Thomas Ainslie Caterer

Thomas Ainslie Caterer devoted the whole of his life to education and educational purposes, his career being spent in the service of St. Peter's College.

Mr Caterer was the first graduate of the University of Adelaide, and obtained his B.A. degree at the end of the year 1879.

Subsequently to that he was engaged on the staff at his father's school, and in 1885 applied for a vacancy at St. Peter's College at the time when the Rev. Francis Williams was headmaster, and received the appointment. From that year until May 1921, when ill health severed his active association, he was in close association with the College.

He served successively under the Rev. F. Williams. M.A., the Rev. P. A. Raynor, and Canon Girdlestone, M.A.; and, although at the time there was no such title, he was for many years the second master of the school. On the retirement at the beginning of 1917 of Canon Girdlestone, the Council of Governors, realizing the difficulty of setting a permanent man as headmaster during those strenuous times of war decided to make a temporary appointment and the position was offered to Mr Caterer. It may be mentioned that, under its constitution, the headmaster of the college has to be a clergyman of the Church or England. The position was accepted by Mr. Caterer and he occupied it until the appointment as head master at the beginning of 1920 of the Rev. J. K. F. Bickersteth.

In the higher branch of educational work— that at the University of Adelaide —Mr. Caterer took an active part. He was chosen clerk of the Senate of the University in 1888, and every year thereafter he was re-elected to the position. On occasions he filled also the office of acting warden. At one time there was a chance that he would sever his connection with St. Peter's College, for when the position of Registrar of the University fell vacant, he announced his intention of applying for the post, but withdrew his application for the reason that he considered Mr. Hodge (the late registrar) would, he thought, be of greater benefit to the institution than he. In the year 1917, however, he allowed himself to be nominated and was elected.

From his schooldays, Mr Caterer took the keenest interest in cricket, and reached a high position in the game while at the university.

Mr Caterer was born at Woodville in 1859. He married Miss Amy Elizabeth Edmunds, and they had two daughters.