A big week for House Sport – congratulations Yarra

This week we held our annual House Sports Carnival. A sincere thank you to Ms Slattery, Mr Guthrie, the PE team, the many staff and student helpers, and the staff at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Sports and Aquatic Centre for their assistance.

It was very encouraging to see the way the students participated as either competitors or team supporters. There was lots of passion and enthusiasm on and off the field. The results were as follows:

• First place – Yarra
• Second place – Waterloo
• Third place – Forrest
• Fourth place – Como

Photos by Abyaz Shams, Alan Zhen, Arhan Busam, Bao Tran, Desmond Wang, Harvey Lim, Joshua Yong, Khang Hoang, Kyle Kim, Lucas Truong-Nguyen, Pei Zhang, and Siddhu Potturi.

Victorian State Schools Spectacular – Congratulations Riley Pentony and Thomas Huxtable

The Spectacular will be held on Saturday 14 September at John Cain Arena. It will showcase more than 3,000 Victorian Government school students in the areas including music, dance, circus arts, puppetry, and backstage areas such as audio, lighting, and stage management. Riley will be showcasing his audio skills and Thomas will be in the orchestra playing trombone.

Curriculum contributions and tax-deductible donations to the Building Fund and Library Fund.

As per the Department of Education’s policy, schools provide students with free instruction to fulfil the standard Victorian curriculum and we want to assure you that all curriculum contributions are voluntary. Extra-curricular programs such as instrumental music are not part of the standard curriculum and are charged on a user-pays basis.

We want to thank you for your ongoing support, whether that’s through your voluntary financial contributions, fundraising or volunteering your time. This support makes a huge difference to our school and the programs we can offer. If you have not yet contributed, you are encouraged to do so if you can.

As we approach tax time, there is an opportunity to give back through the Building and Library Funds. You will find these, and the curriculum contribution details on Compass.

Your financial support will ensure we can continue to give an extraordinary group of students an extraordinary educational experience.

ANZAC Day Activities

A sincere thank you to the staff and students who participated in ANZAC Day activities. We were represented at the march and the dawn service. I had several comments from members of the wider community congratulating us for the great community service undertaken by our students.

Dr Tony Mordini
Principal

News

• VCE Examination Supervisors Needed for the GAT Exam – Tuesday 18 June 2024 (repeat)
• Parents and Friends Association Inc – Notice of Annual General Meeting (repeat)
• Second Hand Uniform Shop (repeat)
• Canteen: The canteen is open every day except Thursday.

Events

• 1 May: Jazz Night
• 4 May: Friends of Music Bunnings Sausage Sizzle
• 9-11 May: MHS & MacRob Musical: Pippin
• 13 May: Annual Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School May Medicine Meeting
• 6 June: Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School & Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Careers Night

The post OURS Week 2 Term 2 2024 appeared first on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School.

9 May 1938 – 28 April 2024

MHS 1952-1955

Dear members of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School Community,

It is with great sadness that I write to advise of the passing of our Historian Dr Alan Gregory. I extend my sincere condolences to his wife Beryl and children Christian and Elizabeth and their families.

Our Archivist Luke Savage has written a beautiful obituary.

Obituary

Vale Dr Alan Gregory, B.Com., M.Ed., Ph.D., A.M.

9 May 1938 – 28 April 2024

Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School has lost one of its great supporters with the death of its Historian, Dr Alan Gregory.  Best known for his comprehensive centennial history of the School, Strong Like Its’ Pillars (2005).  Ray Willis appointed him a Patron of the School in recognition of his support.

Alan’s connection with the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School began at birth, the doctor who delivered him was Ellen Balaam, a student at the old Continuation School 1906-1909.  Alan attended Spring Street Central School in Malvern, an area his family had lived in for some time.   He played in the Under 14 XVIII team in 1952, though he was better known for his involvement in the intellectual side of the School.  In 1954 he was in the Forrest House play, debating team and was house Conductor.  He was also editor of the Sentinel, which was then published every few weeks, and printed on a duplicating machine at the school.  In his Matric year, he was again Forrest House conductor, played in the football team, captained the cricket team, was in the House and School Debating teams (captain), and in acted in the School Play (the Mystery of Manfred Moon, which Max Gillies also acted in).  He was appointed a Prefect, and the 1955 Prefects would continue to meet yearly for many decades.  1955 was the 50th Anniversary of the School, with various events to celebrate, including the Prefects of both schools being inducted at the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Town Hall, by Dr Ellen Balaam.

Awarded a Secondary Studentship with the Education Department and a Commonwealth Scholarship, he took the studentship as it provided a living allowance.  After completing his Commerce degree in 1959 and diploma of education in 1961, he was Secretary of the S.R.C. and in the 1956-1957 holidays, he was part of a student delegation to Indonesia, including a meeting with President Sukarno.  Many decades later he was still able to speak basic Indonesian.  Alan was secretary of the Australia-Indonesian Association of Victoria.  He was also involved in the Immigration Reform Group, helping to write the pamphlet Control or Colour Bar in 1960, part of the movement to end the White Australia policy.   This was a time when Colombo Plan students were beginning the opening up of Australia to the concept non-white migration.

Alan received a Rotary Scholarship to study at the University of Bombay, India. In 1960-1961, he would make many lifelong friends in India, and would recall being one of very few westerners in Bombay at the time.  He was immediately appointed to the Economics Department Cricket Team, on the basis that all Australians could play cricket, a myth he quickly shattered.  When H.M.A.S. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ made a visit to Bombay, Alan was invited onboard for a reception, and appreciated the drinks, Bombay then being a dry city.  Alan visited India several times in his later life, staying at the Bombay Yacht Club.

His first teaching appointment was to Ballarat West High School where he taught Commerce.  Alan loved teaching, and his students remember him, often approaching him decades later.  

Alan then transferred to Brighton High School, where George Stirling was the Principal.  George, a former School Captain of MHS in 1920 and a teacher 1926-1937, was delighted, and Alan was soon directing the Opera, Trial By Jury in 1966.  By 1965 he was a part time Economics Method lecturer at Monash University in the Education Faculty, completing his Bachelor of Education in 1966 and his Masters in 1972.  His Masters was most notable for finally settling a point of contention.  For a long time educational historians had been debating if Frank Tate, then an Inspector, later Director of Education, and founder of Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School, had met the British Social reformers, Beatrice and Sidney Webb when they visited Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ in 1898.  The Webbs helped form the Fabian society, and the concept of evolution rather than revolution in left-wing politics.  Despite much searching, no one could find evidence that they had met, until Alan Gregory, reading through various files for his Masters, found a letter of complaint from an Inspector, as Frank Tate had shown the Webbs around a school in his district.  

In 1969 Alan was appointed full time at Monash, thus ending his career as a teacher with the Education Department.  Needing a doctorate to further his career, but with a young family limiting time, he arranged a sabbatical at Simon Fraser University in Canada to complete the research and write his Thesis.  He was also for a time a visiting scholar at Cambridge University.  Alan enjoyed his time at Monash University, it enabled him to be involved with the Commerce Teachers’ Association; with two Ministerial enquiries; he was acting sub-dean twice; and continuing his musical interest, he founded a faculty choir.  In 1978 he was Foundation Chair of the Menzies Lecture Trust, which he ran for many years.  The 1981 lecture, which was given by Margaret Thatcher, was much complicated when it became known that an IRA hitman was in the country.  He became close friends with Pierre Gorman, the deaf academic, and would later run the Gorman Foundation set up under Piere’s will.  Pierre’s father, Eugene, had worked alongside George Langley during WWII.  In 1989 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to Education.  The following year he was appointed Master of Ormond College at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ University.  After leaving Ormond, he worked as an Education Consultant and historian.  

He wrote a history of Lord Somers Camp (1994), which he had attended as a student, and would continue to attend the Oldies camp for many years; of the Royal Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Hospital (1998); the Trauma Committee of the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (located on the old school site); several histories of National Can Industries; the Cormack Foundation; as well as editing a collection of the Menzies Lecture Trust lecture (1999).

Appointed School Historian at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School in 1998, it would take 6 years to write and publish his monumental history of the school.  Alan was also appointed a Member of the Migration Review Tribunal in 1999 (also cross appointed to the Refugee Review Tribunal), which he worked two days a week until 2012.  He was also on the Victorian Place Names Committee and Chair of the Victorian Pathology Review Board and Adjunct Professor at the Graduate School, Swinburne University.

Alan then wrote a biography of Brigadier George Langley, MHS Principal 1949-1956.  Langley had had a big impact on Alan as a student (as George did on most of his students).  Alan remained in touch, visiting him in Sydney during his retirement.  After George’s death in 1971, he encouraged Esmee, George’s widow, to complete his war memoirs (published as Sand, Sweat and Camels).  Alan maintained a prodigious correspondence with many people, the coming of email saved much in postage.  A biography of William Woodfull (2011) followed, and at his death, he was working on the history of St George’s Malvern, which he had taken over from Brian Corless, and several other projects.

Active in many areas, he was a member of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Club, editing its newsletter for a time and on several committees; a lifelong following of the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Football Club, he would attend the Grand Final each year; he was the organist at St George’s Malvern for many years; and weekends were often spent at Barwon Heads at the family holiday house.  A succession of (mostly) black labradors would be walked around Central Park, before a coffee.

Alan was a very generous and warm man, and his family was central to his life.  Beryl his wife, and their children, Michael, Christian and Elizabeth, and four grand-children.  Beryl was also a teacher, for a time at Wesley College, and then Principal of Christ Church Grammar School in South Yarra.  Alan was most proud of his children’s careers.  Michael’s early death in 2019 was a devastating blow.  In failing health, he continued to attend Church regularly, including the morning of the day of his death.

He has truly Honoured the Work, and his work has Honoured him.

Luke Savage, Honorary School Archivist, and friend.

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Saturday 4 May 2024

MHS musicians will be performing.

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• Free entry!
• Memorial Hall, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School
• 1 May 2024, 6:30pm
• BYO food, no alcohol

The post Jazz Night appeared first on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School.

A new term begins

Welcome back and thank you for a smooth start to the term

I make a point of walking around the school during the day. It gets me out of the office and connects me with staff and students engaged in the very important business of teaching and learning which is ultimately what we are all seeking to support and constantly develop.

Capturing the ANZAC Spirit

Over the next two weeks we will participate in several ANZAC events. Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School has a long tradition of supporting key groups including Legacy and the Waverley RSL. Our students provide choirs, music, and honour guards. I was very proud of the students on Friday at the Shrine for the annual Legacy Service and on Sunday at the Waverley RSL for their annual ANZAC Service.

The photographs in this week’s edition of OURS were taken by Abyaz Shams, Kyle Kim, Khang Hoang and Lucas Truong-Nguyen. They capture the power and presence of the students and demonstrate the importance they play on ensuring that they take such events with the utmost respect.

Additionally, the services are a reminder to the students of the enduring ANZAC spirit which we encourage in the boys – endurance, courage, ingenuity, good humour, and mateship.

Mobile Phone Policy

As a school, we have been very respectful of the policy, and I thank everyone for their compliance. Notwithstanding this, all schools have been asked by the Honourable Ben Carroll, Deputy Premier, Minister for Education, Minister for Medical Research to remind students that mobile phones are not allowed in class and the expectation is that students place their phones in their locker before form room and do not take them out until the end of the school day.

Uniform, general presentation and behavioural expectations

On the day before school commenced, I sent the students a reminder to ensure that they started the term well attired, clean shoes etc. Thank you for your assistance. I also reminded them that when travelling to and from school and when in public, they represent the school. I get few complaints from members of the public; however, I feel it is important to make the odd reminder. Please also ensure that all clothing is clearly marked.

Pippin – Combined MHS Mac Rob Musical – Save the date –Thursday  May 9 – Saturday May 11

Ticket sales are now open via

The musical was first produced at Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School in 1984. We are bringing it back 40 years on and we look forward to bringing many of our alumni back to reminisce and see that MHS continues to have a very strong tradition of musical theatre. Please support the students by coming along.

Public Holiday – Thursday April 25 – ANZAC Day

Please note that Thursday April 25 is a public holiday and there will not be any school on that day. Thanks in advance to the students who will be getting up very early to go to the Dawn Service at the Shrine of Remembrance.

Dr Tony Mordini
Principal

News

• VCE Examination Supervisors Needed for the GAT Exam – Tuesday 18 June 2024
• Air Force Cadets Summer Bivouac
• Air Force Cadets Representing 415 Squadron at ANZAC Services
• Parents and Friends Association Inc – Notice of Annual General Meeting
• Second Hand Uniform Shop (repeat)
• Canteen: The canteen is open every day except Thursday.

Events

• 9-11 May: MHS & MacRob Musical: Pippin
• 13 May: Annual Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School May Medicine Meeting
• 6 June: Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School & Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Careers Night

The post OURS Week 1 Term 2 2024 appeared first on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School.

Date: Monday, 03 June 2024

Time: 6:00 PM

Location: Staff Centre, Round Building, Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School, Forrest Hill South Yarra and via Microsoft Teams (link to be provided in the meeting invite).

Nominations
The MHS Parents and Friends Association (P&F) is seeking nominations for all Executive Committee positions. In addition, we are hoping to receive sufficient nominations to appoint a Shadow Vice-President, Shadow Secretary and Shadow Treasurer to support these positions.  There are also up to 8 Year Level Coordinators roles for Years 9 to 12 available, the year level coordinator roles are direct appointments.

As a volunteer-driven organization, the P&F thrives on the contributions of dedicated parents and guardians. Serving on the Committee is a rewarding way to:

• Make a positive impact on the school community
• Contribute your skills and ideas
• Work collaboratively with other passionate parents
• Shape the future of the P&F and its initiatives

Members wishing to nominate, must submit the nomination to MHSparentsandfriends@gmail.com by 5:00pm Friday 24 May, 2024.

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Members wishing to table matters to be added to the agenda must submit these in writing to MHSparentsandfriends@gmail.com by 5:00pm Friday 24 May, 2024.

Proxies
Members wishing to attend by proxy are encouraged to advise MHSP&F at your earliest opportunity. Proxies must be received in writing to MHSparentsandfriends@gmail.com by 6:00pm Sunday 02 June, 2024.

Please email completed Nomination, and/or Proxy forms to MHSparentsandfriends@gmail.com

Notice of Meeting, Proxy and Nomination documents can be viewed here.

Angelique Drew
Interim President
MHS Parents and Friends Association Inc

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On the 19th of April, they formed a guard with the Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School Army Cadet Unit at the Shrine of Remembrance for Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ Legacy’s 92nd Annual ANZAC Commemoration for Students. Both cadet units had spent weeks prior combining efforts training and perfecting their drill and dress to deliver a presentation of the highest standard and were reviewed by Her Excellency Professor the Honourable Margaret Gardner AC, Governor of Victoria. 

On the 21st of April, such standards were further reflected in 415 Squadron’s participation in the Waverley RSL’s ANZAC Service. Our cadets marched to the Glen Waverley Cenotaph for a service alongside veterans, serving personnel, other cadet units (from both the AAC and ANC), and the Tattam-Wallis Ceremonial Band.

The cadets of 415 Squadron are grateful for the opportunity to rise to the occasion each year to commemorate and remember the efforts and sacrifices of those who have served in the Australian Defence Force.

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Heir to the Frankish throne, the young prince Pippinis in search of the secret to true happiness and fulfillment. He seeks it in the glories of the battlefield, the temptations of love and the intrigues of political power (after disposing of his father, King Charlemagne the Great). In the end, though, Pippin finds that happiness lies not in extraordinary endeavours, but rather in the unextraordinary moments that happen every day.

Times:

• Thursday 9 May 7:30pm
• Friday 10 May 7:30pm
• Saturday 11 May 2:00pm (matinee)
• Saturday 11 May 7:30pm (final performance)

Cost: Adults $25 and Concession/Students $20

Tickets:

The post MHS & MacRob Musical: Pippin appeared first on Â鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ High School.

Any close relatives of students doing VCE Units 3&4 studies at MHS during 2024 are ineligible for this employment and there is a remuneration of around $300 for the work.

There is an additional requirement that all supervisors who are not VIT registered teachers must have an Employee Version of the Working With Children Check (WWCC). This is mandatory for any adult working with children and is valid for five years. If you have a WWCC card please check that it does not expire prior to 18 June this year.

Anyone interested should email me on paula.fuentes@mhs.vic.edu.au by Tuesday 7 May 2024.

Please type GAT supervisor and your name on the subject line of your email. Include this information in your email:

• Your full name
• Your home address and postcode
• Your preferred phone number: mobile, home or work
• Whether you have a WWCC or are beginning the process for obtaining one

Paula Fuentes
VASS and Senior School Administrator

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For the Basic Stage cadets, this bivouac (which for many was their first field experience), served as their opportunity to hone their fieldcraft skills, turning classroom theory into real-world applications. These cadets underwent scenario-based exercises that trained their RATEL (radio telecommunications), field navigation, and, camouflage and concealment. They were also taught additional skills such as fire lighting and tripod building.

For the Senior cadets, this bivouac saw them undergo the survival component of their training, which entailed them building their own shelters and fire-lighting with minimal food and water. 

For the squadron as a whole, this bivouac serves as an opportunity to prime themselves for the highly anticipated Winter Bivouac (the biggest compulsory activity of 415’s cadet year) at the end of Term 2.

Thank you to all of the Staff and Cadet Executives involved in the planning and execution of this activity. 

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