Holy Cross College Class of 1986

Outstanding to see so many Holy Cross College Old Boys making their mark over the opening two weekends of the NRL Pre-Season Challenge and beyond!

A big shout out to a regular face at our year group catch-ups, please welcome John Silk with Six of his Best!
John delivers a very inspiring, raw and honest reply to his six of the best, hats off to you on being brave and owning it.... Thanks John!

Name: John Silk
Attended HCC: 1979 (Year5) to 1986 (Year12) (when you tell the kids that when we were 9 we had to travel 4km and 2 public buses on your own to get to school and they think you're nuts...GenX Baby!!!)
Resides in: just moved to Greystanes, NSW
Relationship: Married to Elizabeth (just recently) after 8 years together (second time around for both of us)
Children: 4 young adults (very thankful; son and daughter and bonus son and daughter, 23 through to 18)

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
Right...well...here goes...I went to Sydney Uni and graduated in Agricultural Science (like all good city kids) majoring in Molecular Genetics which I did for about 10 years including postgrad at CSIRO in Canberra and Syd Uni research stations. Science is a tough gig and switched to Cotton plant breeding, Biotech Ops management, Commercial Ornamental plant breeding, Botanic Gardens, NSW Gov in Conservation, and evolved into an IT Business Analyst now in University admissions (UAC).
I love travel and really fortunate to have enjoyed a heap of different nature, city and cultural experiences. Southern and Central Africa a highlight, spots through Asia (travelling solo across the top of Borneo quite the eye-opener), Maldives and India, UK, and Pacific. We just ticked off our last of the Australian states (Tasmania - such a beautiful treasure). Really enjoy getting to unusual spots like islands....Kangaroo, Waiheke, Bruny, Rottnest, Samoa all gems.
I was always the fat kid at school and really struggled to get fit. I taught myself how to do distance runs and done a few City2Surf and Sutho2surf and hill runs, 3 Tough Mudders, got right into mountain biking in Canberra (very proud to be in the same club Cadel Evans used to race in) and done a few 50+km enduros, and got right into skiing (or being a '2 planker wa**er' as Mark Cowley would say :-))
I do Creative Writing and have done a lot of workshops at Writing NSW and AFTRS. And I actively volunteer for local medical garment charity Supertee.
Mum and Dad passed within months of each other just as I started a family so has been quite the 'winging it' parenting journey.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross
Hard question. Mostly enjoyed the education we had; some of the insights into history and novels I really enjoyed, but I think the tough bushwalks in the Bush Club with 'wombat' Br. Phil really opened my eyes to nature and what was out there. Angus's Figaro were legendary, loved playing cricket with Macca and Gary Adair in the year 12 classroom using the broom and chalk duster, always enjoyed the comic stylings of Morgan Howard, Tom Panzarino doing amazing classroom backflips behind Mick Turners back, Ron 'Ted Mulry' Palmer using that karaoke machine at PE; hilarious, but that ridiculously massive 'bunsen gas in a bag' fireball we created when left unattended in Ag class...my god...Gary Schmidt nearly having his hair scorched off.

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Jola Walcynski I found really inspiring not only for sharing love of English and History, her family escape story for a better life, but for also giving me some tough life lessons when I was being a dick. Rob McKinlay was also very good to me in trying to get the inner writer out. And I was always amazed by the breadth of knowledge Trevor Corkin had across the complex sciences.

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
Got the cane for ridiculous stuff...even for having scuffed boots or having pencil races down the desk.
Gotta say they being the fat weird kid nearly made me quit several times. I even copped it for storming home one day unannounced...there was a crappy incident after one of our muck around soccer game down near the cricket nets...just another casual beating and ritual humiliation that tipped me over the edge.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
Two words...George Edwards. What a fricken enigma that man was. That day on the top oval....dropping a massive clump of sodium into a massive basin of water off a metre rule then yelling with his lispy accent "OK boyzzz...run for your livezzz!!!" as he ran past us and that sucker started fizzing, firing up and then exploding.

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
That's a biggy... wow! Probably "Have a crack despite the criticism and don't live your life in fear".

Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
Post-divorce, a lady I was seeing talked me into going to the HHH 30 year Reunion back in 2016. I knew I wasn't popular and with the bullying etc. I just wasn't sure what would happen and was hesitant. I am very glad I did. People change. Life changes. And is good fun to hang out and check in. We were very privileged to have the opportunities we had, and the people we shared it with...our crew.

Year 8 Blue

Welcome back to our first for 2026.... Brian Story with Six of his Best!
An awesome start to the year with many fond memories and great story (pun intended) telling which I'm sure you all will recall or connect with.... Thanks Brian!

Name: Brian Story
Attended HCC: Year 5 (1979) to Year 12 (1986)
Resides in: Ryde
Relationship: Married to G*il for 32 years.
Children: We have been blessed with two sons and a daughter and now have two grandsons.

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
After school I studied primary teaching and I have stayed in the game for 36 years. I became a principal in 2009 and have been at schools where I reckon a lot of our year went to school: St Therese’s, Denistone, St Michael’s, Meadowbank, and now at Holy Spirit, North Ryde. I am chuckling to myself whilst thinking of the name that many of us referred to Spiritus Sanctus. Hopefully you can all appreciate that I can’t put that in writing these days….

We love cruising and have been fortunate to cruise the Mediterranean, Caribbean and Alaska as well as the South Pacific on many occasions. We are about to fly to Singapore and cruise to Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam. We were also very fortunate in 2017 to be on a work sponsored pilgrimage to the Holy Land (it was a lot safer back then) and Rome and Assisi. That was the best experience ever. I would encourage everyone to do it, once the area is safe again, as you get to see sites that we all learnt about for years.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross...
I have so many great memories from Holy Cross. My favourite was winning the MCS Tennis doubles with Tom Rooney in Year 11. We had pleaded with Mr Collimore to let us play the doubles, (instead of making one of us play the singles and duly get flogged) and he finally did. When we made the final I remember Collimore coming up to us and telling us how we had to beat the pair from St Greg’s or don’t bother getting on the bus to go home. The better player from St Greg’s was Damien Kenniff (I think he was the footballer) and his partner wasn’t much good. We all know that Tom could have a bit of mongrel when needed and he had a wicked forehand so I suggested to him that as soon as the other bloke had a second serve to smack it straight at Kenniff. Tom did that perfectly, got him in the guts, and from that point Kenniff wouldn’t come to the net. As you probably know, doubles tennis is usually won by the pair dominating the net, which we did, and despite my attempts to choke, Tom carried me to victory. Mr Collimore was certainly pleased.

The Year 11 camp certainly brings back many memories, especially after one of the buses broke down and those of us who had finished their field studies were dropped into Gunnedah to get the mail train home overnight. I think Ivan Gant was the teacher with us. We had been dropped into town around 11am and the train wasn’t leaving until about 8pm. I will never forget him saying to us that we should be right here, don’t get into trouble and meet him at the station before 8. We saw him in the bloody pub. Certainly wouldn’t get away with that these days.
Another funny memory was Year 11 Maths with Miss Brown. She was pretty regular each month with her days off and I remember us being able to predict when she would be away. She seemed to take joy in sending us out of class whenever we talked. One day she sent me out before I talked, and when I protested she said that I was about to… She was right.

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Favourite teacher was Br Ron. He was so knowledgeable and really put his efforts into giving us good feedback on the Modern History essays. He genuinely wanted all of us to succeed.

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
Despite what seemed like an infinite amount of canes or the hose from Mr Mitchell in Year 6 for talking, the most trouble I got into was from Tanzey in Year 10 Commerce. I always sat next to Pat Ryan and this one lesson he was blowing up Pat for some reason. Naturally I was trying not to laugh when he turned to me and said, “Do you think it's funny, do you boy?” “No sir,” was my quick response. That did little to help as he said, “Go to the office and get the cane?” and as I was walking out he called, “And stop shaking your head like a flag son.” (Gary Schmidt loves reminding me of this.) At the staff study I was greeted by Jola Walcynski who, after I asked for the cane said, “Is it for Tanzey?” After my affirmative response she said, “Don’t worry about him Brian - he’s mad.” I remember responding, “Thanks Miss, but I don’t think that’s going to help me.” On return to the 10 Red room Tanzey gave me 4, and I can assure you, he made sure that he didn’t miss.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
As a school principal I love recounting stories of the good old days to our younger teachers. They are always amazed at what teachers used to get away with. One thing that no one has mentioned yet is when teachers used to throw the blackboard duster with a wooden handle at blokes who weren’t paying attention. It was always funny when they actually hit someone.

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
The HSC is vastly overrated and not that important. Just an opportunity to get started on things early. You can get into most university courses after a few years anyway. Sure, try your best, but enjoy the journey with your mates.

Please welcome Gerard Barron with Six of his Best!
Once again, some great incite and recollection plus a bunch of bonus stories & memories at the end, Thanks Gerard!

Name: Gerard Barron
Attended HCC: Year 5 (1979) to Year 12 (1986)
Resides in: Baulkham Hills
Relationship: Married for 30 years to Leonie
Children: 3 boys (Michael, Daniel, and Lachlan)

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
I Studied Accounting at Macquarie Uni with blokes such as Pat Harsas, Gamini Martinus, and Wayne Hoggard. Did my CPA and have worked in various industries such as Aviation, Food Flavouring and Fragrances, Packaging, NFP, and Insurance. Best experiences were in Packaging where I worked for 21 years in various APAC roles and got to do a lot of travel as a result. Visited many different places such as Japan, China, Korea, SE Asia, India, USA, and Europe. Worked on some interesting manufacturing projects and acquisitions and made many great friends here and overseas. Currently working in Insurance Underwriting which is very different but enjoying it and learning a lot. Lucky to have a great wife and family and starting to enjoy more travel for leisure. Went to Europe with a group of friends last year and thoroughly enjoyed visiting iconic places such as Rome, Florence, Venice, Cannes, Dubrovnik, Montenegro, etc. Would love to do more of this.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross
Always loved sport at Holy Cross, particularly soccer and athletics. Very proud to represent the school in these pursuits and break some records along the way. I still play these sports to this day and credit HCC teachers and coaches for helping me to develop and thrive here.

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Brother Ron Peters was a great teacher and very supportive in his approach. Brett Collimore was also great. Both were very easy to talk to for advice and support in studies and life.

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
I copped the cane from Mr Mitchell once for mucking around in class. Not a pleasant experience. Also copped the cane from Brother Gus for no real reason at all.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
Corporal punishment is an obvious one.

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Not to stress so much about exams. It's not the end of the world and life will go on.

Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
Some bonus stories/memories:
-Angus Ainsworth warning John Merlehan to "get out of town, Merle....."
-Mr Cohen asking Nick Geracitano to go and get him a pie and coke from the shop and Nick in turn asking him "will that be a Diet Coke, sir?" Those who remember Mr Cohen's body shape at the time would understand......
-The Year 11 Camp to Regional NSW was eventful for a number of reasons. Still remember some of the blokes lighting a bonfire at the top of the hill and performing some sort of devil worshipping ceremony. Didn't go down so well with some of the teachers.....
-Watching HCC win the Schoolboy Rugby League Cup in 1981.
-Breaking the HCC and MCS 800m running records. Not sure if they still stand.

November 2nd is All Souls Day.
A time to just pause, reflect, pray and remember all those of our cohort who have left this earth way too young!

Forever in our thoughts and heart!

This week... we welcome Peter Blackwell (aka Harvey) with Six of his Best!
Peter has some great tales & memories to share that will definitely make you laugh!
Name: Peter Blackwell
Attended HCC: Year 5 to Year 12
Resides in: Ocean Shores & Tenterfield NSW
Relationship: Married
Children: 1 Step daughter & 3 Grandkids (14, 6, & 4)

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
I studied Teaching at Ku Ring G*i College and worked with kids in out of home care, psych wards and finally conducted disordered adolescents of which we had acute knowledge of.....nothing they could do could shock me... hahaha. After a couple of snow seasons and some demo work I joined the public service in many management and complex roles. This year I retired after 26 years of service lastly working with complex support people in the NDIS who were exiting correctional facilities.
Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross.
The bush club led by Brother Phil where I learnt so many important lessons and made so many great mates.... Dave McDermott just left Tenny after 3 days walking so we shared some fond memories.......the funniest being stuck in a white out in tents for 2 days and Jason Freeney came into the tent all of us smoking curries and playing cards, he picked up a bottle for a skull of water but it was a metho bottle....we convinced him he would explode if he had a durry! Hopefully the photo comes thru with Rick, Doug, Dave and Jason (see photo below in comments).
Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Brett Collimore he just got me and was always encouraging and reasonable.
Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
Justin Ainsworth and I painted everyone's inner elbows with white out which burned and everyone in 8 Red was running to the toilet to wash it off when Jola Walsinski arrived to class, she gave everyone 2 and me and Angus 6 then left the room in tears and went on 2 weeks leave....that certainly added to the caning comp tally. We met her in Whistler Canada in 1992 and had a beer and a good laugh!
Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
Caning.....Br Matthew, Angus and Bulldog all bruised my hands to the point where I couldn't pick up my knife and fork at the dinner table....they were brutal.
Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Love your friends and family you never know how long you will have them..... enjoy what you are doing and live life!!
Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
Dave reminded me of getting smashed by St Gregs at Campbeltown... I got knocked out, broken nose and fat lip, Dr Ron was warming up Chris Brennan for A Grade before cracking my nose back into place...Bruno and I had to wait at Top Ryde for my mum to take us home....I was a mess!!! Scott Gale was our coach and always enjoyed his banter even after school bumping into him and having laughs.....best footy player EVER from HCC!

This week... we welcome Nick Geracitano with Six of his Best!
Once again, some great memories and good times!

Name: Nick Geracitano
Attended HCC: Year 5 to Year 12
Resides in: Terrigal
Relationship: Single
Children: 4

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
I went to the University of Wollongong and studied Civil Engineering. It was a 4 year course but it took me 6 years cause I failed a bit but never gave up!! Not much travel, just focused on my career. Worked for the biggest construction companies in Sydney, such as Transfield, Grocon, Lend Lease, Mirvac and ADCO. I’m a single dad of 4 beautiful kids. Was married for 30 years (only with 3 different women). I’m definitely not an expert at relationships.
Although I haven’t travelled much, I’ve been all over the world with the women I married: Turkish, Greek and South African.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross
Funniest memory was wagging with John El Bayer in Year 8 or 9? We found a spot under the staircase of the art building. There was a hole in the staircase where we could perv up the mini skirt of our art teacher. We waited hours for her to go up the stairs. Who remembers her name?

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Dr Watson ( Economics). He said to me one day….”Geracitano, you will never get into Uni.”

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
Day 1 in Year 7, Stalky asked me "What's your name?" I said “Nick” He said "Nick who?" I said "Nick Geracitano" He said “Your brother Angus (who finished Year 12 the year before) owes me 2 days in the chain gang and you’re going to do it. Tell him when you go home tonight.” I didn’t do anything wrong other than wag with John El Bayeh.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
Brother Augustine (in the tuckshop) use to tickle me so hard, I’d be laughing until I dropped to my knees... Lucky my mum was watching!

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Be smart, don’t be a smart ass.

Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
I remember 'screaming and hiding' to one particular teacher with Sean Gittany and the teacher never knew who was doing it. Then while on camp, Sean & I snuck up to the teachers tent. There he was, this same teacher sleeping, so we both screamed through the crack in the tent and ran off - They never caught us!!

This week... we welcome Patrick Harsas with Six of his Best!
Patrick has some great tales to share that will definitely make you laugh!

Name: Patrick Harsas
Attended HCC: Year 5 to Year 12
Resides in: Gladesville
Relationship: Married
Children: 3, Ages 25, 23 and 21

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
Straight from school I went to university and completed an economics degree, majoring in accounting.
At the time I wasn't too sure what an accountant did but when I was offered a job with a small firm to work full time and do university at night for a couple of years it felt like a great way to try it out! They had me when they dangled an annual salary of $11,250 in front of me.
Luckily at the beginning of the second year my future wife joined the company as part of the next intake. With my one year of experience under my belt I quickly took her under my wing.
A few years later we joined a larger firm and after 6 months in New York we went to London as many accountants did at the time. We ended up staying there for 10 years in North London with our 3 children being born there. During that time, we did a lot of travel as expected with 10 years away and loved The UK and the life back then.
In 2004 the five of us returned to Sydney as UK citizens. Settling in Gladesville, the city I grew up in. My children went to Our Lady Queen of Peace primary school, just like I did and just like my mother did. Career wise finance has been my focus. After the accounting firms and back in Australia I joined Macquarie Group for 6 years and then large infrastructure companies such as energy firms. Recently the focus of my career has intentionally been on environmental and sustainability-based companies and most importantly a work life balance. Working remotely overseas for several months of the year is a must for me now.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross
The 8 years at HCC were great years where life changed so fast.
I loved playing handball in year 9 and 10, remembering the squares would extend down the slope in front of the room block. You had to trust the person next to you to eliminate others but always wary that they were going to do a dog move at some stage.
Even at 56 years of age if I sat down in a classroom now, I think I would still rock back on the chair and see if I could balance on 2 legs. They were good times and I also loved swapping my tim tams for Jim Bayeh’s zatar on Lebanese bread, a pineapple doughnut every now and again, touch footy on the top oval and riding my bike to school. The seeing if after school I could get from Potts St
near St Charles to Champion Rd with no hand.

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
Mr Mitchell in year 6. Sitting next to Matthew Raudonikis we either got the cane daily or he would put an elastic band around your wrist and pull it and let it go. One day someone brought in a disassembled old phone that when you turned a handle it
generated electricity. He used that on us that day.

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
In year 6. I also got 6 of the best from Br John. I have no idea what I got it for and I can’t remember claiming to be innocent. I remember all the myths or hints such as keep your thumb below your fingers and once hit move your hand down a bit so he can’t get you on the upswing. I truly can’t remember if it actually hurt or not it was just the waiting to be hit which was worse.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
Canes, elastic bands, electrocution.

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
Enjoy the days at school, if you don’t like it, one day it will all pass so don’t sweat it. Also, walk on the grass! Why we could never walk on the grass I have no idea.

Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
Again Jim Bayeh showing us how to make a sling shot from a branch and a bike inner tube. Then shooting chalk across the quadrangle and hitting the library…..so dangerous.

This week... please welcome Peter Bilish with Six of his Best!
Peter sure does have an knack at recalling many moments from his holy cross school days and again doesn't fail to deliver!

Name: Peter Bilish
Attended HCC: Year 5 to Year 10
Resides in: Fleet, Hampshire, U.K
Relationship: Married
Children: 1

Hello guys, its Peter Bilish here. The area that I live in is called Fleet, Hampshire which is a semi urban, affluent area of the U.K, South West of London.

Q1. Give us a brief history on life after HCC (studies, travel, career, and family).
My working career, after I left school was helped when I enrolled in a drafting course back in 1985 at Sydney TAFE which I did for a year. I landed my first job as an Apprentice Draftsman in April 1986.
Remember the CES near Top Ryde. I looked at the partition boards where they had all the jobs advertised on those cards as it was back then, I applied for the job I liked and got it. I have been a draftsman ever since I left school because I enjoyed Tech Drawing and like working in an office.

I started my own Drafting Company back in 2009 and that went well. I worked on some big projects like The Gurkin in London and Wimbledon Tennis Centre. I then went freelance drafting in 2017.
But when Covid hit us in March 2020, there was lockdown for about a year. Wages were poor due to less hours and work eventually became scarce. Claire’s health then deteriorated and considering my situation I decided to retire from drafting in my early 50’s. I’m her full time carer now and find it satisfying with less pressure and stress from work.
I have been here since 2000 after living in North Ryde with my parents, brothers and sister, just a stone throw away from Mark Daniel who lived in Kent road. We used to walk to school together and catch the 506 every morning.

I met my wife Claire, who is English on a Contiki tour to Ayers Rock back in 1996 whilst she was travelling on a working holiday visa. We got very fond of each other and when I went to the UK to see her in 1999 we decided to take the next step and get married. We have just celebrated our 25th Wedding Anniversary too, as shown by my holiday snaps. We have a son named Harry (17) and enjoy the slower pace of life a lot. Sydney felt too busy for me so I’ve been here ever since. I also enjoy visiting castles and love the
English country side and history.
Now that I’ve retired, I keep myself active by doing lots of walking around Fleet pond which is a nature reserve, enjoy having a coffee with my wife or afternoon teas, country drives to visit an English pub, enjoy doing DIY around the house and being a house husband.
As for travel I’ve done most of the U.K, Ireland, Europe and Canada, been to Singapore, San Fran, LA, Australia, Japan, NZ and FIJI just recently.

Q2. Fondest/Funniest memory at Holy Cross.
Generally the poking fun at teacher’s names and mannerisms was a common trait back then and hilarious. Sure it was rude and risky but we didn’t care. We had a field day at times especially when the
teachers were about to arrive or leave the classroom. 2 that I recall very well from Mr Tansey was “All Are Sure & Going Ashore” when we had to change classes and if you mucked up in class he would also say “Go Get Me The Cain”.
Brother Malachy had one too. By saying “Fellas I’ll tell Ya I’m Gonna Have To Belt Ya” when we wouldn’t shut up.
Mr. Thiele had a tendency to name students “Monkey” if you played up or didn’t pay attention. We would play on that as well.
How can we not forget Steve McCapian. The guy responsible for handing out the text books for the year ahead. The poor bloke had a speech impediment and used to get a saliva build up on the edges of his mouth each time he spoke. He had learning difficulties but we would almost every time take the mickey out of him.

Also fooling the teachers that we had someone locked in the storage cupboards to act as a kidnapping who were trying to get out by rattling the cupboard itself whilst holding the doors shut. Miss Hirschfield and Miss Brown fell for it once as we all had a crack at them later. Great times. Mark Daniel, Anthony Crawley,
Daniel Arnaldi, myself and James and Angelo Iacano were the chief instigators in that one.
The farting noises and generally making a nuisance of ourselves was part of school life. When days become boring we would do stuff to make a laugh to brighten up a dull moment like Chris Hunt bringing in a FART spray can just for kicks.

Q3. Favourite (or worst) teacher and why....
My favourite teachers were Mr Skeed, Mr Fuda and Mr McMasters. They were great teachers and if you did your work and respect them they liked you too. Greg Skeed who I had in 1983 organised the first school camp to Stanwell Tops which was a great 3 days away. He also was a great maths teacher. John Fuda was my geography teacher and had learnt a lot from him too. Lee McMasters had a unique interest in me because I wanted to swap woodwork over Tech Drawing as an elective but he encouraged me to stick with Tech Drawing. Reason being I had him for Graphical Communications in 1981 and got to enjoy it and he knew I had the talent for drawing. I followed his advice back in 1983 and 1984 and hence became a draftsman so I had a lot to thank him for. I managed to contact him when I was compiling phone
numbers for the 30 year reunion back in 2016 and he was so delighted for me. A great personal achievement.

My worst teacher was Mr Bevan (maybe a few others felt the same) only because he had such an aggressive nature and a bad temper. He became a bully towards James in just about every history lesson
in 1981 and it pi**ed me off. James dreaded going to history because of being picked on. So I stepped up and got my dad involved and asked him to speak to Mr Colliemore in person to get him to lay off James and Beaven got the message, loud and clear. In that same class he would call out Anthony Crawley and
Brian Mossman each time to the front because he knew they didn’t do their homework. He would then pinch the nerve near your collarbone The Prachial Plexus as punishment.
He also got very angry if you didn’t bring your P.E gear. Sometimes he would slam a sandshoe on the dwarf wall where we sat on and say “Bring your gear next time” and it got freighting. He completely lost it.
Didn’t like him at all!

Q4. What's the most trouble you got into whilst at HCC?
I didn’t get into too much trouble really but one time in 1983 my friends which included Mark Daniel, Daniel Arnaldi, Angelo Iacano, Martin Lowe and myself saw a few empty desks around after a Sausage Sizzle and turned a wooden desk upside down and started using it as a sledge on the wooden floors in the pavilion. This was a fun thing to do. We would sit inside the 4 legs and be slid around by 2 others.
Well, after a while the frame came of the base and Brother Augustine notice this and were told to pay $50 each for a replacement. It was only minor damage and with my DIY skills I would have screwed it back to the frame. We didn’t pay in the end as it was just a warning and a lesson in respecting the schools
property. Lesson learnt.
The general uniform was mandatory too. If you were not wearing a tie, that Centenary badge which had to be worn on the collar and not having your shoes polished, it would land you in trouble with Mr Young and put on Chain Gang duties each lunch time. I had my time their too.

Q5. What's something that HCC/teachers did back in the day that would not be allowed today?
A leaf out of Chris’s comments, the manhandling of students, the severity of punishment and the general bulliness that was completely uncalled for and not warranted. All that combined will lead to skipping school and anxiety issues. Mental health is a big talking point now days.

Q6. If you could go back in time, what advice would you give your younger self?
If I applied myself better and did more study I would have had better report cards.
Don’t leave homework to the last minute. I sometimes chucked a “sickie” to do my homework so I wouldn’t be told it won’t be accepted due to being late. Teachers were strict on late homework or assignments.
To finish off, if you have a bucket list by all means go for it. Time goes too fast and enjoy it before we get too old.

Finally, if you have any bonus stories/memories/comments you wish to share....
Well the general pranks and misdemeanours come to mind. Like guys getting their eyebrows shaved off at the school camps. The tuck shop being broken into. Leaving the Bunsen Burners on to let out the gas in science. Slamming our desk lids to make a noise. Lighting Penny Bungers in rubbish bins. The Graffiti.
Overall a whole lot of stories that can be said at our next meet.