Mr Irwin Prowse OBE, centre, with Mr Chris Timpson (’58) at right, and Mr Jim Winnett (’49)
As Canberra Grammar School celebrated its 85th anniversary in 2014, our oldest living Old Boy, Irwin Prowse (Class of 1933), celebrated his 100th birthday. Irwin Prowse began his education at CGS on the School’s opening day on February 5, 1929. He was student number 32 and graduated in 1933.
At the Old Boys’ reunion dinner on Saturday May 31 the Old Boys celebrated Irwin’s remarkable milestone. Chris Timpson (1958) spoke about Irwin and his importance to the CGS community. Irwin was presented with a cake and guests serenaded him with a chorus of Happy Birthday.
Irwin also received a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday when he attended the Senior School Assembly as part of the Vintage Club celebrations in November, with the students of CGS providing plenty of cheers and a standing ovation
In the 1997 book Catching the Vision, Irwin recalls his thoughts about the School’s founding Headmaster, Canon Edwards:
“Canon Edwards was a man of vision, and a great man for the School to have as its first Headmaster. His dominating passion was the progress and advancement of the School – the School being, in his oft-repeated words, the boys and staff, not the buildings. The buildings were essential, but it was the boys that gave the School character. That he laid a firm foundation, in spite of all the frustrations and difficulties of those early years, is apparent by the subsequent success of the School: a classic case of the right man in the right place at the right time. The memory of his enthusiasm and determination is one that will always remain with me.”
For those interested in Irwin’s tips for longevity: good ‘ol porridge in the morning, whiskey in the evening and easy on the exercise!
Read more about Irwin here.
