IL □ W l S h EPPARTON 1909-1984 ■? J ql & 1 AM. // [KRO CHIPS / w<T [\ \ \ \ I \ \ \ \ 'J_ Vtnh - ' ;;r HK1 k 'S V T he H igh S chool S hepparton 1909-1984 % ------ To MICRO a former school principal — after a lifetime in education — writes a history of a country high school, the result might be a learned tome rather weighty with historical detail and of limited appeal. Ron Michael has deftly avoided such traps. In this fascinating book, he has revealed the soul of the school. It is a book about the endeavours and achievements of teachers, stu dents and friends of Shepparton High School through challenging times; mere buildings have been kept in their proper perspective. A wealth of anecdotes and gener ous illustrations will delight those who learned and taught there; the author ’ s views on 75 years of educa tion policy in practice also provide a unique perspective for educationists. Mr Michael discusses the impact of computer technology and makes some stimulating observations on current issues in education and the administration of schools. This elegant book will be valued by all people interested in education. g L=r ' A Printed by Kok wah Press (Pte.) Ltd. Singapore. Design and Layout, Paul Custance. Cover Photography, Peter Hendrie. From Mr Chips to Micro-Chips ISBN O 9596128 1 5 First published in Australia 1984 by Waterwheel Press Pty. Ltd. 159 High Street, Shepparton, Victoria 3630, Australia. y 1 From Mr Chips to Micro-Chips pp (if 1 THE HIGH SCHOOL SHEPPARTON 1909-1984 — Contents i — 5 — __ ____________________ 7 _______________________ ___________ Acknowledgements 9 ___________ Foreword 11 ___ ______________ Introduction __________________ The Formative Years 1909-1929 ____________________________ 15 ____________________________ __________________ Chapter I: Early Days ___________________ ____________________________ 19 ____________________________ ________ Chapter II: “ Free, Compulsory and Secular" _________ ___________________________ 23 ____________________________ _________ Chapter III: The Agricultural High School _________ 33 _____________ Chapter IV: Traditions Established _____________ ___________________________ 39 ____________________________ ______________ Chapter V: On Depression Eve _______________ The Dual Campus Years 1930-1961 45 _____________ Chapter VI: Depression and War ______________ ___________________________ 55 ____________________________ _____________ Chapter VII: Post-War Expansion ______________ ___________________________ 61 ____________________________ _______________ Chapter VIII: More Tradition ________________ ___________________________ 77 ____________________________ _________________ Chapter IX: Profile 1961 __________________ The Changing Years 1962-1984 83 ~ ____________ Chapter X: The Politics of Change _____________ 95 Chapter XI: Tradition versus Change 111 ~ _________________ Chapter XII: The Product 127 ~ ____________ Chapter XIII: “ Nineteen Eighty-Four" ____________ ___________________________ 133 ____________________________ ________________ Chapter XIV: Towards 2009 ________________ Appendices 137 _______ Appendix I: Chronological Synopsis 1909-84 _________ 152 Appendix II: Personnel 1909 152 ~ Appendix III: Presidents and Principals 152 Appendix IV: Mothers ’ Auxiliary 153 ~ Appendix V: Chaplaincy, O.S.A., Cadet Unit, Buses 153 Appendix VI: Memorial Gates 153 Appendix VII: Prefects, School Captains, Dux, Premier House ___________________________ 154 ___________________________ Appendix VIII: Rotary Exchange _________________________ 155 ___________________________ Appendix IX: General Excellence 155 ~ Appendix X: Personnel and Students 1984 ____________________________ 159 ___________________________ Bibliography I Acknowledgements — 7 — w hen Jon Tol invited me to research the history of Shepparton High School for its 75th anniversary he also made available the resources of the school. From all levels I have received the utmost co-operation and assistance for which I am most grateful. Librarian, Sue Nankervis, and her staff and Bursar, Fay Reid, Mary Damianopoulos and the Office Staff generally deserve particular thanks as they have made available an almost complete set of records. It has given me much satisfaction to document these records for preservation. Jeff Lugg, a senior teacher of history, has not only carried out time-consuming research but has also read my rough drafts, made many construc tive suggestions and generally acted as a sound ing board. With great patience he has also sought out many of the photographs and illustrations included in the final text and in this capacity has received assistance from numerous persons. Advice, access and assistance have come from many sources. Ross McPherson and the Sheppar ton “News ” have been most co-operative with particular assistance coming from Doug Rogers, Jill Nightingale, Steve Hynes and others too, in the front office and behind the scenes. Myrtle Ford has made available resources of the Shepparton Historical Society and from her own knowledge of Shepparton High School made valuable com ments. Joan Benson has generously given her time and expertise to edit the manuscript and her constructive comments have been much appreci ated. During the past six months many ex-students and others closely associated with the history of the school have willingly been interviewed and offered assistance and encouragement. It is my regret that the deadline for publication does not permit a more intensive probing into the school ’ s history. My wife Helen has not only given enormous encouragement; but has also been most caring and tolerant. For several months a section of our home has resembled a research library. I feel greatly honoured that the Foreword has been written by such a distinguished ex-student as Sir Ian McLennan. It is with gratitude too, that I acknowledge the fact that the Council of Sheppar ton High School through its President Mr. Errol Wallace, himself a former Senior Prefect in 1941, has accepted the responsibility for the project. Finally, I must acknowledge the co-operation of Paul Custance who has arranged the material for the printer. He is solely responsible for the art direction in the book and design of the cover. Despite its shortcomings I hope the book will provide a record of some value for the school and that it will be read by students and staff new to the school and not just by ex-students and ex-staff. I say this advisedly as in retrospect I wish I had known years ago what I now know from the benefit of the research. To carry out this research however has given me great satisfaction and I deeply value the co-operation I have received at all levels. Ron Michael The stenographic expertise of Mariam Fifoot has enabled my rough tape recordings to emerge as a manuscript which after my many alterations she has retyped for the printer. Without her assistance, skill and patience, the manuscript could not have been prepared and I am indeed grateful. Foreword By Sir Ian McLennan J? **■ A Sir Ian Munro MCLENNAN K.C.M.G., K.B.E, B.E.E. (Melb.) — 9 — I T'he Shepparton High School has a special place in my affections and I was, therefore, greatly pleased and honoured when Mr. Michael asked me to write this Foreword to his book. It was called the Shepparton Agricultural High School when I attended it from 1922 to 1924, and I still have my notebook with its cuttings depicting Clydesdale horses, merino sheep, stump-jump plows, and so on. Mr. Michael ’ s book serves several purposes. Firstly, it brings out the great benefits that not only the Shepparton area but also the State and indeed Australia have derived from the High School. These have undoubtedly exceeded the fondest hopes of its founders. Very few country ^4 *** | : I J nbmm */ .r jL Ji O' in educational institutions can lay claim to such a steady stream of influential people as that cata logued by Mr. Michael. There are soldiers, air men, doctors, lawyers, engineers, businessmen, and many others Secondly, it tells of the men who led the school through its various years of development and achievement. The two I remember best are “ Boss ” Callister, a truly great Headmaster, and A. G. Daws, a great man who went on to bigger and better things in the educational field. It is fitting that their story, and the story of other great teachers, should be permanently recorded. Thirdly, it shows clearly what a fine character building institution the school has been. I knew personally, in his latter years, Roy Clydesdale who was the first Captain of the School and, according to Mr. Michael, the one who suggested that great motto “ Labour Conquers All ” I like to think that this motto “ rubs off ’ on the students. I am sure it did on me, and I owe a very great deal to not only the education but also the character training I received at Shepparton. The book has been very carefully researched and is, of course, a labour of love. It will be sought after by past and present students, but it also addresses a wider audience. It will be of much interest to all who are involved in secondary education, whether as parents, as teachers, or as administrators. I congratulate Mr. Michael on a fine achieve ment, and heartily commend his book. Sir Ian McLennan Introduction — 11 — eminent and non-Government schools in this state. Shepparton High School has retained a strong academic thrust but now shares the responsibility for secondary education in this district with Wanganui Park High School, Mooroopna High School, Shepparton Technical School, Sheppar ton South Technical School, Shepparton College of T.A.F.E., Notre Dame College (formerly St. Colman ’ s College and Sacred Heart College) and the Goulburn Valley Grammar School. In the following chapters an attempt has been made to examine the role of Shepparton High School in a community whose population num bered about 3000 in 1909 and in 75 years has grown to nearly 25,000 in the city of Shepparton along with many thousands more in the hinter land. This school has grown from 33 students in 1909 to 1126 in 1974 and approximately 1000 in 1984. Socially it has felt the impact of world war, depression, world war again, immigration and more recently the permissive age. Educationally it was bom in the Mr. Chips era and has proceeded through the ball point pen revolution into the post-sputnik era and is now adjusting to the impact of the micro-chip and digital culture. During this time some thousands of students have gained their secondary education in the school where Labour Conquers All and many of them, men and women, have made major contributions to local, national and world society. This short history has been researched and written largely during the latter half of 1983 and is perhaps concerned more with themes than with individuals, the latter being mentioned where they seem relevant to the theme. Inevitably people who have made major contributions to the develop ment of Shepparton High School may have been overlooked for which the author apologizes. Should information become available about ex students as a consequence of publication of this book and the 75th anniversary celebrations then the author would be pleased to document such material so that it can be included in any future publication. Shepparton High School began in 1909 as Shepparton Agricultural High School and as such was one of 10 Agricultural High Schools estab lished in Victoria between 1907 and 1912. In the chapters which follow the general theme which emerges is that, despite its agricultural origins, emphasis has always been towards academic studies. During the formative years prior to moving to the Verney Road site in 1929 many traditions were laid which appear to have been based on the tenets of traditional secondary education as char acterized by the legendary Mr. Chips. The Agri cultural courses as such did not long survive, being replaced by Agricultural Science as a single subject based on University prescriptions and without a large practical component. Although the farm lingered for some years eventually the word “ agricultural ” was to be dropped from the school ’ s name. Already significant numbers of students were gaining access to the professions and the school itself earning a reputation for sound scholarship. The 32 years which followed must have been extremely difficult for successive administrations as buildings at both Fryers Street and Verney Road were necessary to cater for the school population. Early in this period course diversifica tion to meet community needs occurred with the further development of Commercial, Technical and Domestic Arts courses. The establishment of bus services from the mid-1940s brought a rapid growth in school populations, and consequent overcrowding at the Shepparton High School. The establishment of Shepparton Technical School in 1953 and Shepparton Girls ’ Secondary School in 1960 eased the problem to some extent and enabled establishment of facilities to perhaps more adequately cater for student needs in Tech nical and Domestic Arts subjects. Further extensions to the buildings on the Verney Road site enabled the school from 1961 to operate on a single campus. Since that date there have been further extensions and the school can now boast academic and sporting facilities of a standard commensurate with those of most Gov- 1909 -1929 — 13 — The Formative Years •> i The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 CHAPTER I COURTESY SHEPPARTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY — 15 — ▼ Joseph Hawdon and Charles Bonney, the first overlanders to pass through Shepparton in January 1838. Guire ’ s Punt on what is now the south-west corner of High and Welsford Streets. It was purchased from MacGuire by John K. Hill in 1853. An advertisement which appeared in the “ Mel bourne Morning Herald ” 12th August 1853 in cluded the following statement: “ Parties proceeding by this road will find the crossing place much improved, a road like a bowling green, good accommodation, a well stocked store, capital food for their cattle, a first rate glass of grog, and the strictest attention to their wants. ” Sherbourne Sheppard, an Irishman who arrived in Australia in 1841, had acquired the Tallygar- oopna run from Edward Khull in 1843. On the advice of friends, among them Albert Le Soueff, he headed for the Goulbum area and took up the Tallygaroopna run which had recently been aban doned by Edward Khull. He returned to England in 1851 but remained longer than he had original ly intended. On his return to Australia he experi enced problems in securing tenure of the property Shepparton High School is situated on what was once part of Verney Road but since 1969 has been called Hawdon Street. Joseph Hawdon and his young manager Charles Bonney and their party of nine were the first white men to pass through the area. This they did after leaving Hawdon ’ s Station at Howlong in January 1838 to drive 340 head of cattle to the new colony in South Australia. On the advice of pioneer explorer Major Mitchell they had crossed the Broken River at its junction with the Goulburn. In 1930 a memorial cairn was erected at the intersection of Sobraon and Welsford Streets at the original site where Hawdon and Bonney had camped on that epic journey. But for the acquisition of Tallygaroopna Station by Sherbourne Sheppard in 1855 this study could well have been the history of MacGuire ’ s Punt High School. Patrick MacGuire had established a punt to ferry gold miners and others across the Goulbum following the gold fever which com menced in the early 1850 ’ s and the resultant movement of people between Central Victoria and the North-East. The first building in Shepparton, the Emu Bush Inn, was built adjacent to Mac- Early Days Hawdon and Bonney MacGuire ’ s Punt Sherbourne Sheppard and Tallygaroopna Land Selection A Shire Council Shepparton by 1910 Closer Settlement The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 — 17 — AMacGuires Punt painted by Jean Von Guerard (1811-1907) an Austrian who arrived in Australia in 1853. Tom Roberts and Fred McCubbin were two of his famous students. f.'JI J very powerful one capable of exerting appropriate political pressure. According to Raymond West, the population had reached 2000 by Federation in 1901 and by 1910 it was about 3000. In his booklet “ Prosperous and Progressive Shepparton ” , J. Edward Robert son introduced “ the more progressive men of Shepparton ” in 1910 and described Shepparton as “ a great agricultural business and implement centre of the Goulbum Valley District, Victoria ” From him we also learn that Shepparton, four hours ’ journey by rail from Melbourne, was the major business centre between Seymour and Cobram. As well as the Furphy foundry the town could boast machinery suppliers, a brewery, a cordial factory, a soap factory, a butter co operative, coach builders, blacksmiths, stock and station agents, general stores, hotels, churches, banks, sporting facilities and schools. Of educa tion he had this to say “ the Agricultural High School of Shepparton with all its appliances will well repay inspec- stralian history but also, it would seem, with the history of the Shepparton High School to which reference will later be made. Although originally part of Echuca Shire, the eastern part of this vast area seceded and in May 1879 became the Shire of Shepparton. In “ Shep parton Shire Reflections 1879 to 1979 ” Sue Wal lace clearly shows that there was keen rivalry between Echuca and Shepparton in the events which followed. Though not quite like Sherbourne Sheppard repossessing his Station headquarters, Shepparton Shire councillors in 1879 staged a minor coup to re-possess the town ’ s public hall. Further division occurred between Numurkah in the north and Shepparton in the south, with the southern part becoming known as the Shire of Shepparton in 1886. It is a fact worth bearing in mind that the successful candidates in the first shire elections were all from the land. One won ders if there is a connection with the establish ment of agricultural high schools in various parts of Victoria as quite clearly the rural faction was a — 18 — Jnirodueing the Progressive Men of Shepparto fg> £§> Sb Prosperous and Progressive - Shepparton. = x x x x x x x x x 37ie great j/gricultural aqd Jmpletnenf Cetjfrc oj the goutburn Valley district, Victoria. Illustrated throughout. ■p h e Formative Years 1909- 1929 ------------- Corn p ± led ? nd Published by J. ED WAR D RQLuRTSpN. A Shepparton in 1910. A E Watson who The Principal is Mr. A- E- an(J b00 k- ZShl, olthe Church, Knight Street cient management Shepparton be- An important development in PP shep gan in 1910 When irn ^ U ° n B f ver The 3200 acre parton side of the Goulburn know a s Grahamvale area of No. 1 Settlem Jo n George Graham, M.L.A- and named after Hom Georg^^^ t was that year sub-dvideo t n 2 an d No. 2 Settlement Orrva^ , 1918 By the en d No. 3 Settlement at Lemn preserving of the ^cade the Shepparton q { Rs ■ He couth hardlv have realised the two organizations would eventually occupy adjacent premises. One of the progressive men of Shepparton was Mr J D Mitchell, a contractor and builder i„ iqi 4 he became a member of the Legislative Assembly and held the seat until 1920. He Was Shire President on two occasions, 1913 and 1927 L President of the Shepparton High School Advisory Council from 1923-43. To arrive in Shepparton late in 1910 was one William Thomas Lightfoot, a painter and decora tor who had migrated from England. He went first to Woomelang but a few weeks later settled nermanently in Shepparton. His son Herbert Frank. William was born at Chiddingfold, Surrey the previous year, 1909, the year incidentally in which Shepparton Agricultural High School was hnrn H F (Bert) Lightfoot began an association with Shepparton High School in 1920 which was to Drove continuous. Both J. D. Mitchell andH.F. Lightfoot will be mentioned again as the story of Shepparton High School unfolds. The Formative Years 1909 -1929 CHAPTER II 66 COURTESY ‘ THOSE WERE THE DAYS ” COURTESY SHEPPARTON HISTORICAL SOCIETY — 19 — ? - j which encompasses primary, secondary, technic al and further education through Shepparton State School, Shepparton Agricultural High School, Shepparton Technical School, Sheppar- U A:"-- a Shepparton State School, Fryers Street, 1883. ' -1 5 A Ruins of Hasset's School, Wahring. ife, ../•• Free, Compulsory and Secular ” The Education Act 1872 The First Primary School Private and Church Schools The Finke Commission The Education Act 1901 Frank Tate A pioneer businessman in Shepparton, Mr A. F. Rowe, who had 9 children, was a driving force in Shepparton ’ s gaining its first Government school building erected later in the 1870s. This site in Fryers Street has had a continuous development ton Girls ’ Secondary School, Audio-Visual Educa tion Centre, Promotion of Adult Continuing Education, Jackson College and now the College ‘ of Technical and Further Education. This develop ment will be examined in later chapters. From “ Vision and Realization — A Centenary History of State Education in Victoria ” we learn that J. H. Betheras M. A. was appointed District Inspector Shepparton in 1900. He undertook “ the first elaborate excursion in the State with his journey school. 70 boys from Goulburn Valley Schools met at Shepparton to travel in wagons and traps or on horse-back; each carried a rug or blanket, a towel, brush and soap as well as notebook and pencil. The boys journeyed to Dookie College, to Chateau Dookie Vineyard, to a model dairy farm and to the hill country. At each place Betheras had experts ready to talk to the boys; among his speakers were Francois Castella and the Minister of Public Instruction, William Gunn. ” ■ ‘ : ’ U X he history of education in Shepparton, however, can be traced back to 1875 when the first primary school opened on January 1st of that year. Like so many of its latter day counterparts it opened in temporary accommodation which in this case was the United Free Methodist Church, a weatherboard building in Welsford Street. This would have been a direct result of the Education Act of 1872 which introduced the concept of “ free, compulsory and secular education ” , meaning that education would be compulsory for ages 6-14, that there would be no tuition fees and that education would be free of religious influence. According to W. S. James, in his history of Shepparton, the first teacher was “ a Miss Maria Crimp, a lady so small in stature that some of her scholars could have picked her up and carried her with ease, yet she was quite capable of maintaining discipline. ” Despairing disciplinarians today might echo the words of Raymond West — “ Those Were The Days ” COURTESY "THOSE WERE THE DAYS' — 20 — It was, however, private and church schools which were to pioneer secondary education in the district. The ruins of Hasset ’ s School at Wahring can still be seen. Established in 1885, it was in fact the first secondary school in the Goulburn Valley. In 1889 Patrick Hasset moved to Shepparton and opened his “ University College ” but in 1904 he again moved, this time to Prahran, where he founded Hasset ’ s Business College. Catholic education began with St. Brendan ’ s Primary School in 1891 and Sacred Heart College in 1902, the latter commencing with 25 students. A Church of England Grammar School was opened in 1904 with classes being held in the former St Augustine ’ s Parish Hall (later to be the R.S.L. hall) in High Street. This school survived only until 1909, the year incidentally that Shepparton Agri cultural High School began. Shepparton being a comparatively later de velopment (there were only 33 people in (the touched by^eitheMhe refusal of the squatt^J ’ frontier ” encouraged by a dual system of national and denominational School Boards. The debate this issue was at least partially resolved i n ?he Education Act of 1872 introduced into the t PPislative Assembly by J. W. Stephenson which tffpctively introduced “ free, compulsory and Ocular education ” This act then placed primary education (years 6 to 14) under state control and ® as welcomed by the “ Age ” newspaper as a “ just and moderate measure ” J. J. Pledger in "Secular- btm in Victorian Education 1855-72 ” says that “ once Parliament had accepted the principle of -tate control however the question of religious education in public schools became a burning issue. ” The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 Ine Formative Years 1909 - 1929 COURTESY GLADYS PRICE. VICTORIA. EDUCATION DEPARTM ENT. ▲Certificate issued 1890. — 21 — This, then, was the educational climate which Shepparton inherited, secular denomination at primary level but beyond that denominational control either by a Protestant or Roman Catholic church. In older and more populous provincial centres such as Ballarat already these secondary schools were established. In “ Duty Always — A History of the Ballarat High School 1907-1982 ” written by Phil Roberts, we learn “ that Ballarat College had begun in 1864 under the guidance of the Presbyterian church ... Grenville College had been founded in 1860 for Wesleyan children ... in 1893 the Christian Brothers took over the man agement of a Roman Catholic secondary school which they named St Patricks. ” In the Goulburn Valley the small population did not support any comparable development. The decades of the 1870s and 1880s in Victoria saw significant developments through the effects >1 * d 1 required, by y 0 r, il il :e n ie ; h id ■y id st 15 at of Us of land selection, railway development and the advent of newspapers, Mechanics Institutes and libraries, all in the aftermatch of the gold rushes in a period of “ colonial particularism ” In his book “ Life in the Country ” , Michael Connor develops the “ liberal ethos ” theme and asserts that this was a form of self-improvement typical of many country towns. In the wake of this boom, however, came strikes, lock outs and depression and in the resultant review, education was not without its critics. Encouraged by such influential personali ties as David Syme through the “ Age ” newspaper, and Alfred Deakin in the Legislative Assembly, a Royal Commission was set up under Theodore Finke to enquire into Victoria ’ s education system. In Parliament on 6th December 1898, Deakin had described the Victorian education system as being “ in the lowest rank ” The Education Act of 1901 was a direct result of the Finke Commission .vdltiOi) I cto' 1 ' | “ The Education Act 1872/' Dated at /this.. .... I8./L Of .. 1 ■X of £ Im-cbtj tertifn that // d / /-a h. £ ..J " i B has been educated uj> io the standard of education -■ ............ 511 '71 (Eertiffcate nf a (Ehilb being sufficient!}) (Ebucafcb. r a Mr Frank Tate, first Director of Education. — 22 — “ Our educational history of late years has been a succession of up-building and des truction with constant changes of policy justified at the time in the name of economy and railed at a few years later as extrava gance of the worst kind. The different grades of Victorian education are quite unorganized and there is a consequent educational waste and inefficiency in the system as a whole." Between 1905 when Melbourne High School was founded and 1912, no fewer than 20 Govern ment secondary schools were established includ ing 10 Agricultural High Schools. Shepparton was one such area where a powerful rural lobby was able to win Government support which resulted in the establishment of the Shepparton Agricultural High School in 1909. and enabled the appointment of the first Director of Education, Mr. Frank Tate (in 1902), who for more than 20 years was to have a profound effect on state education in Victoria. The Act also provided for the establishment of Continuation Schools which were to grant opportunities for selected students perhaps from poorer class homes to further their education, many of whom might eventually enter primary teaching. It was not the intention of the Act to offer competition to the established denominational church secondary schools. However, Tate proved to be a skilled negotiator and despite his earlier comments and despite strong opposition from members of parlia ment who had themselves attended denomina tional schools, he was soon stressing the need for Government secondary schools. In his 1904 report Tate wrote ___ The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 1 The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 CHAPTER III — 23 — AShire Minute 27th May 1907. COURTESY SHIRE OF SHEPPARTON The Agricultural High School Conditions for Establishment Sutherland and Watson The Official Opening The First Years The First Extensions Problems on the Farm The Verney Road Building Courses to 1929 O n the invitation of the local lobby led by solicitor, John Sutherland, Director of Education, Frank Tate accompanied by Mr. P. M. Carew- Smythe, visited Shepparton in 1907. At a meeting in the Presbyterian Hall on the 1st March, with Sutherland as Chairman, they together outlined the conditions under which the Government would support an Agricultural High School for Shepparton. Basically the residents would have to find £750, being half the estimated cost of a building, land for a farm and to be able to guarantee 50 students. At a subsequent meeting on the 25th March, held in the Shepparton Shire hall, a motion of support was carried and a Finance Committee was formed. This meeting was attended by representatives of the Shire of Shepparton and representatives of other influen tial groups including the Agricultural Society, the 9 Progress Association, the Teachers ’ Association, the Working Men ’ s Club and the Australian Natives Association. The “ liberal ethos ” referred to by Connor was obviously evident in Shep parton. The minutes of the Shire of Shepparton, 27th May, 1907, record that it was moved by Cr. Green, seconded by Cr. Nase “ that £50 be voted from Shire funds towards the establishment of an Agricultural High School in Shepparton and each Riding to contribute £12. 10s. to make up this total, the grant to be made subject to it being legal to vote the sum ” By June £500 had been subscribed, the Shepparton Agricultural Society had prom ised £100 and prominent landowner, Mr. William Orr, who owned Wanganui estate, also £100. The offer of 15 acres was received from J. Furphy & Sons on condition that the school be established on that land. This, however, did not meet with the approval of the Education Department which wanted the school building adjacent to the Fryers St. primary school for administrative reasons and the farm as a separate unit. In November 1907 the Education Department gave provisional accept ance for the project to commence reducing the local input of £750 to £500 and also requiring an assurance that land for a farm would be forth coming. Provision of the land was not secured until shortly after the school had been launched. A School Advisory Council minute of the 20th May, 1909 records “ that the Government be asked to grant 50 acres for experimental purposes in the south east corner of allotment 57A1, 20 acres to be paid for as promised and 30 acres to be given free ” This motion was moved by William Orr, seconded by C. Palling and carried. Within 18 months of the visit to Shepparton by Messrs. Tate and Carew-Smythe provisional agreement had been reached with the Education Department, plans for a building prepared by Mr. John A. Clarke and tenders called. Work in fact commenced on the building on September 8th 1908. Although the building eventually cost about HW- i <■<' I Sutherland and first *■ Mr A.E. Watson, first Headmaster, — 24 — 4 A Mr John Sutherland, first President of Advisory Council. ---- The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 £4,000 a tender of £3,050 was accepted. An interesting latter day comparison is that negotia tions concerning the 3-storey academic building took nearly half a decade during the 1970s, the building itself over two years to erect and the building cost was $1,511,709. The pioneering work of John his associates was about to be rewarded. Suther land was to become the first President of Sheppar- ton High School Advisory Council and was again President for a later period (1919-1923). His position on Council was taken in 1925 by Mr. F. O. Cameron to whom he had sold his law practice. It is an interesting fact that in 1909 John Sutherland began a direct representation of that legal firm with Shepparton High School Advisory Council which was to last for nearly 70 years through Sutherland himself from 1909-25, Mr. F. O. Cameron his successor from 1925-59 (including 6 years as President) and his son, Mr. B. Cameron until 1977. Quite naturally an indirect association has continued. Early in 1909 Mr. A. E. Watson arrived f rom Melbourne High School to arrange for the com mencement of the school. He had previously spent short periods at both Sale and Warrnambool where Agricultural High Schools had been estab lished in 1907. From H. G. Martindale ’ s “ Story of the Sheppar ton High School ” published in 1946, we learn that on April 20th, 1909 the 33 newly enrolled students heard the first official announcement. “ girls assemble on the north verandah, boys assemble on the east verandah, all to face the quadrangle ” From this humble beginning Shepparton High School has grown and there have been several official openings of component parts. The first of these occurred on May 20th, one month after the school was launched. The Governor of Victoria, Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael, the Minister of Education, the Hon. A. Bilson, the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. G. Graham, the Minister of Lands, the Hon. H. McKenzie and the Director of - The Formative Years 1909 - 1929 — CT fffi TC t A Air Vice Marshal F.H. McNamara V.C. — 25 — / fl ’ ■*£«> 111 Of the 33 students who commenced on Tuesday, April 20, 1909, 21, comprised of 15 girls and 6 boys, were in the Continuation Class. Eric G. Palmer and Margaret A. Graham were the first boy and girl respectively to be registered. The Agricultural Class began with 12 students, there being 10 boys and 2 girls. John W. Treahy was the first boy to be registered and the two girls registered were Dorothy Donaldson and Mavis Roe. Included in the first Continuation Class was Francis P. Selleck, later to become Sir Francis Selleck who was Lord Mayor of Melbourne on 3 consecutive occasions. He, in fact, was Lord Mayor during the visit of Her Majesty the Queen in 1954 and during the Olympic Games in Mel bourne in 1956. Also to join the class during this first year was Francis H. McNamara who was to become the first Australian Airman to be awarded the Victor ia Cross. Prior to enlistment he had been a primary teacher at North Kooweerup. After L 4j -JHMl J Education, Mr. F. Tate, had been invited by the Advisory Council. H. G. Martindale describes this first formal occasion “ At 10.20 on a very fine morning the Vice Regal party arrived in Fryers Street by drag. The Governor was received by Mr. Suther land who gave him the orthodox silver key. The gate having been opened by R. Clydesdale, the Governor inspected the cadet guard of honour, unlocked the door and passed through the entrance hall to the quadrangle. Here the school and a large crowd were assembled and on Mr. Suther land ’ s invitation His Excellency made his speech officially declaring the school open. Speeches by Messrs. Bilson, Graham and Tate followed. After Sir Thomas had inspected the school a luncheon was provided by the talented cook ery class in the large room in the north east comer of the building. ” gfef- — 26 — a Sir Thomas Gibson-Carmichael inspecting cadet guard of honour drawn from the Shepparton Section of “ G" Company, No. 10 Victorian Battalion, Australian Commonwealth Cadet Corps.