2013

2014

JANUARY

After our interesting excursion to Holden Street Theatre for the last year's December luncheon, the Boat-house being unavailable, we returned to the latter in January. It is starting to feel like home.

Clockwise from left - Brooks, Parky, John Bannon, Ian Bidmeade, Pottsie, Bob Adams,Keith Conlon's head,

Andy Bishop's profile, Wayne Anthoney, McGoon, Bill Kay

Keith, Andy B, waiter, Wayne's head, Parky, McGoon

Mainly Brooks, Parky, Bannon, Ian B

Jovial assembly

Grum, Keith, Andy, Wayne, McGoon

Wayne definitely did not fart, although it looks as if he may have done.

FEBRUARY

Many Gentlemen were unable to attend the February gathering, particularly those performing later in the evening in the Old Footlighters' revue, 'Be Your Age - It's a Miracle!' but numbers are so good these days that we nevertheless managed to raise seventeen.

Brooks, Keith Conlon, Geoff Shepherd

Bob Lott with his guest, Adelaide Festival Director David Sefton

David address the Gents about his vision for the Festival

He continues

Questions from the floor. From left - Milton Wordley, Leo's chair (Leo was taking the photos), Mike Norman, John McGowan, Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Andy Ligertwood, Malcolm Elliot, Tony Brooks, Keith Conlon, Geoff Shepherd, John Potter, Don Riddell, Bob Lott's head

Our waitress Briony fro past times at the Chesser, with Malcolm, Pottsie and baby

Ghil'ad with David Sefton, framing Trang the waitress

Animated discussions. Mike, Wayne, McGoon, Keith, Ghil'ad, Don, Andy

Brooks and Geoff

The Gentlemen congratulate Wayne on his being awarded an OAM

MARCH

Wayne Anthoney writes:

It was another excellent luncheon, but for the first time the management charged us for a shortfall in numbers.

On Tuesday afternoon I rang through the news that sixteen of us would be attending but on Thursday morning Pottsie rang me to say that he could not now come. I thereupon rang Gabriella to say that there would now be only fifteen attending, to which Gabriella replied that they would have to charge us for sixteen, which they did by adding $4 to each bill. (It should have been $57.50/15 = $3.83 but hey.) Twice in the past a Gent has not attended at the last and they have not charged us, but now it seems they will. I am somewhat perturbed about this, especially when one considers the vast amount of expensive uneaten antipasto that they regularly remove.

And then again, consider a scenario in which, in say midwinter when a small number, perhaps twelve Gents agree to come, there is a flu outbreak and only nine make it. the nine would have to pay about an extra $20 each.

I am unsure about how to approach this.

This photo proves that it's not just laugh, laugh, laugh at the Hogarth Club. John Bannon very serious, flanked by Wayne, Mike Jacobs, Keith Conlon

Jacobs lightens up. There is a repeated theme in these excellent Leo Davis photos of Gents gesturing strongly with the left hand.

Introducing Rob Morrison, doing the gesture. On the left, Grum, Bill Kay's head, Paul K.

Wayne does the gesture. From left, Pegge, McGoon, Grum, Paul,Bill, Rob, Bannon, Cobbs

Wilf, Brooks, Mike (Normal) Norman

Discussion at the far end of the table about the recent SA state elections

Wayne entertains the group with a reading from Bob Ellis' book, 'And So It Goes'

APRIL

THOSE PRESENT: Bill Kay, Wayne Anthoney, Neville Sloss, Keith Conlon, Arwed Turon, John Bannon, Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Michael Jacobs, Red Hodge, Ian Henschke, Mike Norman, Geoff Shepherd, Tony Brooks, Andy Bishop, Leo Davis, Mark Coleman, John Potter. Seventeen in all.

Another excellent event, distinguished at the end by the apparent failure, according to the management, of one Gentleman to pay on the way out. Bill Kay, the last to leave, generously and uncomplainingly agreed to cover the shortfall. For several days emails went back and forth but the truth of the matter has not been discovered. Andy Bishop suggested that as he always pays immediately on arriving at Jolley's he may have been forgotten. The management denied this. It was agreed that, with somewhat larger numbers of Gents regularly attending than used to in former times, we need a foolproof system. The management did not wish to have the responsibility of ticking payees off a list by name and suggested that they could set up a small table at the head of the stairs, at which W. Anthoney could collect the Gents' payments, in cash, preferably the correct amount each time. W. Anthoney was understandably reluctant to take on this responsibility. To be continued.

Keith, Arwed, Bill, Red

Normal, Pottsie, Brooks, Red. Normal clearly impressed with the antipasto spread.

Cobbs, JB, Keith

This photo, obviously taken by someone other than Leo, in fact shows Leo in conversation with JB.

Arwed, Brooks, Keith, Geoff

Wayne, Neville, bottles

No idea what Bish was talking about here

Arwed and Bill in reflective mood after lunch

Brooks brought this admirable bottle to lunch. His son Zar was responsible for putting the extract of a W. B. Yeats poem on the label and Zar's wife Elena was responsible for the contents of the bottle. Elena, from Bulgaria, is a fine winemaker.

Bil, Mark, waitress, Arwed

MAY

THOSE PRESENT: Wayne Anthoney, Phil Grummet, Tony Parkinson, Bill Kay, Andy Ligertwood, Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Mike Jacobs, Leo Davis, Tony Brooks, Keith Conlon, Ian Henschke. Twelve Gents in all.

Perhaps because there were just twelve of us we were seated downstairs in the main restaurant area, which is very pleasant but quite crowded due to its popularity. The main course on this occasion was slow-cooked goat. Most enjoyable.

In order to avoid any further payment problems we agreed to pay immediately upon entry. The management appeared to be happy with this and there were no stuff ups.

A feature of this gathering was that Ghil'ad blessed the meal in Aramaic, the language spoken by Jesus, Ghil'ad being of course a Professor of Linguistics at Adelaide University and expert in the recovery of lost languages. The way in which this came about was that Ian Henschke had interviewed Ghil'ad on ABC radio some days previously about the festival of languages the he was to run on the coming weekend. Ian was highly impressed with Ghil'ad speaking in Aramaic and suggested that he could give the blessing, which he was pleased to do. At the end we all said 'Amen'.

Grum, Ian H, Parky, Brooks with festival poster

Waiter, Andy's head, Ghil'ad, Grum, Parky, Brooks, Cobbs, Ian, Keith, Wayne's hand

Wayne records a video of Ghil'ad giving the blessing

Mike J, Bill, Parky, Grum

Reverse shot. Gents most interested

Ghil'ad in full flight

Cobbs, Ian H, Keith

Parky, Brooks, Cobbs, Ian

Cobbs, Ian, Keith, Wayne

Parky, Keith, Brooks

Ghil'ad, Keith, Mike

JUNE

Leo's notes

Thursday, June 19, 2014.

Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; Upstairs at Jolley’s Boat House, River Torrens Bank.
Diners: Prof Wilf Prest, John Bannon, Wayne Anthoney, Don Riddell, Bill Kay, Paul Kolarovich, John McGowan, Ian Hamilton, Andrew Bishop, Mark Coleman, Bob Adams, John Potter, Mike Norman Neville Sloss, Ian Bidmeade, Milton Wordley, Leo Davis.

Apologies: Andy Ligertwood, Prof. Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Michael Jacobs, Keith Conlon, Tony Parkinson, Arwed Turon, Robert “Red” Hodge, Rob Morrison.

Seventeen bold gents attended this gathering. The system of pay upon arrival appears to be working well.

Three lads who, over time, have come as Leo’s guests, were able to report upon recent publications.

Ian Bidmeade has published a small book of his poems, written over a period of 30 years or more.

Ian Hamilton, already a published writer, read from his recently printed first novel, “Meanjin Crossing”.  He is close to finishing his second novel and his publisher is pressing him to complete and deliver the manuscript.

Milton Wordley launched a project to produce a photographic tribute to the SA icon, Grange Hermitage.  He employed another Hogarthian, Philip White, to write 4 supporting essays.  John Nowland, a graphic designer known to several tablers, designed the book.  Milton made a point of having the book completely fashioned and printed in Adelaide

It has had extraordinary success.

A press release from  Leon Bignell Minister for Agriculture, Food and Fisheries; Minister for Forests; Minister for Tourism; Minister for Recreation and Sport; Minister for Racing (Pheww!), includes

“The photo-essay book A Year in the Life of Grange won the medal in the Coffee Table book section at the 18th annual American Independent Book Publisher Awards.

Hand-crafted by three well-known South Australians - photographer Milton Wordley, wine writer Philip White, and designer John Nowland – the book has also been short-listed for the prestigious International Wine Book of the Year at the Gourmand International Wine and Cook Book Awards, described as the “Oscars of the wine and food book awards”.

At the aforementioned International Wine Book of the Year awards, in Beijing, in May, Milton was awarded for Best Wine Book Photography

Sweet tooths raised the possibility of replacing the main course with a dessert. This had not been resolved when the early leavers departed at 4 pm.

Bob with Don, Ian Bidmeade behind

Leo, Wilf, Blackjack Bannon, unfortunately dealing with a temporary eye complaint

The antipasto table, magnificent as always

Clockwise from left: Ian Hamilton, Normal, McGoon (pointing while making a point ) Neville, Don's head, Bill, Mark, Wayne's head, John's head, Wilf,Bob, Pottsie, Paul

Ian Hamilton stands to introduce his new work of fiction. Millton Wordley at head of table

Ian reads one of the salacious sections in the hope of attracting buyers

A round of applause for the author

JULY

Monthly Hogarth Club Luncheon; Upstairs at Jolley’s Boat House, River Torrens Bank.

Diners: John Bannon, Michael Jacobs, Wayne Anthoney, Bill Kay, Keith Conlon, Paul Kolarovich, Mark Coleman, Bob Adams, John Potter, Mike Norman, Neville Sloss, Milton Wordley, Arwed Turon, Geoff Shepherd, Tony Brooks, Bob Lott, Leo Davis. Apologies: Andy Ligertwood, Ian Hamilton, Prof Wilf Prest, Prof. Ghil’ad Zuckermann, Don Riddell, Tony Parkinson, Andrew Bishop, Robert “Red” Hodge.

Seventeen Gents in all.

As good as it is to have big tables the pleasure of hearing all conversation, which often happened with small gatherings in the Hogarth Room, is missing. What interesting discussions did most of us not hear today?

Concern was expressed by a few lads when it was recognised that one plate on the antipasto spread was covered with half lamb tongues. It was clear that some would not try them but they all went quickly. The insides were delicious but the outer skin a presented a difficulty. Eat or discard? The legs from several, probably different, lambs were served as main course. This was appropriate on the day that the Carbon Tax was finally repealed and Barnaby Joyce’s prediction of them costing $100 each could be erased from our minds.

Two lads laughed over sharing the same Urologist and one waking from his surgery to have an attendant, the surgeons wife, say “We used to go out”.

Neville Sloss lives in Auburn but has secured work in Adelaide two days a week, so he stays in a room above Milton Wordley’s office, at his Maxwell St house, one or two nights a week. Another Hogarthian, Philip White, occasionally uses the same quarters, so there are two male urine bottles in place. For those in need a www check shows a box of 100 is available for $53.30. Neville first came to Hogarth as Tony Brooks' guest, at our great Xmas Lunch, at Bob Lott’s Holden St Theatre, last December. The connections became clearer today when John Potter announced it was Neville’s 60th to Hogarth. Bob Lott told us a great story in honour of the occasion. In the 1980s Bob, Tony Brooks and Neville were partners in a Public Relations company. They cooked up a clever logo, “PR” using the font, etc., of the Rolls Royce “RR”, style, and got away with it for a year or so till the “desist at once” lawyers’ letter arrived.

Small table, etc. Neville’s sister was once married to another Hogarthian.

It was settled that we have Xmas Hogarth at Holden Street Theatre again this year. Thank you, Bob. A flippant remark, “Will it be on?”, referred to the air conditioning which was not all that effective last year but easily ignored given how well the event went. And anyway, Global Warming is a dead issue now.

Things dragged on so that many, most, left by or before 4 pm, before coffee orders had been taken, and so most missed coffee today.

Neville Sloss, Mark Coleman, Keith Conlon, Brooks, Bob Lott, Bob Adams

It was Neville's sixtieth birthday. Milton brought him as his guest, though he, Milton is not officially a member, but hey, who cares?

Mark, Keith, Brooks, Milton, Bob L, Paul, Bill, Arwed, Bannon's head,someone else's head, Bob A, Pottsie, Normal, Wayne's nose. Out of shot: Geoff, Neville, Leo

This image was attached to Ghil’ad Zuckermann’s apology for not attending Hogarth this month.

Dear Wayne,

Apologies. Warm wishes from the Ponte di Rialto, Venezia, en route to Israel (which is slightly less serenissima these days).

I look forward to seeing you in August, after the missiles...

Yours ever, Ghil'ad

AUGUST

Those present: Robert (Red) Hodge, Wayne Anthoney, Tom Anthoney, Ghil'ad Zuckermann, Bill Kay, Ian Henschke, Alan Cooper, Phil (Grum) Grummet, John (JB) Bannon, Andy (Lidgo) Ligertwood, Leo Davis, Edmund (Pegge) Pegge, Keith (Teeth) Conlon, Wilf Prest, Arwed (Arcweld) Turon, Mark Coleman, John (Pottsie) Potter, Andy (Bish) Bishop, Tony (Brooks) Brooks, John (Shooey) Schumann.

A total of twenty gents. And an excellent time was had by all.

Ian brought Professor Alan Cooper as his guest, the latter being the Director of the Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, recently returned from Canada where in a very deep hole in the ground he found a thirty thousand years old fragment of a mammoth jawbone. Which he brought with him to display at our luncheon. Very impressive. On the Friday after the lunch it was announced publicly that Professor Cooper had been awarded the sum of three million dollars to enable his work to continue. The following link makes interesting reading: www.adelaide.edu.au/directory/alan.cooper .

Despite our large number of attendees, we were given the downstairs area rather than the private upstairs room but complaints were there none.

Ian, Festival Director David Sefton, who happened to be passing, Alan, Keith, Pegge, JB. David is fondling the mammoth fragment.

Wayne, Bill, Lidgo, Mark

JB explains, attended keenly by Pegge, Keith and Red.

The centrepiece of this photo is Shooey, flanked by Tom and Wayne.

Many gents. Mark looks slightly guilty for some unknown reason. Perhaps it's the light.

Alan displays the mammoth jaw fragment (which was remarkably heavy) and talks about it. Bish, left, and Ian Henschke, right didn't think it smelled at all well.

SEPTEMBER

Those present: Red Hodge, John Murray, Don Riddell, Mike (Normal) Norman, Bill Kay, Arwed Turon, Phil (Grum) Grummet, Leo Davis, Malcom (Bicycles) Elliott, John (Pottsie) otter, Ian Bidmeade, Keith Conlon, Nevill Schloss, John McGoon) McGowan, Mike (Cobbs) Jacobs, Wayne Anthoney. 17 Gents in all.

Despite there being seventeen of us we were once again relegated to the downstairs area, the excuse being that in the upstairs room the air conditioning was being attended to.

Paul Lloyd, who now only comes to lunch every ten years, though he is invited every month, usually does not reply to the invitation but on this occasion he did, with a fulsome dissertation on the arrival of Spring and the significance of thequinox. This prompted Keith in his reply to suggest a recitation by his goodself of The Sentimental Bloke's Spring Song, which in turn prompted Neville Sloss in his reply to talk about the recent C. J. Dennis festival in his home-town of Auburn, which was of course also C. J. Dennis' home-town. He referred to a recently published book by Phillip Butters titled 'The Unsentimental Bloke'.

It was another excellent luncheon at which among other delights Keith did indeed honour us with a recitation.

Antipasto...starters...hors d'oevres...call 'em what you will, they're always brilliant.

Wayne gives a short discourse on the superiority of braces over belts for holding up the trousers of ageing Gentlemen. At the end of the table Arwed, a lawyer takes a point of order.

Look! Pottsie spots a flying saucer hovering above the Torrens. Few were fooled.

Keith recites.

McGoon also. Another point of order from Arwed.

OCTOBER

Those present: Bill Kay, David Quick, Wayne Anthoney, Andy (Lidgo) Ligertwood, Mike (Normal) Norman, John (JB) Bannon, Phil (Grum) Grummet, Bob Adams with guest Bill Coates, Tony (Parky) Parkinson, Geoff Shepherd, Leo Davis, Red Hodge, Tony (Brooks) Brooks, Mark Coleman, John (Pottsie) Potter, Keith Conlon, Bob Lott. Eighteen hungry gents in all, a goodly number.

It was good to see Mr. Quick at our table again. The table however was downstairs for the third month in a row, rather than in the upstairs private room and some Gents expressed disquiet about this. Will the issue be resolved? We will see what we will see. A minor problem with the downstairs space is that Leo finds the light difficult for his photos.

But But and however, the starters were as always sensational!

A toast was raised by Keith for the 140th anniversary of the University of Adelaide, alma mater for many of us.

Of course the memories of wonderful days fifty years ago were soured for some of us by the memory of the

disgraceful destruction of Union Hall a few yeas ago.

NOVEMBER

Those present: Peter (Trigger) Tregilgas, Harry Tregilgas, Wayne Anthoney, Andy (Lidgo) Ligertwood, Mike (Normal) Norman, Paul Kolarovich, Peter Colling, Phil (Grum) Grummet, Geoff Shepherd, Bob Adams, Bill Kay, Don Riddell, John (Pottsie) Potter, Mark Coleman, Bob Lott, Neville Schloss, John (McGoon) McGowan, Leo Davis. Eighteen gents in all.

Once again we found ourselves relegated to the downstairs area, which is pleasant but cramped and not as pleasant as the upstairs private room. When Bob Lott arrived to find the group milling crampedly about downstairs he got on the phone and had a terse conversation with someone, after which he assured us that the problem had been solved and that next year we would be reinstated to the top room.

Some four years ago W. Anthoney, in his role as Master of the Rolls, issued the monthly invitation in verse (doggerel) form, resulting in an avalanche of doggerel in reply. This November he did the same, with the same result. The Collected Works may be seen by clicking here --> POETIC RESPONSES TO THE NOVEMBER INVITATION

Mr Anthoney announced that there would be a handsome trophy for the best (read worst) entry and this was won by Mark Coleman. Photo below.

Downstairs again

Harry Tregilgas talking with his dad

Mr. Anthoney just out of shot at left reveals the winner of the poetry prize

Mr. Coleman, somewhat shocked, reveals the secret of his success to Lidgo and Bob Lott. The trophy is in front of him

Robust discussions, as always

DECEMBER

Those present: Peter Colling, Wayne Anthoney, Leo Davis, Ed (Pegge) Pegge, Wilf Prest, Phil (Grum) Grummet, Keith (Teeth) Conlon, Red Hodge, John (JB) Bannon, Andrew (Bish) Bishop, Ian Bidmeade, Mike (Normal) Norman, Neville Schloss, Bob Adams, Ian Coats, Richard (Potter Minor) Potter, John (Pottsie) Potter, Tony (Brooks) Brooks, Bob Lott, Geoff Shepherd, Mike (Cobbs) Jacobs, Milton Wordley, Malcolm Elliott, Andy (Lidgo) Ligertwood, Ian Hamilton, Ian Henschke. 26 Gents in all, a Hogarth Club World Attendance record.

For the second year running we held our Christmas gathering on the stage of the Holden Street Theatre, thanks to the efforts of Bob Lott. It is worth noting that 13 of the gents assembled have been part of at least one Be Your Age Fringe revue, of which there have been five, starting in 2006. These revues were presented every second year at Holden Street, on the very stage where we were now dining. Anyone interested can see details of show details on the Footlights website - www.footlights.net.au .

We gathered in the Green Room for antipasto and introductory chat and then processed to the theatre itself, which had once again been beautifully decorated by Marnie Lott, with tables arranged in a large square.

The fare was delicious, described as a 'sumptuous Italian feast', prepared by caterers xxxxx.

As usual, carols were sung, stories were told and a bloody good Christmas time was had by all.

Some Gents felt that the rectangular table arrangement did not work so well, because a person could converse with only two people - those on either side - whereas with the more usual linear arrangement conversation with five people (two on each side and three across the table) is possible. If one had run out of conversation or in fact did not like the person on either side (not really a possibility) then it could seem somewhat limiting. However this was a minor impediment to a superb afternoon.