R IC PA LM E R – 3 5 Y E A RS OF DE DIC AT E D S E RV IC E
Farewell to Ric Palmer – 35 years of loyal service
Mr Ric Palmer started work at the School
on 3 January, 1979, on the very same day
as then Headmaster, Mr John Moody. Their
introduction, on the Chapel path, walking
from School House, was the start of a journey
together that would span almost 20 years.
As a qualified Farm Manager, Ric had worked
for Lord Braebourne in the United Kingdom,
followed by a stint on his 20,000 acre farm
in Esperance. It was during this time that Ric
met his future wife Jenni, who was working
for a year in the country, having recently
completed her Dental Therapy studies.
Jenni soon had to return to Perth, with Ric
dutifully following, giving up his job for new
opportunities in the “big smoke”.
Being qualified in both Agriculture and
Horticulture, Ric responded to several job
advertisements, one at Guildford Grammar
School and one at another prestigious
college, as a Gardener/Groundsman. At that
time he was working short-term at Murdoch
University as an Animal Handling Manager.
Ric was shortlisted for the position and
subsequently interviewed by the then Bursar,
Mr Church, the Assistant Bursar, Mr Tim
Lawrence, and the Bursar’s Office Manager
Mrs Tomczak, with the interview covering
topics from flowers to financial accountancy.
Ric was offered and of course accepted the
position, moving into a house on-campus
shortly thereafter, right next door to the
Bursar.
After a short time working on the grounds,
Ric was offered, and accepted, the position
of Estate and Property Manager. The role
was introduced as part of the Decade
of Development and offered support
to the Assistant Bursar to help manage
maintenance, the grounds and the gardens.
Ric continued his studies at TAFE, studying
Horticulture, then Project and Building
Management.
It was around this time that Doctor Julius
Sumner Miller (of Cadbury glass-and-a-half
fame) and his wife moved in next door, to
take up a position teaching at the school and
lecturing at universities. Ric was assigned the
task of taking Dr Sumner Miller around to
all of his engagements and recalls meeting
many university Dons of the day. He recalls
one Professor asking him what he thought
of Doctor Sumner Miller’s theory on relative
atomic masses, a question he craftily
managed to avoid answering!
For most of Ric’s time at the School there was
no such thing as a computer in the Bursar’s
Office, or even the School! He recalls old
16
typewriters that had to be manually returned
at the end of each line, after the ‘ding’ of the
bell, and all accounting records were kept on
paper. He recalls the introduction of electric
‘golf’ typewriters, then a few very large
computers, with limited capability compared
to what we work with today. Some of
these early examples of technology can still
be viewed in the School Museum. He also
recalls the introduction of the fax machine
in the office and staff having to sign before
sending a fax, due to the 20c fee for each
call!
Once a week, Mr Moody and Ric would
take an early morning walk of the grounds,
collecting rubbish as they walked, talking
about future plans for the School and what to
do with various buildings and the grounds in
general. The Flats at that time, including the
wetlands, were animal paddocks full of sheep
waiting to be shipped overseas, devoid of
any native plants or trees. Under Mr Moody’s
headship, the School invoked an Arbor every
year, where the entire school turned out
mid-June to plant trees along the roads (only
mud-tracks at that time) and boundaries.
Over time the School slowly changed and
became forested again and the fields usable
for all nature of sporting activities.
In recognition of his hard work and
commitment, the School Council awarded Ric
an award on Speech Night (now known as
Prize Giving) for, in his words, ‘working well
and doing more than what was expected’.
He received a lovely engraved tray, which
unfortunately was later stolen when his
house was broken into.
Through the Decade of Development, the
School rapidly expanded and Ric was kept
busy with many building and maintenance
projects. Through some of this period, times
were financially tough, but the work was
always done and the buildings kept in order.
Around the campus, Ric is known as Mr-Fixit, due to the other part of his role where
he is often called upon to deal with minor
emergencies, such as people being locked
out of classes or houses, bogged vehicles,
dog-catching, chasing people off the campus,
fixing blocked toilets, dealing with trees
damaged in storms, catching birds and other
animals trapped in classes, and catching
snakes from all around the campus!
After 37 years at the School, Ric will most
certainly be missed.
From Ric:
“Having worked, married, had my children
and lived here for nearly 37 years it is almost
beyond com