Background
Trathen was born in Petersham and was educated at Canterbury Boys" High School.
Trathen was born in Petersham and was educated at Canterbury Boys" High School.
He attended the University of Sydney and graduated in arts and theology.
After university he served in World World War II with the Royal Australian Air Force, and was then ordained as a minister. In 1951, Trathen hecame of Wolaroi College in Orange. In 1963 he commenced duties as of Newington College.
His obituary in the Sydney Morning Herald states that: "At Newington, he quickly clashed with the establishment.. he sought to broaden the macho sports-oriented base of the school.
His ideals were worthy, but his dogmatism alienated many. Interested in philosophy, he did not fit the image of a man"s manitoba" In June 1970, at the height of the political crisis about Australia"s involvement in the Vietnam War, Trathen wrote a letter to the Herald speaking out against conscription and calling on young men to defy the National Service Acting.
He wrote: "I am loth indeed to be forced publicly to advocate (non-violent) civil disobedience. As an ex-serviceman, a private citizen and a man of law and Law, I publicly encourage 20-year-olds, in good conscience and in loyalty to God rather than Caesar, to defy the National Service Acting.
Trathen was prosecuted for inducing citizens to break the law and although no conviction was recorded he was placed on a good behaviour bond.
He resigned in September of that year and went on to work in education in both the state and federal spheres before his retirement in 1978. Relations improved with Newington and he visited the college in 1988 as part of its 125th anniversary celebrations. His portrait in oils by Bryan Westwood hangs in the Prescott Hall.
Mr Gorton and members of Cabinet, for God"s sake, stop." The letter was signed followed in brackets by: "The writer is the of Newington College." The council of the college took issue with the letter and endeavoured to sack him but the conference of the Methodist Church supported him.
