Poets usually get it right – the ones we remember, that is. 

In the eighteenth century, Thomas Gray sat in a churchyard in rural England at sunset, allowing his mind to dwell on the lives of centuries of humble villagers represented by the headstones there. He became aware of his surroundings as a palpable presence:

‘Now fades the glimmering landscape on the sight,|
And all the air a solemn stillness holds.’

He was moved to speculate on the humble, but significant lives of the villagers. In one memorable verse he lamented:

‘Full many a gem of purest ray serene
The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear;
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen,
And waste its sweetness on the desert air.’

As I sat through Alastair’s memorial service, and as four speakers* spoke eloquently of many aspects of his life, I was forcibly struck by this gem and this flower, who lived his year at Carey (1977) in relative obscurity but who made a powerful contribution to the school’s experience by producing the mediaeval morality play, Everyman. It was a privilege to be involved and to follow the protagonist as he attempts to make sense of his life, calling upon all his resources as death approaches. 

Alastair had a long and varied career in teaching and in the theatre.

He was born in Sri Lanka and was educated at Trinity College, Kandy, St Aloysius College, Galle, and graduated from the University of Ceylon with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He tutored in music and drama in Hartley College, in English, fine arts, drama and choral music in the Hope Waddell Institution in Calabar, Nigeria, and in the Wendy Whatmore Academy of Speech and Drama in Colombo, during which time he appeared periodically on Radio Ceylon.

Alastair then moved to Australia in 1970 and won the Melbourne Theatre Company’s prize for his portrayal of Pirandello’s Henry IV.

After having completed his Diploma of Education at the Canberra College of Advanced Education, he continued his teaching career at Blackburn High School, Carey Baptist Grammar School (during which appointment he graduated with a Bachelor of Education from Monash University), Beaufort High School, with various other secondments at Kyabram, Drouin and Heatherhill.

After retirement he continued his studies in Latin and Greek.

So lived and died a gentle, talented, and honourable man.

*The final powerful and definitive speech was delivered by former member of staff, Nicolas Panayotis.

Source: David Morgan OAM (2 May 2023)