Australian headmaster
Sir James Ralph Darling
,
CMG
,
OBE
(18 June 1899 ? 1 November 1995) was the English-born Australian
headmaster
of
Geelong Grammar School
(1930?1961), and
Chairman
of the
Australian Broadcasting Commission
(1961?1967).
Early life
[
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]
Darling was born in
Tonbridge
, England, the second child of an Englishman, Augustine Major Darling, and his Scottish wife, Jane Baird, nee Nimmo. He was educated at the preparatory school in Tonbridge run by his father, then at
Repton School
, a boarding school in
Derbyshire
. He served as a Second Lieutenant in the
Royal Field Artillery
in France and occupied Germany in 1918 and 1919 before reading history at
Oriel College
,
Oxford
. He taught from 1921 to 1924 at
Merchant Taylors' School
in
Liverpool
, before joining the staff of
Charterhouse
in
Surrey
.
Headmaster
[
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]
He was appointed as Headmaster of Geelong Grammar School in 1930 and the student population of the school grew from 370 to 1139 at the time of his retirement. He was a founding member of the
Headmasters' Conference of the Independent Schools of Australia
and was its sixth
Chairman
. During his time at Geelong, Darling set up the
Outward Bound
campus
Timbertop
in the foothills of the Australian Alps between
Mansfield
and
Mt Buller
where academic work was supplemented by a wide range of physical activity. Notable pupils included future prime minister
John Gorton
and
Charles, Prince of Wales
. Darling was a founder and first National President of the
Australian College of Educators
. Darling served from 1933 to 1971 on the Council of the
University of Melbourne
and he was a member of the Universities Commission from 1941 to 1951.
Darling believed that it was of primary importance in education to cultivate sensitivity in students, but that toughness was also required for effective leadership.
[1]
He revolutionised
Geelong Grammar School
with his educational philosophy, overhauling the curriculum and focusing less on achievement and more on learning. He encouraged selflessness and hard work over competitiveness and idleness.
[2]
ABC Chairman
[
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]
After his retirement as Headmaster he was for several years Chairman of the
Australian Broadcasting Commission
(ABC). The decision by the
Holt
Liberal
government in 1967 not to re-appoint him was rumoured to be because of the perceived criticism of the government's policies by the ABC. This led to considerable controversy, involving
Mike Willesee
, an ABC reporter, who was the son of
Don Willesee
, a
Labor
Senator.
Later years
[
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]
In retirement Darling often wrote for newspapers, and published his own books. In 1988 he was named on a list of 200 great Australians (of whom only 22 were living, he being the only headmaster on the list). He died aged 96 in
Melbourne
in 1995. In his obituary Darling was referred to as a prophet whose integrity, insight, intelligence and courage gave him great standing in the community.
[3]
Honours
[
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]
Publications
[
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]
- The Education of a Civilized Man: A Selection of Speeches and Sermons
(Melb, 1962)
- Timbertop: An Innovation in Australian Education
(Melb, 1967)
- Richly Rewarding
(Melb, 1978)
- Reflections for the Age
(Melb, 1991)
References
[
edit
]
- ^
Darling, James R (1963).
The Education of a Civilised Man: A Selection of Speeches and Sermons
. F W Cheshire, Melbourne.
- ^
Bate, Weston (1990).
Light Blue Down Under: The history of Geelong Grammar School
. Oxford University Press. pp. 176?230.
ISBN
0-19-553106-X
.
- ^
Further reading
[
edit
]
- Gronn, Peter (December 1995). "A 'very superior' man : Sir James Darling 1899-1995". Tribute.
Quadrant
.
39
(12): 49?50.
External links
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