Class of 1907

John William Horan was the son of a postal worker in Kalgoorlie, the second boy at CBC Perth and the fifth from WA to gain a Rhodes Scholarship. Born in Mitcham, Victoria he and his family moved to Kalgoorlie in 1894. Times were very hard, even though the gold rush was in full swing. On arrival in WA, his father walked seven hours from Southern Cross to Kalgoorlie seeking work to support his ten-year-old son and his five other children. It paid off and he secured a position as a letter sorter at the Kalgoorlie Post Office which helped the family settle. He subsequently worked at the Post Office for over 20 years.

Not surprisingly, persistence ran in the family. John’s parents were devout Catholics. When John received his scholarship his parents were described by Br Nunan as: “…very poor though highly respected and well-informed”. The Christian Brothers in Kalgoorlie could see John’s potential and when moving him to board in Perth they made sure he made the most of his impressive skill set.

Scholastically he was strong in classics, modern languages and literature but strongest of all in mathematics. In sport, he was an outstanding cricketer taking 86 runs in a “combined schools” match and 83 not out in another. He held the batting average top score for that season. John was also regarded as “…one of the safest players among the seniors. His judgement and coolness in the field being notorious among the secondary school players”. He went on to regularly top the state and won many top positions in the much-prized Government Exhibition. In the Adelaide Higher Public University exams, he secured first-class status in Latin, Greek, German, French, English, Trigonometry, Algebra and Geology.

While at Oxford he read medicine at Brasenose College. He returned to Perth after his studies and became a successful doctor. In 1925 he married Kathleen Mary Clune and they had three daughters. Very sadly he passed away too young at the age of 54. But, he will always be remembered for being the first boy from Kalgoorlie to pass the University Primary and by his Headmaster Br Nunan for having: “…the qualities of manhood, truth, courage, devotion to duty, sympathy for protection of the weak, kindliness, unselfishness and fellowship.”