Ron was born in Calcutta, India, son of Thomas and Esme, both born in India.  His great-grandfather was born in Norfolk (UK) in the 1840’s and who had migrated to India.  Ron, his family as well as extended family, migrated to Australia in 1947, arriving in Melbourne on 15 August, the day of partition.  He attended East Oakleigh Central School before arriving at MHS in 1950.

At MHS he played Hockey for both the School (1952-1953) and the Old Boys’ Hockey Club, made model aeroplanes, was in the Cadets, the Geology Club and the Junior Choir.  An excellent student, he completed his Matriculation with Honours in English Literature, British History and Social Studies, and was awarded a Commonwealth Scholarship.

Studying his Bachelor of Arts and the Law at The University of Melbourne, he was also a part-time Teaching Fellow at Monash University.  He joined the Education Department as a teacher in 1959 (teaching at Altona High School, not far from his family home in Maidstone), before practicing as a Solicitor in 1960 with Frederick Owen and Associates, specialising in Commercial law.

Continuing to play Hockey after leaving school, in 1963 he became Secretary of the MHSOB Hockey Club, and later President and then Coach, whilst playing in the A Grade, before retiring from playing in 1978.  He was known as “Twinkle toes” for his footwork.  He was Chairman of the Victorian Hockey Association Investigation Committee in 1963-1966, where his legal skills were of particular use.  Ron also served as Executive Councillor on the Australian Hockey Association where he represented Queensland and as Chairman of the Coaching and Junior Committee. In 1973 he was awarded Life Membership of the MHSOB Hockey Club, only the second time this was awarded.

Also active with the MHS Old Boys’ Association, he was Vice-President in 1970.  In 1975 he was elected President of the MHSOBA and worked closely with the new Principal, Lou Barberis. Completing his term as President in 1977 which was the year of the famous Jubilee of Forrest Hill celebrations.  He was made an Honorary Life Member of the MHSOBA in 1983.

From 1975 he was an active Member of the School Council, during the time when the Department of Education was increasingly delegating responsibility to schools.  In 1985 he was elected President of the MHS School Council, succeeding his friend John Elden.  During his term, the Flag Courts were opened and new racing boats launched (including a Racing Four named after him).  Ron worked very closely with Lou, providing much legal advice to the School that was invaluable.  He oversaw the retirement of Lou, and the appointment and transition to Neville Drohan as Principal.  John Elden described his approach to the role as he “gave the position what became known as the “Seaman style” – dignity, gentlemanly persuasiveness, professional thoroughness, unfailing dedication and absolute commitment.”.  In 1991 he was appointed a Patron of the MHSOBA and a Patron of the School in 1999.

It was hockey that brought a close connection to Neville Drohan’s successor as Principal, Ray Willis, when he arrived in 1992, as well as their shared childhood in India.  In 1996 the new synthetic Hockey Field was named after Ron.  The new facilities were a revolution from the bumpy and sometimes flooded, grass field that Ron and Ray had both played on as students.

For many years, John Elden, Lou Barberis and Ron Seaman would meet for a long lunch, continuing a close and deep friendship that only ended with Lou’s death in 2005 and then John’s in 2010.  All of them were men who worked hard to excel in their field, and then used that success to give back to the School that had given them so much.  Ron was always impeccably dressed and with the manners of a true gentlemen.  Ron never married, and lived in his family home for many decades.  In recent years he moved to Kilmore, where he had space for his library.  His health often prevented his attendance at School, Old Boy and Hockey events, but he always remained deeply interested in the School until his death.  Ron surely Honoured the Work.

Luke Savage, Honorary School Archivist