DISTINGUISHED OLD BOYS
The following is a representative group of Old Boys spread over the history of Ipswich Grammar School which is not intended as an exhaustive list of those who have distinguished themselves in public life. Suggestions of any worthy additions to the list or any amendments to the information included are welcome and should be directed to the Registrar IGSOBA at oldboys@ipswichgrammar.com .

Appleton, Donald Barry	1955–58	OAM, FRACP. Graduated in medicine at U of Q in 1965. Awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study Child Neurology overseas in 1971. Visiting Neurologist to Royal Children’s and Royal Brisbane Hospitals since 1972. He has been an adviser to the Cerebral Palsy League, the Autistic Children’s Association and the Epilepsy Association. He served as a Medical Officer in the RAAF Reserve from 1979 to 2001.
Backhouse, Alfred	1865–68	Deputy-Chancellor of Sydney University. His father was the architect who designed Ipswich Grammar School.
Blair, Sir James William	1882–	Barrister at Law and Deputy Governor of Queensland. Blair State School in Ipswich and the Federal electorate of Blair are named after him.
Bradfield, John Job Crew	18??-1885	A brilliant student who graduated from Sydney University with the University Gold Medal in Engineering and Architecture. Chief Engineer during the construction of Sydney Harbour Bridge and designer of the Brisbane Story Bridge.
Butler, Colonel Arthur Graham	1885–	AAMC, DSO, VD, MB, CHB, BA, Famous as the historian of the Australian Army Medical Services in the 1st World War.
Campbell, Douglas Malcolmm	1930-30	Graduated in Arts/Law in 1941 then served as a Lieutenant in the Engineers during WW2. At the end of the war he defended a number of Japanese charged with war crimes on Morotai Island, one of the trials being adapted for the film Blood Oath. He was sent to Tokyo as chief prosecutor of employees of the Sumitomo Company which had used POWs in its copper mine. He returned to the Bar in 1947 and also lectured in law at U of Q. In 1957 he became Queen’s Counsel alongside his lifelong friend fronm IGS, Harry (later Sir Harry) Gibbs. In 1965 he was sworn in as a member of Queensland’s Supreme Court. In 1982, as the senior judge, he was controversially overlooked by the Bjelke-Peterson government as the new Chief Justice and also as Senior Puisne Judge. Again in 1985 he was overlooked as Senior Puisne Judge, these government decisions never being explained. He retired with characteristic dignity later that year. He died in July 2003.
Carne, William John	1986	Rugby League player. Played representative football in club, State and Australian teams including one season with the Queensland Reds.
Chauvel, Charles Edward	1912–14	Cinematographer widely credited with pioneering the Australian film industry.
Coates, Henry John	1948–51	AC MBE. Lieutenant-General John Coates served in the Australian Army for forty years, retiring as Chief of the General Staff in 1992. He was educated at Ipswich Grammar School (school years were 1943-1951 - he believes he probably still holds the record for nine years as a boarder), and the Royal Military College, Duntroon, from which he graduated in 1955. He returned later as its Commandant. He served on exchange with both the United States Army at Fort Hood, Texas, and the British Army as a tank squadron commander in Germany in 1966-7. He commanded a Cavalry (Armoured Personnel Carrier) Squadron in South Vietnam 1970-71, for which service he was made a member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 1992. He was the Head of the Australian Defence Staff in Washington DC, 1984-87, before returning to Australia to become Assistant Chief of Defence Force (Policy). He is a graduate of the University of Western Australia and has a post-graduate degree in history from the Australian National University. Since retiring from the Army he has written three books on military history: Suppressing Insurgency: An Operational Analysis of the Malayan Insurgency 1948-54 (1992); Bravery Above Blunder (1999); and An Atlas of Australia's Wars (2001). He is a Visiting Fellow at the Australian Defence Force Academy in Canberra.
Cornish, Hubert Kestell	1948–51	After a number of years in radio he switched to TV and became known as the First Face on Queensland Television. Hugh was in front of the cameras the night Channel 9 began transmission. He went on to become General Manager of Channel 9 later switching to Channel 7 as Program Manager
Cornish, John Vernon Kestell	1946–49	Ordained as a minister in the Anglican Church, he became Assistant Bishop of Perth. A few years later he was appointed Bishop of Tasmania, but unfortunately died before he could take up the appointment.
Cribb, Thomas Bridson	1863–64	First President of the Ipswich Grammar School Old Boys' Association which was formed in 1908. He was one of sixteen boys who commenced their studies at Ipswich Grammar School on its first school day 7th October 1863
Curtis, John Henry	1936–39	First Managing Director of Telecom Australia when the Post Masters Generals Department was split into two separate organisations Telecom and Australia Post.
Dart, Raymond Arthur	1906–10	Professor of Anatomy at the University of Witwatersrand (Johannesburg) in 1923. He is best known to Australians for his association with the missing link or Taung Baby, properly called Australopithecus africanus. His contribution to paleoanthropology is but one of many he has made to the advancement of man's understanding of himself.
Desmond Alwyn Taege	1954-57	was awarded the Order of Australia Medal in this years Queen’s Birthday Honours list for voluntary services to school sport, particularly Rugby League and Cricket over the period 1958-2005 in the Administration and Coaching areas. Des spent the majority of his early career as a primary school teacher in Ipswich with country service at Mt Isa. In 1974 he joined the National Fitness Council as Area Adviser for Ipswich, Moreton, Boonah and Esk local authorities. This was a most rewarding experience which involved the development and management of sporting and recreation facilities by providing a co-ordinating role between all levels of government and the community. The provision of shared-use facilities and recreation for the handicapped were important considerations. In 1982 he transferred to Rockhampton but after a short period he returned to Ipswich for family reasons and re-entered the teaching profession at Silkstone State School. He then successfully completed a B.Ed.. Following “retirement” in 1997 he continued with relief teaching. Des was Chair of Queensland Primary Schools Rugby League from 1991 to 2004. He is currently Metropolitan West Regional Convenor for Rugby League and Girls’Cricket, 12 years and under, Secretary of the Ipswich Rugby League Management Committee, Chairman of Selectors for Ipswich “Diggers” “A” and Under 20 Grades and Research Officer for Queensland Primary School Rugby League. He is Convenor of the Queensland Girls 12 years and Under Cricket Carnival to be held in Ipswich in mid-November. He has had a long involvement in coaching rugby league commencing with school teams and later Booval Swifts in the Ipswich Rugby League competition and the Ipswich Jets Reserve Grade side. He was a member of the inaugural QRL Coaching Panel alongside identies such as Wayne Bennett, Bob Bax, Barry Muir and Bernie Pramberg and was involved in the accreditation of coaches throughout the state. Des also serves the community as a Justice of the Peace. Des readily acknowledges the support he has received from the community and his wife Heather and family. At IGS Des was a member of both the First XI and First XV in 1956 and 1957.
Donald, Kenneth John	1952–55	Professor Ken Donald MBBS, PhD, FRCPA, FRCPath, RACS(Hons), FRACMA. Originally trained as a Pathologist Ken Donald has had appointments as an Academic Pathologist, Director of Pathology at Royal Brisbane Hospital and in recent years at Hunter Area Pathology Services, and Professor of Anatomical Pathology at The University of Newcastle. This followed post-doctoral studies at Erasmus University Rotterdam and Edinburgh University Scotland. He has also been Deputy Director-General of Health in Queensland (for a decade) and in the 1990’s was Professor and Head of the Department of Social and Preventive Medicine at The University of Queensland and is now the Head of the School of Medicine. Outstanding all-round sportsman at School. Australian Rugby representative 1957-59.
Emerson, Roy Stanley	1951	Davis Cup tennis player. Winner of five consecutive Australian singles titles. He was the Wimbledon singles champion twice and the doubles champion on three occasions, and is the only male tennis player in history to win singles and doubles titles at all four Grand Slam events. He also holds the record for Davis Cup team championships with eight and the individual record of 11 singles victories in the international competition.
Fisher, Gordon Arthur	1913–18	Headmaster of the Armidale School, New South Wales.
Finimore, James Thomas	1920–22	Former Mayor of Ipswich and Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ipswich Grammar.
Fisher, Gordon Arthur	1913–18	One-time Headmaster of The Armidale School, Armidale New South Wales
Flewell-Smith: Bernard		Responsible for setting up the Committee of Directory (COD) Fruit Cannery at Northgate.
Gibbs, Harry Talbot	1930–33	Born in Sydney, Harry Gibbs spent the greater part of his early life in Ipswich where he went to school at the Ipswich Central Primary School and IGS before continuing his studies at the University of Queensland, taking a Bachelor of Arts with first class honours in English in 1937 and a Bachelor of Law with first class honours in 1939. He was admitted to the bar in 1939 and after war service with the Australian forces, where he was mentioned in dispatches, attained the rank of Major. He graduated with a Master of Law in 1949. Between 1949 and 1959 he lectured at the University of Queensland on evidence, personal property and commercial law and acquired the reputation among students of being one of those rare lecturers whose classes were enjoyable to attend. In 1957 he took silk and began developing an extensive practice which included appearances before the Privy Council. From 1961 until 1967 he served as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Queensland, also undertaking the chairmanship of a committee of enquiry into the expansion of the sugar industry and as a Royal Commissioner during the period. In 1967 he resigned from the Queensland branch to become a justice in bankruptcy with the Federal Court, a Justice of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory and a member of the Copyright Tribunal. He was appointed to the High Court in 1970 and succeeded Sir Garfield Barwick as Chief Justice in 1981. He retired from the position in 1987.
Hall, Robert Lowe	1918	Became Lord Robert Hall, KCMG, CB was economic advisor to successive Chancellors of the Exchequer in the Parliament of Great Britain 1951 to 1963. He is one of five Rhodes Scholars who have been students at Ipswich Grammar School.
Henderson, William George	1915–17	‘Pop’ was Ipswich Grammar School’s first Old Boy Headmaster. He held the positions between 1946 and 1951. He had been on the staff of Ipswich Grammar School since 1923. In 1951 he relinquished his Headmastership and moved on to become Senior Master at Churchie and a lecturer at Queensland Institute of Technology in Brisbane. His Science teaching was of the highest order and his text books were very much in demand. His ability extended beyond the classroom and he is remembered as a top sportsman. He not only coached teams in tennis and football to a very high standard but showed that he could play these games himself. For years he dominated the West Moreton Tennis Championship and many a sound innings flowed from his cricket bat.
Ladley, Alan Max	1942–3	Ipswich Grammar School’s second Old Boy Headmaster. He held the position from 1969 until his sudden death at the end of 1989.
Littleproud, Brian George	1956–8	Present the Member for Western Downs in the Queensland Parliament. He was Minister for the Environment in the Borbidge Government and previously was Minister for Education.
McDermott, Craig	1978–82	Played cricket in club, State and Australian test teams.
Morrison, Allan Arthur	1928–29	MA, Senior Lecturer in History at Queensland University. He was a member of the Committee responsible for establishing the Queensland Archives.
Palmer,  Edward Vivian (Vance)	1899–1901	Known as Vance Palmer. He was the foremost man of letters of his day. He was a novelist, dramatist, short story writer, poet, critic, biographer, editor, political and social commentator and interpreter. His active writing career covers a period of nearly fifty-five years. The Vance Palmer Literary Prize is presented at Ipswich Grammar School each year.
Peterson, Frederick Colin	1962–63	Before attending Ipswich Grammar School, Colin played the lead role in the Australian made movie series Smiley alongside film legend Chips Rafferty and others.
Sneyd, William Joseph George	1915–18	After a time as a public servant, sign writer and window dresser he joined the staff of the Brisbane Telegraph and became its Chief Photographer 1934-66. He served in the RAAF as a Flying Officer during World War II. He worked on The History of the War and was the first Queenslander to land in Japan after the signing of the surrender.
Stitz, Russell	1957-1960	A prominent Brisbane colorectal surgeon in private practice and also a Senior Surgeon at the Royal Brisbane Hospital. He is Chairman of the Board of Continuing Professional Development for the Royal Australian College of Surgeons and is on the Executive of the College. He has been President of the Colorectal Surgical Society of Australia. Queensland president of the Queensland Branch of the AMA 2002/3.
Summerville,  Sir William Alan Thompson	1917–21	Attended Queensland University where he obtained his BSc in 1929, MSc in 1933, DSc in 1944 and an Honorary LLD in 1963. He was former Sugar Board Chairman and was Queensland's Agent-General in London from 1964 to 1970. He began his career with the Agriculture and Stock Department in 1922 and was appointed Queensland Agriculture Director General in 1959.
Tongue, Keith	1938	Joined the Air Force and rose to the rank of Air Commodore. He became the Officer Commanding RAAF. Richmond. He was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia.
Walters, Kerrod Douglas	1984	Rugby League: club, State and Australian teams.
Walters, Kevin David	1984	Rugby League: club, State and Australian teams.
Watson, Shane Robert	1994-1998	Australian cricket representative in Test and One-Day formats. Formerly represented Tasmania at interstate level but returned to Queensland infor the 2004-2005 season.
Welsby, Thomas	1873–74	Sportsman, historian, yachtsman and Member of Parliament. Queensland organiser of Australian Rules until Rugby Union became more popular in the 1890s when he represented Queensland. His memoirs are important contributions to the history of boating in Moreton Bay and the aboriginal inhabitants of the district..
Wilson, David John	1985	Member of the Australian Wallabies and Queensland Reds Rugby Union teams.
Zuyderwyk, Rodney	1985–88	Athlete. Member of the 1998 Australian Commonwealth Games Team (Hurdles)