Old Collegians

On behalf of the committee and members of the Association, wives and partners, we extend our sincere best wishes to Kevin Osborne on his well-being and recovery. Our thoughts are with him, Ali and family. 

It’s pleasing to know that our isolation is nearing the end so that we can get out and about again. 

Once again, I’m afraid we start with news of the passing of two of our past students, Peter Paynter (1950-1951 past student) and Bob Hillier (1954-1955 past student). On behalf of the Association, we offer our condolences to all of their families. May they rest in peace.

Hopefully, in the next issue we will have a summary of their life achievements.

As mentioned in the last newsletter, we are pleased to provide a summary of past student Keith Jones who passed away recently. Keith was born on 17th November 1926, the eldest of three children. His parents farmed at Latham where Keith attended school until he was accepted by the Narrogin School of Agriculture. He and 45 other boys were relocated to Denmark and began the long history of agricultural education in Denmark. After finishing school he returned to the farm. 

In 1946 he joined the army, stationed in Greta NSW. He trained as a mechanic and was sent overseas to Kure, Japan to supervise Japanese mechanics before returning in 1948. 

Between 1949 and 1951 Keith was share-farming at Dalwallinu and Kalannie and also purchased a couple of General Grant's tanks for land clearing. In 1954 he met and, in 1956, married Nita, Matron of the Dalwallinu hospital. 

In 1958 Keith was granted a War Service Land Settlement at Gairdner near Ongerup. Keith took his wife and daughter there in 1959. They were the first to arrive and there was no phone or electricity. There were two sons to follow, one in that year and another in 1967. As more settlers arrived they built the Gairdner Community Hall and school by 1960. They both loved farming and raised their children in Gairdner.

Keith passed his pilot’s exam in 1980 and purchased a 4 seater Piper aircraft in 1980. He and the family enjoyed the beach, fishing and camping and later Keith and Nita regularly played bowls and generally enjoyed life to the full. Nita passed away in 2012. 

Ray Giblett, as previously mentioned, recently turned 80 years of age. He was born and bred in Manjimup to a farming family. He came to Denmark School of Agriculture in 1954 as a 13 year old. He was short but nuggety. His interest in Botany led to the nickname ‘Herbie’ which sticks to this day. Ray learned to drive his father’s bulldozer and became proficient at dam sinking. He was first employed by Ron Sawyer and later by Stan Perron. 

Ray’s first love has always been football. He played his first senior game at the age of 15 for Deanmill. In 1959, after unsuccessfully playing a scratch match with Perth, a friend (Dobby Graham) suggested he try East Perth. The rest is history as they both became a champion of the club. One scribe wrote that he drove the bulldozer in the country during the week and played football the same way in Perth at the weekends. For eight years he played at half back under coach Jack Sheedy, with the nickname ‘Gibbo’, notched up 93 league games and played in a premiership alongside Laurie Kennedy, Dobby Graham, Mal Atwell and the legendary Polly Farmer. He represented WA in a state game against Victoria in Perth. 

In 1967 he joined the West Torrens club where he enjoyed success against vote getters (leading at the half way count) in the Magarey Medal before being appointed Captain/Coach of Sandy Bay Football Club in Hobart. In 1968 he represented Tasmania against Victoria. In 1969 he moved to Broken Hill as coach of West Broken Hill FC and then South Broken Hill before returning to East Perth as coach where in 1974-1975 three of his players scored the trifecta in the voting for the Sandover Medal. A feat never achieved before or since in senior level of Aussie Rules. Under his guidance, Peter Spencer, Ron Alexander, Ross Glendinning and Gary Malarkey were all selected by VFL clubs. 

Ray returned to Broken Hill in 1976 and involved himself in football commentary on community radio., After a long break he was asked to coach North Broken Hill in 1988 and coached them to a premiership – one of the players being his son, Ashley. Ray was not regarded as a friend by umpires as he played the game hard, expecting no favours and giving none. He achieved success both as a premiership player and a coach.

Ray is still living in Broken Hill though his children, Bradley, Ashley, Kylie and Connor have mostly moved on. An interesting life which has included bulldozer driving, policeman, tyre salesman, insurance salesman, new car salesman, delicatessen owner, odd job man and finally furniture remover. 

In other news, proud grandparents of Josh and Amy Kippen, Don and Alwyn Jones, met with four of us at the Wagin Woolarama in March. Amy is secretary of the Woolarama and was congratulated by the President and the committee for a job well done. Josh, 2014-2016 past student, and College Captain in 2016, recently competed in World Skills Australia 2019 regional competition in Turning and won the Gold Medal. He will now compete in Queensland in the national competition. He is an apprentice at Camco Engineering. Congratulations Josh.

Congratulations to Michael and Marion Flanagan (60th wedding anniversary in May), Betty Decke 80th birthday in March, Marjorie Morrison (nee Bibby) 80th birthday in April. 

Please let us have your news so that we can let others know what is happening among past students.

Cheers for now.