 June 2021 

Dan McErlean Bryan McSweeney 12 Werona Street email:[email protected] Sunnybank Qld 4109

We look forward to the next Sub-Branch meeting of the (St Mary’s) Brothers Old Boys’ Association on Friday 18th June in “Harlequin Jacks” Bistro in the Sofitel Hotel situated above Central Station. If it is the same as our last meeting, access to the Bistro is via the entrance off the outside courtyard up the steps beside the Whistle Stop bar. This entrance is one level above the entry level to the train station.

Tentative days for our future Brisbane meetings in 2021 are 3rd September and 19th November, so please reserve them as Claimer Dates. Two meetings will again be held this year at the Headland Golf Club Buderim, with the first one planned for Friday 9th July 2019 and the second on later in the year on a date to be confirmed.

Please pray for Old Boys and Friends of the College recently deceased: • Tom Hutchinson, 1942-1947, Life Member and husband of Daphne (Davis) & brother of Bill & John (both deceased) • Errol Griffin, (1948-1955) husband of Shirley and brother of Rolly (dec) and Noel • Len Shelvey, (1942-1947) Life Member and husband of Pam (Wheeler) and brother of Ron, Eileen, Josephine, Kathleen, Adeline and Maureen (all dec) • Michael Lacey, (1963-1971), husband of Anne. • Patricia (Brady) Kamler, wife of Bill (dec) and mother of Shane, Paul and Anne • Phyllis (Jacobsen) Lynch, wife of Neville (dec) and mother of Mick, Robert, Peter and Kathy • Angela (Phillips) Passmore, wife of Bill (dec) and sister of Cedric and Brian (both dec) • Joan (Lynch) Carmody, wife of Phonse, mother of Michael and Greg • Jan Parker, wife of Jack and sister in law of Neville and Michael • Margaret (Noel) McNally, wife of Paul McNally OAM

Please also remember in your prayers Rev Bro Barry Buckley AM and John Morris who are recovering from recent surgery and others unwell: John Arndell, Tim Coonan, Colin Green, Joe Jones, Wally Nugent, Joe Short, Bob Sullivan, Philip Stephens, Grahame Swenson, Kevin Garrett, Syl Stower, Max Winter, Jim Hannant, Bevan Zeller & Gail (Rosenthal) Mahon.

Bryan McSweeney Dan McErlean President Secretary Mobile: 0420 565 712 (07) 3345 4404

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T.B.O.B.A. (Brisbane Sub-Branch) Meeting – 26th March 2021

Present Apologies

Bryan McSweeney Pat Mullins Fr Tyrone Deere Terry Murphy (TBOBA Brisbane Sub- Dan McErlean Nat Chandler Denis McClure branch President) Greg McErlean Frank Deighton Rod McDonald Carl Betros Justin McErlean Allan Duncan John O’Neill Leigh Brady Paul McErlean Les Duncan Jack Parker Greg Butler Peter McMahon John Hagan Lindsay Reis Bernie Collins Michael Murphy Tim Hagan Alan Roney Brian Gagen Martin O’Sullivan Peter Kennedy John Stephen Terry Gesch John Noonan Barry Kuhnemann Peter Upton Gene Green Reg Oliver Fred Lincoln Philip Simpson Doug Lee Paul Reynolds Phil Lynch Glen Wiedman Jim Long Chris Wlodarczyk Dinny Madden Mick Lyons Leigh Madden

Brisbane TBOBA Sub Branch Meeting at 12 noon – “Harlequin Jack’s Bistro” Central 18th June 2021 Railway Station

27th June – 2nd July Confraternity Carnival at Iona College, 85 North Road, Lindum, 2021 Brisbane, (No games on Wednesday 30/6/2021)

TBOBA Sunshine Coast Luncheon/meeting at the Headland Golf Club, Buderim at 12 9th July 2021 noon. Please contact Terry Murphy (54564340) 50th Reunion for the 1963 – 1971 Classes starting about 4pm and will include a College tour, Dinner, and cash bar. To register your interest please contact Bryan 6th November 2021 Blacka ([email protected]), Jim Nolan ([email protected]), or Frank Walsh, ([email protected])

Annual Membership Fee ($10.00) for Calendar Year 2021 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’. They are fully Tax Deductible and will be receipted.

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Thomas David Hutchinson (8/9/1932-10/2/2021) Errol Griffin (17/9/1939-1/2/2021) Errol was born on the 17th Tom was one of three sons September 1939 at 81 Taylor born to Mary and Thomas St, Toowoomba, the residence Hutchinson. His siblings of his parents Karl Joseph and were William and John, Irene Merita (Nolan) Griffin. they lived in Cumming He had two older brothers Street, Toowoomba, and Rolly (RIP) and Noel. The were educated at the Holy residence was located Name Convent and St opposite St Ursula’s College Mary’s College. which Errol attended for his pre-school education in the later part of World War II. On leaving the College on completing Junior, Tom In 1949 Errol enrolled at St Mary’s College which at gained an appointment to the Commonwealth Bank the time was exclusively staffed by Christian Staff, at Albion in 1948; but the next year elected to Brothers. He became friends with John Gurney and take a position at the Toowoomba Foundry. He left fellow classmates christened them ‘Aida and Elsie’. there in 1969 to run a mixed business at Scarborough for five years. On weekends he collected tolls on the On completion of his Secondary Education Errol Hornibrook Highway Bridge. joined the Southern Electricity Authority of as an apprentice Electrician in For the next few years Tom had a range of positions – Toowoomba in 1954. His father was a Foreman and Teller with Mayne Nickless, Credit Officer at Gow’s his elder brother, Noel, was an Administration Wholesale, Parking Supervisor at the Strathpine Drive Officer, resulting in other employees calling the firm Inn and Delivery Serviceman for frozen foods from ‘Griffin and Company’. Wattle Products. After completing his apprenticeship, he was then a Then followed a return to Toowoomba where Tom licensed Electric Fitter and Mechanic and with a joined the counter staff at Jack McCafferty’s until the workmate Terry Morgan, the pair travelled to New company was absorbed into the Greyhound Bus Zealand on a working holiday. While there he met Company. He then became the School Crossing Shirley Dietrich and the couple married in 1966. Supervisor at St Saviours until retirement. On his return to in 1965 Errol settled in On the 22/4/1957 Tom married Daphne (Davis). The Tamworth and joined the Peel County Council as an bridal party was John Hutchinson, Kevin Lee, Electrician. He resided in Tamworth for the Margaret Morgan (Morrison) Cynthia Hayes (Davis). remainder of his life and stayed with the same firm, The couple were blessed with six children – Michael, becoming Manager of the Peel Cunningham Council Helen (Young), Peter, David, Elizabeth (Dittherner) North Power covering the area from Northern NSW and Jonathan, ten grandchildren (including triplets) to the Queensland Border at Goondiwindi. He became and one great-grandchild. an Honoured member of the numerous organisations in Tamworth. Tom was a Life Member of our Association and regularly attended our Brisbane Sub Branch luncheon Late in 2020 he suffered a serious illness which meetings. Following a period of ill health he passed to resulted in his death on 1/2/2021. Errol is survived by Eternal Life on 10/2/2021 and was interned at the his wife Shirley and children Mark, Libby and Redcliffe Cemetery after a Requiem Mass offered by Rebecca and their families. Their eldest daughter Rev Fr D. Thottathil at St John Vianney’s Catholic Angela pre-deceased him. He is sadly missed by all Church Manly, Queensland. including classmate Rev Fr Kerry J Costigan.

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Leonard Shelvey (2/2/1932-3/2/2021) May 2021. Honorary Life Member Jack Davis also A Life Member of our turned 90 recently. Association, Len was born on the 2nd February 1932 to John Coyer 1940/46 James Joseph and Elsey John attended St Mary’s College between 1940 and Margaret (Beitg) Shelvey. 1946 and has been as active member of our His siblings were Eileen, Association since its Post War reformation in 1949. Josephine, Kathleen, On leaving the College after completion of his Junior Adeline, Maureen and Year, John undertook an Electrical apprenticeship at Ronald; all now deceased. Electric Shop, Russell St Toowoomba and remained there until he moved to Burness Electrical for 2 years Len was a student at St Mary’s College from 1942 to in 1966. 1947. His parents had moved to Toowoomba to give John then joined the University of Southern the family every educational opportunity. Queensland for (25) years working in the School of Engineering as an Engineering Assistant and then Like his elder brother, Ron, he was a good athlete and Operations Manager, before being appointed the opening batsman and captain of the 1947 year Under University Safety Co-ordinator from 1990-1992. 15 A Cricket team. He was also a member of the First Then until 1966 he was employed by Skill Share, Fifteen Rugby Union team captained by Ray Drew. providing Workplace Health and Safety Education. Some of his classmates were Peter Auricchio, Brian John has also served as a part-time Instructor and later Gagen, John Mullheron, Reg Murphy, Ian part of the Training Committee with St John’s Miebusch and Laurie Walsh. Ambulance for 15 years. On 16/4/1955 John married Faith (Morgan) and the Len’s father was a Stock Inspector and it was not a couple have (5) children – Michael, Bernadette, surprise, that on leaving the College, he took a job as Andrew, Marie and Elizabeth. The couple live in a Jackaroo on the Mt Margaret Station near Quilpie. Springwood. This experience led later to his appointment as Officer in Charge of the Department of Primary Jim Long Industries Toorak Research Station, near Julia Creek A Life Member of our Association, Jim attended St in 1961. Other Cattle and Sheep Station Management Mary’s College from 1943 to 1947. He is the son of roles followed. Michael and Mary (Hickey) Long, his siblings being John, Michael (Kevin), Patrick, Tom, Marie In 1962 he met and married Pam Wheeler who had (Barker), Mollie (Karl), Agnes (Beauchamp), grown up on a property before Frances, and Patricia (Fisher). moving to Queensland. The couple were blessed with two children – son, Tim, and daughter, Jane and four Jim was a member of the 1947 Premiership winning grandchildren. In 1993 they retired to live about 4 km Rugby Union 7 stone 7 lbs team captained by Pat south of Clermont. (later Father) Hall and coached by Brother Frank McCarthy. He played five-eight to half back Laurie Last November his health began to deteriorate and Walsh and is recorded to have ‘moved very nicely following a stroke and fall Len was admitted to the with his neat side-step and dodges’. Mackay Hospital where he passed to Eternal Life on 3/2/2021. On leaving the College, Jim served an apprenticeship as a fitter with the Queensland Railways and played Three of our Senior Old Boys reached significant Rugby League with the Newtown Club. He then took Birthday milestones recently: up a position at the Marian Sugar Mill in Mackay and John Coyer and Jim Long, both 90 years and Peter on return to Brisbane joined the Fire Brigade before Kenny (1949-1958) and later Principal of St Joseph’s returning to Queensland Railways and then joining College, Toowoomba, 80 years. the Queensland Police Force. That career saw him Rev Brother Kevin Dwyer (1934-1939) and Patron serve at Stations in Brisbane, Gladstone, Zillmere and of our Old Boys’ Association will be (96) on the 14th Toogoolawah.

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He retired from the Police Force at the retirement age Greg’s interest during his working life included part of 55 years and for the next ten years was employed ownership in racehorses, golf, squash, table tennis by Amaguard. He lives in Cleveland. and tennis over a number of years.

Jim married Maureen (Mammill) and they were In 1989 he married Joanne and has (2) grown up blessed with (6) children James, Damien, Veronica, daughters, Emma & Sophie and a stepson Ben from Margaret, Catherine and Marianne, (15) his wife’s previous marriage. The couple enjoy grandchildren and (10) great-grandchildren. Jim travelling both locally and overseas. enjoys attending our Brisbane Sub-Branch functions and is a keen follower of football and cricket matches. Greg took up lawn bowls in retirement and has won Grandson, Jimmy Pierson, is the current numerous pennant flags including three A grade wicketkeeper-batsman for the Queensland Bulls and (Over 60) titles. He has held numerous management Heat Cricket Teams. positions at the Enoggera Bowls Club (President, Vice-President & Treasurer). He is now on the board Jim has just been blessed with his eleventh great- of Bowls Queensland having held the Director of grandchild, Olivia Grace, daughter of Hayleigh Finance position since 2013. (Chiang) and Rehan Sequera. ANZAC Day address at College by Rev Fr Kerry Celebrating her 95th birthday shortly is Sister Mary Costigan RAN(Ret) Christine (Josie Gabbett) of the Mercy Order. Josie The key message of all the teachings of Jesus is that is well remembered by Toowoomba folks as the we love one another and that we care for one another. daughter of Jack Gabbett, one of the first day With that thought in mind I present some thoughts students at St Mary’s College in 1899. A family about our Country today and what it needs. gathering is being organised to celebrate Sister’s birthday. Australia, our beloved country, has been called many things not so complimentary – a nation of whingers, Another celebrating a significant milestone with his people more ready to complain than to praise, people extended family is Life Member Doug Lee. He will more ready to put people down than to raise them up. be 89 years on the 20th May 2021 Australia has been called ‘the Lucky Country’, the Clever Country; but the label ‘a Country that Cares’ is Life Membership – Greg Flynn better than all. Thanks go to Greg Flynn for taking up Life Membership of our Toowoomba Brothers Old Boys’ ANZAC Day, and all that it means, comes as a Association. Greg attended St Mary’s College challenge for us all to accept the legacy of the between 1969 and 1971 coming over from St ANZAC , to do our bit to help make our Country Joseph’s College, as that school only took enrolments great, to be conscious of our heritage, to make people to Grade 10 at that time. While at St Mary’s he great and not to put them down, to make our Country represented the College in both tennis and cricket and into ‘A Country That Cares’. played in the intra school rugby league colour competition. His brother Chris was also a St Mary’s Our heritage covers many different people – the student from 1973 to 1974. indigenous people, the early settlers and convicts, those who over the years have come from various On completing his final year at St Mary’s, Greg was countries and have become assimilated here, those awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship and attended who were born here. We pay particular honour and the University of Queensland securing a Bachelor of respect today to those who we commemorate. We Commerce degree in 1975 and upon graduation pray for and thank the ANZACs, all those who have gained a position with the Australian Taxation Office. worn the uniforms of the Defence Force with distinction and honour. He retired in 2008 as an Executive Level 1 officer after working continuously at the ATO for 33 years, We also thank and honour the partners of serving men mostly in audit areas. and women. It takes a special person to be the partner

5 of someone in uniform. These partners and family Old Boys from the 2001 to 2004 era will recall Mr members, in their own way, also serve. They also Shane Purse who was the Teacher-Librarian and serve who only stand or sit and wait. First Eleven Cricket Coach over those years. He then worked as an Education Consultant in New We also show our appreciation and gratitude to those York City from 2005 to 2018 and now lives in who today serve their country in times of peril; those Coolangatta. Shane would be pleased to hear from in the Emergency Services, the Police Force and those Old Boys who know him. They can ring 0402 990 in the front line of the battle against disease; the 450 or he can be contacted on his email: pandemic in particular. [email protected].

Almost all human beings have what I call ‘God filled’ Recently visiting Toowoomba to see his sister moments when something unexpected and surprising Maureen and brother in law Geoff Sheedy was Bob happens in their lives. These ‘God filled’ moments O’Callaghan (1955-1962) from Perth, Western become evident when natural disasters occur. People Australia. They were all present at the College break out of their own comfort zone and reach out in ANZAC Day Liturgy Ceremony on the 23rd April on all sorts of ways to others who are hurting and the Brother Rodger’s Sports Fields. Bob served in the suffering. This is part of the ANZAC legacy we think Air Force for some years and Geoff and his twin of today – they fought for their country, serving brother Peter served in the 4th Battalion during the others, some paying the supreme sacrifice giving their Vietnam Campaign. all, as those who serve their country still do today in many different fields of battle. Old Boy and Brisbane’s premier racing trainer Tony Gollan (Year-1996) is currently third amongst We all need to think of ourselves as a single family, Australian Trainers in 2020/2021 seasons premiership earthlings, creatures of planet Earth, dwelling in a winners list. He has some recent success in Sydney common home, conscious of the need not only to care with (2) wins with the 5 year old mare Krone – the for our country; but for our planet Earth to be part of Group 2 Guy Walter Stakes and Group 1 Coolmax the action that makes our country ‘A Country That Classic and on 27/3/21 a (3) year filly, Isotope, was Cares’. first past the post in the 1200m Listed Darby Munro I conclude with two short verses, applicable to all Stakes at Rosehill. those we honour and thank today: They have served their country against disasters Tony recently had success in the $700,000 Kingsford th great and small, Smith Cup at Eagle Farm on the 29 May with Vega With a love of God and country within them short One the winner and Jonker second

and tall, Xavier and De La Salle Va’a They have lived and died in many lands that one day we all may say, Safety on earth, good will to all, may it never fade away, May what they did for us, spur us to serve others, Whereby our dead shall sleep in honour unbetrayed, We in faith and honour, keep that peace for which they paid.

A Country That Cares – A legacy of the ANZAC s. That message ‘A Country That Cares’ is the centre of Running out for the Western Mustangs in the QRL the ‘Teachings of Jesus Christ’ that we love one fixtures for the Meninga Cup and Cyril Connell another. Challenge are St Mary’s students and brothers, Xavier and De La Salle Va’a, both front rowers.

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Xavier is captain of the Meninga Cup team and De La OLD BOY AIR FORCE LEGENDS Salle is a member of the Cyril Connell Challenge side. They both hope to play in the St Mary’s Langer Eddie Burke enrolled at St Mary’s College at the Cup side later this year. same time as Eddie Fallon and both joined the RAAF in World War II and were part of the crew of a Lancaster bomber which crashed in France in 1944. Two airmen were killed, and the two Eddies were taken prisoner by the Germans until the end of the war. Employed by the Queensland Wheat Board post war, Eddie Burke rose to be State Manager controlling the supply of wheat to flour mills and for export. Eddie Fallon was one of five brothers who joined the RAAF in World War II – the others were Jack, Kevin who flew Catalina’s on operations in the Pacific, Bill, and Bernie.

Pilot Officer J. P. (Pat) Lucy DFC and Bar Xavier is also a rising boxing talent as the U15 State Pat was Dux of St Mary’s College in 1934. His father, Champion in 2017 as well as being chosen in the James Joseph Lucy, was a first day pupil at St Mary’s junior development squad. while his uncle, John Patrick Lucy, was Dux of the He is pictured here with Paul Gallen. College in 1905 and became a member of the Land Court of Queensland. Pat always felt privileged to be taught by Brother J. P. Jake Simpkin (Year 12 -2018) Lacey (1925 – 1929) and later joined the Education Department becoming a Primary School Deputy Principal at State Schools such as Roma and Harlaxton. The Citation with his Distinguished Flying Cross Award reads: “Flight Lieutenant Rush of the R.C.A.F and Pilot Officer Lucy were pilot and navigator air bomber respectively and have participated in very many operational missions. Within recent months they have completed several attacks on enemy shipping, and the good results obtained are an excellent testimony to their skill and cooperation.” 20 Year Old, Jake made his first grade debut in the NRL competition with , as their hooker, Air Vice-Marshall Harold Hawkins on 17/4/21 in a match against the Rabbitohs. He had G.L.M J.C.D CBE AFC (1921 – 1988) been impressive in (5) games for Western Suburbs in Harold Hawkins was born in Toowoomba and the NSW Cup competition. educated at St Mary’s College. An excellent Rugby He was a member of the College 2018 Confraternity player, he represented Queensland as an Under 19 Shield winning team and a regular in Darling Downs Rugby player and also played Rugby League for the and Western Mustangs sides and an Under 16 and 18 Toowoomba Colts. Queensland Representative. He joined the RAAF during the war and served in Jake helped Wynnum Manly reach the 2019 grand Britain, the Middle East and Africa. He helped ferry final of the competition and petrol into Malta by air during the critical battle for then joined Wests Tigers ahead of the 2020 season. the control of that island. Afterwards he was posted to He recently extended his contract to 2024. the RAAF No 459 Hudson Bomber Squadron in the

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Middle East. As a bomber pilot he was cool headed territory. He survived the crash, but minutes later his and showed remarkable qualities of leadership. life was brutally ended. Williams was reported When discharged from the RAAF at the end o the war “Missing” and it was only through forensic he flew with Australian National Airways. examination of his dental records that he was A foundation member of the Royal Rhodesian Air identified. Force in 1950, he threw himself into building up that In July 1945 the circumstances of his death became fledgling air force. Due to his association with the the subject of an Allied War Crimes investigation. A political leaders he became a key figure in the book “Flightpath to Murder” by British author Steve Rhodesian Independence Crisis of 1965 and in 1979 Darlow records the trial and outcome. he played a key role in talks in London on the future of Zimbabwe (Rhodesia). Peter Hickey His rapport with his men was remarkable, he was Peter’s father was the Licensee of the Court House humble with no trace of arrogance in spite of his Hotel, Toowoomba and later the York Hotel in Queen achievements and remembered as a “perfect Street Brisbane. It is recorded that Peter was a gentleman”. brilliant athlete while a student at St Mary’s College. Harold is buried in Johannesburg, South Africa. His education was completed at St Joseph’s Nudgee where he was a member of that Colleges First IV side Group Captain Kerry Clarke AO (Senior 1965) in 1931. Kerry Clarke was invested with the Order of Australia In 1933, 1934, and 1935 Peter played with Past in October 1993 for exceptional service in the Brothers in the RAAF’s Defence Radar Wing at Williamstown near competition and was Vice Captain to International Newcastle. Mick Madsen in that clubs 1935 Premiership and Presidents Cup winning side. In 1936 and 1937 he played with in Brisbane. Peter plaed in Air Vice-Marshall Joseph Anthony Dietz RAAF 19 Bulimba Cup teams – 11 for Toowoomba and 8 Tony, as he was known, completed a Civil for Brisbane and scored 5 tries. He represented Engineering Degree at the Queensland University an Queensland in eight games against New South Wales. obtained a Bachelor of Aeronautical Engineering at On 3/6/1935 Peter Hickey and Joe Doyle were second the Sydney University. He joined the RAAF in 1950 row partners in a match which NSW won 18 to 14. and became a Senior Engineering Officer in the Air When the war commenced Peter joined the RAAF force, involved in Aircraft Research and Development and when posted overseas and was killed in action and in 1967 was Resident Engineer at General over France on the 8/1/1942 and was laid to rest in Dynamics, Fort Worth, Texas USA during acceptance Cherburg British Cemetery, Normandy. testing of the F111 fighter bomber for the RAAF. As Air Marshall he became responsible for new RAAF training aircraft designed and built in Australia.

Pilot Officer William Edmund Maloney Billy, as he was known, was born in Clifton and educated at the Glenvale State School where his father was Principal before he was enrolled at St Mary’s College. He was a prominent rugby union player in Toowoomba before he enlisted, playing with the Young Catholic Men’s team. He joined the RAAF in 1940 and served in Sandgate and Narromine before going to Canada where he gained his wings. He was then transferred to England, serving with the RAF from a base in Scotland. On the 8/9/1944 he was shot down approximately five miles north-west of Arnkem in Holland and forced landed his damaged aircraft deep inside hostile

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