Annual Reunion dinner - 2006

Eighty old boys together with Daryl Hanly, the Principal of the College, Br Vic Larkin, Community Leader of Tracey Residence at the College and Br Vince Connors, Principal of the College from 1980 to 1987 attended the Annual Reunion Dinner of the Association in Ryan Hall at the College on Friday 21st October.

Catering for the Dinner was carried out by the College under the very capable direction of Mr Deiter Herling, Director of Catering.

Hot and cold nibbles served from 6.30pm preceded a seafood buffet consisting of oysters, mussels, prawns, Atlantic salmon and a comprehensive selection of vegetables followed by fruits and cheese, tea and coffee.

Br Larkin, in accepting the invitation of MC Lawrie Cusack to lead Grace, told Old Boys that they are, by example the Grace of Nudgee and the Christian Brothers. He led the prayer ‘Live Jesus in our Hearts’ to which all responded ‘Forever’.

Apologies were received from Perry Cross – President Old Southportonians and Dominic Katter – President GTOBA. None of the other Kindred Associations acknowledged the invitation to attend.
 
Ron Wall – Nudgee 1929 – attended the dinner and was toasted with birthday wishes for his 92nd birthday on Monday October 23rd.

Other Senior Old Boys attending were John (Smiler) Scanlan, Paul Bolger, Brian Cahill, Peter Lee, Vince Lewis and Tom McVeigh .

At the other end of the time scale and deserving of special mention were Shane Clark, Rob Dalton, Jarrod LeStrange, Nick Mayfield, Jonathon McKellar, Elliott Moffatt, David Ritale, Jim Roe, Jackson Searle, Grant Sweeney and Mat Wallace all from 2003.

It is traditional to Toast the Kindred Associations at the Annual Dinner. Ron Hurst was well prepared to oblige but as none was in attendance it was decided to forego this toast.

In proposing a toast to the Christian Brothers and the College, Brian Cahill delivered an authorative and enlightening synopsis of the founding and history of the Christian Brothers leading to the establishment of Nudgee College. Br Connors responded to the Toast. He reiterated the words of Br Larkin and congratulated and thanked old boys for their continuing support of the Brothers and Nudgee.

Daryl Hanly supported the response of Br Connors and presented an informative address in which he outlined proposals for the development of the College. With the aid of slides he spoke of the plan to introduce years 5, 6 and 7, he indicated the broad conceptual ideas for future development of  new residential buildings to accommodate boarders, the conversion of existing boarding facilities to ‘state of the art’ classrooms and the refurbishment of the front ‘signature ‘ building of the College to an administrative centre. He emphasised that all of the work to be done will be carried out to ‘as new’ standard to meet future requirements rather than ‘patch and repair for the time being’. He concluded with an appeal to Old Boys for financial support when the fund-raising is required.

President Michael Waldby supported the speeches made by Br Connors and Daryl Hanly and thanked Old Boys for their attendance and support of the activities of the Association.

Jim Wheatley (1962) Chairman of the Old Boys History and Archives Committee accepted on behalf of the College Archives an autographed copy of Dr Kevin Parer’s (1953) book titled “A Time Before”. Kevin has written of the generation born prior to  World War II, the pioneering aviation in New Guinea and recounts his experiences at Nudgee Junior and Nudgee. In accepting the book Jim noted that it will be an invaluable addition to the College Archives. Ian Marshall (1956) followed and reminded Old Boys of the not inconsiderable contribution of the extended Parer Family to Nudgee, to the Christian Brothers and to the Catholic community of the Aitape district in New Guinea.

Formalities ended with the usual roll-call and Old Boys enjoyed a period of camaraderie and social interaction until the conclusion of the evening. The bus with a full compliment departed for the City at 11.00pm.

The complete list of attendees at the dinner is: