2025 Past President's Dinner
On Thursday 24 July, 12 past presidents of the Old Wesley Collegians Association gathered in the Cato Room for a special evening with current President Tom Pewtress (OW2018), Principal Nick Evans (OW1985) and Head of the OWCA, Jo Bandy-Renkin (OW1996).
The 2025 Past Presidents' Dinner was a heartfelt celebration of the leadership and legacy that has shaped our Association since its founding in 1882.
The evening offered a chance to reflect on the remarkable evolution of the OWCA, reconnect with past presidents and honour their enduring impact across generations. With the role represented from the 1970s through to 2025, including two of our three female presidents, it was a powerful moment to give thanks and acknowledge the legacy of leadership - from our very first president in 1882 to our 102nd president today.
The time, dedication and vision of these leaders has laid the foundation for what the OWCA has become. Each has played a vital role in guiding our community, strengthening our values and fostering the connections that continue to enrich us all. It was an opportunity to reflect, reconnect and celebrate the enduring impact of their combined service.
OWCA Past Presidents
| 1882 -1883 | W E Johnston |
| 1895-1896 | J W Springthorpe |
| 1897-1898 | F Meyer |
| 1899 | J E Nhill |
| 1900 | A E Tankard |
| 1901 | A R Edgar |
| 1902 | A E Tankard (2nd Term) |
| 1903 | H Lemme |
| 1904 | W R Thomson |
| 1905 | H H Oakley |
| 1906 | W H G Cox |
| 1907 | T R B Morton |
| 1908 | H R Rush |
| 1909 | H V Champion |
| 1910 | A V M Anderson |
| 1911 | E L Gault |
| 1912 | W B McCutcheon |
| 1913 | J W Parnell |
| 1914 | G B Vasey |
| 1915 | H G DeGruchy |
| 1916 | F D Michaelis |
| 1917 | F Knight |
| 1918 | Sir John Grice |
| 1919 | A T Danks |
| 1920 | R H Fetherston |
| 1921 | E Nye |
| 1922 | G A Syme |
| 1923 | T C Adamson |
| 1924 | W F Morrow |
| 1925 | F W Eggleston |
| 1926 | D Knight |
| 1927 | A T Evans |
| 1928 | W A Ince |
| 1929 | G E Dickensen |
| 1930 | H J Stewart |
| 1931 | F B Hartnell |
| 1932-1933 | A C D Rivett |
| 1934- 1935 | R W Chenweth |
| 1936 | A J Sinclair |
| 1937-1938 | C W Miers |
| 1939 | C W Nye |
| 1940 | S Harper |
| 1941-1942 | W J Ball |
| 1943 | D F Uren |
| 1944 | R Lockwood |
| 1945-1946 | L R Cole |
| 1947 | J S McCann |
| 1948 | K T Adamson |
| 1949 | C Brooks |
| 1950 | I S Alexander |
| 1951 | K W Hecht |
| 1952 | G A Bitcon |
| 1953 | W O McCutcheon |
| 1954 | H M Williams |
| 1955 | W B Watson |
| 1956 | T J Liley |
| 1957 | E R Smail |
| 1958 | K W Norman |
| 1959 | R W Venn |
| 1960 | J S Peters |
| 1961 | A D Pearce OAM |
| 1962 | R B Lumley |
| 1963 | D O Oldfield Snr OAM |
| 1964 | L E Lesser |
| 1965 | H D Stewart |
| 1966 | T G Rapke |
| 1967 | J C Habersberger AO |
| 1968-1969 | J W Ball |
| 1970 | B R Gregory |
| 1971 | D A Davis |
| 1972 | R D Rivett |
| 1973 | G C Wagstaff |
| 1974 | J E Barry AM MBE |
| 1975 | L S Davis |
| 1976 | L N Ley |
| 1977 | J J Blake |
| 1978 | L D Hibbins |
| 1979 | I G Unkenstein |
| 1980 | L J Hicks |
| 1981 | A N Stewart |
| 1982 | B W Lockwood |
| 1983 | N A Evans |
| 1984 | G L Newton OAM |
| 1985 | J B Westacott OAM |
| 1986 | I S Heffernan |
| 1987 | W R Mitchell |
| 1988 | J H M Gellie |
| 1989 | I R Dakin |
| 1990 | D S Crow OAM |
| 1991-1992 | R W Ball |
| 1993-1994 | P L Sandow |
| 1995-1996 | P S Harrison |
| 1997 | R W Ball (2nd Term) |
| 1998 | J Dobson |
| 1999-2001 | D O Oldfield Jnr |
| 2002-2004 | F J Opray |
| 2005-2007 | W C Crothers |
| 2008-2010 | S E Wagstaff |
| 2010-2012 | T C J Loakes |
| 2012-2017 | S Hudson |
| 2017-2019 | B R Danks-Woodley and J P Ayerbe OAM |
| 2019-2020 | J P Ayerbe OAM (2nd Term) and K Evans |
| 2020-2024 | K Evans (2nd Term) |
| 2024-Present | T Pewtress |
