Scotch College

Vale Jim Shaw (’41)

Laurie Muir’s personal recollections of the life and Scotch times of Jim Shaw, who died on 11 February.

WORDS: SIR LAURENCE MUIR (’42)

In 1937 my family moved to Hawthorn from Gippsland, and my brother Hugh and I started at Scotch in that year. We lived at 54 Fordholm Road on the Morrison Street corner (a property which is now a Scotch car park). In those pre-war days the Kooyong valley was like ‘sleepy hollow’, and for those who lived there, Scotch College was the centre of our universe.

Jim and John Shaw lived in ‘The Trossachs’ opposite the Scotch main gates. Brigadier Shaw, their dad, was a highly respected army officer and the boys both had his military bearing and good looks. Across Glenferrie Road lived Gordon Fisher, School Captain in 1941, and a legendary oarsman.

Down the hill a little lived ‘Digger’ Martin (School Captain in 1937) and John Blanch, Jim and John’s cousin who was School Captain in 1938. One block further up Glenferrie Road hill lived Bill and Bref Littlejohn. Bill was School Captain in 1939, and in wartime was Australia’s first submarine commander attached to the Royal Navy. Brother Bref was killed in the air force. Father Euan was our school medical officer and Uncle Charles was a leading surgeon in the Middle East. Grandfather William was the legendary Scotch headmaster.

A couple of streets beyond Glenferrie Road in Berkeley Street lived Arthur, Creighton and Bruce Burns. Arthur was School Captain in 1940 and Creighton, who died on 19 January 2008, was a Rhodes Scholar and a distinguished editor of ‘The Age’.

At the top end of Fordholm Road lived Ian Beaurepaire, one of Jim’s best school friends. I have fond early memories of Jim and Ian whizzing around our corner on their bikes.

When I turned 14 it was Ian and Jim who taught me to row in the school rowing pool. Ian rowed in the 1940 Scotch Head of the River crew and Jim in the winning Head of the River crew of 1941. The crew was stroked by Gordon Fisher and coached by Harvey Nicholson, another Hawthorn local who was School Captain in 1936.

Jim and Ian were fine mentors and dedicated oarsmen. Jim was in the swimming team and played powerfully in the Scotch 2nd XVIII, while Ian was a powerful forward in the rugby firsts. (Brother John Shaw played in the 1st XVIII and was a swimmer and champion high jumper.) Jim joined the 2nd AIF after school, and when based nearby he coached the Scotch 5th Crew.

My friend Rowan Macneil was a member of this crew, and he remembers noticing a beautiful blonde who frequently sat watching the 5th Crew from the riverbank. Rowan wondered which crewman would claim her. He soon found she had eyes only for the coach.

After the army Jim completed a commerce degree at the University of Melbourne. He courted and married the beautiful June, and then in the early ‘50s he joined Petersville, our premier ice cream manufacturer.

Jim and his father-in-law Emil Christensen formed a powerful management combination. Jim served on the board from 1963 to 1988 during an era of dramatic expansion. He was a good leader and a most caring employer. His love for June and the family – and ice cream – are legendary.

On retirement, Jim joined Geoff Tolson, Richard Briggs and others in developing the Scotch College Archives. He followed Sir James Balderstone as Chairman of the East Melbourne Glen Chapter and served with distinction during the establishment of the Alexander Morrison Circle. Jim always had an electronic calling. His other retirement interest was helping to found Golden Days Radio, a community broadcaster based at Caulfield Racecourse bringing nostalgic music to those aged over 50. He was an involved chairman for many years. His greatest retirement interest was of course June, his children and grandchildren. He loved them all dearly. Vale Jim, a great family man, an outstanding Scotch Collegian, a business leader and a wonderful friend. It was a special privilege to know him and to share many great times with him. GS