Brothers Jack and William Hickey
For some of our students, 成人综合网 runs in the family. The blue and gold tradition can strengthen the family bond and create an extra special connection to the College. Archivist Ms Venettia Miller spoke to students from four Old Boy families to find out what it鈥檚 really like to come from a long line of Waverlians - and here鈥檚 what they had to say.
Brothers Jack and William Hickey
Jack (Year 11) and William Hickey (Year 9) have a lineage that dates back to 1912.聽
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of laughter when stories are told at family gatherings,鈥� Jack says. 鈥淒ad speaks of his experiences. He had great times and cherishes those memories, which we can relate to when we chat to Brother Murph out at the front of the school. Because of Dad, we have a close connection with him.鈥�
Twins Patrick and James Hoggett
Patrick and James Hoggett are the third generation to attend the College. The Year 11 twins are following in the footsteps of their dad, uncle and grandfather.
鈥淒ad and Pop tell stories about rugby – how it鈥檚 changed over time from the heavy brown ball like a watermelon,鈥� remarks James. 鈥淎lso about the straw hats – my grandad had to walk around wearing one of those!鈥�
Charlie and Will Baker
成人综合网 also runs in the family for the Baker brothers. Will (Year 12) and Charlie (Year 5) have a laugh with their grandfather, Old Boy Greg McKeon, who attended the College in the 1960s.
鈥淥ccasionally he does the old 成人综合网 chants. He always sings the Conlon and Green songs, old ones that we don鈥檛 know.鈥� Says Will, who is College Vice Captain this year.
鈥淗e dances to them and stuff. It鈥檚 pretty funny,鈥� Charlie adds. 鈥淣ow I鈥檓 here we can talk about things we all relate to. With my brother in Year 12 here, it鈥檚 good. I get to see him a lot.鈥澛�
鈥淚f we鈥檙e playing at Queens Park, seeing my uncles come down there, and for them to tell me stories about the 1st XV back in their day… I think it鈥檚 definitely made us a lot closer. I don鈥檛 know if I鈥檇 get that anywhere else.鈥�
The Bakers
Parts of College life take on a deep sense of meaning for these boys – campus buildings that they鈥檝e heard stories about and honour boards inscribed with family names. House spirit is another part of the picture.
鈥淚鈥檓 pretty sure when you enrol and you鈥檝e got an Old Boy in your family, they ask what house he was in.鈥� Says Will. 鈥淲e got it wrong. My uncle said he was in Quinn but I don鈥檛 think he was, so I ended up in Quinn, which is funny but it doesn鈥檛 really matter.鈥澛�
Charlie laughs.
鈥淗e鈥檚 said he鈥檚 been in Conlon, Aungier, Green, Quinn – he鈥檚 been in like 5 different colours!鈥澛�
Josh Conacher-Smith
Year 12 student Josh Conacher-Smith is connected to the College on both the Conacher and Smith sides. His great-grandfather, Charles, was 1909 and 1910 College Dux; his uncle, Andrew, was College Captain in the 80s; and his brother Zach graduated in 2017.
鈥淚t is nice to think that my great-grandfather walked around some of the same corridors I do,鈥� says Josh. 鈥淪ame with my dad and uncles. It definitely strengthens us as a family. It鈥檚 the shared values of 鈥榁irtue is its own reward鈥�, which is how we were all brought up.鈥�
Andrew Smith, Class of 1980
But what do all seven like best about being students of 成人综合网?聽
鈥淭here鈥檚 a lot of opportunities to participate in different sports and academic things that allow boys to understand what they can do to fully reach their potential.” Says William Hickey. “In our family, Dad says, 鈥楳ake sure you participate in everything.鈥欌�澛�
Sport is a clear front runner, as are strong friendships and supportive teachers. According to Will Baker, 鈥淭here鈥檚 no other school with a bigger sense of camaraderie.鈥�
鈥淥ur year group is really close,鈥� James finishes. 鈥淥ur cousin is in our year as well, and it鈥檚 really good to have him here. His little brother will probably come here too, just keeping the legacy going!鈥�
These young men are demonstrably proud of their 成人综合网 heritage. But, as Patrick reminds us:
鈥淔amily history here gives us pride about being at the school, but day-to-day it doesn鈥檛 change anything. You鈥檙e just another 成人综合网 student – everyone鈥檚 the same and it鈥檚 good.鈥�
We would like to acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora nation who are the traditional Custodians of the land on which 成人综合网 is located. We pay our respects to Elders past, present and emerging. We are committed to honouring Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples鈥� unique cultural and spiritual connections to the land, waters, seas and sky and their rich contribution to society.
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