Old Collegians 

Hello all,

The Old Collegians Association relies on past students to become life members or at least have their names on the honour board as this is how we raise funds for the annual scholarship program. So – how about it? Join us in recognition of your attendance.

Contacts are: 

Wendy Sutton 0419 048 694; 

Marjorie Morrison 9848 1633; 

Delys Ravenhill 0427 408 051 or myself,

Don McCausland 0428 526 398, email: hisylvi@bigpond.com

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if you have any news to report, please advise me on 0428 526 398 or email hisylvi@bigpond.com. It might seem that the only news is about past students’ passing. However, I believe that history and tradition are very important. In this respect, recognising the achievements of past students is very important. In addition, their stories do, in my opinion and judging by feedback from others, make interesting reading. May the news and stories continue.

Vale Norm Badger (Student 1951-1952)

Thank you to Rosie Bull from the Pingrup Post newspaper who provided information about the life of past student Norm Badger (student 1951-1952, Prefect 1952 and Life Member) who passed away last December. Norm was born in 1936 on his parents’ property ‘Sunnyview’. He followed his brother, Neville (student 1944-1945, School Captain 1945 and Life Member) to Denmark School of Agriculture and after finishing school, he returned to the farm. 

He married Mary in 1961 and they cleared a block of land opposite Sunnyview and later purchased properties from the Deacon family. This is now known as Nanda Downs. They had five children. Norm was passionate about sheep and started Sunnyview Stud which was sold in 1995 when son, Trevor, and his wife, Deborah, took over the farm. As mentioned in the last article Trevor was killed in a tragic accident. Nanda Downs still has the Sunnyview bloodline in its rams, producing high quality wool.

Norm spent more than a decade on the Kent Shire Council and was an active member of the Pingrup golf, cricket and football clubs. He retired from the farm in 1995 and he and Mary moved to Albany where they spent over 25 years. He enjoyed his extensive vegetable garden and fishing and volunteered with Department of Fisheries in ‘Fishing for the Disabled’. He also helped out at the Albany Forts, talking to people from all over the world. They both loved travelling and saw many fascinating places. 

In 2019 they moved to Bridgetown to be near their daughter, Elizabeth. However, this was short lived and poor health saw them move to Perth just a month before Norm passed away. His ashes were taken to Pingrup cemetery to join others from his family. We offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to Mary, brother, Neville, and all the Badger families. May he rest in peace. 

Vale Margaret (Peggy) Crosby

Wife of Ivan Crosby (deceased 16th June. Past student 1948-1949, Prefect 1949). Ivan was one of four brothers from Katanning who attended Denmark School of Agriculture in the 1940’s. Ross (School Captain 1943), Melville (Prefect 1944) and Les and Ivan. Les who was a Prefect in1946, is the only surviving brother. He turned 91 years old on 3rd August and remains fit and well. Peggy attended the 70th and 75th anniversary reunions with Les and on behalf of Ivan. She was an active community person. We offer our sincere sympathy and condolences to all the Crosby families. May she rest in peace.

Vale William (Bill) Leiper (Student 1947-1948)

Bill passed away on 17 July and was a life member of the Old Collegians Association. He was born on 17 February 1932 in Esperance. His parents were farming in the Red Lake region, west of Grass Patch, north of Esperance. It was in 1932 that the family move to Cowaramup to a property known simply as ‘The Old Block’. In 1936 they purchased the property on Miamup Road and it was from there that they started milking, butter fat dairy and also rearing calves with skim milk. Bill’s father, Bob, was heavily involved with the Capel Dairy Company, contracting farmers to supply cream to the factory for the manufacture of butter. 

Bill’s first schooling was at Cowaramup and with his horse, Skippy, he rode to and from school with his sisters who were also on Skippy’s back! When Bill turned 15 years old, he attended Denmark School of Agriculture and after completing the 2 year course with Diploma in 1948, he returned to the farm. With the learning and fresh ideas he had gained from Denmark, Bill practiced a much more modern method of dairying.  Local farmer, John Marsden, taught him horsemanship and he competed at the Perth Royal Show. This is where he met Marian. 

They married on 20 September 1953 and had six children in seven years – or six bull and heifer calves as Bill put it. Bill’s sense of humour was legendary and he suggested that as Marian had not produced a ‘calf’ in 1957 she may be put on a truck to market. Marian was very busy – not only did she have to raise six children but also had a hundred calves to feed.  They then moved to a new farm naming it Glenluce.

From their six children there are now 19 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren. Bill (Gramps) was always encouraging them to have more children. A real family man.

In the late 1950’s, Bill became a stock agent for Dalgety's. He was very good at the job and, as a result, successful. Most of all he wanted the best for his clients and built trust with them. His knowledge of cattle was second to none. When Dalgety's was sold to Western Livestock, Bill continued on as an agent. 

Picture: William (Bill) Leiper Front Row, second from the end

In 1980, Bill considered that farmers were not getting a fair go by having to pay 5% sales commission. He felt that at 3%, agents would still do well and it would be a win for farmers. So, that was the start of Glenluce Livestock, Bill the cattleman while Marian handled the administration, as well as milking cows when Bill was dealing with agency business. They continued this way for 22 years. So much was their status in the industry, that they had clients from Jurien Bay to Albany and Esperance and Busselton to Augusta, selling to E G Green, Clover Meats and others. Butchers had total respect for him because of his expertise. When not able to continue in 2002, he took on the Elders Agency, taking on Daniel Delaney to provide assistance. He eventually handed the agency to Daniel after a total of 45 years as an agent.

He had a cheeky grin, infectious laugh and didn’t need a microphone. When asked about himself he said he was as fit as a mallee bull and twice as dangerous. He gave people nicknames without offence.

Bill was also a community man. He was President of the Cowaramup P&C, coached junior footy, President of the District Social Club and Fire Chief of the Miamup Bushfire Brigade. Attendance of those paying respect at his funeral was huge, with all seats taken and even more people standing. The service was watched online by family members living in WA, the Eastern States, America, Berlin, Singapore and Belgium. Grandson, James, read the ‘If’ poem by Rudyard Kipling, which Bill aspired to. Those attending included myself and Sylvia (on behalf of ourselves and the Old Collegians Association), and other past students, Bob Dunbar (Bill’s brother-in-law), Don (and Dossie) Miller, Tom Marsden and Keith Blond, all from Cowaramup. I knew Bill as a Dalgetys and Western Livestock agent myself and having spent some time in Cowaramup while coaching football. 

We send our deepest sympathy and condolences to Marian, sons and daughters, Bill’s sisters Jean, Judy and Jocelyn and all the Leiper families on their sad loss. His whole life is a testament to him. May he Rest in Peace. 

Until next time