John Irwin:
A trip to Australia for me is long overdue but this year may be out as we are not sure how long my wife's mother has left. Now that I no longer work full time, attending another reunion dinner and seeing everyone again is high on my list. I have really enjoyed the memories from the website Rob put together. Thank you, Rob!
It is remarkable that Len Stevens is still attending reunions. I remember him at the dinner after our final exams in 1967. Regrettably, I will not be attending the dinner as you know. We are still in Houston---and son, Josh, daughter, Elizabeth, and grand son. John, are now back living in Houston also. With every good wish to all attending.
Ken Ogden
At the moment, we're in Avignon, France, but I'll let you have something when we return.
I left full-time employment (at RACV) five years ago. I do a bit of consulting -- I don't go looking for it but if it comes looking for me and it's interesting and I think I can add value, I'm happy to help out. Averages out at about 2-3 days a month.
I was on the Board at Yarra Valley Grammar School (Ringwood), but I moved on from that earlier this year after 17 years.
We travel (and intend to continue to do so while we can). This year we had a 3-week trip in Western Australia -- rented a 4WD in Perth and drove to Kununurra: fantastic trip, fantastic country. And we've just returned from 5 weeks in Europe -- 2-1/2 weeks driving in northern Italy, Switzerland and southern France, followed by a cruise (we've found we like cruising) to Israel, Greek Islands, Ephesus, etc, then Turkey (Istanbul and Gallipoli).
Apart from that, 5-1/2 grandchildren (all of whom live nearby) keep us busy and involved.
Hope it all goes well on the 9th. As I said before, I have a conflicting prior commitment (my farewell dinner from the Board at YVG, as it happens!), so cannot attend -- please convey my apologies and best wishes to our colleagues.
Phillip McDonald
I am currently still working -- don't know how much longer though! I am Director Works & Assets at Hobsons Bay City Council (Altona/Williamstown area). My Directorate responsible for Capital Works & Assets (Capital Works Program delivery, Asset Management, Traffic Engineering, Design), Parks (depot based -- parks & reserves maintenance & capital works), City Maintenance & Cleansing (depot based maintenance & cleansing staff, office based staff supervising road maintenance & building maintenance contractors) & Recreation departments.
Married to Jan (39 years in November). 2 children (Stephen 37 & Tim 34). 2 grandchildren (Liam 12 & Isobel 1).
Living in Geelong in Newtown -- low maintenance townhouse! -- 2 1/2 years -- will retire there most likely.
Haven't done much travelling this year -- had 6 week o/s trip last year -- off to NZ for 3weeks in December -- planning big o/s trip August/September next year (England, France, River Cruise).
Health generally OK -- have had a few issues -- OK at present.
Hope it is an enjoyable night & give my regards to everyone.
David Jay
Cannot make it this year.
The 9 November is the first day of the Gabba Test against the South Africans and that is where I will be.
My one-person consultancy has kept me going but not doing much these days and will call it a day early next year.
Still very happy up here in Qld . Interests are golf and looking for the next short or long break and of course family -- four grand kids etc.
Hopefully I can get down to Melbourne for next year's dinner
John Franklin
Thanks for the invite.
As you would know I have not attended any reunions for a very long time -- this will probably continue for the years ahead. Happy to hear the group is still going strong
Regards to everyone.
David Peile
Unfortunately I once again am an apology due to cruising commitments os. This year Robyn and I are cruising in Sarawak (North Borneo). At present we are about 50 miles inland up the Rajang River at a city called Sibu where we are spending a couple of weeks.
We are still enjoying the cruising lifestyle as our chosen retirement plan and will probably continue until health or strength dictates otherwise.
I guess by now nearly everyone is retired, hope that you are all enjoying it and in good health.
Have a great reunion, best wishes to all.
John Noonan
Regrettably, I will not be able to make it this year. That date is at the tail end of a holiday in the US.
I am still in contact with a few guys from the 1967 group and working most days on the West Gate Bridge but with a bit of consulting to others. Our current focus with the bridge is sorting out the fatigue cracking. I commonly work a four-day week. My Wednesday is taken up with a bike ride in the morning and Italian class in the evening with the odd day looking after grandchildren, particularly during school holidays. I am trying hard to further reduce the working hours.
John Smith
I cannot make it this year: I will be in Sydney. Please give my best wishes to the group. I am now working on a casual basis with KBR so still on the work email, but not working so much. More time to spend in Byron Bay, other travel and sitting around drinking coffee.
A quiz on all your memories for the night. What was your most memorable lecture at uni?
Mine was Peter Ryan's first maths lecture in first year. When he pretended to be the guy clearing the black board and asked us questions on maths, finally it dawned on us, which took a while, that he was the maths lecturer. You cannot get that sort of performance from an on-line lecture.
Felix Blatt
I live and work in Lima, Peru. I come back to Oz occasionally but unfortunately won't be back when the dinner is on. I am here until the end of 2013 so will probably miss next year as well. Hope the evening goes well. Regards to all.
Ian Rankine
Robert, I am unable to attend this year, as I will be away on my annual fishing trip to Eden. I have been doing this with 3 mates around November for the the past 10 years, & expect to catch in excess of 300 kgs of salmon, tailor, bronze whaler sharks & a few other species from the beaches. Chris & I are taking a trip to Spain, Portugal, Ireland & UK next year. UK & Ireland involves car hire, B & Bs & lots of pub fare -- a relaxing way to have a holiday! I am not game to drive in Spain, so we are going to take a 2 week tour with Insight Tours. Chris still works in senior-aged care 2 days a week [4 hrs/day] to enable me to buy good red wines. I recommend the 2008 JJ Hahn cab sav to any red drinkers. I hope the night goes well, & please forward my regards to all.
Jeff Harding
Briefly, we are still living between Lucca Italy and Melbourne. Doing quite a bit of traveling in Europe with business (Ceramic Fuel Cells Ltd), golf and cycling.
I am retiring after 5 years as Chair of Ceramic Fuel Cells. The company is in sound shape and needs Board input from directors based in Germany and the UK. The new chair is based in London.
Returning to melbourne for Christmas and January with the family (6 grandkids from 1 week to 14 years) and friends in Melbourne and at Anglesea.
I hope you have a great dinner.
Peter Lechte
Sorry but I will not be able to make it to this dinner as am snowed under at that time, even though it sounds like you have put a lot of effort into organising it and should be congratulated for same. The website you have set up is also really good, and certainly brings flashes of memory / nostalgia (or whatever the word is for us oldies) re names and faces, Cranks and Nuts, SCIIAES, etc. Not sure how much longer I am going to stay on at VU with this current email address, as am getting pretty long in the tooth, but have a private email as follows: peterlechte@hotmail.com
http://wcf.vu.edu.au/fhesexpertise/Index.cfm?Search_DisplayDetails=Search_DisplayDetails&SchoolID=2&ExpertiseID=140
Kris Romuld
I continue to manage the University of New England bookshop in Armidale, remain active in golf and sailing and enjoy an overseas skiing trip each year. My three children are showing no inclination to incorporate nappies in their lives. Hope to see you all soon.
Angelo Iannazzo
Apologies but I don’t think I can now make it to Melbourne that week. Still working (too bored otherwise and have to recover what the bankers did to any of my hard earned investments).
Now permanent resident in Hong Kong and with kids scattered between NYC, Pakistan, Hong Kong and Australia this is a very good place to live and avoid the "god what is going to happen to us" mentality in the lucky country. However, I do miss a good beach and clean air.
I plan to travel to Brazil during November, where I am forming a joint venture company to supply a number of co-generation projects from waste from supermarkets and rice husk, each plant to generate 30 MW and a number of solar generation projects.
Being dragged into similar prospects in Ghana and Indonesia.
My business model is simple, JV with very bright and capable people about 20-30 years younger and let them passionately drive the business. Maybe i can sit on that beach again in between.
Have a great night and good wishes to everyone.
Hope you have a great reunion dinner this Friday.
I am currently in the south west of Brazil in Santa Catarina meeting large national companies that are very keen in bio-mass and solar generation projects. The country side is like coastal east coast Victoria/NSW and Qld but with very high mountains.
Incredible country on the rise and expected to be in top 5- 7 economies in short time.
Very much like Australia with 10 times the population.
Peter Seyler
Apologies for late reply -- I have been holding off just in case I could make it, however regret to say I cannot.
I am currently still in Indonesia working (still) on Aceh post-tsunami/earthquake reconstruction projects as an independent consultant currently with UNDP (2010 - present) . . . prior to that with ADB (2005-20010).
Please pass on my best regards to all.
Renzo Negrelli
Unfortunately I won't be able to attend. We will be in Launceston attending a film festival on the 8-11 November. Please pass on my best wishes to all and I hope to make it next year.
As for my status I basically finished work in May 2011 and now wonder why did I wait so long. I am enjoying retirement. Golf (3 to 4 games/week) and 3 grandkids keep us busy. Apart from local travel we haven't done any exotic trips. My wife is trying to talk me to go to Europe next year for 2 to 3 months but I fear I will miss my current lifestyle too much. In the end she will probably win out. Again regards to all and have a great evening.
Brian Logan
Thanks for the invitation, I am still battling with the cancer but have it on the run! Next year I believe will see it beaten praise God! Say hi to the guys and have a great night.
Peter Gill
I note you are expecting me on Friday night but I will be interstate unfortunately.
I am looking forward already for next year.
I am still doing a little real estate but have since brought in 2 partners to the business.
There are other business interests and I am on a number of very interesting and active Not for Profit Health Care and Education Boards.
Next year may be a good one for Collingwood!
Regards to all the boys.
Murray Cullinan
I will be an apology but it is great that the annual dinner is ongoing. I am still going full time with transport in Victoria, am enjoying myself in spite of budget cuts. Regards to all and have a fantastic night.
Gordon Alderson
I am busy with a number of voluntary tasks. One is Meet and Greet. We meet people alighting at North Shore Station having come by The Overland train from Adelaide and various other places on its way to Melbourne.
Another is Mission to Seafarers. We drive a mini bus to the gangplanks of ships in the Port of Geelong and take seafarers to the Seafarers' Club and to Geelong and Corio shops.
I also have a SaaS-platform development going of software that assists groups of clients to reach consensus as to precisely the weighting of attributes they want recruiters to find in exemplary candidates. The goal is to have this available worldwide to generate passive income.
My wife continues to be very busy teaching piano and our three children are busy with their careers or having babies.
Please pass my best regards to everyone on Friday night.
John Davies
My apologies for the lack of response. I will not make the dinner this year but I hope everyone attending will have an enjoyable evening.
I note Rob that you put together an update of what people have been doing. My news is that I will be retiring on 21st December from the Department of Health, primarily as a consequence of Mr Baillieu's cuts to funding! There is much tidying up still to do. I am still involved with contracts and have been heading a review committee to update the standard general conditions for construction contracts. I hope to continue next year to be involved with Standards Australia.
I have not stopped my involvement with singing and I have been performing with the Melbourne Opera Company for the past 3 years. Their next production will be Beethoven's Fidelio in February.
May I wish everyone a merry Christmas.
Robert Marks
I am continuing to do research, with visiting appointments at UNSW and Melbourne Uni, but not doing any face-to-face teaching any more. I am also doing some consulting when it comes along, as well as singing through the Bach cantatas, and enjoying Balmain and the Blue Mountains. Both kids are still at uni, one in Canberra and one in Melbourne. My partner and I travel when we can, and actually will still be in London on the night of the dinner, by a miscalculation of mine. Best regards to everyone on Friday night. http://www.agsm.edu.au/bobm