Wishing a Legend of Wesley a Happy 90th Birth Day – Allister Bartholomeusz
Allister Bartholomeusz
Born 30 April 1934 will be 90 years old on the 30th of April 2024 (amongst one of the oldest Wesleyites in Australia).
He joined Wesley in 1946, left Wesley in 1953. At school during the period of the Claessen brothers.
Principals during his time -David Izzett, James Cartman and C. J Orloff
Allister won the Light of Asia Junior Elocution contest for Wesley
He was a member of the Kinross Surf Lifesaving club in 1947 while still at school, The Club soon became a byword in swimming and dominated the Two- Mile Sea Swims. Swim Champions Gerd von Dincklage, Ralph Forbes, Hugh Stewart. Hilmi Khalid, Carlisle Chalon, Allister Bartholomeusz, Ian Kelly, Tony Williams (1960 Olympics) Desmond Templar, Rattan Mangharam, Randy Gray, Henry Perera, are names that come to mind. Other names who made significant contribution to the Club, wereTissa Ariyaratne, Gunaseelam Kanakratnam. Aubrey Van Cuylenberg (Water Polo, Ceylon Soccer goalkeeper), Langston and Fred Pereira.
Allister swam in the two-mile sea swim from 1949 for 9 years and was placed 3rd one year. Won the bronze medal for surf lifesaving awarded by the Surf Lifesaving Association of Ceylon. Was an active life saver performing regular duties on Sundays at both the Mount Lavinia and Kinross beaches. He played water polo for the Kinross club. Allister represented Ceylon in Water Polo
against the Singapore RAF.
He joined ‘Jeanne Holland’ a mercantile company and swam in the Mercantile Cup, being part of the
winning team for two years.
He also served as the Honorary Secretary of the Ceylon Amateur Swimming Association. After been employed as a Shipping Executive for Aitken Spence based in Colombo, Galle and
Trincomalee, Allister migrated to Australia in 1965
While in Melbourne Allister was a very active member of the OBUA, serving on the Committee for many years. He served as Editor for two years and was also Vice President during his tenure.
We wish Allister a very happy 90th Birthday and thank him for his
service to the OBUA.
