KATE MAKING HEADLINES
Regional newspapers have been running headline such as the “Yarrawonga Chronicles” – “Storm Brewing in Catholic Education”. The article describes that principals and teachers across the Sandhurst Diocese – some fifty three primary and secondary schools – are not happy with Kate Fogarty’s leadership and direction. Kate was ACK Principal from 2015 to 2023. She was then appointed to oversee education in the large diocese, based in Bendigo, covering an area from Kerang to Corryong. It seems her “progressive” approach has not gone down well with many well respected educators across the region including such as Lew Nagle, a superb teacher at ACK for several years – and then Principal at Sacred Heart High in Yarrawonga. He has recently retired from his post, not so long after being featured in national newspapers for excellent stewardship and fine results. Education in general has certainly changed over the years and not always for the better.
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LULWORTH CASTLE MEMORIES
Tara Brida, one of three sisters from Whittlesea who attended Assumption, has recently returned from visiting Lulworth Castle Estate in Dorset UK. She is one of a number of ACK students who spent their “gap year” working at the castle. Tara told me recently about her visit and it recovered great memories.
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It was a piece of good fortune in the northern summer of 1970 to meet up with Wilfred Weld at the Hampshire County Cricket ground. A lifelong Hants follower – and years later President and Patron – he was at the time doing some broadcasting of the home games.
At the time Wilfred had his own cricket field with thatched pavilion on the Weld Family Estate, Lulworth Castle, in neighbouring Dorset. Wilfred and his lovely and gracious wife Sally were the custodians of the thirteen thousand acres estate which has belonged to the Weld Family for several hundred years.
Visitors are warmly welcomed to the Castle and park. The wide open spaces, historic buildings and stunning landscapes running down to the heritage coast make the precinct one of the most appealing visitor attractions in the south of England.
The chapel of St Mary in the grounds has its origins bound up in the history of Roman Catholicism in England.
The Welds have hosted cricketers from around the globe and among the favourites have been Shane Warne and Matthew Hayden.
On each visit to the UK since 1970 I’ve been fortunate to stay awhile at the Castle and enjoy the generous hospitality of the family. Also a number of Assumption girls in their -gap year have had the privilege of working in various areas at Lulworth where each has been superbly treated, particularly by Sally who has looked after them like a mother.
There are five villages across the Estate, the market town of Wool, plus the bustling and popular area of Lulworth Cove with its Heritage Centre.
A happy recent memory is of a Harvest Festival Celebration in the parish church. of Coombe Keynes, one of the villages, in September 2008. Friendly locals and a superb supper highlighted an occasion that has stood the test of time.
Wilfred and Sally have visited Australia several times, most often coinciding with the England team’s Ashes visit.
They visited Kilmore and watched Cricket at Assumption.
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FATHER AND SON
Really nice to note father and son top scoring for Broadford’s A Grade XI recently against new team Merrifield in the GDCA. Ash Wood hit 48 and 13-year-old son Harrison getting 31. The dad has been a fine cricketer for years and his young son shows great promise. I think at this young age he has the talent and temperament to go far in the summer game. Harrison and Yea’s Archie Armstrong are bright young stars of the local area.
A REAL FIGHTER
Assumption’s 1976 football captain was a fighter for victory on the playing field and as the years roll on he is still a “get up off the floor” guy when faced with adversity. A rugged centre half back he led ACK to title honours in ’76 even though only three of the previous years players remained. In 1975 he had been part of one of the colleges all-time champion teams, playing with the likes of Collingwood and Fitzroy “greats” Peter McCormack and Laurie Serafini. A strongly built guy Sandy came to Assumption from the farm fields near Hay, NSW where life can be tough under fierce summer sun of the Northern Riverina. Some years ago, Sandy was driving from Deniliquin to Hay in the midst of a rain storm, a car swerved and hit him head-on severely injured he spent weeks in a coma in Alfred Hospital. On recovery he learned that his dad had been killed in the passenger seat. Of latter times he has been bravely fighting a tough health battle. It was really good to spend some time with Sandy when he called in a week ago. The small town of Hay (population 2800) is still his home. He married a Geelong Grammar girl who he met at a Band 5 Ball when she was working as a jillaroo in the Hay area.
VARIA
Former student Michael McMaster came to the ACK school assembly last week to make presentations on behalf of the Old Collegian’s Association. A nephew of legendary Geelong Premiership player Bill McMaster, Michael is a fine person. He was filling in for ACKOC president Simon Costa who has been in Africa again overseeing his renowned charity work for which he has been honoured with the O.A.M (Australia) a “star of Africa”. Michael played in college premiership teams in the eighties then a good career in the VFL.
Caught up briefly the other day with Kilmore resident Ray Fagg. His late wife Marguerite was a highly respected lady and fine nurse. Sadly their son Norman passed from this life far too young. He was a good lad and scholar and loved giving the First XVII a hand as an officiant. I really liked Norman. Ray Fagg is a relative of former Kent and England cricket keeper Les Fagg.
