Blue & Blue
Welcome to the September edition of the B&B. This is a special mail out to remind you all of the OBU Annual Mass and Dinner to be held on the 9th of October (yes, just two weeks away).
Membership renewals are still trickling in and I am pleased to report that we have well over 100 financial members. Would you believe nearly 90 have advised an e-mail address to allow quicker and cheaper mail-outs. Sadly, we have been sending out the B&B to over 350 who are on the master contact list we cobbled together earlier this year. Those on that list who have not made contact in some way or other in response to this year’s B&Bs will not receive correspondence after the end of 2003.
Annual Mass & Dinner:
As advised in the July B&B, the OBU Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Church Hill at 6PM on Thursday 9 Oct followed by Dinner at 7 for 7.30PM in the Bowlers Club of NSW. Please note the new venue for the Dinner. The Club is at 95-00 York St just NW of the intersection with King St and very near the Queen Victoria Building exit from Town Hall station.
Those who have not sent in their advice of attendance (and/or their $50), can do so now to our Post Office Box A1411, Sydney South 1235. Last minute acceptances can be taken by phone to Warren Thomas. Hope to see you there.
News from the membership:
- Peter Thompson (LC 1960) writes from the farm at Bowraville, NSW to tell us he is another feeling the effects of the long drought which has taken its toll on his macadamia orchard. He says that despite record frosts, lack of feed for the cattle and poor performing Super Funds, he and his extended family are happy and look forward to a change of luck next year.
- John Boyd (IC 1935) is one of many to write in reference to the news of the deaths of former classmates Tony Dignam, Ken See, Ted Musgrove, Jim Ryan and Ned McGrath. He tells us of a very successful 49 years with Sydney Council. After a modest start as a messenger boy he went on to senior management ranks in charge of the council’s property interests.
- Jim Brassil AM (LC 1946) sends his apologies for the Dinner but is not so sad as he will be in the UK and Ireland visiting family.
- Another to miss the Dinner will be Brian Kelly (LC 1952) who is recovering from illness and on-going chemotherapy. We wish him a speedy recovery.
- Brian Wareham (LC 1949) had an interesting meet up with fellow Darlo boy Tony Smith (LC 1964) when touring the Canadian Rockies and Cruising Alaska in the same group.
Blue & Blue cont
- Fr Tom O’Reilly (LC 1934) is in a new surrounds at Marsfield having been moved from the Vincentian Fathers home at Ashfield. Reading the B&B reminds him of days long past and of Brothers and fellow students it was a privilege to know.
- Len Loker (LC 1950) remembers classmates Ron Brayan, Bill Bourke, Jim Hammond and Warren Castray and passes on his apologies for the dinner this year.
- Mark Trainor (LC 1948) relays a story of Terry Ryman (LC 1947) who on a visit to North Shore hospital caught up with Joe Howard (LC 1947) in the corridors and exchanged notes on their medical conditions. Terry is in the final stages of radiation treatment for a tumor on his vocal cords. Whilst he is recovering well, his voice is no longer the rich one that echoed across the courts. His classmates will remember his love of horse racing which continues as an interest but friends and neighbours now refer to him as the “horse whisperer”.
- Mark also enclosed a marvelous letter from Dr Ron Young (LC 1949) to Br Cassian who taught him all those years ago. Ron, who has lived in the USA since 1967, attributes much of his talent for creative thinking to his years at Darlo and guidance from Br Cassian in particular. He has specialized in molecular biology for many years and two of his fellows received Nobel Prizes. What a rich tribute to one of our dedicated Marist teachers. Ron would welcome contact with any classmates and his address can be obtained from our OBU Secretary.
- Bill Conroy (LC 1938) also tells of the post depression years at Darlo and particularly remembers the close nit groups that formed in the small classes of the day. He says Ken See was a “Paddo Original”.
- Des Donovan (LC 1950) reckons he has caught up with many Darlo old boys in the last few years. Have any others got some stories to tell? Drop me a line - Ed
- Br Tony Butler (1956) left Darlo after only four years to attend the Marist Novitiate but remembers those years well. He is still thriving as a Marist Brother and looks forward to attending the dinner. He has recently completed a history of Marist school Penshurst. Tony has a supply of Darlo badges thanks to Br Redmond Fulton many years ago. He will play the organ at our OBU Mass again this year.
- Phillip Dorrian (LC 1927) writes to say that at 92 he will find it too difficult to attend the Dinner! He tells of the death of Dr Lou Musso? At age 90 and that he knows contemporary Dick Lynch is in a nursing home. Phil is recovering from hip replacement surgery. I this a record for contact with the oldest of our OBU members? Can anyone match it?
Look forward to seeing many of you at the OBU Dinner,
Warren Thomas
President:
Warren Thomas
9525 4260
Vice president:
Bill Cramsie
9743 2255
Secretary:
Mark Sinclair
9524 9760
Membership Secretary:
Larry Hensby
9528 3957
Treasurer:
Vince Hallinan
9533 2237
Also:
John Chippendale, Colin Sullivan, Reg Scott, Br Charlie Aqualina, & Dominic Sidoti
