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The gift of education
Kenneth Park remembers Maurice Walter Knott (OW1938), his love of Wesley College and his legacy – a gift of education.
On 17 August 2003, Wesley College lost one of its most passionate supporters and alumni in Maurice Walter Knott at the age of 81. Walter was a strong advocate of music – particularly at the Elsternwick Campus. He gave throughout his life and, as a member of our Sapere Aude Bequest Society, left a bequest to the College which came with an additional and most unusual legacy that has continued to this day: copyright in and the royalties to the works of distinguished English composer, Ernest John Moeran, who died in 1950. While the copyright expires at the end of this year, Wesley College and music at Elsternwick have nevertheless been enriched because of Walter’s gift.
Walter’s involvement with the College stems from his student days in 1937 and 1938. After leaving the army in 1946 as a Sergeant in the Education Corps where he worked as a librarian and music teacher, he continued to study and teach music until he retired in 1977. He was keenly interested in promoting music at Elsternwick. During his lifetime he donated many books, including a copy of the Grove Dictionary of Music and a collection of sheet music to the Music School. Walter was a frequent visitor to the Elsternwick Campus for speech nights and concerts, and his name and that of his wife, Peers Coetmore, a world-renowned cellist, have been commemorated in many ways over the years.
Peers was married to EJ Moeran in 1945, and after his death in 1950 she married Walter. She enjoyed active involvement in Melbourne’s music classical scene, especially through teaching at the then Victorian College of the Arts. She died in 1976.
Walter not only loved classical music but enjoyed a career teaching music. He was well travelled and delighted in attending performances. I remember dining at his home on one occasion and enjoying a memorable slice of Sacher-torte that was carefully removed from a wooden box shipped from Vienna and presented with appropriate musical accompaniment. In later life, Walter embraced his old school and especially Elsternwick, his ‘local campus.’ He established strong friendships with many people at the College. His generosity in his lifetime and through his bequest is warmly acknowledged. We say thank you, Walter.
Kenneth Park is Wesley’s Curator of Collections and Philanthropy Associate
