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Carter, Jan - 1987-1992

1987, Jan Carter, Director of the Social Policy and Research Centre, appointed as a Commissioner to the National Inquiry into Homeless Children and Young People by the Human Rights & Equal Opportunities Commission.  The report Our Homeless Children was published in 1989.

1992, Jan left the Brotherhood after 6 years of Service.

Challen, Michael - 1991 -1999

The appointment of Bishop Michael Challen AM as incoming Executive Director of the Brotherhood was announced in August 1990, to take up the position in January 1991 (Brotherhood Action, Spring 1990). 

Bishop Michael Challen retired as Executive Director on 20 June 1999 and was farewelled at the 69th Foundation Festival, Christ Church South Yarra (Brotherhood of St. Laurence 1999, Some thoughts from Michael Challen [Media Release]).

• Anglican bishop, strong advocate of social justice for all Australians
• supported close links between Brotherhood research and services. 

Clarke, Michael John -

Co-Founder of the Brotherhood; Board member.

Michael John Clarke came to Australia from England in 1929 first at Adamstown and then joined Father Tucker in Fitzroy.  In 1934 he was admitted to the Chapter of the Brotherhood.  Not old enough to actually join the Brotherhood when it was founded, Tucker (1954, Thanks Be p.60) wrote of him "he entered into our life from the outset and no one has a better right to be called one of its founders than he".  

He worked at Fitzroy, Keble House and Carrum Downs until 1937.  Following the unexpected death of Reverend Guy Cox (4 January 1937), Father Tucker then became Vicar of St Cuthbert's parish and Reverend Michael Clarke (then a Deacon and in charge at Carrum Downs) moved to St Cuthbert's to assist.  

Michael Clarke was licensed as curate in St Cuthbert's parish on behalf of the Brotherhood of St Laurence on 21 December 1937.  He became Vicar following Fr Tucker's resignation of the role in 1940.  A year or so later he joined the Australian Infantry Forces (AIF) as a chaplain and in 1945 on his return from the war and having married (consequently no longer a member of the Brotherhood), he took over care of St Cuthbert's following the departure of Frank Coaldrake to Japan (Brotherhood Action Autumn 1995 p.6).   

From 1949 to 1961 he was incumbent of St James, Dandenong and continued his association with the Brotherhood as a member of the Board of Directors until he went to the Diocese of Newcastle.

The Reverend Michael Clarke died 13 August 1973 (Brotherhood Action, December 1973. 

Coaldrake, Frank William (1912–1970)

Frank William Coaldrake joined the Brotherhood, after hearing Father Tucker describe to the secretary of the ASCM (Australian Student Christian Movement) office they type of student he was seeking to relived the chronic shortage of manpower (God and Three Shillings, Carter LR, 1967 pp. 67-68). He became tutor to the students within the Brotherhood at the new Keble House in Brunswick (1939).  

"By the time war broke out, the Brisbane-born elder Coaldrake was already getting attention as a social justice activist, working in the slums of Fitzroy and becoming one of the earliest members of the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

"He was influenced heavily by Gandhi and non-violent protest. In 1944, he led two sit-in protests in slum areas.  With the welfare officer from the Brotherhood, he spent 37 days sitting on an exposed veranda in a house in Armadale in support of the widowed tenant (God and Three Shillings, by LR Carter, 1967).

"The second main element of his make-up was pacifism. In 1939, he founded a pacifist newsletter, The Peacemaker, and later headed the Federal Pacifist Council of Australia. It was a difficult and unpopular path to follow. His mail was opened; he was interrogated by security police; he incurred the wrath of his church superiors."

- "A pacifist's cross", The Age, September 30, 2003, on the occasion of publication of "Japan From War To Peace - the Coaldrake Records 1939-1956". Compiled by his son William H. Coaldrake, published by Routledge Curzon. 

Frank Coaldrake was appointed assistant priest to Selwyn Reynolds and “played an active role as leader of the young people’s groups, encouraging discussion on current affairs within a Christian framework (1943)

With the departure of Rev. Frank Coaldrake to missionary service in Japan in 1947 (though still a member of the Brotherhood) the Brotherhood’s involvement with St Cuthbert’s Parish ended. Care of the parish was taken over by Revd Michael Clarke who had returned from the war with his wife. (1946)

1970. Death of Frank Coaldrake twelve days after being elected as Archbishop of Brisbane.

See also: Laurie O'Brien, 'Coaldrake, Frank William (1912–1970)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/coaldrake-frank-william-9771/text17267, published first in hardcopy 1993, accessed online 21 July 2022.https://adb.anu.edu.au/biography/coaldrake-frank-william-9771

Cox, Guy Colman -  

Deacon,  an inaugural member of the Brotherhood of St Laurence (1930)

The Reverend Guy Cox licensed as priest in the parish of St Cuthbert’s, East Brunswick on behalf of the Brotherhood of St Laurence (21 May 1936).

Died 1937, aged 32 years.