“Dad had a very full life and lived it well. He passed away after a very short illness and prior to that was living independently at his home. He would have been happy with that!”— Sue Waddell-Wood
CMDR Rowley Alan Waddell-Wood GLEX (P) DFC RAN (Ret'd) passed away in Canberra ACT on Friday, 15 August 2025, aged 93 years.
Rowley was born in Moree, NSW on 30 July 1932 and moved to a property on the Darling Downs at an early age. He attended Esk State School followed by two years at Toowoomba Grammar School (1946-47). After completing his schooling, he worked on the family property and then as a Trainee Executive at Coles in Brisbane.
Always fascinated by flying and the Fleet Air Arm, Rowley signed up for a short service engagement in March 1954, aged 22. After completing basic training at HMAS Cerberus, he was rated as a Provisional Naval Airman (Aircrew) and commenced flying training on No.19 RAAF Pilots Course, flying Tiger Moths and Wirraways at Archerfield, Uranquinty and Point Cook, graduating with his Navy Wings and a commission as an Acting Sub-Lieutenant.
Throughout his distinguished naval career, Rowley flew Sea Furys, Sea Venoms and helicopters, serving with 724, 805, 808 and 723 Squadrons both ashore at NAS Nowra and embarked in HMAS Melbourne. While on 724 Squadron, he was the leader of the Checkmates aerobatic team at the time of the famous mid-air collision over Sydney Harbour in October 1962.
After completing a Helicopter Instructors Course in the United Kingdom, he joined 705 Squadron Royal Navy for an exchange posting as a Qualified Helicopter Instructor. From 1966–67, Rowley served as Flight Deck Officer in HMAS Melbourne, followed by a brief posting as CO HS817 from October 1967 to January 1968. During this period, he completed at least one trip to Vietnam embarked in HMAS Sydney flying Wessex helicopters.
After pre-Vietnam training flying Iroquois with 5 Squadron RAAF in Canberra, Rowley served with 9 Squadron RAAF in Vietnam from May 1968 to May 1969 as a Flight Commander and Detachment Commander for the RAN FAA pilots posted to that unit. For his leadership, courage and service in Vietnam, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Promoted to Commander, Rowley served as Naval Attaché in Manila during the early to mid-1970s and remained in RAN service until 1976. After retirement, he and his wife Elaine purchased a property called "Bonanza" halfway between Boorowa and Cowra in New South Wales. They later retired to Aranda in Canberra, where they travelled widely in their motorhome. Rowley was hospitalised with influenza a few weeks before his death.
Rowley is survived by his wife Elaine, his children Peter, Sue, Dianne and Gaye, and grandchildren Pen, Claire, Georgia, Rose, Tilly, Percy and Milton.
Latest Blog
Active Procrastination – Unlocking the Gates of Time
“Procrastination is like a credit card: it’s a lot of fun until you get the bill.” - Christopher Parker – professional actor. Unfortunately, procrastination is a term that we are all familiar with as students; the vast majority of us have experienced it firsthand. It saps our time and results like a parasite, a burden on its host. However, despite it’s reputation, recent studies have shown that when harnessed correctly, procrastination can be a powerful tool to improve both academic efficiency…
It Takes a Village...
The Toowoomba Grammar School Boarding community plays a pivotal role in shaping the young minds of our boarders and instilling values whilst creating a sense of mateship that can last a lifetime. The nurturing and supportive network of staff not only ensure a safe and structured environment but also cultivates a sense of belonging and camaraderie among the boys. ‘The staff supply the fuel to the ship but ultimately it is the boys who steer it and decide upon its final destination’. Our TGS…
Unlocking Literacy - The Big Six Elements for Your Child’s Reading Success
Literacy skills are a core component of each day for our students, and parents often ask how they can support this from home. I am delighted to share with our parent community the essential components that underpin successful reading development. These elements, known as the Big Six, provide a solid foundation for your son’s literacy journey. These critical building blocks include: Oral Language: Communication skills are the bedrock of reading. Encourage rich conversations with your child.…
The Journey of a Boarding Mother
When you look up mother in the dictionary it reads: female parent of a child. When you look up boarder, it simply reads: a child who lives away from home. So, put “boarder mother” together and we have: the female parent of a child who lives away from home – if only it were that simple. My definition of boarding mother is: a strong, dedicated unbelievably great female parent of a child who has the wisdom to put her son’s educational needs, wellbeing and lifelong endeavours before her own. A…
The Importance of Differentiation
As parents, we all want our children to have the best possible education, and one of the most effective ways for teachers to provide this is through differentiation. Differentiation means tailoring instruction to meet the unique needs and interests of each student, and it can take many forms. First, let's define differentiation. Differentiation is a teaching approach that recognises that students have different strengths, interests, and learning styles. By adjusting instruction to meet these…
Addressing Anger in Teenage Boys
As a community dedicated to the growth and well-being of our teenage boys, it is essential to address the complexities of emotions we experience during adolescence. Among these emotions, anger stands out as a powerful and intense feeling that can influence their behaviour, relationships and overall wellbeing. Untreated anger can lead to a myriad of problems and challenges for our young boys. In this comprehensive guide, we will explore the dangers of untreated anger, ways to support healthy…
Study Skills Program
Just as teachers benefit from an understanding of the Learning Sciences in their lesson planning and preparation, so to do students when they are studying for major summative assessments. A survey of TGS students in Years 9 to 12 found that 70% of our boys felt that they knew how to study, with the biggest impediments to study being lack of motivation and too many distractions. The most highly preferred study technique was found to be rewriting notes. Cramming, rereading the text and rewriting…
Developing Teachers Worldwide
I recently had the pleasure of attending the 2023 International Boys’ Schools Coalition (IBSC) Annual Conference at Westlake Boys High School in Auckland, New Zealand, in my capacity as a Team Leader in the IBSC Action Research Program. Action research is a systematic inquiry conducted by teachers in their own classroom to better understand the impact that an aspect of their practice is having on their students. Each year, 40 teachers from IBSC member schools from around the world are accepted…
Developing a Sense of Belonging for our TGS Boarders
How do we adequately develop a teenager’s 'sense of belonging' in boarding? Head of Boyce House, Boarding, Mr Michael Hall has investigated how 'Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs' applies to boarding. It is a psychological theory that suggests human beings have a set of fundamental needs that must be fulfilled in a hierarchical order. The theory proposes that individuals must first satisfy their physiological needs before moving on to higher-level needs, such as the 'belongingness' that is so…
