Concert Tour

On the first day of the 1937 May holidays a handpicked group of 20 male students set out on a 1300 kilometre coach tour through country areas of South Australia. It was hoped that this exciting new venture would stimulate support for the College and attract new students at a time of dwindling enrolments during the Great Depression.

The gymnastics items, with students forming human pyramids and demonstrating bar work and tumbling skills, were more popular with audiences than the musical items – but it was the clown who stole the show.

Proceeds from this tour helped furnish a common room which ‘provided a more comfortable retreat for our smokers and a better background for our wireless set’. It also made possible the purchase of a number of gramophone recordings of the ‘Comedy Harmonists’.[1]
The concerts had been so successful that a second tour was organised for the western part of Victoria the following year. But in 1939 when the concert party was once again under way (in a coach nicknamed the ‘Yellow Peril’), World War II broke out. Dr Hamann was quick to advise that any items sung in German should be instantly deleted from the programme. Unfortunately this meant the end of the very popular ‘Schnitzelbank’ [2] as well as some much-loved folk songs.

 

Photo: Concert tour party in Pinnaroo

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[1] A German all-male close harmony ensemble performing between 1927 and 1934. They were enthusiastically received on an Australian tour in 1939, and many Concordia students attended their Adelaide concert  on June 20.

[2] Humorous  ‘cumulative’ rhyming  song with a refrain.

 

    

Student Newspapers

In 1954 the first issue of the Concordia Times was released. This student-produced newspaper  aimed to a give ‘a better understanding of the college and of the activities and achievements of students’, as well as a ‘little healthful entertainment.’
Representatives from each class contributed humorous snippets, serious articles and sports reports. Censorship and revision were an inevitable part of the process. The final product, rather amateurish by today’s standards, sold for four pence.Some years later, in 1968, a new generation produced The Student, a small newspaper which focussed on amusing incidents in college life.

‘Events which might otherwise regrettably pass unheeded are dutifully recorded for the enjoyment of all. This paper in its small way contributes much to a brighter college atmosphere.’ (The Brown and Gold, 1968).
The Student was published about once a month by a keen and dedicated group of students with help from staff members. It also included class activities, sports, jokes, cartoons and even the occasional controversial subject.

Commercial Interests

The 1934 school year began with just 13 new students, five girls and eight boys. They joined a class known as ‘Sexta’, a Latin word meaning 'sixth'. If you were to walk past their classroom between 2pm and 3pm on any school day, you would have heard the staccato click-clack of three typewriters.
The college had decided to cater for the needs of students who saw their future in the business world. Book-keeping, shorthand and typing formed a new course of instruction, and an experienced teacher, Miss G.M Wood, was appointed.
Typewriters at the time were very expensive, so only four second-hand machines were purchased. With seven students in the typewriting class, a rotating roster system was implemented to allow everyone enough opportunity to improve their skills.
It could be argued that the girls had an unfair advantage in becoming proficient typists - one of the type-writers was made available for their exclusive use in the hostel.

Photo
Girls (L-R): Eileen Siebert, Dora Georg, Florence Gladigau, Edna Pluckhahn
Boys (L-R): Albert Scholz, Alwin Schroeder, Clemens Pietsch, Norman Wendt, Walter Zweck, Gerhard Fischer, Louis Hoffrichter, Bert Schmidt.

Concordia Gardens

The summer of 1905 was particularly hot and dry. When Concordia’s Highgate campus was dedicated on February 22, the 500 visitors walked through bare and dusty grounds with just a few sparse trees and scrubby bushes.

However, by 1927 this desert had been transformed into an oasis almost resembling the Garden of Eden.
‘One of the first things which attracts the attention of a visitor to Concordia is its beautiful garden. On entering the college gates from Cheltenham street, on the right was a small orchard with grapevines, a pomegranate tree as well as almonds, oranges, mandarins, peaches, loquats and lemons.
On the left there is a lawn with the grand old palm of Concordia, under which boys so often listen to popular artists on the gramophone. Surrounding the lawn is a border of roses…. A large graveled drive through picturesque flower beds and fruit laden trees leads to the main entrance.  Other gravel paths lead through stately pines and cedar trees….The garden is a constant source of pleasure and recreation for so many a Concordian.’
 (The Brown and Gold, 1927).

The Twelve Apostles

One hundred years ago the first class of theological students graduated from Concordia College. This took place on 12 December 1912 – the twelfth day of the twelfth month – and the twelve graduates became known as the ‘Twelve Apostles.’ The occasion was momentous for these young men, a culmination of many years of intensive study.
It was the custom for each class to adopt a Latin motto, and it was certainly fitting that this group chose a quote from the ancient Roman writer Horace: Nil nisi magno labore vita dedit mortalibus which can be translated as Life grants nothing to us mortals without hard work.
These words would have also have resonated with Director Graebner whose health was suffering from the strain of 8 years of overwork.[1]  There is little doubt that this milestone occasion brought him great relief and joy. Because his substantial valedictory address at the graduation ceremony was delivered in Latin,[2] it is highly probable that many of Graebner’s sentiments were not fully understood by most of those attending!

 

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[1] In the following April, Graebner was granted rest and recreation leave to return to America until the end of 1913.

[2]  Graebner’s handwritten address, as yet only partially translated, is in our archives

 

 

Dr C.F. Graebner

On Sunday morning, June 5 1949, the Concordia community learnt of the death of Dr C.F. Graebner, the first principal of  Concordia in Adelaide, at the age of 86.
Dr Graebner, who was born in Missouri, U.S.A. in 1862, was called to Australia in 1903.  He first worked at Concordia in Murtoa, and from 1905 served at Concordia College, Highgate.  He resigned as principal in 1939 at the age 76, but chose to continue as a lecturer and president of the seminary.

The funeral took place on Tuesday June 7. Lessons ended at the College at 10am. Dr Graebner’s body lay in state before the altar in the chapel, with seminary students standing guard.  During the morning students filed past the coffin to pay their last respects.

There were over 30 cars in the procession to West Terrace cemetery, and students were transported in two special trams. A guard of honour was then formed at the cemetery as Dr Graebner’s remains were carried to their final resting place.

Mathematics Centre

 It was not until 1979 that mathematics at Concordia had a permanent home. For many years the subject was taught either in spare rooms or in a ‘temporary’ building.
The much-awaited opening of a new Mathematics Centre took place on July 22. But it was such a bleak and rainy day, that all ceremonies took place inside the new building itself.
The architect, Mr. N. Drogemuller, formally presented the key to the principal, Rev. T. Reuther. After the principal had opened the doors, Senator Jessop unveiled a plaque with the inscription: Great is our Lord, and abundant in power; his understanding is beyond measure (Psalm 147:5).
However, the interior was not quite finished, so eager staff and students had to wait three weeks before they could finally occupy the building.