29/08/2026
In 1902 John H Dean was appointed head-teacher at Chiltern State School 327, a brilliant teacher, who during his 8-year tenure in Chiltern, saw students flourish, with many going on to excel in their fields - one of these students was a young Harold Rabling.
Harold Rabling, the son of Frank and Catherine nee Mitchell was born in Clunes in 1890. The Rabling family moved to Chiltern in 1891 when Frank was appointed manager of the Chiltern Quartz Mine. He managed the Barambogie Mine and the Chiltern Valley Consols, before being appointed manager of the Prentice and Great Southern Gold Mines in Rutherglen. Whilst in Chiltern the family lived in Epsom Road with the children attending the Chiltern State School. Harold attended Chiltern State School from January 1895 to December 1904, from 1902 under the tutelage of J.H. Dean. December 1904 saw Dean encourage fourteen-year-old Harold to sit the annual examination for scholarships held by Melbourne University High - Harold Rabling, one of 224 students came second on the list, gaining 164 marks to the 167 gained by the first - this entitled him to free tuition. He continued his education at Wesley College, Melbourne, winning a scholarship to Melbourne University, and graduating in 1914 with a Bachelor of Mining and Engineering Degree. He also won the prestigious Dixon final honors scholarship, as well as excelling at athletics and captaining the Melbourne University rowing and rifle teams.
During World War 1 Harold Rabling served with the A.I.F. Field Engineers stationed in France. Shortly after the war he went to the United States, where he worked as mill superintendent for the St. Joseph Lead Company, the largest lead-mining company in America. In 1923 Mr. Rabling and his wife returned to Australia where he joined the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd. His first position was that of lubrication engineer at Melbourne. In 1935 Mr. Rabling went to New York, as assistant to the company's resident director. In 1945, he was appointed Chairman and Managing Director of the Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd (later Mobil Oil). Shortly after the outbreak of World War 2, he was instrumental in forming the “Anzac War Relief Fund of New York,” a group of former residents of Australia and New Zealand along with others, who raised and sent cash and supplies to Australian and New Zealander fighting forces to the value of $200,000 per annum. During World War 2, he also played an important role in supplying petroleum products to the allied forces in the Pacific from his New York headquarters. In consequence of these actions he was awarded the King’s Medal for service in the cause of freedom.
In 1950 Rabling was influential in the Standard Vacuum Oil Co., running a radio program called the Mobil Quest, a contest to find the best singer in Australia. Mr. Rabling presented Joan Sutherland, the winner with the cash prize award which was sufficient to send her to Europe to further her music studies and singing career.
In 1948, Mr. Rabling and his wife Marjorie McMinn, entertained Helen Keller at a party in Melbourne at their home (Helen Keller was an American author, disability rights advocate, political activist and lecturer. She lost her sight and hearing after a bout of illness when she was 19 months old).
In 1949 When Mr Rabling heard of the tragic loss of his former school Chiltern State School 327 to fire he donated £25 and initiated a subscription list to be opened in the “Sun Pictorial” newspaper. That paper then donated one-third of the proceeds of the Mr. Melbourne competition, being £146, and they organized an appeal in their paper which brought in over £300.
On July 26 1949, Chiltern folk gathered at the Star Theatre when representatives of the Vacuum Oil Co., “Sun News Pictorial”, and local residents took the opportunity of presenting cheques to the Mothers’ Club. And along with the monetary donations the Vacuum Oil Co. donated a magnificent Harmer & Heath sound projector valued at about £250. Unfortunately Mr Rabling was unable to attend as he was on his way to New York.
Mr. Rabling’s work with the Vacuum Oil Co., took him to much of Asia and Africa as well as Pacific countries. And when he retired he turned to writing. In 1961, in collaboration with Patrick Hamilton he produced the story of Australia entitled “Under the Southern Cross” written as an adventure story of a vigorous people conquering a continent. The book was then used as a textbook in schools. Two books by Rabling followed, in 1965, “The Story of the Pacific,” and in 1966 “Pioneers Of The Pacific - The Story Of The South Seas.”
Harold Rabling died at his daughter’s residence in Geneva Lake Wisconsin on December the 30th 1977, a life well lived.
