Our Purpose

Our Old Boys’ Union was founded in 1894 with the aim of providing fellowship, camaraderie and lifetime support to its members and to current students at the School.

Eligibility was as simple then as it is now. If you have been a student at Shore, you are welcome to join us. Any student who has been a pupil of the Senior School or Prep School for 3 years, or completed year 12 or both are therefore eligible for Life Membership.

As we look to the future, we want to build on our traditions and are guided by six key objectives:

  1. Provide fellowship and a sense of community to our members.
  2. Pursue a philosophy of whole-of-life support for Shore Old Boys.
  3. Support the School’s aims and objectives.
  4. Provide guidance and leadership to our members.
  5. Create a network of connections within our members and the School community.
  6. Celebrate and carry forward the School’s traditions.

To achieve these aims, the OBU's Whole-of-Life programme provides pastoral care and support with life decisions for all of our members. The Mitre Club was also established in conjunction with the School and the Shore Foundation..

For an interesting history of the Old Boys' Union, please download this document.

What we do

The OBU organises a range of events each year and supports many activities within the School calendar, including those arranged by the Shore Foundation and Shore Parents’ Association.

  • Year Reunions
    Alumni years that are 1, 5, 10, 20, 30, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and 70 years since leaving and others on request.
  • Regional and International Reunions
    Events are organised in Tamworth, Riverina, Far West, Canberra, Melbourne, Southern Highlands, Perth, Brisbane, London, Singapore.
  • Annual Sports Day
    Golf and Bowls sports day, open to all Old Boys, past and present parents and friends of the School.
  • OBU Northbridge Day
    A return to Northbridge Day for Old Boys for a home game of Rugby.
  • Mitre Club Events
  • Year 12 Leavers Lunch
  • OBU Night at the Musicals
  • Open Chapel Service
  • Remembrance Day Chapel Service

The OBU provides ongoing support with life decisions and Pastoral Care is made available through the School Community Chaplain, Rev. Dr. Nick Foord. 

For more information, please see our Whole of Life section below.

The OBU provides the Old Boys Scholarship to recognise an applicant's contribution to the Life of the School. It is a unique scholarship in that it is awarded directly to one boy as he leaves Shore, to help support his personal development in his first three years after finishing School. It acknowledges a positive attitude to scholastic endeavours; constructive relationships with peers and staff; involvement in leadership activities; and eager participation in extra-curricular activities and games. The scholarship seeks to acknowledge the applicant's support of the School and its aims and his effort, contribution and involvement relative to their demonstrated ability and potential.

The OBU also provides financial support towards the OBU Club Exhibition Prize for Year 11 and Year 12 boys. These exhibitions are awarded each year by a Committee consisting of the Headmaster and other members of the School staff.

Download a list of recent OBU Scholarship recipients.

The OBU has supported the War Memorial, which is a powerful reminder of the sacrifices made by many Shore Boys and Staff.

The OBU has established a plaque acknowledging academic members of staff who have achieved 25 years or more of service.

The OBU is happy to arrange a tour of the School. If you would like to organise a tour, please contact the OBU office by email oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au

 

Old Boy's Events

The Old Boy's Union runs multiple regional and interstate reunions each year and facilitates with year group reunions. If you require any further information regarding events for 2024 please contact oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au.

Region / Year Group Date  Venue
Southern Highlands
 20 March Hopewood House, Bowral
Sunshine Coast
 15 May Maroochy River Golf Club, Convener Stephen Marshall
Brisbane 16 May The United Services Club, Brisbane - Convener Tony Ritchie
ACT and Southern Region 6 June The Royal Canberra Golf Club, Yarralumla - Conveners Paul Cooke and High Cooke
Riverina & District 23 June The Riverine Club, Wagga Wagga - Conveners David Stratton and Bruce Allworth
Mitre Club Winter Lunch 5 July The Emery Room, Northbridge - Conveners Andy Cavill, Warren Nutt and Richard Ferguson
Tamworth District 26 July Monty's at the Powerhouse Hotel, Tamworth
Old Boys' Day @ Northbridge 10 August Northbridge Memorial Fields

45 Year Reunion - Class of '79

 10 August Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron, Kirribilli - Convener Mike Raleigh
40 Year Reunion - Class of '84
 10 August The Oaks, Neutral Bay - Conveners Simon Ascroft and Stephen Shirley
50 Year Reunion - Class of '74
 27 September The Hawkins Foyer, Shore Senior Campus - Convener Rowan Johnson
60 Year Reunion - Class of '64
 4 October The Hawkins Foyer, Shore Senior Campus - Convener Bill Wright
67th Reunion Lunch - Class of '57
 11 October The Emery Room, Northbridge - Conveners Warren Nutt and Richard Gulley

55th Reunion Lunch - Class of '69

 24 October The Barracks, Sydney - Convener Richard Church

 

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Whole of Life

The OBU provides ongoing support with life decisions and pastoral care through our Whole of Life programme.

We encourage Old Boys to care for one another throughout their lives by connecting with each other and being there for those in times of need.

If you are an Old Boy in need of support you can contact our Community Chaplain. They will here to help guide and assist you, confidentially.

Contact the chaplain

Mitre Club

The Shore Mitre Club was formed in May 1997 by a group of Old Boys in conjunction with the Old Boys' Union, The Foundation and the School.

Our Aims:

  • To keep Old Boys in touch with each other and with the School
  • To preserve and strengthen the ideals, traditions and history of the School
  • To raise the level of pride in being a Shore Old Boy.

Our Rules:

  • Membership is automatic to Shore Old Boys, based on the Alumni being of about 70 years of age
  • The Old Boys' Union Office will provide appropriate administrative support
  • At least one social gathering will be organised each year following which an AGM will be held at which six members will be a quorum
  • Members present will appoint a Convenor who will hold office for two years
  • The Convener will appoint an Organising Committee to help achieve the aims of the Club during his tenure of office
  • The Rules of the Club may be altered by a majority vote of those present at an AGM
  • Membership of the Mitre Club is offered to Alumni Groups in May of each year
  • There is no joining fee or annual subscription.

The Mitre Clubs holds two lunches annually where the first one is a Winter Lunch and the second is a Christmas Lunch.

Old Boys wishing to join the Mitre Club or seeking further information should contact the Old Boys' Union Office by email oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au

Membership

All past students are Old Boys. Any student who has been a pupil of the Senior School or Prep School for 3 years or completed Year 12 or both are therefore eligible for Life Membership.

Membership and Life Membership applications are subject to the fees being paid and/or being admitted to the OBU via application.

When you become a Life Member of the OBU, you will receive an OBU tie and you will be eligible for your son having enrolment preference.

Please note that the demand for places at Shore is strong and this preference for OBU Life Members still requires enrolment applications to be lodged with the Registrar at the earliest possible time in the first year of a child’s life.

Membership also allows:

  • Voting Rights at OBU Elections
  • Allows you to be nominated for OBU Committee membership
  • Allows you to be nominated for School council membership
  • Allows you to Nominate other OBU members for both those roles.

Please download the OBU Life Membership form below if you wish to apply for membership.

Life Membership Application Form

 

Current Committee

Dr John Collier (Headmaster) Patron
Andrew Winslade ('87) President 
Ian Macdonald ('79) Vice President
Rev Richard Wenden ('94) Vice President
Angus Warden ('91) Honorary Treasurer
James Watson ('92) Honorary Secretary
Stephen Woodhill ('79) Immediate Past President
Rev. Dr. Nick Foord ('80) Community Chaplain

Simon Ascroft ('84)
Jason Gram ('86)
Jock Lehman ('11)
David Mason-Jones ('92)
Thomas Rees ('01)
Alex Streeter ('84)
Hugh Watson ('94)
Will Erby (2019)
Andrew Cavill ('71) - Mitre Club Convenor 
Angus Warden ('91) - Country Representative

Old Boys 3 Years Out
Kian Macdonald (2023)
Dominik Mautner (2023)
Toby Brandon-Cooper (2022)

Doug Ferguson ('91)
David Lloyd ('97)
Malcolm Nutt ('94)
David Scammell ('91)
Stephen Woodhill ('79)

Warwick Payne ('94)
Nick Trumbull (2003)

 

Interstate and Overseas Conveners

The OBU is active throughout regional Australia, other capital cities and worldwide. Please find a list of Conveners below.

If you live in an area not listed and would like to create a Chapter in your area please contact the Old Boys' Union office on +61 2 9956 1123 or email oldboys@shore.nsw.edu.au.

Region Convener Contact
ACT/Southern Region Paul Cooke ('77)
Hugh Cooke ('80)		 pcooke@parkerfinancial.com.au
hughcooke@bigpond.com
Adelaide Andy Madgwick ('86) andy.madgwick@solitaire.com.au
Brisbane Tony Ritchie ('63) olgeta@ozemail.com.au
Central West (Orange) Richard Hattersley ('69) rhhattersley51@gmail.com
Melbourne Neil Churches ('76)
Mark Mackay ('75) 		nchurches@me.com
 marksmackay@bigpond.com
Perth Ian Jackson ('83) ijoz@me.com
Riverina David Stratton ('76)
Bruce Allworth ('79)		 david.stratton@bigpond.com
 bruce.allworth@bigpond.com
Sunshine Coast Stephen Marshall ('63) smarshall@outlook.com.au
Tamworth Angus Warden ('91)
Ian MacDermott ('60)		 angus.warden@minchinmoore.com.au
 dimacd@bigpond.com
Tasmania Rev Dr Nick Foord ('80) nfoord@shore.nsw.edu.au
UK/EU Brian Humphris ('88)
Richard Sevier ('87)
Jonathan Cowper ('09)		 brianhumphris@gmail.com
 richard.sevier@hotmail.com
 jcmcowper@gmail.com