College Street retirements

Dr James Lucas

Mr Tom Watkins gave his impressions of the invaluable contribution Dr James Lucas made as a Housemaster. “Dr Lucas brought his significant talents to bear as a Housemaster of the red and black JAL House for fourteen years, finishing up at the end of 2025. He provided a high level of pastoral care to the boys, readily mixing careful guidance, compassionate help, clear boundaries and thoughtful leadership as required. Dr Lucas’ opinions and intellect were always highly regarded by both boys and staff. He has left his mark as a respected Housemaster and a valued colleague. We thank JAL and wish him well.”

Ms Kristen Lizzio added further comment on the various roles Dr Lucas performed during his tenure. “Dr Lucas arrived at Grammar in 1999 from SCEGGS Redlands, and soon was promoted into the role of Second Master English, where he stayed for ten years. He was a Tutor in REP house under Mr Ray Poppel, and he ran the Peer Support Programme for a time. In his first decade at Grammar, he coached junior cricket for ten years, and junior rugby for five. Dr Lucas is a published poet, first in 1993 in Southerly, and subsequently he has had two poetry collections published in 2021 and 2024.

“He is a highly accomplished English master, and his pupils appreciated his extensive expertise and passion. His teaching grounded them in solid foundations and pushed them to consider the broader world.

“James’ retirement is a weighty loss to the English department. His integrity, dry wit, extensive literary knowledge and collegiality will be noticeably missed.”

Ms Lisa Cleave

Ms Kristen Lizzio shared her thoughts on Ms Lisa Cleave, who has been with the English department since 2002. “Lisa had a stint as a Housemaster filling in for Mr Neal Townley in the early years, and she stepped in the Second Master English role in 2010 to replace Dr James Lucas when he became a Housemaster. She stayed in that role until stepping down in 2022. She has been involved with debating throughout her time at Grammar.

“She is a passionate teacher who has taught and connected with all abilities, through her incredible intellect and extensive knowledge of literature and texts, as well as her compassionate rapport with pupils, and her understanding of their differing pedagogical needs. Her reputation would precede her: when pupils saw LNC on their timetable in January they knew they would be having a good year of English.

“As a Second Master, Lisa was pivotal in the vision, efficiency and ongoing success of the department. As a colleague, she is thoughtful, generous and warm, but must also be acknowledged for pioneering the way forward for women at Grammar over the last twenty-six years with strength and quiet determination.

“We thank Lisa for all she has given us and taught us. She leaves a significant legacy that will be deeply felt in the English department and throughout Grammar.”

Ms Ann Quinn

Ms Ann Quinn arrived at Grammar in 1998 and retired at the end of Term III in 2025. Ms Kristen Lizzio commented on the impact she has made during that time. “Ms Ann Quinn served as a Tutor in LDL house, and before that under Mr Nathan Bottomley and Mr Gregg Williams. She was an Age Manager for a range of sports, including taekwondo, basketball, rugby, cross country and was also involved in debating. Ann was a key contributor to the Headmaster’s Supervision Scheme, that partnered recent Old Sydneians to mentor and guide current senior pupils. After beginning with them in Form II, Ann was determined to see her 2025 Form VI tutorial to the end of their schooling before retiring.

“Ann has maintained her deep passion and joy of literature throughout her twenty-seven years of teaching English at Grammar and her pupils have benefited from her extensive knowledge. Ann has been deeply committed to classroom teaching: she loved the interactions with pupils and seeing them connect with ideas that broadened their perspective. One particular Form II class asked her for a list of her favourite books, and subsequently a challenge was set to read all 100 on the list!

“In 2025, one of her English Extension 2 pupils was nominated for the NESA Young Writers Showcase, a fitting testament to mark her guidance, mentorship and commitment. We thank her for her unwavering commitment. Her warmth and collegiality will be dearly missed.”

Mr Craig Johnston

Mr Tom Watkins gave a ringing endorsement for the many qualities that Mr Craig Johnston has brought to Grammar. “As the School’s longest serving Housemaster, Craig Johnston made a sustained and vital contribution to pastoral care at the School. For twenty-five years he led the boys and Tutors in CAJ House through to 2023, amassing 99 terms as Housemaster of the purple and white House (just missing out on the ton). He was committed to the boys in his care, showcasing good judgement, precise organisation and careful guidance across the many facets of the job. Craig served as Assistant Headmaster (Senior Housemaster) in his final three years at College Street, bringing his wealth of experience and natural intelligence to the fore. The boys will remember his leadership and guidance, and his colleagues will remember Craig’s valuable opinions, brilliant efficiency and good humour. He has our warm thanks and best wishes.”

Ms Rima Kandalaft expanded further on Craig’s contributions. “As a member of the History department from 1995, Craig contributed passion for the subject that was obvious to his colleagues and the boys in his classes. He was consistently a model of high academic standards, professionalism, the source of a good joke or two, and a seemingly endless variety of anecdotes about various historical figures. Craig’s enthusiasm for aspects of Australian history played a big part in our departmental trips, with Beechworth and parts of Tasmania being clear examples. We wish him the very best for a well-deserved retirement.”

Mr Paul Reisner

Mr Paul Reisner was appointed to the staff of Sydney Grammar School in 1999, having previously taught at Ascham School. Mr Nathan Bottomley offers his reflections on Paul’s distinguished career at Grammar. “Paul taught both Latin and Greek in the junior and middle schools. He was tireless and thorough in training the boys in vocabulary and morphology; as a master, he was focused and purposeful, but always animated by warmth and whimsical humour.

“Outside the classroom, Paul was a Form I Tutor, introducing a generation of boys to the exigencies of life at College Street. For many years, he spent Friday evenings coordinating the suppers for home debates; more recently, he took on a supervisory role with various junior debating teams.

“In the Classics department, Paul was always a cheerful and generous colleague – a meticulous proofreader of examinations and assessments. He was also a devotee of Hollywood’s Golden Age. Boys in need of a break from the demands of the Classical Languages knew that a well-timed question about Alfred Hitchcock might earn them a few minutes’ respite at the end of a lesson.”