VALE: Clyde Ian Nicoll
08.12.1941 – 23.06.2025
TO celebrate the life of the late Clyde Nicoll is to celebrate the depth of his service to his community.
There were as many facets to his community service as there is to the brilliance of a diamond cut by a master craftsman.
On his arrival in Rosewood as the Principal of the local high school, he worked toward the betterment of its facilities and through his belief in the inherent potential of every young person, the betterment of every student.
He joined the local Lions Club and during the next 40 years lived the organisation’s principles of community service.
His dedication to supporting his community extended to his involvement in his church, in Cabanda Aged Care, in the community and in school chaplaincy.
He was the recipient of a number of notable awards during his life, but perhaps the accolade that gave him the greatest pleasure was when the Rosewood High School’s new Year 12 Learning Centre was named in his honour.
Yet above all, his dedication was to his family … his wife, Delma, his son Kieron and daughter, Tara.
CLYDE Nicoll was born on December 8, 1941. He was the son of Cecil and Agnes Nicoll and joined his older sister, Jeanette. A second sister, Heather, was born a few years later.
He attended Morningside State Primary followed by Brisbane State High School.
In his Senior year, he was awarded a scholarship by the Forestry Department to complete a Bachelor of Science degree at the University of Queensland.
But his life took a different course when he tutored a friend in maths.
He found he enjoyed teaching.
As a result, Clyde successfully applied to change his scholarship and completed his Bachelor of Science in 1962 and his Diploma of Education the following year.
Clyde’s first teaching post was to Mackay in 1964.
Two years later, he married fellow teacher, Delma.
During his years at Mackay State High School, he was appointed Head of Maths and joined the local Apex service club and Clyde and Delma became the parents of Kieron and Tara.
In 1973, Clyde was appointed Deputy Principal at Bowen State High.
In the Eulogy, Kieron gave at his father’s funeral, he explained the family’s next move.
“Bowen in those days was a small sleepy town, and dad decided he needed experience in a bigger school, so he took an equal transfer to Capalaba High where he remained for two years before becoming Principal in the small mining town of Dysart, in Central Queensland.”
By that time, Clyde had passed the retiring age for Apex, so he joined the local Lions club.
Again, realising that there were limited opportunities for his children in Dysart, he applied for a transfer to a school closer to Brisbane. In 1985, he was appointed to Rosewood High and began working there the following year.
During his time as Principal from 1987, Clyde oversaw significant growth and development at the school.
A new administration block and the Dianne Clegg Student Centre were built, the library was upgraded, there was an extension of the manual arts department where computers and technology were introduced, and catering courses were included in the home economics department.
His impact on the students was even more significant as attested by glowing tributes from former students on his passing.
The worth of his contribution to the school and its students was recognised earlier this year when Clyde was asked to open the new Clyde Nicoll Senior Schooling Learning Centre.
“Dad was totally dedicated to his work much to the chagrin of mum,” Kieron said during the Eulogy.
“She realised the only way to keep him from the school during holidays was to get him out of the country. So, began their years of travelling. Even though his work ethic didn’t ease in retirement, they managed to set foot on all seven continents and visit more than 70 countries.”
Clyde retired from teaching in 1999 but not from his involvement in the betterment of his community.
He joined the Board of Cabanda Aged Care where he served as treasurer for 17 years. Even though he eventually resigned from the Board, he remained an active member of the Cabanda Committee.
Clyde was one of the driving forces behind the town gaining a community bank. He chaired the Board of the Rosewood and District Community Branch of the Bendigo Bank for many years from its inception in December 2005.
In recognition of the extent of his volunteering in the community, in 2000, Clyde was selected to run in the Sydney Olympic Torch relay.
While Principal at Rosewood High, he inaugurated the student-based Leos club and remained with the Club until dwindling numbers recently forced its closure.
He was secretary – treasurer of the School Chaplaincy, and was often seen at the school on Chappy days helping school chaplain Tracey cook on the barbeque.
He was also a member of the Rosewood Uniting Church congregation for almost 40 years and volunteered as the treasurer until ill health forced his resignation. He was awarded a Moderator’s Medal in 2011 for his outstanding contribution to the community.
The honours he received were also significant from within the Rosewood Lions Club, Lions International and its Foundation and the Lions Medical Research Foundation – the Melvin Jones Fellow, the Ray Phippard Fellow, the James D Richardson Honour Award and last year, the Professor Ian Frazer Humanitarian Award. Before he became the co-ordinator of the Lions-sponsored Rosewood Citizen of the Year, he was chosen as the recipient in 2005.
Clyde was diagnosed with cancer in 2019. Despite this he remained active in the community but finally succumbed on June 23, when he passed away peacefully in the Ipswich Hospice.
