JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. 'Introduction'.
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JUBILEE HISTORY TEXT, 1911. 'Introduction'.
The following text is an excerpt from the
Jubilee History Text
published in 1911.
Introductory
'It was only three months before the date fixed for the holding of the celebrations of the College Jubilee that it was decided to prepare and publish this book. Had the records of the school been anything like complete, the short time allowed for compilation might not have made a great deal of difference. But the records were most inadequate, particularly with regard to the early years of the College, which might, be expected to cover some of the most interesting phases of its history. To discover and verify the facts about these early times would have been a work occupying not months but years. Human memories are too deceptive to be trusted without corroboration, and to obtain' that corroboration much patient research would be necessary.
Every effort has been made to include only accurate information in the book, and on that account much has been omitted which would otherwise have found a place in it. Perhaps the most important record of all is the College Register. It is far from complete, and though every known inaccuracy and defect has been remedied, there must be many serious omissions from it. The School Register was compiled by the late Norman Morrison from the records at his disposal. Until he undertook the work there had never been any real attempt to keep a register. This part of the book can be made complete only through the medium of Old Collegians themselves. If the honorary secretary of the Old Collegians Association be notified of all omissions and inaccuracies which are discovered the mistakes can be rectified in subsequent editions. It is the same with most of the records, and the same course, if pursued, will lead to the building up of a complete set of records.
The intention and the hope in compiling this history have been that it should be merely the foundation of a larger work. The College history should contain not only the story of the school, its records, and its register, but a complete "Who's who" of Old Collegians, which would give the history and whereabouts of everyman who has been at the College. This has been accomplished by the leading public schools in Great Britain. It is in a fair way to achievement by at least one other public school in Victoria. It should be done by Geelong College. It can be done easily if Old Collegians will only supply the information which will be asked of them. Then it will be possible in 1921, when the Diamond Jubilee of the College is celebrated, to enlarge and perfect the present work and make it more worthy of the old school.
Valuable assistance has been rendered in the preparation of the present volume by many Old Collegians. Dr. Norman McArthur has devoted an immense amount of time to it, and has been indefatigable in his search after information which was needed. Mr. Neil Campbell too has rendered every assistance in his power, while no praise is too great for the prompt and energetic fashion in which Mr. James D'Helin has hastened the acquisition of material. The headmaster, Mr. Bayly, and the other masters assisted in the compilation of records, and rendered valuable help. I am greatly indebted to the records of Scotch College, which have been so well prepared by the late Donald Morrison, and though they were on the eve of going to press for the publication of the Scotch College history, the Editor, Mr. George Wood, very generously allowed me recourse to them. Much information of value was also obtained from the "History and Register" of the Geelong Grammar School. The account of the events precedent to the establishment of the College were sent out some years ago by the Rev. A. J. Campbell, who was the real originator of the school. His recollections have been of the greatest assistance, as also were those of Hugh Mackay, who has grown old in the service of the College. To Mr. Clive Morrison I am indebted for practically all the existing records of the College, as well as to Dr. R. H. Morrison for much valuable information which he supplied. Numerous other Old Collegians have written supplying material, which served to fill sad gaps, in the story.
G.McL.R. Melbourne, 8th September, 1911.'
Sources: Sources: Geelong College. History, Register, .. And Records by G, McLeod Redmond. Melb; Sands & McDougall, 1911. pp vii-ix.