BROWN, Charles Naples OBE (1885-1947)

Modified on Thu, 24 Aug 2017 11:40 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Collegians in the News 1911-1960, Biography - Students, Geelong College, Biography of Government, Administration and Politics

BROWN, Charles Naples OBE (1885-1947)


Charles Naples Brown was enrolled as a day student at the Geelong College in 1899. At the time he was resident at 28 Swanston St, Geelong. His parents were James Campbell Brown and Marion Jane nee Naples. He had been born at Geelong on 1 November 1885.

His Pegasus obituary in June 1947 described him:
'Charles Naples Brown, who passed away at Geelong on May 9 (1947) after a long illness, attended the College in the opening years of the century and later pursued engineering studies at the Geelong and Melbourne Technical Colleges. He gained valuable experience abroad in 1908, and again in later years he embarked on a world tour, widening his knowledge not only of engineering, but also of civic and public matters generally. He became managing director of the Geelong firm of J. C. Brown Pty. Ltd., but found time to take up an unusually large number of public offices - civic, church, educational and social - in which his judgment and indefatigable energy won high esteem. His civic service, including three terms as Mayor of the City of Geelong (1935-38), won recognition in the award of the Order of the British Empire. He was for many years a member of the College Council and in 1943 became President of the O.G.C.A.; till quite recently he took an active part in the work of the Association committee and the War Memorial committee.'

He died on 9 May 1947 and was interred at the East Geelong Cemetery, Geelong


Sources: Pegasus June 1947 p49.