I am the proud President of the Old Peninsula Grammarians' Association (enc TOPSA), and son of the first Headmaster of our great school, Reverend Dudley Barrington Clarke. I am from the Class of 1982 and past boarder at the original Jaffray House so you could comfortably say that 'grew up' at
Peninsula.

Having been involved in this association for a long time, I have made some incredible connections to our past students and staff and through hearing their many stories, I've witnessed first-hand the positive impact that a Peninsula Grammar education can have on someone's life. Since 1961, the opportunities provided to students at Peninsula remain second to none however it often isn't until students leave school that they realise just how privileged they are to be an old Pen scholar.

Whether it be experiences at House music/sport, a school production, an extra-curricular activity, the boarding houses, Glenmaggie camp or cadet Bivouac, our alumni stories share one consistent reflection, and that is a strong sense of belonging. No matter where you are in the world today, when you walked out of the main gates on Wooralla Drive on your last day of school, you remained as one peer class, but you also now belong as a member of this association proud of our school, grateful for our opportunities and ready to take on new challenges.

My father was passionate about creating a school environment that respected the individuality of each student who attended Peninsula, and he was committed to ensuring students were the 'best' at whatever they chose to do in life. Whilst the buildings and facilities may have changed over the last 60 years, this one thing remains, that above all, Peninsula Grammar provides an environment that encourages students to be themselves and thrive at whatever they choose to do throughout their education and beyond.

In my father's first speech as Headmaster, he shared a motto he created for the School 'Quod Bonum Tenete'. He said (quote) "whatever is good, we are going to hold on to it...we are going to grasp it, hold it, keep it. That is going to be the motto of the School which you have started today! That is the spirit of the School in which we will go forward". I know many of our alumni members would agree with my advice to current students (which is the same today as was shared on day 1, 1961) and that is to grasp the opportunities provided to you and make the most of them everyday, for you are only here for a short while, but the memories you create will last a lifetime.

David Clarke '82, President OPGA (enc TOPSA)