Golden Anniversary of Russell Clark's Ordination
For 17 years he was Chairman of the Victorian branch of the Australian Board of Missions (ABM). He has been a member of the Councils of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School and Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School. He was also a member of General Synod for 20 years and chaplain to the Mothers' Union in the Melbourne Diocese. Trinity College rejoices in the celebration of fifty years of Russell Clark's ministry. It has been said that he knows half the people in Melbourne and that the other half all know who he is. We are grateful that he continues to come frequently to the College and that Eirene still gives outstanding service to our Library. Russell and Eirene celebrate their golden wedding anniversary in two years time.
RECITAL BY TRINITY'S
PIANIST-IN-RESIDENCE Miss Tsou Nan Chien, Pianist-in-Residence at Trinity College, gave a recital on Friday, 21 July 1989, in the College Hall. Photographed at his Golden Anniversary were Mrs Eirene Clark, Russell Clark, and his brother Manning.
The varied program featured Spanish and Argentinian dances by Manuel de Falla and Alberto Ginastera as well as an intermezzo by Granados in the first half. These rarely heard pieces were eloquently introduced by Roger Sworder, and passionately played by Tsou Nan Chien.
On Sunday 12 March 1989 the parish Church of St John's Camberwell was crowded for a thanksgiving Eucharist in celebration of Russell Clarke's fifty years as an ordained priest. There could be few Anglican priests in Melbourne so widely known, respected, and loved. He was Senior Student in Trinity immediately following the time of the great Buttery incident of 1933. Relations between Dr Behan, the Warden, and the student body were then at an all-time low. It was in large measure due to Russell Clark's personal qualities of genuine care for everyone concerned that the College rose again to be the happy and creative place it has been for most of its history. Many Trinity members of those days remember the pre-eminent place in College life occupied by Russell and his outstanding cricketing brother, Manning.
The second half of the program was devoted to more familiar works by Beethoven, Mozart and Chopin, again performed competently and with great enthusiasm. An appreciative audience demanded an encore to the official program and enjoyed the opportunity to meet the artist after the recital and discuss the performance over port, coffee and cakes. The Hall was candle-lit, and dramatic Spanish drapery provided a suitable background for the beautiful pianist and her art. It was a most enjoyable evening's entertainment and a wonderful contribution by Tsou Nan Chien to Trinity's cultural life. For those who missed the recital, the Spanish and South American pieces performed that night are available on Tsou Nan Chien's first commercial release, entitled "The Latin Muse". The cassette is available from record stores, or via the Trinitiana office.
At a gathering after the service last March, Russell spoke with typical affection and warmth of his wife, Eirene, who now works as a Librarian in Trinity College, and his distinguished historian brother. "We are a close family," he said, "and we are very affectionate brothers, Manning and I. The only things we do not talk about are Religion and Politics. The reason, of course, is that I know far more about both than he does." He went on to speak lovingly of their sister, Hope, who spent five years on the list of "death imminent" while the two brothers were in their final year at Trinity. Hope went on to make a complete recovery, aided by the heart-felt prayers of many in the College and beyond, and by those who took her to Brighton where she recovered the use of her limbs by learning to swim. And no praise could be too great for the devoted support of Eirene, a partner in all aspects of Russell's life and work.
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The service in St John's was a true Trinity occasion though the range of people represented was far wider than the College. The sermon was preached by Bishop Bob Butterss (1949). Very much in evidence were Archdeacon Stan Moss (1946), the Reverend Geoffrey Moorhouse (1932), Archbishops Robert Dann (1943), and Sir Frank Woods, and the present Warden. Russell Clark was ordained priest by Archbishop Head in St Paul's Cathedral Melbourne on 20 February 1939. He then served as a curate at Christ Church, Brunswick, where many Trinity Theologs at the time spent Friday mornings learning from him, and St Andrew's Brighton. This was followed by six years of service as senior chaplain in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). During his time as RAAF chaplain he served in Australia, the United States and Papua New Guinea. He has also served as Vicar in the parishes of St John's, Croydon; Christ Church, Brunswick; Holy Trinity, Hampton; St John's, East Malvern; and St John's, Camberwell. He was vicar of the parish of Camberwell for 16 years.
Tsou Nan Chien, Pianist-in-Residence at Trinity College
WARDEN AWARDED HALLAM PRIZE
The Warden, Dr Burge, has returned to academic pursuits in his spare time, studying for a B.Lit. at the University of Melbourne. At the end of last year he was awarded the A. D. Hallam Memorial Prize in Hebrew. We congratulate the Warden on this addition to his academic achievements.
Since his retirement from full-time ministry he has been anything but inactive. In the last twelve years he has served 36 parishes in a locum tenens capacity. He is now on the staff of St John's Homes for Boys and Girls and is also a canon of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbourne. 10