Pulteney Legends Brochure

NE

1847

Y GRAMMA

L OO H

PU

LT E

S

C

OF

Legends R

Foreword “No one thinks of Pulteney as a building. Instead, people think of it as a living, pulsing being, still growing and developing, despite its age full of fire and youth, built in the past and now on the devoted lives of those known widely and less widely. On those who have gone to their rest but whose names have not been forgotten and our School today has been built on their stones.”

Canon W.R. Ray Headmaster, 1947 - 1972

In this, its 175th year, we commemorate Pulteney Grammar School’s long and rich history and as part of this, we are pleased to launch Legends of Pulteney.

This 175th Anniversary undertaking intends to identify 175 people from history who have contributed to or benefited from a Pulteney education, and to duly recognise these individuals.

Legends of Pulteney subsumes the Pulteney Hall of Achievement established in 2014 and its members, but expands the criteria beyond Old Scholars alone. The inductees of the Hall of Achievement are the initial members of the 175th Anniversary Legends.

If ever an organisation or institution could be credited with honouring the spirit and letter of its motto, it is this distinguished group, our inaugural group of Legends, who have made the greatest contribution to the life of the School or indeed to broader society.

It is a great pleasure to profile these 15 individuals, who bear witness to our founders’ philosophy and our School’s Mission and Vision. For their contribution to the reputation of our School and to the broader community, we thank them.

Through Legends of Pulteney, we pay homage to and celebrate those whose legacy has been fundamental in carving the living stone that we who are part of Pulteney today, continue to shape.

Cameron Bacholer Principal

Allen Candy Chair of the Board of Governors

PULTENEY LEGENDS

Since its founding in 1847 as the Pulteney Street Schools, Pulteney’s journey has always been with purpose, thought and deed.

The School’s birth was humble but purposeful. Pulteney’s origins lie not in the desire to perpetuate privilege but to build and contribute to the growth of society. It is an origin that past Headmaster Rev Alexander Kerr captured in 1898 when he granted the School its emblem and motto: O prosper thou our handiwork. It is this legacy that, 124 years on, runs through the blood of a Navy Blue.

3

Pulteney

LEGENDS PAGE Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC CMG CBE

6

Attended Pulteney Street School 1903 - 1905 Dr Jillian (Jill) Maxwell OAM

8

School Governor 1994 - 2006 Peter Smith Dawson

10

Attended Pulteney Street School 1895 - 1898 Colonel Walter Dollman VD

12

Attended Pulteney Street School 1879 - 1883 Justice Thomas (Tom) Mitchell Gall

14

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1955 - 1959 Henry (Harry) Neville Haythorne MBE

16

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1933 - 1941 Lt Colonel Oscar (Cedric) Isaachsen DSO Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1921 - 1925

4

18

Justice Edward Picton Mullighan QC

20

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1951 - 1956 Brigadier Errold Frederick (Fred) Pfitzner AM

22

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1953 - 1957 Frank (Jeffrey) Edison Smart AO

24

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1934 - 1936 Harold Joseph Thomas

26

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1963 - 1964 Adrian Karl Quist

28

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1926 - 1928 Dr Ian Baker Wall AM

30

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1939 - 1947 The Honourable Stephen Gerlach AM

32

Attended Pulteney Grammar School 1955 - 1962 The Honourable Henry Tassie

34

Attended Pulteney Street School 1868 - 1872

5

Brigadier Arthur Seaforth Blackburn VC CMG CBE

ATTENDED PULTENEY STREET SCHOOL

1903 - 1905

6

In 1914 he joined the 10 th Battalion AIF as a private. He landed at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915 and with another soldier is said to have penetrated further inland than any other Australian soldier during the campaign. After arriving in France he was promoted to Lieutenant.

At Pozières on July 23, he personally led four successive bombing parties, which destroyed an enemy strong point and captured nearly 350 metres of trench.

He was awarded the Victoria Cross ‘for most conspicuous bravery’ at Pozières in 1916. In 1917 he married Rose Ada Kelly and was discharged from the AIF on medical grounds.

He continued his legal career in Adelaide, and became the Member for Sturt in the House of Assembly 1918-1921 and in 1933 was appointed City Coroner.

He was a founding member of the RSL in South Australia and its president from 1917 to 1921.

After serving in the militia he was appointed Lieutenant Colonel. He ceased legal practice in 1940 and took command of a motorized cavalry regiment, the 18 th Light Horse (Machine Gun) Regiment.

He was then appointed to command 2/3rd Machine gun Battalion that fought under his command in Syria and against the Vichy French. As the most senior officer present, he accepted the surrender of Damascus. In 1942 he was appointed to command the AIF in South West Pacific area as Brigadier.

He commanded “Black Force” to assist the Dutch against the Japanese. He was taken prisoner by the Japanese in Java in 1942 after the allied forces surrendered. He remained a prisoner of war until 1945.

In 1946 he was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for his distinguished service in Java and was discharged in 1946. From 1947 to 1955 he served as a Conciliation Commissioner on the Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration and again as State President of the RSL from 1946 to 1949. In 1955 he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George for his services to the community. He died in Crafers on 24 November 1960, one day short of his 68 th birthday.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

A

rthur was born on 25 November 1892. While at Pulteney he was awarded the Form IVB prize for Scripture in 1905. He later attended St Peter’s College and the University of Adelaide where he studied law. He was admitted to the bar in 1913.

7

Dr Jillian (Jill) Maxwell OAM

SCHOOL GOVERNOR

1994 - 2006

8

J

ill has been a General Practitioner since 1976 and is the principal and owner of Adelaide City General Practice, a practice which welcomes patients from all walks of life. She has a strong commitment to social justice as demonstrated by her work with people with disabilities, refugees and people who are homeless.

Jill is a Principal Supervisor of medical students and registrars and has long been involved in the teaching of medical students in Disability Medicine. From 1996 to 2010 Jill held positions as a Board Member and then Chairperson of the Medical Insurance Group Australia.

From 2011 she was the Chair of medical indemnity insurance company MDA National’s Medical Liaison Council.

and her vision led to Pulteney’s 1999 return to coeducation and to relative prosperity, with the enrolment of our first girls since 1884.

In 2007 Dr Maxwell was awarded the Medal of The Order of Australia (OAM) for services to medicine, medical indemnity and to the community. In 1995 she was awarded a fellowship of the Australian Medical Association for outstanding service to the Association.

As a Pulteney parent, Jill was elected to the Council of Governors in 1994, at that time, one of two female members. She remained a Governor until 2006, serving as Chairman from 1997 onwards. Formerly, the Bishop of Adelaide had been the defacto Chairman, Jill was the first Chair to be elected. Jill’s strength of leadership

PULTENEY LEGENDS

Jill chaired the General Practice Advisory Council of three Federal Ministers for Health. From 2010 to 2014 she was a Clinical Lead in the National E-Health Transition Authority which was instrumental in the establishment of Personally Controlled Electronic Health Records.

9

Peter Smith Dawson ATTENDED PULTENEY STREET SCHOOL

1895 - 1898

10

While at Pulteney he was awarded prizes for swimming, drawing, shorthand and writing. After leaving school he began an apprenticeship as a plumber and ironworker. After winning a prize for best bass solo in a singing competition he travelled to England to improve his singing and make a career of it. After undertaking specialist training, his voice extended from E-flat in the bass to a high A or A-flat. He is widely considered Australia’s greatest baritone.

During 1909-1910 Peter made a successful 6-month tour of Australia.

With the outbreak of war during a second tour, he enlisted in Australia and is known to have entertained troops in Australia and England. After the war he returned to England and continued to tour throughout the 1930s and 1940s.

During his 1931 tour of Australia Peter visited his old school. Headmaster WP Nicholls and Drill Sergeant Thomas served as his guide around the new school buildings. He reminisced about his days at the school - the long forms that gave a fair issue of splinters, the ceiling littered with pen darts, the cane that he’d tried to smash by putting a horsehair inside it.

Peter was a prolific broadcaster and recording artist. His early recordings (1904) were on wax cylinders. By 1920 he is said to have achieved total record sales of five million discs. By 1939 his

sales had topped 12 million. He recorded under several assumed names including Hector Grant for Scottish songs. He kept his own name for operatic, choral music and ballads. He made his first broadcast in 1931, and took part in regular BBC broadcasts. In 1947 at age 65, he made 11 recordings, 27 BBC broadcasts and nearly 100 concert appearances.

Best known and remembered for his ballads he was noted for the clarity of his diction. Many songs became personally identified with him including On the Road to Mandalay and Roses of Picardy. He also often included Australian songs in his repertoire such as Waltzing Matilda, Song of Australia, and Clancy of the Overflow, which he recorded in 1955.

Peter Dawson died in Sydney on 27 September 1961.

In 1984 Peter was chosen by the Guinness Book of Recorded Sound as one of the top 10 singers on disc of all time, along with Elvis Presley and Enrico Caruso. The ARIA Music Awards is an annual awards ceremony that recognises excellence, innovation, and achievement across all genres of Australian music. They commenced in 1987. Dawson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1991. In 2007 his 1931 recording of Along the Road to Gundagai was added to the National Film and Sound Archive’s Sounds of Australia registry.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

P

eter Dawson was born 31 January 1882, the youngest son of nine children.

11

Colonel Walter Dollman VD

ATTENDED PULTENEY STREET SCHOOL

1879 - 1883

12

In July they fought in the Battle of the Somme. After Pozières, Dollman returned to Australia on medical advice. The horrors of the campaigns had drained him physically and mentally and he had suffered gas poisoning. In Australia he took charge of the Mitcham training camp until 1919. He retired from the army in 1921 with the rank of Colonel.

In his youth Walter worked as a station hand on various stations throughout News South Wales, Queensland, Northern Territory and Western Australia, including a stint at gold prospecting in WA. In 1895 he returned to South Australia where he joined the commercial staff of The Chronicle (later The Advertiser).

He was active in community affairs serving as Councilor of Parkside Ward (1904-07), Alderman of City of Unley (1908-09, 1911-12) and Mayor of Unley (1912-14).

After the war, Walter took up a soldier settlement block at Renmark and was President of the RSL Renmark sub-branch in 1923 and 1924. He returned to Adelaide and The Advertiser in 1924. In 1929 Walter was appointed State President of the RSL after being president of the Unley sub-branch for three years.

He was instrumental in introducing the 9pm ode For the Fallen recited at RSL clubs.

Walter served in the pre-war militia as an officer in the “Adelaide Rifles”, 10 th Infantry Regiment and 74th Infantry Regiment. In 1915 he was appointed to command the 27th Battalion with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.

The battalion was commonly referred to as “Unley’s Own”, and many Pulteney boys joined the regiment, due to his position. He commanded the Battalion through the Gallipoli campaign, and then took them to the Western Front in 1916 where they were among the first Australian Divisions to face the Germans.

Walter co-authored the Battalion history The Brown and Blue Diamond in 1921 and for many years was a journalist for The Chronicle newspaper, writing under the nom de plume Garth Owen.

Colonel Walter Dollman died in his Malvern home on 23 August 1945, age 72.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

W

alter attended Pulteney Street School from 1879, and in 1883 was awarded 3rd prize in Form IV. He was an active old scholar and was on the Pulteney Old Scholars’ Association committee from 1927-1941, taking on the position of President 1932-1934. In 1926 he wrote the widely circulated poem Our Dear Old School.

13

Justice Thomas (Tom) Mitchell Gall ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1955 - 1959

14

After leaving school Tom studied law at the University of Adelaide and was admitted to the Bar of the Supreme Court in South Australia in 1966. He joined the law firm of then Attorney General Colin Rowe and in 1973 moved to Hong Kong. He became District Judge in 1982 and moved to the Court of First Instance in 1991. He was known as an outstanding criminal judge.

Tom was an avid fly fisherman, scuba diver and classic car enthusiast. He maintained ties with South Australia via his rural property at Mt Compass.

He was also Chair of the Hong Kong chapter of Adelaide University Alumni Association and attended Pulteney Reunions in Hong Kong.

Tom had a great interest in education.

He helped build rural schools in China, worked for students with learning disabilities in Hong Kong, and supported orphanages and village schools in Sri Lanka. Following the tsunami, and despite

illness, he worked tirelessly to supply the Galle, Sri Lanka, courts with new law books and computers.

On 20 January 2006 Tom lost his long battle with cancer, and died at Queen Mary Hospital, Hong Kong.

On 9 February 2006, a memorial High Court sitting was held for Tom Gall. The secretary for Justice, Chief Justice, Court of Final Appeal judges and the heads of both arms of the legal profession and its members filled Court No. 7 and spilled over into the waiting hall outside. Chief Judge of the High Court Mr Justice Geoffrey Ma Tao-li described Tom as a man of great wit, charm, charisma, honour, dignity, integrity and generosity of spirit. One of the many tributes stated: ‘He was genuinely interested in every case and was always intensely aware of the responsibilities in sitting in judgement upon his fellow men.’

He served on the bench with great distinction for 24 years. On the following day more than 700 people attended his memorial service in St John’s Cathedral, Hong Kong.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

T

om Gall was born in Burra on 20 November 1942. He started at Pulteney in Remove (Year 8) in 1955. In his final year at Pulteney he completed Leaving Honours, was in the debating team, captained the 2nd XVIII and was a School Prefect. He was also a school cadet from 1958-59.

15

Henry (Harry) Neville Haythorne MBE

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1933 - 1941

16

Shortly after Harry’s 18 th birthday in 1944, he joined the RAAF and was posted to Queensland until his discharge in July 1946. After the war he took up the serious study of ballet and travelled to Britain to pursue it further.

He studied with Anna Northcote, Stanislaw Idzikowski and Audrey de Vos, and danced in big musicals such as Can Can and The Pyjama Game.

He performed with the Metropolitan Ballet, the International Ballet and was Ballet Master and a Principal Dancer in the ballet companies of Leonide Massine and Walter Gore as well as the Dutch National Ballet. In the 1960s Harry was also guest artist with the Royal Ballet at Covent Garden and Marquis de Cuevas Company in Paris and then Ballet Master at Sadler’s Wells Opera, Western Theatre Ballet and Assistant Artistic Director of Scottish National Ballet. He also worked as a choreographer and ballet master in film and television.

In 1975 Harry was made Artistic Director with the Queensland Ballet.

He produced established classics and commissioned new works from international and Australian choreographers including Graeme Murphy and Garth Welch.

In 1978 he became founding coordinator of dance studies at Queensland University of Technology and in 1981 was appointed artistic director of Royal New Zealand Ballet, a position he held until 1992.

In the 1990s he returned to Australia and lived in Melbourne where he continued to teach and made guest appearances in cameo roles with the Australian Ballet including Graeme Murphy’s Nutcracker, Tivoli and Swan Lake, Stanton Welch’s Cinderella and Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow.

In 1993 he was awarded an MBE for services to dance and in 2001 was awarded the Australian Dance Award, awarded for outstanding dance by a male dancer for his performance in Tivoli. His final public performance was in Graeme Murphy’s Swan Lake in 2013, at age 87.

Harry Haythorne died in Melbourne on 24 November 2014, at age 88.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

H

arry was born on 7 October, 1926. He started his education at Pulteney aged six. Although dance and music were not taught at Pulteney, he received training in dancing, singing, acting and music from outside sources and was well known for tap dancing at school. As a teenager he was a member of a vaudeville show, Harold Raymond’s Varieties that toured country areas.

17

Lt Colonel Oscar (Cedric) Isaachsen DSO

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1921 - 1925

18

In 1939 Cedric was elected to the Council of Governors at Pulteney Grammar School as the old scholars’ nominee. He was appointed to the Finance Committee in 1948, being Chairman in 1985. He also served terms as President of the Pulteney Old Scholars’ Association and actively encouraged members to support the school through membership and subscriptions, and by helping with money-raising ventures.

He served on Council for 53 years until his retirement in 1992.

During WWII he served with distinction in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea. He was the original commanding officer of D Company of South Australia’s 2/27th Battalion on its formation in May 1940, and was with it when it first went into battle against the Vichy French in Syria in the Middle East.

He was wounded and Mentioned in Despatches, awarded the Distinguished Service Order and rose to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the 2/27th Battalion.

Later in the war he led the 36th Militia Battalion in their bloody baptism of fire against the Japanese in Papua in 1942.

After the war Cedric had a distinguished legal career in Adelaide, retiring in 2003 aged 92. He had many long-term community associations such as the Lacrosse Association and Legacy. He was a Master Mason, Past Deputy Grand Master and was conferred the Grand Master’s Order of Service in 2002 in recognition of outstanding service to Mark Masonry over many years.

Cedric Isaachsen died on 28 April 2009 in Adelaide aged 97.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

C

edric Isaachsen was born on 5 June 1911. He attended Pulteney Grammar School from 1921-1925 and played soccer and cricket.

In his final year he finished Dux of the School and won the Church scholarship, enabling him to complete his education at St Peter’s College. He attended the University of Adelaide, obtaining a Bachelor of Laws and was articled to TS O’Halloran KC and admitted to the Bar in 1934.

19

Justice Edward Picton Mullighan QC

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1951 - 1956

20

Ted’s involvement with Pulteney continued long after leaving school.

He was President of Pulteney Old Scholars’ Association (POSA) in 1969 and played both Old Scholars’ cricket and football. He was awarded the Pulteney Old Scholars’ Football Club Hill Memorial Trophy in 1959 and the McLaughlin Memorial Trophy in 1962. He was a foundation member of Pulteney Old Scholars’ Cricket Club, held many committee positions, coached and played, captaining both A and B teams, captaining the 1974 premiership side.

Ted was admitted to the bar in 1962, and was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1978. He served on the Law Society from 1967-1983 and was president from 1978-80 overseeing the establishment of the Legal Services Commission and the introduction of a compulsory professional insurance scheme. He was counsel assisting the Royal Commissions into the Vietnam Moratorium and the Sailsbury Affair, and was counsel for uninsured farmers in the inquest into the Ash Wednesday bushfires.

Ted worked extensively in the state’s criminal courts and was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court in 1989.

He served as Chair of Reconciliation SA and worked with the Nunga Court. He had a reputation for compassion, understanding and the ability to explain the difficulties of applying the law.

In 2004 Ted was appointed Commissioner of the Inquiry into Children in State Care, and in 2007 was made Commissioner of the Children on the APY Lands Inquiry.

He met with and listened to every person who came forward to the inquiries and traversed the state to meet with victims face to face.

Ted was awarded the Australian Human Rights Law Commission’s Law Award in 2003, and the Law Council of Australia President’s Medal for his outstanding contribution to the Australian legal profession. In 2011 he was awarded honorary doctorate at the University of Adelaide.

Ted lost his battle with cancer and died on 16 September 2011 aged 72.

He was awarded a state funeral, at St Peter’s Cathedral on 23 September 2011.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

T

ed Mullighan was born on 25 March 1939. He received the Allen Scholarship and started at Pulteney in 1951. He was a School Senior, School Prefect, Captain of Howard House, a member of the debating team, magazine committee, and school cadets. He captained the 1st XI, was a member of the 1st XVIII, and awarded a Blue for both cricket and football in 1954.

21

Brigadier Errold Frederick (Fred) Pfitzner AM

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1953 - 1957

22

He attended primary schools in Lameroo, Bordertown, Tarlee and Eudunda. In 1952 the family moved to Adelaide and Fred attended Woodville High. Fred and his brother John sang in the choir at St Peter’s Cathedral and in 1953 he was awarded a scholarship to Pulteney. In 1954 he was Head Chorister at St Peter’s Cathedral and sang at a festival in St Paul’s Cathedral, London. While at Pulteney Fred played football (1st XVIII 1955-56), cricket (2nd XI 1955-57) and was awarded a Blue for athletics in 1956. He was a School Cadet from 1953-1957, rising to Warrant Officer II and the unit’s first CSM in 1957. In 1956 and 1957 he completed four Leaving Honours subjects in each year, was a School Prefect and Captain of Miller House in 1957.

In 1959 Fred attended the Royal Military College, Duntroon and in 1961 was posted to 3RAR in Brisbane.

He was deployed for two years in Malaya, and was made Captain in 1964.

He was then involved in the BorneoIndonesia conflict for six months. As a member of the 1st Australian Taskforce in Vietnam in 1967 he was Captain responsible for Battalion operations.

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, postings included Duntroon as Company Commander instructing leadership, military geography, military

history, social etiquette and current affairs; as Major to AHQ to be personal staff officer for Adj General AL McDonald; seconded to General Hassett’ s reorganisation of the Army in 1970; Company Commander of 9 th Battalion; Canberra as Lt Col planning future army development; Joint Services Staff College to learn Tri Service operations; Command 8/9 RAR Battalion in Brisbane. In 1981-2 he was posted to the United Kingdom to the British Staff College with responsibility for counter revolutionary warfare instruction.

Fred was promoted to Colonel in 1983 and Brigadier in 1985 and commanded 6th Brigade in Brisbane.

Later he was on Joint Exercise Planning Staff to coordinate and run National Tri Service training exercises. In 1989 he was involved with Kangaroo 89 and was Director General of Operations and Plans.

In 1990 Fred was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the Australian Army as the Chief of Staff, Joint Exercise Planning Staff. He retired from the Army in 1992.

Brigadier Fred Pfitzner died in Adelaide on 9 March 2015.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

E

rrold Frederick (Fred) Pfitzner was born on 9 September 1939, at Lameroo.

23

Frank (Jeffrey) Edison Smart AO

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1934 - 1936

24

generally regarded as surreal or hyper-realist and comment on urban alienation. His use of the ‘golden mean’ and eye for geometry, along with his use of bold colour stand out in his work.

Jeffrey originally wanted to be an architect but studied at Adelaide Teachers’ College and SA School of Arts and Crafts from 1937-41. He was a teacher in the early 1940s and held his first solo exhibition in 1944. The Art Gallery of South Australia bought his Water towers in 1944, when he was 23 years old. In 1948 he travelled to Europe, studying at La Grande Chaunière, Paris and later at the Académie Montmartre under Fernand Lèger. He returned to Australia in 1951, and exhibited frequently from 1957. On his return he lived in Sydney where he worked as an art critic for The Daily Telegraph (1952-54), and at the ABC where he compered the children’s radio programme The Argonauts. He also worked as a drawing teacher at the National Art School (1956-62).

In 2012 Jeff’s final exhibition Master of Stillness was held at the Anne & Gordon Samstag Museum of Art, and Carrick Hill, in Adelaide. It comprised works drawn from across his oeuvre, and traced the development of his art from its beginnings in Adelaide to ‘his ultimate, mature achievement as a poet of a new vernacular of modern painting.’

In the forward to the book associated with the exhibition, Smart stated:

In 1965 he returned to Italy where he lived for the rest of his life. He was one of Australia’s best known artists, best known for unsentimental paintings of lonely urban vistas, lonely individuals in industrial wastelands and the iconic use of concrete structures, freeways, and street signs. His later works are

“It would be fair to say that the unique shape and light of these South Australian landscapes, together with my fascination for city motifs, formed the alpha and omega of the way I would continue to see the world through my painting”.

His last work Labyrinth was completed in 2011 and he announced his retirement.

Jeffrey Smart died in Arezzo on 20 June 2013 aged 91.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

J

effrey Smart was born on 26 July 1921 and attended Pulteney on a Cathedral Choir Scholarship.

He attempted the Intermediate certificate at Pulteney in 1936 but was unsuccessful.

25

Harold Joseph Thomas ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1963 - 1964

26

An active and successful footballer while at school, he played in the 1st XVIII in 1963 and 1964. While at school he participated in Frank Greet’s watercolour painting group.

After completing his Leaving Certificate in 1964 he was awarded a scholarship at SA School of Art and went on to complete Visual Art studies, graduating in 1969.

In 1971, while working at the SA Museum, Harold designed the Aboriginal Flag.

It was flown for the first time in Victoria Square (Tarntanyangga) at a landrights rally held on National Aborigines’ Day 12 July 1971, and subsequently the design was used at the National Tent Embassy outside Parliament House, Canberra in 1972.

Harold’s design was a flag divided into two equal halves of black and red with a yellow centre. The black symbolises Aboriginal people; the red or ochre symbolises the mother Earth and the yellow sun, the constant giver and renewer of life.

For more than 40 years Harold has lived and painted in the Northern Territory using watercolours and oils.

His art encapsulates academic draftsmanship and plein air impressionism, with an overlay of contemporary nuances.

In more recent works the rendition of natural light is central.

Light creates the drama of time and space. Where the mysteries of the light with air, clouds, dust, flora and fauna interacts and act as players on the stage of colour. The pursuit of capturing the moment is a spiritual experience as one confronts nature in all its forms.

Harold has embraced his Aboriginal background of Luritja and Wombia and now lives and paints near Darwin. He has exhibited regularly from the 1980s in the Northern Territory but has also exhibited in Fremantle, Adelaide and Sydney.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

H

arold Thomas was born in Alice Springs on 10 March 1947.

At age 11 he was fostered by the family of Reverend Wallace. In 1963 Rev. Wallace moved to St John’s, Halifax Street and Harold was educated at Pulteney Grammar School.

27

Adrian Karl Quist ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1926 - 1928

28

A

drian Quist was born at Medindie on 4 August 1913 and like his father Karl, was a talented all round sportsman. He played cricket and football for Pulteney as well as athletics and was Captain of Tennis.

He played tennis for Pulteney in the 1928 tour to the South East, playing interschool competition.

Adrian was a talented tennis player and won three Australian Championship singles titles (1936, 1940 & 1948), and 10 doubles championships (1936-40 & 1946-50). He also won doubles championships at the French Open (1935), US Open (1939) and Wimbledon (1935 & 1950). He was also a member of nine Davis Cup teams (1933-39, 1946 & 1949). His highest world singles ranking was three. During his successful international tennis career he worked for the Dunlop Company from 1932 to 1977.

The tennis player Jack Kramer wrote of Adrian in his biography: Quist played the backhand court. He had a dink backhand that was better for doubles than singles, and a classic forehand drive with a natural sink. He was also fine at the net, volley and forehand.

He was inducted into the International Tennis Hall of Fame in 1984 and the Australian Tennis Hall of Fame in 1998.

Adrian Quist died in Sydney on 17 November 1991, aged 78.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

Adrian is primarily remembered today as a great doubles player, winning 10 Australian doubles titles in a row. He was the only man to win a major tournament both before and after the war, after serving in the Australian Army.

29

Dr Ian Baker Wall AM

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1939 - 1947

30

At the time Pulteney offered schooling to ‘Leaving level’ and lan completed his education at St Peter’s College, having successfully passed eight subjects for the Intermediate Certificate at Pulteney.

In 1952, whilst he was studying an Electrical Engineering Degree at Adelaide University, Canon Ray engaged Ian as an Assistant Master, teaching Maths and Science at Pulteney. In 1955 he declined an extension to the teaching contract to join Phillips Electrical Industries.

In 1959, along with two friends, Ian founded the communications technology company, Codan. The company has grown to export to 150 countries, to employ staff in 10 countries, and includes The International Red Cross, The United Nations and Boeing amongst its clients.

Ian retired as a Director of Codan in 2009 after 50 years at the company’s helm. Codan was floated as a public company in 2003 with Ian and his wife Pamela retaining significant equity. lan was a consistent and generous supporter of Pulteney by way of work experience placements and technical support for many activities in the School

including the provision of radio telecommunications equipment for our Venture and Pedal Prix Clubs.

Early in the 2000’s, having always maintained an active interest in Old Scholar activities, lan became a philanthropic supporter of the School.

His generosity over the ensuing years has seen him rise to a position where he has become the most significant benefactor in the Schools’ 175 year history. Initially reticent to be publicly recognised for his generosity, lan realised the potential benefit to Pulteney in becoming a philanthropic advocate amongst his peers. Always earnest, humble and self effacing, lan is held in very high regard by his peer group and indeed, the broader Old Scholar community.

In 2008, Ian was awarded The Medal of the Order of Australia for service to business and to the community through philanthropic activities. He was made a member of the Order of Australia in 2019, for significant service to the community through philanthropic activities.

Ian passed away on 26 October 2022, aged 91.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

l

an was a student at Pulteney between 1939 and 1947. During his time at School, he was noted for excellence in Science subjects, particularly Physics for which he took the School Prize in 1947.

For his scholarly and passionate devotion to the Science faculty, he was known as Prof Wall whilst a student.

31

The Honourable Stephen Gerlach AM

ATTENDED PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

1955 - 1962

32

S

tephen was a strong academic student, and significant sportsman during his time at Pulteney.

After studying a Degree in Law at the University of Adelaide, Stephen worked for legal firm Finlaysons in Adelaide for 23 years, during which time he held the position of Managing Partner from 1985 to 1991.

He has acted as Chairman of numerous publicly listed companies, including Equatorial Mining Ltd, Challenger Listed Investments Limited, Amdel Ltd and Penrice Ltd. Significantly, he was Chairman of Oil and Gas producer, Santos Ltd from 2001 until 2009, and was Chairman of Elders Ltd for 10 years, until his retirement in December 2010.

Stephen replaced former South Australian Governor, Sir Eric Neal when he was appointed Chancellor of Flinders University in 2010. In 2009, Stephen Gerlach was made a Member of the Order of Australia for service to the provision of social welfare programs through Foodbank South Australia, and to the community.

In 2019 he was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Stephen has also been actively involved in a number of community and professional associations and is currently a Trustee of the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, a Director of the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Chairman of The Psychosis Trust and Chairman of the South Australian Cricket Association Nomination Committee. He was the inaugural Chairman of Foodbank South Australia from 1999 - 2014.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

He held directors’ positions on further public companies including Southcorp Ltd, Elders Rural Bank and Brunner Mond Holdings Ltd (UK).

33

The Honourable Henry Tassie ATTENDED PULTENEY STREET SCHOOL

1868 - 1872

34

H

enry Tassie was born on 8 June 1863 into a Scottish migrant family.

The family lived on South Terrace and Henry was educated at Mr WS Moore’s Pulteney Street School.

He won a scholarship to Saint Peter’s College to finalise his education after which he studied Accounting. Having served three years as a stockbroker in Adelaide and in Balaclava, in 1895 he started his own firm in Gay’s Arcade in the city.

Henry became President of the Institute of Accountants in South Australia and of the Australian National Federation of Accountants.

A staunch member of the Methodist Church and a Rechabite, Henry was highly regarded for his charitable work across a number of organisations.

He also held positions of Secretary and later President of the Royal Caledonian Society, between 1902 and 1927.

Henry married Susan Dellow and they had eight children. Two of their sons, Arthur and John, were killed in France during the First World War. Henry died on 26 October 1945.

In 1918 he was elected a member of the Legislative Council, first representing the Liberal Union, then the Liberal Federation and eventually the Liberal and Country League. Henry held that seat for 20 years, until 1938. During this time, he was Chief Secretary of the State Parliament, the Minister for Mines from 1927 to 1930, and the Minister for Marine from 1930 to 1933.

Henry also acted as Premier of South Australia, on a number of occasions.

He stood as a counsellor for the Glenelg Council and became Mayor of Glenelg between 1924 and 1925.

PULTENEY LEGENDS

For some years, he was Auditor for company BHP, and a Director of the then large firm, Office Equippers Limited.

35

PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL

190 South Terrace Adelaide South Australia 5000 Phone (08) 8216 5555 Email info@pulteney.sa.edu.au www.pulteney.sa.edu.au

Follow us: /pulteney /pulteney_grammar_school /pulteneygrammar

CRICOS 00369M

/pulteneygrammarschool