CURLE, Walter J (1857-1921)
‘Wattie’ Curle, grazier, was very well known in the Western District of Victoria, where he lived the greater part of his life, in connection with sporting affairs. He was born in Geelong on 25 December, 1857 and appears to have attended the School as a day student from about 1866 until 1874. He was enrolled by a guardian, James Cowie. He died on 30 July 1921.
At College, he gained the following academic awards:
1866, 1st, Arithmetic, 1st Class.
1872, 2nd, Geography, 3rd Class.
1873, 2nd, Drawing, 4th Class.
1873, 2nd, Gymnastics, 3rd Class.
1874, 3rd, History, 5th Class.
1874, 1st, Gymnastics, 3rd Class.
Pegasus Magazine, in 1921, published the following affectionate description of him. ‘Walter J. Curle was born in Geelong in 1857. He and J N McArthur were two of the first pupils who attended the College at Knowle House, Skene Street. Curle probably did not show much ability at either cricket or football at school, but he was a good runner, and for a long time was champion gymnast. When he was a young man he was an excellent rider, and it took a good buck jumper to shift him. He was also a pretty good race rider, and always had plenty of pluck. After he left school, he lived a good part of his time at 'Meningoort', Camperdown, and while there he was a leading light in the Western District Mounted Rifles, under the leadership of Colonel Price'.
After some years, 'Wattie’ Curle left ‘Meningoort’, and managed a station for Dalgety and Co. in NSW. After that he returned to Camperdown to enter the Stock and Station Agency business. Then he bought a property in NSW, on the Richmond River, which he sold recently. He was always well liked at school and in after life. He was very reserved, but very kind, and always ready to give a helping hand to anyone. He was a keen follower of polo, and was secretary to the Camperdown Polo Club for some years, when the team was at the top of its fame. He was also a good shot. He was unmarried; his sister is the wife of the late J C Manifold, MHR. Several weeks ago he went to Sydney for a holiday, and for his health, but he died suddenly of pneumonia, with none of his friends by him, in his sixty-fourth year.’
Sources: Pegasus August 1921 pp31-32.