Paul Meldrum ('62)

Paul Mervyn Meldrum
1945 - 2025

Wow, what a lot of people. That's a wonderful tribute.

I would like to thank Edward and Jessica for giving me what I deem is a great honour, to share some memories of my best friend, Paul, with all of you today.

Paul came into my life sixty eight years ago when my time at Trinity Grammar commenced. He had already been there for some eight years. He was always proud that he was a Prep School boy from Strathfield, a part of what he considered a special group, even if he did have to endure the daily trip with his brother Bruce on the green and white school bus, rather than the more adventurous and social train commute.

Both our fathers were Old Boys, making us part of a small group of Second Generation students . In 1962 Paul completed the Leaving Certificate with a Second Class Honour, an A and four Bs. He was Captain of Henderson House, a Prefect, a Cadet Under Officer and Captain of the Second XV. He was a regular reserve for the First XV, but in those days Rugby was a game of attrition, rather than of starters and finishers, so Paul never got to run on, and this was a great disappointment to him.

1963 was when our friendship really strengthened. He followed in his father, Mervyn's, footsteps as an Accountant and commenced work at J.C. Roberts & Co, Chartered Accountants, immaculately attired in his suit and little hat, because his Dad insisted Accountants wore hats. He wore or carried a hat throughout his life.He also worked at that one firm as a partner until he retired a few years ago.

That year, 1963, we commenced an Old Boys' Rugby Team in the Metropolition Sub-District competition. Four years later it was four teams each week plus cricket in Summer. At various times Paul was either the President, the Secretary, or the Treasurer over a period of ten years.

Over 700 guys played for the Club and Paul played the most games: 216 between 1963 and 1976. We also ran social functions and dances at a variety of places – Strathfield Town Hall, the wonderfully named Esme Hackett Memorial Hall in the city, the Argyle Cellars at the Rocks, and the Airship Hangers at the Rose Bay Flying Base.

Paul was someone who was always willing to get involved and give his time to good causes, and the rugby club was the first of these.

He became our representative on the Management Committee of the Metropolition Sub District Rugby Union, was appointed Treasurer, and in recognition of his years of service as the Rugby Union expanded, a new division was formed called "The Meldrum Cup". A lasting memorial to him.

Like his dear mother, Patti, Paul was noisy on the sidelines. As well as the usual "He's been doing it all day, Ref", when a team delayed a decision about a tap kick or a line kick he'd call "Don't have a meeting, play football". An injured player taking too long copped "Come on Ref, dig a hole and bury him, get on with the game".

At the Sydney Cricket Ground one day at a Bledisloe Cup game, he gently told Liz that her team was the one in Black and he then explained to all seated nearby his wife was a Kiwi.

Paul was called up for National Service but was able to defer his enlistment for two years whilst he completed his studies. He reported in at Marrickville, was put on a bus for Puckapanyul in Victoria and three days later he was back. The Army had discovered he was one of the highest educated persons in his intake and they sent him to the Officers Training Unit at Scheyville. I acknowledge his fellow officers who have joined us today and thank you for your service with Paul.

Paul entered the Army as a lumbering front row forward and after two months of physical army training he was 15 kilos lighter, playing as a winger outside of Rugby League legend Bob Fulton in a weekly competition.

He always said he was a member of two "O.T.U.s" The Officer Training Unit and The Old Trinitarians' Union, and he gave great service to the latter as a committee member and auditor for more years than not.

In the early 1970s he squeezed in a couple of years on the Committee of the Associated Schools Club. He may have served one term as its President.

He was for some years a Warden of this Church, and in 1980 he was appointed a Lay Member of the School Council, elected by Synod. He became the Honorary Treasurer, retiring in 2007.

He was also, for part of these years, on the School Council of Meriden Girls' School at Strathfield and at one stage stood for election on Strathfield Council. It's said if you want to get something done, give it to a busy person, and Paul was the epitome of that.

Coming back to Paul's hat. As the hair on his head thinned he covered it with his hat but he also cultivated quite a combover. Paul's story of the day he decided the combover was no more was when he and Liz caught a ferry from the city to Balmain to meet friends for dinner. Walking up Darling Street from the wharf, the wind was howling off the water behind him and Paul described how his hair was two feet in front of him and that was the decisive moment he knew it had to go.

Paul and I shared many times together from the Wrestling on Friday nights at the old White City Stadium, Test Cricket matches at the SCG, and holidays at Perisher Valley, Palm Beach, Nelson Bay, Mudgee and South Australia.

He was a golfing tragic, a lifelong member of Concord Golf Club. Winning wasn't everything because Paul knew he was playing against himself and as long as he knew he had played up to his standard he was happy.

He loved his children deeply. Edward's sport was Basketball. Paul said many times that if he had been as big as Edward was when he was at School he would have shown them on the Rugby field. Jessica regularly accompanied him to Waratah games and you wouldn't believe how many times he told me the story of Jessica's home purchase. When she played Rugby in London Paul had an international in the family!

We all have our own good memories of Paul and that is why we share this time together. Paul was a contributor to the community, he happily gave his time, he was a shoulder to lean on, and could always be counted on in a time of need. He was jovial, he was good natured and he was reliable. He could talk the leg off a table and had a knack of falling asleep in the middle of a sentence.

To me he was the best man at my wedding, in fact it was 52 years and three days ago since we stood together just over there in this church on that occasion. He was the Godfather of my eldest son, Andrew, and I am Jessica's Godfather.

He was THE BEST MAN. To me he was like a brother.

Thank you, Paul, for a life well lived and your great friendship; may you travel well.

Jay Wentzel
18 December, 2025