OSCA WHAT THEY ' RE DOING NOW continued
LEFT TO RIGHT : SUE AND ED KEON-COHEN (’ 91 ); JUSTIN NEGLER (’ 93 ) WITH WIFE BROOKE , SON LOUIS ( YEAR 1 ) AND DAUGHTER VIVIENNE ; NICHOLAS TAM (’ 06 ) RECEIVES HIS KNIGHTHOOD ; WILL SLADE (’ 01 ) AND BEN SINCLAIR (’ 07 ); RAYMOND TONG (’ 94 );
‘ We are also thinking of a tourist visit to Iceland , where we ’ ve never been before ,’ he said . ‘ Our son , Jack , will attend the Conservatorium of Music in Verona , and I will continue with my off-campus studies towards a PhD degree on an investment topic from Bond University .’
1980s
Congratulations to PROFESSOR MATTHEW SNAPE (’ 86 ), who was awarded an MBE ( Member of the Order of the British Empire ) in the 2024 King ' s New Year ' s Honours list in the United Kingdom for services to public health , particularly during the pandemic .
Matthew is Vice President for Clinical Development , Maternal and Paediatric Vaccines at pharmaceutical and biotechnology company Moderna , where he is working on the development of vaccines against respiratory syncytial virus ( RSV ) and human metapneumovirus .
Prior to working at Moderna , Matthew was Professor of Paediatrics and Vaccinology at the Oxford Vaccine Group , University of Oxford , where he combined his work as an investigator on clinical trials of vaccines against Ebola virus , meningococcus , pneumococcus , RSV , influenza and SARS-CoV-2 with clinical work as a general paediatrician .
From 2017 to 2022 he was the Director of the National Health Service and National Institute for Health and Care Research funded National Immunisation Schedule Evaluation Consortium , which led key studies of mixed COVID-19 vaccine schedules that influenced global
immunisation policy . He remains a Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford .
After leaving Scotch , Matthew studied for his undergraduate degree at the University of Melbourne , and did his paediatric training at the Royal Children ’ s Hospital in Melbourne .
LEONIDAS VLAHAKIS (’ 89 ) is a well-known and beloved figure within Melbourne ’ s large and vibrant Greek community . An article in The Greek Herald during February described him as ‘ somewhat of a cultural icon ’. The paper said that at major events , such as the opening of the Greek Film Festival , Leonidas proudly showcases Greek film offerings .
Each year , Leonidas readily engages with visitors , politicians , performers and stallholders at the Antipodes Lonsdale Street Greek Festival , which this year was held on 24 and 25 February . According to The Greek Herald , the festival is the largest of its kind held outside Greece with three of the past four Australian Prime Ministers attending . Leonidas told the paper : ‘ Let ’ s not kid ourselves – politicians look at the numbers before coming , and the sea of people celebrating the festival is a huge drawcard ’.
Leonidas , who is an optometrist , rejoices in and thrives on his involvement with Melbourne ’ s Greek community . He told The Greek Herald : ‘ It is my firm belief that human beings need to feel that they are part of something bigger , whether it be a footy club , a church group or Rotary ; or in my case , the Greek community ’.
1990s
ED KEON-COHEN (’ 91 ) works on Emily Hill Organic Farm in Dewhurst , about an hour east of Melbourne , in partnership with his mother , Sue . The property , of about 28 hectares , was purchased in 1981 by Sue ’ s late husband , JUDGE CHESTER KEON-COHEN (’ 58 ), when it was a bare , dry paddock . Chester chose blueberries for the land , after hearing the crop promoted by the state agriculture department . They now grow organic blueberries and citrus , including various lemon varieties and limes .
In 1982 , Sue ( having previously worked as a physiotherapist , with four young children in tow , and with no farming experience ), got to work planting the first 500 blueberry plants . It was tough : there was no irrigation , and water had to be carried by hand to the plants from a nearby dam , but all the hard work paid off , as there are now about 2500 thriving organic blueberry plants on the property .
Ed at first had no plans to be a farmer , but after having been a policeman and detective for over 24 years , he left the force after suffering post-traumatic stress . He says he loves working on the farm and finds it very therapeutic .
Sue , Ed and the farm featured in an episode of ABCTV ’ s Gardening Australia early this year , and this item is based on that segment .
JUSTIN NEGLER (' 93 ) is a patent attorney , protecting inventions and designs , mainly in the areas of renewable technologies , mining , construction and medical devices . He leads a team of
104 Great Scot Issue 171 – Edition 1 2024