Nudgee College Old Boys' Association

by Tony Behm (1961-64) - President

My 2009 Annual Report will cover the year’s activities and as I mentioned in my Annual Report last year we faced challenges for the future. These have not gone away and hopefully this year we can meet those challenges and ensure that our association remains strong and vibrant into the future.

During the past year we have had some very successful reunions. We had a Diamond Jubilee Reunion at the College fittingly on Assumption Day and there were class reunions from 45 through to 50 years and all were well attended. There are 10 reunions planned for this year from 0ne year to 60 years reunions.

Next month we have planned reunions in Pt Moresby and Lae which I will be attending. There is also the possibility of a reunion in the United Kingdom.

Our Annual Golf day was once again organised by Jeremy Harkins and once again won by his brother Brett. Brett has won the competition five times in the past 6 years. Proves the great organisation that Jeremy puts into the day. Jeremy has marked September 13 for this year’s championship.

Again this year Anzac Day at the College was well attended by old boys followed by a convivial morning tea hosted by the college and attended by current students and college staff.

Our Annual Dinner attendance again surprised us with many late acceptances which seem to be an ongoing old boys’ tradition. In the end over 100 old boys attended the dinner. Our guest speaker on the night Michael Pascoe, vice captain 1972 and now a respected finance and economics commentator gave a thought provoking address. His topic highlighted the truism “if it is too good to be true – it is not true.

Kerry McShane, (1952-53) Br Vince Connor, and McGory (1952-53) talk with Dr Humphry Cramond (1938-41) at the 2008 Annual Dinner

Michael also spoke on the launch of the John Elliot Ross bursary fund and spoke of the debt of honour which all of us as Nudgee Old Boys owe to our Alma Mater. On the subject of the fund, your association has provided an initial injection of $25,000 to the fund.

This year we plan to hold the Annual Dinner at the Irish Club which we hope will attract more old boys who use public transport.

The Annual Old Boys Mass saw the largest gathering of over 150 old boys and their families. The Old Boys’ Memorial Mass continues to grow in attendance notwithstanding the traditional breakfast that follows. Once again we are indebted to Lawrie Cusack for his organisation of the Mass.

The Executive Committee continued to meet monthly throughout the year and additionally we met on a number of other occasions to discuss the way ahead for our association.

You are probably aware that Helen Blann, our part time Administrative Assistant resigned to take up a full time position. The management committee has been in consultation with Daryl Hanly as to the administrative supporting link the College may provide. In the interim our hard working secretary Lawrie Cusack has been taking up the slack.

Following recent discussions with Daryl, John Andrew the College Development officer will provide that link between the college and the NCOBA. I would like to place on record not only my thanks to Lawrie but also to John for their help in picking up duties of Helen. We look forward to working with John as the link between the Old Boys’ Association and the College matures. I would also record my thanks to Helen for the support she has given to the NCOBA over the past years.

Updates of Signum Fidei continue on the web and also the NCOBA provides input to Nth Degree - the College magazine. This year in addition to the web updates we intend to publish one hard copy of the Signum Fidei between issues of the Nth Degree.

Some of the current members of the management committee have served upwards of the past 20 years with distinction and will step aside over the next couple of years to a younger generation of old boys. So therein lays another challenge to those here tonight to consider participating on the various committees as ‘many hands make light work’.

Tonight I also wish to table for your consideration the Management Committee structure for 2009 which will be the seamless link between the NCOBA and the College through the College Development Officer, John Andrew.

That said I wish to record my particular thanks individually to the current Management Committee, to our Vice President, Geoff Pollard, our secretary Lawrie Cusack, treasurer Nav Clifford, Signum Fidei Editor Jim Gray and immediate Past President Michael Waldby. To Jim Wheatley the protector of our archives and to Jeremy Harkins for rigging the golf day. To Daryl Hanly let me say, thank you for your advice from the Principal’s perspective.

My thanks to all old boys. I have appreciated your guidance and your frank and fearless advice.So the challenge of ensuring a strong and vibrant Old Boys’ Association continues. We need to ensure that the foundations laid by past generations of old boys remains intact for future generations.

St Joseph pray for us.

A memory test for the older Old Boys

Below is a photograph that depicts a feature which holds a very special place in the history of Nudgee. Please write a brief account of your memories of this.

Your account might include a description ofit as you remember it in comparison to this photograph. It might include information regarding its exact location, its purpose or when and how it was erected. Perhaps you can recall stories related to events which occurred in the general area of this historic old landmark.

Image Gallery