Colin Gilray

Teaching career Gilray returned to practising law in Milton in 1919. succeeding Arthur Gordon Butchers. During his tenure, Gilray developed music and science at the school, and raised academic standards. He was left with one leg shorter than the other. and the Council of the University of New Zealand in 1927. In 1933 he declined nomination as vice-chancellor of the University of Otago.

In 1934, after 12 years at John McGlashan, Gilray took up the post of principal of Scotch College, Melbourne, With 1500 pupils at Scotch College compared to about 200 at John McGlashan, Gilray found that he was fully occupied by administrative tasks, although he occasionally still found time to teach English or religious studies. Under his leadership the school developed its art, theatre and music programmes, and he resisted higher student fees.

In the Australian 1951 New Year Honours Gilray was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in recognition of his services as principal of Scotch College. His brother, Thomas Gilray, was also appointed an OBE in the New Zealand 1951 New Year Honours, for services as a medical practitioner.

Later life and death Following his retirement from Scotch College, Gilray continued as executive officer of the HCISA for 10 years. The University of Melbourne conferred an honorary degree of Doctor of Laws on Gilray in 1956.

Between 1961 and 1965 Gilray was a member of the Committee on the Future Development of Tertiary Education in Australia, chaired by Sir Leslie Martin,