Reunite reaches across the globe!
Six years after our last Australia reunion, Fr Martin Ashcroft met with a group of former St George’s and St Maur’s students and past St George’s parents for lunch and an afternoon of catching up during his recent visit to Sydney.
The group met on Sunday 7th August at the Opera Bar located in the stunning harbour setting looking out towards the iconic Harbour Bridge. Despite the short unseasonal downpour and a hasty retreat into the covered concourse, the sun shone on the group for most of the afternoon. While it was very good to welcome back those who attend the reunion in 2005, it was excellent to see a good number of new faces. The wide age gap, about 60 years, between the members of the group did not prevent a very sociable and relaxed mood and many commented that within minutes of meeting, everyone felt very much part of the Georgian family. Some had travelled a distance within Australia to attend the reunion lunch, but worthy of note was Chris Garton (1971) who flew in especially from Tokyo!
Fr Martin also met up with some past students and parents during his stay who were unable to attend including OGs Joe Atkinson (1978) at St Ignatius’ College, Riverview (where Fr Martin was staying in Sydney); Anton Reisch (1989) and his wife Justine at the home of our current Gap Student Tom Doolan here at St George’s College and James Gibson (1971) and Maureen at ‘The Malaya’ in Darling Harbour. Fr Martin also had dinner with Aidan and Jason Van Klaveren (who left SGC in December 2009 and are current students at St Ignatius’s College Riverview) and their parents and sister. Fr Martin also met up for coffee in Lane Cove with Jane Sedgwick (mother of Old Georgians Jack and Mitchell) and Anne Cooper (mother of Old Georgians Tim and Andrew. Andrew is also still a student at St Ignatius’s College Riverview).
Rosemary Johnson-Walker (1962) who helped to organise the 2005 reunion, is endeavouring to make the reunion an annual event, which we are sure will be very welcome by OGs and OMs living or travelling in Australia. Thank you to everyone who attended and those who contacted us but sadly could not make this reunion. We hope to welcome you all back again next year. Photos from the reunion are on our Reunite Facebook page.
Attendees:
Kate Althans (2001)
Fr Martin Ashcroft cj (1969)
Melissa Bennett (2001)
Paul and Kathryn Bruton parents of Tom Bruton, Ally Wilson and Jack Wilson who left SGC in 2010
Greg Byrne (1983) and Justine Collins
Christine Faure (1978)
Chris Garton (1971)
Brian and Brigitte Haydon parents of Lucy, Danny (1998) and Patrick (2004)
Lucy Haydon (1995)
Rosemary Johnson-Walker (1962)
Adeline Lamond (1984) and husband David
Neil Linz (1997)
Patrick Sawyer (1965) and wife Angela
Michael and Jane Smith parents of Daniel Smith (2003) and Ben Smith (2005)
Ben Smith (2005)
Apologies: Helen Endacott (2001), James Gibson (1971), Chris O’Sullivan (1976), Anton Reisch (1989), Rebecca Reynolds (1997), Klaus Albrecht (Former Governor and Parent at St George’s College), John Connor (1951), Mark Fischer (1995), Richard Metcalfe (1997), Geoff Parmenter (1986), Evadne Spickett (1964), Justine Von Reibnitz (1994), Stephen Castell (1998), Peter Goodwin (1961)
To view the reunion photos visit our Reunite Facebook page
