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The Spike or Victoria College Review, June 1907

Election of Life Members

Election of Life Members.

"In recognition of their faithful services and personal sacrifices in the interests of Victoria College."

— Extract from Constitution of V. C. S. A.

Sketch of scholars talking

The rules and regulations which hedge round the election of Life Members of the Students' Association were not sufficient to exclude two of us from the Holy of Holies. They were "two of us" in the particular and peculiar sense that they made our interests, was students of Victoria College, their own, and as soon as they were eligible by reason of having ceased to attended lectures, they were given those post mortem (tanquam) honours so seldom accorded to laborious and virtuous days.

To give a full and detailed account of the services of George F. Dixon to the Students' Association would be to give a history of that illustrious institution from about the year 1901. Sometime in the dark ages notice signed by one J. W. Joynt invited intending students to give in their names at the University Office at 10 o' clock in the morning. On that eventful day G. F. Dixon was standing on the pavement of Museum Street at 10 a. m. waiting for the door to open. The Victoria College door has been an open one to open. The Victoria College door has been an open one to him ever since. Six years a member of the Executive Committee, never once during those six years did he miss a meeting. He was President of the Students' Association foe three successive years, and promoter and organiser of most of our Clubs during their early struggle for existence. His work in connection with the founding of the University Tournament was of such a colossal nature that we are unable to do it justice. We have been seen the files of corres page 78 pondence, and at a moderate estimate they contain as much as about three volumes of the Enyclopaedia Britannica. He has been one of the Victoria College delegates from the beginning, an manager of the team on four occasions. Dixon is as Victoria College landmark, and we hope to see him on Victoria College land for a long time to come. There will always be a spaded and a shovel time to come. There will always be a spade and a shovel ready for him at the tennis courts. The present election is the only one which has not promised to involve him in toilsome days and nights. May he escape the annual half-crown for many years.

The other life member is William Gillanders. He has severed his connection with us in good earnest, and "Gilly's Shovel" will have to be wielded "on the old clay patch" by some less lusty arm. Dixon and Gillanders both hail from the same school and the same province, they are "prime Canterbury." Gillanders followed in Dixon's footsteps as President of the Students' Association, and his strong personality combined with that shrewd diplomatic Scotchness of his left its mark on the College life. He always pushed his weight and was muscular withal. As General Secretary for Australasia of the Y.M.C.A. he will have plenty of scope. We are sorry to lose him—but congratulate the Y.M.C.A.