Sport and Colonialism in 19th Century Australasia - LA84 Foundation

College Chronicle considered the argument of the place of sport in
the daily life of a school and the specific point "that the
Public Schools devote themselves entirely to sport'. 41
The
author of the article contended that success was an "alliance
of brain and muscle" and "the boy who plays games and who takes
proper exercise feeds his brain with a proper supply of healthy
blood'. 42
To support this physiological theory the University
examination results at Wesley from a five year period were
attached and they compared more than favourably with the other
public schools in Victoria. Yet more than anything else in the
issue of the place of sport in schools Adamson realised that
his Wesley boy was different to Rugby boys and that Melbourne
middle class parents could not afford to keep their sons at
school for sport alone. 43
They may have considered an "Australian
gentleman" as a worthy ideal but for the most part scholarly
endeavours and career prospects were more important. The economic
collapse and depression in Melbourne in the early 1890s
and the drought problems throughout the state at the beginning
of the twentieth century were vivid reminders in the community
of the harsh realities of earning a living. 44
The public exposure of questions and attitudes about the
place of sport in public school education persuaded the schools
to hold a conference at the Melbourne Church of England Grammar
School in September 1910. The stated purpose of the meeting
was to clear the air on the matter of the 'prominence given to
school athletics'. Each of the headmasters from the six schools
was backed up by two members for their respective Councils, a
final delegation that was notable in its make up for the number
of enthusiastic sportsmen. 45
Perhaps not surprisingly, the
most important announcement from the conference absolved the
schools from criticism of their conduct of sport. The point
was simply expressed. All of the delegates were agreed that
"undue time is not devoted to Public School sport'. 46
Secondly
resolutions did clarify the rules on the upper age limits to be
applied in inter-school competitions and there was reaffirmed
opposition to the employment of professional coaches and trainers
in the preparation of teams, a statement of some sanctimony
which revealed the ability of the schools to hold two contradictory
beliefs. Nevertheless, a general forum attended by
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