Scotch College

Obituaries

John BETHERAS ('51)
Graeme BROWN ('49)
James DONALDSON ('34)
Ken DOWN ('30)
Herbert GOOEY ('29)
John HOLDEN ('38)
Mark KEATS ('51)
John LAVARACK ('32)
John LINDSAY ('37)
Andrew McNICOL ('73)
Alan STUBBINGS ('40)

On January 30 the MLC Chapel was filled to capacity to celebrate the life of Bruce Turner ('23) who passed away in his 91st year on 23 January after a brief illness. Bruce was appointed Bursar of MLC by the Rev A H Wood in 1964 and although he retired in 1974 he continued to have a strong association with the school through his daughter-in-law Heather and his only grand daughter Miranda. The MLC Bookroom was named in his honour recognising his strong contribution to the College community over many years.

Bruce was born at Albert Park on 1 March 1907 into a strong Christian family with a younger brother the late Bob Turner ('27) and sister Helen.

After initial educational experiences at schools as diverse as Fintona and Auburn State School he finished his secondary schooling at Scotch College in tents, on the Scotch Hill. He successfully passed his Intermediate Certificate finishing 3rd in his year group which, as the late Dr W S Littlejohn then School Principal recorded in his report, was a 'fine record'

As well as his scholastic achievements, Bruce showed promise as a runner. In October 1921 in the House competition Bruce ran second in the open mile event. In the Scotch Collegian for that year the following comment appears 'Clark first and Turner second in the mile did very creditably. The performance of Turner, who is only 14 was especially noteworthy.' In his school reference, handwritten by Dr Littlejohn, he said of Bruce 'He does his part in the games and other activities of the school. He excels in long distance running, in which he has more than one good performance to his credit.' I am sure that the strong constitution, so evident in those early years, has played a major part in Bruce achieving a life in excess of 90 years.

Bruce was a person of substantial inner peace who maintained a positive outlook on life despite the frustration of failing eyesight and the inability to undertake tasks which he had previously enjoyed. He loved being a 'fix it man' for all who had need of his services and delighted in being able to help others.

He did not seek out company from necessity but chose his friends carefully from amongst those who shared his same ideals. Bill Howden ('23) and Archie Crow ('36) were close friends and both assisted in a private family service.

Bruce is survived by Ada his wife of 55 years, sons John ('64) and Robert ('66) and grandsons Matthew ('94) and Lachlan ('98)

 

 

Geoffrey Watson ('37), a statistician who helped write a classic formula that has given economists and other researchers more confidence in their predictions, died on 3 January at the University of Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia. He was 76.

Geoffrey who was head of the statistics department at Princetown from 1970 to 1985 and who retired from the department in 1992, was also known for using statistical methods to address environmental and geological issues like plate tectonics.

In the late 1940s Geoffrey worked with James Durbin a professor at the London School of Economics, to develop what came to be known as the Durbin-Watson statistical method. Fifty years later, the method remains a staple in software packages and textbooks.

He was widely respected for his applications of statistics, in particular his decades of work to validate the theory of continental drift, which describes the movements of continents. His data helped break down what was left of the scholarly opposition to the continental drift theory. Geoffrey was born in Bendigo. He received his BA in mathematics from Melbourne University in 1942 and his PhD from North Carolina State University in 1951. He taught at the University of Melbourne, the Australian National University and the University of Toronto and was chairman of the statistics department at Johns Hopkins University before joining Princeton in 1970.

Decorated World War II veteran John Holden ('38) risked his life during countless bombing missions over Europe. A crew member aboard a Lancaster bomber, John was awarded a Distinguished Flying Cross and survived enemy fire and even a mid-air collision. He was a wireless operator and one of seven crew members aboard a Lancaster bomber which flew more than 50 missions over Germany and occupied countries.

After the war, he worked as a shipping officer with the Australian Wheat Board. He also served as president of the Australian Air Force Association and was a Legacy member and Freemason. He is survived by his wife Dorothy, two children, Margaret and Alan and three grandchildren.

Donald Dimsey ('32) died on 9 March after a short illness. At Scotch he participated in many sports, particularly athletics, football and rowing. He joined the Australian Army, serving overseas in 6th Division 2/4 Regiment and was badly wounded at Bardia. He returned home and after many months in hospital returned to active service. On retirement from the army he joined Ansett as Personnel Manager. He is survived by his wife Patricia and daughter Anne who now live in Sydney.

Mark Keats ('51) was Melbourne's most sought after wedding and glamour photographer for more than 30 years. Among his most famous photographs were portraits of Princess Anne, former US President Jimmy Carter, and retired Premier Sir Henry Bolte. There was a host of media celebrities.

He won several prestigious prizes including the worldwide Hasselblad Award. He entered only twice, and won both times. In 1989 he was recognised by Wedding Photographers International for an innovative wedding picture of a bride dreaming on South Melbourne beach.

Romanian-born Mark came to Melbourne with his family in 1936 at the age of three. He is survived by his wife, Suzy, and six children.