"CHAT & BANTER"

During the pandemic lock-down months, a loosely-defined group of Patricians who were in the classes that began Grade 5 in the late 50s and early 60s, and who became the senior group in the mid or later sixties, gradually formed. Some of the group started their St. Pat's time with one of these classes at year levels after Grade 5.

The group arose from an email list which grew more or less organically and which was begun by Bill Dowling when organizing a class reunion, and eventually comprised about 80 Patricians. They keep in occasional contact via email individually or collectively. A larger number of email messages were more regularly exchanged between the group during that quiet period of covid lockdown in June 2021, and has provided a worthwhile connection between those involved, with new 'members' being added when requested.

A rough story-line of those email messages has been compiled, the length of it requiring it to be divided into 'chapters', for convenience and to allow updating of more recent message exchanges. The content of these 'chapters' arose from the emails exchanged between various members of the group, without the expectation of them being distributed more widely. Accordingly, these summaries are not directly available here but can be obtained by sending a request email to the SPOCA (address at foot of page) and a summary will be sent (with some minor redactions where privacy demands).

The group communications gradually reduced in intensity over a few months, but the exchanges (and the gatherings at the Glenferrie Hotel over recent years) may give rise to various sub-groups based on common interests, SPC class level, geographic area or other criteria. SPOCA. President Peter Rogan and the original organizer of the group, Bill Dowling, would be interested in and welcome any feedback or suggestions which Patricians may have regarding greater connections between old friends. Send your ideas to either of those gents using the contact details below.