CLARK, Thomas Lanyon (1914-2009)

Modified on Fri, 01 Dec 2017 09:16 by Con — Categorized as: Biography - All, Biography - Staff, Geelong College

CLARK, Thomas Lanyon (1914-2009)

Tom Clark, circa 1971.

Tom Clark, accountant, was first appointed as Assistant Bursar at the Geelong College but assumed the responsibilities as Executive Officer of the OGCA from July, 1971, continuing in this role until his retirement in 1980. He was born at Mosman, NSW and joined Burns Philp Co Ltd in 1939. Shortly afterwards, he was sent to the Company’s Tarawa Branch on the British Colony of the then Gilbert and Ellice Islands (now known as Kiribati). He was subsequently trapped on Tarawa during World War II when the Japanese invaded the island and he, with a group of 18 other civilians escaped the island. Don Lawler described this epic adventure in Ad Astra of June 2005.

Tom survived his perilous sea trip and the war, eventually returning to study and qualifying as an accountant in 1947. He commenced with J C Hutton Pty Ltd in 1948 and became finance manager at A C Ferrall before operating his own grocery and drapery business from 1954 to 1959. In 1959, he returned as Finance Director to A C Ferrall. In 1966, he was appointed Bursar of Launceston Church Grammar School, a position he held until his appointment to Geelong College. He replaced Bert Keith, previously the honorary Executive Officer of OGCA becoming the second paid Executive Officer of the Association – the first being A J R ‘Mac’ McVittie. Tom was a keen bowler at the Riverside Bowls Club, Launceston and a President of the Launceston YMCA from 1968 to 1970.

Sources: Ad Astra Sept 1971; Ad Astra No 108 June 2005 p 22.