Walter Murray BUNTINE

BUNTINE, WALTER MURRAY (b. Roseday, Vic, 1 Aug 1866; d. Melbourne, 26 Jan 1953). Schoolmaster.

Walter Buntine was the second son of Robert and Jesse (née Murray) Buntine, and was educated at Scotch College and the University of Melbourne (BA 1892, MA 1906). He supported himself by private coaching and at a teaching post at the Rev E J Barnett's (q.v.) school in East St Kilda. He married Bertha Florence Gibbs on 11 July 1894.

Buntine was very concerned about the difficulties faced by private schools in Melbourne. He purchased St Kilda Grammar School and in 1896 Caulfield Grammar School. In 1906 he purchased the site of the present Caulfield Grammar School on which he built new premises which were opened in 1909. He became the owner-principal of the school, which became a public company in 1931.

Buntine was deeply concerned to defend the rights of private schools against those of the church and the state. He considered that their best safeguard was the Incorporated Association of Secondary Teachers of Victoria of which he was the president in 1914, 1926 and 1931. 'Fearful of state control, yet uneasy about unregulated private enterprise, he urged a policy of public supervision, arguing for the Registration of Teachers and Schools Act of 1905, and campaigning for the clause in the Education Act of 1910 creating the Council of Public Education.' (E L French, ADB 7, 480)

Buntine was a member of a number of educational bodies in Melbourne, including the Council of the University of Melbourne 1933-7, the Schools Board 1919-22 and 1926-33, the Standing Committee of Convocation 1926-33 the University Extension Board 1912-21, the Faculty of Education 1926-34, and the Council of Public Education 1935-38.

Buntine was a convinced evangelical and served with distinction on a number of Anglican organisations. Although he had grown up as a Presbyterian, his sole interest lay with the Anglican Church, even though it is uncertain whether he was actually confirmed. He was a member of the councils of the Melbourne Church of England Girls' Grammar School 1914-27 and of St Hilda's Deaconess and Missionary Training Home. He was a lay reader in the Diocese of Melbourne 1920-49.

His name however, will always be remembered in CMS circles. He was a founding member of the Victorian CMA in 1892 and continued his membership of the Association until its formation as the Victorian Branch of the CMS in 1916 and beyond. He was the committee's chairman from 1932-8, its first president 1918-21, and was a trustee of the Branch until his death. Among the many generous gifts which he made to the missionary cause was the sum of £1000 which he gave in memory of his eldest son, Lieutenant W H C Buntine MC. Through this Lyle Buntine Missionary Scholarship many missionary candidates have been assisted in their training.

Buntine was also an enthusiastic and life-time supporter of Ridley College, Melbourne. He was one of the group of evangelicals, all supporters of the CMS, who met in 1908 to consider the possibility of founding a college on the evangelical and reformed tradition of the Anglican church. When the college actually came into being, he read a lengthy paper on the history of its origins at its opening on 1 March 1910. He said '... Although the Church is largely composed of men and women to whom their evangelical principles are dear, and who loyally and earnestly labour for the good of the diocese, and the extension of the kingdom of Christ; nevertheless, in the important work of training our theological students, evangelical teaching is almost left out of count ... Some of our best students go to another State. Others, unable to leave Victoria, have been compelled to pass through a course not in harmony with their convictions ...' (Nash, p 22) He then went on to say how the group met leading to the formation of the College. His interest in Ridley continued throughout the remainder of his life, despite considerable opposition from time to time. He was secretary of the college council from 1910-1922, and continued his membership until his death in 1953.

Buntine was survived by his wife, three sons and a daughter. The Buntine oration, endowed by his family in his memory, is delivered biennially at the conference of the Australian College of Education. He never wavered in his evangelical convictions nor changed his stance throughout his whole life and in his service to education, the church, the CMS and Ridley College.

ADB 7; Melbourne Diocesan Records; Keith Cole, A History of the CMS of Australia (Melbourne, 1971); L L Nash, Forward Flows the Time (Melbourne, 1960)

KEITH COLE