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| UPCOMING DATES |
2009 ANNUAL REUNION
PERTH MODERN SCHOOL
11am Sunday 13 Sept. 2009
Class of 1959
Friday, Saturday, Sunday
23-25 October 2009
Class of 1989
28 November 2009
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| COMMEMORATIVE CHAIRS |
Remember the jarrah chairs bearing the names of former students? Do you have one or more of these very special chairs?
Would you care to donate or loan them back to the care of the Historical and Museum Committee?
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| FINAL WORD |
Deadline for copy for next issue: 28 February 2010
Your contributions will be welcome. Please send to The Editor, e-Newsletter info@perthmoderniansociety.org.au |
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| Welcome to The Perth Modernian e-Newsletter |
We hope you find this first issue of the e-Newsletter informative. By this means from now on, we will be bringing you news, event details and articles from the Society, its members and Perth Modern School and keep you informed of new pathways for communication and scholarship.
Future issues of The Perth Modernian will be forwarded to all registered members electronically. Contributing Members who require it to be mailed to them will receive a printout of the on-line Newsletter, which will also appear on the new portal.
Past issues will be made available through the portal. All contributions for inclusion in future issues or elsewhere on the portal should be forwarded on-line to the Perth Modernian Society or mail or fax to Perth Modern School.
This innovation will encourage greater and timelier contact with members. We hope to hear regularly from you, particularly if you live interstate of overseas. To invite a friend to receive our e-Newsletter, click here.
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| EVENTS COMING UP |
2009 Annual Reunion at PMS on 11am Sunday 13 September.
Class of 1959 Reunion: Friday, Saturday, Sunday 23-25 October 2009
Class of 1989 Reunion: Saturday 28 November 2009
PORTAL LAUNCH
www.perthmoderniansociety.org.au will be launched at the Annual Reunion on Sunday 13 September 2009. To keep informed about what's happening from now on visit: http://www.perthmoderniansociety.org.au/
Elk Software Group did the portal development, guided by a Working Party comprising Peter Farr, Barrie Baker, Sallie Davies, Ian Jarvis and Don Cook. The cost was jointly funded from reserves by the Perth Modernian Society and the Sphinx Foundation Inc.
We will celebrate the launch of this beginning of the electronic era, and the Sphinx Scholarships, while also having an opportunity to view the new facilities at PMS at the Annual Reunion on Sunday, 13 September.
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| NEW PATHWAYS |
"Among alumni, there is an overwhelming feeling of warmth towards Perth Modern School, and gratitude for the extraordinary educational opportunities is provided as a selective school." The opening statement in the summary and recommendations in a recent Scholarship Fund feasibility study by Agnew & Associates that was commissioned by the Board of the Sphinx Foundation Inc.
Perth Modernian Society President Barrie Baker reports: "Following the clear advice of the consultant, the Society and the School together have decided to take on an integrated role for the future. This means that:- the Society will refocus its activities to provide increasing support to the School as well as providing services to its members;
- the School will integrate the Society into its strategic planning, seeing the Society as a strong alumni support;
- students entering the School will be encouraged to have a life-time relationship with the School, not just a five year one, of mutual benefit to student and School. Thus, students will join the Society on exit and see the School as a vehicle for social rewards as well as service to students who follow them;
- the School and Society will organise their planning and resources to make this "Advantage Relationship" effective;
- the resulting activities will serve to make the Society more relevant and rewarding to all - students, alumni and staff.
It will take some time to bring this all together, but it is essential for the Society and School to draw upon each other if the School is to fully discharge its mandate to 'Support the growth of individual students to their full academic, intellectual, social and physical potential'.
I have been encouraged by increasing involvement of ex-students, many excited by the new direction that the School is taking."
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| FROM THE PRINCIPAL |
As we strive to create an electronic school newsletter for our current students, it is exciting to be a part of this first electronic newsletter from The Perth Modernian Society. 2009 has already created further highlights in the re-development of Perth Modern School. As the year has progressed, new buildings with innovative learning spaces are being completed.
In February as we settled into the new school year, the new building housing the library, cafeteria and lecture theatre was completed. Our students quickly became familiar with sitting in the cafeteria at lunch and recess, while the new library - with its banks of windows - provides a very adult learning environment.
When May arrived, our new performing arts building was handed over to the school. Ms Margaret Hansen (our drama teacher) admits to missing some of the "tattiness" of the "Old Gym Theatre" - but is delighted with her new home and its facilities. I'm looking forward to the Year 12 Monologue nights in late August!
Already we've arrived at August - and my return to school following a very relaxing second term on long service leave (with Ms Val Furphy proving to be a most effective relieving Principal). Over the past two weeks, we have taken delivery of two new buildings accommodating the D&T rooms (wood, metal and mechatronics rooms), three new visual arts rooms, photography and media facilities and new food and textiles rooms. While it may take a little while to complete the move of materials and to ensure that every piece of equipment works as it should, these spaces are an incredible improvement in the learning environment for students.
This has been an extended development period. Alumni will be pleased to know that the Sphinx Memorial will be erected adjacent to the oval and new office building - work commencing in about two weeks. We are hoping that our final building (office and student services) will be given to the school before the end of term. Mr Roger Stubbs, our Project Manager, has worked tirelessly to support the builders in finalising aspects of the project. As you might imagine, our Health and Physical Education teachers are looking forward to retrieving the oval and again having optimum space for their classes - hopefully by the end of October.
While the buildings represent the physical changes in the school, many innovative curriculum initiatives are being implemented by our teachers.
On the near horizon is 2011 - the year of our school centenary. At school, we have begun to consider what kinds of celebration should be presented over this year, and have been fortunate in several alumni suggesting that they would like to help ensure the year is especially memorable. If you would like to suggest a specific activity or person who may be enthusiastic about participating in our centenary deliberations, please contact the school with a contact name and number.
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| SPHINX FOUNDATION SCHOLARSHIP FUND |
All donations to the Sphinx Foundation Scholarship Fund are tax deductible. Volunteers with suitable skills (eg financial planning, legal) are being sought to advise and administer this fund. If you can help, please contact info@perthmoderniansociety.org.au
The first two Sphinx Scholarships have recently been established via generous donations from two Old Modernians.
The Jean and Jim Cundill Creative Writing Scholarship, the funds for which have been donated by Jim Cundill. It will be awarded annually to a student at PMS completing Year 10 who, in the opinion of a school selection panel, shows superior creative writing skills measured against such criteria as:- insight into setting
- storyline
- character development
- creation of atmosphere, interest and tension.
It is envisaged that this Scholarship will fund the student to gain enrichment either under the Perth Modern School/University of Western Australia Link Programme, or through attending other specialised creative writing courses, and/or through the purchase of appropriate texts.
The Daniel Girling Music Scholarship, the funds for which have been donated by John Down. It will be awarded annually to a student at PMS completing Year 10 who, in the opinion of a school selection panel, shows superior musical skills measured against such criteria as:- talent in singing
- superior performance in playing at least two instruments
- superior performance in ensemble and orchestral playing
- talent in composition.
It is envisaged that this Scholarship will fund the student to gain enrichment either under the Perth Modern School/University of Western Australia Link Programme, or through having other specialised musical instruction, and/or through the purchase of appropriate scores and instrumental equipment.
The Sphinx Foundation also thanks Jim Cundill for his generous donation of a valuable violin which is being restored and will be available for use by a student at the School.
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| HELP TO PRESERVE OUR HISTORY |
| Towards the end of 2008 the Sphinx Foundation received a grant from Lotterywest to provide facilities to store the records of the PMS Historical and Museum Collections electronically on a MOSAiC data base. This will make the collections much more accessible. Two volunteers have been trained in data entry and use of the data base. 
A computer workstation funded by the Sphinx Foundation Inc. has been installed in the new archive storage facility at the School. Work has begun on the big job of entering data. Could any Volunteers help out to assist with this task please?
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| FEDERAL GOVERNMENT VOLUNTEER GRANT |
A Federal Government Volunteer Equipment Grant was received in 2009 and has provided additional computer equipment to assist in the administration of the Museum Collections. Two laptop computers acquired in August will provide a more flexible approach for updating staff/student records, recording minutes and preparing displays.
Volunteers are needed to support all aspects of the work of the Historical and Museum Committee.
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| REUNION NEWS |
Some students can't wait to get out of Mod - but after a few years they can't wait to get back. This is the case with many of our former students who will not only attend the Annual Reunion which is coming up but take the opportunity to arrange their own specific reunions.
CLASS OF 1958
The very successful reunion on Friday 19th September 2008 at Mod and afterwards next door at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, was attended by 75 ex-students and five ex teachers. Many students came from interstate and Bob Jones with partner Petra, came from Germany especially for the occasion.
On the Sunday, a river cruise to Fremantle and back was a buzz. It is intended that the 1954-58 group will hold their next reunion in 2011, to coincide with the celebration of the school centenary.
Vivienne Goldberg (Routman) from Melbourne, Leith Conybeare (Creed)
from Sydney, and Jo Donnellan (Davies)
Helen Davison (Henry), Prof. Phil Jennings,
Neville Wilding (Science Teacher)
CLASS OF 1999
Of special interest are the "decade" reunions. In June the Class of 1999 had their 10 year reunion. Organised by Caroline Meyerink, now resident in Victoria, their reunion was on Saturday June 13
Following a welcome from Caroline and Sara Green there was a recital by the Year 11 String Quartet. Acting Principal, Val Furphy, outlined the changes at Mod since 1999.
The students were excited to be together, many for the first time since leaving, and the day was made more memorable by also catching up with some of their teachers. Principal at the time, Eric Alcock, attended as did retired Head of English, Dick Osborne. Over 50 students attended.
There was much excitement as they were led on a tour of the school by former Deputy Principal Don Cook. Dramatic poses on the stage, excited comments at the display cabinets where the cups won in Vienna by that year?s music tour were on display. Even greater were the laughs as they sighted the photos of themselves on display in the East Building.
After two hours of reminiscing around the school, the group adjourned to a local hotel where they talked and talked until late in the night.
CLASS OF '89
The Class of 1989 are also planning their 20 year reunion. Their committee, headed by Tina Marshall (nee Harrison) is working towards their big day on November 28. If you know of someone from the class of 1989, they can get full details by emailing info@perthmoderniansociety.org.au.
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| WHERE ARE THEY NOW? |
Future editions of the newsletter will include snapshots of the interesting careers and life paths that have been chosen by some of our former students. If you have information about former students which you think would be interesting to include, please forward details and jpeg photographs to the Newsletter Editor through info@perthmoderniansociety.org.au
Ross Kelly (Class of '55)
Congratulations to Ross for his recent WA Citizen of the Year Award for Community Work. The citation reads as follows: " Mr Ross Kelly's professional career was as Operations Director of PA Management Consultants, but his passion from a young age is football. It is through the Clontaf Foundation that Mr Kelly has combined his business prowess with his enthusiasm for football to help lead young Indigenous men to realise their potential and take hold of their life direction. Mr Kelly has been the Chairman of the Clontarf Foundation since 1999 and in these years has been instrumental in the expediential growth in numbers that the Foundation has seen. He has also served the Fremantle Football Club and the Western Australian Football Commission Board. Mr Kelly's lifelong voluntary commitment to the well being of young Western Australians is best known through his contribution to football. Although it is the innovative and unique programme delivery through Clontarf which has displayed his contribution to young people's life skills and personal development leading to their overall wellbeing."
Jared Furtado (Class of '99)
Jared completed a Bachelor of Education and a Certificate in Music Theatre from Edith Cowan University. He has taught in various Perth schools including 5 years at Perth College. His performance experience includes Paul in Company and Anthems for Doomed Youth, both for yellow glass theatre. Jared also performed the role of Margaret Mead in Hair and was a member of the ensemble in Rent.
He fronted the Perth corporate ensemble Lola Goes to Town and has supported Rhonda Burchmore in her Sydney performances. In 2008, Jared was a soloist in Thank Goodness for Ramone at Darlinghurst Theatre. He has managed the Gondwana Indigenous Children?s Choir during their World Youth Day and Voices of Angels Seasons.
Recently, Jared performed in Jerry Springer the Opera at the Sydney Opera House, singing in the ensemble and covering the lead role of Montel.
Dr Emily Gunson (Class of '73)
Emily commenced in the selective Perth Modern School Music program in 1969. In 1974, she was accepted into the University of Western Australia?s music performance program. Emily completed her BMus (Hons) in 1979, specialising in solo and chamber music. Following postgraduate studies in Europe and having established a successful performance career as a flautist in Australia and overseas, she completed her PhD in 1999 at UWA in the field of flute history and performance.
Emily is now one of Australia?s leading scholar-musicians and does regular concert appearances.
Nathan Etherington (Class of '98)
Nathan studied Architecture at the University of Sydney and was awarded his Bachelor of Architecture degree in May 2007. He was also recognised as the student with the best overall academic record across the degree and was awarded the 2007 RAIA / Bligh Voller Nield Prize in Architecture. Nathan has lived and worked in London since late 2007 and worked for the London office of Skidmore, Owings Merrill, the world's fifth largest architectural firm. He mainly worked on projects in Russia and Dubai.
Later this year, Nathan will travel to Boston, USA, to take up a Harvard University scholarship which will enable him to study for his Masters degree in Architecture. Nathan will be travelling to Boston with his partner, Kerry Brenner, who is also a former student of Perth Modern School and is a nurse specialising in Emergency Medicine.
Clare Tunney (Class of '93)
Clare studied Music at the University of Western Australia and graduated in performance. She is currently studying towards a PhD in Music at the University of Western Australia. An accomplished cellist, Clare was awarded the prestigious 2008 John Hind Opera Viva Scholarship and has, this year, been awarded the ACIS Cassamarca Scholarship for research to further her postgraduate research into 19th Century cello playing in Italy. She will be spending 2009 as a postgraduate student at the University of Milan.
And speaking of prize winning former Perth Modern School Music Students, Anna Pokorny (Class of 2005) was awarded the 2009 University of Western Australia School of Music Pauline Steel Memorial Prize for the best performance of a nominated work for violoncello and Jarrad Mathie (Class of 2004) won the 2009 Flora Bunning Memorial Prize for Chamber Music.
VALE JOE LUBICH
Perth Modernian Society lost a valuable Council Member with the recent passing of Dr Joe Lubich. Born in Midland in 1930, Joe attended Perth Modern School 1943-47 and was a School Prefect.
He went on to study Medicine at the University of WA and Adelaide University. He described the highlights of his career as being his medical graduation, work at Royal Perth Hospital and 47 years as a medical practitioner in Albany for 47 years. He also served for thee years on the Medical Board of WA. He enjoyed a happy family life with five children and nine grandchildren.
On Australia Day 2006 he was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) for service to local government and to the community of the City of Albany as a general practitioner, and as a contributor to the Western Australian health service.
A Contributing Member before he retired and still working in Albany, he sought to become more active in the Perth Modernian Society when he moved to Perth. He joined the Perth Modernian Society Council where he served for 4 years until his recent passing. |
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