ROLL CALL LASALLIAN LEARNLIVELEAD - De La Salle College
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
LEARNLIVELEAD
LASALLIAN
ROLL CALL
A PUBLICATION FOR THE DE LA SALLE COLLEGE COMMUNITY | ISSUE 49 | SEPTEMBER 2020
CONTENTS LETTERS TO EDITOR
Dear Editor,
Letters to Editor 2
Just a brief note to congratulate you on the wonderful
From the Principal 3 Roll Call. I am astounded how you are able to gather
the continuing stories of Old Boys, who have a
College responds to COVID-19 lockdown 4
love and affection for the College. I was particularly
Front line first responder 5 pleased to see the article about Marie Grafen. She
has been an extraordinary support for the Brothers
Learning and teaching in lockdown 6
who worked away from Malvern. Even when home in
The COVID-19 cohort 7 December last year, she gave me a donation to help
with the “Breakfast Club” at Hohola. She has been
The Parent Perspective / Help Desk to the Rescue 8 extraordinarily faithful to this task over so many years.
Keeping the music alive in lockdown 9 The Mothers Auxiliary has been a very significant
group over the years. I look back at the magazines,
Student response to COVID-19 10 and admire their group photos for their hats, which
Life back to normal, not yet 11 must have been compulsory!
Br Denis Loft (1965)
Acclimatising to Geneva 12
The long game is the best game in town 14 Dear Editor,
Running for their blue family 16 I wanted to pass on my congratulations on the
production of the recent on-line Roll Call. I have read it
Life on the ground in South Africa 17
from front to back and it is excellent and undoubtedly
The Renshi and the CEO 18 the best for a long time. One thing that really shines
through is the real progress you are making at College
COVID-19 ends family’s dream holiday 19
with the improvement in academic results, expansion
From Wimbledon to the MCG 20 of the curriculum and co-curricular activities, and the
overall elevation of the College’s standards including
Man on the run 21 the fabric of the buildings. You are to be congratulated
The Quin family connection 22 on all these achievements.
Gerard Meehan (1981)
Old Collegian legacy in Western District 24
Hawthorn East.
A message from the President of the Old Collegians 25
Football Club
Dear Editor,
Where Are They Now? 26 Thank you very much for an outstanding Roll Call. I
From the Archives 27 happened to see a copy some days ago when I was
visiting one of our Brothers in a Sydney hospital. In
College Reunions 27 the next bed in the same room was an old boy from
Malvern - Guy or Guido Gianni - who began 5th class
Rest In Peace 27
in 1951. Guy was very unwell, but with the help of his
EDITORIAL wife, read the complete edition and we discussed it
Welcome to this very unusual edition of Roll Call. With all and many aspects of his schooling in Malvern. From a
Old Collegians Reunions cancelled for the remainder of the personal point of view, I enjoyed every article.
year due to the COVID-19 virus, this issue is the only contact Br Gerard Rummery
many of you will have with your alma mater until next year.
Only once before, in the College’s long and prestigious
history has it closed for business. In 1918 the College closed COVER
due to the Spanish flu, which ravaged the world after World (left to right) Luca Waterstone, Joel King, Mr Peter
War 1. It would take another century for the College to be Houlihan, Flynn Bulman and Andrew McGaw.
closed again, again for a pandemic, the COVID-19 virus. EDITOR
In this issue we report on the College’s unprecedented Kerry Martin
response to the Virus. We celebrate the innovation and
commitment of our teachers, our staff, our students and our COVER PHOTOGRAPHY
parents in their response to life in ‘isolation.” There is also James McPherson
news of the achievements of our Old Collegians, As Roll Call ADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY
goes to print we are now in Lockdown 2.0. We look forward Peter Pearse, James McPherson and Jonathan
to life returning to normal, soon. Hewett
Kerry Martin DESIGN & PRODUCTION
Editor Mauro Cecchin and De La Salle Marketing
2 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
FROM THE PRINCIPAL
From the Principal
Dear Old Collegians,
Welcome to this latest edition of
the Roll Call; once again providing
a terrific range of articles outlining
contemporary happenings at the
College and a variety of news from
our Old Collegians’ exploits around
the globe.
Given the events of recent months,
it is almost inevitable my column
will focus on COVID-19 and how
the College has coped under a
broad variety of challenges. When
school closures were announced in
late March, with the resultant move
to remote learning we were very
quickly drawn into the maelstrom
of preparations, adjustments,
communications and precautions
– all designed to keep our students announced students were going and actions, keeping us safe, helping
and staff safe. Closely aligned to home and not returning onsite for at people adjust and cope and take
these critical priorities were the other least the first half of Term 2. The next meaning from the experience.
essential elements of our everyday, couple of weeks – nominally the Term
This leadership, attitude and planned
“normal” school operations. Despite 1 holidays - were then consumed by
approach has held us in good stead
the obvious disruptions, our emphasis staff at all levels working frantically
thus far and I will be relying on a
very quickly turned to finding new to ensure our online resources and
similar approach in the coming weeks
ways to focus on learning, wellbeing, skills were up to the required standard
to best support all in our school
faith and spirituality and when and quickly learning the intricacies of
circles. In his Meditation 202.3,
possible, limited co-curricular activities teaching and meeting via Microsoft
St John Baptist de La Salle said,
to support our students and broaden Teams. This period of remote learning
“Example makes a much greater
their experience of what rapidly turned was certainly demanding for staff
impression on the mind and heart
into a very challenging year! and students alike but the feedback
than words.” Our staff have set a
from parents and indeed most of the
In recent years, all at De La Salle have wonderful example for each other
students was that the College handled
taken great pride in our commitment and our young men; remaining calm,
the process remarkably well. Students
to innovation, improvement, dedicated to the cause and resilient in
were kept up to date with their
developing great young men and the face of adversity. A good lesson
learning and the wellbeing staff were
realising the wonderful potential for us all as we work through the
very busy supporting various students
in each of them. As we move challenges of the pandemic. May you
and families who found the remote
through the hybrid experience of a and yours stay safe and well.
experience a little overwhelming.
combination of on-site and remote
Peter Houlihan
learning in recent months, it is At the time of writing, we are moving
Principal
important for our community to know into Term 3 with all Year 5 – 10
these strategic priorities remain. students once again learning remotely
Indeed, with the reflection and lessons and the VCE classes on-site. While
from last term’s remote learning, our the coming weeks bring obvious and
commitment to and understanding of varied challenges, I am confident in
what our students and staff need is our capacity to embrace these and
actually sharpened by the experience. make 2020 a successful year for all.
We have approached all this year’s
I was very proud of – and impressed
obstacles with some strategic, yet
by – the terrific manner in which all in
basic principles designed to support,
the school moved into the first round
encourage and build our community
of remote learning. In the final week
in the face of adversity. I have been
of Term 1 we had already begun
very proud of the way so many staff
preparations for remote learning,
have led our community through
establishing what that may look like in
these recent months through words
our context. On 23 March the Premier
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 3
COLLEGE RESPONDS TO COVID-19 LOCKDOWN College responds to COVID-19 lockdown As Roll Call goes to print the College is in its second lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Not since 1918 has the College closed its gates. On the following pages Roll Call looks at how the College responded to the first pandemic lockdown, from March till May. Thanks to the unprecedented efforts of our students, parents, teachers and support staff, the College navigated its community through troubled waters to reopen its gates once again at the end of May. While the lockdowns closed the physical presence of the College, the day to day business of school life continued. Students learned remotely, administration staff worked from their dining room tables, College tours went virtual, College Reunions were cancelled and the College gates were locked. Students celebrated Founder’s Day online, watched their Student Leaders share recipes on Facebook and sweated through virtual gym sessions. It was business as usual, albeit remotely. 4 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
FRONT LINE FIRST RESPONDER
Front line first responder
As the College First Aid Officer,
Kylie Upton’s days are never
boring. Responsible for more
than 1,100 students, she has
seen it all, but nothing could
have prepared her for COVID-19.
Working as part of a front-
line team to implement the
College’s health response to the
pandemic, Ms Upton had to think
laterally and quickly to ensure
students and staff were safe.
“On Sunday 22 March 2020, we
received the news that all schools
across Victoria would close and
within days the College was put into
staff were vaccinated from their cars. at Tiverton to commence the term.
“lockdown.”
They were accommodated in the
The Health Centre quickly responded
Ms Upton, who has been the First Rheims Centre and were closely
to welcome students back under
Aid Officer at the College since monitored by Ms Upton and a small
lockdown conditions. “We needed
2012, never dreamed she would ever team of teachers.
to regularly monitor student’s
experience a lockdown and would be
temperatures and maintain strict “Our first recess presented a new
required to care for students during
hygiene and social distancing problem. How to keep students
a pandemic. “Victoria was fighting a
measures. The Health Centre acquired entertained during recess and lunch
deadly virus, a virus that we couldn’t
infra-red non-contact thermometers, time. We took the risk, disinfected
see, smell, taste or hear and the
alcohol swabs, disposable gloves and a basketball and let them out in
College needed to be ready,” she said.
hand sanitisers.” the sunshine to make the most
With teachers busy designing of the entire College grounds. By
Ms Upton said it was vital to regularly
curriculum materials to deliver lunchtime they were friends and
liaise with the Department of Health
remotely, Ms Upton was preparing after temperature checks and hand
and systematic tracking of College
the College for those students who sanitising we survived our first day.”
community members who had been
would not be able to learn from home.
in close contact with confirmed cases “Fast forward to day four and the
“The holidays provided valuable time
was established and every negative students, now referring to themselves
to facilitate the requirements at school
test result received brought a small as “Class Iso 2020”, elected a senior
for the students of “essential workers”
sense of relief, knowing our College student, Thomas Simpson as “Captain
and those considered “vulnerable.”
community was safe from this virus. Iso”. Deputy Principal of Students,
During the term break she organised a
Jessica Alger (safely) presented
drive through flu vaccination to which Day one of Term 2 was like no
Thomas with a Class Captain Badge,
more than 100 teachers and support other, with seven students arriving
which he pinned on himself due to the
physical distancing rules.”
“I am enormously proud of our
COVID-19 cohort. I want them all to
look back fondly on our surreal days
spent together and know that De La
Salle College and the Health Centre
cared about them and went to great
lengths to keep them safe whilst in
our care.”
With students now back on campus
and adapting to the “new normal”, Ms
Upton is constantly vigilant, making
sure that appropriate hygiene and
safety measures are followed.
By Kerry Martin
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 5
LEARNING AND TEACHING IN LOCKDOWN
Learning and teaching
in lockdown
The Government decision in late
March that education would
be delivered remotely was
something of a shock. It was
not something that we had done
before. We suddenly needed to
re-think how school works, calling
into question all of the many
certainties about what we do –
the routines, habits, structures
and systems, that we had come
to rely upon and perhaps took for
granted.
We identified quickly that a simple
online learning framework was
needed. We couldn’t presume that
all students would have access to
high quality internet and over time,
that proved to be true. Keeping our social profession. The response of be, for most people in education,
core system as simple and ‘lean’ as teachers to remote learning, as the with a variety of emotions. There
possible would be important – every period of lockdown progressed, is no doubt that we will see things
student and teacher needed to be highlighted this fact. In the initial done differently in learning and
able to access the learning content weeks, there was much grappling teaching, going forward. How
without concern about limited data with new systems, re-planning and teachers manage learning resources
plans, intermittent connectivity, or a re-design of learning sequences, and activities, can foster and
household full of people competing for learning new tech tools, alongside encourage independent learning
bandwidth. the personal challenges all of us and utilise technology are just a
We decided to stick with the existing confronted with being physically few elements of the COVID-19
timetable. Students regularly checking isolated from others and anxious experience that will likely leave a
in with teachers and classmates, about the potential for devastating positive mark. This has not come
maintaining a known, established impact of the pandemic. without extraordinary effort and I
routine was important. Remote would suggest, great difficulty for
Students’ experiences varied. Some
classes commenced first on our most. Parents regularly contacted
thrived in remote learning. One
online learning system, OLLIE. the College over the closure period
student’s father happily conveyed
This was expanded, once we were expressing gratitude, something
his son’s sentiment “best pandemic
confident that all technical issues that buoyed the spirits of the staff
ever!” For other students, the
had been accounted for, with the use immeasurably. It has for me, been
isolation made learning extremely
of Microsoft Teams, which enabled simply another confirmation of the
challenging. The missing element,
online video conferencing. quality of the exceptional De La Salle
face-to-face contact with peers and
staff and the wonderful students in
Teams went on to be an important teachers, is something that appears
our care. We have emerged through
part of the remote learning experience. to be a crucial part of education for
the experience intact, ready to push
Teachers were able to connect with those students. This is particularly
into another ‘new normal’, physically
students more meaningfully than the true for those who have struggled
back at the school and amongst the
purely text-based communication of with maintaining focus and motivation
people we are likely now to have a
chat forums and email. It also helped when left to operate with a greater
whole new appreciation for.
with efficiency. degree of independence.
Mark Gustincic
Teachers are fundamentally social When it comes time to look back at
Deputy Principal –
creatures and teaching is an inherently this period, I would guess that it will
Learning & Teaching
6 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
THE COVID-19 COHORT
The COVID-19 cohort
Thomas Simpson (Tom), who
is currently in Year 12, is one of
seven students who started Term
2 on campus. With both parents
working in essential industries,
Tom and his two brothers James
(Year 10) and Alex (Year 7) were
unable to remain at home, so they
spent the best part of the term as
part of the COVID-19 cohort, the
smallest on campus class in the
history of the College.
Based in the Rheims Centre and
closely monitored by the College’s Thomas and Alex Simpson (front) with some
First Aid Officer, a teacher and a of the COVID 19 Cohort in lockdown 1.0
learning support officer, the students,
who ranged in age from Year 6 to Year
12, worked in separate classrooms to
satisfy social distancing requirements.
Their temperatures were taken
regularly and a strict regime of hand
sanitising and personal hygiene was
enforced.
The students quickly adapted to their
new conditions and by the end of
the first week they had settled into a
new routine of learning in isolation on
campus. During classes the group had
the luxury of the entire school grounds
to play ball games and exercise. They
even elected their own temporary
College Captain. As the senior of the James Simpson
group, Tom Simpson got the gig and
was presented with a Leader’s Badge
by Deputy Principal Students, Ms campus is the routine and structured
Jessica Alger. environment of school.”
Now back on Campus, Tom reflected “Being at school during lockdown
on his Term 2 experience. “Life at helped me stay motivated and
school was certainly better than engaged.
working from home because at school “One disadvantage of online learning,
there was a more social aspect and a whether it be at home or at school, is
sense of belonging.” the increased amount of time spent
“I certainly missed my friends, but staring at a screen and the feeling of
the College’s online learning program being lethargic after a days’ worth
helped us stay connected through of work. It is also a drag having to
video chats and other social media take everything to and from school in
services. To an extent this has helped order to be ready for the day.”
my learning but I couldn’t help feeling “It took some time to adjust, but I
like something was missing, it’s just found that being at school helped me
not the same.” to make the transition from regular Thomas Simpson receives his
“One of the advantages I have school life to online learning.” temporary College Captain badge
found of doing my online learning on By Kerry Martin
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 7
THE PARENT PERSPECTIVE / HELP DESK TO THE RESCUE
The Parent Perspective
As students settled into remote weekends to enable a suitable work/
learning during Term 2, parents school environment.”
got a front row seat to their Michelle Petersen, the Parent Network
son’s education on a day-to-day Year Level Representative for Year 6
level. Two of our parents shared said that while the remote learning
their experience of remote experience was different, she was
learning with Roll Call. impressed by how well her son,
Max coped. “While schooling from
The Secretary of the Parent Network, home was different, I was impressed
Letecya Stacey, said the remote with how the College and my son
learning experience was better than embraced the change and how
expected. “Besides some initial well it worked,” Petersen said. “The Michelle and Max Peterson
problems, the online learning was teachers did an outstanding job and
smooth,” she said. “My sons, Liam are always available.”
in Year 9 and Joshua in Year 11, Liam, Michelle and Joshua Stacey
“Max responded well, following the
responded very well. They organised
timetable to make sure he had his
themselves to ensure they were ready
breaks and got lots of outside time.
for each subject.”
The music lessons with Mr Coyle was
“The workload, while heavy for fantastic. The boys used Microsoft
Joshua was manageable. We worked Teams and hearing everyone
as a family to ensure everyone was playing their instruments online was
given the ability to complete what wonderful. It’s impressive how much
they needed. This sometimes-meant they’ve improved since schooling at
juggling workspaces. I have had home commenced.”
to move my domestic work to the
Help Desk to the Rescue
been an absolute success and in some
ways a catalyst for positive change.
“The rollout of new learning platforms
has been extremely successful, we
could not be happier with the adoption
and use of all the tools we have
provided,” he said.
“We had to ensure our staff, teaching
and non-teaching were well equipped
with the skills in a very short time, and
a lot of work went into training staff for
Office 365 and Teams.”
When the government After a few late nights and a lot of Most educational institutions have been
announced in March that meetings, the IT team set up systems working the same way for years and
students would be learning from to deliver platforms that would remotely now they can see what is possible. With
home, the College’s information deliver 500 timetabled classes online, today’s tools and connectivity, education
technology team were faced with enable administrative staff to provide and collaboration can work and thrive,
an unprecedented predicament. support services for students and no matter the location,” he said.
How to transfer the College’s parents and up-skill teachers for the
“This is a fantastic opportunity to
entire operations into a virtual most radical change to pedagogical
explore how teachers and schools might
operation, and, as is the way of practices in decades.
transform their approach to teaching
the Help Desk, in less than three The Information Technology Manager, and learning. Let’s be bold, think
weeks they had set up a virtual Alex Zolkover said the rollout, while differently, explore what is possible and
school. requiring some very late nights, had challenge the status quo.”
8 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
KEEPING THE MUSIC ALIVE IN LOCKDOWN
Keeping the music alive in lockdown
During the COVID-19 lockdown,
the College’s Music Department
responded quickly to the
challenges of adapting to a
remote model of education.
Both the junior band program
classes and private instrumental
lessons were conducted via
Microsoft Teams and despite
the change in format, students
made excellent progress,
culminating in some excellent
band performances and
individual recitals when classes
resumed at the end of May.
Luke Serrano
The Music Coordinator, Mr Luke
Serrano said lockdown had given
musical director. “I worked in my social distancing requirements in
rise to many opportunities. “Staff and
spare hours over four months to revise Victoria will be able to be sufficiently
students embraced new online music
Andrew Murrell’s original music for relaxed in time, so that we may tell
education technologies, audio/video
the show, writing 90 minutes of new this entertaining story. After what
recording programs and equipment
arrangements and orchestrations we have all been through so far in
making the closure period a time
that intensify the drama and take 2020 I believe will be a truly cathartic
of growth for the College’s music
advantage of the specific individual experience.”
community, which will no doubt
skills of De La Salle’s senior musicians
lead to many positive educational “The Music Department wishes to
and music staff.”
outcomes in the years to come.” thank the families of all music students
“With composition being my primary for their support and forbearance
One exciting opportunity is the
focus as a musician, it has been during the school closure period; we
Department’s decision to release an
particularly satisfying to be able to understand that a honking saxophone
album, Music of De La Salle 2020,
make a contribution of this nature or a piercing trumpet was perhaps not
showcasing the talents of the music
to the College’s performing arts the ideal sonic accompaniment to life
students and staff.
program. Typhoid Mary is a brilliant in lockdown.”
“It is intended that the album will be an show, and perfectly suited to our
annual production which will forge the complicated times. Through the lens
cultural memory of performed music of a tale that’s 100 years old, the play
at the De La Salle. Links to the album raises many pertinent issues of our
tracks will be provided free to the times; the battle between group think
College community,” Serrano said. and expert (scientific) opinion, the
immigrant experience, gender equity
When students returned some small
issues, and of course life in a time
scale performances recommenced
of contagion. Hopefully the current Alex Martello (Year 12) takes a remote guitar
with several lunchtime concerts,
lesson with his teacher, Mr Jaymee Lee
including the Battle of the Bands,
won this year by a predominantly Year
Year 6 Music Class 2020
10 outfit called The Leftovers. They
will go on to represent the College in
September at the ACC Battle of the
Bands.
“One unique project, which I am very
much looking forward to bringing
back to life, is the De La Salle/OLSH
co-production of Typhoid Mary, which
is now planned for performance in
2021.”
Serrano came on board the project
in mid-2019 as co-composer and
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 9
STUDENT RESPONSE TO COVID-19 Student response to COVID-19 Terms 2 and 3 at the College have Isolation or ‘iso’, as it became known, as the isolation continued, amazing been like no other. With the world was the new way of life. Banned from things started to happen; art galleries coming to terms with the unfolding outdoor activity and social gatherings and museums opened their collections health disaster of the COVID-19, we all looked to ways to spend online, the Rolling Stones entertained students around the country started physical, mental and creative energy us from the comfort of their lounge their first day of term at home. No within the confines of the ‘lockdown.” rooms and we learned to adapt, even classes, no sport, no school formals, The new-look school happened thrive in isolation. no school plays, no gatherings, online with Microsoft Teams and Ollie nothing except isolation at home. delivering classes to our homes. But Lockdown March 2020 lockdown begun Waiting for this horrible event to be done The miserable feelings rush through yourself Frustration, about being stuck in the house Angry, no friends to be seen, no sports to be played Sad, there is no new friendships to be made Happy, when the restrictions got eased But we still must be careful when we sneeze The return of footy has me jumping with joy And that gives me something to enjoy There are many changes about remote learning Mum’s grocery bill is very concerning There are no sandwiches to be seen We’re eating like a king and a queen No trips to the barber or ties to be worn We don’t need to get up at the break of dawn No public transport to be caught Reading a book Playing sport Watching TV Having a little snore Eating an apple to its core No sport is played No friends to be seen Not even allowed to create a drama scene No events to attend Not even any trends This is what lockdown has become A miserable place with no things to be done And this is lockdown 2020 By Ollie Pietsch 7 Solomon 10 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
LIFE BACK TO NORMAL, NOT YET
Life back to normal, not yet
With the second lockdown in staffrooms were thinned out across
place many things around the several adjoining classrooms for social
College have had to change distancing reasons.”
to accommodate the return of Like the Maintenance team, the
some students. College staff College administration staff who were
have had to respond quickly to working from home during lockdown
Government policy and safety are back on campus.
protocols as required.
Administrative Services Manager,
Mary Georges, said that staff were
College Property Manager, Michael
glad to be back after an extended
Bohan worked around the clock to
period of working in the various
prepare the campuses for reopening.
versions of home offices such as
“The old “bubbler” taps at the three second bedrooms, dining tables or
campuses were removed and hallways.
replaced with 23 bottle filling taps
“Fortunately, the collegiality amongst
which avoid direct “mouth contact,”
the team and the great era of
he said.
technology provided us with multiple
“Across the campuses free standing platforms to help us through our
sanitiser stations and additional soap projects and days in ‘iso,” Ms Georges
dispensers were installed throughout said.
the buildings.”
“A rewarding activity undertaken by
“Dedicated specialist “Touch point the office staff during lockdown was
cleaners” are now deployed at each reaching out and calling parents to
campus during the school day to understand how their son(s) were
sanitise door handles, light switches, managing with remote learning. It was
balustrades and other common great speaking to parents and hearing
areas.” that so many of our students had
adapted well, yet missed the face-to-
“Any contractor entering our
face friendships with their peers, so
campuses has their temperature
they were longing for restrictions to be
checked upon arrival.”
eased and the return to the College.”
“Dedicated signage was erected
“The eagerly anticipated return to
to inform staff and students of safe
the College was not only felt by our
distancing requirements.”
students but staff alike - hearing
“To ease congestion, three Year 7 the familiar sounds of bells and the
classes were relocated from the vibrancy of the boy’s presence.”
Duffy to the Murdoch Building and
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 11ACCLIMATISING TO GENEVA
Acclimatising to Geneva
Anthony Rea at WMO Geneva
This year Anthony Rea (1985) What were your passions and or bought an electric guitar. Life was
started his new role as the extra-curricular interests at De La simple and carefree. The following
Director of Infrastructure for Salle? year I went back to RMIT after
the World Meteorological As a student I was a bit of a nerd. transferring to surveying. This was
Organisation (WMO). I played Dungeons and Dragons one of the best decisions of my life.
and wrote programs on my Tandy
After graduation, I was working
TRS-80. By Year 10, I’d discovered
Based in Geneva, Switzerland, casually for a small surveying firm
music and started buying 7-inch
the WMO is a specialised agency in Brunswick, when I got a call
vinyls. In Year 12, I saw Bruce
of the United Nations, charged from the Careers Officer from RMIT
Springsteen and the E-Street Band
with international cooperation that would change my life. A US
and that changed my life. It was my
and coordination of the state and oil exploration company based
first concert and I was completely
behaviour of the earth’s atmosphere, in Singapore were looking for
transfixed. I thought “I want to do
its interaction with the land and surveyors. I didn’t have a passport,
that” and I started playing guitar
oceans, the weather and climate had never been on a plane, but
straight away on this beat up old
it produces, and the resulting a month later I was on a plane to
instrument I’d got from my aunt.
distribution of water resources. Singapore to take up a role on
Rea’s new role will be to manage the What pathways did you pursue seismic exploration ships with
collection and sharing of weather after graduating from the College? Western Geophysical. The hours
and climate data from around the In 1986, I enrolled in Cartography were long, two month stints at sea,
world. Rea spoke to Roll Call from at RMIT but soon realised it wasn’t working 12-hour shifts and the
his home in Geneva. for me, so I deferred for a year. I got experience was amazing. But after
a part time job as a storeman and two years it was time to go home.
12 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGEBack in Melbourne I did two years of the challenge for meteorologists undertaken at the Bureau. One of
engineering surveying on a range of nowadays is to interpret data and the biggest things I have done was
sites including the Kyneton bypass to work with decision makers to a strategic review of the Bureau’s
and the duplication of the Hume help them use the meteorological observations program – all of the
Highway at Holbrook. I then got a information in the best possible way. weather radars, automatic weather
job with Serco which managed the Demand for more specialised and stations and weather balloons – and
hydrographic contract with Melbourne localised services by the public – for implementing a major organisational
Water. I worked in sewerage flow example the delivery of meteorological change in response to the review’s
monitoring, dirty and dangerous work. information via smart phone – is recommendations.
pushing many meteorological services
How did you get started at the How do you balance a healthy
to invest in phone apps and machine-
Bureau of Meteorology? mind and body with such a highly
to-machine interfaces to deal with
I’d been promoted to Data Manager at technical and demanding role?
the increasing loads. Climate change
Serco but was still doing a lot of field I still love music - it has been a
is also driving an increase in severe
work. It was around this time I made constant thread throughout my life. I
weather events globally and this is
a decision to go back to study. I had have played in a number of different
placing pressure on meteorological
been reading books by Carl Sagan, bands and continue to play when
services around the world.
specifically “Broca’s Brain” and “The I can. My solo album, “Separation
Dragons of Eden”, books about the What have been your career Street” is available on Spotify and
romance and nobility of science highlights so far? Apple Music. I also love sailing and am
and this led me to approach RMIT Working for the Bureau provided hoping to pursue this on the waters of
to see if I could enrol in a research so many opportunities. In 2011, I Lake Geneva.
degree. In 1998 I was accepted into travelled by ship to Macquarie Island
What legacies have your days as a
a Master’s Program which led to a to conduct a health and safety
De La Salle students left you with?
PhD on satellite observations. My inspection of its facilities there. An
I had some great teachers at De
PhD supervisor, Prof John le Marshall, amazing experience. Other highlights
La Salle who gave me a lot of
(1963) got me some part-time work have been travelling by helicopter
encouragement, particularly in Maths
with the Bureau of Meteorology where to an oil exploration ship early in my
and Science. My love of science
he was working as a senior research career, watching as the data from a
continues to this day and I am thankful
scientist and in 2000 they offered meteorological satellite was decoded
for the solid grounding I got at De La
me a full time position in the Satellite by software I had written, being called
Salle.
Section. to Parliament House to respond to
the criticisms of climate sceptics who Check out Anthony Rea’s album at
The Bureau was an amazing place
seek to discredit the quality science anthonyreamusic.com
to work. During my 19 years there,
I worked in satellites, observations
and on the corporate side. I managed
the Bureau’s extensive observations
network of radars and automatic
weather stations for several years and
for the past two years was their Chief
Data Officer.
What is your new role in
Switzerland?
My new role with the WMO is heading
up the Infrastructure Department
which has responsibility for the global
coordination of meteorological, climate
and water observations and also the
exchange of forecast and analysis
data to assist member countries
(basically every country) in delivering
services to their people.
What are some of the challenges
facing meteorologists today?
Anthony, Nicola,
Like many occupations, technology
Lucinda and Maia on
is slowly replacing humans and Lake Geneva
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 13THE LONG GAME IS THE BEST GAME IN TOWN The long game is the best In his role as the Managing Martin got his break in the media as leading Seven through a decade Director of Seven Melbourne doing surf reports from the 3XY and of remarkable growth, Martin also and Head of Network Sport, Bay FM Cruiser and after joining supports a number charities. He Lewis Martin (1981) understands Channel Seven as a sales executive is a Board member of the Royal the value of relationships and in 1994, eventually worked his way Children’s Hospital Good Friday the importance of keeping up the ladder to his appointment Appeal, Visit Victoria, and the Cure them. With responsibility for to the role as Managing Director for MND Foundation and a Director more than 250 staff and a at Seven in Melbourne 2008. He of the Royal Children’s Hospital career at Seven which has admits that academic life at the Foundation and Racing.com, as lasted 26 years, let’s say he College took a back seat to cricket well as an advisor to a number of knows a thing or two about and the Kildara girls, but that didn’t Melbourne based not-for-profit playing the long game. detract from his success. As well organisations. 14 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGE
game in town
Martin also plays the long game worked for a year in 1983, and is
when it comes to maintaining his proud of his Licensed Road Train
personal relationships and since operator’s licence, which is current.
graduating from the College, he has
Martin is not one to ‘pump up his
maintained close ties with a group
own tyres.” When I ask him if I can
of Old Collegians from the Class of
have a copy of his Curriculum Vitae,
1981.
he says. “I don’t have one.” Needless
“Several times a year for more than to say he does have one, and it is
30 years I have had dinner with the extensive. While he didn’t choose
same 13 blokes from the Class of the university path he has learned
1981. The group most of whom hail from experience. “I continue to work
from Glen Waverley and include a towards my degree at the University
couple of ‘Johnny-come-latelies,’ of life,” he said.
who arrived at the College in Year
Martin’s achievements are
11 from St James, plus a couple of
considerable. During his time at the
add-ons.”
helm, Seven has held the top spot as
“Over the years we’ve enjoyed and Melbourne’s number one television
endured sharing the ups and downs station for nine years in a row,
of life, grief, marriage, kids, divorce, the most successful era in Seven
“He made us proud with
success and failure, and of course a Melbourne’s history. He has driven
his remarkable intellect and
few beers.” new broadcasting right’s deals
achievements as a prosecutor, he
with the AFL and Tennis Australia
Every year Martin and the group would also sometimes drive us mad
and taken a lead role in setting up
embark on a trip known as the Daniel with his rebellious nature and we
the new partnership between the
Lagastes Memorial Cup, in honour miss him.”
Network and the AFL and AFLW. His
of Year 8 student, Daniel Lagastes,
contribution in steering the creation
(2010), who passed away suddenly
in 2006, while he was in Year 8 at the
The relationships and execution of Fight MND ‘Freeze
College. Daniel’s father Marty is also with this group are so at the G’ has seen the charity raise
$5 million a year for motor neuron
one of the group. important. “Sometimes disease.
“A joy of the annual Daniel Lagastes they annoy me, In 2017, Martin told Peter Jones in
Memorial Cup is the selection
sometimes I don’t an interview on White With One that
process of the destination, the
seedy silent lobbying and then like them, most of the he admired people who are high
achievers in their particular field but
the parliamentary-like debate of time they make me who do it in their own low key style
where we will go is not for the faint
laugh and I always love – some might say they are the quiet
hearted!”
them.” achievers. And Martin would be
“Over the years we’ve enjoyed many right at home in their company.
trips away and each trip is a special
Martin admits that things haven’t Martin agrees he has met some
chapter with its own stories, which,
changed much since the group left amazing people throughout his
like tattoos are there for life, some
the College. “We haven’t progressed career and he puts people at the
recalled with discomfort, some with
far from the school yard, the top of his career highs. “My career
misty-eyed recollection and most
Armadale Hotel, The Orrong, The highlights are the people I have
recalled way to often with tears of
Nott, The Mansion, or The Bush Inn.” the good fortune to work with,
unbridled laughter.”
everything else is a distant second.”
The relationships with this group
The group has also had its setbacks
are so important. “Sometimes they When he is not working Martin
and in 2001 they lost one of their
annoy me, sometimes I don’t like enjoys time with family and friends,
treasured members. “We lost ‘Kingo’
them, most of the time they make me supporting the Magpies and long-
which was a blow.” John Kingston
laugh and I always love them.” boarding. Martin lives in Melbourne’s
(1981) was a rising star in the
bayside with his wife Kellie and
Department of Public Prosecutions Martin also remains passionately
children Joey 18 and Eleanor 16.
when he died after complications involved with the Lyndavale Cattle
from a lung heart transplant in 2001. station NT, where he lived and By Kerry Martin
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 15RUNNING FOR THEIR BLUE FAMILY
Running for their blue family
The tragic deaths of four
Victorian police officers on Rob Weir and
Jacob Gooden
the Eastern Freeway in May
sent shockwaves through the
community. In the wake of the
tragedy, the community rallied
to raise funds to support the
families of the victims. Joining
in the fund-raising efforts, Old
Collegians, Senior Constable
Jacob Gooden (2010) and
Constable Robert Weir (2010)
embarked on a month-long
marathon run to raise money for
the families.
Throughout the month of May, the
pair, who are also first cousins,
ran a total of 159.485 kilometres,
which represented the sum of the
registration numbers of their four
fallen colleagues; Leading Sen-
Constable Lynette Taylor, Sen-
Constable Kevin King, Constable
Glen Humphris and Constable Josh
Prestney.
mind were willing at the end, knowing Both Old Collegians believe are fully
Gooden said that the 22nd of April what we were doing it for, but my aware of the mental health issues
2020, would forever be remembered legs were just about ready to give up associated with their work. Both
by all police members. “It sent in the last 3 kilometres, I was very believe that personal fitness is an
shockwaves through our community,” lucky to have Rob will me home.” effective way of coping with the
he said. “I still haven’t truly got my Gooden said. pressures of working in the front line.
head around the events of that week,
The pair exceeded their target of Weir admits there are definitely a lot
in which we lost four members of our
$10,000 with all money raised going of challenges involved with working
blue family.”
to Police Legacy, which supports with Victoria Police. “Some of the
“As members of Vic Pol we consider the families of the deceased police situations that you are required to
ourselves to be part of a blue family members. deal with on a daily basis are quite
and we genuinely feel for these people stressful and confronting, but the
The cousins both explored other
like they are your own,’’ Gooden said. training that you are given adequately
careers before joining VicPol. Gooden,
“In the week after the accident we prepares you for it,” Weir said.
who joined VicPol in 2014, studied
were still in shock but knew we had to media and communications and then Weir admits he is a bit of a fitness
do something to help. We had an idea worked in sports marketing at Rookie junkie. “I have always loved fitness
to combine the registration numbers Me and Weir studied teaching and and have been basically a fitness
of each of victim, which totalled 159, worked as a personal trainer before addict since leaving De La Salle,
485, we placed a decimal point in the joining VicPol, first in 2013, and again I thoroughly enjoy any sort from
middle and came up with the target in 2018. weightlifting, running and walking.”
for our Run, light heartedly entitled,
“Working within Vic Pol comes with Weir is also passionate about giving
Goodzy Runs -Not a Typo.”
it a set of challenges that perhaps back to the community. “My career
“On the last day of the run, the 31st other vocations aren’t faced with on highlights have been helping the
of May, we ran 27.417km which such a frequent basis. Exposure to community. Earlier this year I was
represented the registered number trauma and vicarious trauma is up sent up to Wodonga to assist with
of the most senior member, Leading there as a major one. It is something the Victorian bushfires. It was a real
Senior Constable Lynette Taylor. that you can’t really prepare for, you highlight to see how the Victorian
“The last leg of the run was the most just have to make sure to manage and community banded together to assist
physically gruelling challenge my body acknowledge how situations make one another in such a horrible time.”
has ever gone through. My heart and you feel rather than ignoring them. “
By Kerry Martin
16 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGELIFE ON THE GROUND IN SOUTH AFRICA
Life on the ground in South Africa
Tom McIlroy (2003) is the
national political reporter for the
Australian Financial Review. In
this issue of Roll Call, McIlroy
interviews, friend and fellow Old
Collegian, Greg Nicolson (2003),
himself a journalist based in
South Africa.
As South Africa begins the long road
out of the Coronavirus crisis, De La
Salle Old Boy Greg Nicolson (2003)
is writing the first draft of history -
more than 10,000 kilometres from
home. A journalist reporting for the
online newspaper Daily Maverick,
Nicolson first travelled to South Africa
through an overseas study program
with Monash University, gradually
extending his stay to complete
masters study and eventually going on
to start a career.
“I was bouncing between Melbourne
and South Africa and eventually I Greg Nicolson
met my girlfriend here,” he says.
“Then I got an internship and that’s
basically the same job I’m in now.” The Ramaphosa, as well as the challenges “All of the bars and restaurants are
34-year-old hadn’t planned to work in South Africans face staying employed, closed and you can’t buy alcohol. I’ve
news and says he never would have receiving health care and even feeding had to actively tune out when I can,
imagined covering a global pandemic their families. Despite a hard and turning off my phone and watching a
and recession, let alone in a country early lockdown, cases of COVID-19 movie or reading or trying to do some
as economically challenged as continued to rise. exercise.” Despite the virus continuing
South Africa. to spread, restrictions began to ease
“A lot of workers here are surviving
in early June, primarily because of
“I had taken a couple of elective week to week, they don’t have much
economic hardship facing millions.
units in journalism and I enjoyed it. I in savings, so the situation was very
Businesses, churches and shops
enjoyed writing and when I finished dire,” Nicolson says.
were allowed to reopen.
my honours in international studies, I “Some people were going hungry
wasn’t sure what to do with it. Nicolson says he spoke to his family at
because they had to stay at home.
home in Australia more in two months
“I thought I was probably less You saw these scary photos of people
of lockdown than in the previous two
employable than when I just had lining up for hundreds of metres,
years. “For my own sanity, I’ve had to
my undergrad, but I contacted any around blocks, just to try and get a
rely on speaking to my parents and
journalist I thought was writing good food parcel.
my sisters and their kids. Every couple
stuff or was interesting, both in South “The public health care system caters of days we call or they send pictures.
Africa and across the continent. for 84 per cent of people around the
“In a time of crisis I miss that familiarity
“I sent hundreds and hundreds of country but it is often over burdened
of just being around what you know
emails and very few got back to me.” and under resourced. It’s not bad
and what you’ve grown up with.
He started in an internship position in in certain sections but it does have
2011, about two years after the site problems.” Nicolson has survived More than 15 years on, he looks back
was created as a spin off from a print lockdown at home, venturing out fondly at his time at De La Salle.
magazine. Daily Maverick is a mix whenever possible with a notepad and
“I feel privileged to have been around
of news and analysis and Nicolson a camera to document the spread of
so many friends and lots of interesting
specialises in on the ground reporting the virus.
and educated people,” Nicolson says.
and political coverage. “You get pangs of guilt staying at
By Tom McIlroy (2003)
In 2020, he is covering the pandemic home, thinking ‘isn’t it my duty to be
response of President Cyril out there bearing witness?’
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 17THE RENSHI AND THE CEO
The Renshi and the CEO
Physical and mental strength, “Over the past 21 years we have
sheer determination and rented properties and moved four
perseverance, make a karate times to larger premises each time.”
Renshi, but they also make “In 2017, I purchased a 26,000 sq.
a successful businessman site in Rowville which we now operate
and John Di Losa (1980) has from.”
mastered both.
“We now deliver to more than 45,000
delivery points throughout Victoria,
Di Losa, who is a Yon Dan Ho, a
Southern NSW and Canberra.”
probationary fourth degree black belt
in karate, and a Renshi, a teacher A martial artist has to be quick to
of karate and kick boxing, has built react and respond quickly to changing
the largest Australian owned private situations and this has transferred
transport company specialising in into his business approach which is
chilled and frozen direct to store constantly evolving and growing.
distribution in Victoria. ColdXpress,
“We are currently in the process of
which he started in 1998, supplies
automating our warehouse which will
more than 45,000 delivery points
be capable of processing 6,000 boxes
across the state from its 26,000
per hour.”
square metre operation in Rowville.
Like other businesses Di Losa’s
Di Losa says there are many
business has been severely impacted
similarities between the discipline and
by COVID-19 and he has had to
philosophy required to be successful
John Di Losa respond to the ever-changing
as a martial arts practitioner and
business conditions.
a CEO.
“In the early stages we had about a
“A black belt requires perseverance ”After graduating from the College, 40 per cent increase in volume, which
and determination. Less than 10 per Di Losa worked at a local supermarket posed logistical issues such as labour
cent of those who take up karate learning the ropes running the fruit shortages - we pushed our team to
reach the level of black belt and then and deli departments.” I saved and the limits.”
only a few percent of black belts ever saved and in 1983 took over a small
make it to a Dan level,” Di Losa said. fruit and vegetable business in South “Then a few weeks later, when
Caulfield and started specialising in Stage 3 restrictions hit and a lot of
He says the skills are totally
organic produce –my turnover in my restaurants and cafes closed, we lost
transferable. “If I get a resume across
first week was $680.” the deliveries to these outlets.”
my desk and the applicant has
achieved a black belt or higher, I put “Within six years I had increased the “Unfortunately, we did not qualify
them to the top of the pile, as I know turnover to more than $22,000. In for the Government’s stimulus
they are more likely to persevere and those days there were only two other package, but we made up the losses
adapt and less likely to quit.” organic fruit and vegie’ retail outlets by consolidating runs and getting
in Victoria.” contractors to deliver more on their
“I truly believe if everyone lived by
normal days.”
the virtues of a true martial artist the “At the same time, I joined the Board
world would be a better place for all of Organic Retailers and Growers “We also looked to minimise the
involved. Once you get past black Association Victoria (ORGAV). Not one impact of store closures by increasing
belt, the higher you get the humbler for standing still for too long, in 1995 our home delivery division. We also
you should become.” Di Losa sold the business and seeing dropped our rates on home deliveries
a gap in the market for refrigerated to attract more customers.”
Di Losa first became interested in
freight movement, three years later COVID-19 has made business rethink
karate while he was at the College.
started a new business Cold Xpress, how they do business and ColdXpress
“In 1978, whilst at De La Salle I
which is today the largest Australian will come out of this a stronger and
joined a karate school with Jack
owned private transport company smarter business.
Di Giantomasso (1966), who was a
specialising in chilled/frozen direct to
teacher at the College. I continued Di Losa and his wife Marie have four
store carton distribution in Victoria.
studying and practising martial arts for children Jacinta, Jack, Rebecca and
over 40 years and eventually opened “I started with one van and four Alex. He still practices karate. It keeps
my own suburban karate club under subcontractors working out of a him on his toes.
the Allstars Martial Arts banner.” container in Carrum Downs.”
By Kerry Martin
18 | DE LA SALLE COLLEGECOVID-19 ENDS FAMILY’S DREAM HOLIDAY
COVID-19 ends family’s dream holiday
An Old Collegian with a long-
time dream to travel the world
with his family for a year, found
himself in lockdown when South
America closed its borders due
to COVID-19. The Miller family
endured six weeks in isolation
in Bolivia before finally making
it back to Sydney. Bruce Miller
(1988) spoke to Roll Call while in
quarantine in a Sydney hotel.
Miller long held an idea of making a
life-changing trip with his wife, Kate,
and daughters Alex, 13, and Ashley, 9.
The year-long trip would include South
America, southern Europe and Africa.
“I remember seeing a family with kids
staying at the same hostel when I
was backpacking 25 years ago and
thinking what a wonderful thing to
do. So once my wife and I began our
family, the idea began to germinate.
We felt the broader life education
for our daughters would receive
from a year backpacking would be
The Millers in Bolivia
invaluable.”
Carrying only one small carry-on
daypack (7kg) each and leaving “South America moved so quickly “Since the outbreak of COVID-19 the
Melbourne in December 2019, to shut everything down, and within kids endured eight weeks of full lock
the family travelled through Chile, days we were under a 24-hour curfew down, six in Bolivia and then another
Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, Brazil with only one adult allowed out to go two weeks quarantine back here in
and Bolivia. But five months into their shopping once a week. We remained Sydney. That’s a long time to be stuck
dream trip things changed drastically in lockdown for six long weeks.” inside.”
when the world was hit with COVID-19
and South America went into Miller, who is an ultra-trail runner, When their quarantine was over the
lockdown. tried to maintain some level of fitness. Miller’s headed to Byron Bay and
“Our days were a mixture of exercise plan to travel to Queensland when the
“The day after we crossed from – there was one flight of stairs that border opens.
Chile into Bolivia the Government I would run up and down, and Kate
announced that all roads and “We are optimistic that some global
and the girls did yoga, stretching and
borders would close in 24 hours. borders may reopen in September so
meditation – school work when the
We were stuck.” we may resume our overseas travels.
Wi-Fi allows, and playing card games
What this looks like and where we will
At the time the Millers were on a and charades. Luckily we were able
go is unknown at this stage.”
three-day tour of Salar de Uyuni – a to buy fresh food so we spent a lot of
remote desert landscape in Bolivia, time cooking.” After graduating with Honours in
famous for its salt flats. Applied Science, Miller spent three
“Our decision to leave Bolivia was an
years backpacking, including just over
“We were literally in the middle of eleventh hour call as there was only
a year in Africa. He now runs his own
the desert, with no Wi-Fi or phone one flight we could catch to return to
recruitment firm, Alexander Porter and
coverage to find out what was Australia. We debated staying and
competes in 100 kilometre and 100
going on. We were lucky to arrange trying to ride it out, but without any
mile long ultra-trail races.
for a private driver to take us into idea of how many months we would
the Bolivian capital of Sucre in the be stuck in Bolivia and able to resume By Kerry Martin
country’s southern highlands.” our travels into neighbouring countries
You can follow the Millers on:
we felt our only course of action was
“That day was the most stressful day https://www.instagram.com/
to return home.”
of our lives.” millersgotravelling2020/
LASALLIAN ROLL CALL SEPTEMBER 2020 | 19You can also read
