Sport and Colonialism in 19th Century Australasia - LA84 Foundation

of St. Peter's College, Adelaide, John Bracebridge Wilson of
Geelong Church of England Grammar School, Edward Ellis Morris,
of Melbourne Church of England Grammar School, Akbert Bythesea
Weigall of Sydney Grammar School, Alexander Morrisson of Scotch
College, Melbourne, Lawrence Arthur Adamson of Wesley College,
Melbourne, and Reginald Heber Roe of Brisbane Grammar School can
be numbered among the many Headmasters who joined forces to make
'the Christian and the gentleman' in the true Arnoldian tradition,
and to forge a 'manliness of character' through organised sport. 41
It is well worth taking a brief look at the backgrounds and
careers of some of this selected group of educators in order to
demonstrate the variety of approaches and philosophies that
were adopted.
Edward Ellis Morris (1843-1902) was educated at Rugby
School and then at Lincoln College, Oxford. He arrived in
Australia in 1875 to become Headmaster of Melbourne's Church of
England Grammar School after a period of teaching at Haileybury
and 'Radley' schools in Britain. He successfully developed the
Victorian institution along English public school lines. 42
His
methods in this regard were quite orthodox for the era. In
Arnoldian fashion he instituted the Prefect System and like many
post-Clarendon Commission educators, he viewed organised physical
activity as a central feature of the school system. 43
On his
arrival, provisions were made for the establishment of a new
cricket field. The first school boat was launched the following
year, in 1876. Drill classes were introduced in 1877. And for
good measure he inaugurated a school magazine, the Melburnian,
designed the school flag and coat of arms and changed the school
colours to Oxford blue. 44
Under Morris' early guidance there
was an increase in enrolment and the Grammar School's status
matched that of neighbouring Scotch College and Wesley College.
Prestige, in no small way, was attained through profile given
to sport, although Morris, "fearful that physical activities
were
keep
deemed more important
athleticism in proper
than the intellectual", attempted
perspective.
to
45
The same could not
be said of another Melbourne master, Lawrence Arthur Adamson
who, by coincidence, was also schooled at Rugby.
Adamson (1860-1933) progressed from Rugby to Oriel College
Oxford. Except for a decade of his lengthy teaching career, he
25