The Rev. Charles Perry was appointed the school鈥檚 first chaplain by Headmaster Ward in 1945. In his history of the school, Mr Ward wrote: 鈥楾he unanimous choice of the Committee fell upon Rev. C.J. Perry, a minister, and an old boy of the school, whose experience as a chaplain in both World Wars, and whose early reputation as a league footballer, gave him a standing among boys that few other ministers would have鈥�. He remained chaplain until 1955.
The son of a Methodist minister, Perry saw service as a military chaplain during WWI. He returned to South Australia and ministered to a number of suburban and country parishes in the inter war years. During WWII he again served as a military chaplain, this time to personnel on troop ships.
Known as 鈥楻edwing鈥�, Perry had been a champion footballer for Norwood and for a time coached the school team. Perry had tied for first in the count for the Magarey Medal and in the centenary year of the SANFL those who 鈥渢ied鈥� in the count were posthumously awarded the Medal. The official record for 1915 stands with Perry winning the Magarey. The family have donated the medal to the Norwood Football Club.