The Latest

2025 Annual Dinner

The school's teaching staff left lasting impressions, particularly Mrs Evelyn Rowe - who modelled her hairdos on the queen, signed correspondence “ER” and kept corgis. However, she might have regretted inviting members of the Rugby firsts to her home in Eastlakes after we had won some money for the school at a seven a side competition that had featured the legendary Ella brothers, knocked out on the other side of the draw. We discovered she was married to a hard drinking seagoing engineer, who insisted the boys have a beer with him. Highlights of the final year were victories over Sydney Boys High in both rugby and debating.

Like many Fort Street students, he went straight to Sydney University, where he studied medicine after a score in the Higher School Certificate he still considers to be "a complete fluke.”

A Career Built on Coincidence: From St Vincents Hospital to Forensic Psychiatry

Nielssen's path to forensic psychiatry was shaped by chance. When two interns at St Vincents wanted the same hospital rotations that included coveted terms in cardiology and psychiatry they tossed for it and Nielssen won. "That's basically how I became a psychiatrist," he explained.

Towards the completion of his training he met Robert Finlay-Jones, who became a friend and mentor and helped him secure a NSW Institute of Psychiatry fellowship, a year's salary from the NSW Government, to train in forensic psychiatry in England and America.

His time at Broadmoor, the infamous British secure forensic hospital, provided unforgettable stories. Working on the politically sensitive ward, he was briefly the psychiatrist to Peter Sutcliffe and Ronnie Kray, who had developed schizophrenia. The Kray twins were still wealthy from property holdings in the east end, and Ronnie arranged for gifts to be delivered to the nurses that were rewarded with a breakdown in discipline, which ended when it came to the attention of the Sun newspaper, and Ronnie’s spending was then closely supervised. 

He was later attached to the UCLA forensic psychiatry fellowship program, meeting Park Deitz and Milton Greenblatt and attached as a fellow at Atascadero, a 1,000-bed maximum security hospital in California.  In California he learned "what not to do" in mental health care.

Returning to Sydney, Nielssen worked at the forensic hospital at Long Bay “our oldest industry – you would think we would be better at it”. Throughout his career, Nielssen made important scientific contributions. He observed that the first ten people who came into his forensic ward having committed homicide during an episode of psychotic illness had done so in their first episode of schizophrenia. "It's a terrible observation to make, but after you've been treated, your odds of anything like that is quite low … it’s the first episode that is an emergency." Other research has demonstrated the futility of risk assessment as a means to prevent harm, the role of mental health laws in delaying treatment for psychosis, the contribution of cannabis and amphetamine to mental illness, mechanisms of recovery in psychological treatments and epidemiological research into the causes and consequences of homelessness.

Habilis Housing: From Groundhog Day to Breaking the Cycle

After fifteen years working in prisons - "Groundhog Day," as he described it - Nielssen took over the walk up clinic at the Matthew Talbot Hostel clinic, providing readily accessed care for people straight out of jail, psychiatric hospitals, and rough sleeping. He observed that "there's a revolving door between prisons, psychiatric hospitals and the homeless sector. Ten percent of people in jail have got a major mental illness. Prisons are the new asylums."

The work proved rewarding and led to extensive research on homelessness. His findings painted a devastating picture: Sydney has approximately 1,000 people with chronic mental illness sleeping rough every night, which he described as "a giant open air chronic ward with a nice climate."

The economics are compelling. "It costs more to neglect a homeless person than it costs to treat and house them." He calculated that institutional costs - psychiatric beds at $1,200 per day, general hospital beds at $2,000, prison beds at $300 - meant his first 20 Habilis patients had accumulated $208,000 per person annually in costs before coming to the program, and that it cost $32,000 a year to care for them. Sydney City alone spends $30,000 per year in sanitation costs alone for Sydney City to look after their rough sleepers. "It's ironic that a solution to homelessness is a house, who would have thought" although it has to include the right kind of supports.

With the help of philanthropic donations and government grants, Habilis built its first purpose-built housing project in Summer Hill - just down from Fort Street High School. The Habilis model represents a fundamental reimagining of supported housing for people with severe mental illness, primarily schizophrenia. The model is small-scale clusters of self-contained units, together with clinical care and social support needed for residents to remain well and maintain tenancy. Unlike temporary shelters, Habilis offers a home for life.

Support services are funded through a sustainable model: rent from the Disability Support Pension and Commonwealth Rent Assistance, NDIS packages, contributions from family members and volunteers, with visiting psychiatrists and mental health nurse practitioners funded by Medicare at no cost to residents.

The model won the 2025 ArchitectureAu Award for Social Impact. The 20 single-occupancy units are thoughtfully arranged around a shared courtyard, fostering a sense of belonging while allowing for personal space and privacy, with essential mental health services embedded on site.

All residents have expressed satisfaction with their units, and visitors from the housing and health sectors have praised the outcome. The long-term plan is to replicate the model, as NSW needs "about 50 of these complexes."

With the first facility located just down from his alma mater, the project represents a full circle journey - from Fort Street student to forensic psychiatrist to creator of permanent solutions for society's most vulnerable. It's a fitting legacy for a Fortian, embodying not just making one's own fortune, but as Michael Kirby's quote suggests, becoming "makers of a new and better world" and trying "to make the world more fortunate as well for others."

Click here to read more about Habilis.

Third, awareness: students maintain balance, exemplified by programmes like Sleepout Survivor and Duke of Edinburgh, becoming "independent, complex and creative people, not just academic machines."

The challenges of leadership include organising the Future Leaders Conference—a completely student-led event hosting over 300 students from 50 public schools—and speaking at weekly assemblies, which "is never less nerve-racking than the time before."

What they wish they'd known? That Fort Street would become "home away from home" and would surprise them in the best ways—from winning state football competitions to finding belonging daily at the school gates.

They concluded with Michael Kirby's words: Fort Street students aim not just to make their own fortune, but to become "makers of a new and better world" and "make the world more fortunate as well for others." Raising their glasses: "Once a Fortian, always a Fortian."

Having served as principal for nearly eight years, Juliette expressed her privilege in leading "this extraordinary school"—a vibrant community celebrated for diversity, inclusivity and excellence. She thanked key supporters including Don Newby of the Fortians Union, Colin Long of the Fort Street Foundation, and Ian McLaughlin, Maryse Alvis and Rod Broune for their work on the new career mentoring programme.

Juliette highlighted Iain Wallace, the part-time archivist and curator of the Ron Horan Museum, whose work preserving the legacies of Fort Street Girls and Boys High Schools creates a space for reconnection with the school's heritage. She encouraged visits during school assemblies to witness 920 students singing three songs: Gaudeamus, the old girls' school song, and the boys' school song.

She also praised the collaboration between Iain and Michael Kirby to record interviews with notable alumni, now available on YouTube, featuring distinguished Fortians including judges, barristers, scientists, journalists, and even the husband of the Governor-General.

Juliette provided a brief history lesson: Fort Street Model School opened in 1849, pioneering public education in Australia. The iconic wrought iron gates from Observatory Hill now stand at the Petersham entrance, and the street itself was renamed Fort Street in honour of the school's move. In 1911, the school split into Fort Street Girls, Fort Street Boys, and a separate primary school, reunifying in 1974-75 when the girls moved to Petersham. "Whether you attended Fort Street Girls, Fort Street Boys, or the unified Fort Street High School, you are all part of the one proud family. You are all Fortians."

She announced significant news: the NSW Government's commitment to offer equal selective school places for girls and boys starting in 2027, addressing the troubling gender imbalance where girls currently comprise only 25% of Fort Street's year seven cohort.

Juliette celebrated 2025's achievements: outstanding HSC results, success in music, sport, debating and science competitions, the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme with 150 year nine students, and nominations across all HSC showcase categories. The school musical, The Addams Family, was a spectacular success, and rugby was reintroduced with a strong start.

She concluded by emphasising that Fort Street is "much more than a top academically selective school"—it's a thriving, inclusive community celebrating individuality and creativity. "This school, your school, stands for far more than academic excellence. It exemplifies social justice, originality and community spirit."

Fortian Stories

Congratulations to Deborah Hutton OAM

The Fortians Union warmly congratulates Deborah Hutton on being awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division in the King's Birthday 2025 Honours. 

Deborah was recognised "for service to community health, and to media." 

A long-time advocate for skin cancer awareness, Deborah has been an Ambassador for Lions Australia's Skin Cancer Screening and Awareness Program since 2021, as well as working with Skin Check Champions, La Roche-Posay and The Skin Hospital. She has shared her own story publicly, encouraging Australians to take skin health seriously. 

Her contributions extend well beyond health advocacy. Deborah has lent her time to major charities, including the Starlight Children's Foundation and the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, while also building a highly successful career across television, publishing, and design. From hosting much-loved lifestyle programs on Nine and Foxtel, to her roles at The Australian Women's Weekly, to launching her own design lines, Deborah has been a prominent voice in Australian media for decades. 

We are proud to celebrate the achievements of a Fortian whose work continues to inspire, inform and give back to the community. Congratulations, Deborah, on this well-deserved honour!

A Fortian's Journey: From Burwood Girls to the Bright Lights 

Recently, I had the pleasure of chatting with Deborah to hear her remarkable story – one that begins long before Fort Street and takes us through a childhood of constant movement, an unexpected arrival at Petersham, and a life-changing moment that would see Debbie Haylock become Deborah Hutton.

The Road to Fort Street 

Born in England while her father, a Qantas Flight Engineer, was helping establish the kangaroo route between Sydney and the UK, Deborah returned to Australia at just six months old. "I literally say I was dropped off in transit," she laughs. After her parents' marriage ended, she moved to Queensland with her mother, while her two brothers stayed with their father. 

What followed was a series of relocations that would see young Deborah attend a number of schools. From Queensland to Port Moresby in New Guinea, then to the tiny two-teacher school at Glen Aplin near Stanthorpe, back to Brisbane, and finally to Sydney at age 11. She completed her final year of primary school at Ashfield before being enrolled at Burwood Girls High School. 

"I'd never been to anything but a co-ed school before," Deborah recalls. "I said to mum, 'I hate this place. This is horrible.'" 

Fortunately, salvation was at hand. The results from an IQ test she'd sat when moving from Queensland to New South Wales came through, revealing she was eligible for a selective school. "I was then taken out of Burwood and came in late to Fort Street during first form," she explains. And in a wonderful twist of timing, 1974 was the very year Fort Street Boys High School decided to go co-educational.

The Infamous Six Inch Rule 

Deborah arrived as one of the pioneering first form girls, alongside the fifth formers, in what would become a legendary period in the school's history. The old boys were, to put it mildly, somewhat alarmed by the arrival of the female contingent. 

"Everyone got over-excited about having girls at the school," Deborah remembers. "There was this whole old boys thing – 'Oh, we only produce premiers and Governor-Generals. What are these women doing? What are they coming over here for? We've never had girls!'" 

The administration's response to the hormonal chaos was to introduce what Deborah still considers one of the most ridiculous rules she's ever encountered: students had to remain six inches away from the opposite sex at all times. 

"We all thought, 'Oh, this is hilarious.' At recess in the quadrangle we'd sit down with whatever we're eating at the time, and we'd just be sitting right next to each other, going, 'I'm gonna be six inches away!' It was crazy. It was actually crazy." 

The rule, rather than separating the students, had the opposite effect. "I think because we all shared the situation – it was so ridiculous – it actually brought you together in ways that wouldn't have otherwise happened," she reflects. 

Living in Haberfield, Deborah would catch the bus to school each day, safety pins at the ready. "Mum had no part of it," she admits. "I would get on the bus and literally take a handful of safety pins with me, and I would sit there and pin up my uniform. You could only be six inches away from the opposite sex, but at least your legs were showing!"

Teachers and the Cultural Mix 

While Deborah was good at English and Geography, Mathematics remained her nemesis. "I'm so bad at maths that I took a harder unit to try and sort of get over how difficult it was. I'm still trying to balance a budget!" she jokes. 

She fondly remembers a couple of teachers who made an impact, including a geography teacher, and of course the legendary Ron Horan, who would sweep through assemblies in his flowing robes "like Harry Potter." 

Fort Street in the mid-1970s offered a wonderfully diverse environment. The student body included Greeks, Asian students, and a broad mix of other backgrounds. "Living in Haberfield, which was all Italian, it was just a really lovely mix." 

Despite her relatively short time at the school, Deborah carried something important away from Fort Street. "You held a sense of pride about attending Fort Street Boys High School," she reflects. "I think because it is a selective school, you felt a bit 'selected', and I think because of that, you applied yourself more because you were lucky to be there."

The Big World Beckons 

By fourth form, she was growing restless. Vocational guidance offered little inspiration – "there wasn't a lot of excitement there as to what to do. It was really limited in those days" – and her childhood dream of becoming a primary school teacher was beginning to feel uninspiring. 

At 16, Deborah decided there was a whole big world out there waiting to be explored. "I couldn't wait to get away from home," she admits. "My mother threatened to lock me up. She was like, 'You can't leave. You're too young. You haven't turned 16.' I went, 'Well, you just wait till I turn 16 – I'm out of here!'" 

She left school about halfway through fifth form, completing her School Certificate but not her HSC. "I literally walked out of Fort Street and onto a blank, white piece of paper. It was like, 'What am I going to do with my life?'"

From Debbie Haylock to Deborah Hutton 

What happened next would change everything. Through connections in Paddington, Deborah was introduced to a model who worked with the prestigious Vivien's modelling agency. She was encouraged to give modelling a try. “

She did my makeup, dressed me up, did the whole thing. We jumped in a really fancy car and went off and took all these photographs in Woollahra. The Charlie fragrance ads were a big thing - so it was black and white shots, all long legs." 

When the photographs were presented to the formidable Vivien, the response was immediate: "She sits there, looks at them, and says, 'Okay. That smile will make a million, but that name's got to go.'" 

What followed was an extraordinary moment that Deborah still finds amusing. Vivien grabbed the White Pages and began her search for a new name. After learning about Deborah's grandmother, Monica Hamilton, she flicked through the H section until she landed on "Hutton." 

"She goes, 'Hutton, Deborah Hutton. Deborah Hutton!' She yells across the room to a booker called Susie: 'What do you think of Deborah Hutton?' 'Yeah, sounds great.' She looks at me and says, 'What do you think?' I said, 'Sounds fine by me.' So I literally walked in Debbie Haylock and walked out Deborah Hutton that day." 

"It changed my life. From there, one of the first things I did was get a Cosmo cover in October 1978." Looking back on that era, Deborah recognises the unique freedom and innocence of the 1970s.

A Well-Deserved Honour 

When reflecting on her recent OAM, Deborah's humility is immediately apparent. "When I heard about it, I was in shock," she says. "And I really thought it's actually not for me – it's for all the people that I stand on the shoulders of, because they're the ones who are doing all the grunt work. I have a profile, I can highlight things and it gets a bit of attention." 

She describes the Investiture Ceremony at Government House as both beautiful and humbling. "You sit with all these other amazing people, listen to all these extraordinary people and what they've accomplished. I said to my mate Davo who came with me, 'I just don't feel worthy of it.' I accepted on behalf of the people that really do the work." 

One such person is a neighbour who started Skin Check Champions after losing his best mate to melanoma at age 25. "That's his mission in life now, and they raise money for mobile screening. He should be the one getting this." 

Deborah's work has undeniably made a difference. She often says that one of the best things that happened to her was getting skin cancer on her face. "It's given me a platform to actually do something that's impacting people and making a change." 

The challenge remains significant. Despite decades of sun safety campaigns, young people continue to chase the tan. "There's a whole thing at the moment with social media about tan lines. They go out to burn themselves and wear it proudly." Deborah recalls her own youth: "We were taught to lie in the sun and turn brown. I'd catch two buses and a train to get to Bondi. What was in the bag? Coconut oil, beach towel. That's basically all it was. And we pay the price now." 

Her latest venture, Canopy Bay Hats, emerged from this advocacy work – offering stylish sun protection that she hopes will make sun safety more appealing to younger generations. She's even working to get the hats into secondary schools, recognising that sun protection shouldn't stop when children transition from primary school.

The Fort Street Connection 

"There's that Fort Street identity," she acknowledges. "You held a sense of pride. I was in Lewisham recently and found myself driving slowly past the school, just taking it all in. It was quite a beautiful moment, going down those familiar streets. Even though I wasn't there until the end, for the most part I enjoyed it and left with some funny stories."

The Fortians Union congratulates Deborah on her OAM and thanks her for sharing her memories of Fort Street. Her journey from those pioneering days as a first form girl at Fort Street Boys High in 1974 to becoming a prominent media personality and passionate health advocate is a testament to the Fort Street spirit of excellence, service, and making a difference in the world.

Updates

Mentoring - Speed Dating (Career style)

Are you happy to talk to small groups of students about your career journey? 

If you are, please mark Friday, 27th Feb, 2026 (from 8:30 am to 11:00 am) in your calendar. The Fortians Union is pleased to be continuing our involvement with the school, through progressing this mentoring activity.

Year 12 students are keen to hear different, real-life perspectives about what the “world of work” means. You will spend approximately 5 mins with each small group, briefly telling them your story and answering their questions. 

We would love to have a range of professions and career stages to offer to the students. Perhaps you are early in your career? Students are interested in why you chose what you did and what you needed to get there. Or perhaps you may consider yourself mid-career. What can you tell them about the glamour (and the limitations) of your current work role? What does a “typical” day entail? Have you changed direction since you left high school? If you are nearing the end of your (paid) working life, are there different pathways you may have chosen? Did you have one career path or many?

Each of you have much to provide to the students, whether you believe it is “important” or not. We never know what will resonate with them when they are at this pivotal point in their life’s journey. Perhaps it’s your view on how AI will impact your profession. Or how rewarding working to promote a sustainable environment has been?

Consider giving back to the Fort Street community by sharing your journey with the students. They are very interested to hear from those who have been through this process, especially when they are Fortians. Please email maryse@fortians.au if you would like more information.

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of The Fortians Union will be held:

Date: 11th November, 2025
Time: 4:00 p.m.
Venue: Fort Street High School

Business of the Meeting

1. To receive the President's Report

2. To receive the Membership Report

3. To receive the Treasurer's Report

4. To elect the Management Committee for 2025–2026

5. Other Business

Positions to be Elected

• President

• Vice-President (Female)

• Vice-President (Male)

• Secretary

• Treasurer

• Committee Members (up to eight positions)

Nominations

Nominations for all positions will be accepted at the Annual General Meeting or may be submitted by email to fortians@fortians.au prior to the meeting.

Email nominations must be received by 10th November, 2025.

Nomination Procedure

All nominees and seconders must be financial members of The Fortians Union.

Nominations at the Meeting:
Nominations can be made and seconded at the Annual General Meeting.

Nominations by Email:
Members may nominate themselves for any position by following this procedure:

1. Send your nomination email to: fortians@fortians.au
   Subject: Fortians Union Management Committee Nomination
   Message: "I wish to nominate for the position/s of [indicate which position/s] at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of The Fortians Union.
   [Your first name and surname]"
   
   

2. Arrange a seconder: Ask another financial member of The Fortians Union to second your nomination.
   
   

3. Seconder sends their email to: fortians@fortians.au
   Subject: Fortians Union Management Committee Nomination
   Message: "I wish to second the nomination of [nominee's full name] for the position/s of [indicate which position/s] at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of The Fortians Union.
   [Seconder's first name and surname]"
   
   

All members are encouraged to attend and participate in this important meeting.

The Fortians Union Management Committee