2013 FISHING TRIP - Kyneton Marist Brothers Old Boys Association

The annual fishing trip to Torrumbarry was held a few weeks earlier, due to the request by some that it would be warmer in April than in mid-May. So it came to pass, and the three days on the banks of the Murray passed into our history with many mementoes for future discussion.

Pilot programs for some spin off Television shows were made during the weekend. My Camp Kitchen Rules and The Biggest Winner [as opposed to the biggest loser] may never get to prime time showing but have the makings of good entertainment.

Camp Kitchen Rules include; never bother to wash the cook’s pots and pans as they will not be good enough and will get the maestros attention before the next repast is prepared. Always check under a tea towel before placing spare plates on top. Serve Dim-Sims but keep the unopened soy sauce hidden away and bring your own Weet-Bix or other breakfast cereal. Do not request pork crackling as the risk to the cook is too great.

Black wattle was considered to be inferior wood for the camp fire and was subject to much criticism, but the detractor continued to accept the warmth. Roly Sandilands who normally keeps the fires stoked as high as the hobs of hell was absent this year due to his ongoing issue with a broken shoulder so some wood was left over at closing time.

But each year we get a bit smarter! The “General Electric” washing machine [Gerry Lavery] was introduced to the assembly and proved to be the best innovation for some years. At the “last supper” we had more diners than plates as the Keegan Family from Moama were day attendees not boarders like the contingent from the south. But it was easy to wash plates as the early starters finished and provide new plates and cutlery for the second sitting.

No critique as to plating ability was made as no judges had been appointed but as it was individual choice it would have been an impossible task in any case. No one complained about the quality or quantity so the proof is in the pudding. This year Friday pudding was lemon and apricot cheesecake and Saturday a self-saucing chocolate cake both prepared by Mick Halley but with his own kitchen rules.

It was a bit of a family affair with more than one member and generation of several in attendance. Ray Fleming introduced “SIL” [so named by Pup Law] AKA Troy is soon to be a son-in-law. Not only did Troy catch his first fish he was privy to the Fleming culture beyond the home front.

The race tipping competition became the pilot for the “Biggest Winner” when Brendan Keegan put in a Black Caviar performance with five straight winners. He claimed to not have any inside knowledge and to be not a serious punter but the serious punters amongst the congregation ran well behind daylight when the results were published. A fast finisher threatened Brendan’s hold on the purse but his staying ability proved superior.

There was of course fishing and Leo Law continued his proven ability to snare fish where others only catch a wet line. There were some nice Yellow Belly brought back to camp and a couple were first ever catches by the excited rod holders. They were then given a lesson in cleaning and filleting fish so they will come again. The cleaning teachers were not so prolific in catching.

There is nothing like a full belly and a cosy fire to refresh memories, so many tales of past adventures were relayed much to the enjoyment of the stayers and players. Some who were not in attendance may have had burning ears but nothing defamatory was said!

Apart from Roly our colleague Kevin “Sunny” Sundblom was an absentee due to a serious battle with cancer. Their absence should have kept everyone in camp but Danny Bowe, Jack Ramsdale and others escaped to attend to outside interests. Kevin Willey was absent due to family commitments and was missed by all of those who met him last year.

At Breakfast on the last morning President Arthur Clarke acknowledged the camp cooks and all those who assisted to deliver another memorable event. We held a minutes silence to remember those who had died and gone fishing in Heaven. Members who are on the sick list were also remembered and prayed for individually.

The trophy for the outstanding performance during the weekend has been recast and is now The Possum Trophy to honour Brother Paul Bourke. Had there been judges for My Camp Kitchen Rules Barry Grose would have been discussed when he introduced smashed rather than mashed potatoes for Friday’s evening meal. This was caused by his judgement and dexterity being impaired.

So Barry will have his name engraved for prosperity and be the custodian of the trophy until 2014 when some other attendee will be afforded [or not] the opportunity to qualify.

Originated at 2020 reunion
Bonnie Reflections
The Kyneton Marist Brothers School ceased as a teaching establishment in mid-1967 after four decades of quality education for day, and boarding students.
In 1947 over one hundred past students came to Kyneton to celebrate the school’s 21st birthday. They formed an Old Boys Association which still exists, and has an annual reunion which was held on 26 January 2020.
After the school closed the records were removed and all efforts to locate them have been unsuccessful. In a sport mad country it is always sporting achievers that gain publicity. So it was at the school!
The late Brother Boniface [Joseph] Kivlighon who taught at the school in three tours of duty totalling eleven years, kept detailed records of the annual sports day by clipping and pasting extracts from the Kyneton Guardian.
So unless someone has memories of an event, or person the Boniface annuals are the only records. [Just a related aside…. Brother Marius Wolfe [Dec.] once remarked “there will never be a day that football is not reported in the newspaper”. 25% of one recent Herald-Sun had stories about football.]
The Kivlighon family of Sale was a major contributor to Victoria’s history. Apart from two sons having a vocation and becoming Marist Brothers, [Younger Thomas took name Marcelin] the father Tom is notable. Bonnie related stories of helping his dad operate the Swing Bridge that allowed access into the Port of Sale.
“Tom Kivlighon was to be the last of the Bridge Keepers, managing the bridge from 1912 until 1938. Kivlighon had the foresight to introduce a lighting system for the bridge: Green for Open – Red for Closed.
Even in the early 20th century, speed was a major contributing factor to accidents. The Swing Bridge was witness to larrikins speeding their motor cars to the bridge – and plummeting right on down, into the river – unable to pull up in time “. Source Sale Historical Society
At the 2020 annual reunion the Madden sisters [Christine, Frances, Moira, and Helen] handed up reminiscences of Brother Boniface, which was used as the Alma Mater.
As you know Brother Boniface was driven to get the maximum sporting performance of out every kid that ever crossed his path, and his reputation in this respect was legendary. It also stretched far and wide.
Here in Kyneton, when it looked like he’d trained all the boys to peak fitness, he then focused his training talents to the students of the Convent. And this scandalised the nuns a bit by training their precious “Sacred Heart ladies College” girls in all things track and field (including long jumps and high jumps) on the oval over there where the bus depot now stands.
He also focussed, big-time, on swimming. Helen Madden (Nock) was one of those that he encouraged through all the different levels and awards. She still swims with a group of people at Narooma on the NSW far south coast. Over the years many people have commented about her effortless technique.
After being complimented again on her swimming style, she made mention of the fact that she had Br. Boniface to thank for her technique and enthusiasm for the sport – never expecting of course that anyone would really know who she was talking about.
Instead, this unknown guy pipes and says, “Brother Boniface, I know him – he taught me in Sydney – (Knowing that that wasn’t quite true he adjusted his comment to – “he taught me sport anyway”. He recognised the Bonnie style in Helen immediately, hundreds of kilometres apart and several decades on, the mantra rings true, once taught by Bonnie always able.
She also tells another Bonnie swimming story concerning the Bronze Medallion attempt. She was supposed to “save” her brother Laurie, who was deemed by Bonnie to meet the appropriate weight and height criteria. However, however, when the time came, Laurie panicked and wouldn’t co-operate, – a panicking your adult in the water in need of rescue, the ideal scenario from her Bronze Medal attempt you might argue.
Instead, Bonnie ordered Laurie out of the water and substituted Moe Keegan. Moe had just gotten out of hospital after a serious peritonitis operation and wasn’t supposed to even be in the water. He was also a lot bigger kid than Laurie, and exceeded the height/weight conditions by a fair bit.
As a result, Helen couldn’t reach properly across Moe’s chest to get proper purchase on him in order to “save” him – so Bonnie turned his back. Moe kicked and floated and Helen got her Bronze Medallion.
Academia may not have been the pinnacle here in Kyneton, but a student failing at sport was not on Bonnie’s agenda.
As memories fade history becomes history but stories like this keep the past present. The Old Boys have a web site www.kynetonmaristbrothersoldboys.com.au that carries much information about past and present students. Salient is the honour roll of deceased Old Boys that have been collated.

Brother Joseph Boniface