June 2020 Dan McErlean Bryan McSweeney 12 Werona Street email:[email protected] Sunnybank Qld 4109 Dear Old Boys The next 2020 meeting of the Brisbane Sub-Branch of the Toowoomba (St Mary’s) Brothers Old Boys’ Association will depend on the Queensland Medical Officer’s advice on the gathering of social groups. In the meantime, we hope you are all safe and in good health as we wait for an end to these uncertain times. Please remember in your prayers Old Boys & Friends of the College recently deceased; Life Member Roland Joseph Griffin (1943-1949), husband of Margaret, brother of Noel & Errol on 7/2/2020 Eric Patrick Howe, husband of Violet, brother to John, Darcy, Keith, Tom, Colin and sister Molly. Life Member Lyle Trevor Dornbusch (1945-1950), husband of Sylvia and Shirley (both deceased), brother of Elaine (decd), Grahame, Dianne and John. Father of Mark, Michele and Lucinda. Life Member Cliff Pobar (1942-1945), husband of Dawn, father of Charmaine and Kent. Daniel O’Neill, husband of Karen, father of Ben, Eaise, Zoe, Lachlan and Tarla. Roland Lowe, (Senior 1993) Agnes Brennan, wife of Martin (Toby) (decd), mother of Peter (decd), Anne, Stephen (decd), Kevin, David, Paul and Terry. Rosemary (Rowe) Carter, wife of Brian A.M. & mother of Julie and Austin Also please remember in your prayers a number who are unwell or recovering from surgery: John Arndell, Tim Coonan, Brien Dunne, Colin Green, Mike Ledbury, Gail (Rosenthal) Mahon, Wally Nugent, Joe Short, Bob Sullivan, Philip Stephens, Grahame Swenson, Kevin Garrett, Ted Gill, Syl Stower, Jim Hannant, and Bevan Zeller. Annual Membership Fee ($10.00) for Calendar Year 2020 is now due / or Life Memberships are available (Fee $100.00) Cheques for Membership should be made payable to the “Toowoomba Brothers Old Boy’s Association” * * * Cheques as donations towards the Indoor Sports Complex should be made payable to ‘Br. Baptiste O’Sullivan Building Fund’. “Coming Events” To be Advised T.B.O.B.A Annual General Meeting in Clive Berghofer Arena at the College. TBOBA Sunshine Coast luncheon is planned to be held at the Headland Golf Club, 3rd July 2020 Buderim at 12 noon depending on COVID19 restrictions. Please contact Terry Murphy Tentative (5456 4340) or Redmond Byrne (54776705) to assist with catering arrangements. Bryan McSweeney Dan McErlean Dan Reilly President Secretary Co-Ordinator Mobile: 0420 565 712 (07) 3345 4404 (07) 3395 1813 1 Eric Patrick Howe (8/07/1937 – 10/02/2020) Eric was born in Toowoomba of Australian and International entertainment on 8th July 1937 to John Henry luminaries such as Johnny (as he was known then) and Kathleen Veronica Howe. Farnham, Normie Rowe, Billy Thorpe, Johnny O’Keefe, Kamahl and The Platters. During this time He commenced school at Holy Lennon’s became The Ambassador Hotel after being Angels Preparatory School now licensed by Koala Motor Inns to local business men. known as Mater Dei Primary In 1974, the glamour and hard work of entertainment School. Family lore has it that made way for the new challenge of lawn bowls. in his early years he would be Initially a member of North Toowoomba, he made the dropped off at the school and promptly commence his transition to Toowoomba City club in 1978 so he walk back home to George Street. could play competition bowls on Sunday and continue St Mary’s College was the next stop in his education his Saturday bookmaking commitments. He remained where he stayed until completing his Junior a member for 40 years and undertook many roles; Certificate in 1953. committee member, Games Director and President. He was the youngest of six brothers to attend the He became a member of the Downs District Bowling college. John and Darcy commenced in 1935 and Association in 2000 and his involvement included the were followed by Keith, Tom, Colin, and Eric. The responsibilities of the role of Games Committee latter four were all nick-named “Pop”. The boys had Chairman and he was elected President and granted the one sister Molly (Mrs Jim Walsh) Life Membership. During his school years he was a keen sportsman His connection with St Mary’s College continued for playing both cricket, rugby union and rugby league. many years with the regular Old Boys lunches he Highlights were selection for Darling Downs Rugby organised and the trips to Brisbane to attend those First XV team in 1953. Also in 1953 playing in the arranged there, offering social occasions he enjoyed college team which was undefeated. In 1954 he was enormously. selected as full-back in the Toowoomba under 18 Volunteering with the Court Support team was Rugby League team, which played a curtain raiser to another highlight for Eric and one which provided a Queensland versus Great Britain game. both an opportunity to learn and more importantly the Sadly, in 1955 he contracted polio and was unable to chance to be engaged with and return a kindness to continue his football career. his much loved home town of Toowoomba. After six months in the Toowoomba General All the adventures recorded were very much a double Hospital, he was discharged in June 1955. It could be act, with his beloved Violet (she was never Vi to him) suggested that he was a ‘poster boy’ for the methods by his side. Having met as teenagers they married on for treating polio prescribed by Sr Kenny. Family the 7th February 1959 and were married for 61 years. lore once again informs that it was suggested to him Two children came into the family, Maree in 1963 while in hospital that the probability of him walking and Paul in 1966. Sadly, Paul was lost to the family without supports or possibly at all was unlikely – he in an accident in 2007. Much adored grandchildren just wasn’t able to accept that answer without a fight. Aaden arrived in 1988 and Finlay in 1997. He commenced his working life in 1954 with the During their years together, Violet was Eric’s electricity board and after many business name staunchest support, nursing him to recovery through changes and promotions he retired after 42 years of any number of ailments; some of which stayed with service in 1996. him for life, accidents and ups and downs – they were While the electrical world was his Monday to Friday a true and loyal partnership the likes of which is not boss, he was able to indulge other interests on seen frequently in current times. They were together weekends. One of his interests was racing – at the end as he would have wanted. thoroughbred, trots and greyhounds and from 1965 He was laid to rest after a requiem mass celebrated by until 1994 he enjoyed the following roles; Rev Father Brian Noonan at St Theresa’s Parish Bookmakers Clerk, Licensed Bookmaker and Betting Centre on the 18th February 2020. Steward. The world of entertainment gained his attention from 1969 to 1974 during which time he was entertainment manager for Lennon’s Hotel and engaged the services 2 Roland Joseph Griffin (26/8/1933 – 7/02/2020) awarded the Australian Defence Medal and the Roley was the eldest of three Anniversary of National Service (1951-1972) Medal. sons born to Karl Joseph (Joe) Roley continued working for ‘Southern Cross’ until Griffin and Irene (Rene) Nolan. 1964 when he joined IBC (International Boring Co His early Primary Education Ltd) as Works Manager until 1971 when IBC was was at the Ursuline Convent taken over by Dunlop Australia Ltd that year and he before his enrolment in Grade became their Engineering & Technical Services (3) at St Mary’s College in Manager and a Director of Dunlop IBC Australia Ltd. 1943. The other brothers Noel As Divisional Manager with some (250) staff he was and Errol joined him at the responsible for the design, manufacturing and College in 1943 and 1948. A bright student, Roley marketing through State Branches and export agents gained his Junior Certificate in 1949 and began an of IBC pumping, irrigation, swimming pool and water Engineering Cadetship at the Toowoomba Foundry treatment products. ‘Southern Cross’ in 1950 and was awarded his In 1982 Roley moved on to be Senior Project Diploma in Mechanical & Electrical Engineering at Manager & Associate with CMPS&F Pty Limited, the Queensland Technical College in 1955. Brisbane, responsible for multi-disciplinary design, Before his 21st Birthday in 1954 Roley and Noel were tendering, contracts administration, construction called up for National Service; but they were reluctant supervision and commissioning projects. to join the Army Service, just to march and tramp Here, Mining & Industry Projects were undertaken around the bush, so instead undertook their National for the Mt Cuthbert Copper Project, Austpac Gold Service in the Royal Australian Navy enlisting as NL, Girilambone Copper Company, Boyne Smelters Nashos at the Naval Shore Base HMAS Penguin at Ltd and Industry Infrastructure Projects for BHP Balmoral NSW. Moura Coal, Gold Coast Waterways Authority, Here they did their square lashing, shooting, sleeping Queensland Water Resources Commission, Gold in hammocks, swimming strongly, saluting officers Coast City Council, BlairAthol Coal, Capricorn Coal and meeting other requirements for entering the world and BHP German Creek Coal and Roley drew on his of the sea. Unusually for brothers, Roley and Noel, wide experience to ensure the technically complex both selected to become Engineering Mechanics 2nd projects were successfully completed on time and Class or Stokers – who work in blue overalls in the within budgets. belly of the ship with levers, dials and gauges, steam, Roley was a Life Member of the Toowoomba sweat and hissing machine noises. Brothers Old Boys’ Associations and a regular Three months later, on 27/10/1954, to their great attendee at our Brisbane Sub-Branch luncheons.