OSCA WHAT THEY ' RE DOING NOW – COMPILED BY DAVID ASHTON (' 65 )
LEFT TO RIGHT : NANCE GRANT AM MBE AND IAN HARRIS (’ 49 ); MANSON FAMILY MEMBERS – ANDREW (’ 82 ), ANGUS (’ 17 ), IAN (’ 51 ) AND WILLIAM (’ 15 ); PETER ( GUS ) HAWTHORNE (’ 52 ); PROFESSOR PETER SINGER AC (’ 63 ).
1940s
At school , FATHER JOHN CATHCART ’ s (’ 48 ) goal was to become a medical missionary , but he actually became an engineering missionary , which he says was perhaps better suited to the needs of the developing world . Now in his nineties , John lives in Dallas , Texas , USA . In the course of his work , John visited some of the world ’ s most remote and desolate places , as well as meeting leading theologians and presenting papers at the Vatican .
He says : ‘ The opportunity to attend Scotch and be a part of the heritage is a rare and invaluable thing which is far beyond the ability of a young man to really appreciate . I will always be indebted to the memory of Dr Colin M Gilray , the Fraser brothers , Steve Yarnold , Mr Charles Boyes , Dr Mendel , Miss Violet Woolcock , “ Ginner ” Davidson , “ Tort ” Jamieson , “ Okka ” Ferres , “ Cakey ” Adams , “ Billy ” Blenkiron and “ Johnny ” Bishop .
‘ These men and a woman expanded my horizons and ignited an interest in academics and life . I salute Scotch and the men and women of Scotch , and the work they are doing in young lives . Who knows what will be accomplished by and through them when the final tale is told .’
Scotch has received the gift of a beautifully crafted autobiography by Nance Grant AM MBE , the wife of IAN HARRIS (’ 49 ). Nance became one of Australia ’ s greatest-ever singers , in a career spanning more than 40 years , including a decade in the 1970s as a principal singer with Opera Australia .
In 1976 , Nance received an Order of the British Empire award – Member ( MBE ) in
recognition of service to opera ; and in 2013 she received a Member of the Order of Australia award ( AM ) for significant service to the performing arts , particularly opera . Her autobiography , of 290 pages and lavishly illustrated , was launched in 2023 .
Ian attended Scotch from 1946-49 . He and Nance were married in the Littlejohn Memorial Chapel on 6 April 1957 . Their sons , GRANT (’ 78 ) and DAVID HARRIS (’ 83 ) attended Scotch .
1950s
The Manson family ’ s connection with Scotch boarding stretches back to the 1920s . DONALD MANSON (’ 26 ) was Captain of School House in his final year of 1926 . Don was a Prefect in 1926 and he had been a member of the Athletics team from 1922-25 . Don ’ s son , IAN MANSON (’ 51 ) was Captain of Arthur Robinson House in 1951 , a year in which he was a Probationer , a member of the 2nd XI and Captain of the 2nd XVIII . The family tradition continued into the next generation : Ian ’ s son , ANDREW MANSON (’ 82 ) followed in his father ’ s footsteps as Captain of Arthur Robinson House in 1982 , when he was also a School Prefect .
In the 2010s , the tradition continued into a fourth generation , when Andrew ’ s son , WILL MANSON (‘ 15 ) took on the mantle of Vice Captain of Arthur Robinson House ; and to complete the picture – for now – Andrew ’ s second son , ANGUS MANSON (’ 17 ) served as Captain of Arthur Robinson House in 2017 . The Manson family ’ s service to Scotch boarding over almost a century is remarkable .
On the morning of 21 February , PETER ( GUS ) HAWTHORNE (’ 53 ) loosened up a little on the first tee at Bellarine Lakes Country Club and then played a six-iron drive towards the green of this par three hole . He then watched incredulously as the ball landed on the green , rolled towards the hole and dropped in for a hole in one and five Stableford points . Gus , School Captain in 1954 and now aged 89 , still plays off a handicap of 22 .
Gus may have gazed with incredulity as this hole in one unfolded , but he shouldn ’ t really have been too surprised : this wasn ’ t his first hole in one – in fact he has performed the feat twice before at his home club of Barwon Heads Golf Club .
Gus plays golf regularly at Barwon Heads , and also enjoys rounds at other Bellarine Peninsula courses . He is a volunteer in the Australian Sports Museum at the MCG , and faithfully keeps in regular contact with Old Boys from his era .
1960s
In a post to Twitter ’ s rebrand , X , PROFESSOR PETER SINGER AC (’ 63 ) said he had given the last lecture of the last course he will teach at Princeton University . He said he used the occasion to reflect on his time at the university , which began in 1999 with a media spotlight on his appointment . ‘ It ’ s been a great place to teach and work ,’ he said . ‘ While there , I ’ ve published on ethical theory , practical ethics , bioethics , globalisation and the ethics of our treatment of animals , alongside co-founding The Journal of
102 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024