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George and Dulce Currow

Photo courtesy of Steve Currow.

Currow, George Arthur (1900–1982)

By Stephen J. Currow

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Stephen Currow, D.Min. (Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, California, the United States), is the vice president (academic) at Avondale College of Higher Education, Cooranbong, NSW, Australia. Trained as a pastor, he has worked in various ministry positions including pastor, lecturer, and administrator in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the United Kingdom. His research interests and publications have been in the areas of congregational life, youth ministry and Adventist mission history. He is married to Narisa and has two adult daughters.

First Published: January 29, 2020

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George Currow was an educator: long-serving teacher, principal, and mentor. In July 1972, he was the guest speaker at the dedication of the re-built Avondale School1 and at the August 1981 Avondale Homecoming, he was honored during the 60th reunion of his class.2

Early Years

George Arthur Currow was born in Hamilton, New South Wales, Australia on December 4, 19003 while his parents, Louis and Lizzie Currow were working at Dr. Rand’s Health Institute.4 He had one sister Miriam Maude Cook (1902-1984). After the changes to the operation of the health institutes under Dr. Caro, his parents relocated to the Helping Hand Mission in Melbourne, established by his father-in-law George Hubbard5 prior to undertaking canvassing work throughout Victoria.6 In 1903, George and his parents, encouraged by his uncle, Arthur Currow, the first Australian Adventist missionary to Fiji, went to Fiji where his parents were pioneer self-supporting medical missionaries.7 On their return in 1906, George lived with his family in Sydney and South Australia8 prior to attending the Avondale Primary School convened in the College’s Bethel Hall in 1910.9 Later in North Queensland, George went to school with his future wife, Margurite Dulce Marion Fury.10 In 1915, Dulce, along with her extended Rosendahl family, sailed from Townsville to Newcastle on the Bombala so the children could benefit from Adventist education opportunities at Avondale. In 1917, George went to Avondale11 where he completed the intermediate certificate in 1918 and graduated from the ministerial course in 1921 and the teaching course in 1922.12 Dulce graduated from the teaching course in 1921.13

Employment

George’s first appointment was to be a teacher at Millicent, South Australia. The following year he was transferred to Mt. Gambier School and spent the last four months in evangelism in Mt. Gambier.14 Dulce’s first appointment was teaching in Hobart, Tasmania and then Quirindi in New South Wales. She also spent some time looking after her widowed mother.15

On January 25, 1925, George Arthur Currow and Marguerite Dulce Maude Fury were married by Pastor A. H. White at the Avondale Church.16 Subsequently, George was appointed to teach in Auckland.17 In 1926, their first child Elwin George Currow was born in Auckland.18 The following year George was appointed to commence a new church school in Gisborne, New Zealand.19 In 1928, George was appointed principal of Navuso School in the Wainibuka Valley of Fiji.20 However, much to the frustration of the administrators, medical advice regarding the health of Dulce prevented them from going to Fiji. George was subsequently appointed to lead the Auburn School in Sydney21 where he served for three years. In 1929, their second child Elaine June (Burns) was born.22 While working full-time as the first principal of Hawthorn School, Victoria,23 George completed the School Leaving Certificate24 in 1932. In 1933, George was appointed to teach at Avondale High School where he served for four years.25 The next five years George served in Sydney, initially at Wahroonga and subsequently at Burwood.26 While in Sydney, George completed a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in English, history and Latin with a minor in psychology, Sydney University (1940).27 In 1942, George returned to Avondale where he remained until his retirement at the end of 1969.28 During this time, George focused on teaching the Leaving Certificate, especially when it was relocated in 1948 to the college, to assist students in gaining entry to college programs.29 In 1957, George completed a master of arts in Latin from Sydney University.30 All his qualifications gained when working were done in his own time. The 1961 Jacaranda was dedicated to George Currow.31

As a lecturer at Avondale, George took at least one chapel each year. During one of these chapels, he presented the story of Bossin’ Johnson,32 a story published in the Youth’s Instructor. This story emphasized the importance of self-management, making intentional choices, and being responsible for one’s actions.

During this time, George sang tenor in the college choir, played double bass in the college orchestra, served as treasurer of the Avondale Church for thirty-one years (including the building program for the current Avondale Memorial Church), and served as a director of the Avondale Cooperative Store.33

Later Years

George passed away on March 26, 198234 and Dulce passed away on January 17, 1999.35 They are buried side by side in the Avondale Cemetery.

Sources

Avondale Alumni and Citation Register. Avondale College of Higher Education. Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia.

“Brother and Sister George Currow . . . ,” Australasian Record, February 13, 1928.

Clapham, N. C., “Life-Sketch of George Currow”, Australasian Record, May 17, 1982.

Colquhuon, Peter, ed. “Dedication.” Jacaranda 1961. Warburton, Victoria: Signs Publishing Company, 1961.

Coombe, L. C. “George Arthur Currow obituary.” Australasian Record, May 31, 1982.

Coombe, L. C. “Margurite Dulce Marian Currow obituary.” Australasian Record, March 6, 1999.

Currow, G. A. “A Brief History.” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972.

“Distribution of Labour.” Australasian Record, September 5, 1927.

Fulton, J. E. “The Work in Fiji.” Australasian Record, January 1, 1904.

George Arthur Currow Biographical Information; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives. Folder: “Currow, George Arthur.” Document: “Biographical Information Blank.”

George Arthur Currow Personal Service Records. South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives. Folder: “Currow, George Arthur.” Document: “Personal Service Record.

“Graduates, Bachelor of Arts - Currow, George Arthur, 1941.” Calendar of the University of Sydney for the Year 1941. Sydney: Alfred Henry Pettifier, 1941.

“Graduates: Master of Arts - Currow, George Arthur, 1957.” Calendar Supplement 1960, Sydney: V. C. N. Blight, 1960.

“Hawthorn is Forty Years On.” Australasian Record, August 16, 1987.

“Historic Photo Gallery.” Australasian Record, August 11, 1969.

Louis Currow Personal Service Records. South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives. Folder: “Currow, Louis.” Document: “Personal Service Record.”

Margurite Dulce Marion Fury Personal Service Records. South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives. Folder: “Fury, Margurite Dulce Marion.” Document: “Personal Service Record.”

Miller, G. R. “Re-built Avondale School Dedicated.” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972.

“Mr. and Mrs. L. Currow . . .” Bible Echo and Signs of the Time, June 17, 1901.

Register of Halifax State School 1903-1914. Item ID6133150 Herbert River/Halifax State School Admission Register, Queensland State Archives.

“The Man Who Bossed Johnson.” Youth’s Instructor, November 30, 1915.

Stellmaker, Mary. “Avondale Homecoming.” Australasian Record, December 21, 1981.

White, A. H. “Currow/Fury.” Australasian Record, February 16, 1925.

Notes

  1. G. R. Miller, “Re-built Avondale School Dedicated,” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972, 8-9.↩

  2. Mary Stellmaker, “Avondale Homecoming,” Australasian Record, December 21, 1981, 1.↩

  3. George Arthur Currow Worker’s Biographical Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Worker’s Biographical Record.”↩

  4. “Historic Photo Gallery,” Australasian Record, August 11, 1969, 7.↩

  5. “Mr and Mrs. L. Currow . . . ,” Bible Echo and Signs of the Times, June 16, 1901, 400.↩

  6. Louis Currow Personal Service Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, Louis;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  7. J. E. Fulton, “The Work in Fiji,” Australasian Record, January 1, 1904, 3.↩

  8. Louis Currow Personal Service Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, Louis;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”.↩

  9. G. A. Currow, “A Brief History,” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972, 9.↩

  10. 8/7/08 Fury, Dulcie (Class IV, 1914); 2/2/14 Currow, George (Class VI, 1914), Register of Halifax State School 1903-1915, ID 6133150 Herbert River/Halifax State School Admission Register, Queensland State Archives.↩

  11. George Arthur Currow Worker’s Biographical Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Worker’s Biographical Record.”↩

  12. Mary Stellmaker, “Avondale Homecoming”, Australasian Record, December 21, 1981, 1; and George Arthur Currow Worker’s Biographical Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Worker’s Biographical Record.”↩

  13. “Dulce (Fury) Currow 1921,” Avondale Alumni Award and Citation Register, Avondale College of Higher Education, Cooranbong, New South Wales.↩

  14. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  15. Margurite Dulce Marion Fury Personal Service Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Fury, Margurite Dulce Marion;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  16. A. H. White, “Wedding Bells - Currow/Fury,” Australasian Record, February 16, 1925, 8.↩

  17. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Record; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  18. George Arthur Currow Biographical Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Biographical Information Blank.↩

  19. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur,” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  20. “Distribution of Labour,” Australasian Record, September 5, 1927, 5.↩

  21. “Brother and Sister George Currow. . . ,” Australasian Record, February 13, 1928, 8.↩

  22. George Arthur Currow Biographical Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Biographical Information Blank.”↩

  23. “Hawthorn is Forty Years On,” Australasian Record, August 16, 1987, 5.↩

  24. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  25. G. R. Miller, “Re-built Avondale School Dedicated,” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972, 8.↩

  26. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  27. “Graduates, Bachelor of Arts - Currow, George Arthur, 1941,” Calendar of the University of Sydney for the Year 1941 (Sydney: Alfred Henry Pettifier 1941), 242.↩

  28. George Arthur Currow Personal Service Records; South Pacific Division of the General Conference Archives; Folder: “Currow, George Arthur;” Document: “Personal Service Record.”↩

  29. G. A. Currow, “A Brief History,” Australasian Record, August 28, 1972, 9.↩

  30. “Graduates: Masters of Arts - Currow, George Arthur, 1957” Calendar Supplement, 1960 (Sydney: V. C. N. Blight, 1960), 7.↩

  31. Peter Colquhuon, ed., “Dedication”, Jacaranda 1961 (Warburton, Victoria; Signs Publishing Company, 1961).↩

  32. “The Man Who Bossed Johnson”, Youths Instructor, November 30, 1915, 11.↩

  33. N. P. Clapham, “Life-Sketch of George Currow,” Australasian Record, May 17, 1982, 13.↩

  34. L. C. Coombe, “George Arthur Currow obituary,” Australasian Record, May 31, 1982, 19.↩

  35. L. C. Coombe, “Currow, Margurite Dulce Marion Currow obituary”, Australasian Record, March 6, 1999, 14.↩

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Currow, Stephen J. "Currow, George Arthur (1900–1982)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Accessed March 26, 2025. https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAZL.

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Currow, Stephen J. "Currow, George Arthur (1900–1982)." Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. January 29, 2020. Date of access March 26, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAZL.

Copy to clipboard Download Word File

Currow, Stephen J. (2020, January 29). Currow, George Arthur (1900–1982). Encyclopedia of Seventh-day Adventists. Retrieved March 26, 2025, https://encyclopedia.adventist.org/article?id=BAZL.

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