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10/31/2012 0 Comments Climbing High We are always pleased to hear of old boys on the way up, so we enjoyed getting this photo of old boy Reuben Costello along with the following description.
Reuben in recovery mode after being first fireman in full gear (about 25kgs of equipment) up the 63 flights of Sydney tower in the World Firefighter Games. He ended up winning the bronze medal for third fastest time, getting there in 16 minutes 2 secs. Also on the Costello family news front, congratulations to Simon Costello on the birth of his second daughter, Maya, in Winnipeg, Canada.
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10/30/2012 0 Comments Solving Problems In The Future Great front page photo and article in today's Daily News of our winning Future Problem Solving Team.
With the support of Tina Dalliston and Robyn Wackrow we have been offering the Future Problem Solving programme for the last 2 years and we are looking to develop it as part of the curriculum in the future. The programme involves a rigorous academic exercise where students have to research, evaluate and come up with solutions to issues they are given, within a strict time frame of a few hours. The emphasis is on creativity, teamwork and "thinking outside the rhombus". Our Year 9 team pictured above have made the National Finals this weekend and are looking forward to pitting their wits against the best that the rest of the country can offer. A win would see them competing on the world stage in the USA - but that is for the future! 10/25/2012 0 Comments How Things Have Changed The photo above shows half of the Year 13 (Form 7) group for 1983. A bit different from the 90 plus students who have "done their time" as seniors in 2012.
We are preparing to farewell this year's group over the next few weeks so we will be posting photos of some past graduates in keeping with that theme. 10/24/2012 0 Comments Not To WorryWe would like to put peoples minds at rest over an email that you may have received in the last day or so. Despite what the email might suggest Br Declan is not imprisoned in Spain and does not require 1600 Euros to effect his release.
We have been in contact with Br Dec who insists he remains a free man but is frustrated that the "bug" that has infected his email system has wiped all his contact addresses. If you are a regular communicant with Br Dec send him an email congratulating him on his freedom so that he can rebuild his contact list. 10/23/2012 0 Comments Well Done Scott Scott McGregor acquitted himself very well in the World Age Group Championships in Auckland last weekend.
Scott finished second in the men's 30-34 years division which is a pretty impressive result. The following quote from the Daily News suggests he wasn't lacking in support: "Mum and Dad [Oakura's Robyn and Rob McGregor] came up and there were plenty of people yelling out," the former Francis Douglas Memorial College pupil said. "All that training paid off, I felt pretty good the whole way. The swim went well and I came out about 10 metres behind the main bunch. I had a fast transition, hammered it out on the bike and felt good on the run." We have great admiration for any one who feels good after a run! 10/18/2012 0 Comments How Times Have ChangedStudents at the College currently are involved in somewhere a touch over 50 different sports in the course of the year - not each one of them obviously! The sports page from the 1969 magazine tends to suggest a simpler time. W e note that if Leo and Peter Walsh had not been available there would have been a big gap in the coaching staff of several sports.  10/16/2012 1 Comment Taking the Next Step Congratulations to Old Boy Liam Coltman on signing with the Highlanders for the next three years. He will certainly add hair to the forward pack - and a bit of youthful grunt.
FDMC will have quite a geographic spread of old boys in next year's Super 15 competition. We know of the following but let us know if we have missed any one. Liam Coltman Highlanders Kane Barrett Blues Beadan Barrett Hurricanes Conrad Smith Hurricanes Leon Power Brumbies Scott Fuglistaller Rebels 10/15/2012 0 Comments Exam Time!
After two weeks study break (also known as the holidays) the seniors have today begun the great adventure that is the practice exams. We know many old boys who will look back fondly on those quiet hours spent with pen in hand over a challenging few questions - or are we being just a touch romantic and wistful?
For those who did not enjoy the experience quite so much you can always be grateful that those days are over. 10/11/2012 0 Comments Chris Ellmers RememberedThanks to Brother Raymond Khan for the following information.
The notice below refers to Christopher Ellmers, an old boy of Francis Douglas Memorial College. He was a member of the De La Salle Brothers in the late 80's through to the mid 90's. His years of ministry included a few years at FDMC. I think his time at the College was his first appointment. Since leaving the Brothers he has worked "for the poor" with the St Vincent de Paul Society, CentreLink (govt agency), and most recently with the Salvation Army. He loved his work with those who were most in need. His younger brother Andrew (Perth) is also an old boy. His Mum, Margaret is an active member of the parish and school in Stratford. Chris was in hospital last week with a blood condition and suffered a massive stroke last Tuesday. He never regained consciousness and his life support was turned of in the presence of his Mum, brother and niece last Saturday morning. Many of the "old timers" would remember Chris and several of them would have taught or worked with him. CHRISTOPHER ELLMERS (1961 - 2012) Good morning! Yesterday, about 100 people, including his Mum, Margaret; Brother, Andrew and Niece, Kate farewelled Christopher a very generous, compassionate and good man. Br Michael McCabe presided at a very moving ceremony. During the ceremony those in attendance were invited to share their thoughts and memories of Chris. The common theme of the reflections was that Chris had lived the Gospel values to "the full" - love, kindness, generosity and compassion. Chris was, in every way, a Good Samaritan - he would never "pass another person by." One of the most moving aspects of Chris' funeral was the presence of many of the men from The Anchorage - (A Salvation Army Residential Unit). Chris was loving his involvement and work with the Salvation Army after working at CentreLink and OzanamHouse. There were also representatives, including Dr Phillip Ngu, from his "favourite" Basketball team from his time at De La Salle College Malvern. The care of Chris, after his massive stroke last Tuesday, at St Vincent's Public Hospital, Melbourne by the Doctors, Nurses and the Pastoral Care Team was truly inspirational. Our God does work in mysterious ways. However, all of us are indeed so much richer for knowing Chris. May he rest in the arms of an all loving, compassionate and forgiving God. 10/10/2012 0 Comments Brother's Blogs IThe De La Salle Brothers have always been prepared to use new technology to help spread their core ideals. Several brothers have their own blogs and we will be identifying these over the next few days.
Br Denis Loft is a character as those who he taught at FDMC in the 1970's will attest. Br Dennis continues to give of himself in many ways and the following extract is a post from the Brothers web site. You can access Br Denis's blog here. The Age (Melbourne) Magazine has Br Denis Loft nominated as one of the 100 Most Influential People in Melbourne because of his ‘Coolies’ programme. Schoolies Week is synonymous with excited 17 and 18 year olds letting loose and having a good time. But, while the majority of school graduates may choose to celebrate doing nothing other than sun baking on a beach, Br Denis Loft offers graduates an opportunity mark their time after school as more than just a few weeks of self indulgence. Since 2006, Br Denis Loft, a teacher at De La Salle College in Malvern has been taking a group of Year 12 graduates to India to work as “Coolies” (unskilled labourers) to assist the work of the Brothers in Tamil Nadu, India to build houses for poor families in rural villages. This year 12 students from De La Salle College Malvern will head to India for the six week program. In the last three years, Br Denis and his volunteers through Coolies have built 30 houses and 2 school block. The Coolies program started by Br Denis has had a far and wide influence with a number of schools now offering volunteer programs as alternatives to the the Year 12 schoolies celebrations. |
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