Marist Brothers Darlinghurst Old Boys Union

Blue & Blue - March 2005

Welcome to the first edition of your B & B for 2005.
From the executive:

For those of you who could not make it to the 2004 Mass & dinner, I can report it was a great success. During the dinner we conducted an Annual General Meeting at which re-elected most of the executive. Mark Sinclair has stepped down to general committee after sterling service as your Secretary. As a result we have combined Secretary and Membership Secretary for a trial and Larry Hensby has accepted nomination for that expanded role.
Also during the AGM, we adopted a revised constitution for the OBU which has both simplified and updated the former version. Most notably the new version gives clear instructions for disposal of any residual funds should the OBU wind up.
Later at the Dinner, OBU President Warren Thomas presented, on your behalf, a cheque for $3,000 to Br David Hall who will use the money in support of Marist Missions works in the SE Asia region. This brings the total of OBU funds used in support of charitable caused in 2003/4 to $5,250. You may recall we helped Br Charlie in his work at Marist Mittagong ($1,250) and also Marist Canberra for a perpetual trophy, named in memory of Br John Murphy, which is presented to a Yr 11 student in recognition of outstanding all-round achievement ($1.000).
For all that, we remain solvent and ready to support more Marist causes in 2005.

Membership Subscriptions – now due for 2005. Please complete the attached form and send it back to Larry.

Annual Luncheon – mark your diary now. This function will be held on Thursday, July 7th 2005. Details will be provided in the May B&B.

Annual Mass & Dinner – mark your diary now. This function will be held on Thursday, Nov 3rd 2005. Details later in the year.

From the Editor:

Ron Yates (LC ‘40) is in regular contact with us from his home in the USA. He e-mails recently about the demise of many catholic schools in that country which have been closing down – not due to lack of students but due to lack of funds. Lay teachers are expensive over there and since many of these schools are in the poorer neighbourhoods, parents cannot afford the cost of tuition. On the other hand, in Washington DC, there is a waiting list for entry to catholic schools. Ron puts this down to the high number of well paid public servants and others who are part of the DC support infrastructure. Cost of catholic schooling varies from $3-4 thousand for Kindy up to $20,000 for high school. There are no schools run by religious orders.