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Jack de Vidas

Jack de Vidas was born in Broken Hill and was a brilliant student. An entrance scholarship enabled him to attend Princes and was a prefect in 1932. He considered his education instilled in him the ethos of stoical behaviour and of being a Christian gentleman.

Jack de Vidas trained as a doctor and during the Second World War he served in the Royal Australian Air Force. On his discharge he became a flying doctor based in Alice Springs, where he formed a strong relationship with the local Aranda people. This period shaped his artistic and literary interests. Much of his later life was spent practicing medicine in Queensland, and late in life he took up writing poetry and participated in readings at Queensland’s Warana Writers Week. 

During his life Dr de Vidas was a generous donor to the school library, supported prizes for artistic endeavours, and donated contemporary Australian art from his collection. Following his death additional prizes for excellence were established in his memory and provision was made to support development projects at the school.