History of the OHA

Prior to 1909, there had been talk of forming an Old Boys’ Association, but it was not until the annual dinner held on 29 March 1908 that a provisional committee of eight was appointed to work on the actual formation of an Association. The resulting general meeting was held on 26 May 1909 – and the Association was formed.

Hale School was called High School at the time and the Association adopted the name High School Old Boys’ Association. The Rules were printed with the same crest that appeared on the School’s Cygnet cover: the swan with the motto “Floreat Schola Perthiensis” (which translates as “may the atmosphere of learning in Perth flourish”) – the unofficial motto of the School at the time. By 1920, the School had adopted “Duty” in lieu of its unofficial motto, however, the Association elected to continue to use the former.

On 4 January 1910, the Association held its first dinner and, by May 1910 the Association was firmly established with 57 life members and 24 annual members. One of the driving forces behind this early success was Rev C L (Tom) Riley who was Secretary between 1920 and 1927. Financial members grew to over 600 during this period.

In 1921, the State Government amended the High School Act to enable the Association to nominate three governors of the School; their first nominees being, T A L Davy, E A Lee-Steere and C L Riley. The other six governors were appointed by the Government.

Membership had reached 1000 by 1960 and the Association’s funds stood at £3,590. In 1961, the AGM of the Association began to be held as part of Old Boys’ Day and in 1962 the War Memorial Hall was opened following an Appeal to Old Boys which raised the necessary £75,000 over a ten-year period. Another project funded by the Association was the Chapel of St Mark which opened in 1969.

In 1982 The Old Haleian was enlarged to contain news of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association, and in 1983, the Ladies Auxiliary, the Cygnet Rowing Club and the Old Haleians’ Hockey Club.

In 1987, the Hale School Foundation was initiated as a non-profit organisation dedicated to generating short and long-term funds to meet current and future needs of the School. It attracted to its service the talents, skills and goodwill of people who had at heart the good of the School.  To this end, the Old Haleians’ Association became the first Patron member of the Foundation with a contribution of $25,000.

By the end of the decade, in 1988, “The Old Haleian” became known as “The Haleian”, with the shift of the responsibility for its production going from the Old Haleians’ Association to the Hale School Foundation.  This change was made to cope with a much wider circulation, reporting the activities of all associated bodies working for a better and vibrant Hale.