our first relay for life raised more than...

SHANDON CALLSThe Magazine of Assumption College, Kilmore Su

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OUR FIRST RELAY FOR LIFE RAISED MORE THAN $5000 FOR CANCER RESEARCH



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Shandon Calls

Principal’s farewell 2

A student’s battle with cancer prompted Assumption’s first Relay for Life 3

We congratulate Caitlin Maher – Victorian School-based Apprentice 4 of the Year

Student Florence McKay chosen to attend the 2015 Anzac Day Dawn 5 Service at Gallipoli

Celebrating the feast of the Assumption 7

Athletics – the new kid on the block at the ACK-SHC Exchange 9

Brad Ryan reflects upon his dream to be a sportsman, early career 10 and life at Assumption

Hairspray – you can’t stop the beat 12

A record number of students perform in the Assumption Dance Concert 13

Assumption’s First XVIII footballers win the flag 14

What are they doing now? 15

Mourning the loss of his oldest friend, a student from the 1940s visits ACK 16

Obituaries – Angus MacIsaac and Max Charlesworth 17

ACK netball exhibition match 18

Prahran Assumption Reserves win premiership 18

CONTENTS

Editor: Stephen CalvertAssistant editor Bernard JephsonProofreader: Br Xavier Collins

Photo credits: Assumption people, events and buildings – Nicki Doyle and her team of photographers: Ryan Amarant, Madeleine Anderson, Deana Billici, Chloe Cornfoot, Luke Donegan, Jess Harrison, Will Hart, Georgia Knight-Martin, Kim Leopoldo and Sarah Talaj, and the North Central Review’s Catherine Mogridge Caitlin Maher and Assumption’s finalists at the Victorian Training Awards – Diprose Media and the Department Of Education Alumnae netballers – Merle Stirling Assumption-Sacred Heart Exchange – Clark Rodda from Festival City Photography Prahran Assumption premiers – Committee of the PAFC

CONTACT DETAilS

Phone: +61 3 5782 1422Fax: +61 3 5782 1902

Address: Sutherland Street PO Box 111 Kilmore Victoria 3764

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Adieu | Shandon Calls

t is with considerable sadness that I write my final article for Shandon Calls. The last few months have been emotional for me as I prepare to leave Assumption and as I look back

on the past nine years.

There have been many improvements in that time and I have many memories but only space to mention a few. Our curriculum has expanded, especially our VET and VCAL offerings, appealing to the different interests and learning styles of our students. Thanks to the College’s 10-year master plan we now offer VET Hospitality in the Marlhes Centre, have first-class facilities for the teaching and learning of visual arts and technology in the Hermitage, and of LOTE and science in the refurbished Heinrich Centre. Our boarders are enjoying their new accommodation, and the next exciting project is Senior Shandon, a senior learning centre, which is expected to be ready for use from the start of 2016.

From a pastoral and spiritual perspective I must mention Remar and our vertical house structure. This structure, introduced in 2009, has helped strengthen our pastoral care program and allowed students to develop friendships across year levels. Remar has been reintroduced at Assumption in recent years to help our students deepen their faith and become involved in social justice programs.

There have been great changes to how the College’s social events are conducted. All are now alcohol-free (amid much initial resistance) to ensure there is no under-age drinking. The venue and timing of the Year 12 Graduation Dinner were altered and debutante balls, which Br Fons banned because of alcohol-fuelled parties afterwards, were replaced with formals.

I am proud of our extensive range of cultural and sporting co-curricular activities. We have a biennial musical and an

annual dance concert, and participation in these continues to grow. To strengthen our links with the Marist family, we resumed our involvement in its basketball, netball and cricket carnivals. There was a cricket tour to the UK last year and there’ll be one to South Africa next year.

I am passionate about football, and when coaching the 8Bs one year alongside Br Xavier I gave them a motivational speech before a game. Ahmed Kelly, now a Paralympian and the most inspirational student I have come across in my career, said, “I felt like Neil Craig was addressing us, and Xav said, “I’m pumped, I’m ready to play”. It’s a pity the players weren’t; they lost by more than 10 goals. In the year I am leaving it is pleasing that our First XVIII footballers are premiers (it’s a pity the Crows aren’t). Our netballers just missed out on the flag.

I thank everyone in the Assumption community for your support during my time here. You have helped make our school the special place that it is. I believe that the College is well placed to meet the changes occurring in education today and look forward to hearing about its future successes.

A year 12 student leader in his speech at the year 12 full school assembly (which initially received the thumbs-down from students when implemented) once said, “You can take the boy out of Assumption but not Assumption out of the boy.” This quotation sums up exactly how I feel writing this piece.

I trust you enjoy this edition of the magazine, and I wish all members of the ACK community, students, staff, parents and alumni, every happiness and success in the future.

Michael Kenny

PRINCIPAL’S FAREWELL

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ACKHall of Excellence

& Sports Hall of Fame

Saturday 28th February 2015 | Palladium at Crown

Gala Dinner

ACK LEGENDS’ NIGHT OF NIGHTS

Principal Partner

TICKETS ON SALE NOW! Don’t miss the opportunity to attend – buy your tickets now. Go to www.ack.org.au for more information.

Shandon Calls | Community

n bright sunshine with ACK marquees dotting the Carroll Oval, more than 300 people walked or jogged around the outside of the oval on Friday, September 5.

Most wore the distinctive purple Cancer Council Relay for Life top. And some added to the outfit with bow ties, funny hats, headbands and feather boas, others sported footy jumpers or house tops instead.

Our year 12 VCAL students hosted the cancer research fund-raiser, under the direction of their teachers, after hearing that classmate Zane Collier was diagnosed with bone cancer.

Peter Jongebloed, Terry Cooney and I welcomed our 310 walkers and reminded them why we were here – to help rid the world of cancer. Year 10 student Brooke Arthurson read the Walkers Oath and Marcus Hutchinson from year 8 cut the ribbon, and the first lap was completed by our survivors and carers.

Peter fired the gun signalling that it was time for the rest of the relay participants to begin. Students, staff, parents and friends of the College walked together for the next three hours demonstrating fantastic community spirit.

Just after 5pm we announced that we had raised $5210.30 and that Austin House had won the Most Participants Trophy. Thank you to the year 12 VCAL students and staff who worked together to plan, organise and host such a successful event.

Thanks also to those who took part and to Peter Chisholm, Shane Kemp and the Heffer family for their donations towards the barbecue we had. Our cheque was handed over to Cancer Council Victoria at a full school assembly. Look out for next year’s walk where we will aim to have even more participants.

Jenny Pendlebury – VCAl Coordinator

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A STUDENT’S BATTLE WITH CANCER PROMPTED ASSUMPTION’S FIRST RELAY FOR LIFE

Rewarding Student Achievement | Shandon Calls

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ear 12 student Caitlin Maher will represent Victoria at the 2014 Australian Training Awards this month after being named Victorian School-based Apprentice of

the Year. She won the accolade at the Victorian Training Awards in September and was presented with a $10,000 cheque by Higher Education and Skills Minister Nick Wakeling. Caitlin completed a Certificate III in Aged Care at Blue Cross Willowmeade in collaboration with GOTAFE.

‘‘When my name was called out, I went into shock, I was so excited, ecstatic and surprised all at once that I actually couldn’t say anything for the first few moments,’’ she said.

Two other ACK students were finalists in the awards: Olivia Bennetts, who is undertaking a Certificate III in Commercial Cookery at the Hidden Valley Restaurant and Joel Brincat, who is completing a Certificate III in Plumbing with Laidlaw Plumbing and Drainage. Assumption College was also a finalist for VET in Schools.

Caitlin always knew she wanted to do nursing, and it was her careers counsellor, Carol Fisher, who showed her that she did not have to wait until university to begin her career.

“In year 10 I started the Certificate III in Allied Health and got my first aid certificate, as well as spending one day a fortnight at Seymour Hospital, giving me valuable hands-on experience.

‘‘I enjoyed it so much it confirmed that I wanted to be a nurse when I finished school, so I spoke to Mrs Fisher and she gave me the contact details for a lady at Willowmeade. I went for an interview and she hired me on the spot and so I began my school-based apprenticeship.’’

While Caitlin doesn’t have to often attend the GoTafe Seymour campus, she is in regular contact with her GoTafe trainer Mary Boruch. ‘‘The support I have received from my school and GoTafe has been amazing,’’ she said.

According to Willowmeade spokeswoman Mandy Heather, staff and residents are most impressed with Caitlin: “She has impressed them with her maturity, her compassion and her desire to make a difference to the quality of life of the elderly people she cares for.

“She … brings a youthful freshness and vitality to Willowmeade which is greatly appreciated by the residents and her colleagues. No one who knows Caitlin would be surprised if she went on to win the Australian School-based Apprentice Award as well.”

She hopes to begin studying nursing next year at Australian Catholic University.

Stephen Calvert with Chalpat Sonti from the Seymour Telegraph

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WE CONGRATULATE CAITLIN MAHER - Victorian School-based Apprentice of the Year

Caitlin with Higher Education and Skills Minister Nick Wakeling.

Caitlin, VET and SBAT Coordinator Carol Fisher, Joel Brincat and Olivia Bennetts.

Shandon Calls | Rewarding Student Achievement

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FLORENCE McKAY CHOSEN TO ATTEND THE 2015 ANZAC DAY DAWN SERVICE AT GALLIPOLI

keen history student, Florence McKay, in year 10, is preparing for a once-

in-a-lifetime experience: she will attend the service marking the century of the landing at Gallipoli in World War One. She and 79 other Victorian secondary school students and 14 teachers were chosen to represent the state at the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove on April 25 next year.

“We want our younger generations to experience and establish connections with this important place and share the lessons they learn with family, friends, colleagues and classmates,” Premier Denis Napthine said.

He was speaking at State Parliament on September 10 in front of those that had successfully applied for positions on the tour.

“In the application you had to talk about yourself, your community and your awards and achievements, and write a 1000-word essay about the significance of Gallipoli. Mr Kenny and my pastoral care teacher Mr Egan wrote references for me,” Florence said.

She is interested in the war and Australian history, an interest inspired by her father and two relatives.

“Dad has about 20 books on the subject; we had some pretty in-depth conversations, and they helped with my research for the essay. And I had a couple of great-great uncles on my father’s side, William and Frank Roberts who, while not landing at Gallipoli, were killed on the Western Front.”

Many people, including her father, envy her the experience. “I have to bring at least 20 suitcases for all the people who want to fit in them because everyone’s coming up to me and telling me they want to go, which is completely understandable; it’s amazing.”

And what does Florence hope to gain from the trip? “I guess, just a better understanding of the conditions, even the geography and the terrain of what the soldiers endured, so that I can pay my respects, pay homage to that and appreciate it in that sense . . . I’m sure after seeing Gallipoli I’ll want to know more.”

Her group will visit historical sites and museums during their five days in Turkey, culminating in the Dawn Service at Anzac Cove.

Stephen Calvert

Florence’s great-great uncle Frank Roberts who was killed on the Western Front.

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ACK LEGENDS’ NIGHT OF NIGHTS

TickeTs on sale now!Ticket sales are now open. You can book individual seats or tables of 10. Your ticket will entitle you to pre-dinner red carpet drinks, a three-course dinner and complimentary drinks during the meal.

A limited number of VIP tickets are available which ensures premium seating close to the entertainment on the night.

An event of this scale and magnitude is a major undertaking. This is not a fund-raising event for the College and, as such, the ticket prices have been set below cost. Sponsorship opportunities will subsidise the ticket prices.

TickeT Pricing ViP STANDArD (Non-VIP) individual $195 $165

Table of 10 $1950 $1650

his exciting inaugural event will connect ACK alumni in a way never before undertaken. To be held at the sensational Crown Palladium on February 28, 2015, we anticipate over 1000 guests who will experience the best of the best from the College’s impressive 121-year history.

The highlight of the night will be to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our alumni in their various areas of expertise, whether it be sport, their professional career, or their community achievements. Be first to see the presentation of the greatest ACK VFL/AFL team – packed with some of the most outstanding in the history of the game – all having undertaken their apprenticeships at ACK.

At the helm of proceedings will be Brian Taylor, sport and media personality and ACK parent. Sit back and enjoy as he adeptly engages you with every element of the program.

We invite all alumni, their friends and family to reconnect with the ACK community in a night of first-class entertainment and excellence, topped with a healthy dose of glamour!

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Bookings can be completed online at www.ack.org.au or by emailing [email protected]

Palladium at Crown | Saturday 28th February 2015

All past students and their partners, family and friends are invited to celebrate with old classmates, honouring the outstanding academic

achievements of ACK’s alumni and its rich sporting culture.

IT’S ACK’s LARGEST REUNION

PICK YOUR BEST 24 AND WIN! ACK’S GREATEST EVER VFL/AFL TEAM

Go to www.ack.org.au to enter.

ACK Hall of Excellence& Sports Hall of Fame

Gala Dinner ACK LEGENDS’ NIGHT OF NIGHTS

Principal Partner

Gold Sponsors Silver Sponsors


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he feast of the Assumption of “Mary our Good Mother” as St Marcellin called her, is the perfect time to reflect upon her role as mother to Jesus and as his disciple,

her strong faith and acceptance of God’s will. In the Marist tradition we recognise that it is through Mary that we come to know and love Jesus. All these things were touched upon during our Mass in the Gonzales Centre on August 15.

This Eucharist also gave us the chance to think about what it means to be part of the Assumption College community. In the opening procession each house banner was carried by a year 7 and a year 12 student, and the Book of the Gospels was placed in front of the altar, signifying the fact that the Eucharist is central to everything we do as a college and in our houses while striving to live out Gospel values.

In his homily, Fr Grant described Mary as “a nurturing figure”. He also talked about faith and its challenges for us today because it involves acceptance of mysteries, “things beyond explanation” such as Mary’s assumption and even the Eucharist, that cannot be proven. However, he said, even in our education we have to accept as true, things we haven’t directly experienced such as aardvarks and quarks [elementary subatomic particles and fundamental constituents of matter].

After communion, Mr Kenny spoke of Mary’s faithfulness to God, her courage and conviction. He said Mary was the “perfect example of being a disciple”, he called on us to “keep our hearts and minds open to God” and wished us a happy feast day.

Assumption Day is truly a day of celebration for us all. After Mass there was the annual mini-fete where we raised money for Marist charities, and then a concert where some of our talented students entertained us in the Gonz. However, the most important event was our whole school Mass. We need to remind ourselves of this and realise that whenever we celebrate the Eucharist as a community it is an opportunity we should cherish.

I thank those involved in the preparation of, and participation in, the liturgy. It was the ideal way to begin our celebration of this most significant feast day in the life of our college and the Church.

Terry Cooney Director of Mission

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FEAST OF THE ASSUMPTION

Community | Shandon Calls


thletics emerged as the new sport to be included in this 58th cultural and sporting exchange, with the girls and boys 100 metre sprint staged on the Somerton

Park Oval just before the big football clash on Sunday. Natarsha Inchincoli, Shannon McLean and Kasey Macaulay represented ACK with Natarsha proving dominant in the inaugural staging of the event.

The tables were turned in the boys race though, with Sacred Heart’s local beach sprinting champion proving far too good for our sprinters: Stephen O’Brien, James Steward and Matthew Brincat. We look forward to hosting the challenge in 2015 on the Carroll Oval and hope to extend participation by including a 3 x 200 metre relay for boys and girls teams. See the table below for the results of other sporting events.

On Saturday night Mass was celebrated, there was the debate, musical and singing performances and, in another first, a dance routine by Sacred Heart students.

Assumption narrowly lost the debate, which we should have won. Our debaters, Jake Sanders, Isabelle McKay and Emily Hocking argued in the affirmative that “social media is more of a hindrance than a help”. Best speaker was Isabelle McKay.

Congratulations to our singers and musicians: Whitney Comte (music captain), Anna Urokohara (cultural captain), Jack Atherden, Jack Cornelissen, Alani Costa, Lauren Crocker, Anthony Drofenik, Mark Fuhrmann, Jessica Harrison, Abraham Knynenburg, Jacqueline Saykao, Emma-Rose Sommers, Joseph Tankey and Georgia Yendall. They performed six pieces and displayed great musicianship and style, poise and pizzazz.

More than 120 Assumption students, 17 staff members and about 50 parents flew to Adelaide for this exchange from August 22 to 24.

Pauline Hong, Peter Jongebloed and Marc Merigan

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ATHLETICS – THE NEW KID ON THE BLOCK AT THE ASSUMPTION-SACRED HEART EXCHANGE

EVENT SCOrES BEST PlAyEr

Girls Hockey ACK 2 SHC 1 Whitney Comte

Girls Basketball ACK 33 SHC 28 Rosie O’Sullivan

Boys Basketball ACK 38 SHC 48 Jack Murphy

Football ACK 8.13 (61) SHC 22.8 (140) Mitchell Trait

Boys Soccer ACK 0 SHC 9 Matthew Brincat

Girls Soccer ACK 0 SHC 1 Kasey Macaulay

Netball ACK 40 SHC 44 Casey Adamson


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Early life and educationI grew up in Reservoir with my parents and two brothers, one younger and two older. I dreamt of a sporting career playing either football or cricket. I played both at school but tore a ligament at the back of my left knee during a footy match in the under 14s. It couldn’t be fixed and the physiotherapist said unless you’re hell-bent on making it to the top I’d give it away because you’re going to have problems later in life.

I attended Ruthven Primary School and Keon Park Tech. I went right through school with former AFL umpire Darren Goldspink who umpired three or four grand finals. After leaving the tech I completed a four-year cabinet-making apprenticeship and received my papers.

CareerI worked as a cabinet maker for about two years and then had a serious car accident and suffered massive head injuries. I was involved in intensive rehabilitation, and it was 18 months before I could leave hospital completely.

Unfortunately after the car accident I didn’t have the nous to go back to my trade. I had to come home and live with my father in Kilmore and in 1990 I got work at Assumption after being interviewed by the bursar’s assistant, Greg Kingsford. The principal was Br Paul Kane. We were only two doors from Assumption, I didn’t have a licence and my father just said to me go down and make some

inquiries. It was a little while before some part-time work came up like renovating the dorms and the Daly Wing and laundry. I was also keeping the school grounds tidy, emptying bins, all that sort of thing. I started on a temporary basis, as I was just getting back on my feet again, and 24 years later I’m still here. But I’m doing some extra things now like driving the mini-buses.

What are the biggest changes during your time here?Boys well and truly outnumbered girls when I started, and the school’s just become so big, before it was fairly small. When girls began boarding we had to redo the dormitories upstairs

BRAD RYAN REFLECTS UPON HIS DREAM TO BE A SPORTSMAN, EARLY CAREER AND LIFE AT ASSUMPTION

f you hear “Hey boofhead” or “What are ya doin?” yelled at you across the school yard you can be sure it’s Brad, in his inimitable way, wanting to say hi. He’s worked at the College for 24 years, is an integral member of the maintenance team and is loved by staff and

students alike. English writer Charles Colton said that “imitation is the sincerest [form] of flattery” and year 12 student Tim Willis took that saying to heart during the recent year 12 barbecue. He morphed into Brad wearing his jacket and carrying a bin and a paper picker. You could tell Brad was pleased.


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for them. We started off doing one dorm and there was such a good response we had to go straight in and do another one. I was labouring for builder Graeme Meier.

What do you like most about your job?Probably socialising with teachers and mingling with the kids. The funny thing is, a student will come up to me and complain about a teacher and I’ll say, “He’s not that bad” and the response will be, “You ought to have him as a teacher”. Students feel at ease talking to me. Br Paul had a couple of cracks at me for talking to the students and mentioned that I should be doing my job. I turned around to him and said, “Br Paul, I like to get on with everyone, because if I get on with the kids they’re going to help me out and not make a mess.” He said, “Well, I didn’t think of it that way.”

What aspect of the job gets to you?When you see students eat their lunch and put their rubbish beside them and just walk away without putting it in a bin. It’s annoying. I take pride in the place and when I first started Greg Kingsford said to me, “I don’t care so much about the back of the school, but the front of the school when you leave has to be spotless. That’s people’s first impression,” and I know myself now, I’ve been around to a few schools and you walk in and you see the mess and urgh.

What do you dislike most at work?When you come back after a Christmas break and hear that such and such has had an accident and been killed, and only 12 months ago they were students here. You go back and look at the photo and think ah yeah I do know them. That’s sad.

Have you considered working elsewhere? No, because I have a good relationship with teaching staff, office staff, the kids, everyone, and I just love it. Even when I’ve got a couple of days off I’m looking forward to getting back. There’s always

something funny the kids do. Also, the Marist Brothers have been amazing to me. They were prepared to give me a go when I was down and out, and I hope I’ve repaid them. I was down and out. My father always said the best thing I ever did was getting a couple of hours’ work each day here, and when I became a lot better they asked me if I’d get my licence back which meant I could get full-time work. Peter Jongebloed always tells everyone that I started part time; the only difference now is I get a full-time wage and I still work part time. That’s one of the true friendships I’ve made in the time I’ve been here.

Tell us about some memorable or quirky momentsWhen I first started, I was in the senior school one day and kids were running along saying, “Hello, hello” and Enzo would stop them and say, “Call him Mr Ryan” and I’d see them outside and say, “Just call me Brad.” No one calls me Mr Ryan, although I’ve been called Br Brad. I appeared in the yearbook once as Br Brad.

I remember pushing a little wheelbarrow around and I’d leave it outside somewhere and I’d go back out there and it’d be gone; some kids had wheeled it around the corner or taken it to the other end of the school. Next minute I’d look in a classroom and they’d all be laughing. That happened on a regular basis. We had locker bays and quite often they’d put it on top of a six-foot-high locker so I couldn’t see it. It was fun. You’d look around and they’d all be watching and trying not to laugh.

One Christmas, staff went out on a cruiser. There was a net on the front of the boat and if we put a lifejacket on we could hop down there. A few of the girls from the office were lying back enjoying themselves. I tippy-toed out there. I didn’t realise that PJ was at the back of the boat putting on a lifejacket and he came running down the boat, jumped out on the net, gave me a body slam and we started wrestling. Br Fons [the principal] was shaking his head, he couldn’t believe it. Eventually Joe Pannuzzo hopped down on it. He had his keys in his pocket and the next minute we heard plop and he’d lost all his house keys and school keys.

And just last year, I was driving the Remar students to Cobar, Br Doug was sitting beside me and assured me he’d talk to me along the way to make sure I didn’t fall asleep. He was snoring by the time we got to Broadford.

How do you relax?I socialise at the local establishments, mainly the Royal Oak. There’s usually someone there that I run into. I go to the Grand Prix each year and while I’m not mad on motor racing I like the way I get looked after with corporate hospitality and passes. I enjoy watching football but like to see a competitive game, I don’t like to see a blowout like the last grand final. I always wanted to see Hawthorn win but I’d like to have seen it a little bit closer. I support the Brisbane Lions, I’m an old Fitzroy boy, and when they started winning grand finals and beating Essendon and Collingwood, I thought, I’m jumping on.

Performing Arts | Shandon Calls

ssumption’s rendition of Hairspray, which captures the mood of 1960s America, met with rapturous applause on opening night, Thursday, June 12.

Colour, energy and vitality were vibrant hallmarks of the production directed by Ms Judita Turco. Musical direction was by Mr Peter Hope.

Mollie Ashworth as lead Tracy Turnblad owns the stage from the opening act as her powerful vocals ensure the audience fall in love with and get right behind the show’s heroine.

Mollie’s sweet and positive portrayal of Tracy invites the audience to share her biggest dreams and determination to reach them.

As Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad, Anthony Drofenik is magnificent. His comic timing and ability to embrace the character’s femininity and budding confidence sways from hilarious to touching.

Matthew Coburn plays the smoothly charming Link Larkin, Tracy’s object of affection and is effortless in his ability to have all the girls’ hearts racing. Coburn’s talents shine in song as he falls for Tracey and the goodness she stands for.

Add in Jai Cameron’s rendition of Corny Collins, the cheesy host of The Corny Collins Show and Darren Harris as Tracy’s dad Wilbur Turnblad, the eccentric proprietor of the Har-De-Har Hut joke shop and the recipe for laughs is complete.

But this classic story would not be complete without Velma and Amber Von Tussle, played to perfection by Anna Urokohara and Emily Bugeja.

This scheming and selfish mother-daughter duo leave little to the imagination. They are perfectly evil and play magnificently off each other in voice and theatrical performance.

Stunning support role performances from Montana Fitzgerald (as Tracey’s best friend Penny Pingleton), Gemma Smith (Penny’s uptight mother Prudy Pingleton) Bethany Watson (Motormouth Maybelle) and Zack Pizzingrilli (Maybelle’s son Seaweed) only add to the abundance of talent on stage.

Classic renditions of Good Morning Baltimore, Welcome to the ‘60s and You Can’t Stop the Beat transport the audience on a musical journey back in time, and the classic costume and prop design give the show real authenticity.

Abounding with energy and colour, the production left little doubt Assumption’s Performing Arts Department is packed with talented actors, singers and dancers and blessed with teachers who work diligently to guide the students under their direction.

Catherine Mogridge North Central Review

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HAIRSPRAY – YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT

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1. Penny Pingleton (Montana Fitzgerald) is rescued by Seaweed (Zack Pizzingrilli). | 2. The Corny Collins Kids singing It’s Hairspray. | 3. Edna Turnblad’s (Anthony Drofenik) big entrance. | 4. Corny Collins Kids about to go to air. | 5. Prudy Pingleton (Gemma Smith) and Penny Pingleton arguing. | 6. Link Larkin (Matt Coburn) serenading Tracy. | 7. Velma Von Tussle (Anna Urokahara) plotting revenge against Tracy (Mollie Ashworth). | 8. The Dynamites – Judine (Alisa Urokohara) Kamilah (Emma-Rose Sommers) and Shayna (Amy Bedingham). | 9. Mr Pinky (Jack Cornelissen) and his Pink Ladies – Gemma Maschwitz, Florence McKay, Zoe LeBusque and Shenae Oakley. | 10. Velma and Amber Von Tussle (Emily Bugeja) after Amber has lost Link to Tracy. | 11. Edna and Wilbur (Darren Harris) discussing how to stop Tracy’s celebrity status going to her head. | 12. The protest against racial segregation. | 13. Locked-up in the Big Doll House. | 14. The featured dancers performing in It’s Hairspray. | 15. Tracy and ensemble in Good Morning Baltimore. | 16. The finale.

Shandon Calls | Performing Arts

ively and colourful dance routines by 110 students (the most participants ever) captivated the audience at the Assumption Dance Concert on September 6. Students from classroom,

sessional and co-curricular dance performed to a full house at Plenty Ranges Arts and Convention Centre.

The charismatic Jai Cameron hosted the evening and kept the audience laughing and on the edge of their seats. There were many stand-out performances such as Matthew Francavilla’s captivating composition solo of a mad scientist, Antonia Fedele’s solo performance about a cancer patient and the advanced co-curricular hip-hop routine inspired by the video game Super Mario.

The feedback from the audience was very positive and they especially enjoyed seeing more and more students becoming involved in dance at ACK. Parents said they felt their children had improved greatly during the year.

I especially thank sessional dance teacher Janelle Jennings for all her hard work in developing the students’ technique. Thanks also go to Lauren Callinan (dance captain) and Jessica Hoctor-Turner (assistant dance captain) for all their help with the co-curricular dance classes and backstage support on the night.

Judita Turco Head of Dance and Drama and Cultural Activities Coordinator

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A RECORD NUMBER OF STUDENTS PERFORMED IN THE ASSUMPTION DANCE CONCERT

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1. Antonia Fedele’s cancer patient solo. | 2. Intermediate co-curricular lyrical routine. | 3. Beyoncé tribute routine. | 4. Matt Francavilla’s mad scientist solo. | 5. Molly Davies demonstrating her technique and flexibility. | 6. Advanced co-curricular Super Mario hip-hop group. | 7. Amy Bedingham, Hannah Vlasveld and Audrey Flannery’s pointe trio. | 8. Amy Bedingham’s technique solo. 9. Jessica Hoctor-Turner and Hannah Vlasveld’s Beetle Juice duo. | 10. Tiffany Dalton and Monica Mason’s clown duo. | 11. Dance captain Lauren Callinan’s solo performance. | 12. VCE Dance class’s sleep and dreams routine. | 13. Year 10 dance class’s performance about addiction. | 14. Alisa Urokohara’s composition solo. | 15. Intermediate sessional dance class’s lyrical routine.

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Sport | Shandon Calls

fter a thrilling encounter against Ivanhoe Grammar on the Carroll Oval on Saturday, August 2, the Dark and

Light Blues celebrated their 37th AGSV title since joining the competition in 1959 and first since 2009.

A slow start to Ivanhoe gave the home side the jump early and Assumption maintained control building on a 23-point half-time lead to be 34 points up at three- quarter time.

But Ivanhoe, who last won an AGSV premiership in the mid sixties, were not giving in and came back hard in the last term, booting the first four goals of the quarter and coming within nine points of Assumption before the siren sounded. The final scores: 9.7 (61) to 7.10 (52). ACK’s head coach and 1992 Brownlow medallist Scott Wynd was justifiably proud.

“I am very, very proud of the boys. They have come a long way in 12 months, they have improved and they have played for each other.

“In that last quarter we were just out on our feet, we had a couple out injured that could not come back on the ground but we had structures in place.”

Wynd did not want to single out any player’s performance, describing it as a “fantastic team effort” but did mention captain Xavier Dimasi’s leadership all year.

Wynd also acknowledged the influence of sidelined vice-captain Zane Collier, who is battling osteosarcoma, in strengthening the mindset of the group. Zane played a huge role in the day, supporting his team mates and was right in the thick of celebrations at the end.

“I [must] … make special mention of my coaching staff in Mick Egan, Luke Russell and Terry Cooney. I am just the one at the peak but they do so much work and provide great support,” Wynd said.

At the presentation of the AGSV Shield, Xavier Dimasi thanked his side for all their effort and congratulated Ivanhoe on a great game.

Catherine Mogridge North Central Review

AOUR FIRST XVIII WIN THE FLAG

1. Captain Xavier Dimasi, coach Scott Wynd and vice-captain Zane Collier with the AGSV Shield. | 2. Scott Wynd and assistant coach Mick Egan after the victory. 3. What! No free kick? | 4. We won!

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Shandon Calls | Our Alumni

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WHAT ARE THEY DOING NOW?FR OWEN DOYLE ClASS Of 1940

boarders and about 30 day “snags” in 1938).

I went into second form at ACK in 1938, and finished in Leaving in 1940. Since 1941 my life has taken an unusual turn. I was a student teacher at Eastern Road, South Melbourne, and at 18 I joined the RAAF and became a wireless maintenance mechanic serving for a few months in each of Goodenough Island, Kiriwina Island and finally at Los Negros, an island just off Manus Island. In that theatre of war we were attached to the Americans. I was one of half a dozen mechanics responsible for keeping the transmitters up and running. Returning to Australia, I worked on aircraft radios at East Sale RAAF Base.

After being demobilised, I went to Melbourne Teachers’ College and then Melbourne University, after which I taught mathematics at Kerang

High School then I taught at several Melbourne high schools.

In the beginning of my third year at university I married Mary Margaret (Margot) Credlin and we had nine children. Unfortunately, our second son was killed when he was three years old. In 1982, Margot died from cancer and 20 months later I retired from teaching at 60. I was then deputy principal of Heidelberg High School.

One weekend on a visit to my sister in Murchison, the priest mentioned the scarcity of priests and my reaction was that perhaps I could help fill the ranks. Our assistant priest at Greensborough had studied as a mature-aged student at St Paul’s Seminary in Sydney, so our PP, Fr Kierce, sent me to St Paul’s and I was ordained four years later on September 8, 1988 for Sandhurst Diocese.

I was sent to Beechworth to help over Christmas and New Year and spent a couple of months there when the parish priest went on holidays to Italy. It was then to Numurkah (the PP was Fr Gerald Moylan, a classmate at ACK) for almost two years, then to St Kilian’s, Bendigo, for almost two years and then to Rushworth where I was parish priest for 20 years until I retired at 89; 25 years ordained to the day, Our Lady’s birthday, September 8, 2013.

I have retired to the outer suburbs of Melbourne and six of my children live within about 10 minutes of me.

uring second-term holidays this year, my daughter took me back to ACK

and we were shown around by Bernard Jephson and Brad Ryan in over-sized golf buggies. Think of a Tiger Moth and a Jumbo Jet. That’s the comparison between the College in the late 1930s and that of today, both in the buildings and in the curriculum, and of course in the enrolment (about 260

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TEGAN CLANCY ClASS Of 2011

me to where I am meant to be.

In year 11, I was lucky enough to go on the Santa Teresa Immersion program and created a short film that reflected my experience. After

completing my studies, I had a gap year. I saved up and went to Europe for over a month. During my gap year I understood the importance of doing what I love. So film school was next for me. I am undertaking a Bachelor of Film at SAE Institute. I have been studying for a year and a half and have loved every second. SAE has provided me with many opportunities, allowing me to have experience on professional sets/events and work with talented people. I have also completed some of my own projects and worked with some high school students from my cohort.

I will never forget the day I was told to have a back-up plan if film didn’t work out for me. I laughed, for there is no second option; I don’t want to do anything other than film. I will find a way to make it where I want to be.

’ve lived in Kilmore all my life and commenced my studies at ACK in year

7. At Assumption I found my love for film. In year 10 we began studies on filmmaking, and were asked to film a two-minute sequence. As soon as I picked up the camera and pressed record, I knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. From this moment on, film became everything to me. Every decision has led

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ROBERT SPENCER ClASS Of 2004consistent, boarding life became fun and my sense of abandonment disappeared.

Br Bryan Leake and Mr Paul Hopkins were my first boarding supervisors, and I am grateful to them for giving me as much weekend leave as I needed to pursue my athletics career.

Michael Whitty was my first mentor at ACK taking time out of his busy teaching schedule to coach me to my first Junior National Titles in Perth in 2000 where I equalled the Australian record in the 100m.

My train journey from Melbourne to Kilmore East was always exciting as I looked forward to a Sunday night roast and a billiards competition at the home of a good school friend, Stephen McIntyre, and his parents Carol and Phillip who lived near the station.

After Assumption, I completed a business degree and Diploma of Education at Australian Catholic University. My methods were business and commerce. I did teaching rounds at ACK and am now teaching PE here on a casual basis, and it feels like deja vu without the school uniform. I also teach PE at Parkwood Green Primary School to preps and grade 1s.

My athletic goals are to be in the top eight in Australia over the 100m and 200m sprints. I train with Scott Rowsell in Greensborough, and I am head sprints coach for Parkwood Green and ACK.

My boarding life was difficult in years 7 and 8. It was my first time living away from home, and I often rang home upset. My Aunt Bernadette insisted that I complete my schooling, to finish what I had started. Looking back, I am glad she did because it taught me to follow through with what I had started and to find good in every situation. As I adapted that attitude everything started to change for the better: my grades improved, training became more

ix years of boarding at ACK provided me with the life tools to see each task

through to the end.

My first memory of Assumption was transition day. I was told to wear my primary school uniform which was almost the same as the Assumption uniform. My fellow grade 6ers let me know that I definitely stood out.

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Our Alumni | Shandon Calls

ast January my father, Keith Grabau, visited Kilmore with my husband Mark and me for the burial in Kilmore Catholic Cemetery of his oldest friend, Angus MacIsaac.

Afterwards we visited ACK and walked through the grounds for a trip down memory lane.

Dad and Angus met at the College in 1941. Both were boarders from rural families and both had lost their fathers at an early age. Dad’s youngest brother, Terry, also started at ACK the same year. Dad and Angus were 12. Terry was 10.

My father boarded for six years. It was wartime and conditions were tough – and cold. He has many stories about daily Mass in the cold, shortages of food, students milking cows on the school farm, changes to the school uniform because of wool shortages to name a few. There are many more. One of his fondest memories is of VP day (August 15, Assumption Day) in 1945 when the Brothers allowed the boys to decorate the quadrangle with toilet paper – and then clean it up afterwards.

In the 1950s dad joined the Old Collegians Association and was chairman from 1955-56 and from 1962-64. During his second term as chairman the association raised $70,000 for the new science block – a considerable amount for that time. This involved a lot of hard work and some political help to obtain a government grant. On our walk around the school he pointed out the areas which had been dormitories, classrooms, the old farm, the science block, the dining room, the quadrangle, the Brothers’ quarters etc.

My father remembers the Marist Brothers with much fondness and appreciation. After studying medicine, dad became a GP and cared for several of the Brothers: Br Romulus (his maths teacher at ACK) and Br Kenneth Harris are two who come to mind.

Dad still has a keen interest in what is happening at Assumption through the alumni newsletter. He is now 85 and lives in a retirement unit in Melbourne. The day we spent in Kilmore was very emotional for him, with the loss of his oldest friend. As we walked around the school grounds he remembered things so clearly – although much had changed, many things remained the same and some things felt like yesterday.

Cathy robinson (nee Grabau)

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MOURNING THE LOSS OF HIS OLDEST FRIEND, A 1940S STUDENT VISITS ACK

Keith during his visit in January.

Keith and Angus MacIsaac in 2009.

Shandon Calls | Obituaries

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MAX CHARLESWORTH AO (DECEMBEr 30, 1925 – JuNE 2, 2014)

ANGUS JAMES MacISAAC, BCE, FISV fEBruAry 26, 1930 – DECEMBEr 27, 2013

A Mngus MacIsaac was a distinguished Fellow of the Institution of Surveyors, Victoria (ISV). He was born at Mooroopna, the eldest of six

children. His parents were farmers at that time in Rushworth and later at Euroa. Angus’s education occurred at various small country schools before he became a boarder at Assumption College, Kilmore. When just 14 his father died in an accident and, as the eldest child, he helped his mother on their family farm from an early age.

Following matriculation at ACK, Angus studied civil engineering at Melbourne University. On gaining his BCE, he worked on a variety of engineering projects while employed by the Victorian Public Works Department. He became Licensed Surveyor No. 834 on May 23, 1956. About this time, he also worked with the Melbourne City Council Building Surveyor, before later setting up his own practice in Municipal Works and Estate Development. He was involved in some interesting engineering projects: the Apollo Bay boat harbour, construction of the Myer Music Bowl and, in 1971, a precise survey of the West Gate Bridge following its partial collapse, in preparation for the appointment of a new construction contractor.

While a land surveyor, he carried out many large subdivision surveys in areas including the Melbourne suburbs of Knox, Aspendale and Melton and on the Mornington Peninsula and Phillip Island. One notable project was the survey and engineering design of an open channel water supply for the Tallebung Tin Mine near Condobolin NSW which led to the discovery of reference marks left by the explorer Sir Thomas Mitchell. His large survey workforce was treated with great consideration, even when the private practice surveyors were badly affected by a Melbourne land development collapse, leaving many clients unable to pay for their development surveys. At great cost to himself, Angus managed to pay off all his staff entitlements. He was an active member of ISA and held in high regard by all members.

In 1978, Angus gave up his private practice to join the State Electricity Commission of Victoria in the Electrical Distribution Branch. A few years later, Len Heron, the then principal surveyor retired and Angus was promoted to that position, which he held with distinction until his retirement in 1990. During his time with the SECV, his experience was formally recognised when he spent three months as the SECV’s acting chief surveyor.

Angus was a devoted husband and father, marrying his first wife, Joan Trethowan, in 1955, and together they raised eight children. However, Joan died following a heart attack in 2002 and sometime later Angus married Carmel Murphy, a mother of five. Following their marriage they led a happy and busy life with their enlarged family, which included a number of grandchildren. Angus and Carmel enjoyed their years together before ill-health caught up with Angus. Carmel initially cared for him but he later became a patient at Trinity Manor, Deepdene, where he died. His funeral Mass was offered at Our Lady of Good Council, Deepdene and he was buried in the Kilmore Catholic Cemetery.

Words compiled from the Macisaac family, Bruce Campbell fiSVic SECV, surveyor Bob Mackenzie and Bob Scott, Engineer SECV

ax Charlesworth was probably the most influential and important Catholic layman in the history of 20th century Australian Catholicism.

His contributions to Catholic intellectual life are without parallel. But he also did much to strengthen and deepen the role of the laity in the church, before and after Vatican II. His emphasis on the primacy of conscience and the active role of lay people in Catholicism was far ahead of his time. He and his wife Stephanie brought the lay-led teams of Our Lady (Équipes Notre-Dame) from Belgium to Australia in the early-1960s and these groups have had much influence on married Catholics and are still very active.

On Monday, June 9 an overflow congregation joined his wife and their large family in the Chapel of Newman College, Melbourne University to farewell Max who died peacefully at home on June 2. The celebrant of the Requiem Mass was Fr Bill Uren SJ, the rector of Newman College and a former student of Max.

He was born in Numurkah and was in Assumption College’s class of 1942. He graduated with an MA in philosophy from Melbourne University in 1948. In 1950 he married Stephanie Armstrong in Newman College Chapel. Max won the Archbishop Mannix Travelling Scholarship and studied at the Catholic University of Louvain in Belgium where he was awarded a PhD in 1955.

From 1956 to 1958 he taught at Auckland University and in the Philosophy Department of Melbourne University from 1959 to 1975.

From 1948 to 1965 he played a major role in The Catholic Worker, a progressive, lay-led weekly publication. In 1963 he participated in the foundation of the periodical Sophia, an international journal for the philosophy of religion.

In 1975 he became the founding dean of humanities at Deakin University. From 1987 to 1990 he was the chairperson of the Advisory Committee at the Centre for Human Bioethics. From 1992 to 1994 he was director of the National Institute for Law, Ethics and Public Affairs at Griffith University. He was awarded the Order of Australia in 1991, in recognition of service to philosophy, bioethics and education.

In 1989 he delivered the Boyer Lectures on ABC Radio entitled “Life, Death, Genes and Ethics”. His last work was an essay entitled “A Democratic Church: Reforming the Values and Institutions of the Catholic Church” (2008). The essay was indicative of his continuing and deep concern for the church and the need for reform along the lines laid out by Vatican II.

Max’s primary interests were increasingly in practical philosophy and ethics and he was a well-known bio-ethicist. He was also deeply interested in the philosophy of religion, in Aboriginal religion and cosmology, and in the relationship of church and state. He wrote 20 books. When asked what was the most important social change that had occurred in his lifetime Max replied, “The change in the role of women”. He was particularly supportive of the active role of women within the church.

He was a man of deep but critical Catholic faith and he remained loyal to Catholicism throughout his life. Max was interested in other people’s points of view and always listened quietly and attentively to others. He was a wonderful husband and father, beloved of his family, and widely respected throughout the academic and general communities. After his wife, family and Catholicism, Max’s other great love was the Carlton Football Club. For this some of us will have to forgive him!

Paul Collins

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Our Alumni | Shandon Calls

s a lead-up to the annual Assumption-Sacred Heart Exchange match in August, the ACK Firsts netball team competed in an exhibition match against a team of former ACK netballers, and

some players from a nearby club.

The first half was a tough battle that could have gone either way, with the Firsts running away with the match in the second half to a

comfortable victory 48-35. We thank all those that made themselves available for this game, especially former ACK firsts netballers Monica Gill, Jess Kennedy, Vanessa Kennedy, and Sally Bannister (nee Lewis), and Chloe Meulenmeesters and Shae Chisholm from Riddell Netball Club.

Merle Stirling – Assumption’s netball aficionado

AACK NETBALL EXHIBITION MATCH

PRAHRAN ASSUMPTION RESERVES WIN PREMIERSHIP

Former students Monica Gill, Jess Kennedy, Vanessa Kennedy and Sally Bannister (nee Lewis).

Firsts, former firsts players and friends. Back row: Chloe Meulenmeesters, Shae Chisholm, Sally Bannister (nee Lewis), Vanessa Kennedy, Rosie O’Sullivan, Laura Gorman, Millie Brock, Casey

Adamson, Megan Berger, Rochelle Shannon, Lily BakkerFront Row: Jessica Kennedy, Monica Gill, Georgia Kennedy, Alice O’Sullivan,

Katelyn Cantwell, Greta Small

Williams using his dazzling pace to advantage on the wing on the roomy expanses of Trevor Barker Oval at Sandringham.

In the grand final at Princes Park he was even more effective. Without a goal in the previous 11 games, Williams slotted two goals on the run from 50m out in a game where majors were hard to come by. Prahran Assumption 9. 10 (64) won by 35 points over Therry Penola 4. 5 (29).

For the seniors a disappointing sixth finish was made all the more frustrating when they closed the season with a 93-point demolition of third placed North Old Boys St Pat’s. It was the Two Blues sixth win of the season at Toorak Park, but tellingly away from home had an abysmal record with just one win over wooden spooner Melbourne High.

Ash Mills, senior coach for the past three years, has accepted an assistant coaching role at TAC Cup club Western Jets and his successor is Luke Egan. Luke previously coached Melbourne High School Old Boys and will be teaching at St Bede’s, Mentone next year.

Tim Habel

ssumption old collegians dominated the best and fairest and presentation night count, and were key players in Prahran Assumption’s 2014 Division 1 VAFA Reserves grand final win.

Onballer Daniel Anglin (left), a best and fairest at Assumption, added the Basil Cleary Medal for Prahran Assumption senior best and fairest to his trophy cabinet. John (Jamie) Robbins was leading goal kicker on 43 while Tim Webb shared the Reserves best and fairest honours with captain and co-coach Josh Ancrum. Webb was named among the best in the Reserves grand final win

in an on-ball role with his tackling pressure a highlight.

Other shining lights were ACK graduates: teenager Jayden Williams, a finals revelation, centre half-back Sam Durnan and onballer Josh Hogarth who had a stellar finals series. Williams, who struggled to establish a role in the First XVIII during the season, proved a telling factor in the Reserves memorable preliminary final win. Trailing by five goals at three-quarter- time the Two Blues powered home v Williamstown CYMS with

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The victorious Two Blues Reserves after winning the premiership.

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our first relay for life raised more than...

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