Llewellyn Jones (1978-1983)
In spite of COVID, and maybe in some cases because of it - many of our Old Scholar community have taken the time to reach back to their old school and classmates over the past year.
There have been plenty of opportunities in recent months for doing just that – and it has been an honour and a blessing to reconnect with and meet many of our Old Scholars from all generations. We may come from different eras – and identify with different versions of the school uniform, but we have all breathed the same air, received the same message of divine acceptance and the encouragement to be the best we can be for ourselves and to each other.
In respect of being the best – there is no greater public stage for that than the Olympic and Paralympic Games, and it was amazing to see so many St Peters alumni representing our country in Tokyo just three months ago. I certainly felt the St Peters vibe again when I saw (on TV) the school assembly going wild with joy when Ariarne Titmus (2018) won the 400m Freestyle. What a moment! Well done to all our Old Scholars who have gone on to do great things in all fields of endeavour.
Also in July, we held an inaugural SPOSA Service at the College Chapel – presided over by Bishop Paul Smith (1979) who managed to creatively find a purpose for bringing out his old school uniform and weaving it into the sermon.
Recent SPOSA Events:
The 75th Anniversary Cocktail function in the Chapel Forecourt (aka The Quadrangle) on Friday 17 September was a tremendous success as evidenced by the challenge of encouraging people that it was time to go home, even after the bar closed! It was wonderful to hear from Kathie Newton (1993), David Radke (1978) and Rupert Hoare (2019).
On the following Sunday we sang a rousing 'Guide Me O Thou Great Redeemer', celebrated the Confirmation of Pastor Metzner’s grandchildren and paused to remember the long list of Old Scholars who are no longer with us.
Guided tours of the College Campus were particularly enjoyed by an Old Scholar down from Singapore who had worked alongside the fabled architect of the College Chapel – Dr Karl Langer.
Reunion lunch provided an opportunity for the Head of College to thank his mum for coming back to her old school and was well attended by Old Scholars celebrating significant milestone anniversaries. We were honoured to have at least one Old Scholar from 1945 in attendance.
Saturday 9 October was a big hit in Café 45 (aka The Refectory). Over 130 guests came in fancy dress to the SPOSA/P&F Trivia Evening and Charity fund-raiser. Attended mostly by parents of current students, approximately half of these were Old Scholars.
Much fun was had by all thanks to our host Kat Feeney from ABC Radio (also a St Peters mum), and featured video questions posed by teachers and Old Scholars – including some from Old Scholars working at Melbourne hospitals in full COVID PPE!
This event deserves to be repeated as a great collaboration between SPOSA and the P&F. Full credit goes to Rob Barber (1990) President of the P&F for conceiving and championing it to the hilt.
Final Weeks of 2021
As we close in on the last few weeks of 2021, we thank the SPOSA committee – most of whom have signed on for another year. Our special thanks to our wonderful Alumni Officers, Rowena Lester and Virginia Cordingley. Virginia has certainly 'hit the ground running' since she started with us earlier this year!
We are particularly grateful for the service of Nicky Boynton-Bricknell who retires from the SPOSA committee this year after many years of dedication to the SPOSA organisation, a former President, Organiser, Fund raiser, Historian, Editor and Knower of a Great Many Things! Nicky, has been at the core of SPOSA for so long – and will forever be an indelible part of our fabric.
We wish the current Seniors all the best for the future and look forward to welcoming a new cohort of Old Scholars.
Best wishes to you all, hope to see you at Carols under the Stars on 28 November.
Llewellyn Jones (1983)
