The Rev. Charles Perry was appointed the school’s first chaplain by Headmaster Ward in 1945. In his history of the school, Mr Ward wrote: ‘The unanimous choice of the Committee fell upon Rev. C.J. Perry, a minister, and an old boy of the school, whose experience as a chaplain in both World Wars, and whose early reputation as a league footballer, gave him a standing among boys that few other ministers would have’. He remained chaplain until 1955.
The son of a Methodist minister, Perry saw service as a military chaplain during WWI. He returned to South Australia and ministered to a number of suburban and country parishes in the inter war years. During WWII he again served as a military chaplain, this time to personnel on troop ships.
Known as ‘Redwing’, Perry had been a champion footballer for Norwood and for a time coached the school team. Perry had tied for first in the count for the Magarey Medal and in the centenary year of the SANFL those who “tied” in the count were posthumously awarded the Medal. The official record for 1915 stands with Perry winning the Magarey. The family have donated the medal to the Norwood Football Club.