Historical information

John Rodney Oliver (7 July 1931 – 26 September 2010) was the son of Frank and Moira.
Rodney Oliver was born on 7 July 1931, and lived for many years at the Missions to Seamen at the Flinders St Extension.
Rodney was schooled at Melbourne Grammar, matriculating in 1948.
Then, after a couple of years as a lumberjack and jackaroo, he commenced at University of Melbourne, beginning more than half a century’s association with Trinity College. Graduating with a BA in 1953, Rodney then made the first of many trips to England, reading theology at Bishop’s College, Cheshunt.
A man who revelled in scholarship, he was also a competitive and energetic bowler, snooker and squash player.

Ordained deacon on 23 September 1956, in the St Albans Diocese, his first ministry as curate began at the picturebook village of Much Hadham, where he met the love of his life, Lesley Brooks.
Rodney was ordained priest on 5 January 1958, at the Missions to Seamen, Melbourne, commenced twelve years as Chaplain of Ballarat Grammar School in February 1958, and returned to England to marry Lesley in early 1961.
Each of his and Lesley’s four children, Jeremy (TC 1979), David, Antony and Kate (TC 1987) was born at that time, during which amongst other things, Rodney taught Religious Instruction, Latin and English, pioneered bushwalking and mountain climbing in western Victoria, ran a large scouting group and coached an
Australian archer.

Physical description

Medium format photograph depicting two chaplains.