Vale College Life Governor, Dr Charles Butcher OAM

Dear College Community,

Dr Charles Butcher is literally part of the foundation of St Philip's. In his 20 years as Chairman, his modus operandi was to ground Chris Tudor’s passion & positive energy, which resulted in 21 buildings constructed during their partnership, and laid a foundation ensuring our day school is what it is today.  

I feel blessed to have worked with Charles, a person of high intelligence, humbleness and commitment to individuals, SPC, his profession and the Alice Springs community. A true gentleman, a true believer. 

There is no one better positioned to write about Charles, than College Life Governor, Chris Tudor. Below Chris writes about Charles' life and their time working together in what was an exciting time in the history of our College.

Libby Prell | Board Chair

A great Australian, clothed in strength and genuine humility, talented, bright, dedicated and with a wicked sense of humour.

A seeker after new ideas always keen to foster progress.

A compassionate, kind and considerate leader, concerned about the welfare of people.

A person of the utmost integrity but happy to take risks when appropriate - a man of duty.

A man of quiet but obvious deep faith and gentle strength.

Charles was born in 1937 in Rochester, Victoria into a farming family. He rode a horse 10 miles to primary school and for secondary school attended Echuca Tech. There he learnt several trades which would be important for his work on the farm to which he returned at age 15. In his early twenties he decided that he wanted to contribute to society as a doctor, he enrolled in correspondence school and undertook this as he continued to work full time on the farm. Charles’s capacity for work was extraordinary. He matriculated successfully and was accepted into medicine at Melbourne University. 

Charles and his wife Laurel married in 1965, and he undertook his studies as a married man finishing third in his year. He began his medical career but then seized the opportunity to go to Glasgow in Scotland. There he trained as a surgeon and returned to Australia to serve the community in that role for the rest of his working life. This long journey in education, made him a true devotee on providing quality education for children in country areas. He also saw quality education as essential to attract skilled professional people to the ‘bush’.

Part of his career saw him as a Flying Doctor and surgeon working out of Derby. In 1980 he moved to a position at the Alice Springs hospital where he became the senior surgeon, gained a great reputation, and served the community for decades and was awarded an OAM in 2007.

Whilst working at the Alice Springs hospital he also set up a private practice which he and Laurel ran for many years. He undertook the two positions concurrently and after retirement he undertook a number of locums, including several visits to Tonga which he loved.

Through this remarkable career Charles was supported by his wife Laurel (pictured left) , who was herself an outstanding nurse. They were indeed the ideal, devoted couple, and were also loyal members of the Flynn Church here in Alice Springs.

Charles’ talents also extended to the sporting field where he was a talented competitive sportsman, and later a regular gold performer at the Master’s Games.

Charles joined the St Philip’s Council in 1980. He was a thoughtful, reliable member and by 1994 had already given much to the Council. That year Jan Heaslip retired as Chair and the Council had undertaken a strategic plan, was moving forward with a major fund raising program to support it, and crucially needed the right person as Chair to lead. College consultant, Paul McKeown saw, without a shadow of a doubt that Charles was the man to do this. He set about convincing Charles of this and the Council gratefully accepted his nomination. Thus for the next 20 years Charles led St Philip’s as Chair of the Council.

Through this period as the College grew and matured, we built and built and built some more. The projects amongst others included: the Bruce Reid Sports Centre, The Minnamurra Hall, the John Blaiklock buildings, the Paul McKeown Oval building, the Fred McKay Education Centre, Head of Boarding residence, a major extension to the library and the Swag Chapel. All projects required planning, funding and permissions and Charles led the council constructively through these processes, which often required spirited debate, which Charles skillfully guided to a conclusion, treating everyone fairly.  There were huge worries and risks through all of this, and Charles took these quietly in his stride, and during harrowing times Charles never flinched. In addition, it was midway through the first decade of the 21st century, that Charles steered the Council through a major constitutional change requiring assent of the Synod. A significant achievement!

Round Square has been vital to the College because it unlocked a host of opportunities for our isolated College community. Charles and Laurel fully supported this and attended the Conference in Kenya, at their own expense, where the College was made a full member. From then on they both attended many international conferences, becoming well known and well respected members of the Round Square family. In 2001 the international conference was held at St Philip’s, and in 2006 and 2011 we ran a regional and a junior conference all supported by Charles. After many years Charles was presented with an Honorary Membership of Round Square.

Appropriately, on retirement as Board Chair in 2014, and after 34 years on the Board and 20 as Chair, Charles was made a Life Governor, a position he carried out faithfully even when he was so sick. In 2015 the College staff voted him as an Outback Achiever.

Rest In Peace Charles - Great Philipian and Great Australian.

Chris Tudor AM | College Life Governor