Sir Archie walked tall among the greats - Scotch College

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Sir Archie walked tall among the greats

Sir Archie walked tall among the greats

 

Former Chairman of the School Council, Mr Michael Robinson AO (’55) spoke at the memorial service for Sir Archibald Glenn OBE (’29) at Christ Church Anglican Church, South Yarra on 11 January 2012. Here is the text of Mr Robinson’s eulogy.

I felt most honoured last week when Gordon Glenn asked me to say a few words at this service about Archie’s involvement with Scotch College – an involvement covering a period just a few weeks short of 85 years – and also to touch briefly on his business career. In 2001 the school celebrated its sesquicentenary with a spectacular dinner on the Main Oval for, quite appropriately, 1851 guests. Archie Glenn was the obvious choice to propose the toast to the school. Even then he had been the undisputed tribal elder of clan Scotch College for nearly 40 years.

The story started in February 1927 when Archie, aged 15, came to Scotch. His mother wanted to ensure that he received the best education available in mathematics.

Archie excelled at Scotch both academically and at sport. He was a school Prefect, a member of the 1st XVIII and rowed in the 1st VIII in 1928 and 1929, being narrowly beaten on each occasion by Xavier – two of their five victories in the 144-year history of the race. As I chided Archie a few years ago, it was a bit like our beloved Bombers in 1990 being the only side to lose a grand final to Collingwood in over 50 years!

At Archie’s final Speech Day in 1929 the prizes were presented by the president of the Old Scotch Collegians’ Association, Sir John Monash. Archie won a prize in mathematics and when presenting the prize, Monash told him that mathematics was the language of the engineer. Archie’s future directions were determined there and then.

After graduating in Engineering in March 1934, Archie began an illustrious career with ICI Australia. He became managing director in 1953 and chairman 10 years later. In 1970 he was appointed to the principal board in London – the first appointment of a non-UK resident.

Shortly beforehand he had joined the board of the Bank of New South Wales (now Westpac) – the first non-New South Wales appointee in the history of that bank.

When Archie retired from ICI Australia in 1973 he was succeeded by Dirk Zeidler, who had been six years his junior at school. Archie was unquestionably one of Australia’s leading industrialists for over 30 years, having also served on the boards of various companies including Alcoa and Newmont.

Back to Scotch. In 1953 the School Council decided it needed to bolster its ranks with people of business and financial expertise, and identified young Old Boys including Archie Glenn to join the recently appointed Ian McLennan on the Council. Two elderly Council members fell on their swords to provide the necessary vacancies.

In 1963 Archie Glenn and Ian McLennan became Chairman and Vice-Chairman respectively of the School Council. One of their first tasks was to appoint a new headmaster to succeed the retiring Richard Selby Smith.

There were 21 applicants for the position but none seemed entirely suitable. Businessmen tend not to mess about so they approached Colin Healey who was then chairman of the Australian Headmasters’ Conference and a distinguished headmaster of Sydney Grammar. He accepted the position and so became the sixth Principal of Scotch College and served the school with distinction.

Serious challenges lay ahead. In 1977 the Presbyterian Church of Victoria voted to merge with the Methodist and Congregational Churches to form the Uniting Church. Those Presbyterians who did not wish to join the union were able to retain their separate identity as Continuing Presbyterians and were to receive an allocation of church property as determined by a property commission. Scotch was not consulted but was allocated as property to the Continuing Presbyterians. Much has been written about the bitter dispute which then followed. The School Council refused to accept the commission’s decision, and empowered Archie Glenn as chairman ‘to take all the steps necessary to challenge the legal validity of the property commission’s decision and to take any other action he considers necessary to protect Scotch College’. For the next four years he was the school’s rock while its future was imperilled. The school became involved in litigation and possible legislative action. The church sacked the Council, which the Council ignored and continued governing the school. A highly respected Knight of the Realm had become the leader of a rebellion.

In 1980 a compromise was reached, and Scotch College became an incorporated body with an uneasy truce between the church and the school community. Archie Glenn remained Chairman for the first year to settle in the new arrangements. There were obviously some tense moments, as at one Council meeting he rebuked a church-appointed Council member for being ‘no more than a little pipsqueak’.

Archie had steered the school through the greatest crisis in its history, and although tensions continued for many years, Archie Glenn had established a basis on which future issues could be resolved satisfactorily.

The then Governor-General, Sir Zelman Cowen, wrote to the school in the following terms:

‘As an Old Boy of the school I would like to pay tribute to Sir Archibald Glenn as he steps down as Chairman of the School Council. It has been of great benefit to the school to have the advantages of his experienced, humane and wise leadership. This was important at all times, and particularly in recent times when he commanded the respect of all elements of the Council in the resolution of complex issues.

‘The Old Boys of the school have a special concern for its welfare, its quality and its standing. I know that I am one of very many who wish to express thanks to Archie Glenn for what he has done for Scotch, and I ask you to convey those thanks and my warm regards to him.’

Not many retiring school chairmen receive such a letter from the vice-regal office!

Archie’s involvement at Scotch did not cease on his retirement from Council. His family legacy continued in growing strength at the school. Archie regularly and frequently attended school functions and was always a starter at the Old Scotch Collegians’ Annual Dinner up to and including May last year, when we joined in celebrating his 100th birthday.

For the last quarter of a century he has always attended the over 75s annual Christmas lunch in the school’s dining room. Last December he was, for the first time, an apology, which was most ominous.

When I succeeded Jim Balderstone as Chairman of the School Council in 1996, both Archie and Jim were a continuing source of support and encouragement, particularly in challenging times. They became and remain dear friends for whom I will have always a deep affection. Also, we shared devotion to the Essendon Football Club.

In its 160-year proud history, Scotch College has produced an outstanding alumni: men of world renown in education, literature, medicine, music and science; three Governors-General and a Prime Minister; four judges of the nation’s highest court, including its longest-serving Chief Justice; chiefs of the defence forces, both in wartime and in peace; leading industrialists who contributed greatly to the development of Australia; more than a handful of Premiers of four Australian states – in the words of the school song, ‘Men of influence, men of weight’. Joseph Robert Archibald Glenn walks tall amongst them.

Sir Archie walked tall among the greats

 

Sir Archie walked tall among the greats

 

Sir Archie walked tall among the greats

 

From Top Left, Clockwise: Headmaster Bill Littlejohn With Archie Glenn In 1929; Archie Glenn At 100 Years Of Age; Kicking Back At Tedlands, Archie's Farm In Queensland