Reverend Draper left a lasting impression on Australia through the Wesleyan Church. Born in 1810 in Hampshire England, he became a Methodist Church Minister in 1834, making the long journey to Australia by ship in 1836.
He spent over 30 years in New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria and together with Walter Powell and James Waugh, established a Methodist school that would offer a well-rounded, classical and liberal Christian education, now known as Wesley College. His training was as a builder and he was a Master Builder and his passion was for building churches.
Prior to the opening of Wesley College on 11 January 1866, Reverend Draper sailed home to England to attend a Methodist Church conference. It was on his return voyage to Australia aboard the SS London that the ship encountered storms, sinking off France and tragically, of the 263 passengers aboard, only 19 were rescued. Draper and his wife perished in the storm. He was known to keep up the spirits of the passengers during the final hours.
Callum’s family hopes his education at Wesley College will be as truly well-rounded as Daniel Draper, Walter Powell and James Waugh envisaged for the students coming to Wesley College 150 years ago.