FUNSTON, Francis James (1941-2015)
After working as a farmer and wool classer, James Funston became a rural valuer in Western Australia. He initially worked on the family farm until 1967 before moving to Jerramungup to establish a new farm. He sold this property in 1990 and moved to Albany where he lived for many years. He died at Albany, Western Australia on 8 October 2015.
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Fellow OGC Jim Fidge recalled his enduring friendship at College with James: ‘My long friendship with James Funston dates back to the beginning of the 1950 school year – James had just turned nine. We were very young in the Junior House. There were only a handful of little kids so we were sort of young pioneers. We were cared for by Miss Fraser, a lady who was both respected and feared, but in a sort of way loved; she was about the same height as us! She used to take us to the Main Oval in the evenings to do laps with Don MacMillan while he trained for the 1952 Olympics. James had far more natural sporting ability than me; he was able to show me how to do a drop-kick with a tennis ball in the Prep Quadrangle – without breaking a window!
It was while we were boarding at Warrinn with its open air, chicken wire, dormitories that James’ natural sporting abilities took off. He was a key best player in the under 16 A Football Team which won the Vic Profitt Trophy for the Best Performed College Football Team. James went straight into the 1st XVIII the next year. His cricket career also progressed, with distinction as a wicket keeper. In one notable match he joined Ian Redpath in a batting partnership that Pegasus glowingly described: ‘Immediately they began to get runs freely with beautiful strokes all around the ground. Funston batted well for his 53 in 82 minutes.’ In addition to his outstanding sporting achievements he was a competent, quiet and unassuming student who paved the way to becoming so dedicated in the rural and farming communities.’
James Funston retained his commitment to sport and the community throughout his life and valued his connection with other Old Collegians. At a College reunion he recalled one of his highlights as playing cricket in the UK with a team of Old Collegians and visiting Lords when Ian Redpath was playing.
James was enrolled as a boarder from ‘Langi Willi’ near Linton. He was educated at Ballarat College and boarded at Geelong College from 9 February 1950 to December 1958 joining Calvert House. He was a member of the Athletics Team in 1956 and 1958. He also played with the 1st XI Cricket and 1st XVIII Football Teams of 1957 and 1958, as well as the APS Combined Football XVIII in 1958. In his final year he was a School Prefect. His father, Francis Malcom Funston (1910-1969), and brother, Peter, also boarded at College.
After working as a farmer and wool classer, James Funston became a rural valuer in Western Australia. He initially worked on the family farm until 1967 before moving to Jerramungup to establish a new farm. He sold this property in 1990 and moved to Albany where he lived for many years. He died at Albany, Western Australia on 8 October 2015.
Fellow OGC Jim Fidge recalled his enduring friendship at College with James: ‘My long friendship with James Funston dates back to the beginning of the 1950 school year – James had just turned nine. We were very young in the Junior House. There were only a handful of little kids so we were sort of young pioneers. We were cared for by Miss Fraser, a lady who was both respected and feared, but in a sort of way loved; she was about the same height as us! She used to take us to the Main Oval in the evenings to do laps with Don MacMillan while he trained for the 1952 Olympics. James had far more natural sporting ability than me; he was able to show me how to do a drop-kick with a tennis ball in the Prep Quadrangle – without breaking a window!It was while we were boarding at Warrinn with its open air, chicken wire, dormitories that James’ natural sporting abilities took off. He was a key best player in the under 16 A Football Team which won the Vic Profitt Trophy for the Best Performed College Football Team. James went straight into the 1st XVIII the next year. His cricket career also progressed, with distinction as a wicket keeper. In one notable match he joined Ian Redpath in a batting partnership that Pegasus glowingly described: ‘Immediately they began to get runs freely with beautiful strokes all around the ground. Funston batted well for his 53 in 82 minutes.’ In addition to his outstanding sporting achievements he was a competent, quiet and unassuming student who paved the way to becoming so dedicated in the rural and farming communities.’
James Funston retained his commitment to sport and the community throughout his life and valued his connection with other Old Collegians. At a College reunion he recalled one of his highlights as playing cricket in the UK with a team of Old Collegians and visiting Lords when Ian Redpath was playing.
James was enrolled as a boarder from ‘Langi Willi’ near Linton. He was educated at Ballarat College and boarded at Geelong College from 9 February 1950 to December 1958 joining Calvert House. He was a member of the Athletics Team in 1956 and 1958. He also played with the 1st XI Cricket and 1st XVIII Football Teams of 1957 and 1958, as well as the APS Combined Football XVIII in 1958. In his final year he was a School Prefect. His father, Francis Malcom Funston (1910-1969), and brother, Peter, also boarded at College.