Pictured (seated from left): Brent Mulligan, Neil Anderson, Bruce Kendall, Jesse Green, Andrew Cox, John Gray, Clayton Banks, Jeff Baumann, Ashley Searle, Grant Thomson, Dan Clifford and Mark Ferguson. Not in attendance but not forgotten: James Stinson, Anthony Smith, Tom Vandepeer, Antony Slater, Paul Astley and Ben Brazil.

Old Boy John Gray (1988), self-titled Unofficial Donaldson 88 Cohort Scribe, reflects on a recent gathering of Donaldson boarders.

The bonds that develop between “boarding brothers” were on display recently at a get together in Brisbane by the 1988 cohort of Donaldson House boarders.

Whether in Donaldson for just Grades 11 and 12 or whether they left before Grade 12 every one of the 18 Old Boys who were part of this cohort were tracked down and contacted.

Twelve of us made it there on the night – some a short taxi ride away, some travelling from across the country.  And others who couldn’t join us shared the reconnection via video call and WhatsApp from Melbourne and Canada.

After 35 years, with several of us not seeing each other literally since the last day of school, a few of us were hesitant about catching up but within minutes the old connections, and memories, came flooding back and we were all pleased we’d made the effort to attend.

Some of the memories shared of boarding house escapades might terrify modern educators and sensibilities.  But the feelings are almost entirely positive when looking back on the time spent in Donaldson. 

We also took time to remember with considerable fondness our boarding house master Mr Roche-Kelly (and his wonderful wife Olwyn).  Mr Roche-Kelly’s quiet wisdom, fairness and ability to give us the room to grow into men, without too greatly endangering ourselves in the process, is something none of us will ever forget.

Future get togethers are expected, hopefully without a 35 year gap, and those that didn’t make it this time are encouraged to come along.

The Donaldson 88 Cohort just before the end of Year 12.