta works as an 

engineer with local firm, 

Pitt and Sherry. Arwyn Dyer 

who gained her initial degree 

from UTAS is undertaking 

a post graduate course in 

creative arts at University of 

Melbourne. Angela Geard 

completed an Agricultural 

Science degree at UTAS 

and is currently working 

as Research Manager for 

a vegetable and forestry 

seed services company, 

SeedPurity, at Margate. 

James Bresnehan and Michael Skeggs catch up at the reunion. 

Felicity Bell, Jeremy Wade, 

and Sarah Traynor (McArdle). 

Alistair Wyatt and Arwen Dyer. 

Lucy Brown (Harris) and 

Jessica Absolom (le Bis). 

Lottie Clements, Emily Howard 

and Lauren Davis.

One Year Out 

Focus FRIENDS’ CONNECTIONS May 2010 15 

1985 Reunion 

Students who left School 

at the end of 2008 reported 

they had spent their year in a 

variety of ways. 

Phoebe Anderson has 

studied first year Arts at UTAS, 

Amy Churchill had worked 

for the year in anticipation of 

moving to Canberra to study 

Arts-Economics at ANU in 

2010. Lachlan Thomas had 

worked and raced go-karts 

and was planning a trip to 

Thailand. Fin Stronach had 

achieved his private pilots 

licence and competed in the 

Australian triathlon team on 

the Gold Coast. Meaghan 

Volker had worked and later 

travelled in Europe and UK, 

as had James Wilkinson and 

Anthony Lufi. Michael Whyte 

has spent a year at Twyford 

Prep School as a GAP student 

and Josh Petrass has spent the 

year in China on an exchange. 

Plans for 2010 mostly 

involved studying, Tom 

Frisken and Sae Hoon Oh 

plan to study engineering at 

University of Sydney and 

UNSW respectively. Alice 

Mulcahy and Amy Sandford 

plan to continue to study 

Medicine at UTAS. David 

Abbott plans to start his studies 

in Arts at UTAS and Sam 

McQueeney has commenced 

studies in Architecture at 

UTAS Launceston campus. 

Kim Heap, Dinae Xu and Sally 

Jones. 

Anthony Lufi, Tom Frisken, Sae 

Hoon Oh , Sam McQueeney. 

Diane Xu, Sally Jones and 

Meaghan Volker. 

Fin Stronach and Lachlan 

Thomas. 

Phoebe Anderson, Sophie 

Laird, Anna Cretan and Amy 

Churchill. 

Amy Stanford, Alice Mulcahy 

and Amelia Johnstone. 

David Abbott, Michael Whyte 

and James Wilkinson 

Andrew Haig and Josh 

Petrass. 

Many Old Scholars 

from the class of 1985 

enjoyed getting together 

and catching up on life after 

Friends'. The reunion was 

held on Saturday 13 March 

2010. Reunion organisers 

Sarah Heathcote (Ogilvie), 

Nichola Dickinson 

(Cayzer) and Anita Clayton 

(Jacobson) worked tirelessly 

to find lost addresses and to 

encourage all members of 

the Class of '85 to attend. 

Anita Clayton's father 

and former Friends' teacher, 

Adrian Jacobson had 

prepared a montage of film 

taken between 1973 and 

1985 for guests to enjoy. 

Steve McQueeney spoke 

about the School today and 

the strong connections to 

scholars from past eras and 

them embarked on a tour of 

Hobartville. 

Bruce Fleet, Nick Ley and 

Michael Di Giovanni enjoyed 

catching up on life after 

School. 

Nichola Dickinson (Cayzer) 

and Katie Jenson. 

Stephen Gangell, Alisdair 

Wells and Jane Fricker enjoy a 

pre-dinner drink together. 

Anita Clayton (Jacobson) and 

her father Adrian Jacobson. 

A very happy group of 1985 reunion attendees. 

1985 Head Boy and Girl, 

Alisdair Wells and Lesley 

Gardner reminisce about their 

time at School. 

Sarah Heathcote (Ogilvie) is 

pictured with her sister, Lucy 

Ogilvie (1988). 

Deborah Stone (Clarke) and 

Leigh Mackey. 

ADVERTISEMENT 

To take a GAP Year or not? 

By Ian Ritchie of Aequis* 

At the end of last year we wrote about the changes to Youth Allowance that 

would impact on students considering taking a GAP Year. 

From 1st January 2010, young people are required to work full time for a 

minimum of 30 hours a week for at least 18 months in a two-year period to be 

considered fi nancially independent, and therefore qualify for Youth Allowance. 

Obviously the decision to take a GAP Year is more than just a fi nancial decision. 

Having a year off gives young people the opportunity to travel, have fun, perhaps 

work part-time, make decisions about future study choices and generally become 

more independent. 

But taking a GAP Year can have negative impacts, not just fi nancially. Some 

young people fi nd that after a year or more of travel or work, getting back into 

study mode and living back at home, is diffi cult. Breaking the routine of study is 

destabilising and can impact on the results in that fi rst year back. Friends who 

don’t take the break are already well ahead in their studies or may have already 

found full-time employment. Their course is set while GAP Year students may 

still be struggling to settle back into the routine. 

Other young people will fi nd this to be the exact opposite, with the break in 

study giving them renewed energy to focus on their future studies with more 

determination. For those who travel in their GAP Year, it opens their eyes to a 

whole new world and makes them appreciate those special things about living in 

Australia and Tasmania in particular. With increased maturity and independence 

many say that they learn more about life in 12 months travelling than they do in 

12 years of school. 

Whatever choice you make in relation to taking a GAP Year, it is important that 

you think through the decision in detail and think about the impacts it will have on 

your family and your future. 

*Ian Ritchie is a CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER. Ian and Aequis Pty Ltd are 

Authorised Representatives of GWM Adviser Services Limited ABN 96 002 071 749 

Australian Financial Services Licensee Registered Offi ce at 105 – 153 Miller Street North 

Sydney NSW 2060. GWM Adviser Services Limited is a Principal member of the Financial 

Planning Association. 

Feature 

Teacher 

Laura McCusker, Design in 

Wood teacher at Friends’, was 

recently named one of the 

Faces of Design 2010. She has 

exhibited regularly over her 

career including at the Sydney 

Powerhouse Museum as a 

finalist in the Sydney Morning 

Herald's Young Designer of 

the Year Award (2002), the 

winner of Belle magazine's 

inaugural New Functional 

Design Award (2003) and at 

the Tasmanian Museum and 

Art Gallery as part of the City 

of Hobart Art Prize (2004). 

In 2007, Laura was 

invited by the Vitra Design 

Museum, to complete a tour 

of the museum's collection 

and manufacturing facilities in 

Switzerland and to participate 

in a 2009 Vitra Design 

Workshop in France. Laura's 

pieces have featured regularly 

in design publications, 

including The Financial Times 

(UK and Asia), Vogue Living, 

Object magazine, Australian 

Style, Craft Arts International, 

Inside Out and Monument. 

Her current exhibition 

The Spaces Inbetween runs 

9:00am - 5:00pm until 20 

May 2010 at Artspace 146 

Elizabeth Street 

2010 is the 10th Year of the IB 

Diploma at Friends’ 


extends a warm invitation to all old scholars who 

have studied the IB Diploma since its inception in 2000 

to attend a 

10 Year Celebration 

(drinks and light supper) 

to be held on 

Sunday 19 December 2010 

from 5:00pm until 7:30pm 

in the 

Foyer of the new Assembly Hall 

on the Argyle Street Campus 

Please RSVP to Kalli McCarthy 

on +61 3 6210 2200 or 

email kmccarthy@friends.tas.edu.au 

by Tuesday 14 December 2010

16 

Professor Evan James 

Williams is regarded as 

one of the founding fathers 

of Statistics in Australia. 

Described by Professor 

Edwin Pitman as “The 

Complete Statistician” 

because of his great 

experience in the roles 

of student, researcher, 

consultant, administrator, 

teacher and editor, William 

is described as having 

excelled in each role. 

Evan James Williams, 

who died on 27 January 

2010, was born in Hobart 

in 1917. The son of Evan 

Williams and Heather 

(nee Reid) Williams, 

Evan Williams attended 

The Friends’ School from 

1921 - 1933. He was a 

School Prefect, won the 

Old Scholars Scholarship 

in 1932 and gained 


an excellent Leaving 

qualification, matriculating 

in 1933. 

Williams’ career in 

statistics began in 1934 

when, on a scholarship, 

he entered the University 

of Tasmania. From the 

beginning his course was 

a foundation for advanced 

work in statistics - he took 

Economics, Mathematics 

and Theory of Statistics. 

(He was a student of Edwin 

Pitman himself and his 

friendship with Pitman 

extended until the latter’s 

death in 1993). Evan 

Williams achieved Bachelor 

of Commerce in 1937 from 

the University of Tasmania. 

In 1938 Williams was 

awarded Senior Studentship 

in Biological Statistics by 

CSIR (later CSIRO). This 

took him to England where 


Professor Evan James Williams 

Material provided by Bronwen Meredith, notes prepared by 

Kathy Rundle, The Friends’ School Archivist. 

60+ Reunion Lunch 

22 February 2010 was 

a beautiful sunny Hobart 

summer day, guests gathered 

late morning for their 60+ 

reunion drinks and moved 

on into Hodgkin Hall for 

lunch. Former scholars had 

travelled great distances to 

join in the annual reunion. 

Hugh Wells and Jane Millar. 

Noela Totham catches up with Jean 

Millar and her husband John. 

Scholarship with 

Special Links 

The University of 

Tasmania’s Philip John 

Medhurst Scholarship in 

Engineering this year has 

been awarded to former 

Friends’ School student 

Martin Vitesnik. John 

Medhurst’s wish was for 

money for this scholarship 

to be left to UTAS from 

his estate. John Medhurst 

attended Friends’ School 

from Kindergarten to his 

final year in 1939. He was 

a Prefect, Captain of the 

School Cricket team, and 

ended up being awarded 

the Palmam Qui (dux) 

award. 

he studied with eminent 

men in the field; Fisher 

in London and Yates at 

Rothamsted. 

In 1940 he returned to 

Australia to work in CSIRO 

Division of Mathematical 

Statistics in Melbourne. He 

worked in the area of forest 

products. In 1954 Williams 

was awarded a Doctor of 

Science from the University 

of Melbourne. 

Three years working 

in America, including a 

visiting professorship in 

North Carolina and work 

with Moral Rearmament, 

were followed by Williams’ 

return to Canberra to work 

as Senior Principal Research 

Officer with CSIRO 

Division of Mathematical 

Statistics. 

Appointed Professor 

of Statistics at Melbourne 

The Walker brothers Bernard 

(Jim), Ken and Ian. 

60+ Reunion attendees enjoy drinks before lunch. 

During his Engineering 

studies at the University of 

Tasmania, John enrolled in 

the Royal Australian Navy 

joining as an ordinary 

seaman, training as a 

signalman and eventually 

retiring as a Radar 

Officer. After the war, 

John moved to Sydney 

where he worked with the 

CSIRO and completed 

his engineering degree. 

He later worked with 

the Sydney City Council 

until 1954 when he joined 

the NSW Electricity 

Commission from which 

he retired in 1982. 

University in 1964, 

Williams spent almost 

19 years as Head of 

Department and retired 

in 1982. He was made 

Professor Emeritus of the 

University of Melbourne. 

After retiring from the 

University of Melbourne, 

Williams accepted an 

appointment as Visiting 

Professor to the National 

University of Singapore. 

Williams had a long and 

productive research career 

and his book, Regression 

Analysis first published 

in 1959, was a pace setter 

in its field. His Studies in 

Probability and Statistics 

was published in 1976. 

He was well known for 

his contributions to the 

theory of regression and 

multivariate analysis, 

experimental design and 

Curious Ideas 

The Mercury (Hobart, 

Tas. : 1860-1954) Monday 4 

December 1911. 

Though the only 

Tasmanian who is sailing 

with Dr. Mawson's Antarctic 

Expedition is Mr. C. T. 

Harrison, Dr. Mawson was 

anxious to enlist, as another 

member of his party, Dr. 

Thorold Quaife, now of 

Sydney, who is an "old boy" 

of the Friends' High School, 

Hobart. Dr. Quaife was, 

however, unable to make the 

trip. It may be mentioned 

that another former Friends' 


statistical inference. He 

published many papers right 

up to 1989. Williams was an 

indefatigable reviewer for 

and also served as Editor 

of the Australian Journal of 

Statistics, he was President 

of the Central Council of 

the Statistical Society of 

Australia and held positions 

on many other committees. 

Evan Williams was 

awarded the Pitman 

Medal of the Statistical 

Society of Australia in 

1993 in recognition of his 

outstanding contributions to 

the subject of Statistics over 

50 years. 

He was also a man of 

vast knowledge in many 

fields of arts and science. 

Evan is succeeded by 

his wife Judith (Melbourne) 

and sister Bronwen 

Meredith (Hobart). 

School boy, Mr. W. Noel 

Benson, B.Sc., temporarily 

took Dr. Mawson's place 

at the Adelaide University 

while the latter was absent 

in England organising 

the present expedition, 

as lecturer in geology, 

petrology, and mineralogy. 

Another, old Friends' School 

scholar who is about to go 

to South Australia is Mr. 

L. K. Ward, the assistant 

Government Geologist, 

who has been appointed 

Governor. 

Dates for your Diary 

2010 

Old Scholars Meeting 

Monday 12 July 

Former Staff Lunch 

Saturday 17 July 

1980 Reunion Dinner 



Saturday 21 August 

Old Scholars Meeting 

Monday 11 October 

End of Year Gathering 

Federation Concert Hall 

Wednesday 1 December 

2000 Reunion Drinks and Canapes 

Saturday 18 December 


Tuesday 21 December 

2011 

50+ Year Reunion (Lunch) 

Sunday 20 February 


Saturday 5 March 


Saturday 16 April 


Saturday 7 May 

Former Staff Occasion 





Saturday 20 August 


Saturday 17 December 

2010 Reunion Drinks and Canapes 

Thursday 22 December 

Return to 

Sender 

Thank you to the readers 

who called with contact details 

for some of the people listed 

in the last edition of Focus. 

If you have details about the 

following members of our 

School community please 

contact the Development 

Office on 6210 2282 or email 

development@friends.tas.edu.au 

Kirsten Aplin 

Jennifer Bingham 

Cilla Blanchard 

Barbara Bradshaw 

Lynne Bradshaw 

Garfield Brownell 

Lindsay Brownell 

Leah Campbell-Hanslow 

Robert Cavaleri 

Desmond Chung 

Jamie Davies 

John Dean 

Michael D'Emden 

Sam Drummond 

Alice Dwyer 

Nikolas Elbrecht 

Jill (Butler) Eyles 

Stephanie Gilmour 

Alister Grant 

Kevin Han 

Lisa (Hammer) Hannon 

Lillian Hansen 

Mary Haverland 

Kaspar Hebblewhite 

Mark Hepburn 

Jonathan Hepburn 

Janet Hodgson 

Mary (Medhurst) Johns 

Andrew Johnston 

Drew Laird 

Zhi Lim 

Don Lipscombe 

Iain Lonie 

Jay Marsh 

Ruth (Green) McConnell 

Timothy Mills 

Matthew Oddy 

Hoi Wah Pak 

Hani Provan 

Charles Rae 

Kerstin (Linne) Redwig 

Alexander Reed 

Jeal (Davey) Roberts 

Andrew Roberts 

Elaine (Giblin) Ross 

Helen (Amos) Sheridan 

Martin Sherwood 

Jamie Sissons 

Randall Smith 

Thomas Srodzinski 

George Sweet 

Alister Thomas 

Pat Thorp 

Sue (Calvert) Watkins 

Margaret Watson 

Eileen (Ray) Wessling 

Ralph Wilcox 

Thomas Wilson 

Haylee Wilson 

Rohan Wolfe 

Susan (George) Wright 

Manubu Yamawaki 

Andrew Yaxley 

SherrinYeo


Clemes Student Leaders 

Culture Committee 

Head Boy and Girl 

Clemes Committee 

All articles by Nick Cuthbertson 

Daniel Arbiv and Etenesh Bell. 

With such a 

multicultural student body 

at Friends’ it is important 

to promote a strong cultural 

understanding within the 

school community. 

The Culture Committee 

works very closely with the 

international club to organise 

events such as international 

movie nights, monthly food 

Photo by Nick Cuthbertson 

stalls and the running of events 

on culturally significant days 

such as St Patrick’s Day and 

Harmony Day. 

Alongside this the Culture 

Committee are running an 

International Club, which 

will run weekly presentations 

on other cultures. 

There was also an 

International Club Camp. 

Year 12 Representatives 

Head Girl, Ebony Alexander and Head Boy, Harry Galligan. 


Harry Galligan and They are responsible 

Ebony Alexander have been for representing Friends’ at 

elected Head Boy and Head interschool functions such 

Girl for 2010. 

as the proposed interschool 

As the student leaders council meetings and MC at 

of the school they are Gatherings and Assemblies. 

expected to lead by example They are an important 

and be good role models link between the student 

throughout the entire body and the staff at the 

Friends’ community. School. 

Alex Vittorio and Sophie Booth. 

With such a busy 

year ahead at Clemes 

we want to have the best 

learning environment 

possible in which to study 

and socialise. 

Currently the committee 

is looking to improve parking 

on Boa Vista to remove the 

dilemma of finding a park 

Year 11 Representatives 


for those students who drive 

to school. 

Other smaller projects 

include improving the 

toilet facilities, sink and 

kitchen area. 

As part of this they are 

looking into installing more 

water fountains around the 

campus. 

Tom Marshall, Clare Rayner, Maddy Foote and Anees Enayati. 

The Year 12 

representatives have the role 

of acting on the concerns of 

the Year 12 community. 

Over the first few weeks 

of the school year, as the 

senior leaders at Clemes, 

the Year 12 Representatives 

Sports Committee 

were very proactive in the 

planning of activities to 

welcome new students to 

Friends’, which included 

a barbecue for the new 

students in the second 

week of term to get people 

socialising. 


Already the Year 12 

Representatives are starting 

on preparations for the end 

of year Leaver’s Dinner to 

ensure that it is a great night. 

Service Committee 

Max Rintoul, Nick Cuthbertson, Madelaine Comfort, Heather McGushin, Sarah Lock and Harry 

West. 

Photo supplied by Nick Cuthbertson 

The Year 11 

Representatives have the 

role of gathering the ideas 

and suggestions from the 

Year 11 community and 

putting them into action. 

In 2010 they will be 

heavily involved with the 

planning and organisation 

of the 2011 Friendly 

Conference, a major event in 

next year’s school calendar. 

They will also be 

working on the successful 

Risdon Vale Breakfast 

program and also want to 

run a co-operative program 

with Hazelwood School. 

Environment Committee 

Woody Stone and Nina Khoury 

Sport is a major part 

of school life at Clemes, 

with competitive teams 

playing in a multitude of 

different sports. Organising 

the annual swimming, 

athletics and cross-country 

carnivals means the Sports 


Committee has a very 

important role to play within 

the Clemes Council. 

This year the Sports 

Committee aims to improve 

participation in sport by 

encouraging everyone to get 

involved with a school team. 

Gordon Luckman and Genevieve Steele. 


Service is a very 

important part of life at 

Friends’ and for many years 

the School has prided itself 

on its contribution to the 

greater community. 

The great thing about 

Friends’, is that the School 

not only recognises 

education as part of personal 

development but also the 

importance of service. 

Already this year, the 

committee has organised 

various events to raise 

money for the Haiti appeal, 

including the Dress up for 

Haiti Day. 

The committee has 

much more planned for the 

year and hopes that once 

again Friends’ can make 

a difference in the greater 

community. 

Harry van der Woude and Monique Bleach. 


E n v i r o n m e n t a l 

conservation is a major 

issue in the world and the 

Clemes Council intends to 

play a part in environmental 

conservation in 2010. 

The Environment 

Committee is responsible 

for maintaining Clemes’ 

environmental standards and 

also in the wider community. 

This involves reviewing 

recycling systems, 

monitoring water and power 

usage and looking for ways 

to make these more efficient 

and sustainable. 

In 2010 the Environment 

Committee will be 

encouraging students to 

live in an environmentally 

sustainable way, whether 

it be by riding or walking 

to school or helping out 

with rubbish diposal and 

recycling.

18 

Joe Boyer 

by Etenesh Bell 

Former student, Joe 

Boyer has returned to The 

Friends’ School, this time as 

a classroom teacher. 

Working as a Maths 

teacher for Years 7 to 10, 

he has described Maths as 

a way of making sense of 

the world. 

Joe comes to us from 

his former position of 

ICT Coordinator and 

Maths teacher at Mount 

Carmel College. 

“It’s really cool being 

able to work with the staff 

who were my teachers 

back in my school days”, 

Joe said. 

He described the 

learning environment at The 

Friends’ School as being 

supportive for both teachers 

and students. 


H a p p i l y 

married, Joe 

and his wife 

are the proud 

owners of a 

six month 

old Kelpie, 

Governor. 

D e s p i t e 

the fact that 

t e a c h i n g 

takes up a 

lot of Joe’s 

time, there is 

always room 

for Ultimate 

( F r i s b e e ) , 

which is a 

sport close to 

his heart. 

It’s no 

doubt that 

Joe is enjoying his new job. 

He says, “A school is 

all about the people. The 

memories of the people we 

New Staff 

meet are much stronger than 

the buildings and grounds.” 

We are happy to say that 

Joe is one of those people. 

Kate Baldry 


The Friends’ community 

welcomes Kate Baldry to 

her position as a temporary 

science teacher. 


W h i l s t 

working as 

a research 

a s s i s t a n t , 

Kate came 

to the 

conclusion 

that teaching 

was her 

d e s i r e d 

career path. 

“I really 

enjoy being 

with young 

people, to 

see how they 

and their 

personalities, 

develop”, she 

said. 

Kate has already had 

some exposure to the 

school, as her husband, Joe 

Cairns, has been working as 

a mathematics teacher here 

since last year. 

Since taking up her 

position, Kate has had the 

pleasure of witnessing the 

level of freedom enjoyed by 

the students and the respect 

shown towards their teachers. 

She believes this is a 

good example for other 

schools to consider. 

Kate has loved working 

with such a motivated and 

supportive staff and looks 

forward to what lies ahead. 

Whilst Kate’s time is 

occupied with her two young 

daughters, she is excited, 

not only by the challenges, 

but the opportunity to work 

with teachers and students 

at Friends’. 

Kate sees there is a 

clear motivation held 

by all to excel, not only 

academically, but also by 

contributing to the broader 

school community. 

Nigel Blazely 

by Sophia Lopez 

One half of the new management team 

down at Far South, Nigel Blazely, already 

feels at home in the Friends’ Community. 

He finds the job wonderful, exciting and 

very rewarding when the children find the 

experience of the outdoors equally fascinating. 

Before applying for Far South, Nigel was 

a chef at Soul Mama in St. Kilda, Front of 

House Manager at the Red Velvet Lounge 

and a chef at the Summer Kitchen Bakery and 

Peppermint Bay, with a reputation for creating 

delicious food. 

When not teaching children the importance 

of the environment, Nigel likes to cycle, kayak 

and try out new recipes. 

Nigel really feels like it is a job well 

done, when the children understand that the 

environment must be protected and why it is 

important to recycle a can or switch off a light. 

Nigel is certainly a valued member of the 

Friends’ School. 

Nigel and Meredith with their children, Malakai 

and Darcy. 

Jane Kilpatrick 

by Madelaine Comfort 

Jane Kilpatrick, the 

new Morris Counsellor, 

is enjoying 

her work 

at Friends’. 

Jane is 

a trained 

psychologist 

and teacher 

a n d 

p r e v i o u s l y 

worked in 

a United 

N a t i o n s 

IB school 

in Vietnam. 

This is 

part of the 

reason she 

chose to work 

at Friends’ as 

she supports 

the PYP 

program and thinks it is 

important that it is part of 

the core unit taught at the 

school. 

Meredith Huggins 


Meredith Huggins is the other half of the 

management team at Far South and loves her 

new job. 

She loves being out in the wilderness and 

interacting with children, teaching them about 

the environment and how to take care of it. 

Meredith has worked at the Kingborough 

Family Day Care as a Field worker and as 

Assistant Director at a Family Day Care 

Center in Victoria, having to manage 25 

babies in a room! 

She has also worked as the Coordinator in 

a child support program in a women’s refuge 

and for a while operated her own family day 

care business.and now devotes a lot of her time 

to her family. 

She says that she chose this job because 

she wanted to enjoy the surrounding 

wilderness with her family. 

When not working, she likes taking the 

occasional bushwalk and tasting Nigel’s 

delicious cooking. 

Jane wanted to be a 

journalist at university 

but found herself moving 

towards the psychology 

courses, which she had 

studied in Year 11 and 

really enjoyed. 

She graduated as a 

qualified psychologist. 

Jane feels that it is 

important to be pro-active 

about issues and that her job 

is to work with a problem 

before it becomes a problem. 

Jane is here to give 

additional support to 

students, staff and parents. 

Her main impression of 

Friends’ is that it is a friendly 

and open school where she 

feels that students are more 

involved in the happenings 

of school life. 

She likes that teachers 

are called by their first 

names and not addressed as 

‘Mr’ or ‘Mrs’. 

Jane is currently 

working part time and splits 

her time between, Friends’, 

Sacred Heart, MacKillop 

College and her love for 

outdoor activities. 

As well as playing golf, 

tennis and water sports she 

also enjoys jam sessions and 

singing with her friends. 

Welcoming Jane 

to Morris, Deputy 

Principal and former 

Friends’ Counsellor, Ina 

Johnson said, “Nowadays 

counselling is very much 

viewed as a key component 

of Life Long Learning, 

building confidence, 

empowering individuals 

and modelling the skills 

for making positive life 

choices.”

Jim Orpe 

by Amy Hall 

Jim Orpe, a very 

accomplished man in the field 

of education, is the new TCE 

and Year 11 IB Economics 

teacher at Clemes. 

Before moving to 

Tasmania a year ago, Jim 

was the Deputy Principal 

of Mana College, a coeducational 

state school in 

Porirua, New Zealand, with a 

high proportion of Maori and 

Pacific Islander students. 

He also helped lead the 

development of the Social 

Science National Curriculum 

Document, as well as being 

an examiner for Social 

Studies at pre-tertiary level. 

Jim now owns a small 

farm on South Arm where 

he resides with his wife, two 

daughters, one stepdaughter 

and three stepsons, along 

with cats, Tinker and Molly, 

dogs, Zac and Jess, thirteen 

chickens, and a variety of 

Fiona Lewis 


Memories of student 

days at The Friends’ 

School remain strong with 

Fiona Lewis. 

However, many may 

also remember Fiona from 

her previous role at Anne’s 

Place, our former after 

school care centre. 

Fiona’s inescapable 

cheerful manner is 

immediately recognisable. 

Since leaving, Fiona 

has experienced teaching 

in the State school system 

Focus new staff May 2010 19 

native animals in their 

two nature reserves. 

In addition to 

playing soccer for 

42 years, Jim notes 

that examining the 

differences between 

the education systems 

in Tasmania and New 

Zealand as one of his 

main interests, which 

he shares with friends 

back home. 

“New Zealand is 

a bi-cultural and bilingual 

country so 

all our curricula and 

examination systems 

respond to the Maori culture 

and language, Te Reo Maori. 

As a leader in a predominately 

Maori school, I learnt a great 

deal of Maori culture and 

language,” he said. 

Since moving to 

Tasmania, Jim has begun 

studying a Post-Graduate 

Diploma in Public Policy 

and, as a result, attends 

UTAS with his two 

eldest stepchildren. 

He applied for his current 

position at Friends’ because 

he thought it was the ultimate 

opportunity to work at a 

well-recognised school in 

a position that fitted well 

with his other commitments 

and also because his own 

values are parallel to those of 

the school. 

Thrilled to have 

obtained the position, Jim is 

enjoying the independence 

of learning at Friends’ and 

is finding everyone to be 

very welcoming. 

and gained the extra 

responsibility of 

being the mother of 

two daughters, Mia 

and Anneka. 

She has returned to 

the school, teaching in 

the Kindergarten and 

relieving other staff. 

Fiona has a 

strong commitment 

to teaching and to the 

school community 

which comes from 

her background as 

both a teacher and an 

old scholar. 

Her previous experiences 

include working in Japan 

straight after completing 

her university studies, 

time at Anne’s Place and 

placements in a range of 

schools including Rosetta 

and New Norfolk. 

She enjoys playing 

tennis and swimming as 

well as spending time with 

her family. 

We welcome Fiona 

back to the school and 

are sure she will build on 

past memories. 

Les Crompton 


Les Crompton has 

returned to Clemes to teach 

Psychology, following a 

short stint last year doing 

some Psychology relief 

teaching at Clemes. 

Les, who was at the 

time, retired and voluntarily 

teaching for the University 

of the Third Age, as well 

as travelling with his wife, 

decided he was enjoying 

teaching so much that he 

would end his short-lived 

retirement and resume his 

career to teach Psychology 

part time at Friends’. 

Les is well versed in 

the teaching of Psychology, 

with a Masters Degree 

in Education, a BSc in 

Sociology and having 

taught for 22 years in senior 

secondary colleges 

around Tasmania and in 

the UK, as well as five 

years lecturing at the 

University of Tasmania. 

Having taught 

in what he describes 

as ‘every kind of 

English secondary 

school’, Friends’ 

remains the first 

independent school 

on Les’ extensive list 

of experience. 

It is undeniable 

upon meeting Les 

that he has a profound 

passion for his subject 

and the environment in 

which he teaches. 

Since coming to 

Friends’, Les has become 

fascinated with Quakerism 

and is currently reading a 

number of books to gain a 

greater understanding of the 

School’s ethos and primarily 

what sets Friends’ apart 

from other schools. 

Asked if there are any 

differences in the atmosphere 

between previous schools 

and Friends’, Les says, “It 

is civilised.” 

He is taken aback by how 

‘pleasant’ people are to one 

another and wonders whether 

Quakerism may be behind it. 

With Les’ experience 

and passion for Psychology, 

he is certainly a valuable 

addition to The Friends’ 

School staff and community. 

Stuart Packwood 

by Amy Hall 

Stuart Packwood is well 

versed in both two and threedimensional 

animation and 

this is a great advantage in 

his new position as teacher 

of Computer Graphics in the 

High School. 

Stuart’s experience as 

an animator stems from 

working at Disney Toon 

Studios in Sydney for eight 

years, before obtaining a 

position as Lead Special 

Effects animator at Blue 

Rocket Productions in 

Hobart last year, the studio 

responsible for creating 

the television series Pixel 

Pixie, the website 

which Stuart helped 

to animate. 

He has had past 

experience relief 

teaching at Friends’ 

and enjoyed the 

School’s ethos and 

culture so much, he 

decided to apply for a 

permanent position. 

To add to the stress 

associated with a new 

job, Stuart recently had 

a new addition to his 

family; Saxon William, 

born in earlier this year 

in March. 

As well as surfing, 

Stuart notes art, theatre and 

film as three of his great 

loves, because they usually 

involve learning about 

language, cultures and just 

about anything that can be 

expressed artistically. 

He also really enjoys 

learning, which is why 

animation appeals to him as 

there is plenty of innovation 

and creativity involved. 

When speaking about 

Friends’ Stuart says, “The 

positive attitude and high 

degree of engagement 

of students and staff 

is brilliant!” 

Jakki Frasson 

by Ella Hind 

Jakki Frasson is the new 

Japanese teacher in Morris. 

She teaches Year 6, and 

therefore, thus far this year, 

has been busy preparing for 

the ‘Undoukai’, which is a 

Japanese games day that was 

held in Morris on April 26. 

She says that she has 

been thoroughly looking 

forward to this program. 


I had the opportunity to 

interview Lynn Cuthbertson, 

a physical education teacher 

who works two days a week 

at Morris. 

Lynn teaches in Year 2, 

Year 1 and Kindergarden. 

She has a wealth of 

teaching experience, having 

A l t h o u g h 

originally from 

Australia, Jakki spent 

thirteen years living 

in Japan. 

While there, she 

worked as a hotel 

receptionist, an 

English teacher, in 

an ox tongue factory, 

and she also opened 

her own English 

conversation school. 

She has also taught 

Japanese in many 

schools around Hobart, 

including Friends’ High 

School in 2008. 

Jakki has a daughter, 

Annie, and a step-daughter, 

Celeste, who are currently 

enrolled in Morris. 

She also loves her dogs 

– she says that she is a dog 

person, not a cat person. 

Jakki says that she loves 

teaching at Friends’ and is 

looking forward to the rest 

of the year. 

Lynn Cuthbertson 

previously worked at 

Collegiate for 16 years 

and as a children’s 

swimming instructor. 

Lynn was recruited 

to assist Lisa Di Venuto, 

who is responsible for 

the physical education 

program in Morris. 

The shared work 

arrangements function 

really well as Lisa and 

Lynn have been friends 

for many years, making 

it easier to meet this 

demanding role. 

When Lynn is not 

working at Friends’, she is 

working with her husband, 

running their abalone 

exporting business. 

Lynn has a daughter who 

is 29 and a son aged 31. 

Her first impression of 

Friends’ is that everyone is 

very helpful, and she has 

become fond of the School.

20 


Jenna Barron is already 

relishing the experience as an 

accounts trainee at Friends’. 

She has had a number of 

administration jobs in the 

past and it is an area of work 


Adelaide Marshall 

by Jamie Brown 

Adelaide Marshall 

is working at the 

school this year as a 

ClickView technician. 

This role is to ensure that 

the students here at Friends’ 

Jenna Barron 

always have easy access to 

the educational advantages 

that documentaries and 

other videos, movies, 

and television shows 

can provide. 

Adelaide worked at the 

Queen Victoria Museum in 

Launceston, before moving 

out of the city to live on 

a farm. 

She then went to TAFE, 

studying to become a 

library technician and is 

now working in the Clemes 

Library along side Lynne 

Males and Sue McNeill. 

Asked how she was liking 

Friends’ so far, Adelaide 

replied, “I love it, it’s great!” 

that she really enjoys. 

Jenna says she has found 

the school very welcoming 

and friendly, stating that 

everyone is easy to get 

along with. 

Jenna formerly attended 

Elizabeth College and is 

also an Old Scholar of 

Sacred Heart. 

In her spare time she 

enjoys listening to music, 

watching movies, shopping 

and just generally spending 

time with friends and family. 

Jenna hopes to turn her 

time at Friends’ into a very 

positive experience and aims 

to complete her traineeship 

and to secure a long-term 

job with the School. 

NEW STAFF 

Ben Quinn 


Ben Quinn has loved 

computers from a very 

young age so he was 

extremely happy to gain an 

ICT traineeship at Friends’. 

Ben has enjoyed his 

time so far as a member of 

staff at Friends’, describing 

the school as very friendly 

and welcoming. 

As a member of the IT 

staff, Ben is responsible 

for preparing and repairing 

student and staff laptops, 

maintaining school printers 

and solving network 

problems within the school. 

In his spare time, Ben 

plays football for Sorell 

and touch football for 

The Predators and also 

enjoys Jujitsu, a Japanese 

martial art. 

He has plenty of 

previous work experience, 

including a long-term job 

at Woolworths, brief stints 

working in the Centrelink 

Call Centre and as a fencer. 

Ben is really looking 

forward to the challenge 

of working in The Friends’ 


Alex Bradford 


Alex Bradford has 

returned to The Friends’ 

School as the efficient and 

welcoming High School 

Office Assistant. 

Alex is a Friends’ old 

scholar from 1995, and she 

is now enjoying working 

alongside some of the 

teachers who taught her 

when she was a student. 

Alex gained a Bachelor 

of Business Administration 

at the University of 

Tasmania and a Major in 

Hospitality at Drysdale. 

She then went on to 

become the Food and 

Beverage Supervisor at 

the Grand Chancellor 

in Hobart. 

After several years in 

hospitality, Alex altered her 

career path and became a 

Cabin Manager and Crew 

Trainer with Jetstar for a 

total of eight years. 

Now a wife and mother 

of two boys, Alex sought a 

job which better fitted with 

family life and gave her 

more time to spend with her 

young children. 

Whilst Alex admits it is 

slightly strange to now refer 

to so many of her former 

teachers as colleagues, she 

also notes that there is a 

certain sense of friendly 

familiarity to it, which has 

made the transition into her 

new job easier. 

She also remarks that 

the buildings bring back a 

sense of nostalgia and says 

it’s nice to see that much of 

the same basic framework is 

still standing although with 

a few nice new additions and 

a bit of a facelift. 

Alex, with her diverse 

background and personable 

manner, is a delight to 

have back in The Friends’ 





Mary Thomas 

Mary Thomas has 

joined The Friends’ School 

community working as a 

supervisor at Walker House, 

our boarding house. 

When asked why she 

applied to work at the 

Friends’ boarding house, 

she simply answered, “Why 

wouldn’t you want to work 

at The Friends’ School?” 

Before taking up the 

position at Friends’, Mary 

travelled around Australia 

for 12 months. 

After living in cars and 

tents for that year, camping 

has now become one of 

Mary’s favourite interests 

outside her profession. 

Tony Sinnott 

Tony Sinnott, the 

new lab technician at 

the High School, is an 

engaging Irishman. 

He came to Australia on 

a working holiday where he 

met his lovely Australian 

wife, who persuaded him 

to come and live here in 

Tasmania permanently. 

Tony was looking for 

laboratory work in Hobart. 

Some friends of his wife 

had enrolled their children 

at Friends’ Early Years 

and Tony was intrigued to 

hear how they described 

the school. 

This prompted Tony to 

do some research on The 

Friends’ School and he liked 

what he discovered. 

When the job came up 

he applied and was very 

She loves getting away 

to her family shack as often 

as she can, especially when 

the weather is good, so 

she can relax on the quiet 

nearby beach. 

Mary has a very large 

extended family but has 

no pets, however she likes 

to think of Noodles, the 

boarding house puppy, as a 

shared pet! 

Having been educated 

in Tasmania, she is happy to 

be back living and working 

here after 12 months abroad. 

Her favourite colours are 

purple and black and she is 

always more than happy to 

sit down and enjoy a chat 

over a glass of red wine and 

some chocolate! 

Mary has described her 

experiences at Friends’ so 

far as “fantastic” claiming 

there are “so many 

different personalities”. 

She got much enjoyment 

from teaching one of the 

international students to say 

“G’day, mate!” 

When the opportunity 

arose for Mary to work at 

Friends’ Walker House, it 

was an offer she did not 

hesitate to take up. 

pleased and surprised to 

get it. 

Part of Tony’s role 

in the school is to set up 

practical experiments and 

demonstrations for students 

studying Science at the High 

School campus. 

Tony has several years’ 

experience working firstly as 

a quality control technician 

in the pharmaceutical 

industry. 

Subsequently he worked 

with a small start-up 

company as a production 

supervisor, before deciding 

to return to full-time studies 

to complete a Biology 

degree. 

Tony spends a lot of 

leisure time working on his 

house, establishing a small 

orchard of his favourite 

fruits and bushwalking in 

the plentiful and picturesqe 

Huon Valley. 

Tony is enjoying his role 

at Friends’ immensely. 

His impression of the 

High School is that it is less 

formal than he expected, 

with a real sense of equality 

amongst the staff and 

students and where the 

values of the School are 

practised. 

He feels that it is the 

most supportive workplace 

he has experienced.


2010 International GAP Students 

by Amy Hall 

Imagine being thrust 

into a lifestyle completely 

different to everything you 

have known, in a foreign 

country on the other side of 

the world with a group of 

strangers for a year. 

This is everyday life for 

GAP students, or “Gappies”, 

Lucy Chivers, Bastian 

Rosner, Purna Ogin, Erika 

Hipke, Phillip Dingeldey 

and Charles Preston. 

Lucy and Purna both 

hail from Quaker schools 

in the UK, The Mount in 

York, and Leighton Park in 

Reading, respectively. 

Charles is South African 

and attended an all boys’ 

boarding school and Phillip 

boarded full-time at a 

private Catholic school 

in Germany. 

Bastian and Erika, 

attended Gymnasiums, 

which is the German term 

for state schools, Martin- 

Luther Gymnasium and City 

of Norden, respectively. 

The GAP students are 

aged between 18 and 21 

and chose to take a year off 

to experience a new way of 

life before embarking on the 

roller-coaster journey that 

is university and full-time 

employment. 

Gap students, from left to right: Phillip Dingeldey, Purna Ogin, Charles Preston, Erika Hipke, Lucy Chivers and Bastian Rosner, 

relaxing in the lounge room at Robey House. 

Photo by Amy Hall 

Charles is the newbie, 

arriving in Australia in 

January this year, whilst the 

others came in September 

and October of last year. 

The Gappies work in 

numerous departments 

throughout Morris and the 

High School, as well as 

assisting on Outdoor Ed 

camps and day excursions 

when required. 

Collectively, they have 

already visited much of 

Australia and surrounding 

countries during the 

summer holidays. 

After spending New 

Year’s Eve in Sydney with 

friends, Erika, Lucy and 

Bastian ventured up the East 

Coast together travelling 

to Byron Bay, Brisbane, 

Surfers Paradise, Fraser 

Island and the Whitsundays. 

Phillip travelled around 

Southeast Asia for the entire 

holidays, spending most 

of his time in Indonesia 

and China. 

Charles spent time 

with family in Australia, 

celebrating our national 

holiday, before his 

placement commenced. 

Purna went to Sydney 

to visit friends before 

flying to stay with his 

cousins in New Zealand 

over Christmas, using the 

time after New Year’s 

to discover a bit of New 

Zealand on his own. 

Since arriving in 

Australia, the Gappies have 

immersed themselves in 

Tasmanian life. 

Purna and Phillip play 

rugby, as well as coaching a 

soccer and basketball team, 

respectively. 

Bastian plays volleyball 

and Lucy played violin in 

the orchestra and sang in the 

choir for the 2009 End of 

Year Gathering. 

They have found 

Tasmanians to be friendly 

people and are fond of the 

picturesque environment, 

as well as the relaxed and 

laidback lifestyle. 

Upon completion of 

their time in Australia, the 

Gappies will commence 

university; Bastian to study 

medicine in Berlin and Lucy 

to study history in England. 

The same as Purna, who will 

also study a major in music. 

Erika is interested in 

specialising in some area of 

science and Phillip recently 

applied to study economics 

and business in China. 

We wish them all the 

very best for their future 

and hope they enjoy their 

remaining time at The 

Friends’ School. 

Life at Walker House 

For Bianca, the best 

thing about Walker House 

is always having someone 

to talk to. “It makes it easier 

to stay away from home and 

sometimes it feels like I’ve 

been here for ages. The time 

goes past really fast!” 

Comparing Friends’ to 

her old school she says, “at 

Friends’ I have to wear a 

uniform everyday and in my 

old school I didn’t. It is also 

way bigger than my school 

in Brazil.” 

Daniel Arbiv also lives at 

Walker House. He says it is a 

great opportunity for him to 

meet so many people from 

different backgrounds and 

learn about their culture and 

even some other languages. 

For Daniel, life at Walker 

House is good fun, there is 

always something to do and 

there are always people to 

talk to. “We play Wii, PS3, 

other video games and even 

chess and when you feel 

hungry and thirsty there is 

the student kitchen”. 

All a person’s essential 

requirements are provided! 

But students must also 

obey the rules, they must 

sign in and out when leaving 

Walker, tell the supervisor 

where they are going and 

when they will return. 

Students must have 

permission from their 

guardian to stay away from 

Walker House overnight. 

If students return late 

there might be consequences 

for them. 

Despite this, students are 

happy and say life at Walker 

is fantastic. 

Students can be on 

one of five Committees, 

which gives them an 

Daniel Arbiv. 

Photo by Chris Yu 

Bianca Herzog. 

Photo by Ludmila Vitesnikova 

by Chris Yu 

Every year students from 

all around the world come to 

Friends’ to study. 

Many of them are 

accommodated at Friends’ 

student residence, 

Walker House. 

Life for students at 

Walker House is very 

different to what they 

experience at home. 

Bianca Herzog from 

Brazil is in Year 10 in the 

High School and says, 

“Since the first day every 

supervisor and old and new 

boarder have been very nice 

and helpful, making life 

away from home and Brazil 

much easier.” 

Walker House from Lewis Street. 

Photo by Chris Yu 

opportunity to contribute 

to planning meals, snacks 

and social events, as well as 

publications experience. 

We hope to establish 

a new vegetable garden at 

the side of the building and 

there are always plenty of 

opportunities for service. 

Students are encouraged 

to be responsible for 

themselves, their daily 

routine and their academic 

performance – and most get 

the balance right. 

Day students are 

welcome to invite boarders 

for day trips and overnight 

stays and students welcome 

this contact and the 

opportunity to make friends 

outside of Walker House.

22 


sport Sport 

L-R Back: Julian Vittorio, John Amos, Nick Hill, Harry Galligan, Cameron Topfer, Cameron Sweeney 

and Harry Bailey. L-R Front: Harry van der Woude, Robert Salter (captain), Ben Read, Campbell 

Stewart and Simon O’Conor. 

Photo supplied by Greg Hill 

by Greg Hill and Jamie 

Brown 

Behind solid bowling 

from Harry Galligan, Harry 

van der Woude, and Ben 

Read and with the crisp 

captaincy of Robert Salter, 

the Friends’ School cricket 

team, known throughout the 

school as the Friends’ First 

XI, had high spirits for the 

upcoming season. 

And they had good 

reason to have such spirits, 

after comprehensive 

victories in the practice 

matches against the visiting 

teams from Dehradum, India 

and the Past Scholars. 

The squad had been 

training since August and 

they seemed to be prepared 

for the season ahead. 

Coach Greg Hill, along 

with Luke Galligan, both 

cricket veterans, were at the 

helm of the squad steering 

the Friends First XI in the 

right direction. 

The team headed off 

for the biennial cricket trip 

to Melbourne. 

On the first day they had 

Running the 

Bridge 


Hobart was host to the 

event Run the Bridge, a 10 

kilometre run from Bellerive 

Oval to Salamanca held in 

February 2010. 

Friends’ students 

Karl Bicevskis and Jacob 

Malakoff ran the grueling 

distance, coming fortyninth 

and sixth respectively 

overall and sixth and second 

in the 15-19 Years category. 

Karl described the crowd 

cheering throughout the 

course as “awesome” and 

when he finally crossed 

a tour of the MCG followed 

by a practice session in the 

indoor nets. 

During the next four 

days, the team played games 

against Geelong College, 

Camberwell Grammar, 

Haileybury College and 

Caulfield Grammar. 

The team had a narrow 

defeat against Caulfield, 

a moral victory against 

Haileybury (each team 

agreed to bat 12 but at the 

fall of the tenth wicket for 

both teams, Friends’ was 20 

runs in front!) The other two 

games were significant losses 

due to no valid excuses. 

The SATIS roster started 

soon after the Melbourne 

trip and the team headed 

off to Scotch College in 

Launceston with high hopes. 

Scotch batted first and 

after a good start, Harry 

van der Woude got amongst 

them with four quick wickets 

to have them 5 for 80. Their 

tail wagged unfortunately 

and they ended up with 210. 

The Friends’ innings 

began disastrously, but brief 

partnerships between Harry 

the finish line it gave him, 

“A wonderful sense of 

achievement”. 

Karl even had the honour 

of meeting the winner 

of the Female Division, 

Friends’ Old Scholar and 

past Orienteering World 

Champion, Hanny Allston. 

Run the Bridge is a new 

event made to stand alongside 

other iconic Australian sports 

events, with the course going 

through several areas of 

Hobart City, including the 

iconic Tasman Bridge. 

Over 5000 runners 

participated in the event. 

van der Woude and Cameron 

Sweeney then van der Woude 

and Campbell Stewart, 

restored some semblance 

of respectability until a 

revolving door type exodus 

of the middle and lower 

order, which was to become 

endemic, took its toll. 

Hutchins was the next 

opponent and it should have 

been Friends’ first victory. 

Hutchins were dismissed 

for 208, with Julian Vittorio 

being the main wicket taker 

with 5 for 31 including a 

hat trick. 

Ben Read was the 

main run scorer with 48, 


The 2009/2010 Friends’ First XI Cricket Journey 

Campbell Stewart 31 and 

Julian Vittorio 39, but 

Friends’ fell agonisingly 

short by 30 runs. 

Against Grammar, 

after losing the toss on a 

wet wicket with continual 

light rain, the conditions 

made bowling almost 

impossible once the ball was 

water logged. 

Harry van der Woude 

was the only player to 

master the art of bowling 

with a slippery ball, taking 

four wickets. 

Magically, (for 

Grammar), the sky cleared 

and the ground dried leaving 

Friends’ the imposing task 

of scoring 263 runs. 

Nick Hill, 23 and 

Campbell Stewart, 21 were 

the only batters to make 

much impact on that total. 

Our total of 112 was a 

long way short of the target. 

The trip back to 

Launceston to play St Pat’s 

became another game that 

should have been won but, 

unfortunately, wasn’t. 

After containing St Pats 

to a modest score of 140, 

Friends’ had a good start 

with Harry van der Woude 

26, Ben Read 23 and Nick 

Hill 34 not out as the main 

contributors but a disastrous 

collapse left the team short of 

the target once again. 

The first game of Round 

2 was to be the best game of 

the season. 

In a home game, Friends’ 

was able to dismiss Scotch 

for 139. 

Harry Galligan took 4 

for 37, Cam Topfer 2 for 

15 and Ben “The Sultan 

of Spin” Read, bowling 

Warnesque leg spin (but 

with no variations) took 3 

for 19. 

In reply, Friends’ passed 

Scotch’s score by doing it 

the hard way, with 9 batsmen 

down and few balls to spare. 

Robert Salter blasted 

a wonderful 61 and Harry 

van der Woude 30, giving 

the team the start they so 

desperately needed. 

Great maturity shown by 

youngster Simon O’Conor 

and a fearless Cameron 

Topfer took the total past the 

Scotch score. 

A Facebook page and a 

team song were products of 

this fine victory, alas, the 

song was to have just the one 

airing, at Alex Vittorio’s 18 th 

birthday party that night! 

The rivalry between 

Hutchins and Friends’ dates 

back to the convict days 

and in the return Hutchins 

game, the Friends’ First 

XI’s captain, Robert Salter, 

finally won a toss and 

decided to bat first. 

Although under the 

pressure of this fierce rivalry, 

Friends’ put little pressure 

on a strong Hutchins team 

by scoring only 90 runs. 

John Amos was the top 

scorer, racking up 28 not out. 

Hutchins passed the 

Boys Rowing 2009-2010 Open Team 

by Nick Edmondson 

The 2009/10 open 

rowing season has been 

a long, hard season with 

many ups and downs. 

We began training in 

late August last year with 

nine potential rowers all 

vying for eight positions. 

Over eight months of 

hard training we developed 

our potential, at one stage 

we were training seven 

times per week with four ‘on 

water’ trainings and three 

aerobic fitness trainings in 

the afternoon. 

At the end of the 

summer holidays, an open 

rowing camp was held with 

the Collegiate First VIII and 

their Under 16 crew. 

This was a great 

experience for all involved 

as Friends’ has never 

had a particularly close 

relationship with Collegiate 

and many new friendships 

were formed. 

By the end of the 

rowing camp, the Friends’ 

First VIII crew had been 

selected, consisting of 

Nick Edmondson, Lachlan 

Stewart, Jared McKenzie, 

Fergus Reid, Max 

McQueeney, Nick Wilson, 

Thomas (Woody) Stone and 

Sam Volker, with Henry 

Curtis as the reserve. 

The hard training paid 

off and we managed to 

finish in the top three in 

every competition. 

The Head of the River 

was our main focus – 

the main focus for any 

Tasmanian rowing crew. 

All our hard work and 

effort was put in to win it. 

We fought valiantly 

throughout the race and 

were neck and neck with our 

nearest rivals for the best 

First XI’s score when they 

reached 4 for 94. 

It was an unfortunate 

outing for the Friends’ 

boys, especially under these 

rivalry conditions. 

The final road trip to 

Launceston, accompanied 

as always by Mumford and 

Sons, was to play Grammar. 

Friends’ batted first again 

but with only three batters 

contributing in any significant 

way, 108 was never going to 

provide the bowlers with a 

manageable target. 

Grammar lost just one 

wicket to pass the score and 

the only good news for the day 

was an early bus trip home. 

The final game for the 

season was a home game 

against St Patrick’s, who 

were 7 for 213 at the end of 

their 60 overs. 

Friends’ started in a 

positive mood, scoring 

freely, but no-one was able 

to convert a good start into 

a big score leaving the 

team languishing in the non 

competitive 100 run area 

once again. 

For most of the boys, this 

was their last outing on the 

Friends’ team, and although 

they may have missed out 

on the high win percentage, 

bringing a trophy to the 

school, beating Hutchins 

and blazer patches, they still 

represented the school with 

class and pride. 

That was the 2009/2010 

Friends’ First XI. 

part of the race, however, 

the Hutchins and Scotch 

Oakburn crews pulled 

away in the last 500 m 

leaving us in third place. 

It was disappointing not 

to win, but we are happy 

with the result and looking 

to improve on that in the 

final regatta of the year. 

Boys 1st Rowing team. Back row:Lachlan Stewart, Max McQueeney, Sam Volker, Thomas Stone 

and Sam Reece (coach). Front row: Callum Bilsborough (cox), Jared McKenzie, Nick Edmondson, 

Fergus Reid and Nick Wilson. 

Photo by Steve McQueeney

Focus swimming May 2010 23 

Henry Curtis, arms wide during the Open Butterfly event. 

Photos by Aleisha Ring, Sophie Barnett and Lisa Di Venuto 

Morris boys about to race. 

Students make a greater effort to boost House morale. 

Henry Curtis and Iestyn Jones at the end of their relay. 

Morris student recovering after 

his event. 

A hard-fought Girls Freestyle event. 

The beginning of the Open Boys 100 m event. 

Two Hodgkin girls vying for honours in the Open Butterfly event. 

Trent Schlesinger-Hill at the end of the Freestyle event. 

Ransome students cheering for their house mates. 

Morris student contemplating her 

event. 

Hobart Aquatic Centre.

Swimming Stalwarts Make a Splash 

High School Rowing 2010 

Hannah Jonston, Louisa Stewart, Ellie Cash, Eleni Kalimnios and Nicholas Cash (cox) at Lake 

Barrington. 

Photo by Heather Rowledge 

by Eleni Kalimnios and 

Louisa Stewart 

Over the course of the 

rowing season Friends’ has 

had many achievements. 

The biggest event of the 

year, The Tasmanian All 

Schools Regatta, held on 

10 – 11 April, saw crews 

compete for the title of the 

best in the state. 

Friend’s School rowers 

had three wins in the 

junior events. 

The U16 boys achieved 

high places in all finals 

and will move through 

by Adam Chambers 

Finding a coach for the 

school swimming squad can 

be a tricky business. 

The right candidate must 

be willing to be at the pool 

at 6.30 am for three early 

morning training sessions 

per week over a six week 

period and attend three 

carnivals at both ends of the 

state, and all on a voluntary 

basis. 

Fortunately this year 

the school received not one 

but two offers from Old 

Scholars Pierre Roper and 

Bradley Thomas to fulfil this 

demanding role. 

Pierre recently moved 

back to Hobart following 

a five year stint as a full 

time elite swimmer in 

Melbourne where he 

trained alongside the likes 

of Liesel Jones and other 

national representatives. 

Bradley, also a highly 

credentialed swimmer 

and coach, is undertaking 

a working gap year after 

Pierre Roper (coach), Sophie 

Chesterman, Henry Curtis, 

Iestyn Jones, Michael Hughes, 

Elsa Gales at the Launceston 

Aquatic Centre. 

Photo supplied by Adam 

Chambers 

to the open crews where 

they hope to continue with 

their success. 

The U16 girls had a 

podium finish in their 

Eight, just two weeks after 

their success of winning 

their event at The Head of 

the River. 

The U15 girls quad, 

double and single 

experienced outstanding 

results in all of the finals, 

bringing back three well 

earned trophies. 

The U15 boys also 

experienced fantastic 

placings and had many 

moments of accomplishment. 

The U14 boys and 

girls showed what they 

were made of and kept on 

going despite some of their 

crews’ injuries. 

The U13 crews also 

made their mark on Lake 

Barrington, raising hopes 

for their future in the great 

sport of rowing. 

Overall it was a 

successful year for rowing 

at The Friends’ School. 

As Benjamin Franklin 

famously said, “You’ll find 

the key to success under the 

alarm clock.” 

completing Year 12 before 

he begins university study. 

Pierre and Bradley, both 

former School Swimming 

Captains and holders of 11 

Age Champion trophies 

between them, quickly 

earned the respect of 

swimmers despite the 

gruelling training sets 

and drills meted out at 

training sessions. 

Students benefitted from 

advice and tips on stroke 

technique, racing strategies 

and lots of practice on the 

all important starts, finishes 

and changeovers. 

It was not long before 

all swimmers began to reap 

the benefits of the coaches’ 

expertise with noticeable 

improvements racing 

against the stopwatch. 

At the end of the season 

the team was able to 

Morris 2010 

by Lisa Di Venuto 

There were some 

outstanding results that 

came out of the Morris 

Swimming Carnival in 

February this year, with 

some competitors through 

out the day achieving their 

personal best times. 

The Morris Swimming 

Carnival was held at the 

Friends’ Health & Fitness 

Pool. Students were able 

to compete in a variety 

of events including 

individual, team, and 

novelties races. 

The novelty events 

were certainly a highlight 

of the day with over 90% 

participation from students. 

thank the coaches for their 

commitment and effort with 

a team dinner attended by all 

squad members. 

The professionalism and 

work ethic of both coaches 

was outstanding and, despite 

the punishing physical nature 

of the training, sessions 

were always conducted 

in a fun atmosphere and 

competitive spirit. 

Squad members are 

already looking forward 

to next year’s season 

and carnivals. 

The School is also deeply 

appreciative of Pierre and 

Bradley’s coaching service 

and their willingness to 

return to their former school 

to help our current crop of 

swimmers. 

We congratulate them on 

the successful results earned 

throughout the season. 

The House Captains 

did a great job in preparing 

their teams for events, and 

a big thank you goes to all 

the students and staff for 

their particpation and help 

on the day. 

The winning House 

this year was Benson with 

902 pts, in second place 

came Cooper with 872 pts, 

last but not least in third 

place was Cadbury, with 

835 pts. 

Congratulations to the 

large number of students who 

were selected to compete in 

the Interschool Swimming. 

The team represented 

Friends’ at the Hobart 

Aquatic Centre on 

31 March. 

Senior Swimming 

by Jamie Brown 

It seems that each year 

another School record is 

broken during the annual 

High School Friends’ School 

swimming carnival, and this 

year was no different. 

Olivia Butler broke the 

50 m backstroke record 

for U13. She finished 

in an extraordinary 35.4 

seconds, as well as winning 

girl’s U13 50 m freestyle, 

and the 50 m backstroke. 

The rest of the carnival 

was as exciting as ever: a 

few close races had each 

house on their feet and a few 

races that weren’t so close 

showed the vast amount 

of skill the school has in 

the pool. 

As far as individual 

results go, Joanna Smart 

was the big winner for the 

U14 girls gathering first 

place in the 50 m freestyle, 

50 m breaststroke, and the 

50 m backstroke. 

For the U14 boys Sam 

Blackman earned the blue 

ribbon in the 50 m backstroke 

and grabbed second place in 

the 50 m freestyle and the 

50 m butterfly. 

James Higginbotham 

won the boys U13 50 m 

freestyle, and Declan Kohl 

took the gold in the boy’s 

50 m breaststroke. 

Overall it was a 

successful and eventful 

swimming carnival. 

THE FRIENDS’ SCHOOL, P.O. BOX 42, NORTH HOBART, TASMANIA, AUSTRALIA, 7002 PH: (03) 6210 2200 FAX: (03) 6234 820

Focus May 2010 - The Friends' School

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