Great Scot April 2019 Great Scot_156_April_2019_Online | Page 88

OSCA
What they're doing now – compiled by David Ashton ('65)
LEFT TO RIGHT: DAVID MENZIES (’47), BRYAN GIBBS (’59), GRAEME THOMSON (’58), ROLAND PERRY (’65), JIM HARE (’67)
1940s
After leaving school, DAVID MENZIES (‘47)
studied Dentistry at the University of Melbourne,
and practised in Collins Street. His enthusiasm
for music was kindled at Scotch, encouraged by
Director of Music, John Bishop. David became a
member, and later President, of the Melbourne
Symphony Orchestra Subscribers’ Committee,
which forged a link between the orchestra,
its subscribers and management. In this role,
David met many world-famous soloists and
conductors.
When he retired from dentistry, David
became a volunteer broadcaster at Melbourne
classical music station 3MBS, where he
presented Afternoon Concert weekly for 18
years. He also volunteered at Camcare, the
Citizens’ Advice Bureau in Camberwell. David
married Beverley in 1964.
David’s twin brother, GRAHAM (‘47), also
attended Scotch, as did David and Beverley’s
son, ANDREW (‘85), who is now Principal of
Stirling Theological College in Mulgrave.
1950s
BRYAN GIBBS (‘54) lives in Melbourne and
practises as a chartered accountant, assisting
clients with their financial affairs. He has helped
many students with their studies, including a
stint as a Senior Lecturer in Accounting at RMIT
from 1974 to 1979. Bryan is a life member of the
Old Scotch Football Club, where he has been
a loyal servant as player, President, Secretary,
Treasurer and Chairman of Selectors.
Bryan married Jill Miles in the Littlejohn
Memorial Chapel at Scotch in 1961. Bryan and
Jill have three children — Bronwyn, Christine
and STUART (‘88); and six grandchildren,
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Great Scot Number 156 – April 2019
including JACK (Year 12) and HARRY (Year
8). Bryan keenly follows Old Scotch during the
winter and St Kilda during the summer.
Graduating from the University of Melbourne
as a chemical engineer in 1962, GRAEME
THOMSON (’58) spent his entire career working
for Mobil Oil Australia, mainly in corporate
planning. Graeme was a Director of the
company for 21 years before retiring in 2000.
Graeme and his wife, Ann, have two children, a
daughter, Alison and a son, ROSS (’95). In 1959,
Graeme was a founding member of the Old
Scotch Tennis Club, and he is the current Club
Treasurer. He still plays social tennis on Saturday
afternoons. As well as enjoying time with his two
grandchildren, Graeme’s other interests include
bushwalking, bike riding (on trails), and playing
chess and bridge.
1960s
The extraordinary life of the son of a country
butcher is the subject of the latest book by
prolific author ROLAND PERRY (‘65). Roland’s
33rd book, Anzac Sniper, uncovers the life of
Lieutenant General Sir Stanley George Savige,
KBE CB DSO MC ED, a hero of two world
wars. Stan Savige left school at 12 to become
a blacksmith’s striker. Enlisting in 1915 to fight
in the Great War, Savige’s abilities as a crack
marksman soon became obvious and he was
put in charge of Sniper’s Ridge at Gallipoli.
Succeeding and surviving, Savige also served
capably on the Western Front. Post-World War I,
he founded Legacy, which supports the families
of deceased service men and women. In World
War II he fought in five theatres, rising to the
rank of Lieutenant-General, as a soldier with a
remarkable combat record.
Roland has now completed his 34th book,
which is set for publication in November. More
information: www.rolandperry.com.au.
It was a resounding celebration of four
decades in many spheres for DR JIM HARE
(‘67), who achieved 40 years as a GP at the
Mont Albert Medical Centre, 40 years on the
Box Hill Hospital staff as a GP obstetrician and
GP anaesthetist, and 40 years as a Presbyterian
church elder. Jim has also taken on an additional
role as a tour doctor with travel company,
Captain’s Choice.
Jim’s parents, DR LIN HARE (‘35) and Dr
Sally Hare practised at the Mont Albert Medical
Centre prior to Jim’s tenure there. Reinforcing
the medical centre as a Hare domain, Jim’s
daughters, Dr Katie Weatherhead and Dr
Jenny Neil, and a son-in-law, DR PETER NEIL
(‘90) have all been GPs there. And there’s
more — Jim’s brother, PROFESSOR DAVID
HARE (‘65) and Jim’s nephew, DR JAMIE
HARE (‘93) — both of whom are cardiologists
— have worked next door! Apparently, having
a Scotch connection is almost a prerequisite
for a medical appointment at the Mont Albert
Medical Centre, and next door: DR ALISTER
NEIL (’50), a brother of Jim Hare’s brother-in-
law, MURRAY NEIL (’52), worked at the Mont
Albert Medical Centre for 47 years, and Alister
and Murray’s brother, DR JOHN NEIL (’60),
an obstetrician, also worked next door, where
John’s son-in-law, DR ANDREW TAYLOR (’84),
is a gastroenterologist.
DOUG SOWDEN (‘67) has retained
an interest in the School partly through his
association with the Old Scotch Football Club,
where he played from 1968 to 1977. He still
occasionally attends OSFC matches. Doug told
Great Scot that he now plays and organises a
lot of tennis, but admits: ‘I am not the world’s