2019-08-07 AUSTRALIA

Marius Woulfe

We have lost a much loved and respected Brother. Dick died this afternoon at Royal Adelaide Hospital. He was 94 years of age and had been a Brother for nearly 77 years.

Richard Maurice Woulfe was born at Albany Western Australia on 19 July 1924. He grew up in Cranbrook, a small town 90 kilometres north of Albany, where his father, John, managed the local store. His mother Florence (nee Toovey) helped in the store and raised the three children: Mary, four years older than Dick, and Kevin who was four years younger. He received his Primary education at the local one-teacher State School and then boarded at St Ildephonsus College for his secondary education. Here he met the Brothers and the course of his life was set.

He entered the Juniorate on 18 January 1940, became a Postulant on 2 January 1942, received the Habit and the religious name Marius on 2 July 1942, took First Vows on 2 July 1943 and pronounced his Final Profession on 1 January 1949. While he initially taught at Bondi Junction and Mosman, he was a member of the Southern Province from its inception in January 1948. He went on to teach primary classes at Hawthorn and Kyneton, and then secondary subjects at Kilmore, New Norcia, Sacred Heart, Wangaratta, Churchlands and Preston.

He was an excellent teacher, well regarded by his students. He could motivate and engage them and knew when their interest was flagging – he’d then launch into an anecdote or two. Not surprisingly he loved teaching politics and was instrumental in having it introduced into the WA senior school curriculum. His teaching skills persisted and even near the end of his career, while teaching at Preston his VCE Modern History class received some of the best results in the State. He was a wonderful wordsmith and could craft and deliver magnificent speeches, especially for Brothers' jubilees. He could quote Shakespeare's numerous plays at length and had a great love of poetry.

Dick finished secondary teaching in 1991, but he remained active. He moved to the Karama community in Darwin in 1992 and quickly became involved in teaching English as a second language. In fact, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Migrant Education Association. At the age of 76, he accepted an appointment to MAPAC in Manila where he was a Teacher and Tutor to the young Brothers – all of whom valued his advice and friendship. After six years in The Philippines he returned to Karama until 2012 when the community closed. His last years were spent at Somerton Park and, since 2018 at the Flora McDonald Home.

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