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The Get-together in Sydney
Thursday, 12 April 2007

Vivian D'Almeida
Vivian D'Almeida
April 2006 was a memorable time for me. A trip from Perth, where I am settled, to Brisbane to spend time with my married son, Christopher and his wife Lisa; and also to catch up with my good friend and hostel-mate Joseph James (1969) and wife Jacinta. Joe and his wife had been given a thirty-year wedding anniversary gift by his children and the gift brought then from New Zealand to Brisbane. Some of you reading this might remember Joe as the Mr Loyola winner of 1969. That year he also won the gold medal in the Jesuit Schools Essay competition for his contribution of "Push the doors of life open".

After nearly a week of taking in the sights, food and sounds of Brisbane, it was back to Perth, with a little detour to Sydney. Before this trip I had made contact with Louis Xavier - champion all-round athlete of the 1960s and also of the 1969 batch. Louis is in Sydney and he made me promise that any time I made a trip to the East, I would drop in on him. I was keeping this promise.

(L to R) Terrance Kingsley, Louis Xavier, Ken Ward, Lawrence Charlseton, Joe Scott, Rocky Franshaw, Wayne Franshaw
(L to R) Terrance Kingsley, Louis Xavier, Ken Ward, Lawrence Charlseton, Joe Scott, Rocky Franshaw and Wayne Franshaw
Lou met me at Sydney airport and along with him was Wayne Franshaw. Lou told me that we were dropping in at Wayne's place before going home. Little did I know of the surprises that were in store for me. We strolled in to Wayne's place in beautiful Ingleburn and were greeted by his lovely wife Carol. We sat down to what I thought was going to be a quiet evening. But as the evening progressed several people 'dropped in'. And I recognised all of them. They were people who had spent time in the hostel with me. Guys like Ken Ward (1965), Rocky Franshaw, Lawrence Charleston, Joe Scott (who had all left for Australia while still very young) and even Terrence Kingsley who was our hostel prefect for a year in 1969.

So before long it was "Roll out the Barrel" and "Loyola Loyola" and stories of Mr Burroughs, Mr Allencherry and Fr Currie and more stories of running out to the convent and the whole barrel of laughs. But then you could have knocked me down with 'alf a brick when Nivea D'Souza walked in. No, Nivea was not a hostel boy, but she was a convent girl - one who kept in touch with us hostel kids. She was a favourite of ours.

ImageBefore I could leave for this trip, I was telling a colleague of mine about the upcoming reunion. She made a comment that rings true: 'So if you were all in the hostel, you would have been like brothers.' We were, and I can tell you 'the brotherhood' still lives. I hope these pictures give you some idea of the fun we had.

And I hope you get the feeling that we all feel extremely lucky and blessed that we went to a school like Loyola - because we do feel that way.

Jai Loyola.

Contact Vivian D'Almeida. 

 
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