Alan Anthony Munro (Tony) Edwards (Fr 1952)
Tony Edwards pictured second-to-last row, third from the right
The Principal, Council and St Andrew’s College community honour the life of Alan Anthony 'Tony' Munro Edwards (Fr 1952) who passed away peacefully at home in Wagga Wagga on 17th August 2021.
Tony resided at St Andrew’s College from 1952 - 1955, and his family have shared that he was extremely proud to call himself an Andrew's man, and made many life-long friends and associates from his years at College.
Born in Hay NSW in 1931, Tony's family moved to Sydney when he was four years old after the passing of his father, the town doctor. However, his love of Hay and the country remained with him, and throughout his schooling and University years he would often visit his former home, staying with friends on their properties.
Tony was in his third year of his Veterinary Science degree at the University of Sydney when he joined St Andrew's College, and was quickly accepted by his peers, who dubbed him ‘Tex’, possibly due to his fondness for Tex Morton's music. As a newcomer in the year before the Reid building was finished, Tony was lodged along with other Freshers in one of the ex-Army demountable huts clustered around the Main Building.
From this base of operations, according to one of his contemporaries, Tony "succeeded in passing his exams with monotonous regularity despite loudly confessed pessimism every December". It was the opinion of his peers that "Tex will make a very happy vet as he has always been a country boy at heart and is usually seen wearing the vet uniform of Harris tweed jacket, check shirt, elastic-sided boots and fantastic headwear". Tony's family confirmed that this did indeed remain his uniform for life, with the addition of a tie.
Robert Oakeshott (Fr 1952), left, and Tony Edwards (Fr 1952), right
Tony appearing in fancy dress for the 1953 Commemoration Day Parade
While a student, Tony had the good fortune to own a much-coveted MG car and was feted for shaving several seconds off the ‘round the block’ record. Aside from amateur motorsports, Tony also represented the College in swimming, football and cricket where his enthusiasm was noted.
Tony's aforementioned MG, pictured at the front steps of the Main Building at College
After finishing his degree in 1955, Tony started working as a vet at Laidley in Queensland, initially living in the pub. In 1958 he moved to Balwyn, Melbourne, then to Wagga in 1962 to join the practice of J H Chalmers and Partners (later to become Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital). Tony retired from Wagga Wagga Veterinary Hospital in 2000. He was widely regarded as a very accomplished veterinarian but best known for his work in the equine field.
His family has a close and long-standing association with the College; his father Dr Alan Munro Edwards (Fr 1915) attended St Andrew's, as did his son-in-law, John B Sutherland (Fr 1978), and grandchildren Penelope M Sutherland (Fr 2007), Andrew A M Sutherland (Fr 2011), Ella M Burgess (Fr 2016) and Zoe A Burgess (Fr 2018).
Tony Edwards pictured in more recent years
Tony is survived by wife Rae, daughters Jane, Anthea and Annabel, sons-in-law Steve, John and Andrew, grandchildren Emma, Georgie, Sophie, Penne, Andrew, Ella and Zoe, and great-grandchildren Harrison, Phoebe, Isobella, Freddie, Olive, William, George and Henry.
Due to the recent Covid-19 lockdown in Regional NSW, a private family service for Tony Edwards was held on Thursday, 19th August 2021. The Edwards family are held strongly in our thoughts and our dearest sympathy is extended to all who knew him.
