There have been many iconic families that have contributed greatly to Sydney High School including names such as Rubie, McKay, McGill, Fetherston and Luxford. However not many High families have had the distinction of the Musgrove family of having three generations of boys attend the School.

Hailing from the eastern beaches of Sydney (Coogee to be precise), the family’s connection with High began when Peter Musgrove (1947) started at the School in 1943. During his time at the School Peter participated in a wide range of High’s offerings and in his final year was Vice Captain, Captain of Boats, represented the School in the First XV and First VIII, and obtained Blues in Rowing and Swimming. Not just a talented sportsman, he also won the Oswald Chapman Prize ‘To the best all-rounder in Year 12, selected on the basis of character, scholarship, sport and participation in School activities’, the John Waterhouse prize, ‘Awarded to the Prefect who has done most in the interests of the School, particularly in the way of keeping the “esprit de corps” and maintaining a high moral tone’, and the G.C. Saxby Prize for Mathematics. After leaving school, he maintained an active interest in High through his son and grandsons, and served as President of the P&C from 1975 to 1978. Peter went on to become a successful doctor.

Peter’s son David Musgrove (1977) was next to join the School in 1972. David was a prefect, played three years of First Grade Basketball and in his final year played First XV Rugby and was awarded a Blue for his selection in the GPS Combined 3rd XV. His younger brother Tim Musgrove (1978) followed and was an active participant in many school activities including the Union Committee, the Interact Club, and a range of sports. Following in the footsteps of his father, but going one better, Tim was named School Captain for 1978. He played three years of First Grade Basketball and two years of First XV Rugby, as well as being awarded the Arch Ferguson prize, ‘Awarded to sons, grandsons, brothers of Old Boys in Years 8-12 for academic achievements and services to the School’, and the Francis Bush Memorial Prize, ‘Awarded to a Year 11 student for popularity, general character and general proficiency in School and sport’. After school Tim followed his father into the medical profession, specialising in arthroscopic and reconstructive surgical procedures of the knee and ankle, and knee joint replacement/arthroplasty.

The third generation of Musgroves to attend High were Tim’s sons Jack and Sam. Both boys took advantage of the opportunity to join the School in Year 9, as many other sons, grandsons and brothers of Old Boys have done. Jack Musgrove (2010) joined the School in 2007 and was a similarly active contributor, being the Open Swimming Champion in 2009 and 2010, playing in the First XV in those two years, and rowing in the First VIII in his final year. Jack also won the Old Boys Prize, ‘Awarded to the student who was not necessarily first in sport, not necessarily first in scholarship, but certainly first in the hearts of his fellows’. His brother Sam Musgrove (2015) started at High in 2012. Sam was a prefect in his final year, as well as representing the First XV for three years, the First VIII for two years and being awarded Rowing and Swimming Blues (like his grandfather before him). Sam was also a member of the CHS Combined First XV and the Combined States First XV, a CHS Men’s Championship rower, the holder of the current School record for the 2k erg and a winner of the Arch Ferguson prize. Jack now works in the medical profession while Sam is currently pursuing his goal of becoming an elite athlete in Ironman Triathlon.