Alumni

Alumni news

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.