Bananas without worms

This is an abridged version of Janine Paterson’s remarks to the ASOPA reunion dinner on Saturday night.

What are the most memorable years of your life? I represent the ASOPA Class of 1963-64, very poorly represented here tonight. This makes me think my Class might rather consider their years at ASOPA as being ones they would rather forget, not the most memorable.

However we feel now, each Class came to the School having accepted a ‘Career with a Challenge’. It was a decision to step out of the mould, change boundaries. Life in our comfort zone wasn’t enough. We wanted more – adventure, challenge. ASOPA meant a major turning point ves.

Indeed it might have been the first significant decision we made and that makes it memorable. We rejected a normal humdrum existence, left home and met up at ASOPA. Perhaps we wanted to ‘touch the real’. And, as Peter Plummer has said, we all took ‘the road less travelled’ not the broad highway like our most of our friends. And the first steps along that road were at ASOPA.

At ASOPA they taught us well. We learned about monogamous, polygamous, matrilineal and patrilineal. We realised the endless permutations and combinations of rules and traditions in societies. The numerous combinations of words, sounds and tones in languages that formed in all parts of the mouth. We took delight in making strange sounds. We learnt not to call our cat ‘Puss’ and if we did, never to call it at night.

At the end of two years we continued on the ‘road less travelled’ and went to PNG. Now, after many years, we are back in Australia, for tonight anyway. Have you rejoined the broad highway? Or are you back home but still out there on the ‘road less travelled’, ‘touching the real’ and taking up the challenges? We’re not in PNG any more, but for me, I have the next best thing. FNQ – same climate, same scenery. And bananas without worms.

[Photo: Janine and Barry Paterson]

Comments

[Bill Welbourne]

Thanks for your words of appreciation and views of future reunions Rod.
We do have a special year group, but early in our planning our Committee was motivated by Henry’s thoughts to encourage other year groups to share with us in an ‘inclusive’ rather than ‘exclusive’ ASOPA event. With Henry’s drive and PR skills other year groups took up the challenge and were spurred into action.
It was also helpful in planning our grand occasion to have a strong representation from other years on our committee … e.g. Dick Arnold, our Treasurer. Indeed when our combined committee got together there was a mini social reunion and I believe this will continue for quite some time in post committee socials.
It was also deemed necessary to widen our event because in future our special intake will dwindle as the years take their toll … therefore it was considered important to combine and encourage all intakes.
At our grand reunion I certainly had close affinity with those in our year, but also I did appreciate the chance to speak and share with members of the wider ASOPA year groups. I feel that the pooling representation of our groups enriched the grand evening event … as evident by the numbers who supported it. This impact of the wider enrichment was evident in the speeches.
In a similar way Keithy has encouraged contributions to the Mail from the wider ASOPA community and it has now become a much sought after and growing publication.
I realize that the close intimacy of a smaller gathering has been lost but this could be overcome by having an additional ‘high tea’ or breakfast or similar gathering for our own group during the course of the weekend.

[Peter Comerford]

My hearty congratulations to you all on what was, for Marian and myself, a most memorable and wonderful weekend. We are both still on a high after meeting up with so many people and renewing friendships, swapping stories and laughing our hearts out over the 3 days we were in Brisbane for the ASOPA reunion. Congratulations and thank you for including us in what was both a privilege and a wonderful experience to be part of the celebration of ASOPA. It is amazing how, despite the range of the training years, we share a very common bond, experiences, a passion and I would say an everlasting gratitude for having being a part of ASOPAN history. Once again well done and even though I have already thanked a number of people on the Saturday evening, please pass on my appreciation yet again if you get a chance.

[Rod Hard]

Back at the office today...and certainly feeling my age after lack of sleep and a mite too much liquid refreshments over the past 4 days. It was a magnificent weekend and reflects the time and effort that you people put into the planning of the event - and here we thought that you were just using it as an excuse for a regular booze-up and foodfest.
It was certainly a great opportunity to catch up with renewed friendships over the past few years and touching base with others from PNG who were not fortunate enough to be part of the magnificent '62- '63 contingent.
Was any serious thought given to the next great occasion? I spoke to a number of our "group" and the general consensus was that, whilst it was great to catch up with those of other years, we feel we have a special bond and future occasions should be aimed at our intake. It is certainly easier to plan for 50 than for 200, and whilst no one has stepped forward offering a venue does anyone have any ideas?
Given the communication facilities available these days with emails and the internet, I believe that we could set up the next reunion in an area of convenience not necessarily the backyard of an existing member, ie, Byron Bay, Coffs Harbour, somewhere to cater for the ease of attendance of the majority of attendees which would be somewhere north of Sydney and south of Rockhampton. Just a thought. Once again, thanks.