Tech High Brotherhood

A dossier on some of the 1972 Lads, compiled by Mark Johnston.

Mark Johnston now, and 41 years before.

I have always felt that there was a special connection between the class of '69 and the class of '72 but had dismissed it as only existing in my mind. Having now received some Tech journals and done some digging I submit to you the following; obviously there were sets of siblings at Tech, that is the nature of a school environment, I never realised the extent.

There were 23 lads (at least) from my year who had siblings at Tech.

• Jim Kerr brother of Peter Kerr (class of '70) and Geoff Kerr ('68). On a number of Wednesday afternoons in 1972, in lieu of attending sport, we (Jim, Ross Bradstock and self) would "borrow" Geoff's Triumph 650 and take it for a spin around Marine Drive, Oatley.
• Ross Bradstock's brother Ken did the Leaving Certificate in 1965. In December of 1972 Ross, Dr. Ken, Martin Darling and self went to Tasmania and walked the overland track from Cradle Mountain to Lake St. Clair
• Martin Darling  -  Phil Darling (Class of '70) - used to "borrow" Phil's Peugeot 403 by removing some carport supports and pushing the Peugeot from the back yard to the street where we could clutch start it
• Geoff Patton    -  Laurie Patton (Class of '70), Geoff Patton, Jim Kerr (I think), Ray Lucre and Tim Gard were in a band together in the early 70s, and Laurie Patton who started as a journalist and is now a TV bigwig
• Rob Loosley     -  Stephen Loosley (Class of '70). Stephen was a labor senator for N.S.W. 1990 - 1995
• Mike Whelan    -  Ross Whelan (Class of '70)

Then we have the '69 - '72 connection:

S. Barr - -  Ron Barr,

Mark Bills - - Eric Bills,

Paul Carson - -  Jeff Carson,

Alan ('Normie') Crew - - Graham Crew,

Preston (Pep) Dunn - - Rob Dunn,

Lee Eccleston - - Glen Eccleston,

Stephen Gard - - Tim Gard,

Bob Goldsworthy  - -Richard Goldsworthy, 

Chris Johnston - - Mark Johnston,

Michael Kells - - Paul Kells, 

Jeff Matchett - - Tony Matchett,

Stephen Moulding - - Geoff Moulding, 

Jonathon Page - - Stephen Page,

Anthony Pearsall - - M. Pearsall,

P. Russell  - -  Frank Russell,

Greg Thomson - - Leigh Thomson      and

Martin Yeomans - -  Guy Yeomans
Ian Pilgrim - - Colin Pilgrim

.... but, alas and alack, no Taylor bro. We did have a Warren Taylor but he didn't look anything like Robbie and didn't come from South Hurstville. I, personally, haven't seen Robbie Taylor since the days when he would grace our garage and provide the musical backing for Bruce Lees singing "and her name was G----- L-----O----- R-----IIIIAAAAAAAAA, G L O R I A, backing singers chime in with - Gloooorrrriiiiaaa". It was perhaps another 15 years before I "discovered" that Van Morrison was the lead singer of 'Them'.

Former glory.
Alan Crew, Robbie Taylor, Leigh Muscio, Greg Thompson, Bruce Lees, 1965.

The organiser of our 2012 event, Garry Jennings, has sent me a CD of our night (with associated memorabilia reels)... Garry also organised our 2002 gathering which included 123 guests, 112 students, the then current headmaster and 10 of our teachers... a monumental task.

Some then-and-now snaps:

Ross Bradstock, Professor at the University of Wollongong and
Director of the Centre of Environmental Risk : Management of Bushfires.

Graham Crew : Captain – 1971 2nd XI – Cricket

Senior Pastor – Gymea Anglican Church 2012

Jim Kerr – brother of Geoff (class of 68).
Waiting patiently for Qantas to go broke
so he can receive a massive redundancy payment.

Richard Goldsworthy &  Leigh Thomson
Insets: Richard: 1^st grade cricket & rugby 1972. Leigh:  circa 1973-77?


            

Jeff Carson – brother of Paul (Kit).
I can remember vividly the very first time we met in 1967.
We were coming out of the gym and Jeff accosted me
and said “I know you, you’re Chitney’s brother”.

Colin Pilgrim - brother of Ian