Sydney Rowing Club luncheon on Wed 15th May 2024

Howard B, Matt S, Mark D, Bruce R, Verne B, Andrew B, Warwick S.

Tom W, Greg D, Andy H, Michael B, Bill P, Nick B.

Howard Barker and Nick Back are to be congratulated for organising this delightful event on the Parramatta River at the 'Watergrill Restaurant' of the club they both belong to which is next to the wharf with regular ferry services to city and beyond.  No speeches, individual orders food and drink, convivial atmosphere in lovely venue overlooking the water on all sides.  John North and Les Schmalzbach called in with late cancellations but best wishes for the 14 of us attending.  

Surprising to me there was no discussion of the current controversies at Cranbrook.  One year member with a son still at the school said it was just 'business as usual'.  Most of us are now retired, others with reduced work hours as we pass 70 years of age.  Unfortunately a few had tales of health issues, mostly on the mend (myself included) but these were limited by John North's aphorism that an organ recital should not last more than two minutes.  So family, travel, hobbies and other pursuits were the prevalent topics.   

We look forward to more such gatherings and next time I will take the ferry!  AB .. 

Verne B, Warwick S, Bruce R, Greg D. 

Tom W, Bill P, Andy H and Andy B. 

Mark D, Howard B and Michael B. 

STOP PRESS!  A LOVELY MESSAGE CAME FROM ROD BENSON, SEE NEXT POSTING. 

Message from Rod Benson ...

Andrew

 

Finally got around to replying. Not a great fan of internet chit chat.

Quick summary

Went to Uni in Armidale for accounting degree and diploma (took year off labouring in Gove decided office job for me).

Worked for Binder Hamlyn accountants for 2 or 3 years then as accountant for a number of different companies in Sydney. Did get an offer to be an accountant for a very Italian family in a very Italian business once.

Move to Scone to be Financial Accountant for the Council, then the Mines and then Bursar for the Grammar School. (Chris Bullock was headmaster until just before I started but taught my kids)

Move to Newcastle did a few different accounting jobs and now retired. 

Have five kids and eight grandkids (by October). Two boys one in Dublin fiddling the stock markets and the other in Sydney fiddling with Sydney trains. Two of the girls in Newcastle in Finance and one in Canberra in Insurance.

Going to Dublin next week to see six month old grand child and probably to Spain for 3 weeks.

That’s it in a nutshell

 

Notice a lot of Street House representatives this weeks lunch wish them well

 

Rod

 

Informal reunion dinner 21 Feb 2024 at Big Mama's Trattoria.

Legend on request
 

Dear Cranbrook Colleagues,

I am pleased to report that 14 Old Boys plus Alice Ilich and husband David Slessar attended Big Mama’s Trattoria last Wednesday as arranged by Matt Sawyer and team. 

After sending 73 invitations I received responses from 40. Happily these included ‘reclusives’ Mark Piddington and Russell Head, neither keen on socialising but each sending their best regards to all for a pleasant evening.  I had good talks with Graeme Wise and David Gilray, neither able to make the evening.  Several others were unable to make the date but were keen to hear more about a second function which is being organised by Nick Back in the inner west, possibly a mid-week lunch.  These included Byron Deverich, Victor Voets, Sam Yates, Tom Wykoff, John Sze-Tu, Cyril (Ot) Ratsaphong, Peter Richardson and Alan Pearlman. 

Sixteen was a perfect number for pre-dinner chats and hors d’oeuvre last Wednesday.  Food and wine were copious and pleasant with a great spirit in the room.  Present were:

Back, Nicholas

Baistow, Verne

Barker, Howard

Body, Michael

Bottomley, Andrew

Byrne, Andrew

Darling, Mark   

Deacon, Gregory

Howie, Andrew

North, John

Parsons, Andrew

Prichard, Bill

Sawyer, Matt   

Schmalzbach, Les

We know that such functions are not for everyone and not for any time but I would encourage others to consider coming along just once more to connect with old mates as we age, decay, forget and mature before the inevitable.  More info will be on the blog above in due course. 

Best wishes,

Andrew Byrne ..