Dear Old Sydneians,

Another term done, and Acting Headmaster Mr Philip Barr is already halfway through his tenure. He is fondly welcomed back to the School by the Alumni and we appreciate his support.

The Old Sydneian calendar has been busy, and I believe impactful for all who have engaged in our events.

I’d like to announce the launch of the new-look OSU website.

The development and launch of this website was led by committee member Ethan Tsui (OS 2018), with significant contributions from Dominic Knight (OS 1994), Tom O’Neill (OS 2009), Walter MacCallum (OS 1987) and a number of additional committee members. Please use this website to note upcoming events, appreciate our rich history and update your contact details.

This term, some Old Sydneians had the pleasure of meeting incoming Headmaster Mr Stuart McPherson. This was a great afternoon as we got a chance to socially meet Stuart and his wife Johneen and feel his excitement for his role commencing on 1 January 2026.

The highlight of this term was the OSU Annual Lunch held at NSW Parliament House on Thursday 28 August. The OSU welcomed 154 Old Sydneians from OS years 1952 to 2024. The event featured an amazing line-up of speakers. Mr Philip Barr spoke about the direction of the School and the feel on the ground in his prior experiences with Sydney Grammar School. Mr Toby Creswell (OS 1973), who was once editor of Rolling Stone (Australia), gave his expert perspective of the Australian music industry from his capacities as a freelance creative. We were excited to get time in The Honorable Chief Justice Andrew Bell’s (OS 1983) diary and I think I can speak on behalf of everyone in the room when I say that it was refreshing to see such a social version of Chief Justice Bell as he was interviewed by our very own Dominic Knight (OS 1994). The event was closed out by Emeritus Professor John Watson AM (OS 1972) on the topic of “Wherever you end up in life, SGS will have prepared you well…most of the time.” The event, whilst filled with a diverse array of speakers, felt as though all alumni alike were very engaged, with many attending for the first time. There was a real feeling of passion in our community pushing and leading with a Sydney Grammar first mentality in our work and our day-to-day; the narrative being, “Be proud, Be Grammar!”

This brings us to what’s next as we quickly close out another year. The OSU held the second Alligator Wine Club (AWC) event. This event was held at Fix Wine Bar Restaurant in Sydney CBD, with a focus on Atallah Wines, hosted by Matthew Atallah (OS 1988) himself. We are excited to continue this series and tap into the diversity, talent and number of alumni in this particular industry.

The 2025 OSU Annual Golf Championship will be held at The Coast on Wednesday 8 October. This event is a welcome addition after the 2024 wash-out. We ask that at least one of the team members is an Old Sydneian in this pairs stableford tournament. This year, breakfast, a barbecue lunch, green fees and electronic carts are included in the ticket you can book here.

We continue with our Grammar in Business networking events with “Grammar in Technology” to be held on Wednesday 15 October at Hotel CBD, Level 1, 52 King Street, Sydney. The panelists will be Matt Barrie (OS 1990), Eugene Mak (OS 2008), Peter Sharp (OS 1999) and Peter Manettas (2000). The speaker session will be followed by an opportunity to network and share some drinks you can book here

The OSU’s Annual General Meeting is scheduled to be held on Wednesday 26 November at College Street. We welcome any Old Sydneian to join us for this meeting and we welcome new committee members passionate about our community. If you’re interested in joining the OSU, please complete this contact us form.

My apologies for an oversight from Term II’s newsletter when mentioning speakers for the “Grammar in Real Estate, Property and Development” event; thank you to Andrew Schaverien (OS 2005) for his contributions as a panelist. I’d also like to acknowledge the contributions of Julian Malnic (OS 1973), Guy Keller (OS 1994), Richard Fortune (OS 1995), Brett Larkin (OS 1975), Simon Taylor (OS 1982) and Marcus Lake (OS 1990) as panelist at the “Grammar in Mining, Resources and Commodities” event.

The OSU continues to be engaged with Sydney Grammar School’s activities and we hope to see you all, at not just OSU events, but also events run by Sydney Grammar School for our community. We are aligned with the School’s direction and really want to see as many of you as possible re-visit the grounds and see what’s happening inside the hallowed gates of College Street.

Nick Manettas (OS 2009)
OSU President

Join us for a special commemorative dinner to celebrate 150 years of a great sporting tradition, as both schools come together for an evening to celebrate their shared history, to honour the players, coaches, staff and supporters – both past and present – who have shaped this extraordinary legacy.

Date and Time
Thursday 22 January 2026
7:00pm – 11:00pm

Venue
Members Dining Room
Melbourne Cricket Ground
Brunton Avenue, Melbourne

Dress
Jacket and tie

Cost
$175 (adult)
$145 (student)

Purchase Tickets
https://mgs.ptly.com/Cricket150

Enquiries
community@sydgram.nsw.edu.au
+ 61 2 9332 5843

Football

The First XI had an outstanding campaign, losing only two matches throughout the year. They reached the Sydney FC Cup final but were narrowly defeated by Oakhill College in a tense penalty shootout. Unfortunately, they lost in the same way to The Scots College in the Plate Cup final. Rufus McGuinness (VI) earned a well-deserved selection for the prestigious Australian Schoolboys team.  

Several age groups enjoyed exceptional seasons, with the Under 13s proving the most successful overall. The 16B and 14B teams also dominated their competitions, staying unbeaten. Overall, Grammar football achieved a win rate of 60 percent, recording 200 victories, 58 losses, and 29 draws – a season of strong results despite the challenging weather conditions. 

Rugby

The First XV faced strong competition from GPS teams but ended the season positively, particularly with a strong final match against Sydney High. Noah Dekell (VI) won the Robert A Smith Memorial Cup for Best and Fairest Player, while Will Egger (VI) received the Cooper Rice Brading Award for Clubman of the Year, and Charlie Lieutenant (VI) was awarded the Hazell Shield for Captain of the Rugby Club.

The standout team was the 13As, who won the Ian Clark Anderson Memorial Cup and achieved an undefeated GPS season by also clinching the Fathers’ Association Cup. They demonstrated exceptional commitment with strong attendance at training. Congratulations to Thomas Delaney (IV) and Ronan Shepherd (IV) for making the GPS Presidents' team and to Noah Dekell (VI) for being selected for the Opens GPS Blue team.

Volleyball

The 2025 season saw twenty-one volleyball teams play a total of 212 matches, and it can be summed up as a season of spectacular plays, impressive depth of skill and character, and a consistently strong community spirit. Ashton Clarke (V) and Marcus Levison (VI) represented Grammar in the GPS team, while Ashton and Aden Tay (Form V) were selected for the CIS team. Ashton also earned a place in the U18 Australian team, which competed in Thailand earlier this year.

The Firsts finished third on the GPS ladder, while the Seconds came close to winning the premiership, highlighted by a history-making five-set victory over Sydney Boys High School – their first ever against that opponent. They placed second overall. With the depth of talent emerging from our junior programme, the future of volleyball at Grammar is undeniably strong.

Cross Country

The cross country season has been thrilling, with the Juniors emerging as favourites for the season finale after an incredible race season. The team of Josh Westmoreland, Charlie Naughton, Maran Rajeev and Craig Kelly won this year’s CIS Championship and these boys have been the backbone of the School’s success this year.

The Intermediates have shown remarkable consistency throughout the race season, and the Seniors have steadily improved, culminating in a third-place finish at the Shore Invitational. It's been a season of growth and excitement for all teams!

Fencing

Grammar Fencing continued to dominate in 2025. At the NSW AJ Rae Shield, the Firsts won gold, Seconds took bronze, and both the Intermediate A and B teams medalled. In the NSW Schools League, Grammar made history by winning five of six categories, an unprecedented achievement, with the Firsts conceding only two hits all tournament. There was also phenomenal success nationally with the Intermediate A and B teams claiming gold and bronze in Melbourne, and the Firsts and Seconds again securing gold and bronze.

Taekwondo

The winter taekwondo season ended with impressive results for the Grammar boys. After finishing second following the interschools competition, Grammar competed against Shore in the Grand Final, winning 3-2, and the Interschools Cup. 

The rest of the All-Schools competition also took place that day, and the junior competitors featured in a lot of finals matches, securing many wins. Grammar ended the day about 30 points ahead of Shore to bring home the Interschools Trophy; a terrific showing of skill and team spirit.

Term III Music

Concert A was held on 31 July and included vocal scholars from St Ives, as well as many different College Street bands. On Thursday 21 August, the Classical Guitar Concert was held in Big School and the following week many of the School’s large ensembles performed in Concert B in the John Vallance Hall. It was a special concert, as it was an opportunity to farewell Form VI musicians. 

Major Music Events for Term IV

Jazz Concert
Tuesday 11 November 6:30pm 
Alastair Mackerras Theatre

Term IV Concert
Thursday 13 November 6:30pm
John Vallance Hall

Ensembles Concert
Tuesday 18 November 6:30pm
Alastair Mackerras Theatre

Ithaka Lecture

Our next Ithaka Lecture will be held in Term IV on Wednesday 22 October at 6:00pm in the Alastair Mackerras Theatre. Professor Jioji Ravulo is Chair of Social Work and Policy Studies at The University of Sydney. He is the first person of a Pacific indigenous heritage to become a Professor in Australia. Professor Ravulo’s areas of research include alcohol and other drugs, mental health, young people, diversity and inclusion, and educational leadership.

Tickets can be purchased here.

Reunions

Saturday 11 October – 1980 45-Year Reunion School Tour and then lunch at Strangers’ Dining Room Parliament House
To RSVP, please email Tony Wakefield at wakefield062@gmail.com

Saturday 11 October – 1965 60-Year Reunion Lunch at College Street
(Convenors: Paul Weaver, David Harris, Rod Ovens, Norm Fitzpatrick)

Saturday 11 October – 2015 10-Year Reunion at The Rawson Hotel, the Rocks
(Convenor: George Glen and link is here)

Thursday 16 October – London Branch OSU Dinner at The Royal Air Force Club in London
(Convenors: Adrian Jack, James Aitken, Ben Goodwin)
To RSVP, please email adrianjack@aol.com; ja@aitkenadvisors.com; goodwinben1@gmail.com

Saturday 18 October – 2000 25-Year Reunion College Street
(Convenor: Andre Bressan)

Saturday 25 October – 2005 20-Year Reunion College Street
(Convenor: Lachlan Renshaw)

Saturday 8 November – 1975 50-Year Reunion College Street
(Convenors: Graeme Lowry Jones, David Wurth, Geoff Atherton, Phil Beale, David Lewis, Steve Gonski)

Saturday 15 November – 1995 30-Year Reunion College Street
(Convenors: Ragavan Thuraisingham, David Yeo, Toby Slade)

Friday 5 December – 1945-1970 Reunion Lunch College Street

Here is the link to book for all onsite reunions – https://community.sydgram.nsw.edu.au/events

Tribute Lunch for David Archbold (OS 1967) at Royal Sydney Golf Club on Tuesday 15 July


1990 35-Year Reunion at the Phoenix Hotel Woollahra on Saturday 26 July after ‘Back to Weigall Day’

1985 40-Year Reunion at the Woollahra Hotel on Saturday 26 July after ‘Back to Weigall Day’


2020 5-Year Reunion at the Hotel CBD on Saturday 9 August

Teamwork at the 1971 Reunion

Vangel Rafael and Stephen Lamond organised a wonderful gathering of 1971 Old Boys, with an overnight stay celebrating ‘Christmas in July’ at Robertson in the Southern Highlands. Thirty Old Boys and twenty partners attended, along with ex-Master Laurie Fahy and former alumni employee Wendy Scotter. 

After dinner entertainment was hosted by Craig Moran. Tim Watson-Munro gave a fascinating speech before Rob Schneider presented a musical trivia quiz centred around the year 1971. This was followed up with a few original songs by Duncan Hill and his wife Susan, who have been active with the Tamworth Songwriters Association. With five minutes notice, Jim Manzie then joined Duncan and launched into some old favourites, featuring the Ol’ 55 hit ‘Looking for an Echo’ (Jim was the bass player for Ol’ 55 and is still performing in several bands.)

Jim Manzie and Duncan Hill at the 1971 Reunion on Wednesday 23 July at the Robertson Hotel

GPS Annual Golf Day

Well done to the Sydney Grammar School Old Sydneians who were victorious for another year, with an aggregate score of 154 at the GPS Annual Golf Day. Results can be found here.

Daniel Carter (OS 2007)

After leaving school, Daniel completed a music degree at the University of Melbourne. In 2012 he was awarded the Brian Stacey Award for Emerging Australian Conductors. This was followed by multiple engagements with organisations such as the Victorian Opera, Opera Australia, The Australian Ballet, Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney and Melbourne Festivals.

A protégé of the late Richard Gill and of Simone Young, Daniel travelled overseas and became the General Music Director at Landestheater Coburg. He has also been a Conductor at the Deutsche Oper Berlin since August 2019.

This year Daniel was appointed Music Director of the German National Theatre and State Orchestra in Weimar. It is a very prestigious appointment as the theatre opened in 1791 and the orchestra was originally founded in 1491, making it the second oldest in the world. It is also the theatre where Wagner’s Lohengrin, Humperdinck’s Hansel und Gretel, and Strauss’ Don Juan and Death and Transfiguration received their world premieres. Johann Sebastian Bach, Franz Liszt and Richard Strauss were all Music Directors there in their day.

The orchestra has 100 members and Daniel will conduct approximately 40 opera and symphony orchestra performances per year.

Sadly, many of our Old Sydneians have passed away in recent times, and the School sends condolences to friends and family. 

Old Sydneians who have passed away since our last OS E-Newsletter:

Dr William Edward Lewis (Lew) DAVIES (OS 1946)
Anthony Thomas HALL OBE (OS 1948)
John BISSELL (OS 1952)
David Thomas FOX (OS 1952)
Robin Leslie YATES (OS 1952)
William (Bill) Arthur HENNINGHAM (OS 1952-3)
Robert (Bob) Burnley WATSON (OS 1953-4)
Guy Charles SMITH (OS 1956)
Wayne Edwin STOREY (OS 1957)
A/Prof Andrew (David) James WATSON (OS 1958/1959)
Peter James McKEOWN (OS 1960)
Geoffrey Raymond BUSHBY (OS 1962)
Charles William Frederick BEELAERTS (OS 1968)
Geoffrey Peter TAYLOR (OS 1968)
Robert James SCHOFIELD (OS 1969)
Scott Leighton SMITH (OS 1971)
Julian Dana William McMAHON (OS 1985-6)
Karl Mitchell MURRAY (OS 1986)

Also, Mr Robert MOORE was at St Ives Preparatory School from 1970 – 1994, teaching Years 5 and 6 and coaching soccer and archery.

Mr George STATHAKIS taught Classics, History and Debating at College Street from1963 – 1972.

Those ancient historians from our year will remember George as our teacher in 1966 and 1967. Late last year I was able to chat with him on the telephone. He had a good recollection of our class and teaching us in the old Palladium – probably because we were the first year that he taught at SGS.

He was one of our best teachers. He was the first to treat the class as potential university students, telling us where to find the historical narrative, but not spoon feeding it to us.

He introduced us to Herodotus, “the Father of History”, whose stories, in retrospect, resembled Truth Social for fake news, and then we read Thucydides on the Persian invasions and the Peloponnesian wars.

For many of us at that time, the ancient world seemed more vibrant than the modern one.

George was not a disciplinarian, but by and large he didn't need to be. He was probably more suited to teaching at the tertiary level, as he did later in life.

He was often late in the morning, observed by all driving into the middle playground parking area in his 1964 Valiant after the bell had rung.  

When we spoke last year, I suggested that some of us would like to catch up for lunch. He said that was a good idea and that he would let me know when his health improved. Sadly that was not to be.  

Vale George.

David Fairlie (OS 1967)

These are the names that we have been made aware of at the Alumni Office. If you know of any Old Sydneians, who have recently passed away, please contact the Alumni Office on (02) 9332 5918 or alumni@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.

Paul Mather (OS 1967) is the founding president of the Griffith War Memorial Museum. They have an oversupply of female mannequins and they need male mannequins for the male uniforms that have been donated. If any old boys have any old male mannequins (it does not matter the condition they are in) it would be greatly appreciated if they could be donated to the museum. Contact Paul Mathers on 0448600181 or mathersp@bigpond.com.

If you have news of some significant event or achievement, that you would like published, please contact Steve Gonski (OS 1975) on smg@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.

The latest edition of SGS magazine, Edition 20, Autumn 2025 is available in an online electronic format here.

Edition 21, Spring 2025 will be released at the end of October.

A vast number of hard copy magazines are ‘returned to sender’ each time the School sends a new edition out to subscribers through the post. If you are regularly on the move and would prefer to receive the SGS magazine online via email, or would no longer wish to receive a hard copy of the magazine via post, please kindly notify the Alumni Office on (02) 9332 5918 or alumni@sydgram.nsw.edu.au.

You are able to view most editions of SGS magazine anytime via the School’s website.

Alligator Grammar! A History of Sydney Grammar School Rugby

Jim Cattlin (OS and First XV 1961) has published Alligator Grammar! A History of Sydney Grammar School Rugby. The book delves into the 150-year history of rugby at the School, with 440 photos of teams, action shots and illustrations. Purchase here for $50. 

In Gallant Company

Dr Philip Creagh’s (OS 1965-1966) book honouring the Old Sydneians who died in World War I is available, at a cost of $65 plus postage via the following link. This book includes short biographies of each Old Sydneian who didn’t make it home, comprising details of their school career, the circumstances in which they found themselves during the war and events leading to their untimely demise.

Old Sydneians’ Newsletter

Editor:

Mr Steve Gonski

smg@sydgram.nsw.edu.au

Alumni Office 

Ms Charlotte McColl

alumni@sydgram.nsw.edu.au

Publications Office

Ms Dimetra Skondras-Silva

publications@sydgram.nsw.edu.au