Cranbrook '71 mini-reunion dinner August 2015 [comments welcomed]

Acceptances for the August dinner: Greg Deacon, Les Schmalzbach, Matt Sawyer, Howard Barker, Andrew Byrne, Graeme Wise, Andrew Hilton, Victor Voets (Nicolson), Mark Darling, Richard Wild, Warwick Stuart, Andrew Howie and Andrew Bottomley. We should also see Alice Ilich (representing Greg) and David Slessar (Melbourne Grammar - BE NICE to him!).

 

Recent messages, apologies and regards received from Peter Richardson, John North, John Szetu, Tom Wykoff, Wayne Burgess, Eric McCusker, Nick Back, John Ashton, Andrew Howie, Andrew Parsons, Sam Yates, Jonathan Street, Peter Anstee, Tom Wykoff, David Gilray, Simon Mumby and Ian Mudie.

Others who we know are 'around' from sources include Clive Lovell, Jeffrey Tobias, Verne Baistow, George Palmer Marco Belgiorno-Zena and Alan Pearlman. 

Other blogs with photos of reunion dinners, Cranbrook School, etc:

http://cranbrookreunioncafebondi.blogspot.com.au/
http://cranbrook40.blogspot.com.au/
http://cranbrook1970.blogspot.com.au/

Fu Manchu dinner photos Cranbrook dinner 25/8/15.

Mark D, Matt S

Matt S, Howard B

Les S, Alice I

Richard W, Les S, Alice I

Warwick S, Andy B

Warwick S, Andrew B, Andy B

Victor V(N), Andrew H

 Graeme W, Andy H, Greg D.

Greg, Mark and Matt

G. W

Mark D and Andy B

Howard in beret

Andrew H, Andrew H and Graeme W

Victor V, Andy H (2) Greg D, Mark D and Howard B.

Howard B and Alice I (for Greg in USA)

 Mark D, Andy B and Howard B

List of feed-back screeds ... Peter Richardson

Peter Richardson

John North

Eric McCusker

Andrew Hilton

Andrew Byrne

Richard Wild

Nicholas Back

Gregory Deacon

Howard Barker

Craig Tallard

John Ashton

Peter Anstee

Warwick Stuart

Andy Bottomley

Andrew Howie

Simon Mumby

Andrew Parsons

Tom Wykoff

Ot Ratsaphong

Les Sch'bach

John Woodman

Alice Ilich (representing Greg).

PETER RICHARDSON ...

From: Peter Richardson [mailto:peter.john.richardson@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, 25 July 2015 7:38 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Local Cranbrook reunion dinner: Tuesday 25th August 7pm Fu Manchu restaurant.

Hello old mate,

Many thanks for the invite but I will be offshore Malaysia !

But when I am next there in Sydney, free-grazing with ‘his honour’ I will catch up.
Enjoy yr night with old friends and please pass on my best regards to all.

My health & fitness in great shape. Love life in a purple patch with the girls ranging from 25 to 35 !! Ouch !!

KL is likely to become my home for the next few years as I have been made a director in a ‘bumi’ company with the task of building up the subsea & offshore side of the business.
I still have my regular consulting position as SapuraKencana & hope to continue there for a few more seasons.

I love that photo of me and Eric - he was great fun at school until he left and a great muso of course. Hope that his tour went well. 

You take care old friend - stay in touch.   A couple of recent photos for you.

Kind regards,
Peter Richardson +6014 6762420

John North

John and Suzie North wrote to say they have been on a cruise to Europe and are now returning from a wedding in the Whitsundays.  John’s mother and daughter Charlotte are coming to Sydney this week and so he will not be able to make the dinner.  He sends fond regards and cheers to all the troops.  John has sent me his private email in case anyone wants to get in touch I can let you know or forward to him as required.  AB ..

 

Eric McCusker

---

From: Eric McCusker [mailto:eric@mccusker.com.au]
Sent: Sunday, 26 July 2015 4:27 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Local Cranbrook reunion dinner: Tuesday 25th August 7pm Fu Manchu restaurant.

Hi Andrew,

I don’t think I can make it, I’ll be in Melburnium as per usual.

I will be in Sydney with MONDO ROCK on August 21st at the STATE Theatre with guests Mi-Sex and I’d love to see any alumni that would like to come.  

Cheers to all!

Eric

 

Andrew Hilton

Wildewood, Wildes Meadow

We were eager to leave the big smoke in '98, our second child Melanie was in her last year of school. At that time I was working in a dual diagnosis rehab in Austral, south west Sydney about 7 miles from Liverpool. The environs of Camden was a possibility, mid North Coast, lots of places but we settled on a place in early '99 in the Southern Highlands called Wildes Meadow. At Wollongong Uni. in the early 70's discovered the beauty of the south coast and Kangaroo Valley where I used to work and hang out at a Quaker farm, but I never really knew Mittagong, Bowral, Moss Vale. As a kid travelled on the old Hume Highway mostly at night headed for the snowfields. But sixteen years later I can say I know and am involved in the place, even feel a sense of the spirituality of the landscape. We live on a bit over five acres with cats, wombats, snakes, donkeys, an alpaca, chickens and dogs, not to mention hundreds of trees and landscaped gardens. I'm often hanging out in a shed up the back with my vinyl records, still the same cliche tastes, turntable, valve amplifier, books, well you get the picture:

Home garden at Wildes Meadow, Southern Highlands

Andrew Hilton and Ric Chau on visit from Canada.

Andrew Byrne ..

I continue to live between Potts Point and Bowral, working Wednesday to Saturday at the drug clinic in Redfern and playing a country squire from Saturday to Tuesday each week.  The commute is by train and the contrast could not be greater, especially in the colder months.  The opera and semitic wanderings are singular side-shows (see my blogs if anyone is interested).  Nice to catch up with so many of you both on email and in the flesh at the dinners.  Cheers also to the "lurkers" who we also hope to see when the time is right for you ... please call any time!  AB ..

Richard Wild

From: Richard Wild [mailto:wildren22@gmail.com]
Sent: Monday, 3 August 2015 10:21 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Local Cranbrook reunion dinner: Tuesday 25th August 7pm Fu Manchu restaurant.

 

Hello Andrew, The blog looks good. Well done. 

What am I doing now? Well, I retired at 60, after spending 41 years in the shipping industry and am keeping busy doing other things. I wrote a book that was published earlier this year. It is a novel about a German cargo ship trying to make it's way home at the start of WW1. It has been great fun writing it and studying all the preparation for it. I am now working together with the publisher to expand advertising etc, so we have set up a website. If you are interested in checking it, please go to: www.richardewild.wix.com/richard-wild . 

You asked for a photo? It's on the website too. 

Looking very forward to seeing you and the 'team' at the dinner later this month. 

Best wishes, Richard.

Nicholas Back

From: Nicholas Back [mailto:nbarchitects@ozemail.com.au]
Sent: Friday, 24 July 2015 9:35 AM
To: 'Andrew Byrne'

Thanks for the info Andrew.

If the catch up dinner is while I am away, we shall have to convene something else later – almost a year since the very enjoyable sojourn at Mark and Stephanie’s.

Deb and I are embarking on a two week trip around Central and Northern Australia by light plane, taking in all sorts of places usually only accessible by prolonged 4WD travel!

Should be fun.

Cheers,

N

Gregory Deacon

I am still working busily as an anaesthetist at St Vincent’s and at the Prince of Wales although have cut back a lot on my honorary work for the Australian Society of Anaesthetists.

All 3 children are at university, Victoria age 24 studying medicine at Sydney Uni, James age 22 studying medicine at Uni of NSW and Emma age 19 studying international and global studies at Sydney Uni, she is living in Women’s College the other 2 are still at home.

James is playing grade cricket for Easts and is varying from 1st grade to 3rd grade depending on his run scoring. He is thinking of taking next year off uni to play cricket in England.

Have been doing more travelling in the last couple of years, last year Alaska, Turkey and Greece earlier this year Spain, Portugal, Malta and Italy.

My Dad has been very ill of late. He was diagnosed with stomach cancer about a month ago and 2 weeks ago had a large stroke leaving him paralysed down the right side and with speech difficulties. He is quite distressed as until the stroke he was living alone and independently in the family home in Victoria Road.

Looking forward to seeing many of you on Tuesday.

Best wishes,
Greg

                    Nick Back and Greg Deacon

Howard Barker

Hello all,

After 12 years in Cairns I returned to Sydney in mid May this year after 12 years in Cairns We were looking for somewhere between Batemans Bay and Bloomfield river to best suit our semi retired life over the next decade. After 6 months near Byron Bay we settled in Five Dock with our two dogs and cat. Found a great old house with Canada bay lapping up on the back lawn, perfect for the animals....a little more Fiji than Five Dock ! If any of you are nearby please come over. The best coffee in Sydney is nearby.

Look forward to catching up in three weeks.

Cheers Howard

Craig Tallard

From: craig tallard [mailto:craigtallard@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 August 2015 11:47 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Reminder Cranbrook mini-reunion dinner in Kings Cross Tues 25th Aug.

I regret nothing!!. It was someone else's fault!!

I will not be in attendance and will not be there in spirit as I'm beginning to believe I do not have one.

Craig.

 

 

Craig and I discussed using email addresses on open blogs ... to which he replied:

That's a good idea, wouldn't think it matters.

Odd world isn't it, and in our lifetimes. We used to look someone up in the phone book, now phone numbers, etc are hidden as private. Did you read about the China hack into the US govt personnel systems. They stole everything, even those of us who are independent contractors. I google myself regularly to see what shows up.

Could well be google, not nuclear Armageddon, will be the cause of our demise.

Nice to hear from you!!

Craig

John Ashton

From: john ashton [mailto:ashtonjkw@hotmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 August 2015 9:23 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: RE: Reminder Cranbrook mini-reunion dinner in Kings Cross Tues 25th Aug.

Hi Andrew,

Thank you for organising this and your ongoing work in keeping the "band of brothers" connected. Sadly I will not be able to make it to this engagement.

I occasionally see Andrew Hilton when he comes to Melbourne and he tells me you live much of your life in Bowral these days. I have recently been in contact with Souraphong "Ot" Ratsaphong, Howard Barker and John North and I do ever wonder as to the whereabouts of Ashley Browne.

That 1971 photo you posted is a ripper! I'm going to get my tech people to clean it up and print it.

All the best at Fu Manchu and please convey my cheerio to the guys.

John

Peter Anstee

Hi Andrew
Many thanks for the invite. Would love to be there but unfortunately will be in the wrong State.

Been travelling and for the last year we have been ensconced on the Gold Coast on the beach.

Nick Back has dropped in which was great & Ton Wykoff nearly made it, but for his wife falling over.

We are down in Sydney quite often, so maybe the next one will fit our schedule.

Have great night.

Cheers, Peter Anstee

 

Warwick Stuart

From: warwick stuart [mailto:warwick.stuart@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 August 2015 7:01 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: So can you come to the dinner in Kings X, Warwick?

Hi Andrew. Will be there on 25th ... In Finland at moment visiting inlaws.

Warwick.

Andy Bottomley

From: Andy Bottomley [mailto:andybottomley@gmail.com]
Sent: Tuesday, 4 August 2015 11:33 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Local Cranbrook reunion dinner: Tuesday 25th August 7pm Fu Manchu restaurant.

Hi Andrew, I just altered my bussy schedule and now champing at the bit to join all of you on the 25th.

Thanks

Andy Bottomley

Andrew Howie

Hi Andrew,

Thanks for organising dinner.

I have been working over the past year as a Dietitian with DOH.  A while back (BC) my wife Helen and I travelled to UK for a few years and purchased a small yacht and sailed back to Oz.  This gave me a chance of more food adventures and kayaking adventures. (see photos)

Currently we have three kids. Alice now 18 at UTS studying Biology etc and Mike 15 yr 10 and Claire yr 6.

A more recent photo from a more recent adventure to Norfolk Is is attached.

Completed my MBA in 2012. Currently working on  a couple of projects (also on linkedin https://au.linkedin.com/pub/andrew-howie/16/512/980  ) 1/writing apps for Dietitians to use 2/trying to encourage profession to look at patient outcomes (this includes exploring the blogging world aka   https://ahtheleandietitian.wordpress.com/ ) 3/Planning next sailing adventure

Look forward to seeing you

Andrew

Simon Mumby's news ...

Andrew,

Many thanks for the invite and apologies for tardy reply!

Unfortunately, can't make it next week. Please bear me in mind for next one

Caught up with and had a few lunches with Nick Back last year.

Off overseas in September - back and working until December and then, I hope, a more leisurely 2016

Look forward to all the news and being kept "ïn the loop"

Still run my theatre production company - doing shows all over Aust

Wife, Mary (married 28 years) Daughter Alex - living in London & working in advertising, daughter Edwina - living in Sydney - working in hospitality publicity, son Jono - finished school last year (at Joeys - I can hear you sigh!!) and currently overseas travelling

Thanks for all you do with the communications and social pro-activeness

Speak soon 

Kind Regards
Simon Mumby

Andrew Parsons

Andy is still living and practising dentistry in Port Stephens ... he sent the following:

From: Andrew Parsons [mailto:rapdent@nelsonbay.com]
Sent: Sunday, 26 July 2015 7:01 PM
To: 'Andrew Byrne'
Subject: RE: Local Cranbrook reunion dinner: Tuesday 25th August 7pm Fu Manchu restaurant.

Hi Andrew,

Won’t be able to make the dinner but will see Matt Sawyer & Warwick Stuart a few days later so will get the gossip then.

Cheers, Andy Parsons

Tom Wykoff

From: TD Wykoff [mailto:tdwykoff@bigpond.net.au]
Sent: Thursday, 20 August 2015 8:25 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Cranbrook mini-reunion reminder ... next Tuesday at Kings Cross.

 

Exceeding sorry to miss Greg's sister. But we are whale watching in Greenland. Please give her my regards. Hope to catch up on the next dinner. 

Tom

Ot Ratsaphong

From: Ot Ratsaphong [mailto:ot.ratsaphong@gmail.com]
Sent: Saturday, 29 August 2015 8:31 AM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Re: Some snaps of the Cranbrook mini-reunion 25/8/15

 

Hi Andrew,

 

Thanks for sending the link to the recent dinner reunion.

 

Sorry I couldn't make it to the dinner. I had just returned from an 8 week trip to the U.S. to visit my Mum and sister. I was still finding my feet earlier this week.

 

To bring you up to date with has been happening with me, I have three children: Nick (32) who works as a designer and DJ, Nina (27) who works as a hairdresser in Bondi Junction. She told me one of clients was the head mistress of the Cranbrook primary school (not sure of details). Vasna (13) still in Year 7.

 

While in the U.S. I decided to retire as a Business Analyst and to embark on my new career/adventure as a trader and hedge fund manager. This last week was a bit of a baptism of fire for me but my account has survived.

 

In Chicago I met Karen the "Supertrader", someone who has been a bit of an inspiration for me and someone I never thought that I would ever meet in person (see attached photo). She started with a $10,000 account and now manages a $240 million account (with 120 members in her fund, the legal limit). She also has a separate fund that she set up purely to fund charities that she supports in Africa, Latin America and South East Asia. (You can look up her story on YouTube. She is a real person).

 

This is an excerpt of a talk that she gave at the reunion that I recently attended in Chicago.

https://youtu.be/a25ZSxUl920

 

This is a little story about her and her charity projects.

https://youtu.be/1tYn77bthRA

 

My plan is follow her footsteps and also set up a fund to support various charities and projects. At this stage I am at the very beginning of this long journey. The journey to get to this point has been a long one, but better late than never. The next stage of the journey is going to be fun. I'll let you know of my progress in 12 months time.

 

Anyway, hope to catch up at the next reunion.

 

Best regards,

Ot Ratsaphong 

 

Les S'bach

Written by Andrew Byrne:

Les lives around the corner from my new flat in Potts Point in his famous grand 'cage' terrace house.  I often drop in after work for a generous tipple and a chat about the world. Samantha is a gifted artist who also loves opera and we have shared a few memorable performances together while Les looked after the children.  It is a continuing delight to see these two growing up with school, sport, art and music all around them.  Les continues to work after hours manning the emergency ward at Prince Alfred Hospital, something which might be something of a world record.  

John Woodman

Hi Andrew and Peter,

Good to make contact again and thank you so much for the link to the blog, great photos and very interesting reading.. Currently in Canada visiting my son Trent and his wife and to celebrate our first grand child's 1st birthday. Leaving to head back home on the 11th Sept via Hong Kong for a few days. Would be great to catch up with you guys at some stage. Please keep me updated on any news and hopefully I may be able to attend the next get together.

Cheers, John

 

Alice Ilich (for Greg who is in New York).

From: Alice Ilich [mailto:alicemilich@mac.com]
Sent: Saturday, 29 August 2015 6:55 PM
To: Andrew Byrne
Subject: Cranbrook dinner

Dear Andrew ... what a night!  
 

I wish to thank you and all fellow Ilich classmates for tolerating a female Gregory Ilich in drag. As always a great joy to share the evening with all of you. I hope that you stayed on for long after I left so that you could get along with boy business.

 

A wonderful evening. Thank you all!

 

Much love

 

Alice

 

PS would you mind forwarding my email to all alicemilich@mac.com