Great Scot September 2018 Gt Scot_154_September_online | Page 101

He will be remembered not only for his significant contributions to satellite communications, but also as a modest and humble man with a wry sense of humour. TURNBULL, Thomas William Skene (’44) Thomas himself, with input from his son, John (SC 1959-71), wrote: Thomas William Skene Turnbull was born at St Kilda on 25 September 1927, the youngest of three siblings. Tom attended Scotch from 1941 to 1944 as a member of MacFarland House, and played in his House tennis team every year. A keen all-round sportsman, he was a member of the 1943 Swimming team, and won the open diving in 1943. A lack of size kept Tom to the 1943 2nd XI and 2nd XVIII, but, having grown after leaving school, he played for both Old Scotch Cricket and Football Clubs. After an early career in life insurance, Tom qualified as a valuer, real estate agent and auctioneer, and worked in this field until retirement. While a company director in Melbourne, poor health forced Tom to move to Queensland in 1972, where he spent 11 years in Cairns and four in Brisbane as partner and sole proprietor in real estate and valuation businesses. From 1982 until his death, Tom lived on the south coast of NSW, where he worked as a valuer until he retired in 1997, living in retirement at Merimbula. On 6 February 1952 Tom married Pamela Burr in the Littlejohn Memorial Chapel at Scotch, and they had two children, Jenny and John. Pamela died on 12 July 2014. Also at Scotch were Tom’s nephew Andrew Cruickshank (SC 1968-71) and Andrew’s three sons Nicholas (SC 1994-2002), Edward (SC 1998-2003) and Charlie (SC 2001-06). Tom achieved a single figure handicap at the Metropolitan Golf Club before leaving Melbourne. Golf provided a valuable social outlet for Tom and Pam, and he played into his late eighties. A member of the Old Scotch Collegians’ Lodge, he was Master in 1971/72 and remained a member until his death. Tom was an active Freemason in Queensland and New South Wales, celebrating 50 years’ as a member in 2009. Tom organised dinners for Old Boys in both Cairns and Merimbula. In November 2004 he became a 50 year member of the Melbourne Cricket Club, and the MCG was a regular haunt to watch his beloved Demons. Tom died at Merimbula, New South Wales on 1 June 2018 and will be missed by all who knew him. WILLIAMS, Bruce Russell (‘65) Bruce’s Junior School classmate, David Ashton (‘65), and Bruce’s sister, Margaret Philippe, wrote: Bruce was born at St Andrew’s Hospital, East Melbourne, on 4 December 1945, and attended Scotch from September 1956 to 1959. Earlier in 1956, Bruce and his family had been involved in a horrific road accident, in which Bruce’s mother and one of his younger sisters were killed, and Bruce suffered a serious head injury. He endured an unhappy relationship with his stepmother, and partly because of this he was taken away from Scotch in 1959 and sent to the Kilmany Park Farm Home for Boys in Sale. After leaving Kilmany Park, he left Victoria and cut off most contact with his family members, except for occasional contact with one of his sisters, Margaret, in Melbourne. Bruce married his first wife, Elizabeth, in Wellington, New Zealand, on 19 February 1971. They divorced in December 1988. He had met Karen Wards in Auckland in 1987, and he and Karen lived together in Dunedin from 1987 to 1996, where Bruce worked as a freelance journalist. Their son, Andrew, was born in 1988. Karen, Bruce and Andrew came to Australia in 1994 when Andrew was six. Karen was on a teaching exchange at a school in Melbourne, and it provided an opportunity for Karen, Bruce and Andrew to meet relatives and travel around Australia during the school holidays. After Bruce and Karen separated, Bruce lived in New Zealand until 2000, then moved to America, marrying Nancy Verrill at Norway, Maine, USA, on 21 January 2001. He worked in the USA as a journalist, returning to Australia in the early 2000s. Back in Australia he again became something of a recluse, divorcing Nancy in 2004 and eventually settling in Kerang where he briefly worked for the local newspaper. After retirement, Bruce first lived at Ocean Grove and then at Echuca, where he joined the local Lions Club. Bruce read avidly and had a good general knowledge. He was a committed Christian and a regular churchgoer. Although he was not always happy at Scotch, Bruce did recognise the value of his Scotch education, and in his latter years enjoyed attending OSCA functions. Bruce died at home in Echuca on 17 January 2018. He is survived by Karen and son Andrew (both of whom still live in New Zealand), and his sisters, Margaret and Alison. If you would like to join our passionate team of volunteers please contact the Scotch Archivist, Paul Mishura on 9810 4470 or [email protected]. www.scotch.vic.edu.au Great Scot 101