The Brisbane Grammar School is a proud and accomplished institution whose distinguished history has been one of progress and achievement — but above all, excellence of endeavour and result. A leader in educational reform, an innovator in teaching methods and utilizing mechanical aids, the School has aimed at providing educational opportunities second to none.
The School Magazine is the chronicle of school life: sporting fixtures, academic achievement, cadets, social activities and all forms of school involvement. This year the editors have aimed to produce, with the leaders of the various facets of the School, a record notable for its relevant but diverse character indicative of the Grammar way of life.
1971 at Brisbane Grammar should be special in the years to come because of what we, the students, achieved as the reward for the efforts and energies expended by ourselves and our colleagues.
Doug Long.
School Leaders 1971 — Captain of the School: John Bacon. Vice-Captain: S. M. Acworth. (Prefects included T. D. Anderson, P. T. Arvier, M. L. Asprey, M. T. Baker-Finch, P. J. Blackford, J. D. Boyling, G. K. Cash, P. E. Devenport, L. B. Evans, R. A. Given, G. J. Harridge, D. A. Henderson, R. J. Hutton, R. Joyce, W. T. Kerle, F. A. Khafagi, J. J. Kyranis, T. N. Littlejohn, F. G. Markwell, P. S. Martin, R. S. Mayze, P. D. McIntyre, J. J. McGill, P. D. McMurdo, M. R. Oberhardt, B. S. Peterson, F. H. M. Phillips, R. J. Richardson, D. R. Rivett, J. R. Salisbury, R. J. Sargeant, D. A. Wallace.)
Subscription — Annual $4.00, due in advance July 1st. Life Membership $80.00. Badge 60 cents.
Like so many other Old Boys, Alan Robert Bottomer received his primary education at the Ascot School before entering the B.G.S. in 1932. On leaving the School to join the Accountancy Profession, it was to the old-established firm of Hall, Chadwick and Co. that he went (W. M. Hall (1900) and F. L. Chadwick (1916) are both Old Boys). A partner himself from 1950, he became Senior Partner in 1964.
A Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia, as well as of the Australian Society of Accountants, his standing in the profession is evidenced by his membership of the State Council of the Chartered Institute, of which he is now chairman, and of the General Council (Australia-wide). He has further shown his interest in education by serving since July 1967 on the Council of the Presbyterian and Methodist Schools' Association, of which he is now Vice-Chairman.
After joining the C.M.F. Artillery in 1939 he was on full-time service from 1941 to 1945; following the War he re-joined the C.M.F., retiring with the rank of Major in 1966. Since 1958 he has served continuously in various capacities on the O.B.A. Council — as Auditor, as Treasurer, and last year as Vice-President — and has been the Auditor for the Centenary Building Fund since 1959. "With his ability, enthusiasm and efficiency we are looking forward to a good year. The main need is for adequate support by O.B.A. members, particularly in regard to increasing membership."
The 14th A.G.M. and Dinner of the N.S.W. Old Boys' Group was held at The Schools' Club, Underwood Street, Sydney, on Friday, 19th March 1971, with 34 members attending. Office-bearers elected: President, Peter W. Whatmore (47); Vice-Presidents, E. Charles Stumm (09), Douglas F. Higlett (34), W. T. ("Bill") Austin (14); Council, Fred E. Daw (29), B. Murray Nicholson (36), Malcolm D. McVey (29), John S. Oxnam (20), Frank A. Schulte (36), Evan G. Webb (55); Secretary-Treasurer, C. S. Miflin (30); Chaplain, the Revd. Eric T. Montgomery (21). The Group recorded with regret the death in Vietnam on 7th June 1971 of Ian George Mathers, a member of the N.S.W. Group Council.
(The OBA section also carried the Florey Fellowship note on Dr. John H. Pearn (54), an "Appreciation" letter, and "Jottings" of Old Boys' news — not reproduced here.)
The 1971 issue carries an obituary-style Deaths section. Because of that format it is not reproduced as a clean list here; 105-108.
Note on the School Captain: The Captain of the School in 1971 was John Bacon (Vice-Captain: S. M. Acworth). There is no separate School Captain's report; the Captain addressed Speech Night, and the magazine Editorial (by editor Doug Long) is reproduced as the senior-school piece. OBA leadership content is the "Our New President" profile (no separate President's report this year).
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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