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Celebrating the Life of Tom Atkinson
Mr Charles Martin
Old Boy MAU14 In February this year, the school community came together to mourn and celebrate the life of Thomas Atkinson, in particular the many roles he served during his time at The Southport School. Described by staff as a gentleman and a passionate sailor, his service to the School spanned the years 1959 to 1992. However, the years prior to his employment at TSS were anything but smooth sailing.
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Thomas (Tom) Capel Atkinson was born on 25 June 1927, at Glenelg, Adelaide. He was the son of Annie Atkinson née Clapperton and international butter judge, William Leslie Atkinson. While Tom was still very young, the family moved to Queensland and were among the first settlers in the South Burnett region. Tom attended Anglican Church Grammar School (Churchie) until 1938, before the family moved to London where his father had been transferred for work. There, Atkinson was enrolled in Durston House, an independent preparatory school, where he remained for two years before moving to King’s College for secondary school during the time of the Blitz. By 1944, Tom was readying himself for tertiary education at London University, but the family was again forced to move upon his father being transferred back to Australia. Aboard a coal-burning steamer, the Atkinson family embarked on the treacherous
journey home through German and Japanese submarine-infested waters, finally arriving safely back in Australia at Christmas the same year. In 1946, Atkinson moved to Queensland to complete two years of study at the Kelvin Grove Teachers’ College, which led to him being employed at a number of state schools. This included living on campus at several somewhat primitive school facilities, forcing him at times to complete his university studies at night by the light of a single candle. He then quickly jumped at the chance to move to the Slade School in Warwick in 1952, where he remained until 1957 before moving to the Cranbrook School in Sydney, where he ran the preparatory school boarding house.
Following this, Tom joined The Southport School in 1959 as a Year 7 teacher. During these initial years, he served as Thorold Housemaster from 1961 to 1969, taught Senior Mathematics and was a Cadet Corps Captain. Atkinson temporarily departed the school in 1969 to complete his Bachelor of Education degree at the University of Queensland. Before his departure, in appreciation of his service and critical role in the success of Thorold House, the boys of Thorold developed the T.C. Atkinson’s Shield, to be awarded each year to the House’s top Junior Scholar.
Tom was invited to return less than three years later and again took on the position of Thorold Housemaster (from 1971 to 1974). In 1977, following headmaster John Day’s division of the senior school into upper, middle and lower schools, he assumed the roles of Master of Middle School (Years 9 and 10) and School Counsellor and subsequently, Careers Guidance Officer. He was later appointed the School Registrar in 1983, requiring him to frequently travel across Queensland and interstate for
1971 Thorold House Officials. Winners of the House Shield school admissions. Aside from his numerous pastoral and leadership positions, his most notable contributions to the School include his role in establishing the Chauvel Media Centre as well as introducing sailing as a school sport, which eventually turned into a GPS sport. Here, he was able to channel his love for boats and the sea, serving as Master of Sailing for multiple years.
In response to significant school growth, Atkinson Day House was established in 1986 and named in Tom’s honour, acknowledging his extensive period of service to the School. In line with the House motto: ‘Make Me Your Brother’, students in Years 9 to 12 were drawn from Surman, Turnock and Walker Houses to form Atkinson House’s starting student body, with John Hillier as House Captain and Mr Des Hastie as the first Housemaster. Fittingly, the Atkinson House colours are sea blue and orange, with seagulls on its emblem. In the same year, Tom was awarded the Palma Argentea in recognition of his 25 years of service to the School.
Tom retired in 1992, understandably electing to spend his days on his motor vessel, Aquation.
Thomas Capel Atkinson peacefully passed on April 14, 2020, aged 93. Vale Tom Atkinson.