Alumni

Alumni news

August 2023

Anthony Cianflone, recently elected Member of State Parliament for Pascoe Vale, made an impressive maiden speech in the Legislative Assembly with former teachers of Northcote High and his primary school in the gallery. Deputy School Captain of 2002 and Captain of Soccer, he made reference to his old high school as providing him with excellent foundations for his future career. He continues a long tradition of ex-students providing outstanding public service to their communities. The School wishes Anthony all the very best for his period in office with the challenging tasks ahead.

Dr. Michael Drake, AM, passed away on July 31^st 2023. A very distinguished ex-student and medical scientist, he graduated in Medicine from the University of Melbourne and pursued a career as a pathologist and scientist in cell research to seek cures for cancer. He was a Fellow of the Royal Australian Colleges of Pathology and Physicians, the Royal College of Pathology and a Fellow of the International Academy of Cytology. He held major posts in London, John Hopkins Hospital in the USA and Prince Henry’s Hospital in Melbourne. He was Director of Cytopath Laboratories.. Until his recent passing he was one of our oldest ex-students from the 1930s. We extend our deepest sympathy to his wife and family. Vale Michael. Meliora Sequamur

April 2023

We are saddened to learn of the passing of two more of our valued alumni.  The Honourable Graeme Weideman passed away on April 13^th. A former pharmacist and National Serviceman, he represented the Liberal Party for Frankston in the Legislative Assembly from 1985 to 1992. He was Minister for Tourism and Assistant Minister for Health 1981 -1982 and served on many Government Boards and community committees. He addressed a General Assembly at NHS on one occasion. At School he was a Cadet Under Officer, member of the School band and orchestra and a member of the Swimming Team. He attended NHS from 1947 to 1952.

Les Comte passed away on March 20^th. After School he became a teacher with the Education Department and finished his career as Assistant Regional Director in the Eastern Metropolitan Region. At School he demonstrated outstanding leadership qualities as Captain of the First XVIII and represented combined high schools in this sport. He was strong in Athletics and was Captain of Diamond House in 1959. He served as a Prefect 1958-1959 and was a member of the Magazine Committee. He served a period as a representative of the wider community on the NHS School Council in the 1980s and was a keen supporter of his year group reunions until his recent illness. He attended NHS 1954-1959.

Both “boys” were very fine representatives of the Old School and honoured the motto “Meliora Sequamur”. We extended deepest sympathy to their wives and families.

February 2023

John Storen, Prefect of 1966, has let us know of the passing of Professor Roger Boulton, who passed away late in 2022. Roger graduated Bachelor of Chemical Engineering and Ph. D in the University of Melbourne and had been granted the status of “Distinguished Professor” of the University of California. His work in the Department of Viticulture and Enology was very highly regarded in providing expert knowledge of and research in winemaking, emphasising sustainability and other research.

It is sad to report that we have lost, in all, three of our alumni. Northcote solicitor, Alan Gray, Bachelor of Laws, passed away earlier this year. His father , Alex Gray, was a long serving member of the NHS Council and noted Northcote citizen who bequeathed funds to create the Gray citizenship Award, still allocated annually. Alan continued his father’s work in supporting the Northcote community and was a member of the Class of 1959.

Dr Barrie Dalgleish was a psychologist and academic who was Dux of Humanities in 1959 and became a very successful practitioner in his profession. He died in 2021 but it is now announced that $15 million dollars of his considerable estate will create the Dalgleish Foundation at the Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre to enable research and treatment for Myeloma and rare blood cancers. A wonderful gesture in support of medical science. He was also a member of the Class of 1959.

All three men very much honoured the School motto, Meliora Sequamur and we offer sincere condolences to their loved ones.

December 2022

Seasons’ Greetings to all alumni.

The Association extends best wishes to John Gowans, convenor of the Class of 1959, now facing a major health hurdle. All best wishes for a full recovery are extended to him from his classmates and the School  for a full recovery.

Congratulations to Anthony Cianflone on winning the Legislative Assembly Seat of Pascoe Vale in the recent elections. Anthony was Co Deputy School Captain of 2002, Captain of Soccer 1997-2002 and Caltex Medal winner of his final year. He attended NHS to 2002. Well done Anthony.

Guy Greco is standing as an independent in Preston. Class of 1979. He is a Darebin Councillor and this seat is presently undecided, with Guy a major player. Both ex-students are keeping alive the long-standing role of involvement in politics by graduates of the School. This goes all the way back to Dr Jim Cairns, School Captain in the 1930s who became Deputy Prime Minister and Federal Treasurer.

We recently had news of the Jarosch brothers, Greg and Peter. Greg attended in the 1960s and Peter in the 1970s. Greg played a major role in Federal public service particularly in the area of information facilitation. Peter was a key player in the Melbourne University Regiment and later worked in the Department of Defence with reference to technical capabilities. He achieved some major results.

Another recent contact was from Armin Catovic, Class of 2022. Having worked with Ericsson since graduation, he ,his wife and children now live in Stockholm Sweden. He graduated in Engineering and Science and has undertaken roles in radio engineering, delivered major papers at international conferences and is active in Sweden in studies of artificial intelligence and its possibilities. At School he was a keen participant in the Tournament of Minds competition and in music.

Great to have contact from our alumni body!

July 2022

The Association records with sadness the passing of three ex-students

Maxwell Darby passed away on June 27^th this year. Max was a loyal supporter of the school and held a PhD and MEd from LaTrobe. He was an outstanding teacher of Art and leader in Art education. He was Chief examiner in Art and taught in schools for many years, writing curriculum for the Education Department’s Curriculum Branch and for VCE. He was author of 8 Art text books and lectured at Melbourne University. His Art interest was Australian landscape and Aboriginal Art. At school he was Captain of Diamond House in 1961 and was a member of football, cricket and athletics teams. He attended NHS 1955-1961.

Keith Froebel was one of our oldest surviving ex-students of the 1930s. He regularly attended the annual lunches. During WWII he served in the Army, with service in Borneo. He worked in insurance and later for the SEC in management roles. He competed in hurdles and baseball at school and fondly remembered his teachers, including Headmaster Johnson. He passed away on July 18^th this year having attended NHS 1936-1939.

Alan Leslie Hamilton served in the RAAF in WWII and passed away July 11^th this year. Attended NHS 1930s.

The Association extends its deepest sympathy to the wives, families and friends of these men.

June 2022

The Association warmly congratulates ex-student Chris Leptos AM on a second award in the Order of Australia. Chris has been awarded an AO in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for leadership and philanthropy in the public sector and in education. Chris holds a Bachelor of Commerce and MBA from Melbourne University and has had key executive roles in several major companies. He was, at one point, Chief of Staff to Senator Button, former Federal Industry Minister. Chris was School Captain of 1976, attending the School from 1971-76. He has addressed an assembly of students and the Ex-students’ Association luncheon. Well done, Chris.

Anthony Cianflone graduated BA from RMIT and has been electoral staff officer for the Hon. K. Thomson, MP for several years. He was Moreland’s Young Australian of the Year in 2011 and served as President of the Coburg West Branch of the ALP. He has keen interest in politics, football, public policy and many other areas. He was Co- Deputy School Captain in 2002, Captain of Soccer 1997-2002 and won the 2002 Caltex Medal for academic and sporting excellence. He is presently the endorsed Labor candidate for Pascoe Vale in the coming State elections. His electoral launch is Thursday June 23^rd at 7.30 pm at the Vizzini Sports Club 322 Sydney Rd Coburg and do contact him if interested to attend. The Association sends all best wishes to Anthony for the launch and the election.

Are you an ex-student of Bell Primary School who attended between 1951 and 1957 and would you like to reconnect with your classmates? If so, please contact Brenda Langmaid on 0439 864 529, who can share further details regarding upcoming reunions.

April 2022

The NHS Ex-students’ Association congratulates Mr. Chris Jones on his appointment as the substantive Principal of the School and wishes him all the best for his time in office. He has been acting Principal for about six months and was previously an Assistant Principal at University High School.

The Association is saddened to learn of the passing of former teacher Mr Mark Hill on March 20^th. this year. He taught at NHS for some 27 years to the late 1980s. His background in writing and journalism was put to good use at the school as the official publicity officer, in which role he expertly advised the principal on dealing with any tricky communications’ issues with the media. He taught a range of subjects – Commerce, humanities, and music. His skills in music were put to good use leading a recorder group and a hand bell ringing ensemble. This latter group rang in the Governor of Victoria on his official to the School and did the same for a new Lord Mayor of Melbourne at his induction at the Melbourne Town Hall. Mark was a kindly and helpful staff member who did much for the school and was very popular with students, staff and administration. Deepest sympathy is extended to Mark’s wife Helga and the family.

Ex-student Peter Jarosch who attended the School in the 1970s, passed away in 2019. Peter was deeply interested in current affairs and, after School, studied at RMIT, gaining a Bachelor of Science in Applied Physics. During this period he was a member of the Melbourne University Regiment, reaching the level of trainer. He joined the Department of Defence in a technical capacity in 1999 working on naval projects at Garden Island NSW and then at Victoria Barracks working to solve problems with batteries and power systems with the Land Engineering Division. He won an Outstanding Team Award in 2003 for contributions to the Electrical Systems Group, greatly aiding standardisation, cost effective procurement and reliability of power systems for military vehicles.. He was very interested also in intelligence undertaking courses in this area before retiring in 2017. Sincere sympathy is also extended to Peter’s family.

Both men lived up to the School motto Meliora Sequamur.