Colin Bevan OAM (6 Nov 1920 - 30 Apr 2016)

In loving memory of Colin Russell Bevan OAM who sadly passed away on 30th April 2016

Late of Tallebudgera.
Passed away peacefully on Saturday 30th April 2016.
Aged 95 Years.

Dearly loved Husband of Carol.
Loved Father and Father-in-Law of Joan & Henry Gadenne, Rod (dec'd) & Joan Bevan, Helen & Lynton Morris, Patrick & Melanie Creamer, Colin & Nike Bevan and Russell (dec'd).
Cherished Grandfather and Great Grandfather.
Loved Brother of Bill Bevan and Eunice Cameron (both dec'd).

Family and Friends are warmly invited to attend Colin’s Memorial Service – 'Celebration of Life' to be held at Tallebudgera SLSC, Gold Coast Highway, Palm Beach, Queensland, on Tuesday 10th May 2016, at 2.00 pm.

FAMILY AND FRIENDS ARE WELCOME TO JOIN US
IT IS NOT A PRIVATE MEMORIAL SERVICE

BIOGRAPHY OF COLIN RUSSELL BEVAN OAM

Colin Bevan was born in a small country town named Pittsworth on the fertile Darling Downs in south-east Queensland. Following the destruction of their jewellery business by fire, the family was forced to move to Brisbane where he was educated to university entrance standard. His first employment was as a young head teacher of small country schools in North Queensland, followed by a short period as a Queensland Department of Education Research and Guidance Officer, then appointment as that State’s first Chief Probation and Parole Officer for the Department of Justice, finally retiring as Assistant Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology in the nation’s capital, Canberra, ACT. He was first married to Vilma and then married Carol in 1977. He raised six children, Joan, Rodwyn (d’ced), Helen, Patrick (step-son), Colin James and Russell (d'ced) and lived happily in retirement on his two-acre property in the hinterland of Queensland’s Gold Coast.

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CAREER OF COLIN RUSSELL BEVAN BA AEd JP OAM

1934 – 1937 St Joseph’s College, Gregory Terrace, Brisbane
Dux of Second Year Seniors, Prefect, and represented the school in Athletics

1939 – 1947 Teacher, Mena Creek Primary School, North Queensland

1947 – 1952 Headmaster, Flying Fish Point Primary School, North Queensland, opened after World War II

1952 – 1957 Headmaster, Jaggan Primary School, North Queensland. During this period he studied Psychology and Education at University of Queensland where Sir Fred Schonell was Head of Department, and thus developed an interest in “mirror reading”, later termed “dyslexia”. This began his interest in the correlation between school failure and delinquency.

1957 – 1960 Seconded to Research and Guidance Branch, Department of Education, as a Guidance Officer. The Head of the Branch persuaded Colin to apply for the newly created position of Chief Probation and Parole Officer in the Queensland government by asking “what is your major interest in education?” Colin answered “the contribution made to school failure by emotional and neurophysical difficulties in children” to which he replied “what about the contribution made to whole-of-life failure for the same reasons?”

1960 – 1975 Inaugural Chief Probation and Parole Officer, Queensland. It is probable that Colin’s address to the Parliamentary Committee set up by the Bjelke-Petersen Government to enquire into punishment for crimes of violence, helped to result in the death penalty not being re-introduced into Queensland.

1975 – 1985 Appointed Assistant Director (Training) of the Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra. During this period Colin was responsible for the conduct and organisation of some 150 seminars on all manner of criminological subjects from prison management to domestic violence. He edited a publication titled “Minimum Standard Guidelines for Australian Prisons”. Colin wrote many papers and publications during this time, all of which are available from the J.V. Barry Memorial Library, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra (list attached).

In 1977, at the request of the Australian Development Assistance Bureau (ADAB) and the Australian Institute of Criminology, Colin visited Western Samoa to review the judicial system, with special reference to their probation and parole systems, make recommendations for restructure and develop suitable training programs for probation and parole staff.

From 20 February to 24 March 1979, at the request of the Australian Government, Colin represented the Australian Institute of Criminology as a visiting Professor to the 51st Seminar Course at the Asia and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders in Japan and presented three papers, including “The Dangerous Offender and the Courts” and “The Place of Psychiatry in the Court Room”.

One of Colin’s particular enthusiasms was the promotion of the concept of “Diversion” in the Australian criminal justice system. This concept is to divert people from appearing in court altogether and show they can avoid further law breaking with guidance and assistance. This program is now in place throughout most Australian courts.

1985 On reaching 65 years of age, Colin retired from the Australian Institute of Criminology on 6 November 1985 and returned to Queensland.

2000 – 2005 From 2000 to 2005, Colin took the opportunity to write his memoirs and, on 7 December 2005, published his book “As The Walrus Said - The Time Has Come…” The book is available from Amazon.com.

ADDITIONAL ACHIEVEMENTS

1960’s Colin was Vice-President of the Australian Prison and After-Care Council (later Australian Crime Prevention Correction and After-Care Council), for a number of years during the 1960’s. At the recommendation of Mr. Justice McClemens, President of the Australian Prison and After-Care Council, Colin attended the Regional Seminar of the United Nations Asian and Far East Institute for the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders (UNAFEI) in Japan from 28 February to 25 March 1966. On his return to Australia he reported to the Attorney-General on the feasibility of an Australian Institute on lines similar to the UNAFE Institute. As a result, the Chief Justice of Victoria, Justice J.V. Barry, took up the idea and eventually the Australian Institute of Criminology was inaugurated in Canberra in 1974.

1968 – 1969 President, Oxley Golf Club, Brisbane, and later Patron of the Club.

1971 Colin was one of the key contributors to the design of the Queensland Police Arts and Sciences Course, initiated by the then Police Commissioner, Ray Whitrod. When the course commenced, Colin became a volunteer lecturer in Criminology to the police students.

1974 Awarded the title “Boss of the Year” by the Secretaries’ Association of Queensland.

1974 – 1975 President of the Brisbane District Golf Association (BDGA).
While President, Colin was playing golf at Virginia Golf Club when he noticed a blonde boy, tall and well built, hitting golf balls down a practice fairway and noticed how good he was. (This young man was Greg Norman) He wondered how many more young people there were with similar potential and raised the matter at the next meeting. From this there ensued a scheme set up by the BDGA whereby clubs throughout the State could nominate promising young members for special coaching. The result was an increase in the number of young Queensland golfers such as Greg Norman, Peter Senior, Peter Baker-Finch and Peter Foley reaching prominence in the professional golfing world.