STC OBA – Australian Branch – An Outline of the Early Days (1972 to 1989)
(By Odath Weerasinghe based on his article in the 1989 STC OBA Melbourne Dance Souvenir
Source:Thomiana Newsletter
This is not a definitive history of the STC OBA Australia Branch. It is mainly intended for younger Old Thomians to know something more about the OBA’s origin story. A proper history of the OBA will have to mention the many individuals whose selfless efforts have contributed significantly to get the OBA started and progressed to where it is today. Hence, whilst acknowledging their efforts, the following will simply highlight some of the milestone events and achievements of the OBA in its early days.
In 1972, Mr C.R.Wise, the former Sub Warden of STC, hosted an informal dinner gathering at his Melbourne home for several Old Thomians to discuss the possibility of starting an OBA and it was on this occasion that it was agreed it should be done. And so it was that shortly afterwards a group of Old Boys met at the All Saints Church Hall, East St. Kilda, to form the Melbourne and first overseas branch of the STC OBA. Initially, the members were not many. However, as increasing migration swelled its ranks, the OBA progressed rapidly. The tangible help reaching the College and its branches increased proportionately and the benefits of such a fellowship was recognized by nearly all Old Thomians in Australia. The constitution of the OBA enshrined the twin aims of helping the College and its branches and fostering fellowship amongst Old Thomians. From the outset, those charged running the OBA strived to achieve these aims.
The first significant project undertaken by the OBA was to raise $6,000 to fund the purchase of a used mini
bus in Sri Lanka for the College. This task, with the relatively small membership at the time took only one year to accomplish. The money, at the request of the College, was diverted to the College Development Fund instead of being used for the purchase of a bus.
The fund-raising continued and there followed several other gifts of funds to the College for the purchase of
various items of necessary equipment such as the following:
• a replacement chlorinator plant for the College swimming pool;
• a video recorder/player and television set;
• an Encyclopedia Britannica; and
• a Jugs cricket bowling machine.
Every year the OBA sent Australian Kookaburra cricket balls to College and occasionally sent collections of
new and used books and magazines.
Several direct gifts of cash were also made to the College and its branches. For that time these were significant gifts greatly appreciated by the College and its branches. To achieve the second but no less important aim of fostering fellowship among Old Thomians, the OBA organized many social and sporting activities. Some of these were the following:
• an annual cricket match between the Melbourne Old Boys of Royal College and S. Thomas’ College, jointly
organized by the Australian OBA’s of both schools, was inaugurated in 1973;
• a Royal-Thomian match for older players on the same day and venue as the main match was also added.
The many spectators with flags and vociferous encouragement along with the traditional “papare” music
added something of the excitement of the “real” big match in Sri Lanka;
• occasional cricket matches against the Melbourne old boys of Trinity College Kandy;
• an annual Royal-Thomian golf competition was inaugurated in 1987;
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occasional golf competitions against Trinity College Old Boys;
• a rifle-shoot;
• a car rally;
• teams were entered in the inter Sri Lanka Schools Melbourne OBAs Seven-A-Side Rugby Union
Competition from the competition’s inception in 1987. This was to cater for the more energetic members
or those who believed they were still young in limb as well as at heart;
• where possible, at the conclusion of these sporting events, a bar-be-que was held attended also by
families and friends;
• the first “Thomian Night” dinner dance was held at the Clayton Town Hall in 1978. Since then, this event
has been held without a break becoming bigger and better, until it is now considered by many to be the
best Sri Lankan dance in Melbourne. The dance was the OBA’s main fund raiser mainly through the raffle
and advertising revenue;
• a smaller “Podi Natuma” (small dance) was organised for the first time in 1987 catering for just under two
hundred and this has continued to be a popular annual event;
• a carol service was begun in 1980. This service mirrored the Festival of Nine Lessons, the carol service at
the College Chapel, and included the prayer for the College;
• a childrens’ Christmas Party was inaugurated in 1988;
• The OBA on several occasions organised functions to enable Old Thomians living in Australia to meet and
entertain prominent Old Thomians visiting Australia;
• an age-group reunion of some “early fortyish” Old Thomians in Melbourne was organised via the
“Thomiana” in 1988. This event in the form of a lunch at a restaurant was well attended and became the
precursor of other such reunions; and
• the OBA sponsored a Thomian schoolboy cricketer to Australia to play a season with the University of
New South Wales in 1988.
The OBA’s Annual General Meetings in February was well attended and the debate friendly and constructive.
The social for members and their families, at the conclusion of official AGM business, was an opportunity for
fellowship and reminiscing in a friendly atmosphere.
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A regular newsletter, “The Thomiana”, was started in 1980 and from the outset set a very high editorial standard which has been maintained to the present day. In keeping with contemporary practice, the OBA became an incorporated body in 1988. Wherever possible the OBA opened its activities to the families and friends of its members. The OBA from all accounts was well established by 1989 and going from strength to strength in achieving its two main aims. The College and its branches benefited significantly and the OBA enabled Old Thomians living
in Australia and those visiting these shores to meet their school friends and others from across the
generations who also had attended the school by the sea.
ESTO PERPETUA
