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John Mann MD, at Princes Hill Primary School in the early 1960s, is the Paul Janssen Professor of Translational Neuroscience (in Psychiatry and in Radiology) and Vice Chair for Research in the Department of Psychiatry at Columbia University. He is Director of Research and Director of Molecular Imaging and the Neuropathology Division at the New York State Psychiatric Institute. Dr Mark Medownick, his contemporary, is Medical Director at Medownick Laser Eye Surgery Clinic. Arnold Zable was one of the first form 6 graduates at Princes Hill High School. He is a writer, novelist, storyteller and human rights advocate. Two other writers, Amirah Inglis and Lily Brett, both passed through Princes Hill - Amirah in the early 1930s and Lily in the late 1950s. Sam Lipski, celebrated journalist, political commentator and editor of the Jewish News, and Dr Clifford Pannam, celebrated Queen’s Counsel and racing identity, both attended Princes Hill Central in the early 1940s; Sam came from Lee Street and Clifford from Errol Street. One of the contemporaries was Jack Faigenbaum, another Queen’s Counsel. All three continued on to University High School. Another journalist was Alan Dower, who attended school in the early 1920s. After service as a commando officer he attracted attention as a war correspondent and writer. He took direct personal action to stop the executions of communist women and children in the Korean War. Annette Klooger was only one of a number of Princes Hill students who found fame in the world of entertainment. She was one of the first singers to appear on television. Russell Hitchcock, one of the first generation of the high school’s students, has won international renown as the lead singer of the rock and roll band Air Supply. Wendy Saddington was an Australian blues, soul and jazz singer, and was in the bands Chain, Copperwine and the Wendy Saddington Band. She also wrote for teen pop newspaper Go-Set from September 1969 to September 1970 (Lily Brett also worked at Go-Set). Don Battie, at Princes Hill School in the 1940s, and Bill Murdoch, another of the first-generation high-school students and subsequently a teacher at the high school, are directing and producing in theatre and television. Ben Lewin is a celebrated director. John Bluthal, who was one of the refugee children referred to by Head Teacher Bryant in 1940, won international recognition as a stage and cinema actor. He has worked with Sir Peter Hall at the National Theatre, played Fagan in a London production of Oliver, recorded Goon Shows with Spike Milligan, and played roles in many films including A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Return of the Pink Panther, Superman III, The Fifth Element and the Cohen Brothers' Hail, Caesar! He appeared in The Vicar of Dibley from 1994-2007. Steve Bastoni is a well known actor. He is best known for his role as Constable Yannis 'Angel' Angelopoulos in Police Rescue and as Steve Parker in Neighbours. Kelvin Coe, who came to Princes Hill in the late 1950s, was a celebrated principal with the Australian Ballet Company. Roy Sparkes, a student in the late 1930s, was a well-known Melbourne musician. Joseph Brown, who arrived at Princes Hill School in 1933, was one of many students to receive encouragement and help from Head Teacher Mylrea during the 1930s depression. He was one of the foremost private collectors and dealers of Australian art. One student who won renown as an artist was Quentin Sutton (1906-1980), a prominent mural painter and finalist for The Archibald Prize in 1932. Ivor Evans, dux of the school in 1901, co-designed the Australian flag. A number of Princes Hill students have entered politics and the public service.27 David White, MLC for Doutta Galla from 1976 to 1996, was Minister for Health in the Cain Labor Government. Ian Macfarlan was an Australian politician, deputy leader of the Liberal Party of Australia in the state of Victoria, and the 35th Premier of Victoria.
David Smith, AO, CVO, CStJ, Official Secretary to the Governor-General of Australia and who read the proclamation on the steps of Parliament House dismissing the Whitlam government in 1975, was a student at Princes Hill in the early 1940s. Frank Hardy, another ‘old boy’ and a long-time friend of the school, was a Councillor with the Melbourne City Council. Alec Cook, son of Councillor Cook and a student in the 1920s, was Secretary of the Harbour Trust. A. R. McKenzie, a student in the early 1900s, became President of the Harbour Trust. Whitehead was Chief of Melbourne Fire Brigade. Mr Jessop, his contemporary, was Director of the Melbourne and Metropolitan Board of Works. W. Rowe, a student in the 1930s, was Chief Electoral Officer and Secretary of the Health Department. Dr Lachlan Strahan
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