In this issue: Issue Number 5 – Winter 2017 Dr Richard Malpass writes Reconsidering a liberal education in 2017 I am blind; I am a Grammar boy This boy doesn’t place limits on his achievements Telling stories Sixth Formers creating on paper and in film The White Liars and Black Comedy A madcap farce about telling lies Welcome Dr Malpass Grammar’s twelfth Headmaster Contents Sydney Grammar School magazine Jottings Issue Number 5 – Winter 2017 03 Snippets from here, there and everywhere Rugby tour to Singapore From the Editor 12 Pre-season games in testing conditions y the time this edition of SGS magazine reaches you, Dr Richard Malpass The White Liars and Black Comedy Bwill have concluded his first term at the School as Headmaster. We 14 Grammar’s latest drama production welcome Dr Malpass, his wife Zarith and son Zachary most warmly. As an Old To the home of football Sydneian and with experience at four schools both in Australia and the UK, 16 Visiting England’s hallowed turf Dr Malpass brings fresh perspectives and old affections to bear on his stewardship of the School. It is an exciting time to be at Grammar. Play on! Amongst other things, SGS magazine gives us the opportunity to celebrate 18 The Music Department is as busy as ever some of the extraordinary achievements by current boys. In this edition Last Post you can read about the boys who attracted world-wide attention by creating A journey to the resting place of Old Sydneians the active ingredient used in the medicine Daraprim at a fraction of its 20 commercial value in the US. Other pages reveal remarkable accomplishments Appointment with the Red Dragon in sport, music, drama and debating, not to mention academic matters. Some 22 Tales from the study tour to China of the finest writing and film-making by our Sixth Formers is on display. And I am blind; I am a Grammar boy we hear from one Grammar boy who regards himself as totally unremarkable Theodore Tsolakis tells why he’s no different despite being blind. 24 With best wishes to everyone in the Grammar community from all at Dr Richard Malpass writes St Ives, Edgecliff and College Street. 28 Reconsidering a liberal education in 2017 Philip Barr – Editor Taking the plunge! 31 Younger boys at St Ives dive in La bella lingua 32 The rewards of learning a foreign language Basketball USA 35 A trip to the home of basketball Telling stories 24 36 Extension 2 English projects on display Pixels and tractors 39 Farewell gifts for Dr Vallance Old Masters 40 Staff portraits by our artist-in-residence Summer sport 42 An update from the Sportsmaster 32 36 Grammar was a boarding school? 44 ‘Rathven’, the old School House at Randwick Postcards 46 The roads taken by another seven Old Boys Grammar’s Museum 49 The School’s history is now on display Ties that bind 50 Old Sydneians getting together 40 42 49 2 SGS WINTER 2017 Jottings Welcome, Dr Malpass! Cooper Rice-Brading All of us at Grammar – boys, staff, parents, Old Sydneians and friends of the School – offer the warmest Cooper Rice-Brading, currently of welcomes to Dr Richard Malpass as he starts his in Form VI, was diagnosed with term of office as Grammar’s twelfth Headmaster. An osteosarcoma on 26 February 2016. Old Sydneian himself, Dr Malpass is no stranger to the His Foundation, CRBF (www.CRBF. School. He is a career schoolmaster who has previously org.au), raises funding for critical taught in four schools both here and in the UK, most research into sarcoma, a rare bone recently at Christ’s Hospital, Sussex, where he was cancer. Assistant Headmaster. We extend an equally warm welcome to his wife Zarith and to his son Zachary as Cooper’s mother, Tania, writes: they, too, settle into their new home. In his first term ‘A cancer diagnosis is swift, at College Street, Dr Malpass has wasted no time in confronting, and life-changing. getting to know the boys and his colleagues. We look It can cause destruction, leaving forward to an exciting time ahead as he makes his own the patient a mere shell of his/her distinctive mark on the School for which he already physical and mental self. holds such a great affection. Fortunately, the human spirit is remarkable, facilitating both body and mind to navigate the myriad Cooper Rice-Brading daily challenges. For Cooper, the greatest challenge is not the intense physical pain from an array of treatments and surgeries, but the mental strain of facing his mortality at such a young age. Cooper has mentioned on many occasions he yearns for his former life. His dream? The normalcy of attending school, playing cricket with friends, homework, and feeling like an eighteen year-old. His mind frequently wanders to a time where his only real life pressure was producing an ATAR worthy of the outstanding education he has received at Grammar. He works harder than ever before to fight his condition, to apply himself academically and, where physically possible, to excel at cricket. The goal is no longer a 90+ ATAR or a five-wicket haul, the goal is simply to make every moment count, and to make a difference. Countless months in surgeries, hospitals and operating theatres revealed a The Headmaster common thread: Old Sydneians are making an immense mark in the field of medicine, coupling a privileged education and hard work to make a profound impact on the lives of patients like Cooper. Mackerras Theatre renovations With the HSC imminent, it is a timely reminder, albeit clichéd, to follow our dreams, to be the best we can be and to make the most of every moment of this The Alastair Mackerras Theatre at College Street unique life we have been given.’ was originally built in 1983. Major renovations to this 800-seat facility commenced in December 2016 and were completed in May this year. The scope of works involves a significant aesthetic upgrade including replacement of theatre seats, rendering and painting of walls and improvements to house lighting. There has also been a significant technical upgrade, including a state of the art sound and audio-visual system as well as improved theatre lighting. The renovated space will continue to support the Drama programme, but it is expected that the improvements will also support a much wider range of activities. SGS WINTER 2017 3 Jottings Stand Up, Sing Out! Families Past and Present Reelise Film On Sunday 27 November, Grammar hosted Festival As part of the ‘Families Past and Present’ History the inaugural ‘Stand Up, Sing Out Sydney’ unit at St Ives Preparatory, each Year 1 boy made a event. Over 900 singers (men, women Congratulations to Joshua History Box. They each selected and brought in from and children) came from all over Sydney Lowinger, Jack Brown, Nikhil home six artefacts of personal historical significance and interstate to the John Vallance Hall Ahuja and Alex Lau (all V) which captured early family history, the boys’ to rehearse and record songs with singer- who acted in, filmed and own time as babies, family celebrations, starting songwriters, Christine Anu and Lior Attar. helped to produce a short school, something to represent the present day and Hummingsong Community Choirs, a film which was one of twenty something they anticipate in the future. In class the network of choirs based on the North Shore finalists in the Reelise Film boys wrote paragraphs to describe the background and Northern Beaches, produced the event. Festival, an annual, volunteer- and significance of each item which they stuck Sopranos, altos, tenors and basses rehearsed run short film competition for on each face of their box. Our unit culminated in in separate spaces around the school to learn teen and young adult film- a special Grandparents Morning where the boys their parts for three songs, ‘This Old Love’ makers. The competition aims were able to share their History Box with their by Lior, ‘Respect’ by Otis Reading (made at spreading awareness about grandparents. famous by Aretha Franklin) and ‘Ke Arona’, mental health and the harms a traditional a capella number. Everyone of cyber-bullying. Many of then re-united to record a YouTube video the movies focus on themes to promote the power of singing in the such as anxiety, homophobia community (https://youtube/rrqXExMh- and depression, and spread a 4My) to raise funds for and awareness of the pretty powerful message. The cause of domestic violence. Grammar boys’ film, In Reel Life, won the People’s Choice Award 2017 for best film. Photo courtesy Louise Kennerley Louise courtesy Photo Christine Anu, Anna Humberstone (Director of Hummingsong Choirs) and Lior Attar On Sunday 4 June, ‘Dappled Cities’, a band featuring four Old Sydneians Tim Old Boy band at ‘Vivid’ Derricourt, Dave Rennick, Alex Moore and Ned Cooke (all OS 2000), played the City Recital Hall as part of Vivid Live. Having been together for twenty years, the show at Vivid marked the launch of their fifth album (appropriately titled ‘5’ or IIIII) and was quite a spectacle. In collaboration with Californian artist Paul Juno, design team Studio Days and lighting extraordinaire Lynden Gare, the concert featured a monolithic lighting design accompanying songs from the band’s latest album and favourite tracks from their previous albums. 4 SGS WINTER 2017 Phil Heffernan retires Phil took over as Sportsmaster in 1979 The joy of volunteering Edgecliff Headmaster, Dr Matthew McCloskey writes: Indra Roy (IV) writes: After forty-one years of distinguished service at Edgecliff, Mr Phil Heffernan (pictured ‘Two years ago I started volunteering at the below) will be retiring early next term.