From the ONU president

Thank You and Farewell
My three year term as ONU President finishes following the ONU Annual General Meeting on 19 November, 2013. It has been an honour to serve the Old Newingtonians Union, to work with talented Old Boys and to contribute to this great school. My thanks to the ONU Executive Committee members  Mark Bland (ON ’83), John Carroll (ON ’52), Brad Gill (ON ’92), Robert Hill (ON ’55), Andrew McKirdy (ON ’96), Karl Watson (ON ’86) and Nigel Watson  (ON ’93), Joel Barnett (ON ’96) and James Godfrey (ON ’93). A special thank you for the fantastic support from Old Boys from my Class of 1981 – Grant Leonard, Ian Mayer, Adam Peruch and Richard Spira. I also thank the following Old Boys Peter Kuburlis (ON ’90), His Hon Greg Grogin (ON ’76), Mark Gilbert (ON ’75 ) and  Scott Brandon Smith (ON ’78) for their assistance. I thank all the members of the ONU Council who served with me.  Final thanks go to our major sponsors the Dedes Group, Con Dedes (ON ’87) and the Bank of Sydney.

ONU Achievements
I’m exceptionally proud of the ONU achievements during my term as President:

  • contributing $510,000 to the Newington Sesquicentenary Capital Campaign – the largest single donor
  • the opening of the state-of-the-art Old Boys’ Lecture Theatre and the construction of the ONU Scoreboards on Johnson and Buchanan Ovals
  • attended by over 200 golfers, the two most recent ONU Golf Days have raised over $36,000 towards the ONU Depression and Mental Health Program
  • the ONU Sesquicentenary Dinner attended by 700 Old Boys – a fantastic celebration
  • tapping into the Newington Old Boys’ network to implement the ONU Mentor and Employment program via the Old Boys Directory to assist our younger Old Boys
  • streamlining ONU regular publications and directory
  • continued support of our Tongan connections including providing financial support to two Tongan students and ex-students
  • forging closer links with our younger Old Boys and our 70 Club members
  • providing monetary support to College sporting support groups as well as the College Drama, Music and Visual Arts Departments and the Cadets
  • negotiating an agreement with the College for mutual funding for logistical, operational and archival support for the next five years.

None of the above would be possible without the support provided by dedicated staff including Mylee Angelo, Mona De Araujo, Noelene Hugh-Smith, Maria Humphreys, Filomena Moretti, David Roberts and Alicia Toogood and the former Director of Development Lea Greifeneder. Finally, on behalf of the ONU, I congratulate the recently appointed Director of Development Mr Rod Bosman (ON ’78) – see College News and Events.

Sesquicentenary Celebrations
Highest accolades to Newington for an outstanding effort this Sesquicentenary year. Our boys continue to impress with their great HSC and IB results, Musical and Drama performances, Rugby, Football and Water Polo Premierships, Athletics competition wins and success in Basketball, Chess, Cricket, Cross Country, Debating, Fencing, Rowing, Shooting, Swimming, Tennis and Volleyball. Congratulations to Dr David Mulford – Headmaster, Staff and Rod Bosman (ON ’78), Chair of the Sesquicentenary Committee.  The recent Spring NEWS showcases Newington’s fine achievements this year. Click here for Spring NEWS.

I hope to see many of you at next year’s Newington Golf Day at the Lakes Golf Club on Monday 3 March, 2014 and I also hope to see you all at the ONU AGM on Tuesday 19 November at 6.30pm in Prescott Hall.

James Jordan (ON ’81)
ONU President