D’HELIN, James Otto (1875-1953)
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For over forty years from 1905 to 1948 James D’Helin was a consistent stalwart of the annual Geelong College Sports Day where he acted as ‘official’ starter. He was also the starter at the first College swimming sports at Western Baths in April 1910 and continued in this role for many years as well.
Born on 26 May 1875, he was educated at Geelong College from 12 February 1889 to 1892, playing in both the 1st Football Team and 1st Cricket Team in 1892. He was enrolled by Mrs D'Helin of Little Malop St, Geelong. The School’s appreciation of his loyalty was acknowledged in 1944 with a gift of a travelling rug to commemorate 40 years of officiating at College Sports.
W R Brownbill described James D'Helin in some detail:
'For a number of years he was one of the best of the Victorian Football League's umpires. His good judgement in those duties on the football field was founded on a sense of physical fitness and also his earlier knowledge of the game as a player. He graduated from the junior ranks to the senior Geelong team before he sought entry as an umpire, and it was fitting that the strongest recommendation for a trial of his services by the League came from J. T. Trait, who had observed his natural aptitude for quick and correct decisions. Throughout his life, which closed in November 1953, James D'Helin was a most versatile supporter of sporting activities. It is doubtful whether anyone in Victoria surpassed his record of active participation in numerous sports and recreations, combined also with lively support for civic movements. His father was Jean Martin D'Helin, a soldier when he was a young man, who came to Geelong in 1849, went to the goldfield two years later, returned to Geelong in 1865, tried a tobacconist's business, and finally went in for hotel management. His son, James was born at the Sir Charles Darling Hotel, corner of Bellarine and Little Malop streets, in the middle of the eighteen-seventies. The father died at his home, the Barwon Bridge Hotel, in January 1885.'
The Pegasus obituary described him as being:
‘closely associated with the College for more than fifty years. As a schoolboy he was an outstanding athlete and after leaving school became one of the leaders of the Old Collegians Association. He was an intimate friend of Norman Morrison and in the years immediately following the latter's untimely death, Jim D'Helin set to work with Dr Norman McArthur and Mr Neil Campbell to restore confidence in the future of the College. Largely by his leadership and determination the Jubilee celebrations in 1911 were carried through successfully and the money found for the erection of the Norman Morrison Hall. He was a devoted Old Collegian and a splendid citizen who was greatly loved by all who knew him.’
His two sons, Jack Robertson D’Helin 1901-1953) and Dudley Campbell D’Helin (1910-1994), also attended the College.
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