A proud member of the legendary ‘Class of 1938’ will be one of the guests of honour at Victoria University’s upcoming Reunion Day.
Wal Hopkins, a graduate of VU predecessor Footscray Technical School, fondly recalls his time at the school and its strong links with his cherished Scouting and YMCA movements.
The 92-year-old great grandfather, who lives in West Footscray with wife Evelyn, graduated as an apprentice engineer in 1939.
He played in the 1938 premiership-winning football and cricket teams which, along with the victorious baseball team, capped off a still unmatched trifecta of premierships.
Mr Hopkins recalls the school’s first principal, Charles “Arch” Hoadley – a celebrated Antarctic explorer – took an interest in helping Mr Hopkins keep the scout group running when he took over the group as a teenager after the leaders were called to assist in the war effort.
“He said any time I can help you and you want anything, just come and see if I can help you in any way possible,” he said.
“He took time in talking to me about scouting so that gave me a great inspiration to say what a great man he was, then his sons joined and so on.
“A lot of our senior scout leaders became members of the school as trade people, we flourished from there and that whole relation went on until the passing of Arch Hoadley.”
Mr Hopkins received an Honorary Lifetime Service Award at the 2011 VU Alumni Awards, recognising his exceptional service to the local community.
He has joined his 1938-39 classmates in being honoured during VU’s Centenary as the university’s No. 1 Ticket Holders.
Mr Hopkins said he has been meeting with his former classmates every year since 1988, when they came together for their 50th reunion.
“Three of the original fellows thought what a good idea it would be to catch up for old time’s sake. Ever since then we have been meeting annually. Now the oldest is 94, the youngest is 90. We catch up when we can but there are fewer and fewer of us left.”
All former students and staff of VU and predecessor institutions are invited back for Reunion Day at Footscray Park campus on December 3, part of the VU Homecoming celebrations across the weekend of December 2-4. Further details: www.vucentenary.com.au
