Scotch College

ARCHER Professor Richard Douglas (’42)
BASTOW Austin (’40)
BLAIKIE Samuel J (’77)
CARSON George M (’47)
COOMBES John B (’40)
DOBSON Walter B (’37)
DODGSHUN Ken (’22)
FOSTER Noel S (’32)
JACKSON Trevor Vaughan (’64)
JAMIESON Rev. John Forrester (’38)
JONES L Oxley (’30)
LARDNER E Denbigh (’30)
MACINTYRE Forbes (’39)
MARTIN Laurence A (’41)
MATT Robert D (’38)
MATTHEWS Peter G (’54)
McGRATH Ian D (’43)
McNAB Finlay (’32)
PARKIN, Graham (Staff)
PARTINGTON Robert C (’42)
RIDDELL Thomas Frederick (’31)
RIMINGTON Kenneth N (’35)
RYAN John J (’40)
SHANNON Robin M (’51)
SMITH John Francis (’58)
STOTT Ronald A (’40) – died 2003
(notified 2004)
TYERS Clive J (’33)
WARMUS Michael J (’97)
WERNER, Douglas G (’40)
WILKINS, Edgar R (’32)
YOUNG Richard Keith (’00)

Professor Richard Douglas Archer (’42) was born at Surrey Hills on 3 April 1925, and attended Scotch from 1941-42. He was a member of the 1941 1st XV. He enlisted in the RAAF in 1944, and was a Leading Aircraftman at RDIU (Somers) upon demobilisation in 1946. Douglas obtained his BSc at Melbourne University in 1945, then studied Mechanical Engineering at Sydney University, where he played rugby. Douglas was a professor of aeronautical engineering in Sydney, where he died on 8 August 2004. He was a son of Richard (1909-12), and his brothers Gordon (1941), Harold (1941) and Frederick (1941-44) also attended Scotch.

Austin Bastow (’40) was born on 3 May 1924, and attended Scotch from 1938-40. He married Kathleen A Dreyden at Scotch on 31 March 1950. Austin lived at Pakenham, and Scotch has only recently learnt that he died on 16 April 2001.

Dr. Samuel James Blaikie (’77) was born on 1 March 1960, and attended Scotch from 1972-77. A member of Monash House, he was a Scout Troop Leader. Sam married Robyn, and had two sons and a daughter. He was a research scientist with the CSIRO in tropical horticulture for the plant industry. His brothers Edward (1970-75) and Tim (1975-79) also attended Scotch. Sam died on 30 June 2004.

George Menzies Carson (’47) was born at Wagga Wagga, NSW, on 26 January 1930, and attended Scotch from 1945 to 1947. He married Helen M. Geere at Roseville, NSW, on 21 May 1955, and had a son and two daughters. George was a stockbroker, and worked with Pearl Fund Managers Pty Ltd. George followed father George (1904-08) to Scotch. Also at Scotch were his brother John (1946-49), son Ian (1971-76), nephew David (1973-74) and uncles William (1911-15) and James (1904-07) Carson. James and George (senior) were identical twins. George died on 20 July 2004.

Dr. John Bertrand Combes (’40) was born at Melbourne on 9 April 1922 and attended Scotch from 1934-40. He was a member of the winning 1935 Athletics team, the 1938 and 1940 1st XV, and the 1940 Athletics team.

He was a 1940 Prefect. John was a Private in the AIF from 1941-42, and served in the RAAF from 1942-45 as a Flying Officer in the 2 Aircraft Depot on demobilisation. He married Mary, and was the father of three sons and two daughters. John obtained his MBBS at Melbourne University in 1949. He was the first medical director of the Southern Memorial Family Care Centre, and Medical Director at Montclair Hospital. Active in medico-politics, he practised in the field of gerontology. His brother Gordon (1934-36) also attended Scotch. He died on 10 July 2004.

Walter Blair Dobson (’37) Walter’s death was reported in the July Great Scot, and his family has asked that some further details of his remarkable community involvement be published in this edition. Walter was an active member of Hawthorn Rotary Club for 38 years, and was presented with Rotary’s prestigious Paul Harris Award for services to Rotary and to the community. He was a councillor and Mayor of the former City of Hawthorn, and was also a Justice of the Peace. Walter was a dedicated Freemason for 65 years, becoming Worshipful Master of Hawthorn Masonic Lodge, and he was also a member of the Old Scotch Lodge. At age 16, Walter joined his father’s clothing business, which is now managed by Walter’s son Ian and grandson Warwick, both Old Scotch boys. Walter is survived by his widow, Helen, four children and 15 grandchildren, six of whom have attended Scotch.

Kenneth Dodgshun (’22) was born at Hawthorn on 13 February 1906 and attended Scotch from 5 February 1916 until September 1922. He was the 19th boy entered on the roll of the new school at Hawthorn, which commenced on 1 February 1916, and was conveniently near his house at 5 Berkeley Street, Hawthorn. Of the first 20 pioneering boys at the Hawthorn Junior School, only one survives. Ken married Norah (who died on 22 January 1993), and their daughter Jennifer had children Alix and Richard Barnes. Ken was a fabric salesman in the men’s suit industry, and worked for Hytone and Carbone, which supplied Australian Army Officers uniforms, one of which he wore in the AIF from 1942-46. He was a Captain in the AASC 3 Aust Corps upon demobilisation. Ken was a keen member of the East Camberwell Lawn Bowls Club. His grandson reports he was proud to the end of his days at Scotch. Ken died on 15 August 2004.

Noel Scott Foster (’32) was born at Sale on 7 January 1916 and attended Scotch from 1930-32. He enlisted in the AIF on 25 October 1938, and, when demobilised on an unrecorded date, was a Private in the AASC 3 Div. Noel married Elva Michie at Scotch on 21 September 1940. His brothers Harvey (1926-31) and Ken (1932-34) were also at Scotch. Noel died of leukemia at Masada Hospital on 19 May 2004.

Trevor Vaughan Jackson (’64) was born on 30 May 1947, and attended Scotch from 1953-64. He was a member of the Athletics teams of 1962 and 1963. Trevor studied Economics and Politics at Monash University. He followed his father Alan (1926-29) and uncle Ronald (1930-34) to Scotch, as did his brother Ian (1948-61) and cousin Philip (1961-64). Scotch has only recently learnt Trevor died on 8 April 2003.

Rev. John Forrester Jamieson (’38) was born at Windsor on 9 July 1920, and attended Scotch from 1937-38, coming from Melbourne High School. He married Coral, and had three daughters: Miriam, Priscilla and Bernice. His brother Bruce (1937-38) attended Scotch, as did his second cousin Ian (1931-32). John died on 4 August 2004.

Laurence Oxley Jones (’30) was born at South Melbourne on 1 December 1912, and attended Scotch from 1922-30. He was a member of the Athletics team from 1929-30. Oxley married Phyllis V Thwaites. He obtained his BCE at Melbourne University in 1938, and served in the AIF from 1942-45, completing his service as a Major in the 2 Aust Med Regt. Oxley worked as a manager at BP. He was a member of the Ruyton School Council, and President of the Old Scotch Bowls Club from 1992-96. His sons Clive (1952-58) and Adrian (1957-62) attended Scotch, as did grandsons Anthony (1982-89), Andrew (1985-90) and Robert (1988-91) Jones. Until recent years, Oxley was a frequent visitor to the OSCA offices to advise of the deaths of Old Boys. He died at Gaffney House on 4 July 2004.

Ernest Denbigh Lardner (’30) was born at Camberwell on 29 December 1912, and attended Scotch from 1927-30. He was a class captain from 1927-29. In 1930 he was a Probationer, and rowed in the 1st VIII. Denbigh enlisted in the AIF in 1942, and was a Warrant Officer Class 2 in the 2/3 Field Regiment upon demobilisation in 1946. Living in Tasmania in the 1960s, his son David rowed in the winning Hutchins School crew in the 1964 Head of the River. Denbigh returned to Melbourne in 1968 as Manager of NAB’s 71 Collins Street branch. For several years he was secretary of OSCA’s Hobart branch, and he died in the ACT on 24 June 2004.

Forbes Macintyre (’39) was born at Moonee Ponds on 2 October 1923 and attended Scotch from 1930-39. He was a private in the AIF’s 24 Battalion from 1941-42, and from 1942-54 served in the RAAF, being a Flight Lieutenant in the 82 R Wing upon demobilisation on 9 December 1954. He married Alison Stevens at Scotch on Australia Day, 1946, and sent sons Stuart (1959-64, and council member), Sandy (1962-67) and Jamie (1967-72) to Scotch. Forbes died on 8 August 2004.

Laurence Anderson Martin (’41) was born at Koondrook, Victoria, on 16 July 1923, and boarded at Scotch from 1939-41. He married Gwenda, and lived on Noorang Station. His brother Ian (1943-45) was also at Scotch. Laurence died on 6 May 2004, and was buried at the Barham Cemetery, Barham, NSW, on 10 May 2004.

Robert Donald Matt (’38) was born at Melbourne on 8 June 1923, and attended Scotch from 1934-38. He enlisted in the AIF in 1941, and was a Private in the 22 Australian Infantry Battalion upon demobilisation in 1947. He married Honor Graham-Measor at Scotch on 8 November 1947. Robert’s brother Edward (1932) came to Scotch from CGS for one year. Robert died on 10 March 2004.

Peter Graeme Matthews (’54) was born on 4 February 1937, and attended Scotch from 1951-54. Peter was a chartered civil engineer. His death ended a 43 year marriage to Rosemary. Peter’s brother John (1953-57) and sons Geoffrey (1975-80) and Warwick (1977-82) also attended Scotch. He died on 9 July 2004.

Ian David McGrath (’43) was born at Coogee, NSW, on 21 August 1926, and attended Scotch from 1943-43. He married Gail Denise Ducrett at Scotch on 3 January 1964, and was a commercial traveller for several companies, operating throughout country Victoria before working in insurance. Ian played water polo, and football for the Powerhouse FC. He lived at Tootgarook on the Mornington Peninsula, and died on 23 April 2004.

Finlay McNab OBE (’32) was born at Moonee Ponds on 28 September 1914, and attended Scotch from 1930-32. He married Dorothy Stewart on 24 November 1941, and enlisted in the AIF in 1943. Upon demobilisation in 1944 he was a Sergeant in the HQ 2 Australian Army. Fin was admitted to legal practice on 1 March 1940, and was a partner of McNab, McNab & Starke Lawyers until 2002. President of the Australian Hockey Association (AHA) from 1964-75, he was Oceania Hockey Federation President from 1986-94, and a director of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School from 1955-87. He was made a Life Member of the AHA in 1974, and in 2000 was made a Life Member of Hockey Australia. He was appointed to the International Hockey Federation council in 1975, and awarded his OBE for services to sport in 1976. Fin’s brother Colin (1936-39) and grandson Finlay (1990-97) followed him at Scotch. Fin died on 8 May 2004.

Robert Charles Partington (’42) was born at East Melbourne on 23 October 1926, and attended Scotch from 1938-42. He enlisted in the AIF on 26 June 1945, and was a Private in the 2 Aust Ban Advance Depot upon demobilisation on 27 June 1946. He married Eileen, and, following her death, married Eva. Robert had three sons and three daughters, and died on 20 May 2004.

Thomas Frederick Riddell (’31) was born at Auburn on 26 February 1914, and attended Scotch from 1928-31. In his last year he was in the Athletics team, and was a Probationer. He was a keen member of the Dramatic Society, and performed in Scotch plays from 1928. These interests at Scotch continued throughout his life, as he won a silver medal in athletics at the Empire Games (now Commonwealth Games), and won a scholarship after the war to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London, following which he was involved in Shakespearian plays with the Stratford-on-Avon Theatre, and twice toured Australia. He served in the RAN from 1941-44, and was RAN Liaison Officer on General Macarthur’s staff. Thomas was a Lieutenant (SP) on the HMAS Lonsdale upon demobilisation. He taught English at GGS, and worked for ABC Radio for 20 years, retiring as Director of Music for Radio Australia. He moved to England upon retirement, later moved to Tasmania, and died at Manly, NSW, on 21 December 2003. His brother, James (1926-29) attended Scotch and died on 12 June 1999.

Kenneth Norman Rimington (’35) was born on 21 November 1917, and attended Scotch from 1931-35. He was a member of the 1st Tennis team from 1934-35, a 1935 1st XI member, and a 1935 Collegian editorial committee member. Ken obtained his BSc at Melbourne University in 1938, and was a partner at Davies & Collison from 1951-88. He married Myrtle and had a son and two daughters. His brother Bruce (1934-37) was also at Scotch. Ken died on 15 May 2004.

John Joseph Ryan (’40) was born in Ireland on 15 November 1922, and attended Scotch from 1935-40. He died on 16 May 2004.

Robin Michael Shannon (’51) was born at Warragul on 18 August 1935 and boarded at Scotch in School House from 1950-51. Robin worked in advertising, and lived for some time in Mornington. He followed his father Jack (1918-20) to Scotch, as did his brother John (1949-51), whose sons John (1988-91) and Michael (1994-97) also attended. Robin’s great-uncle John Kirk (1894-95) coxed the 1st crew during his two years at Scotch. Robin died at the Frankston Hospital on 11 June 2004 following a short illness.

John Francis Smith (’58) was born on 24 November 1940, and attended Scotch from 1948-56, coming from GGS, which he attended in 1947. He married Kathryn Winifred Wills at Scotch on 1 July 1965, and their son Clayton (1985-90) followed John to Scotch. Another son, Greg, attended Scots College, Sydney, where he rowed, and upon John’s return to Melbourne he became active in the Cardinal Club, being 1988 president, and on its committee from 1990-96. A single scull bears his name. John was marketing and administration manager for the Teruma Corporation, and he later owned Golden Valleys Ranch, a school camp at Red Hill. John’s brother Graeme (1953-65) and nephew Michael (1992-93) also attended Scotch. John died at the South Gippsland Hospital, Foster, on 9 August 2004 following a long battle with cancer.

Ronald Archdall Stott (’40) was born at East Malvern on 3 July 1923 and attended Scotch from 1935-40, having spent 1930-33 at Glamorgan. An engineer, he was the son of Dr Ronald Stott (1909-12), who was at Scotch with his twin brother Aubrey (1909-12). Ronald’s sons Philip (1964-72) and Hugh (1966-77) followed the family tradition at Scotch, as did his cousin John (1939-49), who died on 24 January 2002. Ronald died on 28 April 2003.

Clive John Tyers (’33) was born at Carnegie on 5 March 1917, and attended Scotch from 1929-33.

He enlisted in the RAAF in 1941, and upon demobilisation in 1945 was a Flight Lieutenant in the 82 Squadron.

War did not prevent him from returning to Scotch to marry Florence Leydin on 4 April 1942. Clive’s brother Noel (1935-39) attended Scotch, as did his son Robert (1955-59), nephew Malcolm (1966-71), and great nephews Angus Tyers (Year 11), and Alexander Boffa (1998-2003). Clive died on 12 May 2004.

Michael James Warmus (’97) was born at Kew on 1 November 1979, and attended Scotch from 1986-97. His great great uncle Frank Norman Le Leu (1908-12) attended Scotch, and his grandfather, who was unable to take up a Scotch scholarship, was determined that Michael should have the honour of attending Scotch. The best and happiest years of Michael’s life were at Scotch, where he made good friends through Venturers and Cadets, and developed a love of the Australian bush. In Cadets he worked in the Q-Store, where he became an assistant and good friend of that tough judge of character, Norm Bain. Michael died tragically, aged only 24, on 13 May 2004.

Douglas Grant Werner (’40) was born on 14 April 1925 and attended Scotch from 1936 to 1940.

He married Audrey on 26 July 1969. During World War II he served with the RAAF from 1942 to 1946, spending 18 months of this time in New Guinea.

Post war, Doug owned and operated Regency Antiques in Camberwell. He was an active member of the Antique Dealers’ Association and held the position of President of this association. Doug died at his home in North Balwyn on 25 April 2004.

Edgar Ralph Wilkins (’32) was born at Clifton Hill on 23 May 1915, and left Haileybury College to attend Scotch from 1929-32. He was a 1929 class captain. Edgar followed father John (1899 - ?) to Scotch, as did his brother Norman (1935-36). Edgar’s uncle Edward (1899-1903) also attended, but they never met, as Edward died in 1907, aged 19. Edgar died on 10 March 2004.

Staff - Graham Parkin

The 2003 Collegian farewell to Graham Parkin stole a Scholar Gypsy line, to express the hope that, if Scotch were fortunate, he might occasionally return to roam the loved hillside. Sadly, it was not to be. Soon after retiring, Graham faced his cancer diagnosis with characteristic courage, dignity, and determination.

Some boys might think that Graham spent his entire career teaching at Scotch. It is hard to believe, but there is life beyond Hawthorn. Graham spent 40 earlier years in Europe, and they weren’t all in academia. Sating a vast hunger for knowledge, with travel, outdoorsmanship, mountaineering, skiing, sport, and languages, he became an accomplished scholar, and multi-multi-lingual. At university, a broken arm ended a Castle College soccer career, and dreams of a Durham cap. As for cricket, the resulting bent elbow never fully straightened.

In the early 1970s, he served two years with the Cairngorm Mountain Rescue. He recalled his initiation, being lowered on a stretcher down a sheer cliff face. The unexpected moment came, when those above deliberately flipped him upside-down, dangling him headfirst on the straps above a 200-foot drop.

During those years, he met a young female teacher from the Dalwhinnie School. Indulging a mutual love of climbing, together they scaled mountains, sheer faces and overhangs. He and Dori were married in 1974.

Nine years in English Further Education followed, teaching French and German mostly to adults. Graham recalled: “It was the most rewarding period of my career. People who didn’t like what I was doing didn’t turn up any more! You can’t beat a dedicated audience”.

We became friends over the years at Scotch. I enjoyed his lightning wit, I admired and respected his teaching skills, I held his linguistic genius in awe, and I was grateful for his leadership and wise counsel in the German department. Above all, there was for me an inspiration in this remarkable man, especially appreciated during these last eight and a half months when I was often privileged to be in his company. But that was Graham. It was no surprise when, in hospital, and finding “his” languages among the palliative care patients, he delighted them with conversation.

And reading! His thirst for knowledge was such that there was no stopping him. Only when exhaustion took hold in the last two weeks, did he say that he could read no more. By then he had consumed a multitude of books. There remained his favourite German, Spanish, Norwegian, Russian, and English poems. He loved Pushkin’s The Bronze Horseman, and was thrilled when a past student visited and recited it. Albert and the Lion was another he had dined out on.

Reverend Bradbeer’s service was a fitting send-off for such a scholar and gentleman; a balance of solemnity, dignified reflection, and hilarity. The church was packed with friends, relations, past students and parents, colleagues, and dignitaries. Scotch College’s Principal, and Vice-Principal were there. Appropriately, his Scotch students lined the door, as the pipes led him out.

Dave Baillieu

Richard Keith Young (’00) was born at Melbourne on 20 September 1982, and attended Scotch from 1989-96 following attendance at Christ Church Grammar. He left to attend Timbertop, and at GGS he was awarded his Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award, and played in the 1st XV. His brothers Andrew (1985-92) and William (1992-2000) also attended Scotch. Richard died tragically on 8 August 2004.

Professor Brian Milton Spicer who was born on the 7th October 1928 and died on the 19th August 2004. He was one of the original members of the Scotch College Council as constituted on incorporation in 1980. He was educated at Carey Baptist Grammar School where he was dux of the school. He obtained first class honours in his degree at the University of Melbourne and undertook post-graduate study and research in the United States of America.

Professor Tony Klein at Brian’s funeral at North Balwyn Baptist Church on the 24th August outlined his academic career and stated that it was Brian’s good fortune to discover that the nucleus of an atom was not always spherical but sometimes squashed and elliptical. This put the School of Physics at the University of Melbourne on the world map in nuclear physics. Brian was awarded a Doctorate of Philosophy and a Doctorate of Science.

The Reverend Alan Marr outlined at the funeral service the contributions of Brian Spicer to the Baptist Union where he had succeeded his father and grandfather as President. One of his notable ministries was the holding of prayer seminars. He was also on the Council of Whitley College for many years. Other speakers at the funeral were Mr. David Lord, formerly a teacher at Carey Grammar and Mrs. Carol Geyer, Brian Spicer’s only daughter. Brian is survived by his wife Pat, his daughter Carol and his sons David and Trevor.

Brian Baysten

Jim Bacon 1950 to 2004

I first met Jim at Scotch in Class 3B under the tutelage of Miss Adams. He knew only one person in the class before coming to Scotch, being Andrew Kaye who was to remain a lifelong friend and as a leading neurosurgeon advised on Jim’s treatment when he fell ill earlier this year. Jim and I seemed to gravitate to each other immediately as far as I remember. Jim, Gregor Evans and I formed a threesome until we were joined later in the year by Richard Hogg, and were virtually inseparable from then on. My most common and endearing memories of the time were laughing a lot, enjoying the opportunities offered, talking about football (especially Jim and Gregor) and generally relishing the schoolwork. Jim never lost his passion for the Essendon Football Club.

Jim, Richard and I would spend holidays together with Richard’s parents at Mount Martha or with mine at Somers and generally laugh a lot. Sometimes I would be asked to stay the night at Jim’s home and I always enjoyed the chats over the dinner table with his father Frank, mother Joan and four sisters, Jenny, Wendy, Janet and Mary and although Jim would maintain in later years that even at those times there was discussion of politics, it is not something I particularly remember. It was however always a family that cared, and in spite of living in a fairly swish house in Canterbury, they had a depth of feeling for the underdog and railed against inequity.

Jim, Joan and the sisters were shattered when Frank died at the age of 42. Frank was a warm, friendly and welcoming man and it may well have been these qualities that made him work too hard in his General Practice in Reservoir – almost certainly leading to his premature death. Jim recounted only a couple of years ago how after Frank’s death, his mother’s extremely Presbyterian father decided that his daughter shouldn’t be left alone in a house containing an extensive wine cellar (which Frank had proudly built up over some years), so he took it upon himself to personally smash every bottle. Jim was just about weeping when he told us, in spite of the gales of laughter the story generated.

After Frank died, Joan moved the family to Hawthorn, where I gather they survived on a War Widow’s pension, so whilst the lifestyle was somewhat less expansive, the new home was just as friendly and welcoming as Canterbury.

Over the years in the Junior School our group of friends expanded to include Rodger Morton, Simon Laurie, Andrew Fairley and others and upon proceeding to the Senoir School were joined by others such as Frank Edwards, Ian Goddard, Andy Frean and Michael Heine. The common ingredient of all these folk was that yes, we continued to laugh a lot.

With the coming of Rock and Roll, numbers of boys decided that "I can do that" and no doubt we all thought we could be bigger than the Beatles. Jim, Rodger Morton, Ian Goddard and I fell for it, and after a bit of mucking round with others such as Andrew Fairley, formed The Soul Survivors. Rodger managed to unearth a photo’ of the group which accompanies this, as much for its humour content as anything. Jim is on the right and the reason he looks a little curious is that he’s wearing one of those ridiculous plastic Beatle wigs, which most from that era will no doubt remember. To his left are myself, Rodge and Ian. As I remember it, we practised for a full 3 weeks before we did our first gig. It must have been absolutely dreadful! We persevered however and over the next year or so we did a number of parties, church dances and such, and even competed in the Coca Cola Jingle Competetion at Festival Hall - absolutely terrifying! Because there was another Soul Survivors competing we had to borrow the name of Frank Edward’s band and appeared as The Quakes. After band practice Jim, Ian and I would frequently walk for hours around Hawthorn talking about the world in general and inequity in particular. This was the first inkling I had that Jim intended to do something about it.

However, all good things come to an end and after a time I decided I needed to try something a bit more musically demanding and informed the lads that I was leaving and wanted to take Rodge with me. Jim did not take this news well and unfortunately we largely parted ways for some years thereafter. Jim told me only a few months ago that he didn’t care about the music but was "only in it for the chicks". Ha! Fat chance! In fact Jim maintained a considerable interest in music and his love of Bob Dylan also played a part in the formation of his political ideas.

Jim’s subsequent involvement in student politics at Monash and his move to the Builders’ Labourers Federation and subsequent involvement in politics has already been well documented so I shan’t go into it here. Suffice to say that we all kept an eye on his movements.

Wretchedly, it was the death of our dear friend Richard Hogg from cancer that brought us back together. To commemorate Rich’s death, his father Tom invited a group of Rich’s closest school friends to a lunch at The Australia Club and somehow, Andrew Fairley inveigled the then leader of the Opposition in Tasmania to attend. We had a delightful lunch and in spite of the gloomy circumstances, as usual, we laughed a lot! After lunch, Jim, Frank Edwards and I repaired to the Mitre Tavern and subsequently to my wife Rosi’s and my home in Port Melbourne and didn’t stop talking until probably 9 or 10 o’clock that night. It’s a little hard to remember! It was as if we’d only been apart a day or two.

The annual lunches in memory of Richard continue until this day, and all of Tom’s original guest list are present unless they can’t wriggle out of some very pressing commitment.

As all know, Jim became Premier of Tasmania and Rosi and I in particular fell under the spell of Jim’s extraordinary enthusiasm for the Island State – such that when we sold our home in Port Melbourne and with the added pressure of Jim’s remarkable wife Honey pointing out what gorgeous houses you could buy in Tassie for (comparatively) little money, we moved here in February of last year, and I must say have not regretted a minute of it. The second visitor in our new home was Jim.

We got together with Jim and Honey 7 or 8 times over the course of the year before Jim was diagnosed with lung cancer. The thing that sticks in my mind from all of these get togethers was the joy Jim took in chatting to everyone that crossed his path and his amazing capacity for making people feel at ease. He was generally adored by his constituents with the possible exceptions of the Liberal Party, because of his popularity, and the anti-logging brigade. However even they, certainly respected him as a genuinely good person. We had a delightful time with Jim and Honey and miss him greatly – but, we laughed a lot.

All of the remaining members of the Soul Survivors (Rodger, Ian and I) as well as Andrew Fairley and Andrew Kaye were present at Jim’s state funeral, a notable feature of which was that for the first time ever, a traditional Aboriginal welcome was extended to a whitefella – Jim, demonstrating to me at least, that Jim was not only good at making friends, but very good at keeping them. At Jim’s request, music played a prominent part in his funeral, and Honey, with remarkable aplomb and control, explained the significance to Jim of each piece. While the ceremony was undeniably sad, it was very much a celebration of Jim’s life and of his quite remarkable achievements.

Our thoughts are with Honey and Jim’s sons Scott and Mark.

David Ball

Honey Bacon has established a fund in memory of Jim to assist cancer patients. Those wishing to contribute can do so by direct credit to the Commomwealth Bank BSB 067002, account No:10177549.