Old Sydneians’ Newsletter – Volume 42

Dear Old Sydneians,

Blink and you will miss it! Another year is in the books as we reflect and celebrate what was in 2025. The final quarter is always a busy one for events. Building on the momentum of all the initiatives led by a strong OSU Committee in 2025, we naturally wanted to continue to provide you with opportunities to connect with your peers and like-minded individuals in our community.

I want to open with celebrating the Old Sydneians, who took part in the GPS Lawn Bowls and GPS Golf Competitions. Sydney Grammar School Old Sydneians proudly won both GPS competitions. Congratulations to our competitors; you represent each one of us proudly under the banner of Sydney Grammar School!

The OSU hosted its second Alligator Wine Club (AWC) event, this time featuring an Old Sydneian, Matthew Atallah (OS 1988) from Atallah Wines and Matt’s hand-crafted, small-batch produced wines grown from Orange, NSW. The evening offered the 30-person event a diverse range of red and white wines with over half of the room making additional purchases for their personal collections. Another successful event and we look forward to what this program offers in 2026!

We also saw the newly formatted OSU Golf Championship take place. Tony Wakefield (OS 1980) organised a great full-day event, including breakfast and lunch. It was a huge success and set a great foundation for what’s to come from this event in the years ahead. Congratulations to the father-son duo who won the coveted JAT Buckle Trophies – Walter (OS 1987) and Jock MacCallum (OS 2023).

The OSU recently conducted our annual interview process to award the OSU Scholarship. This year the recipient of the award is Ian Bierer (V). We are excited to see where Ian’s studies and future career take him. However, for his immediate future, we wish Ian, along with every other pupil, all the best in the HSC next year.

As many of you have noted in discussions, the OSU has been incredibly active in 2025, building on a successful 2024. We have launched initiatives such as Grammar in Business, Mentoring, Alligator Wine Club, Young Leaver’s Drinks, and private dinners and lunches with esteemed guests like David Gonski AC (OS 1971) and Malcolm Turnbull (OS 1972). We are constantly exploring ways to deliver even greater value for each of you, both personally and professionally. None of this would be possible without a dedicated, motivated and passionate committee. I would like to personally note the committee’s members and thank them for all their efforts in creating value for our members, all while balancing their busy careers, lives, and growing families; Walter MacCallum (OS 1987), Craig Duly (OS 1977), David Ross (OS 1965-6), Peter Gibby (OS 1964), Phil Beaumont (OS 2010), Steve Gonski (OS 1975), Tony Wakefield (OS 1980), Andre Bressan (OS 2000), Tim Lindley (OS 1991), Peter Economos (OS 2005), Ethan Tsui (OS 2018), Stanley Tanudjaja (OS 2019), Jack Pinczewski (OS 2005), Tom O’Neill (OS 2009) and Tom Kirkland (OS 2019).

With Term IV coming to an end, the OSU would like to formally thank Mr Philip Barr, who was Acting Headmaster at Sydney Grammar School for the last two terms. I know many of our alumni thoroughly enjoyed reconnecting with Philip in this time and his support for the OSU and its members was commendable. As the hallowed gates re-open in Term I 2026, we begin a new era at Sydney Grammar School under the leadership and direction of Mr Stuart McPherson. There will be ample opportunity to meet with the new Headmaster, and we welcome all Old Sydneians to do so when the opportunity presents.

A reminder to utilise the newly revamped OSU Website. This webpage will be the source of all event information and any notable updates over the holiday season and into 2026.

The OSU would like to thank the School’s Alumni and Community team for their ongoing support in day-to-day operations. Their willingness to assist and their pivotal role enable us to consistently deliver value to our members.

I wish you and your family a happy and safe holiday season. Please use this time to slow down, value the moments that matter most to you, and enjoy time with family and friends. I urge each of you to take a moment in amongst the chaos to reflect, appreciate where we come from and always be proud to be connected with Sydney Grammar School.

Nick Manettas (OS 2009)
OSU President

OSU Golf

The OSU Annual Golf Day championship for the JAT Buckle Trophy was held at The Coast Golf Club on Wednesday 8 October with alumni from 1959 to 2024 playing in this traditional event on the OSU calendar.

 
Trophy winners Walter MacCallum (OS 1987) and Jock MacCallum (OS 2023) 

Tony Wakefield (OS 1980), David Fayn (OS 1983), Greg Fayn (OS 1980), Andrew Hunt (OS 1980)

Basketball

Basketball remains an incredibly popular summer sport with 35 teams playing in the GPS Competition. Both the Firsts and Seconds have tried very hard this term against strong opposition, losing several games by single digit margins. The Firsts recorded a win against Shore while the Seconds beat Sydney Boys High School.

Cricket

The Firsts and Seconds commenced their seasons positively with comprehensive victories against The Scots College. The Seconds competed strongly in their subsequent fixtures, losing narrowly on a couple of occasions. The Firsts bowled well in all their matches but were unable to post significant totals with the bat. A good win in the final round against Newington College should give them added confidence leading into the all-important Tri-Grammar series in Melbourne (January 2026).

Finally, the 14As and 15As performed consistently well, which bodes well for the future. 

Rowing

The rowing program has launched into the new season with fantastic momentum, welcoming a strong number of boys into the squad. The Year Ten crews recently raced in Melbourne, achieving an impressive third place out of 25 boats – a brilliant start to their campaign.

Our seniors know there is hard work ahead to close the gap on the leading crews, but their enthusiasm and commitment are already setting the tone for the season. Meanwhile, the juniors are gearing up for their first race this weekend, ready to make their mark and continue the tradition of excellence.

Tennis

As we approach the half-way mark of a fourteen-round season, the Firsts and Seconds sit in second place in their respective divisions. Both teams have only lost once, and these were tight matches against The Scots College. All other schools have been beaten resoundingly.

The Firsts and Seconds are both made up of very young players which promises much for the coming seasons.

Music

On Tuesday 11 November many of the School’s jazz ensembles performed in the last jazz concert for 2025. Two days later the Term IV Concert took place in the John Vallance Hall. It featured several senior groups including the School Orchestra, Alastair Mackerras Chamber Orchestra, Sheldon Strings and Concert Band. Finally, in the Alastair Mackerras Theatre on Tuesday 18 November the Ensembles Concert showcased many of the School’s finest musicians in a varied program of works. 

The School community is celebrating 150 years since the first cricket match between Sydney Grammar School and Melbourne Grammar School. It is the oldest continuing inter-colonial (interstate) cricket match in Australia.

The match will be played at the Albert Cricket Ground in Melbourne from Wednesday 21 January – Thursday 22 January 2026. There will be significant festivities including a commemorative dinner on Thursday 22 January at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (details below).

Several Old Sydneians are going down, and everyone is welcome to attend.

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

Venue
Melbourne Cricket Ground, Brunton Avenue, Melbourne

Dress
Jacket and tie

Cost
$175 (adult)
$145 (student)

RSVP
by Sunday 11 January 2026

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

Book tickets here.

GPS Annual Golf Day

Sydney Grammar School won the GPS Golf Championship at Manly Golf Club for the second consecutive year. David Lorentz (OS 1990), Adam Wayling (OS 2004), Sean Southwell (OS 1982) and David Owen (OS 1974) combined to achieve the winning aggregate of 154. Riverview came second, with Sydney High and Kings equal third.

GPS Bowls

After six rounds of bowls and one washed out, Sydney Grammar School remained undefeated, winning the 2025 GPS Bowls Championship. The event has been contested for over 70 years, arguably the longest continuous lawn bowls competition still active.


(L-R) Peter Marsh, Ron Schaffer, Robert Balfus, Christopher Wood, Michael Webb, Peter Larcome, Grahame Goldberg, Godfrey Gay

Wednesday 28 October 2026 – 1971 55-Year Reunion Lunch at Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, Rushcutters Bay (Convenors: Carey McMahon, Phil Garling, Craig Moran)

 
2015 10-Year Reunion at The Rawson Hotel the Rocks on Saturday 11 October

 
1980 45-Year Reunion at College Street and later Parliament House on Saturday 11 October

1965 60-Year Reunion at College Street on Saturday 11 October

OSU London Branch Reunion was held at The Royal Air Force Club in London on Thursday 16 October

2000 25-Year Reunion at College Street on Saturday 18 October 

 
2005 20-Year Reunion at College Street on Saturday 25 October

Dinner to welcome the new Headmaster at the Werdmüllerzimmer of the Hotel zum Storchen in Zurich on Thursday 6 November 
Standing L to R: Richard James (OS 1985), Henry Rourke (OS 1981), Mrs Johneen McPherson, Geoff Watson (OS 1968), Ken McMahon (OS 1976), Stuart McPherson, Jean Paul Ballard (OS 1995), Ben Bryant (OS 1978), Michael Fisher (OS 1965)

1975 50-Year Reunion at College Street on Saturday 8 November

The Annual John Duffy Rugby Lunch at Watsons Bay on Friday 11 November
Seated L-R: Denis Hillary, Michael Soulos, Tim Ross, David Raffan, James Barkell, Jeff Keeler, Richard Allsop, Vic Keller, Tony Gapes, Tony de Saxe, Stuart Murray, Robert Barry, Colin Hindmarsh, David Louden, Peter Gibby. (Absent from photo James Cattlin and John Goodare)

 
1995 30-Year Reunion at College Street on Saturday 15 November

Felix Wallis (OS 2015)

Felix graduated with First Class Honours from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in 2021, where he studied composition with Carl Vine and Ben Carey. Earlier this year he was selected as the 2026 Layton Emerging Composer Fellow with The Australia Ensemble UNSW, including a commission to write a new work under the mentorship of Paul Stanhope.

His music spans chamber and electroacoustic formats. In 2024, Felix composed Rewilding for Omega Ensemble’s CoLAB program, which premiered at the Sydney Opera House. His Four Preludes were recorded by Grammar’s alumnus Rob Hao in 2023. He plays synths in improvised ambient trio Aquatint and his instrumental-electronic ensemble Miniflora is releasing an EP in early 2026.

Felix was nominated as the Emerging Screen Composer of the Year at the 2025 APRA AMCOS Screen Music Awards. He has arranged strings for artists including The Kid LAROI and composed for the Ministry of Sound Classical 2025 tour. His screen and installation credits include original music for immersive art, film, television, documentary, and audio drama. He has also written the sonic logos for IKEA, Westfield, and Zoos Victoria.

Old Sydneians in Macedonia 1915-1918

Following the end of the Gallipoli campaign, an obscure chapter of WW1 unfolded in the Balkans. Fighting centred around the Macedonian city of Thessaloniki and drew in a few British divisions. Included in these units were many Australians, some of whom were Old Sydneians. The 2019 book Our Forgotten Volunteers by Bojan Pajic lists sixteen Old Boys who served in this theatre:

Charles Haldane (OS 1880’s), Lewis Cohen (OS 1901), Ralph Cohen (OS 1903)*, John Goldie (OS 1903), Bernard French (OS 1904), Oswald Barton (OS 1906), Norman Packer (OS 1906), Reginald Buckingham (OS 1909), Jack Manning (OS 1909), Rowland Dowling (OS 1909), Eric Blashki (OS 1909), Seymour McMaster (OS 1910), Harry Henry (OS 1910), Douglas Milne (OS 1911), Walter Crawford (OS 1912), Edward Rennie (OS 1913)*

* Killed in action

Historical discourse following the war’s conclusion tended to neglect the Macedonian campaign. The experience of the men who fought in Macedonia soon became lost to time, a collective amnesia best captured by one spectator who wrote:

‘These men of our Eastern armies have had the dust and toil, without the laurel of the race to victory’.

If you know of any other Old Sydneians who served in Macedonia 1915-1918, please email alexander.maxwell.freeman@gmail.com

Thank you to Alexander Freeman (OS St Ives 1993-96), who compiled this report for us.

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.

Sadly, two 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:

Kenneth Erle POGSON OAM (OS 1948)
Alan Richard MURPHY (OS 1956)

Also, Alan FOULIS who was the Bursar and Secretary to the Trustees from 1990-2001.

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.

The latest edition of SGS magazine, Edition 21, Spring 2025 is available in an online electronic format here.

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