This is the official page for the Churchie Old Boys' Association. Stay connected!
On the 8 February, 1912 at "Ardencraig", the home of Robert and Lucy Crampton Andrews at Toowong, Canon W P F Morris started the School which is today known throughout the world as Churchie. It was called the St Magnus Hall Collegiate School and had an enrolment of three boys. By the end of the first year the numbers had grown to thirteen boys and in 1913 the School was moved to St John's Cathedral and the name changed to The Cathedral School. By arrangement with the Diocesan authorities the Cathedral Choirboys obtained their education at the Cathedral School. From this, in 1914, the Church of England Grammar School, Brisbane was established. In 1915 it was amalgamated with the Bowen House Preparatory School and once again took boarders a practice which had been discontinued at the end of 1912. In 1917 land was purchased at East Brisbane and it is on this site that Churchie, with its magnificent buildings, stands today as a reminder of the remarkable foresight of its Founder, Canon W P F Morris. The School opened on 12th February, 1918. On 23rd May, 1917 eleven Old Boys of the Church of England Grammar School convened a meeting to form an Old Boys' Association having for its objectives:
Maintenance of School Fellowship amongst Old Boys.
Support of the School.
The name of Bernshaw Lomax (Barney) Beaumont (1913), who did not survive WWI, is recorded as the first member.
The initial office bearers of the Association were:
President: Canon WPF Morris, Headmaster
Secretary/Treasurer: Harold Ormond S Muddle (1913-1914)
The following were recorded as having an involvement with that Association:
Jack Crampton Andrews 1912-1913
Ernest Bichmore Palmer Brooks 1913-1914
Harold Ormond Muddle 1913-1914
William Stanley Barker 1913-1914
Edgar Francis Bonnefin 1913-1914
Robert George Greensil 1915
Charles Cecil Randle 1913
Leonard Clinton Lang 1913
Martin Henry Hayward 1914
Edward Schell 1913
Eric White 1913
William Robertson 1913-1922
Henry Ian McLean Kitson 1915
Frank Richard John Abbot 1913
Stanley Deller Hiron 1914
Charles William Cecil Arthy 1916
Selwyn Robert Alexander Ogg 1915
Thomas George Law 1914
Richard Herbert Stephens 1913-1915
Edward Ernest Matthews 1913-1914
Whilst the activities of this Association lapsed and there are no records of its achievements between the years 1917-1921, the foundations of the Association as it exists today were laid.
Another meeting is recorded on 8 March, 1921 when twenty-one Old Boys met at St John's Day School (St John's Cathedral) to reorganise the Association and draft its first Constitution which was adopted on 29 March, 1921. The first Annual Meeting of the reformed Association was held at the School on Tuesday, 10 May 1921. Canon W P F Morris was in the Chair and the following were recorded as being in attendance:
George Houlton Mocatta 1917-1920
William Muir Watts 1915-1919
Charles Cecil Randle 1913
Cedric Chas John Eales 1914-1917
Charles Nordley Andersen 1918-1920
Kenneth James English 1916
Douglas Fleetwood Graham 1915-1917
Harold Davenport 1915-1919
Ronald John Douglas Cameron 1914
Kenneth Philip Forman 1917
Edward Ernest Matthews 1913-1914
Harold Ormond S Muddle 1913-1914
Henry Ian McLean Kitson 1915
Paul Francis Calow (School Representative)
Kenneth Charles Boyle 1919-1925
The following were elected as Office Bearers:
President: Canon W P F Morris, Headmaster
School Representative: P F Calow
Secretary/Treasurer: H O S Muddle
Convenor Sports Sub Committee: R J D Cameron
Sports Sub Committee: C N Andersen, H I M Kitson, C C J Eales, K C Boyle
The Headmaster retained the position of President of the Old Boys' Association until Harry Roberts convinced the Association that the Constitution should be changed arguing that it was inappropriate for the Headmaster to be President and that he could better serve the Association as Patron. In 1949 Andrew Rowan 1923-1929 was elected as the first Old Boys' President. For the first time all three major positions on the Executive were held by Old Boys and the practice continues as does adherence to the original objects.