Ringaroo July 2012 Old Collegians News

25 Ballarat Clarendon College 07/12 25Old Collegians’ News These notes were compiled by Heather Jackson by generosity to others. He contributed to D A Baird as a young man with assistance from Di Hook and Elspeth Ballarat College in an honorary capacity as Stevenson-Matthews. They include news rowing coach, secretary and president of the physically diminished, his recovery and life of received to the end of May 2012. Old Collegians, and member of school council service is testament to David’s resilience and To ensure information is published please 1950-1984, serving as chairman 1976-1984. determination. notify us of any death, engagement, marriage He was friend and mentor to four school David retained a passion for nearly 60 years or birth, and receipt of a personal-information headmasters. Speaking at his funeral Mr David after WWII: his desire to see a place of update is always welcomed. Dyer (Headmaster 1960-1966) eloquently reflection to record the names of prisoners Deaths affirmed Ken’s contribution both personally, who did not return. It was a source of great Where the information is known, notification ‘an unassuming man of great courage and joy to David when the Australian Ex-Prisoner of the death of an Old Collegian will include determination he was a wise mentor for of War Memorial eventually opened in 2004, the name of the spouse, the names of all me…a raw young headmaster…his support and in the presence of 10,000 visitors, as it enabled children, but only the names of grandchildren counsel was invaluable’ and corporately, ‘he David to feel that he had finally fulfilled his if current or past students. fully appreciated the need for development duty to those who did not come home, and Kenneth David Baird (1930) on 15 September and change…in those days there was very little to their families. Later he was recognised for 2011, son of Robert Baird (1887) (council government aid…Ken played a leading part in his role in establishing the Memorial at Lake member 1932-1952), husband of Joy (Coutts) a series of successful fundraising programs, Wendouree – the first National Memorial Baird (1936), parent of R Andrew (1971) and starting with the centenary appeal’. The outside Canberra - with the Medal of the Jillian Fowler (1968), grandparent of Sarah school K. D. Baird Boatshed was named in Order of Australia. (2007) and Alexander (2009). his honour in 1977. He has also been recognised with Honours Mavis Hucker (1933) on 21 October 2011. Mavis for his 34 years as a municipal Councillor and K D Baird in his first year at College attended Clarendon from 1928 to 1933. Her for his dedication to the CFA, Kelaston, the Ken attended Ballarat College 1925 – 1930, niece, Suzanne (Hucker) Ellis (1992), writes Mt Blowhard PS, the Uniting Church and the Scotch College 1931-1932 and the University that Mavis remained physically and mentally Masonic Lodge. of Melbourne 1933-1938. On completion of very active throughout her 95 years. She was David would say he lived a fortunate life; his law degree, Ken returned to the family always intensely interested in the lives and he loved farming and lived at La Rose with law firm (Baird and Baird) until joining the air happenings of her siblings, nieces, nephews his beloved Dorothy (who predeceased force in 1940. Ken became the first Australian and their descendants and will be sorely him in June 2011) until his hospitalisation in commander of RAAF 460 Squadron operating missed by them all. November. David remained vitally interested under Bomber command in Britain. He David Alexander Baird (1935) on 16 November in everything around him, his last civic duty, went on to command a Royal Air Force base 2011, husband of Dorothy (Grills) (dec), father aged 93, a week before his death was to in England. In 1943, Ken was awarded the of David J (1970), Jeanette (Baird) Nevill attend the opening of the restoration of the Distinguished Flying Cross. (1972), Matthew (1976) and father-in-law of Arch of Victory: he was photographed by the Returning to Ballarat after the war, Ken Sari (Rungkat) (1978), grandfather of Brett media sharing a smile and an informal story worked as a solicitor and lived a life marked (2004), Megan (2006), Brianna (2009), Hugh with the Governor General, Quentin Bryce. (2009) and David R (current student). Son of David and Eliza, brother of Jean (Baird) McCutcheon (1932) and Donald (1936) (all dec). David Baird could not have imagined the extraordinary century that he would see when he left Ballarat College in 1932, aged 14. Having completed his Merit Certificate, he returned to “La Rose”, the Mt Blowhard farm, home to the Baird family for the past 144 years. It could have been a quiet life but like so many men and women of his generation, David’s youth was interrupted and transformed by the events of WWII. His internment as a prisoner in Changi and on the Burma Railway has been well documented. On his return, although

26Old Collegians’ News continued… His family wish to thank and acknowledge the John Edward Lister (1939) on 10 April 2012, Susan Selkirk, House Captain 1961 extraordinary friendship of many men and brother of the late Graeme (1945). John Bruce Fleming (1969) on 8 November 2011. women whose contribution to David’s life served with the RAAF during WWII returning Husband of Heather, father of Thomas, sister made his many endeavours possible. after the war to work with his father at the of Jenny (Fleming) Pearce (1973). The records describe David as a man of family-owned service station on the corner Kirk Campbell Eden (1998), brother of Lorinda humility, reserve and great integrity. In one of Main Road and Victoria Street. John moved (Eden) Pender (1989). Kirk attended the school interview he was asked, “what do you admire into sales, working in Melbourne and then from 1986 to 1993. most”, to which he replied, “The way people Adelaide. He retired to Victor Harbour in the in different organisations devote the time and 1960s. John’s son Jonathon was recently in Engagements energy to carry out their duties.” By his own Ballarat competing in the Rowing Masters. Roxane Carr and Richard Coffey (1998) measure, David Baird lived an admirable life. Barbara Dawn (Nice) Wilson (1948) on Hannah Tippett (2002) and Nick Macartney Gwen Anwyl MacLeod (Griffith) Graham 7 January 2012, wife of Len (dec), mother Michaela Birkett (2003) and Josh Elmer (1935) on 9 January 2012, wife of Ian (1929), of Malcolm, Doug, Judith and David. Marlene Cirillo and Scott Nicholson (1999) mother of Fiona (1964), Anwyl (Graham) Barbara attended Clarendon from Trisha Nicol (1995) and Jason Varker-Miles Malloch (1966), Catherine Mason (dec) 1938 to 1943 and re-entered in 1945. Jo Ronaldson (2003) and Xavier Shanahan (1967) and sister of Coralie Owen (1945). Marjorie (Muir) Allen (1958) on 18 June 2011, Kendall Beseler and James Troon (2001) Gwen entered Clarendon as a junior in 1924. sister of Robert (Bob) (1967), Merryle (Muir) Kerrie Roberts and Michael Shiell (1991) In 1935, Gwen was Head Prefect; president Tanner (1962) and Joy (Muir) Motter (1960). Laura Rae (2002) and Joseph Van Dyk of the Junior League of Nations; editor of Marjorie boarded at Clarendon 1953-1958. A Touchstone; member of running, basketball, recipient of the the H V Mackay Scholarship, Marriages baseball first teams and tennis second team; Marjorie was both a House and Head Prefect Fiona Lorensene (2001) and Aaron Burford vice-captain of Kennedy House and winner of in 1958. She received the I C Ross Memorial Mikaela Mowat and John Felstead (1999) the Coulter Cup. Prize for French with honours and the Dr Kate Davies (2003) and Bill Martin W A Sloss Prize for secondary studentship. Victoria Hankin (2004) and Russell Parry Marjorie maintained an interest in the Hollie Troon (2003) and Dallas Doolan school throughout her adult years and was Melissa Humphreys and Anthony Bull (1999) instrumental in organising the Clarendon Megan Fraser (1991) and Richard Thach Reunion in 2010. Gwen Griffith, Running team, 1935 Marjorie Muir, Basketball team, 1958 Marie Joan (English) Le Maitre (1940) on 15 Susan Mary (Selkirk) Crankshaw (1961) on 20 November 2011, mother of Jenny (Le Maitre) April 2012, daughter of Dorothy (McKenzie) Liesfield (1964), Gayle (Le Maitre) Flower Selkirk (1937) and Ron, sister of Patricia (1965) and Colin (1969), grandmother of (Selkirk) Dobson (1964). Susan attended the Clinton (1991) and Jandi (1993), daughter of school from 1954 to 1961. In her final year she Marguerite (Harvey) English (1906), sister was Head of Sloss House and a Prefect. of Edith (English) Carbury (1937), Richard (1939), Maxwell (1941) and Harry (1943). Marie attended Clarendon from 1936 to 1940.

Ballarat Clarendon College 07/12 27Old Collegians’ News continued…Births Sam and Scott Whitelaw (1988) Bill Etheridge (1965) has retired from ASX-Emma (Bryant) (1998) and Daniel McGrath – a daughter Madeline Lee listed Metminco Limited but remains a– a daughter Felicity Mae Viki and Andrew Muir (1983) non-executive director. He looks forward toAinsley (Edmonston) (2001) and Dan O’Bryan – a son Nicholas Rade attending the 50-year reunion in 2015.– a son Henry Charles Melissa and Dean Macaulay (1997) Margaret Moreton (1978) is undertaking aAnna (Sheedy) (1996) and Adam Jackson – a daughter Madeline Eve research PhD at ANU investigating factors(1996) – a son Angus Rutherford Melanie-Bree (Hardy) (2004) and Steve Watts contributing to community resilienceEbeny Heimeier (2003) and Anthony Bull – a daughter Mila Polly following natural disaster.– a daughter Isabelle Kate Murray Sadler (1979) is a sales/engineeringKate and James Robson (2001) John, Donald and Bruce Forsyth consultant with Telstra in Melbourne.– a daughter Mckenzie Gem What they’re doing now (chronological) Jill (Sadler) Farley (1981) is a Reading RecoveryZara Costello and Stefan Batstra (1989) John R Forsyth (1943) is Owner/Director of teacher and lives in Warrnambool.– a daughter Eleanor Sage Asia Travel Experts P/L . John and his wife Graeme Sadler (1984) is a pilot for QantasLink,Heidi Jarvis and Van Sanders (1996) Aileen live in Queensland. Visiting the school flying out of Melbourne.– a daughter Marigold May recently, John was delighted, amongst other Cathy Sadler (1985) is Head of GroundLori and Aaron Jolliffe (2002) things, to identify the location of the old coal Operations and Inflight Services, for Jetstar in– a daughter Allira Maddison scuttle which had provided out-of-hours Japan.Kate (Barr) (1999) and Glenn Jenkinson entry to the boarding house during the 1940s! Emma Jansen (1992) exhibited her quilt– a son Sam Isaac During the years 1966-2004 John established patterns and fabrics in the Australasian QuiltAlison Hall and Aaron Kerr (1994) San Michele Travel Pty Ltd which had the Convention held at the Royal Exhibition– a son Liam John reputation as Australia’s leading expert on Buildings, Carlton, April 2012.Miranda Paine (1993) and Dale Chalmers a son Asia Travel. At age 86, he is still travelling Martin Grey (1993) has recently moved to– Nash Alexander through Asia as a Hosted Buyer Travel Expert. Ararat to further his nursing career.Sarah (Wombwell) (1997) and Phil Richards Donald G Forsyth (1946) is retired and living Andrew Butcher (1994) is married to Joanne– a daughter Naida Jean in Adelaide. Don had a 20 year career with and has three children - Hayley, Emma andShannyn and John Harris (1990) AMPOL and a further 20 year career with Kirk. He lives in Brisbane and has worked with– a daughter Sadie Lee AMP. Don’s essay ‘Diaries’ is featured in The the Department of Defence in a variety ofAlisa Widdison and Alistair Porteous (1994) Minervan, December 1943, p.19. Visiting the roles since 1995; currently as a psychologist.– a daughter Ivy Jayne school recently, Don spoke warmly of his years Dean Macaulay (1997) has returned fromFlip (Abraham) (1990) and Simon Beaton as a boarder from 1941 – 43. overseas and is working in Melbourne at UGL– a son Archie Roy Bruce R Forsyth (1949) also visited the school Services.Michelle (Harbour) (2001) and Mick Kennedy recently. A former Channel 9 NSW State Emma (Bryant) (1998) married Daniel– a son Asher Michael executive, Bruce went on to work with AMP McGrath in 2010 and now lives in Cairns, Qld.Graeme Myers (1999) and Adele for around 30 years and is now retired and Hayden Davies (2002) is the Manager, Training– a son Alexander James living in Sydney. & Performance, Asia Pacific at Aesop.Susie (Jordan) (1995) and Michael Walsh Penelope Jackson (2005) is teaching English– a daughter Samantha Kay and Religious Education at Highview College,Eleanor (Jacobs) (1999) and Gareth Williams Maryborough, Vic.– a son Jacob Michael Alycen Edwards (2007) has completed a double degree of Teaching and Arts (majoring in English and History) at The University of Adelaide and is teaching SOSE and English at Caritas College in Port Augusta, South Australia.