Swan Districts premiership player winning the Grand final 1982  

Games played for swans 98  

Games played VFL/AFL 57 for St Kilda and Fitzroy   

Allen Newton
Journalist
GSSHS 1970-73

A migrant from the UK with his family, Allen Newton attended Governor Stirling after completing Third Year at Kalamunda High School.

After leaving school, Allen started work as a copy boy at the now defunct Sunday Independent before earning a cadetship at the paper and then as a graded journalist.

He has gone on to hold some of the most senior positions in Western Australian media, including Managing Editor for The Sunday Times and PerthNow and Editor-in-Chief for Fairfax Media’s WAtoday.

As the founding editor of News Corporation’s news website PerthNow and then as Editor-in-Chief of WAtoday Allen was a pioneer of the State’s digital media.

Over a more than 40-year career he has owned his own magazines, worked at all WA’s major newspapers and spent several years in the UK and USA, working in PR.

He also worked as Publicity Manager for Channel 7 and in his earlier days as a publicist for Channel 9.

Allen has worked for several public relations consultancies in Perth and now he and his wife Helen Ganska operate their own PR business, Newton Ganska Communications.

In addition Allen has been a Director on the Board of the Police and Community Youth Centres of WA for 10 years.

Professor Anne Dell CBE FRS FMedSci
Professor of Carbohydrate Biochemistry, Imperial College London
GSSHS 1965-1967

After completing her Junior Certificate at Kalamunda High School, Anne entered GSSHS in November 1965 on a Commonwealth Scholarship to take a two-year course for her Leaving Certificate studying English, French, Geography, Maths A and B, Chemistry and Physics. With the support of outstanding teachers, Anne thrived at GSSHS. She was dux of her class, obtaining distinctions in every subject in every examination. Outside her classwork she was President of the Maths Club, a member of the Debating Club and she participated in a French play in her final year. After leaving school, Anne was fortunate to be able to continue her studies at the University of Western Australia. She travelled to and from Nedlands each day, cycling six miles from the family farm to Kalamunda and then taking two buses to the university campus. At UWA she studied Chemistry, Maths, Physics and Biology, specialising in Organic Chemistry for her Honours. She was awarded the J.A. Wood Memorial Prize for the most outstanding UWA graduate, and the Masson Memorial Prize of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute. Her mentors at UWA encouraged Anne to consider studying for a Doctor of Philosophy degree. In 1971 she was awarded a Science Research Scholarship by the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, which, with the help of a travel grant from the British Council, enabled her to undertake her PhD in Organic Chemistry at the University of Cambridge. There she was fortunate to begin her PhD in Dudley William’s laboratory, under the guidance of a brilliant postdoctoral fellow, Howard Morris. Soon after Anne’s arrival in Cambridge, Howard was appointed to an independent academic research position at the prestigious Medical Research Council’s Laboratory of Molecular Biology. Anne was lucky to become Howard’s first PhD student, working in an exciting new field of chemistry/biochemistry: the sequencing of peptides and proteins by mass spectrometry.

In 1975 Anne joined the Biochemistry Department at Imperial College London. There she rose through the ranks to a Personal Chair in 1991. She was Head of the Departments of Biochemistry (1999-2001) and Life Sciences (2017-2021). Anne’s research focuses on the application of mass spectrometry to glycobiology. She studies the role played by sugars in human health and disease. By determining how the sugar-rich layer that surrounds cells acts as an identifier, Anne’s work is helping to answer diverse biological questions such as how pathogens camouflage themselves against our immune system and how developing foetuses avoid being rejected.

Anne was elected to the Fellowship of the Royal Society in 2002 and was awarded a CBE (Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire) in recognition of her services to science in 2009. Other honours include election to Fellowship of the Academy of Medical Sciences and Membership of the European Academy of Science. She has Honorary Doctorates from the University of Western Australia and the University of Waterloo in Canada. Anne has a daughter, who was born in 1984.

Anne May (nee Moore)
State Squash Player
GSSHS 1972-76

Growing up on a small orchard in Helena Valley, I started tennis lessons at Greenmount when I was 10. A group of locals was coached by a retiree named Bill Benzie. Many of us went on to represent GSSHS where we won the Murcell Shield in 1974. I was also a member of the State Development Squad in 1972 and 1973.

At GSSHS, I was introduced to squash by one of the PE teachers (Mr Kennedy). We were fortunate to have squash courts at the school and Mr Kennedy was instrumental in putting together an inter school team that competed in a Saturday morning competition. That was the beginning of a journey that brought me much joy over about 20 years.

I competed in a number of junior tournaments while still at school. By 1980, I had been chosen in a state development squad and by 1982, I was a member of the State Women’s Squad. At that stage, i had trained to be a PE Teacher and was commuting from Waroona to Perth every weekend for training. I also travelled to Perth and Bunbury midweek for pennant competitions.

In 1985, I took a year off teaching and travelled overseas, taking my squash racquet with me. I competed in the British Open and the Geneva Open. I was based in Geneva for three months and represented the club in various competitions throughout Switzerland.
In 1986, I was selected as the manager of WA Junior Age Girls Team that competed in the Australian Junior Age Championships in Sydney.

While teaching at Perth Modern School in 1986, I successfully applied for a job as a Qantas International Flight Attendant and commenced training in Sydney in January 1987.
I joined the Sydney Squash Pennant Competition and was chosen as a member of the NSW State Team in 1987, representing NSW in the Australian Interstate Series.

The rigors of international travel, jet lag and a roster system for work made it difficult to continue the high level of training required to maintain the standard for further representation at State level. However, I continued to played pennants when my work roster allowed.

While working for Qantas, I was introduced to the Qantas Squash Club. Our team competed in the annual World Airline Squash Tournament hosted by various airlines worldwide. I was a member of the winning Qantas team in Sydney in 1988, Dublin in 1990 and Christchurch in 1993. Frequent injuries forced me to retire from squash around 2003.

The rigors of international travel, shift work, jet lag and the physical demands of flight attendant work took a toll on my body, so I made the decision to leave flying in 2015 after a career of 28 years. It was a job I had loved.

I still play tennis weekly, but golf is now my all-consuming sport. I joined the Women’s Committee at Monash Country Club (Sydney) in 2018 and served as Lady Captain in 2020 and 2021.

Dr Barry Hopkins

A caring Consultant Physician who made a difference to 1000’s of people’s lives

Founder Consultant Physician at St John of God Cardiology

Midland Senior High School 1950-55

Barry Edmund Hopkins dob 03/12/1938 MBBS(Hons) PhD FRACP FACC FPS

Midland High School Year 7 in 1951 Year 12 1955.

I studied Pharmacy at Perth Technical College from 1956 to 1959 whilst working with Mr Claude Sadler, Sadler’s Pharmacy Great Eastern Highway Midland.

Graduated Ph Ch MPS in1959.

Began studying Medicine at UWA in 1960 and graduated in 1965. Along the way I won24 prizes including all six prizes in final year and graduated MBBS(Hons) and was awarded the AMA Gold Medal for top graduate.

Married Christine Rucks in 1962 and had four children, Divorced 1977.

I worked part time as a locum pharmacist throughout Medical School

Married Sandy Ashton 1979 and inherited two more step children, still married 41 years later and have eleven wonderful grandchildren.

Intern and RMO at RPH 1966-67 and became a Registrar in Medicine 1968.

Passed specialty exams of the Royal Australian College of physicians in Feb, 1969 and became a Lecturer and then Senior Lecturer in Medicine at UWA 1970-1973.

Completed a PhD by research in Cardiovascular Physiology under the supervision of Prof Roger Taylor. (granted in 1974)

Awarded a National Heart Foundation and the John Halliday Overseas Research Fellowship of the Life Insurance Foundation of Australi1973 and left for Boston Massachusetts and Harvard Medical School.

Research into cardiac biochemistry and clinical cardiology with Professors Tom Smith and Edgar Haber at Massachusetts General Hospital and then made Assistant followed by Associate Professor of Medicine and Biochemistry at Harvard Medical School.

1976 returned to SCGH and UWA as Associate Professor of Cardiology 1977-1985.

At SCGH Instituted Echocardiography, and then designed and had built a new Cardiac Catheterisation Facility which I directed.

Practised clinical, investigative and interventional cardiology and taught medical students, residents and fellows in training in general medicine and cardiology.

Visiting Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Beth Israel Hospital Boston 1977-1994.

1977 started in part time practise as Consultant Cardiologist and founded (with Dr Brian Lloyd) St John of God Cardiology which became Western Cardiology at St John of God Hospital in Subiaco. Retired when aged 61 when according to my wife, Sandy, I had worked two life times

Published 42 scientific papers, 27 abstracts and three textbook chapters.

Honours. AMA GOLD Medal, Fellow of the Royal Australian College of Physicians, Fellow of the American College of Cardiology, Fellow of the Pharmaceutical Society of WA and Member of the New York Academy of Science.

Hobbies Flying aircraft and gliders, Senior Glider Instructor and sailplane engineering inspector. Boating, sailing and fishing.

Drafted 1997 to Brisbane

91 games for Brisbane 1998 – 2007

Premiership Player 2001, 2002

Professor Bernard Dell

Recipient of the Friendship Award (China)

Murdoch University Professor

GSSHS 1967-68

I am a Professor in Agriculture and Forest Sciences at Murdoch University.

I have worked extensively on research projects, training PhD students in SE and E Asia over 3 decades, particularly with China, Vietnam, and Thailand. In the recent decade I have been active establishing international partnerships that enhance Postgraduate Research in Agriculture and Food Security, Forestry, and the Environment.

Historical appointments have included: Head of Plant Sciences (2004 – 2009); Director Sustainable Ecosystems Research Institute (2009 – 2011); Research Director (2011 – 2018); and Visiting Professor and Professor Emeritus, Vietnamese Academy of Forest Sciences, Chinese Academy of Forestry (2003).

I received a China Friendship Award (the highest award for “foreign experts who have made outstanding contributions to the country’s economic and social progress”) in 2014 for my work in reforestation in China. For publication profile, consult https://scholar.google.com.au/citations?user=TIKjHokAAAAJ&hl=en

Bob McMullan AM

Politician/Cabinet Minster

GSSHS 1960-64

I have enjoyed a very lucky life. As a working class kid attending Governor Stirling I could never have imagined that I would become a Member of Parliament and a Cabinet Minister. Nor would I, or anyone else, have guessed that I would have the opportunity to work at satisfying and socially important jobs in Perth, then in Canberra and London

When I was deciding what I would like to do after I completed my time at Governor Stirling my ambitions were limited by my experience.
I knew no one who had ever been to University. Both my brothers, who are at least as smart as me, had left school at 15. I was only able to continue to Year 12 because they were earning money to help support the family and I had a small bursary from the Education Department.

I started out to be a schoolteacher because the Department helped me with a scholarship and then paid my University fees. (In those days there were very significant up-front fees to attend University and not many working class kids from the Midland area got to go there).

The Vocational Guidance Officer at the school (Mr McDougall I think) recommended that I should train to be a lawyer. All my family and friends thought that was very funny. None of us had met a lawyer. In hindsight it was good advice. I studied law 20 years later at the ANU. But like many other kids from my class in those years, I was living proof of the saying: “You can’t be what you can’t see”.

I never became a schoolteacher. This was the 60’s, a time dominated by the war in Vietnam and the associated issue of conscription. I was vehemently opposed to both. This led me to meet many political figures who encouraged me to go back to University to study economics and then to work for the trade union movement.
From there I fell into a position with the Labor Party in Perth, moved to Canberra and became a member of parliament for 22 years.

There were many factors which influenced my very surprising career path, but I could not have done any of it without the education I received at Governor Stirling. I have never forgotten it and always been grateful for the opportunities it opened up for me.

Bruce William McDonald FRAeS
Post Nominal Fellow Royal Aeronautical Society Military Pilot & Qualified Flying Instructor
GSSHS 1972-76

Head Boy: 1976

Student Council: 1975-76

DOB: 2 September 1959

Life after GSSHS

1977: Joined Royal Australian Air Force, trained as a jet engine engineer. Maintained P3C Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft at RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.

1982: Accepted onto RAAF 124 Pilots Course, graduating in December 1983 at RAAF Base Pearce.

1984-87: Flew P3C Orion Maritime Patrol aircraft at 11 Squadron RAAF Base Edinburgh. Flew as Captain in Anti-Submarine warfare, Search and Rescue, Fisheries patrols.

1988: Completed RAAF Flying Instructors Course, on the Aero Macchi MB326H jet trainer.

1988-1991: Trained RAAF student pilots on the advanced flying course, 2 Flying Training School, RAAF Base Pearce.

1991-1992: Appointed as the Aide-de-Camp to the Air Commander Australia.

1992-1995: Flew the B707 aircraft nationally and internationally in VIP role, for Governor General of Australia and Prime Minister of Australia. Also, in tue Air to Air refuelling role for RAAF F18 Hornets.
In 1994, I was awarded the Australian Active Service Medal for being a member of crew extracting Australian Army troops from Mogadishu, Somalia. I also received the Australian Service Medal for South East Asia, for my maritime flying. I also have been awarded the Australian Long Service Medal and the Australian Defence Medal.

1995- present: Joined Emirates Airline, based in Dubai. I was the most junior pilot when I joined, and number 240 on the seniority list. Have seen Emirates grow to over 4500 pilots pre Covid. I am qualified as a B777 Captain, Type Rating Instructor, Type Rating Examiner, Standards Training Captain and Senior Examiner. I conduct both Full Flight Simulator and Aircraft Line training and checking in all roles and modes of Emirates operation, a role I feel privileged to have.

In 2003, I was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society (London) for my contribution to Aviation.

I am married to my wife, Tarja and we live in Dubai, with our 11 year old daughter Ella. We enjoy the traveling opportunities afforded by working in the airline industry.

To celebrate my aviation career, Tarja and I flew on Concorde from London to New York a month before the fleet was grounded, in September 2003. We travelled at Mach 2.0 at an altitude of 58,000 feet on a flight that lasted only 3.5 hours.

We also had the privilege of meeting the fourth man to walk on the moon. Captain Alan Bean, Lunar Module Pilot on Apollo 12. He was also an amazing person and an artist, and we commissioned one of his paintings entitled Dedication. We became quite good friends, and when my young daughter asked me, “What does an astronaut do, when on the moon, they get an itchy nose?”, I asked Alan Bean, and his reply: “As humans, we can only think of one thing at a time, so we think of something else, which was easy on the moon, because we were very busy”.

Bruce Yardley was born on the 5th of September 1947 and attended Governor Stirling Senior High School from 1960 – 1962. The classroom certainly was not his natural habitat as he was drawn to the sporting world and outdoors from a young age.

Yardley began playing cricket for Midland-Guilford Cricket Club as a medium fast bowler and then broke through in the 1976-77 season as a full-time off spinner. He went on to play for Western Australia before becoming an Australian Test Cricketer with his test debut being in 1978 against India. Yardley played 33 tests for Australia.

Not only was Yardley one of the greatest spinners Australia has ever produced, he also held Australia’s fastest test fifty set in the West Indies in 1978 until 2017 when David Warner broke the 39 year record.

His charismatic personality and positive mindset lead to an extraordinary season in 1981-82 which saw him named ‘International Cricketer of the year’.

After retiring from test cricket, Yardley spent his time coaching and commentating the sport the had so much success performing in and was appointed coach of the Sri Lankan Cricket Team in 1997. He became influential in coaching Muttiah Muralitharan ‘Murali’, to becoming one of the most successful bowlers the world of cricket has ever seen.

Yardley’s coaching philosophy was to keep things simple. Practice your skills and don’t complicate things.

In 1998 Yardley noticed that he had lost the vision of his left eye. He immediately flew home to Australia from Sri Lanka to have emergency surgery to remove the eye due to an aggressive melanoma. A glass eye was fitted, and this provided much amusement to his grandchildren in the years to come.

His love for travel and different cultures continued throughout his retirement and he was an incredibly kind and generous character. When the Boxing Day Tsunami of 2004 hit, within hours of the news Yardley had arranged for an extraordinary amount of medical supplies to be donated to the people of Sri Lanka. A week later he travelled to the country that was so devastated by the natural disaster to set up cricket camps and activities for children as a distraction to the chaos that surrounded them. He would do anything to help those in need and further supported orphanages in India that focused on educating and protecting young women.

Unfortunately, in 2016 Yardley was diagnosed again with melanoma and sadly passed away from the metastatic disease on the 27th of March 2019 in Kununurra. The Kimberley was the place where he felt most at home and his final years were spent fishing and watching sunsets from the Five Rivers Lookout in Wyndham.

Bruce Yardley will always be remembered for his infectious smile, charismatic personality and good deeds. His three children, Samantha, Andrew & Ella miss him greatly and are forever proud of his achievements.

Cherry Bradshaw (nee Thacker)
State and Australian Dart Player
GSSHS 1956 – 57

Achievements

Joined Perth Ladies Darts Association 1974 and was chosen to represent WA at the Australian Darts Championships.
I represented WA from 1974 until 1988.
Seven times in the Top Eight Averages.
Represented Australia in the Pacific Cup Championships in 1980 and 1984, winning several gold silver and bronze medals.
Captained and coached State under 18’s from 1982 to 1986.
Wundowie Sportswoman of the year 1991.
Berlie Sportswoman for the month of January 1981.
Winner State singles and doubles.
Winner Australian Doubles and R/up singles.
Inaugurated WA Darts Hall of Fame 1993.
Inaugurated Australian Darts Hall of Fame 2007.

Cheryl Stevenson (nee Sidebottom)

Australian Netballer

GSSHS 1965-66

State Netball School Girl 1965

Australian World Champion Team 1971 (Jamaica, Trinidad)

Australian World Champion Team 1975 (Christchurch, New Zealand)

Represented WA Schoolgirls in 1965

Her WA senior representation debut was in 1968 when she represented WA for the next five out of eight years.

2018 Inducted into the WA Hall of Champions under WA Institute of Sports (photos kept at WA Netball Centre in Floreat)

Australian Netball Diamond

Last time played Netball in 1975 when the team won the World Championship in New Zealand

Christine Nagel BA

Publisher

GSSHS 1969-70

Christine Nagel attended GSSHS during 1969—1970 after completing her junior high school years at Eastern Hills Junior High School.

She is a lover of literature and language, and enjoyed Jim Pilbeam’s classes until he left teaching. Christine wrote for the GSSHS school magazine, and was a player in Boorabilla, the performing arts extravaganza of 1970. She also enjoyed Egbert Visser’s French classes and enrolled in several terms of Alliance Française classes.

After leaving high school, she worked for several years for the PMG’s Department, before moving to Melbourne, where she returned to study to complete a BA in Creative Writing and Literature.

Since then, her career has bloomed in the writing and publishing field, first as a publications assistant and feature writer, then as editor of Police Life magazine for Victoria Police, through to coordinating editor of Homes & Living Magazine after she returned to WA in 1989.

In 1993, Christine established her own editorial consultancy and literary agency: Christine Nagel Literary Services. As well, she has also taught creative writing, feature writing and editing for Victoria University and Curtin University over many years.

In 2017, Christine moved to live near Lisbon, Portugal.

Christine is now semi-retired but continues to work on freelance editing projects for a range of fiction and creative non-fiction clients.

Clinical Associate Professor Elizabeth Wylie MBBS FRANZOR
Medical Director Breast Screen WA
GSSHS 1970-74

University of Western Australia, Medical School 1975 – 1980

Liz was the oldest of five children who all attended Governor Stirling High School in the 1970’s. Liz attended Governor Stirling from 1970-1974. Liz was a pretty good student, who was hopeless at anything sporting. Liz was one of three students in 1974 to gain entrance to the School of Medicine at University of Western Australia, however she was the only one able to attend.

Qualification: MB BS
1980
Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Prize Paediatrics

FRACR Part I February 1984
FRACR Part II March 1987
HR Sear Prize for Most Outstanding Candidate in FRACR Part II
Clinical Senior Lecturer, University of Western Australia Department of Surgery since 2005
Clinical Associate Professor in University of Western Australia Department of Medicine since 2007
Current
Appointments: • Medical Director, BreastScreen WA (since March 2000).
• Appointed as Consultant Radiologist at Royal Perth Hospital in
February 1990. (Previously Head of Department from March 2007 to
September 2019)

Associate Professor University of Western Australia
Dr Wylie trained in medicine at the University of Western Australia. Liz completed her resident years at Royal Perth Hospital and trained in Radiology at Royal Perth Hospital. Liz spent two years in the United Kingdom undertaking post fellowship training.

Medical Director of BreastScreen WA (since March 2000)
Consultant Radiologist at Royal Perth Hospital in February 1990 and was Head of Department of Radiology, Royal Perth Hospital from March 2007 until September 2019.

Liz has an abiding interest in breast imaging, and population screening, she has been an author in a number of papers and presents to national academic meetings on a regular basis.

Research and Publications:
Dr Liz Wylie is a subeditor of Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Oncology (JMIRO) and a member of the editorial board, with a special interest in breast imaging and practice quality and management issues.

Most notable achievement:
Leading BreastScreen WA for 20 years as Medical Director during which time 2 million screening mammogram examinations were undertaken.

Clyde Bevan

Restaurateur winning 7 Australian Awards

FRIENDS

Award winning Restaurant Owner

GSSHS 1966-71

When Clyde was a high school student, he worked Saturdays from 6.30am in his father’s furniture factory followed by a dash to umpire football. By the age of 19, he was married and held down five jobs simultaneously, having added to the earlier mix by working in a bank, being a night-time disc jockey and serving in the Swan Districts Football Club bar. So, unsurprisingly perhaps, his self-description is “hyperactive”. “I have never felt I was working too hard,” he says. “I think the moral of the story is to find something you like to do.”

Back in the ’80s, he was a nightclub proprietor in Fremantle, nine years after leaving Governor Stirling SHS which he attended from 1966 to 1971. But his greatest passion has been hospitality and for more than 30 years he has owned and run restaurants with his wife Lesley, including Friends Restaurant for more than two decades now.

His rewards as a dedicated restaurateur include seven national awards, including Best Restaurant with Entertainment in Australia three times, Best Fine Dining Restaurant in Australia twice, and Best New Restaurant in Australia. These accolades, together with multiple other nods in WA including Gold Plate awards, and awards from Trip Advisor, American Express, and American Wine Spectator Magazine, resulted in further national recognition when he was inducted into the Restaurant and Catering Association Hall of Fame for contribution to the hospitality industry.

Clyde’s prodigious knowledge of wine seems a natural hand-in-hander with his hospitality career but actually has a health origin. He has haemophilia which precluded any physical contact sports so at the tender age of 18 he took up the sport of wine appreciation instead and started what was to become an exciting cellar. This eventually culminated in his seventh national award, for Best Wine List in Australia, on top of winning two separate awards for Best Wine List in WA. He has regularly commented on food and wine on TV and radio and judged for numerous wine and food awards.

Clyde is a Perth City councillor and has worked as a Senior Policy Advisor for the WA Office of Premier and Cabinet. He has been a Board Member and CEO of the WA Restaurant and Catering Association, the State Supply Commission and the Kalamunda and Districts Hospital Board and was President of the Swan Valley Tourism Council for four years. One of his proudest achievements was to oversee the most successful and profitable period ever for Lotterywest during his six years as Chairman of the Board of Directors from 2004 to 2010.

His achievements in the worlds of hospitality, wine wisdom and public organisations are all the more remarkable, given that Clyde has severe dyslexia, which remained undiagnosed throughout his schooling and early adulthood, and was picked up only by luck when he was 30. He hopes that his story may encourage young people to see working as an enjoyment and a path, despite the inevitable setbacks along the way.

Doug entered GSSHS from Greenmount Primary School in 1959. He was notably a Track and Field Athlete and Hockey player and a School Cadet. He was the School Vice Captain and Cadet Senior Under Officer in 1964. Doug graduated from the Royal Military College Duntroon in 1968. He served in the Royal Australian Infantry including service in Vietnam in 1970/71 and also the Special Air Service Regiment. He commanded the North West Mobile Force based in Darwin in 1983/84; his outstanding contribution was recognised with the award of Member of the Order of Australia – the investiture being by the Queen at Government House in Canberra in 1986.

Doug retired from the Army in Darwin in 1996 from the position as Deputy Commander Northern Command. He became Deputy Commissioner NT Prison Service then Chief of NT Government Protocol and Visits. He was an active Rotarian, a member of Legacy Australia and a Masters Athlete. “Second best” was never good enough for Doug.

Craig Gregson LLB, LLM, TEP

Craig was admitted to practice as a Barrister and Solicitor of the Supreme Court of Western Australia in November of 2011 and the High Court of Australia in December of 2014.

Craig specialises in Succession law in Western Australia and is a registered TEP member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). He holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from Edith Cowan University (WA) and a Masters of Applied Law majoring in Wills and Estates Practice (LLM)(NSW) from the College of Law. Craig is considered by many as one of Australia’s leading authorities in succession law and is a current Ph.D candidate at the University of Western Australia.

In both 2018 and 2019 Doyle’s Guide recognised Craig and his firm as leading Wills and Estate Litigation Lawyers. The listing recognises solicitors practicing within the areas of Wills & Estates Litigation, Disputes and Contested matters in the WA legal market who have been identified by their peers for their expertise and abilities in these areas.

Craig established his own law firm in 2018 as a sole practitioner. He now has a large staff of specialists whose day to day practice includes contentious and non-contentious probate, succession law litigation and estate planning. Such litigation, including but not limited to, proceedings under the Family Provision Act 1972 (WA) and other equitable jurisdictions of the Supreme Court of Western Australia.

Drafted 2001 Port Adelaide

55 games for Port Adelaide

Port Adelaide 2004 – 2008

David Clark
Professor Emeritus of Psychology/Addiction Recovery Advocate
GSSHS 1967-68

David was a key member of Governor Stirling’s successful chess team in 1968. His family returned to the UK near the end of his second year. He has very fond memories of his time at ‘Govo’.

After graduating in Psychology at City of London Polytechnic, David gained a PhD in Psychology at the University of Reading (UK). He then spent three years (1981-84) working with Arvid Carlsson, a winner of the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine, in Göteborg, Sweden. He also worked in the United States at Yale University School of Medicine in New Haven and at Sinai Research Institute in Detroit. He returned to the UK to take up a prestigious five-year Senior Fellowship awarded by the Science and Engineering Research Council and set up his own neuroscience laboratory, which focused on the brain neurotransmitter dopamine. He was then awarded a five-year Welcome Trust Award and moved his laboratory to the University of Wales Swansea (now Swansea University).

David was awarded a Personal Chair (Professorship) in 2000. In the following year, he decided that focusing on brain chemistry and using drug treatment was not the answer to helping people overcome mental health problems and addiction. He closed his neuroscience laboratory and developed Wired In, a grassroots initiative focused on empowering individuals and families to overcome substance use problems.

Over the past 20 years, David has developed initiatives that empower people to recover from addiction, mental health problems and trauma. He has been a writer, educator, researcher, online community developer, recovery/healing advocate and filmmaker. He received widespread recognition for developing Wired In, as well as for his online recovery community Wired In To Recovery. For several years, he wrote a popular bi-weekly education column for Drink and Drugs News, the leading UK magazine in the field. He played a key role in the development of the Addiction Recovery Advocacy movement in the UK, working to catalyse activity at a grassroots level.

David took early retirement from Swansea University in 2006 to focus on Wired In. He moved to Perth in late-2008, 40 years after leaving the city. He continued running his online recovery community until late-2012, when he closed it down due to lack of funding. He developed Recovery Stories (www.recoverystories.info), which aims to facilitate recovery from addiction and mental health problems, in 2013, and the educational initiative Sharing Culture (www.sharingculture.info), which focuses on the healing of intergenerational trauma, in 2014.

David linked up with John Stanton, former Director of the Berndt Museum of Anthropology at The University of Western Australia, to launch The Carrolup Story (www.carrolup.info) in 2018. This Storytelling, Educational and Healing resource relates to the Aboriginal child artists of Carrolup. This is an inspiring and deeply moving story of trauma and the healing of trauma. David published the related eBook Connection: Aboriginal Child Artists Captivate Europe in 2020. In the following year, he published the eBook Our Recovery Stories: Journeys from Drug and Alcohol Addiction, which focuses on the lives of 15 inspirational people.

Drafted 2007 to Carlton

Played 63 games for Carlton 2008 – 2015

Swan Districts Captain 2019

David Phillips began violin at the age of nine taking lessons with former West Australian Symphony Orchestra musicians Jim Drummond, Vaughan Hanly and Graham Wood. He attended Governor Stirling Senior High School from 1959 until June 1962, when he left to learn to be a piano tuner and technician at Nicholson’s Music Store, which had a renowned piano workshop department.

He first joined the West Australian Symphony Orchestra on a six-month contract in 1966, then taught violin at Christchurch Grammar School for two years before joining the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra in 1970. He returned to the WASO in 1975.

During his long career with the orchestra he performed alongside many world class soloists and conductors, his favorites being the soprano Jessye Norman, violinist Frank Peter Zimmerman, and Australians, conductor Simone Young and clarinetist Jack Harrison.

David also made important contributions to WASO committees, including serving as President of the Players Association and Orchestra Representative of the Friends of WASO.

In addition to his orchestral duties, he performed in other ensembles, including being a member of the Australian Youth orchestra in 1965, being runner-up in a Musica Viva national chamber Music Competition in 1972 and a founding member of The Camerata of WA in the early 1990s.

For most of his orchestral career he also taught violin in schools and privately, and he continued to tune and repair pianos.
He retired from WASO in 2006, upon which occasion he was also awarded the honorary title of “BBQ Maestro”.

His other interests include fine woodwork and camping while exploring Australia’s natural wonders.

Debbie Yates (nee Hughes)

STEM & ICT Educator

GSSHS 1988-92

After leaving GSSHS, Debbie attended UWA for a year studying Psychology before making the decision to have a gap year and move to the eastern states to join her high school (also a GSSHS alumni) boyfriend who had joined the Airforce. She worked in numerous roles in recruitment in Canberra and Adelaide over a number of years working her way up to managing a large Administration team at Drake International, whilst consecutively achieving her Bachelor of Business degree.

Choosing then to start a family, Debbie had a short maternity break before the Airforce posted them to the United States. Debbie applied for and was successful at gaining a Project Officer job in the Embassy of Australia in Washington DC. They used the 18-month posting to travel extensively throughout the US before returning to Australia to live in Canberra again. Another two children and establishing her own Career Consulting business kept her busy for the next few years before moving back to Perth.

Upon arrival in Perth, Debbie was appointed the National Delegate for WA for Defence Families of Australia and represented West Australian families to key Defence personnel in Canberra. Between her family and travel related to this and her Career Consulting business, Debbie was kept busy until she decided to totally change direction and returned to study and completed a Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) at ECU.

Her second practicum led to a job offer at Ashdale Secondary College in Darch where she is now Head of ICT & STEM at the College. During her time at the College, Debbie won Beginning Teacher of the Year in the WA Education Awards in 2017, been nominated for a Women in Technology Award, and most recently in 2021, received a Highly Commended Award in the Prime Minister’s Science Award (for Science/STEM Teaching).

She plans to stay in education for the foreseeable future and wants schools to provide students with more project based and authentic learning opportunities that enable students to link their learning with real-life.

Dennis Yagmich FCPA
State Cricketer, Accountant & Vigneron
GSSHS 1961-63

Profession: State cricketer and accountant.
Achievements since leaving high school

Business
. 1974 qualified as an accountant through Perth Technical College and admitted as a
member of The Australian Society of Accounts, (now CPA Australia);
. Admitted as a fellow of CPA Australia;
. Registered taxation agent;
. Registered company auditor;
. I have been in private practice as a certified practising accountant in Midland since
1978.

Sport

Cricket
. 1972 to 1974 played first class cricket for Western Australian Sheffield Shield side as
wicket keeper and was a member of the 1972/73 winning Shield side;
. 1974 moved to South Australia and played in the South Australian Sheffield Shield side
until 1978. And was a member of the winning Shield side for the 1975/76 season;
. 1978 played with the World Series Cricket side sponsored by Kerry Packer;
. When leaving Governor Stirling played for Midland Guildford Cricket Club A grade
side from the 1963/64 season to 1973/74;
. Upon transfer to South Australia played for Kensington Cricket Club A grade side
during my time in the state;
. 1979/80 season appointed coach of Nedlands Cricket Club and captain of the A grade
side. Retired in 1984.
Fencing
. Australasian foil fencing champion in the over 50 category in 2001;
. Western Australian open foil champion in 2003.

Other
. Secretary of the Western Australian Cricketers Club;
. Treasurer of The Mount Lawley Golf Club;
. Trustee for Midland Guildford Cricket Club Foundation;
. Vice President of the Western Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce;
. Life member of the Western Australian Croatian Chamber of Commerce;
. Life member of Midland Guildford Cricket Club;
. Auditor for a number of non-profit organisations.

Vigneron
. Grape grower and wine producer since 1978 having won wine production medals:
. 2005 Silver & Bronze;
. 2008 Bronze;
. 2017 Gold.

AFL Premiership Player & WA Police Officer

GSSHS 1971-74

Since leaving Governor Stirling High School in 1975 I worked in a timber mill in Wundowie a wheat and sheep farm in Dandaragan and a number of other employments until 1977.

In 1977 I joined the Australian Army where I served six years with the 8/9th Battalion Royal Australian Regiment (RAR) based primarily in Queensland.

Whilst in Queensland I played football with the Mayne Football Club representing Queensland against Victoria in 1981.

In 1982 I was drafted to the Essendon Football club in the Victorian Football League (VFL), I played for Essendon for a further two years before returning to Western Australia (WA).

In 1984 I played with the Swan Districts Football Club in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL). I was a premiership player in that year 1984 and represented WA at state level in 1985.

In 1987 I left WA and relocated to South Australia to play with the Norwood Football Club in the South Australian Football League (SANFL). I stayed in South Australia midway through 1989 before returning to Swan Districts to play out the remainder of the 1989 season.

In 1990 I moved to the East Perth Football club in the WAFL where I played for two years until I moved back to Swan Districts in 1993 that was my last year of WAFL.

I played a total of 255 games representing Queensland and Western Australia at state level.

It was in 1993 that I joined the Western Australian Police Force (WAPF), I worked in a variety of police stations and squads until 2006 when I resigned and took up a position of Security Contractor in IRAQ.

I worked in IRAQ between 2006 – 2009 primarily being stationed in northern IRAQ for that time period.
In 1993 I re-joined the WAPF. I am a current serving Detective Sergeant with the Drug and Firearm Squad.

Diane Sidebottom (McDonald)

Australian Netball team 1981

Represented Australia at the Netball World Championships in 1983 in Singapore (World Champions)

A member of the Perth Orioles (the national league team before West Coast Fever)

Inaugural Head Coach and the WA Institute of Sport Head Coach from 1997 to 1999.

Dianne coached Hong Kong at the World Championships in 1999 and has had vast experience in coaching state teams and assisting with other national league teams in Queensland, where she lived for many years.

Australian Netball Diamond

Digby Graham Blight OA
Commissioner for Public Sector Standards
Officer in the Order of Australia

GSSHS (formerly Midland High School 1944 – 1946)

My greatest achievement was to progress steadily from the lowest classification of the WA Public Service to the highest.

Halfway through Year 9 at Midland Junction High School, my Technical Drawing teacher suggested I give thought to a drafting career- which impressed me. I joined the Public Service WA as a Junior Clerk with the intention of becoming a cadet draftsman. Unfortunately, due to a visual impairment I was never accepted into the cadetship. This did not affect me as much as I expected because I enjoyed clerical work and my elderley colleagues explained the wide opportunities I had if I made the effort.

So I made the effort.
Over the course of 16 years, I attended night school at the Perth Technical College and over a course of years I completed my leaving subjects, Diploma in Public Administration, Diploma in Accountancy and achieved an Associateship in Public Administration at Curtin University.

From 1946 onwards, I held various positions and gained steady promotion across the WA Public Service. Significant positions include: Employment Officer and Secretary to the Promotions Appeal Board and the Public Service Appeal Board.

My big career-changing break came in 1964 when I spent two years in London coordinating the Group Migration Scheme; interviewing potential trade persons for immigration into Western Australia. The scheme was highly successful, numbers exceeded expectations and the Premier at the time thanked me personally for our efforts when I returned.

Upon return to Perth, I obtained several more promotions including:

● Director General, Ministry of Premier and Cabinet – where I administered the Ministry and dealt directly with the Premiers to ensure their requirements were being fulfilled. I liaised with Departmental heads including overseas offices in the UK, Japan and South Korea;
● Commissioner of the Public Service Board; and
● Commissioner for Public Sector Standards – classified as the highest position at that level. I accepted that position until 65 when I eventually retired, but continued my appointment as the Chairman of the Salaries and Allowances Commission.

From 1988, I devoted effort into raising funds for Type 1 Diabetes research, a cause close to my heart. I later became Director of the Diabetes Association of WA and a Committee member of the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation of Australia before later retiring from those positions.

In 1999, I was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia.

In 2000, I was appointed a member of the Gunning Committee of Inquiry into the Finance Brokers Supervisory Board.

Alan Roberts

Governor Stirling Senior High School (GSSHS)

1961-65

Ah, the memories. The school buildings may not have been the most attractive, and the outdoor sporting facility was a rock hard or muddy hockey field, depending on the season, but it was what we had and we made the most of it.

I represented the school in athletics and basketball and I believe I still hold an interschool record for the hundred yards, created just before everything converted to meters.

I studied at UWA to be a physical education teacher but ended up staying in the tertiary education sector and studying for a PhD in what is now Sports Science. I later took career moves to Ballarat and then to Canberra. At the University of Canberra, I was Head of the Centre for Sports Studies and later Head of the School of Health Sciences.

In Canberra I was fortunate to also be able to work within the Australian Institute of Sport, particularly through the lead up to the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games. I was closely involved in research on the effects of altitude training on sports performance which developed protocols for the use of “altitude tents” in which athletes slept each night between training sessions. I also was part of a team which studied the effects of Coca Cola on sports performance, based on observations that stage race cyclists (eg Tour de France) often switched from sports drinks to defizzed coke in the latter stages of a 200+km day of racing. It worked, it did improve performance, and had a fair claim to being the “real thing”.

University life provided many opportunities for travel and work overseas, and for example I lived and worked in Switzerland (the Swiss National Sports Institute) and the USA (the US Olympic Training Centre Colorado Springs). I have presented invited conference keynote addresses in Australia and overseas and won, with others, both a national and an international prize for sports science research. For a time, I was also a member of a multidisciplinary group providing advice to NASA on the optimum protocols for exercise in space.

At various times I have been a consultant to the Federal and State/Territory governments in Australia, international Ministries of Sport, and national and international sporting organisations on matters relating to sports policy, programs and education.

In retirement I travel as much and as widely as I can, usually with some adventure element involved. I have circumnavigated Mt Blanc, trekking 180km through parts of France, Italy and Switzerland; open water kayaked in Alaska; volunteered on a game park and dived with the great whites in South Africa; cycled in France and Spain; stood on the Trolltunga in Norway; hiked across Switzerland, you get the picture.

Married, divorced, married again and now widowed, but fortunate to be enjoying the companionship of a later-in-life relationship. I have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. I live on the Sunshine Coast in Queensland about 200m from a surf beach.

Life is good.

Dr Alan Pritchard, B.Ed., M.Ed Admin., EdD

Educator & Army Reservist

GSSHS 1956-57

Alan graduated from Governor Stirling in the class of 1957. He has had a diverse career in Education spanning 55 years. This included 10 years as Principal of two Senior High Schools (Northam and Kewdale) and 20 years working with Masters and Doctoral students at two universities, UNE and UWA. During that time, he taught doctoral research methods and was First Supervisor of 24 graduating Doctoral students and 20 graduating Master’s students.

In 1998 and 1999 he led UNESCO review teams of major educational projects in Indonesia in the fields of parental involvement in schools and adjusting curriculum content to better fit local contexts. He has worked as a consultant in Government and Independent schools in the fields of leadership, curriculum, ethos and culture and performance management.

Alan’s army interest started as a school cadet at Governor Stirling. He was a National Serviceman in 1959, an Officer of Cadets through the 1960’s and an Army Reserve Officer in the 1970’s, 80’s and into the 90’s. He was Commanding Officer of the Sixteenth Battalion Royal Western Australian Regiment (1987-1990), Honorary Colonel of Army Cadets for WA (1992-96) and Regimental Colonel of the Royal Western Australia Regiment (1994-97).

Dr Gary Davis
Dentist

Midland High School 1951—1955 Attended Midland Primary School from 1943 to 1949 Was in the first year to attend 4th and 5th year at M.H.S before it became Governor Stirling Senior High School.

I was awarded a state bursary to attend U.W.A. and received my B.D.Sc in
1960.

Spent two years touring the south west as a school dentist.

In 1962 married Judith Marshall who also attended Midland Senior High School from 1951 to 1955 Started a dental practice in Bayswater in 1963 and retired in 2007.

During that time, I tutored, part time, at the Dental Faculty, from 1965
to 1995.

In 1974 I was invited to teach at the Dental School at North Western University in Chicago as visiting Associate Professor for one year.

During my practice years I was a member of four dental study groups in Perth.

After retirement I joined the Christian Health Aid Team and made 9 trips to Vietnam to help provide dental care and education to rural needy groups.

Golf, fishing and helping my 3 daughters and 3 grandchildren now fill in my leisure time.

Dr Isavel Carija

Setting up CBS Anaesthetics providing a 24/7 service to Midland Hospitals

Founder Consultant Anaesthetist CBS Anaesthetics

GSSHS 1965-69

I have lived most of my life on a vineyard in the Swan Valley.
I went to Upper Swan Primary in 1958 and from there to GSHS in 1965. In graduating from Governor Stirling in 1969.

I applied to do Medicine at UWA. I was accepted and started a fabulous journey doing what I enjoy most- looking after people. I stayed at Currie Hall (now University College) for the six years of medicine. I graduated as a Doctor in 1976 and started to work in the hospital system. In 1978 I applied and was accepted into the anaesthetist training program. I graduated as a Consultant Anaesthetist in 1983, the same year I married my wife, Laura who also was a doctor.

Soon after I went in private practice. I set up CBS anaesthetics which still exists today. Laura and I also set up Carilley Estate a winery and restaurant. Laura also set up North Street Medical in Midland.

In 2017 Laura and I bought a small farm in Denmark. In 2020 on the 15 March, we left Ushuaia on a Cruise Boat for Antarctica. The COVID19 went through the ship rapidly. Laura and I were both infected. After much uncertainty and many weeks later, we came back home to the Swan Valley. Laura and I have transitioned to part time work and we are spending more time together with family and friends.

Dr John R Owen graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1977 and entered private general dental practice in Midland WA. After spending 1980 in London, studying at the Royal College of Dental Surgeons and establishing a general dental practice in Finsbury Park, he returned to Perth to undertake his specialist training and Master’s degree in Orthodontics from 1981-1984. Over the next 30 years, John established two specialist orthodontic practices in the Perth suburbs of Midland and Mount Lawley. He remains the principal orthodontist and owner of Midland Orthodontists and is ably supported by four associate orthodontists and our very experienced and long serving support team.

John is active in many arenas, holding the current positions of:-
Chairman of Directors, Joint Coordinator and Principal Dentist, Kimberley Dental Team Ltd. www.kimberleydentalteam.com ,
UWA., Honorary Clinical Consultant, School of Dentistry, Oral Health Centre of WA., Clinical Past Clinical Associate Professor, School of Primary, Aboriginal and Rural Health Care,
Patron and Past Chair, Australian Society of Orthodontists, Foundation for Research and Education.
Immediate Past President and Regent, Section VIII, Australasian Section, International College of Dentists.
Past Chair, WA Immediate Action Committee of the Dental Board of Australia,
Foundation Member and proud supporter of the ASO, Give a Smile Program,
Past Executive Committee Member, the Order of Australia Association, WA Branch and current Member, Western Australia, Oral Health Advisory Council.

During his professional career, John has been President of the University Dental Students Society in 1976, Western Australian branches of the Australian Dental Association 1994-95, and Australian Society of Orthodontists 1990-91, and Federal President of the Australian Society of Orthodontists 2000-2002. He was President of the Dental Board of Western Australia from 1999 to 2010. He is a past director of the Australian Dental Council, past Congress Chairman for the 33rd Australian Dental Association Congress and Exhibition, Perth 2009 and was very proud to be the Honorary Consultant Orthodontist to the Disabilities Services Commission from 1986 to 2012.

From 2009 to 2012 John was an Inaugural Member of the Dental Board of Australia, chairing the National Registration and Notification Committees.

John has been recognized at many levels including being appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2010 Queens Birthday Honours list. His citation was, “for service to the specialty of orthodontics, and through a range of leadership roles within the dental profession”.

John was a finalist in the 2011 Western Australian Citizen of the Year Awards, Community Service category which “honours extraordinary service and dedication to the Western Australian community at a state wide level”.

In 2014, John was recognized as a Paul Harris Fellow by The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International,” in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among the peoples of the world”.

In May 2017, John was Awarded the prestigious, Dr John Booth Award, Australasian Dentist of the Year, by the Academy for Dentistry International.

Dr Owen is extremely proud of his appointment as the Inaugural Patron of Kalamunda Senior High School (2013 – 2020). John was a student at this school in 1967-1969. John has supported the School over the past 30 years, through his Incentive Award for a year 10 student which pays the approximate equivalent of the student’s Year 11 and Year 12 fees.
In early 2009, John and his wife Jan, founded the Kimberley Dental Team which became an ATO approved, not for profit organization in 2011. With the assistance of hundreds of volunteer dental personnel and the support of so many sponsors and supporters, the team has been able to visit the remote Kimberley region of WA over twenty five trips, 76 weeks, to provide much needed urgent general dental care, education and advice.

Since 2014, KDT Southern has been actively assisting clients at many centres for the vulnerable around Perth including, at Oxford Foyer for youth in transition, Uniting Care West for the homeless, Tuart Place, Uniting Care Family Foundations for families and Devenish Lodge and Franciscan Lodge mental health hostels.
Over $4 million dollars of free dental care has been provided by the Team over the last decade.

For two weeks in February 2017, he volunteered with 17 others (joint Dental, Medical, Optometric and Speech Pathology) for Equal Health in association with an organization called SEVAI that looks after the welfare of poor villages in the surrounds of a Southern Indian town called Trichy. We travel by bus from the capital of the state of Tamil Nadu, Chennai, for 6 hours to reach our destination. We are based in a small rural village called Amoor and travel out to work each day in a bus with all our gear. Was a great experience and worked hard and enjoyed the dentistry and company.

Over the past 21, John has have visited Nepal three times, firstly climbing Mera Peak in the Hinku Valley, East of Everest (6480m) in 1997 and in 2015, traveling into Nepal and Kathmandu after two weeks in Tibet. He returned to Nepal for two weeks, volunteering and working in Kathmandu at the Kopan Buddhist Monastery, with Project Yeti, April 2018.

Dr Laraine Brindle
Owning & running a General Practice
GSSHS 1964-65

Laraine attended GSSHS from 1964-65, having previously attended Belmont SHS.

Laraine worked in various, but mainly clerical government and private jobs until a position at UWA led her to consider a university degree in 1970.

In order to enter Medicine, Laraine studied to repeat her leaving to Matriculate for Medicine entry requirements and in 1977, successfully graduated to become Dr Brindle.

Following work in New Zealand and UK for several years, Dr Brindle returned home to Perth and commenced work in General Practice.

From 1982 to retirement in 2012 Dr Brindle mainly worked in her own General Practice.

Since retirement from General Practice Dr Laraine Brindle has and still works part time in a Drug Rehabilitation Centre.

Dr Michael Todd
Research for European Space Agency
GSSHS 1987-88

During his career Michael has worked as a Telstra Technician, a High School Maths and Science teacher, a researcher, a software developer and a data scientist.

Michael grew up in the Wheatbelt of Western Australia and attended GSSHS from 1987 to 1988 (Years 11 & 12). After finishing school, he completed an apprenticeship as a Telecommunications Technician with Telstra (then Telecom Australia) and worked as a Technician in the major telephone exchanges in the Perth CBD.

Early in Michael’s career he was appointed Senior Telecommunications Technical Officer responsible for the telecommunications exchanges in Telstra’s Pier Street (Perth) Telecommunications Facility. From there he moved to Telstra’s Data Production Branch during the Future Mode of Operations network modernisation programme where he managed numerous projects of varying scale and complexity, including the 8-digit numbering conversion project for the state of Western Australia.

In 2005 Michael attended Curtin University where he concurrently completed Bachelor of Science (Physics) and Bachelor of Education degrees, followed by a Bachelor of Science Honours Degree in Physics with 1st Class Honours. In 2014 Michael completed a PhD in Physics and received commendations for his thesis, “Detection of Trojan asteroids in the orbits of Earth and Mars.”
Some of his research findings were featured on the European Space Agency website. During his studies, Michael also discovered 40 asteroids in the Main Belt between the orbits of the planets Mars and Jupiter.

Michael’s experience working with a wide range of technologies and software platforms has lent him the good fortune to have worked on many interesting projects of all sizes, which has led him to have lived and worked in France and Germany. He has learnt both French and German (useful when in those countries) and currently lives and works in Hamburg, Germany, as a specialist in algorithm development and data analysis for one of the largest eye-wear companies in Europe.

Ron was fortunate to attend Governor Stirling after beginning his education at West Midland Infants School and Midland Primary. He grew up close by at 12 Ford Street West Midland.

From Governor Stirling he went to UWA and Graduated with a Bachelor of Economics in 1967. By then he was a Graduate Administrative Trainee in the Public Service in Canberra moving then to Sydney where he worked in the public service and NSW TAFE.

In 1970 he married his wife Pam in Sydney and they had three children, Johanna, Richard born Sydney and Meredith born in Perth. By 1978 the family relocated to Perth where Ron worked at Edith Cowan University. Ron also completed a Master of Education with Honours at the University of Sydney

In 1983 Ron won election for the Federal Electorate of Stirling and was a member of the Hawke and Keating Labor Governments until 1993 and in this period became Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

Since his time in Parliament Ron has worked in commercial radio with 6PR and been a consultant and Board Member in a number of roles working with government and industry including the Board of the Perth Mint .He also completed a Doctorate in Education at UWA in 2006.

Currently he is Chair of WA State Emergency Management Committee dealing with issues such as bushfires, cyclones and the coronavirus. As well he is a Founding Member of the Graham Polly Farmer Foundation dedicated to supporting Aboriginal youth through education.

Dr Trevor Fernihough MBBS WA dip Mid COG SA

AFS Exchange student scholarship and  Medical Degree

Senior Medical Officer at Broome Hospital

GSSHS 1965-68

I grew up in the remote bush town of Roebourne, with a population of approximately 100, in poor economic circumstance. Due to the efforts of my parents for us to do better, I was sent to boarding hostel at Swanleigh from Grade 7 (Middle Swan primary 1964) then Governor Sterling 1965-1968 (1st year in Woodbridge house!).

I was a CUO in the Governor Sterling Cadet unit, topping the course, and was invited to Duntroon to see if I might be interested in an Army Officer career. A week there was enough to say “NO”.

I was a prefect in my final year. Went to the USA as an AFS exchange student for a year 1969-70 (I think Governor Stirling managed to have five of the ten AFS exchange student selected from WA that year…amazing !!) Came back and went to UWA studying Medicine, graduating MBBS in 1977. I worked at Fremantle hospital, then three years as a GP in Dongara, then spent two years working in anaesthetics and obstetrics in a 2000 bed black South African hospital and achieved my diploma in Obstetrics while there. I returned to Australia to work as the Senior Medical Officer in Broome Hospital for three years then moved to Kempsey in Northern NSW where I worked for 10 years as a cattle farmer / solo GP. I then returned to WA where I spent the next 19 years working as an Emergency Department Doctor at St John of God Hospital in Murdoch, before giving that up in 2019 to become an oyster farmer/GP in Narooma NSW.

Edward (Eddie) Tomczak 1959 – 1963
Life’s Learning’s
• Believe in yourself
• Take Risks
• Grasp every opportunity
• Live outside the box
• Have Compassion
• Be happy with who you are
• Don’t be afraid to seek help – you will never know it all
1964: Life after school started at Royal Military College Duntroon – a tough year in many respects. Away from family, living in a structured military environment, sports injuries, a car accident and separation from close friends and social network. Then failed to graduate to the next level at years’ end. That was a year I learnt a lot about resilience and self reliance.
1965: A new start at the Officer Cadet School Portsea Victoria. With a year of hard knocks behind me the year was an outstanding success. Made some life friends and graduated 4th in a class of 120. That was the start of my career as a commissioned officer in the Australian Army.
1966: My first two appointments were in Metropolitan Melbourne each of 6months duration.
1967: Commenced 8 months of engineering training in Sydney and in September was posted to Perth to an Army Engineering unit where I consolidated my training on projects for defence and the State Government.
1968 – 1970: A posting to Sydney to undertake a 3 month course as a Maritime Engineer which started a very different 2 ½ years for someone in the Army, driving Australian cargo ships in support of the Vietnam War effort. Destinations covered most of SE Asia and included New Guinea and New Zealand as well as the Vietnam War Zone. Late 1969 managed to have time out to get married.
1970 -1971: Mid to late 1970 the sea faring life came to an end with a short training course and by early 1971 was on the ground in South Vietnam. After 9 months of operations and civil aid work, the Army’s forward base Nui Dat, was closed and I remained there with a small group decommissioning the area before returning to Australia in December.
1972 – 1974: Studied Civil Engineering at WAIT (now Curtin University) and graduated.
1975 – 1984: Several roles in Defence Facilities Management across Australia including South East Queensland, Perth and Western Australia, Victoria and Tasmania. The roles were much about Project Management to ensure the built asset was maintained and new facilities were funded and constructed as needed. These roles provided significant experience for my life after the Army.
1984 – 1995 Facilities Management roles over a period of 11 years for the Western Australian Government. Agencies included Prisons, Education, Courts and Fremantle Port Authority.

Garry was an Australian rules football player who played for St Kilda, Geelong and Fitzroy Football Clubs in the Victorian Football League and Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League during the 1970s and 80s.

Named in the Team of the Century

State Representative

Named in the WA Football League of Fame 2011

1962-63 I completed Years 11 & 12 at GSSHS. Following graduation I attended Claremont Teachers’ College and taught Physical Education in metropolitan high schools over the next decade.

During this period, I represented WA at Netball and in 1969 I had the distinction of being a member of the WA Open netball team that created history in winning the All Australia Netball Championships outright for the very first time.

I was selected in the All Australian Netball team chosen at each national championships and went on to represent Australia at 3 World Tournaments –

1967 Third World Netball championships Perth Australia 1967 (Runners up)

1971 Third World Netball championships Jamaica West Indies (Winners/Captain)

1979 Fifth World Netball championship Trinidad & Tobago West Indies (Vice captain)

The highlight of my playing career was captaining the Australian Netball team, to victory in the Third World Netball championships, Jamaica, 1971.

In 1982 I moved into professional coaching and took up the position of Assistant Coach Netball at the Australian Institute of Sport in Canberra. In the early 1990’s I took over the position of Head Coach of the netball program at the AIS.

In 1999 I returned to WA to coach the Perth Orioles.

Other significant achievements:

1971 named the WA Sportsman of the Year

1989 inducted into the WA Hall of Champions

2009 Inducted into the Netball Australia Hall of Fame

The highlight of my coaching career was coaching the Australian Netball team to victory in the Johnson & Johnson Tri Series versus NZ and England, 1991.

Geoffrey Ajduk

WA State Bowls Team

Magistrate

GSSHS 1970-71

Geoffrey Ajduk – 1954 – 1993

Geoff Ajduk attended Governor Stirling Senior High School from 1970 to 1971. He graduated from the University of Western Australia with a Bachelor of Jurisprudence and Law and was admitted to legal practice in May 1979. He completed his articles with the Legal Aid Commission, working mainly in the criminal jurisdiction, before joining the Commonwealth Attorney General’s Department in 1980 as a legal officer. Within four years he had been promoted to principal legal officer, before being appointed as a special investigating officer with the Parliamentary Commissioner for Administrative Investigations (more commonly known as the Ombudsman). In June 1986 Geoff was appointed to the Magistracy and he was the first Magistrate of Croatian descent.

Geoff was also a champion lawn bowler. In 1982 he became Champion of Champions in the state singles competition. At the age of 27 he became the youngest player in WA lawn bowls history to win the Champion of Club Champions title. In the same year he won the Lindsay Rosenthal Medal for the most outstanding bowler in Western Australia for the 1981-82 season. This coveted trophy is the highest award in WA lawn bowls. In 1985 he won the Alan Eddy medal for best performance bowler for Western Australia. He played for Western Australia from 1983 to 1987 and in 1986 was the state side skipper.

Geoff passed away on 14 January 1993, aged 38, after a two-year battle with skin cancer. In a tribute to Geoff, former Chief Magistrate Con Zempilas said: “His dignified courage and cheerful devotion to duty in his darkest hours will be an inspiration to all those who practice the law”.

In 2004, in recognition of Geoff’s legacy and example, the Magistrates Society of Western Australia established the Geoff Ajduk Memorial Prize. The prize is awarded annually to a law student who has shown commitment to academic excellence, social justice and community service by providing legal assistance to disadvantaged groups.

Gordon Davidson JP

Councillor and Shire President
GSSHS 1964-68

Local Government Career Dumbleyung Shire

Elected as councillor in 1991

Elected as President in 2001

Re-elected President in 2003,2005,2007,2009,20011,2013, 2015,2017.

Chairman Wheatbelt South Regional Road Group 2007-2011

Nominated and received a WALGA Meritorious Service Award in 2004

Nominated and received a WALGA Imminent Service Award in 2017.

Meritorious service Award for long and outstanding service to Local Government.

2001 Australia Day Citizen Award

Involvement in Sport

Life Member WA Country Football League

Life Member Upper Great Southern Football League

Life Member Kukerin Dumbleyung Football League

Head Trainer for all the above and the WA Woman’s Indoor Hockey Team

Head Trainer for the UGSWHL for many years.

Outstanding Service Award for WA State Team and the Country Championships.

Meritorious Service Award for service to Country Football

Bush Fire Brigade Involvement.

National Medal for long Service to The Bushfire Organisation.

Certificate of Commendation for commitment and dedication to the Shire of Dumbleyung Bush Fire Organisation and the 2004 Kukerin Wildfire.

Ex Chief Fire Control Officer and Deputy FCO, Fire Weather Officer and FCO, Dumbleyung Shire Bushfire Network.

Landcare involvement.

Member LCDC and Dumbleyung Landcare Zone.

Member Dumbleyung Water Management Strategy Steering Committee.

Engineering Evaluation Committee Member.

Wheatbelt Drainage Board Member

Working Party into Drainage Protocols.

South West Catchments Council Member.

Other

Justice of the Peace since 2001

Freeman of the Dumbleyung Shire

Dr Graeme I Pearman AM, FAA, ATSE, FAMOS, FRoySocVic, BSc (Hon), PhD (West.Aust.)

Former Chief of the CSIRO Division of Atmospheric Research

GSSHS 1958-1959

Graeme completed his high school certificate at Governor Stirling in 1958 and began a science degree at the University of Western Australia in 1959, contracted to the Education Department as a trainee teacher. His ambition was to become a high school biology teacher, a choice greatly influenced by his biology teacher Mr. Peter Davies-Moore and physics teacher Mr. Brian Feld, at Governor Stirling. He double majored in Zoology and Botany and completed an Honour’s degree looking at the energy budget of plant leaves- a mixture of physics and biology. He decided that he wished to pursue a career as a scientist. Resigning from the Education Department he undertook a PhD and then a post-Doctoral year at the University of Wisconsin.

Graeme joined CSIRO in 1971, establishing a research program on atmospheric chemistry His personal research focused on the global distribution of carbon dioxide between the atmosphere, oceans, and the biosphere. He was a prime influence in the establishment of the Cape Grim Baseline Observatory in Tasmania, 1976 and the CSIRO climate research program. He became Chief of the Division of Atmospheric Research, 1992–2002. He contributed over 240 scientific research papers primarily on aspects of the global carbon budget. In recent years this work has been biased towards aspect of energy futures and human behavior in climate risk assessment.

After leaving CSIRO in 2004, he established a consultancy. In the period 2004-2014 he gave over 500 briefings on climate-change science and sustainability to governments, peak industry bodies, public groups, and companies, as part of their climate-change risk assessments. He made presentations to the PM’s Science, Engineering, and Innovation Council: Bob Hawke, 6 October 1989; Paul Keating, 18 May 1992; John Howard, 4 December 1998. He has been Australian science-advisor to the Hon. Al Gore during Mr. Gore’s visits to Australia and participated in the Kevin Rudd 2020 Summit, April 2008.

He is now a Professorial Fellow at the Australian-German Climate and Energy College at the University of Melbourne. He was awarded the CSIRO Medal (1988), a United Nations’ Environment Program Global 500 Award (1989), Australian Medal of the Order of Australia (1999) and a Federation Medal (2003). He has been elected to Fellowship of the Australian Academy of Science, the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering, the Royal Society of Victoria, and the Australian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society.

He has served on a number of boards including those of the Climate Institute (Sydney), START International (Washington) and Greenfleet Australia (Melbourne). He is a Research Advisory Panel member of the Australian Centre for Corporate Responsibility (Canberra), a member of the Audit Committee of the Banksia Foundation, the Leeuwin Group (Perth) and the Sustainability Advisory Committee for the City of Greater Dandenong (Melbourne). He has served as an advisor to the Singapore National Research Foundation (Singapore) and the German Council of Science and Humanities (Berlin).

Current interests include: the quality of solar radiation, its changes over time and influence on plant photosynthesis and the global carbon budget; describing holistic strategies that build resilient energy futures; emissions reductions appropriate for specific nations or communities; transport technologies; limitations and risks associated with bio-fuels and other alternative energy sources such as hydrogen; dimensions of human behaviour in the climate-change issue; and the role of science in modern societies.

Managing Director of Wallis Drilling since 1980 and is responsible for all aspects of Wallis Drilling. He spent five years in the Finance Industry and since then has been with Wallis Drilling for over 40 years.
By 1988, Wallis Drilling was listed as one of Australia’s top 1000 companies.
In 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honours list Graeme was awarded Member (AM) in the General Division for his significant service to the mining sector as announced by the Governor General.

Through his influence with the MDAA, the ADIA and EMICoL, it instigated and assisted in developing several innovative initiatives that have benefitted the engineering trades and drilling sector.

• The formation of an industry Registered Training Organisation (DrillSkill)
• The formation of an engineering co-operative (EMICoL)
• The development of an engineering trade work experience program (LEAPS)
• Implementation of a training and assessment system that provides existing workers and new employees with a nationally recognised qualification to Certificate II, III and IV in Drilling
• The first drilling company in Australia to qualify a female Driller to Certificate III level

Graeme is an active member of industry associations and associated training committees (past and present), including:

• EMICol: (Engineering Manufacturing Industry Cooperative Ltd) – Founding member, Chair and Board member for four years
• Skills DMC – Representative on Training Package Working Party
• Mineral Drilling Association of Australia (MDAA formed to promote training) – Founding member, Past President and Life member
• ADIA: (Australian Drilling Industry Association) – Life member, past Director
• DrillSkill: Board of Management

Current Awards

• 2005 Australian Drilling Industry Association – Life Membership
• 2010 Mineral Drilling Association of Australia – Life Membership
• 2013 Business Person of the Year – Swan Business Award
• 2014 Ernst & Young – Entrepreneur of the Year Western Region finalist
• 2019 Queen’s Birthday Honour – Member of the Order of Australia

Greg has dedicated his career to improving the lives of those living in disadvantage both here in Australia and internationally. This is his passion. He has led multi-million-dollar Australian Government education aid and development programs in Asia and the South Pacific, CEO positions with Native Title Corporations, General Manager of Australia’s largest education Charity (The Smith Family) and been a School Principal.

He has held positions including WAs Chair of Anti-Poverty Week, President of International School Suva, Fiji, Board Member of the Government Employees Housing Authority in WA and Board member of schools. Greg was commissioned to write a report for Government on “Re-Thinking Education and Training in Remote Aboriginal Communities”.
After five years at Governor Stirling SHS and completing Year 12, Greg combined work and tertiary study to complete three degrees including a Master of Education from the University of Western Australia. He became a teacher, Deputy, Principal and consultant working in Perth, the Kimberley, Pilbara and the Goldfields. Following this, he worked overseas for many years.
Working closely with Australian Embassies, he led large teams of up to 120 education specialists to support Governments in developing countries to improve national education systems. Examples include supporting the introduction of Year 11 & 12 in the Philippines, introducing a new national curriculum, HR business processes and corporate information systems in Fiji, developing national law and justice policy in Samoa and reporting on the innovative education aid model in Rwanda.

As General Manager for The Smith Family for WA he led a team in twelve offices across WA that supported thousands of children and their families living in financial disadvantage through education. Over a period of five years he built the charity in WA to a point of financial self-sustainability through developing partnerships with large corporations, universities and Government. Greg has always believed that supporting a child’s education is the best way to help break the cycle of disadvantage. The Programs included mentoring, literacy and numeracy, learning clubs, scholarships, financial literacy, technology, work experience and art.

As a thought leader in Education, Greg has been invited for many International and national education keynote speaking opportunities. He has been sought for countless newspaper and radio interviews, mainly focussed on children and families living in financial disadvantage as well as Aboriginal issues.

Greg’s first priority has always been his family. He is married with three daughters. Greg has represented WA in hockey, playing in numerous national tournaments. Aside from his passion for sport, he believes in staying connected to the natural environment and has taken the opportunity to experience the wonderful and varied land and sea areas while living in several countries. On returning to Perth, he has gone full circle and chosen to reside in the Perth Hills amongst the trees, not far from his parents’ original home where he used to travel down to Governor Stirling SHS as a student.

Gregory Yurisich AM was born in Perth, Australia, was one of the world’s leading operatic baritones and is described by Placido Domingo as his favourite baritone. His portrayals of the great Verdi repertory earned him tremendous critical acclaim – “phenomenal” and “overwhelming” described his portrayal of the title role of Nabucco for the Bregenz Festival, Austria and later for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and in Geneva. Other acclaimed performances include the title role Rigoletto in Israel, Athens and the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; title role Simon Boccanegra for the English National Opera; title role Falstaff in Australia and the USA; Germont La Traviata for San Francisco Opera, Teatro a La Scala with Georg Solti, The Australian Opera and in Tel Aviv and Geneva; Iago Otello with Placido Domingo for the Los Angeles Opera and at La Monnaie, Brussels and Brisbane; Stankar Stiffelio for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden for which he won a Sir Lawrence Olivier Award, also available on DVD; and Amonasro Aida for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.

Mr Yurisich performed repeatedly in all the major opera houses and concert halls of the world partnered with the leading singers of our time including Dame Joan Sutherland, Montserrat Caballé, Dame Kiri te Kanawa, Placido Domingo, Jose Carreras, Luciano Pavarotti, Marilyn Horne, Jose Cura, Roberto Alagna, Karita Mattila, Renata Scotto, Samuel Ramey, Sumi Jo, Renee Fleming, Dolora Zajick, Fiorenza Cossotto, John Tomlinson, Ruggero Raimondi, Martti Talvela and Gerald Finley.

He collaborated with the greatest conductors of our time including Claudio Abbado, Riccardo Muti, Bernard Haitink, Zubin Mehta, Richard Bonynge, Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Geoffrey Tate, Franz Welser-Möst, Sir Edward Downes, Sir Mark Elder, Gary Bertini, Jose Serebrier, Daniel Oren, Sir Charles Mackerras, Marcello Viotti, Michel Plasson, Edo de Waart, Carlo Rizzi, Evelino Pido, Antonio Pappano, Donald Runnicles, Jacques Delacote and Sylvain Cambreling.

Other memorable performances include Barak Die Frau Ohne Schatten for the Melbourne International Festival winning him a Green Room Award for Best Male Artist in a Principal Role; Scarpia Tosca for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, at the Hong Kong Festival, and also available on the Chandos label; title role Guillaume Tell for the Royal Opera Covent Garden; Escamillo Carmen for the English National Opera and Bavarian State Opera, Munich and also available on the Chandos label; title tole Rigoletto at Deutsche Oper, Berlin with Claudio Abbado, Telramund Lohengrin for the Victoria State Opera winning him a Green Room Award for Best Male Artist in a supporting role; Balstrode in the French Premiere of Peter Grimes at the Chatelet Paris, La Monnaie, Brussels, Hamburg Opera and the Weiner Staatsoper; the Four Villains Les Contes d’Hoffmann for Opera de Paris at the Bastille, Weiner Staatsoper, The Australian Opera and for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. For the Deutsche Staatsoper unter den Linden he sang Alfio in Cavalleria Rusticana and Tonio in Pagliacci. He also recorded Leporello in Don Giovanni (EMI), Sharpless in Madama Butterfly (Chandos) and Amonasro in Aida (Chandos).

Gregory Yurisich has made many international appearances on the concert platform, highlights include Revival of the Dead with Zubin Mehta and the Israel Philharmonic; Mahler’s Eighth Symphony for the Edinburgh Festival; Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Berlin Philharmonic and Sir Simon Rattle, Mass for Rossini for Opera de Lyon; Alberich Siegfried in concert with the Melbourne Symphony and Sir Charles Mackerras as well as numerable performances with Richard Bonynge. He worked tirelessly for The Princes Trust whilst resident in Britain and has performed for Prince Charles a number of times, the last being live on BBC television with Dame Kiri te Kanawa to open Waterfront Hall in Belfast for which he was awarded the City of Belfast Medal. He sang the role of Tonio in Washington in the Franco Zefferelli production of Pagliacci with Placido Domingo which is available on DVD. Many of his performances with Dame Joan Sutherland and José Carreras are also available on DVD.

After almost forty years as a soloist, Gregory Yurisich retired from the operatic stage … his final role was the High Priest of Dagon Samson and Delilah with Denyce Graves and Placido Domingo … to take up the position of Adjunct Professor at the West Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA) where he taught both classical and music theatre singers before moving on to create the Australian Opera Studio, a national training institute for operatic performers in the Indian/Pacific region. In May 2004 he was one of five artists honoured for their contribution to the Arts as part of the centenary celebrations of His Majesty’s Theatre Perth and in 2005 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his services to the Arts and the mentoring of young performers. Mr Yurisich continues to give Masterclasses in universities and conservatoriums around the world and continues to teach singers, the majority of whom are working in opera companies in Australia, Europe and America.

Group Captain Kevin N Pyke AFC

RAAF Officer

GSSHS 1954-1955

Operations Officer 75 Squadron RAAF Butterworth Malaysia 1969-1971

Commanding Officer 2 Flying Training School RAAF Pearce 1977-1978

Defence Adviser Australian High Commission Malaysia 1981-1984

Director of RAAF Training Canberra 1986-1988

Magistrate

GSSHS 1957-59

I attended Midland high in 1957 followed by two years at Governor Stirling. Whilst I was at Governor Stirling I studied and obtained skills in both Shorthand and Typing and I can say that I have used both of these skills constantly from the time I left school in 1959 to the present day. Shorthand in particular has been one of my most useful skills and continues to be so. For example while working as a Magistrate I could start summarising matters in shorthand without anybody being able to understand what it was I was thinking, as evidenced by my scrawl!!

I left school at 15 and worked in the ANZ bank for six years before doing a mature age matriculation exam which enabled me to study law at UWA. I obtained a first class Honours degree. At its conclusion I received the J A Wood memorial prize for the best student in the humanities faculties at UWA. In my 50s whilst working in the law I also completed an honours arts degree with a double major in French and Italian and obtained a scholarship to study at Venice University for 3 months in 1992.

However, by far my greatest learning experience was being a Magistrate and dealing with a variety of matters including Civil, Criminal, Mining, residential tenancies and many other areas of law not only in the Perth courts but also undertaking relief work throughout Western Australia in various major country centres. I was a Magistrate in the Perth children’s court and then in the adult system for a total of 20 years. My most memorable and greatest achievement in those roles was a care and protection hearing which I dealt with in the children’s court. The hearing lasted more than three months and the judgement delivered ran into over 200 pages. This work was constantly fascinating due to the different aspects of law and fact situations to be dealt with on a daily basis.

I have two children who are now in their 40s one is a doctor and the other is a vet.

Following compulsory retirement at the age of 67 I worked as a lawyer again for the Mental Health Law Service and subsequently the Mental Health Advocacy Service. I am now recently retired due to illness at the age of 76.

Mr James Longwood

Profession; Vice President, Research and Advisory Services, Gartner

GSSHS: 1969-70

James came to GSSHS from one of the then feeder high schools (Eastern Hills) where he was Dux of the school. An accomplished junior chess player, Jim was state junior champion in 1969 and lightening champion in 1970 and led the school chess team to inter-school championships for two years. This built on the good work of George Teale in coordinating chess activities at the school and a range of fellow nerds at the school!  He was also active in cricket and hockey at the school under the tutelage of Tony Mann and Richard Osborne, both state and Australian representatives.

This set Jim up with excellent sporting and analytical skills which he put to good use achieving a BSc (Hons) at UWA with a focus on applied mathematics. He was a founding student at St Columba College, now known as Trinity College. He met his future wife there and mother of their four children who are now a teacher, builder, technical support manager and border force protection officer as well as parents.

He joined the Federal Department of Health as graduate clerk, working in the policy secretariat and became a ministerial conferences officer in the Whitlam/Fraser period. He went onto become a senior computer systems officer in the early days of the mainframe computer revolution working on some early Medicare systems.

This provided a segue for him to return to Perth and work as a business analyst at Alcoa creating early generation enterprise resource planning systems for them and subsequently with large wholesale distribution companies as well as government utilities. He went onto be a project manager, product marketing manager, senior consultant and managing major computer tenders at the likes of Fujitsu and DXC. He also influenced the development of Fujitsu’s global application software productivity tools in Japan in the 1980’s.

This experience set him up to work initially as a research director and then VP at Gartner whose NY share market moniker is “IT”. Gartner is the world’s leading industry analyst firm for research and advisory services, serving more than 14,000 organizations in 100+ countries globally. In his role there, Jim assisted many prominent global IT vendors, enterprises and government agencies in the outsourcing of IT operations and execution of major business systems roll outs. He has published over 125 best practice research notes, helping clients with deals ranging from millions of dollars to hundreds of millions of dollars per year. Jim is a global expert on best practices in the sourcing of IT services including market positioning of the World’s leading IT services companies. Pre-covid, the job regularly took him to China, India, Japan, SE Asia, NZ, UK, USA and Canada where his Quebecois wife originates from. In the 22 years Jim was at Gartner, retiring in August 2022. it grew from 200 to over 2000 analysts globally.

All of this enabled by the great grounding and character building received at GSSHS and EHHS.

Jan Cooper was the AFL Manager: Female Football Development for 12 years. Prior to this role she was with the WA Football Commission as their Female Football Manager whilst still primary school teaching.

In that time she lead the increase in female AFL participation nationally from 16,000 to over 500,000 players. With State based colleagues she also developed the talent pathway improving the professionalism of State Women’s Leagues through to initiating State and National High Performance Academies and national competitions in schoolgirls, AFLW 18s through to AFLW.

Her advocacy and quest for providing evidence to validate significant decisions and change extended to family members! Her nephew conducted research into the appropriate size football for women. In his Masters thesis he provided the anthropometric evidence for the AFLW ball size being smaller than the traditional, previously unsubstantiated hybrid women’s football.

In 2015 she received the national Football Woman of the Year Award. Locally Jan was appointed Chair of the GoAL program (Get on Board and Lead) for the Department of Sport and Recreation to improve diversity in leadership roles in sport organisations. She was inducted into WA’s International Women’s Day Hall of Fame in 2017, was a finalist in the Western Australian of the Year for Sport and United Nations Diversity and Inclusive finalist. Jan hopes her legacy will be that within all levels of the industry board and senior management composition will reflect the community, parity in salaries will be achieved and equity in opportunities will include both genders and all cultural backgrounds.

Jan now works for the West Coast Eagles Football Club as the Player Wellbeing and Pathways Manager and helped get their first AFLW team prepared for 2020. Jan was also awarded an Order of the Australian Medal (OAM) for services to Australian Football in 2021.

Janice Ruth McCarthy
GSSHS 1960-1962
I was probably a big fish in a little pond when I did well at Midland Primary School. When I got to GSSHS in 1A in 1960, I was shocked to find other brighter kids. I spent my first High school year at the Annexe, previously the Midland Primary School.
I eventually left school at the end of Year 10 in 1962 for although I had done only professional subjects and I intended to be a teacher, my parents decided that I should leave school and get a job in an office as my sisters had. I had no commercial subjects so when I won a scholarship to Hartills’ Commercial College I studied typing, shorthand and bookkeeping for five months. I applied for a job at the Shell Co of Aust Ltd where I worked as a junior clerk for six months. I then decided to join the army when I was 17 and trained in Mosman, Sydney. I was going to be posted to Bendigo in Vic to become a draftswoman. I thought Bendigo would be boring so I applied for a discharge which was granted because I was considered “unlikely to become a suitable soldier.”
I began working as a clerk at the State Housing Commission then transferred to the Education Department as a clerk.
Then followed a disastrous marriage at 18. Had a beautiful son at 19.
I worked in several places as a clerk Western Machinery Belmont for 6 1/2 years, Midland Brick, Midway Ford then Volvo Trucks. I still wanted to be a teacher so I sat a mature age entrance exam for Mt Lawley Teachers’ College. I was successful and moved into a ghastly SHC flat in Lockridge with my son so I could complete the course on limited funds thanks to Gough Whitlam. I also divorced my first husband while at college because I could get a divorce for $250 as a supporting parent. In 1977 I graduated and was posted to Beachlands Primary School in Geraldton.
The principal at the time was Garry Grainger who I married before the end of the year. (At the Registry Office in Geraldton in our lunch hour.) The then superintendent, Malcolm McGowan, gave me a transfer for a wedding present. Garry was being transferred to Leeman as principal. Our son was born in April 1978 and I went on maternity leave. In those days it was politically preferred to give teaching jobs to new graduates so it took me several years to get a teaching job. I wouldn’t accept a job created by my husband as I had received my first appointment on my own merits and I expected to get back the same way, I worked in several different jobs; Check out Chook, Receptionist Bookkeeper at Caves House, successful Real Estate Representative I did get a job at Margaret River Primary School in 1989 and reluctantly began teaching Year One. I was frightened of the position at first but eventually gained confidence and became very popular with parents. I loved it.
Many of my ex year one students are my friends on FB.
I took up painting in 1997 and mostly concentrated on paintings of the Busselton Jetty which I loved. I was a founding member of the Busselton Jetty Preservation Committee. I sold 16 paintings in one weekend. Four of my Jetty paintings are in the Justice complex in Busselton in the police section. Many were acquired by Shires, schools, etc. and I won many awards.
We bought a funeral parlour in Donnybrook and converted it into an art gallery and tea rooms,” Gallery Dono Arte.”
My husband and I retired in 1997. We decided to tutor as a way of giving back. I was creating a worksheet on the computer when I came up with an idea for a reading programme. We spent the next eight years sitting at computers and writing the programme. My painting took a back seat as I had only so much creative energy. Macmillan published it as Reading Keys. We still have so much belief in our programme but Macmillan did not market it efficiently and they eventually stopped selling it. We taught so many kids to read with it. The Department of Child Protection used to withdraw kids from their schools and drive them to our home for tuition. The teacher of one of our students, an autistic boy, came to see what we were doing and burst into tears when she heard him read one of our books. He had never read for her before.
They loved our programme and us. One seventeen-year-old was so happy to read her first book with us. Macmillan published 96 of our reading books, plus teacher’s books, comprehension and word activity cards. We self-published a word book, too, an important part of the programme.
We have now retired and no longer tutoring.

Noted International Leader in Global Citizenship Education

GSSHS 1963-64

Living my dreams
Janice Richardson, Year 4 and 5 at GSSH in 1963 and 64
At age 4, I already had a clear vision of my future. I wanted to teach at the Sorbonne University, be bilingual, and not be tied to living in a single country. Life has been kind. Starting out as a teacher in WA, and fitting in legal studies and a passion for digital technology on the way, I’ve realised each of these dreams, and more. I’ve successfully run my own company in France and Luxembourg for the past 40 years, and I’ve been lucky enough to work with people like Queen Mathilde of Belgium and Susanne Mubarak in the pre-Arab Spring era in Egypt.

In my early days in Paris in the 80s, I started out with my own small, national vocational training and translation company, albeit working with singers like U2 and actors like John Hurt. By the mid 90s, I had set up a Luxembourg-based company specialising in educational research, and working with national governments, then with European and international institutions. One three-year long mission was to advise the Luxembourg government on integrating digital technology in education, research and culture, followed by a move to Brussels in 2004 to head a 31-country network for the European Commission for the next decade. For the past 20 years, I have worked with governments and organisations in Africa, India and even Iran, and was once sent by UNESCO to give educational technology courses to native Indians who paddled up to my lectures in their canoes on the Amazon.

Today I sit on the safety advisory boards of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, still work on a daily basis with inspiring leaders from across the world, and usually manage to find the means to implement my wildest dreams… for example, training magicians to deliver online courses to teens to break the humdrum of hybrid learning during the Covid pandemic, and creating cartoons for young children on digital citizenship for the Council of Europe. I continue to author and co-author books on education in French and English (14 so far, and more to come), the majority published by the Council of Europe. One of my current projects is writing a Global Citizenship teacher training curriculum for UNESCO. My biggest claim to fame is having created Safer Internet Day back in 2004, as this is an annual event involving more than 150 countries worldwide.

My career has been driven by three guiding principles : embrace diversity, seize opportunities, and measure risks without being daunted by them. My top achievement has been to pass that philosophy on to my own bilingual children and the many young people I have had the privilege of mentoring over the years. Success for any educator is, after all, to be able to plant the seeds of learning and watch them take root as the students of yesterday become the leaders of tomorrow.

Publications include
Internet Literacy Handbook, Council of Europe, 2017 (https://edoc.coe.int/fr/internet/7515-internet-literacy-handbook.html)
Bullying – perspectives, practices and insights, Council of Europe, 2017 (https://book.coe.int/fr/droits-de-l-homme-citoyennete-democratique-et-interculturalisme/7352-bullying-perspectives-practice-and-insights.html)
Digital Citizenship Education Handbook, Council of Europe, 2019 (https://rm.coe.int/digital-citizenship-education-handbook/168093586f)
All aboard for DigiTown, Insight 2020 (https://insight2act.net/images/Insight/PDF/All-aboard-for-DigiTown.pdf)

Primary Teacher/ AFL Player
GSSHS 2004-2008

Drafted 2008 to Collingwood.

2009-2010 seasons. Played 32 AFL games.

20011-2019 Swan Districts Football Club. Played 77 League games.

Upon being de-listed, I returned from Melbourne to WA, where a began my studies in Sport Science and returned to play football at Swan Districts. I soon discovered that sport science was not the job for me and rolled over into Primary Teaching. I had always wanted to become a teacher, since leaving GOVO. I returned to my old Job at BCF (Boating Camping Fishing), to earn a living whilst studying.

After two years of study, I put it aside to raise my young family and began full work for a signage company. In 2015 I went back to university to complete my study after a horror run of injuries playing football. Two broken legs and many surgeries made me realise I had to complete my degree. I began a life of full-time work, still playing full-time WAFL football and full-time study, whilst helping to raise my two beautiful children.

In 2020 I graduated from my studies and have been full time teaching.

Naturalist-Ecologist

GSSHS 1960-61

Dux of his class, John was noted for an unquenchable fascination with animals and his form teacher, LG Nixon encouraged him to take up some form of fauna studies. After finishing school, he spent ten years working part-time on his father’s small horticultural property while he became familiar with as much of WA as possible and made detailed notes on the fauna encountered. He undertook research enabling publication in 1965 of a scientific paper on the impacts of an introduced bird on native species. Because of his extensive knowledge and his keen interest in WA’s fauna, the WA Museum offered him a position undertaking fauna surveys throughout WA. To accept the position John had to agree to continue in the position for at least 12 months. He stayed for 29 years! He rapidly became an expert in general natural history especially the biogeography and ecology of vertebrate species and communities particularly those in remote poorly known regions in the Kimberley, Eastern Goldfields and deserts. He published nearly 150 scientific papers, reports and book chapters. He co-authored two pioneering papers in international journals on the conservation significance of habitat fragmentation on reptiles and birds in the Western Australian Wheatbelt. In 1985 he received a travel grant from the Australia China Council to study small mammals in the People’s Republic of China. Notable service to government committees included the Chairman of the Western Australian Natural Estate Evaluation Panel for the Australian Heritage Commission and Board Member of the WA Museum of Natural science.

Throughout his time at the WA Museum, John was a frequent guest lecturer on fauna conservation to public meetings organized by regional museums in Kalgoorlie, Albany and Geraldton as well as to regional community groups. He served as patron of the Toodyay Naturalist’s Club for more than 10 years. John has provided outstanding service to the WA Naturalist’s Club and served 53 years on the executive committee including three terms as President and 30 years as Editor of the scientific journal The Western Australian Naturalist. John was awarded the Australian Natural History Medallion in 1988 for increasing popular or scientific knowledge of Australian flora and fauna.

In 2000, John was keen to seek further challenges and took up a position with the Office of the Environmental Protection Authority where he could use his prodigious knowledge in preparing advice on impacts of development on conservation of WA’s fauna and flora. He was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2011 Queen’s Birthday honours list for outstanding public service to the advancement of natural history and conservation. The award drew attention to his encyclopaedic knowledge of flora and fauna, enabling him to make important contributions to the advancement of natural history and conservation. The Environmental Protection Authority relied heavily on his expert advice, and many of the final project outcomes assessed under the Environmental Protection Act have been influenced by his expertise.

Since graduating from Governor Stirling Senior High School John Gangell has been prolific in the local community through his involvement with a number of local and Government organisations.
When elected President of the Governor Stirling P&C Committee in 2001 John became the youngest ever President of a P&C committee in Australia and was instrumental in calling for the redevelopment of the Senior High School Campus.

John has always had a keen interest in politics and having undertaken work experience with the Member for Midland John went on to work for the Hon. Michelle Roberts MLA who is the longest serving female member of Parliament in Western Australia history.

Through his commitment to the Labor movement John would hold various positions within the party including the President of Young Labor Western Australia for two years.
In May 2005 John was elected to the Town of Bassendean Council where he would serve as a Councillor, Deputy Mayor and Mayor and was re-elected to Council for the fifth term in 2019.
In 2007 John was the President of PRIDE WA and was responsible for and organised the month long PRIDE festival to celebrate diversity in our community.

Never one to shy away from the spotlight John would have regular appearances on locally produced television shows including being a semi-regular panellist and host of Sweet and Sour.
Locally John was involved with and has been the Master of Ceremonies for a number of local festivals and events including the award winning WonderRealm Fringe World festival in Bassendean and the Maylands Street Festival.

During his time as Mayor of the Town of Bassendean, John successfully saved the Town from the proposed amalgamation, oversaw a record amount of investment and development to the Town and established the Old Perth Road Markets and Outdoor Community Cinemas.

John Hopkins OAM
Chairman of Golf Australia 2011-19
GSSHS 1966-67

John came from Donnybrook JHS and boarded at Swanleigh/GSSHS in 1966. After high school John graduated in law in 1972, joined a major Perth law firm and became Partner in 1978, specialising in Takeovers, IPO’s and Joint ventures.

He commenced a public listed company directorship career in 1985, founded own firm in 1990 and from 1985 until 2020 was Chair or director of 27 public listed companies with operations in Australia, US, Canada, Russia, Mongolia, Ghana, Indonesia, South Africa, Saudi Arabia and UK.

His Commodities covered gold, copper, oil and gas, uranium, coal, zinc, tungsten, diamonds, wine and pharmaceuticals.

John also fulfilled a not for profit career in golf administration. Elected to the Executive of WA Golf Association in 1990 and served for 20 years including 8 years as delegate to the Australian Golf Union (1992-2000) and was State President for 3 years until 2010. In 2013 John was elected life Member of GolfWA. He was member of the Executive Committee of AGU 1993 to 2000 including President in 1997.

John was appointed Australia’s representative on the R & A (golf’s International governing body) Rules & Amateur status Committees and served from 1996 until 2008. He refereed as Australia’s representative at 10 British Opens from 1997 to 2007, as well as at the World Matchplay Championships in Asian, European and Australasian Tour events. John referee at Australian Open golf championship from 1992 until 2019. He also served as a referee as Australia’s representative at the US Open from 2012 until 2019.

From 1996-2008, 2010-2019 John was Chair of Rules Committee. He was also Captain and President Lake Karrinyup Country Club.

In 2015 John was awarded Australian Golf Digest honouree for services to golf and an OAM on Australia Day for services to golf and the minerals and resources sector.

John was elected to the Board of Directors of Golf Australia (GA) (Australia’s governing body) in 2010 and elected Chair in 2011 and served until November 2019. He was also appointed as Chair of the Handicap Committee for GA and appointed to the World Committee in 2011 and played an instrumental role in developing the worldwide system now in place. John was also elected chair of the Championship Committee of the Asia Pacific Golf Confederation in 2017.

Joyce attended Governor Stirling Senior High School from 1958 – 1960. After leaving school Joyce became a Dual Olympic sprinter and represented Australia in two Olympic and two Commonwealth Games.

Achievements;

• 1962 – British Empire & Commonwealth Games in Perth
• 1964 – Tokyo Olympic Games
• 1966 – British Commonwealth Games in Kingston Jamaica
• 1968 – Mexico City Olympic Games

Over her career Joyce won;

• Silver medal in the 200m at the Commonwealth Games in Perth
• Two Gold medals in the 4 X 400m relay in both Commonwealth Games
• Four Australian sprint titles

Joyce started in the sport as a sixteen-year-old with Swan Districts Athletics Club. She first represented Western Australia at the 1961 National Championships. In 1963 she won the first of her three national 220 yard titles. Still qualified to run as a junior her winning time of 23.5 seconds was an underage national record. Her performances that year earned her the 1963 Lindy Award. In 1964 in the Nationals Joyce won the coveted 100/220 yards’ double. Later that year she ran at her first Olympics in Tokyo and finished 7th in the semi-final of the 200m and was a member of the 4 X 400m relay team that finished sixth in the final.

In 1966, she won her third 220yds National crown and also picked up another gold medal in the 4 X 110yds relay at the Kingston British Commonwealth Games.

At the Nationals in 1968 she finished second in both the 200m and the 400m. Due to the strong 200m contingent within the Australian ranks she was selected to run the 400m at the Olympics in Mexico City. Not her favourite event and she finished sixth.

Exert from Women’s Sport Foundation of Western Australia (Inc) by Glen Mitchell

Drafted 1998 to Fremantle

139 games for Fremantle 1999 – 2007

Fremantle Coach 2020 – current

Kate Lamont has more than three decades of experience in the wine, food and tourism industries in Western Australia. She has overseen the development of her family’s business from a tiny one person farm to an integrated food and wine group with 80 employees. The family operates popular licenced restaurants, cellar door and specialist wine stores in the Swan Valley, Margaret River, the Perth CBD and Cottesloe. Amongst the Lamont’s businesses is a winery that produces 5 thousand cases of wine a year from fruit sourced across Western Australia and an import/distribution operation that sources wines from all over Europe that specialises in Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Tuscany.

As one of Western Australia’s best known chefs, Kate Lamont has written 5 cook books with sales in excess of thirty thousand and has contributed to various books, magazines and newspapers including The Weekend Australian and The West Australian. She is an occasional guest presenter on ABC local radio Perth.

Kate is experienced in developing new, relevant and desirable products that attract new customers as well as keep existing users satisfied, advocating and spending.

Kate Lamont has the sound skills and coalface experience to recognise flaws in strategy that can compromise implementation. This includes a respect for relevant community views.

Kate served as Chairman of Tourism WA from 2006 to 2012 and as Deputy Chairman of Tourism Australia from 2012 to 2015. Kate chaired the Swan Valley Planning committee; sat on CCI WA board and in 2019 was elected to the Chairman role at Committee for Perth.

Kate has worked in the service sector for 30 years, speaks to customers every day and has a genuine sense of what appeals to various demographics and ages. As an employer she has a substantial understanding of what innately drives performance and practical IR solutions.

In June 2020 Kate was awarded an AM in the Queen’s Birthday honours for services to tourism and hospitality.

Executive Director of Nursing Perth Children’s Hospital

GSSHS 1989-93

Head Girl 1993
Katie graduated in 1993 and completed a Bachelor of Science in Nursing at Curtin University in 1998. She started her nursing career at Princess Margaret Hospital in 1999.

Katie is currently the Executive Director of Nursing at Perth Children’s Hospital and is the Executive Lead of Community and Mental Health for WA’s Child and Adolescent Health Service.

In 2009 Katie moved to Canberra and worked at Canberra Hospital until 2015 when she returned to Perth. She held various roles at the Canberra Hospital and Health Services as Acting Director of Nursing & Midwifery Division of Women, Youth & Children, and Assistant Director of Nursing, Paediatrics.

Katie has a Diploma of Clinical Nursing, Edith Cowan University (2004) and a Master of Nursing (Leadership) from the University in Western Sydney (2015). In 2020, she was selected to take part in Signature Leadership Western Australia.

Katie is a passionate advocate for nursing as a career and believes that nursing is crucial to a good health system that delivers good health care. She encourages all high school graduates to consider a career in nursing.

Katie has two children, a son and a daughter.

Kim Hagdorn

Leading West Australian Sports reporter over four decades

Sports Reporter

GSSHS 1971-72 

Kim Hagdorn was an upper school student at GSSHS to complete his then Leaving Certificate through 1971-72. He crossed from Northam SHS after completing his then Junior Certificate in 1970 in a move to the Perth’s eastern metropolitan region with his family. As was a case with a host of Govo students residing in eastern and northern hills regions, Kim travelled each school day from Kalamunda on the regular school bus service. He successfully completed his Leaving Certificate in 1972.

It was during the important time of sitting Leaving examinations in November of that year, that Kim won his first-time selection into a strong Midland-Guildford First Grade WACA cricket team. During his final year at Governor Stirling, Kim was Captain of the school First Eleven cricket team, as well as the A Section inter-school Athletics team. He was a member of the Govo Aussie Rules team through ‘71-72, when inter school sports was a priority on education curriculum and was played every Wednesday afternoon with great pride and relative rivalries with other schools around the region.

Kim went on to complete tertiary education in Physical Education and Human Movement in 1975-77.

He represented Western Australia in Sheffield Shield cricket in 1977. Kim turned to sports journalism in his home state Western Australia in the 1982.

He became more prominent as his sports reporting career evolved through the late 1980s in six years with the now defunct afternoon daily newspaper Daily News. It was a switch to the big circulating Sunday Times in 1993, before combining newspaper reporting with a move into Perth radio airwaves with 6PR from 2003, until end of 2020.

Kim won numerous West Australian awards for sports reporting across mediums of news print and radio as a renowned news-breaker, specialising in his coverage of Australian Rules and state and international cricket. Kim managed to juggle sports reporting with passion for cricket and coaching.

He had a 17-year WACA cricket playing career, with Midland-Guildford and then South Perth before as a non-playing coach at South Perth won a premiership in 1996-97.

He was a playing coach with a South Perth premiership team in 1983-84 and played in a losing WACA grand final at Midland-Guildford in 1977.

Leith Pavlinovich

Principal Consultant – Mathematics
Curriculum and Assessment
Curriculum, Assessment and Strategic Policy

GSSHS 1977-81

Leith Pavlinovich came from Upper Swan Primary school to attend Governor Stirling SHS from 1977 through to 1981.

After completing her TAE at Governor Stirling SHS, she attended Nedlands Teachers’ College where she majored in Secondary Mathematics Education. Upon graduation, she was awarded the Cyril Cook Prize for Professional Practice. She later completed her Bachelor’s degree in Students with Special Needs.

Leith went on to administrate or teach at Busselton SHS, Ocean Reef SHS, Sacred Heart College in Adelaide, Denmark DHS and Warwick SHS. Among her major successes during this time was the achievement of Numeracy School of the Year for Busselton SHS in 2011. Leith was finalist in the Sangora Education Foundation Award for Excellence in Education in 2010.

Social equality and justice for all children was the touchstone for Leith throughout her teaching career. Institutionally, this is demonstrated by her key role in establishing the national Marist Netball competition whilst at Sacred Heart College in Adelaide, which helped to legitimate girls’ sport in Catholic education. In the realm of formal education, Leith sought to address the needs of children who struggle with mathematics by co-authoring the successful ‘Foundation Mathematics’ textbook series. These textbooks have become standard use for all West Australian schools that offer the Foundations course and have sold widely throughout the rest of Australia.
In 2006, Leith and her husband Michael purchased Hay Shed Hill Wines in Margaret River. Leith was instrumental in developing the Hay Shed Hill brand and establishing the winery’s busy restaurant, gallery and function spaces. She continues to coordinate large functions and oversee a diverse and growing workforce. Leith is extremely proud to be an owner of this internationally successful winery.

Leith has worked as a Special Projects Officer at ACARA (Australian Curriculum and Reporting Authority) where she was a member of the NAPLAN Numeracy development team. She was involved in developing fair and equitable processes around the NAPLAN online platform. Leith is currently involved in the design and development of the OLNA assessment for Numeracy.

Leith is presently employed as a Principal Consultant of Mathematics at the School Curriculum and Standards where her role is to monitor the curriculum, assessment and standards of Mathematics in schools across Western Australia. Her passion is helping to create a fair and just mathematics education for all students regardless of their postcode, family background or mathematical ability.

Leith is married to Michael Kerrigan and has two wonderful children – Tom and Katie.

Lindsay Watson born in Midland Junction in 1953, educated at Governor Stirling Senior High School before commencing an apprenticeship in Mechanical Fitting at the Midland Junction Railway Workshops and qualifying as a draftsman at Wembley Technical College. A fourth generation descendant of a Midlands of England Engineer and tradesman in 1995, his first book, the Railway History of Midland Junction was published, as part of the Swan Shire’s Centenary celebrations for Midland Junction. He has also had several articles published in the Railway Journals and the Light Railway Research Society of Australia’s magazine.

100 YEARS OF LIVING IN MIDLAND JUNCTION.
Enos Watson an English Engineer from that great training ground, the industrial Midlands town of Walsall, UK had brought his family out to Western Australia in 1886. He arrived in WA at a time when skilled trades people were scarce and found work literally as he stepped of the ship. The Watson family first moved to Midland Junction from Fremantle in 1893.

A baby boomer, his great grandson, Lindsay Watson, was born in Sayer Street Midland Junction in 1953. As a child he remembers, sounds and events that made Midland unique. The chatter of steam locomotive whistles from the Midland Junction depot as steam locomotives were being prepared for duty at all hours of the day or night.

Many people thought Midland Junction to be an industrial town with the always-busy bustle of people passing. The fifties and sixties proved to be the zenith of Midland Junction’s activity. The decline commenced in the early seventies with some rationalization of railway activity and the closure of the Midland Abattoirs. Both of these events reduced the percentage of people frequenting the commercial hub of the town. The average Western Australian’s concept of Midland Junction then was of an industrial, railway and commercial working class town where perhaps one commuted, but did not reside.

Helena Street was the main commercial centre and Mecca for shoppers. Lindsay recalls as a kid with pocket money on riding his bicycle into Helena Street regularly on Saturday mornings. He and his brothers referred to this area simply as the street. Helena Street then boasted a Coles, Woolworth’s and Freecorns store.

In winter Midland Junction became an island with the Helena River bursting its flood plain to the south and the Swan River in flood to the north. Hazelmere residents were cut off when the footpath was flooded and would need to make a long detour via Great Eastern Highway to shop in Midland. With the flood levels receding intrepid cyclists would attempt to ride to Governor Stirling High School, over a flooded pathway. A loss of balance could lead to a wet sock or worse, a dunking.

Since establishment as Helena Vale in 1895 Midland Junction was always a community of new Australians. They came to Midland seeking work in the Railways, Abattoirs, Brickwork’s or the service and support services of such institutions. This new ever-changing culture helped define the character of Midland Junction. Originally the jobs seekers came mainly from the UK. From places such as the Midlands and working class north, from Glasgow, Scotland and Ireland.

Lindsay Watson is one of the founding members of the Bennett Brook Railway out at Whiteman Park since its formation in 1976 in his father’s back yard then on to Whiteman Park in 1982 where he has been Chairman, Treasurer and also served on the Board of Whiteman Park in a volunteer capacity in the 1990,s. To this day he is also Rolling stock Manager.

Lindsay Watson Mechanical/Draftsman

Chairman of the WA State tourist rail body 2002 2017 ARPG WA
Treasurer of National Tourist & Heritage Rail body 2008/2017 ATHRA
Board member Whiteman Park 1998/2002
Chairman Bennett Brook Railway 6 years

Lisa Loraine Baker MLA

Member of Parliament

GSSHS 1975-76

I graduated from Governor Stirling Senior High School in 1976 and then completed a Bachelor of Science, Psychology, and a Post Graduate Degree in Development Studies.
What followed has been an amazing journey! After jobs in social justice positions around Australia, I was appointed as chief technical advisor and international expert for the International Labour Organisation then the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO). This allowed me to work in India, Nepal, China, Indonesia, Philippines, and Vietnam. When I returned to WA, I joined the Western Australian Council of Social Service (WACOSS) as their CEO. WACOSS is WA’s peak advocacy organisation for the human and community services sector and I put my advocacy and policy experience to work on behalf of vulnerable Western Australians.

In August 2008 I was first elected to the WA Parliament as the Member for Maylands in the Legislative Assembly. A WA Labor Member of Parliament, in 2017 I moved from eight years in opposition into government and was appointed as the Deputy Speaker for the Legislative Assembly. Along this journey I have applied my social justice skills and experience to improve the lives of our most vulnerable members of the community with special focus on gender, diversity and equality. I work extensively with the Rainbow community (LGBTQI+) and have supported Marriage Equality, equality in education, law and health for this community.

I am always prepared to stand on issues that require compassion, kindness, justice and equality. It is these traits that have driven me to pioneer and lead advocacy work not only for people but also for the animals with whom we share this world. I intend to continue my work to improve the lives of animals using the WA Parliament and broader community to facilitate this goal.

My deep love for all things ‘equine’ has followed me through my life. Enhancing my passion for the sport of dressage, I have attained International Judging and Stewarding qualifications in the rapidly growing para equestrian sport.

I hold close to my heart the memories of those amazing days spent at Governor Stirling Senior High School with friends in classrooms and on the banks of the Swan River learning, laughing and living!

CEO of St Bartholomew’s House

GSSHS 1961-65

I started my career as a Registered nurse in 1966, completing my general training at Royal Perth Hospital in 1969 and later working in various hospitals in London. On my return to Australia I gained my midwifery and child health qualifications and a Bachelor of Applied Science which led me to work in school health, child health and community nursing. I moved into community nursing management but was seconded back into a hospital position. My interest in community services led me to volunteer as a member and later chair of a number of not for profit organisations.

As part of my ongoing development I completed a post graduate degree in business. During my time back in the hospital environment I was responsible for complaint management, quality improvement and accreditation processes. However, I recognised that my interest always returned to trying to assist those people who were the most disadvantaged, vulnerable and disempowered.

In 1999 I took on the role of CEO of St Bartholomew’s House (St Bart’s) that provided accommodation and support for homeless people. The next 13 years were some of the most rewarding and challenging experiences in my life. I left St Bart’s in 2012 having grown the organisation in reputation, financial stability and building a $34 million dollar administration and accommodation service in Lime Street East Perth.

After my retirement I worked as a relief CEO, project manager and was a member and chair of another not for profit organisation. I have just completed writing a social history of St Bart’s 1964 – 2012.
I consider myself privileged to have worked with the most vulnerable members of our society and I appreciate how hard life can be for some.

Awards
Centennial Medal 2003
John Curtin Medal 2005
Aged Care Services – Excellence in aged care 2012

Major General Murray Blake AO. MC

Training Junior Officers

Midland Senior High School 1952-55

Governor Stirling Senior High School 1956

Murray was born in Midland in December 1939, the family home was initially in Vine Street, Herne Hill and then from 1944 it was in Ford Street, West Midland (now Woodbridge). Murray attended the West Midland Infant School 1945-1947, Midland Primary School 1948 -1951, Midland High School 1952 – 1955 and completed his Leaving Certificate at Governor Stirling High School 1956. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1957 and graduated into the infantry corps in December 1960. Until 1972 he had several regimental postings and saw active service in the Malay Peninsular, Borneo and Vietnam, being mentioned-in despatches and awarded the Military Cross in 1970. He then attended the Royal Military College of Science in Shrivenham and the British Army Staff College at Camberley, UK before returning to Australia to become Chief Instructor of the Infantry Centre at Singleton, NSW. He next commanded the 5/7^th Battalion and conducted a successful trial to determine the suitability of mechanised infantry techniques for use in the Australian Army. He was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM) for this service. After attending the Joint Services Staff College in Canberra he became the Deputy Commandant at Duntroon in 1982. The following year he was promoted to Brigadier and assumed command of 3 Brigade in Townsville for two years. Following a staff posting to Canberra he was promoted to Major General rank in 1987 and became Commandant of the Royal Military College until December 1989. He became an officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for this service. In March 1990 he was appointed Land Commander Australia, based in Victoria Barracks Paddington, NSW. In this appointment he commanded all the Army regular and reserve combat units and exercised national command over several overseas deployments. He left the Army in June 1994 and settled in Brisbane. After completing a company directors’ course at the University of New England in Armidale, NSW he was then involved in familiarisation training for defence industry executives before being appointed to the Veterans Review Board, which was a merit based tribunal to hear appeals from veterans and war widows concerning pension decisions made by the Department of Veterans Affairs. He retired from the Board in 2010. He now attends a gym several times a week, plays golf and bridge and has been an active member of Brisbane Legacy since 1995. His experience has been that while hard work is essential to be successful it is also important to find time to relax and have some fun.

Marion Lyn Paterson (nee Bond), Date of Birth 11th April,1948

Lived in Midland Father worked in railways Mother homemaker – never worked

Attended Midland Primary School 1954-1960, Governor Stirling Senior High School 1961-1963

Left after attaining Junior Certificate in 9 subjects. Age 15 years.

Attended City Commercial College in Perth after winning scholarship.

Worked for 10 years in various office positions.

1970 Married and had 2 children.

In 1981 at the age of 32 commenced a Diploma of Education Course at Mount Lawley Teachers College. Graduated with Diploma of Teaching at age 35 and then completed a Bachelor of Education in 1989. When first I enquired at Mount Lawley about the Teaching Course I met Sybe Jongeling who had been my Science Teacher at Governor Stirling and he helped me to obtain mature entry into the Course.

Taught in various schools and positions, namely Years 1 – 7. Retired officially from teaching in 2019 aged 71.

Since 2015 volunteer tutor and co-ordinator for Mandurah District for Read Write Now. They are a non-profit organisation which helps adults with literacy problems and tutors them on a one-to-one basis.

I was the first in my family to complete tertiary education. However, this has snowballed as my two children have each obtained University Degrees and my eldest grandson is currently doing his ATAR exams but has been accepted into UWA on his Year 11 results with a predicted ATAR score of 98.4. He has also won a scholarship to attend UWA.

During my teaching course I received high marks for written assignments. I feel the grounding I received at Governor Stirling really helped me to achieve this.

It was challenging to complete over 4 years studying at a tertiary level after leaving school at 15 years of age. This was happening while still looking after 2 small children and supporting my husband.

I hope my experience encourages others to take up education and embrace learning at any age.

Mark Waite
CEO/Director
GSSHS 1981-85

Mark has worked in and been committed to the youth and community sector for over 33 years. He studied a Bachelor of Social Science (YWK & PSY), a Diploma in Drug and Alcohol, a Diploma in Business Management and is currently completing a Master’s in Business Administration.

Mark has over 25 years management experience and has worked in a variety of youth sectors including: Education, Indigenous youth, juvenile offenders, Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol and Homelessness. He setup Western Australia’s first youth detoxification and withdrawal service “DAYS” at Mission Australia and was the Manager of the State’s largest youth suicide and self-harm prevention service Youth Focus. At Youth Focus he expanded services across the greater metropolitan area including Mandurah and regional areas including Bunbury, Collie and Albany.

Since 2011, Mark has been a Director and CEO of Youth Futures where he has overseen the tenfold growth and development of the organisation into what it has become today, providing over 30 services across Homelessness, Wellbeing and Support, Education and Training, including 5 schools.

Mark is currently a Director of four not for profit organisations and is a member of several government and non-government committees and reference groups. He has just been appointed to the Public Transport Authority new Midland Station Reference Group.

Mark is an experienced Chief Executive Officer and Company Director with a demonstrated history of making a difference to small and large companies. Skilled in Senior Management, Organisational Development, and Financial Management. A doer, a make it happen leader with the ability to grow and develop an organisation in the short term while delivering on long term strategic visions. A strong believer and advocate of social justice and equity for all people, with a strong passion for enabling young people to access opportunities that can change their lives.

Matthew never graduated from High School. He left school to become a plumber with a three-year apprenticeship which he undertook for 2.5 years. With only six months left of his apprenticeship Matthew decided to leave. He didn’t finish because he was unhappy and looking for excuses not to go to work. He left with no idea what he wanted to do.

Matthew’s Mum, Melissa, was instrumental in his life and she gave him an opportunity to undertake some community work with young students in the local area. Things moved very quickly for Matthew and before he knew it he was given an opportunity for a pastoral role in a local Primary School to help indigenous students make it through the day, by ensuring they had eaten and made it to class. Eventually, Matthew was lucky enough to work in every school in the local area apart from GSSHS which Matthew always found funny as this had been his school.

Matthew was then approached by the Shire of Mundaring to develop some programs for indigenous youth at risk. Matthew worked for the Shire of Mundaring for approximately 4-5 years and during this time he started growing and developing lots of after school programs. One of which was Kaart, Koort and Hoops which is a basketball program that he developed with Cheryl Kickett-Tucker. The program was very successful and is still running today.

Matthew’s family is heavily into community work and his mum worked with indigenous ladies in the local area. Matthew would see the men sitting around waiting for the ladies and decided to start a men’s group. This group has now been running for 4-5 years and is the biggest men’s group in WA. Originally the group involved just hanging out with the men but now they cover different topics regularly such as substance abuse, domestic violence, mental health and depression as well as cultural stuff too.

In 2016 Matthew was nominated for the West Australian Young person of the Year by the Shire of Mundaring where he was a runner up in the Young Community Worker of the year category.

In 2017 the council asked for Matthew to re-apply and again the Shire of Mundaring nominated him. This time he won and became the West Australian Young Person of the Year. Matthew found this a very humbling experience as he didn’t think he would win. With the money that he won he travelled around Western Australia talking to Indigenous Communities.

Also, in 2017 Matthew made a return to Governor Stirling to speak to the Graduating Class of 2017 where his inspiring speech was well received. He never writes speeches. It comes from the heart!!

Matthew currently works for the CLONTARF Foundation, where he has been for three years, working with young indigenous boys from Years 7-12.

Matthew strongly believes that if you can change one bloke’s day then you have made a difference.

Governor Stirling Senior High Honour Board

Information for Max Binnington OAM

Mr Maxwell Clifford Binnington, Caulfield South, VIC, 3162

Citation:

For service to athletics.

Service includes:

Athletics

• Glenhuntly Athletics Club
• President, 2014-2016, 2011-2013, 2002-2003, 1993-1997.
• Vice-President, 1979.
• Life Member, 1980; Member, since 1969.
• Trustee, Gus Theobald Trust, since 1992.
• Member, Club Coaching Groups, since 2000.

Athletics Victoria

• President, 2002-2005.
• Board Member, 1999-2006.
• Life Member, 2012.

Athletics Australia

• National Performance Manager, 2004-2009.
• Member, Nomination and Remuneration Committee, since 2014.
• Inaugural Edwin Flack Award, ‘for distinguished service to the sport by a competing athlete’, 1982.
• Awarded Bib Number 385, 1974.
• Life Member, 2014.

Competitor

• Olympic Hurdler, Montreal Olympic Games, 1976.
• Silver and Bronze Medallist, Commonwealth Games, 1982, 1978, 1974.
• Silver medallist Pacific Conference Games (110 hurdles & 4 x 100m relay) 1981
• Australian Team Captain 1978, 1981, 1982 Games and 1979 Aust vs NZ match.
• Ranked Number 1 Australian Hurdler, 1976-1978, 1981 and 1982.

Other

• Member, Victorian State Sports Advisory Council, 1980-1982.
• Member, Yarra South Regional Sports Assembly, 1980-1982.

Employment

• Director of Sports and Government Relations, PRIMCO Pty Ltd, since 2015.
• Vicsport – Sport Education Manager, 2010-2013.
• Sports Consultant, 2014-2015.
• Director, Verve (later renamed Skillshub) Industry Training Advisory Board, 2011-2013.
• Founder and Director, Personnel Performance Pty Ltd, 1989-2010.
• Manager of Community Development, Flinders Shire, 1984-1989.
• Former Recreational Officer, Caulfield City Council; Coordinator, Community and Family Services, 1977-1984.
• PE Teacher, Western Australia and Victoria, 6 years.

Community

• Chair, Peninsula Healthy Lifestyle, 1985-1995.
• Eastern Victorian Representative, Victorian Surf Life Saving Association Lifeguard Scheme Advisory Panel, 1985-1989.
• Board Member, Transfield Superannuation Fund, 1998-2000.

Awards and recognition

• Australian Sports Medal, 2000
• Order of Australia Medal (OAM) announced January 26th, 2019 Citation for: Service to Athletics

Other sporting history:

• Raised in Collie WA where I was a foundation member of the Collie Athletics Club as a 9 year old in 1958.
• Moved to Perth in 1961 and joined Canning Districts Athletics Club where I was a member until I moved to Melbourne in late 1970 to pursue my athletics career. As a junior and senior athlete in WA I won many state and south west titles, and state school titles, in sprints, hurdles and long jump.
• While at Gov. Stirling I also played basketball and was a state representative (Under 18 team) in 1965 at the national championships in Adelaide. I was also the very proud captain of the victorious Gov. Stirling athletics team at the interschool athletics carnival at Subiaco oval in 1966.
• From 1962 – 1968 I also played hockey for YMCA Hockey Club, and basketball for Welshpool BC in 1963-65.
• After moving to Victoria I won 8 Vic state hurdles titles and 5 national titles in 110m and 400m hurdles events and was 4 times selected as Australian Team Captain.

Meredith Hammat MLA
Member of Parliament
GSSHS 1985-86

Meredith grew up on a farm in the Great Southern region and came to Governor Stirling SHS in 1985, having transferred from Kojonup District High School.

After Year 12, Meredith completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of Western Australia, with majors in Industrial Relations and Politics. In later years, she returned to UWA to complete a Masters degree in Industrial Relations.

After her undergraduate degree, Meredith was employed by the Federal Department of Industrial Relations in Canberra and became a workplace representative for the union (the CPSU/PSU) and began a long term commitment to the union movement and pursuing a fairness and justice for everyday working people.

In 1995, Meredith commenced employment with the Australian Services Union in WA and was employed there for 17 years, representing workers in local government, community services and energy industries. Here she was elected as the Assistant Branch Secretary between 1995 and 2001. During these years, Meredith also married and had two sons.

“I had the great privilege to be elected as Secretary of UnionsWA, the peak union body in WA in 2012; a position in which I represented over 150,000 union members in approximately 30 affiliated unions”.

Meredith has held a number of Board positions including the State Training Board and My Leave Long Service Leave fund.

Meredith was also appointed by the Premier to the Sustainable Health Review and the State Recovery Advisory Group to guide recovery after the pandemic.

“I am honoured to have been elected as the Member for Mirrabooka as part of the McGowan Labor Government in the 2021 State election. Among many career highlights, this stands out as one of my most significant achievements.

I have a long term commitment to ensuring everyday people have a say in the issues that affect their lives and building strong and resilient communities. I am a strong advocate for fairness and justice and a strong supporter of public services, including public transport, schools and hospitals”.

Builder/ Delich Constructions

GSSHS 1968-70

Born 3 May 1955 at Swan Districts Hospital then living at Oakover Road Herne Hill, still my parents’ home. I attended Middle Swan Primary School then GSSHS 1968-70. I am the second eldest of five, all of whom attended GSSHS.

I can remember my first day, quite intimidating, the stories that went around the primary school of the 3rd year and higher students spitting on you from above on your first day so you made sure you didn’t step out of the protection of the balcony.

I left GSSHS in 1970, age 15 to start an apprenticeship in Carpentry & Joinery. I was a tradesman by the time I was 19 and while still working for the same employer I attended night school to study for my Builders Registration Certificate for up to three nights a week.

In 1983 I became a Registered Builder and started my own building company about a year later.
I married in 1978 and have 2 children and 5 grandchildren, I am now semi-retired.

I feel my greatest achievement since leaving GSSHS was becoming a registered builder and owning and running our small successful building company.

Drafted 2008 to Fremantle

All-Australian team in 2019

Fremantle 2009 – current

Michael Dear
Winning City of Perth contract for Street Signs

Engineer & Business Owner

GSSHS 1963-68

I studied Electronic Engineering at Curtin University (then WAIT) in 1973 and went to Melbourne to undertake work with Telstra (then Telecom). In Melbourne I under took a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology and Philosophy) degree at Swinburne University part time. After 13 years in Melbourne I returned to Perth with a wife and son in 1993. I spent most of my working life in Engineering roles. In 2000 I bought a small sign business in Bayswater and ran this until I retired in 2018.

My greatest achievement apart from the granting of my 2 University degrees and my small family, would have to be our contract with the City of Perth to supply and install the new street signs to the whole of the council area, some 700 signs, completed in 2010. They are special white signs with a depth and special camouflaged pole mount fittings. At 2021 they are still in place and have been expanded to new outlying areas.

Born 24th July 1946.
West Midland Western Australia
Len attended Upper Swan State School
From 1952 to 1958

Len attended Governor Stirling Senior
High School, West Midland.
(now known as Woodbridge).
From 1959 – 63

Len joined the school soccer team and remained at the school until his graduation when he received his Leaving Certificate.
In 1962 the school soccer team won the Grand Final.

As early as his primary school years Len loved soccer and started with his first club The Swan Valley Soccer Club, Herne Hill WA and at the age of fourteen the Swan Valley Soccer Club Committee placed Len in the league side.

Len represented the State on numerous occasions and won the Golden Boot Award for being the State Leading Goal Scorer seven times in eight years from 1972 to 1979 and still holds this title today. Len was selected 18 times for State teams including tournaments to Asia and he helped the clubs he was with win two first division championships, three Top Four Cups and one night series.

Len was inducted into the Hall of Champions 1960 – 2000.
Len was inducted into the Western Australian Soccer Hall of Fame 1902-2002 receiving an Honours Certificate in 2004 for one of Western Australia’s 100 best players – A Century of Champions.
Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the WA State Team’s historic inclusion in Malaysia’s Merdeka Cup tournament 2007. Len is included in The WA Heroes who made History in Malaysia.
Len retired from playing soccer in 1983 but continued on with coaching and is currently involved with the Swan IC Soccer Club in Midland WA.
In August 2018, Midland Gate officially unveiled the first inductees into the Local Legends Midland Walk of Fame. All inductee names, including Len, are now on pavers on Cale Street in Midland.
Len commenced employment with Swan Settlers Co-Op in Herne Hill in 1965 and in 1967 he was conscripted into the army in the Eastern States during the Vietnam War, but when his unit left for Vietnam Len was still in hospital due to contacting measles which caused a murmur in his heart.

Len returned to work at Swan Settlers Co-Op in the Dried Fruit Department in 1969 and during the
his 30 years’ service with the company Len held the following positions:

Secretary to Viticulturist Union of W.A., Grape Growers Association of W.A., Export Grape Poll of W.A., Manager to Sunblest Distributors Pty Ltd., Commercial Beekeepers Pty Ltd., Manager and General Manager, Swan Settlers Co-Op. Association Ltd.

Len continued on as Sales Representative, for Ray White Swan City, 1995-2016 and as a Sales Manager, Bindoon Enterprises Pty Ltd and Walkaway Vineyards Pty Ltd (local and export table grapes) 1996-2011. Len retired from his employment in 2015.

Drafted 2015 Richmond

Premiership player 2017 & 2019

Richmond 2016 – current

Drafted 2008 to West Coast Eagles

All-Australian team in 2012

West Coast Eagles 2009 – current

Integrity, trust and an

indefatigable personal energy

have seen Satterley founder and

chief executive Nigel Satterley

create one of Australia’s largest

and most successful property

development companies.

In career rich in industry and government accolades, Mr Satterley’s business achievements, contributions to the property development industry and his charitable

involvements were celebrated at the highest level when he was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2006.

He is a sought-after expert on Australian residential housing markets and cycles, taking on advisory roles to the Australian Federal Government and working with all levels of government to improve housing affordability. In 2015 he was honoured with a Doctor of Business by Edith Cowan University in WA for his contributions to the WA

business and housing sectors and his philanthropic activities in the community.

Mr Satterley’s energy and drive continues to shape and grow Satterley. When possible, he divides his time between the Perth, Brisbane and Melbourne offices, visits each of

his estates at least monthly and is regularly found on the weekend meeting buyers at his estates. He is single-minded in his vision to achieve successful outcomes for his company, his investor partners, and the buyers who make their homes and raise their families’ in

Satterley’s master planned communities.

Since founding his namesake business in 1980, Mr Satterley’s strategic direction, development innovations, and hands-on approach have forged a business with an annual project land sales turnover around $750 million (AUD).

He is most proud of the long-standing personal relationships he has forged with his investor partners, several of whom have been part of the Satterley story since its inception and continue to actively invest in new estates including six WA Government joint ventures.

Accomplishments

• 2019 Foundation Board Member of the National

Portrait Gallery

• 2015 honoured with a Doctor of Business, Edith Cowan

University

• 2013 Councillor WA Police and Community Youth

Centres (PCYC) WA

• 2012 Patron of the St John of God Hospital South West

Coronary Care and Cancer Centre

• 2011 Member of the Federal Government’s Advisory

Committee for Housing Assistance Reform

• 2010 Appointed National Board Member of the

Property Council of Australia

• 2010 Member of the National Supply Council of

Australia

• 2009 West Coast Eagles Life Member
• 2009-2017 Chairman of the Residential Development

Council of Australia

• 2008 Patron of the Telethon Speech & Hearing Centre
• 2007 West Coast Eagles Football Club No 1 ticket

holder

• 2006 Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
• 2006 Patron of University of Western Australia Town

Planning Chair

• 2006 Urban Development Institute inaugural

Distinguished Service Award

• 2003 Real Estate Institute of WA Kevin Sullivan

Memorial Award for individual excellence and services

to the housing industry

• 2002 Urban Development Institute of Australia –

President’s Award

• 2000 Western Australian Government’s Ministry of

Housing Citation for services to the housing industry

Norman Jorgensen
Winner of Book of the Year
GSSHS 1970-71

Norman Jorgensen is one of WA’s most versatile authors for young people, with a dozen books published and several more nearing completion. His work has included graphic novels and picture books and comedy and historical novels often set in Western Australia.

Norman was born in Broome, and his family eventually transferred to Mullewa, Narrogin and finally Kalamunda, where he attended Kalamunda District High School and then Governor Stirling SHS in Years 11 and 12. His love of books and literature was polished at Govo, but a love of maths and sport seems somehow to have bypassed him in those years.

He is one of only three Western Australians ever to receive the prestigious Children’s Book Council Book of the Year Award in its seventy-five-year history. It was awarded for his World War I picture book, In Flanders Fields, illustrated by Brian Harrison-Lever. Norman has also been shortlisted twice for both the WA Premier’s Book Awards and has won WA Young Readers’ Book Awards four times. He has also been honoured by the ASPCA Henry Burgh Awards in the United States and won the coveted Crystal Kite Award, awarded by his peers in the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators.

He has a deep love of books and literature and, other than writing for the past twenty-five years, he has also worked in the book trade for most of his life, as a school bookseller, publisher’s agent and as a bookshop owner, where he experienced the dubious joys of small business ownership.

Jack’s Island, his novel set on Rottnest Island during World War II, is studied in many schools and is also enjoyed by parents and grandparents who appreciate Norman’s accurate capture of a simpler, more gentle Western Australia.
Norman’s picture books illustrated by James Foley, The Last Viking, and The Last Viking Returns have been well-loved by thousands of children and have won six awards.

He has just completed the sequel to his hugely popular and exciting adventure novels, The Smuggler’s Curse and The Wreckers’ Revenge.

He is a founding member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators here in WA. He has mentored and helped many young writers to publication and launched over twenty books by other WA writers. Norman is also a popular and entertaining speaker at festivals and in schools, having conducted hundreds of workshops.

Recently inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Western Australian Young Readers’ Book Awards (WAYRBA), Norman is thrilled but humbled to be in the company of his fellow Hall of Famers, particularly Roald Dahl. He said, ‘Having met Roald Dahl early in my career in the book trade, and now being on the same award list as him feels somewhat surreal – in a really good way. The seven other writers in the Hall of Fame, including John Marsden and Andy Griffiths, are all giants of children’s books, so I am not taking this award lightly

• University of Western Australia faculty of medicine, graduated M.B., B.S. 1968.
• Resident Medical Officer at Fremantle Hospital 1969-1970.
• Registrar in Dermatology and Radiotherapy Royal Perth Hospital 1971-1972.
• Honorary Fellow in Dermatology Royal Prince Alfred Hospital Sydney 1973-1974.
• Visiting Clinical Assistant in Dermatology St Vincent’s Hospital Sydney 1973-1974.
• Registrar, St Margaret’s Children’s Hospital Darlinghurst 1973-1974.
• Fellow, Australasian College of Dermatologists 1975.
• Consultant Dermatologist, Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital 1975-2005 and appointed Emeritus Consultant Dermatologist on retirement. Peter was honoured to receive this acknowledgement for his teaching, research and clinical contributions to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital over his 30 years that he was there. In total Peter had a 40-year association with Sir Charles Gardiner.
• Clinical Lecturer in Dermatology, University of Western Australia 1975-2005, taught medical students and dermatology registrars in training.
• Visiting dermatologist, Geraldton Regional Hospital 1975-1988, and occasional dermatologist to Kununurra, Derby, Halls Creek, Fitzroy Crossing and Broome for the Health Department of W.A. in the 1980s, and also to various offshore platforms in the North-West Shelf oil fields of W.A.
• Publications: On Herpes simplex early diagnosis, hair disease, skin signs of metabolic disease, skin cancer –including what was then the world’s largest population study of incidence and prevalence, based on the Geraldton population. In 2008, a collection of more than 16,000 photographs of skin diseases seen from 1971-2007 was reviewed and the best 1000 were digitised, transferred to DVD format and forwarded to all dermatology trainees in Australia, with a master copy going to the Australasian College of Dermatologists.
• Pro bono dermatologist to the Cancer Council of W.A. from 1975, helped the late Clive Deverall AM to establish Skin Cancer Screening Clinics and literature as a way of spreading the Slip-Slap-Slop message. The first such clinic attracted more than 2,000 people.
• Inaugural president and now life-member of the Mazda MX-5 Club of Western Australia. This precipitated the writing of a monthly motoring column for ‘Medicus’, [ the gazette of the Western Australian branch of the Australian Medical Association.] from 2006 to 2018, along with occasional travel articles.
• Keen photographer; has had images published in Australian Photography, Better Photography, Medical Journal of Australia and an international car calendar.

My time at Govo etched positive memories that are as vivid today as when they were created. Like the day that one out of 300 paper planes launched from a popular third-floor classroom flew like a soaring eagle across to the other end of the hockey field. A unique design seemingly capable of disrupting the avionics industry, never to be found again. Or the science project that required the construction of either an electronic egg timer, or some other lame device that was equally useless to me, so I handed in a digital capacitance meter that I built from scratch and was reprimanded for building a mains-powered appliance against the rules of the project. (In hindsight, it was illegal!)

Despite the best efforts of my (patient) teachers, my lack of focus during year 11 and 12 saw me unable to attend Uni. However, I was motivated to learn about technology and other topics that were of interest. I pursued my electronics hobby and taught myself how to fix things without schematics, which resulted in my first electronic service business in 1984. I had a parallel fascination for Light Emitting Diodes and took every opportunity to study their operation.

In 1996 I sold the service business and started a private company to commercialise my first invention using initially LED’s, then electroluminescent technology.
Subsequent perseverance landed me on national TV across the USA on the Home Shopping Network, selling my invention via 8 minutes of live broadcast to a 186 million audience. I was then able to get this and other inventions into Home Depot and Walmart. However, soon after, a dishonest agent in Nevada robbed me of much of the profits, with the FBI involved and unable to recoup any of the defrauded payments I was further motivated to succeed, and in 2009 I immersed myself into “lighting Class” LED’s, which had just become commercially viable.
The LED lighting business gained traction and I was grateful to be named “Curtin Growth Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2013.

I used my knowledge of LEDs to distribute a technical booklet in 2014 that was acknowledged by the Lighting Council Australia. I was then invited to provide input at forums in Canberra to assist the Government’s transition to LED lamps. We won a global tender to manufacture and deliver all the LED lighting for the biggest shopping mall in Pakistan, as well as The World Bank Headquarters in Islamabad and then an 18-hole golf course in Lahore. We developed new LED lights for sports ovals and have since upgraded many sports/AFL ovals around Australia. Our innovative approach to LED tunnel lighting was rewarded by winning the Northbridge Tunnel (WA) and Eastlink Tunnel (Vic) lighting upgrades, along with a subsequent invitation to audit 15km of tunnels needing an upgrade to LED in Brisbane.

As at 2020, the business operates in Midvale, only a few kilometers from Govo. Our business manufactures LED lighting for roadways, mine sites, sports ovals, tennis courts, office buildings, shopping malls, hotels and, would you believe it, schools!

One takeaway from my time since Govo is the realisation that if you do your best and still don’t succeed academically, there is still no limit to what you can achieve when you leave school, as long as you are prepared stay motivated even when the odds are against you. I view all my (many) failures as a learning experience and do not waste time pondering on “what could have been”.
And finally, we are all given the same 24 hours every day. It’s what we do with those hours that determines whether our dreams become reality.

Phillip excelled academically at Governor Stirling SHS, particular in mathematics. He therefore enrolled in UWA’s “blue ribbon” science units in 1981, intending to major in maths. Surrounded by similar-minded students in the elite maths course, he had to come to terms with the unusual perception of being bottom of the class. He still felt that way at year’s end, but only half the class remained, and he comfortably passed. However, his heart and head were drawn to chemistry, a subject he’d previously never taken seriously.

On completing his Bachelor of Science (double major in physical/inorganic chemistry and organic chemistry) in 1983, he was keen to continue to Honours, but there was a lack of applied chemistry research at UWA back then. Instead he did a chemistry Honours project at Murdoch University supported by Greenbushes, which included vacation work on their tantalite leaching pilot plant (fortunately their flowsheet leaching tantalum with hydrofluoric acid was never implemented). After being awarded First Class Honours as top student in his year, he completed a chemistry PhD at Murdoch, then in 1989 was awarded a CSIRO postdoctoral fellowship to research resins for gold recovery in a team based at WAIT (now Curtin University).

In 1991, Phillip took a postdoctoral position in Melbourne within the Defence Science and Technology Organisation (DSTO), developing fire-resistant phenolic composites for ship structures. Even though getting to burn things had its attractions, he returned to Perth for a CSIRO position in 1993, commencing an involvement with flocculation and thickening that continues to this day.

Central to this was the AMIRA P266 ‘Improving Thickener Technology’ project series, having extensive interaction with local and international sponsors for implementing research results to enhance operating gravity thickeners. A 2005 study estimated net-present-value from P266 research to sponsors of A$295M (updated 2008 to ~$500M), indicating the genuine impact this research had with mineral processing. Phillip’s involvement expanded to leading flocculation studies, delivering a model then incorporated within computational fluid dynamics modelling of feedwell flocculation and becoming their main tool for feedwell optimisation around the world. He became research coordinator and led the final stage (P266G), also developing technology transfer resources.

Phillip has written over 50 journal papers and five book chapters, as well as supervising six PhD students to completion. As part of the P266 team he has won two CSIRO Medals, one in Business Excellence. He’s also recently had two postdoctoral fellows to do his advanced mathematics for him.

Never an athlete, Phillip started playing hockey for GSSHS in 1976 and has never stopped. He filled in as a goalkeeper at high school, but only focused on the role from 1985, within two seasons then becoming the top keeper at Kalamunda Districts Hockey Club, where he is a Life Member and former President. He takes great pride in his part in encouraging a number of junior parents to take up or return to playing and his club record of most games played as a keeper, not so much the record for most goals conceded.

Professor Cheryl Kickett-Tucker is a highly respected Wadjuk Noongar Traditional Owner, academic community development practitioner, children’s fiction author and emerging photographer. She is a former National Women’s Basketball league player, State Basketball League player and captain and coach with over 20 years playing and coaching experience. She is currently an ARC Research Fellow at Curtin University Founding Director of Pindi Pindi Pty Ltd- Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Wellbeing and Director of Research and Community Development at Koya Aboriginal Corporation.

Cheryl attended Governor Stirling Senior High School from 1981-1985 and graduated year 12.

Achievements:

• First Aboriginal student awarded a PhD from Edith Cowan University
• First Aboriginal student awarded a degree in Sport Science at Edith Cowan University
• PhD (Edith Cowan University, Perth)
• Master of Science (University of Oregon, USA)
• Bachelor of Applied Science (Edith Cowan University, Perth)
• Associate Diploma of Applied Science (Edith Cowan University, Perth).
• Educated in both Australia and the United States of America.
• Player for WAIS Rockets in the Australia National Women’s Basketball League
• Player/Captain for Swan City Mustangs in Western Australian State Basketball League
• Coach for Swan City Mustangs Division 1 in Western Australian Basketball League
• Committee Member of the Swan City Mustangs State Basketball League
• Player for Perry Lakes Hawkes in Western Australian State Basketball League
• Player for Perth Redbacks in Western Australian State Basketball League
• Represented WA in National Junior Basketball Championships
• Represented WA Aboriginal Team in National Aboriginal Junior Basketball Championships
• MVP at National Aboriginal Junior Basketball Championships
• Inaugurated into the Sports Hall of Fame, Governor Stirling Senior High School
• Chief editor and co-author of award winning text book Mia Mia Aboriginal Community Development: Fostering Cultural Security published by Cambridge University Press
• 2020 Queen’s Birthday Honours as a Member of the Order of Australia
• 2019 Australian of the Year WA Local Hero
• 2018Midland NAIDOC Awards Service Provider of the Year, Koya Aboriginal Corporation
• 2018Western Australia Industry Awards 2018, Finalist, Supporting Volunteers Award, Koya Aboriginal Corporation
• 2017Educational Publishing Awards Australia, Winner, Tertiary (Wholly Australian) Scholarly Resource, Mia Mia Aboriginal Community Development: Fostering Cultural Security, Kickett-Tucker, C. Coffin, J. Bessarab, D. Wright, M. (Eds). Cambridge University Press.
• 2014 WA Department for Communities, Children’s Week WA, Communities Award, Highly Commended “IRISE: Racial Identity and Self-Esteem” Perth, WA
• 2013 WA Department for Communities, Children’s Week WA, Communities Award for Metropolitan Project Award “Connecting Culture, Curriculum and Community in Early Years Aboriginal Education” Perth, WA
• 2010Injury Control Council of WA Outstanding Achievement Award for Solid Kids, Solid Schools Research, Perth, WA
• 2004 University of Western Australia, Postdoctoral Re-Entry Research Fellowship, Perth, WA.
• 2003 Australian Society of Authors’ Indigenous Mentorship Program, Redfern, NSW.
• 2001 Western Australia NAIDOC Scholar of the Year, presented by NAIDOC State Committee, Perth, WA.
• 2001 National NAIDOC Scholar of the Year, presented by NAIDOC National Committee, Melbourne, VIC.
• 1998 Kurongkurl Katitjin Inaugural Post Graduate Scholarship, School of Indigenous Australian Studies, Edith Cowan University, WA.
• 1998 Edith Cowan University Postgraduate Scholarship, WA.
• 1995 Queens Trust Award for Young Australians, WA.
• 1992 Queens Trust Award for Young Australians, WA.
• 1992 Certificate of Recognition, Global Education Project, Office of International Services, University of Oregon, USA.
• 1992 WA NAIDOC, Sportswoman of the Year, Perth, WA.
• 1992 International Scholar Recipient, Black Women’s Action Group in Education Foundation (now Roberta Sykes Foundation), Sydney, NSW.
• 1990 “Aboriginal Advisory Committee Prize” for outstanding Aboriginal student, presented by WA College of Advanced Education, WA.
• 1990 “Women for Technical Jobs” Scholarship, presented by the Government of WA.
• 1989 “Eveline Rosina Henty” Scholarship, presented by the University of Western Australia.
• 1986 Australian Jaycees Five Outstanding Young Australians Award, WA.

Cheryl holds the following positions:

• Executive Director, Pindi Pindi Pty Ltd, Centre for Research Excellence in Aboriginal Wellbeing
• Professor and ARC Research Fellow, Faculty of Humanities, School of Education, Curtin University
• Director, Research and Community Development, Koya Aboriginal Corporation
• Adjunct Professor, Human Development and Family Studies, Michigan State University, USA
• Adjunct Professor, School of Medicine, Notre Dame University
• Adjunct Associate Professor, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia

Bruce is a Professor Medicine, lung specialist and cancer researcher. He has also written several best-selling books on fathering and founded The Fathering Project, which has already had a major impact on the future of Australia’s young people. He regularly undertakes humanitarian medical work in disaster hit areas, especially in Indonesia.

He has received many awards for his medical research and has received an Order of Australia. He also Western Australian of the Year in 2013.

He grew up in Bassendean. He has played and coached Australian Rules football and is currently co-patron of the Swan Districts Football Club.

He speaks five languages and is married with 3 children.

Dominic Spagnolo is a public sector Anatomical Pathologist at PathWest Laboratory Medicine WA, and Clinical Professor of Pathology at The University of Western Australia. After concluding his secondary education at GSSHS (1965–1969) as School Captain, he studied medicine at UWA, graduating MBBS in 1976. A further five years of specialist training saw him admitted as a Fellow of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (RCPA) in 1982. Supported in part by a W.A. and M.G. Saw Medical Research Fellowship from UWA, he undertook pathology Fellowships at Charing Cross Hospital, London and Stanford University Medical Centre, California, where he was privileged to work with some of the world’s pre-eminent pathologists.

Professor Spagnolo returned to WA in 1984 to take up his first Consultant post in Anatomical Pathology, at the combined laboratories of Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and UWA. He has been a full-time Consultant in the public service, and maintained his affiliation with UWA, ever since. Professor Spagnolo credits his life-long dedication to pathology to the excellent mathematics and science teachers he had at GSSHS: the passion for science they nurtured led him to specialise in pathology, which provides the scientific basis for disease. A highlight of his time at GSSHS was being chosen as one of five Western Australian high school students to attend the prestigious International Science School in Sydney, in 1968.

Professor Spagnolo’s diagnostic career has involved all aspects of tissue-based pathology; with a predominant focus on the pathology of cancer, he has internationally recognised expertise in the field of lymphomas. He also has particular interests in molecular pathology, ultrastructural pathology and diseases of the kidneys.

Through his career, Professor Spagnolo has been a committed teacher of undergraduate and post-graduate pathology. He has been an examiner for the RCPA and also sat on its WA education subcommittee. Teaching and mentoring successive generations of pathologists—seeing some rise to positions of eminence and leadership—has been his greatest reward and sustaining pleasure.

Research has also played an important part in Professor Spagnolo’s professional life. He has authored or co-authored more than 130 scientific papers and chapters, co-edited a major text-book on diagnostic ultrastructural pathology, served on editorial boards of major journals, including as an Associate Editor, and has been an invited speaker at state, national and international scientific meetings.

Professor Spagnolo has held several leadership positions, including as Clinical Director of Anatomical Pathology at PathCentre for ten years, and as President of the International Academy of Pathology (Australasian Division). In 2005, he was honoured to deliver the Academy’s prestigious Vincent McGovern Lecture and, in 2014, to receive its Distinguished Pathologist Medal. He received the RCPA’s Distinguished Fellow Award in 2020. Professor Spagnolo was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2018, for “significant service to medicine, particularly in the field of pathology, as a clinician, and to medical education as a researcher and author”.

Professor Spagnolo married fellow 1969 GSSHS graduate Brenda Combes in 1975; they have two sons. Away from the hospital, he enjoys reading, music and long-distance running. He is deeply grateful for an outstanding secondary education at GSSHS, the springboard for his subsequent professional career.

Research demonstrating steroids in childhood croup results in fewer hospitalisations

GSSHS 1966-67

Professor Gary Geelhoed MBBS, FRACP, FACEM, MD is the Executive Director of the Western Australian Health Translation Network (WAHTN) comprising WA’s five Universities, seven Medical Research Institutes, PathWest, all public hospitals, the Health Dept of WA and private hospital groups St John of God and Ramsays. WAHTN is one of ten members of the nation-wide Australian Health Research Alliance. Prior to commencing at WAHTN, Gary was Western Australia’s Chief Medical Officer 2012-2018 and Assistant Director General of Clinical Services and Research, WA Department of Health. A UWA graduate, Gary worked at Princess Margaret Hospital for Children for 35 years with 22 years as Director of the Emergency Department.

Gary’s areas of research interest during his tenure as Director included:
• The assessment of childhood asthma using oximetry
• The usefulness of oral steroids in the management of croup
• The impact of increased consultant numbers on Emergency Department outcomes
• The reduction of mortality in patients presenting to WA hospitals following the introduction of the four hour rule

Gary has a keen interest in health reform, particularly in the area of clinical research and innovation. A highlight of Gary’s career involves his ongoing work to forge closer ties between our hospitals and the research community to promote greater innovation and best practice in clinical care and to establish and embed a robust framework for safety and quality along with teaching, training and research, into the day-to-day operations of the State’s hospitals and health services.

Gary’s past achievements include helping to introduce the Four Hour Rule Program to WA public hospitals, reducing delays in our emergency departments, reducing mortality in WA’s teaching hospitals and streamlining hospital processes for admission and discharge.

Gary has held roles on numerous state and national committees including the National Health and Medical Research Council, President of the Australian Medical Association (WA), member of both the Western Australian and Federal AMA Council, Board Member of Healthway, Board Member of PMH and KEMH, and Chair of the WA Drug and Alcohol Authority.
Gary is married to Elizabeth with three sons and three grandchildren. He was for 17 years bass player and vocalist for Gerry and the Atrix and still plays occasionally when not playing tennis.

Professor John Yovich MD PhD FRCOG FRANZCOG CREI graduated MBBS from UWA in 1970,
progressing into Specialist Obstetrics & Gynaecology practice in 1976. Born in Midland in 1945
on 31st July, John attended Midland Primary School (1951-55), thereafter Middle Swan Primary
School (1956-57) after the family home moved from 47 North Street to 76 Great Northern
Highway (on the corner of Margaret Street) which was a boundary change for the two schools.
John recalls coughing and wheezing his way through those 2-years at Middle Swan Primary
School which, in recent years has been closed down, being identified as heavily polluted from
the nearby brickworks. Thereafter, John attended Governor Stirling Senior High School
(1958-1962) which he recalls as a healthy and enjoyable learning environment where he made
many life-long colleagues and friends.

John completed his internship at Royal Perth Hospital (1970-1972) where he completed a range
of disciplines including anaesthetics. In the latter period, John enjoyed a rotational period in Port
Hedland with an attachment to the Royal Flying Doctor Service, regularly visiting Nullagine,
Marble Bar and Jigalong mission on the western edge of the Little Sandy Desert. It was this
experience in the Pilbara region of Western Australia that caused John to see a pressing need
for specialised Obstetric Services in the region, hence his next residency periods were
undertaken at King Edward Memorial Hospital. During that period John utilised his anaesthetic
skills to assist the Director of anaesthesia, Dr Miller-Forbes to establish an efficient pioneer
Epidural Service at KEMH (1971-73). With the view of advancing his skills in Laparoscopic
Surgery as well as the newly emerging ideas for Infertility, including Reproductive Endocrinology
and In-vitro fertilization (IVF), john arranged to work in pioneer facilities in the United Kingdom
including at the Universities of London and Cambridge. To accumulate the financial needs for
this undertaking John worked in private practice in the Northern Suburbs for 3-years (1974-76)
utilising the facilities of Osborne Park Hospital for Obstetric services and Mount Hawthorn
Hospital for Gynaecological services. The latter ceased functioning as a surgical hospital in 1979
when it was heritage-listed as Hawthorn House.

Following laboratory research and clinical work over 4-years in London 1976-80 with Professor
Ian Craft, John presented his PhD thesis “Human pregnancies achieved by in-vitro fertilization”,
conferred UWA in 1985. During those seminal years in London John was exposed to all the new
innovations in Reproductive Medicine with each area, including Embryology, taught to him by the
very pioneers in their fields. John brought all these new ideas back to home-town Perth where
he established PIVET Medical Centre in 1981, generating WA’s first IVF child in July 1982. John
assisted many IVF clinics to establish worldwide and formed PIVET Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur
with Dr Haris Hamzah whose first IVF infant was born May 1987. He also assisted the first IVF
pregnancy to be generated in Greece during 1986, with the infant delivered in May 1987. John
achieved CREI subspecialty in 1992. He has an adjunct position as Clinical Professor in the
School of Biomedical Sciences at Curtin University. His publications in high impact factor journals
exceeds 250, he has an RG score of 44.77 and h-index of 37.

John married Jeanne Conceicao, who completed a BSc in Science at UWA and was a “Miss
University” contestant of 1966, when they met, there-after marrying in 1968. They have two
children; Steven born 1972 and Celina born 1975. Jeanne progressed from teaching to
embryology and has assisted John in developing PIVET Medical Centre, which has an
international reputation and has trained many overseas embryologists and clinical staff in
Infertility procedures including IVF and Advanced Laparoscopic Surgery. PIVET remains a family
business where son Steven heads the Andrology Department and Jeanne has progressed from
Laboratory Manager to CEO. John is the Medical Director of PIVET Medical Centre in Perth and
the Chairman of PIVET Group activities which embraces Cairns Fertility Centre in Queensland
and PIVET Fertility Darwin in the Northern Territory. At age 75 years John plans to review his
activities in 5-years time.

Ramon Andersson is a dual Olympian from the 1992 Barcelona and 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games in the sport of kayaking. His career highlights include winning a bronze medal in the K4 1000m (4 man kayak) and backing up two months later to win the Gold medal in the World Marathon Canoeing Championships in K2. In addition, he has one silver and two bronze from other World Championships, as well as 14 World Cup Medals and 29 Australian titles. He has also competed some of the top river races in the World including the Sella Descent in Spain and Liffey Descent in Ireland winning both of those in 1988.

Ramon has been the Head Coach of the Western Australian Institute of Sport Kayak program since 2003where he has taken the program from a small part time program to a program that is one of WAIS’s priority programs and has produced numerous National Champions and National team representatives as well as World Cup and Olympic Medalists.

He has been a National team coach since 2006 including coaching at the 2012 London Olympics. In 1992 and 1993 he was the Western Australian Sport Star of the Year and in 1992 WA Institute of Sport(WAIS)Athlete of the Year as well as runner up for the Australian Institute of Sport Athlete of the Year.

He was also Western Australian Sports Federation Coach of the Year in 2011. Only three individuals have had the honour of winning the award as an athlete and a coach, the other two being Ric Charlesworth and Justin Langer. He was named Australian Canoeing Coach of the Year for 2011/12.The WAIS Kayaking program has also been named program of the year five out of the last twelve years at the WAIS annual awards.

Rear Admiral Raydon Gates matriculated from Governor Stirling Senior High School in 1969, the same year he achieved his Queen Scout award. He joined the navy graduating from the Royal Australian Naval College in 1974. He served in the Royal Australian Navy for 37 years retiring in 2008 as a Rear Admiral. A seaman officer, his sea service culminated with the command of two guided missile frigates. His flag officer appointments include the inaugural Commander of the Australian Defence College, Maritime Commander Australia (including operational service during the 2003 Iraq war), and Defence Attaché and Head Australian Defence Staff in Washington DC.

Raydon has been awarded a Masters Degree in Business Administration (Monash), a Graduate Diploma in Strategic Studies, and a Diploma of Company Directorship. He is a graduate of a number of strategic leadership management programs from Mt Eliza (Victoria) Management College, Australian Graduate School of Management, Oxford University and Harvard University.

His honours and awards include his appointment as an Officer in the Order of Australia, the Conspicuous Service Medal, the United States’ Legion of Merit and the French Order of Maritime Merit. He has also been appointed an Honorary Fellow of Monash University.

In his post Navy career Raydon was Chief Executive of Lockheed Martin Australia and New Zealand, retiring in 2017. Raydon was appointed as the Defence Advocate for Western Australia in August 2017.

After leaving GSSHS, Renée studied Physiotherapy at Curtin University. Upon graduation she was employed at Royal Perth Hospital working in areas such as Intensive Care and the State Head Injury Unit and eventually specialising in Spinal Cord Injury. Renée spent over a decade at the state spinal service assisting people who had sustained a spinal cord injury to regain their independence.

Renée later took up a lecturing position at Curtin University in the School of Physiotherapy & Exercise Science. During this time she also founded DriveABLE Australia, an evidence based assessment service for objectively assessing fitness to drive for patients with medical conditions.

Renée is involved in a wide number of community groups, including having founded the Bassendean Repair Cafe.

In 2014 Renée took maternity leave with her first child, Elliott. Having volunteered on a number of committees and wanting to make a greater change for her community, Renée decided to run for Council within the Town of Bassendean and was elected as a Councillor in 2015. At the time Renée was the solitary woman among the elected members and the executive team of the local government.

After 2 years of service, Renée was elected unanimously as the Mayor of Bassendean. In 2016, her second child, Xavier, was born and the following year she was re-elected both as a Councillor and Mayor for the Town of Bassendean. During Renée’s time as Mayor the local government has undergone significant transformation, becoming more contemporary and relevant with a focus on actively engaging with the local community. The Town of Bassendean is also developing a reputation for being a leader in sustainability and as an example of effective community leadership.

Visual Artist

GSSHS 1979-83

Rick Vermey is an accomplished visual artist, based here in Perth, WA.

As a kid he imagined his future would probably involve flying jet-planes, or treasure-hunting as a marine archaeologist. Fortunately GSSHS was quick to discover Vermey’s inaptitude for studying sciences, and thus his true path was revealed. He’s been over-compensating by leaning into his artistic creativity, ever since.

Early encouragement came when he was The Festival of Perth’s featured visual artist in 1992, followed up with a then rare solo exhibition at the Art Gallery of Western Australia in ’93.

Vermey’s primary field of endeavour nowadays is site-specific commissioned artworks for the public realm. He frequently works in collaboration with architects and other professionals on artworks for integration within the fabric of buildings, infrastructure and places.

His public artworks have received industry recognition locally and internationally, attracting various lighting, glazing, colour and architectural awards.

He has a substantial exhibition history and maintains an ongoing studio practice. His sculptures, paintings, prints and photography have been widely collected by Western Australian public and private collections.

Vermey has a long history of engagement with his community through active participation in management of artist run initiatives, studio collectives and exhibition spaces, including The Beach Gallery, Gotham Studios, The Verge, and Kerb Galleries. He has served as a Peer of the Arts Development Board of ArtsWA, and also as a board member of Artsource (an artists services organisation).

West Australian Cricketer

GSSHS 1975-79

Played Sheffield Shield Cricket for Western Australia & Tasmania.

After completing Year 12 at Governor Stirling, I studied at UWA and graduated with a Degree in Human Movement & Recreation and also a Diploma in Teaching.

I spent 3 seasons playing cricket in England from 1984 – 1986.

Married and moved to Melbourne in 1989 where I worked for almost 10 years with the International Sporting Company, Puma.

Returned to Western Australia in late 1998 to purchase Slater Gartrell Sports with my father Kevin and brother John.

In completing the full circle, I attended GSSHS and now we supply the current students of GSSHS with their school uniforms.

Robert Graham

Full-time professional musician for 25 years

GSSHS 1984-87

Robert arrived at Governor Stirling as a bewildered year nine student. It was his third school in three years, with the first one being on the other side of the world in British Columbia, Canada, and the second being Duncraig SHS. Not only were Robert and his twin brother Mark the “new kids”, to make matters worse, they both arrived at the school at the same time as their father (Bob Graham) started teaching there!

Luckily Robert was able to survive all that and see out his high school career at Govo. He is grateful for that, as he made many life-long friends at Govo and has many fond memories of the place.

After graduation Robert did a Bachelor of Music Education at UWA followed by a brief 4-year teaching career: three years at Katanning high school and one at Girrawheen Senior High school, after which he left the teaching profession, aged 25, vowing never to return. His goal was to become a full time professional pianist. Luckily for him he had taken a weekly piano lesson between the ages of 9 and 18!

Robert’s musical career took him back to Canada as a 30-year-old, and as of early 2020, back to Perth for the second time in his life, where he continues his career as a professional musical journeyman, creator and collaborator.

Robert is an award-winning pianist, singer/songwriter, and vocalist, as well as a Music Director, collaborative pianist (vocal, instrumental, and dance), choir director, vocal/repertoire coach, educator, writer, and human-rights activist.

Together with his song writing and performing, Graham maintains a career as a Music Director, pianist, vocalist, vocal/repertoire coach, and choir director, and has worked on numerous Theatre productions across Canada and Australia.

His collaborations have included several multi-genre bands and ensembles touring the UK with Canadian roots supergroup “Tanglefoot” (Winner – Best Vocal Group – 2007 Canadian Folk Music Awards) performing with Western Australia’s “Los Chasquis”, and legendary WA Aboriginal band “YABU”.

Robert started his song writing career relatively late in life – but music from his debut solo album “Storm in a Teacup” and the debut EP from “The Fairest and Best” elicited three all-network sync licensing contracts (The Discovery Channel, Fox Sports and The NASCAR Network) as well as contracts from over a dozen individual TV shows – none of which Robert has ever watched! It was also added to the playlists of over 100 radio stations across North America and his songs have garnered awards from the UK Song writing Contest, the Billboard World Song Contest, the Dallas Songwriters Association Song Contest, and the “Songs for Social Change” contest – among others.

Robert was the inaugural recipient of the 2018 Douglas C Cowling Bursary in Liturgical Music and also a winner of a 2109 Toronto Artscape Foundation Launchpad Bursary.

Robert is married with two children and is very happy to be back in WA with his family after so many years. He is still an active performer – more details at https://robertgraham.org

Robert (Bob) PEMBER

International expert in labour statistics

GSSHS 1960-64

I am not a celebrity or an A list member, but I have had an interesting life. I was School Captain (Head Boy as some used to call it) in 1964 and editor of Quartania in 1963 and 1964, representing the school in debating, rowing, hockey, etc etc. My school blazer had enough school representation badges to make a North Korean general envious.

I have been asked to indicate what have been my greatest successes.  I would have to say having a wonderful wife and family, my success in rowing and the incredible experiences I had in my working career.  I have described some of these below.

At school in the early 1960s, one of the GSSHS teachers was Berry Durston who rowed for Australia at the 1960 Rome Olympics.  He inspired my interest in rowing and set up a rowing group at GSSHS, one of the first (or perhaps even the first) government school in WA to do so.

At the beginning of 1965, I was lucky enough to be one of six students in Australia to get a 4-year salaried Cadetship in statistics.  This allowed me to attend the University of Western Australia from 1965 to 1968 and complete a Bachelor of Economics with Honours.

During those years, I rowed in three intervarsity lightweight fours, was club secretary for three years and won the Phil Durston Consistency trophy for most events won in State competition.  Apparently, I am the only UWA rower in the last 100 years to win this trophy twice consecutively.

While at GSSHS, another student named Peter Pearson joined the school rowing group, and the crew for which I was Stroke.  When we got to university, we rowed together in a coxless pair, but I also rowed in other crews (fours and eights).  Peter and I rowed for four years together at the University of WA and did rather well – being State Coxless Pair champions in 1967 and 1968 and rowing in the 1967 Australian National Championships in Penrith NSW. Both Peter and I received Rowing Half Blues and I also got a Rowing Full Blue from UWA.

In 1969, my wife and I moved to Canberra to work in the then Bureau of Census and Statistics (now Australian Bureau of Statistics).  While there I completed a second degree as Bachelor of Arts in Computing in what is now the University of Canberra.

After six years in Canberra, my wife, three sons and I moved to Malawi (Africa) where I worked with the International Labour Office (ILO), not realising that this would lead to almost 30 years working in international aid in labour statistics, initially as a national expert in Malawi, Tanzania and Botswana and then as regional expert for Africa based in Addis Ababa, regional expert for Asia/Pacific based in Bangkok and finally as Senior Statistician in ILO Geneva during which time I wrote many academic and technical papers, revised the UN Statistical Commission’s guidelines on labour statistics in  population census, represented ILO on many international technical committees and conferences relating to labour statistics, provided technical assistant to many countries in Asia, Africa, South America, the Caribbean and the Pacific.  This career involved visits to over 130 countries and exposure to a richly varied and extremely interesting range of cultures.

I retired in 2007 and, after a few consultancies to Greenland, Caribbean, Qatar and UN New York, I have now settled into a peaceful rural life in Bungendore NSW, only a few hundred metres from the top of the Great Dividing Range and surrounded by mobs of kangaroos.  My wife and I are content.

High Commissioner to Tuvalu

GSSHS 1989-1991

Head Boy 1991

Following graduation in 1991, Robin spent a year in Japan as a recipient of a Rotary International Scholarship. He returned to Perth in January 1993 and commenced a Bachelor of Laws and Asian Studies (Japanese) at Murdoch University.

After graduating in 1998, Robin joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) in Canberra in 1999. He has subsequently served overseas as an Australian diplomat in Tokyo, Japan, and Tarawa, Kiribati. In Australia, his work at DFAT has been focused on trade policy and negotiations. As part of his broader experience in the Australian Public Service, Robin has undertaken secondments to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the then Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development as Official Secretary on Norfolk Island. Robin served as an Officer in the Australian Army Reserve (Combat Engineer) while he was living in Perth and later achieved the rank of Captain.

Further studies have included: Graduate Diploma of Arts (Foreign and Trade Policy), Monash University 2001, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice, Australian National University 2005.

In 2013 Robin was awarded a Medal in the Order of Australia, for efforts in supporting Australia’s Urban Search and Rescue Team in the Minami Sanriku area in Japan following the March 2011 earthquakes and tsunami, and for his role as a member of the Emergency Response Team which assisted in Christchurch, New Zealand, after the February 2011 earthquake.

In 2021 Robin was appointed as the High Commissioner to Tuvalu.

Robin is married and has four sons.

Born in Agnew, Western Australia.
Came from Gwalia.
A boarder at Swanleigh.

Licentiate – Trinity College, London. (Teaching Diploma) – auspices of the University of Western Australia.
7th Grade (Piano) AMEB – Mrs. Phyllis Browning Turner Ashton.

Joined the ABC as a cadet announcer in the Children’s Department.
A company member of the National Theatre at the Playhouse, Pier Street under the artistic direction of the late Edgar Metcalfe.

Moved to Sydney in 1968.
Assistant Stage Manager Community Theatre, Killara.
Joined Harry M Miller Attractions:
Productions included:
Hair, Jesus Christ Superstar, Boys in the Band, Rocky Horror, The Secretary Bird starring Patrick Macnee; Dames at Sea with Nancye Hayes, Present Laughter with Stuart Wagstaff and Rosemary Martin; Sleuth with Patrick Wymark, Stratford Johns, Richard Todd, Gary Waldhorn, John Fraser; Butley with Peter Wyngarde; Grease; Winnie The Pooh – a musical;
No Sex Please We’re British with Jonathan Daly.
Stage Director – Melbourne Theatre Company:
Monthly Repertory, productions included:
Cherry Orchard and An Ideal Husband with Googie Withers and Frank Thring.
Mother Courage – The Berliner Ensemble Production with Gloria Dawn, directed by Joachim Tenschert.
Patate and The Man Shot The Albatross starring Leo McKern, written by Ray Lawler, directed by John Sumner.

Commercial Productions include:
The Circle, Star Dust, The Kingfisher with Googie Withers, John McCallum, Frank Thring, Robert Helpmann, Angela Punch McGregor.
The Cobra with Sir Robert Helpmann and Mark Lee.
Me and My Girl.
West Side Story.
Scrooge – the Musical – Keith Michell.
La Cage Aux Folles – Keith Michell and Jon Ewing.
The Day After The Fair – Deborah Kerr.
Guys and Dolls.
Star engagements include:
Debbie Reynolds, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Hayley Mills, Joan Fontaine, Charlton Heston, Gina Lollobrigida, June Allyson, James Coburn, Victor Borge, Phyllis Diller, Shirley Bassey, Jackie Collins, Angie Dickinson, Leslie Bricusse, Jean Simmons.

TELEVISION:
The AFL Footy Show with Ed McGuire and Sam Newman (10-years).
Thirty years between the 7, 9 and Ten networks:
Good Morning Australia; The Bert Newton Show; Peter Couchman Show; Day by Day; 11AM based in London – countless interviews with stars, writers, authors, directors and celebrities.
The Parkinson Show in Australia.

Radio:
ABC Melbourne; 3AW; 2GB; 2UE; 3XY; 3MP;

LONDON:
LBC radio:

The Bolshoi Ballet – Moscow, Venice and Australia.
The Shanghai Ballet – Shanghai and Australia.
Spoleto Festival – Spoleto – Umbria, Italy.

Childhood memoir – And Be Home Before Dark – shortlisted for the Victorian Premier’s Award.
The Actor Who Laughed – co-authored with Frank Thring. Foreword by Sir Robert Helpmann.
The AFL Cookbook – foreword by Shane Warne.

Stage Plays include:
Now You Can Eat Father Christmas – a one man show.
Letters From The Heart – Gordon Frost Organisation – Australia, UK and the USA. Brighton UK with Hugh Bonneville and Caroline Langrishe.
Servant of the Crown – Gordon Frost Organisation.

Columns/articles/interviews published in major Australian newspapers and magazines.

Drafted 2013 to GWS

74 games for GWS 2014 – 2018

Fremantle Dockers in 2019 – current

Rose van Son

Poet, Writer and Editor

GSSHS 1962-64

Rose van Son is a Western Australian poet, writer and editor. She has been published in many anthologies and journals including Westerly, Cordite, Rabbit, Australian Poetry and Glasgow Review of Books. In 2018 she won the Bronze Quill for Creative Non-fiction and has been short-listed in the Grieve Anthology for short story and poetry, and also the Fish Anthology (Ireland). In 2018, she was Highly Commended in the Australian Catholic University Poetry Prize and in 2019 she was runner up for the Art Writing Essay Prize, University of Western Australia. She has won several prizes for poetry.
Rose has run poetry and creative writing workshops at the 2015 Perth Poetry Festival, and Corrugated Lines, Broome where she was guest poet. In 2018, she was also guest poet at the New Norcia Writers Festival. Over the years, she has written feature articles for The West Australian and Australian Country Style.
Rose has an English Degree (Literature) and Honours degree in Creative Writing from Curtin University, Western Australia where she worked as Communications Lecturer for over 15 years. She has had two poetry / art exhibitions: at the Zig Zag Gallery in Kalamunda (2019) and ArtGeo Galleries, Busselton (2020) in collaboration with well-known multi-media artists, Denise Gillies (an ex Governor Stirling student) and Lynne Mitchell. She reads poetry at various venues in Perth and is often invited to launch books and give presentations on poetry and writing.
Her poetry collections include Cloak of Letters (2019) and Nature’s Warehouse, Birds in Focus, (2019) with 90 colour images of birds and poetry; Sandfire (2011), as well as haiku collections: Three Owls and a Crescent Moon. She is Haiku editor for Creatrix Haiku online.
Rose is involved with the Katharine Susannah Prichard Writers’ Centre, WA Poets Inc, and OOTA Writers, Fremantle in her endeavours to help others achieve their writing goals. She is a keen photographer and often incorporates her photography with her poems.
Rose loves language: how words release their rhythm, associations and values. She writes of nature, history, philosophy and family – often melding the flavour of all four!
Rose van Son, October 2020

Rosslyn Marshall (nee Pavy)
Student at GSSHS: 1967 to 1971
Teacher at GSSHS: 1981 to 1986 and 1989 (for a term)
Greatest achievement: Providing Professional Learning to teachers

Career
After graduating from UWA in 1974 with an Arts degree majoring in History, I took a graduate diploma in Education at the West Australian Secondary Teachers’ College and joined the ranks of WA’s first group of teachers to begin their career four year trained. I was a secondary school classroom teacher for 22 years, followed by 10 years as an Education Officer at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library at Curtin University and a further 9 years at Wanneroo Regional Museum also as an Education officer.

In four different government high schools, including Governor Stirling, I taught HASS subjects such as Modern History and Politics and Law. While in schools I also took on a variety of extra-curricular roles including Year 8, Year 10 and TAGS Coordinator, and, acting Head of Learning Area. Outside of school I was a very active member of the executive of three teacher professional learning bodies– the History Teachers Association of WA (HTAWA), the Professional Teaching Council of WA (PTCWA) and the Political and Legal Educators Association of WA (PLEAWA). Despite having left classroom teaching in 2000, I have remained a very active member of the PLEAWA executive and was recently awarded a life membership for my service to the association.

In 2000 I took up a position at Curtin University, teaching at the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library (JCPML) where I designed and delivered history and drama education programs, to years 5 to 12 students, based on the life and times of WWII Prime Minister John Curtin. Some highlights of my time at the JCPML include developing a set of WW2 archival history boxes that could give country students an experience similar to city students, the creation of an online tool to help teachers develop their students’ skills in cartoon interpretation, involvement in the National History Challenge for schools and participation in the Sir Charles Court Young Leaders program, a history and leadership camp for Year 10 students. I was also awarded a Parliamentary Scholarship which allowed me to spend a week in Canberra studying the federal parliament in action.

At the JCPML I worked with a small team of dedicated people in an institution that was using leading edge technology to make archival materials available to the world in a format that was extremely user friendly, well before other institutions were doing the same. It also gave me the rare privilege of meeting a number of former Prime Ministers of Australia including Gough Whitlam, Malcolm Fraser, Paul Keating and Julia Gillard.

In 2010, changes at Curtin University and in the WA curriculum meant that the education programs at the JCPML would fold up within a few years. Having completed a Museum Studies qualification I was well placed to secure an Education Officer position when it came up at the Wanneroo Regional Museum (WRM). In this new position I designed and delivered local history programs for years 1 to 3, quite a different scenario from my previous teaching positions. It was a huge amount of fun and I got to work at variety of locations including two heritage homes. There was also an opportunity to design more education boxes, this time about World War 1.

Working at Curtin University and the Wanneroo Regional Museum gave me opportunities to reinvent myself as a teacher. While I missed teaching in the classroom, I didn’t miss the marking, the structured timetable or the mountains of administration that go with it. What I loved about Curtin and Wanneroo was the opportunity to be creative mostly on a timeline that suited me and in time blocks that often exceeded two hours – quite different from a school. I could work within a curriculum but not be confined by it.

I completed my Bachelor of Science – Nursing at Curtin University in 1990 and throughout my clinical career became a specialist Cancer Nurse working at Royal Perth Hospital where I managed a Domiciliary Bone Marrow Transplant program – a home based treatment service. I undertook further study, completing a Masters of Public Health, majoring in Health Service Management completed in 2004. I left the hospital system in 2003 moving into Community Services and became the Support Service Manager of the Leukaemia Foundation where I grew services and programs for individuals and their families affected by blood cancers until 2008.

I then took on the role of Director of Cancer Information and Support Services at the Cancer Council WA as part of the leadership team, managing the strategic and operational direction for all services and a budget of more than $6 million. In 2018 I moved into the welfare sector and am currently the Executive Manager of Specialist Community Services at St Vincent de Paul Society – incorporating Mental Health, Homelessness and Crisis Housing programs.

I have volunteered all my life and now do so with Board work. I am a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and have sat on a number of boards. I am currently the Chair of Ishar Multicultural Women’s Services and am a Past President of the Cancer Nurses Society of Australia.

I have been married to the same amazing man since 1991 and have one daughter and an 8-month old grandson.

My maiden name is Nicholls and my father John Nicholls also attended Governor Stirling in the 1960’s.

10th in the world representing Australia in Painting & Decorating

GSSHS 2006-10

I tried a pre-apprenticeship course at MPA Skills, which I completed full-time and during this time I developed a passion for painting and decorating and continued on to start an apprenticeship.

The training I received at MPA Skills was amazing and the course opened me up to opportunities that I never would have dreamt of, like winning gold in Painting and Decorating at the 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition, as well as being chosen to represent Australia at the 2015 WorldSkills International Competition in Brazil.

The course gave me the skills and confidence to be the best I can be in this industry and now I have started my own painting business, as well as training students at MPA Skills.

Sharlene Kidd Former MPA Skills Apprentice 2014 WorldSkills Australia National Competition Gold Medal Winner (Painting and Decorating)

10th in the world at the 2015 WorldSkills Competition Skillaroos Team Member (Painting and Decorating)

2016 Ern MacDonald Fellowship Winner, MPA Skills Full-Time Trainer and MPA Skills Schools Program Coordinator.

2021 Industry Training Advisor for the Construction Training Fund.

Steele Bishop, OAM – World Champion Cyclist and Author

Born Subiaco 29 April 1953

First West Australian to win World Professional Cycling Championship in Zurich in 1983

After 36 yrs in retirement, won 4 Gold and set new world record at World Masters Track Championships in Manchester in 2019

Published memoirs “Wheels of Steele” in 2019

Awarded:

• -OAM
• Centenary Medal
• Australian Sports Medal

Foundation member of the Western Australian Sports Hall of Fame

Stephen Dedman PhD

Writer

GSSHS 1958-59

Despite Quartania’s prediction in 1976, I have never been abducted by a UFO, though my already well-known enthusiasm for science fiction eventually led to me completing a PhD thesis on the long relationship between sf and the US military published as May the Armed Forces Be With You. I was also the manager of several science fiction bookshops and ultimately the co-owner of one, and a book reviewer for The West Australian for 12 years.

I started publishing short fiction shortly after leaving high school, beginning with a satirical piece about the sale of the Sydney Opera House that I wrote in an English class at Govo. Six novels, some 120 short stories, two collections, a Notable Australian Book for children about the history of dinosaur discoveries, many other pieces and a bunch of awards and nominations later, I’m still writing. I’ve also taught creative writing at the University of Western Australia for 14 years (including at the Forensic Science Centre), tutored at Murdoch University, mentored writers, and served on the Advisory Committee of the Perth Festival Writers’ Festival. None of this has made me wealthy, and I’ve had to do some boring jobs between the enjoyable ones, but I’ve traveled widely, been in Mission Control when a space shuttle made re-entry, met some famous and very interesting people and made a lot of friends, and haven’t starved.

Some of the credit for my eccentric career path must go to the librarians at Govo who kept feeding my reading habit and allowed me to pick science fiction books for the library, and to the English and Drama teachers including Rod Curnow, Donn Browne, Del Bradley, Neil Harris, Robert Pilbeam, Peita Letchford and many others who were certainly underpaid for the hours they spent putting up with us.

My work’s been translated into multiple languages, and the fact that I can read the French and German editions is mostly thanks to the efforts of Egbert Visser and Dale Cornell nearly 50 years ago. Libraries and good teachers are invaluable.
www.stephendedman.com

Steve Quartly
Directing National Live Television broadcasts for the Seven Network
GSSHS 1974-78

Steve Quartly has been working in the professional television industry for over 40 years. In 1979 he started at The Seven Network Perth (TVW7) and trained in the 4 main areas of television production (cameras, lighting, audio, videotapes). After working in the videotapes department for several years, he went onto editing. In 1986 he moved to Melbourne, working for an independent production house as their Senior Editor for 2 years. Steve worked on shows such as John Farnham’s Whispering Jack Concert, Logie Awards, and both national and international commercials.

In 1988 Steve returned to Channel 7 Perth to the position of Supervising Editor. In this role he supervised the editing of all the local productions for Channel 7 Perth. He then moved onto directing and producing and became the senior producer/director for the Seven Network in Perth. Over his career he has worked on hundreds of productions, including many documentaries, live news telecasts, live sporting events (national and international) including 3 Olympic Games and 2 Commonwealth Games, variety shows, fashion shows, game shows, and dramas.

Steve is also an award winning editor, winning a Best Editing award (Golden Key Award) for a Channel 7 ID campaign “Love You Perth”. Some of his notable work includes:

• He directed over 300 episodes of the Seven Network game shows Time Masters and A*Mazing.
• He produced and directed Perth’s Skyshow and Christmas Pageant telecasts for over 15 years, both were outside broadcasts.
• He produced and directed “It’s Academic” with Jeff Newman.
• He was one of the editors for the Western Australia based restaurant “The Mint Leaf” in the Seven Network’s show, My Restaurant Rules and also worked on the reality show Popstars.
• He was the online editor for a documentary called Suzy’s Story, which ultimately won a Tony Award.
• He directed a block of the children’s drama “Bush Patrol”
• To this day, Steve is currently the senior Director for the live Telethon broadcast and regularly Directs Seven News as a casual director.

In 2003 Steve took an involuntary redundancy from The Seven Network, however he was, and still is, kept on in a casual role as a Director for their live and pre-recorded telecasts, including Telethon and live News bulletins.

In 2007 Steve started a production company called Digipix. Digipix produces content for hundreds of cinemas screens throughout Australia and New Zealand. We were the first company in Australia to develop and put 3D cinema on screen using the new digital technology. Steve spent 2 years developing his own computer software to enable this to happen, and we are recognised as leaders in this field throughout Australia. We produce commercials and encode content for hundreds of cinema screens.

SUPERINTENDENT VALDO SORGIOVANNI APM

Governor Stirling 1975-1979

I joined the Western Australia Police Force in July 1982 and worked in numerous, and predominantly, metropolitan detective offices and various business units.

That included:

• Tactical Response Group
• Macro Task Force – Claremont Serial Murders
• Sexual Assault Squad
• National Crime Authority
• Homicide Squad
• OIC Albany Detectives Office

Promoted to Senior Sergeant in 2000, Inspector in May 2001 and Superintendent in May 2018.

As an Inspector I served in Major Projects, Strategic Information Management,  North West Metropolitan District Office, Commercial Crime Division, Coronial Investigation Unit, and Intelligence Operations.

In June 2018 I was appointed as Officer in Charge, Ethical Standards Division where I re-structured and updated the Section 23 Police Act discipline process for WA Police Force. I lead key policy reforms relating to the Managerial Intervention Model and the WA Police Code of Conduct review project.

I have a strong personal interest in the marketing of the Professional Standards Portfolio and regularly attend the WA Police Academy to address recruits and in-service Managers training courses, reinforcing internal investigation expectations, promoting policy and procedures and driving the Agency’s reliance of ethical leadership through the core values and Code of Conduct principles and responsibilities. To maintain community confidence and legitimacy in the WA Police Force.

In 2012 I was selected to set up a proactive WA Police Force bush-fire strategy to reduce the risk of deliberately-lit bushfires, following serious wildfires in the Eastern States that caused 173 deaths. The team implemented a response blueprint to ensure best investigative practice and safety were maintained when responding to bushfires, known as Strike Force Vulcan.

Its focus was to prevent bush fires, improve the operational police response, educate operational police and initiate the use of technology in detecting and targeting offenders. In its first year, Strike Force Vulcan reduced bushfire offences by 24% and significantly increased offender apprehension rates, and it continues to be successfully employed today.

I also lead the re-engineering of the Agency’s Human Source Management Program. As the Agency’s representative on the Australasian Police Human Source Operations Group, I identified best national practices and policies relating to operational methodologies, intelligence gathering and training techniques for the recruitment and management of human sources and governance practices to reshape the program, leading to better decision making and deployment of police resources.

I have been fortunate to develop a diverse investigative and management skill-set and been involved in several high-profile criminal investigations.

I hold a Masters Degree in Business Administration, Diploma in Criminal Investigations, Diploma in Policing. Level 7 Senior Criminal Investigator.

I have a passion for coaching AFL and have coached juniors and Seniors since 1989. I hold a Level 2 AFL Coaching Accreditation.

Susanne Thomas (nee Normandale)

Establishment of Wit’s End Art Studio
GSSHS 1966-69

GSSHS awarded Sue her first prize in 1969, her painting appeared in the Quartania.

That influenced her choice to study art more seriously when she began a family in the 70’s, where she won the highest marks in her senior year. That paved the way to her lecturing in Art History, Drawing and painting at Karratha College (of TAFE) for several years. She had several solo exhibitions most of which sold out, the College ran exhibitions of their lecturers work, also very successful. Sue won a handful of regional first prizes in community arts exhibitions. Her paintings and drawings are in private collections in most Australian states, with a handful New Zealand, the UK, Western Europe and since then, the USA thanks to social media.

Her experience in visual communication made way to a career change with Golden West Television (and radio) based in Karratha as a production coordinator. Within 18 months she was promoted through the ranks to Area Manager – of the largest Satellite television network in the southern hemisphere.

Eventually moving back to the Eastern Hills, Sue spent nearly a decade in local government where among her other managerial duties she was Community Arts Coordinator, advertising coordinator and produced DVDs for council use in meetings both in council and public.

There were more career changes but throughout this time Sue continued to teach art privately and as she approached retirement, she began an art studio in Mundaring with her art teacher daughter. Within a couple of years demand grew so much they built a home studio in 2017. They have 4 groups each week making a thriving little arts community, proving once again that love of art crosses all languages, cultures and barriers. Students claim the studio provides much more than art lessons. Wits End Art Studio participates in the Mundaring Hills Open Studio program where she and her daughter sell their work and share their love of art with the public over 2 weekends.

This all began with a simple high school art award at GSSHS.

After finishing school, where she was the winner of the year 12 prize for French, Suzanne attended UWA where she obtained her Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1990. She is now an award winning engineer with over 25 years’ experience in the water industry. She has worked in academia as a research assistant and tutor, both in Perth and the UK, in consulting and for the state government.

Upon returning from a 3-year period in the UK in 1996 she commenced working at the Water Corporation of WA and has worked on multiple major utility projects. While working full time she completed a Master’s degree in environmental science and has applied that knowledge to many of her projects, particularly in a two-year role as the Project Environmental Manager for the Southern Seawater Desalination Project in Binningup, WA. In 2012 she won the Asia-Pacific Federation of Project Management award for project team member of the year for this work, presented in Hong Kong.

Suzanne was a finalist in the Australian Water Association’s Water Professional of the year in 2018, and in 2019 her Drainage for Liveability program won the Association’s Program Innovation award. She is currently the Water Corporation’s Manager, Drainage and Liveable Communities.

Suzanne is the Chair of the UWA Industry Advisory Panel for the Faculty of Maths, Physics, Engineering and Computer Science. From 2013-2017 was a member of the Applecross Senior High School Board, the final year as Chair. She has two grown up children, both of whom attended Applecross Senior High School as Suzanne still strongly believes in the value of state education. In her spare time, she sings and plays cello, keyboards and electric bass in her band, Jimjam, and is still best friends with Govo graduate Sandy McKiernan (née Nicholls).

Bob Pearce – Profile

School Captain 1963

President, National Union of Australian University Students

Member of the WA Parliament

Minister for Education, Planning, Heritage, Transport, Environment, Parliamentary and Electoral Reform, Police, Inter-Governmental Relations and Leader of the House in the WA Government

Captain of the Australian Debating Team

• Studied law at UWA, graduated 1969
• Admitted to bar 1970
• Appointed QC 1988
• President of WA and Australian Bar Association in 1990’s.
• Appointed to Supreme Court 2001
• Appointed to WA Court of Appeal 2005

Mr Murray was born in Perth on 16.1.1942.  He is married with three children – two sons and a daughter, all adults.  Mrs Murray is a professional artist and freelance art teacher.

Mr Murray did his secondary education at Governor Stirling Senior High School.  He was school captain in his final year.  He then attended the Law School of UWA.  He graduated LLB in 1963.

He was articled to the then Crown Solicitor for Western Australia and upon admission to practice was employed in the then Crown Law Department where he occupied a number of positions on the litigation side of Crown practice.  From 1973-80 he was Crown Prosecutor for Western Australia (the precursor to the State DPP).  He was then appointed Crown Counsel for Western Australia, a position which he occupied until his appointment to the Supreme Court of Western Australia in February 1990.  He was appointed a QC in 1984.

For many years he was an active member of the Law Society of Western Australia.  He was first elected to the Council of the Society in 1979.  He has served on many Law Society committees.  For five years he served on the executive of the Law Society, a period culminating in his presidency of the Society in 1988.

From 1984 until his appointment to the Supreme Court of Western Australia he served on the Barristers’ Board (as it was then known) and was active on its committees.  He chaired the Appeal Costs Board from 1982 until his appointment to the Bench on 1 February 1990.

He was for many years an active member of the Army Legal Corps, holding the rank of Major.  For some years he held the most senior position in the Corps in Western Australia, that of Deputy Assistant Director of Legal Services.

Whilst in practice he was an active member of the Law Council of Australia and for three years was the delegate of the WA Law Society to that Council.

Mr Murray has long been active in the field of legal education, presenting papers at International Criminal Law Congresses, Summer Schools and other Law Society legal education programmes, particularly in the fields of criminal law, evidence and advocacy.

He has been interested and active in areas of law reform, particularly in the reform of the criminal law where he was directly involved in the reform of the law with respect to sexual assault and his General Review of the Criminal Code published in 1983 has provided the basis for much of the reform of the criminal law of Western Australia which has been made since then.

More recently, and while Crown Counsel, he chaired an Interdepartmental Committee on the Treatment of Mentally Disordered Offenders and has been closely involved in efforts to reform the law with respect to the treatment by the criminal law of persons who are mentally ill or intellectually handicapped.  He was closely involved in formulating the terms of the Criminal Procedure Act 2004 (WA).

Mr Murray was the Supreme Court’s delegate to the Consultative Council on Alcohol.  He has chaired a committee of the Supreme and District Courts to write the Criminal Procedure Rules.  Mr Murray chaired a committee of the Supreme and District Courts known as the Jury Advisory Committee, which made recommendations for the amendments which were made to the Juries Act in 2010.

He chaired the Accommodation Committee of the Supreme Court, whose major project was to provide a new Supreme Court building in the Perth CBD. That committee was also responsible generally for the accommodation needs of the Supreme Court.  In addition, he chaired the Art Acquisition Committee of the Court, and was responsible for building the art collection of the Court.

Mr Murray has been interested in education generally.  For 15 years from 1972 he served on the council of the Helena School (later Helena College) in Darlington and Glen Forrest.  In 1989 and 1990 he was the first chairman of the school council of Kalamunda Senior High School.  He was a founding member of the State Committee of the Safety House Association of Western Australia.

Since the time when his grand-daughter, Sarah, attended the school, he has been a member of the Saint Brigid’s College Advisory Council, although he is not a practicing Catholic. His first term commenced on 1 February 2012 and his current term of office will expire on 31 January 2020.

From 1990-1999 he was a Senator of Murdoch University and was the longest serving Pro Chancellor of the University for 6 years from 1993.  He chaired the University’s Legislation Committee and served on other committees of the Senate such as the Resources Committee.

In 1999 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Laws by the University, for service to the law and education.

Mr Murray was, since 2001, the Court’s delegate on the Governing Council of the Judicial Conference of Australia and until 2011 served on the Steering Committee of the Australian and New Zealand Supreme and Federal Courts Judges’ Conference, to which committee he was appointed in 2003. He remains a member of the JCA and has been awarded honorary life membership in recognition of his service.

Mr Murray has continued his interest in matters of legal education and judicial professional development since his appointment to the Bench in 1990.  He has not kept a curriculum vitae in relation to such matters, but over the years he has presented, to seminars and conferences of lawyers, papers concerned with such matters as the art of advocacy, preparation for trial and for appeals, and the law of evidence.

Examples include a paper given at the 36th Australian Legal Convention in 2009 on communication with juries and jury management, a paper presented in 2010 to the WA Chapter of the Australian and New Zealand College of Forensic Psychiatrists on the challenge of presenting expert evidence to the Courts in a variety of contexts, and a paper given at the Judges’ Conference held in Wellington, New Zealand, in January 2011, on the sentencing of mentally impaired offenders.

For many years, his Honour participated annually in the Young Lawyers Advocacy Weekend, sponsored by the Law Society, and he has regularly given an annual presentation to the WA Bar Association’s Bar Readers Course on preparation for, and the conduct of, a civil or criminal trial.

On 19 May 2011, his Honour gave the Sir Ronald Wilson Lecture.  The title was “The Delivery of Criminal Justice:  Building on the Past to Meet the Challenges of the Future”.

Mr Murray has been a “generalist” as a Judge.  He has served in all areas of the Court’s jurisdiction, doing appellate work as a member of the Full Court, the Court of Criminal Appeal and, latterly, the Court of Appeal, and also as a single Judge.  He has exercised the jurisdiction of the Court at trial level in a wide range of cases on the civil side of the Court, and particularly in the exercise of its criminal jurisdiction.  His Honour has dealt with a variety of other matters concerned with administrative law, wills and inheritance matters, dangerous sexual offenders, etc.

Mr Murray was the Senior Judge of the Court.  When he retired on 15 January 2012, he had served as a member of the Supreme Court of Western Australia for 22 years. Prior to his appointment, in 1989, he served for a period of about 6 months as a Commissioner of the Court.  As the senior Judge of the Court, his Honour headed the Trial or General Division.

In the absence of the Chief Justice, he was required to perform the role of Acting Chief Justice.  During periods when both the Chief Justice and the Governor of the State were absent, he was required to act as Administrator.

Since his retirement from the Bench, Mr Murray has taken up two part time positions.  The first is the Chairmanship of the Supervised Release Review Board, the parole board for young offenders. He served in that capacity for 6 years from January 2012 –  January 2018.

The second position is that of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission, in which capacity he oversees the work of the CCC and regularly reports on matters arising in that context to the W A Parliament. He commenced in that role on 6 January 2013 and has undertaken a second 5-year term, which will expire on 5 January 2023.

He has been appointed as an Adjunct Professor of Law at Murdoch University.  In that role, he has accepted teaching commitments in the fields of criminal law, advocacy, sentencing, parole and expert evidence. He has ceased that work, but serves on the Advisory Committee of the University’s alumni – type body, the Banksia Association.

For his services to the law he has been awarded life membership of both the Law Society of W A and the WA Bar Association.

He is a councillor and member of the Executive of the National Trust of W A. Since 2014 he has been privileged to be elected as its Chairman, a position which provides opportunities to make a contribution to the varied and challenging work of the Trust.

In the Australia Day honours list, on 26 January 2014, he was awarded Membership in the General Division of the Order of Australia, “for significant service to the judiciary, to law reform and education, and to the community.”

In semi – retirement he derives much enjoyment from indulging his passion for reading and keeping up with current affairs, as well as painting as a pastellist under the guidance of his wife, Dale, and rather desultory efforts to again become proficient as a pianist, not having studied the instrument since secondary school days.

Tim McLennan
Rehabilitation Engineer – Department of Health
GSSHS 1992-1997

After Graduating from GSSHS in 1997, Tim undertook a Bachelors of Engineering (Computer Systems) at Curtin University which led him to work in various engineering firms developing software and hardware solutions – creating smartcard ticketing systems for public transport, Audio solutions for Radio broadcast and electronic monitoring and safety systems for mining railways. In between jobs, Tim developed his love of travel, undertaking various backpacking trips that let him visit many parts of the globe. (29 countries so far, with many more on the to-do list!)

Tim obtained his pilot’s licence through the sport of gliding, but a serious accident in 2002 resulted in a spinal cord injury, causing paralysis from the waist down. Tim spent 8 months learning to walk again but this injury (and fortunately significant recovery) gave Tim a renewed appreciation of life and a personal insight into the need for Assistive Technology. He now has a unique perspective, that of a user of assistive technology and as an engineer and product developer. This event has shaped his engineering career towards creating technological solutions for accessibility and inclusivity to assist people with the most need.

In 2012 Tim was asked to be the Electronics and Electrical Engineer for Dreamfit, a Not-for-profit organisation that provided recreational opportunities and experiences for people with a disability.

In 2014, Tim joined the WA Department of Health within the Communication and Assistive Technology Service (CATS) as a Rehabilitation Engineer. Based at Fiona Stanley Hospital’s State Rehabilitation Service and Royal Perth Hospital, he now assists all public patients throughout Western Australia who experience speech loss or physical impairment (think Steven Hawking) – re-enabling them to communicate, control phones/tablets, computers or other equipment in their homes and developing custom solutions when there isn’t another option available.

In 2016 Tim was awarded a prestigious Churchill Fellowship to visit more than 18 leading organisations globally to investigate best practice Assistive Technology and Services for people with a disability – bringing his learning back to Australia to improve the lives of Australians in need.

He is a board member of TADWA (Technology for Aging and Disability WA) – a not-for-profit assisting the aging and disability sectors through Assistive Technology services.

Tim is also a co-founder and regular volunteer of Repair Cafe Bassendean, an organisation that provides a free community service that helps repair broken appliances and household items, restoring their function and preventing them from going to landfill.

Tim and Renee now live just a short kayak down-river from GSSHS in an energy efficient

Drafted 2008 to Brisbane

53 games for Brisbane 2010 – 2013

Richmond 2014

Anthony (Tony) Longford Mann – 08.11.1945 – 15.11.2019

A proud Swan Valley son, best known for his impressive cricket career. Tony began playing First Grade cricket in 1960 at the age of 14. He played club cricket with University, Midland-Guildford and Mount Lawley. Represented Western Australia 76 times from 1963 to 1984, celebrating 7 Sheffield Shield victories. Over 28 seasons he amassed 933 wickets and scored around 8,400 runs.

In the summer of 1977/78 Tony, at the age of 32, became the 285th man to make his Test debut for Australia. He played 4 Tests against the Indians and most famously made a century in the WACA Test as a nightwatchman.

In tandem, Tony enjoyed a long career teaching mathematics at a number of WA schools, including Governor Stirling.

Participated in 5 Emergency Managements
2001 – 2021 [current]
Proprietor of a ‘small training business’ delivering Emergency management training to businesses in WA from Kununurra to Esperance and all stops in between [transitioning to retirement in the near future]

MWA Corporate Security
1997 – 2001
Emergency management trainer

Chubb / Wormald Security
1981 – 1997
Security and emergency management on the Karratha/Dampier LNG Plant for Woodside.

West Australian Police Force
1971 – 1981
From Perth to Mandurah to Narembeen to Kununurra to Karratha.

Trevor Todd

Glad Rags Children’s Television Series

Film Maker and Writer

GSSHS 1961-65

With a feature film, sixteen half hours of television drama, and thirteen books to his credit, Trevor Todd’s work has reached millions of people worldwide. DEVIL’S GATE, a psychological thriller feature film co-written by Trevor Todd, and directed by Stuart St. Paul, was filmed in Scotland and starred Laura Fraser.

GLAD RAGS, a 13 part children’s television series, which he conceived and wrote all episodes, was broadcast on the BBC, Nickelodeon UK and on the Nine Network in Australia.

In 1994 he won the Australian Writers Guild AWGIE for Best Children’s Television Drama with OLD SAM, JASPER AND MR FRANK, which was also published by Penguin. A documentary he made on Australian artist, Robert Juniper, won the Gold Medal for excellence in the 1986 ASET Awards. In 1996 he took up an Australian Film Commission Creative Nation Fellowship and traveled to Britain to work at Pinewood Studios, UK. He was a guest speaker at the Second World Summit on Television for Children in London in March 1998.

His books have been translated into Japanese, Korean and Danish and are on sale in the USA.

His stage play, WITH FIRE IN HER HEART: THE EDITH COWAN STORY, will be performed at the Perth Fringe Festival in 2021.

Trevor’s work is featured in the newly opened WA Museum ‘Innovations’ section.

He is a Fellow of the Fellowship of Australian Writers and a member of the Australian Writers Guild. Trevor is married to psychotherapist and writer, Katie Eden Todd, and they live in Western Australia. When not writing he enjoys playing his guitar and singing old Beatles’ songs. He has fond memories of his time as a GSSHS student and believes he received an excellent education there.

Drafted 1997 to Melbourne

17 games for Melbourne 1998 – 1999

55 games for Fremantle 2000 – 2004

11 games for Carlton 2005 – 2006

Val Sloss (nee McArthur)
Burns Survivor

1961-63

I was a student at Governor Stirling from 1961-63.
I enjoyed my years there and made many lifelong friends. I excelled at both Netball and Athletics and represented the school in both sports.
This competitive streak no doubt helped me when I was involved in a small aircraft accident in January 1998. I lost my husband and also a good friend in the fire that followed. I spent nine and a half months in the Burns Unit at Royal Perth Hospital with burns to 85% of my body.
With the amazing work of the burns team together with the love and support of my family and friends I have gone on to lead an independent life. Every day I appreciate watching my five beautiful grandchildren grow into young adults.
I am very grateful for the life I have.

Vern Reid BA (Design), Grad. Dip. Management, Tch Cert

Building the Endeavour/CEO Hong Kong Rugby

GSSHS 1962-67

1960’s

• Attended Governor Stirling SHS and Swanleigh Boarding Hostel.
• Represented the school in: Athletics, Swimming and Rugby.
• Appointed Prefect GSSHS and Head Boy Swanleigh Boarding Hostel in year 12, 1967

1970’s

• Attended Graylands Teachers College and taught at Scotch College for 3 years.
• Returned from the UK and attended Curtain University. Graduated with a BA Design.
• Employed by TVW Channel 7 as an events manager and Telethon Manager.
• Self employed and then appointed Telethon Manager ATN7 Sydney.

1980’s

• Marketing and Media Manager America’s Cup Defence 1987 Ltd. This was the 1983 America’s Cup winning syndicate which won the Cup after 132 years in the US. (Bond).
• Director of Endeavour Replica. Bond Corporation committed to build a museum standard replica of Capt. James Cook’s ship, the Endeavour. She remains the world’s best sailing ship replica, based in Sydney.

1990’s

• Director of Special Events at EventsCorp, the West Australian Government’s event recruitment agency. I managed a leg of the windsurfing World Cup in Perth. 1 year.
• General Manager of the Perth Wildcats, Perth’s team in the Australian National Basketball League (NBL) then owned by Kerry Stokes. 5 years.
• Appointed Marketing Manager of the Fremantle Football Club. 6 years including 4 months as Acting CEO

2000’s

• Appointed CEO of the Princess Margaret Hospital for Children Foundation. 6 years.
• Appointed CEO of RugbyWA and the Emirates Western Force in the Superugby competition. 4 years.
• Appointed CEO of Hong Kong RFU. 3 1/2 years.

Qualifications

Teachers Certificate – Graylands Teachers’ College

BA Design – Curtin University

Grad. Dip. Management – Edith Cowan University

Studied engineering at UWA. Graduated 1971 B. Eng.

Worked as an engineer for ten years with Commonwealth Department of Housing & Construction

1981 to present – Managing Director and owner of Holman Industries which designs and manufactures garden watering and plumbing products. Employs over 200 staff in Australia and New Zealand.

Played cricket at Midland Guilford Cricket Club 1964-68 & 1973-75. University Cricket Club 1968-72. Captain & Coach of North Perth Cricket Club 1976-82.

Represented Western Australia in Shield Cricket 25 times as an opening batsman 1974-78. Played three Test Matches and one ODI for Australia 1973-74.

Served on WA Cricket Association (WACA) Board 1987-2012. Vice President of WACA 2000-2012. Appointed Life Member 2002.

Appointed to Board of Cricket Australia (CA) 1996. Elected Chairman of CA 2011-15. Director of International Cricket Council (ICC) 2011-15.

Appointed to Board of Bradman Foundation 2016.

Co-Founder of the Truffle Industry in WA 1996. Managing Director of The Wine & Truffle Co 1996-2009. Managing Director Oak Valley Truffles 2005-2018. Chairman Oak Valley Truffles 2018 to present.

Wayne Phipps MAIME MAICD

Award Winning Smash Repair Owner

GSSHS 1967-70

Upon leaving school he worked at the CME’s office of the WAGR in Midland while studying accountancy.

Wayne started Wayne Phipps Smash Repairs in March 1977 and he has built it into one of Perth’s most successful collision repair shops. It was the first purpose-built collision repair shop in WA.

Wayne has chaired boards, both government and private and has mentored many small business operators both in and out of the automotive industry.

He has developed programmes and processes for the smash repair industry adopted nationally.

Above all, he is proud of his Midland heritage – his great Grandfather was the first mounted policeman in Midland in 1917.

Wayne is proud to have been educated at Midvale Primary School and Governor Stirling Senior High School.

Over the years Wayne Phipps Smash Repairs has won many industry awards – including the coveted industry Paint & Panel Bodyshop awards for best large Bodyshop in WA, Best large Bodyshop in Australia and a national award for best customer experience. It was also crowned as Small Business Development Corp best business in the non-manufacturing category and best presented Bodyshop in WA.

Wayne has also been extremely active in the industry working to raise standards, champion the next generation by bringing on apprentices and the raising the profile of the industry and help other repairers where he can.

He served 30 years on the Motor Trades Association (MTA)  body repair division, ultimately becoming President of MTA WA.

His contributions to industry include:

• Serving on the Motor Vehicle Industry Advisory Committee and Motor Vehicle industry Board, both Government Boards for a combination of 17 years.

• Served on the review board of the Insurance Code of Conduct for three years during the review.
• Founding Board Member of the Motor Industry Foundation” Wheels for Hope “for six years – a charity which provides transportation for disabled people.
• Divisional Chairman of the MTA WA for over a decade.
• Australian Motor Body Repairers Association’s National Chairman for 12 years.
• Chairman of the Car Craft Group for 9 years and served on the board for over 30 Years. Car Craft is a group of repairers dedicated to raising standard in the industry and supporting other repairers in the group.
• Awarded life membership with the Swan Chamber of Commerce for his contribution to the community.
• Awarded with a National Lifetime achievement award for his contribution to industry.
• Inducted to the Midland Walk of Fame for his contribution to Midland and has been awarded Business Person of the year.

Frank graduated in Medicine at the University of Western Australia in 1973 and following his internship completed joint postgraduate fellowships in Pathology and Medicine. He worked as a Clinical Immunologist at Royal Perth Hospital and PathWest where he also served as Head of Department and Director of Pathology and was responsible for the WA Organ Matching programme and the WA Bone Marrow Registry. As an academic and Winthrop Professor in the School of Medicine and Pathology at UWA, he undertook undergraduate and postgraduate teaching and a research programme in immunogenetics with a particular focus on optimizing donor and recipient matching for organ and bone marrow transplantation. He served on numerous state, national and international committees including the RPH Medical Research Foundation, the National Renal Transplant Advisory Committee, the Management committee of the Australian Bone Marrow Donor Registry, board member and President of the Asia Pacific Histocompatibility and Immunogenetics Association the American Society for Histocompatibilty and Immunogentics and the International Histocompatibilty Workshop committee. He has authored over 200 scientific publications and edited several books on Immunology.

1959 – 1963 Attended Governor Stirling Senior High School – Head Girl 1963

1959 & 1960 State Schoolgirls’ Netball Team

1963 – 1972 State Netball Team – Captain 1970 – 1972

1969 Australian Netball Team tour of New Zealand (Captain)

Qualifications:

1995 Advanced Management Programme, Graduate School of Management UWA

1989 Master of Philosophy (Women’s Studies) UWA

1978 Master of Education UWA

1969 Bachelor of Education (Physical Education) UWA

Awards & Honours:

Life Member Netball Association of WA

Life Member Coastals Netball Association

Life Member National Association of Heads of University Colleges and Halls

National Gold Award, Prime Ministerial Women and Sport Awards

Womensport West, Presidents Award 1998

WA Citizen of the Year – Sport Award 1999

Order of Australia – General Division 2003

Positions Held:

Principal, The Women’s College, University of Sydney, 2004 – 2008

Head of College, St Catherine’s College, UWA, 1994 -2003

Commissioner, Australian Sports Commission, 1997 – 2000

Chairperson of the WA Sport and Recreation Council, WA, 1995 – 2003

Member of the Sports Council of WA, 1984 -1987

Foundation Board Member of WAIS, Perth Superdrome Trust and Joondalup Sport complex

Board Member of the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation 1995 – 2003

Board Member of Netball Australia 1996 – 2002

Board Member of Bluearth Foundation 2013 – present

Executive Director the Women’s Sport Foundation 1989 – 1993

Lecturer A, Edith Cowan University 1970 – 1993

Lecturer, Claremont Teachers’ College, 1969

Advisory Teacher, Education Department of WA, 1968 – 1969

Physical Education Teacher, Churchlands Senior High School, 1967

I grew up in Perth’s eastern suburbs, spending most of my time in Guildford, Midland & Woodbridge. I currently live in Seascapes in Halls Head, Mandurah.

My mother, born in New Zealand, has been a pharmacy assistant in Forrestfield since before I was born. My father, of Aboriginal heritage, is a plumber by trade but has spent much of his time in civil construction both in Perth and as a Fly-in, Fly-out machine operator.

I went to Woodlupine Primary School in Forrestfield and graduated from Governor Stirling Senior High School in Woodbridge in 2004.

Later I dropped out of Murdoch University, before going to work for W.A. Senator, Judith Adams.

Worked for the WA Liberal Party since 2006, eventually becoming the youngest ever Deputy State Director (Campaign Support). I’ve worked on 14 elections (various state, federal & by-elections) since 2007.

Worked as a Principal Policy Adviser for the 29th Premier of Western Australia, the Hon. Colin Barnett, for four and a half years.

Spent two and half years with Australia’s largest private construction company, BGC, with a focus on financial strategies for the residential and hotel division. Spent the 2015/16 summer on two hotel sites as a concrete form-worker as part of professional development.

Elected to the District of Dawesville in March 2017. In June 2019 I was asked by Liberal Leader Liza Harvey to take the position of Shadow Minister for Health; Mental Health; Innovation & Disruptive Technologies and Manager of Opposition Business. In July 2019 I added Aboriginal Affairs to my portfolio responsibilities. I was appointed Deputy Chair of the Education & Health Standing Committee in February 2020 and sit on the Joint Select Committee into Palliative Care in May 2020.

In my free time I was training for the Busselton Half Ironman in May 2020 (until COVID) but continued my running and riding training.

During COVID-19, I worried that the pandemic would strain our local health services so I started volunteering as an Ambulance Officer with St John Ambulance. I have continued this volunteer work and currently hold the rank of Emergency Medical Responder.