Frank Henagen was installed as the College Porter in May. More photographs appear on page 3.
CELEBRATION DINNER FOR EVAN BURGE 7th June, 1989, AT TRINITY COLLEGE The following address was given by the Most Reverend David Penman. A little more than fifteen years ago, my predecessor, Archbishop Frank Woods, was looking for a successor to Dr Robin Sharwood as Warden of Trinity College. It was a hard act to follow. His attention was drawn to a certain Dr Evan Burge, at that time, a member of the Classics Faculty at the A.N.U. in Canberra. He had been born in Melbourne but raised in far-off Brisbane. In other words he came from Queensland.and had then spent fifteen years in Canberra! To off-set these serious disadvantages, he was known in academic circles as a brilliant classicist. From the Standing Liturgical Commission of General Synod, word was already leaking out that Dr Burge's classical erudition was no dry, clinically isolated expertise: his knowledge and love for the classical languages had given him a delicate feel for the English language. Few, I think, appreciate or even realise how great a proportion of the verbal felicity of A.A.P.B. we owe to Evan Burge's sensitivity, sheer hard work and persistent interventions in the work of the Liturgical Commission in the years that were to follow. From the same source, as well as from colleagues in A.N.U. and in the Diocese of Canberra/Goulburn, came word of Dr Burge's ability to work harmoniously and productively with a wide variety of people. He was recognised as a person who could bring together those whom others considered to be incompatible and to motivate them to fruitful and mutually satisfying co-operation. So, when Archbishop Frank Woods and the Council first considered Evan Burge's name as Robin Sharwood's successor, he was already becoming known as a scholar, a teacher of note, a man of much more than skin-deep culture, and a pastor with fine sensitivity. Two further qualities were at least desirable in a Warden for Trinity College: ability (I almost said "sleight of hand") with figures, for institutions like Trinity College can only survive and prosper under wise and innovative economic management; and fresh ideas in the field both of theological and general university education. He was particularly skilled in the needs of general education but somewhat untried in relation to theological training and preparation. For while he was in 1974 already in Priest's Orders, he had come to ordination through what some at least might consider the unorthodox route of non-stipendiary ministry, including 11 years as a non-stipendiary Deacon. Dark thoughts doubtless lingered in the minds of some that a priest with such a lack of formal training might be unsuitable for the demands and expectations of both general and theological education in Trinity College. Others, however, knew that it was the very way that Evan Burge had come to ordination which had caused him to think deeply about the whole issue of theological education and
its relation both to university education and scholarship as a whole, and to the training of men (and in those days it was only men) for the ordained ministry of the Church. As to figures (if you have any doubts), Evan and his wife Barbara had produced that perfectly balanced family of three boys and three girls—a feat which many have envied but few have emulated. Let me say a word of appreciation and thanks for Barbara. Her energy and bubbling sense of humour, not to mention her skill and knowledge in her chosen profession, are matched only by her compassion and humanity. I am sure that Evan would be the first to acknowledge Barbara's part in all that we are celebrating this evening—a contribution to Trinity and to all our lives for which we are deeply grateful. Evan and Barbara have now spent some fifteen years at Trinity, and all that potential which Archbishop Woods and the Council saw and hoped for has long since begun to bear fruit, and to bear it very abundantly. It is a delight and a privilege to be able to honour Evan and Barbara Burge this evening, to thank God for the wisdom and insight of those who appointed them to Trinity, and for their work and achievement since that time. It is truly with deep gratitude to God that we are able to celebrate this occasion with such a sense of satisfaction. (Continued on page 2)
The Warden of the College, Dr Evan Burge
A PUBLICATION OF TRINITY COLLEGE WITHIN THE UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE Registered by Australia Post — Publication No. VBG 4336.