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Ralph Shinkfield (OCG 1940)
At the commencement of the 1933 school year, Mr Cecil Shinkfield MA was appointed to the Carey staff. His three sons – Maurice and identical twins, Des and Ralph – came along with him.
In 1940, Mr Ralph Shinkfield accepted a position in the Navy – he had given great service to the School and he went to his new responsibility with the School’s best wishes. He had started the Carey Cadets in 1940. There is a photo of the Officers in the Cadets (in the December 1940 Chronicle) with Captain Shinkfield and Ralph and Des in the front row. This was also the year Ralph played in the First XIII Football Premiership team.
Des, who died last year, enlisted in the Navy and Ralph in the RAAF (1943–46) as a Catalina pilot. Post-war, Ralph
studied accounting and trained as a teacher in Perth and Melbourne.
Ralph’s 26-year teaching career at Carey commenced in 1959 when he joined the Junior School, under the leadership of Ken Lyall. He was to retire in 1984 as Senior Master of the Junior School having been a Housemaster for 23 years, Teacher-in-charge of Mathematics and Quartermaster at Camp Toonallook.
Bryan Marshall, past student (1964) and fellow staff member, wrote that in the period of 1966 to 1984, Ralph was
one of the staff ’who has shaped the spirit and meaning of our camp’.
The following tribute to Ralph by past Carey student James Nixon (1977), who in touch with Ralph was published
in The Age (24 August):
’WW2 RAAF Catalina pilot and teacher. His campfire stories inspired me to fly.
James Nixon Emirates A380 Captain (Ret)’
Ralph and his late wife, Jean, had four children, three of whom attended Carey: Murray (1967), Rowan (1969), Rosslyn and Jonathan (1978). To them the extended Shinkfield Family, The Carey community expresses its
appreciation for Ralph’s participation and contribution since he first entered the gates 90 years ago.
(Source: Bruce Murray (1960), past staff)
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