Alumni
Cover image: Alumni during a Friends’ 5 year reunion
50 Year Out Reunion (Class of 1972)
We recently held the last reunions of the year starting with the 50 year reunion on Saturday the 12th of November for the Class of 1972 at the RYCT, following an enthusiastic tour of the School.
5 & 1 Year Out Reunions (Classes of 2017 and 2021)
Next was the 5 year reunion on Friday the 18th of November for the Class of 2017 at Boodle Beasley and at the opposite end of the scale, the 1 year out Reunion for the Class of 2021 was held on Friday the 25th of November at the Hobart Brewing Co.
Despite the differences in their passing of time, all the reunions had the same thing in common, the desire and joy to reconnect with each other. It was wonderful to see old connections re-established and new ones made as people caught up with each other and learned about their lives post Friends’.
If you are not sure if your cohort has a reunion next year, check the list on this page for all the upcoming 2023 reunions.
Alumni Updates
Have some news or something to share? Email your update to stayconnected@friends.tas.edu.au. We welcome all updates - whether it’s big news or something special to you.
Well done Rob WILKINSON (2010)! He has achieved his lifelong goal and become the first Australian Light Heavyweight PFL World Champion at New York’s iconic Madison Square Gardens. He has mainly performed in the world of mixed martial arts during his career, but has also won professional boxing and kickboxing fights. He credited his 2018 loss to a major opponent as the wake up call needed to ignite his career and dream, truly showing that sometimes you have to fail in life, pick yourself up, work hard and then succeed in your goal.
Emma TERRY (BENSON) (1996) has just been appointed CEO of the South Australia Tourism Commission. In the last few years Emma has served as Chief Marketing Officer of Tourism Tasmania, leading the development of the celebrated “Come Down For Air” brand, and more recently, the exciting “Off Season” proposition. We couldn't be prouder of Emma winning such a major role, and we know SA tourism is in safe hands.
Exciting news for Annie CHESSELS (2015) who has moved to London to take up a role working at the University of London in the Partnerships and Governance department. We wish her all the best for this next stage of her career.
Eddie OCKENDEN (2005) has just become the first Australian to play 400 International games representing the Australian Kookaburras, what an incredible achievement displaying longevity at the highest level of a sporting career.
Alex GIVEN (2009) is an actor/singer/dancer based in the UK who has recently finished an international 22 cities tour performing in “Singin’ in the Rain” that took him to 6 countries and 3 continents. To recharge his batteries, he has been travelling around South America and will go on to Antarctica and as you can see, is having the time of his life!
Dr Thomas EDWARDS (1994) is continuing his quest to give back sight with pioneering technologies and surgery all in the world of vision impairment research. Read the story by University of Tasmania's Advancement Communications Manager, Dr Katherine Johnson here.
Young Tasmanian of the Year Nominations
We were thrilled to learn that Friends' School alumna, Elizabeth van Dongen (Class of 2015), was nominated as a Tasmanian Young Australian of the Year 2023.
Lizzie has used her own experience with Cystic Fibrosis to be a strong advocate for people suffering with CF. She has successfully lobbied government to include vital CF medicines to be included on the PBS and now works as a physiotherapist to help others 'live a life unencumbered by disease or injury'.
Lizzie was a great contributor to the School, always involving herself fully in the school community. We really appreciate it when our not-so-old scholars come back and share their journey with current students. Read more here.
Congratulations to alumnus Brett McDermott (1978) who was shortlisted as a Tasmanian nominee for Australian of the Year for his work as a researcher and psychiatrist specialising in young people with mental health challenges. Brett is the head of Tasmania’s Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service and has overseen the implementation of public health programs that have benefited many young Australians. Read more here.
We thank Brett for his work in supporting young people across Australia and wish him the best in setting up his future projects.
Gritty determination
Emma FLUKES (2005) is testimony to the belief that strength and growth come through continuous effort and struggle.
Despite being diagnosed with Graves’ disease this year, an autoimmune disorder where the body's immune system attacks the thyroid gland in the throat and leaving her with a constant feeling of flight or fight, she has just completed a gruelling 8 day, 1,800km bike ride across Tasmania through scenic rugged terrain, river crossings and flood damaged dirt roads.
The route known as the Tassie Gift, was created by Emma back in 2019 and she refers to it as “ the scenic trip to hell” as cyclists carry their own food, water and overnight gear. On this year's trip, Emma also suffered from Sherman's Neck, whereby the neck muscles fail from fatigue and cannot support the weight of the head and she had to improvise with what she found on the side of the road to help support her neck!
Whilst the symptoms of Grave’s disease will stabilise, the bike trip has provided Emma with the knowledge that she is capable of dealing with so much that life can throw at her and that cycling in the wilderness gives her the right mental life balance and happiness.
Full circle with the Dunbar family
By Kathy Rundle
Andrew (Andy) DUNBAR was a student at Leslie House School, then Clemes College from 1917 to 1920, with his mother being a member of the Seager family who were strong supporters of Friends’ School. He went on to do his teacher training and started his teaching career at Gladstone Primary School and then on to Scottsdale High School. This was all put on hold whilst he served in the second World War before coming back to Tasmania taking up a position teaching Commercial subjects at the new Ogilvie High School.
Melinda Grace SIMMONDS (known as Linda) grew up in Perth, Tasmania and also began her teaching career at Scottsdale High School where she met Andy Dunbar. Andy was teaching Geography while Linda taught Maths and they went on to marry when he was home on leave during the war.
They moved to Hobart and Linda began teaching at Hobart High School and Hobart Matriculation College before moving to teach Maths at Friends’ when W N Oats offered her a position. Linda became a fondly remembered member of the Friends teaching staff.
Linda and Andy’s daughter, Kay ALLPORT (DUNBAR) (1966) continued this connection by attending Friends’ and maintained a close relationship with the School all her life. She continues also with a love of English Cocker Spaniels, one she shared with her father. Do readers know if Cocker Spaniels were favourites of the Seager family too?
How a love of music became a long career
Vera HOPKINS had a love of music and playing the violin which enabled her to have a long career teaching the violin at The Friends’ School for nearly 3 decades across the High School and Clemes. Read her story here and how she's inspried her great granddaughter to now play the violin.
A treasured gift
Friends’ Archives has been gifted a personal and clearly treasured item from the family of Gordon LONG (1952) judging by the excellent condition of this school blazer. Gordon was exceptionally gifted in sports and was not only House Captain of Hodgkin but a Prefect in 1951.
It was beautiful to see even after 70 years, the expert craftsmanship that went into making this garment. This item of clothing was his connection to Friends’ and had obviously meant a lot to him that he had kept it all these years.
Alumni Catch Up
Happy Christmas from the Friends’ Old Girls, enjoying their regular catch up luncheon at the Black Buffalo on the 1st December.
About the Friends’ Alumni Community
Alumni Representatives are volunteers who create meaningful connections amongst the alumni community and with the School. Together they work across geographic locations, cohort years and different parts of our community to broaden and deepen connections amongst our community, foster and promote life-long connections, share stories, and advocate for the School and its Purpose and Concerns. The Friends’ Alumni Community encompasses alumni and their families, former staff and volunteers, and friends of the School – wherever they are in the world.
The Friends’ School LinkedIn
Please register with the Friend's LinkedIn page to join our growing digital alumni community and participate in mentoring opportunities globally. Don't forget to select The Friends' School from the drop down list in the education section of your profile to be included in the alumni section of the School's LinkedIn page, and follow the page for updates and information about the School and alumni community.
Stay Connected
stayconnected@friends.tas.edu.au
Join us on: