McRAE, John (1877-1972)
John McRae, teacher was born at Paraparap on 14 March 1877 to parents Donald McRae and Mary nee Cameron. The Melburnian described him: ‘John McRae was a member of staff of Melbourne Grammar School for thirty years, teaching English and History from 1916 to 1946. He was Housemaster of Morris for twenty-five years, from 1920 to 1945, and valued his association with the house deeply. He was responsible for the publication of the Melbourne Grammar magazine Melburnian from 1920 to 1945. He was Master of Lower School from 1925 to 1946. He was also widely respected outside the School, and was a member of the Schools’ Board in the 1930s. The Old Melburnians always held him in great respect and he was Master of the O M's Lodge in 1937.
It was, however, as Vice-Master for twenty-one years from 1925 to 1946 that he is rightly best remembered. He not only earned the respect of both boys and masters in this position, he also enjoyed the trust of three headmasters. In 1938 he became acting headmaster at a very difficult time in the School's history’.
Educated at The Geelong College from 1891 to 1895, he was a member from 1893 to 1895 of both the 1st Football XVIII and the 1st Cricket XI. He captained the football team in 1895 and the Cricket Team in 1894 and 1895. In 1894 he won the Amateur Pole Vaulting Championship of Victoria, clearing 9’ 11 1/2” – a record for a schoolboy. The following year at the Geelong College Sports he vaulted 10.0’. He graduated in arts from the University of Melbourne and became a prominent football player in the Victorian Football League (VFL). In later life he was an excellent golfer.
Sources: Edited excerpt from The Melburnian: Journal of Melbourne Grammar Senior School Vol 98, 1972 by ARCH.