Australian East Coast Branch Function ”Downunda”
Report from David Prestwich (1975-80; Orchards) Honorary Secretary
The OMS Australia East Coast Branch reunion drew members from far and wide for a memorable night at the historic Bronte Surf Life Saving in Sydney’s Eastern Suburbs.
With a membership spread between Tasmania and Far North Queensland (a distance of over 3,500km) it has always been difficult to organize gatherings of the East Coast Australia branch. Indeed this was the first get together since our inaugural meeting in 1992 when Barry Hobson strategically plied with me with red wine and volunteered me for the role of Honorary Branch Secretary.
So when John Davies asked me to help organize a function to welcome Millfield Headmaster, Craig Considine, back to his homeland, I was unsure whether to book a hotel or a phone booth. Living as I do some 500km from Sydney (in a place I can’t divulge because it’s too beautiful to share), the logistics were a little complicated.
Fortunately I was overwhelmed with offers of assistance from Sydney-based members and I should make special mention of Nigel Harvey (1969-74; Etonhurst) who, as the current captain of the Bronte Surf Club, offered the club’s facilities and even found local caterers for the event. Thanks Nigel!
As the day approached, numbers swelled beyond all expectations and we ended up with 62 Old Millfieldians and family members. In fact, make that 63. In an amazing turn of events Rosie Eyre (2000-05; Warner), who we did not know was in Australia and who was unaware of the event, turned up as one of the catering team!
With good numbers and tenures spanning 5 decades from the fifties to the noughties, it was a truly eclectic mix. Everyone ran into at least one contemporary with whom to reminisce and tell exaggerated tales of past achievements and misdemeanours. (Does anyone know the Statute of Limitations for violation of the six inch rule or smoking behind the Science block toilets?)
Regrettably both Craig Considine and his wife Penny had come off second best from an encounter with some suspect cuisine during a stopover in India. Indeed poor Penny was hospitalized on the day of the reunion and was ultimately unable to attend. Showing true blue Aussie grit however, Craig soldiered on and gave an enlightening address to an appreciative audience about the latest developments and plans at Millfield. Later in the evening he even agreed to the fortification of his mineral water with a medicinal additive that, fortunately, was readily available over the bar.
The venue was perfect. On the beach at Bronte with breaking surf and clearing skies, it was quintessentially Australian and offered plenty of room to mingle. So good were the waves in fact that Nigel spent a large part of the evening attempting to coax revelers in for a quick surf. Remarkably everyone declined. He does however assure me that he secured firm undertakings from a couple of former swim squad members to return to the club to do their bronze medallions and become volunteer lifesavers next summer. You know who you are (and if you don’t, Nigel does!)
Whilst many of us had travelled considerable distances to get to Bronte, the gold medal must go to Laura Zaky (1977-83; Edgarley and Oaklands) and her two gorgeous children Oska and Morgan. When she heard that her old friend Tasha Ponnusamy (Edgarley; 1979-81) would be attending, she packed her bags in Somerset and trekked half way around the world to see her. Great Stuff!
A special mention to Lissie Whitworth (1961-63; Day) and her husband Peter. They were the first names on the acceptance list, but couldn’t make it due to the arrival of a new grandchild on the afternoon of the function. Congratulations to you both – you were missed.
Not sure when or where the next gathering of the East Coast Branch will be. Seems we need a visit from official Millfield dignitaries to get us motivated. However, judging from the number of telephone numbers and email addresses exchanged on the night, I suspect there will be several mini-reunions taking place across the country in the months ahead.