Reuniting with a headmaster for an expensive school in Australia named Ron..

October 7, 2009 7:54 AM

I'm looking for a forgotten chat-friend from over 10 years ago. All I remember is that his first name is Ron, and he was a headmaster at a school in eastern Australia, got to drive a Aston Martin as a work benefit, and once took a group of students to visit America in the Seattle area. He gave me some advice that I later took up, and would like to tell him how much of a difference (good) it's made.

I might remember his last name if I saw it. Is there a way to find a list of headmasters of all schools in eastern Australia, that are wealthy enough to offer their headmasters an Aston Martin as a company car? I recall him having told me the name of the school and I looked up the site just once, back then, so I might vaguely recall that if I saw it, also. Any ideas on where to start looking?

posted by Quarter Pincher to human relations (13 answers total)

You might start looking for the school in this list of Australian boarding schools. Most school websites have sections devoted to their headmasters.
posted by ocherdraco at 8:00 AM on October 7, 2009

Dig around here and see if any names jump out at you: http://www.privateschoolsdirectory.com.au/
posted by mrbarrett.com at 8:01 AM on October 7, 2009

I've looked through a couple school-listing sites (and sent my peculiar inquiry to their contact-us address) and none of them ring any familiar bells. Given that it was over a decade ago, he may not be headmaster there anymore, so his name may not be listed under the presently available data =/
posted by Quarter Pincher at 8:12 AM on October 7, 2009

You have to face the possibility that everything he told you was untrue.

It was so easy to do back then.
posted by Dagobert at 8:16 AM on October 7, 2009

Naysayers unwelcome. Falsity is certainly a possibility, but as an option resorted to after having done the research.
posted by Quarter Pincher at 8:23 AM on October 7, 2009

You should email some of the Australian headmasters above and ask them. They may have a better idea of where to look or who to talk to.
posted by gushn at 9:03 AM on October 7, 2009

This might be painfully obvious, and I apologize if that's the case, but have you searched on his old AIM (or other chat services / message board) handle and/or email address? Sometimes people reuse their favorite handles on other services and email addresses.

Also, if this was on a message board or other site, can you try looking through the WayBackMachine for hints as to where he worked or his last name?
posted by tastybrains at 10:11 AM on October 7, 2009

You could try contacting the Aston Martin club in Australia, to see if they know of any school that maintains an Aston Martin (for the headmaster, or any other reason)

http://www.astonmartin.org.au/
posted by unlaced at 10:55 AM on October 7, 2009

It was on AIM, several computers ago and the account has long passed out of use (no logs) and all that I can recall of his SN was partly to do with "Ron" =/ I may, however, still have ancient e-mails from that era from when I used Eudora and stored them all locally, but I'm not sure if I ever e-mailed him or if it were strictly chat. Perhaps..
posted by Quarter Pincher at 10:57 AM on October 7, 2009

That's a good idea, unlaced -- I shall try that!
posted by Quarter Pincher at 11:01 AM on October 7, 2009

Ron Swain?
posted by cosmac at 11:57 AM on October 7, 2009

Doesn't ring a bell, nor the schools. Thanks though! heh
posted by Quarter Pincher at 12:18 PM on October 7, 2009

Found him. Retired in 2007 from Broughton Anglican College. Thanks for your help, folks!
posted by Quarter Pincher at 2:03 PM on October 7, 2009 [1 favorite]