Rev Richard Bardon OBE (Class of 1902)
Taught in state primary schools before studying at the University of Sydney (B.A. 1912). Ordained as a Presbyterian Clergyman in 1914, he settled in the parish of Killarney where he developed a distinctive ministry characterised by a deep insight into human problems and a strong pastoral sense. In 1920 he responded to a call to Mackay where he and his family were to stay until 1944. In 1933 he was elected moderator of the Presbyterian Church of Queensland and was clerk of its assembly from 1944-57. He was also moderator-general of the Presbyterian Church of Australia from 1951-54. Having served in the Brisbane parishes of Wilston and Kalinga, he retired in 1952 and was appointed OBE in 1954.
Alec Douglas McGill (Class of 1904)
Was Dux in 1904. Admitted to the Bar, McGill’s practice grew, but he was also attracted by politics. President of the Country and Progressive National Party from 1925 until its demise in 1935, he contested unsuccessfully the South Brisbane State seat in 1926. In 1939 he was offered a judgeship, but declined. He figured in many notable cases. From 1935 until his death, McGill was a member of the University of Queensland Law Faculty and the university senate, and became Deputy Chancellor in 1946.
Prof. Walter Heywood Bryan (Class of 1908)
Professor Bryan was a geologist, educator and decorated military veteran. He was one of the first Bachelor of Science graduates from the University of Queensland, majoring in geology and then went on to become the first graduate from their Honours program in 1914.
His passion in seismology accelerated cyclone forecasting and warning in the decades before satellites would transform weather forecasting and he was instrumental in the establishment of the seismological station at the University of Queensland.
WH Bryan was employed by the Geological Survey of Queensland before he enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF) in 1915 where he served at Gallipoli, in Egypt and then on the Western Front from 1916-1918, where he was awarded the Military Cross for gallant conduct and bravery.
In 1926, WH Bryan was the first student at the University of Queensland to receive a D.Sc. His D.Sc. Thesis was on earth movements in Queensland and following the 1935 earthquake in Gayndah, Queensland, he led the establishment of the seismological station at the University of Queensland.
His passion in seismology accelerated cyclone forecasting and warning in the decades before satellites would transform weather forecasting. WH Bryan and his colleague, Owen A. Jones lobbied for additional stations based in north Queensland to assist with accurate weather forecasting of cyclone events, earthquakes and sea disturbances.
WH Bryan published over 70 papers during his career and undertook much pioneering work on a diverse range of topics including volcanism, earthquakes, stratigraphy, marine geology and landscape evolution. Igneous petrology was probably the most persistent areas of research during his academic career. He drove much of the seismological research and monitoring in Queensland and The University of Queensland Seismology Station that he started and named in his honour continues today at Mount Nebo in south-east Queensland. WH Bryan was one of the principal drivers in understanding the regional geological history and stratigraphy of Queensland.
In 1991, the University of Queensland established the WH Bryan Mining and Geology Research Centre, named in his honour. #igsoldboys
Percival James Savage DSO MBE (Class of 1909)
Major Percival James Savage was an Australian soldier, farmer and agricultural administrator. He was a World War I veteran, fighting as an ANZAC in Gallipoli, the Somme, Pozières, Passchendaele and Amiens.
Percival was three times mentioned in dispatches, three times recommended for colonelcy (he was too young for it to be granted), had his twenty-first birthday on the Gallipoli Peninsula while an acting Commander in the Royal Engineers and was chosen with one other to represent the first AIF at an investiture by George V where he received the Distinguished Service Order for action at Pozieres.
Upon his return from military service, he used his entire earnings from the war (£1000) to buy a farm at Brookfield. There was no road to the property, so he cut one out of the bush (this road is now known by his name, Savages Road). He lived there for 54 years, growing custard apples, papaws and bananas. He named the property ‘Purple Patch’, after the patch he wore in his army company (the 3rd AIF Engineers).
While fruit growing, he became critical of, and then interested in the Committee of Direction of Fruit Marketing and rose to be the Chairman of the COD for 30 years. During those years, he and fellow Old Boy, COD General Manager Bernard Flewell-Smith, made their mark on the state in many ways. He was awarded an MBE in 1969 for services to the Queensland fruit and vegetable industry. #igsoldboys
