20 to one famous graduates: actors, sportsman that rose to fame in Hornsby schools
The Advocate has brought together our list of Hornsby’s most famous graduates, from sporting legends to stars of the stage and screen.
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THE classrooms of our schools are filled with talent — so you never know who will make it to the silver screen or world stage.
The Advocate has brought together our list of Hornsby’s most famous alumni, from sporting legends to stars of the stage and screen.
Over the next three days we will continue to bring you our list of the most famous students to roam the halls of local schools.
15. BELINDA LUSCOMBE — Abbotsleigh Ladies College
SHE IS the Editor at Large for one of the most well-known magazines across the globe, and she found her passion for writing at Abbotsleigh.
Belinda Luscombe has been part of the team at TIME Magazine since 1995, before becoming a senior editor in 1999.
Luscombe was promoted to Editor at Large in 2008, and produced several cover stories for the world-famous publication.
Luscombe began her journalism career at The Daily Telegraph before writing for several other publications across the globe.
In a 2008 Time article titled ‘Why women hate Sarah Palin’, Luscombe spoke about her years at Abbotsleigh.
She said the reason why Palin was disliked was because she did not pass “the Abbotsleigh Ladies College test”. The test includes a prettiness factor, a confidence factor, and the possibility that she could embarrass other women.
“What the Democrats learned during the primaries and the Republicans might now be finding out the hard way, I learned at my very academic, well-regarded all-girls high school: that is never to discount the ability of women to open a robust, committed, well-thought-out vat of hatred for another girl,” she wrote.
#14. JOHN LAWS — Knox Grammar School
John Laws, 82, is an absolute legend of Australian radio. He became a familiar voice to most Australians with a career spanning 60 years in broadcasting. His distinctive voice earned him the nickname the Golden Tonsils.
His success was in part motivated by “proving all those wankers at Knox that he could make it in the world”.
Needless to say, Laws did not enjoy his years at Knox.
“I didn’t explore friendships a lot,” he said. He was a tall, gangly kid with bad acne who the headmaster singled out at assembly as the boy who would go nowhere, he says. He left at 15 to go jackarooing.
#13. PHILLIP NOYCE — Barker College
THE award-winning director has made a wealth of highly-rated films including Australian classic Rabbit Proof Fence, adapted from Doris Pilkington Garimara’s book.
Other films he has directed include Patriot Games and Salt which saw him work alongside Hollywood stars Harrison Ford and Angelina Jolie.
Noyce was born in Griffith but attended Barker College after his parents moved the family to Wahroonga.
“I went to Barker College, Hornsby - a middle-class boys’ school where we were taught to lead,” he said. “Not many leaders emerged, mainly a lot of dentists, lawyers and doctors - although [rock singer] Peter Garrett went to Barker. I coached Peter at rugby. He was a winger with beautiful locks of blond hair.”
Towards the end of his schooling, he started to think about life beyond the confines of suburbia.
“During my last year at Barker I escaped from Wahroonga and started wandering around Glebe contemplating what it would be like to live there and go to Sydney University,” Noyce said.
“While I was there I happened upon a poster that was on a telegraph pole advertising American ‘underground’ movies. I didn’t know then what ‘underground’ movies were, but I knew, as an 18-year-old in 1968, that it was something I wanted to be involved in.”
12. ADAM GARCIA — Knox Grammar School
Adam Garcia enjoyed Hollywood heart-throb status in the early 2000s after his breakout role in Coyote Ugly. He went on to star in Bootmen and Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen alongside Lindsay Lohan.
Since then he has been a regular on television talent shows, appearing as a judge on Just Dance in the UK and Australia’s version of Dancing with the Stars. He will judge Channel 7’s Dance Boss competition later this year.
Garcia credits the principal at Knox for nourishing his talent. “He put on huge school musicals,” Garcia told the Sydney Morning Herald.
“While I was in Year 11 I got offered a part in 42nd Street but the principal, Mr Paterson, convinced me to stay at school. However he gave me a lot of leeway to work in entertainment. I had a month off school to do a tour of Australia with a ballroom dancing show.”
Fellow thespian Hugh Jackman was school captain and dux of Knox while Garcia was there.
11. JAI COURTNEY — Cherrybrook Technology High School
COURTNEY has secured roles in countless blockbusters including Terminator Genisys alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, A Good Day to Die Hard with Bruce Willis and Suicide Squad with Will Smith and Margot Robbie.
But before he was gracing the silver screen, Courtney was learning his trade in classrooms at Cherrybrook Technology High School and before that Galston Public School.
Cherrybrook Technology High School head of creative and performing arts Chris Mortimer, who taught Courtney in the early 2000s remembered him as a “likeable larrikin with a sensitive side”.
“He was a bit of a larrikin and needed teacher guidance, but he was solid at what he did,” he said.
“He liked the acoustic guitar, played the banjo and was a good singer with good tone.”
Mr Mortimer also remembered Courtney as someone who wouldn’t let his classmates down.
“He had a great sense of humour and was a likeable person, very team-orientated,” he said.
Courtney said while he no longer lives in Cherrybrook, it was “still well and truly home”.
CHECK BACK TOMORROW WHEN THE FAMOUS ALUMNI LIST CONTINUES WITH 10 TO SIX
Whow will be in our top ten? Tell us your list below!