Having dealt with the ‘Six Great Schools’, I’m now moving onto their more recent companions. In 1958, the Associated Public Schools of Victoria was enlarged with five more schools invited to join the six. These five schools were therefore (in the eyes of many) raised to a preeminence of position, and tradition, to be considered […]

While the Principal worries over finance or architecture or public relations, Mr. MacRoberts grappled with the problems of internal order. His weekly inspection of the boys’ records caused even bravest hearts to quail. As flagellator-in-chief he had a remarkable eye for multiple underwear. The fact that he found it hard to relax as the position […]

Mr A.H. MacRoberts, Vice-Principal: “It was fortunate that Mr. A.H. MacRoberts, another “Morrison man”, had returned from military service and was available to take the position of Vice-Principal. He was a history teacher and before the war had also been cricket master and first editor of “The Pegasus”. He changed from the quiet, almost jocular […]

Quotes: Dr George Morrison, Headmaster: “He was President of the Debating Society at the University, and there acquired the power of expression which later made his little homilies to erring Collegians such terrifying ordeals. Most of his pupils preferred his gentle canings to his impressive lecturings.” Mr Charles Norman Morrison (son of the above), Headmaster: […]

Geelong College. This is a different school from Geelong Grammar, though the two have often been confused. Indeed, Geelong College has sometimes been accused of deliberately using the confusion to attract pupils – Geelong Grammar was a much more prestigious school in the late 19th Century (even though the College achieved better results academically) and […]

Another story was told of a senior boy who defiantly walked through a door reserved for prefects. Although he was a senior boy, Adamson beat him. Later the boy said Adamson was right. Again there was vast contemporary approval that bad form had been punished.” “Junior boarders were pleased to find the discipline in the […]

Professor H. M. Andrew certainly enhanced his reputation in the eyes of the stern parents who thought he was perhaps too young and inexperienced.” Lawrence Arthur Adamson, Headmaster (generally regarded as having a claim to be Australia’s greatest headmaster): “Adamson extolled good form, and popular opinion soon swung behind his attitude. The story went the […]

Fathers of large families saluted him as the protector of morality in the young and the unjust victim of ‘the sneers of the evil-doers’. Many envelopes containing money arrived at the newspaper office to defray Andrew’s legal expenses, one man announcing that he bad collected a shilling from each of seventy men after a few […]

He justified the severity of the punishment by recalling the parting advice Irving gave him before resigning as headmaster: ‘Andrew, don’t flog rashly, but when you do flog, flog well, that you may not be required to do it again.’ The court did not agree with this parting advice, nor with the energetic way in […]

Evidence in his defence was given by Howell Thomas, the school’s second master who had witnessed the flogging; by the Reverend Mr. Waugh and by E. E. Morris who was the new headmaster of Melbourne Grammar School; by Professor Irving who was now at Hawthorn Grammar School, and a medical practitioner. Irving told the court […]