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Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






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EWAN, George William Carruthers OAM (1927-2005)

EWAN, George William Carruthers OAM (1927-2005)


George Ewan (Football, 1943).

George Ewan (Football, 1943).

George Ewan started at the Geelong College in 1941 as a boarder and was in Mackie House for two years before moving into Warrinn in 1943 and then to Senior House in 1944 and 1945. He had attended Trinity Grammar School prior to Geelong College. George became a School Prefect in 1944 and was also House Captain of Shannon. In 1945, he was the School Captain. He was an outstanding sportsman, being a member of the Athletics Team from 1941 to 1945. He held many records for High Jump from Under 15 through to the Open Division. George even had his own theme song, 'Six foot one and an eighth, they cried, how the hell does he jump so high! ' He was Captain of Athletics in 1945, a member of the 1st XI Cricket team from 1942 to 1945, the 1st XVIII Football team from 1942 to 1945 and a cadet lieutenant of the Cadet Corps. In 1945, he also won both the Nigel Boyes Trophy and the Norman Morrison Cup.

George continued his love of sport after school representing Victoria in Athletics and only missing out on representing Australia at the 1948 Olympics in high jump by an inch. His College Open High Jump record was only broken in the 1980s. In 1946, a new award was introduced for the winner of the Under 16 Athletics Championship and this was named the G W C Ewan Cup. His parents, Douglas William Ewan and Maisie Carruthers nee James donated the original honour board recording the Captains of Athletics and housed in Norman Morrison Hall.

After school George joined Dalgetys and then spent one year working in England to gain experience before returning to Australia to join Elders GM with whom he worked until retirement in 1986. George was Victorian Wool Manager and Chief Auctioneer when he retired. George was invited to join the College of Textiles Committee in an advisory role, and after several years on the Committee became the President of the Council, a position he held for ten years. It was his work for the textile industry combined with his involvement with Special Olympics at Regional and State levels that resulted in him being awarded the Order of Australia Medal in 1998 for services to vocational education and training through the Melbourne Institute of Textiles and to the Community, particularly through Special Olympics, Victoria. In April 2005, George was awarded a Life Membership of Special Olympics. He was also an active member of the Melbourne Cricket Club being both a volunteer guide and an over 50 year member. He was also a 50 year member of the RACV and a member of both Barwon Heads and Kew Golf Clubs.

George Ewan.

George Ewan.


He was President of the OGCA between 1964 and 1966 and kept a keen interest in all College activities. His allegiance was only ever tested when his son, Alastair and grandsons, Brett and Matthew played for Carey against College. For his eldest grandson's first cricket match against College in Year 7, George was seen on the boundary line in his School blazer and cap. George was married to Betty for 53 years after having met her on the way to the APS Athletics Sports in 1943.

A sporting prize known as the G W C Ewan Cup was named in his honour.


Sources: Ad Astra August 1998 p19; John Urbahns and Elizabeth Andrews (George Ewan’s daughter) Obituary-Ad Astra No 109 January 2006 p26.
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