What’s something people may not know about you?
– During my time in the CMF (forerunner of the Army Reserve), I qualified as an atomic, biological and chemical officer. The main thrust of the course was defending against the use of these weapons. The Cold War raised the possibility of atomic bombs, in particular, being used in the event of major conflicts.
How do you like to spend your free time?
– I don’t have a great deal of free time after I finish caring for my five-acre property. I do have some help with this. I fit in tennis and bridge in the daytime and at night, do some reading and brush up on my chess. I am also a regular parishioner at St. Mark’s Warwick.
What is your favourite part of your involvement in the community?
– This has to be the Warwick Bridge Club, although U3A comes a close second. My wife Beverly and I, with the assistance of Mary and (the late) Paul Johnston set up the Warwick Bridge Club which has just celebrated its fortieth anniversary.
What is a message you would like to tell your younger self?
– If you have an unpleasant task to complete, get it over and done with and don’t procrastinate.
Who is an inspiration to you?
– I can go no further than my Headmaster from 1945 to 1951. He expected conscientious effort in study and team sports and, above all, honesty. He made it possible for me to complete the NSW Leaving Certificate and to proceed to Sydney University. He kept track of me in my career and when I was nearing the end of a six-year teaching stint in Uganda, he offered me a job as soon as I could return to Australia.
Which six guests, dead or alive, would be invited to your ultimate dinner party?
– Peter Ustinov: who must be one of the greatest story-tellers of all time. Queen Elizabeth II: not because of her rank, but because she must have had a fund of stories. The few that I have heard mark her out as a witty and interesting person. I would hope that Ustinov would give her time to speak. Marie Curie: who unravelled the mysteries of radioactivity. I would like to ask her what she thinks of our modern use of her discovery. I first heard of her through newsreels shown at Saturday afternoon matinees. Joan Sutherland: would the other guests give her time to sing a solo or two? Brian Booth: onetime captain of the Australian cricket team. He was one of the most ethical cricket captains we have ever had. He made his Christian faith clear to his teammates, who allowed him Sundays off to worship. Seretse Khama: who abdicated from his throne in Botswana to become the Prime Minister of the most successful democracy in Africa.
What is the best piece of advice you have ever received?
– Don’t sulk if you feel that you have been unfairly treated and don’t dwell on it. The regular army NCOs that I encountered in National Service had a much mor colourful way of expressing this.
What are you most passionate about?
– Modern educational fads. Some children can learn on their own, but most need to be guided. Reading cannot be mastered by some form of osmosis. Direct instruction or what we used to call teaching must be part of education. We must also accept that adult life can be competitive, yet the experience of competition is often missing from modern teaching methods.
What is your biggest achievement?
– This was the re-establishment of a Junior School at ScotsPGC or, that having taken my first paid teaching job in 1956, I am now still a tutor for U3A and teach beginners how to play bridge.
