St Michaels University School - Black Red and Blue Yearbook (Victoria, British Columbia Canada)

Page 13 text:

45- RL'rlf-.xdlIlll'.ll Rayner presents Yli lit-rin lilllf' to Nl Raszter, SPEECH DAY AND OPENING OF BROWN HALL Speech Day this year was a very special occasion in that it is 50 years since the foundation stone of our present buildine' was laid and, by happy coincidence. we were able to effect the Opening of the first major structure since the original buildings of 1908. After weeks of glorious sunshine the day itself was disappointine as rain fell early in the day and a cold wind blew in the afternoon. but the pleasure of the events themselves completely overshadowed these comparatively unimportant discomforts. In the morning Admiral Rayner presented the academic prizes and gave the Address. after which he assisted Mrs. Brown to cut the tapes and officially open Brown Hall. In view of the importance of the occasion Admiral Rayner's Address and the Headmaster's Introduction to the Opening of Brown Hall are printed in full below. The Chairman of the Board of Governors and the Head Prefect proposed the customary votes of thanks, and the School sane' Yivat,, and cheered the Guests of Honour with considerable vigour. so that it was in all very much A Day to Rememberf' Admiral Rayner opened his address with congratulations to the School on the healthy condition indicated by the Headmaster's Re- port. He then congratulated those to whom he had just presented prizes. and continued:A Q

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SCHOOL OFFICERS Founders House Captain VV. Seymour School Prefects R. B. Getz E. St. Pollard R. L. Pratt D. R. Sleep House Prefect D. S. Simpson Head Prefect E. Fairbourn Brentwood House Captain F.. Fairbourn School Prefects F. G. Beban B. E. B. Cuppag R. R. Fulton W. G. Lund Harvey House Prefects F. G. Allen G. R. S. Clark L. E. Devlin NI. Nfattson Capt. lst XY: B. E. B. Cuppage Vice-Capt. lst XY: F.. Fairbourn Capt. lst Xl: R. B. Getz Yice-Capt. lst XI: F.. St. Pollard Capt. of Athletics: R. B. Getz Capt. of Cross Country: F, Eyes Capt. of Basketball: W. G. Lund Capt. of Swimming: R. B. Getz Capt. of Tennis: R. B. Getz Capt. of Gymnastics: C. P. Boas Pres. Pres. Pres. Dramatic Society: F. G. Allen Vice-Pres. Dramatic Society: A. D. O. Hlilson Photography Club: P. Lund Projection Club: R. A. Christie 8 C

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Wl1etht'1' we win any prizes or not depends to a great extent on the talents we have been given, but the great thing is to try to do our best with what we have. This same thought was expressed on a large sign displayed at the Olympic Games' Stadium. Displayed in enormous letters were the words. 'It is better to participate than to win. it is better to fight well than to conquer' I think it is probably the people who are simply doing their best who contribute the most to their country, their town or their school. It is very good to see the splendid progress this school is making, of which there was ample evidence in the Headmaster's report. I feel the opening of Brown Hall constitutes a milestone in the history of the school. and I hope the remainder of the expansion programme will be equally successful. I am sure I speak for all parents of the school when I say that we. along with the school itself, are most grateful to Mrs. Brown for this splendid addition to the buildings. Now, as a boy at school Cand it doesn't seem very long agoj, I distinctly remember on Speech Day listening to the customary account of the school's activities by the Headmaster and wondering when the old geysern who always followed him was going to dry up and allow us to depart to tea and the holidays. It is a bit of a shock to find that one has joined the ranks of the old geysersf' In thinking of what you would be interested in hearing, my first thought naturally enough was of the Navy, since the Service is usually upper- most in the mind of a sailor like myself. I also thought of the BC. Centennial which is being celebrated with typical BC. vigour and enthusiasm throughout this tremendous Province. It provides us with such excellent opportunities for learning something of our history and thus being able to appreciate better the vision and stirling per- formance of the early explorers and pioneers. However, I think you have all heard something on those topics before, and so I come to the present and the future. We are very blessed in living in Canada, which enjoys a Christian civilization, a free economy and abundant natural resources. Having counted these blessings I have no hesitation in predicting success for any of you boys who want success and will work for it. But what is it going to be like when some of you boys here today are running our country of tomorrow? Is the advance of science and engineering going to make it possible to travel to the moon and the planets? Unquestion- ably the launching of the Russian Sputniks and the United States Earth Satellites, Explorer and Vanguard. is a tremendous scientific breakthrough. Nuclear power is now being used ashore in the United Kingdom as well as in L'.S.A. submarines at sea. I think you will live to see it as a fairly common source of power on land and sea and in the air. XVhat kind of people we will become is a fantastic subject for speculation. They say that human nature never changes, so perhaps the people of 25 or 50 years' time will not be unlike most of us today. One thing I am sure of, and that is just as Canada needs leaders today she will still need leaders then. A School like this is expected 10