Tribute to Bill Curnow

RENATA RANKIN Head of Exceptional Learners and Bill's Daughter My Dad, William Curnow AM FRAIA, fondly known as Bill, never attended St Peters as a student, but gave much of his adult life freely to make it a better school. When he passed away on 16 June 2022, St Peters lost a dedicated and passionate supporter. Bill was husband to Old Scholar Margaret (1960, nee Neumann), and father to Old Scholars Holly Wandel (1992, nee Weide Curnow), Karl Curnow (1994) and Renata Rankin (1996, nee Curnow). Bill’s association with St Peters began when he met Margaret in June 1963. Margaret grew up on the Lutheran mission in Papua New Guinea (and evacuated to Australia during WWII), running wild on the remote small island of Umboi where her father was plantation manager at Gizarum and master of the mission vessel Umboi 2. She had no formal schooling and was unable to read or write. At age 11 when brought to Brisbane, she experienced bullying and discrimination from peers and some teachers at a state primary school. Thankfully, Margaret received a returned serviceman’s Canteens Trust Fund Scholarship, which enabled her to attend St Peters Lutheran College, Indooroopilly. Here, she found her ‘gang’ of friends and teachers who cared, and her life completely changed. Margaret’s time at St Peters had a profound impact on her and she joined the SPOSA committee immediately after finishing school. Once Bill met her, he became quickly involved as well, and would never cease to be an avid St Peters supporter. Bill’s first visit to the College was to help the SPOSA Committee collate the newsletter and stuff and address envelopes on the veranda of headmaster Mr Bill Lohe’s house, while Mrs Lohe plied them with cups of tea and scones. Bill helped with many SPOSA Committee duties where he met Conrad Lohe, Robin Kleinschmidt, Theo Baer and Max Kanowski among others. Bill attended his first SPOSA Reunion, along with Margaret, in 1963, and in December 1964, they were married in Luther House, with Margaret being the first Old Scholar to get married at the College. Bill, along with Margaret, continued to attend events and support College functions such as the College Garden Party, which eventually became Herbstfest, until Bill’s transfer to Victoria for work in 1973. Bill was very busy with work in Victoria, as Chief Architect for the Australian Animal Health Laboratory in Geelong (now called the Australian Centre for Disease Preparedness) but Margaret continued her commitment to SPOSA while interstate and returned to Brisbane when possible, during that time. While in Victoria, Bill and Margaret had three children – Holly, Karl and Renata – all enrolled at St Peters at birth. When the Geelong project finished, Bill and Margaret made the decision to return to Brisbane to be near family. Margaret and their three children returned in December 1985 and the children commenced in the Junior School in 1986. Once work allowed Bill to return to Brisbane, he became involved in the P&F, as he had done at St John’s Lutheran College in Geelong. Margaret returned to the SPOSA Committee, and over the years held roles as Secretary, Treasurer, Vice President and President. While Bill and Margaret were actively involved as parents of the College, Bill was also invited to join the College Foundation, and served over 20 years on the Foundation, including 10 as Chairman. Bill was also asked to be on the College Council and served for close to 20 years, becoming Deputy and then Chair, and in the process donating countless hours of wisdom and expertise in these roles. Bill’s legacy of servant leadership on College Foundation and College Council included: • The adoption of a more business-like approach to management, including the development of a proper strategic plan; • The championing of the Springfield campus from vision to reality, celebrating its opening in 2008 - Bill and Margaret were delighted and humbled when

Curnow House was named in their honour; • The adoption of an architectural

Pictured (left to right): Bill and Margaret Curnow on their wedding day in 1964; again, on the Luther House stairs, in 2019; the moment they found out that Curnow House at Springfield was being named after them (2008); Curnow House.

competition for the PAC and the re-planning of it to achieve 1,000 seats economically; • Being visible in the St Peters community by attending countless events, putting a face to College Council and being available to the parent community; and, • The development of the ‘Clubman’ car project in

Technology. After years of service through creative and innovative problem solving in his wise and witty manner, Bill retired from College Council in 2014 and from College Foundation in 2015. In recognition of his service to the College he was given honorary life membership to SPOSA and became the patron, with Reinhard Mayer, Margaret’s Scripture teacher from her school days, presenting Bill with his life membership certificate. Bill and Margaret celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary in December 2019 by attending church at St Peters, and having their photos taken in front of Luther House before it was to be demolished to make way for the Centre for Learning and Innovation. Margaret continues her support for St Peters as the regional representative of SPOSA for Toowoomba and through attending functions whenever she can at both Indooroopilly and Springfield. She has recently been appointed SPOSA Patron. Dad loved St Peters and dedicated much of his life to the betterment of it, truly believing that education makes a positive impact on society. To read more about Bill’s astounding life, including his inspiring ‘citizen science’ contribution to Parkinson’s disease research, go to his website biomiclife.com. A passionate music lover, Bill supported the St Peters Music Department over many years, continuing to attend Department Concerts until just before his passing. He was a strong advocate for the concept of a Performing Arts Centre for St Peters, contributing to the original fundraising in the 1970’s and was then integral to the design and building of the PAC which we enjoy today. Christine Taylor Music Department

Without Prof Bill Curnow AM there would not be St Peters Lutheran College Springfield. Bill’s drive, devotion and strong belief in this concept resulted in the College opening in February 2008, with 98 students on the first day of school.

As Chair of the College Council, Bill had to defend this concept of a second campus of St Peters Indooroopilly. It had never been done before in Queensland. He is a true creative thinker and pioneer, whom I greatly admired and respected.

It was very fitting that the first main building of the College was named in his honour. Ably supported by his wife Margaret, SPOSA (1960), they would attend every significant event at the College to show their devotion and support.

Jill Lange-Mohr OAM Founding Principal St Peters Springfield