H The Weekly Newsletter of Sydney Boys High School Vol 8 No 15 June 1 2007 From the Principal legendary; his gallantry conspicuous, his The Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial humility inspirational. He was able to interact I easily and warmly with people from all walks Gates Dedication, May 24 of life. He loved his sport. His lifelong dedication to public service and charitable causes marks him out as a very special Australian icon – a man of the people. G Most importantly of all for us here, Sir Roden held his old school in high regard and throughout his life supported its activities. His involvement as patron of our organisations made him special to our community. He was a point of reference for the school in its H history and a champion of its causes. He Your Excellencies, Governor General and Mrs dedicated buildings and made himself Jeffery, Lady Cutler, the Honourable Greg available at ceremonial occasions, despite his Donnelly, representing the Premier, Mr Barry commitments as Governor. Even as late as O‟Farrell, Mr Patrick Condon, Chairman of 2000, nearly two decades after his retirement, Sir Roden Cutler Charities, Dr Phil Lambert, he attended an Anzac Day assembly with a Director of Education, Sydney Region, Mrs 1934-40 class reunion at High, despite his ill Pam Peelgrane, School Education Director, health and the inconvenience of being Bondi, Mr Joseph Waugh, President of the confined to a wheel chair. He joined in the Old Boys Union, Ms Lorraine Wilson, singing of the school song with his old representing the High Club, distinguished classmates. He followed closely the fortunes guests, the Cutler family wheel chair roll of the cadets and the rifle team and was very N participants, staff and students, ladies and pleased with the gift of a picture of the High gentlemen - welcome to our assembly to GPS Championship target rifle shooting team dedicate the Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial of 2001. It was with a solemn pride that Gates. twenty School Prefects formed up behind our school banner and led the procession into St I would like to acknowledge the traditional Andrews cathedral at Sir Roden‟s state custodians of the land on which we meet – funeral in 2002. O the Gadigal people of the Eora nation – and to pay my respects to elders past and present Sir Roden‟s motto of „service in all places‟ and extend those respects to any Aboriginal inspires our school charities program. Our people here today. Year 11 students have Sir Roden Cutler Charities as their nominated charity. Upwards As a scholar, sportsman, soldier, leader, of 200 students are serving the community T diplomat, concerned citizen and statesman, today through their fundraising activities. Sir Sir Roden Cutler was an example in action of Roden lived the daily frustration of relative our SBHS ethos - with truth and courage. At immobility, first as an amputee and later in life High in 1934, Sir Roden was awarded School when wheelchair bound. This important Blues for swimming, water polo and target charity bearing his name, has as its primary rifle shooting. Sir Roden was described as a objective, the alleviation of this problem for E trier, a leader and a role model for younger some of society‟s unfortunate people, those boys. At High, then as now, we idealise the unsupported and needing transport. For many good all-rounder - the person who has the reasons then, as a major local memorial to Sir talent, courage, will power, self-discipline, Roden, these gates will serve cohorts of High flexibility and communication skills to succeed students as a symbolic call to service and as in a variety of endeavours. Sir Roden was a dignified reminder of the importance of S such a man. His integrity in public life was developing community spirit. The Sir Roden Cutler Memorial Gates project was touched by the memory of his example of courageous, conceived during 2001. We wanted a fitting memorial to steadfastly humane behaviour. him. After his death an appeal was launched to fund it. Hundreds of people donated. Rusty Priest took an The school is honoured that your Excellency, as another interest in the project and introduced me to Bill Harrigan decorated soldier statesman, could set aside the time this of Bondi-Waverley RSL who helped to raise a morning to dedicate the Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial significant contribution, as did the SBHS class of 2005. Gates. It is with great pleasure that I invite Your Two major private donations from Keith Kent and the Excellency to deliver the keynote address to mark the Wrighter family, allowed the first stage of the project to occasion. proceed. I acknowledge the great assistance given to the project by Heritage Services, Department of The Governor General addressed the assembly. Commerce, and the sandstone supplied at cost, I would like to acknowledge the traditional custodians of authorised by the then Minister, John Della Bosca. the land on which we meet – the Gadigal people of the Vivian Sioutas, of the Government Architects Office, Eora nation and pay my respects to elders past and was particularly helpful during the process, as was present and extend those respects to any Aboriginal Garry Rimmer, the supervising stonemason. The stone people here today. was selected, cut and fashioned. Good morning to you all. And thank you for welcoming Late in 2005, when Chris Williams of Sir Roden Cutler Marlena and me here on this very special occasion. Charities told me that the statue to Sir Roden was going to be unveiled at Manly Vale PS by the Governor Last year I had the privilege of unveiling a statue in Manly General and he needed the gates to be a finishing point dedicated to the memory of a most remarkable man, Sir for the wheelchair roll he was organising for the Arthur Roden Cutler, VC, AK, KCMG, KCVO, CBE. inaugural Sir Roden Cutler Day in May, I had a few months to have something in place. Thanks to Norm And today, on his birthday, I am honoured to perform Lamerton, The High Club came to the rescue with a another dedication, this time in the form of the very large contribution to allow stage two, the magnificent Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial Gates at his placement of the pillars and plinth course, attaching the beloved Sydney Boys High. Like the statue, these gates gates and fences, to go ahead. The gates were there in are testimony to the enduring admiration and respect we time for the wheel chair roll. all have for one of the nation‟s most renowned and accomplished citizens – a soldier, diplomat, Governor, Since last year, stage three, fixing the plaques to the family man and humanitarian. pillars, laying the memorial stone, laying out a garden, landscaping, paving and uplighting the pillars, has been For many Australians, Sir Roden Cutler was the epitome completed, partly funded by the SBHS P & C and by of a gallant and respected military officer, his school funds. The total cost of the project has commanding presence in full regalia enhancing hundreds exceeded $150,000. It represents a great High Family of ceremonial occasions. Sir Roden was the only fund raising effort over five years. It demonstrates the Australian artillery officer to win a Victoria Cross in World initiative, resilience, self-reliance and drive that has War II and the only soldier to ever win that decoration characterised High for 124 years of its history.. fighting against the pro Nazi Vichy French forces, in Syria in 1941, a campaign in which my own uncle was killed. Situated on Anzac Parade, not far from the obelisk commemorating the establishment of a memorial Following distinguished diplomatic service, Sir Roden roadway to honour servicemen of the Great War, the became the longest-serving Governor of New South Sir Roden Cutler VC Memorial Gates add another Wales, spending 15 years in the appointment, from dimension of military remembrance to the area, January 1966 to January 1981. reinforcing its original purpose. Also, the school has acquired a substantial and impressive entrance. It Sir Roden was committed to a life-time of service to his makes our school feel special in yet another way. country and his fellow Australians. Both in war and peace, he displayed physical and moral courage of the Today, on the anniversary of Sir Roden‟s birthday, we highest order, linked to a lively intelligence, an embracing are trying to keep his example before us as we raise compassion, a keen sense of humour and devotion to his money for the charity bearing his name. We trust that family. As the old saying goes: “He walked with kings yet as our boys and the many visitors to the school pass had the common touch.” through his gates over the years ahead they will be Sir Roden was born in Manly on this day in 1916, one meantime, his earlier citation for a Military Cross was of three sons of Arthur William and Daphne Cutler. He upgraded (correctly) to the Victoria Cross. was educated at Manly Village Public School and gained admission here, to Sydney Boys High School, at After being invalided home, Sir Roden returned to Manly the age of 15. After school he worked for the Texas to a hero‟s welcome and was discharged from the Army Company Australasia, later to become Texaco. He in December 1941. At the war‟s end, and following much studied economics at Sydney University at night and good work on the home front for his fellow service later joined the public service. In March 1936, he joined companions in his position as State Secretary of the RSL the Sydney University Regiment.