Image

Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






Search the Guide
»


To find information in this Guide please select one of the green coloured options.

To Select a Page Group when displayed, right click and select 'Open'.


Copyright Conditions Apply.



HOWELLS, Thomas Boase Howells (1926-2017)

HOWELLS, Reverend Thomas Boase Howells (1926-2017)


Rev Tom Howells (High St Uniting Church, Frankston)

Rev Tom Howells
(High St Uniting Church, Frankston)

Born on 4 February 1926, Tom Howells was enrolled as a day student at Geelong College from 8 February 1938 to December 1942 after previously attending Geelong High School. His address on enrolment was 363 Myers St, Geelong.

At College in 1942, he was a School Prefect, a member of the 1st Cricket XI, the 1st Football XVIII, a Cadet Corps corporal, a member of the Debating Society and was awarded the Dr Gus Kearney Memorial Prize.

After College, he studied at the University of Melbourne gaining a BSc in 1949 and later BD from the Melbourne College of Divinity. He then became a Uniting Church Minister.

Tom was one of three brothers born to parents, Thomas William Howells and Lily Ruby nee Boase. His brothers, Morris William Charles Howellls (1919-1933), and Alban Thomas Howells (1923-2003) were also educated at Geelong College.

‘Tom’ Howells died 18 October 2017 aged 91 years.

An obituary to Rev. Tom Howells and his ministry at Frankston Uniting Church appeared in 'High Street Times' , the newsletter of the Church:

'The funeral of Rev. Thomas Boase Howells was held at the Glen Waverley Uniting Church on Friday, 27 October 2017. It was an opportunity to celebrate Tom’s life and remember his loving and caring ministry. Tom was born in NSW on 4 February 1926. His father was killed in an accident 7 months before Tom’s birthday. He weighed only three pounds at birth and the midwife thought it unlikely he would survive; but survive he did for 91 years.

Tom’s mother moved the family to Geelong when Morris, Gwen, Alban and Tom were small and joined the Presbyterian Church in Geelong. Tragedy continued for the Howells family when eldest child, Morris was killed while riding his bike prior to his 14th birthday, and Tom’s only sister Gwen was killed while stepping from a tram and being hit by a car when she was 20. Tom graduated with a B.Sc. degree from Melbourne University and worked as an industrial chemist for the Shell Company. He was doing very well in his career, when he felt called by God to be a Minister of the Word. He was accepted as a candidate by the Presbyterian Church and was a resident student at Ormond College at Melbourne University. Tom had met Millie while she was working as a social worker with the Y.W.C.A and they were married in February 1953.

Tom’s first parish was at Penthurst Dunkeld in the Southern Grampians before continuing his ministry in the Wattle Park Congregation. In early 1973, he was called by the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Frankston to be their minister. By this time Tom and Millie had four daughters. ...

Tom was in Frankston for 13 years before being called to Shepparton at the end of 1985. He retired from full time ministry after several years in Shepparton, and then continued part time as an interim minister when required.'



Sources: The Age (Melb) 21 October 2017, 23 October 2017; 'High Street Times' (Newsletter of the High Street Church, Frankston) November 2017 p4. OGC 1939.
© The Geelong College. Unless otherwise attributed, The Geelong College asserts its creative and commercial rights over all images and text used in this publication. No images or text material may be copied, reproduced or published without the written authorisation of The College.