Monthly Archives: July 2020

Rabbitohs, Rusty, and Sydney Boys High again!

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On Facebook I am, unsurprisingly, a member of the SBHS Old Boys’ Union Group. Last night a post on it being 25 years since the GPS Regatta was held on the Nepean at Penrith came up. I added my two cents worth: ” I am ancient enough to have seen SHS win the Head of the River — twice!” Which is true: 1957 and 1959.

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1959: Bow, P W Shenstone; 2, I J Stewart; 3, I D Toll; 4, A J Skinner; 5, J A Campbell; 6, G F Cohen; 7, S R McGill; Stroke, W L Young; Cox, R G Caddy; Coach, A R Callaway, Esq

Last night too, I should add, the South Sydney Rabbitohs had a famous victory over the St George Illawarra Dragons. Yes, there is a connection — via Russell Crowe! Though born in New Zealand, Rusty did go to Sydney High as a boy. Here he is:

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In that lovely 1994 movie The Sum of Us, Rusty wore a Sydney High Rugby jersey in the opening moments.

As you may have observed in that trailer. But here is a screen shot in case you missed it.

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I remember the wonderful Tony Hannon telling me about the day Rusty came back to the school to get that jersey.

Now as any  Bunnies fan knows, Russell Crowe is Rabbitohs through and through. What I didn’t know is that he tried to insert the Sydney High motto — veritate et virtute — into The Gladiator! Hat tip fellow Facebook SHS Old Boys’ member Drew Laidlaw Hoare, who wrote: “I’d heard many times the Russell Crowe ‘Veritate et Virtute’ Gladiator story, but had never seen the footage. Here’s the explanation for those interested:”

The relevant bit is in the first few minutes of that. But that is not all.  Drew went on: “There was also talk of him putting the motto on South Sydney Rabbitohs kit at one point but can’t find it. Here is a shot of him with it on the back of a jumper.”

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And Rowing lives on at SBHS!

Music and natural beauty

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I find Andre Rieu, the darling of many a person of my age, more than a touch saccharine. However, I am about to post TWO from his oeuvre! And the first is also Chinese! It is 經典名曲恩里克·托賽里《夜鶯小夜曲》- 安德烈·瑞歐樂團演奏 believe it or not! That is, Enrique Tosselli “Nightingale Serenade” performed by the André Rieu Orchestra.

The second Andre Rieu offering is the unofficial national anthem of New Zealand, with some lovely pics backing it.

Back to China, and the amazing Yellow Mountain, 黄山 Mt Huangshan — an area well known to my friend Michael Xu.  When I first saw paintings like this I thought that can’t be real — but wait until you play the video. It will be the most beautiful thing you see today, even given the beauty of the other two videos.

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I’m in a Sydney High nostalgia state of mind…

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You could think these are evidence of a student uprising at my old school and (much later) workplace!

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Not so! (The upper floor windows there by the way — one set is where my ESL headquarters were in 2000.)

They are stills from a 2014 video created by a then Year 9 student. On Facebook I said in posting it:

6 years ago — so quite a few here aren’t teenagers any more!

But also 9 years after I retired from active service at the old place. And now that is 15 years ago, and even scarier when I go back to my time as a student — well, 65 — SIXTY-FIVE — since I started there! I have become the ancient of days! How did that happen?

Yet I really am there in spirit, and that isn’t just the cliche of Old School Tie. I was never really one for that. All I know is there are some even on my Facebook list who will know exactly what I am talking about, and the majority of those who have linked to me on Facebook are certainly not crusty old conservatives.

One of them founded Get-Up! for heaven’s sake! So don’t jump to conclusions.

So I unashamedly revel in seeing these places that have been such a part of my 77 years! And take a little pride that I helped in the transition towards an affirmation that cultural diversity in the old place ain’t a bad thing after all, that inclusiveness and tradition can work together.

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Have to note though that basketball courts on The Flat is a touch newfangled! Oh — and I checked “The Record” 2014. The maker of this video, Jason Huo, was in Year 9 at the time!

I would say they were working towards some major sporting event — a GPS one no doubt.  I have also seen video of a GPS Swimming Carnival where the drum and cheer squad — or a similar one — feature. (In fact it is pre-GPS Athletics!)

Meanwhile, see what you make of it. Oh, and the rather splendid grounds hark back to the site’s earlier role as the Sydney Zoo! You even see the famous Bear Pit at one stage.

NOTE: “And take a little pride that I helped in the transition towards an affirmation that cultural diversity in the old place ain’t a bad thing after all, that inclusiveness and tradition can work together.”

See for example For the record: the great SBHS race debate of 2002. See also Mossie matters, Aussie matters and The Mine and the Islamists: cause for concern?