Class of '69 and earlier Classes of St Leo's College re-union  -  50 years since first Leaving Certificate class in 1964
The Veranda function room, The Blue Gum Hotel
55 Pacific H'way Waitara, Saturday, 22 Nov 2014 - 6pm start - 'lights out' by eleven bells

53 former students, wives and teachers have confirmed their attendance in last 7 days -

Confirmed Attendees Nov 2014

Phil Johnston, Class of '69, has booked The Veranda  function room which accommodates 60 people, at The Blue Gum Hotel  Pacific H'way, Waitara for Sat. 22 Nov 2014 from 6pm.

Justin Holmwood will be our MC with the microphone, albeit with minimal duties. 

Confirmed Attendees 2009  -  Class of '69 lists 57 who attended our 40 years Class of '69 Re-union back in Nov. 2009 (former class mates, some partners, four former teachers, and 6 so from Class of '67 & '68).  Lots of pics and details of our last reunion in Nov '09.

Former teachers, Stan Cus_ck, P_t Lynch, John N_cholson, John Sh_ely, Pat Th_mpson, (in alpha order) have RSVP'd in the affirmative. 

Tucker:

The Veranda  function room provides a sit down Set Menu 2 course meal for $40 per head with alternate serve - payable by cash on the night.  Phil Johnston, Class of '69, has lodged a deposit for the booking. 
See the 2 x Entrées and 2 x Main Courses at Set Menu.  If you are a non-meat eater, let Phil know.  If you

RSVP: If you would like to join this inauspicious gathering, 'phone Phil Johnston aka Bank Teller  0434 715.861 or e-mail him scribepj@bigpond.com because he has to notify The Blue Gum of number of meals to prepare.  Then Phil will add you to Class of '69 and earlier years, partners and teachers - Confirmed Attendees Nov 2014 which stands at 53. 

Gastronomic Genius

Blue Gum management is comfortable with us bringing a few cakes, tarts etc to cut up and serve (no fee), rather than try and also orchestrate individual dessert preferences.

'Ipso facto' an opportunity for some ex-class mates to reveal their gastronomic genius!!!

Ex-class mates are invited to offer in their e-mail RSVP to bake a cake or tart and bring it along.  We need about 6 cakes/tarts to feed the anticipated 60+ attendees. 

Profound Reflective 

Interested former class mates are invited to participate in a 3 min Profound Reflective session to 'kick-off' immediately after the entrée where attendees are invited to "hold the conch" for up to 3 mins to reflect on what they have learnt during life's journey.  Your 3 minutes of fame doesn't have to be true, but it does have to be all of insightful, humorous, colourful, interesting.

As there may be 10+ ex-classmates who want the full 3 mins to evidence that all their learning didn't end upon leaving Leo's, and others who merely want to introduce themselves in a minute or so, if you are As Boring As Batshit or Too Intense, then expect to Get Gonged-Off inside 3 minutes.  No matter how scintillating a speaker might be, there will be a "30 Seconds Remaining Bell", and a "Time Run Out Gong, Next Victim Please" at 3 minutes. 

Former teachers are allowed 5 mins before getting 'gonged off'.

The voted winner of Profound Reflective, determined by either Justin Holmwo_d or Phil Walk_r, The Gong Man (executioner), will win a bottle of 2004 Campbells 'Bobby Burns' Shiraz, from Phil Johnston's cellar.

BP's Pick a Box

25 years ago Justin Holmwood and Phil Walker organised a Twenty Year reunion at the former Sydney Club, and prepared a 30 page memorabilia book - Part 1,  Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4 as well as a Trivia Sheet.

Recommend you mull thru the questions in their Trivia Sheet, 'cause there will be a 10 question Pick a Box for up to 5 aficionados of trivia.

If you are keen to match you memory against others similarly warped (max of 7 contestants), Justin or Phil W. will ask trivia questions about our former school days to win a beaut bottle of Red.  Contestants will have to 'put their hand up' if they think they know the answer, 'BP Bob' will ask the 'first hand up' for the answer.

First name labels will be prepared for all attendees in case some of us are hard to identify, and to facilitate chatting with partners.

In true Leo's tradition, Phil Johnston will be catching the train, and bringing his old Globite school case containing 1 bots of 2004 Campbells 'Bobby Burns' Shiraz  for the winner of Profound Reflective (see above).

Venue and Attire:

The Blue Gum Hotel has never been a salubrious Rubbity Dub, although one peg up on the Hornsby Railway Hotel, once colloquially known as The BloodHouse.  When we attended Leo's our school was Brand Spankers, out in the boondocks with el cheapo school fees.  We often got walloped in rugby and cricket by older schools like Pius and Pats, and were rarely a match for schools with bigger budgets like Barker and Knox who fitted in the occasional game of Rugger or Cricket against us usually "early season" before their established comps commenced. 

The Blue Gum got the nod, 'cause invariably we came from humble beginnings, and we went to a No Frills school.  In addition, the early days of SLOB's Cricket and Sub Districts Rugby circa '70s, we occasionally adjourned to The Bluey. 

Wear what best typifies you.  If ya can still climb into your junior school khaki shorts 'n shirt, then wear 'em. 

John Sheely was coaching the First Fifteen long before Pat Sweeney, Steve Burdon and Ron Anderson packed down in the front row of the Pigs in '69. 

Memorabilia of the '60s:

We managed to track down Mario Milano, but Killer Kowalski snuffed it a few years ago.  Finding Ralphie Valladerez, from the Los Angles T-Birds, is proving more difficult.  Reason we need to get 'em along, is to dispel baseless beliefs that every wrestling bout that Sam Manacker introduced, and every Roller Derby that Jack Little 'called' on Channel 9 during our formative years, was Ridgy Didge.  Done Lane is not dead, He will be there too.  But Bert is busy.

Nostalgia:

Old photos from: "School days are the best years of ya life!!!"

Ferry Cruise:

From 10:30am up Sydney Harbour from Circular Quay to Parramatta 'n back for the Monday afterwards, 24 Nov, for any who are coming from 'out of town' or have no friends with 'time on their hands'.