Scotch College

Obituaries

Malcolm Ballantyne ('27)
Bruce Burns ('45)
Peter Cooper ('43)
Donald Dimsey ('32)
Stan Dixon ('26)
John Ebell ('25)
Malcolm Fisher ('38)
John Forrest ('45)
Ray Grove ('25)
Ken Hamilton ('26)
John Hill ('31)
Geoff Ingham ('34)
Ian Jamieson ('48)
Jeffrey Jamieson ('37)
Don Lithgow ('44)
Malcolm McKenzie ('47)
Robert Mathieson ('47)
George Moir ('20)
Alistair Morrison ('25)
Bill Owen ('57)
Ron Pitcher ('38)
John Richards ('50)
Andrew Scott ('89)
Geoff Serle ('41)
Dick Shaw ('39)
Ian Shaw ('46)
James Snipe ('32)
Stan Tallent ('14)
Ian Taylor ('63)
David Zeidler ('35)

David Zeidler ('35) was a pioneer of Australia's chemical industry and industrial research. His distinguished career included - CSIRO (1941-51), one year at MIT, ICI Australia (1952-80). Seventeen years of managerial posts in research, development, dyes and fabrics, seven years as company Chairman and Managing Director.

When petrochemicals became the scientific revolution of the 1950s - introducing a huge global plastics industry - Dirk recognised its enormous potential for ICI Australia. A world first was to make PVC from ethylene; a world leader in developing ethylene oxide; and pre-eminent in Australia for explosives and water based paints. Backed by the then CEO Archie Glenn the company became one of the first in the world to make PVC from ethylene.

After retirement, Dirk served on boards of a wide range of leading business, industry, research and community organisations. With Sir Ian McLennan of BHP he set up the Australian Academy for Technical Sciences for leaders in science, technology and industrial development, enabling contact with overseas counterparts.

In 1971 he was awarded a CBE for services to industry, science and education, and in 1980 was made a Knight Bachelor, for services to industry. Family: wife June, daughters Jane, Sue, Roben and Debbie.

Retired Scotch teacher Vic Nash recently wrote "Many Old Boys who were senior members of the Cadet Unit in the 1960s and 70s will be saddened to hear of the recent death of Warrant-Officer
P R A Welsh. Jock was our attached Regular Army instructor for about ten years during that period, as well as conducting many specialist courses for signals and assault pioneer personnel. He will be well remembered by all of those who came into contact with him in the cadets and at Scotch-at-Cowes, where he acted as caretaker for some time. The Last Post has sounded for an old soldier!"

Adam Butterworth ('90) died last August. He enjoyed the study of humanities, particularly literature. As a keen squash player, he gained the position of captain and was integral in increasing the size and strength of the Scotch squash team. After leaving school he faced personal difficulties and struggled to find meaningful direction. In a message to family and friends he hoped that no blame or guilt would exist because he was "just passing through".

Robert Mathieson ('47), who would be known to many old scouts of his era, died at Biloela, Qld on April 16 last, after an illness lasting several months. At Scotch, Bob was active in rowing, stroking the winning seconds crew at the 1947 Head of the River. He was also active in scouting at Scotch and subsequently in the Old Scotch Rover Crew, and he retained his scouting membership for 36 years, rising to Group Scout Master at Biloela. On leaving Scotch, Rob completed his diploma of mechanical engineering at Swinburne Tech and joined the State Electricity Commission of Victoria in the La Trobe Valley. In 1968 he took up the position of manager of Callide "A" power station at Biloela. On his retirement 16 years later he and Verna turned to farming, and they became very successful dry land cropping specialists in wheat and mung beans, using innovative tilling and cropping procedures.

Peter Cooper ('43) joined the family company of Troedel and Cooper in 1943 but shortly afterwards entered the RAAF and was still in air crew training at the end of the war. He was appointed General Manager of Troedel and Cooper in 1955 and after merging became Victorian General Manager and Director of McLaren Industries. He left McLarens in 1969 and founded a number of other companies. In 1970 he joined the board of Thos Frame & Co Pty Ltd and became the Chairman and Managing Director in 1980. He was a past President of the Council of the Melbourne College of Printing and Graphic Arts and of the Printing and Allied Trades Employers Association.

He had a keen life long interest in flying and was a member of the Australian Aerobatic Club and Sports Aircraft Assoc. Peter became a member of the Rotary Club in 1981 and was a keen member of the Toorak No 3 Group.