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The shelter sheds also provided cover on wet days, but they were inadequate for the number of children, and they were smelly, sticky and uncomfortable.3 In conformity with the morality of the time, a low fence divided the playground into separate sectors for boys and girls. Seen on a rough outline plan of the school dating to 1908, the fence divided the school between the corner of the building and the wash-house along the rear boundary. Although the fence was dismantled in the early 1920s, an imaginary line still separated the sexes. Children caught on the wrong side of the fence or imaginary line were punished, although talking across the border was permitted.4 Fortunately, children are enterprising creatures. The students ingeniously manipulated, shared and enjoyed the ‘pocket-handkerchief sized playground’. Interweaving, dodging bodies, exasperated abuse, victorious war cries, frustration, anger, joy, quiet solace, abraded knees, broken bones and bruised egos filled the cramped asphalt quadrangle as groups vied for space, consciously and unconsciously pushing neighbours aside, and games cut across each other. The discipline, duty, loyalty and moral behaviour extolled by Pearson were unwitting nurtured on the tiny Arnold Street playing fields. The recreation hours were filled with basketball, hoppy, skippy, diabolo, gymnastics on the Princes Park fence rail, ‘what’s the time, Mr Wolf’, marbles, jacks, hopscotch, chasings, hide and seek, tunnel ball, rounders, marbles, keeping-off, British bulldogs, tag, crack the whip, fly, saddle the nag, cherry bobs, card flicking, hand cricket, ‘three goals in’ (with rolled newspaper or rag-stuffed socks). Some of the teachers on yard duty, such as Miss Walker or Miss Miller, would occasionally turn the skipping rope, and even skip with the girls. Bullies and gangs prowled darker corners seeking victims to intimidate. ‘Adult’ high school students had other distractions. Some attached themselves to teachers such as Emile Hamer, who impressed and inspired them with his enthusiasm and wide learning. Others sought the satisfaction of sport; others supplemented their pocket-money by gambling, or amused themselves in dimly lit, acrid, tobacco-smelling pool halls. Others became embroiled in romances - students with students, students with teachers; some of these attachments turned into long-term relationships, but most provided an ephemeral chance for social interaction and, occasionally, sexual adventure.
A view of the Arnold Street building in 1903, before the north wing of the building was added. The wide open space opposite the school was used as a playground.
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Sport and physical education have always occupied an important place in education. Participation provides physical, social and moral benefits to students, and successes enrich the school’s reputation and spirit.
The boys’ gymnastic class in 1901. The teacher standing on the left is Stan Polglaze, teacher at Princes Hill School 1901-3.
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At some time or other, Princes Hill has been successful at most sports against other schools. Perhaps inspired by the overshadowing Carlton Football Club, the school’s forte has been football. Its prowess in that sport was evident during the 1891 season. Having defeated the individual football teams of all the Carlton schools, ‘The Hill’ met a Combined Carlton Schools team at Royal Park on Monday l9July l9 July 1891. The keen local interest in the battle was well rewarded. Princes Hill won, 3 goals 13 behinds to 3 goals 5 behinds. Kidney was named best man on the ground24 The tradition continued. Coached by Mr Bock, the school collected district premierships and trophies in the 1910s, 1920s and 1930s, and the team’s arrogant victory song,
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was sung ad nauseam. Similar feats were performed in the 1950s and 1960s, when the school annually fielded Lightning Premiership Teams, and the 1980s, when they remained undefeated district premiers. Princes Hill did suffer some losses. At one stage in the 1920s, the team was defeated in the Metropolitan final by Essendon.26 Another difficult team was Errol Street. The team’s older brothers threw stones at the opposition from the boundary, and on occasion slipped the additional one, two, three and four illegal players onto the field.27 Another period of sporting supremacy was in the early years of the high school. Athletics, football, and almost every other sport in the school programme benefited from the enthusiasm of the sports master, Tony Knight. One factor in the success was the annual training camp at Torquay, where athletes trained for a week among the sand dunes, lifted weights, held discussions about the individual and sport, and learned to live and work together as a team.28 Besides the success of school teams, Princes Hill has had many individual competitors who excelled in their chosen sports, and went on to perform professionally or in State and national teams. Some of the cricketers and footballers are listed in the next chapter. In 1959, Heather Rice was the Under-l3 13 All High School Swimming Champion for backstroke and freestyle. In 1960, Chester Polglaze represented the Northern Division schools in the All High School sports competition in running, broad jump and swimming. At the Inter-School sports in that year, he won every event he entered. In 1961, two boys reached the zone final of the schoolboys’ cycling championships of Victoria. Success in athletics were enjoyed by Chris Hilton, who broke record after record, year after year at the State level. Arnold Zable won the Cross-Country Championship in 1962. In 1964, Peter Wallis participated in the Victorian Schoolboy Golf Championships, and in 1966, Neil Watson and Ray Caldwell were selected as State representatives in basketball. In 1965, Chris Hilton, Peter Re and Angelo Martini attracted the attention of Melbourne sports journalists with more record-breaking efforts.29 In 1963, Debra Hilton emulated her brother and Toni Adams joined the Schoolgirls’ State Basketball team. Margaret Woolhouse and Barbara Rubinowicz threw javelin and discuss; Julie Moxon swam.
Chris and Debra Hilton training under the watchful eye of the high school ’s sports master, Tony Knight.
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School life is not confined to the classroom. Many extracurricular activities capture and stimulate the imagination and enthusiasm of students, broaden social awareness and responsibility, and teach group participation. Over the century, these have included cadets, the school band and choir, the school newspaper, excursions, clubs and fundraising activities. The Cadet Corps was one of Head Teacher Russell’s first innovations at Princes Hill.30 Militaristic patriotism, uniform and firearms captured the imagination of many young boys, and the corps flourished.31 It also survived Head Teacher Robinson’ attempts to limit its intrusion into school hours32 Little is heard of the cadets after this initial exposure, and the corps seems to have been disbanded in the late l910s.33 Then there were the school dances - junior ‘Deb’ Balls, Annual Balls and innumerable term socials, each an occasion of great excitement. Considerable pomp and ceremony accompanied the Balls at the Melbourne and Brunswick Town Halls. Everyone went along. Ballroom dancing rehearsals were held under the direction of an instructor with the manner of a sergeant-major, dresses were hired or sewn, and sketches were prepared by small groups to enliven the atmosphere.34 Organised by the Mothers’ Club as a money raising event, the biennial Queen’s Carnival became a major event on the school’s social calendar. Full regalia was worn at the pageant to crown the king and queen who had raised the most money. One year, Miss Miller’s class won the title because the queen’s father donated £10 to ensure their victory. In 1934, Mr Clifford was the bandmaster. As the final event of the evening, his boys were to dance the Minuet with the Ladies in Waiting. The shambles at the dress-rehearsal brought the man to tears; but the performance on the evening was perfectly executed. Lillian Shanklin and Colin Shanley were the royals that year.35 Balls never gained favour at the high school. Adults preferred socials, organised by the prefects or Students Representative Council. Ball gowns gave way to the latest fashions. Live bands performed, and students rocked, and twisted and ‘submarined’, swigged illicit drinks and pursued romances. Who present will forget the performances of our own Bertie, or of Doug Parkinson, The Zoot or The Masters Apprentices, before they were famous? Who will forget the brawls, or the violence inflicted on David Bucknall when he tried to stop a fight?
Queen’s Carnival Pageant in the 1930s, together with boys from the Brass Band.
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Besides watching theatre and music, the students of Princes Hill have also enjoyed fame as performers and creators on their own account. The School Band gained immense acclaim during its brief history. Better known during Headmaster Mylrea’s period, the band was established by Head Teacher Sebire. Wishing to copy the school orchestras that had been successfully instituted among NSW schools, Sebire purchased drums, bugles, violins and instruction books, and arranged for tuition for band members. Classes were held after hours.45 Mylrea, however‘, provided the impetus. Slick uniforms - navy blue with green and gold trimming - sparkling brass instruments (paid for by the Mothers’ Club), an experienced bandmaster and long hours of practice, all brought results. The Brass Band won many Metropolitan and School Competitions, including the State Quick-Step Championship. During the football season, the band entertained Carlton football spectators at halftime. It performed to great applause for one week at the Old State Theatre (the Forum).46 In October 1930, the Band performed in Ballarat; at Easter 1936 it travelled to Adelaide, where it played for schools and hospitals. Its two-hour public recital of marches, overtures and waltzes won the praise of old bandsmen.47 Interest in the band saw its numbers grow to 71 members by 1933, and more were waiting to join.48 Among its many members, Ron Davies played the solo Cornet, Maurice Jacques the solo tenor horn, Fred Freer the bass drum, and Charlie Goodwin, the bandmaster’s son, the double bass.49 The school band was resurrected in the 1980s. As well as playing in annual competitions, it performed at the First Open Day at Government House in 1986.
The Princes Hill Brass Band, c.1929. Ernest Mylrea, Head Teacher 1925-36, is sitting in the front row, and Mr Goodwin, the bandmaster, is standing.
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Fundraising was not the only way that the wars touched the students of Princes Hill. Fathers, brothers and ex-students left for war.64 During the First World War, Doris’s thirteen-year-old brother disappeared, to be found some days later at Broadmeadows army barracks. Les Furney was an early casualty at Gallipoli.65 Ray Aarons, who had joined the Royal Navy in 1938, spent the war at sea. As a member of Special ‘Z’ Commando Unit, he served on the Krait, a little ship active behind enemy lines in sabotage work against Japanese ships. Phil Levy served in the RAAF; Florence Mitchell was a signalwoman on the LHQ heavy wireless; Evelyn Cuthbert joined the WAAF; Anne Haylock’s father, a professional soldier, was seldom stationed in Melbourne. Arthur Sparks, famous for his uninterrupted attendance record, was fatally wounded.66 Teachers left too. Frank McNamara, Eve’s grade 2 teacher, was still a lad when he left. When he returned to visit Princes Hill after the war, he brought his Victoria Cross to show his old students.
Frank McNamara at far left in Egypt, May 1917
He remained in the air force and rose to the rank of Air Vice Marshal.67 The return of another teacher was not as happy. His nervous disorder forced him to quit teaching.68
Not everyone returned. One student recalled that the death of teacher Harry Fletcher who had enlisted in the AIF, ‘deeply saddened me, and I truly grieved about him’.69 Fletcher survived the blackest days of Gallipoli, where he was wounded, Pozieres and Mouquet Farm in July to September 1916; he won the Military Cross for bravery in October 1916; he survived Bapaume, Bullecourt, Menin Road and Polygon Wood in 1917 and was promoted to the rank of captain. On October 5, 1918 he led his men on one last attack. Despite the knowledge that they were due to be relieved by American troops the following day, the Australian Second Division were sent into the last Australian action of the war to capture the little town of Montbrehain. Soon after 10am, Fletcher was killed by a shell that exploded nearby. The casualties of the great war are honoured on the school’s Honour Roll. Fletcher's name appears with others on a monument (below) to local fallen soldiers in Royal Parade near Melbourne University.
Bronze plaques honouring ex-pupils who had lost their lives in the First World War were also placed at the base of each palm tree planted at Pigdon Street on Arbor day 1924.70 These men and all who died were remembered on Anzac and Armistice Days. On these days, Mylrea allowed the boys to wear their fathers’ medals.71 In time, however, the role of Anzac Day changed. In 1985, the School Council at Princes Hill Primary School resolved that the school’s Anzac Day ceremonies should draw attention to the human cost of warfare, rather than the glorification of war, and should take into account the multicultural nature of the school and society, rather than encourage a patriotic stance.72
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And, although the Japanese did not invade Australia, Americans invaded Melbourne, and the students of University High School invaded Princes Hill.
