The Dignan family has an incredible connection to Brisbane Grammar School that dates back six generations to its foundation 150 years ago. The most recent Dignan BGS Old Boy, Joey Dignan (2011), has a connection with the School that can be traced back six generations on his father Nick's (1981) side and four generations on his mother Ali's side.
Joey's great great great grandfather William John Costin built the Petrie Terrace cottages, originally known as Costin's Cottages, where BGS' first boarders lived in homestay arrangements. William's son, BGS Old Boy Charles William Costin (1875), became a clerk of parliament and BGS Old Boys' Association president. After he died in late 1915, the CW Costin Memorial Medal was awarded to the best rifle shot at the School in his memory.
Charles' son, BGS Old Boy Joseph William Costin (1905), served with the 9th Australian Infantry Battalion and was killed at Gallipoli on 25 April 1915. It was Joseph's sister Eileen who married into the Dignan family. Two generations later, her grandson Nick Dignan married Ali Hopkins.
Ali's grandfather Paul Hopkins (1915) and his brother Donald 'Odo' Hopkins (1910) were both BGS Old Boys. The pair also served in WWI, with Paul awarded a Military Cross. In a sad coincidence, Odo, who left BGS five years after Joseph Costin, was also killed in WWI, in the Battle of Ypres in 1917. Odo also later had a best rifle shot awarded in his honour at BGS.
Reflecting on a series of unlikely coincidences and links to BGS, Nick said it all could have been very different. "It is interesting to contemplate the vagaries of chance and the cruelty of war," he said. "Had Paul Hopkins been killed on the western front instead of his brother Odo then this is a story that would never had been written. If both Odo Hopkins and Joe Costin had survived, who knows what stories, connections and further history we would have now."
Nick said BGS had given much to his family through the generations. "I think BGS really does prepare its students for life in the outside world," he said. "For me, importantly it was the attempt to instil a work ethic and that work ethic itself meant success, even if it didn't immediately lead to what the initial goal was."
After graduating from BGS, Nick attained a commerce degree from The University of Queensland. His career as an accountant took his family to Hong Kong where son Joey, the first of four children and the only boy, was born. "As we were living in Hong Kong Joey had to board if he was to attend BGS," he said. "Thankfully BGS is one of the few schools where this is still an option, long may it continue. Harlin House, and its forerunner Costin Cottages, will always have a special significance for us all."
Source: Grammar News Summer 2018. Read the original edition