Community, Development and Alumni Newington Medal The Newington Medal recognises Old Boys who have made a significant difference to the welfare and future of the College and to the quality of life of Australians or the global community. Newington Medallist (Australia) 2017 – His Hon Greg Grogin (ON 1976) His Hon Greg Grogin was a student at Newington College from 1967–1976. He started at Wyvern in Year 3. During his time at the College he was awarded the ONU Serviceprize for Rugby in 1975, was named House Captain of Le Couteur in 1976, won the Jack Thorncraft Trophy in 1976, was Cadet His Hon Greg Grogin (ON 1976) Mr Brian Sommerlad (ON 1958) Lt./CUO and a College Prefect. Greg’s final report described him as Despite Greg’s outstanding contribution Officer (Plastic & Orthopaedic). He “cheerful, co-operative, a full participantto Newington and the people of NSW, he remains a Consultant Plastic Surgeon. in all the school’s activities, a Prefect is first and foremost a family man. He In 1970 Brian was made a Fellow of the who set a fine example, always and wife Wendy have successfully raised Royal College of Surgeons, England. He resourceful and reliable”. These two outstanding Old Boys, Nicholas (ON is also a Fellow of the Royal College of attributes led Greg to pursue a career in 2009) and James (ON 2012). Paediatrics and Child Health and in the NSW Police Force. While he was a Greg’s 50 years of tireless work, 1998 became a Fellow of the Royal policeman, he discovered his true commitment and enduring love of College of Speech and Language vocation—the law. Newington make it an honour to name Therapists (Hon). In 2000 he became a Greg started his legal studies through His Hon Greg Grogin the Newington Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, the Solicitor’s Admission Board while Medallist (Australia) for 2017. Edinburgh (Hon). In 1971, Brian was a working as a Police Prosecutor. He was Newington Medallist surgeon in the Australian Surgical Team, admitted as a solicitor and later to the Bien Hoa Hospital, South Vietnam and Bar. In 2010, he was appointed a Local (International) 2017 was awarded the Vietnam Logistic and Court Magistrate. He was then appointed – Mr Brian Sommerlad Support Medal and the Australian Active an Acting District Court Judge. Service Medal. Newington College has benefited from (ON 1958) For the past 40 years Brian has been a Greg’s community-driven spirit for 50 Brian Sommerlad was a student at plastic surgeon in hospitals throughout years. As a pupil, he gave back to his Newington College from 1954–1958. England, specialising in surgery for fellow students, leading them as House In 1956 he was awarded the Stretton children and adults with cleft of lip and Captain and CUO. He contributed to the Waterhouse Memorial Prize, was a palate and associated conditions. He College as a volunteer Rugby referee. In member of the 1st Debating in 1957–58, has been deeply involved in the 1999 and 2000 he was President of the won the Moulton Prize in 1957, was development of theoperating microscope Old Newingtonians Union and in 2000 awarded the Wigram Allen Scholarship in for cleft palate repair and in re-repairing was appointed to the College Council. 1957, and in 1958 was Cadet Lt./CUO, the cleft palate as an alternative to Greg spent 16 years on the College a Sub-Prefect and a member of The pharyngoplasty in some patients. Council until his retirement earlier this Newingtonian Committee. Brian is the past President of both the year, serving as a Councillor, Honorary Brian was awarded his Bachelor of British Association of Plastic Surgeons Secretary and Deputy Chairman. He Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery in 1966 and the Craniofacial Society of Great served under four Council Chairmen and from the University of Sydney. He was a Britain and Ireland. He has taught fellow worked with three Headmasters. Resident Medical Officer at Sydney surgeons in Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, Current College Chairman Tony McDonald Hospital (1966–1968) and Royal Uganda, Bangladesh and China. (ON 1976) said: “Greg’s contribution to Alexandra Hospital for Children, Sydney Brian is a Trustee of Interface Uganda the Newington Community has been (1967–1968), and held both junior and and also works with cleft teams in Sri outstanding and selfless. He has set the senior positions in both hospitals. The Lanka, Iran, Egypt, Bangladesh and bar for future Council members with his United Kingdom beckoned in 1969, and Venezuela. He is an honorary member of unstinting and unselfish devotion to what Brian commenced his career at the the Indian Society of Cleft Lip, Palate is in the best interests of the boys and Great Ormond St Hospital for Sick and Craniofacial Anomalies and a the Newington Community as a whole.” Children, London as a Senior House member of the Medical Advisory Board 58| NEWS AUTUMN 2018 | OPPORTUNITY