Page 4 - Southwell School_The Chronicle July 2022

DAVID SHEARER, OBGA PRESIDENT
AOLD BOYS’ & GIRLS’ ASSOCIATION REPORT
s we find ourselves midway through 2022 already Work on the OBGA Sports Pavilion is due to commence OBGA finds itself in very good standing considering this winter and we are looking forward to celebrating the ongoing Covid related disruptions, and plans the opening early 2023 with as many of you as possible.
are underway for a social and exciting second half of the year. Our thoughts have been with all our Alumni and we sincerely hope that navigating these times has been a positive journey for all.
We held our AGM on 12 May and were delighted to present Mrs Gloria Archer and Mr Mark Webb with Honorary Life Memberships. Many of you will have interacted with Mark and Gloria over their collective 60 years of service to the school and we are beyond grateful to have them as part of the Alumni family.
Part of our focus over the past year is developing a more connected Alumni community, not necessarily events based and to this end we feel it is time to rebrand from
The Southwell Old Boys’ and Girls’ Association Incorporated (OBGA) to the more inclusive (and certainly less ageist!) Southwell Alumni. Keep an eye out for fresh communications as we look to open up your access to new opportunities and events.
Our second behind the scenes project this year has been a partnership with the Foundation and School to upgrade and improve our Alumni database and we are pleased to share that soon you will see a more interactive Alumni webpage over the coming months, I would encourage all of you to register your own account and reconnect with your cohort and share photos, stories and attend events together. There are so many Southwell Alumni achieving across multiple fields, it is a joy to celebrate and acknowledge these outstanding humans as often as we can.
This project would not have been possible if not for the outstanding generosity of the Maber Family in supporting this build. You’ll notice the old Pavilion has been removed and definitely watch that space for building progress towards the end of 2022.
2021 allowed many social events and community connections to take place and we as an association are hopeful to pick up where we left off (now that restrictions have eased somewhat) with the following regular schedule of events in Term 3 & 4 2022. Definitely mark these into your calendars, you’ll find the event information on the inside cover page of this edition.
This will be my last President report to you as I have elected to stand down from this position after several years in the role and look forward to supporting our new President Brett Maber in the future. I would like to thank all committee members who gave their time and valuable input into our meetings and functions over the past year. Our Association is in good heart as we continue our interaction with Southwell Alumni members. Now that restrictions have eased
we are once again open to receiving visitors, so
if you find yourselves
on Peachgrove Road do come in and see us for a quick cuppa or a campus tour. Southwell Alumni are always welcome here.
Per aspera ad Astrum.
INTRODUCING OBGA’S NEW PRESIDENT BRETT MABER (1984-89)
You’ll often find Brett on a rugby sideline coaching and supporting his sons as they play for Southwell.
We look forward to sharing Brett’s vision for the Alumni community in the December Edition.