A Lasting Legacy

A Lasting Legacy

Written by Kloe Phelan

You get way more life experience—and life is so much richer—being of service. The only way I can make sense of life is to contribute every day to someone having a good experience.

These are the impassioned words of BGS mother and volunteer, Doctor Margaret ‘Margie’ Bale.

As one of Australia’s leading large animal surgeons, most of Margie’s hours are dedicated to mobile problem solving and discovery, so she is well acquainted with the pressures of having a full schedule concurrent to family life.

For Margie, giving back is a non-negotiable in life, showing her children that it is not only possible to multitask, but essential to contribute to the greater community.

“Everyone’s busy, but there’s no greater reward than when you make the time to be a part of something bigger and provide others with opportunities,” Margie smiled.

Margie’s husband, Old Boy Andrew Bale ‘88—Principal Solicitor at A.W. Bale & Sons—shares this outlook.

“What have we got to do to make this [school] experience more enriching, successful and long-lasting?”

Together, the two tackle early mornings and late evenings at their children’s cocurricular commitments, devoting their remaining energy to rallying support as presidents for the Wimbledon Club and the Tipperoo Support Group, respectively.

While Margie and Andrew don’t always have the capacity to watch all their children’s matches or races, the pair reliably turn up determined to get behind the tongs and provide a lively energy.

“Some days you don’t think it’s possible to give any more, then when you get there, you remember the opportunities you’re providing,” Margie said.

People remember how you made them feel. That’s everything to me.

Andrew suggests it is critical to keep demonstrating the value of connection as the world continues to individualise.

“I’m raging against what I see as this deep dive of loneliness... Every other part of [a student’s] life is now so incredibly impersonal. If you can’t do it on a phone, most don’t want to do it,” he said.

“...Though if you’re part of a team, part of a group, it just makes you feel better about everything that’s going on.”

The same motivational sentiment has been perpetuated by all five generations of Bale family BGS Old Boys and their families, dating back to Arthur William ‘A.W’. Bale.

Arthur William ‘A.W.’ Bale, Andrew’s great-grandfather, attended BGS until around 1884. Establishing a career as a distinguished criminal lawyer, he initiated A.W. Bale & Son Solicitors out of the old Cobb & Co. offices in 1889. The firm remains active today and is known as Brisbane’s longest continually family-run practice.

In 1911, Arthur’s allegiance to community saw him appointed Mayor of Windsor.

“[Arthur] was very driven to get to know people and provide them with opportunities. He was always doing things to help the community progress,” Andrew said.

Arthur’s son Eric was a champion swimmer at BGS and a wartime cadet. After graduating in 1922, Eric continued the family legacy at the law firm for over 40 years, determined to make a difference.

Eric’s passing made room for his son, Stuart, to leave a mark of his own.

The late and honourable Stuart Bale ‘58 was a highly reputed fixture at A.W. Bale & Sons, but in admiring the education he once had, Stuart also reserved time to give back to BGS.

Stuart spent eight years as a Trustee on the BGS Board of Trustees; four of those as Chairman of the House and Grounds Committee, and three as the President of the Old Boys Association.

At a time when it was notoriously difficult to induce change, Stuart used his voice to transparently connect the School community, boldly campaigning for the Board of Trustees to increase their interest in sports.

[Stuart] saw what sport could provide as part of a well-rounded education and that through sport you could encourage leadership and community.

With persistence from Stuart, the School eventually acquired what we now know today as the Northgate Sports Complex.

In 1996, “[Stuart] thought it was a great time to have an emergency triple bypass,” Andrew laughed.

“The School was calling him while he was still in the hospital bed to tell him the land had been purchased.”

As soon as Stuart was out of hospital, he had his son take him to the Northgate site.

“We drove in here and got bogged. It was a swamp. Covered in mud… We looked out at the marsh and imagined how it was going to look.”

The fields were subsequently opened in 1997 and have been the beloved home of cricket, rugby union and football ever since.

Upon reflection, Andrew says his family’s will to give back stems from the hard-working women in their lives.

They are fundamentally the drivers behind all of this. They make things happen and are [our] single biggest influence.

The current generation of Bale children are equally as keen to make a difference, encouraging an active engagement in sports and community-based projects amongst their peers.

Angus gathers second-hand tennis equipment to donate to Tennis Aid each year and Penny plays an active role in the BGGS Grammar Environmental Group, encouraging her friends to band together to make a difference.

When asked what they’d like to see going forward, Angus encouraged his peers to have a go at a variety of activities and seek balance away from the screens.

“If you’re so isolated and driven on your individual performance, then you’re going to come out of school with a worse experience than someone who’s opened themselves up to a wider range of activities,” he says.

Penny wants to see more people her age stop, connect, and get active, doing more for joy rather than excellence exclusively.

“I would like to see more involvement in the sport aspect because you don’t have to be good at it. Just give it a try.”