The Magazine of the Barker College Community Issue 98, Autumn 2013 Kyle Willimott, NSW Young Scientist of the Year 2012 HSC Results – Class of 2012 Science – BHP Billiton Awards Junior School – Impressive New Classrooms Music Tour to Cuba ii Inside The Barker 12 14 16 28 35 44 Prep School Junior School Middle & Sport Old Barker Personal Notes Senior School 04 14 16 22 04 14 16 22 HSC Results – Class of 2012 Junior School Science – BHP Billiton Awards Music Tour to Cuba – Impressive New Classrooms The Barker is the quarterly magazine of Barker College Editor-in-Chief Dr Roderic Kefford Editor Carolynn Webb Assistant Editor Margaret Kefford Technical Assistant Keith Vallis Alumni Liaison Officer Ian Campbell Assistant Coordinators Cathie Crouch, Karina Drummond, Mandy Loomes Print Production Ian Lindsay 0419 693 308 Art Direction Yolanda Koning 0404 811 136 www.facebook.com/barkercollege Barker_TheBarker_98_FA.indd 3 11/03/13 10:50 AM The Barker—Issue 98, Autumn 2013 Dr Roderic From the Headmaster Kefford LEFT Bishop Barker’s Silver Tea Service Bishop Barker’s on Display 1840 silver tea 14 service on display School Archivist, Morwenna Pearce former School Council in Carter House. member, Jill Simmonds and Margaret Kefford have collaborated on a project to provide a permanent home for the silver tea service presented to Rev Frederic Barker and his wife Jane on the occasion of their marriage on 15 October 1840 by the members of their parish congregation. The tea service is one of a few artifacts the School possesses which had belonged to Bishop Barker, and came into the School’s possession in 1992. It comprises four pieces styled in what is known as pumpkin- cut silverware, as the barrels of the tea pot and coffee pot were formed by the silversmith to resemble the outer shell of a pumpkin with deep grooves between rounded panels. Vale, Garry Boyce With the teapot and the coffee pot are a matching sugar bowl and a small creamer (jug) for milk. Each piece has been Members of the School Community gathered in the War painstakingly engraved by the smith with the words: Memorial Chapel on Saturday 2 February to celebrate the life of Garry Boyce (57). Presented as a marriage gift to the Rev Members of his family, school friends, friends and colleagues from Frederic Barker MA by the congregation the legal profession and countless Barker Old Boys remembered 22 of St Mary’s Edgehill, Liverpool, desirous with affection this gentle, unassuming, dedicated, selfless man, who had given so much to his family, to his old School, to his that their minister might possess in the profession and to the wider community. retirement of his home a small token of The sheer quality of Garry’s service to Barker as Life Patron and their esteem for his character, gratitude for as President of the OBA, as Chairman of the School Council, as his exertions and attachment for his person. inaugural Chairman of Barker Foundation and as a Barker parent and grandparent, was inestimable. A full tribute to Garry will The tea service is now on display in an especially designed cabinet appear in The Old Barker in the next issue of this magazine. in the Council Room in Carter House. Roderic Kefford LEFT Headmaster Receives Dr Roderic Kefford, Hon Susan Lenehan, John Laing Award Independent Chair of Principals At a special ceremony last November, the Headmaster Australia Institute received the John Laing Professional Development Award and Dr John Collier, the NSW/ACT from The Principals Australia Institute in recognition of his Chairman of the outstanding contribution to the professional development Association of and nurturing of school leaders in independent schools Heads of Independent in NSW. Dr Kefford was nominated for the award by his schools of Australia. colleagues in the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (NSW/ACT Branch). The Barker is the quarterly magazine of Barker College Carolynn Webb Editor-in-Chief Dr Roderic Kefford Editor Carolynn Webb Assistant Editor Margaret Kefford Technical Assistant Keith Vallis Alumni Liaison Officer Ian Campbell Assistant Coordinators Cathie Crouch, Karina Drummond, Mandy Loomes Editor Print Production Ian Lindsay 0419 693 308 Art Direction Yolanda Koning 0404 811 136 1 Ian C Miller From the Chairman RIGHT Phillip has had extensive experience in a co-educational school Mr Phillip Heath. setting. Both William Clarke and Radford are co-educational, and Phillip introduced co-education at St Andrew’s Cathedral School. Acknowledged as an outstanding educational leader, Phillip is a former Chairman of the Headmaster’s Conference (NSW) and of the NSW/ACT Branch of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). He will take up the role of National Chairman of AHISA in October 2013 for a period of two years. While at St Andrew’s, Phillip also represented independent schools on the NSW Board of Studies, as well as chairing several Board committees. Phillip and Alison have been actively involved in church life both at Croydon in Sydney and in Canberra, where Phillip has served on the Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Canberra – Goulburn. Phillip enjoys reading, writing, theatre arts, speaking, cricket, rugby and various other outdoor activities. I would ask that you would pray for Phillip and Alison as they prepare to make the transition to Barker College. The Council of Barker College is honoured to have had the opportunity to interview a significant number of leading heads of schools both from NSW and interstate. The strength of the candidates reflects the high regard in which Barker is held within the educational community throughout Australia. It is considered a leading independent school with a strong Christian ethos, providing excellent pastoral care, and which enables its students Mr Phillip Heath B.A. (Hons), M.A. (Hons) DipEd, FACE FACEL to develop their gifts and talents both academically and through has been appointed as the School’s ninth Headmaster, succeeding our co-curricular program. Dr Roderic Kefford in January 2014. The interviews also affirmed the high regard in which our own Phillip is married to Alison and they have two adult children, staff are held for the quality of their teaching here and their Thomas and Elizabeth. Phillip commenced his career at Trinity contribution to educational organisations and activities beyond Grammar School teaching History, English and Divinity, and he Barker College. was also a Boarding Housemaster there. After a year at The King’s I also wish to acknowledge the tremendous support that the School in Ely, Phillip returned to Trinity, and then became the School Council has received from Dr and Mrs Kefford in this inaugural Deputy Head at William Clarke College. In 1995 Phillip selection process. The School Council would ask that you would was appointed Head of St Andrew’s Cathedral School, where continue your support and encouragement for Rod and Margaret he established the Gawura School for inner city Aboriginal and throughout 2013 as they both continue to ensure that the School Torres Strait Islander children. He took up his present position as community enjoys an exciting and fulfilling year amidst the Principal of Radford College in Canberra in 2008. educational challenges which always surround us. Phillip sees education as being transformational in outcome, I also look forward to 2013 with a sense of excitement, relational in process and experiential in its essence, involving a especially as the Junior School staff and boys take full advantage partnership with parents and the school community. He believes of their new facilities, including the new technology being that schools must foster and nourish a tradition of good and integrated into the building for the benefit of all of our students informed teaching which can challenge students as well as in the Junior School. prepare them for a lifelong learning journey as they move into I look forward to the opportunity to meet with you during the society. This involves a use of critical skills which are informed by year and trust that 2013 will be an exciting and rewarding year a concern for others within society as well as seeking justice and for you and your family. the extension of compassion for all. Ian C Miller Chairman 2 The Barker—Issue 98, Autumn 2013 Jeff Ian C Ware Miller From the Chaplain LEFT About Time! Senior Weekend Away 2013. In a school that recognises the fundamental equality of young men and women and BELOW LEFT Kate Ramshaw welcomes the advance of women into various (front right seated) areas of service and leadership in Church and with members of the chaplaincy community, it’s about time we had a female team at the Senior chaplain. We are all delighted that Kate Weekend Away. Ramshaw has commenced her work in the Senior School at Barker. A succession of outstanding women, such as Anne Yarham, Julia Anstey, Lucy Solomon, Charlotte Burton, Jodie Jessup, Jennifer Lyle, Alana Koch, Jackie Gibson, Crystal Forward and Kirrily Aynsley have been part of the school’s chaplaincy team for a decade and more. Kate, however, is the first woman to be sought and officially appointed as an Assistant Chaplain. It is well overdue. Following university studies at UTS and a brief career in accountancy, Kate decided that this was the work she wanted to do and prepare for. Further study led her to teach Legal and Business Studies at Richard Johnson Anglican School. She then pursued theological study. Now, fresh out of Moore College, Kate says, “I am looking forward to getting to know staff, students and parents. I am very excited to serve and teach in such a wonderful school.” She is expecting to be ordained in the next 12 months.