On August 16, 1951, Denis (SPC 1957-69) was born the second of three boys to Tom and Dorrie Halliburton, and brother of Leon (SPC 1963-66) and Kiernan (SPC 1964-70).
Both Tom and Dorrie were deeply involved with their careers previously at SPC, with Tom teaching both pre-and post war and Dorrie being college matron pre-war until she met Tom when he started to work at SPC … and the rest is history.
Spending all his academic life at SPC, Denis was fortunate to be spoiled for choice with sporting activities.
He loved sport of all kinds and was very successful in his rowing career at school, culminating in a major achievement of being selected for the first crew in 1968, with Noel Sheehan, Peter Favaloro, Mick Dowd and coxed by Peter Faulkner, coached by Kevin O’Brien.
Unfortunately, with the lake drying up as a consequence of drought, there was no Head of the Lake contested that year.
In 1982 he married Anne Wilson, a local Sacred Heart girl and together they raised two beautiful daughters, Catherine and Alice. He became a proud grandfather of three beautiful grandchildren, Elsie, Pippa and Ted.
Denis had a variety of occupations after leaving school, which gave him the opportunity to realise that his passion was that of following in his father’s footsteps as a teacher. He studied at Ballarat Teachers College to become a Primary School teacher. He worked initially in Talbot and then in a couple of schools in the Geelong area and finished his teaching career when he retired at Inverleigh Primary School.
Certainly, Denis’ great passion was going on holidays to as many places in Australia he could. He enjoyed a good time and people’s company. He was always a very kind, gentle and considerate person. Unfortunately, his health declined and he spent approximately 10 years in a nursing home in Anglesea. He passed away peacefully in his sleep, always with the love and support of his wife and two daughters.
Vale D.
Thank you to Kiernan Halliburton for his assistance in preparing this tribute.
