‘Normal, everyday’ Newington College old boys fear Sydney private school will revoke alumni privileges over co-ed hostilities

A ticket of Newington College graduates promising to take the politics out of “normal, everyday, alumni stuff” are fighting off an anti-co-ed contingent seeking to take control of the private school’s old boy union. Meet the businessmen and barristers behind ‘Your ONU’.

Members of the Newington old boys union at a special general meeting in March, in which their council was ousted. The ONU is set for a rematch later this month. Picture: Jonathan Ng

A ticket of Newington College graduates promising to take the politics out of “normal, everyday, alumni stuff” are fighting off an anti-co-ed contingent, who hope to win themselves influence over the school’s council in an upcoming alumni board ballot.

‘How to vote’ cards for the July 31 election are setting up a showdown between the ‘Save Newington College’ (SNC) party – led by pharmacist John Venetoulis and his secretarial nominee, property lawyer and current Newington parent Peter Prilis – and ‘Your ONU’, an apolitical faction who hold “diverse views” on coeducation but claim the ONU’s opposition to it could put their privileges at risk.

“The ONU is dependent on the school for funding, for access to school grounds, and for enrolment of graduating students,” the campaign site states.

“This support can be withdrawn if the ONU adopts a hostile stance.”

“All of our reputations are on the line,” if the SNC nominees are elected, they argue, concluding with the tagline “Regardless of your views on co-ed: we’re better than this.”

Old Newingtonians Union presidential nominee for the 'Save Newington College' (anti-co-ed) faction John Venetoulis.

Old Newingtonians Union secretarial nominee for the 'Save Newington College' (anti-co-ed) faction Peter Prilis.

The Your ONU ticket is led by presidential nominee Ed Miller, who graduated Newington College in 2008 and has worked in private equity, pro-bono consultancy and as a speechwriter for a deputy prime minister. He was also activist group GetUp’s director of ‘economic fairness campaigns’ as recently as 2021.

In a “note from Ed” posted on the Your ONU website, Mr Miller supported the co-ed move and advocated for a “simple, narrow vision” of the alumni association that “won’t attract headlines or come with a sense of drama and conflict”.

Old Newingtonians Union presidential nominee for the 'Your ONU' faction Edward Miller.

Ed Miller in his activist days. Picture: GetUp

“The first Newington students graduated into a world where women couldn’t vote in a federal election,” Mr Miller wrote.

“When I think about all the change that Newington has seen since it was founded in 1863, the prospect of Chris and John learning maths next to Jess and Hannah doesn’t worry me.

“It’s not our role as alumni to try and freeze Newington in time.”

Beside Mr Miller on the ticket are insolvency lawyer Scott Hedge, former credit assessment executive Angus Luffman, and SNC defector Graeme Martin.

Nominee Graeme Martin defected from the 'Save Newington College' group to run on the Your ONU ticket.

An early version of a ‘how to vote’ card distributed at the ONU special general meeting in March listed Mr Martin on the SNC ticket. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Graduates of the $42,000 private school have entrenched themselves as either in favour of or against the move to introduce girls at the historically all-boys College.

The rebel ‘Requisitioners’ faction of the Old Newingtonians ousted immediate past president Alexander Pagonis and the rest of the council by a slim margin during a marathon special meeting back in March, which saw nearly 1000 graduates of the 160-year-old Stanmore institution crammed into the Wesley Conference Centre in Sydney’s CBD.

The next election will be held on the school grounds.

Do you have a story for The Daily Telegraph? Message 0481 056 618 or email [e-mail]