As this is our first issue for 1917, we wish all our readers a Happy and Prosperous Year — for "'tis better late than never." This year, mainly owing to the increased price of paper and labour, the management has decided to produce the Magazine twice a year instead of three times, as formerly. The price is also to be advanced a little. This, of course, will result in a slightly larger and better magazine, more acceptable, not only to Present Boys, but also to Old Boys. It is intended to issue it at the end of each half, that is, just before the Mid-winter and the Christmas vacations.
We were all very sorry to farewell Mr. Palmer at the end of last year, but he bears with him our best wishes for a happy and contented married life. Mr. Palmer took a great interest in School sport, and helped, to a great extent, in fostering the Lower School football. He is now a master of The Armidale School in New South Wales. We welcomed Mr. Evans at the beginning of the year, and wish him every success in his new appointment.
The Upper Sixth of last year achieved a record in the Senior University Examination, which will be hard to eclipse. Out of the twenty scholarships awarded annually in Queensland, they captured seven, including four out of the first five places. The successful candidates were A. E. Axon (first), E. S. Edmiston, E. G. Wagner, W. Briggs, F. C. Nommensen, C. Day, and E. C. Ringrose. It would be hard to find a better sport, in the true sense of the word, than "Bert" Axon. "Bert" always considered the School first, and himself last, and it was only fitting that his merits should be rewarded by his gaining first place in the scholarships.
(The remainder of the Editorial discusses the Junior Examination grouping rules and the year's swimming sports.)
The President for 1916–17 was Mr. E. R. Crouch. At the 1917 Annual General Meeting Mr. Reginald Heber Roe was elected President for 1917–18; Mr. J. G. Nowlan continued as Hon. Secretary & Treasurer. The Association's central concern remained the war: recording enlistments and the mounting Roll of Honour.
Old Boys' Association (Founded 1898).
No award. The Reginald Heber Roe Memorial Bursary had not yet been founded (first award 1933).
A Supplementary Roll of Honour is printed in this issue (names added since the last).
Both 1917 issues carry the WWI Roll of Honour and Old Boys' registers; not reproduced here.
Source: The Brisbane Grammar School Magazine, June 1917 and November 1917 (two termly issues, combined). From 1917 the Magazine moved from three issues a year to two (June & November). Notation: Bracketed "(year)" = year of ENTRY. (No R. H. Roe Bursary before 1933.) School Captain 1917: T. ("Tommy") Lawton (named "last year's captain" in the 1918 issue; the June 1917 School Prefects list is headed by J. E. Biggs). Head Master: F. S. N. Bousfield, M.A.
In this era, an Old Boy's year designation was the year he entered Grammar; the convention today is the year he finished. A boy who started in 1993 and finished in 1997 was (93) but is now '97.
Brisbane Grammar School Old Boys' Association · Old Boys History. Part of the OBA Knowledge Project.
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