HOLDENSON, Peter Duncan (1949-2022)
Courtesy M. Bauer
Peter started at the College in year 7. He was highly regarded by his classmates for his intelligence, witty sense of humour, eccentricity and good nature. Not keen on competitive sports at school, Peter preferred sailing and skiing. He found his niche in radio and electronics, attaining his amateur ("ham") radio licence and building audio equipment for local bands. After graduating from RMIT, Peter went on to establish a successful business in computer sales and service; later a philanthropy organisation donating used computers and peripherals to developing countries. Peter married Nia and leaves two daughters and five grandchildren.
A summary of Peter’s life in secondary school (at The Geelong College) and a few years following:
Peter’s interests
- NOT football or cricket!
- Amateur radio and electronics ‒ Peter built his own “Ham” radio rig and attained his licence to transmit (AOCP)
- Music (mainly rock)
- Sailing and surfing
Peter’s closest friends at school
- Ian Grove (deceased)
- Noel Smith
- Michael Bauer
These were the class “nerds” - all into radio, electronics or other techie things.
Anecdotes from school days
1. Every year, there was an excursion to Melbourne Olympic Park for the inter-school athletics competition. Disinterested and bored with the comp, Peter and friends (above)
sneaked out of the venue, walked into the city and went to a cinema to see “Barbarella” (1967 R-rated SciFi/fantasy). Afterward, they snuck back into the comp, unnoticed.
2. The English teacher (“Bluey” Mahar) set an assignment for everyone in the class to give a short talk, stressing that, while referring to notes was permitted, it was imperative that the notes should not distract the audience’s attention. Peter stood up with a set of notes cut precisely to the shape of his open hand, but so obvious that the class cracked up with laughter. For sure, nobody would have remembered what that talk was about.
3. Always having entrepreneurial ambitions, despite protests from his father, Peter built PA loudspeaker systems which he hired out to local bands. The systems were put together mostly from salvaged equipment which he repaired, but he also somehow coerced his friends into helping to construct the speaker boxes.
4. Peter and his friends tried to get a rock group together, but it fell apart due to lack of practice and poor band leadership skills. Peter played drums, but his old drum kit (which he probably rescued from the hard rubbish -- in much the same way as he acquired his ski gear in more recent times) sounded dreadful!
Years following school
While studying electronics at RMIT, Peter embraced the “counter-culture revolution” of the early 1970’s with enthusiasm and flair. He cultivated an image for himself (by his own admission) based on Woody Allen’s character in “Bananas” - funny, bumbling, hyperactive, socially awkward, but aware, astute and of course very appealing to girls!
His appearance was also influenced by John Lennon (round gold-rimmed spectacles) and Doctor Who with his full-length green corduroy overcoat and flared pants.
Author: Michael Bauer, 31 December 2022.
Sources: M. Bauer Dec 2022, The Age 22 December 2022, Pegasus, OGC 1964.