JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. Chapter VI - 'The Third Head Master'.The following text is an excerpt from the
Jubilee History Text published in 1911.
The Third Head Master'For the last month of 1909 the College was without a Principal. Mr. W. T. Price, B.A., who had been vice principal under Norman Morrison, was placed in charge of the educational part of the work by the College Council. The Rev. D. A. Cameron, M.A., Director of Home Missions and a representative of the Presbyterian Church on the College Council, was appointed to exercise a general supervision over the affairs of the College, and to conduct the correspondence. At once the Council set about the task of securing the services of a new principal. It was recognised that it was almost impossible to fill the gap created by Norman Morrison's death; but the Council announced that they were determined to obtain "an educationist of strong personality and moral weight."
In the end the Council found the man for whom they were seeking. He was Mr. William Reginald Bayly, B.A.; B.Sc., of Adelaide. A circular announcing his appointment was sent out on December 21, 1909, and he took up the duties of Principal at the beginning of 1910. Mr. Bayly possessed all the qualificationsfor the post. In addition to high attainments as a scholar and teacher, he was a fine athlete, an enthusiastic cadet officer, and had had a long and varied experience in all departments of the life and administration of a large public school. He was born in Port Adelaide on May 21, 1867. He was educated at Prince Alfred College, Adelaide, and had practically spent his life in the school, for after ceasing to be a student he joined the teaching staff as a juniormaster and rose to be senior resident master and acting Principal.
At the University of Adelaide Mr. Bayly tookfirstclass honours in classics in his arts course, obtaining his B.A. degree in 1896, and second class honours in science; obtaining his B.Sc. degree in 1898. He was one of the original rowing enthusiasts at Adelaide University who helped to institute the Australian Universities Boat Race, rowed in eights. He rowed "six" in the first University eightoared race rowed in Melbournefrom Coode's to the wharf. Later, he rowed "seven" and then for three years was stroke of the Adelaide University crew. He was stroke of the Adelaide crew the same year that Arthur Morrison stroked the Melbourne crew in Adelaide. Clive Morrison also rowed "six" in that crew. Mr. Bayly was also a fine lacrosse player, and for three years played with the University Ateam. For ten years he was a cadet officer and obtained the rank of captain in the Commonwealth cadet forces.
Except for the time spent at the University Mr. Bayly was at Prince Alfred College as pupil and master for 30 years. He married in 1899 and when the headmaster of Prince Alfred College went to Europe in 1901 Mr. and Mrs. Bayly were entrusted with the management of the school. Their work was highly successful, and at the end of the year the Council congratulated them upon their efficient administration. Mr. Bayly took a large share in developing the Old Prince Alfred Collegians' Association, and as president forfive years took an active part in its work. The membership during his control increased from 350 to 1,200. In 1907, at the annual dinner in the Adelaide Town Hall, about 300 Old Collegians were present. Among the guests was Norman Morrison, who wasvisiting Adelaide with the Geelong Football XVIII. He sat beside Mr. Bayly, and the two became acquainted for the first time. Mr. Bayly was filled with admiration for the principal of Geelong College, and irresistibly attracted by his charming manner. They never met again.
Mr. and Mrs. Bayly, had made all arrangementsfor a trip to Europe in 1916, but that was abandoned in order to take charge of Geelong College. The task was a difficult one. The school had been governed chiefly by Norman Morrison's personal influence. There was a conspicuous absence of set rules and regulations. Mr. Bayly had to avoid interference with old customs, and yet he was without any guide as to what those customs were. No more delicate work could have been imagined. It required great self restraint and a keen understanding of boys to enable the new principal to pull through at all. That he succeeded must always be his greatest claim to merit as a schoolmaster.
That Mr. Bayly should conduct the College exactly as Norman Morrison conducted it would be a ridiculous thing to ask. Norman Morrison himself directed it along vastly different linesfrom those followed by hisfather. Mr. Bayly, however, while putting his own ideas into practice, as any man with any individuality at all must do, hasmanaged to retain the old methods as far as possible. His aim has been never to alter unless he was sure that alteration meant improvement.
The Assistant MastersIt has been most difficult to obtain any reliable record of the various masters who have assisted in the work done at the College. Mention hasalready been incidentallymade of some of them. It would be an impossible task to attempt any account of their doings. But they are all to be found scattered all over Australia. One—Mr. W. H. Irvine, K.C. and M.H.R.—is leader of the High Court Bar, an exPremier of Victoria, and a leading Member of the Commonwealth Parliament. Several are practising at the Bar. Some are still engaged in scholastic work—Mr. J. F. C. Ulbrich, M.A., being headmaster of Hamilton College. Another— Dr. J. F. McKeddie—is a leading Collins Street physician in Melbourne.
Perhaps the master who in modern times at any rate left hismarkmost definitely on the College was the late John Beaty Kerr, B.A. He, like Dr. Morrison himself, had been a master at Flinders School under another old College instructor, Mr. G. F. Link, who used to imitate College boys into the mysteries of chemistry in the 70's. Mr. Kerr passed the matriculation examination from Flinders School and afterwards as master in charge of the matriculation class there obtained a high reputation in Geelong. He joined the College teaching staff in 1889. He possessed a wonderful gift for making his pupilslearn, and though many, when at school, looked upon him as a hard taskmaster, they always came back to thank him afterwards. He was an indefatigable worker and found time, while teaching at high pressure at the College, to pass the necessary examinations and obtain the degree of B.A. from the Melbourne University.
He became wrapped up in his work at the College, and when he fell ill in October, 1908, his chief regret was that his classes had to goon without. him. He died before midwinter, 1909, and his departure, after 20 years' close association with the College, left a gap which was hard to fill.
The following list of masters is probably woefully incomplete; but it is the best which could be compiled from the existing records:
George F. Hutton.
R. T. Hopkins, B.A.
John Macrae, M.A.
John Garbutt.
Benjamin Hadfield.
J. Johnstone.
P. E. Francis, M.A.
W. H. Dutton, B.A.
G. W. Blanchflower. B.A.
John Marden, B.A.
R. E. Farr.
J. IT. Batten.
T. B. Angwin, B.A.
M. Fearnley, M.A.
George B. Vasey, LL.B.
Thomas Henry Rout, B.1.
A. Morris, B.A.
Thomas Hutton.
Victor Lemme.
H. Simson.
J. E. Martin.
W. Page.
Geo. H. Browne.
J. Cameron.
—. Tabor.
Andrew Gardiner, M.A.
— Avice.
W. I -T. Irvine, M.A.
Rev. Robt. Thom, M.A.
J. F. C. Ulbrich, M.A.
P. Martell.
W. Rock.
Charles McLean.
J. A. McIntosh.
IV. H. B. Carroll.
W. Campbell Philpot.
Louis H. Lemme.
H. K. Walker.
C. S. Crouch.
T. T. Brown.
C. C. Plante, M.A.
J. F. McKeddie, B.A., M.D.
J. B. Kerr, B.A.
1898—W. F. Price, B.A.
H. C. Delmer, B.A.
J. G. Leadbeater, B.A., LL.B.
1899—H. A. Brown, M.A.
C. E. 0. Keays.
1901—E. W. H. Fowles. M.A., LL.B.
L. St. G. P. Austin.
A. Richardson.
1902—F. C. Chisholm.
S. Fiddian, M.A.
W. E. Harkness.
1 903—R. Lamble.
1904—A. H. MacRoberts. M.A. A. H. Harry, B.A.
G. H. Cranswick, B.A.
1905—H. G. Jones, M.A.
1906—J. Cameron, B.A.
1907—F. A. H. Boynton.
1908—C. A. Cameron. J. A. Arthur.
1909--J. G. Worth, B.A.
Cave, HughNo history of Geelong College would be complete without some account of Hugh. Everybody who was at the College before 1911 knew Hugh. And Hugh knew them all, too, and remembered them. "Ah," I mind your face well, sir, but I just cannot recall the name," would be his reply, sometimesin these later years when someone who had been absent from the College for 20 or 30 years revisited it again. Then Hugh would prove the accuracy of his memory. "Do you mind the day when I caught you in the garden after the pears," or "That was a grand fight ye had with SoandSo. I just stopped it in time." Hugh in the early 80's was constituted fightstopper by the Doctor. He was authorised to interfere and end everyfight; but Hugh had a strong sporting sense, and he rarely appeared openly on the scene till all was over. When he did come "Cave, Hugh!" was the cry of the watchers,, and the ring was speedily broken.
Hugh Mackay came to the College in 1865, three and a half years after it was established at Knowle House. He was born at Melrose, Scotland, on September 1, 1841. The Rev. A. J. Campbell was the Free Church Minister at Melrose, and Hugh's father was the church officer. When the Rev. Mr. Campbell came to Australia in 1859 he brought Hugh with him to act as his houseboy. Then when Mr. Morrison had heed of a man upon whom he could depend Hugh, then 24 years of age, was transferred to him, and for nearly 50 years he continued to be the College henchman. His long service and close association with the Doctor gave him rights and privileges which no mere servant could ever have enjoyed.
He was a part of the College from thevery beginning, for at thevery first meeting convened by the Rev A. J. Campbell to discuss the need of a school, Hugh acted as clerk and took notes of the meeting. The Doctor and Hugh grew old together. The Morrison family grew up under Hugh's watchful eye. He was one of the Doctor'sconfidants. The Doctor would go into the garden where Hugh was at work, spread his handkerchief carefully on the ground, and then sitting down, would say, "Hugh, I want to have a chat with you." Then the two would discuss improvements and alterations. It was Hugh's persistence which finally induced the Doctor to buy the football paddock.
Hugh stayed at the College formore than a year after Norman Morrison's death. But the place was not the same to him. He had served the Morrison's for nearly 50 years. The College without a Morrison at the head of it seemed a lonely place at over 70 years of age. Even the presence of the third generation of Morrisons in the school could not remove that feeling, and Hugh, in 1911 took his first furlough, though when in Geelong he still spent a great deal of his time haunting the old familiar scenes.'
Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp 49-56.