Edgar John Walker (1908-1980) was Carey’s Maintenance Officer from November 1947 until his retirement at age 65 in November 1973. Bill Sandlilands, Groundsman, was his only co-worker when he began, and he had a cricket-team of 11 when he finished, among them Ron Hunt, his successor as Property Manager.

The 1973 Chronicle paid tribute:

With the retirement of Mr. Jack Walker, whose length of service at Carey spanned the time of three Headmasters, another link with our early history will be severed.

In November 1947, when he came to the School, there were 380 boys enrolled. Mr. Francis was Headmaster, having just taken over from Mr. Steele, and Mr. Walker knew Mr. Steele and Harold Tranter well. He still has contact with some of the Old Boys, particularly boarders with whom he had much greater contact than the present large numbers of day boys.

At the time of his appointment the School buildings consisted of a group of classrooms in the Junior School area, Laycock House and the four recently demolished classrooms which made up the "Temporary block". There were two tennis courts and one small oval.

During the time he has been with us he has not only seen great changes, but has taken part in the rapidly expanding development of the School, where his practical skills have been of much value. He leaves with our best wishes for his projected travels. His dry wit and helpful good humour have been much appreciated by the very numerous members of staff who have had occasion to call on his good offices.

Mr. V. F. O. Francis was in fact ending his second and penultimate year when Jack Walker was appointed. Harold Tranter, OCG, was a member of the Council and honorary Architect, presumably with experience of Jack Walker’s abilities.

In his Headmaster’s 1950 report, Stuart Hickman writes:

Early this year we completed building an extra-class-room. This work was mainly done by our Maintenance Officer, Mr. E. J. Walker, with the assistance of voluntary helpers.

He did not mention that he himself was one of the volunteers who donned overalls to work under his Maintenance Officer during the summer holidays!

Another summer vacation volunteer was Tony McCutcheon (OCG 1951), cycling for Jack down Auburn Road to J. Chalmers Hardware at 691 Burwood Road for supplies:

I am forever grateful to him. He was a good on-the-job teacher. I learnt to use a handsaw, cut halved joints, to blunt nails to prevent splitting quad timbers and, later, to tint paint for the prefects’ study. His good humour was matched by his voice as he often murmured ‘It was ever thus’ at some situation or other. It was not ‘ever thus’ though when he ran onto the ground for Essendon in the VFL and was attacked by a woman with an umbrella which cracked two of Jack’s ribs.

Contribution by Tony McCutcheon (OCG 1951)