OSCA WHAT THEY ' RE DOING NOW – compiled by David Ashton (' 65 )
LEFT TO RIGHT : DAVID HICKMAN (' 57 ) LEFT , RECEIVING HIS OAM IN 2002 FROM VICTORIAN GOVERNOR , JOHN LANDY AC ; HUGH ORR (’ 57 ); KEN O ’ CONNOR (’ 60 ); ANDREW BELL (’ 67 – SELF-PORTRAIT )
1950s
After a career of secondary school and La Trobe University teaching ( Sociology ), DR DAVID HICKMAN OAM (’ 56 ) has continued coaching and administration in junior basketball at Eltham Wildcats , the Eastern Districts Junior Basketball Association and the Victorian Junior Basketball League . He has also published in two areas : basketball , Victoria the State of Junior Basketball , and the Christian faith in society , presenting evidence and arguments for Christian beliefs , but also arguing Christians should accept the constraints and challenges of pluralism ( Christian Faith and Pluralism : Companions or Competitors ). David received a Medal of the Order of Australia award ( OAM ) in the 2002 Australia Day honours , for service to basketball as a coach , mentor and administrator , and to the youth of the community of Eltham .
After leaving Scotch , HUGH ORR (’ 57 ) graduated in civil engineering at the University of Melbourne in 1961 , then worked overseas in the UK and USA for about five years . Returning to his hometown of Adelaide , he practised as a consulting engineer , having obtained a Master of Town Planning . He married Diane Dixon at Berkeley in California in 1965 , and they have a son and a daughter .
Since retirement in 2000 , masters rowing has been a major interest . He told Great Scot : ‘ I am part of an excellent coxless quad scull at Riverside Rowing Club in Adelaide , stroked by Paul Gunson ( Xavier 1st VIII 1961 and intervarsity ). The crew has been South Australian state
champions three times in masters coxless quad sculls '.
Hugh said : ‘ I am grateful to Scotch for the opportunity to learn to row ( 3rd VIII , 1957 ) with stroke IAN MORSE (’ 57 ) who has remained a lifelong friend .’
Hugh is also a member of the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia and writes short papers on the art history of items in their outstanding library collection , in particular , on John Gould , the bird man . ‘ I am ashamed to say that at school I never took art lessons seriously so missed out on an opportunity there ’, he said . ‘ My school days at Scotch were happy ones and I am very grateful to my excellent teachers , especially Ron Bond and John Pascoe ( mathematics ) who treated us as adults , which made such a difference .’
1960s
KEN O ’ CONNOR (’ 60 ) had a long and successful career as a ( field ) hockey umpire in Canada and internationally . In January , Field Hockey Canada announced his induction into the Field Hockey Canada Hall of Fame , Class of 2022 , in the Official category . Ken had a 40-year umpiring career , mainly in Canada and the USA , and officiated at more than 75 international matches between 1978 and 1990 .
Moving to Canada from Australia in 1969 , Ken became a Canadian citizen in 1979 . He was the first male umpire from Canada to officiate at an Olympic Games ( 1984 , Los Angeles ) and a field hockey World Cup ( 1990 , Pakistan ). He is a worldclass umpire and a role model and mentor in the Canadian field hockey community .
Ken taught at Scotch in 1975 when he coached the 1st XI Hockey team . He attributes his successful hockey career as a player , umpire , coach and administrator to the great grounding in the game he received from DAVID SCOTT (’ 43 ) and LAURIE PROVAN (’ 34 ).
ANDREW BELL (’ 67 ) says his best memory of schooldays was the Foundation Day Concert . He told Great Scot : ‘ After rehearsing for weeks , it seemed , the whole school sang in the Melbourne Town Hall . I hadn ’ t sung since then , really , and even though I came from a musical family , I never learned an instrument .
‘ Much later , I was prompted to sing with one of my sons , who was showing some interest and not a little talent , and we shared a music teacher for a year , ending up performing together in Les Misérables for a local musical theatre company . My son helped me find my voice , and I have sung – and performed – ever since , in local musical theatre and choirs , currently with the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Victoria .
Andrew said his other great passion has been drawing . ‘ After working a lifetime in architecture as a draftsman , I have not lost the passion to draw and paint and still do – in watercolour , and creating pen portraits of family and friends ... and notables !
‘ This extends to a love of art generally , and I am an inveterate collector . The house is full of stuff . Sport is always a passion for Scotch boys , and I played cricket for a while after school , the highlight of which was an annual weekend in the country for a game with my boys and friends and family . I keep up an association with a local
92 Great Scot Issue 169 – September 2023