Friendships and community were the key themes of our 每日大赛网址首页进入 Day Lunch, held last Tuesday.
More than 110 people from the SPC community turned out for the lunch celebrations at the College鈥檚 Old Collegians鈥� Association, overlooking the Main Oval, where students participated in fun 每日大赛网址首页进入 Day activities in and around the wet weather.
There was a wonderful turnout of Old Collegians and partners present celebrating Class Reunions, including members of the Class of 1966 for their 60-year anniversary, and the Class of 1976 celebrating a half a century milestone of 50 years.
The Class of 1966鈥檚 Peter Howley led a warm welcome to his cohort, followed by Simon Grigg who greeted his Class of 1976 classmates.
The Most Reverend Paul Bird took grace after officiating at the College鈥檚 student-led Assembly earlier in the day.
In a first for our 每日大赛网址首页进入 Day Lunches, Class of 1966鈥檚 Peter Klopotowski and his wife watched the day鈥檚 proceedings from their computer screen at their home in South Australia after the escalating fuel scarcity crisis forced them to abandon their plans to drive interstate join the reunion festivities.
College Principal Steven O鈥機onnor said SPC鈥檚 special 鈥渟ense of community is clearly evident at gatherings like today鈥�.
In welcoming the audience, Old Collegians Association president Dr Charles Flynn said there were many reasons to celebrate.
鈥淚n a time when the world seems to be a little bit crazy, we celebrate the fact that we live in a country that is a long way away from conflict,鈥� he said.
鈥淲e celebrate the fact that this school has been educating young men for 130-plus years. We celebrate the commitment of the thousands of academic and administrative staff who have helped to shape the minds of the tens of thousands of young men who have graduated from this school.
鈥淲e celebrate the fact that the school has been continuous use as a springboard that has launched young men into an impressively diverse range of careers. 鈥�
Dr Flynn said this tradition continued today with the young men entrusted in SPC鈥檚 care 鈥渢o have the optimal school experience to help each individual to become the best possible version of themselves鈥�.
Guest speaker John Larkins (SPC 1961-67), who is currently chair of the Victorian Liquor Commission following a successful career as a barrister in Melbourne, recounted many fond memories of his time as a boarder.
鈥淲e managed to have a lot of fun out of very little,鈥� he said, highlighting the camaraderie often experienced by fellow boarders, even decades on, after 鈥渉aving an experience together that really cannot be replicated鈥�.
John brought along his father鈥檚 1932 high jump trophy from home. He remembered watching his father writing out a cheque for his SPC education 鈥渂ut for the life of me, I can鈥檛 remember if it was 50 guineas (equivalent to $100) for a term or the whole year鈥�.
John said he was delighted to catch up with classmates at the lunch, some he had met on his first day of SPC at the tender age of 11.
He recalled the in the boarders dining room where the entire process was based around 鈥渟eniority鈥�.
鈥淚 also remember two (food) strikes in my time 鈥� in relation to 鈥榬ed dogs鈥� 鈥� they were very red sausages and the boys remained steadfast in their seats and refused to go up and get them,鈥� he laughed.
He recounted Br Tuck鈥檚 interesting coaching style as a member of the 1966 First XVIII Football team, and the 鈥渓egendary William Thomas O鈥橫alley鈥� and 鈥渨hat an experience that was鈥�.
In reminiscing, John said Br O鈥橫alley often reminded him of having taught, not only his brother – but his father as well – when he felt it was time for John to pick up his grades.
Sixty years on, John also confessed a secret of intercepting an important College letter which warned of expulsion following his involved in some mischievous behaviour.
鈥淚 always remember the last line.聽鈥�Would you please impress on him the importance of this warning鈥�.
“I thought I鈥檝e got the message and there鈥檚 no need for my father to see this 鈥� and my father went to his grave knowing nothing of this.
鈥淏ut I still think it was the right thing to do,鈥� he laughed.
John said he was especially thankful for his education at SPC.
鈥淚 was to say I鈥檝e found revisiting my youth in this regard, and I don鈥檛 know if everyone feels this way, to be quite a profound experience to be thinking back 60 years to who you were, how you went about things, the mistakes you made, the growing up you did, in many ways painful and how it prepares you for the vastitudes of life, and I found that to be a pretty good exercise.鈥�
As a special keepsake from the day, group photographs were taken of the two reunion groups, and a personalised framed photo was presented to each member of the Class of 1966 in attendance to signify the special 60-year milestone.
Moments like these are a great reminder of the strong bonds that make St Pat’s so special.
