Objects of Substance- The E.W. Colley Memorial Prize

1965 BGS 1 st XV. E.W. Colley is seated front row right.

One group within the Girls Grammar community which particularly appealed was the Fathers Group. The group had been formally established in 1977 under the guidance of Dr David Gordon and was thriving by the late 1990s, famous for the best barbecues on Open Day and impressive building exploits both on the Spring Hill campus and Marrapatta, then known as Imbil. He was a “vocal and fun member” according to his daughter, Louise, volunteering his time to the group’s activities, as well as cheering on the sidelines. It was this group which decided to honour Ed when he was cruelly struck down after a prolonged illness. Glenn Capper was the President of the Fathers Group in 1998. He felt that there was an opportunity to honour a man who stood for strong values, as well as the contribution of the Fathers Group. Glenn approached the monthly fathers’ meeting with the proposal of the E.W. [Ed] Colley Memorial Prize, as well as a perpetual trophy for the Year 11 Best All-rounder. As Glenn put it, “There was not a dissenter in the room.” (G. Capper 2023) The hard work then began with the discussion of criteria. Bowing to the difficulty of the task, Glenn approached the Principal, Judith Hancock, who strongly approved of the prizes proposed and suggested that she would look after establishing the criteria. The outcome reflected the values Ed Colley cherished and promised to reward an interesting, multitalented student. The wording of the criteria in the 1998 prize-giving program reads: “The Fathers Group has presented this prize in memory of a much admired and respected member. The prize is awarded to a student of Chemistry and another Science subject who has participated in QGSSSA or club Hockey or Cricket and displays commitment, sportsmanship, and school spirit.”