Laurence (Laurie) James Erwin (SPC 1949-53)

Laurence (Laurie) Erwin.

We were notified of the passing of Old Collegian Laurence (Laurie) James Erwin (SPC 1949-53), who sadly passed away on August 8, 2020 aged 85 years.

Laurie was born in Geelong and lived most of his life in Malua Bay and then on a farm at Young, in New South Wales.

Laurie was a boarder from Ballan and was very involved in student life at SPC. He was named Dux of Intermediate B in 1950 and matriculated in 1952 but returned to the College in 1953 to study for a Commonwealth Scholarship.

In the 1953 College Annual, it was mentioned Laurie was highly commended for his ability in debate. He was secretary of the St Vincent de Paul Society, a Councillor of Our Lady’s Sodality and treasurer of the Holy Name Society. He was captain of Treacy House and a regular Second XVIII player.

Laurie Erwin in the Second XVIII Football team in 1952.

He was also bow for the victorious Fourth Crew and in earlier years, part of the Nunan House premiership football team in the Hill competition in 1951. Laurie was fondly remembered by fellow classmate Robert Davies (SPC 1952-53) as a “very smart and very personable person” and he recalled the pair enjoying many fun times playing school basketball together.

In later life, Laurie worked at the Department of Primary Industry for many years, and very co-incidentally, was a manager and mentor to Robert’s son Paul, when he began work in the government department. Laurie was married to Ruth Lovisolo for 30 years and was fondly remembered in a family tribute as a “father, stepfather, grandfather and friend and mentor to many”.

Laurie Erwin in his Matriculation class photograph in 1953.

Laurie Erwin was a member of the St Vincent de Paul Society at SPC.