Old Collegians Association

Hi folks

Thinking that November was the last newsletter for the year, I didn’t supply our segment for December 2020.  Anyway, lots of things have happened since then, too numerous to outline at once so I will spread them out over the next few issues.

Vale Bev Palmer, 1952-1953 

Past student, who passed, away in December. I attended his funeral on behalf of the Association to pay our respects. I’m awaiting his story from his sister.

Vale Ted Tooke, 1946-1947 

Past student, who passed away at 90 years of age in October 2020. Ted started his schooling in Dardanup before attending Denmark School of Agriculture. After Denmark, his first job was dairy herd recording. His mode of transport was horse and cart before eventually buying a car. The dairy herds were in the Elgin-Boyanup  and surrounding areas. A young lady named Shirley had caught his eye so he arranged his herd recording so as to end up at her parent’s dairy, "Wynley Stud" at the end of every month. They were married in Stratham on 2 October 1952. Most of the wedding party and guests went home to milk cows after the ceremony before gathering again at Elgin Hall for the reception. They settled in Busselton and had five children.

His hobbies and sports included hockey, sailing, basketball and being a scout master. 

Ted took an interest in goats which saw them leaving Busselton and heading for a property in Argyle where he became a firefighter, fire control officer, trainer and mentor of the Argyle/Irishtown fire brigade – something that has continued since for three generations. Ted is survived by Shirley, four children, five grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Vale Norm Badger, 1051-1953 Past student. His funeral service was held in Hilton. His son, Trevor, is sending me his father’s history.

Vale Kevin Blakeney and Roly Patterson. 

I’m hoping to be able to tell you more about Kevin and Roly soon.

May they all rest in peace.

Leaving sadness and on a bright note – Trevor Jones celebrated his 80th birthday last year.  Congratulations Trevor. 

Josephine Whittaker celebrated her 90th birthday on 6th and 7th (her actual birthday) of February.  Being a Denmark lass from the age of eight and working in the Ag School in her late teens, she met and married local lad and 1945-1946 past student, Peter, who was a valued committee member of the Association. Congratulations Josephine on your milestone.

Congratulations to Jamie Wallis, 1951-1953 past student, on receiving an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution to drilling and mining. I’m waiting for Jamie to send me his story.

Ian Camden, past student 1953-1954 has sent me his story….

Ian came to Ag School from Benger. On finishing school and obtaining an ‘Honour Diploma’, he went home to the family dairy farm which had a milk quota, a herd of Illawarra Shorthorn cattle, 35 acres of irrigation plus 110 acres of hillside country. They also fattened cockerels and had a 2 acre potato growing license. They established a 10 sow intensive piggery which became very successful.

In 1961 he married Ray-Chel and took over the farm when his parents retired. They added stud cattle from various breeders from around the state plus interstate imports from Victoria and NSW. He showed cattle at both the Perth Royal Show and various country shows in WA. He was also state president of the AIS and a judge at country shows as well as Mt Pleasant in South Australia. 

They had two sons and a daughter, tragically losing their first son at the age of seven months. Second son, Andrew, attended Harvey College of Agriculture, but found the life not suited to him so left the farm and sought other work. Their daughter, Cathryn, met and married Steven Williams, son of well-known Denmark farmers, George and Kay Williams.

In 1986, at the first ever milk auction, they sold their milk quota then later sold the farm. They took the opportunity to travel to the eastern states and New Zealand before settling in Denmark in 1987. Ian subsequently worked at the Denmark Ag College as general farm hand - beef cattle and later as piggery instructor – winning Watson’s Champion Bacon Carcass competition.

After 5 years, Ian resigned in order to take up the position of full-time pastor of the local church. Later they built a house in Kojonup to undertake itinerate ministry around the state. They have now retired and are involved with the local Probus club.

Graduation

On 20 November 2020, I attended the graduation ceremony. Unfortunately, due to Covid, I was the only representative allowed. The recipient of the George Elliott scholarship was local Denmark lad, Taylor Bradbury. Taylor was a student at Denmark SHS. He has written a very pleasant letter of thanks to the Association. Congratulations Taylor, from all of us. We wish you well in your endeavours. I was also given the opportunity to speak about the Old Boys/Collegians to the attendees.

Past Students

Just when we thought there were only very few past students from 1942-1943, I have discovered another by pure luck. Leo Cox lives in Busselton and I have contacted him. It will give me great pleasure to go there to meet him soon. 

Bev and Ross McGuinness sent me a photo of the 1946 school football team and asked if I could put names to the faces. I contacted Jim Taylor and Don Wass,1945-1947 past students, and they were able to identify most of them. Don Wass has recently had a double scull rowing boat named after him which is permanently on display in the entrance and stairwell to the Bunbury Rowing Club. The rowing club is celebrating its centenary this year.

We are still taking names for membership and or gazebo name plates. Contacts are: Wendy Sutton 0419 048 694; Delys Ravenhill 9848 1633; Marjorie Morrison 9848 1633, or myself 0428 526 398, email: hisylvi@bigpond.com.

Take care and stay safe