Farewell Dr Mulford –and thank you Parents and carers give Dr David Mulford a standing ovation at the 2018 P&F Ball. Photo: Jared Leibowitz (ON 2013) For many boys at Newington, one image ‘Dr Mulford has made olds who now attend the College’s of Headmaster Dr David Mulford will restlessness his mantra, first Early Learning Centre, opened in stay with them: the leader of an AAGPS January this year. College of more than 2000 students and the mantra of our So as our boys listen to Dr Mulford talk sprawled uncomfortably in a straight- College.’ at assembly about the dangers of fake backed chair on stage at Wednesday news or the impo nce of gender equity assembly, mouth set, arms folded, eyes rta , down. They could be forgiven for asking: this is what they might not see. A man This restlessness has transformed our with a compendium of the world’s corniest is he asleep? College. It has embedded a culture of dad jokes. A Headmaster so determined Those who know him – even in passing – inclusion, tolerance and diversity. It has to make new staff welcome that he will know the answer, andit’s most definitely reinvigorated Newington’s relationship not only know the names of all of them, ‘no’. Dr Mulford has made restlessness with our brother school Tupou College in but be able to recite them back, along his mantra, and the mantra of our College . Tonga. It has forged 18 major building with an interesting personal fact. A man So, over the past 10 years, as he has projects, including the Rae Centre, the of deep compassion in the face of tragedy seen 5600 boys through Newington, Sesquicentenary Quadrangle, Lindfield’s , spent countless hours with College Don Brown Hall and Wyvern’s Year 6 and deep commitment to what is right. Council steering strategies for the future, classrooms, and earned Dr Mulford the The retirement of Dr Mulford in personally hand-signed 2300 testimonials nickname ‘Bob the Builder’ along the December marks the end of an era of for Year 12 students and strolled way. His quiet, decade-long revolution to service, dedication, humour and, yes, Johnson Bank daily to talk to our boys, ‘discover what’s possible’ means restlessness. As he departs Newington he has been governed by a single Newington will, for the first time, have to surf, sail, travel and ponder what’s principle: ‘How can we be better?’ ‘old girls’ – the three-, four- and five-year- next, we offer him our heartfelt thanks. GRATITUDE | NEWS SPRING 2018| 3