Time for some Newman Nostalgia!
The best kind was in the air last Friday, when we hosted the Marist (now Newman) College 1972, 50 Year Reunion!
This was the first major reunion to be held back on campus and there’s been overwhelmingly positive feedback from everyone who came along. Some flew in from interstate - Terry Beeson only organising to fly in from Brisbane the night before!
The lads were welcomed into the Sports Centre at 6pm by Acting Principal Lucie McCrory before accompanying Acting Vice Principal Simon Martino (Newman graduate 2005) and Br Paul Murphy (from the 1972 class) on a tour of the campus. About half an hour later (while they were quite some distance away) the approaching noise told us they were making their way back. It was immediately clear those who hadn’t recognised each other at the beginning, had done so along the way, and they were all talking and laughing as if no time, at all, had passed.
Next was a group photo, for which the lads all trooped downstairs. With the backdrop being the Terry Gleeson Oval, everyone called out how they had planted it, back in the day - mostly “volunteered" by Br Ambrose. In the centre of the group was one of the boys’ old teachers, Leo Keegan, who’d come along for the night.
The Principal in 1972 was the vastly popular Br Tim McDonald who now lives in Florida. Leo Keegan referred to him as "the smartest person he ever met anywhere, by a country mile.”
Tim desperately wanted to fly over for this reunion, making sure he had both his passport and his wife’s blessing but, in the end, the long flight posed a serious risk to his health, so he couldn’t come. He was so sad to not be able to be here, and was missed, but Committee member Mick Evans worked hard with Tim using various online platforms, resulting in a personal recording for the night, addressing all the boys. It was very special, and began with a crack about how old they’d all gotten old, as he remembered them as 17-year-olds!
There were then a series of short speeches by 1972 School Captain John Dastlik, School Vice Captain John Aldous, and others. These were followed by a truly rousing rendition of the Marist warcry led by Peter O'Dea, and the start of a slideshow looping fabulous images from the Archives.
Some of the lads gave personal interviews - among them Daven Moldrich, who spent six years at Aquinas before transferring to Marist Brothers for Sub-Leaving and Leaving (Years 11-12). He said:
“I spent my last two years here and I would have to say without a doubt, the last two years of my school were the best years I ever had in my entire schooling. I loved it here, the guys were fantastic, they took me in, the Brothers were good - Brother Tim in particular ... everything about Marist Brothers was great.”
The food, by our own Catering Manager Donna McFadden, looked scrumptious and there was plenty of it; our barman Brent Penberthy (1993) served drinks all night; and the venue - overlooking the Terry Gleeson Oval as the sun set - was just perfect.
As some of our staff left at about 7:30pm, to allow the lads to enjoy their reunion, they paused about 15 feet from the doorway, listening to the din of talk and bellows of laughter coming from behind them. They agreed this was the sound of a successful reunion. Wonderful stuff.
If we can help you organise your St Joseph’s, Marist, Brigidine, or Newman College reunion, please email alumni@newman.wa.edu.au.
The 1972, 50 Year Reunion invitation.
