Old Collegians’ Association

Establishing a life-long connections between Old Boys and the College.

Founded in the early days of BBC in 1920, the Old Collegians’ Association was designed to establish a strong fellowship between Old Boys and the College, to ensure traditions are maintained and to provide networking opportunities for members through reunions, social functions and BBC activities.

Upon finishing is school boy days, each BBC boy continues his journey as a Brisbane Boys’ College Old Boy. Volunteers of the Brisbane Boys’ College Old Collegians’ Association (the ‘OCA’) foster ties with the College, providing graduating students with lifetime opportunities for professional development and networking. This group also assist the College in hosting a number of events across the school calendar to support and connect Old Boys, families and current students.

An adjunct to this group are the ‘older’ Collegians who form part of the Vintage Collegians. Members of this group assist with the BBC Archives, aiding in the collection and classification of historical publications and memorabilia. Vintage Collegians also take time to connect with current students; formally speaking to classes across the College and sharing their own school experiences throughout the early years of the school.

The College is extremely proud of our Old Boys, many of whom feature prominently in many fields of endeavour in Queensland, across Australia and overseas.

Read the OCA Executive Committee Charter

The OCA Executive Committee

Murray McNaught (OC 1992)
President

Murray commenced his studies at BBC in 1989 as a boarder and finished as a day boy in 1992. He was a Prefect, keen rugby player and a member of the winning 1992 First VIII. After a 10 year career in the Australian Defence Force, Murray moved into senior management roles in the construction and renewable energy industries. Murray currently has three boys at BBC.

Russell Byrnes (OC 1985)
Vice President

Russell attended BBC from 1977 to 1985. He spent 11 years employed in the Queensland Department of Justice working firstly in the Crown Solicitor’s Office and then in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Whilst with the Department of Justice, Russell graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Law and was called to the Bar on 6 June 1994. Russell has been at the private bar since September 2000 practising from Halsbury Chambers.

Peter White (OC 2013)
Treasurer

Peter attended BBC from 2008 to 2013 as a day boy. Whilst at school, Pete was Knox House Captain and participated in a variety of sports including Rugby, Tennis and Cross Country. Post school he found a passion for golf, spent some time travelling abroad and completed a Bachelor of Business (Honours) majoring in Finance at QUT, writing his thesis on Asset Pricing. Peter currently works in the energy sector as a Financial Analyst at InterGen Australia.

Graham Sagar (OC 1969)
Vintage Collegians Representative

Graham attended BBC from 1965 to 1969. During his time at the College, Graham was a keen rower, and was a member of the Hobbies Club where he further developed his interest in model train circuits. In 1972, Graham was drafted to National Service and was posted to 9 Dental Unit in Enogerra. Graham is a successful entrepreneur and businessman, and has served as Treasurer on both the Australian Childcare Alliance and Childcare Queensland Boards. Graham’s love of planes and trains led to him obtaining his pilots licence, and has taken him to model train shows all over Queensland where he displays and demonstrates his self designed computerised model train layouts. Graham is currently the owner of a childcare business in Brisbane, and represents the Vintage Collegians on the OCA Executive.

Cam Wallace (OC 2012)
Young Old Boys’ Representative

Cameron attended BBC from 2008 to 2012 as a day boy. Whilst at school, Cameron was a member of the First VIII Rowing crew and held the position of College Captain in his final year. Cameron currently rows with BBC Old Collegians’ Rowing Club and is Site Engineer for Lendlease Buildings. Cameron represents the younger Old Boys as part of the OCA Executive.

Isaac Vincent (OC 2009)
Committee Member

Isaac attended BBC from 2004 to 2009, and held the position of College Captain in his final year. During his time at school, Isaac played Rugby and Australian Football, and played the saxophone in a number of BBC ensembles. Isaac attended the University of Queensland upon graduating from BBC and is now an Architect working in Brisbane. Isaac is excited to be a part of the OCA Executive Committee and for the opportunity to support and give back to the College.

Arthur Palmer (OC 1970)
Committee Member

Arthur attended BBC as a boarder from 1966 to 1970. During his time at the College he was keen on Football, boxing and shooting, and is still involved in Football coaching in the Junior School. Arthur obtained Half Colours in both Athletics and Gymnastics (Captain 1970), participated in both Choir and Debating, and was an NCO in the College Air Training Corps. Arthur has spent his professional life as a pilot and anthropologist and is a consultant and approved valuer of Fine and Tribal Art. Arthur is a former President of the OCA.

Wade Ruffin (OC 1984)
Committee Member

Wade attended BBC from 1980 to 1984 and participated widely in sport whilst at school, including Rowing, Rugby and Cricket. With three daughters attending Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Wade’s involvement with the College was rekindled when he founded the BBC Old Collegians’ Rowing Club in 2016 to celebrate the centenary of rowing at BBC. The club has grown significantly and Wade is a strong believer in the way sport can reconnect Old Boys back to the school. Wade has owned and operated several sports related businesses and worked in real estate for over 14 years.

Grant Rynne (OC 2000)
Committee Member

Grant attended BBC from 1996 to 2000 and is the founder and Director of RCM. Grant is an investor with a focus on Alternative Investments. His career experience spans both the buy-side and sell-side, including, transaction & advisory, risk management, sales & trading and portfolio management.

Andrew Stephen (OC 1994)
Committee Member

Andrew attended BBC from 1988 to 1994. He was a Knox House Prefect, Captain of Soccer and a member of the 1993 undefeated Soccer First XI team. Andrew continued his studies at Griffith University, completing his Bachelor of Commerce. Andrew commenced working for NAB in 1996, where he spent 10 years, until moving to Westpac. In 2016, Andrew returned to NAB as a Private Banker. Andrew currently has one son at the College.

Lea Walker-Franks
Secretary

Lea is the inaugural Director of Community Engagement and BBC Foundation Executive Officer. Her background is teaching Economics and Business Studies before moving across to the not-for-profit business side of schools in 2004. Lea has extensive experience in alumni engagement, philanthropy and corporate partnerships.

History
Scholarships & Bursaries
Business Directory

Informal contacts between Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC) and its Old Boys were formalised at a meeting in the Masters Common Room at Clayfield on Friday, 27 August 1920 with the formation of the BBC Old Collegians’ Association (OCA).

The founder of BBC, Mr Arthur ‘Barney’ Rudd OBE, chaired this meeting, which was also attended by W Renton (1904-06), J C Capper (1912-16), W L Boyd (1916-19), N M Grimes (1917-20), and S B Snow (second master). It was decided that Rudd would draw up provisional articles of association to be submitted to a general meeting to be held on 13 September.

At the general meeting Rudd was elected the first president of the OCA. The vice-presidents were Messrs W L Boyd, H E H Ferguson and A Littledike. The treasurer was W Renton and the secretaries were C W Hughes and E J Lancaster. Messrs C H Cleghorn, L Davy, R Graham and A J Randall were councillors.

In addition to keeping Old Collegians in touch with each other and fostering fellowship, the primary objective named in the first OCA constitution was to support the College by funding scholarships for sons of Old Collegians and by providing endowments. They also promised to foster an interest in matters of national importance through lectures, published papers and discussions.

All Old Boys of the College and masters of at least two years standing were eligible to join. The annual subscription was seven shillings and sixpence, payable in advance. The creation of the OCA helped, at a pivotal time in the development of the College, to engender a sense of tradition and permanency in the College community. Consequently, the Old Collegians played a seminal role, during those formative years, in creating the ethos and value system of BBC.

Read the Constitution of the Old Collegians Association

Read the July 2017 Amendments to the OCA Constitution

The Old Collegians’ Association and its members provide a number of bursary opportunities to support Old Boy families who wouldn’t otherwise be able to afford a Brisbane Boys’ College education for their son.

If you’re an Old Collegian looking to speak to someone at the College about establishing a bursary in your name, please contact the Community Engagement Office for a confidential discussion.

Contact – Lea Walker-Franks, Director of Community Engagement and Foundation Executive Office
Phone – +61 (07) 3309 3513
Email – lwalker-franks@bbc.qld.edu.au

OCA Bursary

Funded by donations from the BBC Old Collegians’ Association, the OCA Bursary provides financial assistance to boys, including the sons and grandsons of Old Collegians, to attend BBC.

For more information or to enquire about the OCA bursary, please email the Director of Community Enagement, Mrs Lea Walker-Franks at lwalker-franks@bbc.qld.edu.au.

Graham Thomson Scholarship

Offers a past student of Brisbane Boys’ College the opportunity of studying at The University of Queensland while in residence at Emmanuel College, who may not otherwise have the means to live away from home. The scholarship was established in 2017 by BBC Old Boys John Wylie AM and Michael Wood to acknowledge Graham Thomson’s longstanding service to education and the community, and pays tribute to his significant leadership, student mentoring and personal generosity.

The Graham Thomson Scholarship will be awarded to a BBC student who is a new applicant to Emmanuel, or a former BBC student who is an existing resident of Emmanuel, who demonstrates strong academic ability and performance, exhibits leadership qualities and positive peer support, has a keen interest in sport and/or cultural activities, and has made a contribution to the community. The scholarship offers part relief of residential fees up to $5,000, and closes 30 November each year.

For more information and to submit an application, visit the Emmanuel College website.

Visit Emmanuel College website to find out more and apply

PMSA Teacher Education Scholarship 2020

The Presbyterian and Methodist Schools Association (PMSA) each year offers a limited number of Teacher Education Scholarships each worth $2,000 per annum for up to four years of study to suitable current and past students of PMSA schools students entering an undergraduate teacher education degree.

Applications for the PMSA Teacher Education Scholarship 2020 have now closed. Please bookmark this page to check back for information regarding the 2021 application process.

To be eligible, an applicant must:

  • be either a current Year 12 student of a PMSA school, or have attended a PMSA school in past last two years (for at least two years);
  • be a permanent Australian resident; and
  • be accepted, or will be accepted, to commence a full-time undergraduate teacher education degree in the next calendar year or be currently enrolled in such a course.

The scholarships aim to foster a respect for the importance of teaching as a profession; foster Christian faith and values in schools and encourage future teachers who hold Christian beliefs and values; and assist aspiring teachers of Christian conviction to complete an approved teacher education program to enable them to make a difference in the schools they serve.

For more information, please download the below booklet or visit the PMSA website.

Download the PMSA Teacher Education Scholarship 2020 Information and Application Booklet

 

The Brisbane Boys’ College Business Directory is an affordable, cost effective marketing platform that enables all members of our community to: promote or connect their business with the BBC Community network (current parents, Old Boys and friends), assist those who are searching for a service or product and also offer employment opportunities through the Job Board section.

Advertising in the BBC Business Directory can create new opportunities, generate referrals for your business and open the door to a new customer base.

To view the BBC Directory, or to sign up as a business, please click below.

View Business Directory

Stay in Touch

We love to stay in touch with our Old Collegians. Please update your details by submitting the form below in order to receive our OCA e-newsletter and be notified of future events and reunions.































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You are also welcome to contact the Community Engagement Office directly on the details below:

Stay in Touch

Keep connected with the OCA via Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn

Community Engagement Manager - Mrs Carol Stephens

Phone

+61 (07) 3309 3526

Helen Jackson, College Archivist

Phone

+61 (07) 3309 3629

Mon — Fri, during term-time