MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Gentlemen,

The year 2002 has drawn to a close and we are now well into the New Year of 2003. The OBU (Australia) has had a good year and I wish to take this opportunity to thank you the members for making it an extremely fruitful year.

We have had a dedicated and enthusiastic Committee, which has enabled us to plan and coordinate the Curry Nights, the Annual Dinner Dance and the Seniors Dinner.

There has been very willing participation by our members in these events, which has ensured the success of these functions, with great camaraderie and fellowship, enjoyed by all. It is my intention to step down from the President’s position and hand over the helm to new hands to continue to guide the OBU next year.

To the Committee members and their partners as well as all the members who have made the OBU in to the successful fraternal organisation it has become I say ‘THANK YOU” and please continue the good work and support in the years ahead.

Ora et Labora

Reg Bartholomeusz

Date to Remember

President Reg Bartholomeusz

Vice President Bryan Wijeyekoon

Secretary Trevor Collette

Treasurer Nelson de Silva

Editor Alister Bartholomeusz

Committee Kenneth Mahamooth

Dayantha Makalanda

Mahendra Dissanayake

Neville Ludowyke

Postal Address Box 123 Glenways MDC

Mulgrave 3170

Email obua@wesleycollege.org

Text Box: AIMS OF THE OLD BOYS’ UNION AUSTRALIA BRANCH INC.

1. To unite in one fraternal band those who were educated at Wesley College, Colombo.
2. To afford an opportunity of bringing together past and present pupils of Wesley College.
3. To assist in meeting the needs of the College as they arise.
4. To do all things necessary to preserve the honour and dignity of the College.

EDITORS VIEW……

Your views & Ideas

We encourage letters to the Editor on any issue. Articles of interest. Births, Anniversary etc.. Suggestions and new ideas we would like to hear

As 2003 comes to life and our thoughts focus on what this New Year holds in store for us and our families, I would like to reflect on the year that was.

This year has seen many highlights in the activities of the OBU, Australia Branch. The most notable in my mind was the recent social extravaganza of the annual ball. This continues to be a great success with opportunities to catch up with old friends, reminisce about our glory days, establish new friendships and further enhance the relationship between our band of brothers linked to and created by our Great College.

Other events that come to mind are the warmth and fraternal feeling of our Seniors Night, the camaraderie of the quadrangular cricket tournament involving Wesley, St Johns, Jaffna, the Royal College and St Thomas College, Mount and the relaxed, happy atmosphere of the “Curry Nights” in winter.

One of the vehicles that adds to the cohesion of our extraordinary group is the regular publication of the Double Blue Bulletin. It has been an honour for me to have been able to contribute to a quality journal that effectively keeps us all up to date on the activities of Wesley College, Colombo and those associated with it.

Whilst I believe that there is great value generated by this, it cannot go unnoticed that there is still an untapped potential and the potential lies with you the members. Contributions to the Double Blue Bulletin from sources other that the editorial committee have been rather disappointing this year. It is only by your contributions that we can maintain the quality, interest, information and the threads that bind us all. I would strongly encourage you all to think about what the Double Blue Bulletin means to the Old Wesleyites community and what we can do to further enhance that.

Your anecdotes, thoughts, information and feedback will enable us to continue to grow as an Old Boys Union for now and the future for all Wesleyites throughout the word.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a safe and prosperous 2003.

My sincere thanks to Trevor Collette and Marie Dromart for the preparation and professional layout of the Double Blue Bulletin this year.

WESLEY TO THE FORE.

Text Box: CRICKET COLUMN

“It is a science, the study of a life time, in which you may exhaust yourself, but never your subject. It is a contest, a duel, a melee, calling for courage, skill, strategy and self-control. It is a contest of temper, a trial of honour, a revealer of character. It affords a chance to play the man and act the gentlemen. It means going into God’s out of doors, getting close to nature, fresh air, exercise, a sweeping away of mental cobwebs, genuine recreation of tired tissues. It is comfort care, an antidote for worry. It includes companionship with friends, social intercourse and opportunities for courtesy, kindness and generosity to an opponent. It promotes not only physical health, but mental force”.

Sir Fredrick Toone

This topic is now open for debate and we invite your opinion on how you view cricket is played in the contemporary period, in comparison to the good old days. Your anecdotes, comments and feedback are eagerly awaited.

Inter – collegiate cricket matches.

Our oldest match is against the Royal College the centenary encounter was played in 1893.

The inaugural march between Wesley and St Thomas’ College Mount Lavina was played in 1897, but due a dispute between an Umpire and the Warden of STCM this important fixture was not played from 1898 to 1903.

Other inaugural dates, 1895 vs Prince of Wales. Trinity and St Benedict’s.

In 1904 against St Joseph’s College and in 1910 against Amanda College.

Any further information is invited in order to assist us to update our cricket records.

Navin de Silva excels at World Finals

The former skipper of the Wesley Cricket team and now Sri Lanka Air Bus Captain, on taking to golf just fifteen months ago has done the country proud by being the “B” category runner-up at the Amateur World Golf finals held at Stuttgat Germany.

His performance was largely responsible for his three member team,. East Asia, comprising Singapore, Brunei and Sri Lanka, winning the “Nations’ Cup”.

This tournament sponsored for the 12^th consecutive year by Mercedes Benz draws around 40,000 amateur golfers through the year, from about 50 countries, which narrows down to 120 at the finals. Navin did will to be first runner-up in Colombo, to be eligible to participate at the Asian finals in Brisbane – from where he qualified with five other Asians to proceed to Stuttgat, to take part in the world finals. He was runner-up in the “B” category having scored Stableford points 37, 35 and 40 respectively.

Playing with a handicap of 13, his final round in rainy cold weather to register 40 points proved decisive to clinch the Nations’ Cup.

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