Image

Heritage Guide to The Geelong College






Search the Guide
»


To find information in this Guide please select one of the green coloured options.

To Select a Page Group when displayed, right click and select 'Open'.


Copyright Conditions Apply.



MORRISON, Charles Norman (Centenary History Text, 1961)

MORRISON, Charles Norman (Centenary History Text, 1961)

See Also MORRISON, Charles Norman (1866-1909)


The following text is an excerpt from the Centenary History of the Geelong College published in 1961:

Chapter Five.
'THE SKIPPER TAKES the HELM'

IN 1898 THE COLLEGE was running along as steadily as it ever had done, and the change of control from father to son, occasioned though it was by the Doctor's sudden death, was accomplished with the minimum of disturbance to school life. This was entirely according to plan, for Norman had been brought up a Collegian, trained to be a teacher and initiated into the work of administration through his seven years as Vice-Principal.

Born on December 4, 1866, at Knowle House, Charles Norman Morrison was four years old when the school moved to Newtown Hill. As a frank, manly little chap, the pet of the older boys, and, indeed, of his father too, he was frequently to be seen on the fat little College pony, pounding along beside the old "chariot" in which Hugh Mackay drove the Doctor. Although his name was not entered in the register, it appeared in 1876 prize lists and frequently thereafter.

He was a good student, if not a brilliant one. He passed Matriculation in 1883, and in the following year passed the first year of Arts while still at the College. In 1885 he went into residence at Ormond College to continue the course. Almost immediately he became prominent in sport, going on to win his University "Blue" for football in 1888, and stroking the Ormond crew. The "Morrison Fours", by which his memory is still honoured at Ormond, were a direct outcome of his interest and leadership in college rowing.

After graduating Bachelor of Arts in 1886, he gained the Master's degree in 1888 and joined the staff of Brighton Grammar School. It had been understood that he would become a teacher. Perhaps his father, one of the keenest of judges, saw that he was specially adapted for such work; perhaps Norman chose the profession himself.

He had also interested himself in military training, and in 1890 gained a commission in the Second Infantry Battalion. So highly valued was he as an officer that, when at the end of 1890 he proposed to leave Melbourne, efforts were made by the military authorities to induce him to accept an adjutancy on the permanent staff.

When he returned to the College as Vice-Principal in 1891, Norman was just twenty-four years old. Tall, erect, athletic, he was a striking figure. There was something about him which immediately inspired confidence. Boys at school developed an enduring admiration for him as a man, and a loyalty, rising to hero-worship, for "Normie", their friend.

(In the early days, when he was Vice-Principal, he was known as "Normie" to boys and masters alike. It was when he became head of the school that his name was changed to "The Skipper".)

If such overwhelming personal influence could be accounted for in a few words, the reason might be that he remained always a boy at heart, full of mischievous charm in lighter moments, fired with all the enthusiasm of youth in his more serious undertakings.

The school took its tone from his whimsical character, which often made rules and regulations seem unimportant, so that it was difficult for some people to understand him. and almost impossible for anyone to fill his place. This was well illustrated by his occasional unorthodox methods as a football umpire. He was known to seize the ball himself and race down the field with it in an attempt to boost the weaker side. "Free kick to Allan McKenzie!" he might shout. "McKenzie, Sir?" someone would rejoin in astonishment, "He hasn't been near the ball". "Then quite sufficient reason for a free kick", would be the reply.

At the same time he was a strict disciplinarian. That was a day when corporal punishment was accepted as normal by both the parties concerned. His anger, which was evidently assumed as the occasion demanded, has been described by one of his former pupils:
His occasional sudden and volcanic outbursts of annoyance in classroom or on parade ground would fill us with momentary terror, and his shouted and very uncomplimentary remarks concerning ourselves, our friends and relatives (great-great-grandmothers in particular) , our appearance, brain-power, etc., etc., would be listened to with bated breath. His gusts of laughter were almost certain to follow rapidly, as the humour of his remarks, or our appearance of subdued humility, appealed irresistibly to him.

* * * *

"The Skipper" was in full charge of the College for only twelve years, but his strong leadership made it one of the most momentous periods in the story of a century. Quite naturally he gathered about him men of lasting loyalty, whose long service gave stability and certainty. When he became Principal in 1898, Mr. J. B. Kerr and Mr. W. T. Price were already on the staff. In a short time he had enlisted Messrs. L. St. G. P. Austin, R. Lamble, A. H. MacRoberts, A. H. Harry, John Cameron and Charles Cameron, all of whom were to serve beyond his own lifetime, into or beyond the first Great War. In time, four of his men were Vice-Principals of the College; one of them became Principal.

In the same few years there gathered other faithful servants of the school, who were to remain with it to the end of their active careers. Dr. T. J. M. Kennedy, as medical officer, was well known to sick and injured boys for more than thirty years. An Old Collegian, Mr. James D'Helin, undertook the job of starter at the College sports—and continued it for over forty years. "Teddy" Rankin, too, began his long term as groundsman and football coach.

A new era of improvements to buildings and grounds was ushered in. There had been signs of such development since Norman Morrison visited Europe in 1895; when he became Principal scarcely a year passed without some addition of consequence. In 1898 he provided a small Masters' Common Room (later the bookroom, and now the "dug-out", the grounds staff headquarters in the main block) and a dressingroom (still the Senior House cloak room) —both on the south side of Room "A". The Memorial Library was opened in May, 1899. The following year a storey was added to the southern wing (facing across the garden towards Talbot Street) for the accommodation of boarders, and rooms were added to the wooden gymnasium building: classrooms, sloyd room, photographic darkroom and bicycle shed.

Hugh Mackay's vegetable garden, on the site of the present tennis courts, was abandoned to make more room for recreation. "Paddy" Rook's paddock, previously described as a Chinaman's market garden, was purchased and became the western end of the main oval, which was laid out in 1905. The Pavilion provided dressing accommodation downstairs and seating for three hundred people in the grandstand. (This building, with its unusual ornamentation of domes, turrets, etc., was later considerably modified.) In the same year the detached brick chemistry laboratory was built. (It was demolished in 1951.) In 1906 the purchase of "Warrinn" ended the quartering of masters outside the grounds and gave still further accommodation for boarders.

The curriculum of the classroom also was advancing with the times, as the Principal made clear in his report of 1906:-

The tendency of modern education all the world over is to restrict the study of the ancient Classics within more reasonable limits, and in a corresponding degree, to increase the attention devoted to Literature and the various branches of Science. it is along these lines that the work of the College has been directed. Adequate provision has been made for the thorough treatment of the experimental Sciences by building two large laboratories for practical Chemistry and Physics, and equipping them with the most modern apparatus obtainable in England.

The teaching of Modern Languages in accordance with the direct method, and by the extended use of Phonetics, is a step in advance. We find that precedent and tradition must frequently be ignored if stagnation is not to ensue. An effort has been made to cultivate a taste for music among the boys, and, as a commencement, Class Singing has been introduced.

Sport was very strong in Norman Morrison's day, with teams full of confidence in their ability. There were many resounding successes, not only in the weak Victorian Schools' Association—where results often bordered on the incredible—but also in meetings with some of the Public Schools, particularly those old rivals, Geelong Grammar School and Scotch College. The supreme sport was rifle shooting, at which the College swept all before it in State-wide competition, doubtless stimulated by the atmosphere of the Boer War years as well as by Norman Morrison's military enthusiasm. There was no organized external competition in athletics or rowing, but both these sports were commanding increased interest.

In addition to such great progress in buildings and grounds, scholarship and sport—all of which took place in less than ten years—the College received added strength from the foundation in 1901 of the Old Collegians' Association. It is not surprising that public support grew proportionately, so that the annual reports for 1905-6-7, while unfortunately not giving actual figures, indicate that each year's attendance of pupils was a record.

Historically, the chief result of this impressive advance was to widen and emphasize the gap separating the Geelong College from other private schools in this State. When Norman Morrison first came to the College as Vice-Principal in 1891, he accepted the traditional state of affairs and felt that the College would do well enough as a private school. With Dr. Crowther, of Brighton Grammar School, he formed the Victorian Schools' Association, firmly believing that he would be able to bring the other private schools up to the level of the College and even rival the Associated Public Schools.

(The other members of the V.S.A. were Carlton College, Caulfield Grammar School, Cumloden, Haileybury and the University High School.).

The plan was never really a success. The Geelong College stood too far above its associates of the V.S.A., and was, in fact, growing further away from them, while the Melbourne Public Schools also were rapidly becoming stronger. Mr. Morrison then saw that the College must be accepted as a Public School, and he made it clear that he was willing to make any sacrifice, provided that it was admitted to the A.P.S. on an equal footing with the other members.

This became his chief ambition, and steps were taken to realize it. But, while the future seemed so important, he made full acknowledgment to the past, and the negotiations were conducted with the constant advice and approval of the Old Geelong Collegians' Association. Eventually it was announced that the College would become the property of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria. After forty-four years as a private concern, it was now to be governed by a Council set up by the Church.

When the constitution was formally announced on February 7, 1908, the greatest satisfaction was shown by all who had the interests of the College at heart. It was well known that Mr. Morrison suffered considerable personal loss from the change, but he regarded that lightly, since the future of the College was assured.

* * * *

The first Council consisted of Mr. Charles Shannon (Chairman), the Rev. Dr. Marshall, the Revs. D. A. Cameron, J. A. Forrest and G. H. Balfour, Dr. J. H. MacFarland, Dr. A. Norman McArthur, Messrs. Robert Gillespie, Alexander Gray, J. McKiehan, H. B. Gibb, J. L. Currie, Neil Campbell, L. A. Whyte and S. B. Calvert.

Norman Morrison continued as Principal of the College—appointed this time by the new Council for a term of five years. But so great was the faith of that body in its richly experienced servant, that the government and development of the school really continued without interruption along the old lines. No change calling for special comment was made in staff or curriculum or in building policy. The continuing high level of enrolment—sixty-three new boys in 1908 and seventy-six in 1909—showed that this trust was shared by the College public.

Possibly the only visible change arising from the new status was in the school colours. From the beginning they had been blue—not as deep a shade as navy blue—and white; the cap was blue with a white stripe from front to back. As these now clashed with the Melbourne Grammar School colours, green was added to provide a stronger contrast. The cap was still blue, with a green patch bearing the white Pegasus above the peak, but sports uniforms were primarily in green, which soon came to be accepted as the distinguishing mark of the Geelong College and has remained so ever since.

Prefects were first appointed in 1908, and the system has continued to the present day, proving itself a valuable training ground for boys who appear capable of accepting responsibility and setting a good example.

Few supporters expected sporting teams to sweep all before them as they had done in the Schools' Association, but the more realistic hopes of the great majority, who felt that the College would make a good impression in higher company, were fully justified. In 1908 the crew achieved a creditable second place in the final of the Boat Race, and in both 1908 and 1909 some of the other schools were worsted at football, cricket and athletics; the College, the newest member, was in no department the weakest. The rifle team was scoring as well as ever, taking high places in its matches, the fact that it did not win being due more to improvement by Melbourne schools than to any deterioration at Geelong.

* * * *

The year 1909 saw the inauguration of "The Pegasus', the College magazine, in place of the former printed and illustrated annual reports, which had gradually been enlarged to include scholastic and sports prize lists and accounts of matches and other important events, such as the Boat Race and Old Collegians' reunions. The original editorial staff of the magazine included Mr. A. H. MacRoberts, R. E. Cameron, H. E. Whitehead, and W. D. Sloane. Another innovation was the Debating Society, run from the outset on parliamentary lines, with P. G. Pullar as Premier and H. Paul as Leader of the Opposition. The first motion, "That Australia should present a Dreadnought to the British Empire", was defeated. There was also a junior section of the society.

August, 1909, produced one of the many great Barwon floods of the earlier years before the activities of water conservation authorities on both the Barwon and the Moorabool had reduced the severity of such visitations. "The Pegasus" immediately proved its worth by giving a graphic account of the event; photographs by the College Camera Club showed the old boatsheds near Prince's Bridge, standing with the neighbouring factories like islands in the dismal waste of waters. Only by the most strenuous efforts were the valuable College rowing craft made secure or removed to positions of safety.

The same year began the long association with the College of the Rev. Alfred Wheeler, Vicar of All Saints' Church of England. Canon Wheeler was also a musician, a composer of world-wide reputation and a humorist who enjoyed taking part in College concerts or "sing-songs" round the piano.

* * * *

In 1909 it appeared that the change in constitution was safely past, that the hopes of those who supported it were

Death severed them in tragically sudden fashion. When school was over on Friday, November 12, 1909, he went out to his farm at Mount Moriac, and in the dusk of the evening set out for some shooting. Shots were heard by the two men at the farm cottage, one just before dark being a particularly loud report. In the morning Mr. Morrison was not in his room. A search was made, and towards the middle of the day he was found beside a wire fence—dead. One leg and his gun, entangled in the wire, told the sad story.

His loss seemed irreparable. At the College it was felt that a much-loved elder brother had been removed. All over Australia Old Collegians and many others mourned his passing. His death served perhaps more than anything else to rally those who had known him and admired his work. Among Old Collegians especially there was formed a strong resolve to keep close to the school and help it along the course which The Skipper had charted.

As well as losing its beloved Principal, the College suffered by the death during 1909 of Mr. J. B. Kerr, B.A., who had been on the staff for twenty years and Vice-Principal since 1904. He was essentially an enthusiast in education, who aimed always at the highest and taught his scholars to do the same. Death also claimed a famous former Collegian, Professor William Kernot, Professor of Engineering at the University of Melbourne, the foundation President of the Old Geelong Collegians' Association and one of the school's staunchest supporters.

* * * *

For a time Fate was unkind. The cool shadow of partial eclipse was beginning to move across the College in what had so recently seemed to be its brightest hour.

justified, and that the College was about to build for itself a new reputation as glorious as the old, but on a higher plane. Norman Morrison had reason to be well pleased with his work. His hope was that, at the end of his five-year term, the College would be properly set on its new course and that he would be able to retire and take part in its direction merely as an Old Collegian. He expressed such a hope, yet he doubted his own ability to sever the ties which bound him so strongly to his school.

* * * *

Sources: The Geelong College 1861-1961 by G C Notman and B R Keith. Chapter 5, pp 25-32.
© The Geelong College. Unless otherwise attributed, The Geelong College asserts its creative and commercial rights over all images and text used in this publication. No images or text material may be copied, reproduced or published without the written authorisation of The College.