4 April 2008. Many former Forrest Primary School students who went on to Telopea Park High School and were members of the Class of '67 were in attendance to help celebrate the school's 50th anniversary. This was a well-organised event including an official ceremony with speeches and entertainment from the school choir, band and drama group. A birthday cake was cut and refreshments were on offer. The school was open with displays of photographs, archived material and memorabilia. More entertainment followed with rides and food at an afternoon fair.

A fuller report with photos will soon be mounted on the Telopea67 website.

1 April 2008. So soon after attending the TPHS 40 Year Reunion Andy Harris has died from pneumonia in the Calvary Hospital. Andy's recent health had been poor and his immunity wasn't up to fighting his illness. In 1967, Andy was a member of the Telopea 1st grade rugby team and the 1st grade basketball team. He was always affable and often dryly funny and was well liked by people who knew him. He had four children and two grandchildren. Andy's funeral was held at the Norwood Park Crematorium on Monday 7th April. Our condolences go to his family and to his ex-partner, Rae.

17 November 2007. Forty six former students of Telopea Park High School from the Class of 1967 plus ten partners met to celebrate a 40 Year Reunion. A dinner was held at the National Press Club during which messages from many who could not attend were read by Adele Rosalky and Jim Gillespie. Entertaining talks, drawing on their professional experiences, were presented by Bettina Arndt and Graham Moore. Judy Hollingworth reported on the Yarralumla Primary School 50 year celebrations and Judi Preston-Stanley talked about the forthcoming Forrest Primary School 50 year anniversary. David Brown conducted a roll call and Jim was presented with a framed certificate by Wendy Craik in appreciation of his efforts in organising the event.

3 November 2007. This year’s Fête (and Raffle) turned in outstanding results, thanks to many months of hard work by two great teams of coordinators, and the goodwill and positive spirit of over 200 terrific parents, teachers, staff and students! The Fête attracted between 5,000 and 10,000 people and took in a record income of over $49,000.

A fuller report with photos can be viewed at Telopea Fête 07.

August 2007. This month will see Alan Towill compete in his 25th City to Surf the annual 14 kilometre race from the centre of Sydney to Bondi Beach. Alan's best time is 46 minutes 40 seconds when he placed 48th in a field of 70,000. This year he hopes to break one hour which will place him in the top 1000 at 58 years old.   Alan has been a representative in the ACT Marathon Team in 1983, 84, 85 and 87. His fastest marathon was 2 hours and 27 minutes for 42k. He still runs 100k per week.

April 2007. X Gallery in Bungendore was the venue for an exhibition by Tony Stewart titled 'Tag II'. This comprised a collection of photo-based limited-edition prints. Tony’s work has its origins in carefully realised images of people, landscapes and objects as a lens to investigate cultural transformation. In 2006 Tony devoted much of his time researching and developing arguments opposing construction of a major dam in India’s Andhra Pradesh state. Some of the images Tony has made are to help raise awareness of what he calls India’s dam shame and the probable fate of the million people who will be ousted if the dam project goes ahead.

Images of some of Tony's works are included on a Telopea67 website page, 'Tony Stewart Art'.

November 2006. Tom died in the Canberra Hospital after a brave battle with liver failure. Tom was the Australian Junior Ski Champion before coming to Telopea. At school we will remember his social spirit and hosting great parties afterwards! He attended the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA) and found parts in the ABC’s Bellbird and Crawford Brother Productions Homicide, Division 4 and Matlock Police. He made a number of ski documentaries including one on behalf of the Indian Government about skiing in the Himalayas. Tom lived life hard, often on the edge and his lifestyle eventually contributed to his early passing.

September 2006. Janice Preston-Stanley (née Oddy) left for Kabul to join husband Tony who is working there. This is not the first ‘hot spot’ for Jan and Tony — they’ve already had two stints in Baghdad.

Postscript. We can report that Jan and Tony are safely home from Afghanistan.

September 2006. John Owens successfully launched 'Wandera' the 12.5m catamaran that he has been building over the past few years. Described as a Cosmos 1250S, the boat is licensed for charter. It can take 20 people on day excursions or four couples can be accommodated for overnight trips. The boat is moored at Batemans Bay and if you would like to take a trip on the high seas with John contact him on 0412 297245 or email

June 2006. After the death of artist Pro Hart, Aileen Maloney (née Walsh) and her husband Bill contacted the Minister for Community Services and Federal Member for Parkes, John Cobb, to support his push to have Pro Hart’s work included in the Australian Parliament art collection. Aileen and Bill had owned the work titled 'The Crucifixion', part of a small series of 'Ned Kelly Heads' and painted by Pro Hart in 1965, for 36 years. The painting has been loaned to John Cobb and will hang in his Parliament House office. The photo shows Aileen at the unveiling of the work by Deputy Prime Minister and Nationals Leader, Mark Vaile.

May 2006. After retiring as a pilot with Cathay Pacific Graeme resided in the Philippines. He died there after suffering a heart attack while in hospital being treated for another ailment and his funeral was held in Canberra in June. At his funeral, memories of his love of surfing were retold and images of his life including photos taken at the reunion were displayed.

March 2006. Aileen Maloney (née Walsh) held a solo exhibition of her linocut prints at Studio Altenburg in Braidwood. This gallery was until recently owned by Margaret Cowie (née Crossley) another ex-Telopea girl. Prior to moving to the South Coast, Aileen owned the Southlands Gallery in Mawson for 10 years. She has exhibited her art in Sydney and the South Coast and you can still find examples of Aileen's work at Studio Altenburg.

February (?) 2006. Brian, known as ‘Butch’ to many, was the red-haired, bright-eyed mischievous lad who regularly took a bashing playing as hooker in the school’s rugby team. He lived in Tharwa and after school worked at the Orroral Valley Tracking Station for a number of years before joining the Public Service. He died suddenly and leaves a wife and five sons.

August 2005. As a bagpipe playing member of the St Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band from Launceston, Howard Groeneveld competed in the World Championships in Glasgow, Scotland. They finished creditably in mid-field and, further to their competitive success, performed ground-breaking concerts on the Isle of Skye, Orkney, Aberdeen and at Leod, Stirling and Edinburgh Castles. At Pipefest 2005, Holyrood Park Edinburgh, the St Andrews Caledonian Pipe Band entered the Guinness Book of Records as part of the largest pipe band ever formed — over 10,000 strong! A DVD has been released of the band titled 'Live at Edinburgh Castle'.

May 2005. While visiting Australia with his wife to celebrate his mother's 80th birthday Dr Gaspard de Jong travelled to New Zealand's University of Canterbury to see where his late father's massive collection of more than 12,000 books is now housed.   Professor Jan Willem de Jong was a distinguished scholar in Buddhist studies and founder of South Asian and Buddhist Studies at the Australian National University. He gathered books in a variety of fields, with a focus on Asian religions and history.

See more information on the De Jong Collection at the Library website.

August 2004. Dr Wendy Craik took up the position of Chief Executive of the Murray-Darling Basin Commission (MDBC). Prior to this Wendy was President of the National Competition Council, Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Authority and Chair of the National Rural Advisory Council. Other former positions include Chief Executive Officer of Earth Sanctuaries Ltd, a publicly listed company specialising in conservation and eco tourism, Executive Director of the National Farmers Federation, and Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority.

July 2004. Genevieve Bignell (née McCusker) and her partner Matt celebrated a quiet wedding while holidaying in Vanuato. The Mayor of Port Vila was the celebrant in a traditional Polynesian ceremony. The service was held on the beach and Genevieve reports that it was incredibly beautiful. Best wishes to the two of you.

December 2003. Natural Inspirations group exhibition, Gallerie In der Allert, Keispelt, Luxembourg. Harriet Barry (née Horner) has been creating glass jewellery in her home studio for several years. Her wonderful creations have now been recognised internationally.

You can visit Harriet's website at www.harrietbarryglass.com.au

November 2003. At the 2003 Masters Games Colin Merz won a Gold Medal in the Hill Climb motor sport event. Held at Fairbairn Park, off the Sutton Road near Canberra, Colin drove a 1200cc Formula Vee open seat racing car. He purchased this car in 1998 and was re-living the excitment that he had enjoyed over a period of 7 or 8 years while racing Formula Vees in his twenties. Colin continues to win events but says that he is being hotly pursued by his son, Andrew, who also competes.

September 2003. After 40 years in the 'Land Down Under' Jim Gillespie's Scots accent was deemed to be suitably mellowed to allow him to become an Australian Citizen. This was conferred upon him at a Citizenship Day ceremony at Parliament House. Many old friends joined him for an appropriate beer afterwards and Colin Merz presented him with an Australian Flag. Emailed congratulations were received from other friends, some with messages: 'About bloody time!' — Michael Wright and 'I hope you didn't make a hasty decision' — Graham Moore.

February 2003. Former Headmaster Alec McPherson has died aged 90. Before his term at Telopea he was Deputy Principal at Canberra High and Principal at Quirindi High in NSW. His career after Telopea is noted in his letter to the 1997 Reunion on the 'Memories' page. Further to that, he was a member of the Campbell Committee whose report led to the separation of the ACT Education system from NSW. He was also instrumental in the design of colleges as community colleges with the building of Erindale College and its Leisure Centre and community library. At his funeral his love of mathematics and his commitment and contribution to ACT education were highlighted.

January 2003. Liz Done and husband Gerin Hingee (ex-Telopea) returned home from holiday to find that their Chapman home had been destroyed by the firestorm that devasted parts of Canberra and surrounds. Liz and Gerin lost all their possessions in the fire including precious photographs. In a cruel twist, Gerin's brother Ric lost his house in the same firestorm when it devasted homes in Duffy.

25 August 2002. Alison (Lyn) Armstrong married her long term partner, Englishman Don Read, in Vancouver. Alison was living in the Yukon at the time of the 30 year Reunion but shortly after her return to Canada she made the move to Vancouver. Don, a Geordie, is a Dr of Neuropsychology in private practice. He specialises in assessing people with head and brain injuries. He has lived in Canada for about 40 years. Alison and Don plan a trip to Australia around Christmas time 2008. Best wishes to both of you.

October 2002 and September 2003. Tony Bandle was in a team of five members of the Royal Lifesaving Society of Australia who made two trips to China to give instruction in techniques of lifesaving. They visited a military academy where they were involved with 'train the trainer' courses for army, navy and airforce personnel. In Beijing, where there are 10,000 swimming pools, the emphasis was on water safety for children and in Xamin, a coastal city, they instructed lifeguards in practices perfected on Australian beaches. The RLSA funded the trip and donated equipment and instruction manuals to their Chinese counterparts.

2001–2003. Bill O'Brien served as Australian Consul General in the Republic of Nauru. The Consulate-General's office provides support for the work of government agencies involved in processing asylum seekers and is a contact point for official dealings with Nauru.

Many of us were about to have what had become a regular Christmas get together with a Manuka dinner when the group were told of Jenny’s sudden death some weeks earlier. This was a great shock to us all and it put somewhat of a dampener on the evening.

March 1998. He said he was going to do it! Nick Koorey tied the knot (and untied another one to prove that there is still life after 50!) and married Georgina Gerard in Adelaide. Best wishes to the two of you.

Richard was ill at the time of the reunion and was unable to attend. He passed away early in 1998 and flowers were sent to his family on behalf of his school friends. Apart from his academic achievements at school Richard will be remembered as a very good squash player and the cross-country athletic champion.