The final video from the reunion dinner is now available on the website.

It shows the toasts and the finale, Auld Lang Syne.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to 50th Anniversary Dinner Videos

Enjoy!

The second of the videos from the reunion dinner has been uploaded to the website. It covers the ‘Tell Us a Story’ segment where John McNamara as MC, invites Jon Mander -Jones, Tony McLeod, Geoff Hay and Brenda Elliott to to open up on their lives.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to Videos – Anniversary Dinner.

Please remember it was recorded on a mobile phone and might not be cinema quality.

Enjoy!

The first of the videos from the reunion dinner has been uploaded to the website. It covers the Welcome speech, Grace and a toast to deceased classmates by Rev Brian Chalmers.

You can find it under Reunions / Reunion 2022 – Canberra and scroll down to Videos – Anniversary Dinner.

As each video is released we will put out a post to notify website subscribers.

We hope you like the first one – it certainly shows that, based on the laughter and high spirits in the room, the committee chose the right man for the job of MC. John Mac did a superb job and the committee deserves the Oscar for casting him in that role.

Enjoy!

And in thanking those quietly working behind the scenes, how could we forget Rod Allan and Peter Jenke who compiled our music playlist for the dinner? Thanks to you both.

The 50th anniversary of the graduation year of the Class of 1969 – 1972 is over. And what a celebration it was over six days! Needless to say, the success of the event was a team effort, not just in the planning but in the execution. 

The planning team – all volunteers despite the benefit of sound advice and experience to the contrary – could not have put together and delivered the program without significant help from many. We have been more than adequately thanked for our efforts: we would like to record our heartfelt thanks to:

• Tony McKenna for ‘The Book’;

• Paddy Cullinan, for picking up and organizing the ‘Return to Araluen’;
  
• Brian Chalmers for preparing the Memorial Service and then delivering it. Thanks also to Rowan Tracey for his contribution to the Service;
  
• John McNamara for his detailed planning and then smooth conducting of our Monday night dinner, and for his segment of ‘This is your life’;

• John’s interviewees: Jon Mander-Jones, Tony McLeod, Geoff Hay and Brenda Elliott;
  
• Paddy Ryan for his perspicacious and humorous interviews of some of our Class characters; 

• Paddy’s interlocutors Tom Cobley, Pat Cullinan, Don Muirhead and Jan Loughrey; and 

• The presenters of the toasts: Brian Chalmers, Rowan Tracey, Peter Teys and Maurie Meecham.
  

A ‘Thank you’ has been sent to RMC Protocol, Bob Crawshaw, representing the RMC Tour guides, the RMC Museum Manager, and the events manager at The Rex.

And lastly, a sincere Thank You to all who attended the anniversary celebrations – classmates and partners. Without doubt it was the manner in which all participated that made the program enjoyable for all and therefore special. Indeed a ‘Class with class.’

Mates forever

Steve, Warwick, Kym and David

I’m very sorry to have to pass on that I tested positive to COVID today, after a PCR this morning. The symptoms appeared yesterday afternoon, so I hope that I wasn’t infectious during our reunion activities.

So if symptoms appear, please get checked quickly.

David

We’ve started putting up photos and reports of the various activities that have been occurring in Canberra this weekend. We also hope to have excerpts from the Monday night dinner and other video material. Have a look under the Reunions menu tab.

As more material becomes available it will be put up – and it wont always have a post associated with it – so check back every now and again.

At some stage someone will hopefully write the definitive account of the reunion – and anybody at all can shoot in a comment or a post – feel free.

John Elph

Dont forget gentleman – not too much lolly water tonight – you’re on the square at 0645!!

The zoom link for the Reunion Dinner is

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86172547567?pwd=QlZUVHZMUGlwelhhdU1neDhpdGZpZz09

Meeting ID: 861 7254 7567
Passcode: 579342

There is NOT a Waiting Room for this meeting, so you should be able to join directly. Please make sure you are muted!

Hope you can join us – and hope it all works.

Rev. Brian Chalmers prepared and delivered a moving Memorial Service for our 15 deceased classmates this morning. A huge thank you.

The Service was zoomed, but there was a technical glitch that didn’t allow viewers to connect – sincere and heartfelt apologies. The good news is that the recording did work, albeit the quality is not so good! Being open air there was the occasional aircraft passing overhead and a little bird (a real one) twittered right next to the camera throughout. This did cause some interference with the capture of the music and Last Post/Rouse. We’ll try to edit this to improve the sound.