(Unsigned)
This year has been a memorable one in the history of the Brisbane Grammar School. It has seen the resignation of Mr. Newell as Headmaster and the appointment of Mr. Howell as our new principal for 1965; the introduction of a competitive house system and the commencement of plans to mark the school's centenary in 1968.
During Mr. Newell's term as Headmaster, the school has attained an extremely high standard in scholarship — this being evidenced by the fact that four open scholarships were gained by this school in last year's Senior Examination and first, second and third places were awarded to members of this school in the Annual Queensland Science Contest. Not only have high marks been earned by top students but a great number of Commonwealth Scholarships have also been won by average students, in the past.
The introduction of the House System this year has, I feel, done much for the development of the school in the field of sport, and should continue to help to raise our sporting standards as house unity increases, and consequently the keenness of inter-house competition becomes greater. After this system has been in progress for some years, the members of each house should, I hope, have developed a large measure of house spirit and with it, more school awareness. As each house strives for distinction, then the members should not only develop a certain pride in their house, but also in the school. This, I think, will be the most desirable aspect of inter-house competition.
This year there have begun movements to make improvements to the school as part of the School's Centenary Celebrations. The newly formed Centenary Building Fund will ensure that a worthy monument will be erected to celebrate the first hundred years of the school's history and to provide an incentive to future generations.
Next year will see the commencement of Mr. Howell's term of office and we sincerely hope that he will regard the Brisbane Grammar School as being a worthy school to which to come, and we welcome him.
I am extremely happy to have been honoured by the Presidency of the Old Boys' Association at such an exciting and stimulating time in the history of the School.
Over the last few years an effort has been made to raise a fund in order to make an adequate gesture to celebrate the coming Centenary of the School; several thousands of pounds have been donated by those stalwarts amongst the Old Boys who have ever been interested in its welfare. This is in addition to those munificent gifts that have provided such outstanding amenities as the Tuck Shop, the Swimming Pool and the Gymnasium of recent years; and I wish to express our grateful thanks, and at a time such as this, to confirm our remembrance of those who made such generous donations in the past.
About a year ago the Centenary Building Fund Committee, which comprises representatives of the Old Boys and the Parents and Friends' Associations under the chairmanship of Judge Seaman, the Vice-Chairman of the Trustees, conceived the plan of conducting a fully organised and intense campaign to collect a large amount, such as would establish the urgently required buildings, in adequate style, and at least have the main building, the Library and Auditorium, finished for the Centenary Celebrations in 1968.
The Annual Meeting of the Association, held at the School on the 2nd September, was almost entirely formal, with little discussion, but one could sense the undercurrent of excitement of those present who were more or less well informed of the imminent opening of the intense phase of the Appeal.
Two weeks later occurred one of the most notable events in the history of the Association, the Dinner of the 16th September, at which there was an attendance of about 450, which was undoubtedly the largest gathering of Old Boys there has ever been. This was followed on the next night by an even greater gathering of Parents and Friends of the School of about 560. The speeches at these two functions were of a high standard and most inspiring.
As I write, the Appeal is well on its way to what I feel sure must be an outstanding success, and a large number of Old Boys and Parents are doing notable work to assure this success. I sincerely trust that, when you read this, my hopes will be well on the way to their full realization.
Any Old Boy who has not been personally approached is earnestly asked to get in touch with the Secretary, as the sky is the limit. There can be no doubt that the organization of this Appeal, involving as it did the compilation of a roll of more than 8000 Old Boys, and the bringing together of so many who have not met since their School days or at all, in a spirit of sincere goodwill to their old School, will put new life into the B.G.S.O.B.A.
This is the time when a great increase in the number of active members can be achieved and the few but important annual functions that are held, developed into still greater and more significant events than ever. Let us then approach the Centenary of this great School with the firm conviction that in its second century it will be an even better school with much more to offer our successors than was the case in our days. Surely such an achievement would be a most satisfying reward to each one of us.
Professor Neville G. Sutton
Subscription — Annual: £1, due in advance on 1st July. Boys who join immediately on leaving school, 10/-, including badge, to the 30th June. Life Membership: £20. Badge: 5/-. O.B.A. Ties (of Italian silk) are now available at T. C. Beirne's at 22/6 each.
All Old Boys of the Brisbane Grammar School and all persons who have acted as a Trustee or a Master of the School shall be eligible for membership, on application, and subject to the approval of the Council. As we are always glad to hear news of Old Boys, especially those living outside Brisbane, any information in this connection will be appreciated. Please address correspondence to: The Old Boys' Editor, c/- J. Thomson, Bookseller, 311 Queen Street, Brisbane.
In this case we can apply the old cliché, "Like father like son", for Alfred Sutton, the father of Neville Graham ("Nipper") Sutton (1906), was "Surgeon to the Military Forces in the Colony". Our President is distinguished because, inter alia, he was the first teacher of Surgery in the new Medical School of the University of Queensland, whose first graduates qualified in 1940.
First appointed as part-time Lecturer in 1937, he later served as full-time Professor until his retirement in December, 1962. When he graduated M.B., Ch.M. from Sydney University in 1916, he was first in the Honours List. As a student there he had won a Double Blue, in Football and Athletics, and had represented N.S.W. in Football. After service with the A.I.F. in France and Belgium, he undertook post-graduate study in Edinburgh, qualifying F.R.C.S. in 1919. Returning to Australia he practised for some years at Clayfield.
In the "thirties" he was one of those who worked for the establishment of a Medical School in Queensland, and in 1939 he was President of the British Medical Association (Queensland Branch). As Dean of the Faculty of Medicine and Professor of Surgery, Neville Sutton won the affection and admiration of his students for his surgical competence and humanity: 1214 medical graduates of the Queensland University had the benefit of his guidance. Since 1920 he has served as a consulting surgeon, continuing on a part-time basis in charge of the Paraplegic Unit at the Princess Alexandra Hospital. He is also devoting much time to furthering the B.G.S. Centenary Building Fund Appeal. We thank him for his interest and enthusiasm and wish him well in his term of office.
At the A.G.M., held in the Great Hall on September 2nd, the principal formal business was the election of Office-Bearers; the new Council is listed on the Title Page of the Old Boys' Section of this Magazine.
There are two innovations. In the first place, we have as Membership Secretary in the person of Graham H. Flint (40) an Old Boy who is a member of the Teaching Staff at the School and therefore in a favourable position to know and be known by future Old Boys personally. Secondly, we again have on the Council an Old Boy who ceased being a Present Boy only at the end of last year, namely Paul Weedon. We hope that he will provide a closer link with the young Old Boys.
The Acting Headmaster, Mr. J. S. D. Edwards, gave us a very interesting account of the School's achievements over recent months and improvements in the buildings and grounds. Mr. R. A. Henderson spoke of the approach of the intensive phase of the campaign to raise money for the Centenary Building Fund. At the close of the Meeting those present adjourned to the Gymnasium for refreshments again organised by the ever-willing Henry Becconsall and his assistants.
This year February had 29 days, and the 29th was a Saturday, hence we were able to celebrate Foundation Day on the correct day. The usual sporting contests were held between teams of Old Boys and teams of Present Boys, in rowing, cricket, tennis, swimming and shooting. In addition, during the afternoon, an open-air gymnastic display was given by present boys.
At 3 p.m. at a gathering in the Great Hall, bursaries and Scholarships were presented as follows:
During the Function in the Hall the gathering listened to organ music played by Mr. J. H. Broughton of the School Staff.
In the evening, in the Gymnasium, in addition to the gathering of Old Boys, there were representatives from the Old Boys of nine other Queensland schools including Downlands, and a representative of the N.S.W. Great Public Schools Old Boys' Association. The Guest of Honour was T. Hein (12), Queensland Surveyor-General, who gave some amusing reminiscences of his days at the B.G.S.
This was conducted in the Great Hall on Sunday, February 23rd, by the Rev. K. G. Blackwell (31), of the Congregational Church, Ipswich. The lessons were read by the School Captain, P. D. Hutton, and the President of the O.B.A. (now the Immediate Past President), A. R. Thomas (51). George E. M. Thom (48) sang a solo and the B.G.S. Choir assisted with the music. Mr. Broughton presided at the organ.
P. D. (Drew) Hutton — School Captain and head of the prefects for 1964.
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.
Draft site for committee review. Spot an error or hold a missing piece? Tell the OBA