Issue 18, June 2008

Teddy Portaminni • Edwina Portaminni • Louise Murphy.
IN OUR SCHOOL
Monivae strengthens ties with
Mission Experience countries
The Mission Experience
program at Monivae is in
its eighth year. Offering a
life changing opportunity to
students in Years 10 – 12,
the program incorporates
visits to MSC Missions in
Papua New Guinea, Kiribati
and Bathurst Island.
The ties between Monivae and the
places students visit during their Mission
Experiences are going from strength to
strength. Currently, there are two students
from Bathurst Island, two from Papua New
Guinea and three teachers from Kiribati
residing at Monivae. In July, a further
contingent from Papua New Guinea
and Kiribati will visit the college whilst in
Australia for World Youth Day 2008.
Kiribati teachers, Teeta Kabiriera Father Patrick Teitauau and Tangaroa Arobati with Monivae’s Cross Cultural Coordinator Damien McCarthy.
Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator.
Ten staff and students will visit Bathurst
Island in September as part of the 2008
Mission Experience program.
Edwina Portaminni and Louise Murphy,
both in Year 7 joined the Monivae
Community in 2008 from Bathurst Island.
The girls are no strangers to the school,
both having relatives who attended
Monivae in the 70s, Teddy Portaminni
and Richard Hedley. Edwina’s Uncle
Teddy Portaminni returned to Monivae
last year during a trip which brought many
members of the island community to
Victoria. “They told many stories about
Monivae, it was great,” Edwina said.
Coming from further afield are Rolland
Malona, Year 12 and John Oki, Year 11 from
Papua New Guinea. Rolland, in his second
year at Monivae is the son of the Principal at
the Sacred Heart School, Tapini, the site of
the Papua New Guinea Mission Experience
program. John Oki attended Sacred Heart
School and had previously met a number of
Monivae staff and students who participated
in Mission Experiences to Tapini. Both
students will be joined by members of the
Tapini community in July when students and
staff from Sacred Heart School make the
journey to Monivae after their involvement
in World Youth Day 2008. Rolland and
John follow Noel Manai and Tamin Taia who
attended Monivae in 2003. A highlight of
recent Mission Experiences to Tapini has
been meeting up with Noel.
Staying in the boarding house, both girls
have enjoyed making new friends and look
forward to taking part in basketball which
they play at home. Class sizes and wearing
shoes being just two new aspects of their
lives. Edwina said last year there were seven
people in their class. Louisa agreed it was a
big change from their home where they walk
either barefoot or in thongs.
11 Monivae students have recently
returned from their Kiribati Mission
Experience glowing with stories
of adventure, new friendships and
determination to incorporate a part of
the Kiribati lifestyle into their own. The
Monivae community has the opportunity
to return the hospitality of the I-Kirbati
people with three senior teachers currently
Monivae College
residing at Monivae as part of the
Endeavour Executive Award 2008.
The endeavour program is an internationally
competitive, merit – based program that
forms part of the Australian Government’s
international education package Engaging
the World through Education. Only 77
awards were offered in 2008.
Teeta Kabiriera, Father Patrick Teitiauau
and Tangaroa Arobati will spend four
months observing and documenting how
the college functions and operates as part
of the award. They will focus on logistics
of administration, staff management and
development and strategies aimed at
improving the learning culture of students.
The three men were fascinated at the
allowance they were given as part of the
award to buy clothes and are slowing
adjusting to the cooler climate of the
Western District.
Rolland Malona
Director of Boarding Brendan Ashby and Noel
Manai (‘03) in Tapini, Papua New Guinea, 2007.
IN OUR SCHOOL
Icon crosses Lake Hamilton
World Youth Day Icon procession
World Youth Day Cross on its way to Monivae College
World Youth Day 2008
In August 2005, Sydney was chosen to host the XXIII World Youth Day (WYD). The announcement
was made by Pope Benedict XVI in Cologne, Germany at the conclusion of World Youth Day XXII
World Youth Day will be held in Sydney,
Australia from 15 - 20 July 2008 (First
week of Term 3). The event will mark
the first visit to Australia of His Holiness
Pope Benedict XVI. It will be the largest
youth event in the world. The concept of
“pilgrimage” is one of the major themes for
World Youth Day 2008.
Organised by the Catholic Church, World
Youth Day gathers young people from
around the world to build bridges of
friendship and hope between continents,
peoples and cultures.
The build up to WYD has included the
journey of the “World Youth Day Cross and
Icon of Our Lady”. It arrived in Australia on
1 July 2007 for a 12-month journey around
the continent. The cross and icon had
travelled through Africa, south-east Asia and
Oceania by the time it reached our shores.
The cross and icon travelled through
the Western Districts of Victoria in late
October and St Mary’s parish (Hamilton)
was lucky enough to host the cross and
icon for the day on October 23, before it
travelled down to Portland for an overnight
stay. (The Portland visit was co-ordinated
by two old collegians, Mr Pat Howman
and his daughter, Marika). Over 1,000
students and community members joined
in the street procession of the cross &
icon, which commenced at St Mary’s
Church, and concluded with a wonderful
liturgy in the Monivae sports stadium,
where the Bishop of the Ballarat Diocese
Peter Connors was the main celebrant. A
feature of the Hamilton procession was the
crossing of Lake Hamilton with the cross
& icon in a boat, provided by another old
collegian, Mr Gerald Hicks.
the Stations of the Cross through the
streets of Sydney on the Friday, and of
course the Papal Mass at the Randwick
racecourse on the Sunday.
A small contingent of Monivae students
(13 at this stage) and two staff members
will be attending WYD for the whole week.
The students are especially excited about
the arrival of the Pope on the Thursday,
Mr Terry Molan,
Monivae & St Mary’s Parish WYD
co-ordinator.
Following the Papal Mass the Monivae
group will make its way home, and they
will be accompanied by students and staff
from schools in Kiribati and PNG where
we have very strong MSC connections.
These two groups of students and staff
will spend a week at Monivae involving
themselves in wide range of school and
parish based activities.
In all, our involvement in WYD 2008 will
hopefully be the highlight of the year for
the students and staff involved. Indeed, it
may be the experience of a lifetime.
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Monivae has a Friend for Life
IN OUR SCHOOL
Carole Reid has had a friendship
with Monivae that harks back
to 1954, and will continue, she
says, for the rest of her life.
that it is today. From the beginning
Carole’s mother Sheila was involved with
the school through things like the mothers’
club and father Leo was active in its
ongoing development.
of the school. Examples are evident
throughout the school both in its physical
presentation and its highly professional
profile and approach to engaging with
students, families and communities.
Carole can remember years ago as a
small girl listening to the initial discussions
around the family kitchen
table about an opportunity,
in particular for boys, to have
a quality Catholic education
provided locally by the
Missionaries of the Sacred
Heart Priests and Brothers.
Well, that opportunity became
a reality. She recalls Fr Hyland
being mentioned often as
the driving force behind the
development of Monivae,
Jack Henry as the builder and
Frank Borbiro as Manager of
Glenthompson Brickworks.
Eventually Monivae on Ballarat
Road was built. “As kids we’d
help unload the bricks to help
the builders – Dad made us
some ‘rubber gloves’ from old
tyres to protect our hands from
the work”.
Two of Carole and Jeff’s five children,
Maria and Andrea also attended Monivae.
“Why do I have such a love of Monivae?
Because of what is has done in adding
another dimension to Hamilton
and surrounding districts –
giving students an opportunity
to gain an education that’s
based on Christian values
and a love of others. Boarding
school builds really strong
relationships, challenging
students to work through
things together and then find
opportunities. Monivae offers
an excellent education to all
and recognises trends and
opportunities well before other
schools do. And finally, it’s
not just about the academic
result but about developing the
whole person.”
Carole’s three brothers, John,
Bryan and Bruce attended
the school as boarders, even
Carole with the new Director of Development and Marketing, Kerry Martin
though they lived locally. They
would bring other boarders
In 1972 Carole became a physical
home, which Carole loved even though
education teacher at Maryknoll Catholic
they saw her as ‘a little pain who got
girls’ school and her relationship with
in the way’. She remembers her Mum
Monivae continued via the interaction
making pots of minestrone and chocolate
between the two schools.
ripple cakes to feed them all. These
boarders from Monivae also became
Motherhood and caring for family was
Carole’s friends giving rise to a life-long
next, then in 1984 Carole returned to
attachment to the school. Even back then
Monivae as personal assistant to the then
her perception was of a wonderful respect
Principal, Father Dennis Uhr.
the students had for the priests and
More time devoted to family and business
brothers of the MSC, the spirit of which
interests followed, then in 2001, Carole
she believes remains the shining point of
was offered a position as Director of
difference for the school.
Development & Marketing for Monivae, a
Monivae wasn’t even completed as a fully
challenge she happily took up. Carole has,
functional facility back then but over time
over the last seven years made a significant
it developed into the substantial campus
and lasting contribution to the evolution
2
Monivae College
Carole has enjoyed the
marketing work, part of which
involved meeting families on
a more personalised level.
She loved working with the
college Foundation raising
funds on behalf of the school.
Any monies they were able
to raise went towards making
better facilities and support for families
that otherwise would not have had the
opportunity to go to Monivae. A lot of this
has been due to the ongoing generosity of
the Old Collegians who continue to strongly
support the Foundation. Carole believes the
Old Collegians are so generous because
they appreciate what Monivae was able to
give to them.
Carole may be off doing other busy and
important things these days but her
passion for Monivae will always remain –
she has no intention of losing touch with
us and will always be available to lend her
skilled hand whenever she can. A friend
for life indeed.
Campus upgrades…
IN OUR SCHOOL
and there’s more to come.
Old Collegians take a lead role.
Monivae has always been
proud of its commitment to a
low fee structure for families
wanting to provide their children
with a quality education and
opportunity to realise their
individual potential.
This commitment to affordable education
for all families does mean however that
Monivae needs all the support it can
muster to continue “Giving Every Child a
Chance” well into the future.
A number of facility and technology
upgrades have been desperately needed
to bring the college up to the present and
to facilitate growth in student numbers
and an expanding curriculum. Successful
submissions for government funding
have provided the means to make some
of this happen and it’s a wonderful thing
to see the transformation of Monivae
taking place. The challenge from here
forward is to secure the ongoing funding
and resources required, ensuring that the
vision continues to be realised.
A major project undertaken late last
year and completed this year was the
development of the college’s new bus
interchange zone, which is a “buses only”
area. It now offers a vastly improved flow
of traffic in and out of the school grounds
during the busy drop off and pick up
times every morning and afternoon and
provides greater safety for students and
staff moving into and out of the school
buildings.
This along with the projects listed below
has only been achievable on receipt of
external funding and support:
• A new lift for disability access
• A new common room for Year 12
students
• A new indoor student recreation area
• New student lockers
• New student toilet facilities
• A new cadet resource room
• A new security system
• A new canteen
• A water harvesting development
• A new second-hand uniform shop
• A redesigned school entry and
driveway
Government grants towards these works
include $86 000 from the Australian
Government Community Water Grants
Program and $75 000 from the Australian
Government to upgrade the IT and
telephony infrastructure.
Of course all of this is further strengthened
by the ongoing support and donations
from old collegians and their families.
Without their commitment to the cause
the undertaking of such important works
would be a dream rather than a reality.
A grant of $530 000 has recently been
received from the Federal Government as
a contribution toward a total project cost
of $1.13 million, for a major upgrade of
the Girls’ Boarding House and facilities.
Subsequently the College is required to
contribute an additional $600 000 to make
the project possible.
And so the challenge continues to
maintain the support of all, making sure
this project is every bit as successful as
the recently completed major works that
are providing students with a first class
learning environment and experience.
• IT infrastructure and telephony
upgrades
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R E P O RT S
Foundation
Board
MOCA 2008
Monivae has made giant strides over the
past ten years and the pace of improvement is accelerating. If the same rate of
year seven enrolments for 1998 had continued, the enrolment by 2002 would have
been 470 pupils; at which figure Monivae
was not viable. The current enrolment is
615 students. The Foundation is proud
of what it has achieved for itself and the
role it has played in the great advances
Monivae has made.
The impetus to change and invigorate
Monivae came from the Foundation. The
question was asked “What is the point of
improving the physical facilities at Monivae
unless all of the other aspects of the school,
especially academic results, undergo
vigorous examination and improvement.
The Monivae College Board has embarked
on the new 2008 year with a healthy
level of enthusiasm and confidence.
Getting things off to a positive start was
the announcement that the Board has
attracted four new members who will bring
much to the cause with their individual
skills and expertise, not to mention
genuine commitment to all things Monivae.
Let 2008 be the year you catch up with
your old school friends. MOCA is offering
a number of opportunities for you to do
just that this year. If you have not attended
a MOCA function before this is could be
your chance. Along with several reunions,
we will also be holding after work drinks in
Ballarat, Bendigo and Adelaide.
The obvious answer heralded a better
organised and energised Board
(supported by the MSC) in which former
students played strong roles. With huge
inputs of time and energy by a large
number of people (too large a number to
particularise), Monivae has transformed
itself into a vigorous school educating
young people in the MSC tradition.
The transformation was assisted and
somewhat inspired by the improved
facilities paid for by the Foundation. In
particular, completion of the science block,
rebuilding of the Boys’ Boarding House and
construction of the new MSC Residence.
The increase in enrolments means the
school can borrow the funds for other
improvements without the assistance of
the Foundation, but there is much to be
done and the school cannot meet the
costs. Monivae lives by the MSC tradition
of taking in students regardless of the
financial means of parents. Monivae
currently provides bursaries costing a
total of $126 000 per year. If this cost is
removed from the school budget, Monivae
can meet its capital needs.
ENTER THE FOUNDATION. The
Foundation Board is currently formulating
plans to set up a Bursary Fund which will
provide bursaries and allow the school to
meet all of its needs.
You will hear more shortly.
Mr Bryan Roberts ‘60
Chairman, Monivae Foundation
4
Monivae College
Andrew Brown, Mark Johnson, Kevin
Safe and Terry McMeel are all welcome
additions to the Board.
One focus of the Board during this first
part of the year has been exploration of
the proposed relocation of St. Mary’s
Primary School to the Monivae Campus.
Board members attended the Tennison
Woods College in Mount Gambier
this month to learn more about their
“dual school” campus and how their
experiences could assist Monivae in
managing the development. The weekend
exercise gave rise to plenty of food for
thought and deliberations continue.
The Board continues to work to the 2006
Strategic Plan and has strengthened its
approach by establishing sub committees.
The Priority Area Groups include staff
membership, offering a better level of
engagement for Board members, in
particular with people possessed of
specific skills and expertise in key areas
contained in the Strategic Plan.
Major capital works continue around the
campus. Board members took a tour of
works completed and work sites still under
way, which left them with the same sense
of pride and excitement felt by students
and staff alike. While much remains to
be done, the 21st century Monivae is
emerging and completion of the Girls’
Boarding House project will further
compliment what is fast becoming a state
of the art educational home.
Mr Laurie Cogger ‘73
Chairman, Monivae College Board
Ballarat based old collegians will have an
opportunity to catch up on Friday June 20.
Drinks will be held at Oscars in Doveton
Street from 5.30pm. Later, on September
5 we will be holding in drinks in Bendigo,
followed by Adelaide on September 12.
The venues for Bendigo and Adelaide
are to be decided. Invitations with all the
details will be emailed closer to the date.
If you are in Ballarat, Bendigo or Adelaide
it would be great to see you attend. It will
be a chance to catch up with other old
collegians living in your region. The get
togethers are casual and you can drop
in after work or on the way out for the
evening. You may be surprised how many
former Monivae students live in your town.
If you would like to keep updated on
these events, please ensure that Monivae
have your latest email details. You can
contact Kate at KMorton@monivae.vic.
edu.au Also let Kate know if you would
be interested in being involved with the
organization of any of these events.
Our first reunion for the year will be the 40
year reunion for the class of 1968. This
will be at the Celtic Club on May 24. This
is sure to be a great night as proven in the
past. The 10, 20 & 30 year reunions will be
held in October.
You can check out the Monivae College
website www.monivae.com for upcoming
reunion dates and there is also a form
to change your details, if needed. If we
have your latest mailing address and email
address, you can always be assured that
you will receive the latest information
about functions.
I hope many of you get involved with
MOCA this year. MOCA belongs to you
and your attendance at functions ensures
we can keep links with our school days at
Monivae going. Your feedback and ideas
are also welcome.
Merron Riddiford
Moca President
Reunions
R E U N I O N G A L L E RY
May 24, 2008 saw a wonderful 40 Year
Reunion for MOCA members, class of 1968.
Many a tale was shared and lots of laughter
heard throughout the evening, as well as
reminiscing about old photos and school
memorabilia. Held at Melbourne’s Celtic
Club, a very special night was enjoyed by
all those in attendance.
the Dolphin 5
Lucy Leeming
OLD COLLEGIANS
Lucy Leeming,
class of 2002, has
recently returned
to the Western
District as a witch.
Lucy’s passion
for drama shown
throughout her
time at Monivae
Lucy Leeming ‘02
has continued
with her performance with Ballarat based
theatre company Ozact in Macbeth.
Trish Cullinane, Jenny Porter, Sandra Gustus, Liesl Trenfeld, Justine Day and Catherine Watt
83 Girls’ Catchup
An impromptu call on the email
grape-vine by the Class of
‘83 graduate, Sandie Gustus,
sparked a mini-Monivae reunion
at the Richmond Public House
on Saturday May 17. Sandie,
affectionately known as ‘Gus’
to her long-lost school buddies,
was revisiting her mum and
hometown of Hamilton on
a flying trip from London,
where she now heads up the
Marketing & Communications
division of the International
Academy of Consciousness.
Strangely, the entire core of former old
collegians assembled on the night,
remained fully conscious, despite several
rounds and finally inevitable eviction,
6
Monivae College
when the pub reached stumps at around
2am! Perhaps the conversation, laughter
and memories of some 25 years ago
flowed more freely than the beverages, or
perhaps the excitement of feeling (almost)
18 again was what kept them upright. But
at the end of the night, the ‘dirty dozen’ (if
you count the few brave partners at hand)
were delighted with their catch-up and
vowed to keep in touch more regularly
than once every decade or so. At play
were – Cathy Brownstein (Melbourne);
Liesl Kelly (Melbourne); Todd Foster
(Bendigo); Justine Nash (Geelong); Jenny
Porter (Geelong); Paul Turner (Ballarat);
and Robbie Waters (Melbourne).
Jenny Porter said “Old Collegians never
seem to lose their passion for meeting!
Stories (and photos) of life, families, jobs
and memories flowed with the champagne
through the evening. Reminiscing was the
order of the event and shared shrieks of
joy were abundant!”.
Known for presenting plays in the
outdoors, Ozact’s performance of
Macbeth took Lucy to the Heatherleigh
Quarry in the Grampians, Newport Lakes,
Williamstown and the Naracoorte Caves.
Lucy relished performing as a witch but
noted the highlight was her other role as
young Siward who has a sword fighting
scene at the end of the play.
Lucy’s initial interest in performance
started as a ballet student, however once
commencing at Monivae in Year 10,
Lucy had the opportunity to develop in
Performing Arts, an interest Lucy thanks
Principal Bernard Neal for impressing
on her. Roles in school productions
culminating in the lead role in the 2002
college production ‘Charades’ as Jenny
the secretary sealed Lucy’s desire to
further develop her performance skills.
Lucy completed a Victorian College of the
Arts Foundations Acting in 2004 followed
by her Bachelor of Arts (Acting) in Ballarat
last year. She is presently undertaking
a Diploma of Education at Monash
University and continues to pursue her
ambition to perform when she can, having
just been invited back to Ozact to perform
in the summer season of “As You Like It”.
For any young aspiring actress or actor,
Lucy emphasises the need to have a go
and treat every audition as a learning
experience, “never be afraid of making
mistakes and no matter what you do
never lose your sense of fun.” Schools
such as VCA, NIDA and the new, but
highly regarded University of Ballarat Arts
Academy are where you should aim.
Where are they now?
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Front row seats every
day of the year
By Phil Holmes
From humble beginnings, playing cricket in the driveway with the next-door neighbour, Monivae old
collegian (1988), Lachie Patterson has come a long way. He travels the world with the Australian
cricket team, as one of two media managers, and is the envy of every cricket tragic not only in
Hamilton, but all over the country.
He may not get to play the game as much
anymore, but he does have a front row
seat to every test, one-day and twenty20
match on the Australian calendar.
“So I just decided to give him a call. I’d
never meet him before, I’d never spoken
to him, and I gave him a call out of the
blue and he was a very nice fella.
Patterson, or Wombat as he is more
affectionately known in local circles, was
the guest speaker at Tuesday night’s PF
Christie Memorial Dinner and had the
crowd hanging onto every word he said.
“He’d actually moved on from his job
with CA, he was working as a Corporate
Communications Manager with Telstra in
Melbourne.
He spoke of how he fell into the job at
Cricket Australia, the highlights of his
career so far, the characters in the game
and what the next 12 to 18 months entail.
It was one of, if not, the best talks from a
guest speaker I’ve seen at such a night
and anyone that wasn’t present can get a
feel for it through this story.
The job:
Getting the job “I was actually in Hamilton about three
years now and I was reading the great
Hamilton Spectator and there was a story
in there about a local Hamilton lad named,
Pat O’Beirne.
“He was a Monivae student quite a few
years ago now and it was one of those
‘Where are they now’ stories, and he
was talking about the fact that he was a
corporate communications manager for
Cricket Australia and that was an area that
I often looked at getting into.
“He had a position going there in what
was called a public inquiries officer, which
basically meant I replied to all the emails
and letters from all the nuffies from around
Australia.
“So I gave him a call and caught up with
him early for breakfast one morning in
Melbourne at about 7 o’clock at the
Telstra Tower.
“After about five minutes of telling him
exactly what I wanted to do, he said ‘no
worries at all I’d be more than happy to
help you, it’s a great effort the fact that you
called me despite you don’t know me. If
you can send me through your CV with
a letter about yourself, I’ll forward it onto
some of my contacts’.
“I got quite excited by that, but he did say
though – ‘please don’t expect for there
to be any miracles out of this it’s
really a timing thing’.
“He was certainly right because
three days later I received
a phone call from former
Victorian opening batsman,
Graeme Vimpani, who
was the new corporate
communications manager
at CA.
Lachie ‘Wombat’ Patterson during the
PF Christie Memorial Dinner. Photo
courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator.
the Dolphin 7
Moving up the ladder –
“After eight months in that job, I was lucky
enough that one of the media managers
had moved on to have a baby.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
“So the position became available and
I decided that there was no point in not
having a go for it and luckily enough again
I managed to get the position as one of
the two media managers of the Australian
Men’s Cricket Team.
“Basically I am just a conduit between
media organisations and the players
themselves.
“For example Channel Seven will ring up
on a Saturday afternoon and say we want
to speak to Brett Lee, and we want to
speak to Phil Jaques, or we want to speak
to Ricky Ponting and so it’s my job to go
and see these players and ask them if
they’re interested in doing it.
“Also my job is to determine whether it’s a
valuable thing to actually do.
“If there is issues of the day and if there is
something that we don’t want to go out,
then it’s my job to tell them that it’s not
going to happen at that time.
“We are a concentrated group of 12
elite cricketers, so the request for each
of these players can sometimes, during
the summer, be up to 40 different people
wanting to speak to one person a day.
“My phone during the summer will ring
anywhere up to 600 times a day, so I’m
not sure if they have proven yet that you
can get radiation cancer from mobile
phones, but I hope not, because it would
be a real problem.
“During the season, we are expected to
provide a media opportunity each day so
basically in order to try and cut down on
these requests, I get one player of the day
and put him in a press conference style
situation to ease the demand.
“We send out media advisories to say that
this player will be available at this time and
this place.
“Doesn’t sound like a hard job, but to try
and get a member of the team to be in a
certain spot and wearing the right things
and saying the right things is one of the
most difficult jobs you can get,” he said.
8
Monivae College
Highlights:
“The biggest highlight has been when
Australia won the Ashes at Perth back
in 2007.
“It doesn’t really matter if you don’t like
cricket or you don’t follow cricket, but if
you were to see the determination and
preparation from that side, the coaching
staff and the administration, at winning
back the Ashes.
“To see that team go through that series
and win it comprehensively, the emotion
that was seen after they won the final test
and to see 25 grown men pretty much
crying in their underwear on the middle of
the WACA, singing ‘Under The Southern
Cross’ at about 11pm, after between
30 and 40 stubbies each, was just awe
inspiring.
“After they do win a test match obviously
they sing ‘Under The Southern Cross’.
“It’s a tradition not only for players on
debut, but also for administration that are
debuting, to chuck them into the middle
of the ring and getting saturated with beer
and champagne as you do in local sport.
“But doing that in front of players I had
idolised for probably 10 to 12 years, your
Ricky Ponting’s, your Shane Warne’s,
Glenn McGrath’s and Justin Langer’s was
quite honestly one of the most amazing
feelings you could ever have.
“I travel with the team everywhere they
go, I have become really close to all the
players in the team. They are pretty much
like a family.
“On tour we have a team manager, the
coach, three assistants, two physios, a
fitness co-ordinator, a couple of dieticians,
five or six masseuses and technical officer.
New Zealand last year.
“Merv Hughes was the selector on duty
and promised me there was this great
fishing river in the middle of Hamilton,
New Zealand.
“I said that’s great Merv but I haven’t got a
fishing rod, I said I’d love to go but I can’t.
“He said that’s fine, I’ve already got one
ordered for you down at the sports store,
you just go and pick it up and pay for it
because it’s great fishing.
“So anyway, I went down to the sports
store and I said to the bloke at the counter
– Was there a big fat man in here before
ordering me a fishing rod?
“He said yeah he said his name was
Merrin Hughes. I said who? Merrin
Hughes, he left this fishing rod here for you
and you just have to pay for it.
“I said oh great, how much is that going
to be? He said that will be $273. I said oh
right and asked was that for one rod? And
he replied ‘No, Mr Hughes said you would
pay for his too!
Shane Warne –
“If there is a question I got asked more
than anything, it would be about Shane
Warne.
“They just want to know what Warney is
really like.
“Shane Warne is actually one of the nicest
people you’ll ever meet. He has a real aura
about him. It sounds a bit funny I know,
but just being around him is actually a
really special feeling.
“There’s just a real buzz about him.
Especially when you talk to him for the first
time and when he walks into a room, the
whole room lights up, and no I don’t love
Shane Warne,” he laughed.
“Together with the players, all up in touring
party there is about 30 to 35 people
and you live out of each others pockets,
especially on long tours.
“He is an intense character and one of
Australia’s most amazing sporting people.
“It’s a real juggling act just to get to know
these people.
“On a night in between the day’s of a test,
it was not unusual for Warney to jump
straight into the shower after the game,
put a suit on and leave in a limo to a
concert or a fashion parade somewhere in
the city.
Merrin Hughes, a real role model “Some of the other personal memorable
moments I’ve had was when we went to
“He leads one of the most amazing social
lives that you’ll ever see as well.
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Lachie Patterson is pictured with the Warne-Muralitharan Trophy and the hierarchy of Hamilton cricket, Colin Watt (HJCA president), Gail McGregor (HWCA secretary) and Kevin Myers (HDCA president). Photo courtesy of the Hamilton Spectator.
He was offered $85,000 a day to
commentate for ESPN during the summer,
obviously wasn’t enough money for him
though as he knocked it back.
“The offer was for 150 days over two
years and he would have earned around
$2,000,000.”
Andrew Symonds –
“Everybody loves Roy and he is by far my
favourites member of the team.
“When the players had a three-month
break after the Ashes loss, Roy packed
his Land Cruiser with his swag, dog and
his esky, and took off around Australia,
stopping at every little town along the way.
“His stories of his adventures and his
promises to take me on the next trip make
him a definite favourite.
“He is a lovely bloke and someone I count
as a friend.
“One thing that a lot of you don’t know
is that Roy used to live in Ballarat for a
period of time and he promises me that
he spent a lot of time in Hamilton with his
dad, who was a school teacher, fishing in
the Grangeburn.”
“One of the most interesting things over
the past couple of years has been Boony’s
association with Fosters and in particular
with the VB dolls.
“Despite the fact he was paid about
$250,000 per year to be the face of VB,
Boony hates the stuff and he’ll always
be seen sucking a James Boags stubby
with a VB wetsuit material stubby holder
wrapped around it.
“Also those annoying Boony dolls that
everyone’s seen are a constant form of
entertainment for when he walks around
the town.
“The truth is Boony doesn’t like Monte
Carlo’s, had no idea what Nachos were
and prefers sandals to thongs.
“Also his real voice was actually too
deep when they tried to record it for
use of the dolls.
“It’s actually a 32-year-old bloke from
Wollongong’s voice that is on those dolls
so it’s not David Boon
at all,” he said.
Future:
“I’m going to be travelling to the West
Indies in May for eight weeks, which
should be a good tour, as long as we
can get a solution with these players (IPL)
playing the test matches.
“Then come back for a few weeks and
then go back to India for a further seven
weeks, which is going to be a barrel of
laughs to say the very least.
“Then it will be the Australian summer with
New Zealand and South Africa coming out
for the test matches and one-day series.
“Then straight to South Africa after that for
about six weeks for another test series,
and then off to England for three months
for the Ashes Series of ’09.
“The next 12 months are pretty hectic for
everyone, not just for the players, but also
for the players that travel with the team.
“There is also a few other little tournaments
here and there, especially when India say
that want to play three games and offer
one million dollars a game so we’ll wait
and see what happens there.
Published in The Hamilton Spectator, March 22, 2008
Lachlan Patterson, (’98)
the Dolphin 9
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Where are they now?
Norah Flanders (Franc) ‘91
Joseph Cain ‘74
Michael Garner ‘99
Moved to WA in 2007 with husband’s
employment as a farm manager. Currently
living on large grain growing property in MidCentral wheat belt. We have two children.
Left Nauru and teaching in the Marshall
Since leaving Monivae, I have become a
Islands in one of the atolls called Jaluit.
project leader with Keppel Prince Engineering
Population is about 700 but has internet,
in Portland, Victoria. I manage the fabrication
power supply, phone, water supply and
and delivery of wind turbine generators for
Michael Farrell ‘60
plentiful fish. Nice blue lagoon with sandy
the company. I find it really rewarding to be
beach. A paradise compared to Nauru.
involved in the renewable energy sector.
Early days worked in Metallurgy and
Electrical Engineering. 27 years
Metropolitatn Fire Brigade Melbourne. Final
Rank Commander (Superintendant). 15
years Database programming (thanks to
Father Luby for the good maths foundation).
Now enjoying the good life on Mount
Tamborine doing a little part time paid IT and
a lot of local free time IT.
Josefine Beiber ‘02
I’ve been living in Armidale since I
finished school. I was offered a couple of
scholarships to go to the University of New
England, and I studied Commerce / Law
there. Soon after I switched to part time and
took up a job at a local financial institution in
lending. Nearly five years later I’m still here
in Armidale, still working at that financial
institution, albeit a different role. I have
bought a house, finished the accountancy
part of the degree and love it here (except for
the ice, wind and snow!). I am still studying
law, in fact I should be studying now (instead
of writing this)! I’d like to thank Monivae
for providing me with the opportunities I’ve
had. Boarding school was my home and the
staff, Mr Ashby, Mrs Ross and Mrs Rhook
and the boarders were like brothers / sisters
/ parents. Without Monivae I would never
have been presented with the opportunities
I’ve had. I still remember my time at Monivae
fondly and in fact went back there last year
to take some pictures.
I really enjoyed teaching Environmental
Science there, especially studying coral
Leonie Turra ‘87
reefs, biodiversity and coastal wetlands. The
In 1988 I moved to Queensland. After
school has about 300 boarders from Grade
university I moved to the Kimberley. I spent
9 – 12. My wife is from Fiji and teaches ESL.
a number of years traveling around aboriginal
We have one boy, Leviticus and he is in Year
communities providing dental treatment.
12. I will always treasure my six years at
Throughout this time I did a lot of overseas
Monivae and sometimes wonder about the
travel which included Europe, South America
class of 74 and whether they’re still around.
and Antarctica. Now I live in Darwin and
Justin McIneerney ‘ 90
Lived in Brisbane from 1994 – 2006 and
spend most of my spare time sailing.
Scott Wythe ‘85
moved to Singapore in 2006. Married
After graduating from Monivae I moved
Watt Wei Yee in 2007 and am working as
to Adelaide where I studied Science
a Marketing Executive for a Car Dealer in
obtaining an Honours degree in Petroleum
Singapore.
Geochemistry. I worked for a laboratory
John Cullinane ‘81
company, Amdel, in Adelaide for 9 years
working as a Geochemist in various roles
Left Monivae and started work as a Licences
including offshore oil and gas testing. I
Stock and Station agent, Real Estate Agent
then moved to Melbourne in 1999 as the
and Auctioneer. I went back to University
Environmental Lab Manager for Amdel
(Uni of Qld) 1997 – 2000 and completed a
before returning to Adelaide to take up
Bachelor of Business (Property Studies) and
a position as a Business Improvement
obtained my qualifications as a Property
Manager with the DMO at Edinburgh Air
Valuer. In 2007 I took up a new position as a
Force Base. After 2 years we decided for a
Property Valuer in Hamilton and am looking
change of scenery and moved to Palmerston
forward to renewing my associations with
North, New Zealand where I ran Gribbles
Monivae College. My wife and I and three
Veterinary Pathology Laboratory. Despite
boys will be moving back to Hamilton and
NZ being a lovely country it was a bit too
am very much looking forward to the move.
cold for us so we moved back to Sydney in
We are in the process of enrolling our three
2007 where I took up the role of Business
boys into Monivae as new students in 2008.
Manager for ALS Environmental and
transferred to Perth early in 2008 to run the
Mathew Woon ‘02
Noel O’Brien ‘67
Currently back in Malaysia for a long holiday.
Been working in Melbourne for the past 4 ½
years as a chef. Last work place was Pearl
Restaurant and Bar in Church St, Richmond.
Will hopefully be starting work in Singapore in
early March 2008.
Have just returned to Australia after 30 years
making wedding plans at present and we are
in Africa where I travelled extensively as a
both doing further study in the International
result of my business ventures in the Mining
Development field.
10 Monivae College
industry.
Perth laboratory. Kelly-anne and I are busy
Sally Waldron ‘80
I attended Monivae from 1978 – 1980 (as a
Gary Simkin
boarders) and left Monivae half way through
Form 5 in 1980 to commence working at
a Public Accountants office in Ballarat. I
have not moved from Ballarat since then.
I am “recycled” having been married,
divorced and now re-partnered. I have 3
children, Tiarna (who has just commenced
at University of Ballarat), Brayden (Year
11) and Sharni (Year 10) and two step
children. I am now self-employed and run
a company with my partner that specialises
in Business Management, Consulting,
small business bookkeeping etc. Up until
December last year I was employed by
a local Health Service in Ballarat. I am in
my second semester at the University of
Ballarat studying a Masters of Professional
Accounting which is a huge shock to the
system since I haven’t done any study
since leaving school in 1980. If anyone is in
Ballarat and would like to contact me I am in
the Ballarat phone book under S Waldron,
Mount Helen.
Stephen Lucas ‘85
Stephen’s sister Virginia requested the
following to be written about her brother:
It might be interesting for MOCA people to
know that my brother, Stephen Lucas, is the
finance manager at Kooyong. It’s a great
place to hold functions. My organisation has
chosen to return five years in a row. More
importantly, he is just as nice a person as ever.
Meg Dwight ‘06
I’m at La Trobe University studying a
Bachelor of Archaeology. I’m a Combat
Signaler in the Australian Army Reserves
and I am also a receptionist for a Melbourne
audio visual company. I just wanted to pass
onto Fr Reis, Mr Gallagher and Mr Neal that
this is plainly thanks to them, and I am taking
part in July in an operation in Sydney (Op
Testament) in the security of the Pope.
Gary Simkin
Gary was a careers coordinator from the early nineties, working
with other schools to develop programs. He was responsible
for professional development courses and curriculum
coordination.
The Cadets was a program Gary became involved with in 1980 and he has been in
charge of them for the last 13 years. He believes the softer approach is better with cadet
activities –helping ensure that participation is enjoyed by all.
Gary says there are many highlights he can recall from 30 years with Monivae and likes
to think he’s contributed in some way to the success and happiness of students. One
of his students, Caroline Gorman took his advice and studied economics; she’s now
an economist working in London. Gary Obst is working in Melbourne as head of the
Australian Bureau of Statistics after working with the OECD in France, and Andrew Watt
is currently working in Russia as an economist.
Gary believes that subjects like language and music are very important in helping to
develop and educate the ‘whole person’.
In terms of the future for Monivae, Gary would like to see the school continue to embrace
leading edge technology and says people will need more than just I.T. skills for the future.
He believes that the school has the potential to be a civic leader by taking the initiative
in programs of recycling and solar and alternative energy and that these could be used
as educational programs. A relationship with RMIT could see their students attending
Monivae as part of a ‘rural experience program’.
When asked how he’d like to be remembered he says simply “as a bit like the kids really,
pretty easy-going and ‘what you see is what you get’”.
Cadet Camp Restructure
Monivae has embarked on a new strategy of combining the annual boy’s and girl’s cadet
camps. The camp, which is normally held over a two week period, was condensed into
one, calling for further equipment, supplies and overcoming logistical obstacles, to cater to
the needs of the two separate sites.
The concept proved very effective; as in the classroom, children socialise very well
alongside those of the opposite gender, and the same can be said for those out in the
field, where mixed activities were successfully employed.
Ordinarily, with camp spread over a two week period, officers of Australia’s Cadet Corp
and Army Reserve could not possibly spend quality time with both the boy’s and girl’s
camps, however, the combined camp has allowed them to do exactly that.
Due to rising numbers of children being affected by special dietary requirements and
food allergies, army ration packs have been withdrawn from the camp. To counter
this predicament, fresh supplies of food are delivered to the cadets, out of Monivae’s
commercial kitchen, including ‘hot boxes’ for their evening meals. The fresh food is
distributed amongst the platoons, and the cadets take turns creating meals out in
the field. This new initiative regarding rations has lead to safer storage, handling and
preparation of the food.
the Dolphin 11
WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Attended Monivae as a boarder, went to
Melbourne University, trained for National Service
then returned to Monivae as a teacher thirty years
ago. He’s still teaching at the school today and
has been involved in and witness to enormous
change over the years.
day student and then as one of the first girl
F R O M T H E P R I N C I PA L
Monivae – Always on the Move
The past twelve months has seen significant changes to the physical environment at Monivae: the
new bus exchange, the lift connecting the basement to the fourth floor, the complete opening-out
and refurbishment of the basement area, the new connecting stair bays linking the basement-to-thecourtyard-to-the first-floor, the installation of stage one of an electronic keying system, the complete
re-laying of the main driveway to list a few.
In curriculum, too, Monivae continues to
pave the way. The trialing this year of a
Teacher Adviser program at Year 12 has
been a big success. This program has
established a system of regular, formal
monitoring of academic progress with
resultant written reports across all subjects
to the student and his or her parents
every three weeks. At the other end of the
age-scale, our EXCEL program faces its
biggest enhancement since its inception
in 2001: these enhancements will increase
the focus on literacy and numeracy
development, offer further opportunities
for leadership development
and build on students’
deeper thinking skills. The
curriculum at Years 8-10 is
also undergoing a scheduled
major review this year.
Our enrolments at Monivae
have risen for the seventh
consecutive year rising from
a low of 519 in 2001 to our
current figure of 614 (as of May 2008).
The continued increase in demand for
places at Year 7 will see an additional
stream added in 2009, creating a further
25 places. In recent years we have had
a waiting list for the four classes at Year
7 but demand for places in 2009 has
been too great to ignore the need for an
additional class.
Meanwhile, two Principals and a Deputy
Principal from Catholic secondary schools
in Kiribati are stationed at Monivae during
the whole of second term as part of a
leadership development program. The
three have settled in well to life at Monivae
although they are finding the Western
District weather in autumn al little different
from that in equatorial Kiribati!
In the area of Mission Experience, Monivae
continues to grow. All three Mission
Experience trips will run this year: the
Kiribati trip in April, the PNG trip in July
and the Bathurst Island trip in
September – this is the first time
all three have run in the one
year. Plans are also underway
to develop a program of staff/
parent Mission Experience
trips to supplement the
student trips: we are hopeful
that the first of these will take
place in 2009.
In July Monivae has a group of staff and
students attending the World Youth Day
celebrations in Sydney. Joining them will be
a group of students and staff from PapuaNew Guinea and Kiribati who are coming
from the same schools which host our
Monivae Mission Experience students when
on their trips. These Papua-New Guineans
and I-Kiribati students will then spend a
week at Monivae after World Youth Day.
Monivae continues to live up to its
commitment as a very good school on
the road of continuous improvement.
Principal, Mr Bernard Neal
12 Monivae College
Bursaries and Scholarships
– your chance to make a difference
Every pupil who has attended Monivae has received an excellent
education at very low, reduced or no cost. Even when our parents
paid full fees, those fees were very low.
As I meet former students, I am amazed at the number who say their parents paid reduced or
no fees. Monivae was able to do that because we had a band of MSC Priests and Brothers
who gave their all, in service of us.
Times have changed; economic circumstances have worsened, especially with the drought;
Monivae no longer has priests and brothers to work unpaid-teachers have to be paid, wages
and costs go up. If Monivae is to be able to help present day students in the same way as we
were helped, financial support is needed urgently.
Please make a tax deductible donation to the Bursary Fund using the flyer included in this
edition of the Dolphin or you can contact Bryan Roberts on 0395344361 or 0418148523.
Monivae
Memorabilia
The history of Monivae
‘the best you can’ $25
(+$10 postage and handling)
This is a handsome hard-back volume of 221 pages bound in gold-embossed
burgundy. Featuring a total staff list and a collection of more than eighty photographs.
There is a comprehensive index and many a student who was elected to office, or
collected a trophy, or won a race years ago, may find themselves immortalized in
the pages of this book. A wonderful read.
Old Collegian tie $30
An elegant tie in the college colours can be worn by old collegians with pride as a
lasting memory of Monivae. …an old collegian ‘must have’.
How to Order
You can order any of the memorabilia by
downloading the form off the Monivae
website or contact:
The Development Office
Monivae College
PO Box 423 Hamilton 3000
Fax: (03) 5571 1074
Telephone: (03) 5572 1244
Email: kmorton@monivae.vic.edu.au
the Dolphin 13
MOCA Reunion
Dates 2008
40 Year - Class of 1968
May 24, 2008
Celtic Club, Melbourne
30 Year - Class of 1978
October 4, 2008
Celtic Club, Melbourne
20 Year – Class of 1988
October 11, 2008
Celtic Club, Melbourne
10 Year – Class of 1998
October 18, 2008
Caledonian Hotel, Hamilton
Help
We need you to help with contacting your class mates.
The reunions during 2007 were the best ever. Why? Because a group of old collegians
from each class group contacted 10 people each to advise them of the reunion.
Remember that the Monivae Development Office does not have the contact details of all
old collegians. This worked so the reunions were bigger and more fun. If you would like
to help use to contact people for this years reunions please email me kmartin@monivae.
vic.edu.au or phone (03) 55 72 1244.
Monivae Reunions
They are great fun and have a special feel about them. Catching up with people who
you have known since your school days but maybe have not met or seen since your
days together at Monivae. It is for this reason that Monivae always promotes that
by attending Monivae you ‘Make Friends for Life’. Over the laughter the majority of
sentences at reunions commenced with ‘Remember When’.
Drinks After Work 2008
During 2007 a new event ‘Drinks after Work’ was held in Melbourne on May 4. This
event was again held in April 2008 with the same planned for Adelaide, Ballarat and
Bendigo. The date for Ballarat has now been fixed at Friday 20 June. The dates have
not been set for Adelaide and Bendigo yet but if you would like to be emailed with the
dates please email your contact details to kmorton@monivae.vic.edu.au.
giving every
child a chance
Monivae College Development Office PO Box 423 Hamilton Vic 3300
Kery Martin Director of Development & Marketing
Telephone (03) 5572 1244
Email kmartin@monivae.vic.edu.au
Facsimile (03) 5571 1074
www.monivae.com