Marist Brothers Darlinghurst Old Boys Union

Blue & Blue - February 2007

Welcome to the first edition of your B & B for 2007.
From the executive:

For those of you who could not make it to the 2006 Mass & dinner, I can report it was a great success with over 65 in attendance. During the dinner we conducted an Annual General Meeting during which members present re-elected the existing executive. My many thanks go to these friends who continue to assist in the running of your OBU.

During the AGM two donations made from OBU funds were approved unanimously. Members elected to continue support for charitable causes to which we donated funds last year.

Firstly, $1,000 is to be given to an old boy Priest, Fr John Andersen to assist in his work in Peru. Fr John told us that our last donation was put to good use in his 40,000 strong Parish.

Next we gave $2,000 to the Berne Education Centre at Lewisham. Br Michael Flanagan is Principal at this Marist project which provides special schooling and counseling for teens who have experienced problems with traditional schooling methods. Br Michael sends us regular updates on his work through the Centre’s periodic Bulletin.

For all that, we remain solvent and the annual accounts are audited by old boy John Bolster. Thanks to your continued support we remain ready and able to again assist Marist causes in 2007.

Membership Subscriptions – now due for 2007. 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 5th, 2007. Details will be provided in the next B&B. Last year we changed venue to City Tattersals Club to enjoy ‘fine dining’ in the Esperanto Room. It is likely we will again favour this venue. The OBU Luncheon is becoming increasingly popular so I would encourage your attendance, if only to try it for the first time.

Annual Mass & Dinner – mark your diary now. This function will be held on Thursday, Nov 8th 2007. Details later in the year.

Blue & Blue – February 2007 (cont)

From the Editor:

John Pass and his wife Di, both personally and through their company, are involved with the Australian Paralympic Committee and sponsor one of Australia’s leading Paralympic athletes, Kurt Fearnley. Kurt won Gold at the Athens Games and again at the World Championships in 2006. Di has been on the NSW Paralympic Committee for the past 10 years. Details about John can be found on their company’s website, www.360hr.com.au.

Br Tony Butler, who was a late apology at the OBU Dinner, has been very busy of late. He has just finished writing and publishing the centenary history of the Marist Brothers at Mittagong. The book, called ‘A Hermitage in the South’ was launched late last year. Also it was reported in the “Leader” recently that Br Tony will be writing the history of Marist Kogarah. Seems he is lining up for interesting Marist related jobs. We wonder if a history of MBHSD is on the agenda before our centenary???

Wilfred Byrne was also an apology for the Dinner. He had cataract surgery at the time and travel was restricted. He proudly reports he has three grandsons in Darlinghurst House at Marist Pearce (an achievement we will call a record until told otherwise). Wilfred believes Marist Pearce is a fine school in the best traditions of Darlo.

Br Paul Murphy (Br John Murphy’s brother) writes to us from the Philippines to wish us well and say he is working with street children in Manila. (Our own Fr Riley?)

Don Dudgeon tells us he is unable to see us at OBU functions as his eyesight and general health are increasingly of concern and make travel to Sydney unlikely. Don’s son Bill is Deputy Principal at Broken Hill. We wish Don God’s blessings.

That’s it for this issue. We are a little short of news at present so please keep the snippets coming in.

Warren Thomas
President

*** A reminder from our Secretary, Larry, that if you have not already done so, would you please make sure we have your current e-mail address.